{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 1, "text": "MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING\nTUESDAY--OCTOBER - 06, 2020- 5:30 P.M.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 5:33 p.m.\nRoll Call - Present:\nCouncilmembers Daysog, Knox White, Oddie, Vella and\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft - 5. [Note: The meeting was held via\nWebEx.]\nAbsent:\nNone.\nThe meeting was adjourned to Closed Session to consider:\n(20-624) Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Pursuant to Government Code\nSection 54956.8); Property: Building 14, approximately 31,194 rentable square feet of\nbuilding area, located at 1800 Ferry Point at Alameda Point; Persons Negotiating: Eric\nJ. Levitt, City Manager; Lisa Maxwell, Assistant City Attorney; Debbie Potter,\nCommunity Development Director; and Nanette Mocanu, Assistant Community\nDevelopment Director; Negotiating Parties: City of Alameda and Navigator Systems;\nUnder Negotiation: Price and Terms.\n(20-625) Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Pursuant to Government Code\nSection 54957); Positions Evaluated: City Manager - Eric Levitt\nFollowing the Closed Session, the meeting was reconvened and the City Clerk\nannounced that regarding Building 14, staff provided information and Council provided\ndirection by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Knox White: Aye;\nOddie: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye; Ayes: 5; regarding the\nPerformance Evaluation Council conducted the City Manager performance evaluation\npertaining to goals and objectives, with no vote taken.\nAdjournment\nThere being no further business, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 7:00\np.m.\nRespectfully submitted,\nLara Weisiger\nCity Clerk\nThe agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 2, "text": "MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND\nSUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE\nCOMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION (SACIC)\nTUESDAY- -OCTOBEF 6, 2020- 6:59 P.M.\nMayor/Chair\nEzzy\nAshcraft\nconvened\nthe\nmeeting\nat\n7:13\np.m.\nand\nCouncilmember/Commissioner Oddie led the Pledge of Allegiance.\nROLL CALL -\nPresent:\nCouncilmembers/Commissioners\nDaysog,\nKnox\nWhite, Oddie, Vella and Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft -\n5. [Note: The meeting was held via Zoom.]\nAbsent:\nCouncilmember/Commissioner Daysog.\nCONSENT CALENDAR\nVice Mayor/Commissioner Knox White moved approval of the Consent Calendar.\nCouncilmember/Commissioner Oddie seconded the motion, which carried by the\nfollowing roll call vote: Councilmembers/Commissioners Knox White: Aye; Oddie: Aye;\nVella: Aye; and Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes:\n4.\n[Absent:\nCouncilmember/Commissioner Daysog - 1.] [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated\nby an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]\n(*20-626 CC/20-025 SACIC) Minutes of the Special Joint City Council and SACIC\nMeeting Held on September 1, 2020. Approved.\n(*20-627 CC/20-026 SACIC) Recommendation to Accept the Investment Report for the\nQuarter Ending June 30, 2020. Accepted.\nADJOURNMENT\nThere being no further business, Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at\n7:16 p.m.\nRespectfully submitted,\nLara Weisiger, City Clerk\nSecretary, SACIC\nThe agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.\nSpecial Joint Meeting\nAlameda City Council and Successor Agency\n1\nto the Community Improvement Commission\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 3, "text": "MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING\nTUESDAY- - - OCTOBER 6, 2020- 7:00 P.M.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 7:16 p.m.\nROLL CALL -\nPresent:\nCouncilmembers Daysog, Knox White, Oddie, Vella,\nand Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft - 5. [Note: The meeting\nwas conducted via Zoom and Councilmember Daysog\narrived at 7:23 p.m.]\nAbsent:\nNone.\nAGENDA CHANGES\nNone.\nPROCLAMATIONS, SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY AND ANNOUNCEMENTS\n(20-628) Proclamation Declaring October 2020 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,\nTransgender, Queer History Month.\n(20-629) Proclamation Declaring the Dedication of Service to Art Kurrasch on the\nAlameda Housing Authority Board.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft read the proclamation and Mr. Kurrasch made brief comments.\n(20-630) Proclamation Declaring October 6, 2020 as Debbie Potter Day.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft read the proclamation.\nCouncilmember Oddie presented a Resolution from Assemblymember Rob Bonta's\noffice.\nCouncilmember Vella, Vice Mayor Knox White, Councilmember Daysog, and Mayor\nEzzy Ashcraft made brief comments.\nDebbie Potter, the City Manager, Sandi Potter, Camilo Vilaseca, and David Potter made\nbrief comments.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA\n(20-631) James Downey, Alameda, expressed concern about the encampments near\nthe Posey Tube; ; urged an update be provided to Caltrans for cleanup; stated the lack\nof cleanliness is a public health emergency and environmental disaster; questioned the\nplan to clean the area.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n1\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 4, "text": "(20-632) Ainye Long, Alameda, discussed ordinances related to smoking; stated the\nCalifornia State Assembly voted 58 to 1 to approve Senate Bill (SB) 793 banning\nmenthol and flavored tobacco; discussed a referendum to stop SB 793 and\nmisinformation being provided by signature gatherers.\nCONSENT CALENDAR\nCouncilmember Oddie moved approval of the Consent Calendar.\nVice Mayor Knox White seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call\nvote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Oddie: Aye; Vella: Aye; and\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an\nasterisk preceding the paragraph number.]\n(*20-633) Minutes of the Special and Regular City Council Meetings Held on September\n1,2020. Approved.\n(*20-634) Ratified bills in the amount of $5,355,787.93\n(*20-635) Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to Execute an\nExclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) with Brookfield Bay Area Holdings and Catellus\nto Develop the West Midway Project at Alameda Point. Accepted.