From: Justin Long
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Aquatic Center Parking
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 8:54:13 AM
Director of Recreation and Parks
City of Alameda
From: Nora Pon <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 8:07:03 AM
To: Justin Long <[email protected]>
Subject: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Aquatic Center Parking
From: CHRIS DRIOANE <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 7:59 PM
To: ARPD <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Aquatic Center Parking
Good evening , esteemed members of the city council. My name is Chris Drioane , and I’m here to advocate for a strategic parking plan at the new Alameda Aquatics Center, with at least 100 dedicated on- site parking spaces and an ad-how flex arrangement with the nearby college to use their parking lot for major events like Junior Olympics qualifiers, Junior Olympics, Futures League waterpolo tournaments, and other large swim and water polo competitions.
For daily operations—public swim sessions, swim lessons, and practices for high school and club swim and water polo teams—100 spaces will accommodate 150-200 visitors, assuming 1.5-2 people per car. Major events, like Junior Olympics qualifiers, Junior Olympics and Futures League water polo tournaments, attract 500-1,000 attendees daily, with top youth teams converging for multi-game weekends. These require overflow parking for 200-300 additional cars, which a college partnership can provide, ensuring the center can host these high-profile events without strain.
These tournaments drive economic growth. A single Futures League or Junior Olympics event could generate $100,000-$200,000 in local revenue from visitors spending on hotels, restaurants, and businesses.
Ample parking makes Alameda a top choice for organizers, boosting our economy and reputation. Without it, we risk losing these events to better-equipped cities.
Some may object that 100 spaces, plus a college agreement, is costly or environmentally impactful. However, the economic benefits from tournaments far outweigh initial costs, and shared parking with a college minimizes land use, preserving green space. Others might worry about underutilized spaces on non-event days, but daily demand from swim lessons, team practices, and public access ensures consistent use. Alternatively, concerns about encouraging car use can be addressed with bike racks and transit promotion, but winter and busy schedule realities—dark by 5:30 PM, often rainy—make driving essential for 5:30 AM practices or evening practices and matches, especially for out-of-town teams. Without adequate parking, overflow will spill into neighborhoods, causing traffic issues and frustrating residents.
By securing 100 on-site spaces and a college partnership, we ensure safe, accessible facilities for daily users and large events, minimize community disruption, and maximize economic impact. Let’s build an Aquatics Center that supports our swimmers and water polo players and positions Alameda as a premier aquatic sports destination. Thank you.
From: Allen Tai
To: Lara Weisiger
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Alameda Aquatic Center and Community Garden Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 4:01:24 PM
Lara - public comment on aquatic center.
Allen Tai, AICP
Planning, Building & Transportation Director
City of Alameda
510-747-6888 (Direct)
www.alamedaca.gov/PBT
From: Birgitt Evans <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 3:56 PM
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft <[email protected]>; Tony Daysog <[email protected]>; Tracy Jensen <[email protected]>; Michele Pryor <[email protected]>; Greg Boller <[email protected]>; Jennifer Ott <[email protected]>; Justin Long <[email protected]>; Amy Wooldridge <[email protected]>
Cc: Allen Tai <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Alameda Aquatic Center and Community Garden
Mayor and City Council,
In 2013, the same year work began on an Aquatic Center, Alameda Backyard Growers (ABG), along with many other community members and the Alameda Food Bank, undertook research and work to create a community garden adjacent to the Food Bank's Thau Way location at the west end of Jean Sweeney Open Space Preserve (JSOSP). A committee was formed, working with ARPD under Amy Wooldridge, field trips to Sacramento and other areas were undertaken to see what a community garden could be, research was done by two Mills College student, monthly meetings were held and a community garden, including community fruit orchard and many other amenities was designed. It designated plots reserved for low income residents and excess produce was to go the food bank. We planned raised garden beds for gardeners in wheelchairs too as well.
The Community Garden was approved by City Council in 2018. In 2021, when it became clear that certain other parcels would not be purchased, we met with Amy Wooldridge to discuss options and a new version of the community garden was designed. See the plan attached. Through the years city staff came to ABG, as a partner organization, to help with grant applications and commit to teaching educational classes in the garden. Alas, none of the grant funding was received.
Other locations were proposed, but all were less than ideal.
