Title
Receive Final Report Presentation and Recommendations from the City of Alameda's America's Cup Ad Hoc Committee. (Community Development)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: John A. Russo, City Manager
Re: Receive Final Report Presentation and Recommendations from the City of Alameda's America's Cup Ad Hoc Committee
BACKGROUND
At its June 21, 2011 meeting, the Alameda City Council formally supported a new committee to help identify ways the City could participate in the 34th America's Cup events (AC34), which were held on the San Francisco Bay this past summer. The 12-member America's Cup Ad Hoc Committee (Committee) includes representatives from the local maritime and business community and has held regularly scheduled and publically noticed meetings for the past two years.
With the AC34 now over, the Committee approved, at its October 9 meeting, a final report summarizing its activities and recommendations, for the City Council's consideration (Exhibit 1).
DISCUSSION
The Committee was tasked to:
? capitalize on the economic development and tourism opportunities surrounding the America's Cup;
? strengthen Alameda's reputation as a vibrant maritime community; and
? improve Alameda's appeal as a tourist destination.
Through the Committee's leadership, the City of Alameda was at the forefront in America Cup's activities among the many cities outside of San Francisco that worked to establish a presence in the event, such as Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and Emeryville.
The Committee's major accomplishment was attracting two of the four teams competing in the regatta to locate their team operations at Alameda Point, bringing international recognition and lease revenue to the City. The Artemis Racing Team from Sweden has a 19-month lease for the use of a former hangar at Alameda Point. The Italian Luna Rossa Challenge has occupied an adjacent building for seven months.
The pres...
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