General Plan
Policy Document Environmental Justice
September 2023 Page | 3-1
POLICY DOCUMENT : PART 3
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
ELEMENT
Hi
storically, negative environmental impacts have been shown to disproportionately affect marginalized populations, including racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic minorities. As a result of these environmental impacts, marginalized populations tend to have poorer health and safety outcomes relative to the broader population. The various environmental impacts that tend to affect marginalized populations include but are not limited to increased exposure to pollutants, increased proximity to contaminated facilities/structures, and decreased access to public resources relative to other communities. These environmental impacts are directly linked to one another and thus can result in a compounded environmental burden on certain populations.
Environmental justice is a concept focused on addressing the systemic causes of the unequal environmental burden placed on disadvantaged communities, especially minority and low -income populations. In California, the Planning for Healthy Communities Act of 2016 (Senate Bill 1000) was established to address the role of environmental justice in local and regional planning practice.
Environmental justice regulations in California are aimed at improving the health and safety of disadvantaged communities through effective planning and policy decisions.
California law defines “environmental justice” as the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies (Government Code Section 65040.12, subd. (e)).
Through Senate Bill 1000, jurisdictions are now required to identify “disadvantaged communities” within their planning area and incorporate environmental justice policies and programs into their general plans. As described in the following Element, none of the 37 census tracts within Hayward meet the state definition of a “disadvantaged community” however there are neighborhoods that have measurable impacts with regard to population and pollution burdens, which can be addressed through this Element.
The City of Hayward is committed to promoting environmental justice through the effective implementation of this Environmental Justice Element. The Environmental Justice Element contains a comprehensive set of goals and policies aimed at increasing the rol e and influence of historically marginalized populations within their communities and reducing their exposure to environmental and
ATTACHMENT XI
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health hazards. The goals and policies in this plan are centered around six focus areas. These focus areas are areas identified by the California Government Code Section 65302(h) as policy topics necessary for reducing the unique or compounded health risks in disadvantaged communities. The six focus areas are as follows:
Pollution Exposure and Air Quality
Public Facilities
Safe and Sanitary Homes
Physical Activity and Public Health
Food Access
Civic and Community Engagement
The Environmental Justice Element is divided into three sections. The first section is a summary of the public participation opportunities included as part of the Element development process. The second section presents the methodology used to identify disproportionally impacted communities in Hayward. The third section outlines environmental justice goals and policies and provides a summary of the baseline environmental conditions associated with each goal. Each section also identifies other General Plan Element policies and programs that address environmental justice within the focus area (see inset for description of other General Plan Elements). The goals, policies, and programs describe how the City of Hayward will incorporate environmental justice into decision making and support positive outcomes for affected residents.
To establish an understanding of the baseline conditions of environmental impacts in Hayward, a detailed technical analysis was performed. This technical assessment is known as the Environmental Justice Technical Report and can be found in Appendix A of this document.
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Other General Plan Elements
Due to the broad and interdisciplinary nature of this topic, it is essential to note that several Elements of the General Plan contain goals, polices and programs related to community health, environmental health, equitable access to resources, parks, housing and transportation options, and community safety among other topics addressed in this Environmental Justice Element. Additionally, most of the Elements contain and support sustainability measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions outlined in the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) which is not a standalone General Plan Element but includes goals, policies and programs that are infused throughout the General Plan.
Natural Resources Element. The Natural Resources Element establishes goals and policies to protect and enhance the natural resources within the Hayward Planning Area. The goals and policies address a variety of topics, including biological resources, air quality and greenhouse gas reduction, open space, energy resources and efficiency, mineral resources, hydrology and water quality, water conservation, paleontological resources, and scenic resources. A number of goals and polices also serve as Climate Action Plan actions, which are designed to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.
Mobility Element. The Mobility Element establishes goals and policies to improve the mobility of people and goods within and through the city of Hayward. Rather than focusing on automobile transportation, the Mobility Element seeks to create a balanced transportation network that supports and encourages walking, bicycling, and transit ridership. The goals and policies address a variety of topics, including multimodal transportation, regional coordination, complete streets, local circulation, pedestrian facilities, bikeways, public transit, transportation demand management, parking, aviation, goods movement, and transportation funding. A number of the goals and policies also serve as Climate Action Plan actions, which are designed to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.
Hazards (Safety) Element. The Hazards Element establishes goals and policies to protect life and minimize property damage during future disasters and emergencies. The goals and policies address regional hazards mitigation, seismic and geologic hazards, flood hazards, rising sea levels, wildland wildfires, hazardous materials, airport hazards, and noise.
Health & Quality of Life. The focus of the Community Health and Quality of Life Element is to foster the health and well-being of all Hayward residents. The Element contains goals and policies related to a variety of topics, including active living, access to healthy food, health care access, safe and cohesive neighborhoods, aging in place, environmental health, and parks, recreation, and open space.
Community Safety. The Community Safety Element contains goals and policies that focus on crime prevention, police protection services, fire prevention, fire and emergency medical services, and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The goals and policies recognize that the Police Department and Fire Department are not solely responsible for the safety of Hayward. Rather, the City recognizes that community safety is the responsibility of all members of the Hayward community and that partnerships and collaboration between the City, residents, businesses, and neighborhood and community organizations are key factors to improving the safety and well-being of the community.
Housing Element. The purpose of the Housing Element is to achieve an adequate supply of decent, safe, and affordable housing for Hayward’s existing and future workforce, residents, and special needs populations. Housing Element law is designed to ensure that low-income families are not excluded from opportunities in all communities and to promote economic and environmental sustainability throughout the region. The Housing Element strives to conserve the city’s existing housing stock, while providing opportunities for new housing for all economic segments of the community.
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Public Participation
The goals, policies and programs in this Element
were informed by public feedback solicited during
two virtual community workshops Information
about the Environmental Justice Element was also
provided through public engagement efforts
associated with the Housing Element and Climate
Action Plan , including mobile gallery pop -up
events, stakeholder and community meetings, and
interviews conducted by California State University
East Bay and Chabot Community College students.
Please see Appendix 1 of the Housing Element
Update and the Climate Action Plan for additional
details.
Community Workshops
The first environmental justice virtual community
workshop was held in February 2022. The meeting
was hosted over the Zoom video platform and a
recording was uploaded to the City’s official
YouTube page. Simultaneous Spanish -translation
was provided, and Spanish-language questions and
comments were translated in real -time at the
workshop.
