Public Hearing to Consider Accepting: 1) an Annual Report on the Status of the General Plan and Housing Element, 2) an Annual Report on the Status of the Transportation Choices Plan and Associated Work Program Priorities, and 3) an Annual Report for the West Alameda Transportation Management Association (TMA).  Consideration of an Annual Report is Exempt from Review Under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the General Rule that CEQA only Applies to Actions that have the Potential to Cause a Significant Impact on the Environment. (Planning, Building and Transportation 481005) [Not heard March 17, 2020]
So I am good. Thank you for having me back. Um, I'm going to be. I'm going to do this very quickly and just make myself available to answer questions. This is an annual report on the general plan, the and the housing element and our transportation planning efforts. So I'm just going to hit some highlights. I'm available to answer any questions. This is sort of that annual opportunity to kind of take, you know, take stock of where we're at and think about where we want to go. It's been an unusual 12 months. Ten months. The first ten were very normal. They're working on all the things we've been talking about working on. And then the last two months, everything sort of changed, particularly from a transportation perspective. But before we get there, let's just talk about the general plan. I think the council is well aware we have been working on our general plan update for the city of Alameda. Many of those elements of the plan have not been updated comprehensively since 1990, so it was time. So we've been posting the new elements on the city website. We will. We have them all up. We're just about to post the final one, which is the update of the transportation element. So if anybody is interested, go to the city website. We're going to be working with the planning board to start forums on that at late spring or early summer. So that is going to be exciting. What it really does is it talks about the need for change in planning for change over the next 20 years. We're in a changing region. Climate change is a big theme throughout the plan, improving mobility and transportation options and of course, dealing with our housing opportunities in our housing needs. We that is not an issue that we see going away over the next 20 years. So we have to plan for that. And this provides us a an opportunity to really think about this from a city wide perspective before diving into the housing element update in the next year or so. Obviously preserving neighborhoods and our business districts is a big push. And I'm pleased to say that any new general plan update that we've posted really I think, puts a much bigger stress on economic development, the need of our business community. And then along comes COVID, and it sort of really emphasizes that. So I think in that respect, we have a very good first draft up, but at this point, the council should probably just sit back and watch as the community tells us what they think. First housing element. We're working our way through this housing element period. Every year we have to report to the state how we're doing. 2019, which is the reporting year, was a good year for Alameda. We issued building permits for over 600 housing units. We are more than halfway through our eight year period council. As the Council knows, our regional housing need for this eight year period is about 1700 housing units. About the need is that about 100,000 of those are for lower income households. So obviously that's about 66%. I mean, that's a huge portion and a big, big hurdle to climb or get over. The good news is we're on track to meeting our regional housing needs in terms of numbers. If we keep on track, we will by the end of the period in 20 2021, 2022, we should have built our 1725 units. A big part of that is because a couple of big projects got started in 2019, and we can continue to work through codes that are still under construction today. The boat works or excuse me, the Del Monte Project, Alameda Marina Project inside a phase one. So those are the big three. And then of course, we recently re-approved the Boat Works Project, so we've got our fingers crossed that that will actually start to break ground in the next couple of years. Of course, the two big challenges around housing element. Like every city in the Bay Area, we're struggling to get enough affordable housing that we still have a very real housing crisis, affordable housing crisis here in Alameda. We're doing a good job building affordable housing, but it's just not enough. And this summer, we should be getting the revised schedules for the next regional housing need. The region should be getting its. Bur this summer we probably won't have ours till the following January, but it's going to be very we're going to learn a lot when we see the regions number and that will help us forecast what our number will be. So that's what we're looking at in terms of housing element, transportation plan update. First ten months, we were just plowing along, doing great. Alameda The active transportation planning effort. The council was taking a real leadership role and very active role, pushing us on things like Vision Zero and our Vision Zero policies. Are you just recently approved lane width policy? So we were we were chugging along COVID 19, then showed up and things all of a sudden shifted. The good news is we've been able to continue working with our consultants and staff, you know, just remotely. So we're