Alameda City Council Meeting – November 18, 2025

The Alameda City Council met on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, starting at approximately 6:00 PM. The meeting included closed session, proclamations, public comments, consent calendar approval, and a lengthy discussion and vote on traffic calming measures near Gibbons Drive. The council also appointed a new representative to the Mosquito Abatement Board and received updates on city initiatives.

Consent Calendar

• The successor agency (former redevelopment agency) consent calendar was approved unanimously.
• The regular city council consent calendar (including item 5D, a $200,000 contract for a waterway study for the Oakland-Alameda pedestrian/bicycle bridge) was approved unanimously. Councilmember Jensen and Vice Mayor Pryor asked clarifying questions about the bridge's timeline, anchor locations, and community input before voting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Oral Communications (Non-Agenda Items): Six speakers addressed topics not on the agenda:
  • Jay Ingram (former Parks and Rec chair) requested that the city modify a new basketball court at Little John Park to have one 8-foot hoop and one 10-foot hoop, citing lack of proper neighbor notification.
  • Gordon Williams raised concerns about confusing traffic signal timing at Clement and Park Street, particularly the right-turn red arrow conflicting with bike signals.
  • Jim Strelo urged the city to consider AI-based traffic signal technology (e.g., NoTraffic.com) to improve intersection flow, citing issues at Atlantic and Constitution.
  • Barack Obama Shaw announced his run for governor in 2026 and thanked city staff.
  • Josh Altieri (Housing Authority) reported on the grand opening of affordable housing units at North Housing Master Plan and an award for Independence Plaza.
• Item 7B (Gibbons Drive Traffic Calming): 31 speakers addressed the proposal. The majority (residents of Bayo Vista, Cornell, Southwood, and other nearby streets) strongly opposed any closure of Gibbons Drive (including a pilot), citing safety hazards from diverted traffic onto narrower streets. Several speakers supported the staff recommendation, including Bike Walk Alameda and some Gibbons Drive residents, emphasizing the need for safer pedestrian and bicycle crossings. Key points from opponents: the left turn closure would increase traffic by 300-400% on side streets; unprotected turns at High Street are dangerous; the city's own crash data does not show accidents caused by Gibbons left turns; and the proposal is tied to future bike lane plans. Supporters argued the pilot is data-driven, reversible, and essential for future corridor safety improvements.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation/Beacon Award: Nikita Sinha from the Institute for Local Government presented the city with two spotlight awards (platinum for community GHG reductions, silver for sustainability best practices) and a 2025 Leadership and Innovation Award for cross-agency collaboration on climate adaptation (Oakland-Alameda Adaptation Committee).
• Item 7A – Appointment of Nick Shonek: The council unanimously appointed Nick Shonek (active-duty Marine officer) as trustee to the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement Board. He was sworn in and spoke briefly about his background.
• Item 7B – Quick Build Traffic Calming and Fernside Project: Staff presented a three-phase plan: (1) Quick-build neighborhood traffic calming (speed humps, roundabouts, bulb-out) in 2026-27; (2) Data collection and a temporary turn restriction pilot at Gibbons/High/Fernside in 2028; (3) Long-term Fernside Boulevard bikeway improvements (unfunded). Public testimony lasted over an hour. Council deliberation focused on concerns about diverting traffic to narrow streets, the value of a pilot study, and the need for incremental steps. Councilmember Daysog opposed the turn restriction, citing data on spillover. Councilmember Jensen and Vice Mayor Pryor supported a phased approach with a return to council before any pilot. Councilmember Bowler initially opposed the roundabouts but later supported the modified motion. The city attorney confirmed the item was properly noticed under the Brown Act.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved (unanimous).
• Item 7A approved (unanimous); Nick Shonek appointed.
• Item 7B passed 4-1 (Councilmember Daysog opposed). The motion (made by Councilmember Jensen, seconded by Vice Mayor Pryor) approved:
  • Phase One: Quick-build traffic calming measures (speed humps, bulb-outs, two roundabouts) funded with $200,000 from the general fund.
  • Phase Two: Data collection after traffic calming; staff to return to city council with data and present options for future traffic calming (including possibly making roundabouts permanent or eliminating the left turn from Gibbons to High Street). No immediate turn restriction pilot was authorized.
• Item 7C (Inclusionary housing workshop) was moved to the December 2, 2025 agenda as a continued item. Item 7D (balloon regulation) was not heard and will be placed on a future regular agenda.
• Closed session: Council interviewed candidates for interim city manager and provided direction. One vote was 4-1 (Councilmember Daysog dissenting); another was 5-0. No formal action was reported.