Alameda council hears $216.5M parks, $35M library needs; staff proposes polling and potential local revenue measure

City staff presented a workshop on Nov. 4 laying out urgent capital needs for Alameda’s libraries, parks and recreation facilities and asked the City Council for direction on potential locally controlled funding options.

"Last year, we identified a need of more than $800 million in deferred maintenance across city assets," Sarah Henry, the city’s communications and legislative affairs director, told council. She said projects specific to parks total about $216.5 million (including new playgrounds, ADA upgrades and specialty facilities) and that library needs could total about $35 million for expansion and modernization projects, such as Bay Farm Library expansion and a makerspace at the main library.

Recreation & Parks Director Justin Long and Library Director Mike Geithner described aging infrastructure — a building‑management system at the main library that has reached end of life and specialty facilities (the Vets Building, the O’Club, the Alameda Point Gym) in need of capital work. Fleet supervisor and other staff noted some large capital items cannot be sustained by annual operating revenues.

Staff proposed a three‑step approach: continue community outreach, conduct a statistically valid poll to identify priorities and, subject to council direction, prepare draft revenue‑measure language and a project list for potential placement on a future ballot. Henry said council will return Dec. 2 for a related workshop on flood protection and sea‑level rise before moving to polling in early 2026.

Council members asked specific questions about reuse of the historic Carnegie Library, how nonprofit partners (Friends groups) might support capital campaigns, and funding for Alameda Point projects. Staff said an Alameda Point library could range from a modest mobile service (lower cost) to a full new building (up to $20 million) depending on scope. City Manager Jan Lock and staff said an exclusive negotiating agreement for private development would be nonbinding and voted in public before execution.

The meeting also included discussion of a proposed surf park at Enterprise Park. Recreation staff said the project is in early exploratory stages and that any exclusive negotiating agreement would return to council in public session before binding commitments are made. Justin Long acknowledged that a Regional Sports Complex planned for Alameda Point is not funded and gave a current rough estimate of about $65 million; staff noted phasing and developer contributions as potential tools to reduce the upfront cost.

Public commenters from Friends groups and the Recreation & Park Commission urged a clear list of park projects to attach to any bond measure and proposed a nonprofit to revive the Carnegie Library as a community arts and creativity center.

If the council directs staff to proceed with polling and draft language, council members indicated they expect a public process and an explicit project list before any revenue measure is placed before voters.