And so, when we were approached with the idea of giving up the space allocated to the community for a Community Garden for an aquatic center in exchange for another location in JSOSP and the funding for both the water hook up and electricity which would be included in the funds raised for the aquatic center, we agreed in hopes that, 10 years after beginning this process, a community garden might be on the horizon.
We are happy for the community to see both of the projects first envisioned in 2013 finally come to fruition. But mostly we just want our community garden. With global warming and increasing global instability, it is more important than ever for people to know how to grow food and to have access to land. And ABG is happy to provide education and free seeds from our Free Seed Libraries.
We see a lot of debate and discussion about parking spaces for the Aquatic Center.
The Planning Board approved 67. We want to make clear that it is our understanding that those 67 spaces - as well as bike racks - would be for the use of community gardeners as well as swimmers. When I travel to a garden I have across town, I have a tool caddy that weighs 15 - 20 lbs and an 11 gallon tub trug that holds large tools, a kneeling mat, compost, mulch and weeds. And in planting and harvesting season, I also need to move transplants and produce. This is often two trips from my car.
Expecting community gardeners to carry necessary tools on busses or bikes is not feasible. And it is not fair to elderly or disabled gardeners or those who need to bring young children several times a week to water.
Please keep the Community Garden in mind as you plan for the Aquatic Center.
Please do not reduce the really minimal 67 parking spaced approved by the Planning Board. Thank you so much for your support.
Very truly yours,
Birgitt Evans
Free Seed Library Coordinator for
Alameda Backyard Growers
From: Jeanne Nader
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Michele Pryor; Tony Daysog; Tracy Jensen; Greg Boller; Manager Manager; City Clerk Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item 7B - opposition to 67 parking spots Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 9:48:50 AM
Dear Mayor and City Council,
I am writing to voice my opposition to including 67 parking spots for the proposed Aquatic Center in Jean Sweeney Park. I understand that the city of Piedmont has an aquatic center planned (the same exact size) and is not offering any parking.
I oppose the inclusion of parking for the following reasons:
- COA has already offered 125 spaces very near to the park. How many more are needed inside the park?
- Including parking is in direct contradiction to the city's Climate Action Plan. Transportation is one of the leading causes of climate pollution in urban areas. Why would we continue to contribute to that by enabling people to drive and park. - The park is right near Webster with at least 3 bus lines serving it. - We could be encouraging people to ride their bikes to the pool. I ride my bike 3 days a week to a pool and am able to carry my gear.
- Several parks in Alameda don't include parking - Kruse, Little John, Franklin - which also has a pool. There doesn't seem to be an issue there.
- There's already parking at the east end of the park - which seems an excess as well.
What's also frustrating is that the planning board isn't even recommending paid parking to offset emissions. That hasn't worked too well for the Seaplane Ferry, has it? No 78 bus service and cars overflowing the lot. Free parking at public sites does not get more people out of their cars - but does the exact opposite.
It's time we reduce the dependence and the subservience to cars in Alameda. Your plans to include more bike lanes and make the island more pedestrian friendly are all for naught if you keep enabling and accommodating cars when it's not necessary.
Please do the right thing and either greatly minimize parking, charge for parking and make the pool free for folks who don't drive there or best of all eliminate parking from the plan.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Nader
Alameda resident
From: Alameda Aquatic Masters
To: CITYCOUNCIL-List; City Clerk
Cc: Alameda Aquatic Masters
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Support for Funding Approval for Jean Sweeney Open Space Pool Project Date: Monday, June 30, 2025 8:21:45 PM
Alameda City Council
2263 Santa Clara Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501
RE: Support for Funding Approval for Jean Sweeney Open Space Pool Project Dear Mayor Ashcraft and City Council Members:
On behalf of the Alameda Aquatic Masters Board of Directors, we want to express our strong support for the proposed pool at the Jean Sweeney Open Space site and urge you to approve the additional funding needed to bring this project to completion.
Our team is excited that Alameda is moving forward with a new public swim facility.
This pool will provide critical aquatic access for residents of all ages and abilities, expand opportunities for swim lessons and water safety education, and improve community health and wellness. It will also support existing and future aquatic programs that enrich life on the island.
We believe that investing in this project now will ensure that the facility can serve Alameda for decades to come. It is a vital step to meet current demand and prepare for future growth in our city. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to strengthening Alameda’s recreational infrastructure.
We respectfully urge your approval of the necessary funding to make this long- awaited community resource a reality.
