1997-08-05 Regular CC MinutesREGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY- -AUGUST 5, 1997- -7:30 P.M.
Mayor Appezzato convened the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice Mayor DeWitt.
Father Kennedy of St. Philip Neri Church gave the Invocation.
Roll Call: Present: Councilmembers Daysog, DeWitt,
Lucas, Kerr and Mayor Appezzato - 5.
Absent: None.
Mayor Appezzato announced that the Staff Report on Senate Bill 500
and Staff Report on the TransBay Terminal were removed from the
Consent Calendar for discussion.
Councilmember Lucas moved approval of the remainder of the Consent
Calendar. (Items so approved and/or accepted are indicated by an
asterisk preceding paragraph numbers.)
Councilmember Kerr seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous
voice vote - 5.
CONSENT CALENDAR
(*97-428) Minutes of the Special Joint City Council, Housing
Authority Board of Commissioners, and Community Improvement
Commission Meeting held on June 16, 1997, and the Regular City
Council Meetings held on July 1, and July 15, 1997. Approved.
(*97-429) Report from Finance Director transmitting the Annual City
of Alameda Investment Policy. Accepted.
(*97-430) Report from Finance Director transmitting the Investment
Report for Quarter ending June 30, 1997. Accepted.
(*97-431) Report from Finance Director recommending approval of
Certification of Assessment/Fee Statement. Accepted.
(97-432) Report from Chief of Police recommending support of Senate
Bill 500 (Polanco) Prohibiting "Saturday Night Special" Handguns.
Regular Meeting
Alameda City Council
August 5, 1997
Don Bergen, Alameda, stated various reasons why he believes SB 500
should be opposed.
Neil P. Sweeney, Alameda, urged the City Council to support the
staff recommendation.
Councilmember Lucas complimented the Chief of Police for his
position on SB 500, and moved approval of the staff recommendation
to support the Bill.
Councilmember Kerr seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Mayor Appezzato stated the City's position on
banning Saturday Night Specials is on record; and that he commends
the previous and current City Council for said position.
On the call for the question, the motion carried by unanimous voice
vote - 5.
(*97-433) Report from Public Works Director recommending award of
contract in the amount of $70,000 to AAP Concrete for Rep:ir of
Portland Cement Concrete Sidewalk, Concrete Sidewalk Grinding,
Curb, Gutter and Driveway for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1998,
No. P.W. 06-97-12. Accepted.
(97-434) Report from Public Works Director recommending rejection
of bid and authorization for Public Works Director to negotiate in
the open market for Minor Street Patching with Asphalt Concrete for
the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1998, No. P.W. 06-97-13. (Requires
Four Affirmative Votes) Held over.
(*97-435) Report from Public Works Director recommending adoption
of Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) and authorization to
call for bids for Webster Street/Eighth Street Project, No. P.W.
07-97-16. Accepted.
(*97-436) Report from Public Works Director recommending adoption
of Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) and authorization to
call for bids for Atlantic Avenue Corridor Improvements Project,
No. P.W. 07-97-17. Accepted.
(*97-437)Report from Public Works Director recommending adoption of
Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) and authorization to
call for bids for East End Signal Retiming and Equipment Upgrade,
No. P.W. 07-97-18. Accepted.
(97-438) Report from Public Works Director recommending support of
AC Transit's Position on the TransBay Terminal. (Councilmember
Kerr)
Don Bergen, Alameda, spoke in support of the staff recommendation.
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Alameda City Council
August 5, 1997
Neil P. Sweeney, Alameda, spoke in support of the recommendation.
Mayor Appezzato stated on March 15th, the Alameda County Conference
of Mayors sent a letter to San Francisco Mayor Brown, stating "We,
the Mayors of Cities in Alameda County are alarmed by proposals to
abandon the TransBay Transit Terminal and force its operations to
alternative locations; transit in the TransBay Corridor will be
hobbled and its use discouraged if these proposals go forward. .
and we urge your strong opposition to proposals that would abandon
or weaken the effectiveness of the TransBay Terminal at AC
Transit's cost, or needlessly spend money to build a new facility
that will not offer improved access; we further urge your support
for finishing seismic and life safety upgrades of the TransBay
Transit Terminal, and its vital ramps."
Mayor Appezzato further stated the Congestion Management Agency
(CMA) is on record as opposing the removal/destruction of the
TransBay Terminal; CMA wants the TransBay Terminal to remain in
existence; the Mayor of Berkeley and he appeared before the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to oppose its removal;
and that the Council should consider sending the proposed letter to
MTC, and forward a copy to the Governor.
