Title
Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting, the Special Joint City Council and Successor Agency to the Community Improvement Commission Meeting, and the Regular City Council Meeting Held on February 18, 2025. (City Clerk)
Body
UNAPPROVED
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY- -FEBRUARY 18, 2025- -5:30 P.M.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 5:34 p.m.
Roll Call - Present: Councilmembers Daysog, Boller, Jensen, Pryor and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft - 5.
Absent: None.
Consent Calendar
Vice Mayor Pryor moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
Councilmember Daysog seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]
(*25- ) Recommendation to Approve Jennifer Ott, City Manager, Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director, Annie Cox, Management Analyst, and Len Aslanian, Assistant City Attorney as Real Property Negotiators for Building 20, Located at 2701 Monarch Street, Alameda California (Auctions By the Bay). Accepted.
The meeting was adjourned to Closed Session to consider:
(25- ) Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8); Property: Building 20, 2701 Monarch Street, Alameda, California, 94501; City Negotiators: City Manager Jennifer Ott, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Management Analyst Annie Cox, Assistant City Attorney Len Aslanian; Negotiating Parties: City of Alameda and Auctions by the Bay; Under Negotiation: Price and terms of Lease
(25- ) Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8); Property: 2151 Ferry Point, Alameda, California, 94501; City Negotiators: City Manager Jennifer Ott, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Base Reuse Manager Nicole Franklin, Community Development Manager Walker Toma, Assistant City Attorney Len Aslanian; Negotiating Parties: City of Alameda and Little Opera House, Inc.; Under Negotiation: Price and terms of lease option
(25- ) Conference with Legal Counsel - Potential Litigation; Potential Initiation of Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 554956.9, Subsection (d)(4); Number of Cases: One (As Plaintiff - City Initiating Legal Action); Potential Defendant: Port of Oakland
Following the Closed Session, the meeting was reconvened and the City Clerk announced that regarding 2701 Monarch Street, staff provided information and the City Council provided direction unanimous voice vote - 5; regarding 2151 Ferry Point, staff provided information and Council provided direction with no vote taken; and regarding Potential Litigation, staff provided information and no vote was taken.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 6:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.
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MINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION (SACIC)
TUESDAY- - FEBRUARY 18, 2025- -6:59 P.M.
Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 7:07 p.m. Councilmember/Commissioner Boller led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers/Commissioners Boller, Daysog, Jensen, Pryor and Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft - 5.
Absent: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember/Commissioner Jensen moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner Pryor seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]
(*25- SACIC) Minutes of the Special Joint City Council and SACIC Meeting Held on January 7, 2025. Approved.
(*25- CC/25- SACIC) Recommendation to Accept the Investment Transactions Report for the Quarter Ending December 31, 2024. Accepted.
AGENDA ITEMS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 7:09 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk and Secretary, SACIC
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY- -FEBRUARY 18, 2025- -7:00 P.M.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 7:09 p.m.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers Boller, Daysog, Jensen, Pryor, and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft - 5.
Absent: None.
AGENDA CHANGES
None.
PROCLAMATIONS, SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
(25- ) Presentation by Jim Oddie, Ward 5, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Board of Directors.
Director Oddie made brief comments and gave a Power Point presentation.
Councilmember Jensen inquired whether EBMUD is addressing the water table and working to support the elimination of pollution into the storm drains or into the Bay with rising waters and more severe storms.
Sun Kwong Sze, EBMUD, responded in the affirmative; stated EBMUD takes wastewater treatment very seriously and always finds ways to improve water treatment, including more environmentally-friendly discharge to Bay; EBMUD has an lab to do research regarding issues about smell and algae bloom; a presentation can be scheduled if Council would like more specific answers; EBMUD upgraded its interceptor as a way to improve sewage collection; overflow, which has a potential environmental impact, was noticed a few years ago during a very heavy rainfall; EBMUD is committed to upgrading facilities to meet climate change challenges in the future.
Councilmember Daysog inquired whether any high-level lessons were learned following the tragic fires in Southern California and relationships with water districts that might apply to the City of Alameda.
Mr. Sze responded in the affirmative; stated EBMUD learned a lot from the 1991 Oakland Hills fire and has been working with local fire districts to improve its system; one of the main lessons was to standardize fire hydrants; different agencies used different equipment, which creating a problem; EBMUD is also ensures mutual aid is working, including communication, and has year-round vegetation management to ensure vegetation will not pose a fire risk in the watershed; rangers do prescribed burning when needed; capital investment is are also a big thing being done; EBMUD celebrated its 100th anniversary last year with a commitment from the District to improve the infrastructure to face challenges in the next 100 years.
Vice Mayor Pryor inquired what benchmark numbers are for the reservoir, to which Mr. Sze responded it is always a good sign to see the capacity is full or 100 percent; EBMUD entered the year with the reservoir near full or at full capacity, which is a good sign even though rainfall is a little bit below normal right now, with only a few months left for the rainy season; EBMUD will have a thorough assessment of the current reservoir capacity in April to do a forecast for the year.
