The City of Alameda announced yesterday that it would defer staff reports relating to the Chuck Corica Golf Complex until a special City Council meeeting on December 13th.
The City may be hoping for a lower turnout on the controversial land swap plan by scheduling the meeting during the busy holiday month. A discussion on the swap had been scheduled for October 4th, but then pushed back to October 18th.
A new appraisal of the value of the golf course land to be traded with developer Ron Cowan under the swap was to be made public on October 6th; it’s now unclear if that date will be honored. Mr. Cowan’s proposal is to provide land on North Loop Road that is effectively not viable for development that would be turned into soccer fields in return for the golf course property.
According to the City’s press release, staff reports on the land swap with Cowan’s firm Harbor Bay Isle Associates, a proposed contract with KemperSports to operate the golf course, and the state of Alameda’s sports fields – all originally scheduled for October – will be pushed to December.
“There has been some confusion about when the items were scheduled, and due to the level of concern around these issues it is best to provide more time for the public to gather and digest the actual facts,” Alameda City Manager John Russo said.
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If it is so important to the Council to get public input, why not put it on the ballot?
Dec.13—the height of the holidays.
Do you think the pro-Cowan/Kemper people think those opposed will be too busy with the holidays to be involved?
Timing is everything.
Take it to the ballot!
Maybe people will be filled with holiday spirit and give Cowan the gift he wants?
I interviewed Dave Needle on the golf swap. He’s been involved for years and has views that ought to be shared. Listen to the full online radio show: http://alameda-communit-radio.blogspot.com/p/listen.html. Look for link below the show title in red, “September 21, 2011: Alameda’s Golf Course Deal: Land grab or Fab Plan?”
There is no doubt that this council will give Cowan what he wants. Referendum?