Alameda · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Alameda public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Downtown Commercial Zoning Modernization
The city is updating outdated zoning rules for Park and Webster streets to help fill empty storefronts. The changes let more types of businesses open without a lengthy conditional use permit, making it easier for small mom-and-pop shops to set up downtown.
South Shore Commercial-to-Residential Conversion
The planning board approved converting unused commercial space at the South Shore Beach and Tennis Club into 16 new residential units. While city staff supported the housing addition, several residents raised serious concerns about ongoing property management issues, broken elevators, rodent problems, and bright sports court lighting.
FY 2026-27 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Subrecipient Funding
The board reviewed community development block grant priorities and funding timelines for the upcoming fiscal year. Discussions focused on ensuring equitable RFP processes and addressing community needs like affordable housing and vulnerable populations.
Housing and Human Services Status and Work Plan
The division is drafting its next five-year strategic plan covering 2027 through 2032. The board discussed shelter bed configurations, supportive housing transitions, and homelessness prevention strategies.
Pacific Avenue and Wilma Chan Way Greenway Crossing Safety
The city is adding a traffic signal, median diverter, and turning restrictions to a dangerous intersection to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
Gibbons Drive Sidewalks and Trees Plan
Public Works introduced a long-term plan to address severe sidewalk and curb damage along Gibbons Drive while managing 112 mature liquid amber trees. Residents overwhelmingly urged the city to preserve the canopy and explore alternative engineering solutions instead of adopting a 20 percent tree removal cap.
Alameda Point Disposition Strategy and Leases
Poseidon Tech Corporation is leasing Building 11 at Alameda Point to manufacture autonomous aircraft, bringing new jobs and significant private investment to a long-vacant facility.
Outage Management System Implementation
Alameda Municipal Power is planning to adopt a new software platform to streamline outage tracking, integrate multiple data sources, and improve customer notifications and outage maps.
Emergency Preparedness
The city has partially activated its Emergency Operations Center to prepare for winter storms and high king tides around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Mastic Senior Center ADA Upgrades
City staff presented plans to upgrade the Mastic Senior Center to meet ADA standards, addressing pathway and restroom accessibility over a multi-phase construction timeline. Commissioners and residents emphasized the need for automatic door openers and immediate access solutions.
Calendar Year 2027 User Fee Adjustments
Councilmember Jensen reported that the StopWaste board enacted a modest new countywide fee to be included in hauler bills later this year.
FY 2026-27 Park Prioritization Plan & Capital Projects
The commission evaluated the department's park prioritization plan to determine how resources and improvement projects will be scheduled for city parks in the upcoming fiscal year.
Clement Avenue Truck Route Restriping and Neighborhood Impacts
Residents and council members raised safety concerns about designating Clement Avenue as a heavy truck route given recent residential development and bike trail installations, prompting a review of alternative options.
Rise Up Alameda Guaranteed Income Final Evaluation
The city reviewed the final results of its two-year guaranteed income pilot program, which gave $1,000 monthly to 150 low-income households. Participants showed higher savings and lower stress, though securing long-term funding remains a major hurdle.
Civil Immigration Enforcement Restrictions on City Property
Responding to community concerns, the council directed staff to explore prohibiting federal immigration enforcement from using city-owned properties for large-scale operations.
Campaign Donation Disclosure Requirements
The council added a rule requiring elected officials to publicly disclose campaign donations over $100 from parties with business before the council to increase transparency.
Public Records Requests and AI Impact
Staff noted a recent surge in public records act requests, potentially driven by AI tools and automated searches for contracts and bids. The annual report will track these statistics to help the city understand workload trends.
Mayoral Election
Voters are sizing up mayoral candidate Tracy Jensen ahead of the November election to see what she's bringing to the table for Alameda. Her platform and background are taking center stage as locals decide who should lead the city next.
The Road Home: 5-Year Homelessness Plan
With temporary COVID-19 relief funds expiring by 2028, city staff are exploring alternative funding, county Measure W support, and potential conversion to permanent supportive housing.
Homeless Services and Shelter Provider Contracts
Dignity Village interim housing has funding secured through mid-2028, prompting city staff to explore options like county Measure W funds, state Homekey grants, or transitioning the site into permanent supportive housing.
Fernside Boulevard Traffic Calming and Bikeways Project
Residents and commissioners debated the proposed Fernside Boulevard redesign and its connection to neighborhood traffic calming and intersection changes at Gibbons Drive and High Street.
Mid-Year Transportation Status and Capital Projects
Staff reviewed ongoing citywide transportation projects, including paving, neighborhood greenways, bridge repairs, and transit improvements.
Draft 2026-2030 Library Strategic Plan
The library board reviewed and approved a comprehensive five-year strategic plan aimed at expanding access, improving user experience, and strengthening staff capacity. The plan incorporates community survey feedback from over 1,600 participants.
AC Transit Funding and Service Challenges
AC Transit officials warned of a major budget deficit and potential service cuts unless long-term regional tax measures pass.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
The city adopted an ordinance implementing state law SB 346, empowering Alameda to require short-term rental platforms to report property-level listing and tax collection data.