Director Oddie stated preparing for the drought is a big issue; the previous Board actually bought water by purchasing the Freeport Reservoir, which will be a backup in case of drought; as far as planning goes, it is only the third year of a drought; the supply is starting to feel the crunch; since there is no drought now, there are at least another three or four years before it is a major issue.
Mr. Sze stated Freeport is EBMUD’s partnership with the Sacramento Delta; if there is a drought, EBMUD can purchase water, which benefits farmers; not being in a drought now, water can be stored and used by farmers, and if needed, water can be imported to the District.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA
(25- ) Mark Wassberg, Richmond, discussed immigration.
(25- ) Savanna Cheer, Alameda, discussed a memorial for Mario Gonzales; urged the City to work with the Gonzales family on a memorial.
(25- ) Estela Villagrana submitted a document; discussed her rent rate.
(25- ) Gabriel Duncan, Alameda Native History Project, submitted a document; discussed impaired water around Alameda; suggested groundwater be tested.
(25- ) Former Mayor and Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer, Alameda, discussed authority to enter into birthright litigation; expressed support for Ms. Villagrana.
(25- ) Tod Hickman submitted a handout; expressed concern about Ms. Villagrana facing charges in Alameda County.
(25- ) Toni Grimm, Alameda, expressed concern about disrespect.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Expressed concern about Building 114 [paragraph no. 25- ] and the rules of order [paragraph no. 25- ]: Tod Hickman.
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Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft called a recess at 7:51 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 8:01 p.m.
***
The Police Chief stated that the Penal Dode is clear that no disruptions should occur during the meeting; anything or anyone that disrupts a public meeting is in violation of the law; Council and staff has provided an admonishment and a warning; it is his understanding that no further disruptions will occur; if further disruptions do happen, additional action will be taken.
Expressed concern about the changes to the rules regarding submitting correspondence and pictures for meetings; although she supports the guidelines for submitting correspondence and pictures, she does not support having a deadline of noon on the day before; the deadline needs to be clarified in such a manner as to give the public as much time as possible to weigh in on meetings; technology has changed and is supposed to help encourage and facilitate productive communication and participation: Former Mayor and Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer.
Councilmember Jensen moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
Vice Mayor Pryor seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]
(*25- ) Minutes of the Special and Regular City Council Meetings Held on January 21, 2025. Approved. Approved.
(*25- ) Ratified bills in the amount of $6,723,514.59.
(*25- ) Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a First Amendment to the Agreement with Restoration Management Company, in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $125,100, for Storm Related Expenses Already Incurred for Dry Down Services at the Mastick Senior Center for a Total Compensation Amount Not-To-Exceed $200,000. Accepted.
(*25- ) Recommendation to Authorize the Continued Action to Address Declaration of Unsafe Building and Notice to Vacate, Case Number X24-0470, for the City-Owned Building Located at Building 114, 2450 Saratoga Street, Alameda, California. Accepted.
(*25- ) Resolution No. 16246, “Amending Resolution Nos. 15382, 15697, 15746, 15772, 16104, and 16180 to Amend the Rules of Order Governing City Council Meetings to Add a New Section 3 regarding Public Correspondence.” Adopted.
(*25- ) Ordinance No. 3381, “Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Lease Amendment for Building 360 at 1900 Skyhawk Street for a Nine-Month Rent and Fee Deferral and Subsequent Twelve-Month Deferred Repayment Schedule, and a Lease Termination at Building 397 at 1690 Orion Street, with Astra Space Operations LLC.” Finally passed.
CONTINUED AGENDA ITEMS
None.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
(25- ) Resolution No. 16247, “Appointing Nicholas de Vries as a Member of the Public Utilities Board.” Adopted.
Councilmember Boller moved adoption of the resolution.
Councilmember Daysog seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.
The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office and Mr. de Vries made brief comments.
(25- ) Public Hearing to consider Resolution No. 16248, “Approving a 24-Month Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with Pacific Fusion, with Options to Extend for a Total of 33 Months, for Potential Development of a 12- to 18-Acre Property along Orion Street between West Pacific Avenue and West Ticonderoga Avenue at Alameda Point, for a Research and Development Facility.” Adopted.
***
(25- ) Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft asked Council to approve an extra 5 minutes for the presentation.
Vice Mayor Pryor moved approval of an additional 5 minutes.
Councilmember Daysog seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.
***
The Base Reuse and Economic Development Director gave a Power Point presentation.
Carrie von Muench, Pacific Fusion, gave a Power Point presentation.
***
(25- ) Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft suggested Council approve 5 additional minutes for the presentation.
Vice Mayor Pryor moved approval of allowing 5 additional minutes.
Councilmember Boller seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.
***
Ms. Von Muench completed the Power Point presentation.
Councilmember Daysog stated safety is important; inquired whether there is an industry standard or a separate body that establishes what constitutes the highest of best practices that the Council or Planning Board could turn to.
