Title
Draft Meeting Minutes - Draft Meeting Minutes - April 28, 2025
Body
DRAFT MINUTES
MEETING OF THE
CITY OF ALAMEDA PLANNING BOARD
MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025
1. ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
* Members of the public can participate in person or remotely via Zoom.
Present: President Cisneros, Vice President Ariza and Board Members Ruiz, Hom, Saheba, Wang and Tsou.
Absent: None
2. AGENDA CHANGES
None.
3. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
None.
5. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
5-A 2025-5007 - Short-term Rental Ordinance. Discussion of issues and alternatives for regulating short-term rentals.
Steven Buckley, Planning Services Manager, introduced (*1:44) this item and the consultant Heather Coleman, and gave the presentation. The staff report and attachments can be found at:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7318925&GUID=47FB1F38-9979-489B-8C23-E4ADB59DA230&FullText=1>.
Board clarifying questions start at the 18:45 minute mark in the video.
Public Comment for item 5A
Joe Keiser (*51:23) discussed how bad it was to live next to a house in Alameda that was an Airbnb house. At first it was regular renters but 2 years ago the owners started Airbnb, and it had been terrible. They had to call the police multiple times and it was a nightmare. The owners were unresponsive, and the house was not well kept. He believed any ordinance that had standards would help his family and encouraged the implantation of an ordinance.
Louai Al-Khanji (*54:28) discussed the study sighted by staff that was funded my hotels, who were of course very anti-Airbnb. He discussed other studies that pointed out the money that STR bring into communities. He then discussed how hosting a STR gave his family flexibility, both monetary and personal. Having 90-day restrictions would affect how they supplemented their income and could affect their ability to continue to live in Alameda.
Steve Busse (*57:37) discussed how he and his wife had rented out a cottage they owned through Airbnb for the last 10 years. He said having a 90-day restriction would have a huge impact on them. He felt that it was very confusing to also know what type of business license they should have. He felt sympathy for the speaker who was experiencing terrible Airbnb neighbors. He asked that the board consider that having a STR allowed them flexibility for when family and friends visited.
Sheilah Cahill (*1:00:28) said she had a duplex and rented out the bottom floor and she lives on the top floor. She said she was retired and having a STR supplemented her income, and any restrictions would be hard. She also stated she had a business license and paid taxes. She wanted the board to take into consideration those who were in a similar position.
Action taken for item 5A
Board discussion start at the 1:02:04-minute mark in the video.
This was a discussion item and no formal action was taken.
6. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
6-A 2025-4989
Planning, Building and Transportation Department Recent Actions and Decisions
Recent actions and decisions can be found at:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7318917&GUID=F29551E1-8734-4F6A-A13A-87CE928F2DFD&FullText=1>.
No decision or action was pulled for review.
There were no public comments.
6-B 2025-4990
Oral Report - Future Public Meetings and Upcoming Planning, Building and Transportation Department Projects
Manager Buckley discussed (*1:56:23) sending out a list of future items to board members could be aware of what is planned.
There were no public comments.
7. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
Board Members Ruiz and Hom both informed the board they would be absent for the next meeting on May 12th. (*1:57:10)
Manager Buckley reminded the board that the May 27th meeting was on Tuesday due to Memorial Day. Board Member Ruiz said she would be out for that as well.
8. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
9. ADJOURNMENT
President Cisneros adjourned the meeting at 8:58 p.m.
*Refers to the minute mark in the video