Alameda Point

Questions & Answers About Environmental Cleanup at Alameda Point

August 14th, 2009

Q: Why does Alameda Point need to be cleaned up?

 

A: After decades of military and industrial use, there are

acres of contaminated soil and groundwater. The Air Station was

declared a Superfund cleanup site in 1999. It is possible to clean

up the contaminated soil and groundwater, however, this is an

expensive process. This cleanup process is needed in order to

ensure the property is safe for residents of Alameda.

 

 

Q: Who will pay for the environmental cleanup?

 

A: The cost of environmental cleanup will be shared by the

Navy and the City of Alameda. The Navy is responsible for

cleaning up contaminated soil and everything below ground.

Alameda is responsible for all above-ground environmental

cleanup, which includes the removal of lead, asbestos and

other hazardous materials. However, the Navy will only clean

up soil contamination so that it meets commercial safety

standard; in order for the area to be safe for residential use,

the soil must be cleaned to a higher level. Alameda will clean

the contaminated soil so that it is safe for residential use. If

approved, the Alameda Point Revitalization Initiative will

fund Alameda’s portion of the cleanup without any increase in

taxes for current Alameda residents.

 

 

Q: How will the environmental cleanup, new parks

and hiking and biking trails at Alameda Point be funded

without increasing taxes?

 

A: If approved by voters, the Alameda Point Revitalization

Initiative will clean the area of toxins and provide trails, parks

and other recreational facilities for all Alamedans to enjoy and

benefit from. All of this can be accomplished without costing

current taxpayers or the City of Alameda one dime. The

project is financed through a combination of funding from

the developer, and taxes and fees paid by future residents of

Alameda Point.

 

 

Q: Where does the money come from? How do we

know the money will be there when it is needed?

 

A: The improved land at a revitalized Alameda Point

is expected to valued at approximately $3 billion. That

opportunity attracts investors who fund the environmental

cleanup, contruction of homes, businesses, parks, sports

facilities, trails and other amenities at Alameda Point. In

addition, the new residents and employers at Alameda

Point will pay taxes and fees that help fund the cleanup of

Alameda Point and maintain it over time. Even though the

developer, investors and new residents pay these costs, we

all get to benefit from a clean and improved Alameda Point.

 

 

Q: How can we be sure that Alameda taxpayers

won’t be left on the hook?

 

A: One of the most important components required

by the Alameda Point Revitalization Initiative is “fiscal

neutrality.” In other words, by law, the Alameda Point

Revitalization Plan must pay for itself and cannot cost

the City of Alameda or residents of Alameda. It does not

require a subsidy from the city that will take away funding

from city services.

 

 

Q: How can we be sure that the money will be spent on

environmental cleanup, parks, sports fields, hiking and

biking trails and not other projects that we don’t want?

 

A: By voting yes on the Alameda Point Revitalization

Initiative you are approving a binding agreement that

requires the developer to build these facilities and

guarantees that the taxes and fees from the new residents

and businesses will be used to clean the area of toxins and

build and maintain parks, sports fields, hiking and biking

trails and other amenities described in the initiative.