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Record of Proceedings

Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council Meeting – October 15, 2026

Board of Supervisors — Thursday, October 15, 2026
BodyAlameda County, California
SessionBoard of Supervisors
DateThursday, October 15, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:42:52

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:19

There we go.

0:20

Okay, so this is Warren Cushman, Chair of the Eden Area Mac.

0:24

Um, we are going to start the MAC meeting as of

Unassigned speaker

0:28

now.

Speaker 1

0:28

Um, the first item on the agenda is uh our call to order, which we've done, and now we will have Zida do a roll call of MAC members.

Speaker 2

0:41

Councilmember Marma Hoko.

Speaker 3

0:43

Yes,

Speaker 2

0:44

Councilmember Roll, excused, Councilmember Stanley

Speaker 4

0:48

here,

Speaker 2

0:49

Councilmember Widler here, Councilmember Aston Nielsen

Speaker 1

0:53

here,

Speaker 2

0:54

Chair Cushman.

0:55

Here we have a quorum.

Speaker 1

0:56

All right, and now we will send up and do

Unassigned speaker

0:59

the

Speaker 1

0:59

Pledge of Allegiance.

1:00

If I can Pledge Allegiance, United Station.

1:18

Wonderful.

Speaker 3

1:20

Let me get settled.

Speaker 1

1:23

All right.

1:24

So now we will ask for if there's any public comment on the Pledge of Allegiance and such.

1:33

We actually do have to do

Unassigned speaker

1:34

that.

Speaker 1

1:35

And so and so now we'll go to public comment for items not on the agenda.

1:42

And we do have an order of speakers.

1:44

So we'll go through those and Zaida will call your

Unassigned speaker

1:47

name.

Speaker 5

1:59

Good evening, board members and uh members of the public.

2:03

I just wanted to pass along on behalf of the fire department, just as we're preparing for El Nino, we're expecting a wet uh fall.

2:11

And so um just to let everybody know that we do have um sandbags areas pre-stage.

2:18

So I'd like to just read out those locations for anybody, and I can um provide this information in detail if needed.

2:26

But um, through public works, there are unincorporated county areas such as Ashland, Castro Valley, Cheryland, San Lorenzo, and Livermore.

2:35

We have three locations for you.

2:37

One is in Dublin at the Alameda County Public Works maintenance yard that addresses 6089 Madigan Road.

Unassigned speaker

2:47

And

Speaker 5

2:48

it uh even though that's in Dublin, that is for county residents.

2:51

The other one is for the Alameda County Hayward maintenance yard at 951 Turner Court in Hayward, and then Alameda County Fire Station 6 at 1978 Cole Canyon Road in Castro Valley.

3:08

So if you need any further direction, I I'm here to assist, but just want to make sure everybody's aware.

3:14

I would just um emphasize plan early, not late.

3:19

Um just to know in those features, and just for the those at the fire station, you do not need to um contact the firefighters.

3:28

That is just an open spot, should be there.

3:30

Um there are any needs, you can just contact um myself.

3:34

I'll provide my information as well.

3:36

So thank you very

Unassigned speaker

3:37

much.

Speaker 1

3:39

Thank

Unassigned speaker

3:40

you.

Speaker 2

3:42

Bruce King, you're on the line, you have three minutes.

Speaker 6

3:48

Hi, Bruce King with Friends of San Lorenzo Creek.

3:51

We've got two topics.

3:53

Uh the first is the San Lorenzo Creekway, uh, which is a planned multi-use trail from the bay all the way to Castor Valley, about eight, eight or more miles of trail, multi-use trail following the San Lorenzo Creek Channel most of the

Unassigned speaker

4:10

way.

Speaker 6

4:11

Um that has been in the works for more than 20 years, and uh now public works and hard are working on the design.

4:20

And uh tomorrow, Wednesday, October 4th at the San Lorenzo Community Center at 5 o'clock, 5 to 7 p.m.

4:29

There's a community workshop so people can come and see what's happening and ask questions and find out more.

4:36

There's also a virtual workshop this Saturday at 10 a.m.

