SHOP HAY KING SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING 777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Conference Room 2A
https://hayward.zoom.us/j/89035344977?pwd=EBkBAEHijFNUqSZzyXZRF3Lx20K6WQ.1 CALIFORNA Saturday, March 8, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
The special City Council Work Session meeting was called to order by Mayor Salinas at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room 2A.
Pledge of Allegiance: Council Member Bonilla Jr.
ROLL CALL
Present: COUNCIL MEMBERS Andrews, Bonilla Jr., Goldstein, Roche, Syrop, Zermeño MAYOR Salinas
Absent: NONE
SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Lawson announced the City had received information about an incident requiring a City Council closed session. Pursuant to Government Code Sections 54954.2(b)(2) and 54957, moved by Council Member Syrop, seconded by Council Member Zermeño, and unanimously approved, the City Council convened in closed session at 9:05 a.m. The City Council discussed the matter and adjourned the closed session at 9:10 a.m.
Mayor Salinas reconvened the special City Council Work Session meeting at 9:10 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were none.
WORK SESSION
1. Hayward's Strategic Roadmap Fiscal Year 2024-25: Strategic Planning Work Session Part 1 (Report from City Manager Dr. Ana M. Alvarez)
City Manager Dr. Alvarez announced the item and introduced Assistant to City Manager Thomas who gave an overview of the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Strategic Roadmap Midyear review focusing on operational highlights and accomplishments, noting the work session was the first of two sessions, with the second scheduled in April 2025. Assistant to City Manager Thomas noted that 18 projects have been completed, 28 are in progress—including initiatives such as citywide charging facilities and an employee onboarding program—and ten are on hold due to funding or staffing constraints; added that new City dashboard - Strategic Roadmap Dashboard - is being developed to track project progress in real time, featuring status indicators and quarterly updates from staff, with a planned launch by June 2025; and added that the second work session will include further review of accomplishments, a discussion of City Council priorities aligned with the Strategic Roadmap, and feedback collection through a pre-survey.
Council Member Zermeño requested that the icon for the Cultivate Vibrant Neighborhoods priority be changed.
Public Works Director Ameri, Human Resources Director Frye, Police Chief Matthews, Maintenance Services Director Rullman, Development Services Director Buizer, Assistant City Manager Youngblood, Interim Finance Director Etman, Fire Chief Vollmer, Information Technology Director Kostrzak, Library Director Addleman, City Clerk Lens, City Attorney Lawson, Assistant City Manager Claussen, and City Manager Dr. Alvarez presented on their departmental Fiscal Year 2024-25 Strategic Roadmap projects, provided an update on accomplishments, and highlighted priorities for the next fiscal year:
Members of the City Council sought updates on key Public Works projects; sought clarification on executive training, hiring metrics, recruitment process, compensation philosophy, and workforce programs; sought updates on Police wellness programs, mental health response, school safety, recruitment, and crime prevention strategies; sought updates on Maintenance Services projects; discussed street vending enforcement, rental housing protections, multi- family smoking ban, and the shoreline; sought updates on the Finance Department's leadership transition, the City's budget and use or reserves, procurement assessment, and automation improvements; discussed expanding emergency preparedness, sustaining the Hayward Evaluation And Response Teams (HEART) program, and addressing wildfire and earthquake risks; discussed IT cybersecurity, Access Hayward, process automation, and digital infrastructure improvements; discussed public safety at the libraries, programming at Heritage Plaza, and the role of the Library as a community resource; and discussed rising insurance costs, and legal expenditures.