\n(*20-636) Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to Negotiate\nand Execute an Agreement in the Amount of $350,000 with Brookfield Bay Area\nHoldings LLC and/or Catellus Development Corporation to Advance Design and\nDevelopment of Backbone Infrastructure for RESHAP (Rebuilding Supportive Housing\nat Alameda Point). Accepted.\n(*20-637) Recommendation to Accept the Fiscal Year 2019-20 Annual Report for the\nCity's Rent Program. Accepted.\n(*20-638) Recommendation to Accept Proposed Changes to the Emergency Rent Relief\nGuidelines and Authorize the City Manager to Approve Future Changes to the\nGuidelines. Accepted.\n(*20-639) Resolution No. 15698, \"Amending the Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-\n2021 Using the Fund Balance of the Construction Improvement Fund for Krusi Park\nRecreation Center Replacement in the Amount of $135,000 for Project Management\nand Inspection\". Adopted.\n(*20-640) Resolution No. 15699, \"Approving a Final Map and Authorizing Execution of a\nSubdivision Improvement Agreement for Tract 8524, Bay 37 as a Condition to Final\nMap Approval (Alameda Landing Waterfront Development). Adopted.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020\n2", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 5, "text": "(*20-641) Ordinance No. 3289, \"Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Adding a\nNew Article XVIV (Third Party Food Delivery Services) of Chapter VI (Businesses,\nOccupations and Industries) Establishing a Temporary Limit on Charges Imposed by\nThird-Party Delivery Services During the Locally Declared State of Emergency Related\nto the COVID-19 Pandemic.\" Finally passed.\n(*20-642) Ordinance No. 3290, \"Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Amending\nVarious Provisions of Article VIII (Sunshine Ordinance) of Chapter Il (Administration)\nConcerning Special Meetings, including the Setting and Noticing of Such and Other\nMeetings.' Finally passed.\nREGULAR AGENDA ITEMS\n(20-643) Resolution No. 15700, \"Appointing Ben Finkenbinder as a Member of the Golf\nCommission.\" Adopted;\n(20-643A) Resolution No. 15701, \"Reappointing Bachir Hadid as a Member of the\nHousing Authority Board of Commissioners.\" Adopted;\n(20-643B) Resolution No. 15702, \"Appointing Elizabeth Kuwada as a Member of the\nHousing Authority Board of Commissioners.' Adopted;\n(20-643C) Resolution No. 15703, \"Reappointing Sandra Kay, as a Member of the\nHousing Authority Board of Commissioners.\" Adopted;\n(20-643D) Resolution No. 15704, \"Reappointing Kenji Tamaoki, as a Member of the\nHousing Authority Board of Commissioners.' Adopted;\n(20-643E) Resolution No. 15705, \"Appointing Vadim Sidelnikov, as a Member of the\nHousing Authority Board of Commissioners.\" Adopted;\n(20-643F) Resolution No. 15706, \"Appointing Xiomara Cisneros as a Member of the\nPlanning Board.\" Adopted; and\n(20-643G) Resolution No. 15707, \"Reappointing Ron Curtis as a Member of the\nPlanning Board.' Adopted.\nCouncilmember Vella moved adoption of the resolutions.\nCouncilmember Oddie seconded the motion.\nUnder discussion, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft introduced the commissioners.\nOn the call for the question, the motion carried by the following roll call vote:\nCouncilmembers Daysog: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Oddie: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor\nEzzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5.\nThe City Clerk administered the Oath of Office to Mr. Finkenbinder, Mr. Hadid, Ms.\nKuwada, Ms. Kay, Mr. Tamaoki, Mr. Sidelnikov and Mr. Curtis.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n3\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 6, "text": "(20-644) Recommendation to Appoint Kimi Sugioka as Alameda's Poet Laureate.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft introduced Ms. Sugioka and made brief comments.\nThe Poet Laureate read an inaugural poem.\nDiscussed her experience as Poet Laureate; stated poets are the artists, visionaries and\nheart of humanity and are needed; expressed support for continuing the Alameda Poet\nLaureate program and the new Poet Laureate: Cathy Dana, Alameda.\n(20-645) Recommendation to Receive an Update on a Strategic Plan for Addressing\nHomelessness in Alameda.\nThe Community Development Analyst gave a PowerPoint presentation.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired whether there are additional efforts in Alameda to\nparticipate in Project Roomkey; stated a hotel on Marina Village has been discussed.\nThe Community Development Analyst responded in the affirmative; stated Marina\nVillage is still part of Project Roomkey; there has been an intent to purchase the\nproperty so that the County can turn it into permanent supportive housing after the\npandemic; the County applied for funding to purchase the property, but the project was\nnot approved; the County is still optimistic that funding is available to move forward with\nthe property purchase.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired what methods the City is providing to the unhoused\nrelated to air quality.\nThe Community Development Analyst responded the Day Center is now open; stated\npeople have been using the Day Center as refuge from the smoke; the Day Center is\nalso air conditioned and is used during heat waves; the City is looking to issue\nemergency hotel vouchers through funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and\nEconomic Security Act (CARES) Act and Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP);\nthe City has been in contact with Building Futures to discuss ensuring safe distancing at\nthe warming shelter due to an influx of users as well as finding alternatives for\novercrowding.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated homeless individuals have been identified in the Climate\nAction Resiliency Plan (CARP) as most vulnerable to climate emergencies; requested\nclarification about boundaries within the constraints of the 2018 Boise decision by the\nU.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.