OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Leandro City Council Meeting Summary - November 3, 2025

City Council — Friday, November 14, 2025
BodySan Leandro, California
SessionCity Council
DateFriday, November 14, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:39:38

Transcript — Verbatim
0:22

It is seven o'clock, and I'm calling this meeting of the San Leandro City Council to order.

0:26

Today is Monday, November 3rd.

0:30

Would you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

0:35

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for States.

0:46

Madam Clerk, would you please take our role?

0:51

Councilmember Aguilar.

0:54

President.

0:55

Councilmember Azevedo is absent.

0:59

Councilmember Simon is absent.

1:06

Council Member Bolt.

1:09

Present.

1:13

Present.

1:14

Vice Mayor Bowen.

1:17

Present.

1:18

And Mayor Gonzalez.

1:19

Present.

1:20

Thank you.

1:21

So in our item two announcements, we take a moment to acknowledge that the city of San Leandro sits within the traditional homeland of the Hulkeen, a Tochenio Ohlone and Bay Miwok speaking people through strengthened determination of their ancestors and elders.

1:36

The Hulkeen people continue to live and thrive in contemporary San Leandro and in surrounding areas.

1:43

And we recognize their enduring connection to this land, past and present.

1:49

And we express our respect for their cultures, their histories, their ongoing contributions, including their role as traditional stewards of this land.

2:00

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

2:18

So please see the City Council handbook and city council meeting rules to decorum for more information.

2:23

Madam Clerk, your announcement, please.

2:27

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

2:33

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

2:41

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

3:01

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

3:06

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

3:20

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

3:24

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.

3:35

So I'd like to highlight one thing in particular.

3:38

So we've got some people that are new to our chambers who are not accustomed to public comment.

3:43

So as a reminder, public comment on items that are on the agenda will be taken at that time.

3:54

And that will be specifically for things that are not on our agenda.

3:58

So just as a reminder to keep those two pieces separate.

4:01

Do we have a report on closed session action taken?

4:04

Was there any?

4:06

Thank you, Mayor.

4:07

Uh no reportable actions were taken in closed session, but direction was provided to staff.

4:12

And for those that are not aware, we had four different items to discuss, so those good and thorough discussion of those items.

4:18

So let's move on to item number four acknowledgement.

4:39

Thank you so much.

4:55

I'm going to pull this out.

5:01

And then I am going to read it.

5:05

Okay, so we've got Vincent Medina, president of the Alone Indian tribe.

5:10

Congratulations on your new title.

5:13

He was born and raised in the ancestral homeland of Hulkin, which includes San Leandro and surrounding regions, as I mentioned just a little bit earlier.

5:23

So let's read through this.

5:25

I mean, this is this is pretty powerful stuff.

5:27

So whereas Native Americans have inhabited the Bay Area region for many millennia, and still are living here as an integral as integral community members who contribute significantly to the growth, prosperity, and identity of our country from its inception to its present day.

5:47

And whereas the 2020 US census reported that 9.6 million people throughout the United States self-identify as American Indian and Alaska Native during the decennial census.

6:02

And according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, there are currently 574 federally recognized Native nations.

6:09

And whereas California is home to 109 federally recognized tribes, along with a number of other tribes that are not currently recognized by the federal government, such as the Wekmalone tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area, who are actively petitioning for federal recognition and reaffirmation.

6:29

And whereas National Native American Heritage Month serves to recognize Native American culture and to educate the public about their heritage, their history, their art, and service in the United States Armed Forces.

6:43

And whereas the city of San Leandro specifically recognizes that the history of native of the native peoples of this country include painful experiences arising from a host of matters, including colonialization, forced removal from lands, inhumane treatment, involuntary assimilation, and other disreputable practices, practices that negatively impacted indigenous communities.

7:09

And whereas on this occasion, the city of San Leandro celebrates the incredible resilience of Native Americans for their ongoing community building and reclamation of their unique cultures, languages, and traditions, as well as their continued contributions to our community.

