Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal

What happened at the September 20, 2022 City Council meeting, and what is the status of the independent financial analysis?

The September 20, 2022 hearing, which was originally requested at Council Rules Committee to provide an independent financial analysis of the deal, was an oral update on the status of the project and negotiations. Click here to watch the video.

As noted when originally scheduled, staff would only be able to contract for an independent analysis of the financial impact of the project once the parties have reached a deal to analyze. The City and A’s have not yet reached a deal. An independent analysis of the fiscal impacts of the proposed Project will be presented to Council and the public for review once a final deal has been reached.

Staff provided an update Information Memorandum, which was also posted to the project webpage.

Overall, what is the City’s position on this deal?

The City Council is the legislative body that will ultimately review and make a decision on this deal. The City Council has not reached a decision or stated a position on the deal. The City Council's Community & Economic Development Committee held a study session on the project on July 7, 2021. The City Council had its first opportunity to discuss the potential deal terms and financing options (Term Sheet) and approved a non-binding term sheet at the full City Council meeting on July 20, 2021.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has made her position clear: The Waterfront Ballpark Project at Howard Terminal will keep our beloved A’s rooted in Oakland with a world-class ballpark and mixed-used development that will catalyze community benefits for West Oaklanders and the region. This project is bigger than baseball, with long-needed infrastructure and transportation improvements that will allow people to move safely to and around the waterfront district and create a world-class waterfront neighborhood with beautiful public parks and gorgeous communal spaces for people to live, work and play, all while protecting the economic engine of our seaport. The project will be a good deal for the City and County -- with new net revenues, equitable jobs, housing, and other direct benefits for all residents -- without risk of leaving taxpayers on the hook as happened with bad sports deals of the past. The A’s have committed to privately finance a new world-class ballpark and vibrant mixed-use development, and we commit it will include ongoing community benefits for generations to come.

What action did the Oakland City Council take on July 20, 2021?

The Council approved a non-binding term sheet outlining the key terms to be included in a Development Agreement between the City of Oakland and the Oakland A’s (A’s) related to the Waterfront Ballpark District.

What is a term sheet?

A “term sheet” is a non-binding document that memorializes a general agreement between parties in many different types of complex business negotiations. A term sheet is usually used as a framework or outline for subsequent binding contract documents. Term sheets are often used in negotiations between developers and cities as a way of bringing a conceptual “deal” to the City Council in advance of actual approvals to make sure it is aligned with the Council’s priorities. A term sheet is not an approval, entitlement or binding contract.

How long have the A’s and the City of Oakland been negotiating regarding the Howard Terminal site?

The A’s selected Howard Terminal as the preferred site for their new ballpark in late 2018. The A’s and the City began negotiating a development agreement term sheet for the Howard Terminal site in April 2020, and for approximately one year after that date, negotiations proceeded regarding non-financial aspects of the term sheet. Negotiation of the financial approach began in February 2021, and the A’s first public submittal of a term sheet that detailed their proposed Financial Plan was on April 23, 2021.

What is the status of the negotiations? Is the Term Sheet the City Council approved on July 20th the one that the Oakland A’s released on April 23rd?

City staff has been negotiating a term sheet with the A’s for over a year. Most of the terms contained in the term sheet released by the A’s on April 23, 2021 were mutually negotiated. However, the Financial Plan (Exhibit F to the A’s proposed term sheet) has not yet been agreed to and remains the subject of extensive ongoing negotiations. Staff is continuing to work internally and with the Oakland A’s to evaluate, revise, and arrive at consensus on a new Term Sheet and Financial Plan. This new Term Sheet was released publicly on July 16, 2021 and presented to the City Council on July 20, 2021.

Can the public see the term sheet?

The term sheet that was approved by City Council on July 20, 2021, along with the amendments, can be viewed here.

Will the infrastructure improvements around the waterfront area cost “Oakland taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars”?

No. To pay for the off-site infrastructure costs, the City of Oakland is pursuing several grants dispersed by the state and federal government specifically for infrastructure upgrades. These are competitive grants that many cities apply for, so if that money does not come to Oakland it will go to another city. Thanks to the federal Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Bill and an expected surplus of revenue at the state level, more competitive grants are being offered to cities for these infrastructure improvements. The Waterfront Ballpark District is an extremely competitive project to help win these grants because it creates more affordable housing, thousands of good union jobs, and increases public access to the waterfront for all residents to enjoy.

