Alameda Reviews Shoreline Plan & Roots Venue as Richmond Air Assessed

Shoreline adaptation, recreational waterfront proposals, industrial air quality modeling, and neighborhood food mutual aid defined the civic docket in Alameda and Richmond this week.

Alameda Planning Board Weighs $1.14M Shoreline Plan, Oakland Roots Venue, and Surf Park Debate

The Alameda Planning Board is scheduled to convene on Monday, November 9, 2026 at 7 p.m. at Alameda City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Ave. (and via Zoom), for a dual-focus agenda previewed by the Alameda Post. First, board members will hold a public study session on the citywide Shoreline Adaptation Plan, which is backed by a $1.14 million grant from the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) to coordinate sea-level rise and groundwater flooding defenses with Caltrans, the East Bay Regional Park District, and neighboring Oakland; a draft plan is slated for release in spring or summer 2027. Second, the board will review a conditional use permit application for an interim modular stadium on Harbor Bay Parkway near the Oakland Roots training facility, which would host up to 27 combined home matches per year for the Oakland Roots (USL Championship) and Oakland Soul (USL W League).

Waterfront recreation is also drawing community discussion at Alameda Point. In letters published by the Alameda Post, Alameda resident Jason Biggs urged city leaders to approve the proposed Neptune Beach Surf Club at Enterprise Park adjacent to Encinal High School, arguing that transforming the underutilized concrete parcel into a public wave basin and aquatics facility would expand youth water-safety instruction and recreational access.

Bay Area Air District Releases Draft Chevron Richmond Refinery Risk Assessment

Along the Interstate 80 northern East Bay shoreline, the Bay Area Air District released a draft health risk assessment analyzing 2021 toxic air contaminant emissions from the Chevron Richmond Refinery, opening a public comment period that runs through November 23, 2026. Using updated state inhalation and multi-pathway exposure formulas, the draft report estimates that the maximally exposed residential area near the refinery boundary faces a 30-year cancer risk of up to 37 per 1 million—exceeding the district's 10 per 1 million public notification threshold, though remaining below the 100 per 1 million mandatory risk-reduction trigger.

Air District Engineering Manager Ariana Husain reported that roughly 74% of the modeled cancer risk stems from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, specifically benzoapyrene, released primarily from fluid catalytic cracking unit operations. Contra Costa Health Officer Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna and County Supervisor John Gioia noted that the updated figures reflect both stricter scientific exposure assumptions and localized industrial particulates, while Chevron stated that its total criteria emissions have declined over recent decades and pledged full participation in the regulatory review.

Richmond Area Mutual Aid Launches Little Free Food Pantry Map and Build Days

In Richmond neighborhoods, grassroots volunteers are expanding hyperlocal food access. As reported by The Richmond Standard, Richmond Area Mutual Aid (RAMA) launched an interactive digital map tracking neighborhood Little Free Food Pantries across Richmond, El Cerrito, and San Pablo—including a stocked wooden cabinet maintained by North & East neighborhood residents Achala and Eagle Jayagoda near 34th Street and Roosevelt Avenue. To expand the network, RAMA announced two free community pantry build workshops on Saturday, November 14 and Saturday, December 12, providing pre-cut lumber, hardware, and weatherproofing supplies for residents who volunteer to host a pantry box.