From: Robin Oliva-Kraft
To: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Staffing transportation initiatives Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 1:35:27 PM
Dear Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Daysog, and Members of the City Council, As you consider the city budget and staffing needs, I urge you to consider what staffing is required to meet stated goals related to climate, safety, and equity, as well as for finishing the projects already committed and planned.
As shown in Bike-Walk Alameda’s project tracker, key projects have been slipping. https://bikewalkalameda.org/project-tracker/
And there is an enormous $1.2 trillion in federal transportation and infrastructure funding out there, but it will take time and energy to see any of that in ALAMEDA.
As a city we have a unique opportunity to dramatically improve our transportation infrastructure, while improving safety and helping the climate in the process. I urge you to ensure there is sufficient staffing to make this happen.
Warm regards,
Robin Oliva-Kraft
@ Willow and Clement
From: Cyndy Johnsen
To: CityCouncil-List; City Clerk; Jennifer Ott
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comments on Item 3-B: Budget and Workforce Changes Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2024 2:35:15 PM
Attachments: 2_24 CC 3-B Comments_ Budget and Workforce.pdf Dear Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Daysog, and Members of the City Council, Please see our comments, attached, regarding item 3-B on the upcoming City Council meeting agenda.
Thank you in advance for your consideration,
Bike Walk Alameda
Board of Directors
Denyse Trepanier
President
Brian Fowler
Treasurer
Tim Beloney
Secretary
Cyndy Johnsen
Board Member
Maria Piper
Board Member
Lucy Gigli
Founder, non-voting
February 13, 2024
RE: Agenda Item 3-B: Budget and Workforce Changes
Dear Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Daysog, and Members of the City Council, As you review budget adjustments and Recommended Workforce Changes , we urge you to consider whether the proposed staffing changes, like the net .3 FTE addition for Transportation, are enough to achieve our adopted goals around climate, safety, and equity, namely:
● Greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 50% of 2005 levels by 2030 ( Climate Action and Resiliency Plan and Climate Emergency Resolution ) ● Low-stress Backbone Network by 2030 ( Active Transportation Plan ) ● Zero traffic fatalities or serious injuries by 2035 (Vision Zero Action Plan ) As you’re aware, these plans, in conjunction with shorter-term work plans, include prioritized projects, programs, and actions with timelines designed to meet those targets. But we’ve been slipping.
Staffing for this work has been lean since before the pandemic. Sensitive to the delay of important transportation projects, Bike Walk Alameda started tracking project completion more closely last year. We found that more than half of capital projects planned to begin or complete construction in 2023 slipped .
These delays don’t bode well for the timely delivery of other projects and programs in the queue, like Slow Streets conversions, Commercial Streets upgrades, improved bike parking, the bikeshare program, and programs that will improve school safety, like the crossing guard program and 15-20 mph school zones.
Consultants might be able to help, but contracting is apparently limited, too, by staff shortages, because contractors need internal staff oversight.
Every year of inaction delays the livability outcomes our community is expecting, and makes change more dire and more difficult.
We appreciate your leadership and the important commitments that you’ve made, but urge you to follow through with resourcing to match. We ask you to get clarity from staff as to whether or not they have the resources needed to achieve approved plans and targets on time, and if not, to address the shortfall accordingly, to give our city a chance at success.
Thank you for your consideration.
Bike Walk Alameda