body,date,page,text,path
HistoricalAdvisoryBoard,2016-01-07,1,"APPROVED MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY OF ALAMEDA HISTORICAL ADVISORY BOARD
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016
1. CONVENE
Chair Owens called meeting to order at 7:00pm.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Owens, Vice-Chair Rauk, Board Members Chan, Piziali and Vella
3. MINUTES
3-A 2016-2447
Draft Meeting Minutes - September 3, 2015
Chair Owens said that he reviewed the minutes and that they looked like a good set of
minutes.
Board Member Piziali made a motion to approve the minutes. Board Member Vella
seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.
3-B 2016-2448
Draft Meeting Minutes - November 5, 2015
Chair Owens said the meeting consisted largely of a presentation and the minutes
seemed adequate.
Vice-Chair Rauk made a motion to approve the minutes. Board Member Piziali
seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.
4. AGENDA CHANGES AND DISCUSSION
*None*
5. ORAL COMMUNICATION
*None*
6. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
6-A 2016-2452
Certified Local Government Program -- 2014-2015 Annual Report
Alan Tai, Planning Services Coordinator, presented the report to the board. The item can
be found at:
ps://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2540983&GUID=A076DE1D-
D275-4845-8A8E-940B0795233D
Historical Advisory Board
Page 1 of 5
Approved Minutes
January 7, 2016",HistoricalAdvisoryBoard/2016-01-07.pdf
HistoricalAdvisoryBoard,2016-01-07,2,"Chair Owens asked if the report had been submitted to the state.
Staff Member Tai indicated that it had not and the deadline was in the next week.
Chair Owens asked if there were any planned educational activities for Board Members
in the coming year.
Staff Member Tai said there would be a conference upcoming in San Francisco and that
more information would be coming soon.
7. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
7-A 2016-2449
Historical Advisory Board Workshop on Alameda Point Site A Design
Review for Block Eleven Architectural Design and adjacent Waterfront
Street Design and Waterfront Park
Andrew Thomas, Assistant Community Development Director, introduced the item
before the project applicant gave a presentation. The item can be found at:
https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2540981&GUID=5D89E0E8
7BFD-43DC-ABOE-5EE441660524
Chair Owens asked what would happen with the existing paving materials from the
taxiway.
April Phillips, project architect for the Waterfront Park, explained their approach to
handling the demolished paving materials through recycling and reuse attempts while
meeting their sea level rise mitigation requirements.
Vice-Chair Rauk asked where the ADA access would be in the park plans.
Ms. Phillips explained where the gently sloped ramps down to the waterfront would be.
Chair Owens asked about the anticipated sizes of the mature trees.
Ms. Phillips explained that they are developing their landscape choices and that Mexican
Fan Palms and Ginkgoes are under consideration.
Chair Owens asked how the drainage would function with the sea level rise protection
improvements.
Ms. Phillips showed on the images where different flows would go.
Chair Owens asked what options there were if sea level rise were more than 24 inches.
Historical Advisory Board
Page 2 of 5
Approved Minutes
January 7, 2016",HistoricalAdvisoryBoard/2016-01-07.pdf
HistoricalAdvisoryBoard,2016-01-07,3,"Joe Ernst, project applicant, explained that the berm would be engineered to be able to
be built up higher if that became necessary.
Chair Owens asked if the city was working on addressing sea level rise throughout the
island which would be necessary for this area's defenses to be functional.
Staff Member Thomas highlighted the importance of the issue for the city and different
elements of various planning efforts that are attempting to address the issue in a
piecemeal fashion.
Board Member Vella asked if the city has been working with the Port of Oakland on
protecting shared areas along the estuary.
Staff Member Thomas explained the discussions with the Port on how they can work
together to access funds to help address the issue.
Chair Owens asked what would be done with the large amount of concrete removed
from the taxiway.
Ms. Phillips explained their desire to reuse as much as possible on the site with creative
elements. She said it will be part of their waste management plan.
Board Member Vella asked how the sewage line removal and upgrades would affect
storm water drainage for the rest of the point.
Mr. Ernst explained the upgrades in size and the flap gates that would be added to try
and address problems that have been happening.
Steve Israel, BAR Architects, gave the Block 11 portion of the presentation.
Vice-Chair Rauk asked how drivers would know which side of the road to drive on.
Mr. Ernst explained the feedback that Planning Board has given to make sure the space
indicates that it is shared by all users and not to favor drivers with too many visual cues.
