Correspondence - Updated 4/16 — Alameda City Council, April 16, 2024

From: Maxwell Brodie
To: CityCouncil-List
Cc: City Clerk; Jennifer Ott
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Letter of Support for City Council Meeting Agenda Item 2-A Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 3:54:02 PM
Attachments: Rain support letter for DOER Marine.pdf
Dear Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and Alameda City Council, I am writing to express Rain's support for Item 2-A on today's city council meeting agenda relating to a license for DOER Marine Operations to occupy Building 41 at Alameda Point.

DOER has been a strong supporter of the Alameda community and played an integral role in Rain's growth to date. My full recommendation and accompanying rationale is attached.

Wishing everyone a productive evening,
Max
--
Maxwell Brodie
CEO
Rain.aero

RainIndustriesInc2175MonarchSt. Alameda, [email protected]://rain.aero April 16, 2024
TotheCouncil of theCityof Alameda,
I amwritingtoexpressRain’sstrongsupport for DOERMarineandtheir request toextendtheir license.Over thecourseof our partnership, DOERhasconsistentlydemonstratedcompetenceanddedicationtoadvancingour sharedgoals.

Our collaborationwithDOERbeganwhenoneof their internsintroducedustotheir capabilities. Sincethen, DOERhasconsistentlyprovideduswithexceptional hands-ontechnical andengineeringservices.Their expertisehasbeencrucial invariousaspectsof our operations, includingresearchanddevelopment of autonomoushelicoptersfor proof of concept andfieldtestingpurposes, prototypingparts,andaddressingchallengeswithflight test logistics.

Moreover, DOERhasactivelyengagedwiththecommunitybyco-hostingstudent summitsandworkshopswithRain, fosteringthenext generationof innovatorsandleaders. Their dedicationtoeducationandcollaborationhashadalastingimpact onour community.

DOER'sleadershipplayedacrucial roleinhelpingRainfindanideal locationfor our headquarterswhichresultedinRainbecomingamember of theclimatetechnologycommunityat AlamedaPoint. Weareproudtocall Alamedahomeandwouldnot beheretodaywithout DOER’sroleinthecommunity.

It isalsoworthnotingthat bothour organizationshavebeenrecognizedfor contributionstotheEast Bayregion. Wearehonoredtohaverecentlyreceivedthe"East BayEDAAwards," anaccoladethat DOERwashonoredwithinthepast. Thissharedrecognitionunderscoresthemutual commitment wesharetoexcellenceandinnovation. Wewereexcitedtohear reportsof their recent successful testsof anovelfive-passenger submersible, built andtestedright hereat Alamedapoint, andexpect toseeexpandeddevelopment andproductionof thesevehicles.

DOERMarine'scontinuedpresenceinAlamedaandpartnershipareessential toour successandwelookforwardtotheopportunitytofurther collaborateandinnovatetogether.

Sincerely,
Maxwell BrodieChief ExecutiveOfficer

From: Liz Taylor
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Tracy Jensen; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella Cc: Alesia Strauch; Abby Thorne-Lyman; Jennifer Ott; City Clerk Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: April 16 council meeting agenda item 2024-3916 letters of support Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 12:59:28 PM
Attachments: Rain DOER Support letter.pdf
DOER support letter.pdf
Dear Mayor Ashcraft and members of the City Council
I’ve received two additional letters of support which I’ve attached here. One from Rain Aero and one from St. Joe’s Vice Principal.

Thank you for your consideration

Best regards,

Liz Taylor
President
DOER Marine
650 W Tower Ave
Alameda CA 94501
Direct: 209-482-1020

Dear Mayor Ashcraft and members of the City Council

I’ve received two letters of support ahead of the closed session meeting tomorrow evening. One is from the former CEO of Fastback Networks and the other is from the CEO/Founder of Tiburon Subsea. Both programs cited are examples of what DOER has been doing for some decades here in Alameda – largely out of the spotlight but striving to make an enduring difference.

