Title
Recommendation to Approve Eric Levitt, City Manager, Lisa Maxwell, Assistant City Attorney, Debbie Potter, Community Development Director, and Lois Butler, Economic Development Manager, as Real Property Negotiators for the Potential Lease and Development of a Portion of the Ballena Isle Upland Parcel APN 74-1025-3. (Community Development)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda (City) has received private party interest in leasing and developing a portion of the Ballena Isle upland parcel APN 74-1025-3. This initiates the need to identify real property negotiators to represent the City in connection with these prospective negotiations. Staff is recommending that City Council designate City Manager Levitt, Assistant City Attorney Maxwell, Community Development Director Potter, and Economic Development Manager Butler, as the real property negotiators, which will allow them to meet with City Council in closed session to discuss price and terms of payment related to entering onto a prospective lease for a portion of the Ballena Isle upland parcel, APN 74-1025-3, in a manner compliant with all applicable laws and represent the City in negotiations with a public or private party.
BACKGROUND
In 2016, the City was approached by Robert Leach of West River, Inc. He was looking to develop an upper-upscale hotel on the undeveloped upland lot at the Ballena Marina. The City’s General Plan use for this site is a 220-room, 234,000 square foot hotel. The zoning is C-M-PD, which is Commercial - Manufacturing District and Planned Development Combining District. The site is located on public trust land, and therefore may not be used for residential uses. This site is currently leased by SHM Ballena Isle, LLC.
DISCUSSION
Under California Government Code Section 54956.8, City Council must identify the real property negotiators for negotiation of the price and terms of payment for the purchase, sale exchange or lease of real property, such as a portion of the Ballena Isle upland parcel, APN 74-1025-3. Staff recommends that the negotiators be Eric Levitt, City Manager, Lisa Maxwell, Assistant City Attorney, Debbie Potter, Community Development Director, and Lois Butler, Economic Development Manager, for the potential leasing and development of a portion of the Ballena Isle upland parcel, APN 74-1025-3. This will allow City Manager Levitt, Assistant City Attorney Maxwell, Community Development Director Potter, and Lois Butler, Economic Development Manager to negotiate on the City’s behalf, based on direction provided by City Council.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
• Approve Eric Levitt, Lisa Maxwell, Debbie Potter, Lois Butler and Maurice Robinson, as the real property negotiators for the potential leasing and development of a portion of the Ballena Isle upland parcel, APN 74-1025-3;
• Identify other staff as negotiators; or
• Choose not to negotiate the potential lease and development of a portion of the Ballena Isle upland parcel, APN 74-1025-3.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from the approval of real property negotiators.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action has no effect on the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Approval of real property negotiators is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, as topic at hand involves the negotiation of the possible lease of property.
CLIMATE IMPACTS
This action has no climate impacts.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve Eric Levitt, City Manager, Lisa Maxwell, Assistant City Attorney, Debbie Potter, Community Development Director, and Lois Butler, Economic Development Manager, as Real Property Negotiators for the Potential Lease and Development of a Portion of the Ballena Isle Upland Parcel, APN 74-1025-3.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager requests approval of staff recommendation.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Potter, Community Development Director
By,
Lois Butler, Economic Development Manager
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager