Title
ACCEPT: Facilities and Transportation Committee Meeting Highlights of May 9, 2012
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Schedule approval of the new lease with Family Services Counseling and Community Resource Center (approved at the May 21, 2012 City Council meeting)
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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO
CITY COUNCIL FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
May 9, 2012
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
San Leandro City Hall
835 East 14th Street
San Leandro, California
Sister Cities Gallery
HIGHLIGHTS
Committee Members: Councilmember Cutter, Vice Mayor Gregory, Councilmember Starosciak
City Staff Present: Mike Bakaldin, Ken Joseph, Carolyn Knudtson, Lianne Marshall, Maureen O'Callaghan, Tara Peterson, Nick Thom, Uche Udemezue
Outside Presenters: None
Public Present: Cleo Goodwin
The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. The Committee appointed Vice Mayor Gregory to chair the committee.
1. Discussion Regarding Family Services Counseling Lease
Tara Peterson gave a brief overview of the proposed lease agreement with Family Services Counseling and Community Resource Center. Tara explained that the City entered into a lease agreement with the Family Services Counseling fifteen years ago. The lease is set to expire in August 2012. Family Services Counseling contacted the City in November to express interest in renewing the contract. Staff would like to restructure the lease and bring it up to date and add some maintenance requirements. Family Services Counseling has taken care of all the maintenance items except the improvements to the parking lot. Family Services Counseling asked the City to commit to the new lease before incurring the cost to improve the parking lot. The parking lot improvements must completed, inspected, and approved by Public Works staff by August 15, 2012 for the new lease to take effect on September 1, 2012. The original rental amount was $1.00 per year. The City will increase it to $100.00 per year with this new lease. Staff is asking for Committee recommendation to enter into the new lease.
Discussion ensued. Staff responded to questions from the Committee. Councilmember Starosciak asked if the building is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. Mike Bakaldin stated that an ADA compliance inspection was not performed by City staff, but the parking stalls in the parking lot have to be up to current ADA standards. He stated that he is not certain that there are currently ramps into the building. Councilmember Starosciak asked that staff look into that and ensure that everything is to ADA standards.
Councilmember Cutter stated that she is concerned that the necessary upgrades and maintenance will fall on the City once the lease is signed. Uche Udemezue stated that the responsibility for maintenance belongs to Family Services Counseling as outlined in the lease agreement. Councilmember Starosciak would like to see that there is a plan in place for ADA compliance. Councilmember Gregory asked if the funding sources are in place to keep the center open. Mike Bakaldin stated that when there is a need for services, Family Services Counseling goes out and finds the funding.
Committee Recommendation
The committee recommends the City Council schedule approval of the new lease with Family Services Counseling and Community Resource Center.
2. Discussion Regarding Marina Picnic Area Replacement
Nick Thom gave a brief presentation regarding the Marina Picnic Area Replacement project. Nick stated that the picnic areas previously had trellis over them for shade. Over time, the trellises rotted, became a hazard, and were removed. There are currently Measure WW Funds available to renovate these picnic areas. Nick showed photographs of options for sun screens and wind screens made of various materials provided by the consultant for the project. He stated that staff preferred the wood option over the metal and fabric options for wind screens, and preferred the fabric option for the sun screens. Nick explained that staff is asking for Committee approval of the wood materials for the wind screens, and fabric materials for the sun screens. He explained that conceptual plans will be taken to the Farmer's Market for public input before the consultant proceeds with the next phase of the design. Construction is planned for the end of this year.
Discussion ensued. Staff responded to questions from the Committee. Councilmember Cutter inquired about the guarantee for the fabric materials. Nick responded that there is a 20-year warranty. Councilmember Starosciak asked if the fabric sails will be able to withstand the wind at the Marina. Nick stated that the fabric is made to hold up in 70-80 mph winds and the constant wind will not damage the sails. Councilmember Starosciak asked if there has been a discussion regarding solar panels. Nick replied no. Councilmember Starosciak asked if there is a way to include artistic features in the project. Carolyn Knudtson responded that imprints are possible in the concrete. Councilmember Gregory stated that he has some concerns about the name if there is going to be a transition from the Marina to the Shoreline. He asked if the park will continue to be called Marina Park if the marina is gone. Carolyn stated that changing the name of the park has not been discussed.
The Committee approved of the proposed materials to be used for the Marina Picnic Area Replacement project and moving forward with the plans.
