Alameda City Council Meeting - July 7, 2026: Infrastructure Bond, Charter Amendments, and Aquatic Center
Alameda City Council Meeting - July 7, 2026
The Alameda City Council met on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM for a closed session, reconvening at 7:02 PM for the regular meeting. Major actions included placing a $300 million infrastructure bond on the November ballot, advancing two charter amendments, approving contracts for the city aquatic center, and adopting the City Facilities Plan. The meeting also included a closed session on the Enterprise Park surf park and a litigation case.
Consent Calendar
- Approved routine items, including consent calendar items 5F, 5G, 5H (salary adjustments for city manager, city attorney, and city clerk) and 5K (final passage of an ordinance banning ratio utility billing (RUBs)). Councilmember Bowler recused on 5K (financial interest in rental property). Councilmember Daysog voted no on 5K, but the consent calendar passed overall.
- Item 5D (City Facilities Plan) was pulled to be heard as the first regular agenda item.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Consent Calendar (RUBs ban):
- Anil Bavar (California Apartment Association) urged opposition to 5K, citing water consumption increases in San Jose, legal issues, and operational problems.
- Tony Grimm supported the RUBs ban, arguing renters should control utility costs.
- Laura Woodard (Alameda Renter) supported the ban, calling for tenant stability and noting the need to address capital improvement plans.
- On Closed Session (Enterprise Park):
- Ruth Abbey (Community Action for Sustainable Alameda) expressed concerns about the surf park development on public parkland, advocating for nature-based uses and sea level rise accommodation.
- On Facilities Plan (5D):
- Jay Garfinkel questioned the timing of bond issuance and the need for a $300 million bond given the $21 million available now.
- On Infrastructure Bond (7A):
- Multiple speakers supported placing the bond on the ballot: Mike DeWind (Alameda Firefighters Local 689), Drew Dara Abrams (Transportation Commission), Andreas Kluver (Building and Construction Trades Council), Adrian Abiyan (Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter), Malia Vella (former councilmember), Zach Bowling (community member), Ruth Abbey (CASA), Cindy Johnson (caller), and Meredith Hoskin. They emphasized the need for fire station upgrades, climate adaptation, street repairs, and community investment.
- Mitch Ball opposed the property tax structure, advocating for a parcel tax instead, calling the Prop 13-style tax regressive and anti-housing.
- On Charter Amendment 7B:
- Carmen Reed (caller) opposed combining multiple amendments into one vote, citing legal risk and lack of transparency.
- On Charter Amendment 7C:
- No public comments.
- On Aquatic Center (7E, 7F, 7G):
- Speaker Alex Fear expressed excitement and support for the project.
Discussion Items
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Item 5D: City Facilities Plan
- Assistant City Manager Amy Wooldridge presented the plan, identifying $342.4 million in needs for fire stations, fleet services, animal shelter, and other facilities. The plan is a framework, not a policy commitment.
- Councilmember Jensen raised concerns about the timeline: fire station improvements not starting until 2029, and the animal shelter (F grade) not prioritized.
- Councilmember Daysog asked about the $158 million in fire-related costs in the implementation plan.
- The plan was adopted unanimously.
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Item 7A: Infrastructure Bond – Resolution to Place $300 Million Bond on November Ballot
- Sustainability Manager Danielle Miller, consultant Jeremy Hauser (Team Civix), and pollster Kurt Baylow (FM3) presented the proposal. Key points:
- $300 million bond, $49 per $100,000 assessed value per year.
- Polling: 62% support initially, rising to 66% after hearing spending priorities, with 34% definitely yes.
- Voter priorities: flood prevention, sea level rise, emergency response, road repairs, ADA improvements.
- List of projects (Exhibit A) includes categories but not specific dollar amounts per project.
- Council discussion:
- Vice Mayor Pryor and Councilmember Bowler supported placing the bond on the ballot, citing growing needs and voter trust.
- Councilmember Daysog opposed, arguing the project list is too vague and that voters deserve a detailed breakdown similar to the fire facilities plan. He noted that future councils would decide spending, not current voters.
- Councilmember Jensen supported the bond, emphasizing the need for oversight and the seriousness of infrastructure deficits.
- Mayor Ashcraft strongly supported the bond, criticizing Councilmember Daysog for refusing to meet with pollsters and for blocking a similar measure in 2024. She highlighted the urgency of climate change and the success of past campaigns.
- Vote: 4-1 (Councilmember Daysog opposed). The measure will be finalized at the July 21 meeting.
- Sustainability Manager Danielle Miller, consultant Jeremy Hauser (Team Civix), and pollster Kurt Baylow (FM3) presented the proposal. Key points:
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Item 7B: Charter Amendment – Cleanup of Outdated Provisions
- City Clerk Laura Weisiger explained the amendment consolidates over 10 updates to conform to existing practices, including changing public utilities board qualifications, exempting certain staff from civil service, and adjusting lease procedures.
- Councilmember Bowler questioned several sections, and the clerk clarified they align with current practice.
- Councilmember Jensen raised concerns about the subcommittee process not being transparent, but supported the measure after questioning.
- Councilmember Daysog opposed, citing the need for a more robust public process like the 2020 charter reform.
- Vote: 4-1 (Councilmember Daysog opposed). The measure will appear on the November ballot.
- The council designated Vice Mayor Pryor and Councilmember Bowler to draft the argument in favor and any rebuttal.
