Title
Approve Draft Meeting Minutes - May 11, 2026
Body
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF THE
CITY OF ALAMEDA PLANNING BOARD
MONDAY, MAY 11, 2026
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 Hom, Tsou, Wang and Saheba
Absent: None
2. AGENDA CHANGES
None
3. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
Danielle Mieler (*3:58) Sustainability and Resilience Manager, discussed a potential infrastructure bond. She discussed budgets needs for urgent issues in the city. She gave examples of climate impacts in the city and discussed outreach measures.
Zac Thayer (*2:30) discussed state and federal laws.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
4-A 2026-5990 - Approve Draft Meeting Minutes - April 13, 2026
Minutes can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7999188&GUID=3F82A731-B4A8-4F33-8219-F617C48DD156&FullText=1>.
There were no public comments for the Consent Calendar.
Board Member Ruiz made a motion (*8:06) to approve the April 13th, 2026, meeting minutes. Board Member Tsou seconded the motion, and the motion passed 5-0 with Board Member Hom and Vice President Ariza in abstention due to their absence at the meeting.
5. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
5-A 2026-5995 - Study Session Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment - Accessory Dwelling Unit and Condominium Conversion Updates - A study session to discuss proposed zoning code updates to sections relating to accessory dwelling units and condominium conversion in Alameda Municipal Code Section 30-5.18 - Accessory Dwelling Units, and Section 30-8 - Conversion to Multiple Houses. The amendment may allow conversion of accessory dwelling units to condominiums, modernize the procedures for condominium conversion more generally, and update provisions throughout to comply with State law. The study session is not considered a project under the California Environmental Quality Act because it does not constitute a discretionary approval and will not cause a direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
Tristan Suire, Planner II, introduced (*9:03) this item and gave a presentation.
The staff report and attachments can be found at:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7999191&GUID=DDCC4DA5-37E9-4228-A2FC-D703F6ABFE6A&FullText=1>,
The presentation was paused (*24:01) for a round of clarifying questions and discussions from the board.
Presentation was resumed at the 48:15-minute mark. Since this was a study session discussion and clarifying questions happened throughout the video.
Public Comment for item 5A
Benjamin Winter (*2:08:10) shared his feedback as an owner who wanted to subdivide his ADU. He was glad the city was discussing this as a possibly and the difficulties around the process. He was in favor of condo conversion for ADUs. He discussed what interest rates would be and how this would help with affordability.
Hank Hernandez (*2:11:36) the letter Speaker Hernandez shared has been uploaded as a public comment attachment - President of Alameda Tiny Homes and encouraged the board to take action on this item and was in favor of the condo conversion of ADUs. He discussed why this would be a good path forward for Alameda and how this was make home ownership affordable.
Staff Member Suire shared (*2:15:37) a letter from the Housing Action Coalition which can also be found in the public comment attachment.
Action taken for item 5A
Board discussion start at the 2:16:36 minute mark.
This was a study session item and no formal action was taken.
6. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
6-A 2026-5993
Planning, Building and Transportation Department Recent Actions and Decisions
Recent actions and decisions can be found at:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7999189&GUID=7643E55D-6550-4784-A1A7-18568AAA09DC&FullText=1>,
No decision or action was pulled for review.
Abby Thorne-Lyman, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director, gave an update (*2:28:02) on the changes with Planning Building & Transportation with Allen Tai, former Director, leaving. Abby would be the Interim Director and retired former Director Andrew Thomas would be assisting on a limited basis.
6-B 2026-5994
Oral Report - Future Public Meetings and Upcoming Planning, Building and Transportation Department Projects
Brian McGuire, Planner III, gave an update (2:30:01) on recent actions and discussed the agenda for May 26, 2026 which would be on a Tuesday due to Memorial Day.
There were no public comments.
7. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
President Cisneros discussed a housing debate (*1:41:09) conference that she and Board Member Ruiz would be participating in.
8. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
9. ADJOURNMENT
President Cisneros adjourned the meeting at 9:31 pm.
*Refers to the minute mark in the video