City of Alameda City Council Meeting - May 6, 2026: Budget Workshop, Public Hearings, and Key Decisions
City of Alameda City Council Meeting - May 6, 2026
The meeting began with a closed session at 8:15 PM, followed by a special joint meeting of the city council and successor agency, a comprehensive budget workshop, and the regular city council meeting. The meeting adjourned at 12:33 AM on May 7, 2026. Key topics included the fiscal year 2026-27 mid-cycle budget update, an appeal of the Planning Board's decision regarding outdoor amplified music at Park Station, endorsement of a bike share pilot program, and approval of a lease amendment for electric vehicle storage at NCNL Terminals.
Consent Calendar
- Designation of negotiators for Building 11 at 1190 West Tower Avenue (closed session item) was approved with three affirmative votes and two absent.
- Minutes from the previous successor agency meeting were approved.
- Multiple consent calendar items were approved en bloc: 5C (annual ALPR data report), 5J (vehicle purchases including Rivian EVs), 5P (partial exemption from public art ordinance for McKay Respite Center, reducing fee from $244,117 to $100,000), 5V, 5W, 5X (public hearings for CDBG and business improvement areas), and others.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Closed Session Comment: Eight speakers (Tamara Sabella, Cameron Warren, Stephanie Warren, Iris Mitchell, Robin Lynn Wilson, John Risenweber, Chris Velutha Call, Manny Velutha Call, Caroline Brossard) spoke in strong support of Greenway Golf at Corica Park, highlighting inclusive programs, youth development, veteran support, and community use statistics (over 124,000 hours of shared use, 249 days activated in 2025, 90% youth from underserved communities).
- Budget Workshop: One public comment: Katherine Schwartz (CEO of Alameda Family Services) advocated for renewing and expanding the library social worker contract, citing 107 therapeutic interventions and 53 resource referrals since December 2025.
- Oral Communications: Tiffany Southwick (owner of Mary's Mercantile) requested action on public access closures affecting Grand Marina businesses. Josh Altieri (Housing Authority) reported on housing programs and upcoming affordable housing opportunities. Corinne Kirschbaum demanded an independent investigation into city officials' conduct regarding homeless services contracts.
- Park Station Appeal: 29 speakers presented. Neighbors (Rebecca Davis, Kevin Durfee, Ann Argurio, Jeff Robus, etc.) described noise impacts (85 dB at residential receptors, difficulty sleeping, inability to enjoy homes). Supporters (Melody Tebow, Grant Uskin, owners; community members like Jen Denton from GrannyCon, Joseph Osborne, musicians, business advocates) emphasized Park Station's role in community vibrancy, economic vitality, and willingness to compromise.
- Bike Share Pilot: Four speakers (Warren Linney, Denise Trepignier, Arshing Hothi, Drew Record) expressed strong support for the Bay Wheels pilot, noting connectivity benefits and first/last mile solutions.
- NCNL Lease: One speaker (Denise Trepignier from Bike Walk Alameda) supported the EV storage lease but raised a concern about closing a pedestrian/bicycle access point.
Discussion Items
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Fiscal Year 2026-27 Mid-Cycle Budget Update (Item 3B):
- Staff presented a structurally tight budget with a projected ending residual fund balance of $9.69 million above the 25% reserve policy. New costs include a $5 million increase for the Aquatic Center and potential impact from a November ballot measure on transfer tax.
- Department presentations highlighted needs: police officer unfreezing (4 positions), IT cybersecurity tools ($145K annually for data protection and preparedness), library social worker ($155K), safety officer ($197K), public works division manager, parking technician (revenue-supporting), and various position upgrades.
- Council debated trade-offs. Alternative recommendations were presented to save $841,440 by deferring most new positions and upgrades except for the four police officers and the parking technician.
- After discussion, Vice Mayor Pryor made a motion to adopt the staff alternatives with modification: the safety officer changed from contracted to part-time position. The motion passed 3-2 (Mayor Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Pryor, Councilmember Bowler in favor; Councilmembers Jensen and Daysog opposed). Councilmember Daysog expressed concern about limiting sworn officer hiring to 76 instead of the budgeted 88.
- The city attorney's budget was bifurcated due to a recusal. It was approved unanimously later in the meeting.
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Appeal of Planning Board Decision on Park Station (Item 7A):
- Staff recommended upholding the appeal, finding that the noise ordinance does not authorize the 85 dB limit. Recommendation: modify the use permit to require compliance with the noise ordinance (ambient noise standard) and direct staff to review the noise ordinance.
