The San Leandro City Council met on Monday, August 20, 2026, at 7:01 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, a consent calendar, public comments, a presentation on the Downtown Community Benefit District, and two disciplinary resolutions for Councilmembers Aguilar and Simon. After lengthy debate, both resolutions were adopted with amendments. The meeting adjourned at 11:45 PM.
9a – Downtown Community Benefit District Annual Update: Morgan Macrose presented the SLIA's 2025 accomplishments, including safety and cleaning ambassadors who conducted over 3,000 de-escalations and 25 EMS calls, 11 events, a new coordinated camera system, and public art projects. She noted an operational deficit due to flat funding for safety ambassadors and discussed the 2028 reauthorization challenge. Council members praised the work and asked about expansion, bicycle patrol, and the camera program's privacy implications. Public comment raised support and concerns about surveillance.
10a – Discipline for Councilmember Aguilar: The council considered a resolution to formally admonish Councilmember Aguilar based on findings of retaliation, abusive conduct, and gender bias. After extensive debate, a motion to adopt the resolution as written failed (3-3). A subsequent motion by Councilmember Bolt to strike paragraphs A, B, and C from the findings section (keeping only the amended language describing conduct as "treatment unbecoming of a council member") was approved 5-0 (Councilmember Aguilar excused). The final resolution adopts the investigation report but disciplines only for the remaining provisions.
10b – Discipline for Councilmember Simon: Following the same pattern as 10a, a motion by Councilmember Bolt to adopt the resolution with paragraphs A, B, and C struck from page two passed unanimously (5-0, Councilmember Simon excused). Councilmember Simon expressed regret that Councilmember Bowen felt biased and committed to improving communication.
10d – Authorization for City Attorney: Councilmember Simon withdrew his request to have the City Attorney prepare responses to his questions, closing that item without action.
10c – Restorative Justice Mediation: Due to time constraints, the council voted unanimously to continue this item to the next regular meeting on April 6, 2026.
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.