Sincerely,
Alameda Aquatic Masters Board of Directors
From: Drew Dara-Abrams
To: CITYCOUNCIL-List
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 7-B City Aquatic Center Project
Date: Monday, June 30, 2025 4:28:30 PM
Dear Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Pryor, and Councilmembers, As you prepare for the upcoming City Council item on the Alameda Aquatic Center, I wanted to share a few concerns regarding the evolving site plan — particularly the arbitrarily large amount of new off-street parking and the absence of an actionable Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan.
While the aquatic center is a valuable investment for our community, I hope you’ll consider the following:
The number of new parking spots has fluctuated from 60 to 93 to 71 — and now to 67 — with no clear rationale tied to the city’s transportation and climate policies.
This is in addition to 125 existing “overflow” spots that will be available at the neighboring College of Alameda facility.
Cities like Piedmont are currently building similarly sized public pools with zero parking.
Alameda’s Municipal Code allows this facility to be built without any additional off- street parking. Choosing to build so much new parking — 100% subsidized by the city's General Fund — is an expensive choice that overlooks how effectively many of Alameda's existing parks and popular public destinations function with only on-street or limited paid parking.
As the Council considers allocating an additional ~$5 million to this facility, I respectfully urge you to:
Ask the ARPD team whether parking is so important that it should take up approximately half of the site plan, removing land from Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
Direct that any new parking be paid parking from day one — reflecting its true cost and value. Revenue from parking can help support the aquatic center’s operations, modestly reduce entry fees for those who choose to arrive by more sustainable modes of transport, and/or fund equity programs to further expand swimming access.
Thank you for your time,
Drew Dara-Abrams
Calhoun St.
From: Sam Rosenthal
To: CITYCOUNCIL-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Alameda Aquatic Center parking plans Date: Monday, June 30, 2025 11:27:07 AM
City Council Members,
I understand that you will consider additional funding for the aquatic center during tomorrow's Council meeting. The aquatic center is a worthwhile project that will benefit our community, and I encourage the City to support it.
However, I understand that the current plans for the aquatic center include a large number of new parking spots in Jean Sweeney Open Space Park. The aquatic center is well located for convenient access by modes that do not require parking, such as walking, biking, and public transit. Accordingly, I strongly encourage the city to explore alternatives to the current parking plan, such as the following:
1. Ideally, building no new parking, and instead relying only on the 125 overflow spots that College of Alameda is offering for the city's use (in addition to the excellent alternatives, such as biking, walking, and public transit).
2. However, if new parking is to be built, directing ARPD to collect parking fees, rather than offering the parking for free. These fees can serve to encourage use of other modes of transit to reach the aquatic center, and can be used to offset some costs for the aquatic center.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Regards,
Samuel Rosenthal
City of Alameda Resident
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
June 30, 2025
RE: Item 7-B: Aquatic Center
Dear Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft and Members of the City Council, We appreciate the progress on the Aquatic Center project and hope you will consider our final transportation-related comments. We believe it should be further improved by strengthening the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies and implementing modest parking fees from day one for non-disabled personal vehicles.
Doing so will support climate goals by encouraging sustainable travel, easing parking demand, and generating revenue for maintenance, programming, and TDM implementation. Charging for parking also promotes equity—free parking disproportionately benefits drivers over those who don’t or can’t drive. While all city lots should eventually have paid parking, this is a strong place to start, given the facility’s funding needs.
We also remain concerned about the amount of precious open space being lost to parking. Designing around the assumption that everyone will drive not only encourages more driving—it contradicts our VMT reduction goals and sacrifices open space that could serve greener, more community-focused purposes. This site is well-served by transit, walking, and biking, and Alameda removed parking minimums in 2021. So why default to a car-centric land use approach that undermines climate resiliency and erodes our public realm? To strengthen the TDM plan, we suggest including additional strategies, such as:
● Offering “Bus to Swim” or “Bike to Swim” discounts, funded by parking revenue
● Hosting bike repair clinics and safety classes in partnership with Transportation Planning
● Installing a bikeshare station when that program launches ● Organizing “Bike-in Swim Nights” with family-friendly group rides ● Prioritizing biking and transit in signage and outreach ● Setting clear mode share targets, and partnering with the Alameda TMA for program implementation and oversight
The Aquatic Center is a chance to model our island city’s climate leadership. With transportation as Alameda’s top source of greenhouse gas emissions, it’s critical to take a forward-looking approach to access and mobility.
Thank you,
Bike Walk Alameda Board