Title
Proclamation Declaring September 4, 2018 as Jennifer Ott Day. (City Manager 2110)
Body
Proclamation
Whereas, Jennifer Ott faithfully began serving the City of Alameda as a financial and development consultant, advising the City of the financial implications of the City’s first Master Developer proposal for Alameda Point in 2002; and
Whereas, by March 14, 2005, the City of Alameda made the excellent decision that Jennifer’s many talents and skills would be an asset to the City and hired her as a Development Manager; and
Whereas, Jennifer demonstrated her exceptional work ethic, enthusiasm for challenges, and fearlessness, by volunteering to be the project manager for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Alameda Theatre and Public Parking Garage, one of the City’s biggest, most ambitious, and important redevelopment projects in the history of Alameda; and
Whereas, during the Alameda Theatre project, Jennifer worked tirelessly with local advocacy groups and concerned parties, state agencies, contractors, builders, inspectors, City staff, and the Alameda City Council to overcome countless challenges and problems to complete one of Alameda’s most important downtown community facilities at the heart of the Park Street renaissance; and
Whereas, in 2010, Jennifer’s leadership skills, creative problem solving abilities, and excellent community engagement skills resulted in her promotion to Deputy City Manager for the City of Alameda and City Project Manager for the redevelopment and reuse of Alameda Point; and
Whereas, Jennifer successfully led the effort to re-envision how to redevelop Alameda Point by taking the lead in funding and completing the planning, environmental review, and land use entitlements for the redevelopment of Alameda Point; and
Whereas, under Jennifer’s leadership and funding strategy, the City completed a three year public planning process with countless community workshops, bicycle and walking tours, Planning Board workshops, and extensive technical studies, culminating in the 2014 unanimous City Council approval of the environmental and planning documents necessary for the redevelopment of Alameda Point; and
Whereas, Jennifer led the City effort to solicit and select a qualified developer for the first phase of the redevelopment of Alameda Point, known as Site A, and negotiated an excellent public benefit package for the citizens of Alameda that includes 15 acres of public open space, 600,000 square feet of new commercial space, 200 deed-restricted affordable housing units, $10 million for a new Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal, and $5 million for a new Alameda Point Sports Center, which was approved unanimously by the City Council with overwhelming public support from the Alameda community; and
Whereas, Jennifer volunteered to direct the preparation of a Citywide Transportation Plan and lead a new Transportation Planning Division within the City of Alameda to ensure that the citizens have a clear, implementable set of specific transportation improvements to address the City’s single biggest challenge as the Bay Area population and economy continues to grow: transportation on, off, and around the island; and
Whereas, Jennifer’s transportation planning efforts led to over $40 million in grants for transportation projects throughout the City that will provide more transportation choices for community members and has led to innovative initiatives such as bike share, car share, and a potential bicycle/pedestrian bridge; and
Whereas, Jennifer successfully negotiated a ground breaking agreement between the Water Emergency Transportation Agency (WETA) and the City of Alameda to build and operate a new Ferry Terminal at Alameda Point, making Alameda the only city of its size in the Bay Area with three ferry terminal facilities; and
Whereas, Jennifer successfully led the City’s efforts to create the first ever Citywide Transportation Management Association, a private non-profit comprised of Alameda Point and Northern Waterfront property owners and major companies and the City of Alameda, dedicated to improving public transportation services and facilities throughout Alameda; and
Whereas, Jennifer guided the noteworthy effort to create stronger financial partnerships between the City of Alameda, its major land owners and businesses, and AC Transit to improve transportation services for Alameda residents, which includes the immediate return of Line 19 serving the Northern Waterfront; and
Whereas, Jennifer’s intelligence, professionalism, compassion and humor have won the great admiration and respect of her co-workers, colleagues, the community, and stakeholders within and outside of Alameda and will be sorely missed; and
Whereas, Jennifer’s accomplishments during her 15 year tenure with the City of Alameda are clearly too numerous to list in this proclamation; and
Whereas, Jennifer’s work for the City of Alameda will forever improve the lives of Alameda residents for which we are eternally grateful.
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that I, Trish Herrera Spencer, Mayor of the City of Alameda, do herby proclaim September 4, 2018 as
Jennifer Ott Day
in the City of Alameda and encourage on all residents, business leaders, and community members to join me in recognizing her outstanding accomplishments and dedication to the citizens of Alameda and congratulate her on her new position as Deputy City Manager for the City of Hayward.
Trish Herrera Spencer
Mayor