\nThe Community Development Analyst stated the Boise decision constrains the City by\nproviding options as an alternative place to live besides encampments or the streets;\ntiny cabin communities or temporary shelters options will be offered to people living in\nencampments and on the streets; the City can house up to 20 individuals using tiny or\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020\n4", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 7, "text": "community cabins; staff can present the unhoused population with available cabin units\nand document if anyone declines; staff will follow rules and laws related to encampment\nactions while working with both Alameda Police Department (APD) and the City\nAttorney's office.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft outlined HEAP initiatives; inquired the location and capacity for the\nstreet health program.\nThe Community Development Analyst responded street health is another County\nprogram; stated the program is a medical-based model; teams are working side-by-side\nwith existing outreach teams in Alameda to show up and build trust to connect the\nunhoused population to primary care, mental health services, and dentistry services.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired when the program was first brought to Alameda.\nThe Community Development Analyst responded three weeks ago; stated the program\nstarted at the Day Center.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the program has a regular schedule in the Center\nversus out in the field.\nThe Community Development Analyst responded staff has clarified the schedule; stated\nthe program intent is to be out in the community mostly around encampments; program\nstaff are working with Operation Dignity and are scheduling visits to encampments on a\nregular basis at least once a week.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the process to secure permanent housing takes\nlonger than six months and whether the program follows the model of navigation\ncenters.\nThe Community Development Analyst responded the program does follow the model of\nnavigation center and community cabins; stated a time limit is usually set; however, the\ntime limit is not fixed; there are situations when individuals will need more than six\nmonths; the importance in setting a time limit is to show progress and incentives in\nending homelessness; time limits are extended on a case-by-case basis after review by\nthe provider.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft outlined the work of navigation centers; stated progress is\nimportant.\nInquired how the Boise decision prevents the City from cleaning up waste and garbage;\nstated the issue of homelessness is often conflated with drug addiction and mental\nillness; expressed support for reallocating funds to focus on mental health and drug\naddiction versus building homes; expressed concern about there being a consistent\nsubset of people being used to defeat mental illness: James Downey, Alameda.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n5\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 8, "text": "Stated there are no quick fixes related to homelessness; community cabins are a way to\nstabilize people who are in the process of getting their life together and allows providers\nto address people's immediate needs such as: document writing, connections to mental\nhealth and substance abuse programs, and family reunification; community cabins offer\nan opportunity to address needs without people having to move from place to place;\nurged Council to be mindful of not excluding people by placing barriers on low income\nand affordable housing: Tomika Perkins, Operation Dignity.\nThe Community Development Director stated the housing first model is considered a\nbest practice; the emphasis on housing first is to stabilize people, then tackle drug\naddiction and mental illness; noted previous models were \"clean and sober\" prior to\nacquiring housing; stated the previous model has been replaced with housing first;\nsupplying permanent, supportive housing is consistent with Alameda County's work.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated homelessness is a complicated issue; there is more\nhomelessness in Alameda than is apparent; homelessness is not just encampments, it\nis families living in their cars; noted safe parking has been opened in the City; more\nhousing is needed; measurable success is difficult to see; outlined encampment and\nresident encounters; expressed support for staff outreach to neighbors; stated holiday\ndrives are being organized; outlined a visit to community cabins in Oakland and a\nmeeting with Mayor Schaff; stated the process is not easy; it is possible to make things\nbetter.\nCouncilmember Vella stated many Councilmembers participated in the Countywide\nhomeless count; trauma is inherently part of the discussion; trauma is experienced by\nanybody experiencing life in an unstable or insecure way; the cabins create a sense of\nstability and a foundation for addressing trauma; all unhoused individuals do not have\nmental health or drug concerns, but most lose a sense of security and safety; Council\nhas been discussing policing and services\nfor unsheltered\npopulations; outlined the effect of loss of safety and security; stated safe parking options\nallow a returned sense of security overnight and should remain a focus for the\ncommunity; the community has shown compassion and empathy; there has been\ntremendous progress; business districts are aware of available programs as well;\nCouncil is ensuring approved funds are being used well by staff; staff is on site getting\nword out for various available services.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated the issue is complex and requires compassionate\nsolutions; expressed support for the emphasis on housing first and for the 90-units at\nNorth Housing; inquired whether there is a time-frame for additional temporary housing\nservices.\nThe Community Development Analyst responded additional temporary housing services\nis part of the planning process; stated staff will process stakeholder input and return to\nCouncil in January with a plan.