We're waiting for one more council member to join us so we can have quorum
Good morning and welcome to the public works and transportation committee meeting of today Tuesday, February 24th
The time is now 11 34 a.m. And this meeting has come to order
Before taking roll, I will provide instructions on how to submit a speaker's card for items on this agenda
If you're here what's in chambers, you would like to submit a speaker's card
please fill one out and turn it to a clerk representative my left your right
before the item is read into record online speaker requests were due 24
hours prior to this meeting making it time yesterday at 1130 the meeting came
to order at 1134 speaker cards were no longer be accepted 10 minutes after the
meeting has began making it time of 1144 with that we now proceed to take roll
councilmember Gallo so thank you councilmember Houston present and
Councilmember Wong.
Present.
Deferring to the parliamentarian.
Thank you.
Councilmember Wong, I believe that you're participating remotely if you could just state
the general circumstances for your remote participation and then also specify whether
there is any adult in the room with you and if so the nature of their relationship to
you.
Yes, I am recovering from a cold and there is no adult in the room with me.
Thank you councilmember Wong is present and chair Unger present we have four
members present and chair Unger before we begin do you have any announcements
for us today? No announcements. Thank you moving to our first item of the day
approval of the draft minutes for the committee meeting held on February 10th
2026 and you do not have any speakers for this item we have a motion made by
councilmember Gallo seconded by councilmember Houston to accept the draft
minutes of the committee meeting held on February tenth twenty twenty six as is on the roll
councilmember guy oh councilmember Houston hi thank you councilmember Wong I thank you
and here under I says what for eyes to accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting
on February tenth twenty twenty six as is moving to item to determine its termination
excuse me about a schedule outstanding committee items this is also known as your pending list
and you do have one speaker for this item.
Okay, any amendments from colleagues or staff
on the pending list?
All right, let's hear from our speakers please.
Mrs. Sada.
There needs to be a report on why,
where white lines are supposed to be put down,
but with paint, they're putting tape on the ground.
So outside here, instead of the white lines being painted,
they have tape and what has happened is the tape has started to come up
and any engaging person can just step up and just ripped the tape off
and we no longer have access for crossing
all where cars know where to stop
i don't know why
we don't have white paint outside
not only that where i live on keller
and throughout the city
there are painted areas for the dividing of the streets are non existent
and what is happening that we haven't been able to replace the white lines
uh... but over here you need to fix that right away
because something's gonna happen and i know somebody's gonna pull that tape up
uh... we need a report on uh... ticketing of stolen vehicles
uh... that's something that should have been taken care of
You need to have a report of how the city stores
once illegal dumping is hazardous waste materials.
You need to have a report on the use of parks and wrecks.
We have some park areas that are completely not being used.
There's nothing happening, nothing.
And we need to evaluate that.
I have, my nearest park is Buck halter.
beautiful park but nothing's going on at that park practically. We need to have a report
on the protected bike lanes. You have variation of protected bike lanes. Some of them have
those little sticks. That's not protected bike lanes. Some of them have concrete. Some
of them have absolutely nothing, particularly in areas district six and seven. Lastly, you
need to have a report on the property that is being used by the Oakland School of the
all they have put turf all the way on that property that is not their property
to put turf or that's prop thank you for your comment mr. Sada that it concludes
your public speakers for item two you see the motion so moved we have a
motion made by chair unger seconded by councilmember guy oh to accept
determination schedule outstanding committee items as is on roll
Councilmember Gallo. Aye. Councilmember Houston. Aye with a comment from Ms. Salabut. Aye. Thank
you. Chair Wong. Councilmember Wong. Aye. Thank you and Chair Unger. Aye. The motion passes with
four ayes to accept the termination scheduled outstanding committee items as is now moving
to item three. Adopt a resolution authorizing the city administrator to negotiate and execute
an amendment to the 1991 delegated maintenance agreement between the city of California Department
of Transportation to include the maintenance activities related to the Oakland Alameda
access project and making sequel findings and you do have two speakers for this item.
All right do we have a report from staff first. Good afternoon council members my name is Ricky
Wells and I'm the regional partners project manager with the Department of Transportation.
The item before you today will authorize the city administrator to negotiate and execute
an amendment to the city's 1991 delegated maintenance agreement with Caltrans.
This amendment supports implementation of the Oakland Alameda Access Project, which is sponsored
by the Alameda County Transportation Commission and being delivered in partnership with Caltrans,
the cities of Oakland and Alameda and local stakeholders. The Oakland Alameda Access Project
focus on improving access to and from 880 near the POSE and near the Webster
and POSE tubes. The goal is to reduce conflicts between regional and local
traffic, simplify freeway access, and improve connections between Oakland and
Alameda for all modes, whether you're driving, walking, biking, or taking transit.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the city
administrator to negotiate and execute an amendment to the 1991 delegated
a maintenance agreement between the city and Caltrans to include
maintenance activities related to the Oakland Alameda Access Project
in making California Environmental Quality Act findings.
Under this amendment, the city would be
reimbursed for certain maintenance responsibilities,
including activities related to the removal of persons experiencing homelessness,
which will be done in compliance with all applicable federal,
state and local laws and the amendment also covers long-term maintenance of the new pedestrian
and bicycle path leading to the Webster tube which the city would take on after construction
is complete in 2029.
I do want to note that this amendment does not address Caltrans's or ACTC's immediate
encampment needs during construction.
That work is being handled separately.
