Item: 22-0816
Community & Economic Development Committee
October 20, 2022
CITY OF OAKLAND
CITY HALL • ONE FRANK H. OGAWA PLAZA • OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 94612
COUNCILMEMBER LOREN TAYLOR (510) 238-7006
DISTRICT 6 [email protected]
Date: October 20, 2022
To: Oakland City Councilmembers
From: Councilmember Loren Taylor
Subject: Arroyo Viejo Food Hub
Colleagues on the City Council, thank you for your previous support of the commercial kitchen project at Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center. (Resolution No. 88876 C.M.S.) Since that time, the District 6 Council office has been working with the following partners to collaboratively to move this project forward:
• City Administration
• Department of Public Works
• Department of Parks and Recreation
• Offices of Supervisors Wilma Chan, Dave Brown, and Nate Miley • Deputy Sheriff’s Activity League (DSAL)
• State Senator Nancy Skinner
• The Black Cultural Zone (BCZ)
The Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center is surrounded by a beautiful park within District 6 in East Oakland. My office has worked diligently to support programming and to bring resources to the recreation center and surrounding park. To name a few, our office supported the placement of large planters in cul de sacs to prevent dangerous driving into the park. Since 2019, we have held an annual turkey drive and food giveaway to neighbors. We have held a trunk or treat event annually in coordination with non-profit partners. In addition, we have supported many community events at the center including Animal Services and NEST team events that provided valuable City resources to the community. Also, new fitness equipment was installed, and we were able to hold weekly work outs with neighbors. And within the last two months we held a community townhall on current programs and potential improvements to the park and recreation center.
Over the course of my tenure on the Council we have achieved approximately $ 5 million in improvements and commitments to the Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center. For this project, the Council approved $25,000 towards the commercial kitchen and $80,000 towards restoration of the concession stand in the park. Since acceptance of the kitchen equipment, we have been in regular meetings with County staff and the above-mentioned partners. The Black Cultural Zone has been identified as a lessee for the site due to their strong ties to the community and they have already created a space for food vendors to sell at the nearby AKOMA market. BCZ has secured
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item: 22-0816
Community & Economic Development Committee
October 20, 2022
$600,000 from the Stupski Foundation in support of this project. The County secured $3 million from the State with the support of Senator Skinner towards the Wilma Chan Legacy Fund and the County staff anticipates at least $700,000 will be allocated towards this project.
Our office has heard from local food entrepreneurs and caterers who need a place to cook food to provide to the community. In addition, this project will meet both the City and County’s goal by creating a place for food distribution in East Oakland. This project has been a great community, nonprofit, foundation, City, County, and State partnership. Thank you to the City Council and all of our partners who contributed to this project to collectively address the problem of lack of fresh food, entrepreneurship and job opportunities in East Oakland.
Yours in Service,
Loren Taylor
Councilmember District 6