COUNCIL PROPOSES BELT LINE TASK FORCE
Written by Elizabeth Shemaria
Published: Friday, 06 October 2006
While the city awaits the outcome of an appeal in the Belt Line railroad case, city council is planning the allocation of funds to purchase the property and the formation of a community task force to discuss its development.
While the city awaits the outcome of an appeal in the Belt Line railroad case, city council is planning the allocation of funds to purchase the property and the formation of a community task force to discuss its development.
The council approved a motion to allocate city money from the Open Space and Dwelling Unit Tax funds to purchase the Belt Line property at Tuesday night’s council meeting. They also agreed to begin the planning process to develop the property, including the creation of a task force that will work with the Recreation and Parks Department.
Recreation and Parks Director Dale Lillard said once funds are allocated to the project, a collaborative planning process with the city and staff can begin.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to add new open space to our inventory,” Lillard said.
Mayor Beverly Johnson said the Belt Line property is the largest open space the city has proposed to develop in her memory. She suggested the idea of a task force to formalize the community’s involvement in the project.
The mayor’s proposal to create a task force echoed beliefs voiced by Alameda residents at the meeting.
Debra Arbuckle, a long-time activist who has worked for years to collect public input on the Belt Line issue, said there are resources within the community to help plan the project.
“There is a group of people and we are all working together because we believe that the Island can definitely use more open space,” Arbuckle said. “We are willing to put our professional abilities to work here to make this happen. We definitely want the community to make the decision.”
Councilman Tony Daysog noted that it seemed a natural fit to continue on the course of community involvement, since the battle to buy the land began seven years ago with Alameda resident Jean Sweeney’s unearthing of a 1924 agreement between the city and Alameda Belt Line railroad.
Councilman Doug deHaan also voiced the importance of public input as the Belt Line project moves forward.
“I think a task force is an extremely important phase and it actually will make it go smoother,” deHaan said. “It will be a process that will keep everyone engaged.”
Contact Elizabeth Shemaria at eshemaria@gmail.com.
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