Live Blog: Council Hears 'Whole Foods Project' (Web Link to Watch Live)

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Read the latest updates on Twitter. Watch the Albany City Council meeting on the mixed-use project at University Village online here beginning at 7:30 p.m. on KALB 33. 

12:50 a.m. It looks like at least three council members, Mayor Farid Javandel as well as Councilwomen Peggy Thomsen and Joanne Wile, appear ready to approve aspects of the project and work to collaborate with the university. 

Wile said she'd like to see an urban agriculture center but would prefer to work with the university to get it. More details on Twitter. 

10:20 p.m. Several more supporters have spoken up for the university's project, with many additional voices against it. It's still tough to see the end of the line of speakers. 

People have talked about he need for the protection of Little League fields, and the role Albany Little League has played in building community in Albany. 

Others have continued to point out ways the EIR is flawed and that it will leave the city open to liability. 

9:45 p.m. Eight more speakers: Seven of them have been against the project for one reason or another, and one who had some questions about it, and seemed open to it but it wasn't totally clear. 

One Albany Little League mom got long, loud cheers after her comments, which concluded: "I want these fields too. I really think we have an opportunity to work together and use the momentum of the community to change this."

She said the community could advocate for an agro-ecology center at the Gill Tract. 

9:25 p.m. Five speakers later, there's been one voice in support of the mixed-use project at University Village. 

One received time from other audience members and outlined the reasons why the project's Environmental Impact Report is flawed, and, according to him, would not hold up under a lawsuit.

Several speakers have said trusting the university would be a mistake for Albany. 

Another speaker is now handing out jars of pickles that they made from Gill Tract produce. 

8:55 p.m. Six more speakers, none of whom support the University of California project. 

Said Solano Avenue business owner David Krebs: There are issues with the pollution and traffic estimates and the city doesn't need a Whole Foods that's bigger than one proposed for Brooklyn, NY (54,000 sq. ft. vs. Albany's estimated 55,000 sq. ft.). 

Said Pennie Opal Plant of Gathering Tribes: "I understand that the City Council and planners have been working on this for five years. There have been people working on saving Gill Tract for an urban farm for over 15 years."  

8:30 p.m. After four more speakers, still no supporters for the Whole Foods project. 

Says 15-year resident and Albany mom Dorothy Bavard: "I have seen firsthand how the university is canabalizing itself" to raise money. "We don't want or need a Texas-sized corporate complex in Albany," which would be the "death-knell for lower Solano."

Bavard also criticized the city for recently "asking Homeland Security" for an armored tank. (.)

Several audience members are ceding their time to most of the speakers. There are still at least 20 people in line, though it's difficult to tell because the line blends into people standing in back. 

Still lots of clapping and cheering after speakers despite the mayor asking for order.

8:15 p.m. Jackie Hermes-Fletcher is showing part of her short film on the Gill Tract, in which she interviews Albany residents and visitors to the Solano Stroll about the Gill Tract and its future. 

(The film is from a couple years back.)

Three other members of the public have spoken thus far; all three have been opposed to the project, and have urged the council not to approve various elements of it.

7:47 p.m. "There's been a great deal of discussion about the pros and cons of the project" over the past five years, says Jeff Bond, community development director for the city of Albany.

Pros include an improved gateway to the city, economic development for the city, the creation of senior housing in Albany, and more connections with University Village residents.

Concerns expressed include adequacy of environmental impact report, whether the project is too large, whether there are assurances that bicycle improvements will occur, he said.

Bond said the recent "Occupy the Farm" activists have increased the public dialogue. 

"We have received a great deal of correspondence over the last few days," he added.

7:25 p.m. The seats are filling up with supporters of both Occupy the Farm and Albany Little League. A small group of activists remains outside, and UC spokesman Dan Mogulof spoke with several members of the media on a corner just west of the Albany Library and Community Center. 

Read the latest updates on Twitter.

7 p.m. Watch the Albany City Council meeting on the mixed-use project at University Village online here beginning at 7:30 p.m. on KALB 33. 

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 1249 Marin Avenue, Albany, CA. Read the latest updates on Twitter.

Read more about the project on Albany Patch here. See the .

Dozens of activists rallied outside the community center beginning at 6 p.m. They had planned to demonstrate how to pickle cucumbers. 

Inside the community center, roughly 120 seats had been set up for public attendees.

Click the "Keep me posted" button below for an update when we publish future stories on the Whole Foods project. Learn about the proposed .