Keith LeChien, Pacific Fusion, responded in the affirmative; stated this is construction of a research and development facility that will follow all of the entitlement and permitting processes that go into constructing such facilities in California and within the City of Alameda; the facility does contain radiological material like research facilities or hospitals; facilities not owned by the federal government are licensed through the California Department of Public Health Radiological Materials Branch in Sacramento; standards are set to make sure research facilities are operated safely, including how much material the facility can have, how it is operated, how and workers are protected, which continues all the way through the decommissioning of a facility; all steps need to be lined out when obtaining the license; the licensure process takes roughly one to two years and depends upon the exact complexities of a given project; Pacific Fusion is intending to submit its initial application to the State later in 2025; radiological materials would not be in the facility until about 2029; there is a lot of time; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) also controls certain aspects of how materials are handled; federal government interfaces need to be established as well; the particular radioisotope being used is called tritium, which is supplied and controlled by the Department of Energy; Pacific Fusion has deep relationships with both Sandia National Laboratories and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.
In response to Councilmember Daysog’s inquiry about radioactive neutrons being released into the air, Mr. LeChien stated neutrons are not radioactive themselves; fusion is built into a shielded vessel that does not allow any neutrons to escape; doing so is impossible and is one of the inherent safety features of the design; the neutrons themselves are not radioactive but can deposit energy into materials like stainless steel or metals within a very small short distance of where they're created; those materials can then become activated at which point they have to be handled appropriately with licensure procedures, disposed of, and tracked in a way that is consistent with the materials license obtained from the State.
Councilmember Daysog inquired whether there is any form of radioactive elements that can be emitted into the air or into the groundwater, and the safeguards built against it.
Mr. LeChien responded a fusion reaction in this type of system occurs in a very, very small physical volume--the size of the end of a pencil eraser, which is where all the fusion is produced; one million gallons of water roughly 50 feet in all directions shield neutrons, as well as any other radiation that might be produced in the reaction; the site boundary is defined through NRC guidelines as the acceptable level of exposure to the public; in this case, the level is zero at the site boundary; it is one of the features of how the system is designed, and one area Pacific Fusion will introduce and describe in great detail in the coming months.
In response to Councilmember Daysog’s inquiry about another industry occupying the site in the event Pacific Fusion decides to move out, Mr. LeChien stated one of the major requirements to obtain a Radiological Materials License in the State of California is to have a full decommissioning plan at the outset; the plan sets specific requirements for the company, including setting money aside in escrow to deal with any decommissioning required by the license; nothing would restrict future use of the site.
Vice Mayor Pryor inquired whether Pacific Fusion has had any work-related radioactive incidents or accidents in other locations.
Mr. LeChien responded in the negative; stated Pacific Fusion has two other facilities in Fremont and a third soon to come online where electrical equipment is built; the sites have been operational since the summer of 2023 and have an outstanding record of safe operations, which is something he prides himself on since he was the Senior Technical Safety Manager at the Department of Energy where he spent seven years running fusion programs.
In response to Vice Mayor Pryor’s inquiry, Mr. LeChien stated half-life is the time at which half of the mass of a particular material has decayed; the half-life of tritium is about 12 years, which is very short compared to carbon 14 which has an over 5,500 year half-life; the two elements being referred to are deuterium and tritium; deuterium is found in seawater and tritium is obtained from the Department of Energy.
In response to Councilmember Boller’s inquiry, Mr. LeChien stated when commissioning a fusion facility, it can be operated without introducing tritium, and can simply using deuterium, which is a common practice; the site in Alameda would be planned to be developed for occupancy in mid-2027; for the first 18 months to 2 years, Pacific Fusion would operate without any tritium in the facility; they would make sure to understand how the system operates and get it to a state of routine operations before introducing tritium into the facility in 2029.
In response to Councilmember Boller’s inquiry regarding raising capital, Ms. Von Muench stated
the company was founded in 2023, building on two major breakthroughs that opened a clear path to affordable fusion power; based on the scientific and engineering foundation, about a billion dollars is needed to demonstrate a clear path to producing commercial fusion systems; also, as a young startup with a great team of five people, it would be much easier to find the $100 million than the next $900 million; Pacific Fusion borrowed a financing model of collecting commitments for the entire amount of capital needed to achieve a clear set of milestones upfront; capital will be called as intermediate milestones are achieved; it is really an exciting model for the field; having a leadership team constantly fundraising and always waiting to see where the next dollar is going to come from is one of the biggest risks, it is really hard to do big, ambitious projects that require real planning; the investors are comprised of half institutions and half company builders and individual investors; the Board are: Eric Schmidt, former Chairman of Google, Patrick Collison, the founder of Stripe, and Hemant Taneja, the Chief Executive Offers of General Catalyst; since Pacific Fusion is resourced to deliver with the best syndicate, it can plan and actually execute quickly, which would be really hard using a more traditional financing model.