Chair Owens asked if the city would be the owner of the road.
Staff Member Thomas explained that it would be a city owned street and that many
people are looking at it to make sure they get it right. He said it would be unlike anything
else in the city.
Historical Advisory Board
Page 3 of 5
Approved Minutes
January 7, 2016",HistoricalAdvisoryBoard/2016-01-07.pdf
HistoricalAdvisoryBoard,2016-01-07,4,"Vice-Chair Rauk brought up the idea of a courtesy dock for larger sailboats that would
like to visit the area.
Board Member Piziali asked if there would be any parking in the shared plaza.
Mr. Israel explained that there would be parallel parking in that zone.
Board Member Vella asked where the elevated roadway platform would end.
Mr. Israel explained that decision is still being worked out. Board Member Vella
compared the space and traffic calming effects favorably to Santana Row in San Jose.
She said she was concerned about creating a large, empty wind tunnel, however.
Board Member Vella asked about the tree choices around the building.
The landscape architect explained that they are still working with the horticulturalist to
see what would work best with the soil and wind conditions.
Chair Owens asked about the height being above 65 feet.
Mr. Israel explained the development agreement exception that allows them to go over
for ""exceptional architecture."" He said the high retail spaces pushed the building higher.
Board Member Vella said she has no problem with the height exception in this location,
but that it should be the exception and not the norm.
Chair Owens asked how the loading function would work.
Mr. Israel showed on the plans where the loading activity would take place.
Chair Owens asked why there is only one elevator on the east lobby which appears to
serve more units.
Mr. Israel said it was debated and that much of the activity will be focused on the west
side of the building and the client wanted the emphasis to be on the west side.
Chair Owens opened the public hearing.
Steve Aced asked about the material used on the surface of the west facing rounded
end of the building.
Historical Advisory Board
Page 4 of 5
Approved Minutes
January 7, 2016",HistoricalAdvisoryBoard/2016-01-07.pdf
HistoricalAdvisoryBoard,2016-01-07,5,"Mr. Israel explained that it was going to be as glassy and transparent as possible while
making sure they meet their efficiency and LEED Gold standards.
Chair Owens closed the public hearing.
7-B 2016-2450
Historical Advisory Board Meeting Schedule 2016
Alan Tai introduced the item. He noted that the City Council was planning to take their
slot for the February 4th meeting, and that they currently have no items for that date and
it would be cancelled.
Vice-Chair Rauk made a motion to accept the meeting schedule for 2016. Board
Member Vella seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.
7-C 2016-2451
Board Elections
Vice-Chair Rauk made a motion to keep Chair Owens as chair. Board Member Piziali
offered to amend the motion to also keep Vice-Chair Rauk in the position of vice-chair.
The amendment was accepted. The motion passed 5-0.
8. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
*None*
9. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Staff Member Tai said the California Preservation Foundation conference would be held
at the Presidio in San Francisco this year and they would be working to send board
members. The conference will be from April 16-20.
Staff Member Tai said they would also be looking to do more presentations for board
training and public education at their meetings.
10. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
*None*
11. ADJOURNMENT
Board Member Vella made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Vice-Chair Rauk seconded
the motion. The motion passed 5-0.
Historical Advisory Board
Page 5 of 5
Approved Minutes
January 7, , 2016",HistoricalAdvisoryBoard/2016-01-07.pdf
SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard,2016-01-07,1,"Social Service Human Relations Board
Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Social Service Human Relations Board, January 7,
2016
1.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
President Biggs called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Present were Vice-President Williams,
and members Hyman, Radding, Blake and Sorensen. Absent was member Davenport,
2.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NONE
3.
AGENDA ITEMS
3. - A COMMENTS REGARDING THE NEEDS STATEMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PUBLIC SERVICES NON-HOUSING
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016-17
Claudia Young, Housing and Community Development Manager, Alameda Housing Authority
(AHA), began her presentation by explaining that tonight the Board would hear public
comment, review and assess community needs for the annual FY 16-17 Action Plan process,
and develop a needs statement for presentation at the City Council meeting, scheduled for
February 2, 2016. She shared that AHA / CDBG staff had conducted a Community Needs
Survey in 2015, which received 62 responses, 56 from residents, three from non-profits, and
three from businesses. Outreach was conducted through a press release to the media, posting
the survey on the AHA and City website, outreach to non-profits, and making the survey
available in the community. The majority of the responses were from seniors, who had taken
the survey at Mastick Senior Center.
