CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO.
TO AUTHORIZE THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH
THE GRAND STREET RESURFACING AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT FINAL CONCEPT AND ADOPT THE ENVIRONMENTAL
FINDINGS.
WHEREAS, in January 2018, the A lameda City Council adopted the Transportation Choices Plan, which set as a primary goal to increase the safety and convenience of walking, bicycling, carpooling and using transit within Alameda; and
WHEREAS, in March 2019, the Alameda City Council declar ed a climate emergency calling for an immediate, just transition and emergency mobilization effort to restore a safe climate; and
WHEREAS, in September 2019, the Alameda City Council passed the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan which will require large n umbers of Alamedans to choose transit, walking, and biking over driving alone in order to meet ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals; and
WHEREAS, the Climate Action and Resiliency Pl an states that in 2020, seventy percent of Alameda’s greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be generated by the transportation sector, primarily from private automobile use; and
WHEREAS, in November 2019, the Alameda City Council declared that Vision Zero is the citywide guiding principle for transportation planning, the design of streets and sidewalks, and the maintenance of the public rights -of-way, when it adopted the Vision Zero policy; and
WHEREAS, with the Vision Zero policy, City Council directed the Transportation Commission and City staff to consider safety as the highest priority when balancing competing needs and demands for space within the public right-of-way; and
WHEREAS, in April 2020, the Alameda City Council established policies on street width, lane width, crosswalks and bulb -outs to promote safe, livable streets and environmentally sustainable transportation choices; and
WHEREAS, the International Fire Code specifies a minimum clear width of 20 feet (two 10 foot lanes) for fire access and recommends 26 feet in limited circumstances and only when necessary to provide adequate access to individual buildings exceeding 30 feet in height; and
WHEREAS, in November 2021, the Alameda City Council adopted the General Plan update Alameda General Plan 2040, including goals to reduce serious injuries and deaths on City of Alameda public streets and to support active transportation modes of transportation as critical to addressing climate change; and
WHEREAS, in December 2021, the Alameda City Council adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan and committed to making significant safety improvements to Alameda Streets in 2022 and beyond to end fatalities and serious injuries, including on the Grand Street Tier 1 High Injury Corridor between Encinal Avenue and Shore Line Drive; and
WHEREAS, City staff developed a recommended plan including the following improvements on Grand Street between Shore Line Drive and Encinal Avenue:
Repair and resurfacing of the street
Pedestrian safety improvements
Enhanced bus stops
Speed reduction with narrower automobile travel lanes Separated bike lanes
Accessibility improvements for people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the staff-recommended plan reduces on -street parking to accommodate the safety enhancements; and
WHEREAS, i n September 2021, Caltrans determined that the Grand Street Resurfacing and Safety Improvements Project has no significant impacts on the environment as defined by National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), and as such, the project is categorically excluded from the requirements to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under NEPA; and
WHEREAS, on May 25, 2022, the Transportation Commission unanimously recommended that the City Council proceed with the staff-recommended Grand Street Resurfacing and Safety Improvements Project , incorporated as Exhibit 1 to the accompanying staff report; and
WHEREAS, on June 21, 2022, the City Council of the City of Alameda conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the same.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Alameda hereby directs and authorizes the Interim City Manager to proceed with the Grand Street Resurfacing and Safety Improvement Project Final Concept incorporated as Exhibit A; and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Grand Street Resurfacing and Safety Improvements Project is categorically exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) (Existing Facilities) and Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land).
E x h i b i t A
[ T o b e a d d e d a f t e r C o u n c i l D e c i d e s w h i c h p l a n t o a d o p t ]
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I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in a regular meeting assembled on the 21st day of June 2022, by the following vote to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said City this 22nd day of June 2022.
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
City of Alameda
______________________
Yibin Shen, City Attorney
City of Alameda