MEASURE DD COMMUNITY COALITION MEETING
OCTOBER 18, 2004
MONTCLAIR RECREATION CENTERLAKESIDE
GARDEN CENTER
Agenda Committee: Jennie Gerard, Liz Borowiec and James Vann
Minutes by Kathy Raymond, Executive Director, Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation
In Attendance:
Beat 15x NCPC – Jim Ratliff
Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee – Ron Bishop
Chabot Park Highlands Homeowners Assoc. – Ken Benson
East Bay Bicycle Coalition – Rick Rickard
East Bay Regional Parks District – John Sutter, Brian Wiese
Friends of the Cleveland Cascade –Jim Ratliff
Friends of Studio One – Patrick Daughton
Coalition of Advocates for Lake Merritt – James Vann
Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation – Kathryn Raymond
Golden State Audobon Society – John Bowers
Greenlink Taskforce – Nancy Rieser
Jack London Aquatic Center – Robert Kidd, Keith Miller
Lake Merritt Breakfast Club – Aileen Frankel
Lake Merritt Institute –Liz Borowiec
Lakeview Branch Library – Victoria Barbero
Oak to Ninth Community Coalition – Andy Nelson, Jenny Lin
Oakland Heritage Alliance – Naomi Schiff
Oakland Parks Coalition – Jennie Gerard
Urban Ecology – Amy Tanner
Waterfront Action Coalition – Sandy Threlfall
Ethan Silva
Also:
From the City of Oakland:
CEDA – Kerry Jo Ricketts-Ferris
City Auditor – Michael Kilian
Council Member Jean Quan’s Office – Richard Cowan
Council Member Reid’s Office – Pat Mossburg
Public Works Agency – Joel Peter
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 P.M. by chair Ken Benson. The attendees introduced themselves. The agenda was reviewed and the review of the Cathedral of Light plans was moved to the Nov. meeting. There was some discussion on if this should be discussed at a Measure DD meeting but the group felt that there would be an impact by the Cathedral on some of the DD plans and it was worth discussing.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
Liz Borowiec reported on the Meeting that she attended as part of the Agenda Committee. A list of Lake Merritt System wide Improvements had been received that identified about 20 ideas along with a prioritization of what should get funded. On Dec. 14th the Life Enrichment Committee is supposed to meet and be given the Measure DD update and to vote on this list. Projects were prioritized based on how many they could make complete, those that would further expand what was already being done around the lake borders, other projects that had a lot of community momentum or that were on a maintenance list and those that would compliment other projects that were already in place, like the boat dock restorations. Projects include restrooms at 12ths St. and at Athol, some funding to aid in the fire protection around lakeside park, East Ave. Gateway at Athol Park. By the November meeting Kerry Jo feel’s they will have a comfortable enough draft to present the list to the coalition before it goes to city council. The Maintenance Dept. at Public Works is very concerned that there is no maintenance component for any of these projects. The bond does not allow any of the funds to be used for maintenance. Brook Levin, the head of maintenance at Public Works, is working on developing a spreadsheet on what it takes for maintaining different areas. There is some concern among this dept. at the City about the Cleveland Cascades and who will maintain that, the group that is working on the renovations, the Friends of the Cleveland Cascade, say they expect as much City maintenance support in the future as it has been given in the past. Maintenance needs to be advocated for while establishing budget priorities, right now clean streets and parks are a priority. The group feels we all need to be advocates for maintenance.
Kerry Jo indicated that right now they are working on the expenditures but are currently building to the budget they have, though planning comprehensively. For example, as more information is coming in they are now looking into eliminating the culverts at 10th St. instead of building a dam at 7th St. The group asked for a report that would illustrate where we are now to where we thought we were a year ago, in terms of money we have raised. They asked for a staff report on this at the next meeting.
Another issue that had been raised is the land ownership of the Army Corps of engineers over some of the estuary projects in DD. For example, the Tidal Canals are owned in fee by the Corps. There is no funding for clean up from the Corps if they transfer the land. It is going to need to be a political situation at this point on how they resolve the clean up issues. The Group asked if there was any way we could aid in this process, right now the City does not believe so but if they find a need for advocacy or letters they will let the group know.
Goose management is another issue that is being looked into. The City plans to open a public dialogue and do studies on how this can best happen. The City will hire a facilitator to have the community dialogue.