- Appellants (Rebecca Davis and Kevin Durfee) argued the noise violated the ordinance and CEQA, and caused significant disruption to residents.
- Applicants (Park Station owners) proposed a compromise of 75 dB indoor level, noting a weekend test at 75 dB resulted in 55-58 dB at the nearest residence. They requested an interim period during noise ordinance review.
- After hearing 29 public comments, Vice Mayor Pryor moved to adopt the staff recommendation (revised resolution with conditions including compliance with noise ordinance, 4-hour event limits, sound monitoring, and a 4-month review by the Planning Board). The motion passed unanimously.
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Bike Share Pilot Program (Item 7C):
- Staff proposed endorsing a three-year pilot in West Alameda using the Bay Wheels regional program, funded by OAAP mitigation. Eight docks with 52 e-bikes, community outreach planned.
- Council endorsed the concept, authorizing staff to execute agreements. Motion passed unanimously with support for interoperability and flexibility in future provider selection.
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Lease Amendment for EV Storage at NCNL Terminals (Item 7D):
- Staff recommended approving a third amendment to lease with Bay View Landing LP for temporary EV storage on 6.4 acres of public trust tidelands. Rent: $4,500/month. Planning Board use permit included conditions for intersection improvements and no on-street parking.
- Motion to approve passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Budget Direction: Approved the staff alternatives with the safety officer changed to part-time. The general fund excess residual is expected to increase to approximately $10.5 million. Motion passed 3-2.
- City Attorney's Office Budget: Approved unanimously (with recusal).
- Park Station Appeal: Unanimously upheld the appeal, adopting the revised use permit conditions requiring compliance with the city's noise ordinance (ambient noise standard), limits on event frequency and hours, sound monitoring equipment, and a four-month review by the Planning Board.
- Bike Share Pilot: Unanimously endorsed the program concept and authorized staff to execute necessary agreements.
- NCNL Lease Amendment: Unanimously approved the third amendment for temporary EV storage.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, everyone, are we ready? We've got a quorum and I am going to call this meeting to order. Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the city council meeting. This is the City of Alameda City Council meeting. And we are about to go into closed session, but I'm going to ask our city clerk, Lara Weissinger to please call the role first. Council members bowler. Prior. Here. Mayor Azyashka. I'm here. And hopefully council members Daysog and Jensen will be here. Yeah, we've got two more on the way, I'm sure. Right. And so um next we go to the consent calendar. This is just one item is a routine item that will be approved by one motion unless removed by council members. Um Madam Clerk, would you introduce the um consent calendar item? Yes, this item is designating negotiators for um building 11 at uh 1190 West Tower Avenue, which is related to item uh four C the closed session. All right. So um there is um, so that's the consent calendar, and we can go ahead and vote on the consent calendar, just the um the negotiators for um for that item. So do I have a motion and a second? Oh, sorry. Moved by the vice mayor, seconded by council member bowler, all those in favor signify by stating aye. Aye. Okay, that motion passes with three um approved and two absent. And we're gonna go to public comment on the closed session item next. And I'm just gonna read the um the rules of conduct for um for conducting um public comment, which is to say that um you're all welcome. This is a business meeting. We're here to conduct the business of the city of Alameda. It is not a sporting event, it is not theater. So what we do is we listen quietly and respectfully while other people speak, and we do not clap, cheer, boo, hiss, do the wave. We don't do any of that. This is a business meeting, but we do listen respectfully, and when it's our turn to speak, we get up, we go to the microphone, make it, I always say make it yours, whatever level is um parallel to your mouth and we can hear you. When the timer goes off, please stop speaking because everybody gets the same amount of speaker time, which the clerk will tell you. You're welcome to hold up signs. That's your first amendment, right? We just ask that you not hold them up over your head unless you're in the last row, so you don't block anyone else's view. It is that simple. And the reason that I laid down the ground rules at the beginning of a meeting is that for some people public speaking is one of the most stressful things they can do. And I never want someone to not get up and speak because somebody booed or jeered at the previous speaker and they're afraid that will happen to them. This is a safe space. This is like your town hall, and I want everybody to have that same um opportunity. And also because and literally today we often have young people in the audience and we want to set that good civic example for them. You can certainly look around the greater community, state, nation, what have you, and see less than civil examples of governance. That's not how we do it in Alameda. So we just ask everybody to please um respect those rules, and we will have a nice orderly meeting and hear from everyone. So with that, um, Madam Clerk, do we have public comment on closed session items? We do. Um we have in-person and remote. Um, they will we have over the limit, so they'll each get two minutes. Um, and we will I'll call the first three so the other two can be ready to go.
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