Alameda Commission on Access for People with Disabilities Meeting Summary - October 19, 2026

The Alameda Commission on Access for People with Disabilities met on October 19, 2026, at 6:31 PM. The meeting featured a staff presentation on the Mastic Senior Center ADA upgrade project, a detailed discussion and public hearing on the Gibbons Drive Sidewalks and Tree Plan, and the postponement of a pesticide use informational item. Public participation was heavily weighted toward the Gibbons Drive item, with numerous residents urging the commission not to endorse the current draft plan.

Consent Calendar

• The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the May 13, 2026, meeting via a roll call vote (5-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-Agenda Comment: Jinky Barreto asked about enforcement and reporting mechanisms for disabled parking violations.
• Mastic Senior Center: Carol Gottstein, a Mastic Advisory Board member who uses a walker, strongly criticized the ADA upgrade plan. She argued it ignored the most critical accessibility barriers, specifically the lack of automatic door openers (push pads) on the main lobby restrooms, which are used by the general senior population.
• Gibbons Drive Sidewalks and Tree Plan (Multiple Speakers):
  • Most speakers urged the commission to reject the plan as written. Specific concerns included:
    • The 20% tree removal cap was too high (many advocated for a 10% cap).
    • The plan lacked objective, measurable criteria for tree removal decisions.
    • There was insufficient community engagement and a lack of a formal community advisory committee.
    • The plan prioritized tree removal over creative, preservation-focused sidewalk repair solutions (e.g., meandering sidewalks, steel root plates).
  • Representatives from the community collected over 1,200 petition signatures opposing the plan.
  • Several speakers referenced the planning board's recent meeting, noting that it unanimously found the plan required significant revisions.
  • One speaker highlighted the extreme heat danger for disabled individuals on unshaded pavement, urging preservation of the canopy for safety.

Discussion Items

• Item 6379: Mastic Senior Center ADA Upgrade Project

  • Staff (Chandani Patel) presented the 95% construction drawings. The project addresses 239 observations. 83% will be fully compliant. The project is phased over a two-year construction period, but funding for construction has not been fully appropriated.
  • Commissioners questioned the reliance on a single accessible path and distant restrooms. They expressed overwhelming consensus that automatic door openers should be a priority.
  • Staff agreed to explore adding push pads to the scope and developing temporary access plans. They noted the current temporary solution is propping restroom doors open.

• Item 6385: Gibbons Drive Sidewalks and Tree Plan

  • Staff (Aaron Smith) and arborist Ryan Suttle presented the draft plan to balance the legal obligation for accessible sidewalks with tree preservation. The plan recommends a preservation-first, location-by-location approach with a 20% maximum tree removal cap per five-year period.
  • Commissioners were swayed by the volume and passion of public testimony. Commissioner Canadler noted the troubling disparity in turnout between the disability-focused Mastic item and the Gibbons item.
  • Commissioner Lyons, speaking from personal mobility experience, stated that the current Gibbons sidewalks are completely impassable for mobility scooters, making accessibility a non-negotiable priority.
  • Commissioner Bieler acknowledged that the Planning Board had submitted substantial revision recommendations that had not yet been incorporated into the draft before the commission.
  • The commission formed a consensus not to endorse the plan and to work on formal recommendations.

• Item 6380: Pesticide Use

  • Commissioner Schmitz requested the item be continued to allow time for review. The commission voted unanimously (5-0) to continue the item to the December meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Mastic Senior Center: Staff was directed to report back on incorporating automatic door openers (push pads) into the project scope and temporary access solutions.
• Gibbons Drive Plan: The commission declined to endorse the plan. The commission will schedule a special meeting to draft formal feedback for the City Council, emphasizing the urgency of accessibility and incorporating public and Planning Board feedback before the December 1 Council hearing.
• Pesticide Use Item: Continued to the next regular commission meeting in December.
• Community Engagement Disparity: Commissioner Canadler highlighted the high public engagement on trees vs. senior access barriers. The commission committed to improving outreach to ensure Mastic Senior Center members and other disability communities have accessible avenues to provide input.