COUNCIL INFRASTRUCTURE & AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING
Hybrid Participation - Digital Zoom Meeting/Conference Room 2A
August 27, 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
• Sammy Lo, Senior Civil Engineer
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Bruce Dougie raised concerns about a gap in the bicycle lane at 561 A Street; staff explained that the implementation had been postponed because at the time A Street had been scheduled for repaving and that the fix would occur in the coming weeks. Tyler Dragoni emphasized the importance of preserving Skywest as valuable community open space, urging Council to prioritize long-term community benefit and legacy over tax revenue. Mary Clements, representing the Skywest HOA, thanked staff for improved mowing and tree maintenance but reported a growing trash problem caused by encampments on the property and requested more consistent patrols and cleanup efforts.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Approval of Minutes of the Council Infrastructure & Airport Committee held on June 25, 2025.
The item was moved by CM Andrews, seconded by CM Syrop, and approved unanimously.
REPORTS/ACTION ITEMS
Mayor Salinas announced that Item #3 would be heard before Item #2 to allow sufficient time for public comments, noting the large number of community members in attendance who wished to speak on the project.
3. Update on Interstate 880/A Street Interchange Improvement Project and Recommendation for Council to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Alameda County Transportation Commission to Advance the Project and Allocate $1,350,000 from Fund 212 (Measure BB Local Transportation) to the Project
Director of Public Works Ameri provided a synopsis of the staff report, followed by a PowerPoint presentation from Principal Transportation Engineer Tang. Mr. Tang also introduced Jhay Delos Reyes and Gary Sidhu from the Alameda County Transportation Commission.
Public Comments
There were none.
CM Andrews questioned the project prioritization under LATIP, asking which projects ranked higher and requesting accident data comparisons. She cautioned against committing funds if other projects were more urgent.
CM Syrop emphasized the need to include Tennyson Road on the LATIP priority list due to safety issues and past fatalities, requesting a written statement from Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) regarding Tennyson Road. He also asked whether lighting improvements would be a part of the design.
Mayor Salinas recalled 2010 discussions that prioritized the Whipple Road, Industrial Blvd, and Winton Road interchanges because of congestion and coordination with Union City. He stressed that Tennyson Road has been a long-standing concern and should not be overlooked.
2. Ruus Road Complete Street Project
Director of Public Works Ameri provided a synopsis of the staff report and Senior Transportation Engineer Woodward presented a PowerPoint presentation.
Public Comments
Several residents raised concerns about safety, parking, and traffic impacts. Maria Banda, Lorraine Bowles, and Paul Bowles noted low bike usage, risks to children and seniors, and potential loss of residential parking. Maria Silva and Glenn Ocal highlighted potential safety hazards for elderly and disabled residents. Peggy Faragganan emphasized the importance of accessible parking for multi- generational families. Jovany Vargas expressed concerns regarding increased truck traffic on Ruus Road and questioned the effectiveness of the proposed changes given current low bike usage. Bruce Dughi, Tyler Dragoni, Alejandra Wahl, and Carl Gorringe expressed strong support for the project, highlighting cyclist safety, climate benefits, and the creation of a connected bike network. Tyler Dragoni and Alejandra Wahl emphasized the right-of-way and prioritizing human safety over parking. Carl Gorringe praised the two-way bike lane design, continuous protection, and suggested minor adjustments to buffer space while endorsing the overall plan. Tyler Dragoni additionally commended the City for pursuing grant funding to support the project.
CM Andrews acknowledged the challenges of balancing pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, and residents’ quality of life. She thanked the public for sharing their concerns and emphasized prioritizing pedestrian safety, particularly at intersections where conflicts and incidents are most common. CM Andrews praised project elements such as high-visibility crosswalks and protected intersections and encouraged continuation of these efforts citywide. She also expressed interest in exploring speed humps where feasible, as well as additional flashing beacons, to help slow traffic
and improve safety. Finally, she noted concern regarding potential lane reductions. While supportive of bike lanes in general, she stated she would not support bike lanes for this particular section but expressed interest in reviewing other sections or opportunities for bike lanes.
CM Syrop thanked staff for their work and noted strong neighborhood opposition, particularly to the bike lanes. He asked if funding for pedestrian improvements like crosswalks or lights is tied to including bike lanes and emphasized using injury data to guide decisions. CM Syrop stressed the need for better outreach, as previous surveys underrepresented community concerns. He recommended advancing the project for full Council discussion so representatives from nearby neighborhoods can weigh in. While supportive of bike infrastructure for safety and City benefits, he prioritized resident input and safety, especially for students, and encouraged continued community engagement.
CM Andrews asked whether the City could advocate for pedestrian improvements at the crosswalk and intersections through the Caltrans grant even if the bike lanes are not implemented, ensuring the project stays on the funding list. She also asked about alternative ways to improve bicycle safety, such as higher-visibility markings, and suggested using larger, central locations for additional public outreach.
CM Syrop added that if the project is brought to the full Council, it would be important to clarify whether pedestrian and lighting improvements would be impacted if bike lanes are not included, noting potential funding implications.
Mayor Salinas acknowledged strong neighborhood concerns and emphasized balancing community feedback with long-term safety and mobility goals. He called for additional community input and suggested another meeting to capture broader perspectives. He reaffirmed the City’s Complete Streets policy as a long-term safety and accessibility vision, while noting neighborhood resistance to its implementation. He also announced the upcoming Hayward Rides program, which will provide bicycles to middle and high school students, stressing the need for infrastructure to support future riders. He agreed with CM Syrop that the full Council’s input should be heard on this matter.
The item was moved by Council member Syrop, seconded by Mayor Salinas, and approved unanimously for recommendation to Council.
STAFF ORAL REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Main Streets Complete Streets
2. East Bay Greenway Update
3. Mission Blvd Pilot Project Update
4. HIN Phase 1: Road Safety Audit Report
5. Hayward Rides
6. Outreach at Backpack Giveaway
7. Dollar Street/Harder Road Congestion Update
Public Comments
Bruce Dughi and Tyler Dragoni expressed strong support for the City’s bicycle initiatives, including the Hayward Rides program and the East Bay Greenway. Bruce Dughi highlighted safety concerns on Silva and Sycamore Streets, noting they are difficult for cyclists of all ages. Tyler Dragoni praised the Main Street Complete Streets project, encouraged continuous regional bike infrastructure, supported traffic calming at the Mission Blvd. loop, and noted inconsistencies in bike lane striping on Dollar Street and Harder Road.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Discuss Topics for October Agenda
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS
Mayor Salinas announced that the Hayward Executive Airport Open House will be held on Sunday, September 21st, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. He noted that the event is impressive, attracting around 5,000 attendees, and features airplanes, flight school programs for youth, and opportunities for young people as early as 15 or 16 years of age to begin training toward a pilot’s license.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Salinas adjourned the meeting at 7:56p.m.
MEETINGS
Attendance Present
8/27/25
Meeting
Present
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Excuse
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Absent
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Angela Andrews ✓ 10 0 0
Mark Salinas ✓ 10 0 0
George Syrop ✓ 10 0 0