In response to Councilmember Boller’s inquiry about comparing with competitors to create sustainable fusion technology, Ms. Von Muench stated when considering the competitive positioning of a fusion approach, there are really three big questions to ask: 1) what is the scientific basis and how far are you from the scientific finish line; 2) do you have a tractable path to deliver affordable power; and 3) are you resourced to deliver both financially and with a team that can do so; Pacific Fusion is built on and has the highest performing fusion approaches; there are a couple of other fusion companies also built on well-founded science, that have various real engineering challenges to deliver affordable power; a couple of fusion companies have really clever engineering solutions, but have farther to go on the scientific side; Pacific Fusion has a high conviction that its path makes a lot of sense.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired why Alameda, to which Ms. Von Muench responded there are two big reasons; stated first, the building of the facility will be a long term collaboration with the jurisdiction, local businesses and the talent base; Pacific Fusion found the collaborative approach to working together to be really encouraging; second, Pacific Fusion feels like Alameda is really mission aligned, including the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan and Alameda's economic development goals; finally, it is all about talent and finding people to hire in Alameda to grow the team very rapidly over the years ahead; a new industry is being built; if successful, the talent base does not exist yet; it is really important to do so in a place where educational partnerships can be built and invested in for the long term, not just in two years, but also in five, 10 and 20 years.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired how the waste will be transported for disposal and where it will be stored prior to transport.
Mr. LeChien responded one of the byproducts of a fusion reaction can turn nearby metal into material that has some low-level amount of radiation at that point; stated roughly one pallet worth of the metal material is a dust, which is collected in approved containers, stored and transported with approved radioactive waste brokers; there is a whole cottage industry around transportation.
Stated is employed by Lawrence Livermore National Lab; he does not represent the laboratory in any official or unofficial capacity; of all the forms of energy, nuclear fusion is among the safest and cleanest; there is no risk of meltdown nor large volumes of radioactive waste that need disposal; he fully supports this opportunity for Alameda: Ron Soltz, Alameda.
Stated that he supports Pacific Fusion; he was a postdoc at Livermore and is now a senior scientist at Berkeley Lab; he is excited about a company inspired by decades of learning, using and leveraging knowledge putting together an approach that promises to bring abundant, safe energy in the next decade or so; the Bay Area is an expensive place; one important aspect needed is talent; the Bay Area has an amazing density of universities, national laboratories, driven by science; Pacific Fusion has an amazing proposal and it will make Alameda proud: Thomas Schenkel, San Francisco.
Stated that he serves on the Public Utilities Board and is an energy professional; he supports Pacific Fusion and encourages Council to move forward with the agreement; he has met with folks from the company as is very impressed both by their capabilities as an organization and the thoughtfulness with which this effort has been approached: Ryan Bird, Alameda.
Stated that he is the Director of the Reap Climate Center and serves on the Alameda County Workforce Development Board and Restoration Advisory Board; he supports Pacific Fusion and the safe, clean energy source; he is excited for the community outreach phase of the project and encourages Council to follow the science and technology as the promise of it solves a lot of big problems for everyone: Jonathan DeLong, Alameda.
Stated that she supports Council moving forward with the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Pacific Fusion; expressed some concerns regarding the waste transport with nearby residential properties and the traffic impacts of closing Posey Tube lanes and bridges; encourages Council to include outreach to people from the west end of town that will be most impacted by this: Former Mayor and Councilmember Trish Spencer, Alameda.
Expressed support for Pacific Fusion and concern about risks associated with the technology; urged Council to do further California Environmental Quality Act research: Tod Hickman.
Stated that he is fusion power enthusiast; discussed fusion technology and how fusion power will open a whole new epoch for human civilization; he supports Pacific Fusion and future possibilities for Alameda College, Encinal and Alameda High students participating in apprenticeship programs: Hunter Cobb, Alameda.
Stated that she is co-chair of Alameda Unified School District’s Parent Teacher Association Council on Climate and Sustainability and has been a renewable energy developer for 20 years; she deeply supports the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Pacific Fusion; focusing on the growing number of clean and green tech companies in the City positions Alameda as an epicenter of future innovation, technology and investment opportunity: Debi Ryan, Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda.
Stated that he is University of Pennsylvania student; disasters at Chernobyl and Japan were fission reactors that do not have the same safety standards as fusion reactors; he supports Pacific Fusion’s research and development plans for Alameda; supporting this venture would undoubtedly be a major step towards advancing clean energy in Alameda and collaborating with Pacific Fusion would further demonstrate the City’s commitment to green energy and a sustainable future: Tobey Theiding, Alameda.
Stated the Alameda Chamber and Economic Alliance strongly supports Pacific Fusion as a vital step towards clean sustainable energy innovation in Alameda; the advancements in fusion energy aligns with the City's commitment to green technology, economic growth and global energy solutions; approving the agreement will position Alameda as a leader in the future of clean energy; urged Council to support in making this vision a reality: Madlen Saddik, Chamber of Commerce.
