$800 million. That’s the estimated backlog in deferred maintenance and facility upgrades that Alameda faces—and it’s an amount that has been intensified by the need to address climate change impacts.
[1]Last fall, the Alameda Post covered four City Council workshops that spotlighted many of the major issues, which fell broadly into the categories: streets and traffic safety [2]; city facilities and public safety [3]; libraries, recreation, and parks [4]; and shoreline flood protection, sea level and groundwater rise, and disaster mitigation [5].
Now, as part of the “Stronger Together” project [6], the City is asking for community input to help develop a plan to fund critical infrastructure upgrades which, in turn, support vibrant business districts, safe streets and neighborhoods, and well-maintained parks. This spring, Alameda residents received a flyer in the mail with information on key metrics and a survey asking them to rate the importance of several priorities, such as preventing flooding in the Tubes and on city streets [7], supporting public safety response to critical fires, crashes, and medical emergencies, and ensuring trees are well maintained along city streets and in parks.
[8]The City concedes that existing financial resources are “not sufficient to address these growing infrastructure needs,” so one possible option being explored is a $300 million local bond measure that would create a dedicated funding source to help chip away at the backlog. If the measure is approved by voters, property owners would pay approximately $49 per year for every $100,000 of assessed value.
During a virtual meeting hosted by the City on Friday, May 15, Sarah Henry—who was the City’s Communications & Legislative Affairs Director at that time—was joined by local stakeholders to engage with the project and ask questions.
“Of course we’re going after federal funding, of course we’re going after state funding, but we need a dedicated funding source for these projects,” Henry explained. This comes after the federal government rescinded a $54 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant [9] that would have funded resilient infrastructure in Alameda.
Henry emphasized that all funds would stay in Alameda and be dedicated for projects, not salaries or pensions. An independent citizens’ oversight committee will make sure that funds are spent as promised, accompanied by annual audits.
Local leaders chimed in with comments during the call.
“The longer we wait, the more the costs will rise,” said Madlen Saddik, Executive Director of the Alameda Chamber and Economic Alliance [10]. “I would want to see us pushing it through this year.”
West Alameda Business Association [11] Executive Director Elissa Glickman commented that a lot of roadwork has been happening around the island, and wondered whether the City’s long-term street projects and upcoming development in Alameda Point would be included in the potential bond. In response, Henry confirmed that public works projects that currently are under construction are fully funded, while others in the planning stages and in Alameda Point could be accelerated with new revenue.
Alameda Fire Department Chief Nick Luby underscored the need for modernized facilities, noting that Fire Station 2 on Pacific Avenue, just west of Webster Street, is 104 years old and in need of significant remodeling, or even replacement, for firefighter safety. Luby also floated the possibility of a return of fire services to Alameda Point if the measure passes.
[12]Two years ago, a City Council resolution to place an infrastructure bond measure on the ballot failed to obtain [13] the two-thirds majority required to pass, with then-Vice Mayor Tony Daysog and then-Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer dissenting. At the time, Daysog argued that the bond’s purpose was not specific enough.
In a statement to the Alameda Post, in response to questions about how he thinks this year’s planning process is going so far, Daysog expressed tentative optimism.
“If any infrastructure measure is going to focus only on three targeted categories, especially streets/sidewalks and climate change, that’s a good start,” said Daysog. “I look forward to more information as to thoughts regarding generating a list of specific projects that would get funded, so that’s still a concern—knowing what your tax dollars will go to.”
If the City does decide to move forward with an infrastructure bond measure, City Council is expected to deliberate the issue at its meetings in July. In the meantime, the City continues to accept community feedback through a public survey [14].
Ken Der is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post [15]. Contact him via [email protected] [16]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Ken-Der [17].