*Consent Items
MINUTES
FREMONT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
DECEMBER 9, 2025
FREMONT CITY HALL AND
VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM
7:00 P.M.
1. PRELIMINARY
A. Call to Order: Mayor Salwan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
B. Flag Salute: Councilmember Shao led the salute to the flag.
C. Roll Call: Mayor Salwan, Vice Mayor Zhang, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kimberlin, Shao, and Liu
D. Announcements by Mayor/City Manager/City Attorney
Mayor Salwan announced the Boards and Commissions vacancies.
City Manager Shackelford introduced colleagues.
E. Report Out of Closed Session (if applicable)
City Attorney Alvarado reported that the Council conducted a conference in Closed Session this evening. The Council discussed one item, Conference with Labor Negotiators Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957.6. No reportable action.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
* A. Waive Reading of Ordinances: The City Attorney read the titles of ordinances to be considered.
On a motion by Councilmember Keng, seconded by Vice Mayor Zhang, the City Council waived further readings of proposed ordinances.
Ayes: Mayor Salwan, Vice Mayor Zhang, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kimberlin, Shao, and Liu
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
* B. Mayor Salwan opened consideration of Approval of Minutes for the Regular Meeting of November 18, 2025, and the Regular Meeting of December 2, 2025 On a motion by Councilmember Keng, seconded by Vice Mayor Zhang, the City Council approved minutes.
*Consent Items
Ayes: Mayor Salwan, Vice Mayor Zhang, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kimberlin, Shao, and Liu
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
* C. Mayor Salwan opened consideration of adopting Resolutions Setting the Integrated Waste Management Collection Rates, Transfer Station Service Fees, and Landfill Disposal Fees for January 2026 through December 2027 and Making Findings of CEQA Exemption See Green Sheet on file that contains a correction to the Staff Report.
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar. Mayor Salwan opened the public comment period. The following person commented: Steve Skala. There being no additional speakers, Mayor Salwan closed the public comment period. Environmental Services Manager Kathy Cote responded to questions from Councilmembers.
On a motion by Councilmember Shao, seconded by Councilmember Kimberlin, the City Council:
1. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-59 setting disposal fees at the Altamont Landfill effective January 1, 2026, as shown in Attachment B to the staff report.
2. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-60 setting service fees at the Fremont Recycling and Transfer Station effective January 1, 2026, as shown in Attachment C to the staff report.
3. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-61 setting Solid Waste Collection rates effective January 1, 2026, as shown in Attachment D to the staff report.
4. Authorized City Manager, or designee, to update the maximum weight included in the base uncompacted roll off industrial rate fee based upon the results of staff’s analysis.
Ayes: Mayor Salwan, Vice Mayor Zhang, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kimberlin, Shao, and Liu
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
* D. Mayor Salwan opened consideration of authorization to Amend Agreements with Alameda County Social Services to Provide Services to Older Adults and Making Findings of CEQA Exemption
On a motion by Councilmember Keng, seconded by Vice Mayor Zhang, the City Council:
1. Authorized the City Manager, or designee, to amend four agreements with the Alameda County Social Services Agency to revise FY 2025/26 budgets for older adult services and increase the not-to-exceed amounts for each agreement as follows:
a. For Age Well Center activities, from $136,000 to $142,089. b. For Family Caregiver Support, from $473,000 to $569,235. c. For Information and Assistance, from $460,000 to $470,409. d. For Case Management, from $324,500 to $332,046.
*Consent Items
2. Increased the revenue estimate and appropriated an additional $134,911 to the Area Agency on Aging Fund (Fund 173) and $27,682 to the Family Services Fund (Fund 106).
Ayes: Mayor Salwan, Vice Mayor Zhang, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kimberlin, Shao, and Liu
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
* E. Mayor Salwan opened consideration of authorizing the City Manager, or Designee, to enter into an Agreement and Issue Purchase Order with Epic iO in an amount not-to-exceed $150,107 for the purchase and installation of community cameras at five new locations
On a motion by Councilmember Keng, seconded by Vice Mayor Zhang, the City Council authorized the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and issue a purchase order with Epic iO in an amount not-to-exceed $150,107 for 19 cameras at five new locations, associated parts, installation, and maintenance.