Expressed Natel Energy’s support for Pacific Fusion; stated Alameda Point is proudly already home to several technology leaders who share focus on the critical challenge of the era; thanked the Council and staff for continuing hard work and guiding the positive, exciting growth of mutually supportive business at Alameda Point: Ben Ward, Natel Energy.
Stated that he has worked 35 years in the field of health physics, which is radiation safety; the company he works for has been helping Pacific Fusion gain licenses with the California Department of Public Health; he has done a lot of work supporting licensees, including Genentech and Gilead Sciences; he and his colleagues are bringing their expertise to Mr. LeChien and his staff; the license application Pacific Fusion will submit to the State is going to be complete with a comprehensive radiological safety program; it will protect the workforce and the environment; it will also address the concern regarding transportation of waste: Alan Fellman, NV5 Dade Moeller.
Stated that he works as a senior consultant with Alan Fellman; he is dual certified in health physics and industrial hygiene, with almost 50 years of experience in nuclear industry and Department of Energy licenses; he supports Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, focusing on operational safety; his entire career has been spent protecting workers, the public and the environment; he is working very diligently with Mr. LeChien and his staff to set up robust radiation safety programs that will minimize the exposure to the workers at Pacific Fusion as well as the public, and minimize any releases to the environment: Stephen Bump, NV5.
Vice Mayor Pryor stated Pacific Fusion’s goals align with the City’s economic goals; the discussion has been very exciting and robust; she feels very optimistic about this great opportunity.
Councilmember Boller stated the project would be a significant portion of the Enterprise District, with the intent to be a jobs driver; Pacific Fusion has the potential to bring a huge investment, not only into the community, but to the planet; it does really align well with Alameda’s economic goals and values as a community; the questions that were addressed tonight about safety issues are important; the timing is fortuitous to have a uniquely ideal partner; there will be some risks, but the rewards are really impactful for the community and for the entire civilization; he is in favor of the proposal and the ENA; additional details can be worked out in the next few months.
Councilmember Daysog stated that he is not yet in favor of the proposal; more information is needed regarding handling of radiation or radioactive materials; he hopes to see more answers through the community engagement process regarding how the amount of radiation handled or prepared by the facility in its early middle or mature stages compare to radiation handled by hospitals, typical dental offices, or the USS Enterprise when it was ported in in Alameda; he also wants to know the position of leading advocates, such as a Sierra Club or other leading national environmental organizations; he wonders what the regulatory reporting requirements are and how quickly Alameda would get information when reportable incidents occur; he also would like to see a presentation describing why and how the facility is safe relative to unexpected events, such as earthquake and fires, terrorist attacks or waste transportation accidents; he would like discussion regarding the gold standard of construction and industry standards for the facility; another question involves future use of the area; he does not doubt that Pacific Fusion will address a lot of the questions through the community engagement process, but he would like to see responses in writing, especially regarding the safety of the facility.
Councilmember Jensen stated that she had an opportunity to visit Pacific Fusion; it is very exciting to see everything there; Pacific Fusion's work to model an innovative, replicable, clean energy source could potentially be a game changer for Alameda and even for the planet; there may be risks related to the projects, including radioactivity or other storage issues; she supports outreach to the community; she has confidence in staff that questions will be answered; the proposal and ideas are in line with Alameda’s strategic priorities; the campus would result in advances to the deteriorating Alameda Point infrastructure, as well as providing more than 150 jobs, serving as an educational hub for K through 12 and a partnership for college programs; another priority is to practice fiscally responsible governance by using the vacant site to create new jobs and educational partnerships and to ensure the site and nearby lands are provided with infrastructure improvements; the strategic priority that comes closest to heart of this project is building resilience to climate change; Alameda could be the site of a revolutionary, new, clean energy source.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she would love to have Pacific Fusion choose Alameda; staff will negotiate carefully; community engagement is so important if or when something goes wrong; some sort of radiation detectors or monitoring and communications with the City in real time are necessary; nothing is without risk; climate change, as well as sea level and groundwater rise, cannot be eliminated, but could be managed carefully; she wants staff to focus on a waste transportation plan; this is an excellent opportunity for Alameda; she supports moving forward with the ENA.
Vice Mayor Pryor moved adoption of the resolution.
Councilmember Jense seconded the motion, which carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Boller, Jensen, Pryor and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft - 4. Noes: Councilmember Daysog - 1.
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Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft called a recess at 9:35 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 9:45 p.m.
***
(25- ) Recommendation to Approve the 2025-2026 Legislative Agenda for the City of Alameda.
The Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer gave a Power Point presentation.
Councilmember Jensen stated there are construction projects other than State projects, including Port of Oakland projects and projects in other neighboring cities; she would want to support efforts and funding to mitigate local impacts from large construction projects.
The Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer stated Councilmember Jensen makes a great point; the focus is specifically the Oakland Alameda Access project.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the overarching theme is Alameda wants to support legislation that supports and reinforces its legislative priorities, to which the Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer responded in the affirmative; stated the City is engaged in legislative matters that reflect the City Council strategic priorities; she can list the priorities to make it clearer.
