body,date,page,text,path
RecreationandParkCommission,2012-11-08,1,"ALAMEDA RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION
MINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING
DATE:
Thursday, November 8, 2012
TIME:
7:00 p.m. Called to Order
PLACE:
City Hall Council Chambers
1.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Chair Restango, Commissioners Cooke and Delaney
Absent:
Vice-Chair Brown and Commissioner Sonneman
Staff:
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation & Parks Director
2.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of the Minutes of October 11, 2012 Recreation & Park Commission Regular Meeting
tabled until the next meeting.
3.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, AGENDA
None
4.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
5.
NEW BUSINESS
A.
Franklin Park Agreement with AUSD (Discussion)
Director Amy Wooldridge provided a briefing on this draft agreement since it is being brought
back to negotiations. The school district is requesting for Franklin Park to be used by Franklin
School students for the full school day including physical education classes, lunch breaks and
recesses.
Chair Restagno - How are other parks used (i.e., Krusi beside Otis School)?
Wooldridge - Otis School requests use as needed. Other models are shared space at
Woodstock Park with the playgrounds on AUSD land but ARPD maintains them. There are no
written agreements. Franklin school has many portables and not much room for playground
and is therefore requesting use of park for playground and open grass play space.
Commissioner Delaney - Will liability be addressed, and what about upkeep and respecting
the park space?
Wooldridge - Yes, liability is being addressed. The City is requesting for the School District to
pay for any damages plus regular payments to cover additional costs required for janitorial and
park maintenance.",RecreationandParkCommission/2012-11-08.pdf
RecreationandParkCommission,2012-11-08,2,"Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes - November 8, 2012
Page 2
Chair Restagno - There are a lot of parents with kids in Franklin along with the neighborhood
around the park. Could we make sure the neighborhood could still use it and it not be overrun
with AUSD kids? Is there potential to carve out areas? There was a street closure in the
previous proposal. Consider requiring a crossing guard for the street.
Wooldridge - The street closure is no longer being considered. We will look at all these
issues. It will mean that any neighbors using the playground during the school day will have to
work with the fact that large number of students will be there as well. These are all Alameda
kids, so we want to find a happy medium, but there is a delicate balance that needs to be
addressed.
6.
OLD BUSINESS
A.
Beltline Property
Director Wooldridge gave a briefing on the Beltline with the same information as provided at
the October meeting since a couple Commissioners were not in attendance at that meeting.
She will have this item on all agendas moving forward and asked Commissioners to be actively
involved and attending community meetings.
Gates and Associates have been retained to facilitate the community meetings and the
Commission will be the lead for the community outreach and input. Potential dates in January
and February 2013 were discussed. Members Delaney and Cooke agreed to be on
subcommittee to plan the community input meeting agendas and outreach. Wooldridge
reported that research is underway for grant opportunities and include several State of CA
grants such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Recreation Trails Program,
Community Development Block Grants, Tire-Derived Products, and a Federal grant program
for Rails to Trails development.
Delaney - Does Union Pacific still own a portion of the property?
Wooldridge - Yes, they still own a portion north of Buena Vista that runs the length of the
property.
Speaker, Dorothy Freeman, began with saying Jim Sweeney wanted to attend but had to be at
the RAB meeting. She provided the members a packet, which included the original initiative
from 10 years ago. Ms. Freeman further stated that her group has been working on community
outreach and they now have an email address and Facebook page. She has met with a
representative of Rails for Trails and would like this Commission to meet him as well. While
listening to the discussion she asked the Commission to consider at least 200 people in
attendance for the community meetings. Ms. Freeman's neighborhood meeting brought
forward a comment regarding the land being 3-4' above the water table. This could provide a
natural water resource that could be incorporated into the plan for water elements.
Chair Restagno - Thank you for the very informative DVDs, it's been very informational.
Member Delaney - How would you best define ""open space""?",RecreationandParkCommission/2012-11-08.pdf
RecreationandParkCommission,2012-11-08,3,"Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes - November 8, 2012
Page 3
Ms. Freeman - A more passive area rather than an active area such as athletic fields. She
wanted to add that the neighbors are concerned with noise, and they have ideas for planting
native California plants.
