San Leandro City Council Meeting (January 12, 2026)

The San Leandro City Council met on January 12, 2026, beginning at 7:03 PM. The meeting included (1) a presentation and feedback session on the City’s 2026 federal and state legislative platforms, (2) a high-participation public hearing and Council action on the first reading of a residential rent stabilization ordinance, and (3) adoption of a Brown Act-related administrative code update regarding closed session recordkeeping. Council Member Azevedo was absent.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (6-0) with Council Member Azevedo absent. No public comments were received on the consent calendar.

Announcements

• City Manager reported that Governor Newsom highlighted San Leandro in the State of the State, citing Fuse Energy and a $10 million CalCompetes tax credit supporting planned investment and hiring related to fusion energy R&D.
• Mayor clarified that a newspaper headline suggesting the Council “voted to put a tax on the ballot” was inaccurate; the Council only authorized staff to explore feasibility and has not decided to place a measure on a future ballot.
• Closed Session: City Attorney reported no reportable action, but direction was provided to staff.

Public Comments & Testimony

Legislative platform item (Zoom)

• Douglas Spaulding asked what the ~$1 million federal earmark referenced in the presentation would specifically fund at the shoreline.
• Alvaro Ramos urged consideration of state-level actions to counter federal policy, including an idea that California should withhold taxes from the federal government; he criticized federal spending priorities and urged attention to impacts on local governments.
• Marga Lacabe criticized meeting procedure when another speaker was cut off for attempting off-topic comment; urged the City to avoid Brown Act violations, to stop allegedly facilitating ICE access to data, and to stop using Twitter/X.
• In-person (Mr. West) voiced pro-enforcement views on immigration and federal workforce reductions; the Mayor cautioned about decorum.

Rent stabilization ordinance (large in-person turnout plus Zoom)

• The City Clerk reported 38 in-person speaker cards at the start of the hearing and multiple Zoom speakers (hands later capped at those raised at a designated time).
• Many housing providers/property managers/industry groups opposed the ordinance as drafted, arguing it would:
  • Create a costly new bureaucracy during a City budget strain;
  • Discourage investment and reduce housing supply;
  • Lead to deferred maintenance due to rising insurance/utility/contractor costs;
  • Penalize “mom-and-pop” and senior housing providers.
  • Multiple speakers advocated alternatives such as a flat 5% cap, banking of unused rent increases, capital improvement pass-throughs, and/or exemptions for small providers.
  • Several speakers cited cost increases (examples given by speakers included insurance up 38%, insurance up 80%, PG&E up 46%, trash/recycling up 50%, water up 60%).
• Many renters/tenant advocates supported the ordinance, emphasizing:
  • Displacement risk and rent increases outpacing fixed incomes;
  • Seniors and working households living paycheck-to-paycheck;
  • A belief that state protections and the City’s prior rent review process were insufficient or underutilized.
  • One supporter cited a past City presentation that median rents increased 82% since 2010, compared to CPI increasing 44% (as attributed by the speaker).
• Several commenters raised concerns about outreach/notice, with both renters and landlords stating they learned of the hearing late.

Discussion Items

2026 Federal & State Legislative Platforms (Presentation; feedback only)

Speakers/Staff: Deputy City Manager Eric Engelbart; federal advocate Jen Covino (Covino Smith & Simon); state advocate Nicolo De Luca (Townsend Public Affairs).

Federal update highlights (as presented):

• Federal landscape described under the Trump/Vance administration, including implementation of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and executive orders affecting grants, energy, DEI-related initiatives, and immigration enforcement.
• Covino cautioned about federal grant risk due to updated federal guidance and a cited provision allowing termination for convenience (referencing CFR 200.340).
• Congressional margins described as very slim; appropriations status included a continuing resolution expiring Jan. 30.
• Covino reported a second “minibus” including Interior/Environment with a ~$1 million earmark for San Leandro (sponsored by Congresswoman Simon) for shoreline-related infrastructure.
• Discrepancy noted: a Zoom commenter criticized Covino’s geographic description of Rep. LaMalfa’s district (commenter stated it is not Southern California).

