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2001-08-01 ARRA MinutesAPPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE 2-A_ ALAMEDA REUSE AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Wednesday, August 1, 2001 1. CLOSED SESSION OF THE ARRA BOARD Chair Appezzato reported that the Board was briefed by the real property negotiator, and the Board provided direction to the negotiator. No action was taken at this time; action will be taken at a special ARRA Board meeting on August 9, 2001. 2. ROLL CALL The meeting convened at 6:23 p.m. with Chair Appezzato presiding. Present: Ralph Appezzato, Mayor, City of Alameda Albert DeWitt, Councilmember, City of Alameda Barbara Kerr, Councilmember, City of Alameda Tony Daysog, Councilmember, City of Alameda Beverly Johnson, Councilmember, City of Alameda 3. CONSENT CALENDAR 3 -A. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of June 6, 2001. 3 -B. Approval of the minutes of the special meeting of June 19, 2001. 3 -C. Approval of the minutes of the special meeting of July 19, 2001. Member Daysog motioned for approval of the consent calendar, and Member DeWitt seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 4. ACTION ITEMS 4 -A. Report from the Director of Development Services Director regarding the Master Developer presentations. Chair Appezzato announced that this would be an opportunity for the three candidates to address questions and concerns raised by Board members at the meeting of July 19, 2001. Each candidate will have 30 minutes, and the order has been selected at random. 1 Alameda Point Community Partners (APCP) was represented by Thom Gamble, president, who provided Board members with written responses to the questions previously raised. He stressed the importance of a partnership between APCP and the community through extensive community input in the planning process and active community involvement going forward. Lori Feldberg, lead planner, discussed their vision of creating a well- rounded community where people live, work, shop and play, with small neighborhoods connected by pedestrian and bicycle paths. Housing plans include single - family homes plus affordable senior apartments, loft -style live /work units, and residential above retail. There will be a multi -modal transit hub in the marina area, plus a large park along the water, in addition to numerous active parks and greenbelts throughout the development. Rob Richardson, vice president of APCP, focused on early conveyance and environmental remediation, APCP's relationship with labor, and transportation plans. He stressed early investment of substantial capital for remediation, as they have done at McClellan AFB, where they will have invested $40 million by year -end and have created over 6,000 jobs and leased over 3 million square feet. They will also indemnify the City during the remediation process through their insurance coverage. He stated that all the companies making up APCP already have strong partnerships with labor unions, and they anticipate reaching agreements prior to beginning any work at Alameda Point. Regarding transportation needs, they ruled out light rail as an option because of inconvenient BART access and difficult right -of -way issues. Their multi -modal transportation hub includes ferries, expanded bus service, an estuary- crossing gondola, bicycles and auto parking. APCP's $45 million equity will pay for the hub. They have already met with the Port of Oakland and City of Oakland and have established good relationships for going forward with ferry, bus and gondola service. Eric Kaplan, partner at Morgan Stanley, summarized APCP's qualifications and financial resources. Harbor Bay /Lennar was introduced by Kevin Hanson, senior vice president. He stressed the company's long -term track record of working with the City of Alameda at Harbor Bay. They also have experience working with governmental agencies in military base conversions and early transfers. They have completed the first commercial early transfer of a base in the U.S. (Mare Island). A representative of CH2M /Hill discussed the challenges of early transfer (environ - mental, financial, governmental), and explained that his company separates the community from the risks of environmental responsibility through full corporate indemnification. He stressed their prior experience with the entire process necessary to achieve early transfer. A transporta -tion engineer discussed their transit plan for the development, including expanded bus service, ferries, light rail, and BART service to Lake Merritt and Fruitvale stations. Mr. Hanson presented slides of new designs for several current areas. Catellus Development Corporation was represented by CEO Nelson Rising, who focused their presentation on responses to questions raised at the previous meeting. He said their vision incorporates Alameda Point into the City of Alameda through their transportation plan, as well as complimentary architecture and landscaping plans. VA They