4:42

So if you go to the hard website and type in San Lorenzo Creekway, you can get to the information and uh register for one of these workshops if you want to learn

Unassigned speaker

4:52

more.

Unassigned speaker

4:53

Uh

Speaker 6

4:54

the second item is about flooding.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Active Transportation████████████████████20%
Economic Development█████████████████17%
Affordable Housing████████████████16%
Land Use Planning██████████████14%
Community Engagement███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Transportation Safety██████6%
Traffic Safety████4%
Arts And Culture███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council Meeting – October 15, 2026

The Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) met on October 15, 2026, with Chair Warren Cushman presiding. Councilmembers Elizabeth Stanley, Diane Wydler, Taylor Aston-Nielsen, and Ray Marumahoko were present, with Megan Roehl excused. The meeting included presentations and actions on a bicycle and pedestrian master plan update, a ministerial review for affordable senior housing, a conditional use permit for a fast-food restaurant, adoption of the Bay Fair Community-Based Transportation Plan (CBTP), and approval of 2026 and 2027 meeting schedules. Chair Cushman also announced his appointment to the San Lorenzo Unified Consolidation Committee.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Fire Department: Announced sandbag availability at county maintenance yards and Fire Station 6 for the El Niño season.
  • Bruce King, Friends of San Lorenzo Creek: Publicized the San Lorenzo Creekway Trail design workshops. Expressed concern about updated flood control modeling showing increased flood risk in San Lorenzo and Cherryland, and requested the Council invite the flood control district for a presentation.
  • Randy Wage: Expressed support for the Creekway Trail and the Lorenzo Theater restoration. Announced the Halloween parade.
  • Officer Pat, CHP: Reported 7 DUI arrests and 80 citations during a recent maximum enforcement period. Detailed ongoing traffic complaints for stop sign violations.
  • Vicky Vivelden, Sandra Frost, Lindsay Wright (Empowering Families of Ashland): Opposed the loss of the La Huerta community garden to fire station expansion. Described the garden as a vital therapeutic sanctuary for neurodivergent children, a food sovereignty resource, and a green lung for the concrete-heavy neighborhood. Requested the Council visit the site and advocate for a replacement garden if relocation is necessary.
  • Rachel Osajima, Alameda County Arts Commission: Announced the permanent removal of a repeatedly vandalized utility box art wrap on Hesperian Blvd.
  • Keith Barrows: Opposed the recent speed limit increase on Grant Avenue through three school zones, characterizing it as a fatal mistake.
  • Alvaro Ramos, San Leandro Resident: Advocated for prioritization of transit-oriented improvements on Hesperian and East 14th Street, including bus lanes. Recommended closing a segment of Bayfair Drive and using biodiversity-friendly lighting.
  • Gina Rose (on Wittenberg Manor III): Supported senior affordable housing but questioned the parking allocation of 10 car spaces for 38 senior units relative to 38 bicycle spaces.
  • Amelia Kirkpatrick (on El Pollo Loco): Expressed concern over air pollutants (VOCs, particulates) from the grilling operation near a dry cleaner and car wash.
  • Emily Panico (on El Pollo Loco): Questioned traffic mitigation plans for the congested Bachman and Hesperian intersection.
  • Victor Gonzalez (on Bay Fair CBTP): Requested parking restrictions on Liberty Street and infrastructure improvements to address safety concerns from trucks and missing sidewalks.