Thank you again for your consideration

Best regards,

Liz Taylor
President
DOER Marine
650 W Tower Ave
Alameda CA 94501
Mobile: 209-482-1020
Dear Mayor Ashcraft andCityCouncil membersDaysog, Jensen, Spencer, andVella, I amwritingtoexpressmysinceresupport andadmirationfor DOERMarine, atrulyinvaluablebusinesswithinternational acclaim. Over theyears, DOERMarinehasnot onlyexcelledintheirfieldbut hasalsobeenasteadfast supporter of educationandcommunityengagement,particularlyinour local Alamedacommunity.

Oneof themost remarkableaspectsof DOERMarine'scommitment toeducationistheirdedicationtofosteringthenext generationof scientists, engineers, andenvironmental stewards.Throughhighschool internships, career days, middleschool sciencefair judging, andhostingfieldtripstotheir site, DOERMarinehasprovidedcountlessopportunitiesfor studentstoexploretheintersectionof artsandscience, sparkingtheir curiosityandpassionfor exploration.

LizandIan'seffortstohelpstudentsconnect artsandscience, whether throughclassroompresentationsor participationinschool events, havebeeninvaluableininspiringcreativityandinterdisciplinarythinkingamongour students. Bysupportingstudent clubslikeour STEAMSociety, DOERMarinehasplayedapivotal roleinnurturingthetalentsandinterestsof youngminds, empoweringthemtobecomeinnovatorsandproblemsolvers.

Furthermore, I deeplyappreciateDOERMarine'scommitment toenvironmental stewardship. Byinstillinginstudentsasenseof responsibilitytowardstheenvironment andpromotingsustainablepractices, theyareshapingfutureleaderswhowill strivetoprotect andpreserveourplanet for generationstocome.

Inadditiontotheir remarkablecontributionstoeducationandenvironmental advocacy, theteamat DOERMarinearegenuinelycaringindividualswhoaredeeplyinvestedinour community.Their passionfor makingapositivedifferenceinAlamedaandbeyondisevident ineverythingtheydo, andtheir unwaveringdedicationtotheir workistrulycommendable.

Inconclusion, I wholeheartedlysupport DOERMarineandtheinvaluableworktheydo. Theyareauniqueasset toour islandcityontheBay. Their dedicationtoeducation, environmentalstewardship, andcommunityengagement makesthemanexemplaryrolemodel for businesseseverywhere. I amgrateful for their continuedsupport andpartnership, andI lookforwardtoseeingthepositiveimpact theywill continuetohavewithahomeinAlamedathat helpstoplaceusontheworldmapasacityof innovationandimportance.

Sincerely,
AndyMcKee(He/Him/His)VicePrincipalSaintJosephNotreDameHS1011ChestnutSt.Alameda,CA94501510-995-9459 RainIndustriesInc2175MonarchSt. Alameda, [email protected]://rain.aero April 16, 2024
TotheCouncil of theCityof Alameda,
I amwritingtoexpressRain’sstrongsupport for DOERMarineandtheir request toextendtheir license.Over thecourseof our partnership, DOERhasconsistentlydemonstratedcompetenceanddedicationtoadvancingour sharedgoals.

DOERMarine'scontinuedpresenceinAlamedaandpartnershipareessential toour successandwelookforwardtotheopportunitytofurther collaborateandinnovatetogether.

Sincerely,
Maxwell BrodieChief ExecutiveOfficer

From: Liz Taylor
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Tracy Jensen; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella Cc: Alesia Strauch; Abby Thorne-Lyman; Jennifer Ott; City Clerk Subject: [EXTERNAL] April 16 council meeting agenda item 2024-3916 letters of support Date: Monday, April 15, 2024 5:23:53 PM
Attachments: Letter to Support DOER.PDF
OPUSLINC DOER Letter of Support 04142024.pdf
Dear Mayor Ashcraft and members of the City Council

I’ve received two letters of support ahead of the closed session meeting tomorrow evening.

