MEASURE DD COMMUNITY COALITION MEETING
APRIL MAY
15th, 2006
LAKESIDE GARDEN CENTER
Agenda Committee: Liz Borowiec, Sandra Threlfall and John Bowers
Minutes by Kathy Raymond, Executive Director, Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation
In Attendance:
Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee – Ron Bishop
CALM – James Vann
East Bay Bicycle Coalition – Robert Raburn
East Bay Regional Parks – John Sutter
Essex HOA Board Member & Residens – Joe Matera
Friends of the Cleveland Cascade – Jim Ratliff
Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation – Kathryn Raymond, Judy Johnson
Garden Center, Inc. Anne Woodell
Lake Merritt Institute – Liz Borowiec
Oakland Heritage Alliance – Naomi Schiff
Waterfront Action – Sandra Threlfall
Interested Citizens –David Mix, James Yow, Robert Schwartz, John Wilson, Zoin Horn, R. Dean Galloway
From the City of Oakland:
City of Oakland Public Works – Joel Peter
Council Member Kernighan’s Office – Jennie Gerard
City Budget Office – Michael Kilian
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 P.M. by chair Sandra Threlfall. The attendees introduced themselves. There were no changes to the previous minutes.
Non-Profit Policy
Last month the coalition had wanted the City to provide an update. Lily Soo Hoo was contacted, but stated that the draft policy addressing partnership between non-profits and the City is still undergoing review process and has not been completed. It is not in place and I don't have a policy that I can share with the Coalition at this time. Sandy Threlfall indicated that she felt this was unacceptable, that in going back and reviewing the minutes it was in December of 2003 that we had begun this discussion. Anne Woodell indicated that in previous bond measures there had been language in the bond that spelled out that non-profits would manage a portion of the bond funds but that was not in Measure DD. It was indicated that we have 70 million in the first rounds. The Bond was created knowing that it wasn’t enough to implement the entire vision but that it would provide leverage to get additional funding. It was asked how non-profits could help go after private funds for some of these projects to help leverage needed funds, as the City for the most part goes after governmental funding. It was noted that we needed to create a structured letter to send to the City about this policy that was discussed about creating a standard template on how non-profits could effectively work with the City and partner on these efforts. Ron Bishop and Kathy Raymond will work on something. Jim Ratliff also said he would review and it was suggested to see if C.J. Hirschfield also might want to review. Kathy Raymond indicated that there had been a meeting with the City around this policy where some good progress was being made but that had been over a year ago. Libby Schaff and Justin Horner were aiding on the process. One of the items that had been discussed was not assessing some of the standard administrative fees on the private funding. Sandra Threlfall indicated that she was working with the City on providing Public Works with a Budget from the General Funds so they wouldn’t have to assess so many fees on projects, as currently that is the only way they are funded.
COUNCIL UPDATE:
Joel Peter reported that on May 2nd they made 5 Staff recommendations to Council. He stated the Council approved three of them.
1. Traffic changes on Lakeshore/Lakeside and 12th St.
There was discussion around the restroom, it was noted by the City that there were safety concerns as the current location left a small opening between the restroom and boathouse where it was felt someone could hide there are apparently also some drainage issues. Also, they are now talking about a proposed second entrance to the restaurant. It was stated that it would be probably a couple hundred thousand for a new bathroom. The bathroom proposed is a new style, similar to the ones at Union Point Park. Supposedly, for safety reasons they are individual stalls with a gap under the doors so you can see if someone is in the stall. David Mix questioned whether or not the Council actually approved the bathroom and said he thought the design was hideous. He also noted, because there are no sinks in the bathroom, but apparently somewhat away from the stalls that it could be very messy, especially if children has accidents. It was noted that there are not enough funds currently allocated to the boathouse project for the amount of work that is now defined and Joel mentioned that they will make a recommendation to reallocate those funds from the sailboat house project in the same bond category.
The two recommendations that were not currently approved were the following:
At the June 20th Council Meeting they have the LLAD, Oak To Ninth, Parking Lot issues, the Trees and many more hot topic issues. It was noted by the Coalition that the Council needs to meet more often because they end up having such long meetings and important issues are getting shortchanged, especially the public input on them. Liz Boroweic agreed to draft a letter asking for the Council to set up another meeting. Since the meeting the Council did create a June 27th meeting. The two remaining items re Measure DD Lake Merritt Projects, which previously were expected to appear on the Council's June 20th meeting agenda, will come before the Council on June 27th. Those two items are 1) parking at the Municipal Boat House and 2) removal of existing trees to make way for the projects.
PARKING LOT PROPOSAL:
Joe Matera, from the Essex, presented their revised plan for parking that would save the meadow north of the Boathouse. They said that they can put in a Bioswell to ease one of the concerns. They also worked with the City and as a compromise will eat into the Meadow about 10 to 12 ft. by 3 blocks to make more space for parking along the street. There would be a median strip and 2 rows of parallel parking and the small parking lot by the Camron Stanford House. There was concern about free parking with no restrictions and that the lot would just fill up with people that worked nearby who would use the lot all day, defeating the purpose of the lot for the park. Today people need permits to park here. It was also noted that the Camron Stanford House and the Rowing Club that uses the docks here should be involved in this process. Ron Bishop mentioned that no parking is needed in the Parks. That there are current lots a couple blocks away and that alternatives for parking nearby but not in the park should be looked at, such as 13th Street. He mentioned that the City is looking at minimal solutions and not the real problems. Robert Raburn from the East Bay Bicycle Coalition mentioned that the plan does not provide a clear Class 2 bike lane and that the lower lot would conflict with the pedestrian path. Joe Matera did not think that their proposal conflicted with the path any more than the original plan did.
A new agenda committee was selected; Judy Johnson, John Sutter and Ron Bishop are on the committee.
PROJECTS UPDATE:
Studio One is under construction. The City received two grants for the bay trail totaling $446,000 from the Transportation Authority and the Bay Trail folks. These will be used for Alameda Ave to around the Owens Il. Building. John Sutter asked if anyone knew if the rumors were true that the City Staff is looking at the Oak To Ninth project around Estuary Park to do a feasibility study of extending the park to the street and not turning the Cash & Carry into condos. This is in Nancy’s District and no one knew about this.
Robert Raburn mentioned three items that the Bicycle Coalition feels important.
FUTURE AGENDA SUGGESTIONS:
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. and the next meeting is to take place on June 19th from 7-9 p.m. at the Sailboat House at 568 Bellevue Ave (NOTE LOCATION CHANGE).