Title
Recommendation to Accept Report on Offer to Transfer a Portion of the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal From the Army Corp of Engineers to the City of Alameda at No Cost and Subsequent Disposition of Property. (City Attorney 7120)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: John A. Russo, City Manager
Re: Staff Report on Offer to Transfer a Portion of the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal From the Army Corps of Engineers to the City of Alameda at No Cost and Subsequent Disposition of Property.
BACKGROUND
The Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal ("Tidal Canal") is a 1.8 mile long, 400 feet wide portion of the waterway between Oakland and Alameda that was dredged in 1882 by the US Army Corps of Engineers ("Army Corps") to create a tidal effect throughout the Oakland Estuary. The Tidal Canal covers 85 acres and is currently owned by the Army Corps.
The Army Corp desires to transfer ownership of the Tidal Canal to one or more public entities at no cost and has legislative authority to do so. The Army Corps has offered to convey half of the Tidal Canal (split down the middle) to the City of Oakland and the other half to the City of Alameda. On September 2, 2014 and again on February 3, 2015, staff met with the City Council in Closed Session to discuss whether the City is interested in negotiating the transfer and if so, under what price and terms.
This item is being brought in open session, at the direction of the City Council, to allow the Councilmembers to hear public comment from the public and interested stakeholders regarding this matter. This presentation will: (i) provide a brief overview of the history of the Tidal Canal and some of the problems associated with it in its current condition; (ii) discuss the fiscal and environmental issues associated with a potential transfer and those associated with "no action"; and (iii) discuss recommended next steps.
DISCUSSION
Please see the attached Power Point ...
Click here for full text