Title
Review and Recommend a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alameda Food Bank for Its Facility Expansion Planning on a Portion of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Recommend a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alameda Food Bank for Its Facility Expansion Planning on a Portion of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
BACKGROUND
The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (Sweeney Park) is a 22-acre park bounded by Constitution Way, Atlantic Avenue, and Sherman Street. The site is the former Alameda Beltline Railroad property that was secured by the City at its original purchase price due to the advocacy efforts of long-time Alameda resident Jean Sweeney. On July 15, 2014, the City Council approved the Sweeney Park Master Plan, which was designed pro bono by Kristoffer K?ster of KKDesign through an extensive public input process.
The Alameda Food Bank (Food Bank), located on Constitution Way at Thau Way, provides nutritious food to the low-income residents of the City of Alameda on a non-discriminating basis. The Food Bank serves over 5,100 individuals six days each week. Approximately 7% of Alameda residents are facing food insecurity and obtain food from the Food Bank. Of those, 32% are children and 10% are seniors. As the cost of living continues to rise, the Food Bank must be ready to help additional clients.
The Food Bank Executive Director, Cindy Houts, approached staff with an interest in implementing a capital campaign to build a new, larger, permanent facility, which requires additional land within the adjacent portion of Sweeney Park. The Food Bank desires to expand its facilities in order to provide better service to its constituents, create larger and more comfortable waiting areas, and increase capacity for food storage and distribution. Its current location is a trailer that is poorly suited...
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