• Home
• News
• Archive
• About
• Calendar
• Directory
• Advertisers
• Contact Us

View Point

Pixar, Emeryville Cement Long-Term Relationship

Connection Staff
July 2008

A healthy relationship is one that benefits everyone involved. This is just as true for relationships between business and local government as it is in relationships between people.

On June 3rd, the Emeryville City Council approved the new expansion plan for the Pixar Animation Studios complex. The vote was 3-1, with Mayor Ken Bukowski, Vice Mayor Ruth Atkin and Councilmember Nora Davis voting “yes,” and Councilman Dick Kassis absent. Councilmember John Fricke was the sole negative voice. [For the record, although he was absent from the Council session, Mr. Kassis has indicated he would have joined the majority of his colleagues and voted to approve the Pixar plan].

This vote was a significant milestone in the Pixar-Emeryville relationship which began with the company locating here in 2000 after the City of Richmond refused to approve an expansion of Pixar’s campus, proving for the zillionth time that lack of vision and civic leadership can hit you big-time in the pocketbook.

The project is an ambitious one. It’s a 20-year multiphase plan which includes a new building at the corner of Park and Hollis; a Class A bike path which will be open to the public at the eastern end of the campus; a parking structure, and a new building at 45th and Hollis Streets, among several significant features.

But that’s not all. As part of the deal, Pixar will pay the City $2 million for the completion of the proposed Arts and Culture Center (the former United Stamping Building, next to City Hall), and separately agreed to hold a fundraising event, probably in 2010, for the Center.

The final vote was 3-1. True to form, John Fricke was the only negative vote on this exciting proposal. Fricke said he objected to the provision in the agreement which requires the Redevelopment Agency to relinquish its right to repurchase the vacant parcel on the eastern end of the complex, on Park Avenue, near San Pablo Avenue.

Those with vision, guts, and an entrepreneurial spirit understand that not accommodating Pixar’s growth is about much more than just traffic or the City retaining repurchasing rights for a long-vacant piece of property. Limiting Pixar’s ability – or any major company’s ability – to grow, and thrive, is akin to denying college scholarships to Emery School students, limiting Emery-Go-Round service and consigning the community to financial struggle and stagnation.

Leave it to John Fricke to lack the courage, entrepreneurial spirit and wisdom necessary to solidify what has long proven to be a very strong and mutually-beneficial relationship with the world’s most famous animation studio that will eventually bring several thousand new high-paying jobs and millions of dollars of public and private sector revenue to Emeryville. Apparently a Class A bicycle path, first-class LEED-certified buildings, $2 million in cash for the Cultural Arts Center, tens of thousands of dollars annually to the Emery Ed Fund, quality jobs, new tax revenue and a host of other community benefits don’t cut it with Mr. Fricke. Putting ideology, or something, before pragmatism, teamwork, and civic progress, apparently is what does count with him.

Our congratulations to Councilmembers Bukowski, Atkin, and Davis for their supportive votes, and to our friends at Pixar Animation Studios for making Emeryville your home, and for pledging continued civic support that will continue to strengthen this community.

No relationship is perfect, and all relationships involve some measure of compromise and accommodation. No healthy relationship can ever be sustained if it’s one-sided and doesn’t take into consideration the needs and desires of the other party. Fortunately, a majority of our City Council understands this, and for this, we all come out the winners.