2010-06-01 Joint CC ARRA CIC MinutesMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL,
ALAMEDA REUSE AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (ARRA), AND
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION (CIC) MEETING
TUESDAY- -JUNE 1, 2010- -7:01 P.M.
Mayor/Chair Johnson convened the meeting at 7:27 p.m.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers/ Board Members/ Commissioners
deHaan, Gilmore, Matarrese, Tam, and Mayor/Chair
Johnson.
Absent: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese moved approval of the
Consent Calendar.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam seconded the motion, which carried
by unanimous voice vote – 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk
preceding the paragraph number.]
(*10-268 CC/ARRA/10-36 CIC) Minutes of the Special ARRA Meeting on May 6, 2010
and the Special Joint City Council, ARRA and CIC Meeting Held on May 18, 2010.
Approved.
(*ARRA/10-37 CIC) Recommendation to Award a Five-Year Contract for Professional
Audit Services for the Community Improvement Commission and the Alameda Reuse
and Redevelopment Authority for Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2010 through June 30,
2014 to Caporicci & Larson. Accepted.
(*ARRA) Recommendation to Authorize Negotiation and Execution of a Sublease for
Dreyfuss Capital Partners, Building 29, at Alameda Point. Accepted.
(*ARRA) Recommendation to Authorize Approval of a Sublease for Point Source
Power, Building 7, at Alameda Point. Accepted.
CITY MANAGER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNICATION
(10-269 CC/ARRA/10-38 CIC) Semimonthly Update on SunCal Negotiations
The Deputy City Manager – Development Services provided a handout and gave a brief
presentation.
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Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam inquired whether the City has
received any indication from the Navy regarding whether the Navy would convey the
land in phases and whether the issue would be related to funding issues.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded the City has made some
assumptions as to what the Navy would do; detailed conversations have not taken
place; the Navy is motivated to convey the land.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam inquired what assumptions the City
would like to see with respect to phasing.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded a couple issues in
Phases 1 and 2 need to be resolved; stated Phases 3, 4, and 5 do not have significant
issues; in general, the news is good.
In response to Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam’s inquiry, the Deputy
City Manager - Development Services responded the pro forma assumes that the land
would be taken down in 2012, with pads being sold in 2014 which is consistent with the
clean up schedule, except for a couple of exceptions in Phases 1 and 2.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam inquired whether the City assumes
that the Navy would want funding all at once when Phase 1 is completed and conveyed.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded land payments have
been discussed; stated payment timing has not been discussed.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore inquired whether staff has
discussed money with the Navy and how and when the Navy wants to be paid.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded staff has talked to the
Navy regarding the Measure B plan; stated the Navy did not follow up after the initiative
failed; the Navy stated that it has subsequent questions; conversations focused on
SunCal’s ability to guarantee payments; the Navy has questions regarding whether
payments would be deferred, whether SunCal and D.E. Shaw would be capable of
making payments, and what assurances the Navy would have regarding secured
payments.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore inquired whether the Navy has
indicated whether it would be interested in some number other than the $108.5 million.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded in the negative; stated
SunCal has made statements to the Navy regarding willingness to pay what is shown in
the project pro forma; terms are not clear; the Navy will not have conversations with
SunCal until the City okays the discussion.
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Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore inquired whether the Navy has
indicated that it is not resistant to being paid over time.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded the Navy prefers up front
payment and is willing to consider back end participation because of the Defense
Authorization Bill passed last October; the Navy’s concern is how it knows it would be
paid.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated ARRA and SunCal have
pledged openness; inquired whether the Navy has signed onto openness.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded the Navy is a public
agency; stated that she will ask the Navy about the matter.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated the threshold for 1,100
individual homes was $666,000 per home; the Navy has not asked for more than
$108.5 million with additional homes.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated to date, the Navy has not
asked for more than $108.5 million but has not stated that it is willing to accept $108.5
million; the $108.5 million does not include Phases 4 and 5.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated the proposal includes the
northern territory.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated details have not been worked
out.