During the workshop, City Staff and consultants
presented the key findings from the Environmental
Justice Technical Report ( Appendix A). Workshop
attendees were asked to identify key issues and
priorities in Hayward related to various
environmental justice topics. Topic s addressed
included the six key focus areas for environmental
justice identified within Senate Bill 1000, including
but not limited to: Safe and Sanitary Homes,
Pollution Exposure, and Civic Engagement.
Workshop attendees were asked to input their
feedback onto virtual mural boards using digital
sticky-notes. The resulting mural boards were then
used to develop policy themes.
The following topics were identified as priorities
from community members who participated in the
first workshop.
• Linguistic isolation impacts on the efficacy of
community engagement
• Improving engagement by advertising through
local schools
• Limited car access in Hayward community
impacts food access
• Inadequate nutritious food options within the
City
• Asthma screening to aid in community health
outcomes
• Medical costs as a barrier to healthcare access
• Concerns about rates of asthma in local
communities
• Perceived park safety impacts community use
of facilities
The second environmental justice virtual
community workshop was held over the Zoom
video platform in April 2022. City Staff and
consultants presented policy themes to be
addressed within the Environmental Justice
Element. Staff and consultants hosted an
interactive activity, where attendees were asked to
insert their feedback onto mural boards to express
their impression of the policy topics outlined within
the Policy Framework document. Feedback from
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the second workshop was used to develop the
Draft Environmental Justice Element goals,
policies and programs.
The following topics were identified as priorities
from community members who participated in the
second workshop.
• Traffic
• Improved public transit
• Physical activity opportunities for seniors
• Non-English speaker accessibility
• Access to healthy locally grown food
• Active transportation
• Nutritional Education
Environmental Justice
Communities
Senate Bill 535 defines a “disadvantaged
community” as an area identified by the California
Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 39711
or an area that is a low -income area that is
disproportionately affected by environmental
pollution and other hazards that can lead to
negative health effects, exposure, or environmental
degradation.
CalEPA has designated disadvantaged
communities across California within its
CalEnviroScreen 4.0 tool. This tool identifies
disadvantaged census tracts in the State and ranks
these tracts based on various pollution and
population indicators. Those Californ ia census
tracts scoring at or above the 75 th percentile in
CalEnviroScreen 4.0 are considered Disadvantaged
Communities per CalEPA.
1 Per the U.S. Census Bureau Non-White classification: “A person having origin in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.”
Of the 37 census tracts in Hayward, none have
been identified as “Disadvantaged Communities”
by CalEnviroScreen 4.0. Figure 1 depicts the
CalEnviroScreen 4.0 percentile scores for
neighborhoods across Hayward.
Census tracts nearing the 75
th percentile may still be
impacted by significant pollution burden and
population vulnerabilities that warrant further
exploration and focused improvement. These
threshold-approaching census tracts are less likely
to face the same degree of compounded
environmental impacts as those California census
tracts meeting the CalEPA “Disadvantaged
Community” threshold. Still, these local
communities are likely to have notable levels of
pollution and critical population characteristics that
warrant targeted improvements.
There are three census tracts in Hayward that are
nearing the CalEPA “Disadvantaged Community”
threshold. These tracts are located in the western
and central portion of the City. These areas of the
City are highlighted in Figure 2.
Figure 3 shows which census tracts score at or
above the 75
th percentile in either pollution burden
or population characteristics. This show s which
types of factors influence the overall
CalEnviroScreen score.
Across Hayward, the communities in the western
portion of the City are more impacted by pollution
burden and population vulnerabilities. These
western communities also tend to have higher
percentages of Non-White populations
1. Hayward
is an ethnically diverse City with strongly rooted
communities that contribute to its unique
community character. The Hispanic/Latinx
community is prevalent within the City, making up
approximately 40 percent of the population. Asian-
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Americans make up approximately 28 percent of
the city’s population. The Asian -American
community in Hayward is comprised of diverse
ethnic groups, including Filipino, Chinese, and
Indian ethnic communities. These racial and ethnic
communities, as well as the other diverse subsets of
the population, have strong historic ties to the
community and are an integral part of Hayward’s
identity.
To address environmental justice in Hayward it is
essential to acknowledge historical inequities and
the disproportionate pollution burden that
marginalized communities ’ experience. More
information on historic racial and ethnic disparities
in Hayward, particularly housing-related disparities,
is available in the Hayward 6 th Cycle Housing
Element – Appendix F, Fair Housing Assessment.
For more information on the methodology used to identify Environmental Justice Communities and how they are
defined in Hayward, see Appendix A , Environmental
Justice Technical Report, of this document.
Population & Pollution Burden
CalEPA developed the CalEnviroScreen tool to identify
disadvantaged communities throughout California. The tool uses existing environmental, health, and socioeconomic data to rank census tracts based on 20 distinct indicators. there are four indicator categories are ultimately summed into two primary groupings: Pollution Burden and Population
Characteristics.
The groupings are multiplied together to calculate the overall CalEnviroScreen score (OHEEA 2017). In general, the higher the score, the more impacted a community is by pollution burdens and population vulnerabilities. Designated
disadvantaged communities are those communities that scored within the highest 25 percent of census tracts across California (CalEnviroScreen percentile scores of 75 or higher). Indicators are grouped as follows:
Pollution Burden
Exposures are indicators based on
measurements of different types of pollution
people may be exposed to in their day -to -day
life .
Environmental Effects are indicators based
on the locations of toxic chemicals in or near
communities.
Population Characteristics
Sensitive Populations are indicators that
measure the number of people in a community
who may be more severely affected by
pollution because of their age or health such
as asthma, cardiovascular disease or low birth
weight .
Socioeconomic Factors are indicators based
on conditions that may increase peoples'
stress or make healthy living difficult and
cause them to be more sensitive to pollution’s
effects. Factors may include educational
attainment, housing cost burden, linguistic
isolation, poverty status and unemployment.
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Figure 1 CalEnviroScreen Scores in Hayward
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Figure 2 Neighborhoods in Hayward with CalEnviroScreen Scores Nearing the 75th Percentile
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Figure 3 Pollution Burden and Population Characteristics
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Goal 1 Pollution Burden
Exposure to polluting substances in the air, water,
and soil can have a significant impact on health
outcomes. Certain diseases have been directly
associated with pollutant exposure including heart
disease, cancer, birth defects, asthma, reproductive
disorders, and neurological disorders.
Understanding the distinct pollution context within
a City is important to understanding the unique
health and safety strategies necessary for improving
the overall community condition.
Pollution exposure disproportionately impacts
some geographic areas in Hayward more than
others. The CalEnviroScreen 4.0 tool utilizes a
Pollution Burden score to quantify pollution
exposure. The Pollution Burden score is an
amalgam score of various pollution indicators.
