Streets and traffic safety workshop, gas station permit appeal, guaranteed income pilot program report
On September 2, City Council will hold a workshop to update the public on Alameda’s infrastructure and facility needs relating to streets and traffic safety, and consider an appeal of the Planning Board’s approval of a use permit amendment allowing additional operating hours for the gas station at 1310 Central Avenue as well as the sale of packaged foods and non-alcoholic beverages. Council will also hear an interim report on the City’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Program.
Below is a summary of issues and how to participate.
Streets and Traffic Safety workshop
City Council will hold the first workshop in a four-part series to update the public on Alameda’s infrastructure and facility needs, starting with Streets and Traffic Safety.
Alameda faces a significant backlog of street and traffic safety infrastructure needs, including deteriorating pavement, outdated traffic signals, substandard trails, and insufficient funding for Vision Zero, ADA, and climate-related projects. The focus will be on assessing current conditions, identifying deferred maintenance and new infrastructure needs, and discussing strategies for funding amid uncertainties in federal funding.
Future workshops include:
- October 7: City Facilities & Public Safety.
- October 21: Fiscal Sustainability Workshop on budget/revenue options.
- November 4: Libraries, Recreation & Parks.
- December 2: Flood Protection & Disaster Preparedness.
Workshops will be followed by expanded community engagement and polling through spring 2026, to determine whether to pursue a revenue measure in 2026.
Mobil gas station permit appeal
The gas station at 1310 Central Avenue has been in operation for more than 75 years. Initially compliant with zoning, the property became a legal nonconforming use after the City rezoned it to residential in 1974. By 2012, its permit allowed operating hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, with limited hours on Saturdays. Sales of non-automotive goods were prohibited.
On June 9, 2025, the Planning Board approved a use permit amendment that extended operating hours to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, and permitted the sale of packaged foods and non-alcoholic beverages. Auto repair hours remain unchanged, and conditions include a ban on outdoor audio advertising. The applicant argues that expanded hours are necessary to stay competitive.
On June 17, Alameda resident Leland Price filed an appeal, raising concerns about past violations related to pumps left on after hours, the Board receiving incorrect information about operating hours, and the lot being needed for parking for a nearby church. Price also argued that extended hours increase light pollution, that the permit amendment is inconsistent with the General Plan, and the gas station’s declining revenues are not a sufficient reason to amend the permit, given ExxonMobil’s over $300 billion in annual revenue. He further argued that as drivers transition to electric vehicles, approving expansion delays the station’s inevitable closure and risks future blight.
Staff responded that the station is a long-standing legal nonconforming use, violations have been minimal and addressed, the Board received corrected information at the hearing, church parking is not a permit condition, lighting changes are not proposed, and supporting this small franchise business is consistent with the General Plan and prevents near-term vacancy and blight. Staff recommends upholding the Planning Board’s approval.
Guaranteed income pilot program interim report
In May 2022, City Council directed staff to implement a guaranteed income (GI) pilot program, called Rise Up Alameda, to provide $1,000 per month to approximately 150 low-income households over two years. The program aims to combat poverty and economic instability and contribute data to national GI policy discussions.
Rise Up launched in September 2023, with $4.6 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. City staff will present findings from the mid-program study, showing that Rise Up participants are performing better than those in a control group of eligible non-participants across numerous key evaluation markers, although housing outcomes remain inconclusive.
After one year, participants showed significant improvements in financial stability (including increased savings, reduced debt, and a greater ability to handle emergencies), mental health, and sense of community, with no negative impact on employment.
How you can participate
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 2, at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, located on the third floor of City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue.
Members of the public are welcome to participate in person or via Zoom. They may comment on the Non-Agenda, Consent Calendar, and Regular Agenda portions of the Meeting Agenda (link downloads document).
The Non-Agenda portion of the meeting provides an opportunity 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 and is approved by a single motion. The Regular Agenda is the central portion of the meeting, where each issue receives a presentation and time for Council discussion and public comment.
Complete this online form to request reasonable accommodation.
Click here for Zoom registration. The Zoom phone number for telephone participants is 669-900-9128; the Meeting ID is 834 8889 8933.
Information to assist with remote participation is available online in the Public Comment and City Council Meeting Guide. The meeting can also be viewed on the City of Alameda’s Facebook page. 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 Councilmembers on issues of interest before meetings.
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.
