As mentioned by Michele Ellson on The Island (doh! foiled again!), Alameda City staff has put together a wish list of items to send to Santa Congress. According to the staff report the US Conference of Mayors is advocating that the majority of any money from a federal economic stimulus package go directly to local governments (e.g. cities and counties) to be used to directly stimulate the local economies rather than wait for it to trickle down through the state bureaucracy.
The US Conference of Mayors website has a listing of all cities that have created wish lists (and submitted them to the USCOM). What I wanted to see, but was missing from the City’s staff report was an estimate of how many jobs each project would create, which should be one of the main components of a stimulus pacakage. Big disclaimer though, there currently is not a stimulus package that has been passed through both houses just yet, but earlier this week Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi estimated that the stimulus package would be the in $500 – 600 billion range. Yes, that’s right BILLION.
Here is a listing of everything on the wishlist, the reasoning to put more rather than less on it is in case some of the projects aren’t eligible for funding.
| Project Name | Project Description | Estimated Cost |
| Solar Panel Installation on Main Library | Install solar panels on roof of Main Library | $1.2 million |
| Carnegie Building Restoration and Preservation Project | Restore the historic Carnegie Free Library for public use as the Community Arts/Planning and Building Center. Relocate the adjacent Foster House to accommodate a proposed addition that will connect the Foster House with the Carnegie Library and provide disabled access to both buildinqs. | $5.36 million |
| Alameda Landing Phase 1 Demolition and Infrastructure Improvements | Demolish existing improvements, relocate utilities, conduct environmental remediation to allow residential construction | $4.75 million |
| Fire Station 5 Rehabilitation | Repair roof, windows, and walls at Fire Station 5 to prevent leaks | $1 million |
| Stargell Avenue Extension | Construct a segment of a new arterial connecting State Route 51 to the former Alameda Naval Air Station | $9 million (local match for $20 million project) |
| Central Avenue Reconstruction | Reconstruct approximately 1 mile of Central Avenue, including drainage and sidewalk improvements | $1.88 million |
| Fernside Boulevard Reconstruction | Reconstruct .35 miles of Fernside, including drainage and sidewalk improvements | $2.011 million |
| Crossing Signal Improvements | Install accessible signals and pedestrian countdown signals at 58 intersections | $1.235 million |
| Safe Routes to School Improvements (Lum Elementary and Wood Middle Schools) | Install curb bulb-outs at Grand Street and San Jose Ave.; install pedestrian curb ramps in front of Lum; install lighted mid-block cross on Grand Street; improve three public walkways; update crossinq siqns. | $750K |
| Sidewalk Reconstruction | Install 8,500 linear feet of new sidewalks | $1 million |
| Bicycle Trails | Reconstruct and enhance bicycle trails | $500K |
| Webster Streetscape Renaissance Project | Construct Phase 2 of Webster Street Streetscape proiect | $3 million |
| Park Street Streetscape | Install streetscape improvements, including vintage lighting and street trees, from Lincoln to Times Way and Webb; and Central to San Jose | $200K |
| Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Sidewalk Rehabilitation | Reconstruct sidewalks to meet current ADA standards for cross slopes. | $3.75 million |
| ADA Intersection Improvements | Construct improvements at 100 intersections; add truncated domes and ramps where needed | $500K |
| Veteran’s Building Improvements | Repair or replace windows and trim | $250K |
| City Hall Improvements | Repair or replace windows and trim | $250K |
| O’Club Improvements | Upgrade, repair, and rehabilitate building interior, including asbestos removal, painting, replacement of carpets and window coverings, and ceilinq repairs | $500K |
| Alameda Point Gym Improvements | Upgrade, repair, and rehabilitate building interior, including repair and refinishing of 36,000 square foot gymnasium floor and ADA accessibility for lobby and restrooms | $500K |
| Harbor Bay Dike and Seawall | Replace riprap and improve outfalls for the Harbor Bay dike and seawall to protect public access and adjacent residences. | $5 million |
| Southshore Lagoon Wall Retrofit | Use shotcrete to improve the structural stability of the Southshore Lagoon seawalls adjacent to City streets, approximately 3,000 linear feet. | $1.7 million |
| Addition of Trash Racks at Arbor, Main, and Webster Pump Stations | Install mechanical trash racks to clear debris and reduce flooding at various storm pump stations | $750K |
| Street Tree Planting Program | Plant approximately 500 new trees and remove and replace approximately 150 trees throughout the City | $300K |