still working on those plans. But some of the things we've also started to think about and work on, of course, the Slow Streets program, which is just one week old now, we've been have we have a survey out 75% of the people responding to the survey gave it a big thumbs up. So, you know, lots of suggestions about how it should be expanded, changed, improved. So that'll be that's taken on sort of a life of its own. We're also working with Park Street and Webster Street, looking at their proposals to try to create some more space for for the business community by reducing the number of travel lanes on Park and Webster Street. So these are two things that are we're actively working on right now in transportation, which, you know, if you had asked about this just six months ago, we're like, no, no, we're not. That's crazy. We're not thinking of working on those kinds of things, but now we are. So the transportation group and this is the transportation planning staff and the public works staff really working together. Our public work staff has been doing a great job helping us work through these issues. There's a couple of last things I just wanted to point out on transportation. You've all seen the projections and not the projections. The reality of what has happened to transit ridership in the last two months is, you know, a transit we just have gone down to, you know, 10% of their normal ridership. So all these services to all our transit services, nobody's riding them. We have done a couple of things in response to that, which I would have never have been anticipated three months ago. But with what we are doing right now is we've suspended the supplemental fees for the line 19 because all of a sudden AC transit stopped running them. So we are not funding the supplemental transit service for the line 19 right now because they're just able to provide basically a Sunday service. So we we've put a halt to the supplemental service for line 19. We were planning on funding supplemental service for line 96 starting in August. But that doesn't make sense right now. We don't want to pay money for a service that nobody is riding. So what we've talked to AC Transit about is just slowing that down. And instead of making the decision today to have that supplemental bus service funded in August, we've delayed it for six months. So the go no go day will be December of this year to decide whether we want to fund the supplemental service starting in March of next year. We're also actively talking and meeting with Leda on a weekly basis to talk about their return to normal and their plan. As you all know, we do not have our regular ferry service from Harbor Bay and Main Street today like we did just a month or so ago. So how we do turns on service in Alameda and what rates and which terminals get turned on when is is a conversation that we are actively involved in with them right now. Frankly, this this two months has given us an opportunity, all of us with also our TMA and our looking at our, our, our TMA and what we do for TDM and our TDM requirements on new projects. It's giving us an opportunity to kind of rethink all of that. We may end up rethinking it and come back with the exact same game plan that we had before COVID. But this it's there's lots of interesting questions about how does transit recover, how many people continue to work from home, not just city staff, but just general, you know, people who normally were commuting five days a week while they still commute five days a week. In the future. I know leaders thinking there is going to be a lot more demand for mid-day service because people won't be working half days and working from home half day. So everything is changing. And we're really it's going to be an interesting six months ahead of us as we help the community plan for recovery, but also as we work with our transit agency partners and decide how best we can help them with our resources. Because we do have resources that the Council has put in place through private development impact fees and annual assessments. So we have resources. The interesting question is how do we best use them as we move forward? And it may not be the same way we're thinking six months ago, it might be different. So with that, I will wrap up my presentation. I'm available to answer questions on any of these issues. And thank you. Thank you. And I just before we start with the council clarifying questions and then go to public comment. I just want members of the public who are watching this presentation to know that Andrew Thomas is a longtime valued member of this staff. And right now, in addition to everything he's doing, leading the planning, building and Transportation Department, he also has a pivotal role at our emergency operations center and I believe is one of the team of city staff who are planning the transition back to whatever the new normal looks like. So thank you for all the hats you wear so well, Mr. Thomas. And with that, let's do it, madam. Quick. Do we have public comment on this item? We have one speaker. Okay, well, we will take any clarifying questions about the staff report, and then we'll hear our public speaker and we'll come back to discussion and wrap up. Councilmember Odie. Thanks. That one really brief question. I noticed Roseville Village was listed there as counting towards our housing elements. Are those 80 replacing and is there a replacing? Are we allowed to do that? Because we're not really adding? Yeah, I hope it does, is that the project is an expansion of Roseville Village. I don't remember the exact numbers off the top of my head. I have it right in my fingertips. But you're right. We don't get credit for the existing units, just the new units. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any more clarifying questions before we take our public comment? Okay. We'll be back. Madam Clerk. Public comment. The. This is from Ruth Abby from community the action for sustainable Alameda. Mayor Ashcroft, members of the city council, thank you for your leadership and support of the transportation initiatives that keep our pedestrians and bicyclists safe and provide alternatives for Alameda to get out of their cars and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Community Action for Sustainable Alameda is pleased to be a partner with the city in the Line 19 BART Shuttle Outreach Project and we look forward to continuing to support the development of the active transportation plan. Special thanks to transportation staff Gail Payne and Rochelle Wheeler, who go above and beyond in their diligence and inclusiveness. Our community is so fortunate to have them as public servants. Thank you for that comment. And um, I will just note that we've heard two public speakers tonight, Ruth, Abby from Casa and earlier Debbie Ryan from Casa. And those two ladies were my choices for this year's Grand Marshals for the 4th of July parade. But rest assured, we will we will find a way to to recognize you. You know what? I've just gotten a text message, Madam Clerk, from a viewer who says there's no sound to the TV audience for the last 2 minutes. So. Correct. We got a text, too, and a couple people tell us and it's working again now, we understand. Working again. Okay. Good to hear. All right. We did nothing different in the room, so we're not sure what happened. Uh, the gremlins. Okay, so. Okay, so what we are asked to do on this, this very important report is to, um, to hold the public hearing and endorse by motion the General Planning and Housing Element Annual Report Transportation Choices Plan Annual Report in the West Alameda Transportation Management Agency Annual Report. And let's hear from council and let's have a vote. Who wants to start? Sure. Councilmember everybody. Well, first item of approval of all three items, and that way someone could second after everyone talks. Um, real quick, thank you for this. Um, I'm concerned about transportation, you know, whether or not it turns out to be reality or not. I read a poll maybe two weeks ago that 75% of the people would not cut back on public transportation. And it was it was consistent among demographics, whether you're Democrat or Republican, conservative, liberal men, women, racial age. So I think that's a challenge that we'll have to work on. So that's my only comment. Thank you. I think I saw vice mayor and then councilmember today. So they did not see you. Okay. Sorry if I say Councilmember Desai. Just a second. The motion. Okay, we have a motion. We have a second. Any further discussion? Okay, now I see a hand count for. Pushing my glasses up, and Tony hand was upset. Didn't want to step in front of him. Yeah. You guys don't make it easy on me. I keep trying to duck down. I try to reach. I try to read your mind. And it's just going nowhere. So, yes. In the spirit of brevity, I just want to in the end and, uh, the, uh, building planning and transportation director Andrew Thomas said it, well, our transit is in trouble. Not only is it funded by my fare box, it's also funded by sales tax, which we just lost. And so, you know, I read this and it and quite honestly, it was such an exciting report. And at the same time, the next steps for 2020 are so much like, Oh yeah, we're not doing that. We're going to spend so much of the next 6 to 12 months just trying to put the system back together. And I and I appreciate the acknowledgment of that. So I will I will gladly support this moving forward tonight. But I also would like to do so kind of with the idea that we're going to be we're going to be making sure that as we're focusing on what we're doing over the next six and eight months is not just supporting how transit comes back, but supporting the things we do have control on and making sure that the money, whether it's the transportation money that we're getting from assets, etc., which comes in from sales tax that we're putting that in the priority places, the policy priority places of this council that is driving how we're making funding decisions as less money is moving forward than we were hoping for. I'd also, you know, once this is done, I'd like to make a motion for for direction. So for after this, if I could come back, I'd like to share it just briefly. Yeah. Okay, great. So we have a motion. We have a second. Do we have any further discussion? Hearing, then maybe we have a roll call vote, please. Member disagree? Yes. Not quite. Yes. Yes. Yes. Mayor. As the Ashcroft. Yes. That carries by five eyes. Perfect. And then vice mayor, next, why you wanted to come back with that motion? I did, yes. Thank you. Safe Streets was not on the agenda tonight for discussion, but I would like the opportunity to have a conversation about that. This important program, which is all about social distancing, which will be with us for at least 12 more months, is going to is going to be a part of our community conversation for for four months to come. And I'd like a chance for the Council to have some conversation about that as well. So I'd like to make a motion to provide direction to staff to bring that back at our next meeting. It doesn't