7:28

Now, therefore, I Juan Gonzalo Third, mayor of the city of San Leandro, do hereby proclaim the month of November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month in the city of San Leandro and encourage all residents in the city to engage in the history, culture, traditions, and contributions of Native Americans in our community, and to be mindful of the programming that we have that will be taking place this month, specifically sponsored by the city, and encourage you to join that programming.

7:59

Yes.

8:00

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Council Ethics███████████████████████████27%
Council Governance███████████████████████23%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Comments███████7%
Public Safety███████7%
Pending Litigation███████7%
Cannabis Regulation████4%
Community Outreach███3%
Workplace Harassment███3%
Summary of Proceedings

San Leandro City Council Meeting Summary - November 3, 2025

The San Leandro City Council convened on Monday, November 3, 2025, to address a Native American Heritage proclamation, consent calendar items involving budget and contracts, public comments regarding housing and surveillance, a tobacco regulation public hearing, and a significant disciplinary action request filed by Vice Mayor Bowen against Councilmembers Aguilar and Simon.

Consent Calendar

  • The Council unanimously approved the Consent Calendar, which included multiple contract adjustments and the street rehabilitation project with increased funding.
  • Public Comment Position: Speaker Douglas Spaulding expressed concern that the city treats cost overruns as a necessary structural part of doing business. Speaker Christopher Bammer noted specific contract changes, such as street rehabilitation costs rising from approximately $588,000 to over $1.8 million, expressing skepticism about the project's scope and completion status.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Council Member Discipline: Speaker Jesse Rubin expressed support for Vice Mayor Bowen's complaint, stating that while she is innocent until proven guilty, the evidence constitutes a grave breach of public trust and called for her resignation. Speaker Jamie M echoed this, supporting the call for accountability and stating that continued presence drags the council into scandal. Speaker Laura Blumenthal, District 5, expressed concern that Councilmember Acevedo's legal issues and absence are impacting the council's ability to work and urged him to step down. Speaker Jamie M also stated that if Councilmember Acevedo does not step down, he should support Vice Mayor Bowen as a model for leadership.
  • Affirmation of Colleagues: Speaker Matt Jewel expressed support for Councilmember Brian Azevedo, noting that people make mistakes and praising Azevedo's character. Speaker Jenny Madsen, Nancy Rafaloff, Bridget Salazar, and Arlene Lam provided character witnesses for Councilmember Simon, describing him as a family man, dedicated, and never disrespectful. Speaker Lee Thomas questioned the fairness of the process, stating that the request for discipline lacked specific facts and that the council is rushing to censure without reading the report.
  • Surveillance and Flock: Speaker Mike Katz Lakabe and Speaker Jamie M expressed strong opposition to the city's partnership with Flock and the sharing of license plate reader and Ring camera data with immigration enforcement and out-of-state law enforcement, urging an end to these data sharing practices.
  • Homelessness: Speaker Fred Zhang reported an ongoing issue with a homeless individual near the San Lorenzo Creek causing a disturbance, stating that residents are frustrated after multiple attempts to contact the Sheriff's Department yielded no results. Speaker Christopher Bammer sought updates on the 555 Llewellyn Boulevard facility, asking how many people are being helped and seeking an update on the investment.
  • Housing: Speaker Mike McGuire corrected misperceptions about eviction problems post-pandemic and argued that housing is not a free market due to zoning laws and landlord order ownership.

Discussion Items

  • Tobacco Regulation Public Hearing: Planning Manager Waylon Lee presented proposed zoning code amendments regarding tobacco sales, including allowing tobacco as an accessory use at new convenience stores (requiring a Conditional Use Permit) and increasing display area limits from 10 to 15 linear feet based on stakeholder feedback. The Council unanimously passed a first reading of the ordinance and adopted the termination of the temporary zoning mor.
  • Disciplinary Action Request: Vice Mayor Bowen formally filed a request for disciplinary action against Councilmembers Aguilar and Simon based on a completed independent investigation report received on October 31, 2025. She alleged gender bias, bullying, verbal intimidation, and retaliation. Councilmembers Aguilar and Simon questioned the procedural validity, citing the statute of limitations, lack of specific facts in the request, and the need to review the unredacted report before waiving attorney-client privilege. Mayor Gonzalez supported due process, stating she could not ask members to waive privilege without reviewing the report first.

