Speaker 10: Another cross from another 20 homes. And I hope you will pass some laws that will protect the home owners. According to Ringo Lew, who sells a lot of real estate out there and owns quite a bit. It's cost us about 10% of the value of our homes. Now, if I stole 10% of the value of your home, I bet you you'd be screaming your head off at me. So will you please take under consideration? Now I pass one around and collect the signatures, and I think you all receive copies. Now. And going around, I had people say, Oh, what about the street lights? And I had one of our. Fellow residents complain about. The people that make the hoods for stoves had lights bouncing off their building at night. I went out there, I got to talk to somebody. I got a call today. Come out and take a look. I think you'll like what we've done. And there is no light bouncing off of that building. They put in soft hair filters to warm up the tone of the lighting, but they shaded it so it didn't go on to the building. And this can be done with the street lights as they change them so that they don't shine into our homes. But please get some ordinance in place so we don't have an uphill battle with the F saying, well, we complied with the law. Well, we were let down by our city permit people who should have questioned some of the things they were doing. And that's all I got to say tonight. But get off your duffs and get it done.
Speaker 0: Gary Thompson.
Speaker 3: Mayor City Council. That's going to be tough to follow. I'm Jim's neighbor. Live about four houses down. And for the last four years, we really have been in a struggle with V.F. over these lighting issues. And I want to tell everyone here that I'm not any developer. I spent 40 years as a contractor, so I know about development and I appreciate it. What we really have here and I've thought about this seriously, I've had many, many meetings with V.F. and with Joe Ernst and the people out there. And the core root of this issue is that our current building codes in Alameda just do not adequately address the situation where you're putting in a commercial development that a such a residential area. And to their I would say to their credit, through much negotiation and a lot of pain and agony and a lot of talking, they have done a lot to try to mitigate some of these problems. And most of it revolves around the direct broadcast of light. Most of which can be fixed through directional shielding. It's a it's a developed science as to how to take care of these things. Many cities already have ordinances in their building codes that take care of this. And I don't think that developers should go out and deliberately try to cause trouble or hurt people. They build their development according to the building codes and as approved by the cities, and there are commissions. So it would be more fair to the developers to have this upfront in advance in the planning stage. I know that V.F. has spent a lot of money, as has George, trying to mitigate some of these issues that they've had to go back and do to try to satisfy us. And so if if I guess the my plea to you would be to at least look into this. Look into the audiences at other cities have there is a lot of information out on on this. Light pollution and light trespass. Now, it's very difficult for a single homeowner to take on somebody like Vanity Fair. There are $15 billion a year international corporation. So for us to go after these guys legally is tough. I've looked into this. The only avenue that we have for redress to them is through the nuisance laws. And I don't have the resources, quite frankly, personally, to take on Vanity Fair when this could all be very easily put to bed through some very common sense, simple building codes regarding this broadcast of light. So that's my plea, and I'd ask you to please consider doing so.
Speaker 0: Thank you. That. And if anyone else wanted to speak on this item, please submit your slip up there.
Speaker 1: And good evening, Mr. Spencer, Vice Mayor Mary, Malia Vella and City Council members. I'm here tonight in support of my neighbors, of two kinds of neighbors. Some of them are human. They're sitting right there and some of them are more difficult to get here. And I'm going to share pictures of them for you so you can get an idea who they are. I support doing anything you can do on behalf of the folks that live across from Vanity Fair in terms of light pollution. Would they be here if it weren't disrupting their sleep and their rest and their ability to get up and work? What would it take for us as a city to stand up to Vanity Fair? Gary's right there, multibillion dollar corporation. They have you been there? I know you have, Mayor Spencer. They light up their parking garage. Parking garage where cars are parked at night. So I stand in complete support with my neighbors and ask you to please, please pass regulations and work with the planning codes and department. Some of you know me because I have also stood with my human neighbors because of development on Harbor Bay, specifically the hotel at 2350 Harbor Bay Parkway, and then a another development on five acres near the ferry. And we've temporarily halted that development. Those motivated by the impact on my human neighbors as motivated by the impact on other neighbors. And I'll share who they are. If I can, I pass this to.