One is
from the former CEO

of Fastback Networks and the other is from the CEO/Founder of Tiburon Subsea. Both programs cited are examples of what DOER has been doing for some decades here in Alameda – largely out of the spotlight but striving to make an enduring difference.

Thank you again for your consideration

Best regards,

Liz Taylor
President
DOER Marine
650 W Tower Ave
Alameda CA 94501
Mobile: 209-482-1020

OPUSLINC LLC • Ann Arbor • San Jose • NYC • www.OPUSLINC.com April 15, 2024

Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and
Members of the Alameda City Council
Alameda City Hall
2263 Santa Clara Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501

RE: Letter of Support for Deep Ocean Exploration & Research (DOER)

Mayor Ashcraft and Alameda City Council Members:

I am writing to express my strong, unwavering support for Deep Ocean Exploration and Research (DOER), its employees, partners, and clients. I highly recommend that you extend DOER ’s license to conduct business in the city, and that you work with them to find a mutually beneficial outcome for the future of the building they currently occupy at 650 West Tower Avenue.

During my time as CEO of Fastback Networks, we developed a wide -ranging and substantive partnership with DOER supporting our product development and manufacturing activities. Fastback Networks is a provider of cutting -edge communication infrastructure technology to North American telecommunication operators, like T-Mobile. While a partnership between an ocean research firm and a telecom products company may seem unlikely, it was the capabilities, skills, and experience of the DOER team that brought us together.

We began working DOER when we ran into unexplained problems with our manufacturing line at a local tier one contract manufacturer. The contract manufacturer was unable to provide the specific specialized testing and engineering analysis that we required. We were introduced to DOER for this specialized set of metallurgical and electrical tests. DOER not only delivered the specific test results and engineering analysis, but also directly aided my team in getting our manufacturing line up and running. Over time, our partnership grew out of the trust and mutual respect that existed between our teams.

During the initial days of the COVID pandemic, our contract manufacturer was shut down for an extended period, and then had trouble returning to volume production once the shut-down was lifted.

Because Fastback products were deemed vital to the on -going operation of the large US telecom networks, which supported emergency personnel and first responders, we operated under emergency authorization from the Department of Homeland Security. DOER was instrumental in our efforts to produce and distribute our equipment for emergency use. Starting in early 2021, we set up an additional production line at DOER to better support the customers who relied on our products.

The above information provides a brief overview of the partnership between DOER and Fastback .

There were other important aspects, such as the DOER team’s support for local high school programs, and the employment of local students for manufacturing and testing of Fastback products.

DOER is also located in a facility with the space and flexibility to undertake all the various tasks that we requested. And our partnership does not even touch on the core business of DOER, in an industry and ecosystem where they are the unquestioned leader in technology that is critical to research and security.

Most importantly, DOER is unique, which is saying a tremendous amount in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. The technology and products that DOER brings to their core business in deep ocean submersibles are unequaled, while the capabilities and skills of the team are unmatched, even in this highest of high-tech environments.

OPUSLINC LLC • Ann Arbor • San Jose • NYC • www.OPUSLINC.com The City of Alameda should be looking for ways to support and nurture DOER, using the company as a beacon for other high-tech firms that consider locating in the city.

While I am no longer with Fastback Networks, I would be happy to provide additional commentary regarding my experiences with DOER. Please feel free to contact me should you need more information.

Sincerely,

Christian Thelander
Co-Founder & CEO - OPUSLINC LLC
Former CEO of Fastback Networks
[email protected]

City Council of Alameda
Alameda City Hall
2263 Santa Clara Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501

Dear Mayor Marilyn Ashcraft and Members of the City Council, I am wriEng to you on behalf of Tiburon Subsea to express our strong support for DOER Marine’s conEnued occupancy of their current warehouse facility in Alameda. As you consider the license extension necessary for DOER to remain at this locaEon, it is crucial to recognize the signiﬁcant, ongoing collaboraEons and future business that hinge on their ability to maintain their operaEons there.

