In a well-attended meeting on February 4, City Council received an update on the Alameda Police Department (APD), which revealed a strong increase in hiring, improvements in training and technology use, and a data-driven approach to crime fighting. In 2024, overall crime dropped 12%, with a 37% decline in burglaries, 25% decline in auto thefts, and 5% drop in larceny theft.
Council also held a work session on the draft Urban Forest Plan. The Plan aims to increase canopy cover from 11.2% to 20% citywide by 2055, improving social equity and quality of life. A hot point of debate was the desire for taller shade trees versus the need to avoid power lines.
In other business, Council authorized the City Manager to execute a lease amendment with Astra Space Operations for Building 360 at Alameda Point allowing Astra time to partially defer lease payments while it recovers revenue streams in the wake of its reorganization. Council also appointed Joshua Bevan and Arthur Brito as members of the Historical Advisory Board.
APD update
Office of Police Chief Captain Alan Kuboyama and Chief of Police Nishant Joshi reported on APD’s work over the last three years. APD hired Chief Joshi in June 2021. The police chief brought extensive knowledge and experience from his 23 years with the Oakland Police Department.
Since then, APD has filled 107 positions through hiring or promotion and implemented two reorganizations. In March 2023, Council unanimously supported a hiring incentive using existing savings to attract police officer candidates. The $75,000 incentive, requiring a five-year employment commitment, doubled the rate at which APD hired personnel. The patrol division is now fully staffed, and all professional staff positions are filled. The Department added a Crime Analyst and a Police Auditor.
APD has developed and updated its policies such as on the use of force, misconduct, vehicle pursuits, body-worn cameras, mental health response, and militarized equipment. Use of force now triggers multiple levels of review, including an independent review by the Police Auditor.
APD is engaged in ongoing training, particularly around de-escalation. All officers learn to prioritize de-escalation over the use of force in potentially volatile encounters. The Department expects to achieve Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation within three years. CALEA assists police agencies with developing best practices that exceed industry standards.
APD has implemented technology to improve performance, including SPIDR Tech Technology, which automatically texts status updates to callers, providing them with case numbers and allowing them to rate APD’s response. Unsatisfactory ratings result in a follow-up call from a commander.
APD was the first department in California to purchase Truleo technology that reviews 100% of body-worn camera footage. In 2022, Council authorized static license plate reader technology to help identify vehicles involved in criminal activities. Additionally, Council authorized mobile license plate reader systems in all patrol vehicles.
Operational changes and crime trends
In 2021, APD began applying a data-driven approach to crime fighting, and the City was “redistricted” based on where APD receives service calls. APD now has three geographic “areas.”.
In 2023, Chief Joshi created a fourth area comprising all Alameda businesses. Although this area is not geographically based, crimes at businesses contribute significantly to overall crime. A fourth commander is responsible for this area. Chief Joshi noted, “We’re standing up a bicycle patrol team, so our business districts will see more of that as well.”
APD encourages community members to attend community beat meetings to meet the officers serving their neighborhood, learn about crime trends, and work collaboratively to prevent crime. For instance, community members can form Neighborhood Watch groups, register their private security cameras to assist APD in solving crimes and learn about Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).
APD’s efforts are paying off. Industry standards suggest that a 5-10% reduction in annual crime is significant. In 2024, The City saw an overall crime reduction of 12% (link downloads document), including Group A and B crimes.
The rate of crimes against persons is low. Instead, the drivers of crime in Alameda are property crimes, specifically burglary, larceny-theft, and auto theft. These three crimes account for approximately 72% of all Group A crimes and will remain APD’s areas of focus.
Larceny theft declined by 5%. Auto thefts were down 25%, and burglaries were down by 37%. A new trend in burglaries involves organized teams targeting businesses, using vehicles to create entry points and as getaway cars.
Since 2021, traffic enforcement citations have increased by approximately 62%. Staff prioritizes dangerous vehicle code violations, targeting enforcement along high-injury corridors. APD plans to add one or two new traffic enforcement officers to prioritize traffic enforcement further.