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated people cannot be moved into shelters until shelter is\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020\n6", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 9, "text": "provided; there are concerns related to temporary housing; that he hopes the\ncommunity will remain compassionate as recommendations are made; outlined\nhomeless count increases over years; inquired whether the Census counts homeless as\nAlameda residents.\nThe Community Development Analyst responded in the affirmative; stated Alameda\nCounty's most recent homeless count identifies the town or city where homeless\nindividuals live.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated these people are our neighbors; an influx of people from\nneighboring cities will not take advantage of Alameda services; Council is helping its\nneighbors and providing solutions for Alamedans; expressed concern about the safety\nof cabins; requested clarification on the regulations related to removing trash.\nThe Community Development Analyst stated items which look like trash may actually be\nbelongings and property; staff works closely with local and Caltrans' outreach teams to\ninform people of cleanup schedules and where trash must be placed; the next cleanup\nis scheduled for October 15th; notices are placed on property that appears to be\nvacated; outreach teams are knowledgeable about locations.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated homelessness manifests itself in different ways; noted\nRecreational Vehicles (RVs) cannot park in the safe parking; inquired about services for\npeople living in an RV or camper.\nThe Community Development Analyst responded staff works with all homeless people,\nincluding anyone living in RVs; outreach services, harm reduction programs, vouchers\nfor hotels and food assistance can be provided by outreach teams; staff encourages\npeople to reach out to the street team for medical needs; connections can be made for\nprimary care doctors as well.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated that he is pleased with staff, Council and residents for\nshowing compassion to unhoused neighbors while the issues are trying to be resolved;\nexpressed support for the work; stated the commitment from the community and staff is\nheartening.\nVice Mayor Knox White expressed support for staff and the understanding and\nknowledge shown; stated housing first is important; many people currently unhoused\nstarted off being housed; many have been pushed out of housing without drug addiction\nor mental health issues; the plan is a great solution for issues that exists; Council must\nensure people are not getting pushed out of their homes; expressed support for the staff\nrecommendation; stated that he would like to encourage the strategic planning process\nhaving clear timelines; the planning process should include ways to instill the\ncommunity with outreach and information being provided to Council to help leverage\nCouncilmember voices.\nCouncilmember Daysog expressed support for an emphasis on temporary shelter;\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n7\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 10, "text": "stated temporary shelter is important when assisting people in encampments around\nthe Posey Tube; there have been a range of \"carrots\" discussed in terms of outreach\nand medical assistance; the discussion is in the right direction for addressing\nhomelessness; with more emphasis placed on temporary housing options,\nencampments can be addressed in a compassionate way; the City is working carefully\nin the same framework as the Boise decision; compared the Boise decision with the City\nof\nAlameda's approach; stated the City is beginning to move forward on the\nencampment issue.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she looks forward to hearing back from staff about the\nprogress.\n***\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft recessed the meeting at 9:00 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at\n9:11 p.m.\n***\n(20-646) Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to Negotiate\nand Execute Rent Relief Agreements with Commercial Tenants in City-Owned Alameda\nPoint Properties via a $1.5 Million Loan Conversion Assistance Program and Implement\nan Alameda Point Non-Profit and Spirits Alley Businesses Rent Relief Program in\nResponse to the COVID-19 Pandemic; and\n(20-646A) Resolution No. 15708, \"Appropriating $1.5 Million from the Base Reuse Fund\nfor the Loan Conversion Assistance Program and $315,000 from the General Fund to\nAssist the Alameda Theater.\" Adopted.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director gave a presentation.\nCouncilmember Vella stated Council previously provided direction; inquired whether the\nmatter affects the City's ability to pay for other things at Alameda Point; stated the\nmoney will be set aside in a fund as opposed to paying for other items; inquired whether\nthe impact has been calculated.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded the money is coming out of\nthe fund balance; stated the fund balance is healthy and can operate Alameda Point\nwithout any incoming revenue for one year; the annual operating budget is roughly $14\nmillion; previously a fund balance of $2 million was considered healthy; the increase is\ndue in part to competitive deals being approved; even with the reduction in rent from\nMARAD leaving, Alameda Point continues to remain competitive and have healthy\nrevenue generation.\nCouncilmember Vella inquired the impact should all tenants default at Alameda Point as\na worst-case scenario.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020\n8", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 11, "text": "The Assistant Community Development Director responded the fund balance will be\nokay even if all tenants defaulted; stated the amount is $1.5 million out of a $14 million\nportfolio.\nThe City Manager stated the Fund balance is used for a variety of different things at\nAlameda Point; should $1.5 million in loans be defaulted, the fund will be okay; staff is\nattempting to save Alameda Point businesses and help them succeed in moving\nforward; proposals will preserve businesses at Alameda Point to help ensure long-term\nrevenues; the loan program is not intended to provide assistance only; it will also\nprovide assistance to sustain through the COVID-19 crisis for the long-term;\nexpenditures will need to be readjusted should the loans be defaulted.