Resolution 14780CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 14780
AFFIRM SUPPORT FOR CREATION OF A NATURE RESERVE
AT ALAMEDA POINT
WHEREAS, the 1996 Community Reuse Plan identifies the southwestern portion
of the former Naval Air Station-Alameda airfield for preservation as a wildlife refuge
under management of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and
WHEREAS, the 1996 Community Reuse Plan, page 2-27, states that “a major
portion of the historic airfield area would remain as open space to provide for the
preservation of wetlands, sensitive species, and regional open space uses”; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan of the City of Alameda was amended in 2003 to
add Chapter 9 on Alameda Point, which includes Policy 9.3.ss encouraging funding and
implementation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Comprehensive Conservation
Plan for the Alameda National Wildlife Refuge; and
WHEREAS, Policies 9.3.kk and 9.3.mm of the General Plan call for maintaining
“a Wildlife Refuge that balances natural conservation with public access, education and
ship navigation” and supports “a system of trails that provide public access to and within
the Wildlife Refuge”; and
WHEREAS, Policy 9.3.nn of the General Plan supports the creation of “education
facilities and programs, similar to other conservation areas such as the Elsie D. Roemer
Bird Sanctuary, in conjunction with either Alameda Point Park or the Wildlife Refuge”;
and
WHEREAS, the wildlife refuge site is home to one of the most successful nesting
sites in California for the endangered California least tern; and
WHEREAS, Breakwater Island is part of the wildlife refuge vision in the 1996
Community Reuse Plan, and it is the only night roosting area of its kind in San
Francisco Bay for California Brown Pelicans, which were only recently removed from
the Endangered Species List; and
WHEREAS, the wildlife refuge, and the entirety of Alameda Point and its
adjacent waters, are subject to special restrictions for protection of the California least
tern contained in the 2012 Biological Opinion issued by the US Fish and Wildlife
Service, which is the agency responsible for enforcement of the federal Endangered
Species Act; and
WHEREAS, the proposed 511-acre refuge area offers a rare and vast inner
urban opportunity for limited public access and education, a respite and retreat from the
built environment, introduction of native plant species, expansion of wetlands, and
wildlife recovery and protection efforts consistent with the existing or any future
Biological Opinion issued by USFWS; and
WHEREAS, the wildlife refuge would complement the land uses contemplated for
the mixed-use area of Alameda Point, as well as complementing the entire City of
Alameda and the Bay Area; and
WHEREAS, numerous federal, state, and regional public agencies possess the
experience and mission for collaboratively managing a wildlife conservation area; and
WHEREAS, environmental cleanup and remediation will be completed by the
Navy in compliance with federal and state environmental laws; and
WHEREAS, the Navy currently anticipates transferring the 511 acres proposed
for the wildlife refuge area to the VA, which will remain as undeveloped/open space
consistent with the 2012 Biological Opinion issued by USFWS and the remaining
Alameda Point upland and submerged property to the City; and
WHEREAS, the wildlife refuge vision is compatible with, and complementary to,
proposed plans for a VA clinic and columbarium; and
WHEREAS, the proposed wildlife refuge is a part of the 1996 NAS Alameda
Community Reuse Plan (as amended in 1997) (Reuse Plan). See Reuse Plan, pp. 2-27
to -2-28. As part of the Reuse Plan, it was analyzed in the Final EIR for the Reuse of
Naval Air Station Alameda and the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Alameda Annex
and Facility (State Clearinghouse No. 96022105), which was certified in 2000. In
addition, Chapter 9 (Alameda Point) of the General Plan contains Policies 9.3.kk
through 9.3.uu (pages 10-11) concerning the proposed wildlife refuge. Chapter 9 of the
General Plan was analyzed in the Alameda Point General Plan Amendment EIR (State
Clearinghouse No. 2001012057), which was certified in 2003; and
WHEREAS, this resolution of support would not require major revisions to either
previously certified EIR due to new or substantially increased significant environmental
effects. There have been no substantial changes to the proposed wildlife refuge or with
respect to the circumstances under which the wildlife refuge would be undertaken, that
would require major revisions to either EIR due to new or substantially increased
significant environmental effects, and no new information of substantial importance has
been discovered that would trigger or require major revisions to either EIR due to new
or substantially increased significant environmental effects. Therefore, no subsequent
or supplemental environmental impact report is required before approval of the
proposed resolution. In addition, this resolution of support is not an approval of “project”
for purposes of CEQA.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Alameda that it affirms its commitment to and support for the creation of a wildlife
conservation area at Alameda Point consistent with the avoidance and minimization
measures within the existing Biological Opinion for City owned property; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Alameda will
support the zoning of the wildlife conservation area as “Nature Reserve,” or similar
conservation zoning designation, to promote the protection and implementation of the
values and goals recited in this Resolution.
* * * * * * *
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and
regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in a regular
meeting assembled on the 19h day of March, 2013 by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Chen, Daysog, Ezzy Ashcraft, Tam and
Mayor Gilmore – 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
official seal of said City this 20th day of March, 2013.
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
City of Alameda