B.
Commission Community Involvement (Discussion)
Director Wooldridge - A reminder requesting Commissioners to send her an email describing
their strengths and interests they bring to the Commission and any particular project interests.
She reminded them nametags should be here soon. Brief discussion about how this is a
unique community where everyone is only a 10 minute walk to a park and that ARPD still
operates a free Parks & Playgrounds program in which kids can access free activities in the
parks - this type of program is now very uncommon in other cities due to finances, but is a
wonderful community amenity.
7.
REPORTS FROM RECREATION COMMISSION AND RECREATION & PARK DIRECTOR
A.
Recreation Commission Reports
Vice Chair Cooke - Attended the Best Cities event at the Alameda Boys & Girls Club and had
a great time. It was fun to see the youth dancers and hear the band play. There were
approximately 150 people in attendance.
Member Delaney - Attended the ARPD office Open House, it was good to see the Mayor there
and vote in the pumpkin contest.
Chair Restagno - Provided an update on Friends of the Parks. They are working on a mission
statement, fundraiser ideas and a website overhaul. Thanks to Amy for adding the information
in the activity guide.
B.
Recreation and Parks Director Report
Lincoln Park fitness equipment (funded by the Friends of the Park) has arrived and the
concrete is being poured. Once it is cured, the equipment will be installed.
Krusi Park is out to bid, and it is anticipated to go to Council sometime in January with work
to begin in February.
Winter/Spring activity guide will be mailed in early December and include activities through
April 2013. The summer activity guide will be available March/April 2013.
Meyers House transfer to the Alameda Museum was presented at the Historical Advisory
Board with good support and suggestions. It is anticipated to go before City Council in
February. The Alameda Museum agreement for the City to continue paying the Museum a
rent subsidy will be presented concurrently.
November 20th the Alameda Soccer Club lease agreement for use and maintenance of four
Alameda Point fields will be presented to City Council.
The user fee schedule will be brought to the Commission in January 2013. There will be
adjustments and a new layout, but no big fee increases.
Finalized collaboration with Ala Costa who will run after school and summer programs for
Alameda developmentally disabled children.",RecreationandParkCommission/2012-11-08.pdf
RecreationandParkCommission,2012-11-08,4,"Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes - November 8, 2012
Page 4
EBRPD received grant monies for fishing programs and are interested in partnering with
ARPD to provide fishing programs for the youth and community. ARPD staff provided
numerous suggestions - it's a great opportunity to add more programming that is island-
specific.
Woodstock community meeting provided good feedback.
Mayors Tree Lighting is December 1st.
Golf Course/Greenway will be renovating the driving range soon.
ARPD is on Facebook and now Twitter and Pintrest. Everyone encouraged ""like us"". Our
Facebook page provides resources including the Craft Corner and kids' cooking projects.
City of Alameda is updating their website.
C. Other Reports and Announcements - None
8.
STATUS REPORT ON ONGOING PROJECTS - None
9.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, GENERAL - None
10.
ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
11.
SET NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday, January 10, 2013.
Thursday, December 13, 2012 to be canceled,
12.
ADJOURNMENT
M/S/C Delaney, Cooke and unanimous to adjourn at 8:05 p.m.
AW:sb",RecreationandParkCommission/2012-11-08.pdf
SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard,2012-11-08,1,"Social Service Human Relations Board
Minutes of the Special Meeting, Thursday, November 8, 2012
1. CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL President Wasko called the meeting to order
at 7:03 p.m. Present were: Vice-President Villareal, members Biggs, Radding, Watkinson, and
Williams
2.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Special Meeting, September 12, 2012 were approved as presented.
M/S Biggs / Villareal Unanimous
3.
AGENDA ITEMS
3-A.