There is no direct cost to the city associated with this item under the existing agreement
Caltrans reimburses the city for eligible maintenance work on Caltrans's own facilities
and we expect this amendment to increase the overall level of reimbursement the city receives.
This concludes my presentation and I'm available for questions.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Why don't we hear from Councilmember Wong first as this is in her district.
Thank you, Chair Ungar. So as mentioned, this is a major transportation project situation
and situated in my district. I have been part of ongoing conversations with Caltrans, ACTC
and Oak Dot on the mitigations for the impact of this project. I think long term this project
is going to be great, but I have some concerns and I am making a motion to continue this
item to the March 10th committee, because at this point, I have not been satisfied with
how Caltrans has been partnering with us in order to handle those encampments under the
freeway that will need to be removed for this project.
I think it's noteworthy that California has a safe task force that was created last year
to clear encampments and connect people with the care that they need.
Caltrans is part of that task force.
At this point in time, I have not been satisfied with our collective plan of there's about
20 to 30 people that are under the freeway and right now with relying just on the encampment
management team, we all know we have no shelter beds that essentially those people will simply
be displaced to the block over into very busy commercial and residential districts.
And so I think it's just important that I continue to have these conversations with
Caltrans and ACTC as well as the encampment management team at Oak Dot
before we make a vote on this item. Council Member Gayo. Yes thank you for
that information and certainly we have known the relationship with Caltrans
and the railroad company for many many years. So for my my only question to
you is, what you're asking for is you're asking Caltrans to reimburse us for
the work city employees do on that project?
Yes, that would happen once the construction is complete.
And then we take responsibility for that.
So usually that's what happens, that's what we have agreed to.
The interim measures are currently being worked on
with, well, between Caltrans, the Encampment Management Team,
and ACTC are working to deal with the current needs
around removing the encampments and getting people
into, I guess, appropriate shelter.
Yeah.
But you know, my recommendation would
be that if it's Caltrans property,
Caltrans needs to be responsible and take care of it.
because the reality is the city cannot take care of its own property.
But yet I'm out there cleaning the railroad, and I shouldn't be,
or I'm out there cleaning Caltrans property or county property or the school
district property that I clean, because the school district laid off 30
custodians.
So now I'm cleaning around the school so my children can walk to school
and walk back home, including the parks, because we're short of staff.
at one time we used to have park attendees
that would take care of every park,
but we closed that down and directed them
to a different department and so forth.
So for me, since it's being recommended to come back,
that I would, and I know the Caltrans individuals
because I talk to them daily and they help me
on my neighborhood clean under the freeways.
Do Cal, 42nd is a state avenue.
International's a state highway from high street all the way to San
Andrew and that's why the highway patrol comes and helps me out in that area and
I get in my district anyways Caltrans to come help me clean it up but so I think
that what I would like to recommend is that we you know bring back the numbers
and what exactly is Caltrans willing to do and because you're saying that
they're gonna reimburse the city but that takes a while or never happens and
but yet at the other end I can't even take care of my I can't even take
care of City Hall and that's not Caltrans property and I don't have the
staff in Little Lake Merritt the jewel of Oakland it used to be the brightest
cleanest center in the city of Oakland but you walk down next I walk with my
family once a week and this thinks I can even I mean what I see at Lake Merritt
is a challenge, but we need to be a kind of more responsible what property is ours, and
make sure that Caltrans maintains and has the support to take care of their property
within the city of Oakland. So that would be my recommendation is to, with Councilmember
Wang, and that represents that area, to bring that report back and show me the numbers and
and show me the timelines because I know that area well.
I mean, it's right across from police headquarters.
And it's a mess.
And yet, as you go on the other side of Alameda,
you don't see half or one fourth of what
you see on the Oakland side.
And with all due respect, I say that to you.
Having grown up in the city of Oakland, I saw many things,
but I never saw the cleanliness conditions we have today.
And so I would like to have that information come back
and to be very clear on the commitment
that Caltrans is willing to do,
because it is their property.
And they have a larger budget than we do.
And at the end of the day, well, you know,
they have people out of Santa Rita prison
that are their daily cleaning up the place.
And I used to get those individuals weekly
from Santa Rita through the sheriff,
but now they're all going to Caltrans.
But anyways, Mr. Chairperson,
I'd like to get that information back as well.
I'll make that motion.
Second the motion, thank you.
Just following up on the rate here,
what's the total cost
of our delegated maintenance agreement here?
So the 1991 delegated maintenance agreement
that has not been,
I would say amended to adjust the amounts.
So I don't know what the new amount would be.
We would have to negotiate the new amount, or the increase.
But the old amount, I believe, is no more than about $300,000.
It's pretty low.
And this is for a very small area.
Portion about 200 feet.
So it's about, I mean, my understanding
was that it's about $30,000 worth of,
$30,000 worth of work.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Yes, this maintenance agreement is about $30,000 worth of work.
And we're getting paid how much for it?
That's what we will be up to.
OK.
Up to $30,000.
OK.
Councilmember Houston.
Good morning, Mrs. Wells.
How are you?
I'm great.
How are you?
Good.
Thank you for the work.
I've worked with Cal Tram for many years, many years, CCMA,
many years, and I know it very well.
And I'm going to agree with Councilmember Wang.
It's her district and I'm gonna respect that
like I want all the council members to respect my district.
And I'm agree with Council Member Noel Gallo on this one.
The one on the 29 sites that we had had
of a Caltrans and CCMA made sense, it did make sense.