For decades, Tiburon Subsea has enjoyed a robust partnership with DOER Marine. This relaEonship has been instrumental in advancing our respecEve technological capabiliEes and in supporEng signiﬁcant mariEme and naval projects. Most notably, DOER is i ntegral to our ongoing Code 33 Research and Development (R&D) iniEaEves with the U.S. Navy. The work being done is criEcal for the development of advanced autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), which represent the future of undersea exploraEon and defense.

Furthermore, DOER’s current facility is essenEal for the planned producEon and expansion of our AUV programs. The strategic locaEon and capabiliEes of the warehouse make it uniquely suited to meet the demands of these complex projects. DisrupEon in th e availability of this space would pose signiﬁcant setbacks to our operaEons and the technological advancements associated with them.

In addiEon to our Navy -related projects, DOER provides indispensable technical support for the Lost 52 Project, an iniEaEve dedicated to locaEng and documenEng sunken U.S. submarines lost during World War II. This project not only serves historical and educaEonal purposes but also underscores our commitment to advancing undersea technology and knowledge.

The ability for DOER to conEnue operaEng out of their Alameda facility is crucial for the sustained success and advancement of these important projects. As such, we respec_ully urge the City Council to favorably consider the license extension for DOER Marine. This will not only support our longstanding partnership but also contribute signiﬁcantly to the local economy through job retenEon and the creaEon of new employment opportuniEes as we expand our iniEaEves.

Thank you for considering this ma`er. We are hopeful for a posiEve resoluEon that will allow us to conEnue our valuable work in Alameda, contribuEng to the city’s reputaEon as a center of mariEme and technological innovaEon.

Sincerely,

Tim Taylor
CEO / Founder
Tiburon Subsea
The Lost 52 Project
`[email protected]
CC; Tony Daysog, Tracy Jensen, Trish Spencer, Malia Vella, City Clerk, Alesia Strauch, Abby Thorne-Lyman, Jennifer Ott, Liz Taylor

From: Liz Taylor
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Tracy Jensen; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella Cc: City Clerk; Alesia Strauch; Abby Thorne-Lyman; Jennifer Ott Subject: [EXTERNAL] April 16 council meeting agenda item 2024-3916 Date: Friday, April 12, 2024 1:23:48 PM
Attachments: DOER City Council 2024_04_12.pdf
Dear Mayor Ashcraft and esteemed council members

Thank you for taking under consideration the extension of DOER’s license to continue operations in Building 41 at the 16 April council meeting.

Please find attached an overview slide deck describing a bit of DOER’s history, works and larger vision for an enduring future in Alameda.

For any of you who have not had the opportunity, the invitation to visit DOER for a firsthand look at our operations stands. We expect to have a five passenger submersible here until month end and will be receiving personnel spheres for the next two systems we currently have under build in the coming weeks.

With best regards,

Liz Taylor
President
DOER Marine
650 W Tower Ave
Alameda CA 94501
Direct: 209-482-1020
Office: 510-530-9388

DOER
www.doermarine.com
DOER Marine
City Council
April 2024
About Our Company
DOER Marine has been in
continuous service in Alameda
as a Woman founded and led
business since 1992. We are
extremely proud of our For
Benefit mission and Alameda
roots
DOER
Marine
2 DOER
3 Liz Taylor has been involved with DOER Marine
from its inception, becoming President in 1994.

Liz is the recipient of the inaugural Wings
WorldQuest innovation award, an East Bay
Innovation Award, an Explorer’s Club Fellow, an
inductee of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, a
Scuba Diving Magazine Sea Hero, and co-hosts
the Dive In with Liz and Sylvia series produced
by The Ocean Elders.