Isn’t all this work “just for a stadium?”

No. As mentioned above, the Waterfront Ballpark District would create 3,000 new units of housing – with a potential for more than 1,000 units of affordable housing – 7,000 permanent union jobs, and 18 acres of new public parks along Oakland’s waterfront. The project would convert a current parking lot into a vibrant, sustainable, walkable neighborhood that was conceptually endorsed by the Greenbelt Alliance, one of the region’s most trusted environmental advocacy groups that seeks solutions to climate change. Building green, lowering emissions, and making our neighborhoods safe and walkable is a model for the future.

Why can’t the City use all that grant money on homelessness and violence prevention instead?

Any grants won to improve infrastructure needs to be spent specifically on improving those infrastructure needs.

Is the current work on this project by city staffers costing Oakland taxpayers money right now?

No. The A’s have agreed to pay the costs of city staff who are working on the deal.

Are those city staffers getting distracted and pulled off from other pressing city issues, like homelessness outreach or public safety?

No. The project has two full time dedicated city staff in the City Administrator’s Office paid for by the A’s; those staff have never worked on other city issues and are not otherwise assignable. The remaining city employees that work on the project are not involved in homelessness or public safety. Planning and Building Department staff are required to respond to developer applications and are not therefore getting pulled off from other pressing city issues. Similarly, based on the Resolution No. 89059 approved by the City Council on March 1, 2022, the city is expanding its Department of Transportation to create a major projects division to ensure that all areas of the city and all major projects have adequate staffing. In addition, in the interim, the project is utilizing A’s contracts to engage third party grant writers. Finally, City Attorney staff consist of various outside council, whose invoices are fully reimbursed by the A’s.

Could public funds spent on the Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal be better spent on other priorities such as homelessness, public safety and affordable housing?

All City funds spent on the Waterfront Ballpark District are fully reimbursed on an ongoing basis by the A’s, and no public funds have been spent that could instead have been used to address other critical City priorities.

Under the terms of a 2018 Project Expense Payment Agreement between the City and A’s, the A’s are fully reimbursing the City for all project-related expenses, including both staff time and the cost of outside consultants, experts, and attorneys retained to advise the City on the Project.

The approved Development Agreement Term Sheet anticipates that, following approval of the Project, the A’s will continue reimbursing the City for all costs of processing, defending, monitoring, administering and enforcing the Development Agreement and other Project approvals. The Term Sheet also anticipates that the A's will reimburse the City for services incurred in connection with baseball games and other events at the Ballpark, such as traffic engineering, parking enforcement, police and other emergency services, litter pickup, and street and sidewalk cleanup. Finally, the Term Sheet requires that the A’s fund the maintenance of all onsite infrastructure, parks and open space, and grade-separated crossings to be constructed for the Project through a Community Facilities District.

Project infrastructure costs will be funded entirely through a combination of private developer capital; State, Federal and regional infrastructure funds; and potential bonds secured by the Project’s own “but for” taxes, such as incremental property, sales, parking, and hotel taxes generated by the new development. State and Federal infrastructure funds can only be used to construct new transportation infrastructure, and cannot be redirected to other City priorities or services such as homelessness, public safety and affordable housing, no matter how pressing those needs may be. Absent development of the Waterfront Ballpark District, the incremental taxes that are proposed to fund Project infrastructure would not exist, and therefore could not be redirected to other City priorities or services. A significant portion of the incremental property taxes generated by the Project will help fund the acquisition, construction, renovation, and preservation of over 1,000 units of affordable housing – units that would not exist absent the Project.

Finally, at full buildout, the Project is expected to generate more than $3.8 million every year in new County and City sales, parking and parcel taxes specifically dedicated to public safety ($1,582,000 projected) funding violence prevention and emergency medical services ($602,000 projected), and services to those members of our community experiencing homelessness ($1,635,700 projected).

What was the process for certifying the EIR for the waterfront ballpark district project?

The City of Oakland published the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal on December 17, 2021. The Final EIR responded to more than 400 comments and includes 23 “consolidated responses” to the comments submitted most frequently, as well as edits made to the Draft EIR in response to those comments. A draft Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (which lists all required mitigations) is also included.

