Albany Bulb

Albany Patch , By Emilie Raguso writes ,

Photo Credit Emilie Raguso

The The Feb. 17 workshop, the second such meeting for the public, was held in the park district’s boardroom at 2950 Peralta Oaks Ct. in Oakland. Chris Barton, a senior planner for the district, opened the event by outlining three progressively elaborate possibilities for beach development.

Estimated costs range from about $1 million—for basic shoreline stabilization, improved beach access for the disabled, and some dune and wetland enhancements—to more than $7 million.

The bells-and-whistles plan offered more shoreline stabilization options, including sand placement to help the area weather erosion; a pocket beach near the Bulb; a second access point for the disabled; a boardwalk; and a second picnic area.

District staff members said none of the three options is set in stone, and that pieces of each could be mixed and matched depending on public interest, money available and ultimate land use goals.

Read the full story at AlbanyPatch.com

Discussion of EBRPD’s plans for Albany beach (sand dune restoration, etc.). Dogs are not part of the plan.

Thursday, February 17 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Location EBRPD headquarters, boardroom
2950 Peralta Oak Court Oakland, CA

EBRPD: http://www.ebparks.org/planning#albany
The Eastshore State park General Plan (2002) identifies potential restoration and public access improvements for the Albany Beach area. These concepts include restoration and protection of Albany Beach and dune habitats, expansion of dune areas behind the beach, enhancement of water access to San Francisco Bay, closing of a key gap in the San Francisco Bay trail, shoreline stabilization, public access improvements and other park facilities such as picnic areas, interpretive signage and restrooms. A study is currently underway to evaluate the feasibility of implementing these improvements.

9 REASONS WHY THE BULB SHOULD BE LEFT AS IT IS:

1. It would be prohibitively expensive to mitigate numerous hazards at the BULB in transforming a former garbage dump into an officially sanctioned public recreation area. These hazards include: jagged pieces of concrete, broken glass, sharp protruding metal debris, assorted toxic chemicals and heavy metals. The beach is strewn with hazardous metal protrusions and submerged hazards.

2. The State has a 28-billion dollar budget deficit. Transforming the BULB into an officially sanctioned recreation area would require tens of millions of dollars to upgrade roads, street lighting, pathways, signage, sanitary facilities and parking. The BULB would have to be closed to public for years to come in order to effect these changes.

3. As it now stands, Mother Nature in her own time and her own way is reclaiming this small piece of real estate – mitigating years of abuse by humankind, healing the toxic sores and soothing over heavy-metal wounds. Wildlife is returning to the waters around the BULB and to the skies above. Humankind with our political compromises and back office dealings have clearly demonstrated an inability to conceive of and carry out long term plans to the benefit of posterity and to all life with whom we share this planet. We have proven ourselves to be but short-sited, selfish little creatures.
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Proposed Draft of Dog Management Policy

This is what the Waterfront Committee is proposing and will discuss at the joint meeting next Thursday with Parks & Rec.

Note that in the one off-leash area — “off-leash” is defined as within six feet of the dog’s person.

The meeting on February 10 will discuss the Dog Management Policy:

The new policies would ban dogs from the beach, the mudflats, the small lagoon, and probably the big lagoon. Dogs would have to be on-leash in the parking lot, the viewpoint/seating area above the beach, on the paved trails, Plateau, Neck trail, and low road along the water. Dogs may be allowed off-leash on the “Bulb” proper (at the end of the Neck).
Plateau, Neck, parking lot, paved trail to benches: 100 percent on-leash

Lagoon: Dogs on-leash or banned
Bulb proper: Possible off-leash area. Dogs would have to be within six feet of handler
Beach: Dogs banned

Please show your support for off-leash dogs and attend the February 10th meeting.

Joint Meeting of the Albany Park &Recreation Commission and the Albany Waterfront Committee

Subject: Draft Proposal regarding Dog Management Policy at the Albany Waterfront for Discussion Purposes

Date:         Thursday, February 10, 2011

Time:         7:00 pmLocation:   Albany City Council Chambers  1000 San Pablo Avenue

The Park & Recreation Commission and Waterfront Committee will be holding a joint meeting to discuss issues concerning dog management at Albany’s Waterfront.  The purpose of the meeting is to present work to date drafted by the Waterfront Committee regarding a dog management policy proposal.  The meeting agenda will include a presentation by staff, questions from the Commission and Committee members, and receipt of comments from the public.

Issues include, but are not limited to:

• Multiple jurisdictions, each with different park rules
• Sensitive habitat areas
• Interest for more official off-leash dog areas
• Interest for more areas free of off-leashed dogs at the Waterfront
• Commercial dog walkers
• Areas proposed for dogs off-leash/under voice control, dogs on-leash, and dogs not allowed (see map).

This is the first of three meetings to discuss this issue at the Commission/Committee level.  Two more meetings (one each) will be held by the Waterfront Committee and Park & Recreation Commission (dates and times to be announced).

For more information, please contact Ann Chaney, Community Development Director at (510) 528-5760 or achaney@albanyca.org