Alameda City Council
June 21, 2022

From: John Knox White
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Items for consideration on tonight’s Council Agenda Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 4:31:22 PM
Best,
John Knox White
City Councilmember, Alameda
(he/him or they/them)
-----Original Message-----
From: Jenn Williams <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 4:28 PM
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft <[email protected]>; Malia Vella <[email protected]>; Tony Daysog <[email protected]>; Trish Spencer <[email protected]>; John Knox White <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Items for consideration on tonight’s Council Agenda >>
>> Dear Mayor Ashcraft and fellow Councilmembers:
>>
>> I am writing today to urge support for two items on the June 21, 2022 city council agenda. First, I urge you to include $7.5 million of the city budget to support necessary upgrades at Emma Hood pool (item 3-B, adoption of resolution approving and adopting the budget for fiscal year 2022–2023). >>
>> Since 2016, I have served on many committees between the Alameda Unified School District and the city of Alameda to come up with a plan to fund the necessary repairs to Emma hood pool, including the current AUSD/city subcommittee that I sit on with AUSD Board Vice President Heather Little and Councilmembers Tony Daysog and John Knox White. As you know, AUSD recently put Measure B, a $298 million facilities bond on the June 7, 2022 ballot. Part of that bond allocates $7.5 million to fund a total estimate of $15 million of necessary upgrades at Emma Hood pool.
>>
>> In addition, city staff have also earmarked $7.5 million to support this work (see May 2022 workshop addendum attached to item 3-B on today’s city council agenda).
>>
>> Although the results of the June 7, 2022 election are not final, the vast majority of votes have been counted and Measure B is currently passing with 56.43% of Alameda voters supporting the bond. Thank you for your ongoing support to fund upgrades at Emma Hood Pool in partnership with AUSD so that our students and community can continue to use the Emma Hood Pool for years to come.
>>
>> Second, I urge you to support the staff’s recommendation on item 7-B, the adoption of the resolution authorizing the interim city manager to proceed with the Grand Street resurfacing and safety improvement project. Exhibit 1 to this agenda item includes a plan for separated bike lanes for most of the street. Grand street is a high-use connector used by many students who ride their bikes to Wood Middle School, Franklin Elementary School, Saint Joseph’s Elementary School, and Saint Joseph’s Notre Dame High School. It is also used by students to access numerous sports activities at Rittler Field as well as activities at Crown Beach. >>
>> Grand Street has been designated a Tier-1 high injury corridor based on the number of accidents that have already occurred in that area. As you know, staff’s recommendation for designated bike lanes has been endorsed by the city of Alameda‘s Transportation Commission as well as the Commission on Disability. As the President of the AUSD Board of Education, I hear from many families deeply concerned about the safety of our streets, in particular the location on Grand Street impacted by this plan. Please prioritize the safety of our children as we encourage them to walk and bike to school.
>>
>> Thank you for your service and for your continued partnership with the Alameda Board of Education. >>
>> Jennifer Williams, Esq.
>> President, AUSD Board of Education
>>
>> Megan Sweet, Ph.D
>> Clerk, AUSD Board of Education