Okay, so to members of the public, we apologize for being a couple of minutes late.

We wanted to make sure that council members had a little bit of a bio break as we move from closed session.

We'll begin in about one more minute.

And again, we apologize for our delay.

Councilmember Azevedo.

Present.

Councilmember Bolt.

Present.

Councilmember Simon.

Councilmember Vivero Swalton.

Present.

Vice Mayor Bowen.

Present.

And Mayor Gonzalez.

Present.

I do believe it will have slight echoes.

So technology, if you could just kind of keep an eye on that.

There appears to be a slight echo from either maybe somebody's computer or the like, but if we can just try to address that.

Tonight we have an appointment, the appointment swearing in of a new member of the bicycle pedestrian advisory committee as item 10, and several members of the youth advisory commission as item 10b.

I'd like to move these up to section four recognitions in the interest of time.

Is anybody opposed?

Okay, so we will move so forward accordingly.

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 California Employment and Housing Act, California Penal Code Sections 403 or 415 are per se disruptive to a 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, please.

If you would like to make 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 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 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 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.

Okay, at this point in time, do we have anything to report out of close session?

No reportable actions were taken in closed session, Mayor.

Thank you.

Okay, at this point in time, we will move first to our recognition proclamation to declare Hispanic Heritage Month here in San Leandro.

I think we've got uh Benny Valles.

Are you here?

Where are you, Benny?

There you are.

Come on up.

Stand right here.

Sorry.

So many comes from Bale Foclorico, Costa de Oro.

And I'll give you the chance at the end to say a few words about how you maintain culture and help it thrive.

So whereas during Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor and celebrate the immeasurable contributions and unique stories of one of San Leandro's largest and growing ethnic communities.

And whereas, while members of this community share a common connection to countries in the Americas, their ancestry connects them to origins around the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and the indigenous communities of the Americas.

And whereas La Comunidad Latina y Hispana is deeply rooted in both California and San Leandro's history, identity, and success, and whereas we embrace the cultural diversity and richness shared by Hispanic individuals' families and communities within our city.

And whereas we acknowledge Hispanic leaders who have stayed the course for the struggle in the struggle for equal justice to ensure that everyone in San Leandro can contribute their talents and have the opportunity to thrive here in our city.

And whereas since 1968, National Hispanic Heritage Month has commenced each year on the anniversary of the independence of numerous Latin American countries, and whose 2025 theme is History, Heritage, and Hope.

And finally, whereas we as San Leandro take great pride in recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th.

Now, therefore, I Juan Gonzalez, the third mayor of the city of San Leandro do hereby proclaim September 15th through October 15th, 2025 as Hispanic Heritage Month here in San Leandro, and encourage San Leandro's residents to join in celebrating the great contributions of the Hispanic and Latin American community in our city, our state, and our nation.

And the community of San Leandro, on behalf of Ballet Focorico Costa de Oro, we are proud to serve the City of San Leandro in performing our cultural janis throughout the state of California.

Last year we were invited to perform in Hawaii.

We represented at San Diego, and that was very well received over there.

Next summer, we have an invitation to perform in Vancouver, Canada.

So we're looking forward for that in representing the city of San Leandro.

They always ask, where do you guys come from?

San Leandro, where's that at?

Well, we're close by Oakland, San Francisco.

Oh, once you mention San Francisco, they know where it is.

But uh very proud to say that since our humble beginnings, actually three years ago, uh, under the support of the City of San Leandro and Parks and Recreation, we were able to continue and do so now in providing Mexican folk dance to the community at the San Leandro Senior Community Center for all ages, or up to a hundred.

So again, thank you for uh allowing us to be here and representing the city of San Leandro.

At this point in time, we will take items 10A and 10B under this portion of our calendar.

So we've got Deputy City Clerk, Ms.

Bunting to introduce this item.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

The item before you this evening is a motion to appoint Malika Potter to the bicycle and pedestrian advisory commission.

Do I have a motion for this minute order?

Councilmember Virus Walton.

I would like to move item 10A to appoint Malica Potter to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission.

So Councilmember or Vice Mayor Bowen, please.

Second that.

So I've got a motion from Council Murray Vidus Walton with a second from Council Member or from Vice Mayor Bowen.

With that, given it's a minute order, we can go ahead and move to a vote.

Please vote.

All votes are in.

The item passes unanimously.

Yay.

We really appreciate when people step forward and volunteer for our commission.

So thank you for doing so.

This point in time, will we be doing a swearing in?

Malika, if you'd step forward.

The Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

And I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California.

That I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.

And that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I'm about to enter.

Okay, at this point in time.

Councilman Rasvito, did you have uh something there?

No, okay, perfect.

On the next one.

So at this point in time, we will move to item ten B that is moved into this section of our agenda.

And again, we've got Deputy City Clerk, Sarah Bunting to introduce the item.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Tonight we have a motion before you for the nomination and appointment of several members to the youth advisory commission for the terms ending August thirty first, twenty twenty-six.

Again, in the form of a minute order essentially.

So let us move forward to a motion by council member.

I'm assuming as the veto, correct?

Yes.

I would like to move item 10 B, motion and nominate and appoint members to the Youth Advisory Commission, the YAC Committee.

Perfect.

Councilmember Vivotus Walton, please.

Second that.

Got a motion by Councilmember Azebito, second by Councilmember Vidus Walton.

I'm assuming there's no further discussion.

Seeing none, please vote.

All votes are in.

The item passes unanimously.

Okay.

So we will close that item.

Are they here to be uh sworn in?

Yes, Mr.

Okay, come forward to be sworn in.

No wonder we have so many people here today.

And I thought it was our exciting agenda.

Right around in here.

Okay.

All right, everybody.

Okay.

Go ahead and raise your right hands and repeat after me.

I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation for purpose of evasion.

And that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.

Congratulations.

Would the youth members please join us up here?

You can come around this way.

All the way.

Okay, thank you for allowing us to adjust our calendar.

Make sure that they can get back home and work on homework.

At this point in time, we are moving to our consent calendar.

We have anyone who would like to pull an item from the consent calendar.

Councilmember Aguilar.

I would like to pull item five F.

So we have five F.

As in Frank being pulled.

Any other item.

Okay, at this point in time, uh I could I'll I'm just gonna go ahead and go to public comment quickly, and that's on the consent calendar in general.

So this is the time if you have any comments or questions about five F to speak or any other item on the consent calendar.

So if you're going to speak on items 5a through 5G, now is the time to speak.

So do we have any public comment on our consent calendar?

Mr.

Mayor, we have not received any in-person public comment cards for the consent calendar other than item five F.

And we have one hand, two hands raised on Zoom.

Okay.

So why don't again we're gonna take all consent calendar commentary at one time.

So let's start online with the two hands that we have raised.

The first speaker is Douglas Spaulding.

Thank you very much.

Welcome back, everybody.

Hope you had a nice uh August break, did some things fun, rested up, all that kind of jazz.

Um starting with item five F, I reading between the lines between this and your uh uh closed meeting.

It looks like as needed bakery is going to be uh selling some food from the uh the uh library.

I can't wait.

I just would like to know when that might happen.

Uh I also kind of wanted to know about the monarch Bay uh uh bankruptcy, but I guess there wasn't a report on that.

In terms of item five A, uh I noted that the cost of legal services is going north of one million dollars a year.

I think this is somewhat akin to my car insurance, right?

If I'm in more accidents than the cost of my car insurance is more.

So uh unfortunately the city of St.

Leander has been sued time and time again and had to uh pay out or is chosen to pay out.

And uh to me it's just uh kind of a uh a consideration.

Like let's really try not to get ourselves sued.

Um love the love the support of hively and my last thing is about uh item five D, the construction administration for the Mulford Marina Library branch.

Now that I the mayor has straightened me out on which is which you know, I know that when we write construction contracts, we sometimes put in um timelines, right?

Like if you get it done uh on time, that's great.

If you get it time done in advance, maybe there's a little incentive if it goes over, then maybe you pay a little uh penalty as the as the contractor.

So I'm wondering whether uh that kind of thing also applies to the construction administration, because of course they are kind of the uh the group that is uh is leading the way.

So I just would like to make sure that uh we come in on time because it seems one of the costs again to the city are these construction overruns we often run into and given inflation that seems like it's gonna be very costly for us.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

The next speaker is whitney.