In a public hearing on January 19, 2022, the Oakland Planning Commission considered whether the Final EIR was completed in compliance with State law, represents the independent analysis of the City, and provides adequate information to decision-makers and the public on the potential adverse environmental effects of the proposed Project, as well as ways in which those effects might be mitigated or avoided.

The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the project’s Final EIR for certification by the City Council.

When was the EIR be certified?

Upon receiving a recommendation from the Planning Commission, Oakland’s City Council certified the Final EIR on February 17, 2022.

Why was the City Council asked to certify the EIR prior to considering the Development Agreement and other project approvals, including community benefits?

Certification of the Final EIR was a crucial first step towards consideration of the final project approvals required prior to commencement of construction on the A’s new ballpark. All regulatory decisions in this multi-jurisdictional approval process depend upon the City first taking action on the Final EIR. In addition, because both the City and Port of Oakland have jurisdictional authority over the Howard Terminal property, prior to taking action on other project approvals, the City must first adopt an ordinance accepting from the Port additional jurisdictional authority over the property. In fact, the City Council cannot approve a Development Agreement, or the associated package of community benefits, until the City Council adopted the jurisdictional ordinance on February 17 – and because this ordinance is directly related to the project, this first project approval could not happen prior to certification of the Project’s Final EIR.

With City Council's certification of the EIR and adoption of the jurisdictional ordinance, and after recommendation by the Planning Commission, staff will bring to the City Council for consideration at a future date the following applications filed by the A’s: 1) General Plan Amendment and Rezoning; 2) Planned Unit Development; 3) Tentative Tract Map; and 4) Development Agreement (including community benefits).

It is important to note that certification of the EIR and approval of the jurisdictional ordinance does not mean that the Project is approved. It does – as requested by many community stakeholders – provide clarity regarding the City’s authorities in processing and approving Project applications, including the Development Agreement, what measures will be required by CEQA, and setting the “floor” upon which the final community benefits package can be built and incorporated in the Project’s Development Agreement.

What did the "yes" vote of the Council mean? Did it mean the project is approved?

A “yes” vote on certification of the EIR did not mean the Project is approved. However, it was an important first step needed before project approvals can be considered or granted by the City and Port.

What are the other steps involved in getting to an approved project?

The first required project approval, an ordinance by which the City accepts land use jurisdiction over the Port’s portion of the Ballpark District site, was passed by City Council on February 17, 2022. In addition, the City is currently reviewing Development Applications for the project, which include a General Plan Amendment, Planned Unit Development, Rezoning, Tentative Tract Map and Development Agreement (including community benefits). These required approvals will be considered by the City Council later in 2022, after receiving a recommendation from the Planning Commission.

What about the Seaport Compatibility Measures?

On December 17, 2021 the Port also identified 21 recommended Seaport Compatibility Measures to ensure the continued safe and efficient navigation of ships and other waterside operations, ingress and egress of trucks and other traffic to and from the Port, and to avoid potential conflicts between trains, trucks, passenger vehicles, bikes and pedestrians. These measures include mitigation measures, project design features and other measures that have been analyzed in the EIR, including grade-separated access to the site on foot, bike or in a car. The final Seaport Compatibility Measures would be implemented as conditions of approval of the Project.

For more information about the Port of Oakland visit https://www.portofoakland.com/...

What does it mean to say, "the Howard Terminal Development is 100% privately financed"?

The City and the Oakland A’s are in agreement that the Ballpark and all of the new residential and commercial development in the Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal will be 100% privately financed by the A’s. The A’s have asked the City and County to seek grants and use project-generated revenues to help fund the infrastructure and safety improvements, public parks, affordable housing, and other community benefits needed to make the Ballpark District successful, resilient, safe and equitable. This sort of public-private partnership is common on projects of this size because the contemplated infrastructure improvements and amenities benefit the City as a whole, and not just the project. Many safety and infrastructure improvements that the project would accelerate and fund are ones that are needed right now, including environmental clean-up and resilience, anti-displacement protections and affordable housing, safer separation and protection of Port-serving rail and truck routes, and better bike, pedestrian, and transit connections between BART and Oakland’s waterfront.

