{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 1, "text": "MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING\nTUESDAY- - FEBRUARY 15, 2022- 5:15 P.M.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 5:23 p.m.\nRoll Call - Present:\nCouncilmembers Daysog, Herrera Spencer, Knox White,\nVella and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft - 5. [Note: Vice Mayor Vella\narrived at 5:25 p.m. The meeting was held via Zoom.]\nAbsent:\nNone.\nConsent Calendar:\nCouncilmember Knox White moved approval of the Consent Calendar.\nCouncilmember Daysog seconded, which carried by the following roll call vote:\nCouncilmembers Daysog: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Herrera Spencer: No; and Mayor Ezzy\nAshcraft: Aye. Ayes: 3. Noes: 1. [Absent: Vice Mayor Vella - 1.] [Items so enacted or\nadopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]\n(*22-098) Recommendation to approve Eric Levitt, City Manager, Community\nDevelopment Director Lisa Maxwell, Assistant Community Development Director\nNanette Mocanu, and Assistant City Attorney Len Aslanian as Real Property\nNegotiators for Building 41, Located at 650 West Tower Avenue, Alameda, CA.\nThe meeting was adjourned to Closed Session to consider:\n(22-099) Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Pursuant to Government Code\n54956.8); Property: 650 West Tower Avenue (Building 41) Alameda Point, Alameda,\nCA; City Negotiators: Eric Levitt, City Manager, Community Development Director Lisa\nMaxwell, Assistant Community Development Director Nanette Mocanu, and Assistant\nCity Attorney Len Aslanian; Negotiating Parties: City of Alameda and Wrightspeed, Inc.;\nUnder Negotiation: Price and Terms of Lease.\n(22-100) Conference with Labor Negotiators (Government Code Section 54957.6); City\nNegotiators: Eric Levitt, City Manager, and Nancy Bronstein, Human Resources\nDirector; Employee Organizations: Alameda Police Officers Association (APOA),\nAlameda Police Managers Association (APMA), and Alameda Fire Managers\nAssociation (AFMA); Under Negotiation: Salaries, Employee Benefits and Terms of\nEmployment.\nFollowing the Closed Session, the meeting was reconvened and the City Clerk\nannounced that regarding the Real Property, staff provided information and Council\nprovided direction, by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera\nSpencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye; Ayes: 5;\nregarding; regarding Labor, staff provided information and Council provided direction by\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 2, "text": "the following two roll call votes: Vote 1: Councilmembers Daysog: No; Herrera Spencer:\nNo; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye; Ayes: 3. Noes: 2 and\nVote 2: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: No; Knox White: Aye; Vella:\nAye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye; Ayes: 4. Noes: 1\nAdjournment\nThere being no further business, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 6:35\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\nCouncil February 15,\n2022", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 3, "text": "MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING\nTUESDAY- FEBRUARY 15, 2022- -7:00 P.M.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 7:03 p.m. and Councilmember Herrera Spencer\nled the Pledge of Allegiance.\nROLL CALL -\nPresent:\nCouncilmembers Daysog, Herrera Spencer, Knox White,\nVella, and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft - 5. [Note: The meeting\nwas conducted via Zoom]\nAbsent:\nNone.\nAGENDA CHANGES\n(22-101) Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated items will be heard in the following order: the Wilma Chan\nstreet renaming [paragraph no. 22-115], the aquatic center conceptual design [paragraph no.\n22-116], the Franklin and Lincoln Park pools [paragraph no. 22-119], followed by the Senate Bill\n9 ordinance [paragraph no. 22-120].\nPROCLAMATIONS, SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY AND ANNOUNCEMENTS\n(22-102) Season for Nonviolence Word of the Day: Choice\nCouncilmember Daysog read a quote regarding choice.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA\n(22-103) Jay Garfinkle, Alameda, discussed Measure Z; urged Council to support returning the\ncontrol of zoning and land use to the people of Alameda by way of a State initiative; announced\na related petition called \"Our Neighborhood Voices\" being circulated for signatures; urged\nCouncil endorse the petition.\n(22-104) Carmen Reid, Alameda, discussed the State initiative petition circulating which seeks\nto return control of local land use and zoning.\n(22-105) Anne Lee, Alameda, expressed support for continuing the Alameda Loop Shuttle.\n(22-106) Zac Bowling, Alameda, expressed support for the Line 78 bus route to the Seaplane\nLagoon; stated funding for the bus route is no longer solvent; urged people to take the bus\nroute.\nCONSENT CALENDAR\nCouncilmember Daysog stated that he would recuse himself from the Landscaping and Lighting\nDistrict 84-2 resolution [paragraph no. 22-111].\nDiscussed the pension obligation bonds and opposition to the matter; expressed concern about\nthe matter being placed on the Consent Calendar; urged Council to disclose the amount of\nmoney spent on the matter: Jason Bezis, Attorney for Alameda County Taxpayers Association\nand Steve Slauson.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n1", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 4, "text": "Expressed concern over the Alameda Police Officers Association (APOA) MOU and the pension\nobligation bonds matters being placed on the Consent Calendar; stated that he finds himself\nwithout sufficient information on the matters; the staff reports provide no competitive data; the\npublic deserves more from Council: Paul Foreman, Alameda.\nExpressed support for comments provided by speaker Foreman; expressed concern about the\nFire Medical Director and the provider not billing the City; stated the City should receive routine\nbilling: Jay Garfinkle, Alameda.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated that she would like the Fire Medical Director [paragraph\nno. 22-109], APOA MOU [paragraph no. 22-110], pension obligation bonds [paragraph no. 22-\n113) and the local emergency [paragraph no. 22-114 matters removed from the Consent\nCalendar for discussion.\nCouncilmember Knox White moved approval of the reminder of the Consent Calendar.\nCouncilmember Daysog seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote:\nCouncilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor\nEzzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk\npreceding the paragraph number.]\n(*22-107) Minutes of the Special and Regular City Council Meetings Held on January 18, 2022.\nApproved.\n(*22-108) Ratified bills in the amount of $5,786,782.07.\n(22-109) Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Second Amendment to\nthe Agreement with the Regents of the University of California, on Behalf of Its University of\nCalifornia San Francisco School of Medicine, Department Of Emergency Medicine (\"UCSF\") to\nProvide the Services of Medical Director for the Alameda Fire Department Through February\n29, 2024, in an Amount Not to Exceed $139,883.\nThe Fire Chief gave a brief presentation.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the provider has been providing services yet\nnot billing the City.\nThe Fire Chief responded in the affirmative; stated UCSF has not billed for services; staff has\nrepeatedly requested and a response has not yet been provided; noted the language in the\nsecond amendment includes a timely billing requirement.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer moved approval of the staff recommendation.\nCouncilmember Knox White seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote:\nCouncilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor\nEzzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n2", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 5, "text": "(22-110) Resolution No. 15863, \"Approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between\nthe Alameda Police Officers Association (APOA) and the City of Alameda for a Forty-Two Month\nTerm Commencing December 19, 2021 and Ending June 30, 2025.\" Adopted.\nThe Human Resources Director gave a brief presentation.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the salary surveys are public information, to\nwhich the Human Resources Director responded in the affirmative.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated the staff report shows approximately $5.4 million of\nincreased pay for the contract; noted the five year forecast has shown that the City will begin\ntouching the reserves; expressed support for clarification on where the funding will come from.\nThe Assistant City Manager stated the MOU includes a 3.4% increase over the existing Police\nDepartment budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, which will occur in the subsequent years; staff\nanticipates the City can afford the recommended salary increases and associated costs; the five\nyear financial forecast was completed during COVID-19; staff has been conservative; revenues\nhave come in slightly higher than projected; staff is fairly certain that property, sales and transfer\ntaxes will come in where originally budgeted; staff anticipates an assumed 3.5% increase\nannually on salaries; staff is recommending moving forward with the contract.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired when staff anticipates returning to Council with new\nbudget information.\nThe Assistant City Manager responded the mid-year budget will be presented March 1st; stated\nthe mid-cycle budget will come prior to adoption in June; staff will be sharing the surplus\nrevenue information in roughly two weeks.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer moved adoption of the resolution.