Speaker 0: The city council members, actually put them up on the screen. So the lights up we have a table.
Speaker 1: And something I Xerox some pictures I took last year. I was instrumental with all of our neighbors in halting that development because I wanted to defend open space on the bay. And sometimes people thanked me for that. Sometimes people attacked me for that. What are you doing? This is income for a city. These are jobs. And so I would. Go and volunteer. I volunteered. Was part of the lease turn. You know endangered species protection on Alameda point. And then I was also I went to Forum's Cindy Margolis, the executive director of the Golden Gate, Audubon Society, lives in Alameda, you know, LA or Philly. Right. Founding leader of fire, friends of the Alameda Wildlife Reserve. And so when I drive out to that parcel and go, we got to do this, we got to stop this hotel from a human neighbors. I would drive to that tree. That's a picture of a tree. It's behind the Safeway at Harbor Bay. Those are herons and snowy egrets. And I was taught that they came here to nest. And so I'd go there and say, who am I doing this for? Right. I know I'm doing it for humans. I'm doing it for for me and for these birds. And they fly there and they build their nests. What would discourage them from doing that? Light pollution, guys. Other cities across the nation have paved the way in in reducing light pollution.
Speaker 0: By the way, the little.
Speaker 1: Guy down there, I'm going to take three more seconds on one of my trips. He fell out of that tree. I called the Philly and I said, what do I do, Laura? You know, he's he's he's he can't fly. And she talked me through 2 hours of putting that snowy egret in a cardboard box and taking him to the Lindsay Wildlife Emergency room. Essentially, I'm asking you to do the same for my human neighbors and the wildlife that roost in that tree in flies, including the least terns who are an endangered species. Thank you so much.
Speaker 0: Thank you. And I also want to share that we did receive a petition signed by approximately 200 people requesting that we move forward, the council move forward and approve considering directing staff to review and update outdoor lighting regulations, also referred to as night sky or dark skies to reduce light pollution. Um. Any Council comments? Yes. Um. Member matter.
Speaker 2: I think this. Referral was described here as a companion, or at least related to the Memex. Referral that we're going to be that we've approved approved directing staff to. To explore and to put also on the workshop on the 17th for prioritization in that it talks about the interface between commercial and. Residential on one hand. And then I think we have an a an environmental policy document from 2008, the local area action plan that has to do with climate protection. And that's one that I've started rereading because I'm not sure we've done any follow up on. I'd like to see how this intersects or or relates to that document as well, the policies that are laid out in that document.
Speaker 0: And the other council comments. Member Ashcroft, just for clarification. The last time I talked to an officer of the homeowner's association that's across from V.F.. He emphasized that this was not a homeowner's association policy. And I believe that's still correct. I mean, we haven't heard anything stated otherwise that, you know, wanting to reduce the light from VF because I've also understood that VFR outdoors has made considerable modifications and that there is that balance between. Lighting your property. Being respectful of your neighbors. But also maintaining safety of your property. But I also. Concur with the vice mayor that we have a priority setting workshop coming up. Sorry. For two years it's hard to get that habit. This is a matter that I concur with council member matter that we have a priority workshop coming up a week from February.
Speaker 5: 7th.
Speaker 0: February 17th. And so, I mean, maybe it's all one in the same, but we're going to figure out what our overarching goals and objectives are and how to get to them. So. At this point, I'm actually requesting the referral process be honored in regards to voting because I'm requesting support from council to submit this. And then it would be something that we would discuss along with all the other referrals that are outstanding at the Priority Setting Workshop for Motion.
Speaker 3: I wonder.
Speaker 4: Vice-Chair Can I just question through the chair? If Council Member MODERATOR could expand upon the point that he was making about how this overlaps with the zoning referral, is it to look at the suggestions within this referral in that context and address it, address them together or.
Speaker 2: No, I didn't say overlap. I said it's related. Related and it is related because the same issue that was the one example here. It was is an example of commercial. Right. But in residential and I know we talked about this in the context of other aspects of commercial and residential in that discussion around zoning. Mm hmm. I also think and I'm actually supportive of having this. This goes through the referral process, direct staff to come back and tell us what what is needed because it has that connection. It also has, I believe, a connection to our our local area climate climate plan that was passed in 2008. So I think I think it has merit and it will go into the queue with the others when when we decide where, where, when and how. But I think we have to address it.
