City Government
Are City Staff Behind the Scenes Already Moving Forward on Fisher’s Port Project?
Some members of the committee were deeply concerned that this zoning change may have been made without the approval of the City Council or going through the Planning Commission.
At a Zoom meeting last week between members of the community and representatives of the City of Oakland’s Planning Department, city staff shared zoning maps for the purpose of discussing modifications to industrial zoning regulations.
The maps illustrated parts of the Port of Oakland that are restricted solely for industrial use, meaning that the city does not allow residential or other commercial construction on those properties.
However, community members inadvertently viewed one zoning map that showed Howard Terminal as removed from the city’s industrial land use protections. Staff at the meeting were not able to explain that map and referred questions to others in the Planning Department.
The 55-acre Howard Terminal, which plays an important role in Port of Oakland operations, is the public land targeted by billionaire John Fisher as the site to build his stadium and real estate development project.
“The map of Howard Terminal was just white on the sheet of paper; the hashtag for industrial land use was not on Howard Terminal, and when asked about this, the Planning Department staff at the meeting said this change was not under their purview and referred us to someone else,” said one of the community members who attended the meeting.
Some members of the committee were deeply concerned that this zoning change may have been made without the approval of the City Council or going through the Planning Commission.
As some people said, Mayor Libby Schaaf and City Administrator may support the A’s development project, but they do not have the authority to unilaterally make those zoning changes without going through a public process.
Contacted by the Oakland Post, one member of the City Council said, “The council has not yet approved residential zoning at Howard Terminal. That proposal is expected to come to council in a few months.
“Also, because it is waterfront tidelands, it will need permission from the state lands commission, which doesn’t normally allow housing on tidelands, and that hasn’t happened yet either,” the councilmember said.
The Post contacted the Planning Department for an explanation of the new Howard Terminal zoning map and also contacted the Mayor’s Office and a spokesperson for the City Administrator, seeking an explanation of this map.
By the Post’s publishing deadline, none of the officials had responded to the following questions:
- It appears that changes shown in this zoning map have already been implemented. Is that the case? If so, what process did they go through for approval?
- If it is no longer industrial property, what uses of the land are now permitted under the zoning of Howard Terminal?
- Who in the administration has already approved this modified zoning map of Howard Terminal?
The Oakland Post’s coverage of local news in Alameda County is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program created by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support community newspapers across California.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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Alameda County
DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland
Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.
Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.
City Government
Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall
At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.
Special to The Post
At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.
Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.
Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”
According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.
“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”
When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.
At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”
While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.
On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.
“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.
The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.
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