\nCouncilmember Knox White seconded the motion.\nUnder discussion, Councilmember Daysog stated the pay increases are reasonable; the\nagreement has a 4% increase starting January 2022; it is important to move ahead with the staff\nrecommendations in order to retain and recruit Officers; he appreciates the reasonable pay\nincreases; having fixed pay rate increases helps the City move away from the previous method\nof increasing pay; previous methods were tied to increases in property and sales tax revenues,\nwhich were typically above the reasonable amounts presented.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated that she has not historically supported the contract;\nexpressed concern about the City's ability to attract and retain Officers; stated the Department\nhas been under-staffed; it is important that the City try to be competitively priced; she will be\nsupporting the matter.\nOn the call for the question, the motion carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers\nDaysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft:\nAye. Ayes: 5.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n3", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 6, "text": "(22-111) Resolution No. 15864, \"Appointing an Engineer-of-Work and an Attorney-of-Record for\nIsland City Landscaping and Lighting District 84-2 (Various Locations Throughout the City).\nAdopted.\nCouncilmember Daysog recused himself and left the meeting. The motion carried by the\nfollowing roll call vote: Councilmembers Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye;\nand Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 4. [Absent: Councilmember Daysog - 1.]\n(*22-112) Resolution No. 15865, \"Appointing an Engineer-of-Work and an Attorney-of-Record\nfor Maintenance Assessment District 01-1 (Marina Cove). Adopted.\n(22-113) Resolution No. 15866, \"Rescinding Resolution No. 15829 which Authorized the\nIssuance of One or More Series of Pension Obligation Bonds to Refinance Outstanding\nObligations of the City to the California Public Employees' Retirement System and Related\nMatters.\" Adopted.\nThe City Attorney gave a brief presentation.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated it is important to provide more information to the public;\ninquired whether the amount of money spent on the consultant is public information.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether Councilmember Herrera Spencer's inquiry within the\nmatter.\nThe City Attorney responded the call is close; stated the inquiry may be briefly answered without\nCouncil going into a great deal of discussion; communications with the City's business\nconsultants are generally public records; communications with the City's attorneys are not public\nrecords.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether a person could submit a Public Record Act\n(PRA) request in order to know how much has been incurred for consultants, to which the City\nAttorney responded in the affirmative.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer further inquired whether the attorney's fees are public\ninformation, to which the City Attorney responded in the negative.\nCouncilmember Daysog inquired whether a motion to rescind the previous decision must be\nmoved by a Councilmember which previously voted against the matter.\nThe City Attorney responded in the negative; noted rules for reconsideration only apply to the\nsame meeting, not across meetings; stated any Councilmember may move the staff\nrecommendation.\nCouncilmember Daysog moved adoption of the resolution.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer seconded the motion.\nUnder discussion, Councilmember Knox White stated the City is trying to address decade long\npension obligations which do not go away; the actions taken continue to put the City on the\nexpensive hook of paying the full costs over many years.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n4", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 7, "text": "Councilmember Daysog stated that he appreciates rescinding the previous decision; the\nprevious matter is not the solution to solve the pension obligations and was fiscally risky, due to\ninflation and interest rate swings; the calculation showed a $2 million annual savings; discussed\n$2 million savings compared to annual wages for City staff; stated the $2 million savings can be\neaten away and undo the strategy; CalPERS can still make decisions that would require the City\nto pay more; the desire to solve the pension obligation is spot-on; however, the strategy\nrecommended had been incorrect.\nOn the call for the question, the motion carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers\nDaysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Abstain; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft:\nAye. Ayes: 4. Abstention: 1.\n(22-114) Resolution No. 15867, \"Continuing the Declaration of the Existence of a Local\nEmergency in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Consistent with Government Code\nSection 8630(c).' Adopted.\nThe Assistant City Manager gave a brief presentation.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated Council has received multiple emails and inquiries\nregarding when the City will return to in-person meetings; inquired whether the matter is related.\nThe Assistant City Manager responded not directly; stated separate actions are happening\nrelated to the Brown Act and the flexibility which has been offered relative to Council meetings.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the matter is related to tenant protections.\nThe Assistant City Manager responded in the affirmative; stated staff has heard from the\nlandlord and tenant communities; staff will bring an item related to the rent moratorium to\nCouncil in March.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired when the rent increase moratorium went into effect.\nThe City Attorney responded that he does not have the specific date; stated staff will include the\ninformation in the March staff report.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired when changes made to the rent moratorium would be\neffective.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed concern about discussing the rent moratorium; requested\nclarification on the discussion parameters.\nThe City Attorney stated the inquiry posed relates to a future agenda matter; recommended staff\npresent the matter when ready.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the matter continues the rent freeze; inquired\nwhether the rent freeze would cease immediately if Council does not support the matter.\nThe City Attorney responded if Council decides not to continue the local emergency, rents will\nbe able to increase in approximately 60 days.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n5", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 8, "text": "Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated it is important to be upfront with the community.\nCouncilmember Knox White inquired whether it is possible for Council to provide direction on\nhow to proceed with relation to the emergency and when meetings will come back in-person or\nwhether Council should wait until the next meeting.\nThe City Attorney responded Council is always able to provide brief direction; stated that his\nrecommendation is to wait until the next meeting when the matter is before Council.\nCouncilmember Knox White moved adoption of the resolution.\nCouncilmember Vella seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote:\nCouncilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: No; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor\nEzzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: 1.\nCONTINUED AGENDA ITEMS\nNone.\nREGULAR AGENDA ITEMS\n(22-115) Public Hearing to Consider Resolution No. 15868, \"Renaming Constitution Way to\nWilma Chan Way in Honor of Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan.\" Adopted.\nThe City Planner gave a brief presentation.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the $6,000 has been budgeted and the\nfunding source.\nThe City Planner responded part of the cost comes from the Planning, Building and\nTransportation fund for staff time; presented a chart of associated costs.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the budget for pavement and street markings\nincludes potholes.\nThe City Planner responded that he is unsure; stated staff understands the money will come out\nof the budgeted maintenance fund; sign replacement and street markings come out of the same\nfund; an outside contractor has already been selected to perform the work.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether staff has reached out to East Bay Municipal\nUtilities District (EBMUD).\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether EBMUD has a building on the street.\nThe City Planner responded in the affirmative; stated that he contacted EBMUD's real estate\ndivision to provide an opportunity to comment; he has not received a response; the City also\nsent a public notification.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n6", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 9, "text": "Supervisor Chan; Wilma has done a lot for the community and the renaming would mean a lot\nto her family; urged Council to support the resolution: Alameda County Supervisor Dave Brown.\nIn response to Councilmember Herrera Spencer's inquiry related to findings, the City Planner\nstated staff based the resolution findings on a previous proclamation; Council may supplement\nthe findings if desired.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated the matter is important and warrants waiving the three\nyear period; a prior Council waived the period for Ralph Appezzato; the resolution does not\ninclude that Wilma Chan was a long-time Alameda resident; expressed support for adding the\nlanguage into the resolution; stated Wilma Chan lived in Alameda for over 15 years.