COUNCIL INFRASTRUCTURE & AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING
Hybrid Participation - Digital Zoom Meeting/Conference Room 2A
June 25, 2025
5:30 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chair Salinas.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present:
• Angela Andrews, City Council Member
• George Syrop, City Council Member
• Mark Salinas, Mayor/ Chair
Staff Present:
• Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
• Amber Parras, Senior Secretary
• Byron Tang, Principal Transportation Engineer
• Lucas Woodward, Senior Transportation Engineer
• Manvi Nigam, Transportation Planner with Fehr & Peers • Michael Lawson, Acting City Manager
• Sammy Lo, Senior Civil Engineer
• Vadim Sidelnikov, Assistant City Attorney
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Several community members, including Hayward residents, youth leaders, and conservation professionals, voiced support for preserving the Skywest site as open green space. Speakers emphasized the growing community backing, including over 1,700 petition signatures, and highlighted the ecological value of the site as habitat for sensitive species like the western pond turtle. Concerns were raised about the environmental and health impacts of nearby development and airport operations, particularly jet fuel emissions and noise. Youth speakers from Arroyo High School stressed the importance of protecting the site for future generations and ensuring young voices are heard in City decisions. Suggestions included pursuing conservation grant opportunities and using Skywest to balance impacts from large developments like the future Amazon Center. A member from the Alameda County Resource Conservation District also expressed interest in partnering with the City to protect the space. In response, staff noted that Skywest can be placed on a future Council Committee agenda so that additional information regarding ownership and land- use restrictions could be provided.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Approval of Minutes of the Council Infrastructure & Airport Committee held on April 23, 2025.
The item was moved by CM Andrews, seconded by CM Syrop, and approved unanimously.
REPORTS/ACTION ITEMS
2. Proposed Updates to the Sidewalk Maintenance and Repair Ordinance
Director of Public Works Ameri introduced Assistant City Attorney Sidelnikov, who provided a synopsis of the staff report.
CM Andrews asked whether the City is aware of any grants or programs available to assist property owners with sidewalk repair costs. Assistant City Attorney Sidelnikov responded that while no grants are currently known, several neighboring cities have adopted programs like 50/50 cost- sharing and hardship-based assistance. He compiled a list of comparable models for Council’s consideration and added that staff had consulted with the City’s insurance partners, who indicated ordinances of this kind are common and unlikely to affect homeowner insurance rates.
Director of Public Works Ameri noted that the City has a strong sidewalk repair program, and approximately $1.7 million has been allocated for repairs, as approved at the prior evening’s City Council meeting. He emphasized that while the City is making a significant contribution, property owners are still responsible for part of the costs.
CM Syrop asked if the ordinance places full sidewalk maintenance responsibility on property owners and whether they can access discounted City services or hire their own contractor. CM Andrews asked if the City could be held liable for recommending a contractor. CM Syrop expressed concern about the financial risk to property owners if full liability for sidewalk-related injuries rests with them, noting this seems to be the case under the current ordinance. He also asked if there would be outreach to inform homeowners about the update. He requested a rough fiscal estimate for a potential hardship program to support low-income homeowners, citing data that 9% of Hayward owner-occupied households earn under $35,000 annually and 23% are considered low- income. While not all would qualify or need assistance, he emphasized the importance of understanding the program’s potential cost as City Council deliberates.
Mayor Salinas commented that, since the City is aligning its sidewalk maintenance ordinance with State legislation, it may be helpful to include a paragraph or some language explaining the origin of the ordinance and its connection to State law.
Public Comments
There were none.
3. California Air Resources Board Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Project - Status Update
Director of Public Works Ameri provided a synopsis of the staff report and Lucas Woodward presented a PowerPoint presentation.
CM Syrop inquired whether the program is limited to K–12 schools, noting that previous discussions about improving safety around Cal State East Bay, particularly on Hayward Boulevard, would require separate funding. He raised concerns about Hayward Unified School District’s projected deficit and the possibility of school closures, asking whether staff had coordinated with the district to avoid investing in sites that may soon be inactive. While supportive of the overall plans, he emphasized that if student safety is the primary goal, the rollout should consider potential campus closures. He also noted the minimal proposed improvements at Winton Middle School and
asked whether further design enhancements could be made. CM Syrop asked if there is a timeline for when the community can expect to see some of the proposed improvements implemented.
Mayor Salinas commented that the intersection of Winton Avenue and Soto Road is a major and busy intersection and emphasized that any enhancements the City can implement there would be greatly appreciated.
CM Andrews expressed enthusiasm about the planned traffic circle at Miami Avenue and Melbourne Avenue, recalling a prior request that was initially denied due to space constraints. She asked whether changes in traffic circle requirements made the installation feasible now. CM Andrews also inquired about traffic safety near schools located on major streets, citing Moreau Catholic High School on Mission Boulevard as an example. She asked if there are known safety concerns in that area given the volume of students crossing to nearby shopping centers.
