At Tuesday night's city council meeting Councilman Frank Matarrese and Councilwoman Marie Gilmore each presented a council referral form. The city council typically uses these forms to bring matters to the attention of the city council not otherwise on the agenda.

On July 13, Mayor Beverly Johnson introduced a council referral form that recommended suspending the city's Sunshine Task Force activities and meetings until the conclusion of the investigation into Councilwoman Lena Tam's alleged violations of the Brown Act.

Gilmore's form asked that the council discuss and take action on City Attorney Teresa Highsmith's "policy of not providing copies of legal opinions in advance of meetings to councilmembers upon written request, in apparent conflict with the City Charter." After last week's vote on not renewing SunCal's exclusive negotiating agreement Gilmore expressed her dismay at not having the necessary legal opinions to help her cast her vote.

Mataresse's referral proposed that the council take a fresh look at Alameda Point. If Interim City Manager Ann Marie Gallant and city staff follow through on the recommendation, staff would produce a new process and plan to develop Alameda Point.

The plan would create jobs and encourage commercial development at the Point.

The staff would also develop leasing polices for the Point with the idea of attracting new businesses and increasing investment in the core of historic buildings by the current and any new tenants.

Matarrese also asked that the city look into furthering the success of existing businesses including those focusing on the maritime trade, specialty foods and beverages, as well as those in the technical, light industrial and recreational trades.

This fresh look at the Point would help form residential development along the line of the city's current housing element and its Regional Housing Needs Assessment. Any plan should balance both housing and jobs.

In his council referral Mataresse proposed working with the various stakeholders at Alameda Point including the Navy, the Veterans Administration, the state of California's Tidelands Trust, along with the members of Congress who represent the Bay Area in Washington. He said that he sees creating jobs in the region as a priority.

Finally Matarrese suggested exploring and proposing a plan for the city council acting as the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority to consider creating "a non-profit local development corporation, chartered and mandated by the City of Alameda to facilitate this plan for Alameda Point."