CITY OF SAN PABLO
City Council
1000 Gateway Avenue ● San Pablo, CA 94806
Main: 510-215-3000 ● Fax: 510-215-3011
www.SanPabloCA.gov
DRAFT LETTER TO BE TRANSMITTED
February 5, 2024
EMAIL TRANSMITTAL & US REGULAR MAIL
The Honorable John Garamendi (D-8TH)
United States House of Representatives
2004 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative Garamendi:
RE: CITY OF SAN PABLO FORMAL REQUEST TO PURSUE A PUBLIC INTEREST LAND CONVEYANCE ON HUNTER HALL US ARMY RESERVE CENTER – 2600
CASTRO ROAD, SAN PABLO
On behalf of the San Pablo City Council, I hereby request your formal support in pursuit of a public interest land conveyance of the Hunter Hall U.S. Army Reserve Center to the City of San Pablo, CA. Although the exact status is currently undetermined, the Army Center appears to be very inactive and underutilized. Located at 2600 Castro Rd., the City envisions utilizing this federal property strictly for City public fa cility use which includes a new City public works corporation yard.
As you know, the City of San Pablo encompasses less than 2.4 square miles, severely limiting the ability to expand and improve City public works facilities. If the Army property were transferred, the site would serve as a primary base for emergency management services, local street and highway maintenance functions and operations, fleet vehicle fueling and charging station, repair and fabrication shop, and serve as a hub for further deployment of all public works services required to meet all applicable Federal and State regulations on environmental and regulatory compliance and climate change programs.
Due to potential for hydrocarbon contamination due to historic US Army use, and proximity to the Hayward fault, previously explored uses such as future housing or commercial developments were deemed unviable due to costly building and foundation required improvements which are cost-prohibitive and non-feasible for development. Should a conveyance occur, the plan outlined above will serve as the City’s sole use due to these site restrictions. Under no circumstances does the City plan to sell or utilize the land for any future commercial or housing development purposes.
Honorable Congressional Representative Garamendi (District-8) Re: City of San Pablo formal request to pursue a public interest land conveyance on Hunter Hall U.S.
Army Reserve Center – 2600 Castro Road, San Pablo, CA
Additionally, the City’s current Public Works Corporation Yard, located at 1515 Folsom Avenue, adjacent to Davis Park, is limited, inadequate and too small for effective City operations and service delivery for these programs aforementioned. In the future, should the public conveyance materialize, the City would then be able to expand park facilities at the current public works corporation yard site to enhance park and recreational opportunities and critically-needed park space in an already geographically-constrained, social-disadvantaged community who lacks these important local resources to promote public health and quality of life.
Overall, utilization of the Hunter Hall U.S. Army Reserve Center presents an opportunity to enhance public services, supplement capital improvement efforts, and provide improved assistance to our residents, and District 8 constituents. I thank you for your dedicated service to the 8
th Congressional District of California, and look forward to your response.
If you require any additional information or documentation, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at: [email protected], or San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez directly at (510) 215-3016, or via email at: [email protected]
Thank you in advance for your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
SIGNATURE
Patricia Ponce, MAYOR
City of San Pablo
[Enclosure: Relevant Documents, if any]
Attachment: Parcel Map (APN: #416-140-003)
Honorable Congressional Representative Garamendi (District-8) Re: City of San Pablo formal request to pursue a public interest land conveyance on Hunter Hall U.S. Army Reserve Center – 2600 Castro Road, San Pablo, CA