Homelessness report, Collections Policy, sidewalk repair, and CSI lease
On January 6, City Council will consider accepting the Final Report on The Road Home: A Five-Year Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness, which details the City’s progress in addressing homelessness through 2025. Council will consider amendments to City policies and ordinances to enhance revenue collection and streamline sidewalk repair processes, as well as a short-term lease with CSI Mini-Storage at Alameda Point to generate interim revenue while allowing flexibility for future redevelopment. Council will also appoint Adrienne Sancho as a Member of the Public Art Commission and Kevin Scolaes as a Member of the Mayor’s Economic Development Advisory Panel.
Below is a summary of what will be discussed and how to participate in the meeting.
The Road Home Final Report
Staff will present The Road Home: A Five-Year Plan to Prevent and Respond to Homelessness, a strategic framework adopted by City Council in October 2021 to guide the City’s response to homelessness through 2025. Developed by the Housing and Human Services Division following an assessment and extensive stakeholder engagement, the plan focused on preventing first-time homelessness, addressing disparities for those experiencing homelessness, reducing chronic homelessness, shortening the duration of homelessness, and reducing returns to homelessness.
The Final Report documents progress across all goals and highlights several key achievements. The City increased temporary shelter capacity by 97 beds through three year-round shelters, including Dignity Village, a facility with integrated behavioral health services, and one seasonal program, the Alameda Warming Shelter. The City also expanded its affordable housing supply, adding 82 below-market-rate ownership homes and 182 affordable rental units. Outreach services were strengthened by transitioning to an internal five-person team, while partnership with the Alameda Housing Authority supported new affordable and permanent supportive housing projects such as Estuary 1 and Linnet Corner. The report will inform the City’s next housing and human services strategy.
Proposed Citywide Collections Policy and sidewalk repair ordinance amendments
Council will consider adopting a formal Citywide Collections Policy and approving several ordinance and fee amendments to improve fairness, transparency, and recovery of delinquent revenues. The proposed policy would establish uniform collection procedures across departments; create a Centralized Collections Unit; and prioritize early payment through standardized billing, notices, and payment plan options before enforcement actions are implemented. Staff estimate the City could recover up to 75% of delinquent debt—approximately $500,000 to $550,000 annually—to support essential public services.
To ensure legal authority, staff propose amending the Alameda Municipal Code to allow Small Claims Court actions when administrative remedies are exhausted. Additional amendments update sidewalk repair procedures; clarify the City’s ability to perform repairs when owners are non-responsive; and codify financial assistance, payment plans, and appeals. A new $1,500 fee is proposed for formal hearings related to disputed sidewalk repair costs, with hardship waivers available. Early pilot results show increased compliance, with over 70% of property owners choosing City-performed repairs rather than private contracting.
Proposed lease with CSI Mini-Storage at Alameda Point
Council will consider approving a new short-term lease with CSI Mini-Storage for several buildings and surrounding land at Alameda Point. CSI has operated at this location since 2005 and has been on a month-to-month lease since 2018. While storage facilities are not part of the City’s long-term vision for Alameda Point, staff see this as a reasonable temporary use that keeps the property occupied, improves site security, and generates revenue while future redevelopment plans move forward.
The proposed lease would last three years, with two optional three-year extensions. Rent would start at about $71,000 per month and increase annually. Importantly, the lease allows the City to end the agreement after the first year with six months’ notice if redevelopment opportunities arise. Over the initial three-year term, the lease is expected to bring in about $2.6 million, which would help cover Alameda Point operating costs and infrastructure improvements. City staff recommend approving the lease as an interim solution that balances revenue generation with redevelopment flexibility.
How you can participate
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 6, at 7 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 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 for members of the public 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 847 0907 6204.
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 fewer than five are speaking, or two minutes if five or more are speaking.
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.