| Bus Shelter Installation | Install bus shelters and related improvements at 18 locations throughout the city | $250K |
| Harbor Bay Parkway Reconstruction | Reconstruct approximately 1.5 miles of a major collector in Harbor Bay Business Park | $5 million |
| Mariner Square Drive Improvements | Improve drainage and resurface street | $1.25 million |
| Traffic Signal Installations | Install traffic signals at three locations | $1.25 million |
| Lincoln Park Upgrades | Rehabilitate field | $500K |
| Park Pathways | Repair and upgrade various park pathways | $2.5 million |
| Tennis Court Resurfacing | Resurface courts at Washington, Leydecker, McKinley, and Lonqfellow | $500K |
| Basketball Court Resurfacing | Resurface courts at Washington, Leydecker, McKinley, and Longfeliow | $500K |
| Skate Board Park | Conduct repairs to skate park | $100K |
| Neptune Park Upgrades | Repair and upgrade pathways, lighting, and landscaping | $350K |
| Washington Field | Replace fence at Washington field | $300K |
| Lincoln Field | Replace fence at Lincoln field | $500K |
| Encinal Boat Ramp | Replace restroom facility | $250K |
| Grand Street Boat Ramp | Replace restroom facility | $300K |
| Housing Authority Properties Painting | Repaint the interior of all Housing Authority units | $1 million |
| Housing Authority Properties Flooring | Replace the interior flooring of all units | $1.2 million |
| Anne B. Diament Boiler Replacement | Replace the boiler system with high-efficiency boiler for hydroponic heating system | $125K |
| Anne B. Diament Hot Water Heating System | Install solar hot water heating system to supplement the operation of a new energy efficient hot water system | $100K |
| Anne B. Diament Exterior Upgrades | Replace siding, windows, and sliding glass doors with energy efficient glazing in all units | $1.3 million |
| Anne B. Diament Interior Upgrades | Replace first floor kitchen and bath cabinets, including community room | $200K |
| Eagle Village Exterior Upgrades | Repaint all exterior siding and trim; re-stain fences and gates | $200K |
| Esperanza Interior Upgrades | Replace kitchen and bath cabinets, counters, and electrical sub panels | $1 million |
| Esperanza Parking Lots and Driveways | Replace asphalt parking lots (7 total) and driveways | $350K |
| Esperanza Roof Replacement | Replace roofs and gutters on all buildings | $725K |
| Independence Plaza Parking Lot | Construct new 22-space parking lot at rear of complex | $200K |
| Independence Plaza Interior Upgrades | Replace kitchen and bath cabinets and counters in all 186 units |
$1.32 million |
| Independence Plaza Landscaping | Replace two ponds, remove lawn, and re-Iandscape with drought-tolerant native plants | $500K |
| Parrot Village Exterior Upgrades | Repair all exterior siding and trim; re-stain fences and gates | $200K |
In other news, the term that I will be happy to never hear again, ever: “bail-out.” It’s starting to get thrown around way too much, sometimes used correctly, sometimes used to further a political point, but all in all, highly obnoxious. It has entered into my word-hate-list. And yes, I have a word hate list and it includes the words “squat” and “nasty,” but I digress.
And as a reminder, tonight will be the presentation by the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the portion of Alameda Point that they would like to turn into a VA hospital, columbarium, various other VA offices, but also setting aside a swatch for the birdies.
Thank god we have so much extra money that we have to sit around and think up things to spend it on like “replace kitchen and bath cabinets and counters in all 186 units” of Independence Plaza for $1.32 million.
Isn’t it great to live in times of such excess? LET’S TAX AND SPEND SOME MORE … after all, it doesn’t get better than this!!!
Comment by Jeff R. Thomason — December 18, 2008 @ 8:05 am
Wow, I’m surprised the list is that short!
All due respect, Jeff, this is the way the government gravy train game is played. You toss out your unconstrained wish list and hope you get 10% of it funded by Santa.
It’s government – suspend logic and real-world accounting. It’s not the real world when you can print your own money.
Comment by Edmundo Delmundo — December 18, 2008 @ 9:56 am
LD – where do we keep the word hate list? I’ll add:
- nuculur
- irrespective (not a word)
- athleticism (not a word)
- Vurh-sayles
- Byoona Vista
- maverick
- the challenges facing (fill in the blank) – ok it’s an oft-used example of poor grammar
Comment by Edmundo Delmundo — December 18, 2008 @ 10:00 am
$5.63 million so the Planning and Building staff can be more comfortable? Does anyone really believe that putting “Community Arts” first in the title means anything? Somebody who is a lot smarter than me, please look at the budget. I think the Planning and Building budget is separate from the General Fund and their income supports them, not the citizens.