How will the A’s and City raise the funds for the onsite infrastructure upgrades? What is an IFD/EIFD?

IFD stands for “Infrastructure Financing District” and is one of the financial tools being considered to finance infrastructure for the Waterfront Ballpark District project. It is sometimes also called an EIFD, or “Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District.” Although an IFD and an EIFD have slightly different rules under State law, they are very similar, and the terms IFD and EIFD are often used interchangeably.

When an IFD is established, the district’s existing “base-year” level of property tax revenue is fixed. Then, as property tax revenues grow over the years due to new development, the additional (also known as “incremental” or “but for”) revenues over and above the fixed base year revenues are used for infrastructure supporting the new development project.

For example, if in the base year, the property tax revenues inside an IFD total $1,000, but increase to $1,500 the following year as new development is added to the tax rolls, the extra $500 would be used to pay for infrastructure, while the first $1,000 would continue flowing into the City’s or County’s General Fund. As that incremental property tax revenue grows over the years, the City can use it on a “pay as you go” basis or issue bonds in order to fund or reimburse infrastructure costs. Unlike general obligation bonds, IFD bonds don’t increase property tax rates, either in the District or elsewhere in the City. When the bonds are paid off, usually after 45 years, all of the property tax revenue resumes flowing into the City or County’s General Fund. Other taxes, like sales and parking taxes, flow to the City’s or County’s General Fund throughout the project’s life cycle.

IFDs are generally paired with a CFD, discussed below, and used as a reimbursement mechanism.

How is the limited obligation bond related to the EIFD?

Limited obligation bonds are separate from those issued by the Enhanced Infrastructure District (EIFD). Specifically, limited obligation bonds, if approved, would be used by the City to fund its offsite infrastructure obligations (that is, infrastructure outside the boundaries of the full 55-acre project site). For example, the City could use the proceeds of a limited obligation bond to complete pedestrian and transit improvements on Broadway between 12^th Street and the waterfront.

The EIFD would be used to reimburse the A’s for the eligible affordable housing and onsite infrastructure costs incurred up front (e.g., the 18.3 acres of parks to be constructed within the boundaries of the full 55-acre project site). The EIFD would be backed by the incremental property taxes generated by the project, and the limited obligation bonds would be backed by other incremental tax revenue, like sales taxes, transit occupancy taxes, or parking taxes- all taxes that would not exist “but for” the project.

Is the limited obligation bond like the bonds the City and County issued for the Raiders and Coliseum in 1995?

No. A “limited obligation bond” is different than the bond issued in that deal. Like the proposed EIFD, a limited obligation bond would be backed ONLY by the revenues created by the Waterfront Ballpark District itself and WOULD NOT put the City’s General Fund at risk. For examples, if the City pledges sales tax receipts generated within the Waterfront Ballpark District, then the City’s maximum liability is those actual receipts, as opposed to a general obligation, which places the City’s General Fund income and assets at risk. This structure ensures that only “but for” revenues (those revenues that would not exist “but for” the project) can be used to repay the debt.

Does a ‘limited obligation bond’ require a vote of Oakland residents to approve?

No. Unlike general obligation bonds, limited obligation bonds only require approval by the City Council.

What is a CFD and will one be used on this project?

CFD stands for "Community Facilities District", also sometimes known as a "Mello Roos District." When a CFD is created, the property owners within the district agree to impose a “special tax” on their property, over and above regular property taxes. The county tax collector collects these taxes, which can be used to help pay for construction or maintenance of public facilities. Typically, a CFD is used by a developer to secure inexpensive, upfront financing for infrastructure; because the special taxes are collected by the county, they are considered secure revenue and investors will lend against that revenue at lower interest rates.

The Oakland As are likely to request that a CFD be placed over the Howard Terminal site, effectively taxing themselves and any development partners in order to be able to borrow money inexpensively to build infrastructure for the project. The special taxes would apply only to the Howard Terminal project and no property owner outside of the project site would be subject to them. The IFD would reimburse the developer for qualified infrastructure development costs.

Are my taxes going to increase? / Will West Oakland neighbors see an increase in property taxes due to Howard Terminal Development?

No and no. An IFD does not increase anybody’s taxes and does not increase the property tax rate. It also does not impact or put at risk the City or County’s General Funds.

