ACTION MINUTES

 

Regular Meeting of the Waterfront Commission

August 12, 1998

Shorebird Nature Center

Berkeley Marina

 

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER

 

Chair WASSON called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM and called the roll:

 

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:         KAWCZYNSKA, SMITH, THOMAS, Chair WASSON,                                                                         Vice-Chair WOLGAST, & WOZNIAK.

 

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:           FELIX, JONES & WINDHAM. 

 

STAFF PRESENT:                             Denise Brown, Lisa Caronna, Patti Donald, Pat Jeffrey, Cliff Marchetti, and Ed Murphy.

 

2.         PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Roberto Trapaga said that he had met with staff and complained about rave parties in Cesar Chavez Park.  He stated that there was lots of trash.  He also said that after this meeting there was another rave party and he asked one of the participants if the group had a license.  He called the police, but go no response.  He said it was time for the City to do something about this situation.

 

Secondly, he said that there was very few native plants in the proposed natural protected area and many species of weeds.  He said these weeds are a fire hazard and should be removed, especially since there is methane gas in the area.  Staff said it would discuss with the Chair whether to place this item on its next agenda.   

 

3.         CONSENT CALENDAR

 

            a.         Approval of Agenda

 

Chair WASSON moved Information Items 5.k and 5.c to the Action Items.  Staff asked that Action Item 4.a. be removed from the agenda at the request of the Cal Sailing Club.  The Chair agreed.

 

            b.         Approval of Minutes of June 10th, June 24th, and July 8th Meetings

 

Commissioner THOMAS asked that the minutes of the July 8th Special Meeting be revised to state that he was present for the entire meeting and voted to adjourn the meeting.  With this revision, Commissioner WOZNIAK moved approval of all three sets of minutes (June 10th, June 24th, and July 8th). Commissioner THOMAS seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved with a vote of 6-0-0-3. 

 

 

4.         ACTION REPORTS

 

            a.         License Agreement with Cal Sailing Club

 

Ed Murphy stated that there was one issue concerning berths that needed to be resolved and asked for a continuance to the next meeting.  The Chair agreed and no action was taken. 

 

            b.         Proposal for Ferry Service to San Francisco

 

Commissioner SMITH made a motion to form a joint commission with the City of Albany's Waterfront Commission to explore the possibility of ferry service from the foot of Gilman Street in Berkeley to San Francisco.  Commissioner WOZNIAK seconded the motion and it was approved by a vote of 6-0-0-3.  

 

            c.         Invitation to Ladbroke to Attend Commission Meeting

 

Commissioner SMITH made a motion to invite Ladbroke to attend the next available Commission meeting to offer Ladbroke the opportunity to explain its long range plan for its property.  Commissioner THOMAS seconded the motion and asked staff to present a staff report on the property at the same time.  The motion was approved by a vote of 6-0-0-3.

 

5.         INFORMATIONAL REPORTS MOVED TO ACTION REPORTS

 

            k.         Status on Donated Benches *

 

Cliff Marchetti presented a report which included a map of several sites selected by donors.  The Commission asked that staff prepare a map which indicates locations pre-approved for benches so donors could more easily make decisions.  Staff said it would present such a map to the Commission for its review.  Commissioner SMITH made a motion to recommend the approval of three benches at a donated value of $5,000 to be placed in Cesar Chavez Park on sites selected by Daniel Scharlin and Nancy Olsen.  Commissioner KAWCZYNSKA seconded the motion and it was approved by a vote of 6-0-0-3.

 

            c.         Proposed Art Exhibit at Aquatic Park Sponsored by SFMOMA *     

 

Lisa Caronna introduced Tom Leader, a landscape architect with the Berkeley firm of Peter Walker and Associates.  Mr. Leader described a proposal to develop an art exhibit in Aquatic Park, as presented in the staff report.  Commissioner SMITH made a motion to support the concept, subject to further review by the Commission of the specific project.  Commissioner KAWCZYNSKA seconded the motion which was approved by a vote of 6-0-0-3.

 

 

 

 

 

5.         INFORMATION REPORTS

           

            a.         Presentation of Nature Center Programs and Plans for Straw Bale Building

 

Patti Donald introduced her staff and showed videos which explained the programs provided by the Nature Center.  She then introduced the architectural team designing the new Straw Bale Building and they described the plans and showed a model.  Ms. Donald explained the funding sources and Commissioner WOLGAST made a motion to recommend that the City Council allocate $15,000 from the General Fund in FY 1998-99 to assist in financing the construction of the building.  Commissioner WOZNIAK seconded the motion and it was approved by a vote of 6-0-0-3.

 

            b.         Status Report on Living Wall *

 

Cliff Marchetti presented the written staff report.  No action was taken.