Trends in local Pollution Burden scores indicate
that the western area of the City has significant
exposure to environmental pollution relative to the
State average. The presence of industrial land uses
and high traffic inter -City highways and roadways
within and along western Hayward may be a key
factor in the elevated pollution burden along the
western-most boundary of the City. Figure 3
depicts the Pollution Burden Scores across
neighborhoods within Hayward.
Many of the environmental pollutants that impact
the community within Hayward are also regional
pollutant issues that permeate the San Francisco
Bay Area, including the East Bay subregion. Mobile
vehicle related pollution, especially Particulate
Matter pollution, is a widespread pollution concern
across the Bay Area Air Basin. Particulate Matter
pollution manifests in two main forms: Particulate
Matter 2.5 (PM
2.5) and Diesel Particulate Matter
(DPM). PM 2.5 pollution is derived from
combustion, such as throu gh the use of gasoline
and burning of natural gas to generate electricity,
while DPM is primarily derived from diesel exhaust
sourced from diesel engines, especially trucks,
trains, ships, and other mobile vehicles.
DPM air pollution is significantly elevated (75
th
percentile and above) in 46 percent of Hayward’s
neighborhoods, with higher rates of pollution
focused along Interstate 880 and the Mission
Boulevard Corridor. Ground-based pollution from
industrial facilities is also a pollution concern in
Hayward. Ground -based pollutants of greatest
concern for the City are related to contaminated
cleanup sites, groundwater threats, and hazardous
waste sites.
Cleanup Sites: There are several hazardous
material cleanup sites located in Hayward and these
sites are primarily located in the western portion of
the City which is zoned for industrial uses. The
highest local CalEnviroScreen cleanup site score
(99th Percentile relative to all California
communities) is in the western area of the City.
Groundwater Threats: Hazardous chemicals are
often stored in containers on land or in
underground storage tanks. Leaks from these
containers and tanks can contaminate soil and
pollute groundwater. Common pollutants of soil
and groundwater include gasoline and diesel fuel
from gas stations, as well as solvents, heavy metals
and pesticides. Several areas in Hayward scored in
the 75 th percentile or higher for groundwater
pollution impacts. There are several underground
storage tanks present in Hayward that ma y
contribute to this City -wide issue. Western
Hayward had the most elevated impacts from
groundwater threats in the City, with a percentile
score in the 98th percentile.
Hazardous Waste Sites: About half of all
neighborhoods within Hayward are impacted by
hazardous waste generators or sites, with many
scoring above the 75 th percentile for hazardous
waste pollution impacts relative to the broader
California region. The highest hazardous waste
impacts in Hayward are concentrated in the
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western portion of the City, with a
CalEnviroScreen Hazardous Waste score within
the 99
th percentile.
Illegal Dumping & Litter: Although not
measured in CalEnviroScreen, participants at
community meetings identified litter and illegal
dumping as a significant source of pollution that
impacts residents’ quality of life.
GOAL EJ-1.0
Protect community health within Hayward by protecting residents from the harmful impacts from air pollution, contaminated sites, illegal dumping and groundwater pollutant threats.
Policies
Policy EJ-1.1. Diesel Particulate Matter
Coordinate with Caltrans to develop freeway pollution mitigation strategies, including vegetative barriers and green walls , to reduce the impacts from Diesel Particulate Matter pollution on sensitive land uses located adjacent to major highways and on and off ramps.
Policy EJ-1.2 Urban Greening
Develop urban greening initiatives along major arterials to protect sensitive receptors from traffic related pollution, especially Diesel Particulate Matter pollution. Prioritize greening in areas with the highest pollution burden.
Policy EJ-1.3 Air Filtration Grant
Reduce the impacts of particulate matter air pollution on sensitive receptors in the City by establishing an Air Filtration Grant program for low -income residents, allowing for free indoor air filtration improvements to qualifying community members.
Policy EJ-1.4 School Air Filtration
Partner with the Hayward Unified School District to install HEPA air filtration systems in all local schools to reduce the impacts from air pollution, especially Particulate Matter pollutio n. Prioritize updating HEPA air filtration systems in schools experiencing the highest pollution burden.
Policy EJ-1.5 Public Information
Protect Hayward residents from air pollution impacts by raising awareness about the health impacts from Diesel Particulate Matter and providing information to residents about strategies for personal adaptation to poor air quality.
Policy EJ-1.6 Exposure Awareness
Inform residents in proximity to local hazardous waste facilities and cleanup sites about the location and status of these facilities and how proximity may impact community health.
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Policy EJ-1.7 Targeted Health Monitoring
Coordinate with the Alameda County Public Health Department to actively monitor and actively support the health of residents living in-proximity to hazardous waste facilities and cleanup sites.
Policy EJ-1.8 Regional Coordination
Coordinate with jurisdictions in the East Bay and greater Bay Area to develop regional strategies to reduce traffic-related pollution impacts by improving connectivity and supporting public use of regional public transit.
Policy EJ-1.9 Truck Routes
The City shall require trucks to use designated routes and shall prohibit trucks on local streets to address traffic operations and safety concerns in residential neighborhoods. (Source: Existing Policy, M-11.2) Policy EJ-1.10 Limit Truck Routes
Proactively address truck -related emission pollution by continuing to examine and reduce the number of designated truck routes within the City, when feasible.
Policy EJ-1.11 Truck Idling
Identify areas within the City where excessive truck idling is occurring and post “no idling” signage that is visibly accessible for motor vehicles utilizing the roadways.
Policy EJ-1.12 Truck-Reliant Businesses
Coordinate with East Bay Community Energy and local business that heavily rely on the trucking industry to assist in the accessing of BAAQMD incentive funds for truck engine retrofits and upgrades to reduce emissions.
Policy EJ-1.13 Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste Facilities Proactively coordinate with local solid waste and hazardous waste operators to promote the use of site-specific upgrades that reduce pollution exposure beyond the minimum regulatory standards required through CalEPA.
Policy EJ-1.14 Cleanup Sites
Proactively monitor the progress of local cleanup sites to ensure that all site remediation efforts are being handled in a timely and effective manner. Determine which cleanup sites are most at risk of toxic substances being mobilized due to flooding from sea level and groundwater rise, according to the latest available science (including the DTSC Sea Level Rise Guidance for Cleanup Activities). In addition, new housing should not be approved or built on or near hazardous sites in flood-prone areas before cleanup has been completed. Cleanup standards should be developed in partnership with frontline communities, take into account cumulative pollution exposure, and require that contaminants are disposed of in the least harmful way possible.