PROJECT STATUS:
There will be a 12th St. public meeting on Wed. Oct. 27th and Studio One has another public meeting set for Oct. 25th at 7 p.m. at Studio One. Flyers were handed out on both meetings and are posted on the Friends web site at www.oaklandparks.org/measure_dd.htm. and on there calendar of events page
OAK to 9th STREET
Harbor Partners came to present there vision for the Oak to 9th St. Project. It is 62 acres that will be primarily residential that they hope will revitalize the waterfront area. They are in the EIR (Environmental Impact Report) process. The site is currently contaminated. The Site is also under a variety of jurisdictions. They think they can do this plan without any public subsidy. They buildings they are looking at implementing are predominately 6 to 8 story properties, with some elements that will have more height. They say they plan large areas for open space, mostly by 5th St. as they are fairly constrained by the railyard. They plan 27 acres of open space which some of will be built partially on a pile supported structure. The wetland enhanced area that the Port of Oakland needed to create after a settlement will remain. They say 45% will be open space and the rest neighborhoods and businesses. The City is creating an RFP to do a charette process. Whoever gets the contract will meet with stakeholder groups individually and talk in small groups and then have an all day Charette towards the end of the process to bring everyone together. The result could be an alternative study, the results right now are open. A question was asked about the Bay Trail continuation along this area, they said there would be continual access on all points that they own. There is one section that they do not have control of, the 5th St. Artists Colony. The narrowest part of their section of the trail would be Clinton Basin, as this area would be more urbanized. They are working with AC transit on bus routes and shuttles, etc. It was asked if they would enhance the wetlands area of the project that the Port created, as it is not yet what was envisioned. They said that they do have a vested interest in this area and so it could be looked into. It was brought up that the road design might not be the best for bicycle traffic, as medians tend to make traffic go faster. They did say there will be bike lanes and that the speed would be controlled by stop signs and traffic lights.
Another presentation was given by concerned community members about their interpretations of what is happening at Oak to 9th and what should be given further thought. Sandy Threlfall, John Sutter and members of the Oakland Heritage Alliance, Oak to 9th Community Coalition and Urban Ecology presented their views. A portion of the original Estuary Policy Plan was handed out and it was shown that a lot of areas that had been set aside for parkland were now shown as places for condos and housing. A big concern was to show where are the public benefits as this is public land. Economic, historical, open space and other benefits are a concern as they feel there has been little public process in developing this plan. In the current plan the 9th Ave. Terminal would be demolished, this is the last such terminal on the West Coast and the Heritage Alliance has applied for landmark status on this building. They would like to see this building reused and not torn down. The Oak to 9th Coalition pointed out that they are concerned with affordable housing and would like solid commitments that there would be local hire for construction. Also that what happens here will create opportunities that will be welcoming for everyone that lives in Oakland. Urban Ecology is working with the San Antonio Neighborhood that is right across the railyard from this project. They are looking for connections that could help tie the communities together and offer mutual benefits. They are looking at 5th Ave. as an area that may help connect the adjacent community. They would like to know what the character of the project will be and how to funnel people to this area and not to create a divide. Sandy Threlfall mentioned that she had just gotten back from a conference where they stated the main elements of any process is the three C’s – Conflict, Contract and Community, and Community is thought of as a verb.
The developers expect the EIR process to have a draft by 2005 and the Charette process would begin this winter. The City Planning Dept. is now the ones in charge of the planning process. It was brought up that to do this project they would need to amend or change the Estuary Policy Plan that had been adopted. Again this plan didn’t contemplate residential properties at the time, just commercial and open space. Economic turns now may show that there is more or a need for residential than large commercial properties. It was also asked if elements like green housing and the façade types have been looked into. That has not been outlined as of yet. The presenters mentioned that is you are concerned about this project to talk to John Sutter or the others. Also, the group encouraged Naomi Schiff, of the Oakland Heritage Alliance to put together a walking tour of this area.
Sandy Threlfall mentioned that the Waterfront Center awards program just gave top honors to the East Shore State Park and Trail Plan.
Jim Ratliff mentioned that the Friends of the Cleveland Cascade had received at $32,500 grant from the De Long-Sweet Foundation and another $11,000 grant from the same foundation as well. They also are eligible for another $32,500 challenge grant if they can match these funds and the other $11,000 is match eligible so they need to raise another $21,500 to qualify.
It was mentioned that Phase 1 was completed at the Dock at 17th and Madison, it was noted that there should be a dedication party
Next Agenda Items that were suggested:
The next meeting dates were set, they will continue to be on the third Monday of the month. The next meeting date is November 15th at the Garden Center in the Ebell Room.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.