Members of the City Council suggested improvements in infrastructure, public safety, and sustainability; emphasized wildfire preparedness through closer coordination between Public Works and Fire departments; recommended monitoring regional bicycle lane and road safety projects to refine local efforts; advocated for better street lighting, particularly on Tennyson Road, citing safety concerns; highlighted affordability challenges in transitioning to electric water heaters for low-income communities; suggested incorporating more Human Resources metrics into future reports to track hiring efficiency and retention efforts; encouraged closer coordination between Human Resources and departments to formalize an internship program and ensure structured management of interns; proposed creating a City-run career center to provide residents with direct access to government job opportunities; emphasized using Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) metrics to refine recruitment strategies and ensure inclusive hiring practices; stressed the importance of tracking adherence to the City's compensation philosophy to ensure consistency while allowing necessary flexibility; encouraged leveraging county resources to reduce the burden on City staff for mental health crisis response; suggested expanding school safety initiatives and strengthening police-school partnerships; recommended refining lateral hiring strategies to minimize training costs while ensuring high standards; advocated for increased use of policing data to improve efficiency, transparency, and liability reduction; suggested exploring a structured plan to increase police presence in downtown; supported expanding technology investments, including potential upgrades to mobile data terminals; suggested refining how homelessness-related requests are categorized and resolved to better track progress; recommended collecting a list of potential 2| March 8.2025
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING
777 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541
Conference Room 2A
https://hayward.zoom.us/j/89035344977?pwd=EBkBAEHijFNUqSZzyXZRF3Lx2oK6WQ.1 CALIFORNA Saturday, March 8, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
crosswalk designs for artistic improvements; encouraged enhancing the old City Hall's aesthetics with floodlight to emphasize it as a public art piece; proposed exploring a land swap with the school district to expand the City courtyard; recommended assessing the long-term need for additional compact street sweepers as bike lane networks grow; emphasized the importance of succession planning; recommended stricter enforcement of street vending laws; suggested reevaluating enforcement strategies to ensure resources are used effectively; proposed exploring ways to integrate street vendors into the local economy; suggested stronger partnerships with businesses to address vandalism costs; recommended working with Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) to promote rental housing workshops for families at risk of displacement; proposed scheduling Code Enforcement officers for evening and weekend shifts to better manage street vending issues; encouraged advocacy at the state and county levels to clarify sidewalk vending regulations and support local enforcement efforts; emphasized the need for financial efficiency and modernization; supported avoiding reliance on reserves and ensuring liquidity for future needs; stressed the importance of reviewing City- owned properties to maximize financial benefits; urged integrating financial systems citywide to improve automation and data tracking; encouraged continued focus on budget discipline and process improvements and modernizing procurement procedures; suggested gradually expanding the HEART program in a sustainable way rather than moving directly to 24/7 operations; proposed prioritizing emergency preparedness; recommended improved collaboration between departments on fire safety infrastructure in hillside areas; emphasized the need to involve schools and businesses in emergency response planning; suggested increasing public awareness of fire monitoring apps to enhance early warnings; suggested expanding Al across departments while ensuring thoughtful implementation; recommended streamlining online permitting to enhance user experience; urged prioritizing process automation and integrating financial systems for greater efficiency; proposed exploring alternative funding for fiber expansion through public-private partnerships; suggested stronger coordination between the Library, public safety departments, and community organizations to address ongoing security challenges; recommended formalizing a safety plan in collaboration with the Council Public Safety Committee to ensure the Library remains a safe and accessible space; suggested reviewing library hours to explore whether evening shifts could better serve the community; encouraged partnerships with external organizations, such as the Downtown Hayward Improvement Association, to help program events at the Heritage Plaza; proposed a unified system for coordinating meeting space access across different agencies; emphasized the importance of collaboration with HUSD to expand library services beyond City-run branches; suggested continued public outreach to raise awareness of library resources and technological services; suggested evaluating whether adjusting deductibles or self-insured retention levels could mitigate the financial impact of increasing insurance premiums; recommended continued scrutiny of the legal budget to ensure that rising costs do not create unforeseen financial burden; emphasized the need for broader advocacy at the state level to address unsustainable insurance costs for municipalities; encouraged continued engagement with legal networks to anticipate potential lawsuits or regulatory changes that could affect Hayward; urged continued focus on proactively resolving legal challenges to minimize future risks; suggested evaluating retail centers in each district to create local economic hubs; stressed the need for a balanced approach to public safety, maintenance, and public art; and urged stronger partnerships with external agencies, such as AC Transit, to share responsibilities for infrastructure upkeep.
Members of the City Council thanked City staff for their work and commitment to the community through their service.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Salinas adjourned the special City Council Work Session at 2:20 p.m.
APPROVED
ML.
Mark Salinas
Mayor, City of Hayward
ATTEST:
U. umäm en
Miriam Lens
City Clerk, City of Hayward
4| March 8.2025