anticipate continued community rapport, which they have already cultivated through their FISC development planning process. He stressed Catellus' ability to provide financial, environmental, commercial, and residential expertise in a singular package. Peter Laurner focused on residential requirements encompassing affordable and market rate housing, as well as senior housing units. They will integrate the Collaborative units into their overall housing plan, including addressing landscaping and maintenance needs. They also will help fund the Collaborative's community center and daycare center. They have extensive prior experience with environmental remediation and early transfer, including Mission Bay in San Francisco and the FISC development, as well as negotiating experience with the necessary governmental agencies. Early transfer is complete at FISC and the clean -up is on schedule. They anticipate 12 months for early transfer and 36 months for most of the remediation at Alameda Point. There was a meeting today with the School District regarding anticipated schooling needs at both FISC and Alameda Point, and a mitigation agreement is being formulated. Funding will be provided by assessments included in housing prices. Dan Marcus addressed historic preservation, which will include tourist and education attractions. They have met with and support the Hornet and Air Museum and have pledged financial support to both. Their plan calls for more residential and less commercial development than the other three plans, but they will market to high - tech and biotech firms which are high property tax generators. They also plan less retail development, so as not to adversely impact current businesses on Park and Webster Streets. However, they plan more cultural, educational and civic uses than the other plans. Catellus' vision for residential development will produce a boost to the property tax revenues (approximately $14 million at full build -out). A transportation consultant outlined how they would connect Alameda to the regional transportation system via bus or light rail connections to BART, enhanced ferry service, and local feeder systems. Funding could be provided by separate intermodal transportation agreements. Chair Appezzato announced that a matrix will be developed by City staff which summarizes the three candidates' proposals and will be available for public review on August 3rd. The master developer selection will be made at a special ARRA meeting on August 9t" The public hearing was opened. Bob Haslam represented the West Oakland Commerce Association, which plans to convert the West Oakland BART station into a "transportation village ". He suggested working with the City of Oakland, Port of Oakland and the Coast Guard on transportation solutions. Robert Leste endorsed APCP because of their passion, vision and personal commitment needed to complete the project. 3 Don Peterson urged the selection of APCP because they have the best development plan. Marilyn York, representing the Alameda Naval Air Museum, invited the public to visit the Museum to see the history of Alameda Point. Steve Lowe, vice president of West Oakland Commerce Association, encouraged whichever developer that is chosen to implement the aerial tramway proposal. Charles Ward, member of the Economic Development Commission, endorsed APCP because of their innovative transportation plans. Kurt Bohan expressed concern that the public has not been adequately informed about the developers' proposals and that Catellus plans to destroy many of the historic buildings and boat ramps. Hugh McKay also expressed concern about preservation of the historic areas and recommended Harbor Bay /Lennar. Barry Luboviski, secretary /treasurer of the Building & Constructions Trades Council, endorsed Catellus and Harbor Bay /Lennar because they have already met with the union. They have reached a labor agreement with Catellus and are negotiating with Harbor Bay. Marina Secchitano of the Inland Boatmen's Union urged the reward of the master developer contract to Harbor Bay /Lennar because of their current successful operation of the Harbor Bay ferry service and their plans for a regional ferry service. Nick Cabral endorsed APCP because of what they have already accomplished at the former McClellan AFB. Andy Lee, representing the Hotel & Restaurant Workers' Union, expressed hope that whichever developer is selected, if a hotel or restaurant is part of the plan, they will offer the employees the option of being unionized. He also stated that only Harbor Bay and Catellus have met with the union. Thomas Mercer of the Hornet Foundation indicated that the Foundation has met with all of the developer candidates, and they have found that Catellus has been most responsive to their interest in preserving the historical legacy of the Navy and the Hornet. Robert Wolf, former California Transportation Undersecretary, endorsed Catellus because of their multi -modal approach to transportation needs and their funding