Whitney, you can unmute yourself.

Hi, thank you.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Thank you.

Um my name is Whitney Walker.

I have lived in St.

Leander for 25 years, and I love to frequent both Zoclo and as needed.

They are fantastic women-owned businesses that we are really lucky to have in our city.

Uh despite, you know, the brew haha that seems to have come up.

I just really encourage the us not to be pitting one against the other because they are both wonderful.

That said, I don't think there's anything wrong with asking the city for transparency about how and why a decision was made.

Every small business owner deserves to know that it what it takes to win a bid so they can improve the process the next time.

And the residents deserve to know that the city made a good decision on a business that has the overhead staff and know-how to be able to succeed in that spot rather than letting it sit dormant longer than it has to.

Had the city simply provided that information up front, that would have been that.

But the fact that we were all left in the dark with rumors flying makes me suspicious.

I have seen our city leaders play favorites and unfairly knock people out of the running for positions because they don't like them personally or politically.

So that's where my head goes.

A community coffee house is a place where people gather to exchange ideas and information.

And the owners of Zokola have always taken that role seriously.

They donate coffee for local nonprofit events, provide space for neighbors to hold meetings.

Every weekend they put on gatherings like open mic nights, live music, game and trivia nights.

They recently hosted a big fundraiser for tags.

And every year they do back to school shoe drives, holiday toy drives, buy a coffee for a first responder drives, and more.

It's a place where candidates for local office can leave yard signs for supporters to pick up.

And has been listed with showing up for racial justice for many years as the San Leandro venue where people can pick up Black Lives Matter signs.

There's a huge pride flag in the window.

Justice for Stephen Taylor poster behind the counter and a variety of pro-cease fire, anti-ICE, trans rights, and other social justice protest signs on the bulletin board.

I would hope our local city officials would not have a problem with the small business being vocal on these causes.

But we're living in Trump's America now, and that alone feels like a reason to ask for transparency.

That is Alvaro Ramos.

Followed by Gustavo.

Alvaro, please unmute yourself.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Okay.

So I wanted to comment on item five F on the consent calendar.

I think there is a missed opportunity to run a food cooperative or a food pantry.

Um, my thought on this is that I disapprove of the process used to make the decision of only one vendor occupying the space.

This is a public space that shouldn't be limited to just one vendor, but I think it should be an inclusive situation for all vendors who wish to participate.

I think the process is too restrictive and it is exclusionary and leaving other vendors out.

It should be inclusive of all participants who want to participate in such a project and should be allowed to do so.

And I also just want to make a general comment that with regard to consumers, I think that uh simply providing bait goods uh might be an unnecessary limitation because it unnecessarily limits the possibilities of use of the space.

I think consumers should be able to get access to other goods too.

Um, and then I want to make a point here about how the library is an institution designed for sharing.

We teach our children to share books.

So I think that adults should be sharing too.

I think it would make sense for there to be profit sharing so that all participating enterprises could get an equal share of the profits.

My question for council is why isn't the city making it possible to start a food cooperative or a food pantry in that specific space and comment.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Gustavo.

Hi, City Council.

Uh, my name is Gustavo Navarro.

I've been living in the city for about five years.

And I just want to uh reiterate the comment made by Whitney that I think understanding the why of a decision is made.

Uh basically tells the audience, uh, basically us the citizens why the basic guarantees that the city did the best they could.

So whoever takes a spot can actually deliver.

And the important thing of this is the transparency matters because if we don't get the transparency and we can all get the guarantee that the city did the best, then we all lose as individuals.

And I think we have seen examples of this through the city.

Um, and so I just wanted to um reiterate that understanding why is key.

That's it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mayor, there are no more raised hands.

Oh, we got one more.

Ginny Madsen.

So my name's Jenny Madsen, and thank you for letting me speak on this.

I was inspired by what Mr.

Ramos said.

Um that space was important to renters over the years.

I remember meeting with Ursula Reed there.

I remember reading with uh a lot of people there.

And I'm sorry, but it just looks like the city is trying to be a landlord.

They're trying to make revenue out of the library.

And I just hope that it is not that's not the only reason they're doing this.

I hope as needed gets something out of it.

But I just have my doubts about the way it was all done.

And please listen to what Mr.

Ramo said.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, there are no more hands raised on the public comment online is closed.

We'll come into the chambers for public comment now.

The first speaker is Matthew LaRoque, followed by Regina, followed by Cindy.

I have been a San Leandro resident for eight years.

I'm here to speak in support of As Needed Bakery and their pending contract to operate a cafe in the vacant space at the San Leandro Public Library.

I think you all know that that space has been vacant for a few years, and I'd love to see it filled.

As Need Bakery is one of San Leandro's most treasured locally grown small businesses, both at their storefront and at the library farmers market.

You'll often see long lines of people eager to buy their great bread sandwiches and cold brew.

As needed, I think is a great fit for the vacant library cafe space.

They have a proven track record.

And I know they'll run a great cafe.

Their pending move has already generated significant excitement throughout San Leandro community that's eager to see them move in shortly.

While I have been a fan of As Needed Bakery for several years, I first got to know Ileana personally when our daughters attended the same preschool together for a few years.

And I urge the council to approve this contract without delay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next three speakers.

Regina, followed by Cindy, followed by Ken.

Good evening, Council.

My name is Regina McAvoy.

I am Ileana's sister and a longtime customer of As Needed Bakery.

I've watched Ileana launch the bakery in its early days, and I have seen her remain committed to as needed over the years.

I've seen the long hours she's put into the business.

I've had the pleasure of watching the business grow into the success it is today.

She has worked hard to connect with her San Leandro neighbors, and the bakery has become a place where locals shop to nourish their families and connect with each other.

Ileana calls the bakery her first baby, and it really is.

Thank you.

The next speakers are Cindy Rogueway, Ken, followed by Ileana.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

My name is Cindy Rogoway, and I'm the executive director of the Hebrew Free Loan Association, which is a nonprofit based in San Francisco and serving all of Northern California.

We provide interest-free loans to people throughout Northern California.

And in 2018, we were privileged to offer a $50,000 business loan interest-free to Ileana so that she could open as needed bakery.

She repaid that loan in full and on time and became a beloved member of our larger community.

We were so impressed with how adaptable and resilient she is.

Once again, we're so impressed with who she is as a business person.

They are all successful business people and experienced, and they found that she has incredible business acumen, strategic thinking, and of course, as you've heard already, such a commitment to community, which is something that we value greatly when we make our decisions about loans as well.

We know that she will build the library cafe into a successful business, and that she will continue to give back to the community.

She's received support from the San Leandro community for many years now, and she remains committed to giving back.

So I hope that you will make the right decision and help move this project forward so she can move on with her plans and give back to the community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next three speakers are Ken.

Followed by Ileana, followed by Larry.

Hello, City Council members.

My name is Ken Grajeda.

I'm an employee at um as Needed Bakery.

I've been working there for a little over a year now.

And I do the farmers markets.

That's what I started out doing.

And I also do operations work there now, so a lot of the back end stuff.

And since the cafe came into our lives, even as an idea, we have been very excited, and I personally have been really inspired at all of the possibilities it will bring.

And this new space feels so in alignment with our growth as a business and work began really quickly once we learned that we had been chosen to run the library cafe.

And this opportunity allows for promotions within our staff, expanding our staff and our staff knowledge.

And I personally can attest to all of the new kinds of operations work that has been undergoing and completed and ongoing ahead of the cafe's opening.

And in my year at the bakery, I have formed many personal relationships with our customers, both at the farmers market and at our storefront.

And I've seen the role that As Needed Bakery plays in the San Leandro community at large.

And the cafe is an extension of that in my mind and provides another chance for us to nourish the community of San Leandro and provide a safe, warm space for everyone who lives in the city, and of course, with our baked goods.

And I can't wait to keep working on all of the new projects I have started in preparation for the cafe and to see the cafe transform.

And I love our staff.

Our team is really awesome.

Everyone, especially our bakers work so hard and are so dedicated to the providing for the community.

And yeah, thank you for listening and thank you for your time.

Thank you.

The next three speakers are Ileana, followed by Larry, followed by Moira Fry.

Hello.

