OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Leandro City Council Special Meeting – May 6, 2025

City CouncilTuesday, May 6, 2025
BodySan Leandro, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:04:00

Transcript — Verbatim
19:40

Okay, it's seven ten.

19:41

I'm calling this meeting with Stanley and our city council to order today's Monday, May 5th.

19:46

And I do want to express my appreciation for members of the audience.

19:50

We had a very extensive close session meeting that lasted for two hours, and we managed to just get here a few minutes late.

19:57

So thank you for your patience.

20:00

With that, I will call on the city clerk to call a roll.

20:05

Thank you, Mayor.

20:07

Councilmember Aguilar.

20:09

Present.

20:10

Councilmember Azevedo.

20:11

Present.

20:12

Councilmember Bolt.

20:13

Present.

20:14

Councilmember Simon?

20:15

Present.

20:15

Councilmember Faveros Walton.

20:17

Present.

20:18

Vice Mayor Bowen.

20:19

President Mayor Gonzalez.

20:20

Present.

20:20

Please note all members are present.

20:27

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and through the Republic for which it stands.

20:34

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

20:41

Okay, the City of San Leandro conducts orderly meetings to fulfill its mandate, discriminatory statements and conduct or conduct that would potentially violate the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and or the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Penal Code Sections 403 or 415 are per se disruptive to meeting and will not be tolerated.

21:02

Please see the City Council handbook and city council meeting rules of decorum for additional information.

21:08

Madam Clerk, your announcement.

21:09

Thank you, Mayor.

21:10

If you would like to make a public comment during the meeting, you can do so in person or via Zoom.

21:15

If you are present at the meeting, please complete a speaker card and submit it to the city clerk before the item is presented.

21:21

If you wish to participate in public comment via Zoom, you can use the raise your hand tool when the item is called.

21:27

During the public comment session, speakers will be invited to speak and will have a set time to share their comments.

21:33

A countdown timer will appear for their convenience, and when the time is up, the microphone will be muted.

21:38

All raised hands outside of public comment will be lowered to avoid confusion.

21:42

Once public comment is opened, hands may be raised to speak.

21:46

There will be a 30-minute window for public comments, which will take place under item seven, public comments as per the published agenda.

21:53

After this time is up, the council will proceed with the rest of the meeting's agenda.

21:57

If you have not had the opportunity to speak during the initial 30 minute period, there will be another chance to do so after item 12 City Council reports.

22:05

Thank you.

22:06

So for item three, is there any report on close session action taken?

22:12

Thank you, Mayor.

22:13

No uh reportable actions were taken in closed session, but direction was provided to staff.

22:17

At this point in time, we'll move to item four recognition.

22:20

So we're going to start with a declaration on Asian American, I think it's Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month here in the City of San Leandro.

22:31

We'll start with June Lee, Executive Director of the Korean Community Center of the East Bay.

22:36

Come on up and I'll join you.

22:38

After which we will do a declaration for mental health awareness month.

22:55

Welcome to City Hall.

22:57

And this is for you.

22:59

So for those that uh don't know the Korean Center, the East Bay's mission activity, I'm going to definitely give you a little bit of time to chat.

23:09

We're glad to have them here in San Leandro.

23:11

I think it's on Callan Street, if I'm not mistaken, in downtown San Leandro.

23:16

And so you've led significant growth at KC, was it EEB?

23:22

Okay, C C E B.

23:24

So thank you for all that you do.

23:26

But let's celebrate the full breadth of uh the Heritage Month.

23:31

So whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, uh that Heritage Month is a month to celebrate and pay tribute to the contributions of the AAPI community to American history, society, and culture.

23:48

And whereas President Obama issued the proclamation 8369 proclaiming May 2009 as American as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders comprise many different ethnic ethnicities and languages, and their many achievements embody the American experience.

24:12

And whereas Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, included, including Native Hawaiians, are leaders in all aspects of American life, including government and industry, science and medicine, the arts and the armed forces, education and sports, and so much more.

24:29

And whereas the San Leandro community has greatly benefited through cultural richness, the diversity and the generosity of local Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and celebrates their contribution through various public programs and events each year.

24:44

Now, therefore, I Juan Gonzalez, the third mayor of the City of San Leandro do hereby proclaim May 2025 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month here in the City of San Leandro and call upon residents, call upon all residents and community members too.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Council Governance██████████████████18%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Budget███████████11%
Community Outreach█████████9%
Public Comments████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Council Ethics██████6%
Public Services█████5%
Economic Development█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

San Leandro City Council Special Meeting – May 6, 2025

The San Leandro City Council held a special meeting on May 6, 2025, beginning with closed session at 5:00 PM and reconvening publicly at 7:10 PM. The council addressed multiple public hearings, including wastewater fee increases, an appeal of a warehouse development, and district‑based election maps. The meeting also included proclamations, consent calendar approvals, and a handbook discussion. All votes were unanimous (7‑0) except the handbook motion.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (7‑0). Items included:
    • Amendment No. 3 to the Parks Master Plan consulting agreement (increase of $29,280, total not‑to‑exceed $408,892).
    • Agreement with Univar Solutions USA LLC for up to 215,000 gallons of sodium hypochlorite (FY2025‑2026, not‑to‑exceed $703,050).
    • Minutes of April 21, 2025.
    • Nomination of Shalini Gopalkrishnan to the Senior Commission.
  • One public comment questioned consulting costs on item 5a.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • General public comment (non‑agenda): None.
  • Public Hearing 8b (880 Doolittle Drive warehouse): Seven public speakers offered testimony. Two online commenters noted concerns about greenhouse gas emissions from truck traffic and insufficient mitigation. Five in‑person speakers (including representatives of Carpenters Local 713, IBEW Local 595, and other trade unions) urged approval, highlighting local workforce opportunities. One speaker supported the project as a source of good‑paying jobs.
  • Public Hearing 8c (district‑based elections): Two online commenters spoke; one asked for proportional representation, the other urged fiscal prudence.
  • Public Hearing 8d (master fee schedule and tax adjustments): One online commenter questioned the emergency medical services tax structure for multi‑unit buildings. Staff clarified that the per‑benefit‑unit calculation was correctly applied.