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the City had a renaming policy in place for the renaming\nof Ralph Appezzato Way.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n7", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 10, "text": "The City Planner responded in the affirmative; stated the first Council street name policy was\nadopted in 1991.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether an exception needed to be made for Ralph Appezzato\nWay.\nThe City Planner responded the three year waiting period was added in 2007; stated at the time\nof Ralph Appezzato's passing, the policy was much shorter, did not have many procedural\nrequirements and made no mention of procedure or process for significant public figures; shortly\nafter Ralph Appezzato's passing, the street renaming was brought to Council; staff is following a\nsimilar precedent for Wilma Chan.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer moved adoption of the resolution with adding that Wilma Chan\nwas a long-term resident of Alameda.\nVice Mayor Vella seconded the motion.\nUnder discussion, Councilmember Daysog stated that he had the opportunity of serving with\nSupervisor Chan on the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority; one of Supervisor\nChan's most impactful acts in 1995 was having Bay Conservation Development Commission\n(BCDC) lift the seaport designation; after Base closure, the priority use for Alameda Point would\nhave been for Port Authority purposes; Supervisor Chan led an extraordinary fight to lift the port\ndesignation and avoid having tractor-trailer trucks going through Alameda; the late Supervisor\nChan did many incredible things; lifting the port designation was one of the most pivotal\nmoments for the City of Alameda and Alameda Point; discussed the BCDC vote; expressed\nsupport for the resolution and considering alternate renaming, such as the Seaplane Lagoon\nand Waterfront Park; encouraged Council to think about other areas to commemorate the\nleadership of Wilma Chan; stated that he supports the renaming of Constitution Way.\nCouncilmember Knox White stated that he will abstain on the vote; the naming policy includes a\nthree year hold on renaming due to the feelings of those involved in the decision; stated the\nrenaming would be better if more time were provided; the current matter will be the first time for\nCouncil to ignore the policy; there is a petition from over 1,000 Alamedans requesting the\nrenaming of a park named after a racist Alameda Mayor; three sitting Councilmembers have\nrequested the matter be brought forth and instead, new policies have been developed; the\npolicies re-support the three year waiting period; no action on renaming the park has been\ntaken; he holds Supervisor Chan in the highest regard; Council must think about how to use\ndiscretionary action; he cannot make the finding that Council is in a place that necessitates\njumping the matter ahead of the line; he could not support renaming Constitution Way after\nWilma Chan given her impact on traffic; discussed a memorial service for someone killed on\nConstitution Way; Constitution Way is one of the City's most dangerous streets; expressed\nconcern about the rush to rename a street which is not appropriate given the circumstances;\nstated that he would like to ensure the renaming would be honoring the circumstances; he is not\nproclaiming that things should not be renamed after Wilma Chan; however, she and the\ncommunity are worthy of the respect the naming policy puts into place.\nVice Mayor Vella stated the City's policy is fairly new; there are exceptions to the policy and\nCouncil has a mechanism to make the decision; the circumstances were both tragic and\nunimaginable; the action is more than warranted due to Supervisor Chan's legacy, commitment\nand service to the community; the matter does not preclude the possibility of looking at other\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n8", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 11, "text": "ways of honoring Wilma Chan; Supervisor Chan has had an impact on many; discussed her\nexperience in asking Supervisor Chan for advice on college selections; stated Wilma Chan has\nbeen a role model for many; renaming is the right thing to do and she is glad Council is taking\naction; expressed condolences to the family.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she whole-heartedly supports the resolution; stated the request\ncomes directly from the family; it is important to honor the family's wishes; expressed support for\nadding residency information to the resolution; stated the information can be added to one of the\nlast paragraphs; provided highlights of the resolution; stated many lives have been saved due to\nlegislation Wilma Chan sponsored; it is fitting that Wilma Chan be honored; Council is looking at\nthe matter with hindsight; at the time of the naming policy, no one anticipated the tragedy would\noccur; Council did not leave room for an exception to the policy; stated that she is forming an ad\nhoc subcommittee of Councilmembers Daysog and Knox White to go over the naming policy\nand return to Council with any recommendations.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether Council has the authority to make an\nexception to the current policy.\nThe City Attorney responded in the affirmative; stated Council has wide discretion to deviate\nfrom the policy due to the policy being Council-adopted.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer expressed support for placing the addition of long-time\nresident in the second to last whereas.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated it should state: \"Whereas Supervisor Wilma Chan, a long-time\nresident of Alameda, faithfully served the residents of her district.'\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer expressed concern over any misunderstanding of the term\ndistrict.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the resolution states that Wilma Chan served on the Board of\nSupervisors and State Assembly; she thinks most people understand the terminology.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the resolution discusses which cities or how\nmany people fall under the District.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft responded in the negative; stated other districts are considering honoring\nWilma Chan; the resolution is specific to the City of Alameda.\nOn the call for the question, the motion carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers\nDaysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Abstain; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft:\nAye. Ayes: 4. Abstention: 1.\n***\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft called a recess at 8:43 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 9:00 p.m.\n(22-116) Recommendation to Review City Aquatic Center Conceptual Design Options and\nProvide Further Direction on Development of a City Aquatic Center.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n9", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 12, "text": "The Recreation and Parks Director gave a Power Point presentation.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the cost of a City-owned complex is estimated around $20 million;\ndebt service would be $1 million per year for 30 years; inquired whether the total cost would be\n$50 million, to which the Recreation and Parks Director responded the price would be $30\nmillion.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired the timeframe for the project.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded within two years would be preferred; stated staff\nwill move as quickly as possible.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the new pool would provide excess capacity\nor whether there is need for multiple swimming facilities.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded there is need for all three facilities; stated Emma\nHood is not appropriate for games and some kids practice until 9:30 p.m.; there is a lot of\nshifting at Alameda High School; adding year-round programs during a pandemic has yielded\n9,000 participants from the previous 800; the increase shows the community need.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the City facility would allow for games.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded in the affirmative; stated the facility would allow\nfor both games and meets for community organizations, as well as provide space for the School\nDistrict aquatics teams.\nCouncilmember Knox White inquired stated the Council and School Board subcommittee have\nbeen undertaking a process to identify preferred sites for a City aquatic center; inquired how\nEmma Hood ended up being the preferred location.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director stated one of the proposed top ranking sites had been to the\nleft of the O'Club; the area is close to utility lines and has parking; the area was not considered\ndue to the School District being a 50% partner; the School District had already re-built Encinal\nHigh School not long before; having two pools serving the School District on the West End did\nnot make sense; it would be more equitable to have one pool at each high school.\nCouncilmember Knox White inquired whether another option would be to have the aquatic\ncenter centrally located, to which the Recreation and Parks Director responded in the\naffirmative.\nIn response to Councilmember Herrera Spencer's inquiry, the Recreation and Parks Director\nstated the City started year-round programming in August of 2020.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the City would not contribute to the School District's\nrenovation of Emma Hood if the City chooses to pursue a City-owned site.