Title
Adoption of Resolution Declaring Five Project Sites of City-Owned Property at Alameda Point Including Building 525, Building 166, Building 12, the Southern Enterprise District Property, a Block Bounded by Saratoga Street, West Essex Drive, Todd Street, and West Midway Avenue as well as the Western Portion of a Block Bounded by Saratoga Street, West Midway Avenue, Pan Am Way, and West Ranger Avenue to be Exempt Surplus Land Under the Surplus Land Act.
The streamlining provisions of Public Resources Section 21083.3 and Section 15183 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines apply and no further environmental review is required. (Base Reuse and Economic Development 29061822)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The recommended Surplus Lands Act Resolution declares five (5) properties at Alameda Point exempt Surplus Land under the Surplus Land Act. Declaration of these properties as exempt Surplus Land will allow staff and consultants to proceed with preparing for the disposition of these Properties, such as engaging in negotiations with prospective transferees, in alignment the City of Alameda’s (City) Master Infrastructure Plan and Disposition and Leasing Strategy.
The City Council shall be responsible for approval or disapproval of the disposition of any property by Ordinance at a future City Council meeting.
BACKGROUND
Prior to taking any action to dispose of (i.e., sell, option to lease, or lease for a term of five years or more) land owned by a local agency, the Surplus Land Act (California Government Code Sections 54220 et seq.) (SLA), requires the local agency to follow prescribed notification and negotiation procedures intended to encourage housing development, including affordable housing.
However, SLA’s notification and negotiation procedures do not apply to the local agency’s disposal of land that qualifies as “exempt surplus land” as set forth in the SLA. Prior to taking any action to dispose of land, Government Code Section 54221(b)(1) requires the local agency to declare the land “surplus land” or “exempt surplus land” as supported by written findings.
Government Code Section 54221(f)(1)(M) sets forth an SLA exemption which defines “exempt surplus land” as “Surplus land that is a former military base that was conveyed by the federal government to a local agency, and is subject to Article 8 (commencing with Section 33492.125) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 24 of the Health and Safety Code, provided that certain conditions apply pertaining to the military base’s geographic size, expected residential unit count, affordable housing requirements, as well as requirements related to the local agency’s project stabilization agreement, among others.
DISCUSSION
The five (5) properties at Alameda Point identified in the resolution (collectively, the “Properties”) include the following:
• Building 525: Located on Todd Street, Building 525 is a currently vacant 23,208 square foot concrete structure and adjacent parking areas and drive aisle. The building is in good condition and has received frequent inquires to be leased. Map shown in Exhibit 1.
• Building 166: Located near the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal on Viking Street, Building 166 is a 55,471 square foot warehouse currently leased to Power Engineering Construction. The property includes the adjacent yards to the east and between Buildings 166 and 167. Map shown in Exhibit 2.
• Building 12: Located on West Tower Avenue, Building 12 is a 110,561 square foot, non-contributing hangar structure currently leased to Saildrone. Map shown in Exhibit 3.
• Southern Enterprise District Property: Includes an approximately 28-acre area bounded by Ticonderoga Avenue, Hancock Street, Hornet Avenue and property held in the Public Trust to the west. The property includes the eastern portion of what is commonly referred to as the “Enterprise Lots” as well as part of the CSI Mini-Storage’s leased premises. Map shown in Exhibit 4.
• 9.88 Acres in Reuse Area: Comprised of a block bounded by Saratoga Street, West Essex Drive, Todd Street, and West Midway Avenue as well as the western portion of a block bounded by Saratoga Street, West Midway Avenue, Pan Am Way, and West Ranger Avenue. Map shown in Exhibit 5.
