2007-11-06 Joint CC HABOC MinutesMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSING
AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (HABOC) MEETING
TUESDAY- - NOVEMBER 6, 2007- -7:25 P.M.
Mayor /Chair Johnson convened the Special Joint Meeting at 7:38 p.m.
Commissioner Torrey led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers /Board Members deHaan,
Gilmore, Matarrese, Tam, Commissioner
Torrey, and Mayor /Chair Johnson - 6.
Absent: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Commissioner Torrey moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
Commissioner Matarrese seconded the motion, which carried by
unanimous voice vote - 6. [Items so enacted or adopted are
indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]
( *HABOC) Minutes of the Special Board of Commissioners meeting held
September 4, 2007. Approved.
AGENDA ITEMS
(07 -514) Recommendation to authorize the City Manager or her
designee to accept a Deed of Release of Restrictions from the
National Park Service for Neptune Park and a Declaration of
Restrictions for a new City -owned parcel located near Towata Park
and to enter into a license agreement with the Housing Authority to
provide parking for Independence Plaza residents on an 11,575
square foot tract of land on Neptune Park.
Councilmember /Commissioner Gilmore stated that she would recuse
herself from the item because of the possible appearance of bias.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired what is the parking need.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded the parking need
is for the Independent Plaza Senior Complex as well as the Housing
Authority office; stated the Senior Complex requires .75 parking
spaces per unit; the Complex has 186 units; the office parking need
has a formula and is also left to the judgment of the Planning
Director; a total of 195 or 198 parking spaces are required; the
proposed additional parking spaces would bring the total to 180
spaces; Berkeley studies have shown that low- income senior
complexes can get by with .6 parking spaces per unit; experience
has proven that more is needed.
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and Housing 1
Authority Board of Commissioners
November 6, 2007
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired whether the combination of the
housing units and office space bumps up the need to .75 parking
spaces per unit as opposed to .6.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded the additional
parking would provide for less than .75 parking spaces per unit.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired whether some consideration was
given to improving access from the housing units to the bus stops;
stated bus stops are gated off; further inquired whether efforts
were made to improve access to public transit in lieu of providing
more vehicle access.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded that he is not
sure whether there was a discussion about bus stop access; stated
fences are in place for security purposes; the complex has gates in
the back, side, and front.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired whether seniors have easy
access to and from the bus stops.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded seniors have to
walk farther to the bus stop at the corner of Webster Street and
Atlantic Avenue; stated seniors would need to walk through the
parking lot if there was a gate; there is no room for sidewalks;
another bus stop at the front of the office is accessible.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired whether consideration was
given to the issue in 2005.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded that he does not
recall any discussion regarding adding gates in order to improve
access to bus stops.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired whether consideration was
given to relocating bus stops or providing easier access to
transit.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded in the negative;
stated automobiles and parking are being discussed, not buses.
Mayor /Chair Johnson stated that the assumption that senior housing
requires less parking is not accurate.
The Housing Authority Executive Director stated Seniors are more
active at Independence Plaza; automobiles provide independence;
paratransit is available; a bus from Chinatown shows up quite a
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and Housing 2
Authority Board of Commissioners
November 6, 2007
bit.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired whether a car - sharing program
is available, to which the Housing Authority Executive Director
responded that he does not know.
Mayor /Chair Johnson stated the City of Berkeley has a good car
sharing program; suggested staff look into the matter.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam stated the Housing Authority estimates
that it would cost $190,000 to build the Independence Plaza parking
lot; inquired whether said cost would be recouped from rent
increases.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded funding would be
from reserves; stated reserves get refunded from grants.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired whether parking would be free,
to which the Housing Authority Executive Director responded in the
affirmative.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired whether there are
opportunities to acquire additional park space on the West End as
opposed to east of Park Street [near Towata Park].
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded the National
Park Service does not allow deed restriction on an existing park;
stated the additional parcel from East Bay Municipal Utility
District (EBMUD) was not a park; the deed restriction needs to be
placed on non -park land.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired whether there are
opportunities to expand an existing park on the west side.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded [West End] parks
or property were not identified.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam inquired about the Coast Guard housing
area, to which the Housing Authority Executive Director responded
said area was not available at the time.
Richard Neveln, Alameda, suggested that the matter be referred to
the Transportation Commission.
Kim Nicholis, Alameda, discussed parking.
Councilmember /Commissioner deHaan inquired how many parking spaces
are needed for the Housing Authority office.
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and Housing 3
Authority Board of Commissioners
November 6, 2007
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded two parcels are
involved; stated one parcel would add an additional twenty to
twenty -two parking spaces; fourteen parking spaces would be needed
on the eastern portion.
Councilmember /Commissioner deHaan inquired whether the equation
would change to 0.6 parking spaces per tenant.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded the parking
space would increase to 0.7 and would be less than the 0.75
required in the City ordinance.
Councilmember /Commissioner deHaan stated seniors are staying in the
workforce longer; dynamics have changed.
Councilmember /Commissioner deHaan moved approval of the staff
recommendation.
Mayor /Chair Johnson inquired whether some Housing Authority
vehicles are parked off site.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded said vehicles
are all parked on site; stated some vehicles are locked inside the
garage; others are parked behind the gate in a secured area.
Mayor /Chair Johnson stated the preference is to avoid taking away
any green area for parking; inquired whether Housing Authority
vehicles could be parked off site.
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded the fenced area
behind the gate is a secured area and is used for ingress and
egress for maintenance vehicles.
Mayor /Chair Johnson inquired whether additional spaces would be
added for Housing Authority vehicles, to which the Housing
Authority Executive Director responded in the negative.
Councilmember /Commissioner deHaan inquired whether trees would be
removed, to which the Housing Authority Executive Director
responded in the affirmative.
Councilmember /Commissioner deHaan inquired whether similar, mature
trees would be replanted, to which the Housing Authority Executive
Director responded in the affirmative.
Councilmember /Commissioner deHaan inquired whether the Public Works
Department is comfortable with the plan.
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Alameda City Council and Housing 4
Authority Board of Commissioners
November 6, 2007
The Housing Authority Executive Director responded the matter has
been discussed with the Recreation and Parks Department, not Public
Works.
Councilmember /Commissioner Matarrese stated the same issues were
discussed in 2005; the City has a Vehicle Procurement Policy; the
next step is to get a Vehicle Use Policy; the vacant lot purchased
from EBMUD would be designated as a park, which is a positive step;
the motion should include that the staff recommendation is accepted
with the provision that the City develop a Vehicle Use Policy and
that no more park space be taken from the site.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner Tam stated that she does not think that
this [parking lot] is the best use of the parkland; she will not
support the staff recommendation.
Councilmember /Commissioner Matarrese seconded the motion with
direction that the City develop a Vehicle Use Policy and that no
more park space be taken from the site.
On the call for the question, the motion carried by the following
voice vote: Ayes: Councilmembers /Commissioners deHaan, Matarrese,
Commissioner Torrey, and Mayor /Chair Johnson - 4. Noes:
Councilmember / Commissioner Tam - 1. Abstentions: Councilmember /
Commissioner Gilmore - 1. [Note: Councilmember /Commissioner Gilmore
recused herself from the item because of the possible appearance of
bias.]
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor /Chair Johnson adjourned the
Special Joint Meeting at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger
City Clerk
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown
Act.
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and Housing 5
Authority Board of Commissioners
November 6, 2007