Policy EJ-1.15 Resiliency Hubs
Maintain and expand resiliency hubs to offer community -serving refuge facilities in the event of increased pollution exposure caused by events such as poor air quality days, hazardous waste material spills, or inadequate grid reliability.
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Policy EJ-1.16 New Sensitive Developments
Insulate sensitive receptors from poor air quality by requiring any new development of medical facilities, childcare facilities, educational facilities, and senior facilities to include HEPA Air Filtration Systems. ( Source:
Existing Program, HQL-2).
Policy EJ-1.17 Proximity to Pollution Sources
The City shall avoid locating new sensitive uses such as schools, childcare centers, and senior housing in proximity to sources of pollution, odors, or near existing businesses that handle toxic materials. Where such uses are located in proximity to source s of air pollution, odors, or toxic materials, the City shall require that building design, construction safeguards, and technological techniques to mitigate the negative impacts of hazardous materials and/or air pollution on indoor air quality. (Source: Existing Policy, HQL-7.5) Policy EJ-1.18 Prevent, Reduce and Clean up Litter and Illegal Dumping.
Seek creative partnerships and programmatic solutions related to the prevention of and clean- up of litter and illegal dumping.
Policy EJ-1.19
Support community health by adopting smoke-free housing regulations. Adopt an Ordinance related to smoke- free multi-family housing, track implementation and monitor community health outcomes. Partner with Alameda Council Health Department, community-based organizations and academic researchers among others to evaluate local tobacco control and identify trends in population health in response to passage of the smoke-
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Additional General Plan Pollution Burden Policies &Programs The following is a list of General Plan policies and programs included in the Natural Resources (NR) Element, Mobility (M) Element, Hazards (HAZ) Element, and Health and Quality of Life (HQL) Element support Environmental Justice Goal EJ-1.0.
NR-2.1 Ambient Air Quality Standards
NR-2.2 New Development
NR-2.3 Emissions Reduction
NR-2.4 Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction
NR-2.5 Municipal Greenhouse Gas Reduction
NR-2.7 Coordination with Bay Area Air Quality
Management District
NR-2.10 Zero-Emission and Low-Emission Vehicle
Use
NR-2.14 Air Quality Education
NR-2.15 Community Risk Reduction Strategy
NR-2.16 Sensitive Uses
NR-2.17 Source Reduction Measures
NR-2.11 Zero-Emission and Low-Emission Vehicle
Advocacy
NR-2.12 Preference for Reduced-Emission Equipment
NR-2.18 Exposure Reduction Measures for New Receptors
NR-2.19 Exposure Reduction Measures for both Existing
and New Receptors
NR-4.12 Urban Forestry
M-11.2 Designated Truck Routes
M-11.3: Truck Parking in Neighborhoods
HAZ-6.1: Hazardous Materials Program
HAZ-6.2: Site Investigations
HAZ-6.4: Land Use Buffers
HAZ-6.8 Truck Routes
M-2.5 Regional Traffic Impacts
HQL-7.6 Mold and Lead Hazard Prevention
HQL-8.1 Manage and Enhance Urban Forest
• Program HQL-1: Healthy Community Program. The City shall partner with local health officials, planners, nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, hospitals, local health clinics, and community groups to conduct a study to identify strategies, programs, and practices that prioritize the overall health of Hayward residents and employees. Based on findings from the study, the City shall prepare and submit recommendations to the City Council on ways the City can prioritize community health and remove barriers to healthy living. • Program HQL-2. Healthy Development Checklist. The City shall develop a checklist of health strategies that could be incorporated into the design of discretionary development projects and plans. The City shall share this resource with project applicants to help them design their projects to promote community health. • Program HQL-5. Urban Forest Management Plan. The City shall develop and adopt an Urban Forest Management Plan.
• Program M-22. Truck Routes Study. The City shall conduct a study of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) truck routes and local truck routes (i.e. Hayward Traffic Code Section 6.11) to evaluate and confirm the optimal network for truck traffic through and within the city. Based on findings from the study, the City shall prepare and submit recommendations to the City Council on an appropriate system of truck routes.
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Goal 2 Public Facilities
According to CalEPA, access to public facilities is
an environmental determinant of health outcomes.
Under State law “public facilities” include, but are
not limited to, public improvements, services, and
community amenities (Government Code Section
65302(h)(1)(A)). These fa cilities include cultural
centers, streets and roads, government buildings,
schools, public transit, and public open space. Low-
income and minority communities have historically
had fewer public investments in their
neighborhood and less access to critical public
resources (OEHHA 2017). To promote
environmental justice in Hayward, it is necessary to
understand the context of public facility
accessibility across the City.
Parks, Schools, and Cultural Centers : The
availability of greenspace (parks, fields, open space)
in proximity to housing can create opportunity for
physical activity and social interaction. According
to the World Health Organization, both physical
activity and social interaction have been link ed to
improved health outcomes. Similarly, public
schools and cultural centers provide opportunities
for recreation and community engagement that are
necessary to supplement the mental and physical
health of residents.
There are 28 public schools within the Hayward
Unified School District , including 19 elementary
schools, five middle schools, and four high schools
in addition to adult and early learning educational
facilities. Public schools in the City are
geographically dispersed equitably across the City.
Hayward schools supplement community health by
providing opportunities for the attending students
to engage with their communities and participate in
recreational activities during operating hours.
The Hayward Area Recreation and Parks District
operates over 57 parks and trails in the Hayward
Planning Area . In addition, the City maintains
several playground areas and playing fields at local
schools for public use. The California Statewide
Park Program (Public Resources Code Section
5642) defines “critically underserved communities”
as those communities having a ratio of less than 3
acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. According to
the California Department of Parks and
Recreation’s Park Access Tool, 76 percent of
residents in Hayward live in areas with less than 3
acres of parks or open space per 1,000 residents.
This indicates that 76 percent of residents in
Hayward live in underserved areas for park access.
Figure 4 shows the distribution of parks and park
access rates throughout Hayward by
neighborhood.
There is a disparity in the distribution of parks
throughout the City, with areas in the central
portion of the City having less than 3 acres of
parkland access per 1,000 residents. About half of
all neighborhoods in the central portion of the City
have less than one park acre . Reduced park access
has the potential to impact the physical and mental
health of residents.