Mayor/Chair Johnson stated that she recalls that the Navy bases its number on a land
value formula.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated the Navy hires an economic
consultant; the consultant looks at the pro forma; $108.5 million is for the 1,800
Preliminary Development Concept (PDC) project; market changes have been
significant.
Stan Brown, SunCal, stated confusion has involved the application versus the density
bonus option plan; SunCal believes addressing issues on the application is appropriate;
SunCal has expressed a desire to move toward a transit oriented plan; SunCal will
continue to be responsive to questions throughout the eighteen-month to two-year
process to complete the Environmental Impact Report; SunCal does not want to
confuse openness with what is in the letter.
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AGENDA ITEMS
(10-39 CIC) Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolution Approving and Adopting
the Five-Year Implementation Plan for the Business and Waterfront and West End
Community Improvement Projects for Fiscal Year 2009 through 2010 and Fiscal Year
2013 through 2014. Continued to June 15, 2010.
(10-270 CC/ARRA/10-40 CIC) Recommendation to: (1) Direct Planning Board to
Provide Advisory Recommendation on SunCal Modified Optional Entitlement
Application at June 21, 2010 Meeting, and (2) Set Public Hearing for Decision on
SunCal Modified Optional Entitlement Application and/or Extension of the Exclusive
Negotiation Agreement from Governing Bodies of Alameda by July 20, 2010.
The Deputy City Manager – Development Services gave a brief presentation.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese inquired whether milestone
documents would be public upon submission, to which the Deputy City Manager –
Development Services responded in the affirmative.
Speakers: Jean Sweeney, Alameda; Jim Sweeney, Alameda; Jon Spangler, Alameda;
William Smith, Alameda.
Stan Brown, SunCal, gave a Power Point presentation; stated that he disagrees with
large elements of the staff report; the major issue he would discuss is the assertion that
SunCal has used overly aggressive or optimistic assumptions in developing its pro
forma; if the recommendations of City staff and Economic & Planning Systems (EPS)
are adopted, there would be substantial degradation to the project pro forma to the
extent that the project may become financially infeasible; long range forecasting of
project pro formas is difficult; assumption analysis needs to be based upon a clear
understanding of industry business practices and a commitment to keep apples to
apples comparisons; SunCal believes an apples to oranges comparison has gone on;
the staff report identifies a number of differences between SunCal’s estimates on
various parameters and EPS’s recommendations; EPS estimates $860,000 and SunCal
estimates $1,042,000 for single family home sales in the year 2014, which is a 21%
difference in value; the EPS study put historical sales prices in Alameda into two
buckets: 1) single family and 2) all housing, including condominiums, townhouses,
duplexes and single family homes; EPS came up with $582,000 for a 1600 square foot
house contrasted with SunCal’s $900,000 for a 2500 square foot house; house size has
a material effect on the sale price of a home; EPS’s real price growth of 2% raises the
price to $630,000; then, EPS applied a 1.22 factor higher sales price for Alameda Point
to come up with a projection of $769,000; a 3% annual inflation rate reaches a nominal
real price of $862,000; the problem with the analysis is that EPS is confusing the
buckets and comparing a 1600 square foot house to a 2500 square foot house; the
value per square foot of the $860,000 1600 square foot home is $539 per square foot;
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$593 per square foot for a 2500 square foot house ends up with a house priced at
$1,347,000; EPS started with the all residential bucket at $582,000, as opposed to the
single family bucket at $666,000, which ends up with a price of $1,462,000 for a 2500
square foot single family house using the EPS methodology; EPS estimates that the
average premiums at Alameda Point to be 1% of sale price; the SunCal estimate is
6.4%; explained the basis for SunCal’s estimate; stated SunCal disagrees with the 1%;
regarding absorption, SunCal is not opposed to changing to the City and EPS’s
recommendation; if the City wants to take a slower absorption, it is fine with SunCal; for
single family construction costs, SunCal estimates $115 versus EPS’s estimate of $130;
explained the basis for SunCal’s estimate; further stated another area that has been
discussed is what should be anticipated as the real growth in home prices over time;
SunCal’s pro forma includes 2% starting in 2012; ESP recommends 1.4%; both sides
have gone back and forth over the analysis; long term construction cost trends range
from -0.7% to 0.5%; SunCal included a 0% real price growth; all of SunCal’s prices are
increased by CPI throughout the term of the project; there have been some clear
mistakes in the EPS methodology as to price; EPS’s premium analysis is simple;