This one right here, they have more resources than we do
and $30,000 worth of work when you have to deal
with encampments and things like that, it's a lot more.
a lot more intense when you're dealing with unhoused and have to get them
shelter and things like that. So and they do have major resources, cultural
and more resources than we do. So I'm just gonna follow the lead of the
council member of this district to see what she wants and I can give her my
expertise on working with them for so many years, right? So I'll just just
follow the council member Wang's lead on this one since it's in her district.
Thank you councilmember Houston okay so I'm clear we have a motion to rehear
this again at the March 10th committee meeting and a second okay let's hear
from our speakers please thank you want to call your name please approach the
podium if you participated via zoom please raise your hands here easily
identified as practice we will take in person zoom speakers before we will take
in-person speakers before zoom speakers. Mrs. Asada and Kevin Dally.
Um, no item standard procedure. No item should be brought to this body in an incomplete state.
Everything related to the item being brought before council should have all parts of the
necessary components in place. So what we have here is we don't know how the
encampment issue will be worked out.
Exactly.
That's incomplete.
Then it says in the document,
you anticipate the reimbursement from Cal Tram
will cover the maintenance costs with no cost to the city.
You can't anticipate anything.
You need a factual presentation of agreement with Cal Tram
that you're gonna get reimbursed.
Not you anticipate something.
You don't do business like that.
Also, you have a statement of the race and equity statement
that black indigenous people of color
are highly prioritized communities related to this issue.
No, they're not, because this issue is related
to the people that live in Chinatown, Jack London Square,
and downtown Oakland.
You don't have a whole lot of black people
living in those areas.
Stop trying to make your race equity statements
and have inclusion of black people when they don't.
So please go back, and if you don't have
race equity statement say you don't have it.
Lastly, I don't see why CalTran and you guys can't get together with an agreement that
they take care of their property.
When they had that fire at the BART station above the BART rails that shut down BART, that
was their property.
They have to fix areas where they have encampments and deal with them and we got to stop acting
like you said every encampment in the city of Oakland is our responsibility. Get with Cal Tran with an understanding memorandum that they will take care of encampments on their property. Thank you for your comment. Mrs. Sada. That concludes your public speakers for item. Three. So can I just get some clarity councilmember Wong on what it is you would like to see when this returns to committee. Why don't we.
also just add on what Councilmember Gallo would like to see which is I think we
do need to have some more specifics on how Caltrans responsibility versus the
city's responsibility as it pertains to this. I know this is not the entire
stretch of the project but just that narrow path but even for that I think a
little more clarity on that would be helpful. Is that enough for you to know
what to do for the next meeting or do you need more clarity? Yes, so just to
repeat, council member Wong, in addition to council member Gayle, want to see
numbers around reimbursement, the number of people experiencing
need support.
And, what was the, I think those were the two?
I think I would just, I would summarize it as provide clarity on what Caltrans is willing
to do and work with Caltrans on the homelessness encampment policy.
Okay.
Is that accurate?
Yeah.
Yep.
That sounds good.
Thank you so much.
Council member Houston.
So through the chair, this brings many issues.
And the many issues is this is why we have to implement
and pass the encampment abatement policy
because what happens is individuals move over
to the city property and then we have to deal with it, right?
So when they close down, I've been this, I experienced this,
I know how this moves.
The cow trying to clean up their area
and they move over to the city property
and now we have to handle that property.
We have to handle that problem.
This is a bigger problem than that.
So I'm just going to let the council member Wang and
council member guy on my father their lead on this because
this is it's huger than that and it's more costly than what
they're saying any other comments.
All right.
Or sorry councilmember hunger go for it.
Yes, I just wanted to comment again more globally because this
is not the only major infrastructure project that we
have in Oakland where there are individuals in in encampments
below a freeway that will then need to be moved, and then to Councilmember Gayo's comments
just generally speaking when it comes to Caltrans, I mean, many tents, there are many tent-based
type encampments under freeways, and I will say my experience through this project is
I've been pretty unimpressed. I think there's a level of, even while in name, Caltrans is
part of this task force, this statewide task force, that is supposed to remove encampments
and connect people to services. It's been like pulling teeth in order to get more resources.
It's this kind of game of, well, encampment management team doesn't have any beds. At
the county, apparently, we don't have any shelter beds either. I'm trying to think creatively
in New York City, since they have a right to shelter policy, you know, they've really
relied on motel vouchers in order to, you know, house the homeless. Getting just some
funding for some motel vouchers for like 30 people under this, under this highway has
been like pulling teeth. So it's been frustrating. I just want to be blunt. I also want to thank
my colleagues for, for their support and their advice on this.
Thank you, Council Member Wong.
We have a motion made by Council Member Wong,
seconded by Council Member Gaia,
to continue this item to the March 10th Public Works
and Transportation Committee meeting
with the supplemental report to be included
that clearly demonstrates the numbers,
timelines, and Caltrans commitments,
Caltrans responsibility versus the city's responsibility,
and what Caltrans is willing to do
on the homelessness encampment policy.
On roll, Council Member Gaia.
Council Member Houston.
Council member one I thank you and chair hunger I this motion passes with four
ayes to continue this item to the March 10th Public Works and Transportation
Committee agenda with the supplement report as stated on record moving to
item 4 adopt a resolution accepting the public infrastructure improvements
directing the filing of the unconditional certificate certificate
of the completion for the 440 30 4440 and 4448 house street
public improvements per the subdivision improvement
agreement for deferred construction of public
infrastructure improvements and sequel findings.
And you do have two speakers for this item.
OK, let's hear from staff, please.
Good morning, Reginald Bazil, division manager
for the right of way management division in Oak Dot.
This is a project about development
the development of single
family homes on how street
district one I believe- as is
always the case- dot works with
developers to make sure that as
we develop private property we
also develop private public
infrastructure to match that
development- we did that in this
case and the developers done
everything that we asked them to
do- this- legislation is about.
we have a $1,200,000 bond so
we have $100,000 in bonds.
Okay.
Councilmember guy all you have
here.
For the public.
Tell us what are some of the
actions?
I know the infrastructure items.
Yeah, right.
I think we got four single
family homes as part of this
development.
They did curb gutter and
sidewalk.
They did paving of the roadway
they put down two hundred thousand dollars in bonds to cover performance of the work and also
labor and materials a guarantee and although we'll release the two hundred thousand dollars
we'll retain thirty two thousand dollars as a maintenance guarantee for two years in the work
will be done by the work has been completed indeed was complete yes it's all done it's some
administrative delays on the side of the city admittedly it's delayed the release of this fund
it's overdue. Okay, and the funding source was? A private funding source, right? The
developer puts up all the money to pay for the infrastructure improvements as
well as of course the development of the real estate. Got it, thank you. Move
approval. Let's hear from our speakers please. Moving to our public speakers,
Masasada and Kevin Dahle. So did they put down white lines, if any, or they put down
white tape is the question. So the race equity statement says that the project
will benefit low-income disability seniors and you've got all these groups of people.
So I went to Zellow and looked at the price of these homes.
4430 How Street is a three-bed one, three-bedroom, one-bath, cost is $1.82 million, and the monthly
mortgage is $6,660 of 4440 is $720,000 home with a monthly payment of $4,429 and then
4.48 I mean so 4448 how is a 2.1 million dollar house with a monthly mortgage payment
of over $13,000 a month.
So how is this going to benefit low-income disability seniors and blah, blah, blah, and
the other?
It's my question.
Why you put false information in here that severe rent burden people are going to benefit
from having this property?
No they're not.
This is a high-maintenance piece of property.
Why are you misleading in your document that this is going to be attainable for certain
groups of people when it's not?
should be asking that question and you got to stop lying and you got to stop
misleading and you got to stop giving misinformation and your reports and if
you don't then you are just full of mm-hmm and stop it stop it this is
supposed to be an open process and how did that man get on the 11th floor
sometime today somebody's got to answer that question that concludes your public
from here.
We have a couple speakers for
item four.
You have something.
Else dad.
Wanted to speak to the are the
equity issue on these are
admittedly an expensive homes.
But the developer not only
developed the private real
estate they improve the public
infrastructure.
Those are capital dollars and
maintenance dollars that we can
spend elsewhere we didn't spend
them here we'll spend them
elsewhere in the city where they
I'm sorry I don't have it here okay I can get it for you in minutes yeah please do that thank you so much we have a motion made by councilmember guy oh seconded by Councilmember Houston to approve the recommendations of staff and it's to be forward to the march 3rd 2026 City Council agenda on the roll councilmember guy oh Councilmember Houston aye councilmember Wong aye thank you and chair I'm going to say that's it.
Councilmember Houston, aye. Councilmember Wong, aye. Thank you. And Chair Unger, aye.
The motion passes with four ayes to approve the recommendations staff before this item
to the March 3rd, 2026 City Council agenda and through the body would that be on consent
or non consent? Consent, please. Thank you. On consent. Moving to item five. Adopt the
following pieces of legislation. One, a resolution authorizing the city administrator to award
A construction contract to Bayline, cutting and coring in the amount not to exceed 3,331,144,
waiving the 5% maximum mobilization requirement per section 9.3.4 of the project specifications
and adopting appropriate CEQA findings. Two, a resolution authorizing the city administrator
to amend the professional services agreement with Biggs Cordoza Associates for design for Adeline
Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project 100967 for increasing the project amount by $200,000
for the total contract amount not to exceed $918,000 and adopting appropriate CEQA findings
and three, a resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter into a professional
services agreement with Biggs Cardozo Associates to provide special inspections and material
testing services for Adeline bridge seismic retrofit project one zero zero
zero nine six seven in the amount not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars and
adopt their appropriate sequel findings and you do have three speakers for this
item. Okay let's hear from our staff first please. Good afternoon my name is
Amit Salman principal civil engineer with Department of Transportation so
this is regarding item number five for Adeline Street bridge. I have a
PowerPoint presentation. So this item is for Adeline Street Bridge seismic
retrofit project construction phase. So the Adeline Bridge, Adeline Street Bridge
is located south on of Third Street in West Oakland. It spans the Union Pacific
railroad tracks and serves as a critical freight and passenger corridor linking
the port to Interstate 880 and the regional highway system. The project will
bring the structure to a no-collapse performance standard, ensuring the bridge remains operational,
following a major earthquake and safeguarding the continuity of rail and port operations.
The next slide is regarding bridge conditions, funding status, and the scheduled urgency.
The bridge condition is rated poor in recent Caltrans inspection reports, and the structure
evaluations confirm its seismic vulnerabilities.
So the project is funded by federal highway bridge program with a total federal funds
of 3.67 million, with a local match of 4,092,202 from major KK.
Kelton's deadline to authorize this contract is March 2026, that's next month, therefore
timely approval is required to avoid funding risk and delay.
So for this project, we have three resolutions today.
So, the first one is awarding a construction contract to Bayline Cutting and Coring INC,
the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and waiving the five percent maximum mobilization
requirement.
