San Leandro City Council Special Meeting Summary – June 9, 2025
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San Leandro City Council Special Meeting – June 9, 2025
The San Leandro City Council held a special meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 10:08 PM. The council approved the consent calendar, adopted the Recreation and Parks Master Plan along with the Washington Manor Park Site-Specific Master Plan, and made key decisions on the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2026–2027. Several council members recused themselves on specific project lists due to real property interests.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (6-0, Vice Mayor Bowen absent):
- Resolution to authorize the City Manager to vote "Yes" on Alameda County Flood Control & Water Conservation District Zones 2 and 9 benefit assessment increase for city-owned parcels (Reso 2025-061).
- Motion to accept the 2024-2025 Board and Commission Report of Attendance (Min Order 2025-013).
- Minutes from the May 28, 2025 Rules Committee Meeting and June 2, 2025 Council Meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 4.a (Recreation and Parks Master Plan): No public comments were made.
- Item 4.b (CIP and Mulford Marina Library): Approximately 13 people spoke, including 6 in-person and 6 via Zoom, plus Councilmember Boldt spoke as a resident. Speakers included union members (Drywall Lathers Local 9068, North Carpenters Union), the low bidder (Giant Construction), and Marina-area residents.
- Most speakers urged the council not to reject all bids for the Mulford Marina Branch Library, citing community promises, union jobs, and the $4 million state grant. A few speakers noted the library's limited hours and design concerns.
- No speakers addressed Project List C (Hesperian Bike Lane) or Project List B (Lewelling Bike Way) specifically.
Discussion Items
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4.a: Recreation and Parks Master Plan & Washington Manor Park Site-Specific Master Plan
- Presentation by Madison Merrill (WRT) and Punam Nakar (WRT) outlined the planning process, community engagement (over 1,000 surveys, three workshops with 50-60 attendees each, pop-up events). Key priorities: expanded amenities, trails, dog parks, pickleball, adult fitness, after-school programs, safety, shade, restrooms, and connectivity.
- Washington Manor Park concept: new play area, plaza, dog park, one kept softball field (reducing from two), improved parking, and optional recreation building. Cost estimated at $13 million without the building, $18 million with it.
- Council questions: coordination with East Bay Regional Park District and HARD, smoking enforcement, equitable registration for summer programs, softball field utilization, tree management (eucalyptus), pool expansion feasibility, and trail connections. Staff clarified that the plan is a blueprint; funding will be prioritized through an equity lens.
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4.b: Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Project Lists
- Staff presented the draft 10-year CIP for FY 2026-2035, with a focus on the first two years' budget. Total available funding estimated at $29.5 million for FY 26-27.
- Project List C (Hesperian Bike Lane Gap Closure): Design phase only, $820,000 total ($325,000 ACTC grant, $495,000 from general fund/gas tax). Approved 5-1 (Councilmember Azevedo recused).
- Project List A (Mulford Marina Branch Library): Staff recommended rejecting all bids due to budget constraints (base bid $6.771 million, total project $10.6 million with alternates). After extensive discussion, council voted 5-1 (Councilmember Boldt recused) to direct staff to accept the lowest bidder (Giant Construction) and appropriate an additional $629,610 to cover contingency and project costs. The motion included only recommended additive alternates (monument sign lighting and standard curb/gutter/sidewalk), excluding the decorative children's ceiling ($70,000) and exterior trellis. Mayor González stressed fulfilling the community promise and called for on-time, under-budget delivery.
- Project List B (Lewelling Boulevard Class IV Bike Ways): Design and construction, total $3.965 million ($2.204 million in grants, $1.761 million from general fund/Measure BB/gas tax). Approved 5-1 (Councilmember Simon recused).
- Overall CIP Discussion: Staff summarized remaining unfunded projects and priorities: ADA transition plan, Neptune Drive levee, stormwater trash capture, sidewalk repair program, sewer main replacement, and traffic signal improvements. Council provided guidance, including support for starting sewer main replacements and completing the Neptune Drive levee. No final vote; adoption scheduled for July 7, 2025.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved.
- Resolution 2025-062: Adopted the San Leandro Recreation and Parks Master Plan and Washington Manor Park Site-Specific Master Plan (6-0).
- Resolution 2025-063: Approved Project List C (Hesperian Bike Lane Gap Closure) for CIP funding (5-1, Azevedo recused).
- Resolution 2025-064: Approved Project List B (Lewelling Boulevard Class IV Bike Ways) for CIP funding (5-1, Simon recused).
- Motion (5-1, Boldt recused): Directed staff to award the Mulford Marina Branch Library contract to the lowest responsible bidder and appropriate $629,610 for project costs, with a formal resolution to be brought back. The decorative ceiling and outdoor trellis alternates were not included.
- Meeting extended to 10:15 PM to complete discussions.
- Final CIP adoption scheduled for the July 7, 2025 City Council meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, it is seven o'clock. I am calling to order the meeting of the San Leandro City Council. Today is Monday, June 9th, 2025, and this is a special meeting. I've got my terminology right. Uh at this point in time, I I would ask uh Councilmember Vivotus Walton to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand if you're able to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Aguilar. Present. Councilmember Azevedo. Present. Councilmember Bolt. Present. Councilmember Simon. Present. Councilmember Vivaros Walton. Present. Vice Mayor Bowen is absent this evening. Mayor Gonzalez. Present. Thank you. 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, 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 we'll have a set time to share their comments. Thank you so at this point in time, we'll move to agenda item number three. Are there any items that council members would like council members would like to pull from our consent calendar? And if not, um we'll go to public comment. Councilmember Aguilar. I would like to move the consent calendar. Okay. And Councilmember Councilmember Vivotus Walton. I'll second that. Okay, so we've got a motion by Councilmember Aguilar with a second by Councilmember Vivotus Walton. At this point in time, we will move to any public comment if we have such. From the very beginning, we prioritize robust, inclusive, and accessible engagement, and the results speak for themselves. We had over 1,000 total surveys collected. We hosted three public workshops attended by an average of 50 to 60 residents at each workshop. Our team participated in many pop-up events, including the Moon Festival, MLK Day, and Cherry Festival, reaching hundreds and thousands more residents. We met directly with stakeholders holder groups, youth, seniors, educators, and maintenance staff. And we maintained open channels through our advisory committee and monthly recreation and parks commission updates. This is more than a plan. It's a reflection of what our community told us they value. Everything, every major recommendation is plan, whether it's trails, shade structures, upgraded play areas, or support for mental and physical wellness was shaped by that feedback.
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