Ayes: Mayor Salwan, Vice Mayor Zhang, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kimberlin, Shao, and Liu
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
* F. Mayor Salwan opened consideration of acceptance of Donation for Palm Avenue Community Park to Design, Construct, and Possibly Maintain a Succulent Garden On a motion by Councilmember Keng, seconded by Vice Mayor Zhang, the City Council:
1. Authorized the City Manager, or designee, to accept the donation, execute an agreement with Gregory W. Blatnik in the amount of $899,000 for the design, construction, and possible maintenance of a succulent garden at Palm Avenue Community Park, and deposit and appropriate the donated funds to the Palm Avenue Park Project (PWC8813-502).
2. Found that accepting a donation to fund a new succulent garden at the Palm Avenue Community Park is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per, without limitation, each on a separate and independent basis, (1) CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b).
Ayes: Mayor Salwan, Vice Mayor Zhang, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kimberlin, Shao, and Liu
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
*Consent Items
3. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
A. Resolution: Honoring City Clerk Susan Gauthier for Thirty-Six Years of Service Upon Her Retirement
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
A. Oral and Written Communications
Communications submitted to the City Clerk were compiled, distributed to the City Council and staff, and published in the City's Agenda Center on fremont.gov, and were placed on file.
Mayor Salwan opened the public comment period. There being no speakers, Mayor Salwan closed the public comment period.
5. SCHEDULED ITEMS
A. Mayor Salwan opened consideration of Public Hearing (Published Notice) for Approval of the Development Impact Fee Annual and Five-Year Report for Period Ending June 30, 2025 with Statutory Findings; Adoption of Resolution; Make Findings of CEQA Exemption.
Public Works Director Hans Larsen and Business Manager Angela Mendiola were available for questions. Mayor Salwan opened the public hearing. There being no speakers, Mayor Salwan closed the public hearing.
On a motion by Councilmember Shao, seconded by Councilmember Campbell, the City Council:
1. Conducted a public hearing.
2. Approved the Development Impact Fee Annual and Five-Year Report for Period Ending June 30, 2025 (the “2025 Impact Fee Report”).
3. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-62 to make the statutory findings required by the Mitigation Fee Act.
4. Found that the recommended actions are exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3); administrative actions are not a project that has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
Ayes: Mayor Salwan, Vice Mayor Zhang, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kimberlin, Shao, and Liu
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
B. Mayor Salwan opened consideration of Public Hearing (Published Notice) to consider a Recommendation from the Planning Commission on a General Plan Amendment to the Land Use and Open Space Element, and Conservation Element to comply with California Senate Bill 1425 and Assembly Bill 1889 and to Consider a Finding That No Further Environmental Review is Required Pursuant to the Requirements of the California
*Consent Items
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Per, Without Limitation, and Each as a Separate and Independent Basis, CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), In That It Can Be Seen With Certainty That There Is No Possibility That the Proposed General Plan Amendment Would Have the Potential for Causing a Significant Effect On the Environment and Section 15307, Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources and Section 15308, Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment, and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) SCH#2010082060 Was Previously Certified for the Project of Adopting the General Plan and None of the Conditions Which Would Require the Preparation of a Subsequent EIR are Present in the Project per CEQA Guidelines Section 15162.
Associate Planner Winnie Mui and Senior Planner James Willis shared a presentation and responded to questions from Councilmembers. Mayor Salwan opened the public hearing.
There being no speakers, Mayor Salwan closed the public hearing.
On a motion by Councilmember Campbell, seconded by Councilmember Liu, the City Council:
1. Held public hearing.
2. Found that no further environmental review is required pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), per, without limitation, and each as a further separate and independent basis, CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 and 15163, in that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) SCH#2010082060 was previously certified for the project of adopting the General Plan and none of the conditions which would require the preparation of a subsequent EIR are present, Section 15307, Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources and Section 15308, Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment, and/or Section 15061(b)(3), in that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed General Plan Amendment would have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
3. Found that the General Plan Amendment conforms with and contains the requirements provided for State law, including without limitation Government Code Section 65358. The General Plan Amendment: (1) complies with all applicable laws; (2) will not cause the General Plan to become internally inconsistent in violation of Government Code Section 65300.5; (3) the proposed General Plan amendment is in the public interest, as required under Government Code Section 65358(a); and (4) adoption of the proposed General Plan amendment will not exceed the annual limit on amendments specified under Government Code Section 65358(b).
4. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-63 for the General Plan Amendment.
Ayes: Mayor Salwan, Vice Mayor Zhang, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kimberlin, Shao, and Liu
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
*Consent Items
6. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Mayor Salwan opened consideration of Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District Update
At the direction of the Mayor, and with Council consensus, the City Council proceeded to hear Agenda Item No. 6.A out of order. General Manager Ryan Clausnitzer and Trustee John Zlatnik provided a general update to Council including highlights of current initiatives, and responded to questions from Councilmembers.
The City Council received the update/presentation.
7. ITEMS REFERRED BY COUNCILMEMBERS
B. Council Referrals – None.
C. Appointments to Boards, Commissions, Committees
1. Mayor Salwan opened consideration of Mayor Salwan Referral: Appointments and Reappointments to Advisory Bodies
Appointments:
Advisory Body Appointee Term Expires
George W. Patterson House Advisory Board
Citizen At Large Representative
Patricia Schaffarczyk 12/31/2029
Historical Architectural Review Board
Ying Min Li 12/31/2029
Library Advisory Commission
Student Commissioner
Dhanya Ganesh 12/31/2029
Senior Citizens Commission
Edith Bendermacher 12/31/2029
Reappointments:
Advisory Body Appointee Term Expires
Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District John Zlatnik 12/31/2029 Art Review Board Judy Lam 12/31/2029
Economic Development Advisory Commission
At Large Representative
Rose Itua 12/31/2029
*Consent Items
Advisory Body Appointee Term Expires
Economic Development Advisory Commission
Commercial / Industrial Representative
Tony Marcos 12/31/2029
George W. Patterson House Advisory Board
Mission Peak Heritage Foundation
Margaret Balk 12/31/2029
Human Relations Commission
Preeti Shukla 12/31/2029
Library Advisory Commission
Smiti Anand 12/31/2029
Library Advisory Commission
Friends of the Library Representative
Leslie Rice 12/31/2029
Mobility Commission
Pedestrian Representative 1
Erin Vaca 12/31/2029
Mobility Commission
Bicycling Representative 1
Ken Wu 12/31/2029
Mobility Commission
Transit Representative 1
Ahsan Baig 12/31/2029
Mobility Commission
Driving Representative 1
Tejinder Dhami 12/31/2029
Mobility Commission
Mobility Impairments Representative
Monique Chapman 12/31/2029
Planning Commission
Mufaddal Ezzy 12/31/2029
Planning Commission
Benjamin Yee 12/31/2029
Recreation Commission
Sunita Lodha 12/31/2029
Recreation Commission
Amar Tiwari 12/31/2029
Recreation Commission
Elissa Winters 12/31/2029
Rent Review Board
Landlord Representative
Carl Fox 12/31/2029
Rent Review Board
Neutral Third-Party Representative
Trice Pierce 12/31/2029
*Consent Items
Advisory Body Appointee Term Expires
Senior Citizens Commission
Dr. James Thomas 12/31/2029
Youth Advisory Commission
Gavia Grewal 12/31/2027
Youth Advisory Commission
Emily Tank 12/31/2027
Youth Advisory Commission
Yash Bhutoria 12/31/2027
Youth Advisory Commission
Zimeng Wang 12/31/2027
Youth Advisory Commission
Anagha Sainath 12/31/2027
Youth Advisory Commission
Deshna Maheshwari 12/31/2027
On a motion by Councilmember Keng, seconded by Councilmember Kimberlin, the City Council approved appointments and reappointments.
D. Legislative Actions – None.
E. Report on Committee Assignments – None.
8. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor Salwan adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
Attest: Approved:
Susan Gauthier, City Clerk RAJ SALWAN, Mayor