Councilmember Kerr stated that she placed the matter on the Agenda
because AC Transit is important to Alameda commuters; one detail
not discussed enough is the integrity of the ramps that go between
the Bay Bridge and the Terminal itself; it is proposed to tear down
the ramps as well [as the Terminal]; the ramps enable the buses to
get off the Bridge, enter the Terminal to unload passengers, and
get back on the Bridge to make another commute run; if buses are
forced into downtown City traffic, it will take longer for a turn
around, and AC Transit will require more buses and drivers; the
existing dedicated ramps should be retained; that she read MTC
approved designs for a new eastern part of the Bay Bridge and also
approved raising tolls to pay for the project and a new TransBay
Terminal; it is an outrage for East Bay commuters to pay for
pleasures of Mayor Willie Brown and downtown San Francisco; and it
is disappointing that Assemblyman Don Perata would not support AC
Transit to the fullest.
Councilmember Kerr further stated the letter should be sent to more
than one source: the Governor and MTC; and the City should lobby
Sacramento.
Councilmember Daysog stated Alameda is in a position to benefit
from the redevelopment of TransBay Terminal area; if the area is
redeveloped, jobs will be created; a new TransBay Terminal would be
located only one block from where the Terminal is currently
situated; financing is a critical question, and the East Bay should
not finance the project(s); putting the Terminal Project into the
hands of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency allows the Agency
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276
to come up with funding, and one advantage of a redevelopment area
is that environmental impact reviews can be moved along; the
entrances from and onto the Freeway will not cause that much of a
problem; the City should encourage the Mayor of San Francisco
and/or MTC to be concerned with environmental impacts, however, the
City is in a position to reap the benefits of this kind of project.
Councilmember Lucas stated that she strongly supports the position
of the Alameda County Mayors Conference and the presentation made
to MTC; Alameda is more dependent on AC Transit than other
communities; and the existing location of the TransBay Terminal is
much better than the location proposed by Mayor Willie Brown.
Councilmember Lucas moved that Council submit the proposed letter
to the Governor, and send a copy to MTC.
Councilmember Kerr and Mayor Appezzato both agreed that Mayor
Willie Brown should be provided a copy.
Mayor Appezzato commented that Mayor Willie Brown does not have the
final decision on the matter.
Councilmember Kerr seconded Councilmember Lucas's motion.
Under discussion, Councilmember Kerr stated that she has never read
that Mayor Willie Brown intends to replace the dedicated bus ramps
to and from the Bay Bridge; and that she be believes the ramps are
critical considering the poverty of AC Transit.
Mayor Appezzato stated that everyone in the East Bay is on record
of supporting the current TransBay Terminal.
On the call for the question, the motion carried by following voice
vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Kerr, Lucas, Vice Mayor DeWitt and
Mayor Appezzato - 4. Noes: Councilmember Daysog - 1.
(*97-439) Ratified bills in the amount of $2,159,677.17.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
(97-440) Resolution No. 12914, "Appointing Nancy J. Gill as a
Member of the City Historical Advisory Board." Adopted.
Councilmember Lucas moved adoption of the Resolution.
Vice Mayor DeWitt seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous
voice vote - 5.
The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office.
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277
(97-441) Resolution No. 12915, "Appointing Dian McPherson as a
Member of the City Historical Advisory Board." Adopted.
Councilmember Lucas moved adoption of the Resolution.
vice Mayor DeWitt seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous
voice vote - 5.
The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA (Public Comment)
(97-442) Neil P. Sweeney, Alameda, stated that the Internet should
be used to advertise Alameda.
(97-443) Don Roberts, Alameda, stated several weeks ago the City
Attorney responded to a question from the President of the Public
Utilities Board with a simple one-word answer: no; the Bureau of
Electricity has spent over $400,000 of ratepayers' money to go into
new businesses such as cable television and leasing of high-speed
data lines; neither of those businesses existed when the City
Charter was approved; Section 12-5 of the Charter states: "Neither
the City nor the Board shall engage in any public utility business
in which the City or Board is not now engaged, except with the
consent of the people expressed by a two thirds vote"; and his
question is: Is the expenditure of $400,000 by the Bureau to go
into new businesses, such as cable television, in compliance with
the language of Section 12-5 of the City Charter?
The City Attorney stated that she had extensive discussions with
Mr. Roberts on the matter, and she would be happy to discuss the
matter again with him and forward her prior opinion.
Mr. Roberts stated that the City Attorney answered Mr. Hansen's
question [President, Public Utilities Board], and he [Roberts]
would like either a yes or no answer to his question.