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Figure 4 Park Access in Hayward
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Transportation and Mobility . Bike lanes are a
public facility that enable residents of a community
to access necessary resources without the
availability of an automobile. In this way, bike lanes
democratize transportation to allow for increased
food access, increased opportunity for exercise
(access to parks and open space), and improved
connectivity to regional transit. The City of
Hayward encompasses a total area of 64.06 square
miles. Accessibility across the large City geography
is also important for residential resource access.
In 2023, there are a number of bike lanes in the City
of Hayward available to residents. Currently, there
are 5.7 lane miles of Class I bike lanes, 65.9 lane
miles of Class II bike lanes, and 75.3 lane miles of
Class III bike lanes.
The Hayward Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
includes proposed upgrades to the bicycle network
to encourage the development of a unified bicycle
system throughout the City. Implementation of
these proposed upgrades would help to increase
resource accessibility, especially for those
communities without access to an automobile.
Public transit availability within a geographic area is another important public asset that provides
accessibility for geographically marginalized
communities. Public transit improves access by
ensuring that those residents without automobiles
can access jobs, services and resources. Hayward is
served by several transit providers offering
differing transit types such as bus, train, and
paratransit shuttle services. The two main forms of
public transportation around Hayward are
provided by AC Transit Regional Bus Service (AC
Transit) and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). In
addition to these transportation services, the City
of Hayward provides special shuttle services for
senior, disabled, and other community members.
The transit options in Hayward offer
comprehensive transport to all neighborhoods
within the community and support connectivity to
regional transit options.
GOAL EJ-2.0
Ensure that residents in Hayward have access to a diverse range of public facilities to promote community wellbeing and resource access.
Policies
Policy EJ-2.1 Park Accessibility
Coordinate with the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD) to ensure that new and existing parks are accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists and are adequately connected with transit networks.
Policy EJ-2.2 Existing Park Quality
Work with HARD to improve the quality and safety of existing parks with a focus on areas with the lowest number of park acreage per capita. Where feasible, i ncorporate green stormwater infrastructure designed to provide multiple benefits, such as flood prevention, trash capture, heat mitigation, and biodiversity.
Policy EJ-2.3 Increase Parks in Central Hayward
Work with HARD to improve park access per capita in central Hayward through the development of pocket parks and conversion of underutilized rights -of-way into parklets. Prioritize census tracts with less than one acre per 1,000 residents as shown in Figure 4.
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Policy EJ-2.4 Green Space through Residential Development Require future medium -density and high- density development to incorporate green space as part of the development review process to meet community need across the City. Prioritize building green space in disadvantaged communities (DACs), and low-income neighborhoods. Engage the community in green space design and development.
Policy EJ-2.5 Park Safety
Increase park safety by encouraging HARD to incorporate Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies into the park design and development process.
Policy EJ-2.6 Bus Stop Safety
Promote public transportation accessibility by ensuring that all City bus stops have covered shelters, seating, and ability-accessible signage.
Policy EJ-2.7 Active Transportation
Support active transportation in Hayward by facilitating the timely and effective implementation of the programs and policies outlined within the Hayward Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan & Multimodal Intersection Implementation Plan and Nexus Study. Prioritize creating “complete streets” and evaluate any road upgrade projects for inclusion of green stormwater features such as permeable pavement, planters, and bioswales.
Policy EJ-2.8 Affordable Transit
Coordinate with AC Transit to support the expansion of the discounted fare program to include low -income residents.
Policy EJ-2.9 EV Charging Stations
Support equitably placed and conveniently located public EV charging stations across the City by ensuring that the Municipal Code allows for efficient permitting and installation of public stations and identifying incentivized priority areas based on geographic equity.
Policy EJ-2.10 Parks Standard
The City shall seek to increase the number of parks throughout the city by working with HARD to achieve and maintain the following park standards per 1,000 Hayward residents:
• Two acres of local parks,
• Two acres of school parks,
• Three acres of regional parks,
• One mile of trails and linear parks, and
• Five acres of parks district-wide. (Source: Existing Policy HQL-10.2) General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
September 2023 Page | 3-19
Policy EJ-2.11 Joint Use Facilities
The City shall coordinate with Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) and HARD to identify multi -use facilities on City and School District owned properties to increase park and recreation space in constrained and developed portions of the City.
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
Page | 3-20 September 2023
Additional General Plan Public Facilities Policies & Programs The following is a list of General Plan policies and programs included in the Health and Quality of Life (HQL) Element, Mobility (M) Element, and Community Safety (CS) Element and support Environmental Justice Goal EJ -
2.0. HQL-10.1 Parks and Recreation Master Plan
HQL-10.2 Park Standards
HQL-10.3 Mini Parks and Tot Lots
HQL-10.4 Urban Infill Parks
HQL-10.5 Neighborhood Focal Points
HQL-10.6 Parks as Buffers
HQL-10.7 Park Access
HQL-10.8 Drought Tolerant Landscaping
HQL-10.9 Security and Maintenance
HQL-10.10 Neighborhood-Based Park Surveillance
HQL-10.11 Buffer Potential Impacts
HQL-10.12 Maximum Park Dedications
HQL-10.13 Park Funding
HQL-10.14 Joint Use Facilities
HQL-10.15 Multipurpose Facilities
HQL-10.16 Public Facilities for Recreation
HQL-10.17 Neighborhood Involvement
CS-1.9 Crime Prevention Through Environmental
Design
CS-1.13 Park Security and Safety
M-1.6 Bicycle, Walking and Transit Amenities
M-1.7 Eliminate Gaps
M-7.6 Safe System
M-5.3 Access to Transit
• Program HQL-1: Healthy Community Program. The City shall partner with local health officials, planners, nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, hospitals, local health clinics, and community groups to conduct a study to identify strategies, programs, and practices that prioritize the overall health of Hayward residents and employees. Based on findings from the study, the City shall prepare and submit recommendations to the City Council on ways the City can prioritize community health and remove barriers to healthy living.
• Program HQL-2. Healthy Development Checklist. The City shall develop a checklist of health strategies that could be incorporated into the design of discretionary development projects and plans. The City shall share this resource with project applicants to help them design their projects to promote community health.
• Program HQL-5. Urban Forest Management Plan. The City shall develop and adopt an Urban Forest Management Plan.
• Program M-22. Truck Routes Study. The City shall conduct a study of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) truck routes and local truck routes (i.e. Hayward Traffic Code Section 6.11) to evaluate and confirm the optimal network for truck traffic through and within the city. Based on findings from the study, the City shall prepare and submit recommendations to the City Council on an appropriate system of truck routes.
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
September 2023 Page | 3-21
Goal 3 Food Access
Access to healthy food is an important contributor
to positive health outcomes and quality of life.