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded in the affirmative; stated Council can decide to\nput funding towards both.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n10", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 13, "text": "Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she believes the School District can only ask for $7.5 million in\na bond; inquired what would happen if Emma Hood goes out of commission; questioned\nwhether more burden would be placed on existing pools.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded it would be incredibly challenging and difficult for\nthe aquatics community; stated there is potential for the School District to review numbers and\nfind that rebuilding Emma Hood is possible.\nStated Alameda needs a new pool; discussed his use of Emma Hood and Encinal High School\npools; stated there is a lack of pool space, practices run late and Emma Hood does not have\ncompetition standards; he is missing swim practice to comment; the pools in Alameda do not\nhave adequate space and safety is a concern: Owen DeCourcy, Alameda High.\nStated the issue relates to surface area; there is not enough area for a 50 meter pool;\nexpressed concern about parking at Emma Hood; stated Alameda deserves world class\namenities; urged Council to fund a pool for the community, meet the demand and be bold: Jim\nWheeler, Community Pool Task Force.\nStated that she has seen the issue of pool availability come to Council many times over the\nyears; many people have had to beg Council for funding and band aids to keep the existing\npools running; pools and sports are important to Alameda; urged Council to step up and commit\nto providing support by building an aquatic center: Linda Gilchrist, Alameda.\nStated that he is impressed with the current proposal; Alameda needs a new public aquatic\ncenter; discussed the Alameda Aquatic Masters members and activities; stated there is a strong\ninvestment in the community, aquatics facilities and programs; a new pool would support health\nand wellness; expressed support for Alameda being a top class City: Clifton Linton, Alameda\nAquatic Masters.\nStated the Alameda Gators Swim Club has a wait-list to join; more pools would allow more kids\nto be involved; discussed his family's experiences with aquatics in Alameda; stated swimming\nand water polo offer alternatives to other land sports; swimming provides a healthy lifestyle,\ndaily exercise and fitness, a social network and time management: Bryan Graham, Alameda\nGators Swim Club.\nStated Alameda needs to at least keep the current number of pools, or at best, add to the\nnumber; expressed support for having both Emma Hood and a new pool; stated the proposed\nspace barely covers the City's needs; Alameda can provide what other cities have provided;\nEmma Hood closing would be a loss for the community: Stephanie Lapachet, Alameda Aquatic\nMasters.\nUrged funding for the modernization of Emma Hood pool; stated the pool is old and does not\ncomply with current health and safety standards; the pool is in jeopardy of being shut down by\nthe Health Department unless necessary steps are taken to fix and resolve issues; closing\nEmma Hood will place strain on the Encinal pool; finding times to use the pools is challenging;\nswimmers are turned away each year from joining teams: Andrea Long, Alameda.\nStated swimming and water polo have been an important part of his life; closing Emma Hood\nwould be a huge loss to the aquatic programs in Alameda; expressed concern about practices\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n11", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 14, "text": "running late on school nights; stated a new pool would be beneficial to the Alameda aquatic\nprogram and make it easier for kids to get home at night: Zach Dortch, Alameda.\nStated that his goal is to get back to swimming and water polo and give back to the youth;\nprograms have been successful regardless of pool-related challenges; discussed his pride in\nsuccessful aquatic programs; stated that he hopes his kids have the opportunity to be involved\nin aquatic programs; a new swim center has the opportunity to affect more lives: Marshall\nDortch, Alameda High School, Neptune Water Polo Club and Alameda Gators.\nStated $7.5 million in School District funding would be part of an upcoming bond initiative that\nhas yet to be voted on; the commitment will have to come from the community during the\nelection; the $7.5 million will not be committed to until approved by voters; urged approval of the\nbest structure possible in a proper location: Ryan LaLonde, Alameda.\nStated that he is an avid swimmer; aquatics can have a great impact on people of all ages;\nexpressed concern about kids practicing late on school nights; stated Emma Hood is a wreck\nand is ready to be shut down; Encinal pool is too small to host aquatic events; Alameda needs\nmore surface area; new pools should not be put in at the expense of others; expressed support\nfor a new City-owned aquatic center; stated the City needs to work with the School District to\nensure Emma Hood is replaced; urged the City to provide free access to schools for large\ntournaments: Erich Stiger, Alameda.\nExpressed concern about people of color not feeling welcome in Alameda pools; urged great\nemphasis be put on ensuring that everyone feels welcome at Alameda pools; stated that he\nhopes there is no charge to swim at the pool facilities: Roger Slattery, Alameda.\nStated that she has seen all ages able to use the pools; access to pools is important; the pools\nhave daily use and wear and tear; damage restricts use of pools; repairs would allow more time\nand users in the pools; aquatics facilities are costly, yet important, to communities: Olivia Fry,\nAlameda High Swim Team and Alameda Gators.\nDiscussed inequity of closing a pool; stated a new pool is important to the female demographic;\nthe swimming program at Alameda High is one of the biggest programs; many females drop out\nof aquatic programs due to lack of access; urged Council to consider providing a new pool or\nhelping the School District: Erica Escalante, Alameda High Swim Team.\nStated there is a necessity for more pool space; many kids are stuffed into pools in order not to\nturn users away; more space would produce better athletes; it is disheartening to see so many\nyoung people being turned away; many core values come from participating in the Alameda\naquatics program: Donovan Chan, Alameda.\nExpressed support for replacing the Emma Hood pool as soon as possible; stated pool\navailability for the public falls well below what is available in many nearby cities; he drives to\nMoraga or Albany to lap swim due to the lack of lap swimming in Alameda; closing Emma Hood\nwithout replacement would create difficulties for those who wish to swim; members of the\ncommunity rely on swimming as their primary form of exercise; urged Council to take action:\nJimmy Song, Alameda.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n12", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 15, "text": "Expressed support for previous comments; stated aquatics in Alameda are extremely important;\nstated aquatics in Alameda increased during COVID-19; there are enough programs to support\nhaving a City-owned pool: Amelia McDonald, Alameda Masters, Alameda Gators and Jets.\nStated water sports have played an important part in her life since she was young; there have\nbeen instances of insufficient time for swim teams to successfully practice; many programs\nshare the pool at Alameda High School; expanded pool space is important and would make a\nhuge difference for all users; Alameda needs a safe pool and more space: Annabel Fiero,\nAlameda High Swim Team, Alameda Gators and Neptunes.\nUrged Council to revamp Emma Hood at a minimum; stated the pool is unusable for any serious\nuse; Franklin and Lincoln pools are a good stop gap measure for the Gators and other uses;\nhowever, the pools are not good for swim teams; the City must have a prime swimming facility;\nAlameda Point presents an opportunity with enough space; discussed the San Ramon Swim\nCenter; urged Council to implement a similar program in Alameda: Brendan Macaulay,\nAlameda.\nExpressed support for comments provided by Speaker Macaulay; stated that she is an avid lap\nswimmer; aquatic facilities help children learn how to swim and provide space for student\nathletes; redoing Emma Hood and providing an additional swim center site at Alameda Point\nwould be the best scenario; urged Council to consider looking at Alameda Point; stated\nswimming has kept her going through the pandemic: Julie Lyons, Alameda.\nExpressed support for more pools, the renovation of Emma Hood and placing a larger pool at\nAlameda Point; stated the natatorium looks great; expressed support for adding a rooftop caf\u00e9;\nstated that she would like better access to pools and free swim programs: Carmen Reid,\nAlameda.\nExpressed support for the City having a new pool and upgrading the current pool; stated that\nher children have benefitted from the pools in Alameda; however, upgrades are needed;\nexpressed concern about the fees and membership policies resulting in many Alamedans being\nexcluded from community pools; stated access to pools has been exclusionary: Iris Mitchell,\nAlameda.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft requested clarification on the direction to be provided by Council.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director stated staff is looking for direction about whether Council\nwould like staff to pursue a partnership with the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) or\nproceed with a City aquatics center; the concept for a City aquatics center is in the beginning\nstages and many steps will come before Council in terms of financing and design.