Mobilization is preparatory work that must be performed or cost-incured before starting
actual construction.
Bayline Cutting and Coring INCs, they submitted their, they were the apparent lower bidder.
their mobilization line item was 9% of the total bid amount which exceeded the 5% maximum allowable.
Staff finds that mobilization line item exceeding the maximum cap constitutes a minor and
immaterial big irregularity that may be waived because the deviation does not alter the bid's
total price, does not change the scope of work, does not affect the quality or the quantity of
the work to be performed and does not provide a competitive advantage over other bidders.
So, cities acceptance of the bid will result in substantial cost savings to the public
compared to the next lowest bidder, which is approximately $572,000 higher than the
lowest bid.
And the second item is to amend the professional services agreements with big Cardosa associates
for design services by increasing their contract amount by $200,000.
And third one is enter into a professional services agreement with base Cardosa associates
INC to provide special inspection and material testing services for an amount not to exceed
$200,000.
Next slide is regarding a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program.
So this is a federally funded project.
So therefore the city's small local business requirements do not apply.
And in October 2025, the US Department of Transportation suspended all contracts goal
settings under the DBE program.
Accordingly, the city did not apply DB goals or evaluate good fit efforts in the word determination
for this project.
Therefore, DB participation was not a factor in determining the lowest responsive and responsible
bidder as well as for the professional services agreement.
That was the end of my presentation.
I'm available for questions.
That's great.
Thank you for that.
Questions?
Council Member Houston.
Question through the chair.
Good morning.
Good morning.
wave that 5% mobilization, would they have qualified for that bid? Would they have been
the lowest bidder?
Yes, they were the lowest bidder. So the second lowest bidder is still $572,000 over that
lowest bidder.
So why are we waiving the mobilization?
Because even if we waive the mobilization, the bid price will not change. So we are still
getting the lowest bid price. And according to Caltrans regulations, it's the immaterial
variation. So because it's city requirement that we try to cap the maximum
mobilization to 5% because we don't want to pay contractors upfront without doing
any work but does not consider this as a any major variation. So the city city of
Oakland is paying contributing four hundred and ninety four million and two
hundred and two dollars is that there? 492 thousand. Yeah yeah thousand. On with
change orders, who pays for that when it comes to change orders, will the feds pay for that
or Oakland?
It depends.
First of all, if the change order is for the original intent of the project to complete
the original intent of the project, then it is considered participating cost and then
feds will pay their 88.53% and then city has to come with 11.47% of the local match.
And if they added in that 5% for mobilization, how much would that be?
Can you repeat?
The 5% mobilization, how much would that be?
I'm just saying if they...
The price is already in the bid.
We are just not saying that it's not a variation from the bid.
So prices, they are getting 9% of their...
So they put 9% as their mobilization cost.
They are still getting 9%.
they are still almost $600,000 lower than the second bidders.
So why are we mobilizing?
If I may, I think the difference is, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the difference
is they just get that amount paid up front.
The total amount does not change.
Up front?
Mobilization.
Mobilization costs.
You get mobilization up front.
Yeah.
So they're waiving the up front money?
So they will get more upfront money than our usual 5% cap,
but the overall amount does not change.
Okay, so you're saying, so on the change orders,
so what's the percentage that the city would pay
if they do change orders?
For bridge projects, it's 88.53% from federal funds
and 11.47% from local match.
Will this come back to the city to find out
with the change order amounts gonna be?
So in the contractor, we have 25% allowance.
If we exceed by 25%, we have to come back
to the city council for approval.
Council Member Gallo.
Yeah, so I'll make a motion to approve the item.
Thank you.
Thank you for that information.
I'll second it.
And we have speakers.
Moving to our public speakers,
Ms. Asada, Kevin Dalley, and Robert Prince.
If you are participating via Zoom, please raise your hand.
You're easily identified.
We will take in-person speakers before Zoom speakers.
Thank you.
I'm willing to follow Robert Prince if he has that,
because I'm Kevin Dalley from Transport Oakland.
I'm probably repeating some of Robert's talking points.
This is an important bridge, of course.
I'm hoping that there is an ADA review.
The current sidewalk is not ADA compliant
on either side.
One side ends with drop off onto an asphalt path.
The other side does have a curb cut,
except there's no curb cut on the sidewalk
on the opposite side.
This is an important bridge, of course.
No, I have memories of crossing,
walking across the bridge during Occupy Oakland marches,
and I look forward to seeing the bridge replaced,
but I'm hoping that there will be an ADA review process.
Does the city of Oakland use the design bill method
for projects?
Okay, so you have the option of using the design bill method.
Design bill method says that you hired a designer
a contractor at the same time. They submit both of their recommendations. You can refuse
or you can accept, but the no change orders is the arrangement.
So once you have a statement that says the bridge is essential for freight movement,
that means once you don't have access to the bridge, since it's essential for freight movement,
What is the contingency plan when the bridge is not available since a whole lot of use
of that bridge is currently what's happening?
Then the other thing is you're saying that you want a no collapse status once you complete
the new bridge.
So at this point, are we saying the possibility is that that bridge can collapse?
Is that a possibility?
And with that possibility, what do we do?
And that reminds me that the police administrative building has been identified as a seismically
unfit building, and it should be demolished, and you're not doing anything for years.
And that's a very serious safety hazard.
The last thing I wanted to ask you is about the alternate routes that have to be created.
Have you established that already, to say that we will be able to create alternate routes
since we have this essential freight movement going on?