Draft Urban Forest Plan
Council held a work session on the draft Urban Forest Plan. Sustainability and Resilience Manager Danielle Mieler presented the plan, which will update the 2010 Master Street Tree Plan, expanding its scope to include park trees and trees on private and other non-City properties.
The plan was developed through extensive community engagement, and the City continues to seek public feedback through February 14.
Mieler discussed how trees enhance residents’ mental and physical health and beautify and define neighborhoods. They enhance the environment by removing pollution and cleaning the air. Trees reduce stormwater runoff, improve water quality, and support wildlife.
As temperatures increase, trees provide shade and reduce the surrounding air temperature. Shaded surfaces can be 20 to 40 degrees cooler than unshaded areas, making it more comfortable to bike and walk.
The Urban Forest Plan’s vision is a collection of healthy, diverse, resilient trees supported by sustainable resources and management practices. Its four main goals are maintaining and growing a healthy urban forest, increasing tree canopy cover, developing management resources, and increasing tree protection.
The urban forest canopy covers 11.2% of Alameda, ranging from 5.1% to 20.9% by census tract, with lower-income tracts generally having fewer trees. The plan aims to advance social equity and improve quality of life by providing the benefits of an urban tree canopy to all community members. A Priority Planting Score will guide tree planting by census tract for a more equitably distributed canopy cover.
The Climate Action and Resiliency Plan targets planting 350 trees yearly to achieve a canopy cover of 20% by 2055. As part of the update, the City updated its preferred tree species list to include species appropriate for Alameda’s current and anticipated future climate.
Council and public feedback
Maximum tree height was a significant point of debate during public comment. Tim Haines, General Manager for Alameda Municipal Power, discussed how tree species with a maximum height of 25 feet are appropriate under utility lines to avoid conflict with wires. City General Manager Jennifer Ott pointed out that the City averages 5.5 tree incidents per month related to power lines, noting this is “not to be taken lightly.”
Nonetheless, numerous public members called for taller trees, with one asking for more coastal live oaks in parks, saying they have “high play value” and high value as a native species supporting wildlife.
Other speakers called for more undergrounding of power lines so taller trees can grow on streets, noting that tall trees make it more comfortable to embrace active transportation such as walking and bicycling. Still others called for the 25-foot tree height limit to apply only under high voltage lines.
Councilmember Tony Daysog pointed out that the root of “Alameda” is Alamo, a type of poplar tree, averaging a height of 40 to 60 feet. “So if we were to follow this policy of limiting tree heights to 25 feet under all utility lines, we couldn’t even plant the tree after which our city is named.”
However, Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft favored caution, saying, “I just cannot look the other way when I think about the fires that raged in Southern California and hearing that here in Alameda, we have 5.5 tree (and powerline) incidents per month.”
Councilmember Tracy Jensen called for planting more trees at school sites to make outdoor time bearable during heat waves.
Danielle Mieler reported that following receipt of final comments by February 14, staff will revise the Urban Forest Plan and expect to return with the revised draft for Council approval in the late spring.
Other business
In other business:
- Council unanimously authorized the City Manager to execute a lease amendment with Astra Space Operations for Building 360 at 1900 Skyhawk Street. The amendment would permit Astra to defer 50% of its total lease and license fee revenue for nine months and to repay the deferred amount over the subsequent 12 months. The deferral period, according to Astra, will give the company time to generate revenue, terminate its Sunnyvale location, and consolidate its operations in Alameda, following a costly process of reprivatizing the company after three years as a publicly traded company. Astra believes privatization will secure the company’s financial health and ensure its longevity.
- Council appointed Joshua Bevan and Arthur Brito as members of the Historical Advisory Board.
Contributing writer Karin K. Jensen covers boards and commissions for the Alameda Post. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at https://linktr.ee/karinkjensen and https://alamedapost.com/Karin-K-Jensen.