Stated that he appreciates including diversity, equity and belonging in the legislative goals, along with Sanctuary City; expressed concern regarding toxic dredging materials and the storage of dredge materials; stated there is also a toxic marsh crust underneath the area that used to be the marsh; encouraged Council to get baseline information and consistently gather data to reach set outcomes and goals: Gabriel Duncan, Alameda Native History Project.
Discussed the rampant problem of racism and bias in Alameda; stated some of the words included in the legislative agenda do not match the general diversity, equity, inclusivity and belonging principles: Tod Hickman.
Councilmember Jensen stated that she appreciates the updated plan and that focus areas tie into the Strategic Plan; she supports the goals of making Alameda safer for pedestrians and bicyclists and the priority to support legislation that increases enforcement of speed and other traffic violations, including allowing the use of automated enforcement cameras for speed and red light violations; inquired whether the City supported the speed camera pilot project.
The Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer responded in the affirmative; stated Alameda supported the speed cameras and advocated to be included as one of the pilot cities, but unfortunately larger cities were selected.
Councilmember Jensen stated that she did not see anything specific to native cultures and supporting legislation or bills that would expand protections or recognition of native cultures, which is something very important for Alameda, as well as early childhood programs.
The Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer stated early childhood programs are in the City’s Strategic Plan, but not in the legislative agenda; it has been discussed and something to support.
Vice Mayor Pryor stated that she agrees with Councilmember Jensen regarding recognition of native cultures, as well as maintaining support and defending being a Sanctuary City, and diversity, equity, and inclusion goals; the priority is important for all residents to feel safe.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she has had conversations with the City Manager and City Attorney about communications templates that City can use to provide information to citizens.
Councilmember Daysog stated there are a lot of great things in the legislative agenda he supports; there does not need to be agreement on everything; there are issues everyone agrees are important, such as continuing to support the possibility of a BART extension to Alameda at some point in time; there are other things he certainly appreciates.
Councilmember Boller stated that he agrees with all the feedback from fellow Councilmembers; there are some good suggestions that should be included.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft outlined a meeting with Congresswoman Latifah Simon that included discussing legislation issues; stated there might be a need to backfill federal funding for projects that are already underway; discussed Veterans’ Administration issues, transportation infrastructure, and a bicycle pedestrian bridge between Alameda and Oakland; stated that she would like to see the electric water shuttle made permanent; expressed support for including continued support for disaster prevention, planning and implementation efforts, and developing building codes that support the functional recovery following an earthquake; she would broaden the language to include fire, flooding, and other natural disasters; the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) recently approved its annual 2025 legislative agenda, which is broken down by State and federal legislation and priorities, is in a really nice, manageable format and has monthly updates; it would be nice for staff to provide an off agenda report or Consent item to update Council.
The Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer stated the City’s webpage called Alamedaca.gov/legislative affairs has legislation supported throughout the legislative cycle; it includes the piece of legislation, the author, and a brief reason why Alameda is supporting the legislation; all the current bills Alameda is supporting are listed on the page; also included which ones went into law and which ones did not; last year, Alameda supported about 50 bills, of which half were signed into law.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated a Consent Calendar item could be brought on a quarterly basis without so much detail.
Councilmember Jensen stated there is a lot of concern in Alameda about the National Institutes of Health (NIH) cuts to administrative overhead of federal contracts for life sciences; the cuts would decimate a lot of innovative, experimental things that are going on in Alameda; a lot of the science companies would be severely hurt; the she would like to ensure the City is aware and responds to the issues.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that Ms. Simon understands the NIH funding; everyone is impacted by health issues or had someone benefit from lifesaving, life-changing science experiments; Ms. Simon is working across the aisle with folks on some common sense legislation.
Councilmember Jensen moved approval of the Legislative Agenda.
Councilmember Boller seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.
(25- ) Recommendation to Receive an Informational Presentation on Alameda Police Department Data from the Police Auditor and Provide Feedback regarding the Police Auditor’s Ongoing Work.
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(25- ) Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft asked Council to approve an extra 5 minutes for the presentation.
Councilmember Jensen moved approval of an additional 5 minutes.
Vice Mayor Pryor seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.
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The Police Auditor gave a Power Point presentation.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she is concerned about the pursuit policy; inquired what the criteria is for pursuits.