Discussion Items

  • Closed Session Report: No reportable actions taken; direction was provided to staff.
  • Proclamations:
    • Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May 2025) – accepted by June Lee, Executive Director of the Korean Community Center of the East Bay.
    • Mental Health Awareness Month (May 2025) – accepted by Tejasi Bilgi (Deputy Chief Clinical Officer) and Jennifer Ellis (Chief Strategy Officer) of La Familia.
  • Public Hearing 8a – Wastewater Discharge Fee Amendments (FY2026‑2030): Staff presented the rate study. City Clerk reported 14,589 Prop 218 notices mailed; 151 protest letters received (1.0%, far below the 7,295 required to block the increase). Council approved the resolution (7‑0).
  • Public Hearing 8b – Appeal of 880 Doolittle Drive Warehouse (244,573 sq ft, 50‑ft‑tall): The appeal, filed by Carpenters Local 713 and Advocates for the Environment, argued that the EIR was deficient. Advocates withdrew earlier on May 6. The appellant did not appear at the hearing. Council received staff and applicant presentations, heard public comments, and then voted 7‑0 to reject the appeal, certify the EIR, and approve the conditional use permit and height exception.
  • Public Hearing 8c – District‑Based Elections (2nd hearing): No action taken; only public input was received. Council will hold two more hearings.
  • Public Hearing 8d – Master Fee Schedule & Tax Adjustments: After clarifying the benefit‑unit tax structure, council adopted the resolution and three ordinances (7‑0) for FY2025‑2026: fee schedule amendments, business license tax CPI increase (2.4%), emergency medical services tax CPI increase, and emergency communications system access tax CPI increase.
  • Action Item 10a – City Council Handbook Updates: Councilmember Simon proposed six substantive amendments (including a values‑based ethics code, vice‑mayor nomination language, urgent referral process, travel reimbursement rollover, attendance notification, and removing the handbook acknowledgement page). After extensive discussion, a motion to refer the handbook back to the Rules Committee passed 6‑1 (Simon opposed).

Key Outcomes

  • Wastewater fee increase (8a): Resolution 2025‑041 approved (7‑0). Rates will increase ~8% in year 1 and ~9% in years 2–5, effective July 1, 2025.
  • Warehouse appeal (8b): Appeal rejected; resolutions 2025‑042 and 2025‑043 adopted (7‑0). Project allowed to proceed with all Planning Commission conditions.
  • Fee schedule & tax adjustments (8d): Resolution 2024‑044 and Ordinances 2025‑004, 2025‑005, 2025‑006 adopted (7‑0). Annual CPI increase of 2.4% applied.
  • City Council Handbook (10a): Referred back to the Rules Committee (6‑1). No immediate changes to the handbook.
  • Consent Calendar: Approved (7‑0) with no pulled items.
  • Proclamations: Presented and acknowledged.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, it's seven ten. I'm calling this meeting with Stanley and our city council to order today's Monday, May 5th. And I do want to express my appreciation for members of the audience. We had a very extensive close session meeting that lasted for two hours, and we managed to just get here a few minutes late. So thank you for your patience. With that, I will call on the city clerk to call a roll. Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Aguilar. Present. Councilmember Azevedo. Present. Councilmember Bolt. Present. Councilmember Simon? Present. Councilmember Faveros Walton. Present. Vice Mayor Bowen. President Mayor Gonzalez. Present. Please note all members are present. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and through the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, the City of San Leandro conducts orderly meetings to fulfill its mandate, discriminatory statements and conduct or conduct that would potentially violate the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and or the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Penal Code Sections 403 or 415 are per se disruptive to meeting and will not be tolerated. Please see the City Council handbook and city council meeting rules of decorum for additional information. Madam Clerk, your announcement. Thank you, Mayor. If you would like to make a public comment during the meeting, you can do so in person or via Zoom. If you are present at the meeting, please complete a speaker card and submit it to the city clerk before the item is presented. If you wish to participate in public comment via Zoom, you can use the raise your hand tool when the item is called. During the public comment session, speakers will be invited to speak and will have a set time to share their comments. A countdown timer will appear for their convenience, and when the time is up, the microphone will be muted. All raised hands outside of public comment will be lowered to avoid confusion. Once public comment is opened, hands may be raised to speak. There will be a 30-minute window for public comments, which will take place under item seven, public comments as per the published agenda. After this time is up, the council will proceed with the rest of the meeting's agenda. If you have not had the opportunity to speak during the initial 30 minute period, there will be another chance to do so after item 12 City Council reports. Thank you. So for item three, is there any report on close session action taken? Thank you, Mayor. No uh reportable actions were taken in closed session, but direction was provided to staff. At this point in time, we'll move to item four recognition. So we're going to start with a declaration on Asian American, I think it's Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month here in the City of San Leandro. We'll start with June Lee, Executive Director of the Korean Community Center of the East Bay. Come on up and I'll join you. After which we will do a declaration for mental health awareness month. Welcome to City Hall. And this is for you. So for those that uh don't know the Korean Center, the East Bay's mission activity, I'm going to definitely give you a little bit of time to chat. We're glad to have them here in San Leandro.

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