Liz
Taylor
CEO & President
DOER
www.doermarine.com
4 Dr. Earle
We are DOERs
Dr. Sylvia Earle is a renowned marine biologist,
oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer, hailed as a pioneer in the field of ocean science. Born in 1935, Earle has dedicated her life to the exploration and conservation of the world's oceans. Her groundbreaking research and
passionate advocacy have earned her numerous awards
and the nickname "Her Deepness." Earle was the first
female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and has led more than 100 underwater expeditions worldwide.

Founder of DOER Marine
DOER
www.doermarine.com 5
What
Drives us to do our work?
Sustainable Development Goals
SDGs are at the heart of everything that DOER Marine does. Our guiding light is SDG 14, which focuses on Life Below Water. However, we actively engage in ten additional key areas of the UN Sustainability Development Goals while supporting all 17 objectives.

DOER
www.doermarine.com
DOER Marine
Our Ask
Wants to continue being a part of the Alameda
Community. As such, we need a license
extension for the projects that we currently
have in progress. Typical project turnover is 18-
24 months.

In addition to contributing to Alameda Point’s
growing business sector, we want to further
create other opportunities for companies to
make Alameda their home in partnership with
DOER Marine.
6 Our Vision
for DOER Marine
7 Blue Green Incubator
Establish phase 1 to provide support
to blue/green start ups, special
projects, and other founders or
entrepreneurs
Bring Investment
Our continued presence will help
bring Internships, job creation, and
most importantly, investment to the
area
Professional Services
Our machine shop offers material
testing, design, and manufacturing
services businesses can leverage to
get new products quickly to market
Support for Businesses
We envision providing support,
manufacturing and development
space for small businesses to help
them grow
We ideally want to purchase Building 41 at Alameda Point and create:

DOER
www.doermarine.com
DOE R
www.doermarine.com 8
Working with Avison Young
Comprehensive Sevices & Shared Values
7,640
TotalDay of Giving
volunteer hours
+80
Partnership with local
charities
10 years
A decade of ongoing annual
contributions
Investment&
assetmanagement
Valuation and
advisory
Capitalmarkets
Real estate
managementservices
Lease
administration
Flexible
solutions
Studio,project&
construction
management
Tenant
representation
Occupier
solutions
Consulting
services
Agency
leasing
How they’re contributing to our vision
It’scrucialthat we work with an experienced Real Estate firm to not only createthe proper proposal for our vision of Building 41, but also to ensure that we stay true to the characterof Alameda Point while also addressing the needs of our incubation companies and sustainabilitygoals.

ESG and wellness
Environmental,Social, and Governance (ESG) factors are centralto how we consult with our clients, manage our workplace practices,and our philanthropy.For the last decade Avison Young has supported local communities through our annualDay of Giving. Our very own NorCal officeshave volunteered at Habitat for Humanity,SF Food Bank, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy,Oakland Lake Merritt, and San Mateo County Parks.

DOER
www.doermarine.com
DOER Provides
Support To
Trade, Government, and Professional
Organizations we support include:

Alameda Fire Department Dive & Water
Rescue Team, Alameda County Sheriff’s Dive
& Recovery Team, Commercial Diving
Companies, US Navy, NOAA, and USCG.

Not for Profits include:

Mission Blue, Bay Area Science Festival,
Ocean Elders, Blue Frontiers, Aquarium of the
Bay, California Academy of Sciences, Alameda
CASA, Deep Hope, Tetiaroa Society, Parley for
the Ocean, and the Wild Oyster Project.
9 DOER
www.doermarine.com
Our
For over 30 years we’ve been making sure we
can deliver bespoke submersible vehicles to our
clients. The use of these vehicles ranges from
research and exploration to tourism and
ecological surveys. We’re proud of the work that
we do to ignite interest in the ocean that connects
us all.

Submersibles
DOER
Are complex vehicles that require substantial time to design, manufacture and test. These efforts create and support
skilled jobs in Alameda
Submersibles
11 DOER
Also help support the local working water front. We not only do the bulk of the manufacturing in Alameda, but also ensure that our vehicles pass the majority of their life support and stability tests in local waters.