The five highest priority needs identified by the survey
(Attachment A) were:
1. Increase the availability of affordable rental housing for extremely low-income (30% AMI),
very low-income (50% AMI), and low-income (80% AMI) households.
2. Deliver flexible services to the homeless, to support stability and independence.
3. Ensure that people with disabilities, seniors, single parents, and culturally and linguistically
isolated populations have awareness of and access to services.
4. Increase the capacity of local economic development agencies and other community-based
initiatives.
5. Improve health and safety and reduce blight by removing hazardous structures.
Ms. Young requested that the Board undertake a survey, similar to the one it conducted in 2010-11,
(published in 2012), that would provide data in time for the development of the next 5-Year Plan.
The Board's 2012 Community Needs Survey received 1,913 responses, was published in English,
Spanish, and Chinese, and was conducted both on-line and with hard-copy versions being
available throughout the community.
President Biggs shared that the Board had conducted a Quality of Life Survey last year (at the
Earth Day, Park Street, and Webster Jam events) and that data from that survey would be available
in a few months.
1",SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard/2016-01-07.pdf
SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard,2016-01-07,2,"Mayor Spencer, and representatives from non-profits attending the meeting, commented that data
from the 2012 survey was helpful when applying for grants. Presentations of the data gathered from
the survey were also made to the Commission on Disability Issues, and community groups.
Ms. Young went on to explain the CDBG process and FY 2016-17 timeline, and added that the
Public Services funds available for distribution will be about the same as last year's amount, which
was $152,646. Last year's funding was limited to support of non-profits providing safety-net
services.
Public Comment:
Cindy Houts, Executive Director, Alameda Food Bank (AFB) reported that the 5, 100 Individuals the
AFB serves are from 2,100 Alameda households, and make up 7% of Alameda's population.
Families / individuals can access the AFB 6 times a month and, depending on the size of their
family, can save between $300 and $550 a month. AFB has seen an increase in seniors and
middle-class households accessing their programs, and expects some of the increase is due to
rising rents. AFB data shows that 37% of its clients are under 18, 10% are seniors, and 40% have
someone in their household with a disability. Donations from local grocery stores are a big help,
and the CDBG funds they receive are primarily used to purchase fresh produce.
In response to questions, Ms. Houts shared that participants are required to be residents of
Alameda, and that, while based on income, their guidelines are flexible, and few are turned away.
Around 95% of AFB participants are low- or moderate-income.
Erin Scott, Executive Director, Family Violence Law Center (FVLC), stated that while FVLC serves
the entire county and receives County funding, FVLC IS are able to have a stronger presence in
the City of Alameda thanks to CDBG funding. FVLC is written into the protocol of the Alameda
Police Department, and responds to each reported incident. CDBG funds FVLC legal
services in the City of Alameda, and along with Legal Aid, they are the only two agencies providing
these services in the County. FVLC's specialty is restraining orders, which cover a broad scope,
including housing, property, pets, and custody and visitation. FVLC staffs a 24-hour crisis line, and
as funds are available, provides short-term hotel stays. Ms. Scott shared that FVLC provides legal
services to around twenty-five Alamedans annually, but provide other services to an additional
200+. She shared that they never turn anyone away, but, because of volume, are not always able
to represent clients at court hearings, as much as they would like to. FVLC receives Federal, State,
County, and CalWorks funds, in addition to funding from San Leandro, Hayward, Oakland, and one
foundation.
Liz Varela, Executive Director, Building Futures with Women and Children (BFWC), said Midway, a
25-bed shelter for women and children, has been providing services in the City of Alameda thanks
to the support of volunteers, local fundraising, and CDBG funding from the City of Alameda.
Volunteers bring dinner to Midway's residents 365 days a year, saving them thousands of dollars
each year. Midway has won awards for placing a higher percentage of their residents in permanent
housing than any other shelter in the County.
2",SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard/2016-01-07.pdf
SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard,2016-01-07,3,"In response to questions, Ms. Varela stated that Midway serves 125 to 150 residents each year,
and, because it is increasingly difficult to identify permanent, affordable housing, resident's shelter
stays are longer than in past years. Some families are staying more than six months, and this
makes less space available for those seeking shelter. If a family stays in the shelter, leaves, and
wants to return at a later date, they must wait the length of their original stay, before returning.
