CITY COUNCIL MEETING
777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Council Chambers
https://hayward.zoom.us/i/84339434897?pwd=EtBuasxoFHuP1HbVASDd2DKRmaEU2M.1 CALIFORNA Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
The City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Salinas at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Pledge of Allegiance: Council Member Goldstein
ROLL CALL
Present: COUNCIL MEMBERS Andrews, Bonilla Jr., Goldstein, Roche, Syrop, Zermeño MAYOR Salinas
Absent: NONE
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT
The City Council convened in closed session on March 4, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., with all members present and no public speakers, regarding one item: 1) Conference with legal counsel pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (d)(2) regarding anticipated litigation, one case. City Attorney Lawson indicated the City Council discussed the item, gave direction to staff, but otherwise took no reportable action.
PRESENTATION
Mayor Salinas read a proclamation declaring March 2025 as American Red Cross Month and presented it to the American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region Alameda County Leadership Council. Mr. Michael Gregory, American Red Cross Board Director, accepted the proclamation, and shared information about blood donors in Hayward. Mr. Anton Ghosh, American Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteer, provided an overview of the American Red Cross's emergency response efforts in Hayward.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jose Riquelme, a longtime Hayward resident, raised concerns about the increasing number of street food vendors in the city; and emphasized the need for oversight to maintain the city's appearance and public safety.
T], with Hayward Concerned Citizens, expressed appreciation for the Council Infrastructure and Airport Committee's handling of discussions on traffic calming projects; and urged the City Council to support the Hayward Unified School District with current challenges.
Carl Gorringe, Sun Gallery Board member and treasurer, highlighted the Gallery's 50th Anniversary and upcoming art events while expressing concern over a financial shortfall; urged all to explore solutions for supporting the arts; and raised concerns about potential federal budget cuts.
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
City Manager Dr. Ana Alvarez announced the appointment of Sharif Etman as Hayward's Interim Finance Director, indicating Mr. Etman brings 20 years of public sector finance experience, having previously served as a senior finance advisor at Regional Government Services. Finance Director Etman expressed his gratitude for joining the team and emphasized his commitment to maintaining financial integrity and excellence.
City Manager Dr. Ana Alvarez made five announcements: 1) the opening of HomeGoods on February 27, 2025, located on Mission Boulevard; 2) the Hayward Youth Commission recruitment with a deadline to apply of May 9, 2025, and encouraged young residents to apply; 3) the special City Council meeting on March 8, 2025, to discuss the City's Strategic Priorities; 4) the Hayward State of the City Address by Mayor Salinas on March 11, 2025, at the Hayward Unified School District Performing Arts Center; and 5) the Stack Center Phase I ribbon cutting ceremony on March 14, 2025, located on Ruus Road.
CONSENT
1. Approve the City Council Minutes of the Meeting on February 18, 2025 MIN 25-028 It was moved by Council Member Goldstein, seconded by Council Member Roche, and carried unanimously, to adopt the City Council meeting minutes of February 18, 2025.
2. Adopt a Resolution Appointing a City of Hayward Representative to the Boards of Directors of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, and the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority
Staff report submitted by Public Works Director Ameri, dated March 4, 2025, was filed.
It was moved by Council Member Goldstein, seconded by Council Member Roche, and carried unanimously, to adopt the resolution.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS Andrew, Bonilla Jr., Goldstein, Roche, Syrop, Zermeño
MAYOR Salinas
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Resolution 25-028, "Resolution Appointing the City's Representative to the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency and the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority"
2| March 4.2025
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Council Chambers
https://hayward.zoom.us/j/84339434897?pwd=EtBuasxoFHuP1HbVASDd2DKRmaEU2M.1 CALIFORNA Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
3. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Sherwood Design Engineers in a Not-To-Exceed Amount of $600,000 for Preliminary Design Services for the Nature Based Solution Feasibility Study Project at the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF), Project No. 07809 in Fund 612 Sewer Improvement Fund
Staff report submitted by Public Works Director Ameri, dated March 4, 2025, was filed.
It was moved by Council Member Goldstein, seconded by Council Member Roche, and carried unanimously, to adopt the resolution.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS Andrew, Bonilla Jr., Goldstein, Roche, Syrop, Zermeño
MAYOR Salinas
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Resolution 25-029, "Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Sherwood Design Engineers for the Preliminary Design of Nature Based Solutions at the WRRF in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $600,000"
Council Member Andrews thanked the City Council for appointing her as the City's Representative to the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency and the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority.
LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS
4. City Commissions: Council Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations on the Structure, Roles, and Uniform Operations of City Commissions; and Introduction of Ordinance Amending the Hayward Municipal Code, Relating to the Community Services Commission, and finding that the Action is Exempt from CEQA Review (Report from Assistant Cit Manager Youngblood, City Attorney Lawson, and City Clerk Lens) LB 25-001 Staff report submitted by Assistant City Manager Youngblood, City Attorney Lawson, and City Clerk Lens, dated March 4, 2025, was filed
Assistant City Manager Youngblood provided a synopsis of the staff report.
Discussion ensued among members of the City Council and City staff, and the following clarifications were made: the City Council Ad Hoc Committee (comprising Chair Roche and Council Members Andrews and Bonilla Jr.) met multiple times between June and February and held a public meeting in November where commissioners provided feedback, which was incorporated into the final recommendations; a two-and-a-half-term limit accommodates midterm appointments while maintaining the overall term limit of ten years; vacancies on the Community Services Commission (CSC) would be filled through attrition rather than new appointments; the Clean and Green Commission was proposed to reduce from 30 to 18 members, and not 11 similar to the CSC, because the work is labor-intensive, requiring more members for outreach and cleanup events, and the group rarely encountered contentious votes that would require an odd number for tiebreakers; a recent resignation on the Clean and Green Commission would bring the commission's membership down to 15, necessitating recruitment to fill vacancies; and the staff report includes proposed language on performance criteria for commissioners, emphasizing professional behavior, adherence to training and statutory requirements, and maintaining decorum during meetings.