What is the, you say the timeline
is that your design is complete in 2026.
You start the project in early 2027,
and you conclude in 2028,
and I can tell you dealing with projects with OUSD
most of the time, that never is the case.
You probably gonna have an extension
of the construction completion date, and.
Thank you for your comment.
That concludes your public speakers for item five.
Okay, I believe council member Wong has her hand up.
Yes, thank you, council member Unger.
One question to staff.
I am just surprised given that this bridge
is connected to a major arterial that,
and given that it's so critical for the port
and goods movement and freight movement
that it is a bridge that must be maintained
by the city instead of Caltrans.
Can you just explain why it is the city
that is taking on this responsibility instead of Caltrans?
Is we own 38 bridges in the city of Oakland.
And however, the city does not have resources
to inspect those bridges.
So we have Caltrans inspection, structural inspection team.
They do inspections every two years
for all our structures.
So based on those reports, they provide us recommendation
what should be done to those structures.
And after that, there is a highway bridge program,
federal funds, which are given to the agencies
to do the work on their bridges or their structures,
whether it's seismic radar or replacement,
depending upon the condition of the structure.
So cities responsible for maintenance of the bridge
and also for doing the work,
but it's most, I have not seen anywhere
that the city paid for the,
underperson paid for this bridge work.
It all comes from a highway bridge program.
No, I recognize that,
but it still requires a local match of what,
around $500,000.
So I just, especially,
I think this is in some ways a continuation
of the conversation we had on the previous item,
but just, you know, again, on Caltrans
and is it, can you just provide clarity
on what are the types of assets
that Caltrans is responsible for maintaining
in terms of highway bridges and things like that
versus the types of assets that the city is responsible for
and is there room to negotiate that?
Through the chair, my understanding is
Caltrans responsible for all their structures
which is in their highway system
and the city is responsible for all the roads
which are within the city's limit,
even though any road that is under pass
on the freeway areas are also city's responsibility.
Okay, thanks.
Council Member Houston, have your light on.
Through the chair, I'm good with safety.
Our bridge is, because mine's just collapsing
over there on Hagenberger.
So I understand how important this is,
but I still wanna know about numbers,
because I'm always trying to save the city numbers, money.
On this, so 25% of the four million, one six three,
nine three zero, if the change order did happen
would be one million, zero three, four, two three, two five.
But the city of Oakland would only be responsible
for 125,000.
Yes, 11%.
Yeah, yeah, I'm just trying to get these numbers
because we don't have any money and I'm just trying to,
but safety is important too.
So that means we'll be coming up with about $500,000
for this bridge out of our money
if that change order of 25% did go, right?
Yes.
Okay.
I'm good.
Thank you.
We have a motion made by Council Member Agayo,
seconded by Council Member Unger, Chair Unger,
to approve the recommendation of the staff
and to forward all pieces of legislation
to the March 3rd City Council agenda.
On roll, Council Member Agayo.
Aye.
Council Member Houston.
Councilmember Wong aye thank you and chair Unger aye this motion passes with
four ayes to approve the recommendations of staff and afford all
pieces of legislation to the March 3rd City Council agenda and through the body
would that be on consent or non consent consent thank you moving to item six
adopt a resolution amending resolution number 8 9 7 0 3 authorizing the city
administrator to acquire from Home Depot Inc. a 776 square foot parcel with 130.93 linear
feet of the access control and a 14,179 square foot temporary constructor easement and the
total amount not to exceed 975,659 for the construction of 42nd Avenue and High Street
Access Improvement and you do have three speakers for this item.
Thank you for the record, Amit Solvand, Principal Civil Engineer with Transportation, Department
of Transportation.
I will short the presentation for this item.
So this item is for I-880 42nd High Street Access Improvement Project.
The scope of the project involves extension of 42nd Avenue from I-880 off-ramp all the
way to Alameda Avenue, and then another extension is from Jensen Street from High Street to
Alameda Avenue and other street improvements. So background for this project, it's a major
street construction project initiated in 1999 that requires acquisition of property rights
from multiple owners, and the timing of design collided with Calton's I-880 High Street
corridors retrofit project. Therefore, our final design was on hold until Calton's project was
complete. So, this project is designed to improve traffic circulation along High Street,
I-880, off-ramp, on-ramps and Alameda Avenue, which includes traffic signals, sidewalks
and bike lane connections. The project is right noise in right-of-way phase. All property
rights need to be acquired before construction authorizations.
So, for this item, we are coming with a resolution that will amend an existing resolution, a
authorizing the city administrator to acquire 776 square foot parcel with 113.93 linear
feet of new access control and a 14179 square foot temporary construction easement in a
total amount not to exceed $975,659 from Home Depot USA INC.
So the requested not to exceed amount is comprised of the cost of the fee for simple
regulation, temporary construction easement for a period of two years, right, access rights
and reimbursement for Home Depot's rental costs for a temporary auxiliary water pressure
pump as a result of the city's use of this easement area.
For this item, local funds measure you will be utilized for this equation.
The next exhibit shows us some, the area map where we will be acquiring property from Home
if you see the 42nd Avenue this is a proposed 42nd Avenue from 880 off-ramp
to Alameda Avenue and we will be building a retaining wall along the
Home Depot property line and for that the blue line the blue area shows where
it will be permanent equation which is 776 square feet and the green area is
required during the construction for excavation and for our contractors
crews and then there is ex-Caltrans access control and which is a
requirement of for any property which is close adjoining freeways. So this is the
estimated schedule. So for for this item in front of the this body is for access
control and property occasion from Home Depot and then we will be coming again in
winter to 2027 for temporary construction is meant from others which
which is under process right now with our City Attorney's Office and real estate team
working hard on it. Right away, acquisition, right away certification will be requested
from Caltrans in summer 2027, and authorization for construction is expected in fall 2027.
