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Recommendation to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alameda Food Bank for Its Facility Expansion Planning on a Portion of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park. (Recreation and Parks 280-1010)

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To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

From: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Interim City Manager

Re: Recommendation to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alameda Food Bank for Its Facility Expansion Planning on a Portion of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park

BACKGROUND

The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (Sweeney Park) is a 22-acre park bounded by Constitution Way, Atlantic Avenue, and Sherman Street. The site is the former Alameda Beltline Railroad property that was secured by the City at its original purchase price due to the advocacy efforts of long-time Alameda resident Jean Sweeney.   On July 15, 2014, the City Council approved the Sweeney Park Master Plan, which was designed pro bono by Kristoffer Köster of KKDesign through an extensive public input process.

The Alameda Food Bank (Food Bank), located on Constitution Way at Thau Way, provides nutritious food to the low-income residents of the City of Alameda on a non-discriminating basis. The Food Bank serves over 5,100 individuals six days each week. Approximately 7% of Alameda residents are facing food insecurity and obtain food from the Food Bank. Of those, 32% are children and 10% are seniors. As the cost of living continues to rise, the Food Bank must be ready to help additional clients.

The Food Bank Executive Director, Cindy Houts, approached staff with an interest in implementing a capital campaign to build a new, larger, permanent facility, which requires additional land within the adjacent portion of Sweeney Park.  The Food Bank desires to expand its facilities in order to provide better service to its constituents, create larger and more comfortable waiting areas, and increase capacity for food storage and distribution.  Its current location is a trailer that is poorly suited to Food Bank’s operational needs.

The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (Sweeney Park) is directly adjacent to the existing Food Bank.  The community garden, urban orchard and demonstration gardens will be located on the most western portion of the park next to the Food Bank.  The City intends to collaborate with the Food Bank on the community garden programming in order to provide fresh produce, gardening space and educational classes. 

DISCUSSION

The Food Bank has requested a small area, approximately 5,000 square feet, in Sweeney Park that is adjacent to their current trailer location.  In the Sweeney Park Master Plan, their requested area was intentionally left open as an operational travel path for distribution to the Food Bank from the Community Garden.

The Food Bank’s mission aligns with one of the goals of the Sweeney Park Community Garden, which is to address food insecurity in the Alameda community.  The city and Community Garden Steering Committee, of which the Food Bank Executive Director is a member, intend to closely collaborate with the Food Bank and other local organizations.  The city will provide a limited number of free garden plots to Food Bank constituents with gardening education provided by Alameda Backyard Growers and other local groups.  The garden design will also incorporate a collection area where gardeners can donate their extra vegetables, fruit and herbs for distribution by the Food Bank.

Highlights of the MOU:

•                     Term extends through December 31, 2018;

•                     There is no cost to the Food Bank or to the City;

•                     The Food Bank is responsible for all expenses for design, site improvements, construction, and infrastructure of the new facility.

•                     The facility design will be reviewed by the Recreation and Parks commission and Planning Board.  The design style and color schemes are required to match the Sweeney Park design for consistency.

This MOU is a first step that allows the Food Bank to start a capital campaign to raise funds for a permanent facility.  If the Food Bank raises enough funding to design and build a new facility, then staff will bring a license agreement to City Council for review.

The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Steering Committee strongly supports this collaboration as a natural collaboration with the park, Food Bank and community garden and with a close alignment to Jean Sweeney’s values.  This committee is comprised of Jim Sweeney, Dorothy Freeman (both from Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Foundation), Bill Delaney (Recreation and Parks Commission Vice-Chair), Damian Mason (Community Garden Steering Committee and permaculturist); Victor Amador (local contractor); and Helena Lengle (College of Alameda Coordinator / Biology and Science Department).

The Recreation and Parks Commission recommended approval of the Food Bank Memorandum of Understanding at its February 11, 2016 meeting.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

There is no financial impact from this action.

MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE

This action does not affect the municipal code.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

This action does not require environmental review because it is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”).  CEQA Guidelines, section 15378(b).

RECOMMENDATION

Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alameda Food Bank for its facility expansion planning on a portion of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.

Respectfully submitted,

Amy Wooldridge, Interim Assistant City Manager

Financial Impact section reviewed,

Elena Adair, Finance Director

Exhibit:

1.                     Memorandum of Understanding - Alameda Food Bank