MEASURE DD COMMUNITY COALITION MEETING

SEPTEMBER 19, 2005

LAKESIDE GARDEN CENTER

 

Agenda Committee:  Naomi Schiff, Jennie Gerard and Simon Waddington

Minutes by Kathy Raymond, Executive Director, Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation

 

In Attendance:

Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee – Ron Bishop

Chabot Park Highlands Homeowners – Ken Benson

East Bay Bicycle Coalition – Rick Rickard

Garden Center, Inc. – Bruce Cobbledick, Susan Veit, Anne Woodell, Richard Austin, Robert Gould

East Bay Regional Parks District – John Sutter

Friends of the Cleveland Cascade – Barbara Newcombe, Gerry Beaulieu

Friends of Studio One – Patrick Daughton

Coalition of Advocates for Lake Merritt – James Vann

Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation – Kathryn Raymond

Jack London District Association – Simon Waddington

Oakland Heritage Alliance – Naomi Schiff

Interested Citizens – David Bolanos, Susan Harmon, Bill Young, Ignacio Cisnevos

 

From the City of Oakland:

CEDA – Kerry Jo Ricketts-Ferris

City Auditor – Michael Kilian

Council Member Kernighan’s Office – Jennie Gerard

Council Member Quan’s Office – Richard Cowan

Public Works Agency – Joel Peter

Public Works Agency – Lyle Oehler

Public Art Coordinater – Steven Huss

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:10 P.M. by chair Simon Waddington.  The attendees introduced themselves. 

 

The minutes were approved; there had been a few changes that were made in the master minutes after they were previously sent out.

 

A new agenda committee was selected; Ron Bishop, Sandy Threlfall and David Bolanos are the new committee.  The Executive Meeting was set for Thursday, September 29th but it was asked to be moved to Thursday, Oct. 6th from 2-4 p.m.  Ron Bishop and either Naomi Schiff or Simon Waddington will attend.

 

FUTURE AGENDA SUGGESTIONS:

Discuss how coalition aids in getting publicity for the Measure DD Bond Money and what is getting implemented.  It was mentioned that the City is working with a graphic artist and Friends to help layout a newsletter promoting DD’s good works.  It was asked to bring a draft to the coalition when something is outlined, it was also mentioned this is funded from the 5% administrative part of the bond.  It was discussed that we should also look into how we can do a better job of providing fiscal oversight.  It was suggested that the protocol of the Executive Meeting should be discussed and to determine if there is any way to improve that meeting.

 

PROJECT UPDATES:

12th Street is moving along.  The Municipal Boathouse and the parkland around it will be going out to bid around October.  Studio One is out to Bid.  Hope that Lakeshore and 12th Street projects will be out to bid in the Spring.  Union Point Park had its Grand Opening.  More Storm Water filters will be installed around the watershed in about 2 weeks.  The Bubbler System pilot project has been on all summer and has gone well, it’s gotten a lot of accumulation buildup but has not gotten blocked.  The City is beginning to study doing a lakewide system.  There is now power to the fountain and it should be running soon.  Also restoring the one at Harrison and Grand.  Question on the amount allocated for restoring the Pergola and how it doesn’t seem like it will be enough, Joel Peter, indicated that right now that is a big unknown and that they will need to hire someone to look at the Pergola to get a firm estimate on what needs to be done.  Joel has personally looked at it and noticed some dry rot but doesn’t seem to be too bad, but won’t know for sure until have a professional inspect.  There was a question about the funds allocated for Estuary Park and what will happen if they are not needed, it was said that the funds according to the bond language have to be used in that category, before reallocating would need to make sure that the needs of that area (the intent of the bond language) must have been addressed by either private or public funding.  It was asked if there would be a loss of parking at Lakeside Park when done, Kerry Jo said that the plan calls for no net loss of parking.  There may be some loss of parking at the Boathouse with the reconfiguration of the parking lot but that they have plans later in the Bond to reconfigure Bellevue that would add additional parking.  It was suggested that the Project Status sheet that Joel does should have a column stating estimated start and completion dates.  Joel indicated that where this information is available that they list it in the comments section.  The project status sheet was commended and Joel was thanked for putting it together.  Kerry Jo mentioned that they have a few serious contenders for the restaurant at the municipal boathouse.

 

Lyle Oehler, the Project Manager at the City for the 12th Street project brought plans and went through a presentation of the project.  There were concerns about the surfacing being used, i.e. concrete by the lake and the concern that the surfacing used should be researched so it is the best for bikers, runners and pedestrians.  It was stated that when there is concrete by the lake it was because of maintenance issues.  The majority of the pathway by the lake will be decomposed granite (DG) with polymer mixture so okay for ADA but has more natural look of DG.   There will also be DG running trails.  It was stated that the concrete expansion joints make it hard for skating and bikers.  There will also be some rubberized surfacing used by 12th street in some parts for runners and pedestrians.  There were concerns brought up about pedestrian crossings around the 12th Street project where there is an island on one side but not the other so it makes it less safe for pedestrians.  Lyle stated that there were studies done on split islands but that they  wouldn’t allow the appropriate turning radius for cars unless street lights and crosswalks were moved.  Lyle did point out that the reconfiguration would take Lakeshore from 4 lanes to 2 lanes that would make it safer for pedestrians.  The feeling was that the City should care more about pedestrians than the cars as this could cause fatal accidents. 

