City Manager Says That Securing Funds to Fight Rat Infestation is Not Alameda City Council’s Responsibility

By Erica Madison

During a Dec. 2, City Council meeting, issues regarding a $3 million repayment of Alameda’s sewer fund was debated.

Work on removing the debris from the Fleet Industrial Supply Center’s (FISC) burned-down hospital is almost finished. In order to complete the work of demolishing the hospital and cleaning up the area, the Community Improvement Commission of the City of Alameda (CIC) had to borrow $3 million from the sewer fund.

“Can you remind me where we’re going to get the money to repay the sewer fund, said Councilmember Tam.

To repay the sewer fund, the CIC will have to take the money they receive from leasing the FISC property. Fortunately for the CIC, economic development director Leslie Little explained to Tam, the CIC has five years to repay the sewer fund with interest. The CIC currently only needs to pay $90,000.

Councilmember Tam said that she was concerned about when the money for the sewer fund would be repaid, because she had received complaints about rat infestation in homes on Alameda Point.

City Manager Ann Marie Gallant cautioned the City Council on being involved with the issue.

“We have to first decide if a rat infestation is really our responsibility, said Gallant.

Little supported Gallant’s advice.

“This is an Alameda Point issue, not an Alameda Landing problem”, said Little.

Gallant told the City Council that if the rat infestation was an issue, they would address it at a later date.