Okay, it's 701.

I'm calling to order the San Leandro City Council meeting of March 2nd, 2026.

Madam Clerk, would you please take roll?

Councilmember Vivaros Walton.

Present.

Council Member Aguilar.

Present.

Councilmember Simon.

Present.

Councilmember Bowen.

Present.

Councilmember Bolt.

Present.

And Mayor Gonzalez.

Present.

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 which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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.

Speakers will be invited to speak and we'll have a set time to share their comments.

A countdown timer will appear for their convenience.

And when the time is up, the microphone will be muted.

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

Once public comment is opened, hands may be raised 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 with respect to our closed session, there was ample discussion of a variety of items, but was any action taken.

So today we've got two recognitions.

We've got proclamation declare March as American Red Cross month in the City of San Leandro.

And a proclamation to declare March as women's history month in the city of San Leandro.

So let's begin with the American Red Cross.

Justin Mueller, regional CEO for Northern California Red Cross.

Please come on up.

And bring others with you if you'd like to stand right here so that you're front and center.

Oh, look at that.

There we go.

So I'll say that the uh Red Cross does some amazing things.

And I had the opportunity to go and give blood last weekend.

And just like uh I think the the spokesperson for the Red Cross said, uh, you go in a little bit nervous if you haven't done it in a while, but they were so smooth.

They were amazing.

And I came out with a big smile and thumbs up and said, this is something that should be done regularly.

So that's my encouragement to everyone.

Please be sure to get out there and donate blood because the uh the demand is insatiable right now.

We really need lots of help.

But I don't want to steal your thunder because I'm sure you're gonna say lots of good stuff.

Um Justin is the regional CEO, right, for the Red Cross here in uh Northern California.

And I'll let you say more about yourself when when I give you the mic.

Here we go.

So whereas March is American Red Cross Month, and we uh when we recognize the compassion of the people of San Leandro, and we reaffirm our commitment to care for one another in times of crisis, and whereas the American Red Cross was founded in May 1881 by Clara Barton, and this year marks the 145th anniversary of the of the Red Cross.

And whereas the American Red Cross is a volunteer agency chartered and authorized by Congress to provide compassionate assistance afflicted by personnel, local, and national disaster, personal, local or national disasters.

And whereas San Leandro and other communities depend on the American Red Cross, because it is not a government agency.

The American Red Cross depends on you on support from the public to commit to continue its humanitarian work.

And whereas for over 100 years, the United States presidents have called on the American on the American people, that's us, to support the Red Cross and its humanitarian mission.

And whereas people have counted on the American Red Cross for the information and skills they need to be safe at home, at work, at school, at play, training people in life-saving skills and CPR, first aid, fire prevention, water safety.

And whereas the American Red Cross reports that it has over 1,600 volunteers in Alameda County alone, who can assist and respond to hundreds of disasters annually.

And it has held over 1,100 blood drives and received nearly 30,000 blood donations.