Discussion Items

  • Alameda County Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Trails Master Plan Update (Informational): Staff presented an update to the 2019 plan for unincorporated areas. Presenters noted the Eden area accounts for 50% of countywide crashes, concentrated on Hesperian and Meekland. Councilmembers requested robust ADA integration, community advisory committees, improved lighting, and coordination with concurrent projects like the East Bay Greenway. Public comment focused on the Grant Avenue speed limit and the need for bus lanes.
  • PLN2026-00085: Wittenberg Manor III – Ministerial Development Review (Informational): Staff reviewed a 5-story, 38-unit 100% affordable senior housing project at 705 Bartlett Ave. Councilmembers were broadly supportive of the housing need, though Diane Wydler expressed concern over the building height (5 stories) and parking ratio (10 car spaces for 38 units). Taylor Aston-Nielsen noted the project exceeds minimum requirements and features substantial greenery. Warren Cushman stated the project meets a critical community need for senior housing. No action was taken by the Council, as the decision rests with the Planning Director.
  • PLN2026-00111: El Pollo Loco – Conditional Use Permit & Site Development Review (Action): Staff reviewed the proposal to demolish a bank and burger stand for a new 2,330 sq ft El Pollo Loco with drive-in at 18499 Hesperian Blvd. Councilmembers debated the balance of filling vacant lots with a fast-food use against neighborhood concerns (traffic, noise, privacy). Taylor Aston-Nielsen led a motion to recommend approval, amended to include conditions for delivery/trash pickup blackout times to protect nearby residents and enhanced hedging/trees for air quality and privacy. Diane Wydler expressed mixed feelings but ultimately supported the motion. The motion passed 5-0.
  • Bay Fair Community-Based Transportation Plan (CBTP) – Action: Council received the draft plan, a joint County/San Leandro effort focused on underserved communities near Bayfair BART. The approved plan includes seven categories of recommendations. Councilmember Ray Marumahoko requested that staff consult the Sheriff's Department and CHP on the safety and ambassador program elements. The Council voted 5-0 to forward the plan to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation for adoption.
  • Meeting Schedules (2026 & 2027): The Council approved moving the November 2026 meeting to Thursday, November 12, 2026, to avoid a conflict with Veterans Day. The 2027 schedule (second Tuesday of each month) was approved. Both passed 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • El Pollo Loco (PLN2026-00111): Voted 5-0 to recommend approval with conditions for delivery/trash blackout times and enhanced landscaping.
  • Bay Fair CBTP: Voted 5-0 to recommend adoption to the Board of Supervisors.
  • 2026 & 2027 Meeting Schedules: Approved unanimously. The November 2026 meeting was rescheduled to Thursday, November 12, 2026.
  • Consent Calendar: Minutes for September 8, 2026, approved unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

There we go. Okay, so this is Warren Cushman, Chair of the Eden Area Mac. Um, we are going to start the MAC meeting as of now. Um, the first item on the agenda is uh our call to order, which we've done, and now we will have Zida do a roll call of MAC members. Councilmember Marma Hoko. Yes, Councilmember Roll, excused, Councilmember Stanley here, Councilmember Widler here, Councilmember Aston Nielsen here, Chair Cushman. Here we have a quorum. All right, and now we will send up and do the Pledge of Allegiance. If I can Pledge Allegiance, United Station. Wonderful. Let me get settled. All right. So now we will ask for if there's any public comment on the Pledge of Allegiance and such. We actually do have to do that. And so and so now we'll go to public comment for items not on the agenda. And we do have an order of speakers. So we'll go through those and Zaida will call your name. Good evening, board members and uh members of the public. I just wanted to pass along on behalf of the fire department, just as we're preparing for El Nino, we're expecting a wet uh fall. And so um just to let everybody know that we do have um sandbags areas pre-stage. So I'd like to just read out those locations for anybody, and I can um provide this information in detail if needed. But um, through public works, there are unincorporated county areas such as Ashland, Castro Valley, Cheryland, San Lorenzo, and Livermore. We have three locations for you. One is in Dublin at the Alameda County Public Works maintenance yard that addresses 6089 Madigan Road. And it uh even though that's in Dublin, that is for county residents. The other one is for the Alameda County Hayward maintenance yard at 951 Turner Court in Hayward, and then Alameda County Fire Station 6 at 1978 Cole Canyon Road in Castro Valley. So if you need any further direction, I I'm here to assist, but just want to make sure everybody's aware. I would just um emphasize plan early, not late. Um just to know in those features, and just for the those at the fire station, you do not need to um contact the firefighters. That is just an open spot, should be there. Um there are any needs, you can just contact um myself. I'll provide my information as well. So thank you very much. Thank you. Bruce King, you're on the line, you have three minutes. Hi, Bruce King with Friends of San Lorenzo Creek. We've got two topics.

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