San Leandro City Council Meeting – June 26, 2025 (Note: Source Materials Show June 16)
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San Leandro City Council Meeting – June 26, 2025 (Note: Agenda and minutes indicate June 16, 2025; the date provided for this summary is June 26, 2025)
The San Leandro City Council met on June 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Gonzalez presided. Roll call: Present – Aguilar Jr., Azevedo, González III, Bowen, Viveros-Walton, Boldt; Absent – Simon. The meeting included a consent calendar, a public hearing on the biennial budget, and several action items including the adoption of a by-district election ordinance, a fourth cannabis dispensary permit, and salary schedule amendments. Public comments addressed housing production, federal investigation of a councilmember, library funding, and budget process.
Consent Calendar
- The consent calendar was approved with the exceptions of items 5a and 5b, which were pulled for separate discussion.
- Approved items included:
- 5c: Parking program management agreements (Dixon Resources and LAZ Parking) – Reso 2025-065 and 2025-066.
- 5d: Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program Grant acceptance ($244,545) – Reso 2025-067.
- 5e: Investment portfolio management services with PFM Asset Management ($110,000 annually) – Reso 2025-068.
- 5f: Gann Appropriation Limit for FY 2025-2026 – Reso 2025-069.
- 5g: Network refresh and library improvements ($865,135) – Reso 2025-070.
- 5h: City Hall access control and workspace renovation fund transfer – Reso 2025-071.
- 5i: Finance Committee minutes from May 28, 2025 – Approved.
- 5j: Council minutes from June 9, 2025 – Approved.
- 5k: 2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report – Min Order 2025-015.
- 5l: Nomination of Kerry Mason to Human Services Commission – Min Order 2025-016.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Consent Calendar (before vote): John Schwartz expressed concern that the city is greatly underproducing housing (target ~500/year, building <100) and urged structural reforms. Doug Spaulding questioned the CDBG budget alignment with affordable housing priority and asked about completion deadlines/cost overrun protections for the Mulford Marina Library.
- Non-Agenda Public Comments: Diana Ramirez introduced herself as a representative opening an office in San Leandro related to redistricting. Lee Thomas called for the removal of Councilmember Azevedo from intergovernmental agencies and a formal hearing due to being a target of a federal investigation for conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, and false statements.
- Public Hearing on Budget (Item 8a): Three speakers: Elvaro Ramos opposed cuts to library employees, hours, and materials, calling them extreme. A second speaker (Melissa) criticized the compressed budget schedule and advocated for a community budget task force. Doug Spaulding echoed the need for a task force, argued the human services budget is thin, and suggested police overspending.
- Action Item 10b (District Elections): Doug Spaulding urged reconsideration of district boundaries and questioned the need for a costly special election. John Schwartz supported the move to by-district elections but warned of potential liability if a charter amendment fails.
- Action Item 10c (Cannabis Dispensary): No public comment was made.
Discussion Items
- 5a – CDBG Consolidated Plan and Funding Allocations: Councilmember Viveros-Walton asked about changes in funded organizations and the process for eligibility. Staff clarified that Davis Street declined federal funding and moved to the CAP program. Discussion of contingency funds for potential loss of CDBG was resolved as the need was not triggered. Motion to approve carried 6-0-1 (Simon absent).
- 5b – Mulford Marina Branch Library Construction Contract: Councilmember Boldt recused himself due to a real property interest (proximity to project). The contract was awarded to Giant Construction, Inc. for $6,994,000, with change order authority and $630,000 from General Fund reserves. Motion passed 5-1-1 (Boldt voted nay despite stating recusal; Simon absent).
- 8a – Biennial Budget FY 2025-2026 and 2026-2027: Finance Director Nicole Gonzalez presented the budget. General fund expenditures: $156.1M (FY25-26) and $160.8M (FY26-27). All funds total: $272.9M and $265.1M. The city meets the reserve policy for FY25-26 (20%) but not for FY26-27 (15.1%). Council discussion focused on the need for a budget advisory task force and concerns about cuts to libraries and human services. The motion to adopt carried 6-0-1.
- 10b – Ordinance to Establish By-District Elections: After public comment, the council discussed the legal necessity of a voter-approved charter amendment. The ordinance was passed to perfect the safe harbor provision under the California Voting Rights Act. Motion passed 6-0-1.
- 10c – Second Reading: Fourth Retail Cannabis Dispensary Permit: The owner of Nug spoke in favor. Councilmember Boldt voted no, citing concerns about the process and equity. Motion passed 5-1-1 (Boldt no, Simon absent). Mayor noted that the discussion on the number of licenses and the map will be on the June 30 rules committee agenda.
- 10d – Master Salary Schedule Amendment: Presented by HR Analyst Yana Taran. The amendment reflects previously approved increases for the city manager and police chief, effective July 1, 2025, with no fiscal impact. Motion passed 6-0-1.
Key Outcomes
- Appointment: Kacey Guo appointed as ex-officio youth member to the Community Police Review Board (Min Order 2025-014, unanimous).
- CDBG Plan: Adopted Resolution 2025-072 approving the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, FY 2025-2026 Action Plan, and funding allocations.
- Library Construction: Awarded contract to Giant Construction, Inc. for $6,994,000 (Resolution 2025-073). Note: Councilmember Boldt voted nay despite stating a recusal.
- Biennial Budget: Adopted Resolutions 2025-074, FA 2025-001, and SA 2025-003 for the City, Public Financing Authority, and Successor Agency budgets.
- District Elections: Adopted Ordinance 2025-009 establishing by-district elections, subject to voter approval of a charter amendment.
- Cannabis Dispensary: Adopted Ordinance 2025-008 authorizing a fourth retail cannabis dispensary permit.
- Salary Schedule: Adopted Resolution 2025-075 amending the master salary schedule.
Note on date discrepancy: The source materials (agenda, minutes, transcript) consistently indicate the meeting occurred on June 16, 2025. The instruction for this summary specified June 26, 2025. The content above reflects the actual meeting events.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, it's 7 o'clock, and I'm calling the meeting to order. This is San Leto City Council. Today is Monday, June 16th. Like I said, it's 7 p.m. Vice Mayor, would you like to lead us in a pledge of allegiance? Stan if you're able to. Madam Clerk, would you please take the roll? Thank you, Mayor. Councilmember Aguilar. Present. Councilmember Azevito. Councilmember Bolt. Present. Councilmember Simon is absent. Councilmember Faveros Walton. Present. Vice Mayor Bowen. Mayor Gonzalez. So Council, today we've got the appointment and swinging in of a new youth member to the police uh community police review board under item 10A. I'd like to move this up to Section 4 recognitions in the interest of time. Looking down, Council Rule to see if there are any exceptions. Seeing none, we will make that adjustment to our agenda. The City of St. 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 uh 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. And Madam Clerk, your announcement, please. 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. There will be a 30-minute window for public comments, which will take place under item 7, 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 our third item on the agenda, the report on closed session action taken. There was no closed session today. So we will move on to item 10A, which was moved into this section on recognitions. And Madam Clerk, I believe you've got a very brief statement to make here. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Tonight we have a motion before you to appoint Casey Guo as ex-officio youth member to the community police review board. Okay, so I'll entertain a motion on this item. So I've got council member Vivetos Walton. So moved.
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