Speaker 0: And Brody. All right.
Speaker 3: I guess I have a question maybe of staff. So the referral says consider directing staff to review and update outdoor lighting regulations. Do we have outdoor lighting regulations? I mean.
Speaker 0: I did work with our city attorney on this item. And I am not sure what regulations we currently have. And that continues. That's the beginning of it, right? The review should include reviewing other cities regulations, light pollution, impacts on the environment, nearby residents, human health, wildlife and flight paths. Addressing parking lots and similar parking structures. And it continues. And it's my understanding. Whatever we have is very. Insufficient.
Speaker 1: Again. I'm sorry, Mayor. I didn't double check. And it's been a while since I've thought about this one, so I really can't offer a lot of information on this. But I do believe these issues do get addressed during the planning process. But it's very likely that we could you know, they aren't as strong as.
Speaker 9: You are requesting in this referral.
Speaker 0: And understanding.
Speaker 5: And I'm not sure about the specific regulations, but I have seen conditions of approval for projects on near the it's a pretty standard condition of approval of our projects, but it doesn't that doesn't keep it consistent and set standards.
Speaker 0: Thank you.
Speaker 3: Does that. I guess my question was, we're going to review an update if we don't have them. And it's like we're starting from scratch, it sounds like. And.
Speaker 0: My understanding is that there is something about that. It's just more of a. Cursory review and not necessarily all these the breadth of all these issues that actually have become concerns within our community, which is why it needs to be looked at and reviewed.
Speaker 3: And I guess the issue brought up by Councilmember Ashcraft that the homeowners association hasn't contacted us and said this is a priority, this and I was actually on that homeowner's association. I lived in that neighborhood. I know it's been 20 years. I don't remember what they said, but we had a stack of disclosures that we had to sign that's you know, a lot of it was on airport noise and that we live in an airport, blah, blah, blah. But I distinctly remember, you know, them telling me that, you know, people are going to be able to build in the commercial arc and that commercial zoned area. And, you know, you're signing that, you know about this and you can't really complain about it. So I wonder if this is a huge hammer that we're using to, you know, kill a mosquito. And if if the focus should be on the outdoor and the issues that are VFR, outdoor, if they're still there. So, you know, then I guess I'm these are my thoughts. So I mean, I'm just wondering if we're going to ask staff to bite off a huge effort and start something from scratch or that we don't have granted. There may be guidelines out there when, you know, the homeowners association, which I think should be the where, you know, if it was really an issue with all the homeowners, I'm wondering why they're not here and why they haven't passed a resolution. And, you know, one thing I am concerned about. You know. There seems to be a correlation between the amount of light and lack thereof and the amount of crime. So, I mean, we do have reasons why we would want to keep parking garages lit. So no. Not a it's not a slam on anyone. But, you know, women do get raped in dark parking garages. So, I mean, is that I think we still have an interest in making sure that, you know, we keep people safe. Throughout the city. So, I mean, I guess I'm kind of trying to. Balance the two competing interests here.
Speaker 0: So yes. Member Ashcraft. Thank you, Mary Spencer. So I, I can see the point that Councilmember Ody is making. On the other hand, I'm actually going to reverse course a little bit when it comes to VFF outdoors. I, I take some exception because I know how hard and how long and how many things they've done to address the situation. And I've also taken a walk. It's a lovely neighborhood, by the way, Panama, I think it is right across in a nice lagoon, a park, pretty little lagoon. And I would say they really have reduced that. However, when we're talking about regulations, we're talking city wide. And I do think that, first of all, it sounds like there maybe isn't some sort of a guideline. You know, technologies have changed and some of these new streetlights that have gone in, they have a lot of power, which is a good thing, you know, to illuminate the streets. It's you don't want to be walking down a dark street and tripping or, you know, running into somebody dangerous. But at the same time, there are different kinds of lights. There's the warm returns, there's the colder turns, the cooler tones. And I think it would behoove us to take a look at that, not I would not do this if I thought that it was directed personally. And, you know, I don't like to hear attacks on what are we're really fortunate to have VFR outdoors here in Alameda there. I mean, you wonder how we pay for paving our streets and keeping our libraries open. It's from businesses. We've got some great businesses that are here. The North Face Jansport, I could go on but anyway, so if, if we were to direct staff to look into some sort of a lighting regulation. And again, when we come to our priority setting workshop that it'll find its place in the. Q I could support that, but, but not if it were personally directed at a particular business. And I appreciate those comments and my referral does not reference the hearings. So appreciate I just wanted to clarify that. I think it's important to share that. I agree. Vice Mayor, you want to comment?
