Alameda City Council Meeting and Joint Session – March 3, 2026

The Alameda City Council met on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, convening first in closed session to interview candidates for the city manager position (no decision was made), then holding a regular meeting and a joint meeting with the successor agency to the Community Improvement Commission. The council introduced an ordinance updating sidewalk repair procedures, authorized a new lease for a downtown restaurant, and adopted mid-year budget adjustments for fiscal year 2526. Public comment included speeches on national politics, student-led sanctuary and youth voting rights demands, housing production concerns, a local native history project, and a track coach’s plea for field access.

Proclamations & Special Orders

• Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft proclaimed March 2026 as Women's History Month, highlighting local women leaders such as Sustainability Manager Danielle Miller, Food Bank Executive Director Teal Hardin, Library storytime events, and the Australian women's national soccer team coming to Alameda for FIFA 2026.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent calendar by unanimous vote (4-0, with Councilmember Daysog recusing himself from item 5D regarding a landscape and lighting district near his home).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brian Kennedy expressed support for the Trump administration’s women appointees, second Amendment rights, and criticized sanctuary cities, asking how Alamedans can find information on federal funds potentially withheld from sanctuary jurisdictions.
• Rohan Sarno read a letter from hundreds of Alameda students who walked out of school on Friday, calling on the council to: (1) convert the sanctuary city resolution into an ordinance, adopt a written policy of non-cooperation with ICE, designate all city property as ICE-free zones, and cancel the Flock contract; and (2) support a charter amendment expanding voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in school board elections.
• Mitch Ball (written copy submitted) stated that the housing element report showed less than 10% of regional housing need targets were permitted last year. He argued that impact fee calculations based on outdated projections (4,600 units over 27 years instead of 5,353 over 8 years) exacerbate the housing crisis.
• Gabriel Duncan (Alameda Native History Project) reported on a new acorn-leaching machine that uses 10–12 gallons of water (down from 240–480 gallons), upcoming acorn processing workshops at the library, and harvest training opportunities.
• Paula Rainey urged support for the People's Arms Embargo (contacting Supervisor Lena Tam) and full adoption of the Alameda County Ethical Investment Plan, noting that weapons parts pass through Oakland Airport en route to Gaza.
• Coach Ralph Walker (Don Grant/Alameda Youth Track Club) stated he was denied use of the new Alameda College track despite a prior superintendent’s confirmation. He pledged to protest for community access.
• Zach Thayer spoke about a commercial lease and referenced various court cases and filings.
• One additional speaker made brief, disjointed references to international tribunals and a noted case numbers.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance on Sidewalk Repair Procedures (7A): Public Works Director Aaron Smith presented a revised ordinance codifying the city's sidewalk pilot program. Key changes from January 6 version: removal of the lien process (replaced by a collections policy adopted earlier), reliance on the collections policy with opportunities for financial assistance and payment plans, and a report back after two full years of implementation (February 2027). Councilmember Daysog noted the absence of a “meet and confer” clause in the ordinance but accepted that the collections policy already includes outreach. The council introduced the ordinance unanimously (5-0).
• Lease for Historic Alameda Theater Complex (7B): Management Analyst Annie Cox presented a 36-month lease (with one 36-month renewal option) for the restaurant space at 2319 Central Avenue to Playhouse LLC dba Director's Cut/Project Burger. Monthly rent is $5,865 ($3.17/sq ft) with 3% annual increases, plus one month of rent credit. The tenant has invested over $60,000 in improvements and remains in good standing. Council voted unanimously (5-0) to authorize the interim city manager to execute the lease.

City Manager Communications

• Interim City Manager Adam Politzer reported no updates.

Council Communications & Reports

• Vice Mayor Michelle Pryor: Attended screening of “The Apology” documentary at the Alameda Theater (nearly full house), relating the history of Russell City and eminent domain abuses. Also attended League of California Cities board meeting and Metropolitan Transportation Commission meeting, where a policy for transit-oriented communities with renter protections passed. Attended the East Bay Division legislators dinner.
• Councilmember Jensen: Reported no items.
• Councilmember Bowler: Attended joint Alameda USD-City Council meeting and welcomed the Australian women's national soccer team.
• Councilmember Daysog: Attended a Zoom meeting on tree planning along Fernside Avenue; of 117 trees, 5 are in poor condition, 88 good, 24 fair; discussed root-caused sidewalk heaving.

Key Outcomes

• Closed Session: No decision on city manager appointment; no vote taken.
• Sidewalk Ordinance (7A): Introduced on first reading (unanimous 5-0); second reading scheduled for March 17, 2026; effective 30 days later.
• Theater Lease (7B): Unanimously authorized execution of 36-month lease with Playhouse LLC.
• Mid-Year Budget Adjustments (Joint Session item 3A): Adopted resolutions amending the fiscal year 2526 budget and approving workforce changes (4–1, Councilmember Daysog dissenting, reiterating his objection to frozen police officer positions at 72 vs. historical 88).