COMMENTS REGARDING NEEDS RELATED TO COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PUBLIC SERVICES FUNDING TO FORMULATE FY
2013/14 PUBLIC SERVICES NEEDS STATEMENT CLAUDIA YOUNG - COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MANAGER, CITY OF ALAMEDA
City Staff, Claudia Young began with a PowerPoint presentation describing the CDBG process
which included: how Alameda's grant amount is determined, the purpose of CDBG funds, and an
explanation that funding for Public Services cannot exceed 15% of the current allocation, plus the
prior year's program income. She added that we do not know the amount of prior program income
until the City's annual audit is completed, which was in November this year.
One slide listed Alameda's Five-Year Consolidated Plan Priority Needs for 2010-2015, and another
showed how our HUD funding has decreased by 27% in the last two years, adding that we may
receive an additional 8% cut this year, depending on actions taken by Congress in the next few
months. Ms. Young listed the priorities included in the Boards FY2012-2013 Community Needs
Statement to the Mayor and City Council (Attachment A), and explained that next steps are City
Council adopting a Needs Statement in January 2013, and the RFP being released in January /
February 2013.
Public Comment
Karen Kenney- ED Girls Inc. of the Island City thanked the Board for supporting the funding of
their 12/13 CDBG application, stated their growth plan includes serving more girls from the West
End, that 43% of the girls they serve are from families living below the poverty level with the
expectation of increasing that number to 65+%. Last year, they successfully piloted programs at the
Academy and B&GC, are starting another at APC in January, and are in discussion with the
Academy, EHS, NEA, ACLC and B&GC for programs next year.
Hank Leeper-ED and Anna Crane -Board Chair of the Alameda Food Bank shared that the AFB
is serving 5,000+ low-income Alamedans and, while the rate of increase has slowed, they continue
to be at a record-high level of clients served. They provide these services with two full-time paid
staff, one part-time holiday staff (funded by CDBG) and more than 200 community volunteers.
They are open six days a week, and the food packages they provide help Alamedans balance their
budget and be able to pay rent, utilities, and other basic needs expenses. They receive support from
local donors, food collections such as ones by Postal Workers and scouting for Food, daily pick ups
at local markets, and FEMA / CDBG grants.",SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard/2012-11-08.pdf
SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard,2012-11-08,2,"Jeff Miller -ED, Alameda Boys and Girls Club shared that this was his 4th day on the job, but he
has had experience running a number of other B&G Club sites, most recently in Arizona. Their new
25,000 square foot facility serves 1,200 unduplicated youth each week, providing arts and crafts,
help with homework, a computer lab, and athletics. All of these, helping to create a well-rounded
youth experience. He explained that this year's CDBG funds are being used to provide member
scholarships to youth from low-income Alameda families.
Carlos Zialita, ED and Zoe Holder Program Director of the Alameda Multi-Cultural Community
Center explained that the organization started in 1998 and now provides services at their Woodstock
Education Center, which also has a computer lab, added in 2010. They provide access for all, with
their services available to all ages and ethnicities. Thirty-percent of those using their lab have a
primary language other than English, and they will be requesting funds to replace their outdated
computers.
Angie-Hajeem, Fair Housing Counselor with ECHO Housing explained that she investigates
claims of housing discrimination in Alameda, with families with children being one of the groups
most discriminated against.
Other ECHO staff provide landlord - tenant mediation services in the City of Alameda in addition
to being available to answer other tenant-rights related questions, often dealing with the eviction
process. She stated that their are no Rental assistance Funds available in Alameda.
Liz Varela, ED of BFWC explained that, in addition to operating Midway Shelter for the past 25
years, BFWC operates Bessie Coleman Court at APC, offers a number of Domestic Violence
Services, and currently has a CDBG to provide Rental Assistance (RA) in Alameda. BFWC
provided case-management, RA, and other HPRP funded services for the mid-county hub located in
San Leandro, during the recent round of HPRP / Stimulus funding.
Midway Shelter provides 25 shelter beds for homeless women and children, the majority of which
are victims of domestic violence for up to six months. BFWC has the highest ""placement into
permanent housing"" rate of any shelter program in Alameda County. They have recently been
awarded State funding which will allow them to use all of the CDBG $20,000 RA funds for direct
services, supplement it with an additional $10,000 for direct services, and cover the other necessary
admin. Costs. BFWC is also in the process of reviving Alameda's DV Task Force.