3. Discussion Regarding Caltrans and East 14th Street Paving Project
Ken Joseph gave a brief presentation regarding Caltrans' East 14th Street paving project. He explained that the project extends approximately 2,100 feet from Davis Street to Thornton Street. The top 2 inches of asphalt will be replaced and new striping will be done. The project went to bid and the contractor will do the project during night hours to avoid traffic issues and for minimal impact to residents. The contractor will send notices to the property owners impacted by the project and "No Parking" signs will go up five days before the project begins. The project is fully supervised by Caltrans.
Discussion ensued. Staff responded to questions from the Committee. Councilmember Starosciak asked if the asphalt being replaced is the ground asphalt that was used in previous projects. Ken responded that it is not ground asphalt, but is material similar to what was used on Marina Boulevard. Councilmember Starosciak asked if there will be any interruptions to Lit San Leandro. Ken stated that City staff will monitor the project to ensure that the conduit is not disturbed. Councilmember Cutter asked if East 14th Street will be closed in sections during construction, or will it be closed completely. Ken stated that one lane in each direction will remain open. Councilmember Gregory asked if bus service will be affected. Ken explained that bus service should not be an issue; AC Transit is very accommodating when there is temporary work being done.
4. Discussion Regarding AC Transit BRT
Uche Udemezue gave a brief overview of the recent developments regarding AC Transit BRT. He explained that citizens have raised valid points of concern, but AC Transit has yet to answer them adequately, and staff is not completely satisfied with the responses. Uche explained that a very small segment of San Leandro is included in the BRT project, but that there are impacts to that segment. The project changes the dynamics of how bus riders travel down East 14th Street. AC Transit needs to address some issues. A Town Hall meeting is scheduled for May 31 with AC Transit in the South Offices. The project will be brought to Council in June.
Discussion ensued. Councilmember Starosciak stated that the AC Transit elected officials who represent San Leandro are Mark Williams and Elsa Ortiz. It is their responsibility to represent the constituents on this matter; not the responsibility of the Councilmembers. She reiterated her feeling that there should be a conversation between the elected officials from both agencies to craft a solution that would be beneficial to the city of San Leandro and at the same time accommodate the transportation ambitions of AC Transit. It did not have to be an 'all or nothing' situation.
If the previously scheduled meeting were still to be held, Councilmember Cutter would like that meeting to be called a Public Meeting rather than a Town Hall Meeting because most residents will be working during the scheduled 8:30 a.m. meeting time. Councilmember Gregory stated that from a policy standpoint, this has been a tough project. Losing service is a concern, and it is taking a step backward. To suffer a loss of service is not acceptable. Councilmember Cutter stated that there are a number of issues that need to be worked out and a number of questions that need to be answered by AC Transit.
All three members of the Committee then concluded and agreed that, in place of the scheduled public meeting on May 31st, a meeting between two members of the Committee and the two AC Transit board members representing San Leandro should be held. They also agreed that staff from both the City and AC Transit should be present at the meeting as well. Councilmember Cutter and Vice Mayor Gregory were selected to represent the Committee.
5. Project Updates / Discussion
Committee members reviewed a Project Update list. Staff responded to questions from the Committee. Councilmember Starosciak asked what the plan is for the Triangle project. Uche responded that money that was left over from Westgate will be used on the Triangle project after the Alameda County Transportation Commission's (ACTC's) approval. Ken Joseph stated that Caltrans has approved the geometric design for the project.
6. Public Comments
Cleo Goodwin stated that AC Transit is doing an exciting program. She explained that she works with Easy Pass Programs at AC Transit. The program is a deeply discounted annual bus pass that allows the users to go anywhere AC Transit goes at any time. It is a group transit benefit with a defined benefit pool. A group pays set fees for everyone in their pool. Details can be reviewed at www.ACTransit.org for more information.
7. Committee Member Comments
Councilmember Starosciak stated that she would like to add the AC Transit Easy Pass Program to the agenda to discuss the benefits for HOA's in the TOD area, and for an employee benefit.
Councilmember Starosciak stated that Councilmember Souza requested an accounting of the Measure WW Funds. She asked that staff put together some sort of accounting of the project list for Councilmembers.
Councilmember Starosciak commented on the Green Stripes Bike Lane Project in San Jose. She stated that it is a great idea and would like staff to research it for safety reasons in City bike lanes.
Councilmember Gregory stated that he attended a meeting regarding Safe Routes to Schools. He would like to see the project information to come back to the Facilities Committee for further discussion.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.