The Police Chief responded Alameda has a very expansive policy, including 17 risk factors that supervisors and the Watch Commander are paying attention to during a pursuit; an Officer can initiate a pursuit if there is a felony warrant, however, they cannot continue the pursuit unless a supervisor comes on the air to acknowledges and authorize the pursuit; when an Officer is involved in a pursuit, they are expected to give regular updates, every couple of seconds, including the speed they are traveling, the speed of the vehicle they are pursuing, how many occupants are in the vehicle, whether or not the occupants appear to be juveniles, traffic street and lighting conditions, and overall performance; most often the pursuits are terminated by the Officer and sometimes by the supervisor; after a pursuit video is thoroughly reviewed by the Sergeant, Lieutenant and up to the Captain; the review includes how the Officer was performing, if the information was accurate, and if risk factors were taken that should not have been; after the report is submitted, there is a separate independent review board, which consists of commanders and the Captain; the Board comes to an assessment about whether there are any training points for the Officer and whether policy updates are needed; only one incident was referred to internal affairs; none of the Officers engaged in misconduct; it is a very thorough review; that there is a certain amount of risk is understood; the policy is still strict; many cities and agencies allow departments to pursue anyone that flees; Alameda has a high threshold; it has to be a felony crime; the Department wants to try to mitigate the risk as much as possible, which requires regular updates by the Officers involved in the pursuit.
In response to Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft’s inquiry, the Police Chief stated the Officer driving in the high speed pursuit is communicating with the supervisor at the same time using their handheld radio; once the driver starts doing things that are too high at risk, the supervisor is expected to cancel the pursuit.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether there is a specific criteria for when a high speed pursuit simply would not be authorized, to which the Police Chief responded in the affirmative; stated first and foremost, the Officers are well trained and know better not to chase a car that is not wanted for a felony; in-car cameras start recording as soon as lights are turned on and backs up 30 seconds.
In response to Vice Mayor Pryor’s inquiry regarding use of force, the Police Chief stated the effort to increase reporting was an internal policy update made shortly after June of 2021; the intent was to underscore that there is a social contract the City is involved in with the community; the community trusts the Police Department will use equipment to defend themselves and be able to take action needed, but also the public wants to hear about it and want all incidents investigated; 90% of agencies do not report or investigate; his thought process is Officers have nothing to hide anytime; when it relates to force and an Officer puts their hands on somebody, even a slight nudge, the expectation is it will be investigated as a use of force; this is why use of force numbers increased; it does not mean that that there has been an increase of use of force incidents; it means more use of force investigations are being conducted; when the Department rolled out the policy, he spoke to the Union President who understood, agreed with and supported the policy; these are all learning and coaching opportunities about what could be done better and help Alameda’s officers strive to be their best.
In response to Vice Mayor Pryor’s inquiry regarding race traffic stops citations, the Police Chief stated essentially outcome fairly even split means is there was not an outlier with any particular demographic getting more warnings or getting more citations; there is no census data on drivers and no evidence of drivers being more dangerous than any other demographic; the Department looks at collisions to extract a sample size of the driver demographics; the profile of the drivers is compared to the stops made; it was found that there were no big changes or any outliers in any particular group; the outcomes are relatively similar; there is no demographic that is getting more citations or warnings.
The Police Auditor concurred with the Police Chief’s explanation; stated the Department does look at collisions and the demographics of stops; if it is in the realm, something that needs to be looked at further; every demographic is not expected to receive 40% citations across the board; as long as everybody is within a few percentage points, staff is fairly comfortable.
In response to Vice Mayor Pryor’s inquiry regarding Alameda’s statistics compared to other cities of the same size, the Police Auditor stated that she does not know how Alameda compares to other cities; noted Oakland had a problem hitting fixed objects, especially in one of precinct parking structure; everybody hit a pole and occasionally a car mirror; typically, the Officer does not see a fixed object when they are backing up; it is the reality of being in a car all day; thankfully, there were no significant collisions involving Police Officers.
Stated that what is being reported regarding racial profiling of drivers does not quite meet the mark; black and brown people do not feel particularly safe driving in this community; encouraged Council to look critically and really utilize the role of Police Auditor to actually audit and be as objective as possible: Savanna Cheer, Alameda.
Stated that she has the same concerns as the previous speaker regarding race stop data and use of force investigations; encouraged Council to look at reports more critically: Jenice Anderson, Alameda.
Councilmember Daysog stated the data should speak for itself; there are some issues that could be corrected by controlling for race; well accepted data sets track the amount of population that comes into the City for work; it is okay to let the data fall where it may; there is a reason to have the Police Auditor’s report; the presentation was great; the position is within the City Attorney's office and is arms distance from the Police Department; the information that is being culled and analyzed is valuable to help everyone understand some of the larger issues people raised several years ago; Alameda is on track in terms of having a system in place to understand that the Police Force is indeed responsive to the diverse community; the report is helpful to understand Police data sets are typically controlled for race and will only make Alameda better.
Councilmember Boller stated being focused on things like use of force and some of the racial data are really key areas; digging further into those areas would be really useful going forward; there is concern in the community about policing; it is important to think about the climate between citizens and the Police, as well as within the Department itself, including some emphasis on issues like recruitment and retention; he looks forward to seeing even more proactive, creative, critical, intense efforts to get a really important result for the City; public safety is the biggest portion of the City's budget; safeguards are important.
Vice Mayor Pryor stated the Department’s self-reflection appears to be more of a common practice; analyzing the data is important; concurred with Councilmember Boller that training is something that distinguishes Alameda.