\nCouncilmember Vella inquired whether there will be a bigger problem if an anchor\ntenant defaults, to which the City Manager responded in the affirmative.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director stated the prior proposal for the loan\nconversion program negotiated promissory notes for tenants, which would be cross\ndefaulted with leases; should a default occur, the lease defaults and recouping of funds\ncould occur from security deposits.\nThe Community Development Director stated the $1.5 million allocation request is\npossible to be loan forgiveness; the potential for default is related to the nine months of\ndeferred rent for Spirits Alley and non-profit businesses being given three years to repay\nloans.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director stated there is a chance the entire loan\nprogram will not be granted; a tenant could default in the loan conversion program;\nbeing part of the loan conversion program does not equate receiving a grant.\nCouncilmember Vella requested clarification whether the Council decision is not related\nto loan conversion but the additional $1.5 million and 9 months of deferral.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded in the negative; stated there\nare three components; the $1.5 million is specifically for the loan conversion program,\nwhich allows the City Manager to negotiate how much to grant to each tenant.\nCouncilmember Vella inquired whether the proposal is in addition to the authority\npreviously provided by Council, which was up to a certain amount.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded the authority provided was\nnot clear to staff; stated grant awards have not been provided; staff was unclear on the\nfunding amount; staff is recommending the $1.5 million in funding.\nThe Community Development Director stated the matter does request authority in\naddition to the prior authority given by Council to the City Manager for Citywide\nactivities; the $1.5 million is additional.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n9\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 12, "text": "Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the authority is in addition to the $1 million.\nThe City Manager responded Council has provided three actions during COVID: 1)\nopportunity to defer rent for an initial 60, and then extended to, 90-days; forgiveness of\nloans was not specifically authorized by Council at the time, 2) grant programs to\nbusinesses and to Alameda Point, and 3) $2 million in funding; stated the $1.5 million is\nnot in addition to the $2 million.\nCouncilmember Oddie noted the motion in the May 19, 2020 minutes gave staff\nauthority to provide any three month deferral and up to an additional three month\ndeferral per tenant, which would be converted into a promissory note; stated Council\nplaced a cap on abatement with an indication to return to Council for removing the cap;\nCouncil authorized six months of deferral.\nThe City Manager stated it was unclear whether or not loan forgiveness was allowed to\nbe provided; noted staff has not provided forgiveness.\nCouncilmember Vella stated Council provided a specific cap on abatement; inquired the\nask from staff and whether the entire $1.5 million is to be abated; expressed concern\nabout the previous authorized cap not being exercised and there being no breakdown\nprovided for the $1.5 million funding.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft requested clarification whether Council should approve which\nloans are made to which businesses.\nCouncilmember Vella stated Council should approve the program, process and criteria;\nquestioned how the process fits together.\nThe City Manager stated no forgiveness has been made due to conservative reading of\nthe motion; expressed concern about staff surpassing Council authority; stated loan\nforgiveness equates to an expenditure; the City Manager has a $75,000 cap on\nauthorized expenditures; rent deferrals have occurred, but forgiveness has not; the $1.5\nmillion is a cap which could be forgiven up to its entirety.\nThe Community Development Director stated the $1.5 million would be a maximum cap;\nstaff has received 6 to 7 applications to date which have met eligibility requirements for\nthe program; the $1.5 million would be spread across a number of businesses that have\nasked for assistance; Council approved a number of criteria in the Spring and\nestablished an order for a business to move from deferral to abatement; staff is not\nproposing any changes to previously established criteria; staff is seeking the\nauthorization and clarity to apply the $1.5 million funding to businesses based on staff's\nanalysis of need and the qualifying criteria for abatement; staff will work within the\ncriteria and the capped amount of money.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020\n10", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 13, "text": "In response to Councilmember Vella's inquiry, the Assistant Community Development\nDirector stated one month will be abated for every year repaid early, with a maximum of\nthree months; if a tenant pays back everything in one year, the tenant will receive three\nmonths of abatement.\nCouncilmember Vella inquired the process should a tenant only defer four months of\nrent; stated the wording is open and unclear.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director stated most tenants need more than\nthree months; tenants have already been given a three months deferral carte blanche\nwith one year to repay.\nCouncilmember Vella inquired whether the program will apply to people repaying the\nthree month deferral.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded in the negative; stated the\nproposal is for Spirits Alley and non-profits; the program has a finite group of people and\nconsists of businesses which have been hit hardest and unable to open from March to\nOctober; noted Spirits Alley businesses have not been able to open and are receiving\ntax bills; the nine month time frame gets tenants to the end of the year.\nCouncilmember Vella inquired whether clarification will be provided should tenants not\nneed the full nine month time period.