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Item 7C: Charter Amendment – Leases and Sales of City Real Property
- The amendment changes the process for leasing city property: leases of 10 years or less require a simple majority (3 votes), leases over 10 years and all sales require a supermajority (4 votes). The original language excluded tide lands from the supermajority; the council amended it to include tide lands, ensuring they are subject to the same vote requirement.
- Director of Base Reuse and Economic Development Abby Thorne Lyman explained that the supermajority for long-term leases can hinder business recruitment and that the 10-year demarcation is a reasonable compromise.
- Councilmember Bowler supported the 10-year threshold, emphasizing the need to protect public assets for long-term changes.
- Councilmember Jensen preferred eliminating the supermajority entirely but was willing to support the motion.
- Vote: 4-1 (Councilmember Daysog opposed). The measure will appear on the November ballot.
- The council designated Vice Mayor Pryor and Councilmember Bowler to draft the argument in favor and any rebuttal.
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Items 7E, 7F, 7G: Aquatic Center Contracts
- Recreation and Parks Director Justin Long presented the three contracts:
- 7E: Construction contract with WICMAN Construction (not to exceed $32,324,200, including contingency).
- 7F: Amendment to project management agreement with Griffin Structures (total not to exceed $1,596,584).
- 7G: Amendment to design contract with ELS Architects (total not to exceed $3,446,306).
- The total project cost is $40.5 million, up from $35.5 million due to construction inflation, site conditions, and electrification.
- Key features: 30-meter competition pool, activity pool, community room, 100 bike parking, and all-electric design.
- Councilmember Bowler asked about groundwater contamination risks and operating subsidies. Director Long noted a $3 million contingency and an estimated $400,000 annual subsidy.
- All three contracts were approved unanimously.
- Recreation and Parks Director Justin Long presented the three contracts:
Key Outcomes
- Closed Session:
- Directed staff to schedule a community workshop on the surf park (Enterprise Park) for fall 2026, with a potential ENA discussion in closed session thereafter.
- Unanimous direction on the Miller litigation case.
- Consent Calendar: Passed, with Councilmember Daysog voting no on item 5K (RUBs ban).
- City Facilities Plan: Adopted unanimously.
- Infrastructure Bond: Resolution to place a $300 million bond on the November ballot passed 4-1. Final adoption will be on July 21, 2026.
- Charter Amendment 7B (Cleanup): Approved 4-1 for the November ballot.
- Charter Amendment 7C (Leases/Sales): Approved 4-1, with the amendment to include tide lands, for the November ballot.
- Aquatic Center Contracts: All three contracts approved unanimously.
- Board and Commission Nominations: Mayor Ashcraft announced nominations for Civil Service Board, Historic Advisory Board, Housing Authority, Library Board, and Recreation and Parks Commission. Formal approval will occur at the July 21 meeting.
- Council Appointments: Vice Mayor Pryor and Councilmember Bowler were appointed to draft ballot arguments for 7B and 7C.
- Meeting Adjourned at approximately 11:20 PM, with condolences for three community members who passed away.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, everyone. All right. Are we ready in the balcony? Balcony is always ready. Even if the rest of us aren't, we get our act together. Okay, well, it is five o'clock on the dot, so we have a lot to cover this evening. So we are going to get started. Welcome everyone to the City of Alameda City Council meeting. I'd like to call this meeting to order. Today is Tuesday, July 7th, 2026, and we're going to start with a special city council meeting in closed session. And I would like to ask the city clerk, Laura Weisiger to please call the roll. Council members Bowler. Prior. Here, Mayor. Is the Ashkaft? Here. Three present, and hopefully Days Hug and Jensen will be here. Okay, have we heard from them? No. Okay. Well, we're always, we think positive. And let's start with public comment on closed session items only. We do have a speaker. It's Ruth Abbey. Welcome, Speaker Abby. Come on up and make the microphone whatever you need it to be. Hey, good afternoon, members of the city council. I'm Ruth Abbey from Community Action for Sustainable Alameda. And I just came here to the five o'clock meeting to uh reiterate uh the comments that we made in our letter regarding item 3A in the closed session, which is about Enterprise Park and the development there. The concerns are really those that are obvious. This is, you know, the public park, this is a private use. Uh it's a large development, and there's concern about this area of the city being more appropriate for development that is nature-based or could accommodate sea level rise. Uh, I've heard from parents who would like to see more uh playing fields and that sort of thing in that location. And so um we felt as though there would be potential for other parts of Alameda Point to accommodate a large commercial enterprise like this. And so uh those were our comments on that closed session item. Thank you. Thank you. Um, do we have further public comment on closed session items? All right, with that, I'll close public comment on closed session items only. And we are about to adjourn to closed session to consider the following items that I'll ask the city clerk to um announce. Item 3A is conference of three property negotiators pursuant to government code section five four nine five six point eight. The property is portion of Alameda Point Enterprise Park boarded by West Horned Avenue, the San Francisco Bay, the Water Emergency Transportation Authority, and the NCNL boat launch. City negotiators are the assistance manager, the recreation park director, the recreation and park assistant director, the deputy city attorney, uh the negotiating parties are the city of Alameda and Neptune Beef Search Surf Court of the County of Alameda, case number 24 CB 097206. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I'm so glad I don't have to transcribe you when you're talking. But well done. So we are going to take these items in the reverse order. I'm going to start with 3B. And so any staff who are here for 3B, please come on back to room three ninety-one now. And then we'll call 3A when we're ready for that.
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