My name is Ileana Imberman Berkowitz, and I am the founder and owner of As Needed Bakery.

I am proud to have built my business here in San Leandro, where I've lived with my young family for a decade.

I've worked in the food service industry for 20 years, and I've been a business owner for 10.

I started as needed in part because I never had a female bread manager or worked for a female business owner.

I wanted to inspire future employees, particularly female and nine non-binary, to see that women too can be at the helm of a successful bread business.

Our success has provided a platform for me and our staff to give back to our neighbors every week through partnerships with the San Leandro Food Pantry and the East Oakland Collective.

It's been a joy to mingle with the community at the library farmers market, at events like The Taste of San Leandro and the Cherry Festival, and at beautification opportunities such as the recent native tree planting on Victoria Circle.

When I first learned of the RFP, I knew immediately that as needed would apply.

My readiness to expand my business came at a perfect moment for this opportunity.

Following the application process, I eagerly awaited for feedback and next steps.

Throughout the entire bid selection and contract negotiation, library staff have acted in good faith.

They have been professional, respectful, and transparent.

Following you are your approval, we are excited to open the as needed cafe, which will build upon our classic bakery staples and offer new breakfast, lunch, and drink options.

My team, as Ken mentioned, is already working hard to develop new menu items, plot logistics, and design a welcoming cafe experience for library visitors, the staff, local youth, seniors, families, workers, and the broader community.

Personally, I can't wait to have my two daughters stop in for a treat after picking out books from the children's library.

Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you.

The next three speakers are Larry Barden, followed by Moira Fry and Victor Lammond.

Hi there.

I'm going to speak for myself and also Erica Falk, who's here with me.

We moved here in on New Year's Day 2015, and we have been grateful to live in a town like San Leandro that recognizes the importance of public libraries.

The main library in particular is a thriving community center offering accessible educational and cultural resources to I guess to everybody.

And that's why we were heartened to learn that As Needed Bakery has been selected from among the uh candidates to fill the vacancy left when the cafe closed last year since 2016.

As Needed Bakery has been a producer of really amazing artisan foods, have won multiple awards.

Just in general, we we believe that San Leandro was really blessed to be home to so many artisans, including as needed bakery.

But it is as a member of our community that uh as needed bakery has really impressed us.

They've worked hard to build relationships by partnering with other small businesses, lifting up other local entrepreneurs in the process.

Their presence in our neighborhood on Victoria Avenue has been um really transformative.

So Eric and I are very excited that San Leandro has chosen um as Needed Bakery to uh have the opportunity to continue its tradition of community development.

Uh by picking as needed bakery to be the uh food service provider for San Leandro Library.

Thanks.

Thank you.

The next speakers are Moira Fry, Victor Lemond, and Daniel Grace.

Good evening, and thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

I want to veer away from my normal harangues and express my gratitude and full support for as needed bakery and Ileana Irkwitz.

Um who's here tonight.

When I'm not at April Showers, I work with the San Leandro Community Food Pantry.

We distribute food weekly that's supplemental food, and we're currently seeing almost 400 families each week.

But since needed opened, Ileana has provided us with bread and pastries every week.

She does not veer.

Times when I've gotten sick or been unable to go over and pick it up, she's brought it to us, which is so helpful and so supportive in the community.

So I am very excited to see where she goes with this.

And um, oh, one of the things is if we are close to holidays, any holidays, she always makes sure we have a little bit extra to go in and keep people fed.

I appreciate that, and I appreciate her contributions to the community.

I can't wait to see where she goes from here.

But I think if she ends up in the library, it will be very yummy.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

The next three speakers are Victor, Daniel, and Sarah.

So hello, thanks for the opportunity to speak.

Um, my family and I have been in San Leandro for six years.

Uh, we got to know as needed early on in the pandemic.

My wife is expecting our first child.

Uh, it meant a lot to us that as needed kept us fed and you know, it was a great place for community during that time as there was a lot of uncertainty.

Uh, my kids love to come to the library and they love as needed.

Uh, my son often asks when we drive by the library if it's the library or the farmer's market that day.

Um, and we frequent as needed and all the local businesses we can.

We're so glad this is being awarded to a local business, and we're excited to see what it's gonna do to help enrich and grow the community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speakers are Daniel Grace, Sarah Oberhart, and Lee Thomas.

Hello, council members.

Uh, Daniel Grace with Zocalo Coffee.

Um, I I want to speak tonight, I think, to some broader issues that we're all confronting as a community.

Um I hope you'll you'll take this as friendly fire as uh, you know, an individual and an organization that have done a lot, I think, for this community for a long time.

But I think it's fair to say that like uh the city of San Leandro as a government are going through a challenging period.

Um, and we have some big challenges that that we need to confront moving forward.

Um, you know, and some big reforms that we need to make.

Um, you know, we have some budgetary issues, we have a bond measure that we want to put before the public.

Um, and one of the challenges with that right now is that the public, frankly, does not trust the work that's coming out of San Leandro government.

Um part of that is that we run into these instances, and I think this is an example where we don't have good transparency.

Um decisions are made opaquely.

And as citizens, we're left wondering uh whether the best decisions are being made, whether the best processes are being followed.

Given that we've had such little transparency with this decision, it's hard to know, frankly.

Um, as the public, we haven't seen scores, we haven't seen um applications that were submitted.

To my knowledge, even council members have not seen the applications that were submitted as part of this process.

Um, what we do know, what we've heard directly from city staff is that uh as needed was selected on the basis of um having a higher and and uh more favorable rent proposal to the city.

But now that the lease has been proposed, we can see that Zocolo's proposal actually would bring in 30 to 100% more revenue to the city of San Leandro.

So when we look at facts like that, we have to ask ourselves.

Thank you, sir.

Your time is up.

The next two speakers are Sarah Oberhart and Lee Thomas.

Ready?

Okay.

Members of council, my name is Sarah Ubalhart, owner of Zocolo Coffee.

Thank you for your time and service to the city of San Leandro.

I returned to you tonight with one key question.

How are these proposals scored?

The city released an RFP which outlined the qualifications it stated it was seeking in an operator.

Do I think that Zocolo Coffee is the most qualified to open operate the library cafe?

Yes, of course.

Building space for community through coffee has been my life's work for more than 20 years.

But what do the proposals say?

How are those proposals scored?

At no point have we or the public seen how those qualifications were measured?

What was the rubric?

How are points assigned?

And most importantly, why hasn't this information been released?

Instead of answers, over the last three months, I have been told to quote, rest assured that once a contract is in place, there would be a quote attempt to provide clarity.

I have been outright ignored when asked why our professional references were never contacted.

And I have been told that nothing could be done because I did not file a protest during a non-existent protest period.

Why was there not a protest period in this RFP?

That's pretty standard.

I have even filed a public records request, as is my right under California sunshine laws and have been denied.

And I have been asked to blindly trust that this process has been handled fairly.

Now, the only transparency we have now that the lease is public is that our proposal offered more rent with less lead time and more business readiness.

So again, how are these proposals scored?

If this process was fair and based on objective criteria, something everyone in this room, every single one of you and every single one of you should want.

Without transparency, trust in the public process disappears.

And when transparency is denied, good governance dies.

Thank you.

Your time is up.

The next speaker cards are from Lee Thomas and Lisa.

Evening mayor and council.

As a small business owner of a barbecue business here in the city, I'm saddened to hear about this process, the process of failure of transparency about the RFP in the selection process.

Why we have two fabulous business owners, female business owners here in San Leandro?

I am concerned about the financial liability of the business that was selected.

I'm concerned about the financial liability of the business that was selected based off of a community letter that they sent out to their customers asking for financial support.

You guys have the responsibility of making financial decisions and processes when you are selecting businesses.

And if the financial piece was one of the most crucial pieces of the RFP, as you just heard from the previous speaker, then why was this individual selected?

So none of us stand here tonight if we had a more transparent process.

None of us are here fighting, trying to support two good businesses here in San Leandro.

If we had a more transparent process, me as a business owner here in San Leandro makes me concerned because what happens one day if I want to grow here in San Leandro?

How do I grow here in San Leandro?

You can't even get this right for two businesses now, small businesses.

You want to see small businesses grow in your city.

You want to support small businesses growing your city, but you gotta have a transparent process.

