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Consider Directing Staff to Develop a Policy for Public Notice and Council Review of Agreements for Rent or Lease of City-Owned Property for a Period of Greater than One Week. (Councilmember Jensen)
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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: Councilmember Jensen
Date of submission to City Clerk (must be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the Council meeting requested): 9/21/2026
Council Meeting date: 10/6/2026
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:
Direct Staff to Develop Policy for Public Notice and Council Review of Agreements For Rent or Lease of City-Owned Property for a Period Greater Than One Week. The City Charter Article 3-10 establishes the requirements for “acquisition, transfer or lease for a period of longer than one year, of real property” including that the disposition shall be “by ordinance” and “passed by a four-fifths vote of the council”. Existing practice gives the City Manager approval discretion for agreements for use of city property for periods of less than one year or less and there are currently at least 7 “license agreements” allowing private businesses to rent city owned properties at Alameda Point for periods of 3 months to 354 days. In some cases, when a License Agreement is for an extended period of time, the licensee is permitted to make improvements to the city-owned facility.
There is currently no requirement that License Agreements for private business use of city-owned sites and buildings be reviewed by the city council, or that such contracts be distributed through a competitive process. This referral ensures transparency by providing the City Council and the public with clear information regarding the use and allocation of municipal resources.
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:
E. PRACTICE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, EQUITABLE & INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE: This referral will support the Strategic Priority by ensuring equitable distribution of public resources; and by improving communication and engagement when making decisions about city resources.