Resolution 15682CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 15682
CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A CONSOLIDATED MUNICIPAL
ELECTION IN THE CITY OF ALAMEDA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER
3, 2020, FOR THE SUBMISSION OF A PROPOSED CHARTER AND
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO REPEAL THE PROHIBITION
AGAINST BUILDING MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING IN ALAMEDA AND
THE CITYWIDE DENSITY LIMITATION OF ONE HOUSING UNIT
PER 2,000 SQUARE FEET OF LAND, AND AUTHORIZING CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FILE WRITTEN ARGUMENTS FOR OR
AGAINST THE MEASURE
WHEREAS, there is a shortage of housing, especially affordable housing, in
Alameda, and the cost of market -rate rental housing continues to soar; and
WHEREAS, the existing Charter and General Plan prohibition against the
construction of multi-family housing and the citywide density limitation of one housing
unit per 2,000 square feet of land substantially contribute to the City's housing shortage
and the escalation of rental costs; and
WHEREAS, such housing shortages and escalation of rental costs contribute to
homelessness, destabilize families, and substantially harm the general welfare; and
WHEREAS, consistent with longstanding local, regional and statewide goals to
produce housing and lower the cost of housing, the proposed Charter and General Plan
amendment seeks to remove the prohibition against the construction of multi-family
housing in Alameda and the citywide density limitation of one housing unit per 2,000
square feet of land; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to authority provided by the California Constitution, Article
XI and the Government Code, Title 4, Division 2, Chapter 2 (commencing at § 34450)
and the Elections Code, Division 9, Chapter 3, Article 3 (commencing at § 9255) of the
State of California, the City Council of the City of Alameda desires to submit to the
voters a proposed Charter and General Plan amendment to repeal sections that prohibit
building multi-family housing in Alameda and the citywide density limitation of one
housing unit per 2,000 square feet of land.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ALAMEDA THAT:
Section 1. That pursuant to the California Constitution, Article XI and the Government
Code, Title 4, Division 2, Chapter 2 (commencing at§ 34450) and the Elections Code,
Division 9, Chapter 3, Article 3 (commencing at § 9255) of the State of California, there
is called and ordered to be held in the City of Alameda, California, on Tuesday,
November 3, 2020, a Consolidated Municipal Election for the purpose of submitting the
following proposed charter amendment, which shall be designated on the ballot as
"Proposed Ballot Measure of the City of Alameda" and the aforementioned statement of
the measure shall read as follows:
MEASURE: Proposed Ballot Measure of the City of Alameda
Shall the measure amending the City Charter to YES
repeal the prohibition against the building of
multi-family housing in Alameda and amending
the City Charter and the General Plan to repeal NO
the citywide density limitation of one housing unit
per 2,000 sq uare feet of land be adopted?
Section 2. That the text of the charter and General Plan amendment submitted to the
voters is as follows:
That the text of the charter amendment is as follows:
ARTICLE XXVI
Re pealed.
Multiple D'.velling Units
See. 26 1. There shall be no multiple dv.{elling units built in the City of
Alameda.
See. 26 2. Ex:oeption being tho Alameda !=lousing Authority replacement of
ex:isting lov1 cost housing units and tho proposed Senior Citizens lo''' cost housing
oomploK pursuant to Article XXN of tho Charter of the City of Alameda.
See. 26 a. The mS*imum density for any residential development 'Nithin the
City of Alameda shall be one housing unit per 2,000 square feet of land. This limitation
shall not apply to the repair or replacement of oKisting residential units, v1hether single
family or multiple unit, whish are damaged or destroyed by fire or other disaster;
provided that tho total number of residential units on any lot may not be increased. This
limitation also shall not apply to replacement units under Soetion 26 2.
That a new provision shall be added to the City of Alameda General Plan to read
as follows:
City of Alameda Measure A. adopted by the voters in 1991. required the City's General
Plan to perpetually establish a maximum density for any residential development within
the City of Alameda to be one housing unit per 2.000 square feet of land. with certain
limited exceptions. This requirement is hereby repealed in its entirety.
Section 3. That the vote requirement for the measure to pass is a majority (50% + 1)
of the votes cast.
Section 4. That the ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as
required by law.
Section 5. That the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to procure and
furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter and all supplies, equipment
and paraphernalia that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the
election.
Section 6. That the polls shall be open at seven o'clock a.m. of the day of the
election and shall remain open continuously from that time until eight o'clock p.m. of the
same day when the polls shall be closed, pursuant to Elections Code § 10242, except
as provided in Elections Code§ 14401.
Section 7. That in all particulars not recited in this resolution, the election shall be
held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections.
Section 8. That notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the
City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the
election, in time, form and manner as required by law.
Section 9. That the City Council hereby requests the Board of Supervisors to
consolidate this election with the November 3, 2020, statewide general election to be
held on that date.
Section 1 0. That the City Council adopts the provisions of Elections Code § 9285(a) to
permit rebuttal arguments, if arguments have been filed in favor of or against the
measure that is being submitted to the voters of the City at this Consolidated General
Municipal Election.
Section 11. That, pursuant to Elections Code § 9280, the City Clerk is hereby directed
to transmit a copy of the measure to the City Attorney, who shall prepare an impartial
analysis of the measure, not to exceed 500 words in length, showing the effect of the
measure on existing law and the operation of the measure.
Section 12. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this
Resolution with the Alameda County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and the County
Registrar of Voters in sufficient time so that the measure may be included in the
November 3, 2020 Consolidated General Municipal Election ballot.
Section 13. That the City Council authorizes its members to file written arguments for
or against the measure described above, as follows:
Argument In Favor and Rebuttal: Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft and Vice Mayor Knox White
Ar gument A gainst and Rebuttal: Councilmember Daysog
Section 14. That the ballot arguments for and against the measure shall not exceed
300 words in length and the rebuttal arguments shall not exceed 250 words in length.
******
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 special meeting of the City
Council assembled on the 21st day of July, 2020, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Knox White, Oddie, Vella and Mayor Ezzy
Ashcraft -4.
NOES: Councilmember Daysog -1.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of
said City this 22nd day of July, 2020.
Approved as to Form:
Lara Weisiger, Cit
City of Alameda