The current assessed value of the Waterfront Ballpark District site is approximately $29.5M. Over the next 16 years, as the proposed project is built out, that value is expected to grow to $7.6B. Property taxes will be assessed on this new development, generating significant new tax revenues every year.

Bottom line: How much will this project cost Oakland taxpayers?

The project will not raise taxes or put the City or County’s General Funds at risk. The City’s goal is for the Waterfront Ballpark District project to create a net fiscal gain for the City of Oakland and its taxpayers. Even with the project’s new incremental property taxes diverted into an IFD to help cover the costs of infrastructure, the City will see increases in other revenue streams, such as sales taxes, real estate transfer taxes and business license taxes. Though more difficult to accurately measure, the City will also see indirect economic benefits from the project as it creates jobs and stimulates business activity from West Oakland to Chinatown. The City is committed to creating a financial structure wherein City and County taxpayers stand only to gain from the project, and are not at risk of being left “holding the bag,” as happened when the Raiders left Oakland without an obligation to repay the debt incurred on their behalf by the City and County to renovate the Coliseum.

So, is this like the Raiders deal?

Not at all. The Raiders 1995 return to Oakland required the City and County, which jointly own the Coliseum, to issue bonds to pay for its renovation. Those bonds are secured by the General Funds of the City and County. The City and County also jointly operate and maintain the Coliseum, and subsidize its annual operating losses.

In contrast, for the current proposed project, the Oakland A’s will privately finance, construct, operate and maintain the ballpark. No public funds will be used to build or operate the facility, nor will the City or County have operational duties or liabilities. Further, unlike the general obligation bonds issued to renovate the Coliseum, IFD bonds don’t put the General Fund at risk, and don’t increase Oaklander’s property tax rates.

Will a waterfront ballpark impact the Port?

No. By including transportation safety, infrastructure, and seaport compatibility measures, the ballpark project will not impact Port seaport operations. The Port has been consulted from the start of the environmental impact analysis and the design of the project so that potential impacts on seaport operations are considered and addressed. Read the Port’s own statements about the project and safeguards to ensure Port compatibility here and here.

Howard Terminal cannot accommodate the modern ultra-large ships and hasn’t been used for container cargo operations since 2014. The 50-acre site is separated from any adjacent Port-owned maritime terminal acreage by Schnitzer Steel, a metal recycling operation. There is still under-utilized capacity for seaport terminal operations to expand along the Port’s deeper water outer harbor, as well as in the more than 300 acres of converted Army Base land.

Also, the Project will include: 1) A land-use plan that ensures that residential development is restricted to the easterly portion of the project site, nearest Jack London Square and as far as possible from the Port and other industrial users; and 2) A transportation plan that minimizes disruption to truck and rail access to the Port.

In fact, in May of 2019, the Board of Port Commissioners voted unanimously in support of the Port’s own term sheet with the Oakland A’s. The Port has stated that it anticipates potential benefits of the project, including diversification of its business, greater nationwide visibility, more visitor traffic at Jack London Square, and a boost for neighboring businesses, and intends to impose its own Seaport Compatibility Measures to ensure that the project doesn’t affect its maritime business.

What exactly is the City of Oakland asking of the County?

The City is asking the County to make a non-binding resolution of intention to “opt in” to a planned Infrastructure Finance District (IFD) over the Howard Terminal site. By “opting in”, the County would join the City in contributing its share of the net new property taxes generated by the new development of the Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal – revenue that would not exist “but-for” the project - for the purpose of financing affordable housing, parks and other infrastructure of communitywide significance. In doing so, the County would help make the project possible and, even after contributing its net new property taxes, realize millions of dollars each year in net new revenue from sales and transfer taxes to fund critically needed healthcare, early childhood education, and services for those experiencing homelessness.

Why is the County’s participation needed?

Development of the Howard Terminal site requires significant investment in infrastructure, both on- and off-site, as well as community benefits that include affordable housing and new public parks. The cost of those improvements is beyond what can be borne by the City and Developer alone. In order to bring the project to fruition, unlock the potential of the Howard Terminal site, grow the City’s and County’s tax bases, and achieve equitable benefits for our residents, public investment from both the City and County is needed. City staff will be proposing to use an Infrastructure Financing District that is ONLY on the new development site itself, thereby ensuring the project pays for the project. Investing the new project-generated revenues into public infrastructure and benefits, without putting either the county or city’s general funds at risk, is a responsible way to maximize the public benefits of this transformative development.