plans. Sam Swan recommended APCP because of their outstanding development team and 4 their track record on projects throughout the state. Melissa Harris, local small business owner, expressed concern about the commercial space in the developers' plans and recommended Catellus because they propose the least commercial space, creating less competition with existing businesses on the West End. Bobby Winston, editor of Bay Crossings, stressed the importance of ferry service in new development at Alameda Point, and endorsed Harbor Bay /Lennar because of their previous ferry experience. Michael Vernetti indicated how important it will be to have adequate housing options and endorsed Catellus because their proposal calls for the most housing units. Jon Spangler represents Bike Alameda, which has met with Catellus and APCP and feels both of these candidates have workable transportation plans in their proposals. They endorse Catellus because their plan better integrates Alameda Point into the community. John Huetter is president of the West Alameda Business Association, which met with all three candidates. The Association recommends Catellus because their proposal reflects the Association's vision for the development of the West Alameda area. Mike Dunlap opined that all of the proposals that have been presented will be changed when development actually begins. Bill Stremmel endorsed Catellus because of their efficient transportation plan and increased housing units. Sam Koka endorsed APCP. Kevin Lee supported APCP because of their innovative plans. Richard Neveln, member of the West Oakland Advisory Board, criticized Catellus for not preserving historic buildings at FISC and endorsed APCP because of their aerial tram proposal. Vickie Smith hoped that the parks in the new development areas will be available to all West End residents. Leslie Medine endorsed Catellus because she has had good working relationships with them as they have assisted the HOME Project. The public hearing was closed for Authority discussion. Chair Appezzato thanked all of the developers and speakers. He acknowledged that all of the proposals are general concepts and that there will be many changes as development moves forward. Member Kerr thanked the developers for the time they spent with the Board members, especially the tours of their existing projects. She stated that the City will own the land briefly before it is transferred to the developer, and the public benefits that are promised will affect the land price that is paid to the City. She hopes that the public benefit agreements are negotiated separately and not incorporated into the design and development agreement. Member DeWitt received responses from all the developers to the questions he had raised at the previous meeting. He visited Hamilton Field, Mission Bay, and McClellan AFB. He has a concern about the large parking structure proposed by APCP at their transportation hub and is uncertain about the IMAX entertainment area proposed on the Hornet. Member Daysog thanked the developers for their written responses to the Board's previous questions, and also thanked City staff and consultants for all their work during the screening and selection process. He stressed the importance of resolving the potential traffic issues and appreciated the alternative solutions proposed by the developers. Member Johnson also thanked the developers and the selection team members, and acknowledged the efforts of the Alameda Point Advisory Committee in the last eight years. She stressed the importance of integrating Alameda Point into the rest of the community, as well as remediation, clean -up and early transfer of the property. Chair Appezzato thanked City staff for their input throughout the selection process and reiterated that it will be a difficult decision to make because all of the developers' proposals are excellent. 5. ORAL REPORTS 5 -A. Oral report from Alameda Point Advisory Committee. Lee Perez, Chair of the APAC, said that the APAC is very interested in the ARRA Board's selection of the master developer. The APAC would like to be involved in the street naming at both the FISC and Alameda Point as they are developed. 6. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON - AGENDA (PUBLIC COMMENT) Kurt Bohan stated that, although the Encinal Boat Ramp is very nice and generally IN functional in its present configuration, the roadway leading to it is quite narrow and somewhat dangerous for maneuvering large boats. He suggested using an adjacent parking lot for a dry marina and boat storage area. 7. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE GOVERNING BODY Member Kerr reminded everyone that Sunday, August 5t ", is the Firefighters Annual Breakfast to raise money for the Burn Foundation. Chair Appezzato also mentioned the Art & Wine Festival this weekend, including the Run for the Parks on Saturday morning. 8. ADJOURNMENT Chair Appezzato adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lucretia Akil ARRA Secretary