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed support for both options; stated that she learned to swim at\nEmma Hood pool; questioned whether there is a way to include the matter in the upcoming\nbudget presentations; stated that she would like Council to think big; a City pool would be a\ncommunity investment; the School Board has not voted to place the bond measure on the ballot\nyet; stated the measure would still need to pass; Council must consider different scenarios,\nincluding the measure not passing.\nCouncilmember Knox White stated prior to the pandemic, Council discussed wholly funding the\nswim center project with AUSD; no decisions have been made; however, the City is not in the\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n13", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 16, "text": "place to step away from the commitment; expressed support for providing direction to work with\nAUSD to build and jointly operate the community-designed facility; stated the City can look at\nbuilding a smaller pool if there is a need for additional swim space; the City can provide half of\nthe funding to match AUSD's funds and build the original concept; another pool can be built at\nAlameda Point for $7.5 million to $12 million as an athletic and lap swim pool; Emma Hood's\nsite is good since it has the needed infrastructure; Alameda Point development will grow over\nthe next 20 to 30 years; large swim meets should occur in the downtown area in order to reduce\ndriving, traffic and climate impacts; expressed concern about building on the periphery of\nAlameda causing people to drive to the location.\nVice Mayor Vella stated that she learned to swim at Alameda pools; the City is celebrating the\nanniversary of Title 9 and Women in Sports Day; her days spent in the pool were formative;\nswimming is important to the community; AUSD has not yet taken action; expressed concern\nabout two contingencies of AUSD needing to vote to place the bond measure on the ballot and\nvoters passing the measure; stated that she would like to provide direction to staff to ensure the\ncontingencies are taken into account; if the bond measure does not pass and the City is unable\nto get the funds needed to keep Emma Hood open, the City needs to find a way to move\nforward with a plan to ensure that students have access to a pool; Emma Hood needs\nsubstantial repairs; expressed support for having a City aquatics center and expanding the pool\nsize to allow programs to grow; stated that she would like to hear recommendations for\naddressing the contingencies.\nIn response to Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry, the Recreation and Parks Director stated more\nthought needs to be put into the matter, including further discussion with AUSD; the City also\nneeds to work with County Health for an extension at Emma Hood; AUSD staff has been\nmeeting with County Health; City staff would like the opportunity to further participate in\ndiscussions; initial steps would be working with County Health on an extension.\nVice Mayor Vella stated the City is unsure what the bond measure would actually fund or\nwhether supplemental funding would be needed; inquired whether a partnership with the City\nwould be needed for continuing operations of Emma Hood.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded that she has not discussed the funding ongoing\noperations with AUSD; stated there is potential for a partnership and win-win situation if both the\nCity and AUSD rebuild Emma Hood and build a new City aquatics center; there is cross-over\nbetween the two; the City could still provide space for community and Recreation and Parks\nDepartment programs; there is potential for a continued joint-use agreement for operations with\nthe School District.\nVice Mayor Vella stated the matter also relates to timing; the City looking at a new aquatics\nfacility will take more time; inquired whether the City could find a way to keep Emma Hood open\nin the interim.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded in the affirmative; stated the City could develop a\nplan to do both and convince County Health to keep Emma Hood open while building the City\naquatics center; Emma Hood can be re-built once the aquatic center is open; expressed\nconcern over a scenario of only Encinal High School pool being open.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n14", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 17, "text": "Vice Mayor Vella stated the community will benefit from having a larger aquatic facility; other\ncommunities have large facilities and have found ways to utilize them for meets and other\nneeds.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director stated nearby cities of equal size have both school and city\naquatic centers, which are both are easily programmed; many nearby cities have two city pools;\nit has been proven that the facilities are needed by the community.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed concern over an extension with County Public Health; stated\nthe extension buys time; inquired the cost of the time bought related to health and safety\nimpacts and the status of the extension.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded the District indicated the original deadline of May\n2022 continues to be in place despite the pandemic; there are issues with the pool; she is\nconfident that the pool can hobble along for a couple of years with the correct maintenance.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the maintenance standards are from the City's side.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded in the negative; stated the District is responsible\nfor maintenance under the current joint use agreement.\nCouncilmember Daysog stated AUSD's pool concept costs roughly $15 million; AUSD is looking\nat seeking $7.5 million through a bond measure vote, with the possibility of the City matching\nthe funds; inquired whether the $15 million AUSD pool would fulfil the demand; stated the\nagreement between the City and AUSD potentially effects the City achieving its needs;\nrequested clarification about the City's programs not being significantly lowered and whether the\nCity may not be able to achieve the growth in demand.\nThe Recreation and Parks Department responded both; stated the $15 million is AUSD's high\nestimate to rebuild the existing pool with the same number of lanes; the rebuild will not expand\npool space; the existing amount of pool space is not enough for the current demand; local swim\nteams are having to turn people away; the Recreation and Parks Department programs are\nrescheduled or cancelled due to lack of space; athletic teams have grown, which is fantastic;\nhowever, there is not enough space to accommodate the growth of teams and community\nprograms; the addition of a City aquatics center would both provide the space needed for the\ncurrent demand and allow for anticipated growth.\nIn\nresponse to Councilmember Daysog's inquiry, the Recreation and Parks Director stated the\ncost without the natatorium is a rough estimate; staff can try to lower costs.\nCouncilmember Daysog inquired whether the $20 million would cover the renderings for design\non Emma Hood without the natatorium.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded in the affirmative; stated the cost will be similar\nfor a different location.\nCouncilmember Daysog stated $15 million will bring Emma Hood up to code; however, the cost\nwill not necessarily address the larger issue of the increase in overall demand and the need for\nthe City to provide services; the City can build a $20 million aquatic center, which could address\nboth Emma Hood being brought to code as well as providing the need for more space.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n15", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 18, "text": "The Recreation and Parks Director stated if the City build the aquatic center at the Emma Hood\nsite, the capacity would be increased to an extent; however, the capacity would not increase as\nmuch as if Emma Hood were rebuilt and another aquatic center was built.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer discussed previous problems with Emma Hood pool during\nher time on the School Board; stated the issue has been present for a long time; the County has\nstated Emma Hood would be shut down for multiple reasons over the years; Alameda does not\nhave sufficient pool capacity for all users; the current amount of pool users is significantly higher\nthan it was previously; inquired whether the property under Emma Hood belongs to AUSD.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded in the affirmative.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated a City pool should be placed on City property; Emma\nHood is AUSD's pool; the City helps provide funding for use based on the City's access and\nuse; use has been limited due to the location being at a school.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director stated the City has to be careful in allowing non-students on\ncampus during the day; Emma Hood is allowed to run daytime programs due to the separation\nfrom the school; Encinal High School pool is working on potential solutions; however, daytime,\nnon-school programs are not available on-campus.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated the City needs its own pool on City land; the pool\nneeds to meet the needs of the City; AUSD can retain their pools; however, it is important to\nseparate AUSD property and funding; AUSD should lead the future of Emma Hood pool and the\nCity should lead a City pool site; the City would end up with more surface area, which is critical;\nmany swimmers travel and compete all over the area; inquired the cost difference of building the\nnatatorium versus an outdoor pool.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded the difference is significant; stated the base price\nis about $7 million to $8 million, plus an additional $14 million; the project is increased from\nabout $20 million to $34 million.