As someone who sat in the human service commission here in the city, we had a transparent process when we handed out money to our nonprofits here.

As someone who works for a school district in Oakland, we have a transparent process when we do things.

And as the city of San Leandro once did, which you're cannabis business, you had a very transparent process with that.

You gotta do better.

Thank you.

The last speaker card is from Lisa.

Hi.

Thank you for um hearing from everyone tonight.

I um I'm just here because I actually love both of these businesses.

I've been in San Landra um living here for almost 30 years.

I feel very fortunate that we've got some wonderful um local businesses.

I've been a longtime customer for both of these, but I do think I have big concerns when I was um, you know, I drove past Hayward library, and when I saw that Zokola was there, I was so excited about the possibility of Zocolo being in our library, and I thought, well, what a great fit.

That's so smart.

And went and talked to when I talked to Sarah about it, and she told me about the process.

I was really surprised that there wouldn't be more transparency about why how the selection process works.

Um, I think these are both amazing businesses, but I also, when I look at Zocolo, they've got such a proven track record in this exact model right over in Hayward, and it just, you know, she does such a great job community connecting and building here in San Leandro, uh, building a thriving uh business for more than a decade now, and has proven track record of success just over in Hayward.

And for us not to have it here in San Leandro is just um very disappointing to see that you know that there wasn't more transparency in the process.

And and I would hope that um this committee would take a hard look at that and and share with us in the community to make us feel comfortable that the process was uh fair and thoughtful.

And I think that's important for the city, you know, for um for the city to uh you know make choices like these.

We want whoever goes in this library spot to be successful 100%.

There is nobody wants to waste time and and effort on something that can't be successful.

And I think that's why the RFP process is so so critical and important.

So I would just ask that that be looked at carefully.

Thank you.

We received two more speaker cards.

The last two speaker cards are from Darlene Evans and Carl.

I have a slight movement disorder when I leave things.

I don't remember where I put them.

That's the 78 challenge, but it has music that you can eat croissants by or bred by that.

We don't have to fatten up.

And I remember the library.

I remember the napkins, and I remember the good food.

Now, when my father was four, he got his one of his most prized possession, a library card.

And I have knowledge that Klappenbach bakery is 300 years out of Berlin.

And that's related to my father's family.

And I have uh culinary courses, three of them at uh Laney College and baking retraining education and development.

That raisin bread was known in Arkansas, and they closed it when he was 76 and she was 80, and they went to Europe to learn how to do it.

This lady went to learn how to do it.

She has children, and I used to work at the food pantry, but then they found out how old I am and they said, no, no.

So I want this there.

And I'm hoping that it will be more like a lane rather than we got placed to sit because we now have cell phones, and we don't even have a phone in the public library anymore.

And I don't know where they are in town.

But I think if we have six districts, we should have six phones in this town that you can call through.

Because I sat cooling off in the nice lobby at the police department this afternoon.

And a lady came in and she had problems.

Won't tell you what they are, but she needed a phone.

I had a phone, and I told her three months get over this.

And I told her what happened to me and how policemen helped me in San Lee Antro because it was a severe thing that happened.

Um nine millimeters, you don't find on your property every day.

But mine had thank you.

We are time is up.

The last speaker card is from Carl.

Good evening, Council members.

Just wanted to thank you for all the work that you're doing to make our city better.

Um I uh my name's Carl Glaub.

I grew up, I was born and raised in San Leandro, believe it or not.

Uh spent about two thirds of my life here.

My wife and I moved back here 10 years ago and started raising kids.

Uh so we have two young kids now that are growing up in the community.

And just want to say thanks.

Um, to city council meeting, and uh wasn't planning to speak, so I haven't prepared anything, but um, we'll say that yeah, I think in all my time here in San Landro, I feel like the last few years it's grown so much better and dramatically rapidly so.

So I appreciate all the work you put into that.

Um I think uh, you know, I agree with a lot of folks here.

Transparency is important.

Um both of these are really great businesses, great parts of our community.

Um, I personally have known Ileana for about that same time, 10 years uh since I've been in San Leandro, and um have been very impressed by her business acumen and her ability to adapt and change to many changes that have uh come upon her business um over the years that she's been you know managing through you know um growing the bakery, um, expanding into new areas, um opening an actual, you know, the store that we have here in San Leandro, adapting to how she manages the business through farmers markets and so forth, um, and manage her finances and and her uh ability to to scale in that way um incredibly well.

Um so I just wanted to speak to I've heard some other comments that you know maybe she's not prepared for that.

I don't think that's the case at all.

I would not believe a word of that.

I think uh she's completely prepared and her business will be very successful if you uh finalize the contract and bring her into the library, and we look forward to that.

Look forward to bringing my two kids uh to get snacks there.

So thanks.

Thank you.

Mayor, that concludes the final speaker card.

And if I may, I have a very short announcement.

Please proceed.

If you're a member of the public and you cannot find your cell phone, you may have left it up here at the speaker's podium.

Please check.

And you can reclaim your cell phone from the city clerk's office later today or tomorrow if needed.

Thank you.

With that, we will close public comment.

Um we've heard from our public on this item.

I believe councilmember Aguilar had pulled item 5F already, but do you have a motion on the remainder of the consent calendar?

I have you in here.

Can you just turn it on locally?

There you go.

Thank you.

I do not.

Okay, does anybody have a motion on our consent calendar?

Councilmember Vidus Walton.

I'd like to make a motion to move uh the consent calendar with the exception of 5 F.

Okay.

Okay.

Councilmember Bolt, I'll give you the second.

Uh, so we got a motion by Council Morey Votus Walton with a second from Councilmember Bolt to move our consent calendar without the entire consent calendar with the exception of 5F.

Seeing no further discussion, please vote.

All votes are in.

The motion passes unanimously.

At this point in time, we will move to discussion of item five F.

So who would like to begin the discussion?

I believe Councilmember Aguilar, you asked.

Thank you very much.

So, as a reminder, just per protocol, if everyone could please, and I'll just kind of come down the line.

If you have had any conversations with any of the bidders about their bids, the decision thereof, etc.

Would you please disclose to the public those conversations?

I'm just gonna come down the line if you could punch in individually, please.

Yes, I had ex parte communication with Dan from Zocolos Coffee.

Okay, Councilmember Simon, please.

I've had ex parte communication with Dan and Sarah with Zocolos.

And just come down now.

Councilmember Aguilar.

I have had ex parte communication with uh Dan Grace from Zocolo.

And Councilman Rosavita, please.

I had ex parte with Dan Grace today and two weeks ago.

Okay.

Then continuing with Councilman Ravidus Walton.

Thank you.

Um I met with everyone who requested a meeting regarding this issue.

Um, and that is Sarah and Dan from Zelko.

Okay, Vice Mayor.

There you go.

I've had ex parte communications with Sarah Bullhart, Dan Grace, and Ileana Brukowitz.

Okay.

And for myself, I have had um a conversation with Sarah and with Sarah Yubelhart and Dan Grace.

I believe two conversations with Dan Grace, if I remember correctly.

At least one with each.

Okay, at this point in time, um I'm gonna actually ask you to all punch out so that we can kind of come back in because I think some of you were punching in to do your disclosure.

So let's just kind of everybody let's kind of re-recue and then just punch yourself back in to this to discuss.

I do believe as a courtesy, council member I let you pulled the item.

So I would like to start with you and then have others uh join the discussion.

Thank you, Mayor.

And thank you, staff for um putting together this this RFP.

I just had a question.

Can we talk about the timeline and the process of the RFP?

So that would be fine by me.

This is this is the opportunity to explore and discuss anything related to this topic.

So is there a shall I just turn that over to staff?

Yes, if you could please discuss our timeline.

There we go.

Thank you.

Uh thank you for that question.

This is Brian Simons uh library director.

Uh timeline uh for the process was uh in uh here March 10th of 2025.

We put forward an RFP uh open to the public.

Uh we put that forward uh on with our regular channels through the city website as well as uh in um uh the daily review newspaper to make sure we had as much exposure as possible for uh possible vendors to be notified uh to get as many bids as we could get.

Uh that was open until April 10th, 2025.

Uh during that time, we received eight proposals.

Uh and then after we received those proposals when it closed, uh we uh reviewed them.

