pages: CityCouncil/2021-02-02.pdf, 17
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CityCouncil | 2021-02-02 | 17 | Mr. McDougall stated HCD will work to respect any request as soon as possible; that he would emphasize timing; stated earlier is better. Vice Mayor Vella moved approval of directing staff to get guidance from the State as soon as possible. Councilmember Knox White seconded the motion. Under discussion, Councilmember Herrera Spencer expressed concern about the safety of Alamedans; stated the concerns are legitimate; the City has a population of 80,000 with other building going on; questioned getting another bridge or way off the Island and how to ensure residents can get on and off the Island in an emergency; Alameda is between two fault zones; constituents have concerns; she questions how to address said concerns; expressed concern about building more market rate housing; stated that she prefers workforce and affordable housing; adding more market rate housing adds to gentrification; expressed support for help in understanding how to accomplish the tasks in a balanced way; stated the State has not addressed the issue. Mr. McDougall stated there are many challenges; it is not easy to balance objectives; the State relies on cities as being best suited to make decisions and help the community navigate through objectives. The Planning, Building and Transportation Director stated the process is 18 to 24 months and will require a lot of community conversation, discussion and education; noted that he has heard the question posed about rushing off the Island in the event of emergency; questioned the scenario needed for evacuation; stated the Island is vulnerable to risks and major disasters; there is an issue about how to get emergency personnel and supplies onto the Island; the event of a tsunami, even as a low risk situation, is to evacuate toward the center of the Island, not toward the water; the event of a massive earthquake does not yield evacuating to Oakland; building another bridge is not the solution to Island living and will not help concerns about the traffic situation; neither the State nor the region will fund a bridge for the City; every city has problems and constraints that have been acknowledged but cannot be used an excuse for not dealing with the Statewide housing issue; the City must figure out how to deal with recovery after major disaster and the housing crisis simultaneously. Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated market rate housing is being built and will not address the problem of the unsheltered. The Planning, Building and Transportation Director stated market rate developers build housing; people pay very little in taxes to build affordable housing; cities are relying on the private sector, which relies on a profit to build housing; once society is ready to fund housing for everyone through taxes and pocketbooks, the dynamic can change; for now, private investors are building the vast majority of housing in California. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the legislature is running out of patience for cities throwing Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 12 February 2, 2021 | CityCouncil/2021-02-02.pdf |