Accessory Dwelling Unit and Condominium Conversion Zoning Updates
The city is updating its zoning code to align with state laws regarding ADUs and to allow property owners to convert ADUs into condominiums for separate sale. The board generally supported offering homeownership options while protecting rental housing stock.
Social Worker Library Services Extension
The library is rolling out automatic library card access for all Alameda Unified School District students and introducing free 24/7 online tutoring through Homework CA.
Main Library Redesign and Automated Book Sorter
Progress continues on reenvisioning the main library and installing an automated book checking system, though ADA review requirements have caused minor scheduling coordination with Public Works.
Youth Baseball 'Majors' Division Field Relocation
The commission was set to consider relocating youth baseball's 'Majors' division games from Littlejohn Park to Lower Washington Park and Tillman Park.
City Aquatic Center Construction Contract Award
The city awarded a $32.3 million construction contract to Wickman Construction to build the long-awaited City Aquatic Center at 800 Atlantic Avenue, providing much-needed year-round pool access for community members.
Minimum Wage Ballot Measure
Alameda is clashing over a proposed $30 minimum wage ballot measure. A new county study warns it'll cost the city a massive $33 million, but backers are fighting back, saying the study's math is totally off because it ignores the ten-year phase-in plan.
Library Staffing and Recruitment
Library staff noted a massive surge in applications for a library assistant opening, reflecting high interest in library careers.
Historic Preservation and Redevelopment of 2320-2322 Lincoln Avenue
The board evaluated whether to allow major rehabilitation, reconstruction, or partial demolition of two late-19th-century buildings in downtown Alameda. Residents and board members debated balancing historical preservation with the practical reality of severe structural decay and the need to revitalize an eyesore.
Transportation Grant Applications ($5.03M)
The City is applying for over $5 million in grants from the Alameda County Transportation Commission to fund paving, neighborhood greenways, street safety improvements, and bridge feasibility studies.
Stardust Gardens Housing Project
The city is working to build 80 units of supportive housing at Alameda Point. The project is currently stalled due to a funding gap, and the city is stepping in to provide bridge financing to keep it on track.
Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club Interim Stadium Proposal
The Oakland Roots and Soul soccer clubs are seeking a use permit to host professional soccer matches for up to five years at their Harbor Bay Parkway training facility, bringing up to 24 major matches and 8,000 attendees annually. The project involves installing modular seating, temporary amenities, and managing substantial game-day traffic and parking.
Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle Phase 2 Pilot Project
Caltrans and Alameda County Transportation Commission are launching major construction on the Webster and Posey tubes. Fortunately, Webster Tube work will utilize overnight closures instead of continuous 24-7 lane restrictions, easing daytime traffic.
Charter Clean-Up and Real Property Lease Reforms
The council placed two charter amendment measures on the November ballot to remove outdated language and streamline commercial lease rules, allowing leases under 10 years to be approved by resolution rather than a lengthy ordinance process.
Infrastructure and Park Improvements
The commission was scheduled to review accessibility upgrades for Longfellow Park to ensure compliance with ADA standards and improve public usability.
Infrastructure Bond Measure for November 2026 Ballot
The city moved forward with putting an infrastructure bond measure on the November ballot to fund vital public improvements across the island.
Bike Lane Parking Prohibition and Enforcement
The city created a uniform ban on parking in all types of bike lanes with a $79 fine to protect cyclists and school children.
Downtown Commercial Zoning Streamlining
The city is updating codes for Park Street and Webster Street to make it easier for new businesses to open and reduce storefront vacancies.
Little John Park Sports Field Usage and Neighborhood Impacts
Neighbors raised concerns regarding the exclusive use of Little John Park baseball field by Alameda Little League, citing a lack of early notification, restricted public park access, and perimeter fencing. The council referred the MOU back to staff and the commission to explore alternatives.
Ratio Utility Billing Systems (RUBS) Regulation
City rent program staff presented potential policy options to regulate or ban Ratio Utility Billing Systems (RUBS) for rental housing to address tenant complaints regarding fairness and transparency in shared utility costs.
Alameda Marina Master Plan Amendment
The developer of Alameda Marina asked to adjust its affordable housing requirements to align with the city's newly revised inclusionary housing ordinance. This allows Phase III (the Foundry) to move forward with 21 very low-income units while keeping construction on track for a July start.
Main Street Neighborhood North Area Development Plan
The board reviewed planning concepts for developing the Main Street Neighborhood North area at Alameda Point. The discussion helps shape future growth and neighborhood design in the former naval base area.
Fiscal Year 2026-27 Mid-Cycle Budget Update
Council reviewed and adopted mid-year budget adjustments, incorporating departmental requests, one-time revenues, and grant funding while maintaining fiscal restraint.
Greenwood Golf Associates Inc. Litigation
The city is handling an ongoing legal dispute involving Greenwood Golf Associates Inc., with the city council giving closed-door instructions to the city attorney.
City Infrastructure Funding and Needs
City staff presented an update on a potential 300 million dollar local infrastructure bond to address aging roads, storm drains, bridges, and emergency facilities.
West Alameda Transportation Demand Management Association Annual Report
The commission reviewed WATMA's 2025 performance, highlighting successes with the water shuttle and ongoing work to evaluate transit pass options for residential and commercial members.