Title
Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting, the Special Joint City Council and Successor Agency to the Community Improvement Commission Meeting, and the Regular Meeting held on March 4, 2014. (City Clerk)
Body
UNAPPROVED
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY- -MARCH 4, 2014- -6:00 P.M.
Mayor Gilmore convened the meeting at 6:01 p.m.
Roll Call - Present: Councilmembers Chen, Daysog, Ezzy Ashcraft, Tam and Mayor Gilmore - 5.
Absent: None.
The meeting was adjourned to Closed Session to consider:
(14-067) Public Employee Performance Evaluation Pursuant to Government Code ยง 54957; Positions Evaluated: City Manager - John Russo
Following the Closed Session the meeting was reconvened and Mayor Gilmore announced that no action was taken.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Gilmore adjourned the meeting at 7:13 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.
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UNAPPROVED
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL
AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE COMMUNITY
IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION (SACIC) MEETING
TUESDAY- -MARCH 4, 2014- -6:59 P.M.
Mayor/Chair Gilmore convened the meeting at 7:20 p.m.
Roll Call - Present: Councilmembers/Agency Members Chen, Daysog, Ezzy Ashcraft, Tam and Mayor/Chair Gilmore - 5.
Absent: None.
Oral Communications
None.
Consent Calendar
Councilmember/Agency Member Tam moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
Vice Mayor/Agency Member Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]
(*14-001 SACIC) Minutes of the Special Joint City Council and Successor Agency of the Community Improvement Commission (SACIC) Meeting of December 17, 2013. Approved.
(*14-068 CC/14-002 SACIC) Summary: Recommendations to Accept Certain Public Streets, Utilities, and Easements from Successor Agency and for the Successor Agency to Grant a Deed for Public Streets and Utilities and Related Easements.
(*14-068 A CC) Recommendation to Accept from the Successor Agency the Public Streets and City-Owned Utilities at Alameda Landing; and Easements for Public Infrastructure Outside of the Streets. (City Council); and
(*14-002 A SACIC) Recommendation to Grant a Quitclaim Deed for the Alameda Landing Public Streets and City-Owned Utilities to the City and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Quitclaim Deed; and Approve the Grants of Easements from the Successor Agency to the City for Public Infrastructure, and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Grant of Easement. (SACIC). Accepted.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor/Chair Gilmore adjourned the meeting at 7:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk and Secretary, SACIC
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.
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UNAPPROVED
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY- -MARCH 4, 2014- -7:00 P.M.
Mayor Gilmore convened the meeting at 7:22 p.m.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers Chen, Daysog, Ezzy Ashcraft, Tam and Mayor Gilmore - 5.
Absent: None.
AGENDA CHANGES
None.
PROCLAMATIONS, SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY & ANNOUNCEMENTS
(14-069) Proclamation Declaring March 2014 as American Red Cross Month.
Mayor Gilmore read the Proclamation and presented it to Harry Hartman, Alameda Leadership Council.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA
(14-070) Jeff Johnson, Harbor Bay Neighbors, stated that he opposes the proposal to move the Harbor Bay Club.
(14-071) Steve Burich, Harbor Bay Neighbors, submitted information; stated that he opposes the proposal to build 80 homes at the Harbor Bay Club.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
Councilmember Chen seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]
(*14-072) Minutes of the Special and Regular Council Meeting of February 4, 2014. Approved.
(*14-073) Ratified bills in the amount of $ 3,372,958.18.
(*14-074) Resolution No. 14899, "Authorizing the City Manager to Submit an Application for Measure B Paratransit Funding in the Amount of $253,000 for Fiscal Year 2014 2015, and to Execute all Necessary Documents." Adopted.
(*14-075) Resolution No. 14900, "Approving the Final Map and Bond, Authorizing Execution of the Subdivision Improvement Agreement, and Accepting the Dedications and Easements for Tract 8131 (Alameda Landing Residential, Phase 1)." Adopted.
(*14-076) Resolution No. 14901, "Approving Housing Element Annual Progress Reports for the Years 2009 through 2013 and Authorizing Submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research and Finding that the Approval is Categorically Exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15306 (Information Collection) and 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies)." Adopted.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
(14-077) Recommendation to Adopt Plans and Specifications and Authorize a Call for Bids for the Shore Line Drive/Westline Drive/Broadway Bikeway Project.
The Transportation Coordinator gave a Power Point presentation.
Mayor Gilmore inquired if loading is restricted to weekdays, to which the Transportation Coordinator responded in the negative; stated weekends are included, but there is a time restriction requiring loading to occur between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.
Councilmember Chen inquired whether motorists would be able to legally go around a delivery van double-parked on the street, to which the Transportation Coordinator responded in the affirmative; stated there will be striped center line which allows motorists to pass legally.
Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether a crosswalk at Shoreline Drive in front of the Post Office could be moved to other side near the Willows Condominiums because the existing crosswalk goes directly into a planting bed.
The Transportation Coordinator responded that she would look into moving the crosswalk; continued the presentation.
Councilmember Chen inquired what the traffic study determined the impacts would be of converting four lanes into two lanes.
The Transportation Coordinator responded the traffic study revealed the level of service received A and B grades; stated the project's emphasis on the new eastbound left turn pockets makes the street ideal with no significant delays; the Federal Highway Administration recommends "road diets" if streets have 15,000 cars or lower on average per day, Shoreline Drive is below 8,000.
Councilmember Chen inquired whether the test results conclude there is no significant impact to traffic, to which the Transportation Coordinator responded in the affirmative.
Councilmember Chen inquired whether the parking spaces being reduced is due to underutilization, to which the Transportation Coordinator responded in the affirmative; stated there is no demand for parking spaces on Shoreline Drive adjacent to South Shore Center in the evenings when the shops and beach are closed; the same is true West of Grand Street in single family areas.
Councilmember Chen inquired whether the conversion of almost 100 spaces available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week offsets the nighttime parking loss, to which the Transportation Coordinator responded in the affirmative; stated the conversion will help areas adjacent to the condominiums; residents will not have to move cars.
Councilmember Chen inquired whether there have been any issues with existing cycle tracks.
The Transportation Coordinator responded the main issue, specific to the Fernside Boulevard cycle track, is Lincoln Middle School had a lack of bike parking because more students were riding bikes; parents found funding for additional bike parking; also, an analysis of speed has shown a reduction of a few miles per hour, similar results are expected for the Shoreline Drive project.
Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired if the increased bike parking at Lincoln Middle School means reduced autos, to which the Transportation Coordinator responded in the affirmative.
Mayor Gilmore inquired how many handicap spaces exist and how many will be added.
The Transportation Coordinator responded there are currently two handicap spaces located together on east side of Broadway; stated the recommendation is to move one to the other side of Broadway, and move the other one to Park Street near Shoreline Drive; two spaces will be added: one on Willow and one on Kittyhawk, for a total of four handicap spots.
Stated the path location will not get people out of cars; funds could be better expended: Art Medlar, Alameda.
Suggested the existing path be widened; expressed concern about removing parking: Hilda Garcia, Alameda.
Stated there is not crowding on the path that demands the cycle track solution; people supporting the cycle track did not have information: Rion Cassidy, Alameda.
Stated Community Action for Sustainable Alameda (CASA) strongly supports the project: David Burton, CASA.
Stated staff has done a great job; the street will be multi-modal; encouraged moving forward: Lucy Gigli, Bike Walk Alameda.
Complimented staff on the process; stated cycle tracks will increase women and children riders; encouraged moving forward: John Knox White, Alameda.
Stated that she is excited about the project; urged moving forward: Donna Eyestone, Bike Walk Alameda.
Expressed concern over parking and traffic: Susan Sperry, Alameda.
Stated there is a need for the cycle track; urged the Council to approve the project: Vanessa Laymon, Pedal Beach Rentals.
Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she attended all the public sessions; there was a lot of good perspective from the public; the shoreline path is a healthy community; the project encourages people to get out of cars and exercise, and plans for the future; environmental reasons, such as cutting back on pollution, are included in the concept of complete streets; citizens should be respectful of each other, be responsible and obey traffic laws; lots of planning went into the project, the time to move forward is now.
Councilmember Daysog thanked the public for their emails; stated Alameda's tagline is "a city of homes and beaches;" that he sees the project as an opportunity to reclaim the tagline and something for all residents to enjoy; he understands the parking issues, but people will begin to see how vibrant the project is in the long term.
Councilmember Tam stated that she is very supportive of the project; there is a reason why it is a priority project; the design elements make a lot of sense and reduce conflicts; the zones being proposed will provide for all modes of transportation uses, not just recreation uses; that she hopes kids will be able to walk and ride to school.
Councilmember Tam moved approval of the staff recommendation.
Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Councilmember Chen stated there are impacts with the loss of parking and narrowing of lanes, but they are not significant enough to call off the project; that he supports staff recommendation.
Mayor Gilmore stated parking issues cause the most angst in any Alameda project; parking is a continuing conversation; biking and walking are important for health and environmental reasons; one way to reduce traffic is to be consistent in the goal to get people out of cars and using other modes of transportation; other modes of transportation need to be more appealing; fewer gas emissions and better improvements become a community benefit for everyone.
On the call for the question, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.
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Councilmember Chen left the dais at 8:00 and returned at 8:01 p.m.
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CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA
None.
COUNCIL REFERRALS
None.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
(14-078) Councilmember Tam announced that she attended the League of California Cities Board meeting and the East Bay Divisions meeting; stated medical marijuana and CalPERS rates were discussed.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Gilmore adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.