And for bid and award, we'll be coming to City Council again in fall 2028. And I'm expecting
conduction from summer 2029 to summer 2031 available for any questions
council member guy oh yes thank you thank you and thank you for the
information we've been waiting for this project for over 10 years even the the
state of California had given us money to can make the street connections on
42nd to Alameda but we haven't done it and so I appreciate the work you're
doing in terms of working with Home Depot. For members of the public right on the other block,
you have Prologis is building 27 acres of manufacturing, retail space, as well as some
housing that's going to increase the population on these streets here. And so, I support your
recommendation and we need to get it done. The property right there, we're 42nd Avenue Connection,
that property is privately owned where it used to became a homeless site but now it's a containerized
site and so that property is up for lease and for sale but then right across the street from that
property is a city-owned property right that we did have homeless encampment management in there
but now we're doing some other activities but so that property is extremely valuable and and I
I appreciate the connections that are being made so we can keep businesses and bring
other, well, Prologis is one and Home Depot will stay in Oakland with that work and the
other members of the public right across the street in Alameda Way across from Home Depot.
I met with the Brinks Company and they invited me to come over because they have 222 employees
where there are big trucks there, but they're already threatening planning to move to San
Leandro due to the fact that we're not maintaining that area in terms of traffic and the safety
and so forth. So I thank you. Thank you for this information and anything that we can
do to get it done, let's get it done so we can keep the businesses and keep growing the
jobs for the neighborhood. Thank you and I make a motion to approve the item.
Okay I'll second it and then we'll go to councilmember Houston. Thank you through
the chair support councilmember Noah O'Gio a hundred percent on this project.
He's been waiting a long time for this. Can I get a PowerPoint can you send that
to me to my office of PowerPoint? Yes. And I wanted to find out so you said it's
approved and it's going to be going to for approval fall of 2028. Is that when
it's going? Yes. At that time the construction contract will be awarded. And then when will it
they're going to break ground 2029?
Yes, summer, 2029.
Summer, summer, summer.
So that means we have to keep that area,
Council Member Gao, gotta keep that area
tightened up until then, wow,
that's a lot of big responsibility.
Okay, so I'm good, I got the answers,
just send me the PowerPoint, thank you.
Council Member Wong, I believe you have your hand up.
Yes, thank you.
I know that this is an incredibly important project.
I do have some questions just though, however,
that this is essentially around a million dollars
that we would be giving to a private company, Home Depot,
and they have, this is a company whose revenue,
back in 2021, I was just looking up
as something of $151 billion in revenue.
I just want to make sure that this is really,
can you walk us through why they need this money?
And also how do we assure that this is really gonna be spent
on the purpose that is outlined in the report
rather than anything else that Home Depot may need?
Yes, so as I said, this item will be paying for four items.
one is permanent acquisition.
We will be taking over Home Depot's land
that is 776 square feet,
which will be used for our retaining wall construction.
That will be taken by the city.
And then we also need temporary construction easement
because we will be taking on their parking lot
to do the construction.
So that is a compensation for at least two years
we will be blocking their parking lot
and that is composition for that.
And then a major then Caltrans requirement is
They cannot put a driveway on their property
because it's close to the freeway ramp.
That is one item for compensation.
And the biggest competition is for the temporary water pump.
That is because during the construction,
we will be taking out East Pimod's pipeline, which
is supplying water to the Home Depot building,
and which will adversely impact their water
pressure for the fire sprinklers.
So during the negotiations with the city attorney office
and real state department and others,
so they came up with a number to compensate Home Depot
so that they can have a temporary water
pump in case of any fire event, so that the city is not
liable for any issues such as that.
So I think almost 2-3 of the cost of this $1 million
is attributed to that water pump issue.
Yes.
OK, I see.
And for me, it's just very important
that if we do approve this money being used for this purpose,
I mean, measure you funds are precious.
They are being spread thin.
And I just wanna make sure that we don't find out
two years from now that Home Depot use,
like we have to have some sort of control
to make sure that they are actually using this money
on the water pump.
And I don't wanna find out two years from now
that they use it to spend on some other use
because they have many, I'm sure they have many needs
as a business and I just wanna make sure
that the money going out to a major corporation
is gonna be used for the purpose
that is really being outlined here.
Through the chair, I was not part of the negotiations.
It was done between attorneys
and I think it's more like a legal matter,
whether they use it or not, I'm not very sure.
But what I can understand is it will leave the city
the library is something happens that because we have paid them for taking
full precautions councilmember guys let me just you know home deep is a major
employer and considering the environment around home people for many years they've
threatened many times to leave Oakland all right so but the reality is that the
investment they have made considering that they have prologes at the other end
that 37th Avenue is going to be connected all the way through to allow
traffic to have greater access. And so we do need to, what Homedeep was referring to,
that's East Bay Mudd area that's been holding us back from connecting the streets for many
years. So I'm glad you worked with them to establish an agreement, because at the end
of the day, that project is going to benefit the city of Oakland. And certainly the manufacturing,
development that's around it. For those of you that don't know that area, it's, you
know, creates a lot of not just employment but also a funding source
for the city of Oakland in the future. And that whole block, two, three
blocks, is going to grow tremendously. And, you know, parks and the parks, public works
department is down the street that I think one day will will help us have a
a greater, cleaner, safer city with this growth here. So we need to make sure that Home Depot
stays in the city of Oakland. Thank you.