Uh we had three reviewers um score them uh as to initial qualifications.

So and those were done on six criteria totaling a hundred points possible.

Uh those initial scores were to identify of the eight and a rank of who was uh most qualified.

The three most qualified who gave fully responsive bids, uh meaning everything that we had asked for in the the bid request, um were then uh provided uh in-person interview, separate in-person interviews.

Um then after the interviews, uh we uh discussed uh amongst the the selection group, uh basing our decision off of both the uh what we learned during the uh qualification scoring as well as uh the interviews and we made a selection from there.

Thank you for explaining that.

And then can we talk to with regards to the actual rent that was proposed versus the cost share?

uh discussed uh uh amongst the the selection group uh basing our decision off of both the uh what we learned during the uh qualification scoring as well as uh uh the interviews and we made a selection from there thank you for explaining that and then can we talk to with regards to the actual rent that was proposed versus the cost share please proceed is if you if you like clarification on the question please ask yes is um i i would like the uh request of the city to this of the city attorney is that okay to disclose what's provided what's been provided is in the packet and so the other information um once again once a proposal um is awarded then the documents regarding the entire process are released and that's in keeping with the California Public Records Act's direction gotcha thank you those are my questions okay who else has questions or clarifications commentary as well right this is the time for us to explore councilmember bolt yes thank you um I would just like to say that I think we're very blessed in San Leandro to have two uh companies that can bring out this many people speaking on behalf of them um it's a shame in my eyes that as one of the speakers uh or one of the commenters said online that this has kind of pitted us against each other in our community um it reminds me of a statement or a joke that Ronald Reagan said with my next statement and I'm not a Ronald Reagan fan so let's just be clear but he used to say that joke about I'm from the government trust me and nobody could trust anybody and this process has just kind of turned into that for us in our community transparency is a must the one good thing that I have heard come out of this is that we have reflected on this as staff and as council members with a lot of great questions that obviously can't be laid out here because of closed session but I hope um they will in due time so that everybody does feel comfortable with what happened um as I told you Dan in our conversation if I smelt anything or felt anything about the process that that felt uneasy or wrong I would never support it.

I'm not that kind of guy so um I know you can't trust me because I'm from the government but uh truthfully in my heart I don't think that there was anything malicious or mischievous or or crazy about the process and I want to commend the staff for what they did through this process and just hopefully in today's world we can live to see a better time and and honestly I thought to myself how do we see a collab between as needed and Zocolos in the future I wish honestly I wish we had another space to rent four spaces because there were some really good um returned RFPs I get or I don't know um applications and it felt like you guys all could have done a great job but we do only have one and it's unfortunate that that's the case right now but I just want to say that um I think we did do a fair process by the questions that were asked by the colleague to staff and hearing the answer and so uh with that I I hope that this turns out well and I hope the community can come together and and find a way to just to support both um along the way and I'll stop there.

Any other questions or comments at this time so council member are you lad I'm gonna go to others first since you've already had a chance but I will come back to you council member bow or vice mayor bowen please my apologies thank you mayor um I didn't mention um in the comments about ex parte um conversations the number of conversations I had but I'm very fortunate that both businesses are in my district just down the street from my home so it is very much a part of my day and and the community that I serve um I really appreciated not just the public comment today but over the course of the last three months I will say that this item has come up in conversation uh more often than many other items um and so people are really passionate about this but I think that speaks volumes to both the businesses especially as women and mothers entrepreneurs and also really community driven people I would also like to say that I have um the privilege of having um engaged actively with both um businesses throughout the last 10 years that I've been in San Leandro um all that to say too that um I want to echo

Um, and so people are really passionate about this, but I think that speaks volumes to both the businesses, especially as women and mothers, entrepreneurs, and also really community-driven people.

I would also like to say that I have um the privilege of having um engaged actively with both businesses throughout the last 10 years that I've been in San Leandro.

Um, all that to say too that um I want to echo a lot of what council member um Bolt mentioned about uh really robust process that um I hope once um uh city um that will become available.

And so my first question to the city attorney in regards to the bid process, um, and maybe it's also to city manager, um, but in particular with this lease of real property, which um if you can share whether or not this is a common um bidding process that the city has undergone.

Um do we rent out leases and um the process that we went through with this particular um bidding process is our what, if any similar practices have we done with other um RFPP RFP processes.

I'm trying to understand what the process was grounded in and also the process of giving out information specific to the bids prior to um a contract being completed.

Okay, so I'm going to start with city manager and then she can hand off.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor, thank you, Vice Mayor.

Um I will take the question on our normal bidding process or our RFP process, and then um, Mr.

Mayor, if it's okay, I'd like to defer the legal question on transparency to the city attorney.

Uh so as a part of our staff's normal everyday doing their job, we do RFPs.

We do bid process.

And some of the bid processes are like a construction project or set by law.

So the state of California tells us how the process should go.

And some of those you get sealed bids and you tell everyone meet us at this address at this time, and we will open them and anyone from the public, those who proposed and those who did not propose, can come and find out what are what's inside the envelopes all at the same time.

Other times, which is our more frequent way of doing uh um solicitation for proposals, I'll call it, because it could be RFQs, RFPs, RFIs, there's all different types of ways of doing it.

Um we basically do a similar process as the library staff did.

We let the community, the public know the city is requesting information or proposals for this thing, service, whatever, and please by the criteria listed in this request, provide us the information we are requesting in the way that we are requesting that information.

And from there, we will gather the information, um, do interviews, evaluate what we have in front of us on different criteria and make a decision.

Um then once that uh decision is completed, it'll either be approved by the city manager if it's under my authority, or it will be brought to the council if it needs council authority.

Um real property, there is no dollar amount that's under my authority that is all yours.

So it always comes before you.

But we don't do leases that often because we don't have that much to lease.

Most property that is owned by the city is ran by the city.

Hence this cafe is one of those things, uh, which was what we've we've done in the past is it's been a uh location that was ran by the property.

So, Vice Mayor, does that kind of answer your question about the our normal process of what we do?

And then I can go to city attorney for the transparency and when we release information part.

Yes.

Thank you.

City attorney, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

So just to uh comment, amplify the city manager's comment.

She described one way that we award projects is through the competitive bidding process, and that's typically for construction projects or public works projects.

That's the sealed bid process.

Other city contracts, such as disposition and disposition of property, whether it's by sale or lease, are awarded to successful proposers who are identified through a competitive proposal process.

So we have competitive bidding process, where it's typically low bid wins the project from a response of bidder, and we have competitive proposal process.

So those are two processes.

And part of the process, we solicit a proposals, we evaluate them, and then negotiate and negotiate with the winning proposer.

Or we negotiate terms with uh consultants or vendors, depending on what the need is that the city uh uh is what that's depending on what the city needs for that particular project or or um item.

Absolutely, there's a strong interest, public interest in scrutinizing the process leading to the selection of the winning proposer, but consistent with California law, existing law, the local agency, the city's interest, just like any other local agency's interest, uh, and keeping the proposals confidential outweighs frequently the public's interest in disclosure because uh until negotiations with the winning proposer are complete for a variety of reasons, of course.

The city staff is trusted to find the best possible, most advantageous proposal for the city.

And disclosing details of all the competing proposals would obviously prejudice those negotiations.

We don't want to prejudice the negotiations or set a precedent for doing that in all instances.

We want to make sure that we're trying to do just like any other negotiations for that you may be involved in there's a confidentiality that's involved in those those proposal negotiations.

And again, trying to bet get and vet the best possible deal for the city, and that's we do that nine 100% of the time is definitely to hold those proposals.

Of course, once a contract is awarded, then the process, then the documents are released, and there's the um the results of the process are are then public at that point.

That's absolutely enshrined in California Public Records Act in the law.

And it will be absolutely and we do provide proposals and they're transparent after contracts are awarded.

At this point in time, I will go to councilmember Simon.

Uh thank you.

Uh a follow-up question on the RFP process versus the construction bids.

And I understand construction bids like tonight, if this was a construction contract, we would see the bids from the contractors, I take it.

You would see the different prices from all the contractors.

Can you confirm that, please?

Absolutely.

It's available as soon as they're opened.

Okay.

And in this process, the RFP process, sounds like negotiations negotiations have been going on.

This has been going on for a little while, and our negotiations complete.

