OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Leandro Human Services Commission Meeting - July 23, 2026

City Council — Thursday, July 23, 2026
BodySan Leandro, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, July 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 30:44

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

One there we go.

0:10

Yes.

0:11

Okay.

0:12

Like to call the meeting to order at 7 p.m.

0:19

Um we need to do a pledge of allegiance.

0:23

So if everyone would rise, please pledge allegiance to the flag.

0:33

The United States of America to the Republic for which stands one nation.

0:40

Invisible with liberty and justice.

0:44

Thank you.

0:46

Would you like to do a road call?

0:48

Yes, thank you.

0:51

Chair Frey.

0:53

I am here.

0:54

Vice Chair Albert?

0:56

Here.

0:57

Commissioner Bailey.

0:58

Here.

0:58

Commissioner Lum.

1:00

Here.

1:00

Commissioner O'Brien.

1:01

Here.

1:02

Commissioner Roby.

1:03

Here.

1:04

Commissioner Mason?

1:05

Here.

1:05

Commissioner Reed.

1:07

Here.

1:07

And Commissioner Picado is excused tonight.

1:10

Okay.

1:14

And do we have any announcements quickly?

1:19

The only announcement is that the invitation that I mentioned about the volunteer appreciation event that is happening on April 20th, you should have received an email.

1:31

If you didn't let me know, and I will get that information over to you.

1:35

Okay.

1:37

Because we have three presentations tonight, and two of them are being made by Miss Lobadon.

1:45

I'd like to entertain a motion to relocate item six presentations up to uh ahead of the consent calendar and make data number three.

2:00

Could I have a motion, please?

2:01

So move.

2:03

Second or lum and Roby, all in favor?

2:09

Thank you.

2:10

Any opposed?

2:11

Anybody want to stay real late?

2:13

Okay.

2:17

Our first presentation showing is restorative pathways, but they're not here at this moment.

2:24

So I'm hoping that we can count on you.

2:30

Well it's like to do our uh ARU and well.

2:35

Absolutely.

2:37

Um good evening, everybody.

2:38

Jessica Lowidon, Human Services Director.

2:41

I'll I'll start and if if for any reason restorative pathways comes, we can we can take a break in the middle of the presentation.

2:49

Um but so I'll first be presenting an update on the city's alternative response unit.

2:54

Um this is a partnership with uh the city, specifically human services, as well as the police department, Cardea Health, and Alameda County Fire, which is the city's contracted fire service provider.

3:09

Um the ARU provides a clinical unarmed alternative to the traditional 911 response.

3:16

Its current staffing model is one emergency medical technician, one nurse practitioner, and two community health workers.

3:24

And that um emergency medical technician and EMT, that's also a firefighter.

3:30

Um, and the unit operates Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.

3:33

to 6 p.m.

3:37

The program goals are really to reduce the police response to 911 calls related to behavioral health requests.

3:44

Um early in an effort to deliver an appropriate and timely response to behavioral health needs in the community, decrease the number of unnecessary emergency room visits, and bridge and facilitate service connections for individuals experiencing mental health crises.

4:05

The ARU exists because not all behavioral health crises are always a law enforcement issue.

4:11

Um it provides an alternative appropriate compassionate crisis response system and it reduces the strain on police EMS and emergency departments.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████29%
Public Safety██████████████████████████26%
Health and Wellness████████████12%
Public Services███████████11%
Council Governance█████████9%
Affordable Housing████████8%
Community Outreach█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

San Leandro Human Services Commission Regular Meeting - July 23, 2026

The San Leandro Human Services Commission met on July 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. local time. Commissioners Chair Frey, Vice Chair Albert, Commissioners Bailey, Lum, O'Brien, Roby, Mason, and Reed were present; Commissioner Picado was excused. The meeting featured presentations on the Alternative Response Unit (ARU) and the Llewellyn Interim Housing and Drop-In Center, approval of meeting minutes, election of officers for the upcoming term, and commissioner reports.