 

            d.         Waterfront Master Plan & Project Status Report *

 

Pat Jeffrey presented the written staff report.  No action was taken.

 

            e.         Report on Marina Budget *

 

Cliff Marchetti presented the written staff report.  Commissioner SMITH asked that future reports present a comparison between the budgeted amount presented at the start of the fiscal year with the actual amounts expended and received to date.  No action was taken.

 

            f.          Status on Berths for Non-Profits

           

Cliff Marchetti gave a brief report.  The Chair asked that staff present a written report on the licenses and registrations held by each respective vessel.  No action was taken.

 

            g.         Status Report on Leases & Licenses *

 

Ed Murphy presented the written staff report and answered questions.  No action was taken.

 

            h.         Report on Live-a-Board Program *    

 

Cliff Marchetti presented the written staff report.  The Chair asked that Marina assistants walk the docks.  Mr. Marchetti said that Brad Gross, the Harbor Master, would be present at the next meeting to give a report.  No action was taken.

 

Commissioner THOMAS left the meeting at 9:40 PM.

 

 

 

            i.          Status Report on 225 University Avenue

 

Ed Murphy gave a brief update on efforts to lease/sell the building and answered questions.  No action was taken.

 

            j.          Report on F & G Docks

 

Cliff Marchetti gave a brief report and said that construction would be complete by the end of November.  No action was taken.

 

            l.          Status of I-80 Overcrossing *

 

Cliff Marchetti presented the written staff report.  No action was taken.

 

            m.        Report on Launch Ramp Project

 

Ed Murphy gave a brief report and said bids would be opened on August 25th.  No action was taken.

 

            n.         Parking Area in Front of Radisson Hotel *

 

Cliff Marchetti presented the written staff report.  No action was taken.

 

            o.         Status of Hornblower Kitchen

 

Ed Murphy gave a brief report and said Hornblower's was considering making a proposal to use the entire building at 225 University Avenue.  No action was taken.

 

            p.         Status of Marine Center Property

 

Ed Murphy gave a brief report and said the potential buyer was still interested, but no deal has been signed.  No action was taken.

 

            q.         Status of Charter Boat Fees

 

Cliff Marchetti gave a brief report and said that the charter boats were paying the boarding fees.  No action was taken.

 

Commissioner SMITH left the meeting at 9:40 PM.  At this time, the meeting automatically adjourned due to lack of a quorum. 

 

            r.          Report on Kite Festival

 

Ed Murphy said that no report has been received yet on the income received by the operator of the festival.  No action was taken.

 

            s.         Report on Landscaping at Spinnaker Way Circle

 

Cliff Marchetti and Lisa Caronna gave a brief report on the plan to landscape this circle.  No action was taken. 

 

6.         OTHER REPORTS

           

            None were discussed.                                    

           

7.         COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

 

            None.  

                       

8.         ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting adjourned as noted above due to lack of a quorum.

 

 

* Indicates that a written report was available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

g\marina\wfc81298.min

 

FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS FROM STAFF AS RESULT OF WATERFRONT COMMISSION MEETING ON 8/12/98

 

 

1.         Cliff- send bench policy to Patti Jeffrey.

 

2.         Cliff- check into fire hazard at Cesar Chavez park and rave parties. Need report for             next mtg.

 

3.         Lisa/Cliff - have Jamie W. appoint some WFC members persons to a commission to meet jointly with Albany's Waterfront Commission to discuss ferry service.  Letter to Albany?  Phone call to Darren Fields?

 

4.         Cliff- send letter to Ladbroke inviting it to next WFC mtg. on 10/14 to discuss its long range development plans.  cc to Gil Kelly.  Need staff report at this meeting on background.    

 

5.         Cliff - prepare map of bench sites at CCP. Present to WFC at next mtg. Prepare             resolution to Council on WFC recommendation on accepting two donated benches.

 

6.         Cliff- Prepare resolution for Tom Leader on WFC endorsement of concept to place art             exhibit in AP.

 

7.         Cliff - prepare resolution to Council on WFC recommendation to allocate $15,000 in             General Funds to assist in financing construction of Straw Bale Building.

 

8.         Cliff - discuss with Brad Smith format of next budget report comparing original est.             w/ actual cost/revenues.

 

9.         Cliff- prepare report on licenses and registrations of each non-profit vessel.

 

10.       Cliff - Chair & other members asked that marina assistants walk the docks.  Brad to             present report at next mtg. on live-aboards.               

 

11.       Ed - Prepare RFP for kite operator and present at next Commission mtg.

 

12.       Cliff - Discuss landscaping Spinnaker Way Circle with Wolgast & Claudia.