Title
Recommendation to Authorize Termination of the Emergency 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. [Requires four affirmative votes]
In accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is statutorily exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines Section15269(c) relating to actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency. (Base Reuse and Economic Development C75400)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
Staff recommends City Council authorize the termination of the emergency to address the hazard to the public that was identified in the Declaration of Unsafe Building and Notice to Vacate and Inspection Report issued by the City of Alameda’s (City) Chief Building Inspector on September 27, 2024 (case number X24-0470), for the City-owned building located at 2450 Saratoga Street, Alameda, California (Building 114 at Alameda Point) (Exhibit 1 Site Plan), as all abatement and demolition work is complete. Action was taken per the emergency powers granted to the City Manager pursuant to Alameda City Charter Section 3-15.2 to contract with a demolition contractor, Silverado, to accommodate emergency work to resolve the hazards. At the November 19, 2024 meeting, City Council ratified the Silverado Agreement and adopted a budget Resolution to fund the project. As of the date of this meeting Silverado (and all subcontractors) have completed the project, fully demobilized from the site, submitted all invoices and change order requests and have secured the site.
In accordance with Alameda City Charter 3-15.2 and the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA, specifically, Government Code section 22050), staff have returned to each regularly scheduled City Council meeting to make a request authorization to continue work and provide an updated report on the ongoing efforts to address the emergency. At this time, work has been completed to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official and no further updates related to the demolition project are required.
Staff will provide a final supplemental memo with photos to document the project and final conditions of the site.
BACKGROUND
Please see the following files for background information:
File # 2024-4531 November 19, 2024 City Council Meeting
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7015151&GUID=E6EAD87A-3666-4ACC-98C4-E2197BE9CAFF>
File # 2024-4586 December 3, 2024 City Council Meeting
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7030110&GUID=1B83FC72-BBBE-4D0E-9097-DDCCD1BE1702>
File # 2024-4607 December 17, 2024 City Council Meeting
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7044612&GUID=4D7E8665-A8D6-4612-8FD8-C95904B400A1>
File # 2025-4608 January 7, 2025 City Council Meeting
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7077284&GUID=D838F80D-BF3C-4DD3-8D2A-1917D236688D>
File # 2025-4675 January 21, 2025 City Council Meeting
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7088056&GUID=0E4D0E56-6E1A-407B-99A0-278D9E5D1CFA>
File # 2025-4703 February 4, 2025 City Council Meeting
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7104251&GUID=68441E0D-9188-4F54-A40C-ADA376B7A7FA>
File # 2025-4758 February 18, 2025 City Council Meeting
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7129490&GUID=A104B0B7-0A88-41E8-A8E7-EE3E7963BC34>
File # 2025-4799 March 4, 2025 City Council Meeting
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7144694&GUID=ECBFF473-1220-476C-8AA2-7F1B934551AA>
DISCUSSION
Contractor Silverado has fully addressed the hazard identified in the Declaration of Unsafe Building and Notice to Vacate, Case Number X24-0470 to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official. Staff will provide a final supplemental memo with photos to document the project and final conditions of the site.
Disposition of the property will follow the City Council’s priorities for the lease and/or sale of Alameda Point Reuse Area properties.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the termination of emergency action to address Declaration of Unsafe Building and Notice to Vacate (case number X24-0470) for the City-owned building located at 2450 Saratoga Street, Alameda, California (Building 114 at Alameda Point), per the emergency powers granted to the City Manager, pursuant to Alameda City Charter Section 3-15.2 and continuation of work under Construction Agreement with Silverado Construction, Inc. ratified by City Council at its November 19, 2024 meeting.
• Do not authorize the termination of the emergency action, and instead provide alternate direction to staff.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no additional financial impact associated with this update.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code (AMC), and Alameda City Charter Sec. 3-15.2.
This project supports the City Strategic Plan priority to Invest in Transportation, Infrastructure, Economic Opportunities & Historic Resources.
AMC section 13-21.5 provides for emergency action by the Chief Building Official, in coordination with the Secretary to the Historical Advisory Board, to abate hazardous conditions.
This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with CEQA, this project is statutorily exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080(b)(4) which applies to “[s]pecific actions necessary to prevent an emergency.” Public Resources Code section 21060.3 defines “Emergency” as “a sudden, unexpected occurrence, involving a clear and imminent danger, demanding immediate action to prevent or mitigate loss of, or damage to, life, health, property, or essential public services. ‘Emergency’ includes such occurrences as fire, flood, earthquake, or other soil or geologic movements, as well as such occurrences as riot, accident, or sabotage.”
For purposes of CEQA, the emergency determination that triggers Public Resources Code section 21080(b)(4) is based on the Chief Building Official’s September 27, 2024, Notice and Inspection Report which declares Building 114 unsafe and unfit for continued human occupancy. The Notice and Inspection Report required the City to, within short time-frames, obtain a J permit from BAAQMD and a demolition building permit to remove the areas compromised beyond repair; and to submit plans for plan check to restore the building to a safe condition or complete the demolition as necessary to ensure safety. All required permits and authorizations were obtained for the project.
Additionally, the City complied with Alameda Point EIR Mitigation Measure 4.D-1c (page 4-D-36-37) requirement to prepare an Historic American Building Survey (HABS) Level II documentation standards of the National Park Service.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize termination of the emergency 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.
Respectfully submitted,
Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director
By,
Alesia Strauch, Base Reuse Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Acting Finance Director