SunCal has done a lot more research on direct construction costs; regarding SunCal’s
Albuquerque, New Mexico project with D.E. Shaw being put into bankruptcy, it is fair to
say any large real estate player, particularly in residential, has struggled in the past
several years; assets have gone through a devaluation; SunCal and its partners have
been severely hurt; in the Albuquerque example, $180 million in D.E. Shaw and
SunCal’s combined equity is in danger of being lost, which is an unfortunate
circumstance that is part of the price and risk of working in development; the good news
is D.E. Shaw continues to invest along side of SunCal and to express faith that SunCal
will go forward, as evidenced by the continuing investment in the Alameda process in
terms of the millions of dollars spent to date; SunCal would like to complete the process;
a project that the Council, Planning Board, citizens, D.E. Shaw and SunCal could be
proud of will be presented to Council for consideration in the next 18 months to two
years; SunCal looks forward to the opportunity to complete the process.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated the question is whether there
would be sufficient funding to pay for public amenities and community benefits
envisioned in the Master Plan; the answer is yes as demonstrated by two EPS pro
formas delivered to the City on April 8th and April 26th; the density bonus option pro
forma was sent to the Deputy City Manager - Development Services on April 26, 2010;
inquired whether the pro forma was incorporated in the staff report.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded the pro forma is an
attachment to tonight’s staff report.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam inquired why staff has a different
conclusion than SunCal regarding the density bonus option pro forma relating to
payment of public amenities.
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The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded SunCal was responding
to the April 20th letter; stated comments are now being reviewed on the letter sent six
weeks ago; the City did not have the density bonus pro forma at the time the April 20th
letter was sent.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated the staff report seems to be
contradictory to the statement that there would be sufficient funds to pay for public
amenities and community benefits.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated staff believes the assumptions
are overly aggressive and questions whether the project could support the public
benefits and transportation improvements; staff has come to a different conclusion than
SunCal.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated that Mr. Brown has stated
that there are inconsistencies in the staff analysis of EPS projections; inquired whether
staff still has the same conclusions.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded in the affirmative; stated
staff has discussed the issues with SunCal; that she would be happy to have EPS
discuss the analysis; the big picture is that there are five to seven key assumptions that
significantly affect the bottom line of the pro forma; SunCal’s assumption are overly
optimistic.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated that she does not
understand why SunCal’s assumptions are considered overly optimistic in light of the
requirements for having a project labor agreement and information on builder cost
surveys that occurred in May 2010.
Jim Musbach, EPS, stated EPS has been reviewing the pro forma; an independent
market analysis was performed; all [SunCal] assumptions skew towards the optimistic;
returns are overstated and project risk is understated; SunCal’s analysis is inconsistent
and is intended to paint a picture that is not supported by evidence; assuming 450 units
per year versus 350 units would have a significant impact on the Internal Rate of Return
(IRR); SunCal does not defend the suitability of the 14.7% IRR under the Measure A
compliant project; funding public amenities and community benefits has risks; EPS
calculated a premium of 22% for the area; the calculated premium would be less by
starting with just single-family homes; the land values keep escalating and is a red flag
and far beyond other projects; improved land values as a percentage of unit prices
range from 15% to 25%; SunCal’s land values are over 50% of unit value; SunCal ends
up with 2% appreciation compounded year after year which all falls to the land value
which means there is no escalation in construction costs and the land captures all of the
value on the upside, which is not true; EPS does not see $1 million dollar houses being
built for $105 per square foot; there is no evidence in today’s market that land values
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are $2.5 million to $7.7 million per acre; comps suggest between $2 million and $5
million; EPS requested information that would substantiate land prices as a percent of
unit prices; SunCal provide one comp from southern California; EPS believes the
combination of assumptions is overly optimistic.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese requested clarification on Mr.