Does this mean the County will be back in the sports business?

No. We are asking the County to help finance critically needed public infrastructure, public parks and affordable housing. The City and County would have no role in the financing, ownership or management of the proposed Ballpark at Howard Terminal, which, unlike the Coliseum, will be entirely privately funded, maintained and operated.

Why do we need the County approval?

Complex projects such as this were commonly funded without County approval in the past under California’s Redevelopment law, which was repealed in 2011. Redevelopment financing operated very similarly to the Infrastructure Financing District proposed here, except that under Redevelopment, the County’s participation would have been automatic. Under an IFD, the City and County must each independently “opt-in” through a vote of their elected officials and approve the Infrastructure Financing Plan. Because opting into an IFD does NOT raise anyone’s taxes, a vote of the people is not required.

What would the County’s money be used for?

The County’s tax revenues generated by the project would be used to help build public parks and open space, affordable housing and other public infrastructure of communitywide significance, both in and around the Howard Terminal site. Tax revenues from the IFD will NOT be used for the Ballpark, which will be privately financed, constructed and operated.

If the County Board of Supervisors votes against “opting in,” is the Waterfront Ballpark District a dead deal?

Most likely. The new County tax revenue generated by development of the Waterfront Ballpark District creates significant additional bonding capacity within the proposed IFD. Without any contribution from Alameda County to help fund the critical infrastructure and affordable housing required at the site, it’s unlikely any other entity can or will make those sizable investments. And without development of the Waterfront Ballpark District, the County will miss out on $57M in projected one-time tax revenue, $5M in projected recurring annual tax revenue generated by the project that can be used for affordable housing, healthcare and homelessness services throughout the county, and $6M in recurring tax revenues for countywide transportation improvements.

When will the Board of Supervisors vote?

The Board of Supervisors can vote on their intention to “opt in” at any time. At their special meeting of June 15, 2021, they indicated that County staff would undertake an independent financial analysis of the proposed district and its fiscal impacts to the County over the summer, and bring the matter back to the Supervisors for a vote. The City supports the County’s need for due diligence and will cooperate fully with the County as it conducts its analysis. The City’s non-binding term sheet for the Waterfront Ballpark Development will include the qualified assumption that the county will opt in. Final creation and binding approval of the IFD would require future votes of both the Oakland City Council and County Board of Supervisors.

What has the community benefits process entailed so far?

Community members, particularly those who live in the areas closest to the project site (Jack London, West Oakland, Old Oakland, and Chinatown) engaged in an equity-centered process throughout 2020 to identify and prioritize benefits of greatest value to the community. A Steering Committee consisting primarily of community representatives met monthly in 2020 to bring forth the community’s recommendations for deliberation, and in May 2021, the recommendations were presented publicly in a draft Community Benefits Recommendations Summary Report. This report will be used as a tool to help guide how resources are allocated to community benefits. Please visit the Community Benefits webpage for more information.

What’s next in the community benefits process?

Now that the community has identified its priorities, the next step is to determine the sources of funding for affordable housing, jobs and other community benefits, as well as the specific mechanics of delivering community benefits over time, including governance, implementation, and oversight. The City intends to address only the funding sources for community benefits in the term sheet that was presented to the City Council on July 20, 2021; the approval of the benefits themselves will happen in future approval decisions. Again, the City has not agreed with the Financial Plan publicized by the A’s on April 23, 2021 and is developing a better framework for funding Community Benefits.

Where are we in terms of the approval process?

With a non-binding term sheet now approved by the City Council, the City and the A’s are drafting and negotiating the Development Agreement. In addition, this summer, the A’s submitted the final regulatory permit applications. The City is reviewing and working with the A’s to revise and finalize the Planned Development Plan, the Design Guidelines and the Tentative Tract Map. The Development Agreement, together with a final Environmental Impact Report, and these other planning approvals required for the project will be forwarded to the Planning Commission and City Council for consideration, beginning with Design Review that was held in September 2021, and likely concluding in early 2022. Around that time, the Port Board will also consider an Option Agreement and Master Lease with the A’s. Also, on October 26, 2021, the Alameda Count Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 in favor of declaring their intent to opt in to the Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District.