Yes, negotiations are complete.

Okay.

Uh so if negotiations are complete, would we be able to see this information if negotiations are complete and there's no other negotiations to be had?

Not before an award has occurred.

What is the reasoning for that?

Because the council's the award is the action that essentially makes effective the award of the prompt of the contract, the proposal.

Nothing is nothing is absolutely complete until the council approves that it's complete.

Council approval then closes that process.

Okay.

I'm just trying to understand the basis for that law or for that decision.

Sounds like you keep the information quiet because you don't want to mess up negotiations.

But if negotiations are over, then why not?

Why not see it?

So I'm just gonna give a hypothetical because council, we could say we don't like that contract.

We could reject that contract, and we could say go back and negotiate again.

So it's only final when we agree.

There's no other legal issue, right?

I see that as an option.

If we denied as needed tonight.

We do have that option.

Right, it can reject this contract.

Then you could then council can go back, negotiate with others.

Correct?

Yeah.

So legally.

It's one thing to negotiate with the winner.

Can we legally go back?

And I I want to be careful because I don't want to violate closed session and I don't want to be getting legal advice in too much detail in an open session because I don't want to waive privilege.

So I'm gonna ask you to be appropriately cautious so that we waive no privilege.

Then I would say, Mayor, you're absolutely accurate.

That the council, yes.

This is your decision.

It's before you now.

Negotiations are not complete until the council says they're complete.

Okay.

That would be through an award of a contract.

So we want to keep this information quiet because we could renegotiate with another vendor.

So negotiations aren't with with as needed, they're complete.

I understand.

Okay.

Um so my next I mean comment would be I've lived here almost 30 years, and as Ocolo's has been an integral part of our community.

I remember as a community activist when I was 25 years old, and they opened our doors to us and to the whole community to come out and talk about key issues that are critical to our community.

So I appreciate that community effort and that really love you poured into our community and your product is great.

Everyone loves it.

As needed, I don't know you yet.

That doesn't mean I can't get to know you.

Um and I hear great good great very good things about you too.

Um so this is difficult, and I really don't like to hear that we are pitting our high quality women-owned businesses against each other if that's happening, if that's what's being believed out there.

Um I wish we did have more opportunities, like I've heard from my colleagues.

And another question would be are there more opportunities?

For example, our other libraries, the man, I mean, they're smaller, of course, and I know they don't have as big facilities, uh, but smaller venues or smaller opportunities at Manor Branch or the new library being built in Mooreford Gardens.

Is that is that something that we could consider for the future or any thought been put into that?

We we currently don't have those facilities.

Um in order to make those facilities, it would there would be a cost to that.

Um, and we have not considered that um in part because uh we've also known that the you know that we we just went through a budget process that was pretty onerous um and we weren't looking to expand expenses, we were looking to stabilize when those opportunities arise.

I think that would be great to provide more options, even if you didn't have to do a lot of infrastructure if you could utilize what's there, kind of like when people at farmers markets there, there's no infrastructure in the parking lot, they just kind of sell stuff.

So I'll be looking for that.

But I do want to show appreciation to both vendors and the others that are proposed too.

And it's a tough decision for our council.

And um, I really think tonight the best decision will be made.

But my understanding is that in two years, potentially, I mean, it could be extended this contract, but up to two years, this could be opened up again.

And I know it cannot sound like the best news um to either one, but there's many years ahead here in San Leandro, many opportunities, and I don't want us to be discouraged or you know, people against each other.

We don't want that.

We want to pull together.

Thank you.

Councilman Rivera Swalton.

Thank you.

Um I I want to take the time to thank all of the applicants that uh took the time and energy to submit applications for the community space in the library.

Um I think uh that post-COVID um community spaces where we're able to engage with each other, have a little bit of bread and talk and chat, just have become even more important.

I I want to address my decision.

Um in terms of how um I I will be um supporting the staff recommendation.

I do, however, um want to acknowledge that there are learnings um for our team.

One is some of the um some of the challenges that the um the another applicant, um Sokalo um brought up that are you know, there was some miscommunication in terms of what uh the type of communication that we could have with um the applicants when we did not have yet a signed contract.

I think that there are um, you know, on a project that is so community-facing and so public.

There is a lesson learned here that we should have an avenue for public input to have that be considered and have that be part of one of the variables that we're considering um as we make um these types of of decisions.

But I also considered the track record of um of as needed, and I looked at their approach, and I've been a customer um for I don't know how many years, but it's been a it's been a while.

And I also frequent um Sokalo as well.

And my decision is not to reflect shortcomings of other applicants.

Um I think um I value the expertise and vision that you bring to the space.

Um for specifically I'm I'm speaking to the other candidates, but also specifically Socalo.

Um ultimately I I make this decision, and I believe is grounded in in fairness.

Um I think staff um in the lessons learned and some of the conversations that we've had in um close session.

I I also uh you've folks have heard me talk about connecting my brain and my heart, and that's usually how I uh make decisions and um Councilmember Bolt talked about like there was nothing in his heart, and I I agree there there was nothing here that felt um that we would have to redo the process all over again.

Um there are lessons learned, and there are ways that we can improve our RFP process outside of this one particular issue uh of this one particular contract.

Um I also make this decision thinking about the long-term needs of the community, and I think that the community has been very clear that they enjoy um high quality food products and high quality goods in spaces that are meant to the public that are inclusive of um anyone and everyone who wants to come to um to San Leandro and spend some time here.

So I'm not gonna continue my comments for my full time, but I just this was um the decision itself wasn't tough because as needed is a great business, and so is Socalo.

But I think for me, I I grounded myself in the process, and um there's improvements to be made, but um I will be supporting the staff decision.

Thank you for your time and for addressing um community concerns.

I know that a lot of community members reached out as well as some of the other applicants.

Um thank you for your work and for your patience, city manager.

Thank you as well.

And I yield my back time to the chair.

At this point in time, we will go to council member Acevedo.

Yes, yes.

I have a question regarding rent.

Would you say that um rent the guaranteed rent played a big role in the decision of picking a business?

If you're allowed to answer that.

Yes.

Um, we uh selected uh a guaranteed versus a variable.

Uh that was more appealing.

The the known versus the unknown was more appealing.

Okay, thank you for that.

And I also want to say I've been to both businesses, they're great businesses.

Um I was at um as needed bread when they opened, and I got I got a story, a quick story.

Um I went to As Needed Bread one day and they weren't open.

I got there early.

So I drove by Zocolos, and um Bernie Sanders was out front.

So I'm a that was just a weird connection.

How I'm who's in both businesses, but anyways, but um I think that um staff did their job.

Um I feel like they weren't I feel like it's not as transparent as it should be to the community, but it's just a tough decision because they're both great businesses and I support both of them, so yeah, it's a tough decision.

That's all my comments.

So, Council Maragular, I'll come to you after make a few of my own thoughts.

I'm gonna come back to you.

Um I know that there's been some commentary from our public commenters that there's a lack of transparency.

Um, and I'll be very direct and challenge that assertion.

Because the question about transparency really is transparency to the businesses that are in a non-public facing process.

I know that there was a time for the businesses to ask questions to clarify.

Well, what do you mean by this?

What do you mean by that?

How will you consider this?

How will you consider that?

I also know that when questions were asked, those answers were shared with all the respondents.

So that someone that was particularly astute at asking questions didn't get a leg up so that everybody benefited from the astuteness of our sharpest uh participants in this process.

So again, I'm thinking about as the businesses are competing.

Do they have the type of information?

Yes, because they can ask questions.

And number two, because even if they didn't think about the question, it's going to get shared with them.

Is the process flawed because there's judgment?

Absolutely not.

Can you start my time, please?

Absolutely not.

All processes involve some type of judgment if it's in this competitive award proposal process.

It is inherent.

We hire people, that involves judgment.

We hire consultants, that involves judgment.

We hire lawyers for particular tasks, that involves judgment.

All things involve judgment.

So that doesn't make a process flawed.

I think that I give a lot of deference to the law that we do have to wait to not disadvantage ourselves in the competition process.

And like I think Councilmember Bolt started the discussion.

I've investigated corruption.

You know, I have this spidey sense.

I under I can identify red flags.

There's been nothing about this process that suggested anything out of the ordinary.