Brown’s comments regarding EPS’s assumption of $860,000 for a small house versus
$1.1 million house.
Mr. Musbach stated that he couldn’t make sense of the issue; SunCal concludes that
figures are lower than EPS by applying the average pricing across all product types,
which is not legitimate.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese stated that he needs an
answer regarding whether or not numbers are real; back calculating the cost per square
foot of an $860,000 house results in a $1.4 million house instead of a $1 million house;
requested clarification of the matter.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded a more detailed analysis
would be provided.
Mr. Musbach stated per square foot costs obscure house size and quality differences;
bigger houses will have lower per square foot prices.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated the project would never
pencil out by looking at just single-family homes; the Measure A compliant plan would
not be financially feasible because it would not support the level of public amenities
called for in the Master Plan; the Master Plan calculations were across all different
housing types.
Mr. Musbach stated EPS took all homes prices in Alameda and looked at that relative to
Bayport; Bayport homes command a premium of 22%; EPS could have started with a
single-family home and ended up with a smaller differential premium of 10% or 15%;
EPS forecasted home prices in Alameda as a whole and then applied the premium to
get an estimate of what the cost for what single-family homes are for Alameda;
SunCal’s argument is that since EPS started with a number for all housing that is for
sale, then EPS should compare that price to SunCal’s average price across all product
types in the project, which includes townhouses and condominiums, which drops
SunCal’s average price way down.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated the Bayport premium relates
to the fact that it is new construction and predominately single-family homes.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated EPS is stating that Bayport
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homes are currently listed for $375 per square foot; the assumption in the Optional
Entitlement Agreement (OEA) is $360 per square foot.
Mr. Musbach stated that he couldn’t follow the numbers; the comparison is not apples to
apples but is a trick to change the average number, which is not accurate.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated that he received the
information [SunCal’s Power Point] at 3:30 p.m. via email; things seem to be premature;
SunCal and EPS need to sit down and have a discussion on the matter; EPS has
worked with the City for thirteen years; neither SunCal or EPS understand what the City
is going through; EPS should review issues and respond; tonight is not the time and
place for discussion; the Power Point presentation is difficult to see; the pro forma has
many other issues.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore stated that she is thoroughly
confused; requested an apple to apple comparison for single-family homes and
townhouses, stated that she wants SunCal and EPS to start at the same spot; if both
parties end up in a different place, she wants to know where and why in plain English.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese stated the pro forma shows
an IRR of 19% to 25%; the project would be spread over twenty years; inquired what
PERS hopes to get on investments, to which the Deputy City Manager – Administrative
Services responded 7.75%.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese stated the IRR is not an
acceptable level.
Mayor/Chair Johnson state there have been discussions regarding conservative or
aggressive assumptions; the real discussion is what would happen if there are not
enough funds to pay for public improvements; questioned whether there would be
enough money to pay for transportation solutions for 4,800 housing units and 4.5 million
square feet of commercial development; said discussions are critical for a successful
outcome; understanding the transit oriented nature of the development is important;
having enough money to pay for transit solutions is critical.
Mr. Musbach stated the issue is how to secure that the risk is appropriate.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated reverse engineering
seems to be taking place; the project is totally different than the 1,700 housing unit
project; understanding what is really sustainable is important; 4,800 housing units is
hard to put into prospective.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore stated the key to any
development at Alameda Point is transit and traffic; the project will not be successful
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without transit and traffic solutions; job one is paying for transit solutions; the project will
not be successful if there is not enough money to pay for transit solutions.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese stated the first
recommendation in the staff report is to direct the Planning Board to provide an advisory
recommendation on the OEA; that he has no faith that any amount of money would
solve the issue of getting people who are in the 4,800 housing units on and off the
island; having the Planning Board provide an advisory recommendation is important;
financing can be reviewed in parallel because financing needs to be based on the
project.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore inquired whether staff is
assuming that SunCal would provide a complete application by the Planning Board
meeting, to which the Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded in the
negative.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore stated generally, the Planning
Board provides a recommendation to Council based on a complete application; a work
session or scoping session would take place if an application is incomplete; a formal
vote would not be taken; a policy determination would be needed without a formal
application; making a policy determination is the Council’s job.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated the application on file is not
deemed complete yet; the matter is an advisory recommendation.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam inquired what the Planning Board
would be reviewing if the application were incomplete.