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated the City should be looking at as much surface area as\nfiscally possible for the community; it is more important to have swim capacity; other pools in the\nCity are not covered; uncovered pools have been a lifesaver during COVID-19; she would like to\npursue an uncovered City pool; expressed support for looking at public amenities for a pool at\nAlameda Point; stated the pool can be considered a public amenity, which can receive some\nfunding; the City could potentially use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the\nproject; it is important to continue to keep Emma Hood pool open and operating; the City should\nfigure out how to fiscally cover all options, including keeping Emma Hood open as AUSD's pool;\nthe City can contribute to Emma Hood.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated Council needs to provide direction to staff; expressed support for\nclarifying how the budget process ties into the matter; stated not all of Council is of a like-mind;\nshe is hearing interest for finding a way for the City to help with the renovation of Emma Hood\nas well as look at building a new City aquatic center; the aquatic center presented looks great;\nshe would like to have staff come back to Council with various ways of funding the options\npresented.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n16", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 19, "text": "The City Manager stated the mid-year budget is tentatively scheduled for March 1; there is likely\nnot enough time to bring the current matter forth at the same time; the mid-cycle budget is\nbeginning to be scheduled for May; staff can perform analysis and bring back options for\nCouncil under the mid-cycle agenda; Council can look at the matter as part of a revenue\nmeasure.\nCouncilmember Knox White stated the School District has spent a lot of money on pools that\nteams and the community have used; the City has been looking at ways of stepping in to take\non operational costs related to pools and allow AUSD to spend money on educating students;\nquestioned the importance of doing something in conjunction with the District; stated Council\ncan ask for options which look at how to get to both results; he has heard consensus around the\nschool issues; Council's actions might help provide AUSD with guidance.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft concurred with Councilmember Knox White; stated the School Board will\nconsider the bond measure in the coming week.\nCouncilmember Daysog stated that he is interested in the path with less moving parts; the first\ntask is to work with AUSD on Emma Hood; the City cannot place a pool at Emma Hood that\ndoes not increase pool lanes; if the City builds an aquatic center, the center should be built at\nthe Emma Hood site; a City aquatic center on City land would be ideal; the stance would send a\nmessage in terms of a bond measure; it is ideal for a City pool to be centrally located; discussed\nproviding a pool under the current arrangements; stated the City might be able to make\nsacrifices and achieve a larger aquatic center in the middle of Alameda.\nVice Mayor Vella stated an aquatic center will not be built in a short time; the project will be\nyears out; expressed support for placing a pool at Alameda Point; facilities are needed on the\nWest End; she is not fixated on having the aquatic center located in the middle of Alameda; the\nSchool Board is deciding about the bond measure; athletics and access to recreation has a\nhuge impact on mental health; keeping Emma Hood open is the right thing to do; requested\nclarification about the timing of the School Board vote.\n(22-117) Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft announced a vote is needed to hear new items after 11:00 p.m.;\nstated Council can finish the current matter and hear the Franklin and Lincoln Park Pools matter\n[paragraph no. 22-119]; the Senate Bill (SB) 9 [paragraph no. 22-120 could be continued to the\nnext meeting.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer expressed concern over starting the Franklin and Lincoln Park\npools matter and hearing public comments at the late hour.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated many people have waited this long to comment; expressed support\nfor moving ahead; stated there should be less public comment.\nCouncilmember Knox White stated that he will need to recuse himself on the Franklin and\nLincoln pools; expressed support for allowing public comment and continuing the Council\ndiscussion to a later date.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft concurred with Councilmember Knox White; expressed support for the\nmeeting continuing until 11:30 p.m. and for dismissing any staff related to SB 9; inquired\nwhether the SB 9 matter is time-sensitive, to which the City Clerk responded in the negative.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n17", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 20, "text": "Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed support for finishing the current matter, continuing the SB 9\nmatter, hearing public comment on the Franklin and Lincoln Park pools, followed by any Council\nreferrals prior to 11:30 p.m.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired the amount of public comment for the park pools\nmatter; expressed concern over the timing.\nThe City Clerk responded 13 speakers have indicated that they wish to speak; stated the\namount is increasing.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft moved approval of finishing the current matter, followed by the Franklin\nand Lincoln Park pools matter for public comment only, and followed by any Council referrals\nheard prior to 11:30 p.m.\nVice Mayor Vella seconded the motion.\nUnder discussion, Councilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the meeting will continue\nif public comments continue past 11:30 p.m.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft responded Council will finish hearing public comments.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer noted the meeting could continue past 11:30 p.m.\nOn the call for the question, the motion failed by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers\nDaysog: No; Herrera Spencer: No; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye.\nAyes: 3. Noes: 2.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer moved approval of completing the current matter only; noted\nthe Franklin and Lincoln Park pools matter should be placed first under Continued Items,\nSection 6, of the next agenda, followed by the SB 9 matter.\nCouncilmember Daysog seconded the motion.\nUnder discussion, Councilmember Knox White stated that he feels bad for the people who have\nwaited until 10:50 p.m. to be told that Council does not want to continue for an extra 45 minutes\nto hear comments.\nCouncilmember Daysog stated that he supports the motion because the public comments\nshould occur at the same time as Council deliberation; expressed concern for those that have\nwaited; stated the public is better served in having one uniform meeting.\nVice Mayor Vella inquired whether the concern is related to hearing both the public comment\nand Council deliberation.\nVice Mayor Vella made a substitute motion approving continuing the meeting to hear the\nFranklin and Lincoln Park pools matter in its entirety.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n18", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 21, "text": "Councilmember Daysog inquired how the substitute motion differs from the motion proposed by\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer.\nVice Mayor Vella responded that her substitute motion approves hearing the next matter\nentirely.\nCouncilmember Daysog seconded the substitute motion.\nOn the call for the question, the substitute motion carried by the following roll call vote:\nCouncilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor\nEzzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated a motion is needed to continue the SB 9 hearing to the\ncontinued section of the March 1st meeting.\n(22-118) Vice Mayor Vella moved approval of continuing the SB 9 matter to the Continued\nAgenda Items Section 6 of the March 1st agenda.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer, seconded the motion which carried by the following roll call\nvote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5.\nIn response to Vice Mayor Vella's request, the Recreation and Parks Director stated whether or\nnot AUSD funding will allow for the project to be placed on a list for a bond measure and\nwhether or not the bond will pass are unknown; recommended working with AUSD staff to\nfurther refine the $15 million cost and propose AUSD work with its architect to see whether the\nproject could happen sooner if the City provides matching funds; stated that she has not\nconsidered the ballot measure not passing; however, if so, City staff will need to look into a full\nCity aquatic center at either the Emma Hood site or an alternative to allow for higher\nparticipation; City staff can work with County Health to extend the closure date; there has been\ninterest indicated for a City pool to be placed on City-land; staff can connect with design-build\nfirms and review recent projects to gain a sense of whether $15 million is a realistic budget; her\ngoal is to review whether the City can perform both the assistance for AUSD's repair of Emma\nHood and a City aquatic center for a cost of around $20 million.\nThe City Manager concurred with the Recreation and Parks Director.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether staff will be including information related to the matter in\nthe upcoming budget workshops in addition to considering other revenue measures.\nThe City Manager responded in the affirmative; stated the information will be included in the\nbudget workshop for the mid-cycle report in May.