The recommended resolution declares that the identified Properties are “exempt surplus land” under the Surplus Land Act based on the following findings prescribed by Government Code Section 54221(f)(1)(M):
(i) Former Military Base. The Properties are located on the former Alameda Naval Air Station (“Alameda NAS”), which has an aggregate area greater than five acres, and is expected to include a mix of residential and nonresidential uses, and is expected to include no fewer than 1,400 residential units upon completion of development or redevelopment on the Alameda NAS; The Properties were conveyed to the City by the United States Department of the Navy pursuant to that certain Memorandum of Agreement for the Conveyance of Portions of the Alameda Naval Air Station dated June 6, 2000. The Properties are located on the former Alameda NAS and are subject to Article 8 (commencing with Section 33492.125) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 24 of the Health and Safety Code.
(ii) Affordable Housing. The affordability requirements for residential units on the Alameda NAS are governed by a settlement agreement entered into on March 20, 2001 (the Renewed Hope Settlement Agreement) which agreement restricts (a) 10% of all residential units development on Alameda NAS to lower income households, as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5 with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing and 45 years for ownership housing and (b) 15 percent of all residential units developed on Alameda NAS in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 33413(b)(2). The City has granted approvals for developments and has agreements with the developers of those developments that contemplate the development of 2,082 residential units on Alameda NAS, 632 or 30% of which units are required to be occupied by lower income households as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5 at affordable rents, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code for a minimum of 55 years and of the initial 1,400 residential units expected to be constructed on Alameda NAS at least 25% are required to be occupied by lower income households as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5 at affordable rents as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code for a minimum of 55 years;
(iii) Labor. As a condition of the conveyance of, and prior to the disposition of any of the Properties, the City will require that the recipient negotiate a project labor agreement consistent with the City’s Project Stabilization Agreement resolution, as adopted on February 2, 2021 and any succeeding ordinance, resolution, or policy regardless of the length of the agreement between the City and the recipient of any of the Properties;
(iv) Annual Report. The City does, and shall continue to include, in its annual report required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 65400 of the Government Code, the status of development of residential units on the Alameda NAS, including the total number of residential units that have been permitted and what percentage of those residential units are restricted for persons and families of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code or lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
In future meetings, staff will recommend two additional Surplus Lands resolutions to the City Council related to 1) surplus land that was granted by the state in trust to the City of Alameda and 2) properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
ALTERNATIVES
• Approve the Surplus Lands Resolution as Recommended. This will facilitate and expedite the City’s continued efforts to redevelop Alameda Point including the financing and constructing of new infrastructure for the businesses and properties.
• Direct Staff to Modify the Surplus Lands Resolution. City Council may decide to direct staff to modify to the recommended Surplus Lands Resolution.
• Deny Surplus Lands Resolution. If City Council does not want to move forward with declaring the identified Properties as exempt surplus land, City Council should identify the reasons for the denial.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact from the recommended resolution. Any future dispositions of the Properties will require City Council approval under a separate Ordinance.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The recommended resolution is consistent with the City’s General Plan policies related to the redevelopment and reuse of Alameda Point. This action also supports the City Strategic Plan Project TIEH25 to implement the City’s Alameda Point Disposition Strategy.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The streamlining provisions of Public Resources Section 21083.3 and Section 15183 of CEQA Guidelines apply and no further environmental review is required.
CLIMATE IMPACT
This resolution will facilitate and expedite the City’s continued efforts to redevelop Alameda Point as a mixed-use, transit-oriented community, which is consistent with and supports the City’s Climate Action Plan and regional and statewide Climate Protection and Greenhouse Gas Emission reduction strategies, including the Bay Area’s Sustainability Strategy, Plan Bay Area.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution declaring five City-owned properties at Alameda Point including Building 525, Building 166, Building 12, the Southern Enterprise District Property, a block bounded by Saratoga Street, West Essex Drive, Todd Street, and West Midway Avenue as well as the Western Portion of a block bounded by Saratoga Street, West Midway Avenue, Pan Am Way, and West Ranger Avenue to be exempt Surplus Land Under the SLA.
Respectfully submitted,
Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director
By,
Walker Toma, Community Development Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Map of Building 525
2. Map of Building 166
3. Map of Building 12
4. Map of Southern Enterprise District Property
5. Map of 9.88 Acres in Reuse Area