Why should you attend a City Council [1] meeting? At these meetings, you get firsthand information on decisions affecting Alameda—strategic plans, budgets, local ordinances, and more—and you have a chance to influence the outcome by voicing your opinion directly to your elected officials. Below is a summary of key issues planned for discussion at the April 1 meeting, followed by information on how you can participate.
[2]April 1 Regular Agenda Summary
The Regular Agenda is part of the overall agenda [3] and includes the key issues to be discussed and voted on. Below is a summary of the April 1 Regular Agenda issues and why they matter:
- Mayor’s State of the City Address. The mayor will reprise her State of the City Address [4] which she presented at Penumbra on March 20. City photographer Maurice Ramirez created an intro video [5].
- Economic Development Status Update. The Status Update will report on the City’s economic development efforts over the past six months and planned initiatives for the next six months, with an emphasis on a new Storefront Vacancy Assistance Program [6] (link downloads document).
- Reviewing 2024 Annual Reports on the Housing Element, Transportation Choices Plan, and Vision Zero Action Plan. The Housing Element [7] is Alameda’s housing plan for the years 2023-2031. The Transportation Choices Plan [8] provides a framework for implementing transit, while the Vision Zero Action Plan [9] aims to reduce traffic deaths and life-changing injuries to zero. The Planning Board previously reviewed these reports [10].
- Reviewing the 2025 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) Mid-Cycle Update and 2024 Annual Report. The CARP Update [11] (link downloads document) delineates Alameda’s ambitious plan [12] for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through improvements to transportation, buildings, energy use, and waste management. The Annual Report details the City’s progress.
- Ordinance Amending the Municipal Code to Limit the Use of Designated Parking Spaces to Electric Vehicles that are Connected for Electric Charging Purposes. This ordinance will make it unlawful to park in a public parking space designated for Electric Vehicles, unless the vehicle is connected to a charger.
- Appointing New Members to the Persons with Disabilities and Golf Commissions. The Commission on Persons with Disabilities [13] addresses issues affecting people with disabilities, while the Golf Commission [14] advises the City Council on golf course related issues.
How you can participate
The meeting will be held on April 1 at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue.
Members of the public may comment on Non-Agenda Items, the Consent Calendar, and Regular Agenda Items. The Non-Agenda portion of the meeting provides a chance to address the Council regarding any matter not on the agenda over which the Council has jurisdiction. The Consent Calendar is intended for routine items approved by a single motion. The Regular Agenda is the main portion of the meeting where each issue receives a presentation and time for Council discussion and public comment.
Requests for reasonable accommodations can be made by emailing the City Clerk’s office at [email protected] [15] or calling 510-747-4800.
For Zoom registration, click here [16]. For telephone participants, the Zoom phone number is 669-900-9128 and the Meeting ID is 875 1020 6667.
Information to assist with remote participation is available online in the Public Comment and City Council Meeting Guide [17]. The meeting can also be viewed on the City of Alameda’s Facebook page [18]. Please note that comments posted there are not monitored.
For each issue, public speakers will have three minutes to speak if there are fewer than five speakers or two minutes to speak if there are five or more speakers.
Community members may also email Council Members [19] on issues of interest before meetings.
Contributing writer Karin K. Jensen covers boards and commissions for the Alameda Post [20]. Contact her via [email protected] [21]. Her writing is collected at https://linktr.ee/karinkjensen [22] and https://alamedapost.com/Karin-K-Jensen [23].