Richard Winefield, ED - Bananas, shared that his organization helps families identify quality pre-
school or child-care providers, and also offers child-care vouchers to low-income families through a
number of funding sources. Many of their customers are single moms or dads and some of them are
at-risk of losing their housing, if they are not able to go to, or look for jobs, because they
can't
afford childcare.
Throughout the presentations, many presenters stated how the need has increased for the services of
their agency and other programs. President Wasko and other Board Members also thanked the
presenters for the amazing services they provide to our community.
President Wasko explained that the Board would now discuss what they had heard in the
presentations, take into consideration what we have learned from the 2012 Community Needs
Survey data, and review the 2012 Needs Letter, as they decide what will be included in this year's
letter.
It was noted that Survey showed that Alamedans think that youth are one of the highest priorities,
but without safety-net support services for low-income families with children, families might not be
able to stay housed.",SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard/2012-11-08.pdf
SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard,2012-11-08,3,"Member Biggs summed it up with the statement that ""Our task is to feed a community with a loaf of
bread. This is the largest group of presenters we have had""
It was agreed that the Board could not simply continue to make cuts to each organization, and that
there needed to be a re-ordering of priorities.
Discussion of collaboration included acknowledging that some are already happening, but, while
not mandating it, some additional weight might be given to collaboration in scoring the
applications. Taking advantage of fundraising opportunities we have as one of the 100 Best
Communities for Young People recognition was also noted as a resource sharing opportunity.
The discussion ended with a motion for the 2013 Needs Letter to contain the following items""
Given the CDBG funds available, we can't nearly address all of the priority needs we have
named in the past..
We will only put forward one priority: an edited version of the first 2012 priority which will
only name safety-net services that provide food, shelter and other programs that help keep
families and individuals from becoming homeless.
We recommend that funds be directed to Alameda neighborhoods ""most in need""
As the Board makes this difficult choice, we will ask the Council ""What kind of community
do we want to be as we face cuts that destroy our social services safety net?""
While we value their importance in our community, we believe that at this time, providing
the essential safety net services listed above, is the best way to serve our seniors, families
with special needs, and youth.
The letter will highlight the importance of increased, meaningful collaboration, and for
organizations to look at partnerships ""in a new way""
The first page will be updated
M/S Watkinson / Williams Unanimous
3-B
PRESENTATION REGARDING THE CITY OF ALAMEDA PARTICIPATING IN
A COUNTY-WIDE ""DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PILOT PROJECT"" MARIA RAFF,
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT ANALYST, CITY OF ALAMEDA FIRE
DEPARTMENT
Scheduled Presenter Maria Raff was unable to attend the meeting and Member Biggs, also a
participant in this project, made a brief presentation.
The Risk-Based Pilot Project (Disaster Preparedness for Frail & Disabled Alamedans)
Alameda County Public Health is considering the City of Alameda for a pilot project regarding
developing a plan to serve vulnerable populations, especially those who would not be able to access
a shelter, in the event of a disaster. The AFD is convening meetings, bringing together City
departments, CBO's and the County for continued discussion. More meetings are scheduled.
3-C. WORKGROUP PROGRESS REPORTS - Information - 30 minutes
Each item below is an INFORMATION item:
Assessment and Awareness Workgroup
President Wasko announced she will make a Needs Survey presentation to ACCYF and ASC at a
joint meeting on November 14th",SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard/2012-11-08.pdf
SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard,2012-11-08,4,"Alamedans Together Against Hate Workgroup
Vice President Villareal announced plans for the 3rd Annual Harvey Milk Day Celebration in May.
He is meeting with AUSD to have the district institutionalize the event.
4.
BOARD/STAFF COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA
5.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
6. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn M/S Villareal / Watkinson Unanimous
Meeting adjourned at 8:48
Respectfully Submitted: Jim Franz - Secretary
November 2012.doc",SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard/2012-11-08.pdf