The Planning Services Manager responded the application includes a General Plan
amendment and rezoning for the property; stated Council cannot take action on
entitlement without an advisory recommendation from the Planning Board; Council’s
action would be to either deny or not deny the request and let the process continue;
staff wanted to provide Council with the option of extending or not extending the
Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) or not given the timeframe of the ENA; staff
thought it was important to get advice from the Planning Board before the hearing;
having a completed application is not required in order to get the Planning Board’s
advice.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore inquired whether a Planning
Board recommendation is required for General Plan amendments or rezoning, to which
the Planning Services Manager responded in the affirmative.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore stated a determination couldn’t
be made without a completed application.
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The City Attorney stated Planning Board action is required to approve a General Plan
amendment or rezoning; action cannot be taken until an Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) is completed; the application does not have to go to the Planning Board; however,
going to the Planning Board affords another opportunity for community comment and
Planning Board input.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated that he understands that
the Planning Board has not been provided with all the information; the Planning Board
does not understand the total scope of the project; that he questions the need to go
back to the Planning Board; too much information is missing.
The Planning Services Manager stated the matter is Council’s call since there is no
legal requirement for the application to go to the Planning Board.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated circling the matter back to
the Planning Board may not have any value; that she does not feel there is enough
financial information; she does not want to impose the issue on the Planning Board until
financial information comes back in a more coherent form.
The Planning Services Manager stated the intention would not be to bring all the
economics back to the Planning Board; the Planning Board would be focusing on
planning issues.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese stated recommendations on
land use and transportation plans would be valuable.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated the Planning Board has some
of the same questions regarding financial assurances.
Mayor/Chair Johnson stated the project might be starting out to big and maybe the EIR
should be smaller; housing units and commercial square footage could be increased if
the EIR shows that more capacity would be doable.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore stated the Planning Board was
looking to Council for guidance; that she thinks the process is backwards.
Mayor/Chair Johnson stated that she does not have a strong opinion either way; the
advantage would be to provide an opportunity for public input.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated study after study has
been done on transportation issues; today’s traffic mitigations discussions are the same
as three years ago but the project has increased three fold.
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Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated that she does not recall PDC
information on the WRT Solomon Transportation Study; inquired whether 1,700 homes
would generate revenue to pay for transit solutions.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan responded the issue is
extremely questionable; stated more public amenities would be needed for more
homes.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated that she thought the whole
concept is to have people bike or walk to neighborhood amenities.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated a transit oriented plan
was used in the community use plan; the transit oriented community in the community
use plan and the PDC were almost parallel; nothing has changed; building more homes
is not the answer to transit solutions; Treasure Island is the king of less auto usage;
Treasure Island residents use 1.8 autos per home.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam inquired what assumptions were
made with respect to the ferry; stated the Alameda Point ferry terminal seems to be
doing well and has an over 40% fare box recovery ratio.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan responded Oakland contributes
more of the ridership than Alameda; Oakland would lose its ferry service if the ferry was
moved to the lagoon; inquired what is Oakland’s fare box recovery ratio.
The Public Works Director responded the Alameda/Oakland Ferry Service fare box
recovery ratio is approximately 58%; stated the Oakland connection helps Alameda mid
day because of Oakland excursion riders; staff has a meeting on Thursday with the
Water Emergency Transit Authority (WETA); WETA is wondering what will happen to
the fare box recovery ratio and whether the ferry service would be viable if it is
bifurcated from the Oakland connection and located at the seaplane lagoon.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated the northeast corner
lagoon location is a concern; the vessel would have to traverse the whole lagoon, which
would take five minutes; the PDC relocated the ferry to one of the piers which changes
having transit within a quarter mile of density.
