Alameda City Council Meeting Summary – June 3, 2025

The Alameda City Council met on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in a hybrid format (Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft joined remotely from Washington, D.C.). The meeting included a closed session, proclamations, a consent calendar, three public hearings, and city manager and council communications. Key actions included introducing an ordinance to revise sewer service charges, amending universal design requirements for townhouses, and adopting the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Master Fee Schedule.

Proclamations & Special Orders

• LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Vice Mayor Michelle Pryor read a proclamation declaring June 2025 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Alameda. Public commenter Gabriel Duncan (two-spirit and queer resident) criticized the proclamation as performative allyship, urging the council to protect trans youth and the LGBTQ+ community.
• John Lip Day: Councilmember Tracy Jensen read a proclamation declaring June 3, 2025, as John Lip Day in recognition of John Lip's service as Executive Director of Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) since 2017, highlighting his role in expanding shelter services, opening new facilities, and fostering community partnerships. John Lip expressed gratitude, attributing achievements to the community.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent calendar (5-0), which included:
  • Minutes of May 6 and May 13, 2025 meetings.
  • Bills for ratification.
  • Police policy manual updates to align with best practices.
  • Replacement of three ambulance gurneys and equipment from Stryker Corp. ($324,213).
  • Amendment with ELS Architects for Aquatic Center design ($1,761,715).
  • Agreement with General Roofing Co. for on-call roofing at Alameda Point ($800,000).
  • Agreement with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger for structural engineering at Alameda Point piers ($768,000).
  • Amendment to agreement with Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter ($267,692 increase, total 10-year not-to-exceed $12,028,331).
  • 2025-2026 Annual Update to the Strategic Plan (Councilmember Jensen asked clarifying questions about the process; staff noted the plan guides resource allocation and is referenced in staff reports).
  • Agreement to replace vehicle lift at Fleet Services ($436,500).
  • Resolution for Pavement Management Project funding through State Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account.
  • Resolution to nominate Priority Conservation Areas to Association of Bay Area Governments.
  • Resolution authorizing submission for $180,447 in Transportation Development Act Article 3 funds for Neighborhood Greenway Intersection Improvements.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Oral Communications (Non-Agenda):

  • Andrew Lao Sign (resident of Fillmore Street) reported frustration with the Cyclic Sewer Repair Project Phase 21, citing insufficient 48-hour notification and poor street cleanup. He noted that after he contacted the city, street sweepers came twice on the day of the meeting, but he urged better notification and cleanup practices.
  • Rachel Campos de Ivanov (Radium Presents) provided an update on the “In Plain Sight” outdoor photography exhibit at Radium Runway, highlighting community engagement, partnerships with Photoville and Harvey Milk Photo Center, and the upcoming Cultural Works Rising Seas series. She thanked Mayor Ashcraft for the Bloomberg Philanthropies grant.
  • Gabriel Duncan (founder of Alameda Native History Project, recognized descendant of the Benton Bayou tribe) asked the city to remove references to the Sogorete Land Trust and the Shumi Land Tax from the city website, calling them a scam that enriches an individual (Karina Gould) who is not enrolled in any tribe. He provided a statement from the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe condemning the organization as identity fraud. He noted he had emailed the council without response.

• Public Hearing Comments: No public speakers appeared for any of the three public hearings (sewer rates, universal design, master fee schedule).

Discussion Items

• 7A – Sewer Service Charges (Public Hearing):

  • Public Works Director Aaron Smith presented the proposed 3% annual revenue increase over five years, driven by the federal consent decree requiring pipeline replacement and reduction of wet weather flows. The city has replaced 34 miles of sewer pipe (25% of the system) since 2014. The Prop 218 process required mailing notices to 19,243 properties. Only seven protests were received, well below the majority threshold. The proposed rate for single-family homes increases by $8.76 per year, keeping Alameda on the lower end compared to other East Bay agencies.
  • Councilmember Daysog asked about the protest tabulation (one vote per property). The council voted 5-0 to introduce the ordinance.

• 7B – Universal Design Ordinance Amendment (Public Hearing):

  • Planning Director Alan Ty and Planner Tristan Swear presented amendments to Article 30-18 (Universal Residential Design) to adjust requirements for townhouse developments. The original 2017 ordinance required 100% visitable units and 30% universally designed units, but townhouses faced practical difficulties due to sea level rise grading and multi-story layouts, leading to frequent waivers. The amendment creates narrow exemptions for features that are practically infeasible while maintaining requirements for blocking in walls, etc. The changes were reviewed by the Planning Board and Commission on Persons with Disabilities, both recommending approval. The city was invited to present at an MTC/HCD accessibility panel on June 16.
  • Councilmember Pryor expressed support for universal design. The council voted 5-0 to introduce the ordinance.

• 7C – Master Fee Schedule (Public Hearing):

  • Finance Director Ross McCarthy and Revenue Manager Carlos Figueroa presented the FY 2025-26 fee updates. Key changes included:
    • Library: eliminated lost card and processing fees, added replacement fees for equipment.
    • Police: new fees for concealed carry weapons permits (increased processing due to out-of-state applicants).
    • Planning/Building: fees adjusted to align with actual costs; technology fee increased from 5% to 6%; code enforcement shifted from a 4x multiplier to hourly billing; new vacant building monitoring fee ($2,906/year) for properties vacant >90 days; new tobacco retailer license fee ($981).
    • Fire: non-emergency medical service fees raised ~9% to reach 37% cost recovery; business/residential inspection fees increased; ambulance transport fee proposed at $4,530 (24% increase from $3,665). Fire Chief Nick Luby explained the rate is set by the county to align with private providers, but the city can charge less; financial hardship policies exist; Medicare/Medicaid caps limit reimbursement. Councilmember Daysog expressed concern about the steep increase but supported the item.
    • Public Works: new parking citation fees – $75 for parking in a bike lane (using Alameda Municipal Code 8-81A for class I bike lanes, and state vehicle code 21211 for class I), $40 for parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk (daylighting). Public Works Director Smith clarified that the $75 for bike lane parking would apply uniformly via either code reference.
  • Councilmember Jensen asked about the vacant building fee and enforcement. Staff noted the ordinance has been in place since 2018 and allows fee waivers for active rehabilitation, marketing, or financial hardship. The fee covers 12 monthly inspections.
  • The council voted 5-0 to adopt the resolution, including the amendment to use the Alameda Municipal Code reference for bike lane parking at $75.

Key Outcomes

• Closed Session Decisions:
  • Item 3A (Real Property Negotiation with Pacific Fusion and Hines): Council provided direction; vote 5-1 (Councilmember Daysog dissenting).
  • Item 3B (Potential Litigation against Port of Oakland): Council provided direction; vote 5-0.
• Sewer Service Charges Ordinance: Introduced (5-0). A second reading will occur at a future meeting.
• Universal Design Ordinance Amendment: Introduced (5-0). Second reading required.
• Master Fee Schedule Resolution: Adopted (5-0) with an amendment to adjust the bike lane parking citation to use Alameda Municipal Code 8-81A at $75.
• Consent Calendar: Approved (5-0).
• City Manager Communications: Announced 30-day notice of negotiations with IAFF Local 689 and Alameda Fire Chiefs Association (contracts expiring Dec 31, 2025). Also noted upcoming events and openings on the Public Art Commission and Social Service Human Relations Board.
• Council Communications: Councilmembers reported attending Memorial Day events, the Board and Commission Appreciation Reception, a ribbon cutting for Diggity Dog thrift store, and other community events. Mayor Ashcraft reported on lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., for transportation funding.

Next Steps: The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2025, which will include the budget presentation.