San Leandro City Council Meeting - May 20, 2025
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San Leandro City Council Meeting - May 20, 2025
The San Leandro City Council met on Monday, May 19, 2025 (with the meeting date specified as 2025-05-20 per the published agenda) at 7:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included recognitions, consent calendar items, public hearings, and action items. Key decisions included approval of the vacation and sale of Eden Road, a zoning code update, office furniture replacement, adoption of a CalPERS cost-sharing amendment, adoption of new fire hazard severity zone maps, and the first reading of an ordinance to authorize a fourth retail cannabis dispensary permit to NUG Wellness. The council also heard public testimony on district-based elections, vacancies, and recruitment efforts.
Recognitions
- Proclamation for National Police Week (May 11-17, 2025): Mayor Gonzalez read the proclamation honoring police officers, including three San Leandro officers killed in the line of duty. Officers Q and Mahaney spoke about their service. The proclamation was presented.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent calendar with the exception of items 5A, 5B, and 5C, which were pulled for separate discussion. The remaining items (5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5I) were approved unanimously (5-0-2, with Councilmembers Azevedo and Viveros Walton absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
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Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items (7):
- Carol Cole expressed dissatisfaction with the city's budget engagement forums, noting multiple reschedulings and cancellations.
- Lucas criticized meeting preparedness, late agenda postings, and the cost of office furniture ($7,700 per desk).
- Christopher Bammer complained about the sale of Eden Road for $1, the city's lack of transparency, and the condition of the marina.
- Douglas Balding reported issues with the ParkMobile app and parking meter payments, questioning the cost of the system.
- Catherine Dialivo requested clarity on the city's financial exposure in the marina development (loan to Cal Coast).
- Three students from Earth Team (Iris Liu, Karina Trin, Paloma Sanchez Cruz) presented data on air pollution in San Leandro, recommending no-idling zones, safe routes to school, tree planting, and real-time monitoring.
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Public Comments on Specific Agenda Items:
- 5A (Eden Road): Lucas questioned the lack of discount in the office furniture quote; Douglas Balding asked about the Bay Fair apartment project (497 units) and the Human Services Commission funding gap.
- 5C (Office Furniture): Lucas and Ginny Madison noted the high prices; Lucas said he found comparable items for less.
- 8A (District Elections): Lucas, Ginny Madison, and Douglas Balding criticized the use of outdated data (2017 gap analysis) and called for a demographer and more balanced districts.
- 8B (Vacancies): Douglas Balding praised the city's retention efforts; Jeff Duritz noted a disconnect between hiring and proposed hiring freezes in the Finance Committee.
- 10C (Fire Hazard Zones): Ginny Madison supported adopting the maps as they reflect current fire science.
- 10D (Cannabis Dispensary): Multiple speakers spoke in opposition (Ed Hernandez, Michael Cole-Bruno, Michael Warda, Jim Scott, Lucas, Nara Dalbaca) citing lack of transparency, favoritism, potential monopoly, and the need for an RFP process. Supporters (Darius Bowden, Manny Gonzalez, John Orham) highlighted NUG's community involvement, job creation, and the vacant site generating no revenue.
Public Hearings
- 8a (District-Based Elections): The city clerk presented the draft map (current districts) and election sequence (2026: Mayor, Districts 1,3,5; 2028: Districts 2,4,6). Public comment called for updated demographic data and a more thorough remapping process. No council action taken; further input to be received at the June 2 meeting.
- 8b (AB 2561 Vacancies): HR Director Emily Hung presented a report on vacancies (64.5 out of 439 budgeted FTEs, 23.5% vacancy in police officers). The public hearing was informational; no action required.
Discussion Items
- 5A – Eden Road Vacation and Sale: The council discussed the history of the unpaved road, the proposed sale to Alco Metals for $1, and the requirement for the buyer to pave and maintain the road at a PCI of 65 or higher. Councilmembers expressed a need for ironclad contractual remedies for non-compliance. The motion to approve passed 4-1-2 (Bolt recused, Azevedo and Walton absent).
- 5B – Zoning Code Update: Staff explained the need for a comprehensive update ($157,000 to Miller Planning Associates) to implement the housing element and economic development strategy. The motion passed 5-0-2.
- 5C – Community Development Office Furniture: Staff defended the $199,215 quote from Blaisdell's (a San Leandro company) for 26 workstations, noting a 75% discount off list price and a tariff charge. Councilmember Bolt expressed concerns about pricing and called for further negotiation. The motion passed 4-1-2 (Bolt voting no).
- 10b – CalPERS Cost Sharing Amendment: Second reading of an ordinance to increase the cost share for unrepresented executive safety employees from 1.5% to 2%. The employee accepted via secret ballot. The amendment increases employee contributions, reducing city costs. Passed unanimously 5-0-2.
- 10c – Fire Hazard Severity Zones: First reading of an ordinance to repeal the 2009 map and adopt the 2025 map, which removes the
Meeting Transcript
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And so, Madam Clerk, would you please take the role? Yes, thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Aguilar. Present. Councilmember Azevito. Councilmember Bolt. Present. Councilmember Simon. Present. Councilmember of Averos Walton. Vice Mayor Bowen. Present. Mayor Gonzalez. Present. Thank you. So at this point in time, uh is Shalini here? Yes, you are. But she's here. If you can go get her, please. So just uh as usual custom when we have our uh new commissioners appointed, we tend to move that from item 10 right up to the top so that they're able to uh leave our meeting as quickly as possible. Do I see any concerns or objections about that? Seeing then, we'll go ahead and move that up towards the top of our agenda right after recognitions. Um there's announcement, just as a reminder to everybody this is uh national public works week. And here in San Landro, we're especially grateful for all of our public works personnel. So thank you for all that you do. We had some extensive closed session discussions involving some public works, and so know that you are loved and appreciated. The City of San Leandro conducts orderly meetings to fulfill its mandate, discriminatory statements or conduct that would potentially violate the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and or the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. 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 more information. Madam Clerk. 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. This point in time, we'll move to closed session action taken. Thank you, Mayor. No pro no reportable actions were taken in closed session, but direction was provided to staff. And the only thing that I'll add to that is that there was extensive discussion, which is why we are here so late. We had four items, and that extension discussion lasted like two hours and 15 minutes. So we want to apologize for keeping you waiting, but know that your council was very thorough and extensive and complete in its deliberations of some very sensitive matters.
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