Title
Introduction of Ordinance Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Lease with the Alameda Transportation Management Association for a Single Office Space in City Hall West at Alameda Point for a Five-Year Lease Term with Base Rent of One Dollar Per Year.
A Final Environmental Impact Report for the Alameda Point Project was certified on February 4, 2014 in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. (Base Reuse and Economic Development 29061822) [Continued from November 21, 2023]
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Alameda Transportation Management Association (ATMA) is a stand-alone non-profit organization established by the City of Alameda (City) in 2017 to oversee the ongoing implementation of the Alameda Point Transportation Demand Management Plan (Alameda Point TDM Plan) and all of the TDM requirements imposed by the City on major projects in Alameda, including but not limited to, all of the projects in the Northern Waterfront and the Alameda Housing Authority projects.
On September 5, 2023, City Council approved the renewal of two pass-through agreements with the ATMA for the provision of transportation services consistent with the Alameda Point TDM Plan for all residents and employees at Alameda Point. In the upcoming years, the scope and responsibilities of the ATMA will continue to grow as the West Alameda TMA (Alameda Landing) is absorbed into the ATMA, and the ATMA takes a lead role in the provision of the first ever Alameda-Oakland Water Shuttle Program. The ATMA is also working with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to expand the current Alameda-AC Transit Easy Pass program to include ferry, BART and Caltrain access to all ATMA Easy Pass holders.
As the responsibilities of the ATMA grow, the need for a permanent office space in Alameda is becoming a clear need for the ATMA, which currently operates with a director and two part time staff, under the direction of a Board of Directors, out of the home of the director.
Staff is recommending that City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a lease with the ATMA for a single office located in City Hall West for a term of five years with a base rent of one dollar ($1) per year.
BACKGROUND
In 2014, City Council approved the Alameda Point TDM Plan, which is a critical part of the City’s transportation and greenhouse gas reduction strategy for the reuse and redevelopment of Alameda Point. The primary objectives of the Alameda Point TDM Plan are to provide supplemental transportation services to Alameda businesses and residents to increase transit use, reduce automobile congestion, and increase transportation options for residents, employees, and visitors to Alameda Point. Since approval of the Alameda Point TDM Plan in 2014, the City:
• Established the ATMA, a stand-alone non-profit organization, that oversees the ongoing implementation of the Alameda Point TDM Plan and the Northern Waterfront project TDM requirements;
• Established a Community Facilities District (CFD 17-1) for municipal services requiring a special tax on private property at Alameda Point to fund transportation services and programs (among other public services) consistent with the Alameda Point TDM Plan;
• Established Tenant fees to fund transportation services and programs consistent with the Alameda Point TDM Plan;
• Adopted pass-through agreements with the ATMA in 2018 to provide funds for transportation services to Alameda Point business owners, employees, and residents; and
• Renewed and updated the pass-through agreements with the ATMA in 2023.
DISCUSSION
The recommended lease will allow the growing non-profit to work closely with the Base Reuse and Economic Development staff and the staff at the RiverRock Real Estate Group (RiverRock), the property management company for Alameda Point, both of which are located on the same floor of City Hall West. The low base rent will ensure that none of the funds passed through to the ATMA from the City or the projects elsewhere in the City for transportation services will need to be spent on rent for ATMA’s office space.
The location of the office on the second floor of City Hall West places the ATMA staff immediately adjacent to the offices for RiverRock, which is the company that serves as the property manager for all of the tenants and leased assets at Alameda Point. The ATMA is providing transportation services for these very same businesses as well as all of the new residential homeowners and tenants at Alameda Point and the Alameda Point Collaborative.
The proposed location also places the ATMA staff within steps of the Base Reuse and Economic Development offices and the City staff who are responsible for supporting the redevelopment of Alameda Point, including the implementation of City Council approved Alameda Point TDM Plan and the staff that is working to retain and attract new businesses citywide. Transportation is often one of the top concerns expressed by both existing businesses in Alameda as well as prospective businesses considering relocating to Alameda.
Staff is recommending a below market base rent of $1 dollar a year. The small, approximately 250 square-foot office space is currently vacant. The low base rent ensures that every dollar passed through to the ATMA by the City for Alameda Point or by the projects on the Northern Waterfront will be used for the administration and expansion of transportation services for Alameda businesses and residents and not spent on office rent.
In conclusion, staff believes that the draft Lease (Exhibit 1) will support and improve the quality and visibility of the ATMA and improve coordination between the City’s Base Reuse and Economic Development staff, property management staff, Public Works staff, and ATMA staff, all of whom are located in City Hall West.
ALTERNATIVES
After opening the public hearing and considering all of the documents and testimony, City Council may consider three alternative courses of action, including:
• Approving the first reading of the ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with ATMA on the terms described in this staff report.
• Electing not to approve the first reading and directing the City Manager to terminate negotiations with ATMA.
• Electing not to approve the first reading and directing the City Manager to continue negotiations with ATMA on specific lease terms or conditions that require further negotiation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The costs for City maintenance of this currently vacant office space are covered by the Base Reuse and Economic Development Department as part of the Facility Maintenance and Replacement Internal Service Fund (Fund 603) cost allocation plan. The funding source for the Facility Maintenance and Replacement charges for the currently vacant space is the Alameda Point Fund (Fund 290).
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action supports the Alameda Point TDM Plan and the Mobility Element of the City’s General Plan, which outlines goals and policies for de-emphasizing the automobile; creating a mixed-use environment that promotes transit; and achieving a human-scale transit-oriented development, among many other transit-supportive policies. This action does not affect the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
City Council certified a Final Environmental Impact Report for the Alameda Point Project (Alameda Point EIR) on February 4, 2014 in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq. and adopted and incorporated into the project all of the mitigation measures for the project that are within the responsibility and jurisdiction of the City, including the Alameda Point TDM Plan to mitigate traffic impacts. None of the circumstances necessitating further environmental review are present, thus the City can rely on the Alameda Point EIR.
CLIMATE IMPACT
The ATMA is the primary organization implementing the Alameda Point TDM Plan, which is specifically designed to reduce automobile congestion, automobile emissions, and vehicle miles traveled as the result of the redevelopment of Alameda Point. Each of these objectives is consistent with and implements the City’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a Public Hearing to consider introduction of an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease for a single office in City Hall West at Alameda Point for a term of five years with a base rent of one dollar per year to the ATMA.
Respectfully submitted,
Abby Thorne-Lyman, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director
By,
Andrew Thomas
Strategic Advisor
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brian, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Lease