Speaker 1: All right. So our our next proclamation is for Small Business Week. And we actually have. Several representatives, right? We have representatives from the Army, the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Alameda Business Association, Greater Alameda Business Association in West Alameda Business Association. So if you'd like to come up, come on up. And because we're supposed to be doing this in 15 minutes, I'm going to start reading now. Whereas the city of Alameda celebrates our local small businesses and the contributions they make to our local economy and community. And. Whereas, from storefront shops that anchor our main streets to high tech start ups that keep Alameda on the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy. And nationwide, 30 million small businesses create nearly two out of three net new jobs in our economy and employ over 49% of the working population. And. Whereas, the city of Alameda supports our local businesses as they create jobs, boost our local economy, and preserve our unique neighborhoods. And. Whereas, the Alameda Chamber of Commerce, the downtown Alameda Business Association, the Greater Alameda Business Association and the West Alameda Business Association represent many of Alameda small businesses and contribute to the civic vitality and prosperity of our city. And. Whereas, Small Business Week allows us to dedicate time to salute our small businesses for the countless contributions they provide to our community. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I Maryland, as he Ashcraft, mayor of the city of Alameda, do hereby proclaim the week of May five through May 11, 2019 as Small Business Week in the City of Alameda, and encourage the residents of our community and communities across the United States to support small businesses and merchants on this week and throughout the year. Thank you so much for being here. And and then do you all want to say something briefly? Briefly.
Speaker 0: Janet. Okay. My name is Janet McElwee. I'm the executive director of the Downtown Alameda Business Association. Thank you all for recognizing the small businesses on.
Speaker 6: Our island and in downtown specifically, since that's what I represent.
Speaker 0: I know many, several.
Speaker 6: Of them are here tonight, and I'd love for them to come up for a picture if they so desire. And thank you for the recognition. And I know in Alameda we don't have to remind people to shop local. Everyone's doing so. And we appreciate.
Speaker 1: It. Thank you.
Speaker 0: And thank you. Linda Asbury, executive director of the West Alameda Business Association.
Speaker 6: The other thing that you're viewing here is the four business associations that have come together for the Coalition of Alameda Business Associations. So I think this is it's been so good for us on behalf of the West End. Thank you for doing this.
Speaker 0: And come shop at my small businesses in the West End.
Speaker 6: West Cafe, maybe.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Good.
Speaker 7: Thanks. I'm Ed Edwards from the Greater.
Speaker 8: Alameda Business Association.
Speaker 7: I'm the president this year and we represent independent.
Speaker 8: Businesses in Alameda. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you.
Speaker 9: Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm Michael McDonough from the Alameda Chamber of Commerce and from businesses all the way from Harbor Bay, all the way out to Alameda Point. We thank you for recognizing the contributions that small businesses make to Alameda as well as nationwide. It is true that small business actually employs more people than and contributes to our economy more than any other size business. So we thank you for the recognition you do.
Speaker 0: And do we have other. Yes. She knows that's what it is. Lean in. Lean. It looks like a pretty good.
Speaker 1: Do you need a little closer? Ron Mooney. That's you come up here. We're doing.
Speaker 0: Come on.
Speaker 1: Ron. You can't sneak.
Speaker 0: Around. Here you go. Thank you. And then we.
Speaker 2: Do we do have two speakers on this item. First one is Joanne Martin. The second one is Eric GANTOS.
Speaker 0: Hello, Madam Mayor and Vice Mayor and City Council.
Speaker 6: Thanks for declaring this as Small Business Week. I wanted to introduce myself to some of the audience who might not know of our business where Hot Rods Shop Inc, which is a design and building company for we make stages and screens for large corporate events and small corporate events. Small events too, mostly in the Bay Area. And you're invited to come over and see what we do. We want to encourage the city council to, when they're considering the development of Alameda, to consider the small businesses, our businesses, a small to medium business. I would say we have 20, usually 20 to 25 employees at this point and would like to expand a little bit one day. So when you're considering the development of Alameda, please think about not just the big companies with deep pockets who may be from other parts of the country, but the businesses that are actually here in Alameda that need a home. And also, you know, I encourage you to think about affordable housing as a very important part of the development of Alameda. Thank you.
Speaker 1: Thank you. And Mr. GANTOS is next here. Come on up.
Speaker 0: Hello.
Speaker 7: I see. I'll do this quickly. Good evening. I'd like to thank the mayor, the vice mayor and the.
Speaker 8: City Council for proclaiming.
Speaker 7: May 5th through May 11th is Small Business Week, and I'd like to address the City Council as a small business owner tonight. As a co-owner.
Speaker 4: Of a local Alameda.
Speaker 7: Business and a California corporation, I watch with great interest the development with which takes place in our great city. My desire is for the mayor, the vice mayor and the city council to represent the local businesses and the local business interests and work to provide Alameda businesses with the opportunity to grow and to flourish.
Speaker 8: Based on the last City Council meeting, which took place on April 22nd.
Speaker 7: 2019, at Alameda Point, and a decision at that meeting to open up.
Speaker 8: The 23.9 acre parcel adjacent to the Main Street as land for.
Speaker 7: Sale. I've attached a document from that meeting. I feel that the goalposts have been moved since February 19th, 2019. Meeting with Joann and I were told by city staff that a sale is off the table and we withdrew our interest in property located on that parcel. Since 2017, Joann and I have been told a number of things. Firstly, our displacement due to redevelopment on the island should be the developer's problem, not a city problem. Next, we were told that we.
Speaker 8: Were not the proper kind of anchor tenant.
Speaker 7: That the city was seeking in order to attract tech centered development. Next, we were told that the job generation.
Speaker 8: Was a priority and that parcel in our business was not.
Speaker 4: On par with technology.
Speaker 7: Startups who could potentially bring hundreds of jobs onto the island. Next, we have been told that.
Speaker 8: The most likely candidate building for our purposes of.
Speaker 7: Adaptive reuse was well beyond the normal boundaries of repair. Time and.
Speaker 8: Time again, we've been given information that was meant.
Speaker 7: To deter us from pursuing a building for adaptive reuse. If any of you own a business, you will know that determination and belief in your mission statement is a key element of success, and we are not deterred. On April 22nd of this year, there was a tour of two properties and the Enterprise District, formerly Parcel B.
Speaker 0: One.
Speaker 7: Building, is already being actively outfitted for adaptive reuse in anticipation of a lease contract. And one building is clean, well-lit and empty and full of potential for reuse. The latter property is one that I've heard described as beyond its useful.
Speaker 8: Life, needing complete new roofing, electrical service and many other improvements. But you saw for.
Speaker 7: Yourself what a serviceable building that could be and your tour and walk through. Joann and I presented detailed estimates in 2017 to bring that building up to code. We were not deterred by what could be a bit what could be a better image than to present a then a successful local business with a ten year track record working directly with the largest Silicon Valley companies, as well as with dozens of national and international production companies. That's who we are. We build the stages and sets for the most exciting.
Proclamation Declaring May 5 through May 11, 2019 as Small Business Week. (City Manager 2110)