need to be a staff report, it can be an oral report. But I just I got an opportunity to kind of talk about it and make sure that we're all on the same page and moving forward. Okay. Is there a second to that motion? Also. You're talking about the slow streets, John. Correct. Yes. Okay. Okay. So that's a motion to give staff direction, to bring that program back for discussion to count. On May 19th. Oh, at the next meeting, if possible. Yes, that's what I'm saying. I don't need a staffer personally. I don't need a staff report. I think we can just have them bring the map in and ask for a comfortable discussion. I might like to hear from the city manager just because I know that the staff reports all have to be out by this Thursday. Right. Mr. Leavitt, what do you think? Yeah. Yeah, that would be very difficult. Other than especially if he did enter a special meeting. Maybe. But it's that would be difficult on May, May 19th, because the staff reports are due tomorrow. Tomorrow are not due tomorrow. They're they're finalized as far as review. Tomorrow is what they are. Right. Okay. I guess we'll do it in June when it's, you know, I'm sorry. I had planned on bringing it as a referral. I thought we were going to have the opportunity to be able to talk about it tonight. So I didn't file for referral. Okay, I have a question. I'll get you just a minute. Yeah. Fine. Okay. Question Well, Councilmember Vela. Yeah, I was just wondering if if the vice mayor is just asking that it be agenda so that there can be a council discussion about it or a council Q&A and perhaps we can get it agendas that way, or perhaps at least maybe we can get an update. I think the Brown Act makes it difficult for us to converse about it. And I don't think that he's at least from my perspective, I'm not necessarily looking for a staff report. I don't know that he is either. But it would perhaps just provide an opportunity for council conversation and discussion without necessarily a staff report. Um, so my feedback is, I think waiting two more weeks to hear this has benefits because I want more than just the council talking about it. I do want benefit of staff input and I think there's even some legal issues we should be aware of. And so, um, right now we've got, um, we've got our two streets that are open and I know staff is looking at some others and maybe even another facility elsewhere in the city. Um, but, um, I, I just, I would want more because the thing is, so we bring it back and then we give staff direction to come to us at the next meeting. Wouldn't couldn't we just. Say that as soon as I'm trying to be respectful of all the things staff is doing to. But I'll let staff determine. How quickly am I? I call on speaker, sir. I've got Mr. Otis. Hand up Mr. Otis for this. Ernie. I know that one of the places that are designated now is within 500 feet of where I live. So can I begin this discussion? If if it is within 500 feet of where you live, I'd recommend you reduce. Okay. Amount of. Well, unless unless it's about. Okay. Mr. Vice Mayor, if you to just wait for me to call on you. I will. Vice Mayor. Sorry. Even if my interest is in having a citywide conversation about this program, not discussing Pacific Avenue where Jim lives. So I guess as it comes forward, hopefully you can think through that. Thank you. In short time. Okay. So, um. Your motion is what? Again. I guess my motion is to bring it back as soon as possible before future streets are rolled out so that we can have a conversation about how this program is moving forward. And, Mr. Levitt, would that would it be reasonable to get it on the first June meeting? Yes, the first June meeting. Okay. Um, okay. So is there a second Councilmember Avella? I'll second it. I just I want to have a I do have a question about if there's going to be any changes or elimination of STS prior to that date. It's like, are there going to be any major decisions being made prior to series? Here's the problem, and I'll let Mr. Shen, our city attorney, answer that. This item is not a generalized. And you tell us if you would, Mr. City Attorney, but how much how far can we go? Yeah. And so given that this is not agenda related to the item, my advice of the Council's brief direction to staff to bring back whatever the Council wishes to hear, and staff will bring it back to you so that we don't generate a discussion on an item that's not on the agenda. Okay. So we've had a motion. It's been seconded. Maybe we have a roll call vote, said. Councilmember de Sung. Yeah. Not quite. Yes. The last. Yes. Mayor as the Ashcroft? Yes. And that carries four with one absence of councilmember voting. All right. Thank you, everybody. And moving right along. Actually, let me ask council. It's 10:00. Two people want to take a brief break and resume in 10 minutes. Okay. I'm going to take a break now. Okay. Let's take a ten minute break. We've been going for actually, we've been going for 4 hours straight because we started closed session at six. So it is 1001. Let's be back at. Okay, 1015. We're starting. So be bend your seats a little bit before to log in if you would. Okay. See you in ten. And, Madam Clerk, what do we do? We do anything. Do we turn our video off? You can leave your videos. I'm just going to pause the broadcast. Perfect. Okay. Back at 1015. Starting at 1015. Thanks, everyone. Starting at um, yeah, at 1015 it is 1015 and we are back in session. Okay. Hello everyone. We have returned from our brief break and we are moving on to item six. See, Madam Kirk, were you introduced that item plus.