Historically, low -income communities have been
disproportionately impacted by lack of food access
within their communities. According to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, the inability to access
nutritious food has been associated with lack of
transportation resources, and a lack of locally
available affordable options for nutritious food.
Food access can be measured by food -insecurity
and the presence of f ood deserts within a
community.
Food Insecurity. The U.S. Department of
Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of
consistent access to enough food for an active,
healthy life. The food insecurity rate in California is measured to be at 10.2 percent of the total
population, with 72 percent of those food insecure
people being eligible for the federal Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program. The City of
Hayward is located within California’s
Congressional District 15. According to Feeding
America, the food insecurity rate in Califor nia
District 15 is 6.6 percent, with approximately
52,000 people defined as food insecure. Of those
who are classified as food insecure, 58 percent are
considered eligible for the federal Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program. These statistics
reported for Congressional District 15 are notably
lower than the state average. However, food
insecurity is still present within the region and may
disproportionately impact marginalized
populations.
Local food security can be improved through better
public transportation networks and increasing the
availability of nutritious food providers within low-
income communities.
Food Deserts. “Food deserts” are areas where
residents have limited access to a variety of healthy
and affordable food. The USDA maintains a Food
Access Research Atlas that identifies food deserts
within the United States. The USDA defines the
food desert classification as any low-income census
tract with a substantial number or share of residents
with low levels of access to retail outlets selling
health and affordable foods. For the purposes of
the Food Access Research Atlas, low -income and
low-access census tracts are defined below:
Low-income. A census tract with a poverty rate of
20 percent or greater, or median family income at
or below 80 percent of the statewide or
metropolitan area median family income.
Low-access. A census tract with at least 500
people or 33 percent of the tract’s population living
more than 1 mile (urban areas) from the nearest
supermarket or grocery store.
There are no identified food deserts within the City
of Hayward. However, there are communities that
are classified as Low-income and Low access at an
impaired access distance of more than ½ mile from
the nearest supermarket or grocery store (See 5 ).
These communities are primarily located in central
and south Hayward neighborhoods.
Figure 5 shows the neighborhoods that are
classified as Low income and Low access at the 0.5-
mile access distance in Hayward.
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
Page | 3-22 September 2023
Figure 5 Low-Income Food Access in Hayward
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
September 2023 Page | 3-23
GOAL EJ-3.0
Foster a community in which all members have adequate access to healthy, affordable, and nutritious foods.
Policies
Policy EJ-3.1. Community Gardens and Farmers Markets
Expand access to nutritious food and groceries by developing City-sponsored farmer’s markets and community gardens throughout the City.
Policy EJ-3.2. Nutrition Education Programs
Expand local programs that are focused on public nutritional education and healthy produce access through the Hayward Area Recreation and Parks District (HARD) and other non- profit and advocacy groups for broader outreach and dissemination to the public.
Policy EJ-3.3. Partnerships
Partner with Alameda County All In Eats to encourage food recovery. Further expand food access for marginalized communities by partnering with local non -profits and food banks to expand the availability of subsidized food programs.
Policy EJ-3.4. Information Dissemination
Disseminate information about State and Federal food subsidy resources that are available to qualifying members of the public, including the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
Page | 3-24 September 2023
Goal 4 Safe and Sanitary Homes
The quality of housing in a community has a direct
impact on the health of people who reside within
those homes. Areas with predominantly low -
income residents are more likely to have dwelling
units that were built before current housing
standards and regul ations were established.
Additionally, low -income residents may be
financially incapable of upkeeping their homes in a
manner necessary to maintain a healthy living
environment. Housing conditions such as poor
ventilation and substandard building
materials/quality can result in mold developing
through moisture, exposure to asbestos, and
exposure to extreme climate variations. Other
factors that can contribute to unsafe housing
conditions include landlord neglect and
overcrowding.
Low-income households disproportionately
experience severe housing problems. These
housing problems include physical defects to a unit,
overcrowded conditions, and housing cost burden.
According to the Department of Housing and
Community Development, approximately 80
percent of extremely low-income and 75 percent of
very low-income households in Hayward had one
or more housing problems.
Housing problems in Hayward disproportionately
affect households of color, as Hispanic/Latino (63
percent), Native American (62 percent), African
American (59 percent), and Asian/Pacific Islander
(52 percent) experienced the highest rates of
housing proble ms in the city, compared to 38
percent of non-Hispanic white households.
Age of Housing Stock. Age of housing stock is a
primary indicator of housing quality. Older housing
stock is more likely to contain pollutants such as
lead and asbestos. Additionally, as housing ages, the
quality of the original materials and infrastructure
may begin to deteriorate. Unless an older house is
regularly maintained, it is likely to decrease in
quality with time. In addition, older housing is likely to have been constructed using outdated
construction practices and obsolete materials that
have since been retired.
Additional General Plan Food Access Policies & Programs The following is a list of General Plan policies and programs included in the Health and Quality of Life (HQL) Element and support Environmental Justice Goal EJ-3.0.
HQL-3.1 Access to Healthy Foods
HQL-3.2 New Healthy Food Ventures
HQL-3.3 Healthy Corner Stores
HQL-3.4 Partnerships for Farmers Markets
HQL-3.5 Community Garden Target
HQL-3.6 Community Gardens in Multi-Family Housing
Developments
HQL-3.7 Support for School Gardens
HQL-3.8 Restrict Unhealthy Food Options
• Program HQL-3. Food Policy Task Force. The City shall work with Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign (HEAL) to develop and maintain a task force to advance healthy food options within the city.
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
September 2023 Page | 3-25
According to 2019 American Community Survey
(ACS) estimates, there are a total of 52,268 housing
units within the City of Hayward. Of these housing
units, only about 10 percent were built during the
year 2000 or later. Approximately 80 percent of the
housing stock within the City was built before 1990,
with most of the houses having been built between
1950 and 19 80. The housing stock’s older age
suggests that houses within the City may have
prevalent quality issues related to the structures’
age.
Housing Cost Burden. Cost burden is defined by
Title 24 Housing and Urban Development Code of
Federal Regulations Section 91.5 as “[t]he extent to
which gross housing costs, including utility costs,
exceed 30 percent of gross income, based on data
available from the U.S. Census Bureau.”
Households paying more than 30 percent of their
gross income on housing costs are considered cost
burdened, whereas households spending over 50
percent of housing costs are considered severely
cost burdened. According to the ACS, nearly half
of all renter households in the United States are
cost burdened.