State update highlights (as presented):

• De Luca described the 2025 session as highly active: ~2,700 bills introduced; 917 passed the Legislature; 794 chaptered; 123 vetoed (stated ~13% veto rate).
• Budget context (as presented): prior projections of an $18 billion deficit vs. a current ~$2 billion deficit.
• Key bills cited:
  • SB 79 (Wiener): transit-oriented development rules near high-quality transit; noted a cleanup bill SB 677.
  • SB 707 (Durazo): Brown Act modernization; De Luca said concerns were mitigated through amendments and extensions.
• Council feedback resulted in direction to adjust platform language, including adding “protect funding” language for existing programs, expanding immigration-related advocacy language, and adding local-control monitoring topics.

Council direction/consensus (no formal vote):

• Council generally indicated consensus to incorporate suggested edits and return later for formal adoption.

6A — First Reading Ordinance: Residential Rent Stabilization (San Leandro Municipal Code Chapter 4-46)

Presenter: Community Development Director Tom Liao.

Key ordinance elements (as presented):

• Establishes residential rent stabilization with annual increases capped at the lower of 3% or 65% of CPI, with base rent year July 1, 2025.
• Implementation/effective date for rent cap increases: January 1, 2027 (to allow staffing, outreach, and coordination with the rent registry).
• Exemptions described (based on state law and local policy), including:
  • Single-family rentals (Costa-Hawkins);
  • Units that can be sold separately (e.g., condos/townhomes);
  • New construction after Feb. 1, 1995;
  • ADUs, owner-occupied duplex (“golden duplex”), short-term rentals, deed-restricted affordable housing, transitional/emergency housing, shared-room rentals; and mobilehomes (covered under separate ordinance).
• Rent registry referenced as complementary; staff indicated registry vendor contract would likely return Feb. 2 (updated from an earlier expectation).
• Staff described a transition period between July 1, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2027 where AB 1482 remains relevant; staff provided an example modeling using a $2,000 starting rent.

Council deliberation:

• Vice Mayor Viveros-Walton proposed a compromise change to remove the CPI component and adopt a flat 3% cap for clarity; the City Attorney advised that removing the CPI language would likely require a new first reading (not a simple clerical change).
• Council Member Bolt strongly supported keeping the ordinance as drafted for first reading and emphasized tenant pressure and housing stability.
• Council Member Aguilar supported proceeding with the ordinance as drafted and rejected recall/referendum threats.
• Council Member Simon supported the ordinance as drafted, noting both tenant hardship and landlord costs, while emphasizing the importance of fair-return processes.
• Council Member Bowen expressed concern about durability/balance and requested robust implementation evaluation metrics and stakeholder engagement; she indicated support for the Vice Mayor’s “flat 3%” approach.
• Mayor Gonzalez stated the ordinance combined the “tightest” provisions from multiple cities and did not reflect balance; he indicated he would vote no (and provide a fuller explanation at second reading).

6B — Resolution: Administrative Code Update for Closed Session Recordkeeping (Brown Act compliance)

Presenter: City Attorney Richard Pio Rota.

• Adopted a resolution (required by the Brown Act) to designate the City Clerk or City Attorney to attend closed sessions and keep a confidential minute book recording topics and decisions.
• The policy allows (but does not require) that the confidential minutes include an audio/video recording; staff stated recordings would be retained for 10 years, while minutes would be retained permanently.
• Public comment (Zoom) suggested the measure could improve transparency and accountability, and encouraged a restorative process among Council members.
• The Mayor attempted a substitute motion to refer to Rules Committee for further policy discussion but withdrew it due to lack of a second; the Mayor then voted no on the resolution as drafted.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar approved 6-0 (Azevedo absent).
• Legislative platforms: received presentation and public/council feedback; staff directed to return with revised platforms for future adoption.
• Item 6A (Rent Stabilization Ordinance, first reading):
  • Approved on first reading, 5-1 (Mayor Gonzalez no; Azevedo absent).
  • Council discussed—but did not adopt at this meeting—a proposal to remove CPI and set a flat 3% cap; legal advice indicated such a change would require a new first reading.
• Item 6B (Closed session minute-book resolution):
  • Adopted 4-1 (Mayor Gonzalez no; Azevedo absent; Bowen absent at vote).
• Meeting time management: Council recessed at ~9:10 PM and returned at ~9:20 PM; later extended meeting end time first to 11:00 PM, then to 11:15 PM.
• Adjourned at ~11:10 PM (per transcript).