The City Attorney stated that because of the manner in which Mr.
Roberts' framed his question, she could not respond with a yes or
no answer.
Mr. Roberts stated that he wanted a public response as was given to
Mr. Hansen.
Mayor Appezzato requested the City Attorney to publicly submit her
report.
The City Attorney advised the Council that the matter was scheduled
for public discussion at the next Regular Council Meeting.
(97-444) Richard Neveln stated the City Council, while on tour of
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278
the Naval Air Station, should take note of the deteriorating
conditions of the airfield runway; that limited use of the airfield
would preserve it for future use and [help with] predator control;
and that the majority of people in favor of a limited-use airfield
are Alameda citizens. He further stated that the Historical
Advisory Board should review NAS history and provide Council with
input on the historical significance of preserving the airfield.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS (Communications from Council)
(97-445) Consideration of Mayor's nomination for appointment to the
Social Service Human Relations Board.
Mayor Appezzato nominated Danielle Bailey.
(97-446) Mayor Appezzato stated that the Consent Calendar of the
next Council Meeting Agenda should include the committee to solicit
private funds to replace the Tower on City Hall; a group of
volunteers have come together in an attempt to generate private
funds from individuals and corporations to restore the Tower; and
that he would like to announce the Committee on the day of the
ribbon cutting and re-dedication of City Hall in September.
(97-447) Mayor Appezzato stated that he received a letter from the
Secretary of Defense regarding his recent visit to Alameda, which
complimented Alameda on base conversion.
(97-448) Mayor Appezzato stated the Woolworth Company announced
closure of its stores nationwide; that he sent a letter to
Michael's Arts and Crafts in Irvine, California in support of their
return to Alameda; there are discussions with various businesses
desiring to rehabilitate the Bridge site center--better known as
the Blanding Shopping Center; and that there is activity at the
Central Market, as well as the South Shore Shopping Center.
(97-449) Mayor Appezzato requested the Public Works Director to
determine whether any sidewalk repairs in front of the Historic
Alameda High School, from the East Wing to City Hall, were
necessary.
(97-450) Councilmember Kerr requested an off-agenda report on a Dog
Park at, or near, Alameda Point.
(97-451) Councilmember Kerr questioned the future of the Estuary
Park; stated that before the Coast Guard took over north housing,
it was shown on reuse plans as being placed into redeveloped
housing as part of the new housing to replace north housing;
however, now that the Coast Guard has taken north housing, as well
as Marina Village, the plans--Estuary Park--still seem to be there:
it is a nice park with a soccer field, a small ball field with
bleachers, a par course and other amenities; that both the North
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August 5, 1997
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End and West End of Alameda are below State standards on park area;
since it was in residential use all these years by the Navy, it
might be free of toxic waste; she would like to know if it can be
put to use; there may not be money or the Coast Guard may not want
the City to put it to use; and a report should be prepared on the
matter.
(97-452) Councilmember Kerr stated the City recently issued two
five-year Use Permits for the Northern Waterfront, immediately west
of the West Gate of FISC; the area will be redeveloped into high-
class waterfront residential use or industrial-park use; the uses
should have been considered when issuing the Use Permit(s) to a
toxic waste firm and tow-car storage company; future surrounding
uses should be considered; Alameda does not have the usual
transition zoning between heavy industrial and residential; and in
this case, there is heavy industrial and residential together.
(97-453) Councilmember Kerr stated a resident suggested that the
start line and finish line at the Run for the Parks Event could be
separated by a few blocks to allow people to drive in and out
during the race; the Park Department may well have provided such an
amenity; and that there should be way for the residents in a run
area to get in and out during the event.
(97-454) Councilmember Kerr noted that at the next Alameda Reuse
and Redevelopment Meeting one of the firms, on the short list for
Request for Proposals for west housing, is the City and that the
Chief Building Inspector is the contact; and that an off agenda
report should be provided on which Council voted go into the
market-rate housing business.
(97-455) Mayor Appezzato stated that the City of Oakland is trying
to get its teams named after Oakland, e.g. Oakland Warriors; since
the Raiders are located in Alameda, a letter should be sent
requesting that the team be named the Alameda Raiders.
ADJOURNMENT
(97-455A) President Appezzato adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m. in
memory of Father Doherty of St. Joseph Notre Dame High School.
Respectively submitted,
Diane B. Fe sch, C C
City Clerk
The Agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown
Act.
Regular Meeting
Alameda City Council
August 5, 1997