Title
Consider Directing Staff to Implement and Enforce Pickleball Court Policies at Various Alameda Public Parks. (Councilmember Herrera Spencer)
Body
COUNCIL REFERRAL FORM
The Council can take any of the following actions:
1) Take no action.
2) Refer the matter to staff to schedule as a future City Council agenda item. Concurrence that staff time will be devoted to the item does not signify approval.
3) Take dispositive action only on time sensitive legislative matters if sufficiently noticed such that the public and Council have been provided sufficient information by the published agenda, and no formal published notice of a public hearing is required.
Name of Councilmember(s) requesting referral: Trish Herrera Spencer
Date of submission to City Clerk (must be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the Council meeting requested): August 19, 2024
Council Meeting date: September 3, 2024
Brief description of the subject to be printed on the agenda, sufficient to inform the City Council and public of the nature of the referral:
Request City Council direct staff to: 1) add clear signage on courts of which courts are "pickleball only, no tennis," "tennis only, no pickleball," and, if any, "pickleball and tennis allowed"; 2) implement and enforce the ARPD agreement/understanding/pilot program/policy that pickleball is only at Lincoln and Leydecker and not at Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow; and that new pickleball courts will be added at Alameda Point; and, 3) ARPD/City staff will collaborate and work with the Alameda pickleball representatives (Teri Rose and Eddie Metairie) and Alameda Tennis Coalition representatives (Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewett, and Ed Setton) in good faith to have both pickleball and tennis offered equitably and responsibly with consideration of noise constraints at Alameda public parks.
Background:
In regards to Washington Park, staff has agreed to post "tennis only" signs. There's no date certain and clearer signs would be preferred of "tennis only - no pickleball." There are daily confrontations of pickleball players wanting to play at Washington Park and the burden falls on tennis players to clarify the rules that pickleball is not allowed. Lack of clear signage causes an unnecessary issue. There have been hundreds of confrontations during the last two to three years. There are pickleball players from outside the area and new players. Tennis players have repeatedly asked ARPD/City staff for clear signage and have emailed City Council for assistance because of the severity of the situation.
In regards to Franklin, Krusi and Longfellow, it is critical that "tennis only - no pickleball" signs be posted ASAP. There are serious noise concerns at these locations because of the close proximity of the courts to residential housing. There have been numerous meetings [ARPD/City staff with community-at-large (about 50 attended) and representatives from both pickleball and tennis] and threats of litigation against the City over this issue. Thus, the understanding with ARPD/City staff of where pickleball can be played.
The understanding between ARPD/City staff and the Alameda pickleball and tennis players (through the Alameda Tennis Coalition and the Alameda pickleball group) is that pickleball is only at Lincoln and Leydecker where ARPD has painted pickleball courts. ARPD/City staff has also agreed to add new pickleball courts at Alameda Point.
The issue has already gone to the Recreation and Parks Commission. The Commission requested that ARPD work with the pickleball group (volunteer representatives Teri Rose and Eddie Metairie) and the Alameda Tennis Coalition (ATC) (volunteer representatives Kristin Fairfield, Charlie Dewitt and Ed Setton). Multiple meetings were held and an understanding (as stated above) was reached. Initially about 10 tennis players attended the ARPD meetings and ARPD/City staff requested to limit to three, as was done. ARPD also requested tennis complaints go through the tennis representatives who are caught in the middle of these ongoing disagreements/confrontations with safety concerns.
ARPD/City staff have already done outreach with the Leydecker neighbors and they agreed to pickleball at Leydecker. Thus, the Leydecker courts have been painted for pickleball.
ARPD/City staff have already agreed to add four to six new pickleball courts at Alameda Point.
Sadly, it appears now that ARPD/City staff wants to continue to revisit this issue, continuing to put tennis players in the middle with safety risks and not reasonably implementing the previous understanding/agreement/pilot program/policy, which also continues expenditure of limited staff resources and taxpayer/financial costs.
Implementing and enforcing the current understanding would best serve all parties involved and the community-at-large.
See attached correspondence.
The City Council approved a Strategic Plan on November 21, 2023, which established the following 5 priorities:
A. Enhance Community Safety & Services
B. Build Resilience to Climate Change & Water Level Rise
C. Invest in Transportation, Infrastructure, Economic Opportunities & Historic Resources
D. House All Alamedans & End Homelessness
E. Practice Fiscal Responsible, Equitable & Inclusive Governance
If applicable, briefly describe which Council priority the subject falls under and how it relates:
A. Enhance Community Safety and Services. As stated above, it's critical that both pickleball and tennis be offered equitably and responsibly with consideration of noise constraints at Alameda public parks and that signage clearly convey which courts are "pickleball only, no tennis," "tennis only, no pickleball," and, if any, "pickleball and tennis allowed" to implement the City’s programs and minimize/eliminate confrontations/safety concerns. Thank you for your consideration.