Consent Calendar

  • The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made in person or submitted via e-comment.

Discussion Items

  • Alternative Response Unit (ARU) Update: Jessica Lowidon, Human Services Director, presented an overview of the ARU's first year of operation. The ARU provides a clinical, unarmed alternative to 911 for behavioral health calls, staffed by an EMT/firefighter, nurse practitioner, and two community health workers, operating Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Key statistics: 821 unduplicated clients were served across 2,800 total interactions; approximately half were high-frequency 911 callers. Calls are received via 911 dispatch (primary), follow-up, or on-view. Most client needs were met on scene or through referrals, with minimal escalation to police or EMS. Success stories included connecting a client to Care Court behavioral health services and assisting a dementia patient with appropriate housing. Commissioners inquired about expansion to seven days (no near-term plan), funding stability (flat for next two fiscal years, with a reduction proposed for FY 2029), client demographics (to be provided), dispatch triage decisions, and public outreach. The commission praised the unit’s responsiveness.
  • Llewellyn Interim Housing and Drop-In Center Update: Jessica Lowidon also reported on this site, converted from the former Nimitz Motel. The interim housing opened in April 2025; since opening, 12 individuals have moved into permanent supportive housing. The drop-in center opened in June 2025 and has served 295 unduplicated individuals, offering rest, food, showers, laundry, and service connections. The drop-in is open Monday–Friday during business hours; interim housing is referral-only. Commissioners noted the site’s success and the value of donating extra event food there.
  • Election of Officers: The commission discussed the one-year term policy for chair and vice chair. Commissioner Aaron was nominated and unanimously elected as chair for the term beginning at the next meeting. A commissioner who volunteered was elected as vice chair.
  • Commission Reports and Announcements: Commissioner Mason reported observing an increase in pedestrian activity downtown on recent Friday and Saturday nights, describing it as encouraging. The upcoming farmers market and marketing efforts by Sprouts were noted. The commission reviewed a draft calendar of future presentations and was reminded of the legislative break in August.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimously approved meeting minutes.
  • Elected Commissioner Aaron as chair and another commissioner as vice chair for the upcoming term.
  • Staff will provide ARU demographic data and the direct phone number to the commission.
  • The commission acknowledged the need for continued public outreach for the ARU.
  • The next meeting will include a presentation on the Community Action Plan (CAP) cycle, with the RFP expected to open in November/December.

Meeting Transcript

One there we go. Yes. Okay. Like to call the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Um we need to do a pledge of allegiance. So if everyone would rise, please pledge allegiance to the flag. The United States of America to the Republic for which stands one nation. Invisible with liberty and justice. Thank you. Would you like to do a road call? Yes, thank you. Chair Frey. I am here. Vice Chair Albert? Here. Commissioner Bailey. Here. Commissioner Lum. Here. Commissioner O'Brien. Here. Commissioner Roby. Here. Commissioner Mason? Here. Commissioner Reed. Here. And Commissioner Picado is excused tonight. Okay. And do we have any announcements quickly? The only announcement is that the invitation that I mentioned about the volunteer appreciation event that is happening on April 20th, you should have received an email. If you didn't let me know, and I will get that information over to you. Okay. Because we have three presentations tonight, and two of them are being made by Miss Lobadon. I'd like to entertain a motion to relocate item six presentations up to uh ahead of the consent calendar and make data number three. Could I have a motion, please? So move. Second or lum and Roby, all in favor? Thank you. Any opposed? Anybody want to stay real late? Okay. Our first presentation showing is restorative pathways, but they're not here at this moment. So I'm hoping that we can count on you. Well it's like to do our uh ARU and well. Absolutely. Um good evening, everybody. Jessica Lowidon, Human Services Director. I'll I'll start and if if for any reason restorative pathways comes, we can we can take a break in the middle of the presentation. Um but so I'll first be presenting an update on the city's alternative response unit.

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