San Leandro City Council Meeting: Rent Stabilization, Surveys, and Closed Session Recording - December 16, 2025

The San Leandro City Council met on December 16, 2025 (the meeting began on December 15 but extended into the early hours of December 16). Key actions included providing direction on a proposed rent stabilization ordinance, reconsidering the release of a 2024 revenue measure survey, authorizing further exploration of a 2026 revenue measure, and approving a motion to video-record closed sessions. The meeting was marked by lengthy public testimony and council debate.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved (6-0, with Council Member Azevedo initially absent) all consent calendar items, including item 5F earmarking nearly $2.2 million in homelessness grants.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-agenda public comments:

  • Noelle and Mason Rashid (Davis West property owners) described repeated vehicle collisions at Cascade and Tudor Road, causing significant property damage. They requested traffic mitigation, citing a faulty intersection design and four accidents in two and a half years.
  • Rob Rich urged the council to periodically remind the public about the $150,000 rewards for unsolved murders, marking the 11th anniversary of Joel Ramirez's death.
  • Douglas Spalding commented generally about collective trauma and urged the council to seek restorative facilitation.

• Rent stabilization public comments (25 speakers in person and online):

  • Supporters: Ginny Madsen, Douglas Spalding, John Meadows‑Schwartz, Mayna Young (partial support with caveats), Richard Becker (via Carol Haberkoss), Emily Rich, Deborah Acosta, and Mike McGuire argued for strong rent protections, a 2025 base year, a 3% cap, and enhanced enforcement. They emphasized tenant stability and preventing rent spikes.
  • Opponents: Chris Tipton (East Bay Rental Housing Association), Anthony Adesi, Sandeep Sukhija, John Sullivan, Jennifer Rizzo (California Apartment Association), Chuyit Lian, Derek Barnes (East Bay Rental Housing Association), and Emily Grego (San Leandro Chamber of Commerce) argued that strict rent control would discourage investment, reduce housing supply, increase litigation, and hurt mom‑and‑pop landlords. They cited rising insurance, utilities, and maintenance costs.
  • Several speakers addressed enforcement models and fee structures.

• Closed session recording public comment: One speaker (Douglas Spalding) spoke on item 10A and 10B, urging transparency and release of survey data.

Discussion Items

• Rent Stabilization Ordinance (Item 8):

  • Community Development Director Tom Liao presented three enforcement options: passive (no rent registry, $1.2M/year), mid‑tier (basic enforcement, $1.9M/year), and enhanced (full registry + stabilization, $2.4M/year). The enhanced option required a general fund loan of $1.3–$2.2 million over 3–6 years. Staff recommended proceeding with enhanced enforcement and a full cost‑recovery model.
  • Council clarified key points: the 2‑FTE rent registry staff was already budgeted ($648K); the new costs were the delta for stabilization. Staff reported that a 65% CPI cap would almost always be lower than 3%.
  • After discussion, council gave guidance (by consensus of three council members, with the mayor agreeing): rent increase cap of 3% or 65% of CPI, whichever is lower; base rent tied to 2025; and confirmation of the enhanced enforcement option with the full cost‑recovery model. Council also confirmed no capital improvement pass‑throughs, no banking, and no exemptions for small properties.

• Item 10A: Reconsideration – Release of June 2024 Revenue Measure Survey:

  • Mayor Gonzalez’s motion to reconsider (to allow a vote on releasing the survey) passed 5‑2 (Aguilar and Azevedo opposed).
  • After further discussion, council approved a resolution to waive attorney‑client privilege for the limited purpose of releasing the draft survey results (the document had been prepared under privilege and was not previously public). Vote: 5‑2 (Aguilar and Azevedo opposed).

• Item 10B: Reconsideration – Explore Revenue Measures for November 2026 Ballot:

  • Mayor Gonzalez’s motion to reconsider passed 6‑1 (Azevedo opposed).
  • Council Member Aguilar initially moved to continue exploring a revenue measure. Council Member Viveros Walton substituted a motion adding that the city attorney’s privilege be waived for the same level of survey data as released in 10A. After debate, the substitute motion passed 4‑3 (Aguilar, Bowen, Azevedo opposed). Staff will engage Clifford Moss for outreach and survey work (first phase already budgeted at $92,000).

• Item 10C: Video and Audio Recording of Closed Sessions:

  • Council Member Simon proposed directing staff to video‑record closed sessions, with recordings held by the city attorney for accuracy/investigations. The city attorney explained legal constraints under the Brown Act: recordings (tied to the minute book) are only available to council members or a court if a Brown Act violation is alleged. Council Member Viveros Walton expressed concerns about cost, data security, and lack of investigator access.
  • After a motion to call the question passed 4‑3, the main motion passed 4‑3 (Simon, Aguilar, Bolt, Azevedo yes; Gonzalez, Bowen, Viveros Walton no). A formal resolution will be drafted.

Key Outcomes

• Rent stabilization direction: Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance with a 3% or 65% CPI cap (whichever lower), a 2025 base year, no capital improvement pass‑throughs, no banking, and full cost recovery via an enhanced enforcement model. Staff will return in February/March 2026 with a fee study and finalized budget.
• Revenue measure survey release: The June 2024 survey results will be released to the public (limited waiver of attorney‑client privilege).
• Future revenue measure exploration: Council authorized continued exploration of a potential November 2026 ballot measure, including a consulting agreement with Clifford Moss, with survey data to be released absent further privilege claims (4‑3 vote).
• Closed session recording: Council approved the recording of closed sessions; recordings will be retained by the city attorney and governed by Brown Act restrictions (4‑3). A formal resolution will be brought to a future meeting.
• General: The meeting extended past 11 p.m. with multiple extensions. Council thanked staff for their professionalism.