 

PUBLIC ART:

Steven Huss, the City’s Public Art Coordinator, presented where they were with the public art for Measure DD.  They are in the late stages of adopting a public art plan for Measure DD, but it is not adopted yet.  They have $2.4 million from the bond for public art projects.  They hope to focus the funds and plans and as much as possible integrate them into the physical construction efforts. They hope to have a range of diverse types, styles and media, however, they have had to move forward with a few projects before the official plan was adopted.  Studio One is moving forward, an artist and design concept have been selected.  They will have a final draft to the Public Art Committee on November 7th, a good time to come if have comments.  There is also a committee meeting on October 3rd, Studio One is not on the agenda but you could come to make comments to this one as well.  On November 28th it will go before the Cultural Affairs for approval.  The project consists of lighted pylons by the performance circle, during the day they will reflect shifting colors and at night they will be illuminated.  The first round of proposals nothing fit, so they went back to one of the artists and came up with this concept.  The Friends of Studio One were very supportive of this design and Patrick Daughton thanked Steven Huss for his commitment and help on this project.  They are getting ready to submit an RFQ to commission an artist for the12th St reconstruction project, it will have a fast turn around time, less than a month, it will be both invitation and open to bidders.  There will also be an art component at Fairyland.  They have also done a small commission to have Mildred Howard work with Walter Hood on a design for the waterfront trail markers.  The next projects will be 10th street and 7th street, they will be primarily invitational process working with the design consultants.  They hope to have Gateway pieces marking the waterfront trail at the beginning and end, Estuary park and the Tidewater Trail.  They are also interested in a Gateway piece at 66th Ave. 

 

The Public Art Committee is very interested in having a large focal point piece at the end of Lake Merritt (in the lake) possibly a water feature.  Steven said he wants to do a feasibility study on this.  There was a lot of concern among the members of the coalition that there should not be something else installed in the water and it would take away from the existing view.  They felt that the existing Kaiser Center was already a great view and perhaps they should do something to enhance that.  It was stated they should get rid of the lighted sign by the Kaiser Center as it detracted from the beauty of the building.  A straw vote consensus was taken and no one supported having a focal point in the lake, either no support or abstentions.  James Vann and Naomi Schiff are going to work on a draft statement for the Measure DD Community Coalition to take a position on this idea at the next meeting. 

 

Steven did indicate that there was strong support for the Gateway at the Lakeside Gardens, however that it should tie into a new fence and that they would only have money for the Gate itself but that perhaps this could be a springboard into getting funding from the City on the fence.  Also, he indicated they would be willing to help design it all.  The Coalition showed strong support for this project and the draft statement that Naomi and James are working on would mention this support.  Most likely could put about $60,000 towards the Gate (this is not official yet, just proposed.) 

 

A question on if plans to rehabilitate the sculpture gardens.  Steven indicated that this was never meant to be a permanent exhibition and that there are maintenance issues with this. 

Options stem from removing the sculptures to going back to original artists to remove or rehabilitate.  It was suggested that each piece should be looked at individually.  It was mentioned that maintenance should not stop the rehabilitation of this area and that it sent a very bad precedent that why would we remove existing art because we say we can’t maintain it and then go and put in new art around the City.  There were questions about who actually owned this area, it was stated this was dedicated to the City and there is a plaque commemorating this which would be a good place to start. 

 

Kerry mentioned making a presentation to the Landmarks Preservation Board on October 12th about 12th street park boarders and the municipal boathouse landscape and 18th street pier.

 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

Sandy Threlfall, Ron Bishop and Jennie Gerard went to the last meeting.  Jennie presented that most of the meeting focused on the expenditure of the Bond.  85% of the first bond series of $70 million must be allocated by the end of August next year and the entire 100% must be obligated before the next series of bonds can be issued.  The work around the Lake is going well but a handful of projects around the waterfront are somewhat stalled.  For example, what will happen with the Brooklyn Basin and Estuary Park because of possible private developer funds and needing to do agreements with the Army Corps of Engineers has made some of these projects go slower than anticipated.  There may be some possibility of short-term reallocating the funds as long as the long term bond obligations are met, but the money overall has to be spent in the categories spelled out in the bond, or not allocated at all.  Overall, they are hopeful that they will meet the deadlines but these are the potential areas that may cause problems.

 

The Waterfront Guidelines that Walter Hood developed are available in draft form, PWA is now looking hard at the maintenance requirements. It will go to council later in the fall. It was reminded that Rajappan & Meyer who are working on the 7th and 10th street bridges are supposed to be hiring a bicycle/pedestrian staff person to help them with the design.  They are to the 65% proposal for the 12th St. project.

 

OAK TO NINTH  EIR DISCUSSION:

It was announced that the EIR is out for the Oak to Ninth project.  It is available on-line (though very big) or through the planning commission.  A link will be sent to Kathy Raymond to put on the Friends web site. 

There are three public hearings scheduled, they are:

       Wednesday, September 28th at 6:30 p.m. a Special Meeting of the City Planning Commission in Hearing Room 1, City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza.

       Wednesday, October 12 - 4:30 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Commission at the Lakeside Park Garden Center at 666 Bellevue Ave in the Ebell Room.

       Monday, October 17 - 6:00 p.m. at the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board in Hearing Room 1, City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza

Written comments of the Oak to Ninth Avenue Environmental Impact Report must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 24, 2005, and should be sent to the attention of Margaret Stanzione, Project Planner, City of Oakland, Community and Economic Development Agency, Planning Division, 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 3315, Oakland, CA  94612.

This is also on the Friends web site.  It was mentioned that the written comments are the most important element.  It was asked that if the individual groups have adopted either the Measure DD Community Coalition position statement or other statements they should make sure to get these mailed in to Margaret.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

There will be a community meeting on the Cleveland Cascades on Sept. 28th at the Lakeside Library.  This announcement was sent out to the coalition members via email.

 

Kathy mentioned that a handful of email addresses for individuals on the DD listing were not working and if anyone had the information to please let Kathy know.

 

The next meeting date is October 17th at the Garden Center in the Ebell Room.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.