Title
Recommendation to Receive a Progress Report on the Public Access Pathways on Fernside Boulevard and East Shore Drive. (Recreation 280)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Acting City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Receive a Progress Report on the Public Access Pathways on Fernside Boulevard and East Shore Drive.
BACKGROUND
On February 15, 2017, the City completed the transfer of the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. As a result, the City gained ownership of the Tidal Canal, subdivided it into ninety-nine lots, sold all eighty-four residential lots and six of eight commercial lots, and retained nearly $1 million in proceeds that are dedicated for the next phases of this project.
On April 18, 2017, the City Council discussed the Tidal Canal project and the related public access pathways and gave direction for short-term solutions involving erecting temporary fencing and signage, as well as addressing any safety hazards on the public pathways.
On October 3, 2017, the City Council gave direction for staff to conduct a feasibility study of all six public access pathways and to bring a recommendation on the uses of each of the pathways to the Recreation and Parks Commission and then to City Council for final approval.
Public Works is responsible to address the path pavement issues, signage, and temporary safety fencing to address safety concerns. Recreation and Parks (ARPD), together with the Public Information Officer, is responsible for the feasibility study and community input process to determine the most appropriate uses and amenity improvements for these public access points.
This progress report focuses on: (a) the three public access points along Fernside Boulevard between High Street and Fairview Avenue (Exhibit 1), and (b) three other public pathways on East Shore Drive between Liberty Avenue and Meyers Avenue (Exhibit 2).
discussion
Short-term solutions. Public Works has addressed safety issues by installing temporary fences to prevent people from falling off the end pf the pathways into the water, and installed new regulatory signs with current city code. Public Works is working with the city pavement contractor to obtain a new proposal to install asphalt pavement in order to eliminate potential trip hazards. This will occur at the pathways at, along the pathways between 3267 Fernside Boulevard and 3341 Fernside Boulevard.
Public Input Process. ARPD and Public Works issued a Request for Proposals, and in March 2018, hired Design Workshop to conduct a feasibility study of the six identified public access points on Fernside Boulevard and East Shore Drive. They have a consultant team with extensive marine and shoreline recreation design experience. The purpose of this study is to identify existing conditions and assess what recreational uses are possible at each of the six pathways to the water. The scope of work includes field surveys, tidal conditions, site reconnaissance and assessment and site mapping. The team utilized criteria for neighborhood and pathway safety, parking availability, shoreline and water connection, ADA accessibility compliance. The study will include multiple options and associated cost estimates for the pathways as well as challenges and opportunities at each site.
Staff sent mailings to all twelve neighbors who live adjacent to the six pathways under study in order to inform them of the process. Staff communicated directly with many of the neighbors. This was also an opportunity to inform the adjacent neighbors of any known or potential encroachments, which exist on all six pathways.
Staff also met informally and informed the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission staff about the project.
The Feasibility Study will be completed by the end of July 2018. At that time, staff will begin the public input process through at least two community-wide meetings, facilitated walks of the pathways and an online survey. Staff will post these meeting dates, along with a link to the Feasibility Study, on the City’s website, on social media and at various City facilities such as recreation centers and libraries.
This public input process is anticipated to take two to four months, depending on the amount of discussion and time is needed to reach enough consensus for a recommendation. The input process will begin with providing the feasible options and associated costs for each pathway and receiving public input on these concepts. If there is sufficient direction and consensus from the community on their preferred concepts, then staff will bring a recommendation to the Recreation and Parks Commission and to City Council. If there is not a clear community consensus and further discussion is required, then staff will develop more than one recommendation and host additional community meetings for the public to discuss these more specific recommendations before bringing a final draft recommendation to the Recreation and Parks Commission and Council.
Design and detailed construction documents will then be developed. Permits from federal, state and regional regulatory agencies are required for these projects and can take up to a year to procure. Staff will then go out to bid and start construction of the approved public access points.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The net proceeds of the Tidal Canal’s real estate transactions have been deposited in the Capital Improvement Project No. 91624. This project has $1.1 million remaining of $1.5 million in original budget, which is sufficient to cover Public Works’ short-term improvements, the feasibility study, and an undetermined portion of the recreational improvements. Funding for ongoing maintenance of the six public access points will be from the General Fund, but it has not yet been budgeted.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The proposed plan is consistent with the City of Alameda General Plan Open Space and Land Use Policies, as well as the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is Categorically Exempt under CEQA Guidelines, Class 1, Section §15301(C), Existing Pedestrian Trails.
RECOMMENDATION
Receive a progress report on the public access pathways on Fernside Boulevard and East Shore Drive.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Fernside Boulevard Map
2. East Shore Drive Map