BFWC staffs a 24-hour shelter line, and now holds available beds for residents of Alameda waiting
for shelter space.
Midway has been housed in trailers, provided by the Alameda Homeless Network, for more than 20
years. Ms. Varela shared that it is time to start planning for a new shelter, most likely at a new site.
She is in conversation with AHA staff regarding identifying land on which to build a new shelter,
possibly having the shelter on the first floor, and housing on the upper floor(s). Hopefully, the new
shelter would be able to accommodate intact families, including couples, and those with boys over
13. Even if building a new shelter is possible, this undertaking could be a 5-year process.
The second service BFWC provides with CDBG funding is coordination of the City of Alameda
Domestic Violence Task Force (DMTV). Taskforce members include the Alameda Police
Department, Alameda Hospital, the City of Alameda, Family Violence Law Center, Alameda Family
Services, Alameda Point Collaborative, Alameda's Social Service Human Relations Board, Girls
Incorporated of the Island City, and the Alameda Boys & Girls Club. Leveraging the energy of the
taskforce members, the taskforce holds events, creates and distributes DV educational materials,
and supports Teen Dating Violence Awareness (TDVAM) in partnership with the AUSD Tri-Hi
Health Centers.
BFWC also provides short-term rental assistance with a combination of HOME and CDBG funds,
and has $80,000 for direct services, but still needs funds for administration. BFWC is currently
working with families facing eviction from 470 Central Ave., and has just been informed that the
landlord will let the families stay until June. So far, three families have signed up with them, and
they are expecting a total of twelve.
Board members expressed the need for housing for the chronically homeless, living on the streets
of Alameda. After conducting two Homeless Counts, they feel that the number of chronically
homeless Alamedans, willing and suitable for permanent housing, is probably a very small number
(+/- 12), and that the community should work together to find a solution for them.
Ms. Varela suggested that there may be funding mechanisms in the future to provide housing for
this population in Alameda, and member Williams added that there are now some similar programs
in place in San Francisco.
Board discussion regarding the input from service providers, data from surveys, and personal
experience in the community resulted in the conclusion that safety-net services continue to be the
primary need in our community. While the needs, particularly those related to housing, increase,
the resources to meet them stay the same, or decrease.
A motion was made to craft a needs statement that restated the need for safety-net services, such
as food, shelter, domestic violence services, and services for seniors, and that also took into
consideration the importance of working to house, and in other ways meet the needs of, Alameda's
chronically homeless, living on the streets. Furthermore, it was moved that members Blake and
3",SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard/2016-01-07.pdf
SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard,2016-01-07,4,"Williams draft the letter, and President Biggs present it to Council at its meeting of February 2,
2016.
M/S Hyman/Williams Unanimous
President Biggs took Agenda Item 5., Oral Communications, out of order.
4. BOARD/STAFF COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA
Member Williams stated that the Alamedans Together Against Hate (ATAH) Workgroup had been
dormant for the past three years, and that she shared with President Biggs that she would like to
have it begin meeting again. She was a member of the group when it was chaired by Henry
Villareal, past Board Vice President. Member Williams has agreed to chair, and will ask members
Sorensen and Blake to join her on the workgroup. She plans to call a meeting of ATAH before the
Board's February meeting
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Michael Williams, shared that he is a member of First Congregational Church Alameda (FCCA)
Justice Workgroup. He announced that on Sunday, February 28, there will be a concert at FCCA,
celebrating the spirit of Everyone Belongs Here, and in support of the Islamic Community. He
attended the Hate Crime Forum, led by Imam Musa, of the Islamic Center of Alameda, at the Elks
Lodge on Sunday, December 27. He stated that the Imam said that he thought the window
shattering incident at Santa Clara and 9th should be investigated as a hate crime. The Imam also
shared that hateful telephone calls had been received at the Mosque, and that comments had been
directed to members of the mosque. Mr. Williams said that the forum raised some tough questions,
and he hoped that meetings that bring together Alameda's diverse community, continue.
President Biggs thanked Mr. Williams for coming to speak.
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM. M\S Sorensen Radding Unanimous
Respectfully submitted by:
Jim Franz, Secretary
4",SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard/2016-01-07.pdf
SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard,2016-01-07,5,5,SocialServiceHumanRelationsBoard/2016-01-07.pdf