Alameda Planning Board General Plan Update Public Forum #3 on Climate and Environment – November 9, 2020

The City of Alameda Planning Board held its third public forum on the first draft General Plan on November 9, 2020, via Zoom. The meeting focused on Theme #3: Protecting the environment, responding to the climate crisis, and meeting regional responsibilities. The forum included a staff presentation, public Q&A, public comments, and board discussion. No formal action was taken on the General Plan; the board provided direction for the second draft. The board also approved the minutes from June 22, 2020, with corrections.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Oral Communications (non-agenda): Joe Cohen and David Vasquez, representing NORCAL Climate Action, spoke in support of establishing a "Climate Control Academy and Tower" at Alameda Point. They urged the city to take immediate, tangible climate action and proposed using the historic air navigation tower as a hub for green technologies, including moss walls, hydrogen power, and carbon sequestration. They offered to partner with the city.
• Public Comment on Agenda Item:
  • Christopher Buckley (Alameda Architectural Preservation Society) raised four points: (1) policies CC12 and LU16 appear to call for upzoning and need clarification regarding historic neighborhoods; (2) add a resource conservation section for building material salvage and reuse; (3) strengthen the city's tree preservation ordinance to protect all large tree species; (4) correct inconsistencies between staff report policies and survey.
  • Rashid Shabazz (West End resident, UC Berkeley city planning student) called for an environmental justice element in the General Plan, better rainwater management in low-lying areas, maintaining the Easy Pass program for community college students, and exploring community land trusts and cooperative housing for affordability. He emphasized strategies for tenants and equitable investment.
  • Mary Spicer requested two actions: (1) add Marine Conservation Wildlife and Recreation Area (MCWRA) language to the open space element; (2) fund and support marine garbage cleanups around Alameda, noting she annually organizes cleanups pulling about 4,000 pounds of garbage from the Oakland Estuary.

Discussion Items

• Staff Presentation: Planning Director Andrew Thomas, consultant Amy McPhee, and Public Information Officer Sarah Henry presented the General Plan update process. They highlighted that Theme #3 aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (70% from transportation, 27% from buildings) and prepare for sea level rise. Key policies discussed include CC4 (net zero emissions by 2040), CC23 (living with water/sea level rise adaptation), CC20 (neighborhood-level flood protection), ME12 (climate-friendly transportation alternatives), CC12 (transit-oriented development), and building electrification. Staff noted the climate action plan (CARP) is embedded in the General Plan. They reported that nearly 1,900 survey responses have been received, but outreach needs to improve for younger, lower-income, and non-white demographics.
• Board Discussion:
  • Board Member Rothenberg recommended aligning the General Plan with CARP more explicitly, adding an action to expand the moratorium on gas infrastructure and adopt all-electric reach codes, strengthening tree preservation and building reuse policies, and developing a long-term hazard mitigation plan for FEMA eligibility.
  • Board Member Curtis emphasized the need for priorities, timetables, and funding sources for each policy, and discussed challenges of affordable housing subsidization.
  • Board Member Cisneros expressed disappointment over the defeat of Measure Z (which would have removed Article 26 restrictions on multifamily housing), stating that the charter limits the city's ability to achieve climate and inclusive goals. She suggested expanding environmental justice language and revising parking requirements toward maximums.
  • Board Member Hom called for more aggressive, definitive action statements (replace "encourage" with mandates), promoting electrification and incentives from Alameda Municipal Power, telecommuting policies, and green jobs. He also supported parking maximums and building material recycling.
  • Vice President Saheba stressed partnerships (e.g., BCDC, Coast Guard) for sea level rise planning, funding strategies for policies, and considering height allowances in transit-oriented development areas.
  • Board Member Ruiz urged including environmental justice and healthy living narratives, specifying regional partners (e.g., Alameda County), creating a Chief Resilience Officer position, providing incentives for green power and solar, and addressing recycled water infrastructure. He cautioned that congestion pricing could disproportionately burden low-income workers.
  • President Teague noted that current climate impacts (smoke, heat, power outages) need more attention alongside sea level rise. He advocated for efficiency unit ordinances and making development less costly to achieve transit-oriented housing.

Key Outcomes

• No formal vote on the General Plan: This was a public forum to gather input for the second draft. Staff will incorporate board and public comments into the second draft, expected by March 2021.
• Approval of June 22, 2020 Minutes: The board approved the minutes with corrections (changing "board member Kavanaugh" instead of "board cavanagh" and adjusting wording). Vote: 5 ayes (Curtis, Hom, Rothenberg, Ruiz, Saheba), 1 abstention (Cisneros), 1 absent (not specified).
• Next Steps: The fourth forum (on mobility) is scheduled for December 14, 2020. Staff will continue outreach to underrepresented groups.