Comment by Mike P. — December 18, 2008 @ 10:01 am
Delmundo, add this to the list:
“the tools we need”
“salient point”
“throwing rocks at each other”
plus there is a great series of stories, called “The cliche expert [takes the stand, tells all, and so on]” from the New Yorker way back. Frank Sullivan is the author.
Of the above list, regarding accessible signals, has anyone asked visually impaired pedestrians whether they really want them? I know in SF blind people have complained that the beeping signals interfere with their ability to hear actual cars moving.
And 500 trees is a severe understatement of tree needs. Only High Street and Broadway need about 150 new trees if all empty wells are to be filled. I estimate at least 1,500 trees city wide. I’d immediately transfer the $750K of wish-money for bulbouts and lighted mid-block crosswalks over to the tree wish-fund. The Fernside “improvements” and the latest bulbout proposal for Central should be enough to convince anyone that giving to people who dabble in street design is highly irresponsible.
Comment by AD — December 18, 2008 @ 10:50 am
“underestimate of tree needs” is what I meant..
Comment by AD — December 18, 2008 @ 10:54 am
Also, where’s the wish-money for the undergrounding of wires??
Comment by AD — December 18, 2008 @ 11:00 am
Another example of government waste. Why did I expect more from Alameda City Hall?
Comment by NorthernWaterFront — December 18, 2008 @ 11:22 am
While we are at it, why not build a BART line that runs to Alameda, demolish the Delmonte Factory on Buena Vista, put the wires underground, and add another bridge crossing from the main island. If it is our tax dollars, we should decide what OUR money is spent on.
Comment by NorthernWaterFront — December 18, 2008 @ 11:25 am
How does our City Administration stack up against the rest of the nation? CNN reports on pork:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/18/mayors.pork/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
We are an island in earthquake country, is anybody at City Hall thinking about infrastructure improvements like salt water pumps to put out the fires when our century old water supply fails? How many other Bay Area cities have them?
Comment by safetyfirst — December 18, 2008 @ 11:43 am
Anything about undergrounding utilities on the list?
Comment by AlamedaNayTiff — December 18, 2008 @ 12:05 pm
sure wish the feds would “bail out” public schools with a stimulus package, too…
Comment by kidsfirst — December 18, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
Actually, I think I’ve got it. Let’s move the Coast Guard over to Alameda Point, then build housing on Coast Guard Island — think of it, views all around! Plus AP already has the moorings for ships and lots of buildings.
Then with the cutters conveniently out of the way, we can build a bridge across the estuary — via Grand St and Coast Guard Island.
I think we should challenge the community to envision ways of creatively incorporating utility poles and leaf blowers into our bridge projects — plus develop an ongoing alternative use for seized trash bins.
I think we’ll need to keep the bridge project kind of hush-hush tho, so Oakland doesn’t see us coming until it’s too late. They have a big thing about what gets built on the estuary, like it’s theirs or something.
Comment by dl morrison — December 18, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
CG to the old base is an intriguing idea.
Comment by dave — December 18, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
Should we email the Coast Guard? Maybe a letter would be more polite. Let’s find out how they feel about leaf blowers tho before we get too carried away.
Comment by dl morrison — December 18, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
I am pretty sure you can make a pontoon bridge out of wooden utility poles and plastic garbage cans. The leaf blowers could be used to blow it up and out of the way so boats can get through. Let’s file that idea with the emergency preparedness plan.
Comment by AD — December 18, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
safetyfirst:
I think the salt water pumps are a good idea, but something to keep in mind which I don’t think I made clear in the post above. The projects have to be able to be completed within 120 days, roughly four months. I believe that is start to finish from the bidding and contracting portion to construction completion which might be why some of the larger projects which arguably are more important (salt water pumps, undergrounding of utilities) were left off the list.
The 120 day time frame was something included in one of the initial House bills which most jurisidictions have used as a model to create their lists.
Comment by Lauren Do — December 18, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
13. I like your thinking too.
Local foundation guru Ken Gutleben has been around the block with the city a couple times on the salt water pumps. I believe he even had the City manager and fire chief over to see the pumps which Berkeley has purchased.
One of these pumps placed in the center of the island could pump water from either the estuary or bay on the south shore. We would need a number of them at a cost of a few million. I forget what Ken told me. I’m think it was four pumps at a cost of $12-$15 million?
