2001-03-20 Special CC CIC MinutesMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY- -MARCH 20, 2001- -7:20 P.M.
Mayor/Chair Appezzato convened the Joint Meeting at 8:39 p.m.
ROLL CALL -
MINUTES
234
Present: Councilmembers/Commissioners Daysog,
DeWitt, Johnson, Kerr and Mayor/Chair
Appezzato - 5.
Absent: None.
(CIC 01-06) Minutes of the Special Community Improvement
Commission Meeting of February 20, 2001 and the Special Joint City
Council, Community Improvement Commission and Alameda Reuse and
Redevelopment Authority Meeting (Closed Session) of March 6, 2001.
[Community Improvement Commission]
Commissioner Daysog moved approval of the Minutes.
Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion, which carried by
unanimous voice vote - 5.
AGENDA ITEMS
(CC 01-133) (CIC 01-07) Recommendation to adopt Implementation
Program for the Economic Development Strategic Plan, the Alameda
Downtown Vision and Housing Forum Recommendations. [City
Council/Community Improvement Commission]
Julian Frederick, Alameda, stated specific plans providing for bus
riders, bicyclists and pedestrians seem to be absent; inquired what
criteria were used to select involved organizations; stated Alameda
Transit Advocates and Bike Alameda were not consulted; the lack of
participation of community groups should be addressed in the
future.
Steven Gerstle, Alameda, stated the scope of participation should
be widened to include all types of public interest groups and
social service organizations, not just government and business
bodies; there are different economic interests in the community and
all should be included; the plans aim for a higher-income
community, e.g. money will be set aside for development of a golf
course and spa; the Condominium Conversion Ordinance will be
revised, which will reduce the rental stock and will not create new
units; a wider community spectrum should be involved with economic
interest issues.
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and
Community Improvement Commission
March 20, 2001
The Development Services Director stated development of the various
strategic plans included significant public outreach; the
implementation program had equally significant public outreach;
other groups will be included in the future; the Economic
Development Commission (EDC) will hold quarterly meetings to track
the implementation status; there was wide distribution of the EDC's
first meeting [notice]; there will be an opportunity for all groups
to be involved.
Frank Matarrese, Alameda, stated that he supports adoption of the
Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP); the Planning Board felt
the most important aspects are: 1) Strategy 5, development of a
City Transportation Master Plan, and 2) Strategy 7, highlighting
work force housing, which the City took action on earlier this
evening [at the Special Joint City Council, Community Improvement
Commission, Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority and Housing
Authority Board of Commissioners Meeting]; the landmark document
put economic development plans, the General Plan and specific plans
on one grid to coordinate activities and is one step to prevent
piecemeal development in the City.
Mayor/Chair Appezzato stated the plans are ambitious; there was
concern that the plans not be placed on a shelf and gather dust;
hopefully, goals will be reached.
Councilmember/Commissioner Johnson moved approval of the staff
recommendation.
Councilmember/Commissioner Johnson stated the implementation plan
is an assurance that the City will go forward with the plans.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner DeWitt stated the implementation plan
includes new positions to staff projects and budget allocations in
conceptual form; there are people and funds to make the plan work.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner DeWitt seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Councilmember/Commissioner Kerr stated the Plans
represent a major amount of work; when implementing the EDSP, the
economic value of open space should be recognized; East Bay
Regional Park District has done studies on the matter; there is a
suggestion to develop land at the College of Alameda; during
discussions of Tinker Avenue extension, many people worked to save
Neptune Park; the City should be careful about what is done at the
City's gateways; a good gateway is a great economic benefit; that
she supports the [staff] recommendation.
On the call for the question, the motion carried by unanimous voice
vote - 5.
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and
Community Improvement Commission
March 20, 2001
23S
(CC 01-134) (CIC 01-08) Recommendation to endorse an Application
to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for a Capital
Grant in the amount of $1.7 Million for the Webster Renaissance
Project and City match in the amount of $500,000. [City
Council/Community Improvement Commission]
Julian Frederick, Alameda, stated Alameda Transit Advocates signed
a letter to MTC supporting the project; there are not specific
provisions dealing with public transit-, pedestrian- and cyclist
needs, however, Alameda Transit Advocates were assured that said
provisions will be forthcoming.
Michelle Fredrick, West Alameda Business Association (WABA),
submitted the preferred Webster Streetscape Plan; urged endorsement
of the preferred alternative and the Application to MTC; stated
countless hours of community input, over several years, generated
many designs for a new Webster Street; BMS Design Group worked with
WABA to distill said information into the preferred design
alternative.
Georgia Madden, WABA, stated the Plan presented to Council will be
presented to MTC with the [Grant] Application; the Plan is a
working document and will continue to be refined with community
input; urged support; stated the broad community effort will result
in increased prosperity for the entire Island, not just the West
End.
Ms. Frederick further stated the next phase of the project will
focus on specific design details: 1) street furniture selection; 2)
landscaping and paving materials; 3) refining technical aspects,
e.g. traffic engineering, parking requirements, grading and
drainage, specific transit solutions for bus, auto, bike and
pedestrians; and 4) alternative methods of transportation, e.g.
electric shuttle; there will be continued public involvement; WABA
has formed great partnerships with City staff, CalTRANS, the
Mayor's Committee on Disability Issues and Alameda Architectural
Preservation Society.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner DeWitt inquired whether there are diagrams
which show how the streetscape will connect Tinker Avenue with
Webster Street.
Ms. Frederick responded Tinker Avenue [extension] is fluid; there
are not specific solutions for all connections; the new College of
Alameda entrance is a part of the Plan; the Plan includes
pedestrian safety at the corner of Webster Street and Atlantic
Avenue; the traffic engineer is working on both Tinker Avenue
extension and the Webster Renaissance project.
Jon Spangler, Alameda, stated the Webster Renaissance [Streetscape]
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and
Community Improvement Commission
March 20, 2001
237
Subcommittee came up with the most recent design for Tinker Avenue
extension; the Streetscape Subcommittee should serve as a model for
how Alameda conducts business.
Councilmember/Commissioner Johnson inquired whether the Public
Transit Committee could send a letter endorsing the Application.
The Deputy Public Works Director stated the City Attorney's Office
made a ruling; a letter has been drafted and will be forwarded for
signature.
Councilmember/Commissioner Johnson moved approval of the staff
recommendation.
Councilmember/Commissioner Kerr seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Mayor/Chair Appezzato stated that he represents
the thirteen [Alameda County) Mayors on MTC and will support the
project enthusiastically; nine counties are represented on MTC;
hopefully, there will be success (Grant Application will be
approved by MTC) since the City's match is so substantial.
On the call for the question, the motion carried by unanimous voice
vote - 5.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor/Chair Appezzato adjourned
the Special Joint Meeting at 9:06 p.m.
ectfully submitted,
aat
Diane B. Felsch, C C
City Clerk,
Secretary, Community Improvement
Commission
The Agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown
Act.
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and
Community Improvement Commission
March 20, 2001