Key Outcomes

  • Tobacco Ordinance: The motion to introduce the ordinance amending tobacco regulations and terminate the moratorium passed unanimously.
  • Meeting Extension: The Council unanimously extended the meeting to 11:00 PM to allow for further discussion on the disciplinary action.
  • Disciplinary Motion Vote: A substitute motion was adopted with a 4-2 vote (Councilmembers Simon and Aguilar voting No; Councilmember Azevedo absent). The motion passed to:
    1. Continue the Disciplinary Discussion: The item is continued to the November 17, 2025, meeting with the intent to schedule a disciplinary hearing for December 8, 2025.
    2. Report Access: Councilmembers Aguilar and Simon, along with their existing attorneys, will be granted access to review the unredacted investigation report in person at City Hall before the November 17 meeting.
    3. Public Release: The decision to waive attorney-client privilege and release a redacted version of the report to the public is pushed to the November 17 meeting.
    4. Attorney Access: The motion was amended to confirm that existing attorneys for the accused councilmembers may review the unredacted report in person.
  • Restorative Dialogue: Mayor Gonzalez proposed, and Councilmembers Simon and Aguilar agreed to, a facilitated discussion or restorative justice meeting between the parties involved (subject to Brown Act compliance) to resolve differences and build trust.
  • Proclamation: The Council formally proclaimed November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month, acknowledging the Hul'qumi'num and Bay Miwok peoples and the Alto Indian Tribe.

Meeting Transcript

It is seven o'clock, and I'm calling this meeting of the San Leandro City Council to order. Today is Monday, November 3rd. Would you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for States. Madam Clerk, would you please take our role? Councilmember Aguilar. President. Councilmember Azevedo is absent. Councilmember Simon is absent. Council Member Bolt. Present. Present. Vice Mayor Bowen. Present. And Mayor Gonzalez. Present. Thank you. So in our item two announcements, we take a moment to acknowledge that the city of San Leandro sits within the traditional homeland of the Hulkeen, a Tochenio Ohlone and Bay Miwok speaking people through strengthened determination of their ancestors and elders. The Hulkeen people continue to live and thrive in contemporary San Leandro and in surrounding areas. And we recognize their enduring connection to this land, past and present. And we express our respect for their cultures, their histories, their ongoing contributions, including their role as traditional stewards of this land. The City of San Leandro conducts orderly meetings to fulfill its mandate, discriminatory statements or conduct that would potentially violate the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and or the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Penal Code Sections 403 or 415 are per se disruptive to a meeting and will not be tolerated. So please see the City Council handbook and city council meeting rules to decorum for more information. Madam Clerk, your announcement, please. 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. All raised hands outside of public comment will be lowered to avoid confusion. Once public comment is opened, hands may be raised to speak. 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. So I'd like to highlight one thing in particular. So we've got some people that are new to our chambers who are not accustomed to public comment. So as a reminder, public comment on items that are on the agenda will be taken at that time. And that will be specifically for things that are not on our agenda. So just as a reminder to keep those two pieces separate. Do we have a report on closed session action taken? Was there any? Thank you, Mayor. Uh no reportable actions were taken in closed session, but direction was provided to staff. And for those that are not aware, we had four different items to discuss, so those good and thorough discussion of those items. So let's move on to item number four acknowledgement. Thank you so much. I'm going to pull this out. And then I am going to read it. Okay, so we've got Vincent Medina, president of the Alone Indian tribe. Congratulations on your new title. He was born and raised in the ancestral homeland of Hulkin, which includes San Leandro and surrounding regions, as I mentioned just a little bit earlier. So let's read through this. I mean, this is this is pretty powerful stuff.

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