It’s a lot of money and it is sort of investing for a one time use, worse case scenario which is a hard sell. I believe the pumps have diesel engines and they must be maintained and tested monthly. I couldn’t believe the high labor cost Alameda Power quoted for that kind of maintenance on their back up generators when they decided to sell them.
Last I heard Oakland had put it’s fire boat in mothballs because they don’t have the budget to maintain it. A boat is mobile and can push water onto land through a pump, but maintaining a boat is expensive.
At any rate, the likelihood of loosing our classy Victorian stock in a fire storm after a seismic event is high. My wood shingled wood frame 1906 classic stands eight feet from it’s twin. I installed a seismic gas valve on my meter and tried to talk them up around the neighborhood with little (no) success. Many of these houses have gravity furnaces with open pilot lights and they will light one another like matches in a match book come the big one.
Purchasing and placing these pumps could easily be done in 120 days or could have been done already, if there were the political will. But it’s easy to see how it ends up a low priority because we won’t ever miss them until it’s too late. There was an effort to raise funds to restore the clock tower on City Hall. Such an effort would better be if directed at a pump system.
Comment by Mark Irons — December 18, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
Question to the General Contractors out there…is there any way possible for the City to “Restore the historic Carnegie Free Library for public use as the Community Arts/Planning and Building Center. Relocate the adjacent Foster House to accommodate a proposed addition that will connect the Foster House with the Carnegie Library and provide disabled access to both buildinqs.” in 120 days?
Comment by Mike P. — December 18, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
oops. “foundation guru” is confusing. It sounds like Ken is a Bill Gates or some kind of grant writing expert. I should have said “foundation contractor”. But a grant writer is what we need.
Comment by Mark Irons — December 18, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
19. “you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows…” or a contractor to answer that question, but I too was thinking the 120 day rule would take a lot of these off the table in a hurry.
Exact time line is in my notes SOMEWHERE, but Carnegie project will take at least a year.
Comment by Mark Irons — December 18, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
The staff report – linked to in Lauren’s post clearly states “120 DAYS TO AWARD CONTRACT OR COMMENCE WORK” (all caps for the reading challenged in the group). Most likely the Carnegie project could meet those deadlines.
Comment by notadave — December 18, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
They should add server virtualization to the list. My employer virtualized our computer servers and it has resulted in a significant reduction in energy use, which translates into savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Obama has talked about infrastructure improvements that result in energy savings, so server virtualization should definitely be on the list.
Comment by Mike Rich — December 18, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
Great Banter, Alameda.
This thread makes me proud…but I do like the concept of rock fights, so I will not be putting that one on the Word Hate list.
Comment by Edmundo Delmundo — December 18, 2008 @ 4:20 pm
It would really be sad if Alameda suffered avoidable fire damage in the aftermath of an earthquake. I read recently that most of the damage in SF in 1906 was caused by the fire, not the quake itself (which was news to me). Then look at the Marina District in the Loma Prieta quake, same thing. If it’s possible to make even a limited effort to get some emergency pumps in place, it would certainly be worth it. It’s like New Orleans and the levees — the cost of rebuilding is so far beyond the cost of prevention.
Comment by dl morrison — December 18, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
Now here’s an interesting question, in the aftermath of an earthquake with avoidable fire damage, will we wish we had spent our money on pumps or on creating space for Planning and Building to expand their staff and their budget?
Comment by Mike P. — December 18, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
At $60 a tree, surely we could start an “Adopt-A-Tree” fund and do it ourselves.
Comment by LindaonOtisSt — December 18, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Comment by AlamedaNayTiff — December 18, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
I think the LAST thing that needs to be done is more freaking construction on fernside
Comment by Bob — December 19, 2008 @ 4:59 am
Post # 26
I vote for the pumps.
at this point in time we do not need to expand gov.,whether it is City, State,or Federal.
Comment by John Pizaili — December 19, 2008 @ 9:13 am
#10 A FEMA grant would likely be ALL that is necessary to get saltwater pumps, as these pumps would play a vital role here in case of a major disaster. Everyone forgets that the island is the end of the EBMUD line. Could our water get cut off? It is not a matter of could, it is a matter of would, and the answer is YES.
My assumption is that the fire department could and should write such a grant and get the darned saltwater pumps (for heaven’s sake)! Or the city or whomever.