And in fact, it's just been the opposite, because for every time that I was exploring a legal question or a fact-based question, I got answers right away.

No one had to organize their thinking and coordinate answers or anything.

It was just boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

So the totality of the information for me suggests that it was a good process.

And it when I hear uh financiers coming forward and saying we have a board of business people who has evaluated what they're planning to do.

We have so much confidence that we're going to lend them money, that makes me feel good, right?

Because I I'm not into all the details of what they're doing.

So I've got these various pieces of information that tell me I've got a good process.

The scoring, I think I see no indications that it was improper or inappropriate.

And in the end, we have good businesses that applied.

We we had the benefit of looking below the those top two.

There were other really good businesses that applied that, you know, quite frankly, if they understood exactly what was happening, they might be here saying, Well, what about my business?

Uh, but in the end, the process is the process.

It was well executed, and we have a good outcome that we can live with for the next couple of years, and then we can see what comes next.

So, council member Aguilar, I'm going to yield and come back to you.

Thank you.

Excuse me, thank you, Mary Gonzalez.

Um, you know, like Mary Gonzalez said, and um uh council member Vera's Walson had mentioned that you know there were a lot of great applicants that applied.

And you know, it's it's a tough decision to choose between businesses that operate and a city that we all love.

And it's tough to make a decision.

Um, I think you know, I have my own reservations.

Um, and I've I've spoken with uh with one of the applicants and uh just had some some questions.

And I think you know, Zugola has done amazing work.

Um, as needed bakery, the same.

Both of you produce great pastries.

Um, Zokola coffee.

Uh I I think that you know it's it's it's a tough decision, but uh, you know, I would be remiss if I didn't, you know, pull the item because there was concern.

And so, you know, I wouldn't be here if um, you know, if I wasn't listening to the community.

So that's the reason why I pulled the item is to you know, have some transparency and talk about this, but I also have the right to you know not support the item moving forward.

That's that's just you know, I I think they're you know, I have my own reservations, but I shouldn't be, you know, um martyred because of because of that.

Uh and so uh I I think you know, I wanted to congratulate everybody and this process.

Um, you know, like I said, uh I I love both businesses, and I just don't you know what my vote to hold me in and and uh and a sense of you know I I don't appreciate the work I do um what's gone behind it, but I you know I do have some some reservations, so those are my comments.

Well, thank you very much.

So at this point in time, we've heard from all council members.

Do I have a floor motion?

Councilmember Bolt.

So that would be if you can have your mic on, please.

Thank you make a motion to approve this move the item or approve this contract.

Approve staff's recommendation to have to sign this contract.

Okay.

So I'll go ahead and second that motion, seeing nobody in queue.

Um, we've thoroughly discussed this.

Please vote.

All votes are in the motion.

Passes six one with councilmember Aguilar voting no.

So at this point in time, we will close our consent calendar moving to item number six.

City manager reports.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Good evening, council members and community members.

I just have a few um report items that I'm excited to discuss.

First, this weekend we had our fourth annual rides and readers car show.

It was held this past Saturday.

It was a successful event.

We held with over 50 cars shown and approximately 200 people in attendance.

The main library was full of car enthusiasts admiring each and each other's motorized work of art and talking shop.

So thank you, everyone, for coming out.

Also, this weekend we had our United for Safety event.

It was held this past Saturday with this at the San Langro Police Department.

Uh, we welcome about 500 attendees at this event.

Nearly 130 ring cameras were distributed to the community, and approximately 20 booths provided resources and activities alongside police staff, volunteers, including employee family members, and extreme fast pitched softball teams.

They helped run the event.

The event highlighted community engagement, safety and awareness, strong partnerships between the community and the department.

So thank you again for everyone for coming out and to our amazing police staff for all their work.

Uh coming up this Friday, September 19th, from 4 to 4:30.

The city will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Mulfort Marina Branch Library replacement at 1369 Aurora Drive.

We are all welcome to this event, celebrating the start of this quality of life project.

Mayor, that concludes my announcements.

Okay, so with that, we'll close item number six.

I'm assuming we did not have any additional legal report.

Item number seven is the opportunity for the public to comment on items that are not on our agenda.

Mr.

Mayor, we have received one speaker card and there's one hand raised on Zoom.

Okay.

So one, I'm sorry, one of each.

Okay, let's take our in-person comment first.

The first speaker is Maureen.

So it's been hold on just a second while we get your microphone on so that they can hear you online and on a recording.

So that the people can hear you.

Okay, all right.

Do I get my three minutes?

Oh my two.

Good.

All right.

Take it from the top.

It's good to see all of you.

I've known each and every one of you in one form or another over the years, whether it's been with the school district or environmental activism and other work that we've done together in the community.

Today I want to celebrate yet another opportunity to do that.

I'm representing third act and third act is a 501c3 organization that is deeply concerned and immersed in climate issues and defending democracy.

But we also know how to have fun.

And we're partnering with a growing coalition to hold events internationally on Sunday, the fall equinox.

That's September 21st.

I'm here to thank the city for the support that you've given us thus far by promoting this event through various medium and through the work of staff.

Thank you, Mayor, for the time that you've taken in particular to work with us on this, because we want to celebrate clean energy and celebrate the ability of clean energy to um frankly be very cost effective, along with maintaining the health and well-being, being of our our citizenry.

Um in fact, a co-sponsor of this event is the Eden Health District.

That tells you a lot.

We've been featured in their news their newsletter each week.

And this work has been done in collaboration with the city of San Leandro.

There are three of you who are going to go there.

Councilman Bolt, Varis Walton, and Mayor Gonzalez.

Thank you for volunteering your time to be there Sunday for this event.

You've all received a letter inviting you.

So I encourage you to join us at the Boys and Girls Club from 11 to 3 to celebrate with your constituents and learn more about clean energy and how we can serve the people of our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next that is our last in-person speaker card.

So we are closing in-person public comment, and we are going online for our uh public comment hand that's raised there.

Douglas Balding, you are free to unmute yourself.

All right.

Here, Maureen Farney.

I'm a I am a pagan, and I appreciate the solstice.

I celebrate the solstice.

Uh what I'm a little less appreciative of were comments made last week questioning the attendance record of certain council members.

Uh I can't think of a person on the dais that is not missed at least one council meeting uh that has perfect attempts.

People sometimes are on vacation, sometimes they're doing city business, sometimes uh, you know, those city businesses, Palm Springs, it borders on a junket.

And sometimes people are caring for loved ones.

And I think we should give grace to our representatives, especially when it comes to family and dear friends.

So that's what I wanted to say about that.

Uh I saw the mayor weekend before last at the day in the park, the wonderful event at Washington Manor.

And uh he mentioned something about the citizens bond.

What is all this about the citizens bond?

Because I I was uh uh confused and I went and I looked and I I can't really figure it out.

The the the mayor mentioned it to me.

Uh seems his former campaign manager and the former mayor Stephen Cassie is talking about.

Seems like uh Evelyn Gonzalez is talking about it.

Seems like they're probably talking to Kat Wellman about it.

And yet what what's it all about?

I I understand that the purpose of bonds is you know, our city is kind of squeaking by financially when we need money for projects that's not in the budget.

We maybe need to pass a bond bond.

San Leander's been very generous, passing school bonds.

Uh we just did the sewer uh by default, nobody nobody protested, you know, and there are and there are worthy projects.

You all voted to, you know, build the rebuild the um the marina library.

Um I think there's a proposal for a uh for a firehouse, but then there are unworthy projects like Lake Chabot Road and edging the marina.

Uh hello, you can't fool Mother Nature, and there's unfavorable geology in both cases, the the slate foliation on Lake Shiba Road and the silting of the marina.

So thank you, sir.

Your time is up.

And that is our last uh speaker from Zoom.

So we will close public comment and we will come back to the remainder of our agenda.

We have no public hearings or presentations today.

We took action uh for 10A and 10B earlier in the day.

So I don't know.

Have you had any no requests for future agenda items under item 11?

So 12.

We have any council reports at this time.

Councilmember Virus Walton.

Thank you.

Um I'll start off with uh the most to the time sensitive.

I will be holding uh office hours at the farmers market this Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m.

Um I'll be at the table if uh anyone in the public has any questions or any concerns.

I'll be there from 4 to 6 p.m.