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded a tenant taking three\nmonths and repaying within one year would receive one month of abated rent; a tenant\ntaking six months and repaying in two years would receive two months abated rent.\nThe Community Development Director stated it is a pro-rated basis.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired whether the $1.5 million is the abatement portion of the\nproposal.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded the $1.5 million is the loan\nand potential abatement; stated the timeline is up to six months; a tenant that applies for\n$250,000 would enter into a promissory note with the City for $250,000 with\nbenchmarks and criteria; if the requirements are met within 24 months, all or a portion of\nthe note will be abated as negotiated; should a portion of the note be used for\nabatement, the tenant will repay the remainder on a payment plan.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated that he understands the time period of abatement is only\nthree months over the course of three years; currently Council can approve abating nine\nmonths' rent.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director stated six months' rent is being\nconsidered.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n11\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 14, "text": "Councilmember Oddie inquired whether an abatement or deferral is being proposed for\nthe theatre.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded staff is initially proposing a\ndeferral; stated the deferral is until 2037 or when the facility is purchased; noted there is\na lot of time between now and 2037; stated many are invested in the success of the\nAlameda Theatre; after the Section 108 loan is paid off in 2027, an abatement might be\nconsidered; meeting the immediate need and figuring out the repayment obligation\nwhen the timing is imminent is better for the City.\nThe City Manager stated the theatre is an important entity in Alameda and the proposal\nis an interim approach; possible forgiveness for the theatre might return; complicating\nfactors include tying loans to revenue sources; if the City forgives payments, the City\nwill need to make up the forgiven payments from other sources such as the General\nFund.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director stated if the City defaults on the\nSection 108 loan, the City would no longer receive Community Development Block\nGrant (CDBG) money from the Federal government; staff has concerns about the\ntheatre paying obligations.\nThe City Manager stated the other complicating factor is many theatres are closing for a\nperiod of time in the future; the closure concern also affects Alameda Theatre.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated the theatre anticipated a previous reopening for the 4th of\nJuly; expressed support for helping the Alameda Theatre and doing more than\nproposed, including abating rent; stated there may be an exchange for community\nbenefits.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director stated Council waived the percentage\nrent payment for this year at $175,000 and for next year; the percentage rent number\nincreases in perpetuity; the City has done a lot to help the theatre; there are concerns\nabout the Section 108 payment.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired the method for defining tenant related to the $1.5\nmillion.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded staff listed criteria; tenants\nmust have over 25 employees, be consistent with the long term plan for Alameda Point\nand be a sales tax or jobs generator; staff has been specific on eligibility.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired whether a tenant is defined as a business with a lease\nagreement approved by Council.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020\n12", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 15, "text": "The Assistant Community Development Director responded one applicant is under a\nlong term license and currently operating month to month; the Surplus Lands Act has\nimpeded the ability to provide long term leases; staff considers the applicant a tenant.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired whether the agreement is a license or lease.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded the tenant has multiple\nproperties; one property is a lease in holdover and the other two are licenses, which are\nrenewable.\nCouncilmember Oddie questioned Council deciding to provide abatement and lease\namendments coming before Council; discussed a previous tenant's lease amendment;\nstated Council is operating in a vacuum and provides transparency.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether Council is discussing a business arrangement\nbetween tenants and property management staff.\nThe City Attorney responded any fundamental changes to an existing lease would come\nbefore Council for final approval.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director stated staff initially proposed\npromissory notes to be cross defaulted with leases; staff did not intend to return to\nCouncil for approval of the promissory notes; Council may direct staff to do so; the nine\nmonth programs will be executed by lease amendment and could come before Council\nfor approval if desired; expressed concern about delaying helping tenants.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired whether eligible non-profits eligible must be 501(c)(3), to\nwhich the Assistant Community Development Director responded in the affirmative.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired whether a boundary would be considered for Spirits\nAlley tenants.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded Spirits Alley tenants are on\nMonarch Street.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired the difference between the rent assistance program and\nthe non-profit/Spirits Alley program; questioned whether there are two funds or one.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded there is one bucket of\nmoney under the Base Reuse Fund; stated the $1.5 million is coming from the\nunappropriated fund balance; the nine-month program is part of the $14 million\nanticipated operating fund; staff will adjust revenue projections accordingly; the revenue\nprojection in the current fiscal year would be lowered and the revenue projection over\nthe next three years would be raised anticipating the repayment of funds.