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer expressed concern about Emma Hood pool not having\nenough capacity and the City ending up with a pool on AUSD property instead of a City aquatic\ncenter; stated AUSD needs to come up with the least expensive way of getting the capacity; the\nCity needs to come up with a plan that provides more occupancy; many cities have City pools;\nshe has a problem with focusing on a City pool located on AUSD property; expressed support\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n19", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 22, "text": "for AUSD leading for Emma Hood and the City leading for a City aquatic center; stated the City\ncannot afford to maintain two pools long-term.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she is excited to see information returns.\nCouncilmember Knox White expressed support for a lane and use analysis being provided\nwhen the matter comes back; stated there is confusion about the original scheme not increasing\nthe number of lanes and water space versus rebuilding Emma Hood; expressed concern about\nthe community paying two separate entities to build two separate pools, or the City building its\nown City pool leaving Emma Hood to crash and burn or the City not building a City pool and not\nhaving the needed capacity; stated the calculus information should be included to ensure that\nthere is no City versus AUSD scenario which hurts the City.\n(22-119) Recommendation to Provide Direction on the Operation and Management of the\nFranklin Park and Lincoln Park Pools.\nCouncilmember Knox White announced that he would recuse himself and left the meeting.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft called a recess at 11:02 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 11:18 p.m.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director gave a brief presentation.\nStated that she and her children have been swimming in Alameda as a key holder; she\nappreciates her children being able to swim every weekend; she has become a better swimmer\nduring the pandemic; expressed support for more equity around the kindergarten times: Jacky\nHayward, Alameda Swimming Pool Association (ASPA).\nUrged Council pause negotiations with ASPA in order to solicit public input; stated residents\nhave a vested interest in the outcome of negotiations based on the potential closure of Emma\nHood; accessing public pools is a matter of equity; discussed membership requirements for\nprivate pools; stated it is immoral to hoard limited pool space when the demand has increased;\ndiscussed the history of private pools and the link to racism: Neveen Acero, Alameda.\nDiscussed accessibility of the pools; stated the annual membership fee is cheaper than most\ngyms; membership discount programs exist; ASPA is a volunteer organization that has worked\nsuccessfully for years; the current effort is a solution in search of a problem; the City can\nsubsidize memberships: Brendan Macaulay, ASPA.\nDiscussed her experience with ASPA being positive; stated that she has been a key holder, has\npassed the lifeguard test and is disabled; the ability to swim is essential to well-being; the\nconcerns related to lifeguarding are valid; working solutions can happen; urged Council\nnegotiate the lease with ASPA: Julie Lyons, ASPA.\nUrged Council to think big and do the right thing; stated ASPA has done an exemplary job of\nrunning the pools; anyone can join by completing an application form; expressed concern about\nreasons being created to cause difficulty for ASPA to operate; stated there is desire to keep\nFranklin and Lincoln Park pools open; urged Council be part of the solution sought: John\nZenner, Alameda ASPA.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n20", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 23, "text": "Discussed her use of the pools; expressed support for drop-in swim lessons; stated changes\nmight be needed; urged Council to take the matter slowly and work with membership to ensure\nchanges can be implemented over time; expressed concern about the pool being closed for the\nsummer due to changes: Katherine Van Dusen, Alameda ASPA.\nStated that he sees demographic diversity at the pools regularly; Lincoln Park pool could benefit\nfrom signage; questioned why Council cannot grant a longer lease for ASPA; discussed fair rate\nstructure plans; stated that he has not seen the City publicize the existing swim facilities;\nexpressed support for ASPA managing the facilities: Jim Strehlow, Alameda.\nUrged Council to consider equity, accessibility and the need for community input; stated the City\nhas made efforts to seek community input on other park features; expressed support for the\nopportunity of a large scale community swimming pool, but the resource will not be accessible\nfor years; stated the lease with ASPA represents an immediate opportunity to increase access:\nMaia Werner-Avidon, Alameda.\nUrged Council to renew the lease with ASPA; stated the pools operate differently than others;\nASPA offers unstructured weekend time and drop-in swim classes; other pools do not have the\ncapacity for swim lessons; ASPA could do a better job of making information available regarding\npool operations and signage could be improved; ASPA is a community resource: Mary Matella,\nASPA.\nStated ASPA has allowed generations to be water-safe; members thrive in the current ASPA\nenvironment; discussed the buildings and facilities; stated maintenance of the facilities is largely\nperformed by volunteers; the levels of volunteering are not barriers to membership; ASPA\nfacilities are vital; urged Council to secure an exception to the Surplus Lands Act, renegotiate\nthe lease and use the resources of the City: Betsy Mathieson, ASPA.\nUrged Council not to continue negotiating with ASPA and direct staff to explore alternatives for\nthe management of the Franklin and Lincoln Park pools; stated the time has come to start a new\nchapter; the model for the pools results in private, exclusive memberships inside public parks;\nthere are issues of safety, compliance and access; urged Council end the lease with ASPA:\nKristan LaVietes, Alameda.\nStated that he is an avid swimmer; expressed support for the options to swim in Alameda;\nstated ASPA needs to be preserved as an important option; ASPA must continue to expand and\nimprove; discussed the private pool being on City land; the pool is a co-op; the cost of\nmembership is cheaper than most drop-in services: Erich Stiger, Alameda.\nStated the Franklin and Lincoln Park pools are a special part of the community; the pools\nprovide important life-saving skills; membership costs are reasonable; the pools have been\nmanaged by volunteer members; urged Council to continue allowing ASPA to manage the\npools; stated volunteer hours are a great way to be inclusive and build community: Carmen\nReid, Alameda.\nStated the community is rich and can pay for access to pools; urged people consider the\ndifferences in income; stated access to pools is not free or nominal for those who cannot afford\nmembership: Roger Slattery, Alameda.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n21", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 24, "text": "Urged Council pause the negotiations and reconsider the equity argument that many have\nmade; stated the practice of pool memberships is not inclusive or accessible; expressed support\nfor the use of the pools and volunteerism; stated the pools should be open to everyone or shut\ndown: Seth Marbin, Alameda.\nStated that he is a loyal ASPA member; ASPA needs guidance in the pursuit of safety and\nmembership; ASPA is a great model; more equity and access needs to be addressed;\nexpressed support for the City holding quarterly meetings to provide information to members\nand allow for questions: Marshall Dortch, ASPA and Alameda Gators.\nStated in response to the concerns for safety, ASPA has insurance; ASPA has remained\ninsurable; discussed lifeguard qualifications; stated there is room for improvement in the\ncourses; expressed support for the pools continuing with improved operations: Randall Miller,\nASPA.\nProvided a reading excerpt from \"The Sum of Us:\" Morgan Bellinger, Alameda.\nUrged Council to renew the lease with ASPA; stated the City can do a better job of advertising\navailable pools to the public; discussed access differences between ASPA and other Alameda\npools; stated the membership fees are economical for families; expressed support for\nscholarship funds to make memberships affordable: Therese Hall, Alameda.\nStated more needs to be done to ensure swimming is more accessible for all; expressed\nsupport for the City being a partner with ASPA; stated ASPA is a co-op and is open and\naccessible; the City can help with advertising; urged the City to partner with ASPA; stated the\nhours are focused on youth swimming: Pam Luo, ASPA.\nVice Mayor Vella stated there are equity issues with the matter; discussed her previous use of\nthe pools; noted the ASPA website and pool site has little information posted; expressed\nconcern about the access to the pools being during defined and limited periods of time; stated it\nis odd to discuss membership on a public resource; expressed concern about safety aspects\nand little City oversight; expressed support for finding ways to expand public access, for clear\ninformation being available and for moving away from the membership model; stated that she\nappreciates the volunteerism and co-op process; questioned whether there is a reason the City\ncannot move forward with the same sentiment in opening up the pools to all; stated there is an\nequity issue with membership and accessibility; she would like to see the pools expanded and\nopened up to the neighborhood without a membership for access.