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think, you know, it seems as though we have, you know, having followed the council meetings over the past few years, knowing that there has been a citywide concern about the new types of lighting and also recognizing the fact that we we do want to be as green as possible and we want to I think whenever we have developments planned or things coming up, we want everybody, both the residents as well as anybody coming in to build or build in a commercial or mixed use area to actually know what their options are. And I think to the extent that we can provide some some form of guideline citywide for all of the projects that are coming in, and to make them green and to make them in line with some of the other policies that that we've already passed and that we're focusing on. I think that this is an opportunity to do that and to also make sure that everybody is on the same page in terms of what to expect. And we can have an input process for that.
Speaker 0: Thank you. And and Brody, then vice or member matter.
Speaker 3: So first, Frank, I mean, hearing the member. Thank you, Madam Mayor, at the hearing, the back and forth, I mean, I think I can support something too, if in a one. It's in line with the comments of my colleagues, too, that it does focus on, because I do think this is an issue that consumer matter S.E. brought up that does focus on the borders between commercial and residents. But I also would like to make sure that, you know, there's a consideration of public safety in anything that goes forward. So, I mean, with those three things, I'd be happy to support it.
Speaker 0: Member matter.
Speaker 2: And I think also that we need to consider that site is going to be designed and built and it is going to have mixed use. There's planned commercial that surrounds its border and there's the residential components of it. It is also facing the wildlife refuge and there are many articles about the effects of the of light pollution on the migratory patterns of at least tern, the pelicans and any other species that might be out there. And I think even if we don't have an it sounds like we may not have strong or maybe no consideration of these factors in our current guidelines and regulations, whatever the gamut might be, we're not going to be starting from scratch. There are other cities that have gone through this, and we I think we can take the benefit of what other people have done. So I'm ready to make a motion to give the direction as per the referral. With the examples that are included only as illustrations.
Speaker 0: And, and I'm willing to second with the comment that this is probably a topic where we should shed more light on it. Sorry, I got it right. All right. So we have a motion in a second, although any other comments member? I mean.
Speaker 3: The comments that I added, I mean, are those acceptable as well?
Speaker 0: Well, these were just so.
Speaker 3: Keeping in mind public safety.
Speaker 2: And keeping in mind public.
Speaker 3: Housing on the borders between.
Speaker 2: Our the safety, the mixed use, and then the considerations for.
Speaker 3: Safety even more than mixed use. I mean, we're commercial and residential.
Speaker 0: And I do have in the report specifically says nearby residences. That's just one of the examples though and I did appreciate your comment member mattresses comments in regards to that these are just illustrations is not intended to be the entire list. Mm hmm. Yep. So we have a motion and a second. All those in favor by motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much. And. We take a break now and keep. We're going to keep going. All right. Nine be my next referral. Consider this one is.
Speaker 1: To provide our immigrant and refugee support services and programs with nominal or minimal expenditures. Mayor Spencer and Vice Mayor Avila.
Speaker 0: All right, so this referral is something. So I was able to attend the US mayor's conference recently in D.C.. During that time, I was able to hear from the mayor of Seattle and he shared things that they are doing in their city to.
Consider Directing Staff to Review and Update Outdoor Lighting Regulations, also Referred to as Night Sky or Dark Sky, to Reduce Light Pollution.  (Mayor Spencer) [Continued from January 3, 2017]