Wasn't the project approved in July 2021?

No. The term sheet, which is a non-binding outline of the proposed financial deal between the City and the Oakland A’s, was approved in July 2021.

What does the City of Oakland approval process entail?

Now that a non-binding term sheet was approved by City Council in July, City staff will work with the Oakland A’s to expand the term sheet into a Development Agreement, which will address community benefits (affordable housing, parks, job standards, etc.), environmental mitigations, traffic and circulation plans, and all other aspects of this complex project. Other City actions required to bring the project to City Council for approval will include: certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report, amending the City’s General Plan, rezoning the project area, and other land use approvals such as approving the Preliminary Development Plan and Tentative Tract Map for the project. Once City approvals are done, the project will require Port of Oakland approvals, including Seaport Compatibility Measures, as required by the Port Board of Commissioners.

Was the project approval process accelerated for the July 20, 2021 vote? Did City Council vote to approve the full project?

No. Although the City Council approved a non-binding term sheet on July 20th, the remaining actions described in the approval process will require additional time beyond July 20, 2021.

Has the Port of Oakland already approved the Howard Terminal?

No. In May 2019, the Board of Port Commissioners approved an Exclusive Negotiation Term Sheet, which gave the Oakland A’s four years to achieve:

• A certified environmental impact report for the project;
• Land use approvals from various public agencies; and
• Real estate agreements with the Port and others.

Click here to visit the Port of Oakland’s Proposed Howard Terminal Project webpage.

What are the City’s and Port’s roles in the overall approval process?

In short, the Port controls the real estate, while the City has jurisdiction over its use. In February 2020, the City and Port entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) documenting their respective roles and commitment to cooperate to their mutual benefit to establish a shared regulatory framework for the proposed project. The MOU can be found on the City’s website here. The City, as the regulatory body with jurisdiction over the General Plan, will first certify the EIR and modify the General Plan before the Port takes any actions. Then, the Port will be able to consider its real estate approvals, including option and lease agreements, as well as its Seaport Compatibility Measures.

What is the timeframe for the City and Port to act on the full project?

After the City Council's action on July 20, there remain significant steps for the City and Port to complete, as described above, before the project can be fully approved. Because the A’s have not yet completed all of the applications required for full approval of the proposed project, the timeframe for final approvals is not fully known. For large, complex projects such as this one, project sponsors typically submit such applications at least six months in advance of their desired hearing dates. Following receipt and staff review of all applications, final approvals, including community benefits, will be presented together to the City Council for concurrent consideration.

How will the Coliseum development proposals that were heard by City Council on July 6th affect the negotiations/project development of the Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal?

The negotiations for the Howard Terminal Project and for the Coliseum site are not related. The negotiations at the Coliseum should not have any effect on the Howard Terminal Project.

Do the A’s need the Coliseum site for the waterfront ballpark project to work?

No. As noted above, the Howard Terminal Project is its own project proposal and is not tied to, or related to, the Coliseum site.

What is the Design Review Committee (DRC) of the Planning Commission?

The DRC is a committee consisting of three members of the Planning Commission. Its charge is to review the design aspects of a proposed development project and provide feedback to the applicant and Bureau of Planning staff on the appropriateness of the project’s design. The DRC typically hears a proposed project in a public hearing anywhere from several weeks to several months before that project is scheduled to be in front of the full Planning Commission for final approval, in order to allow time for its suggestions to be incorporated into the project’s final design. The DRC’s decisions are advisory only and not legally binding.

Which aspects of the Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal did the DRC review on September 8?

The DRC heard a presentation from the A’s and Bureau of Planning staff related to the project’s physical design, including the site plan layout, building heights and design guidelines for proposed buildings and open spaces. The DRC did not address the project’s financial plan, transportation plan or any other aspects of the project.

What happens after the DRC hearing?

The A’s are incorporating DRC feedback, and will resubmit their Preliminary Development Plan and Design Guidelines to the City. At the same time, the City and A’s will continue working on the project’s development agreement, financial plan, final environmental impact report and other aspects of the project’s complex set of approvals, in anticipation of bringing all of these approval documents before the Planning Commission and City Council in the coming months.