Why the Navy didn’t have any salt water pumps at the base is beyond my comprehension… seems like it would have been a necessary tool in case of fire on aircraft carriers or other ships docked here.
Maybe someone who was stationed there could weigh in on that issue…
Comment by E T — December 19, 2008 @ 10:04 am
As another blogger suggested to me, solar projects for things like schools or other infrastructure which would help with sustainability and cost reduction would have been nice to see on the wish list.
Comment by Mark Irons — December 19, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
Seeing the Gemini ferry and WETA in the newspaper today made me think…perhaps the pumps could be on ferries or even Coast Guard cutters?
Comment by safetyfirst — December 19, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6lpds_nbc-news-on-1989-san-francisco-eart_shortfilms
Comment by AlamedaNayTiff — December 19, 2008 @ 7:39 pm
On pumps: would it make sense to contact councilmembers on this?
On NBC News: relevant but creepy. Note that both the damaged homes in the Marina District and the Cypress Structure were built on fill.
Comment by dl morrison — December 19, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
33., 35. For starters, this is a terrible budget year to pursue this and I’m sure that will be the first response from City Council, but that does not mean there are not other means. As E.T. alluded, it certainly seems like a relevant item for FEMA.
Maintaining an entire boat is more costly than making sure a set of diesel engines are ready to fire up on a moments notice. As referred to in previous comments, Oakland retired their fire boat because of budget issues.
Also, local contractor and pump proponent Ken Gutleben has made a serious effort to get the city to act on this. Ken is a builder, his effort was more an act of pragmatism than political activism. Certainly an organized group of individuals could start a new lobbying effort, but in order to no be redundant, I would start by debriefing Ken on the entire history of his effort. I’ll look for his truck near the cafe where he often starts his work day and talk him up, or anybody who is motivated can find him in the phone book.
Comment by Mark Irons — December 20, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
#36. Thank you. re: lobbying – who stands to lose the most? Seems like the mortgage lenders, insurers and the like are voices that could help enlighten the City Manager and Council.
Comment by safetyfirst — December 20, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
While I am not against portable salt water pumps or any of the other of the City manager’s suggestions, (although I too question why Fernside needs another road project; I think this would be the 3rd in 5 years – not a sign of good coordinated planning with the money our uncle Sam gets from us) I really do not think that the federal stimulus package is for paying for things a properly run city would already have secured for it self.
I am one with HOPE – one who knows that this country needs to change the way we do things. I hope the stimulus package is not going to melt into another loan package to pay bills we can’t afford because we wasted our money on pork projects for friends and supporters of the political machines. That is not “stimulus”. That would just be more of the same – and that is what our city leadership seems to be promoting. If these listed projects are so good for Alameda, why don’t we already have them? ARRA and the City Developer Services dept have spent about $30 million dollars already at the Point and the result is poor, sad, and unimaginative. The $15M the feds gave us to fix up the buildings to improve lease-ability was mostly spent by the Developer Dept on City Hall West, so we get relatively little lease money from the point. Tenants can’t afford to invest in structures when they aren’t allowed long term leases, so of course overall investment has been low at the Point’s structures that are now being allowed to fall further into disrepair. That is how our City allowed the progress so far. The $15M in Redevelopment bonds the city issued for Point development has also been almost totally exhausted, and what do we have – just another plan that is only going to benefit the developers and not benefit the City at large, a plan which will only promote new debt for our city at unprecedented levels (perhaps $700 million to $B), at a time where the present re-development payments prevent our city from maintaining community services, which seems like more of an obligation for our city to provide to us with our money.
BTW – Does anybody else wonder why the new SUNCAL MasterPlan which was due to our City on Friday 12-19 is not on the web?
Comment by David Kirwin — December 21, 2008 @ 11:46 am
Suncal’s plans are online at http://www.alameda-point.com/APDocs.html.
The Alameda Fire Department has studied the feasibility of installing permanent salt water pumps for firefighting. Using portable pumps during emergencies for fires near the Shoreline is feasible with a boat, but saltwater is too corrosive for a permanent facility.
Comment by David V. — December 22, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
Reviewing the list I see solar on the library is at the tip top. I know the school system is a separate fiscal entity from the City, but one can’t help but wish some of this could have been directed at AUSD.
A couple people have mentioned solar on schools as something they would have liked to see addressed by this list. AUSD has had to negotiate for a favorable “municipal” electrical rate with AP&* and I just learned that they were getting a great deal on their internet service which will now be another budget item to struggle with.
Comment by Mark Irons — December 25, 2008 @ 11:55 am