According to 2018 CHAS estimates, approximately
40 percent of total households in Hayward were
cost burdened while another 17 percent were
severely cost burdened, Figure 6 depicts the
CalEnviroScreen 4.0 housing cost burden
percentile for neighborhoods in Hayward.
Communities in the central portion of the City tend
to have the highest percentiles for housing cost
burden, indicating that they rank higher than most
communities in California for this metric.
Overcrowding. The U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) defines an
overcrowded unit as one occupied by 1.01 persons
or more per room (excluding bathrooms and
kitchens). According to the ACS 5-Year Estimates
for 2019, 1 4 percent of units in Hayward were
considered overcrowded. For reference, the
statewide overcrowding percentage was 8.2
percent, while the percentage Alameda County was
7.2 percent. The percentage of overcrowded units
within Hayward is greater than the Statewide and
County average.
Overcrowding varies significantly by neighborhood
in Hayward. There are several areas within
Hayward that exceed the statewide average for the
percentage of overcrowded households (8.2
percent). Within the Harder Tennyson
neighborhood there are a significantly higher
number of overcrowded rooms than the rest of the
City, with some portions of the neighborhood
having 38.6 percent of residents that live in
overcrowded conditions . Figure 7 shows the
disparity in overcrowded households in the City.
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
Page | 3-26 September 2023
Figure 6 Housing Cost Burden in Hayward
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
September 2023 Page | 3-27
Figure 7 Overcrowding in Hayward
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
Page | 3-28 September 2023
GOAL EJ-4.0
Support the health of Hayward residents by ensuring that living conditions and housing quality in the City are safe for habitation.
Policies
Policy EJ-4.1. Housing Cost Burden
Support the development of a variety of housing types and levels of affordability by implementing the programs and policies outlined within the 6th Cycle Housing Element. (Source: Housing Element Programs H-3, H-4, H-5, H- 6, H-7, H-8, H-9, H-10, H-11, H-12, H-13, H-14, H-15, H-16, H-17, H-18, H-19, H-21, H-22, and H-23).
Policy EJ-4.2. Home Maintenance Programs
Promote home safety by developing public programs that subsidize home-maintenance projects for low-income residents and provide public resources for necessary home improvements. Include incentives for residents to add green infrastructure like rain gardens and tree canopy to their homes.
Policy EJ-4.3. Residential Rental Housing Inspection Program Maintain and expand the residential rental housing inspection program to improve housing conditions for vulnerable renters in Hayward. (Source: Housing Element Program H-2 and H-24) Policy EJ-4.4. Tenant’s Rights
Host quarterly workshops on the topic of tenant’s rights and the available programs to protect vulnerable renters.
City of Hayward Policy Document
September 2023 Page | 3-29
Additional General Plan Safe and Sanitary Homes Policies The following is a list of policies included in the Hayward 6th Cycle Housing Element supports implementation of Goal EJ-4.0.
H-1.2 Preserve Affordable Single-Family Housing
H-1.3 Residential Rehabilitation
H-1.4 Preserve At-Risk Units and Naturally
Occurring Affordable Housing
H-1.5 Funding for Accessibility Retrofits
H-2.2 Provide Incentives for Affordable Housing
H-2.6 Financial Assistance
H-5.1 Address Special Housing Needs
H-5.2 Housing for Supportive Services
H-5.4 Support Alameda County Continuum of Care
Council
H-5.5 Support Organizations Serving the Homeless
Community
H-5.6 Range of Housing for Seniors
H-5.7 Family Housing
H-5.8 Universal Design Standards
H-6.1 Fair Housing Services
H-6.2 Housing Discrimination
H-6.3 Rent Stabilization, Tenant Protections and Tenant Relocation Assistance
H-6.4 Fair Housing Outreach
H-6.6 Rental Assistance
H-6.7 Fair Chance Housing
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
Page | 3-30 September 2023
Goal 5 Physical Activity and Health
According to the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, lack of physical activity is associated
with increased levels of chronic disease, including
heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. The
environmental context within a community can
serve to promote or discourage levels of physical
activity for residents. Communities with adequate
access to open space, nutritious food, and
multimodal transportation are more hospitable to
physical activity and are therefore more likely to
have better health outcomes. L ower-income
communities tend to have decreased access to
those key contributors to physical activity, and thus
may be disproportionately impacted by the
externalities of physical inactivity.
Physical Fitness . According to the California
Health Interview Survey, the City of Hayward had
a lower percentage of adults (18 years and older)
meeting the recommended physical activity
guidelines in comparison to the County (Hayward
was 39 percent and Alameda County was 41
percent). The lower levels of physical activity
within Hayward may be due to a variety of factors,
including lack of active transportation
infrastructure or lack of recreational space.
Health Demographics . The following list
summarizes key health demographics for the
Hayward community.
• Obesity: According to the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention, the
reported percentage of obese adults in
Hayward was 25.5 percent. This statistic is
higher than the same metric for Alameda
County of 21.5 percent.
• Asthma: According to the California
Health Interview Survey, 17.5 percent of
children and teens in Hayward were
diagnosed with asthma between 2017 and
2018. This local statistic is 2 percent higher
than the same metric for Alameda County.
Data on asthma -related emergency
department visits by geographic area
indicates that the eastern portion of the
City has lower asthma -related emergency
department visits than the central and
western portion of the City.
• Cardiovascular Disease Death:
According to the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention, the
cardiovascular disease deaths (per 100,000
population) in Hayward were reported to
be 145.1. The same demographic for
Alameda County was reported to be
significantly higher at 169.6. This stat istic
indicates that health outcomes related to
cardiovascular disease in Hayward are
significantly better than County outcomes.
City of Hayward Policy Document
September 2023 Page | 3-31
GOAL EJ-5.0
Support the health of the diverse members of the Hayward community through a proactive approach to resident well-being.
Policies
Policy EJ-5.1 Asthma Awareness
Partner with the Alameda County Health Department and local health organizations to develop educational programs focused on asthma awareness, monitoring, and prevention. Inform the public about heightened local asthma risk by developing an asthma informational document identifying warning signs, prevention strategies, and County Public Health Department resources. Disseminate asthma informational documents broadly to residents of the City. Advocate for the Alameda County Health Department and Hayward Unifie d School District to facilitate an in-school asthma screening program.
Policy EJ-5.2 Firehouse Clinic Model
Increase access to health services by expanding the use of the Firehouse Clinic Model in Hayward to additional firehouse locations throughout the City, with priority given to locations in the central and western portion of the City.
Policy EJ-5.3 Clinic Shuttles
Support community health by developing a Clinic Shuttle program to provide subsidized on-demand access to intra-City clinics and health centers, especially those that offer subsidized care.
