Gibbons Drive traffic calming, Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, and Mylar balloon ban
On November 18, City Council will consider quick-build traffic calming in the neighborhood around Gibbons Drive followed by data collection and planning for the Fernside Traffic Calming and Bikeways Project.
Council will also hold a workshop to update the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, provide direction on drafting a Mylar balloon ban, and adopt a resolution appointing Nick Ksiazek as Trustee of the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District Board.
Below is a summary of what will be discussed and how to participate in the meeting.
Gibbons Drive quick-build traffic calming
City staff recommend implementing quick-build traffic calming measures in the Gibbons Drive neighborhood by 2026–2027, followed by data collection and a temporary pilot for turn restrictions at the Gibbons Drive/High Street/Fernside Boulevard intersection in 2028. The plan responds to safety issues and community feedback regarding traffic speeds, cut-through driving, and pedestrian safety.
The Transportation Commission and City Council previously reviewed design concepts, including a northbound turn restriction on Gibbons Drive, to improve pedestrian crossings and accommodate a future two-way bikeway on Fernside Boulevard. Studies found that the turn restriction would enhance safety and traffic flow. However, residents raised concerns about traffic diversion onto narrower neighborhood streets. Consequently, staff adjusted the phasing to focus first on neighborhood-wide calming before testing the intersection restriction.
Plans for phased implementation include:
Phase 1 (2026–2027)
- Install a paint-and-post bulb-out at Gibbons/High/Fernside.
- Build quick-build roundabouts and temporary ADA curb ramps at key intersections.
- Add speed humps on Gibbons, Southwood, and Cambridge Drives.
Phase 2 (2028–2030+)
- Collect post-installation traffic data and report findings.
- Upgrade temporary installations to permanent ones.
- Conduct a temporary turn restriction pilot at Gibbons/High/Fernside.
- Develop a long-term intersection design and funding plan.
The project aligns with Alameda’s Vision Zero, Active Transportation, and Climate Action plans to advance safety, accessibility, and emission reduction goals.
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance update
Council is holding a workshop to provide input on potential updates to Alameda’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, which requires that 15% of housing units in projects with five or more units be deed-restricted affordable housing. Updates will aim to maintain development feasibility while increasing affordability as well as Alameda’s competitiveness for state and regional housing and infrastructure grants.
Alameda’s existing ordinance requires 4% very low-, 4% low-, and 7% moderate- income units for 59 years. However, staff has found that moderate-income rental units are often priced close to market rents, providing limited affordability benefits. The City is reconsidering these ratios to better align with housing needs and development feasibility.
Key staff recommendations are:
Adjust the income mix.
- Maintain the overall 15% inclusionary requirement while differentiating between rental and ownership housing.
- For rental projects: Shift the focus to 15% Low-Income units rather than including Moderate-Income units that are close to market rates and don’t serve significant affordability needs.
- For ownership projects: Require 5% Low-Income and 10% Moderate-Income units to balance feasibility and affordability.
Adjust and expand in-lieu Fees, the fees developers can pay in lieu of including affordable housing units on-site.
- Expand eligibility for all project types.
- Set fees at $25 per sq. ft. for rental and $50 per sq. ft. for ownership projects.
- Dedicate revenues to a local housing fund supporting affordable housing initiatives, including acquisition, rehabilitation, and homeownership assistance.
Formalize a clustered option.
- Formalize criteria allowing developers to partner with nonprofits for off-site affordable housing (“clustered” projects).
- Ensure equivalent or greater affordability outcomes and require City Manager approval.
Extend the affordability term.
- Extend the affordability period from 55 to 99 years to preserve long-term benefits at a minimal additional cost.
Propose Mylar Balloon Ban
City staff will seek City Council direction on drafting an ordinance to ban the sale and distribution of Mylar (metallic) balloons in Alameda. The goal is to reduce power outages, electrical hazards, and environmental impacts caused when conductive balloons contact power lines. State Assembly Bill (AB) 847 mandates the elimination of metallic balloon sales in California by 2031, replacing them with non-conductive alternatives.
Locally, Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) documented 54 balloon-related callouts over five years, with seven outages affecting up to 200 customers. Each incident costs about $25,000 in labor and equipment. Staff are already integrating Mylar balloon bans into City event permits while expanding public education about electrical and environmental hazards.
Local sellers—grocery, party, and floral stores—reported Mylar balloons make up around 80% of balloon sales. They oppose voluntary phaseouts, citing demand and lack of effective alternatives, saying they would comply only if required by ordinance.
Council will consider whether to implement complaint-driven or active enforcement, whether to ban Mylar-only balloons or include all helium balloons, whether to phase implementation or enforce immediately and how to assess the ban’s effectiveness.
How You Can Participate
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, located on the third floor of City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue.
Members of the public are welcome to participate in person or via Zoom. They may comment on the Non-Agenda, Consent Calendar, and Regular Agenda portions of the Meeting Agenda (link downloads document).
The Non-Agenda portion of the meeting provides an opportunity to address the Council regarding any matter not on the agenda over which the Council has jurisdiction. The Consent Calendar is intended for routine items and is approved by a single motion. The Regular Agenda is the central portion of the meeting, where each issue receives a presentation and time for Council discussion and public comment.
Complete this online form to request reasonable accommodation.
Click here for Zoom registration. The Zoom phone number for telephone participants is 669-900-9128; the Meeting ID is 814 7082 0932.
Information to assist with remote participation is available online in the Public Comment and City Council Meeting Guide. The meeting can also be viewed on the City of Alameda’s Facebook page. Note that comments posted there are not monitored.
For each issue, public speakers will have three minutes to speak if there are fewer than five speakers or two minutes to speak if there are five or more speakers.
Community members may also email Council Members on issues of interest before meetings.
Contributing writer Karin K. Jensen covers boards and commissions for the Alameda Post. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at https://linktr.ee/karinkjensen and https://alamedapost.com/Karin-K-Jensen.