We'll return our public speakers, Ms. Asada, Kevin Dahle, and Robert Prince. If you're
participating via Zoom, please raise your hand so you're easily identified and we will
take in-person speakers before Zoom speakers. Thank you.
We've been trying to get some
changes to make it more
pedestrian and cyclist-friendly.
And the excuse for the last six
years has been, no, we can't
make changes now, we're too far
along, and we're getting ready
to build the project.
So there's a few items,
currently, I don't think we're
ready to build the project.
I don't think we're ready to
build the project.
I don't think we're ready to
build the project.
I don't think we're ready to
build the project.
Current eastbound Alameda Avenue painted bike lane dead ends in the proposed new sidewalk
at the Home Depot entrance on the west side of the project.
No transition.
The new proposed 42nd Avenue bike lane east of Jensen dead ends at 880 ramp and SR 185
entrance with no receiving bikeway.
Pedestrians within the island between Howard and Jensen have zero connecting
facilities to 42nd Avenue or Alameda Avenue. Carlane Wits should be reduced to
10 or 11 feet throughout the project. This is the oak dock standard. Narrow
lanes mean reduced speed. You need 11 feet for for buses but maybe for some of
big trucks you don't need the 12-foot widths so Howard, Jensen, and High Street
are all candidates there and the striping should be updated for the bike
facilities and crosswalks to meet current Oak Dot guidelines. So can we get
this through as I said they've been talking to Oak Dot for six years about
these changes and it's always too urgent to get changes. Definitely
appreciate council member guy ohs wanting to move ahead. But it
should be better. What's the source of funding I didn't see in
the report she she mentioned it. Thank you sir. That last item
with the bridge in anything in west Oakland and you have a
project you have to ask. What is there going to be a soil
contamination, determination, and will there be remediation of
any soil contamination if found? It probably is going to be PCB
and leaded the soil. Are you just going to let it stay there,
or are you going to remediate it? That's an important point.
With this, I'm glad that the Councilmember Wong brought up.
We have a lot of projects going on related to the need for
sidewalk for traffic signals. I'm not too much on bike lanes but to have to spend
close to a million dollars in order to get the project going and we got
projects where we don't have to spend money and you can't use the term Mr.
Gallio I've been waiting for a long time not with me because I've been waiting a
long time for reparations okay I've been waiting a long time for black
contractors to get a fair deal so we've been waiting a long time for a lot of
of stuff and you can't use that as a priority for why your projects should
move on in my opinion. It is also my opinion that bike lanes in that area is
very inappropriate. They even have something about bike lanes on
International. I don't know how y'all have back bike lanes on International and
Fruitvale, non-existent. I would hope that the construction project or any
construction project has a legitimate reason why this project is being chosen
over other projects because of what it's a health safety issue that's a reason
but just because we've been waiting a long time I have heard nothing thank you
for your comment miss Rosada we do have a motion made by councilmember Gallo
seconded by councilmember Unger to approve the recommendations of staff and
before the site onto the March 3rd, City Council Agenda?
I believe we have one more comment.
Council Member Houston.
It's just through the Chair, I just have one comment.
Does the city have to do any remediation on the site?
Do we have to do anything to get it ready
for the development before the developer
or before the contractor takes,
take it over to do it in 2029?
It will be part of the contractor's scope
for clearing and grubbing the area
they will be working. Rest will not be touched by the contractor. And all that
start around 2029. Yes. Okay thank you. I will restate the motion. We have a
motion made by Councilmember Gail seconded by Chair Unger to approve the
recommendation of staff before deciding to the March 3rd City Council
agenda. Unrolled Councilmember Gail. Aye. Councilmember Houston. Aye. Councilmember
Wong. Aye. Thank you and Chair Unger. Aye. This motion passes with four ayes to
approved the recommendations of staff before this item to the March 3rd 2026
City Council agenda and through the body with that beyond consent or non-consent
consent please thank you on consent moving to open forum we do have two two
speakers for open forum Kevin dolly and missus sada I think that it's very
important that your encampment policy come forward with some solid
recommendations because we have too much going on that is not being dealt with
related to these homeless encampments and that is no attack on the homeless
community as much as possible will respect the community but there are
issues that have come about as a result of our encampment being in the city of
Oakland that are causing health and safety problems. And they are interrupting the quality
of life for many homeowners and people living under these encampments. So when's that going
to happen? Mr. Houston, I hope it happens soon.
We also have to understand that because we have a lot of people as residents in homes
I can't finish my thought but I hope that comes forward. Mr. Houston soon
Thank you for your comment Kevin dollar. Would you like to speak that concludes your public speakers program form?
All right, I believe do you have a comment customer Houston
Through the chair. I'm not sure if I could respond to public comment. I
Don't believe so
Imagine wanted to make a comment
You can make brief remarks in response to the public, but we need to stay on the topic of open forum
So please keep the responses short. It'd be real short
The EAP is coming soon spoke to the mayor of the smoke to the city attorney spoke to the city administrator
We worked out all the kinks
all the pieces so it should be coming soon and to change the the public health and safety for our
on housed individuals that need to be treated humanely at the same time to make it clean
and safe for our streets and our businesses to bring more businesses here.
So that's coming full bore to full council.
Okay.
I believe with that we are adjourned.
Thank you.