2004-12-16 Special ARRA MinutesAPPROVED
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
ALAMEDA REUSE AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Wednesday, December 16, 2004
The meeting convened at 5:50 p.m. with Mayor Johnson presiding.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Beverly Johnson, Mayor, City of Alameda
Tony Daysog, Vice Mayor, City of Alameda
Barbara Kerr, Boardmember, City of Alameda
Frank Matarrese, Boardmember, City of Alameda
Marie Gilmore, Boardmember, City of Alameda
Absent: None.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
2-A. Recommendation to approve a Contract Amendment with ROMA Design Group for
Transit Planning Services at Alameda Point in the amount of $100,000.
Member Matarrese motioned for approval of the Consent Calendar item. The motion was
seconded by Member Daysog and passed by the following voice vote: Ayes – 5; Noes – 0;
Abstentions – 0.
Mayor Johnson advised that Item 4-B would be called before Item 3.
3. PRESENTATION
3-A. Presentation/update on Alameda Point Navy Negotiations and Land Use Planning.
Stephen Proud, Project Manager, displayed a presentation and noted that they had a fairly
productive meeting the Navy in the beginning of December. The Navy presented an overview of
the process related to the historic district, and a draft timeline. One of the main obligations in the
MOA is to begin the process of nominating the historic district at Alameda Point for registration
in the National Register of Historic Places. The Navy would like to renegotiate their MOA, to
bring it current with the State Office of Historic Preservation and Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation requirements.
The Navy provided an environmental update regarding the status and timing of remedial actions
at OU-1, which the City was particularly interested in. Mr. Proud noted that they held a brief
update on the economic analysis and identified the outstanding issues for resolution.
In response to an inquiry by Member Kerr whether the Navy had begun to appreciate the value of
Alameda Point, Mr. Proud replied that was starting to happen. The City had spent considerable
2-A
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time educating the Navy about the value of the site and adaptive reuse of the buildings, especially
in bringing the buildings to a leasable/saleable condition. Weekly meetings with ROMA
continued, working through the phasing plan, and finalizing infrastructure and environmental
remediation cost estimates. The second community workshop was held at the Mastick Senior
Center on December 2, 2004, and was very well-attended (190 people). The City was ready to
commence a serious and deeper transportation analysis for Alameda Point, including presenting
the range of long-term regional transit opportunities, such as BART stations, light rail and an
aerial tram. The public comment at this meeting was very valuable, and would be passed along to
the ARRA members.
Andrew Thomas, Planning Department, stated that the plan for the next workshop was February
28, 2005, hosted by the Planning Board so it may be broadcast.
Vice Mayor Daysog advised he had received several emails concerning Measure A, and their
sense that staff had been muzzled from discussing it. Measure A was a charter of the City, and he
believed frank and open discussions of Measure A should be held. He wanted to assure the
public there was no attempt to suppress that discussion.
In response to Member Matarrese’s question regarding the Wildlife Refuge, Mr. Proud replied
that the Navy received a letter from the Veteran’s Administration expressing interest in the
property currently slated to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and that they had sent a
short response.
The public hearing was open for discussion.
There were several speakers form the community who discussed concerns regarding Measure A,
including Irene Dieter, Jonathan Sagwin, Robert Siltan, Lowell Solomon, Michael Krueger, John
Roulier and Jean Sweeney. Discussion included concerns about an Amended Measure A
scenario and transit-friendly alternatives that includes multifamily housing.
The public hearing was closed for Authority discussion.
Member Kerr noted that the traffic from Atlantic Avenue was already turning left onto Sherman,
and not Buena Vista Avenue; that traffic had a negative impact on the Sherman residents. She
was very concerned about the effect that development on Alameda Point would have on the rest
of the Island’s streets.
Member Matarrese noted that the key point was the ability to move people around the Island, and
that the density was not so much the issue as the number of cars.
4. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
4-A. Report and recommendation regarding the continuing roles and responsibilities of the
APAC (requested by Boardmember Kerr).
Chair Lee Perez presented this report.
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Member Matarrese motioned that the APAC continue until the final AP Community
Workshop in June 2005. The motion was seconded by Member Kerr and passed by the
following voice vote: Ayes – 4; Noes – 0; Abstentions – 1 (Member Daysog).
4-B. Recommendation from the Executive Director to Revise ARRA Leasing Policies and
Procedures.
Nanette Banks, Development Services Department, presented a follow-up to the previous
month’s inquiry regarding the leasing policies and procedures.
John McManus, Cushman & Wakefield, provided background of the leasing market. Ms. Banks
noted that leases that are over seven years are currently brought to the ARRA; they proposed
revising that lease length to two years, and that it would be tied to when the developer is
expected to receive the property in approximately 2006. They proposed bringing anything greater
than a two-year lease to the ARRA for approval. Licenses are the shorter term special events, and
will continue to be approved administratively.
Theresa Highsmith, Assistant City Attorney, stated the original resolution to delegated power
inherent in the ARRA Board to the Executive Director to review all leases with terms of seven
years or less; anything else came to the ARRA Board. If the Executive Director had a lease less
than seven years that was under the authority delegated to him by the ARRA Board, he could still
have brought it before the ARRA Board. Consistent with the staff recommendation, a resolution
was prepared within the packet that would send anything that was two years or over to the ARRA
Board, as well as anything that suggested QSI above 10% of the annual rent.
Member Kerr approved of a tighter form of review from the ARRA Board.
Vice Mayor Daysog stated he served as an alternate to the Oakland Base Reuse Authority for 3
years discussed their monthly report procedures.
In response to an inquiry by Mayor Johnson regarding payment of rents, Ms. Banks confirmed
that most of the tenants were current; and noted that the Hornet, Edge Innovations and Marad
were the three tenants who are in arrears; however, the timing of the Marads payments put them
on the arrears list. Edge Innovations is in the process of restructuring their payments, and had
recently lost several large film contracts.
The public hearing was open for discussion.
Bill Smith noted that he had met with the Mayor of Beijing, had been misquoted, and had
discussed electric bicycle technology with him.
The public hearing was closed for Authority discussion.
Members Matarrese and Gilmore discussed the amount of leases per month were to be
signed/renewed and requested they come back on a monthly basis for approval. Member
Matarrese noted that the rationale was so the Council could have an idea of the leasing landscape
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as the date of conveyance draws closer, and so the public would know what the status of the
buildings were. Member Kerr believed the leasing information should be available to the public.
Member Matarrese motioned for a monthly summary report of all leases for Alameda
Point be brought to ARRA for review and approval by the leasing staff. The motion was
seconded by Member Daysog and passed by the following voice vote: Ayes – 5; Noes – 0;
Abstentions – 0.
5. ORAL REPORTS
5-A. Oral report from APAC. (Presented in Item 4-A)
5-B. Oral report from Member Matarrese, RAB representative.
Member Matarrese gave a brief overview of the last RAB meeting on Dec. 2nd.
6. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA (PUBLIC COMMENT)
7. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE GOVERNING BODY
8. ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED SESSION OF THE ARRA TO CONSIDER
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR:
8-A. Property: Alameda Naval Air Station
Negotiating parties: ARRA, Navy, and Alameda Point Community Partners
Under negotiation: Price and Terms
Announcement of Action Taken in Closed Session, if any.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johnson adjourned the open session meeting at 8:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Irma Glidden
ARRA Secretary
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