San Leandro City Council Meeting – September 9, 2026: Restorative Justice, Proclamations, and Public Comment
San Leandro City Council Meeting – September 9, 2026
The San Leandro City Council met on September 9, 2026 (the meeting was originally gaveled in on September 8 but continued into the evening). The agenda included recognitions for National Preparedness Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, a unanimous consent calendar, public comments on data centers and local ballot propositions, and a key action item on restorative justice mediation. After multiple motions, the council voted 5-1 to direct the Rules Committee to explore facilitated discussion mechanisms for resolving disagreements, without expanding the scope to the discipline policy. Councilmember Bowen was absent.
Consent Calendar
- Adopted unanimously (6-0) with Councilmember Bowen absent. Items included: acceptance of Q2 2026 investment reports; a $79,585 California Library Literacy Services grant; $50,000 for a police property and evidence room audit; a $357,150 contract with Terraphase Engineering for a treatment wetland design; designation of a voting delegate for the League of California Cities conference; and approval of minutes from the Facilities & Transportation Committee, City Council, Rules Committee, and Finance Committee meetings.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-agenda public comments:
- Mike McGuire opposed data center development, criticized the planning commission’s inability to block uses, and urged council to take action.
- Leo T. West criticized the city’s tenant relocation system and rent stabilization efforts, alleged discrimination by tenant assistance organizations, and called for voting out all incumbents.
- Douglas Spaulding opposed data centers, called for a moratorium, specific zoning, and council approval, and questioned transparency.
- Alvaro Ramos urged voters to reject five state propositions (Prop 39, 45, 43, 42, 41) and also opposed data centers.
- On restorative justice item:
- Leo T. West called restorative justice an “escape route” and demanded accountability from voters.
- Douglas Spaulding supported facilitated discussion mechanisms as more efficient and effective than formal complaints.
Discussion Items
- Restorative Justice Mediation and Facilitated Discussion Mechanisms: Assistant City Manager Mike Yuan presented three options for the Rules Committee: (1) work on facilitated discussion mechanisms in the council handbook; (2) continue only restorative justice mediation within the discipline policy; (3) conclude the matter. The Rules Committee had requested direction after shifting focus. Councilmember Simon moved option 1 with amendments to also discuss three discipline policy issues: voting eligibility on disciplinary actions, leadership if both mayor and vice mayor are subjects of investigation, and duration of investigative information posted on the city website. This motion failed 3-3 (Councilmember Bowen absent). Councilmember Bolt then moved option 3 (conclude the matter), which also failed 3-3. Councilmember James Aguilar moved option 1 without amendments, seconded by the Mayor, and it passed 5-1 (Councilmember Bolt opposed, Councilmember Bowen absent). The council thus directed the Rules Committee to explore facilitated discussion mechanisms to resolve disagreements, with no further changes to the discipline policy.
Key Outcomes
- The council adopted the consent calendar unanimously.
- The council voted 5-1 to direct the Rules Committee to incorporate facilitated discussion mechanisms into the City Council Member Handbook as a tool for early conflict resolution (option 1). The committee will not pursue restorative justice mediation or revisions to the discipline policy at this time.
- Councilmember Victor Aguilar reported on the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District, noting expanded surveillance, a Wolbachia program in Livermore, low dengue risk, and a new vector biologist.
- Mayor Gonzalez highlighted the Bay Area Air District’s new policy of allocating penalty dollars to affected communities, BCDC permitting reforms, the successful Moon Festival at the senior center, and upcoming events: Coastal Cleanup on September 19 and Hispanic Heritage Festival on September 12.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. So it is seven o'clock, and I'm calling to order the meeting of the San Land or City Council today is Tuesday, September eighth, twenty twenty-six. Madam Clerk, would you please call roll. Council Member Vivero Swalton, present. Council Member Simon. Present. Council Member Bowen is absent. Council Member Bolt. Present. Council Member James Aguilar. Present. 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. Then wait for public comment on that item to be called. If you wish to participate in public comment via Zoom, you can use the raise your hand tool when the item is called. During the public comment session, speakers will be invited to speak and will 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. There will be a 30-minute window for public comment on items not on the agenda, which will take place under item seven public comments as per the published agenda. 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. Thank you. At this point in time, is there a report? On taken thank you, Mayor. There were no reportable actions taken in closed session, but direction was provided to staff. Thank you. At this point in time, we have two recognition. First recognition is a proclamation to declare September as National Preparedness Month, and then we will have a proclamation to declare Hispanic Heritage Month. So for our first proclamation, we do have Lincoln Kasimir, CERT lead community community emergency response team. Come on down. So in case it wasn't enough of a wake-up call, today is a wake-up call when we had that little rumble just uh what was it, two weeks ago? So it's always a good time to be prepared. So here's our proclamation that I'll pass you the mics. You can say some brilliant words. Whereas National Prepared Mont Preparedness Month observed every September since 2004. Creates an ideal opportunity for everyone, everyone in San Leandro to join people across the United States in preparing their homes, businesses, and communities for any type of emergency, including natural, technological or human-caused disasters. And whereas planning investing in the preparedness of ourselves, our families, our businesses now, before a disaster, can reduce fatalities and economic devastation, can improve economic recovery community recovery. We were prepared. So you always have a backup plan. So let's try that. Whereas again, whereas planning, investing, and preparedness of ourselves or families, or businesses now before a disaster, can reduce fatalities and economic devastation, improve community recovery, and strengthen resiliency in our community and across our nation. And whereas all residents of San Leandro are urged to plan ahead for disasters and encourage their family and their friends to do the same by participating in neighborhood preparedness activities, by registering their contact information in AC Alert and the Nixel Mass Notification Systems, and by visiting the preparedness campaign website, ready.gov. What is that? Ready.gov for essential information. And also as tips. So let's all get ready. So now therefore I Juan Gonzalo is the third member of the City of San Leandro do hereby proclaim September 2026 as national prepared preparedness month in the city of San Leandro and urge all community members and businesses to develop their own emergency preparedness plan.
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