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated staff is recommending Council provide the authority to negotiate a\nshort-term lease as opposed to entering into an operating agreement; more access to pools and\nswimming is needed; expressed support a creative and flexible approach to the matter; stated a\nfew items are non-negotiable, including lifeguards; questioned the amount of lifeguards needed;\nstated pools are required to have insurance; State law requires trained, certified lifeguards be\non site; lifeguards should be included as a term of the lease; questioned the consequences of\nlease terms not being met; stated there are short-comings and safety must be first; expressed\nsupport for an automated, online registration system; stated automated systems are a way to\nensure the pool is being used to its maximum capacity; discussed costs being a barrier to\naccess; stated many people do not have the $400 membership fee saved; questioned whether\nthere is a way for membership not to be paid in a lump sum; and whether the pool can be made\navailable for people that wish to swim on a one-time or drop-in basis; stated the age\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n22", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 25, "text": "requirement for youth access to the pool unattended should be increased; there are ways to do\nmore with the pool; the City can come up with a model which utilizes the pool resource; the City\ncan work with ASPA to get the word out about the pools.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director stated the 8-year age limit for youths to be allowed in the\npool unattended is being reviewed; the Board has agreed to increase the age requirement to 13\nin concept.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated that her children used the pools for free for multiple\nsummers; noted that she could not get free swim lessons anywhere else in the City; the City\ndoes not offer free swim lessons for seniors or children; inquired the cost of City swim lessons.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director responded that she does not have the exact cost for\nlessons; stated the City does not offer free lessons; however, scholarships are available for\nthose that qualify and apply.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated many renters do not qualify for scholarships.\nThe Recreation and Parks Director stated the lessons cost $10 per class.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated the City has been lucky to have the ASPA pools and\nvolunteers; the volunteers have found ways to serve children, seniors and people with\ndisabilities; further stated that she never paid for membership at ASPA pools; there are free\noptions for youth and seniors; expressed support for the returning report to show what ASPA\noffers for free; stated that she supports ASPA; many families utilize ASPA pools; she\nappreciates the volunteers help in providing accessibility to pools; the volunteer time put into the\npools is important; tiny tot swimming lessons range from $50 to $100; ASPA has been equitable\nin serving the community; questioned who pays for the operation and maintenance of the ASPA\npools; stated it is not appropriate to continue to ask people to volunteer; expressed concern\nabout increasing volunteer work; stated the pools likely would have been closed long ago if\noperated by the City; pools are expensive to maintain; the City has been fortunate to have\ncommunity members working on the pools; ASPA is the most equitable pool available in\nAlameda; City swim programs are expensive; discussed the history of racism related to pool\nmemberships; stated that she has seen people of color use the pool over the years;\ncommended the community for providing free swimming lessons over the years for many\nchildren, including her own; stated ASPA is the only opportunity for free swim lessons; many\nchildren do not qualify for swimming scholarships and cannot afford to pay; requested the legal\nrequirements to have lifeguards present at pools be presented when the matter returns.\nThe City Attorney stated staff can provide information to Council.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated that she would like the information made available to\nthe community in advance of the meeting.\nThe City Attorney stated staff is happy to follow the direction of Council.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer inquired whether the City must have lifeguards to operate the\npools.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n23", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 26, "text": "The City Attorney responded staff can look into the requirements and provide response in\nwriting; stated staff's position has been explained by the Recreation and Parks Director.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated parents have to be present with children for kindergarten swim; the\nhours are not always accessible for working parents; expressed support for staff returning with\ndifferent options; stated the City has many good resources and should get more people\ninvolved.\nCouncilmember Daysog stated that he learned to swim at the Encinal High School pool;\nswimming pools are a vital part of the social fabric; ASPA has been around for decades and has\nprovided good work; discussed the desire for community pools starting in the 1930s and 1940s;\nstated the ASPA pool project was in the late 1940s to early 1950s; discussed racist histories\nrelated to pools; stated pools have provided an incredible service; good service should be\nrewarded; encouraged staff to work with ASPA to understand constraints; stated ASPA has\noperated for many years and understands what works best; expressed support for modifying\nareas which need collaboration, including the swimming times and parents being present; stated\nthe City should work with ASPA within the current system to ensure vital services are provided;\nthe City can show flexibility in the lifeguard matter and meet ASPA halfway; the fee system in\nplace for ASPA should be discussed; expressed concern over stopping negotiations; stated the\npartnership should continue.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed concern about the City showing flexibility on the lifeguard\nmatter; stated staff should return with more specifics on the topic.\nVice Mayor Vella stated the City must do its utmost to ensure that the minimum requirements\nare upheld and that a safe environment exists; she would like staff to return with the proposals\npresented in the staff report; expressed support for opening the matter up to include expanding\nthe days and hours of access; stated pool information needs to be presented better and be\nmore accessible on the ASPA website; expressed support for weekend hours being open to the\npublic; noted only members are able access the pools on the weekend; stated that she likes the\nidea of an electronic system and the proposal of City approval of policies and procedures;\nexpressed support for public access on weekends, including drop-in options for all lessons;\nstated the City does not offer enough swim lessons and many lessons fill up quickly; she would\nlike the ASPA lessons and free swim expanded; she supports an online advance reservation\nsystem; the system would allow the City to track and better understand the demand and\ninterest; expressed support for highlighting the ASPA pools information on the City website;\nstated that she would like to see better signage.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer expressed support for ASPA volunteer options being\npresented.\nCouncilmember Daysog stated that he would like to ensure staff maintains the intention of\nkeeping ASPA as the provider for the pools; the City should allow flexibility on ASPA matters;\ngood work should be rewarded; ASPA has provided fabulous work for the community; the City\nshould work with ASPA and allow ASPA leadership to continue; Alameda is special in having a\nvolunteer organization; it is possible that the City needs to work on improving its swim programs\ncosts; the City should look at the matter holistically and find improvements for both.\nMayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the Recreation and Parks Director provided extensive work related\nto fee increases; inquired whether additional direction is sought from staff.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nFebruary 15, 2022\n24", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2022-02-15", "page": 27, "text": "The Recreation and Parks Director responded that she has enough information to proceed;\nstated staff will continue to meet with the ASPA Board of Directors.\nCouncilmember Herrera Spencer stated it is critical that the City work with ASPA and have\nASPA be the leader in the matter.\n(22-120) Public Hearing to Consider Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Alameda Municipal\nCode Chapter XXX to Implement Senate Bill 9 Regarding Two-Unit Housing Developments and\nUrban Lot Splits in Single-Family Residential Zones. Continued to March 1, 2022.\nCITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS\nNot heard.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA\nNot heard.\nCOUNCIL REFERRALS\n(22-121) Consider Having the City Council Address the Zoning of the Harbor Bay Club.\n(Councilmember Herrera Spencer) Not heard.\n(22-122) Consider Having the City Council Review Recreation and Parks Department\nCommunity Events. (Councilmember Herrera Spencer) Not heard.\n(22-123) Consider Directing Staff to Bring the Rent Program \"In-House\" to the City Attorney's\nOffice. (Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft and Vice Mayor Vella) Not heard.\nCOUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS\nNot heard.\nADJOURNMENT\nThere being no further business, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 12:44 a.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\nFebruary 15, 2022\n25", "path": "CityCouncil/2022-02-15.pdf"}