The Public Works Director stated the matter was discussed at meetings [with SunCal];
the travel time through the seaplane lagoon would be approximately seven minutes
each way; WETA’s Interim Operating Plan (IOP) originally envisioned interlinking with
the Harbor Bay Ferry Service; currently, the Harbor Bay Ferry Service travel time is 23
minutes, which would increase to 40 to 44 minutes due to the seaplane lagoon location.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated there has to be some type of
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development at Alameda Point in order to create a more robust ferry system; otherwise,
there would not be any ridership; inquired what is the threshold to obtain new ridership,
to which the Public Works Director responded a ten minute walk.
In response to Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam’s inquiry, the Public
Works Director responded SunCal has not provided ridership estimates; the developer
normally provides the information.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated the last study showed
that 24% of Alamedans go to San Francisco; thoughts are that every ferry would move
all masses to San Francisco, which is not the case.
The Public Works Director stated SunCal is proposing that more people would commute
to San Francisco because SunCal’s product would be more appealing to people who
work in San Francisco; the ferry is only one part of the transportation proposal; the bus
rapid transit would be in the later phase.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated the PDC included the bus
rapid transit; denser areas would provide an opportunity for more ridership; requested
that all information be brought back; stated that he has not seen anything new.
The Public Works Director stated the City developed a preliminary traffic analysis for
Measure B; the PDC did not have any traffic analysis but had ideas to sustain a transit
oriented development; level of service analyses were not done; the first time a level of
service analysis was done was in the Election Report and was very preliminary.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated a lot of new studies have not
been conducted in the last three years; the issue would be addressed with SunCal at
Thursday’s meeting; said discussion could be brought back at the next meeting.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore stated there still seems to be an
issue regarding where the ferry terminal would be placed; transit solutions need to
function as a whole; inquired how work can start on the rest of the transportation system
when the ferry terminal location is unknown.
Mayor/Chair Johnson inquired whether the ferry would be part of the transit hub.
The Public Works Director responded in the affirmative; stated the ferry terminal would
meet the bus rapid transit; the matter would be discussed with WETA.
In response to Mayor/Chair Johnson’s inquiry, the Public Works Director stated SunCal
has told the City where it wants the ferry terminal.
Mayor/Chair Johnson stated planning is needed.
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The Public Works Director stated the matter is being fine-tuned.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore stated that she assumes there
would be a similar process with AC Transit.
The Public Works Director stated a similar process would be done with AC Transit
eventually.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated everything takes time;
inquired whether there is enough time to gather information for the June 21st Planning
Board Meeting.
The Public Works Director responded the exact ferry terminal location is less important
than the idea of what to have; stated the traffic model would not be that sensitive and
the Board could see how to interrelate transit and land development density.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Gilmore inquired whether the ferry
terminal would be somewhere in the seaplane lagoon.
The Public Works Director responded the seaplane lagoon is being proposed; stated
the proposal is a transit hub in the seaplane lagoon with a ferry terminal at the northeast
corner; staff has had discussions with WETA regarding whether there will be enough
ridership to bifurcate from Oakland and move the ferry to the seaplane lagoon; that he
would like to discuss adding Harbor Bay; WETA only wants to take on new ferry service
out of the seaplane lagoon if it is financially feasible and the ridership is there;
otherwise, the ferry terminal would remain at the Main Street terminal; there would be
shuttles from Alameda Point to the seaplane lagoon by the end of the 3rd phase.
In response to Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan’s inquiry, the
Public Works Director responded WETA’s boats accommodate 119 and 159
passengers.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated other options need to be
reviewed; other options are getting few and far between; today’s generation will change
employers many times; the vast majority of employees are in the south bay; Concord
does not have any bus service; BART is available in Dublin but is limited in other areas;
the City had three years of commitment; SunCal should have had the issue ironed out.