Councilmember Jensen stated that she is comfortable with the data in the report; being transparent and providing the information is a strong step; she is concerned about the Police Department’s efforts in the area of traffic safety; she would like to see traffic stop data more effectively stop collisions, especially collisions with bicyclists and pedestrians, an objective that everyone shares; citation rates are lower than the past; inquired how Alameda can be more effective at reducing collisions.
The Police Chief responded that there should be a multifaceted approach to traffic safety; the Department works very closely with public works; public safety can be changed and enhanced through environmental design; the Department prioritizes dangerous Vehicle Code violations, such as speeding, running stop signs or running red lights; other things are also addressed, such as broken taillights, which are a safety issue; an acronym used in traffic enforcement decision making is PIE: Prevention, Intervention and Enforcement; he trusts Officers to make good judgment; Officer recognize the impact of educating somebody and getting them to understand the risks of the behaviors; in 2024, crime was a big focus, which caused double digit reductions in all crime; there are finite resources; the 30% vacancy rate is down to 22%; in 2025, traffic stops have doubles; all stops do not always end in a citation; a person can change their behavior based on a conversation.
Councilmember Jensen stated that she is not advocating everyone should get a ticket; the data seems incomplete to her; she would appreciate transparency about the types of citations.
The Police Chief stated in addition to crime, traffic enforcement is a focus area; everything is informed by data, including were collisions are occurring, which are referred to as hotspots; traffic enforcement is needed in hotspots; the correlation between increased collisions and the reduced number of stops is something he wants to be aware of and wants that to be transparent about with the community.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft discussed the tragedy of Mario Gonzalez, which occurred before the Police Chief was part of the Alameda Police Department; the police reform and racial equity process subcommittees that many Alameda residents participated in, included a recommendation to create the Police Auditor position not under the Police Department; encouraged the public to call 911 when a crime or accident occurs; stated the City does not have the statistics for incidents that are not reported; hiring bonuses were paid from money sitting in the Police Department's budget; it was unspent because the Department did not have enough Officers; through the Police Chief's initiative, Alameda has attracted incredible candidates; she is just in awe of the diversity of the number of languages, and even second and third languages spoken by Officers; a letter from a Lieutenant expressed deep commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community, including background of immigrant parents owning small businesses; she agrees with everything Councilmember Jensen said regarding bicycle and pedestrian collisions; she appreciates staff responding to concerns from the Fernside Homeowners Association about traffic safety issues; inquired how information is shared regarding neighborhood and community meetings.
The Police Chief responded community meetings are scheduled throughout the year based on the beat and neighborhood; any resident or business can go to the APD website and find the link to the community meetings; typing in an address will list the meeting location based on the beat, and the name of the area Commander.
In response to Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft’s inquiry regarding attendance at the community meetings, the Police Chief stated attendance was low when the meetings first started, but thanks to the Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer help with the messaging and leveraging social media, attendance has increased.
CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS
(25- ) The City Manager announced sign-ups are open on the website for the 4th of July parade; on March 1st, the Alameda Police Department has a team participating in the polar plunge which is now taking place in Alameda; the City is holding a community input meeting about the public dock at Bohol Circle Immigrant Park; lastly, she is working with the City Attorney's office on preparing correspondence templates for immigrant residents, as well as seniors.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA
None.
COUNCIL REFERRALS
None.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
(25- ) Mayor’s Nominations for the Commission on Persons with Disabilities and Golf Commission. Not heard.
(25- ) Councilmember Daysog announced that he attended the ceremony acknowledging the enlisted personnel of the quarter at Coast Guard Island, as well as a civilian personnel employee at Coast Guard Island on behalf of the Mayor on February 6.
(25- ) Councilmember Boller announced that he attended the Queer Teen Alameda Center (QTAC) Open House; stated there was a great level of community support; everyone who was there was from different sectors of the community; he hopes the message of enthusiasm and support got out to the young people in school.
(25- ) Vice Mayor Pryor announced that she attended the QTAC Open House as well; stated it was lovely and so important to support young people, especially vulnerable young people who might be experiencing challenges.
(25- ) Councilmember Jensen noted the check from Supervisor Tam was the best part of the QTAC Open House; stated Council does quite a bit of outreach; there are opportunities for community members to share thoughts; email is a great vehicle to share concerns and thoughts about neighborhoods, especially with regard to traffic; the outreach and discussions are appreciated and will continue.
(25- ) Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft announced that she met with Senator Jesse Arreguin om February 7; stated the Senator has excellent committee assignments and Alameda will work closely with him to develop and support legislation; on February 9, she attended a lunar New Year banquet sponsored by the Toishan Benevolent Society in Oakland, Chinatown; on February 12, she attended the Alameda County Mayor's Conference meeting hosted by the City of Pleasanton; the Stop Waste Executive Director gave a presentation at the meeting; showed an imposter bio bag that has plastic particles in it.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 11:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.