Policy EJ-5.4 Tree Canopy
Support active transportation by preserving existing and increasing tree canopy through implementation of an expanded urban greening initiative. [See CAP Programs CAP-CS 1.2, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 related to identification of and expansion of urban tree canopy, and updating the Tree Preservation Ordinance] Policy EJ-5.5 Public Recreation
Coordinate with the Hayward Area Recreation District to broaden outreach, availability and accessibility of public recreation programs to ensure there are opportunities for physical activity for all demographics in Hayward including the youth, senior citizens, and disabled residents.2 Policy EJ-5.6 Safe Routes to School
Continue to implement the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program at City schools and prioritize infrastructure improvements to bolster this initiative.
2 HQL
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
Page | 3-32 September 2023
Additional General Plan Health and Physical Activity Policies & Programs The following is a list of General Plan policies and programs included in the Health and Quality of Life (HQL) Element and support Environmental Justice Goal EJ-5.0.
HQL-1.1 Health in All Policies
HQL-1.3 Collaboration for Improved Health
HQL-1.4 Health Statistics
HQL-1.5 Health Events
HQL-1.6 Address Health Inequities
HQL-2.3 Education about Walking, Cycling, and
Using Public Transit
HQL-2.5 Safe Routes to School
HQL-8.1 Manage and Enhance Urban Forests
HQL-8.4 Urban Heat Island Effects
HQL-10.1 Parks and Recreation Master Plan
HQL-10.7 Parks Access
HQL-10.16 Public Facilities for Recreation
HQL-10.17 Neighborhood Involvement
HQL-11.1 Recreational Corridors
HQL-11.4 Trail Access for People with Disabilities
HQL-12.1 Recreation Activities for All People
HQL-12.2 After School Recreation Programs
HQL-12.3 Cultural and Ethnic Programs
HQL-12.4 Neighborhood Needs
HQL-12.5 Special Needs
HQL-12.6 Public Spaces
HQL-12.7 School Joint Use
HQL-12.8 Surveys
HQL-12.8 Private Recreation Facilities
• Program HQL-1: Healthy Community Program. The City shall partner with local health officials, planners, nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, hospitals, local health clinics, and community groups to conduct a study to identify strategies, programs, and practices that prioritize the overall health of Hayward residents and employees. Based on findings from the study, the City shall prepare and submit recommendations to the City Council on ways the City can prioritize community health and remove barriers to healthy living. • Program HQL-2. Healthy Development Checklist. The City shall develop a checklist of health strategies that could be incorporated into the design of discretionary development projects and plans. The City shall share this resource with project applicants to help them design their projects to promote community health. • Program HQL -5. Urban Forest Management Plan. The City shall develop and adopt an Urban Forest Management Plan.
• Program M-11. Pedestrian Master Plan. The City shall develop, adopt, and implement a Pedestrian Master Plan that includes a planned sidewalk system, pedestrian design standards, and implementation program. As part of the preparation of the Pedestrian Master Plan, the City shall review and incorporate (as appropriate) planned improvements and programs identified in the Alameda Countywide Pedestrian Plan that connect Hayward’s existing and planned pedestrian facilities to regional walking and bicycle facilities. The Pedestrian Master Plan shall include a Safe Routes to Schools Plan, an ADA Transition Plan, and strategies to improve pedestrian connections to parks, transit, and neighborhood commercial, and service uses.
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
August 2022 Page | 3-33
Goal 6 Civic Engagement
Community engagement is an integral component
of a general plan update. Equitable planning for a
community involves a comprehensive approach to
community engagement that enables all residents to
participate in the local decision -making process.
Marginalized communities have historically been
excluded from decision -making processes across
multiple levels of government. Senate Bill 1000
affirms that public agencies should develop future
community engagement programs in a manner that
involves environmental jus tice communities and
other protected classes. By involving and engaging
environmental justice communities in decision -
making processes, policymakers can effectively
meet the needs of all residents within their
jurisdiction.
Marginalized communities may have culturally or
demographically specific needs that must be
considered within local outreach strategy to ensure
community success. These needs include, but are
not limited to, language requirements, location
requirements, timing requirements and providing
childcare or other family services during meetings.
Equitable engagement strategies work to
sufficiently address the unique outreach needs of
marginalized and underrepresented populations
within an area. The following local demographics
are pertinent to facilitating equitable engagement in
Hayward.
• Language Isolation: According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, households that are
linguistically isolated are those households
where no person over the age of 14 speaks
English proficiently. The CalEnviroScreen
linguistic isolation metric indicates that
numerous neighborhoods in Hayward
have a household linguistic isolation
percentage of over 10 percent. The central
portion of Hayward had the highest rates
of linguistic isolation. Across the City, the
top three languages spoken besides
English are: Spanish, Tagalog and Chinese.
• Age Layout: Understanding the age
demographics within a community is
essential to the development of an
engagement strategy that reaches a broad
group of residents. Depending on the
distribution of age across a population,
different approaches to outreach and
community interaction should be
employed. The distribution of age
demographics across Hayward is relatively
consistent with State population trends for
age. In those neighborhoods with slightly
higher populations of persons over 65
years of age, traditional engag ement
strategies can be coupled with novel tools
to broaden the span of public engagement
efforts.
General Plan
City of Hayward Policy Document
Page | 3-34 September 2023
GOAL EJ-6.0 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
City governance is shaped by community input through equitable and accessible civic engagement practices.
Policies
Policy EJ-6.1. Language Access
To ensure equitable and accessible systems and practices, complete a comprehensive language access assessment and public outreach and public resource materials and translation in multiple languages as recommended by the assessment.
Policy EJ-6.2. Community Engagement
Host City led community engagement meetings at times and locations that are accessible to a diversity of community members including but not limited to hosting meetings at multiple timeslots, in varying locations and with translation services. Develop incentives, including but not limited to financial compensation, for community members and organizations' participation.
Policy EJ-6.3. Environmental Justice Communities
Develop an understanding of the unique needs of the varied neighborhoods in Hayward with elevated CalEnviroScreen scores, as amended, by hosting workshops and small meetings within the communities in order to identify community priorities, issues and if needed interventions.
Policy EJ-6.4. Dissemination Through Schools, Churches and Non-Profits Partner with HUSD, churches, non- profits and other local advocacy groups to develop and disseminate engagement materials for City meetings, workshops and other programming.
Policy EJ-6.5. Diversity Training
Require City staff to participate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training to ensure City staff understand the unique history of Hayward neighborhoods and communities and to foster equitable and informed interactions with all community members.