Um I also will be representing um the city at Sunday on Sunday from 12 to 1:30, along with some of my other colleagues here.

Um I also wanted to acknowledge that tonight uh those of us of Mexican Heritage celebrate by Miguel Costilla.

Um tonight um at 11 p.m.

Uh we celebrate um Miguel Hidalgo doing um essentially the cry for independence.

Um so just wanted to elevate that, and that is it for me.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Councilmember Aguilar.

Uh thank you, Mayor Gonzalez.

Um, I just uh on I attended the a day in the manor park on last couple weekends ago on Saturday.

Um saw the various performances.

A lot of the children were involved, uh, great MC and uh saw a lot of constituents at that event was a highly attended um event.

It was a highly attended event.

I think they're probably close to about five hundred people, maybe more.

But it was a wonderful event.

We'll be discussing budgets and policymaking, emergency management communication, and response to disruptors like natural disasters and fires.

And this was uh something that I I applied for and was the recipient of uh of a scholarship.

So I'll be um out in Los Angeles at the USC Price School of Public Policy and working also with the USC Prize Center on National Defense and Public Safety.

Uh and last week I also attended on Wednesday the LGBTQLO um uh meeting to discuss our upcoming uh event at the Salt Lake City uh City Summit.

That concludes my report.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Bolt, please.

Yes, thank you.

Uh September 3rd, I attended a um uh an event uh that supports veterans and helping them see their way through any type of thoughts around suicide.

Um this is Suicide Prevention Month.

And uh we do a lot of work in our community uh around veteran um you know ideas and and working with veterans to make sure that that all of those thoughts are erased.

Uh this weekend we have a stand down at St.

Vincent uh St.

Vincent de Paul in Oakland.

Uh it's for veterans, um homeless veterans to uh get services, dental, uh legal uh clothing, um, wash your clothes.

Uh it's it's a great event.

Um and we do it twice a year.

And so this is one of those uh weekends that we do it.

So if you know a veteran in need, please send them to St.

Vincent DePaul, downtown Santown Oakland.

Uh and and uh the any services they need, they're all free.

It's free to veterans and spouses.

So again, you know any veterans in need of services, please send them down.

Uh lastly, uh I attended the um United for Safety here this weekend.

It was a great event.

There were a lot of people out there.

Um there was a lot of fun games.

I I did see council member Oze Vito there as well.

Uh I'm sure a lot more went and I didn't see them, but um they had a dunking contest of one of the officers.

I mean, it was just a uh uh it was put on very well by uh the police department and staff, and and so I appreciate that.

And yes, the there was a line um for a few hours out the front and down the block out here on East 14th for the ring cameras.

So any type of uh help we can give in that space.

I'm all for it.

So thank you for putting that on to the police department and to city uh manager, and that's it.

Thank you as well.

Vice Mayor, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, want to encourage the community to come out and and meet Councilmember Virus Walton this Wednesday.

I was there last Wednesday at the farmer's market, and I will say that our table was very, very busy for the entire duration, lots of good feedback, and people have a lot of um uh comments about what's going on in the city and and also recommendations, and it's just really good for council members to be outward to meet people where they're at.

And unfortunately, next month the farmers market will um uh close at the downtown farmers market.

So um, you know, I I think it's gonna be a busy one for you.

Um, I uh was able to attend the um the Alameda County Mayor's conference um uh last week and we had a really interesting presentation um around uh city collaboration to address fire prevention and emergency preparedness.

Um I will be following up with um the board.

Um I forget the name of the collaboration, it's in my notes, but um with the opportunity for potentially San Leandro to become a part of that.

Um, and we'll be looking into ways that we can um bolster our um uh uh preparedness.

Um and the last thing is that I want to give a shout out to the things that are happening in San Leandro when I was at um the Stop Waste Recycling Board meeting this last week.

The focus was on um addressing food scarcity.

So when I um started talking about I learned, you know, that it was one in five Alameda County residents um are facing food scarcity, and it's actually increased to one in four.

We had a public comment to talk about the need for food scarcity, and this is even before SNAP benefits have been um taken away.

And so it is a very real need um for us to be able to give um community uh nutritious food and in particular food that's really hard to get, which is our fruits and vegetables produce whole foods.

And so um staff actually were talking about different ways to be able to add more produce to um these uh communities, and they talked a little bit about um the resilience hubs and some of the projects with Candy Farms and others that our resilience hubs are doing in the city.

I mentioned that we were looking at ways to be able to create um a project plan for it so everybody could do it throughout the city.

And so stopwast has a few of those resources, and we'll be putting together some more so that we can do it in the city.

But staff already knew what San Leandro was doing and and were really excited about it and are following what we're doing.

Thank you for those comments.

Council member Simon, please.

Yes, I attended the Manor Day in the port September the 6th, and along with some of my colleagues, and definitely shout out to the manor, uh, their board members, all the community members to make it such a special event to see everyone pull together.

You've heard there are so many different performances and activities uh for our residents and community members.

Really nice to see.

Thank you for that.

Also the United for Safety event this past Saturday.

Again, that was so great to see the community pulled together with the police department and all the activities.

And um people were really, really having a good time.

It was nice to see everyone together with the police.

And lastly, I'd like to say uh a shout out to staff.

Um contractor on the Stephen Taylor Sanctity of Life Pavilion at the marina and is moving moving along very nicely, I should say.

It's so nice to see after almost three and a half, four years, and it is moving along.

And with the weather, you know, turning at some point.

I can see they're moving at a good pace.

So um to shout out to staff, and I see like our own staff working on it too, at the initial part of that construction too, it looks like to save money um to make it move along nicely.

So uh shout out to staff and our contractor.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments as well.

Uh I will wrap this up.

Um, just very quickly checking off.

I've been to a number of events.

You can just follow me on social media if you want to see some of those things that I've been at.

I try to post regularly.

Day in the park, great event.

Washington Manor, a homeowners association again, hit it out of the park.

It was great to see one of our local businesses, Mathnesium coordinate with Madison Elementary School.

I attended their math night.

I was stunned at how many people showed up for a math night on a Friday night.

So it was there was lots of energy.

Um I serve on the Bay Area Quality Management District, and one of the things that we have been focused on is efficiency, efficiency of uh permitting how we automate things, how we move things through the pipeline faster and faster.

And so there's there's there are good things happening, and I will uh as a board, I'm particularly proud of what we're doing in that regard, uh making sure that money that we get is being used efficiently.

I was proud to represent the city at the East Bay EDA uh collaboration with Cal State Hayward and SBDC, small business development center.

Um for the World Cup regional competition for startups.

Uh San Leandro's own Core Shell Technologies took first place in that competition.

Now they're heading to San Francisco for the next stage in the competition.

The objective is a million dollars to the winner.

And uh they they represented us well.

We also had another finalist, Quino Energy.

So we've got some good things happening here in San Leandro.

Um I am grateful just in general for the the schools and how they do a good job of bringing together uh different community celebrations this past week.

I think was grandparents' week day across the world.

And so Hawkey and Elementary had a big grandparent day celebration and brought people together and making sure that that intergenerational connection is there.

And one of the most most powerful things that I observed was uh the question that the principal gave to the students.

The principal said, by the way, the principal is one of our commissioners.

That's another community connection there.

Principal said, okay, students, what's one thing that you want to tell your grandparent?

And the student said, let the past be the past.

It's time to move on.

And I was just like, wow.

That came out of the mouth of a fourth grader.

I was pretty impressed by that.

Um, of course, just a couple of forward looking events.

We had Maureen Forney talk about Sun Day.

If there are any other council members that want to participate, support we will have as a city, we will have a table there that day.

Please join.

Even if you haven't been able to make it, but you found time on your calendar, that would be awesome.

Everyone is welcome.

And to all of San Leander, of course, please join us for Sunday regional celebration happening here in the city of San Leandro.

And I will close with our beautify San Leandro event next Saturday, 8:30, Marina Park.

Join folks from around the city and helping to beautify our shoreline.

I have to give a shout out to Calvin Watson for living in that dunk tank.

And so United for Safety, um, he he took one for the team.

So uh Mr.

Watson, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Sergeant Watson, thank you for being such a good sport uh on Saturday.

So with that, what time is it?

It is 8 57, and we are adjourned.