Mayor Salinas suggested that the Safe Routes to Schools presentation could also be shared with the Hayward Local Agency Committee (HLAC) to help clarify which schools are involved, noting that the listed schools appear to have strong attendance records. He emphasized that safe routes involve more than infrastructure improvements like paint and sidewalks; it also includes maintaining clean and walkable paths, highlighting the issue of illegal dumping around some school areas. Mayor Salinas acknowledged ongoing efforts by the City’s Maintenance Services team to address these concerns.
Acting City Manager Lawson proposed also presenting the information to the Hayward Youth Commission.
Public Comments
Jennifer Trevis, from the Alameda County Resource Conservation District, shared that she is working with the County Clean Water Program to organize volunteer trash cleanup events. She offered to host a future event, potentially on a Saturday evening, and noted that these efforts typically engage high school students and local community members, including commuters.
4. Vision Zero Update: Speed Management Plan
Director of Public Works Ameri provided a synopsis of the staff report, followed by a PowerPoint presentation from Principal Transportation Engineer Tang, who also introduced Manvi Nigam, a Transportation Planner with Fehr & Peers.
CM Andrews commended staff for their report and inquired about how the Downtown Specific Plan aligns with the Speed Management Plan. She referenced a previous consultant recommendation regarding a potential two-way conversion of B Street and noted that additional factors, such as input from the Alameda County Transportation Commission, could influence solutions for downtown and plaza area streets. She also raised concerns about increased traffic on Whitman Street, which many residents use as an alternative to the congested Mission Boulevard. CM Andrews asked whether the plan accounts for the impact on surrounding neighborhood streets and what strategies are being considered to minimize traffic spillovers.
CM Syrop commended staff for their clear and thoughtful presentation, particularly the final map highlighting priority streets exceeding speed thresholds. He expressed interest in seeing that map overlaid with collision and KSI data to better inform prioritization efforts. CM Syrop supported the overall approach, describing it as logical and well-structured; he appreciated the plan's strategic method for identifying which streets need interventions and emphasized the importance of using this data to guide future traffic-calming measures.
Public Comments
There were none.
STAFF ORAL REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Main Street Complete Streets Project Decorative Crosswalk Options
Director of Public Works Ameri provided an update on the Main Street project in downtown Hayward, followed by a PowerPoint presentation, and introduced Senior Civil Engineer Sammy Lo, the project manager.
Council Members Andrews and Syrop expressed strong support for the ongoing Main Street project and commended staff for the improvements already visible in the downtown area. CM Andrews asked whether staff had consulted with the Downtown Hayward Improvement Association (DHIA) on the proposed crosswalk design concepts and emphasized the importance of community input.
She acknowledged cost concerns but encouraged exploring options that include color, noting the positive visual impact of the colorful crosswalk near the library. She ranked full color as her top preference, followed by a mixed color-and-white design, with black and white as the least preferred. CM Syrop also emphasized the need to balance beautification with safety, expressing concern that some designs did not clearly resemble crosswalks. He supported the sparing use of color to enhance visibility and suggested exploring additional designs that incorporate natural elements.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
5. Proposed Agenda Planning Calendar: Review and Comment
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS
CM Syrop announced upcoming family-friendly community events, including the South Hayward Market on Saturday evening at 680 W. Tennyson and the Stack Centers/Feed and Youth and Family Center from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, as well as the Hayward Night Market at Saint Rose from 4:00 to 8:30 PM, featuring giveaways, live music, and food vendors.
CM Andrews praised the Maintenance Department for their effective management of street closures, specifically recognizing Paul Lewis for his efforts, and reminded residents about the Keep Hayward Clean and Green Commission cleanup event scheduled for Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Eden Greenway Park.
Senior Transportation Engineer Woodward provided updates on two projects: the Mission Boulevard downtown striping project, which will pilot on-street parking in one lane and is moving toward contract execution with ongoing outreach planned; and the Industrial Parkway paving
project, involving new bike facilities and related parking changes, where a mailer with a corrected email address was sent to residents to invite public comments, complemented by QR code access, with efforts continuing to ensure community awareness.
CM Andrews commented that she really liked the QR codes used in the downtown area and asked whether similar outreach methods such as signage could be implemented for more intensive projects in high-profile areas with heavy pedestrian traffic. She also suggested distributing flyers or posters to local coffee shops along the corridor, noting that while there aren’t many on Industrial Parkway, it could still be an effective way to reach the community.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Salinas adjourned the meeting at 6:46p.m.
MEETINGS
Attendance Present
6/25/25
Meeting
Present
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Excuse
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Absent
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Angela Andrews ✓ 9 0 0
Mark Salinas ✓ 9 0 0
George Syrop ✓ 9 0 0