Mayor Salinas opened the public hearing at 7:46 p.m.
Hayward Youth Commissioner Josue Barrera praised the proposed item and suggested improvements, including collaboration with neighboring City commissions to expand the reach of youth events and pooling resources for greater impact; and recommended creating an annual public forum where community members could provide input on the Hayward Youth Commission's focus areas rather than limiting topics to internal discussions.
Hayward Youth Commissioner Elisabet Barrera proposed increased engagement between City Council members and the Hayward Youth Commission to better understand City Council priorities; and suggested sending Youth Commission members to local schools to promote the commission's work and encourage youth participation in shaping City initiatives.
Kee Hayward Clean and Green Task Force (KHCGTF) Vice Chair Tom Ferreira thanked the American Red Cross for its service and spoke in support of making the KHCGTF a formal commission; and emphasized that the change would help stabilize membership, bring in new ideas, and improve participation in City clean-up efforts.
Mayor Salinas closed the public hearing at 7:52 p.m.
Council Member Bonilla Jr. expressed support for the Hayward Youth Commission's ideas, particularly collaboration with neighboring commissions and leveraging partnerships with the Hayward Unified School District to increase youth engagement; encouraged peer-to-peer recruitment efforts; and urged City Council members to observe Haward Youth Commission meetings to better understand youth perspectives.
Council Member Roche thanked fellow Council Ad Hoc Committee members and City staff for their work in refining commission guidelines; highlighted the extensive public input received nd exnressed h
nd expressed hope that the recommedation for uld provided it sendardiat io 4| March 4.2025
CLOF HAVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Council Chambers
https://hayward.zoom.us/j/84339434897?pwd=EtBuasxoFHuP1HbVASDd2DKRmaEU2M.1 CALIFORNA Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
formalizing the Keep Hayward Clean and Green Task Force into a commission.
Council Member Roche moved the item and Council Member Bonilla Jr. seconded the motion.
Council Member Andrews commended City staff and fellow Council Ad Hoc Committee members for their efforts in keeping the process organized and ensuring legal and historical considerations were addressed; acknowledged the contributions of the Library and Planning Commissions in shaping best practices; and expressed enthusiasm for the Clean and Green Commission's new official status.
Council Member Syrop praised the Council Ad Hoc Committee's work but raised concerns about restrictions on council members providing input to commissions; supported the Keep Hayward Clean and Green Task Force becoming a Clean and Green Commission; encouraged the Clean and Green Commission to help neighborhoods organize independent cleanup efforts; accepted the reduction of the Community Services Commission (CS) membership indicating quorum was difficult was meet and with less members a deeper level of engagement might be achieved; encouraged to explore how to provide more value with the CSC; and offered an amendment to the motion that would modify underlined language in the handbook, "When acting as private residents, commissioners should not use their title or position when advocating for issues outside the scope of their commission's work," with softer language that would allow commissioners to identify themselves when speaking in a personal capacity while ensuring they do not misrepresent their commissions.
Council Member Roche and Council Member Bonilla Jr. were amenable to having the City Attorney fine-tune recommended language.
Council Member Zermeño supported the recommendations, highlighting their potential to improve efficiency and create a more rewarding experience for commissioners.
Council Member Goldstein supported the motion and appreciated the work that went into establishing guidelines and encouraging members to be proud of accomplishments; and supported commissioners advocating ideas outside their commissions' scope while disclosing their personal views do not represent the commissions' views they serve on Mayor Salinas commended City staff and the Council Ad Hoc Committee members for their efforts related to the recommendations.
It was moved by Council Member Roche, seconded by Council Member Bonilla Ir., and carried unanimously, to adopt the resolutions.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS Andrew, Bonilla Jr., Goldstein, Roche, Syrop, Zermeño
MAYOR Salinas
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Resolution 25-030, "Resolution Adopting Recommendations of the City Council's Ad Hoc Committee on the Structure, Roles, and Uniform Idministration of City Commissions, Specifically Adopting Uniforn ruidance for the Operation of All City Commissions, Implementing Updates to the City Council's Appointed Officials Handbook, and Approving Conversion of the Keep Hayward Clean and Green Task Force to the Clean and Green Commission"
Introduction of Ordinance 25- → "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Hayward Amending Sections 2-3.90, Et Seq., of the Hayward Municipal Code, Relating to the Community Services Commission; and Finding that the Action is Exempt from CEQA Review"
COUNCIL REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Zermeño invited all to celebrate Hayward's 149th birthday at City Hall Plaza on March 11, 2025, for a Happy Birthday sing-along; and recommended the formation of a committee to help plan for the 150th anniversary.
Mayor Salinas announced that he would be delivering the annual State of the City Address on March 11, 2025, at the Hayward Unified School District Performing Arts Center; and extended an invitation to all.
COUNCIL REFERRALS
There were none.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Salinas adjourned the City Council meeting at 8:15 p.m. 6 March 4.2025
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Council Chambers
https://hayward.zoom.us/j/84339434897?pwd=EtBuasxoFHuP1HbVASDd2DKRmaEU2M.1 CALIFORNIA Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
APPROVED
ML I
Mark Salinas
Mayor, City of Hayward
ATTEST:
anticine bein
Miriam Lens
City Clerk, City of Hayward