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n13\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 16, "text": "aspect to the Park Street district; expressed support for staff negotiating rent deferrals\nand abatements.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020\n14", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 17, "text": "The Assistant Community Development Director stated the estimate amount for Spirits\nAlley and non-profits over a three year period would be $390,000.\nThe Community Development Director stated if Council wants to offer extended deferral\nto the Alameda Theatre, staff will either need to return to Council with a budget\namendment to capture additional funds needed to pay the Section 108 loan or amend\nthe resolution; staff recommends returning in order to calculate the actual numbers;\nstated extending the time costs the General Fund.\n***\nVice Mayor Knox White left the meeting at 10:20 p.m.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated Alameda Point tenants listening to the discussion could\npotentially be dismayed; expressed support for care being brought to the expenditure of\nfunds; stated Alameda Point businesses have been out in the Wild West from the\nbeginning and have suffered through infrastructure issues; Alameda Point businesses\nare struggling during the pandemic; expressed concern about the delay; stated the\namount of money is reasonable and is coming from the Base Reuse Fund; staff has\nprovided both the best and worst case scenarios; business recovery will help the City in\nother ways; Council can be reasonably sure impacts of COVID will be dealt with into the\ncoming year; the risk is reasonable to take and will be an investment; the exact outcome\nis unknown; businesses have stretched themselves to operate and have brought many\nbenefits to the City; now is the time for the City to step up and help; many people are at\nthe end of their reserves; expressed support for a rent deferral for the Alameda Theatre;\nstated Council can always make changes further down the road; Council can vote to\napprove the resolution with the amendment provided by the City Manager; expressed\nsupport for a decision that moves the matter forward, rather than having the matter\nreturn to Council with further delay; Alameda Theatre is helping the City pay the Section\n108 loan.\nCouncilmember Oddie moved approval of authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and\nexecute rent relief agreements with commercial tenants and City-owned properties via\nthe $1.5 million loan conversion assistance program; at Alameda Point, implementing a\nnon-profit and Spirits Alley business relief program in response to the COVID-19\npandemic with a return to Council if the amount for the non-profit and Spirits Alley\nprogram exceeds $400,000; and approving a budget amendment appropriating the $1.5\nmillion in Base Reuse Fund balance for Alameda Point theatre loan conversion\nassistance program and $315,000 in General Fund to assist the Alameda Theatre, with\ndirection to staff to return with possible extensions for deferment.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated that Vice Mayor Knox White and he have been pushing to\nincrease the amount of grant money for small businesses by $300,000 to 600,000 and\nhave been rejected; Council has been strong about providing money to businesses\nwhether or not the ask is lineated with the dollar amount is different than the\ncommitment to small businesses.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n15\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 18, "text": "Councilmember Oddie stated the motion included the staff recommendation with the\ncaveat of $400,000 and direction to bring back an extension on the deferral for the\nAlameda Theatre.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020\n16", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 19, "text": "The Community Development Director stated the promissory note will be cross\ncollateralized against the lease under the $1.5 million loan forgiveness program; a\ntenant will need a lease by definition; should staff have the ability to cross collateralize\nagainst a long-term license, an exception can be made since the agreement serves the\nsame principal and will work as the definition of \"tenant\" under the criteria.\nCouncilmember Vella expressed support for the motion; stated that she supports the\nCity Manager's proposal to bring lease amendments back to Council for approval;\nrequested clarification whether the motion includes the lease amendments returning to\nCouncil for approval.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the addition could be considered as Council\ndirection to staff and keep the motion as-is.\nCouncilmember Vella stated that she supports Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft's comments as\nlong as the directive is clear.\nThe Community Development Director stated staff sympathizes with the need for\ntransparency; questioned whether Council would be amenable to a report out, which will\nensure documentation and reporting; lease amendments are completed via ordinance.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft requested clarification about the contents of the report out.\nThe Community Development Director stated the deal structure would be provided; staff\ncan work with the City Attorney in order to be as transparent as possible with the report.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether there is legal cause for concern regarding\nreporting out.\nThe City Attorney responded staff is proposing no fundamental changes to the lease\nwithin the program; stated staff is engaging in deferment and forgiveness; leases will\nremain the same; Council could delegate authority to the City Manager in the event no\nfundamental changes are made to leases; if fundamental changes be made to the\nsubstance of the lease, Council approval would be needed; delegation to staff for\ndeferment or forgiveness may be granted; however, lease structure changes must be\nvoted on by Council approval via ordinance.