Submersibles
12 DOER
www.doermarine.com 13
Our products span the world and have helped multiple
people and researchers reach milestones in Deep Sea
Exploration and Research. Our manipulator arms are used across different platforms from University ROVs to the
deepest point in the ocean with Jim Cameron’s DeepSea
Challenger
A Global Presence

DOER
www.doermarine.com
Some of Our Projects
14 Your Name Your Name Your Name

DOER
www.doermarine.com
Public Facing Store
Aside from the work that we do with our underwater
vehicles, we also help educate the public about the
importance of our underwater ecosystems through the Deep Ocean Explore Store. We’ve helped mint divers of all levels who have begun to deeply care about the ocean and are
also participating on many of the excursions that promote sustainable ocean recreation.

Emphasis on Diving & Conservation
By promoting events with a touch of conservation, we’ve educated the public on fish identification, ocean clean ups, and international travel. We believe that by educating people about what we do and the perils facing the oceans we can help change public behaviors and attitudes towards one of humanity’s most valuable resources.

DOER
www.doermarine.com
Education
&
Outreach

INTERNS IN ALAMEDA
We’ve mentored interns who are
interested in marine biology, fabrication,
and ocean conservation

CONSULTING
We’re also consultants, helping projects
from aqua-culture to carbon
sequestration.

INTERNS AT SEA
Introducing young women and men to
exploration through their participation in
ocean missions has helped create
many scientists
We go beyond just teaching the
general public. We also believe that by
investing in the leaders of tomorrow,
we’ll be able to effect change for the
better of the environment and the
oceans. If we can help young people to
remain curious; to explore the
intersections of art, science, and
engineering through ocean exploration
and conservation, then we’ve done our
job.
16 DOER
www.doermarine.com
17 Why We LOVE Alameda
Contributing to the local community beyond our business is another aspect that motivates us. We’ve spearheaded
collaborations with Alameda CASA and the Romberg Center to create the Mission Blue SF Bay HOPE SPOT for an
enduring future of the San Francisco Bay.

Community Investment
The list of collaborators we’ve partnered with is extensive and includes: Power Engineering, Speed Pro Alameda,
Almanac Brewing, Bay Ship & Yacht, Rain, Hadal, Fastback Networks, Fix Auto, and many more. Our educational
partners also include many schools across the Bay Area
www.doermarine.com
DOER
Full List of Collaborators and Partners
Local Business Collaborations
• Power Engineering – O cean Cleanup,
submersible testing, diver support
• Speed Pro Alameda – s ignage & wraps
• Almanac – E vent space for public talks
• Svendsens- m arine hardware
• Bay Ship & Yacht – f abrication, assistance
with NOAA and eco tourism ships
• Rain – engi neering support & fabrication
• Hadal – engi neering support and fabrication
• Fastback Networks – engi neering support,
fabrication, assembly, & testing
• Fix Auto – c ustom paint for ROVs &
Submersibles
Local School Support
• Alameda A ztechs robotics club
• AUSD interns, job fairs, and field trips
• OUSD career day field trips
• SJND interns, career days, science fair,
r
obotics club
• College of Alameda and Laney
• Cal Berkeley – R &D
Trade, Government, and Professional
Support
• Alameda Fire Department dive and water
r
escue team
• Alameda County Sheriff’s dive and
r
ecovery team
• Commercial Diving companies
• Large engineering firms
• US Navy
• NOAA
• USCG
N
on Profit Support
• Mission Blue
• Bay Area Science Festival
• Ocean Elders
• Blue Frontiers
• Aquarium of the Bay
• California Academy of Sciences
• Alameda C ASA – taxiway clean up
• Deep Hope
• Bay Area Blue Drinks/events
• Wild Oyster Project
• Parley for the Ocean
18 KULADOER
We love being a part of this fantastic community. Please let us know if there are any questions we can help answer!

THANK YOU

Alameda City CouncilApril 16, 2024

Alameda City Council
April 16, 2024