Mayor/Chair Johnson inquired whether the matter should be sent back to the Planning
Board, the majority of Councilmembers/Board Members/Commissioners responded in
the negative.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated action is needed on the
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Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, and
Community Improvement Commission
June 1, 2010
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second item [Setting a Public Hearing for Decision on the SunCal Modified Optional
Entitlement Application and/or Extension of the ENA from Governing Bodies of Alameda
by July 20, 2010]; staff is looking at either July 6th or July 20th.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese stated that he is puzzled why
the matter is being addressed tonight when an ARRA meeting was scheduled for
tomorrow but was cancelled; monthly ARRA meetings need to be reestablished.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese moved approval of setting a
Public Hearing on July 6th, 7th, or 20th to decide on the SunCal Modified OEA and/or
extension of the ENA.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan seconded the motion.
Under discussion, the Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated staff would
come back with a recommendation on which date.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Matarrese stated that he prefers to have
the public hearing at the regular July 7th ARRA meeting which would not conflict with
Council business.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam inquired whether staff expects to
have the submittal that occurred over the weekend, the determination of completeness,
resolution of financial issues, and transportation plan issues available.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services responded a definitive answer on the
incompleteness [of the application] can be provided by June 15th; stated follow up on
the financial information could be provided in the next two weeks; staff would be
reporting back on transportation questions on June 15th.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated the density bonus leaves
a lot of question in his mind; 1,310 homes is low density; high density is 3,531; the
project is not new development throughout but is adaptive reuse and infill; that he needs
clarification on 29 areas on the reuse of the Batchelor’s Enlisted Quarters (BEQ).
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated the total number of units
would increase by 30%; density, in terms of the number of units per acre, occurs
through a density bonus transfer; a density bonus plan cannot be achieved without the
density bonus option and density transfer.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated high density housing is
outside the quarter mile and actually goes beyond the quarter mile; more homes would
be outside the density corridor; provided a handout; stated the orange area is high
density and goes outside the quarter mile; inquired whether high density commercial is
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council, Alameda
Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, and
Community Improvement Commission
June 1, 2010
14
part of the equation.
The Planning Services Manager responded commercial is not part of the density bonus
plan; stated the density bonus ordinance would not govern where SunCal chooses to
put densities.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan stated the red outline on page 4
shows high density residential and commercial; the blue line is the buffer zone; that he
has never seen anything similar in Alameda.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated the WRT Study also
analyzed a high range in density that was closer to SunCal’s plan.
The Planning Services Manager stated the WRT Study looked at the PDC; the key to
making the overall project work for the City is that the 4,200 unit project would have to
develop and fund a very successful transportation plan that would work for the entire
island; the only way to get people from the 4,200 housing units through the tube would
be to have existing residents chose to participate [in a transportation program].
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam inquired whether the WRT Study
was commissioned by the City, to which the Planning Services Manager responded in
the affirmative.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated that her comfort level would
increase if she had more information before deciding what the date should be; inquired
whether information could be provided by the next Council meeting, to which the
Planning Services Manager responded in the affirmative.
The Deputy City Manager - Development Services stated staff would come back on
June 15th with updates on the completeness of the application, financial issues, and
transit oriented develop aspects.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated an update should be
provided on the concept of density bonus and density transfer and how it works in light
of the transit oriented development.
On the call for the question, the motion carried by the following voice vote: Ayes:
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioners deHaan, Gilmore, Matarrese, and
Mayor/Chair Johnson – 4. Abstention: Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner
Tam – 1.
Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner Tam stated that she needs more
information before she is comfortable with setting a date.
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Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, and
Community Improvement Commission
June 1, 2010
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ORAL REPORTS
(ARRA) Oral report from Member Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner
Matarrese, Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) representative - Highlights of May 6
Alameda Point RAB Meeting
Board Member Matarrese stated the Navy is nearing completion of the replacement and
removal of several radio active storm drain lines that go from Buildings 5 and 400 to the
seaplane lagoon; requested clarification on whether the new storm drains would meet
current standards; stated a number of remediation are in place; nearly 75% completion
of characterization is being approached; part of the clean up plan includes the former
Todd Shipyard near the existing ferry terminal where copper is being removed, which is
not all Navy contamination, but the Navy is paying for it.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor/Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 10:55
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
Secretary, CIC
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
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Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, and
Community Improvement Commission
June 1, 2010
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