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the transaction details are cause for concern in a\nreport out.\nThe City Attorney stated when a City executes an agreement, the agreement is a public\nrecord and is public information whether executed with City Manager or in a public\nmeeting.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n17\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 20, "text": "Councilmember Vella stated that she supports the authority, except for anything over\n$150,000 for an individual tenant; expressed concern about inconsistency in rent\ndeferment.\nThe Community Development Director stated every applicant being reviewed will be\nover $150,000.\nCouncilmember Vella inquired whether the figure is for deferment or forgiveness.\nThe Community Development Director responded one month rent for a tenant could be\n$60,000; stated requesting a two month abatement would be $120,000; the challenge is\nin dealing with large monthly rents; recommended a cap of $350,000 in abatement prior\nto Council approval.\nCouncilmember Vella stated the report indicates tenant rents ranging from $20,000 to\n60,000; inquired whether most tenants are closer to the $60,000 figure.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director responded some tenants are closer to\nthe $30,000 range; staff is considering an average amount which also includes smaller\ntenants; however, some tenants to have a monthly rent of $60,000.\nThe City Manager stated Council may continue with the motion and include that any\nforgiveness must return for Council approval if the business negotiates forgiveness; the\nfinal details will come back as a lease amendment to Council for approval; expressed\nconcern about the process being confusing; stated lease amendments returning to\nCouncil is a clear process.\nThe City Attorney expressed support for the City Manager's comments; stated the\nrecommendation is legally sound; if Council provides the City Manager the opportunity\nto forgive, not collecting bad debt is possible, which is more complicated and messy.\nCouncilmember Vella expressed support for the staff recommendation.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated that he supports the staff recommendation; expressed\nconcern about five large tenants taking the entire amount of money; accepted amending\nhis motion to include the requirement proposed by the City Manager: should businesses\nnegotiate a lease forgiveness, the final details will come back to Council for approval as\na lease amendment.\nCouncilmember Vella seconded the amended motion, which carried by the following roll\ncall vote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Oddie: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy\nAshcraft: Aye. Ayes: 4. [Absent: Vice Mayor Knox White - 1.]\nCITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS\n(20-647) The City Manager introduced the new Finance Director Annie To and Interim\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020\n18", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 21, "text": "Police Chief Randy Fenn; announced Lois Butler would be the Interim Community\nDevelopment Director; stated that he is setting up individual meetings with the Chief of\nPolice and Councilmembers, subcommittees and task forces to answer questions and\nprovide support.\nThe Police Chief made brief comments.\nThe City Manager discussed the Police Captain Emmitt's time as the Interim Police\nChief; stated the policing committees are continuing to meet and are requesting\ninformation and presentations; expressed concern about the upcoming interim report\ntiming; stated a report may not be provided until the first meeting in January 2021; the\nbudget adjustment matter will not come forward in October and will be delayed; non-\nsubstantial Lexipol policies are being brought to Council out of abundance of caution;\nannounced Caltrans is scheduling a cleanup of the Posey Tube area on October 15th;\nconcerns such as fires, sanitation, and health and safety have been relayed to Caltrans.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA\nNone.\nCOUNCIL REFERRALS\nNone.\nCOUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS\n(20-648) Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft made an announcement regarding a regional planning\ncommittee meeting for Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) related to\nRegional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers; stated the Executive Board of\nABAG will vote whether to accept the committee recommendation on October 16th;\noutlined the RHNA number breakdowns; stated new housing is being placed outside of\nhigh danger areas prone to fires, flooding and sea level implications.\n(20-649) Councilmember Vella made an announcement regarding a League of\nCalifornia Cities meeting; stated the League conference is coming up; noted the number\nof lead abatement cases have increased due to testing being down and appointments\nbeing provided via video versus in-person; expressed concern about the number of\npeople being exposed; information will be provided about various funds and programs\navailable for weatherization and testing.\n(20-650) Stopwaste Topic Brief - 2020 Recycling Plan Update. (Councilmember Oddie)\nCouncilmember Oddie made brief comments.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n19\nOctober 6, 2020", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2020-10-06", "page": 22, "text": "(20-651) Consideration of Mayor's Nominations for Appointments to the Civil Service\nBoard, Commission on Persons with Disabilities and Social Service Human Relations\nBoard (SSHRB).\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft nominated Troy Hosmer for reappointment and April Madison-\nRamsey for appointment to the Civil Service Board; for Commission on Persons with\nDisabilities, nominated Arnold Brillinger and Jennifer Linton for reappointment; and for\nthe SSHRB, nominated Christine Chilcot for reappointment, and Priya Jagannathan and\nAnthony Lewis for appointment.\nADJOURNMENT\nThere being no further business, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 11:00\np.m.\nRespectfully submitted,\nLara Weisiger\nCity Clerk\nThe agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nOctober 6, 2020\n20", "path": "CityCouncil/2020-10-06.pdf"}