SPECIAL JOINT HARD BOARD & COUNCIL INFRASTRUCTURE & AIRPORT COMMITTEE
MEETING
Hybrid Participation - Digital Zoom Meeting/Conference Room 2A February 5, 2026
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
• Dave Hung, Acting Deputy Director of Public Works – Engineering • Jennifer Ott, City Manager
• Sammy Lo, Senior Civil Engineer
HARD Staff Present:
• Dwayne Taylor, Director of Park & Facilities Maintenance • Jim Wheeler, General Manager
• Lou Andrade, HARD Board Member
• Meghan Tiernan, Capital Planning & Development Director • Sara Lamin, HARD Board President
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mary Clements, representing the Skywest HOA, reported that the front pond near the maintenance building is nearly dry, raising concerns about wildlife such as turtles and ducks potentially being stranded, and requested staff to look into the situation.
Mayor Salinas clarified that the Sky West Golf Course property is currently closed to the public due to liability concerns and emphasized that no one should be on-site.
Mimi Dean noted that the meeting coincided with Western Monarch Butterfly Day in California and identified Skywest as a critical habitat, stating it is the top monarch site in the East Bay and ranks fifth statewide, with over 500 butterflies observed. She expressed concern about the site’s closure and advocated for its preservation as open space, citing environmental benefits, community interest, and nearly 4,000 petition signatures.
Fred Simon, Board Member of the Oro Loma Sanitary District and City Council Member for the City of San Leandro, voiced support for maintaining Skywest as open space. He highlighted his longterm connection to the area, the importance of open space for families, environmental benefits such as habitat and air quality, and concerns about airport noise impacts on nearby residents.
REPORTS/ACTION ITEMS
1. Joint Agency Discussion of La Vista Park Project and Coordination Opportunities on Future Park Projects
Director of Public Works Ameri provided a synopsis of the staff report and Sammy Lo presented a PowerPoint presentation.
Public Comments
Bruce King, representing Friends of San Lorenzo Creek, urged the City and regional agencies to prioritize habitat restoration and better integrate environmental considerations into development projects. He encouraged leveraging mitigation opportunities and taking a proactive leadership role in protecting ecosystems while continuing to support growth.
Mimi Dean expressed support for moving forward with La Vista Park Project, praising the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD) for leading the project. She noted that HARD is the best agency to manage this type of recreation, which includes both developed and some passive activities. Ms. Dean also commended HARD for its broader contributions to Hayward, including downtown projects and community events, emphasizing the positive impact these efforts have on the community.
Committee Member’s Comments
HARD Board President Lamnin acknowledged the project’s progress and HARD’s improved capacity to deliver on time and budget. She raised maintenance concerns, noting no existing landscape and lighting district and potential costs of nearly $1 million annually. She highlighted the park’s design focus on preserving natural space, inquired about the “keyway” related to the Eden Housing project, and asked whether the property falls under Hayward Geologic Hazard Abatement District (GHAD).
CM Syrop expressed support and enthusiasm for the La Vista project, emphasizing HARD’s key role in its development and other city initiatives. He appreciated HARD’s flexibility in helping manage Measure C costs. Syrop noted GHAD’s current maintenance responsibilities and suggested clarifying their potential role in maintaining new park improvements. He highlighted the importance of continuing discussions on park maintenance and recommended formalizing a process to involve HARD consistently in city recreation, parks, and event projects, aligning with the “education city” concept from the strategic roadmap. CM Syrop also expressed interest in operationalizing initiatives like “Education City” to ensure community stakeholders are actively at the table, rather than having to reverse-engineer engagement later.
CM Andrews emphasized the importance of alignment between the two entities on the park’s design, noting that the meeting serves to solidify agreement. She asked about a demand study to guide the types and quantity of amenities, noting duplicates like dog parks, basketball courts, and playgrounds, and whether these considerations are part of value engineering to remain costconscious. CM Andrews suggested leveraging existing forums like the Hayward Local Agencies Committee (HLAC) to engage stakeholders efficiently and reduce administrative burden. She expressed interest in how the park could function as a quiet space for residents and in
understanding suitable programming for the amphitheater. She also highlighted the City and HARD partnership, expressing excitement for the collaboration and mutual support, and thanked the design team for their work, including the challenge of value engineering $5 million while addressing geotechnical considerations.
Mayor Salinas thanked staff for their work and expressed overall support for the project. He stated that technical details, such as the keyway, should be resolved by staff, but indicated agreement with Director Ameri on the need for the keyway, noting there appears to be general consensus on that point.
HARD General Manager Wheeler provided an overview of potential collaboration on future projects and introduced Capital Planning and Development Director Megan Tiernan who presented a PowerPoint presentation summarizing key opportunities and considerations.
CM Andrews thanked staff for the presentation and the team’s work on Linear Park, noting its active use by residents. She emphasized the importance of maintaining alignment among all parties on the Foothill Park project, including consensus on design and parking. She inquired about opportunities for collaboration on City plazas, specifically citing Heritage Plaza and expressing interest in partnering with HARD to better activate the space and support downtown economic development, and asked whether this could be discussed at HLAC. She also asked about other projects or focus areas that could benefit from City partnership and suggested identifying hotspot areas for improvement through urban design.
CM Syrop noted that the presentation highlighted several exciting HARD projects, many of which align with Eden Greenway. He expressed interest in improving connectivity along the corridor and exploring opportunities for reimagined amenities to further activate the space, while acknowledging existing constraints. Referencing the Hazel Community Garden in the Prospect Hill neighborhood, he recognized associated costs and, building on CM Andrews’ comments, asked whether HARD has considered offering microgrants to empower residents to activate local spaces without requiring large-scale planning efforts.
HARD Board President Lamnin highlighted two key focus areas for HLAC this year: the Youth Master Plan to expand youth opportunities and the evaluation of community events, including culturally informed delivery. She emphasized the value of ongoing cross-agency coordination, suggesting regular discussions to ensure alignment. She also called for deeper conversations around funding mechanisms such as the Quimby Act and Landscape and Lighting Districts, noting the need for clarity on how funds are allocated and shared between the City and park district.
Additionally, she expressed interest in activating underutilized public spaces and exploring opportunities for habitat enhancement and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration through both formal and informal efforts.
Mayor Salinas asked what additional improvements could be made at the park, clarifying that he was not asking HARD to take on additional costs but rather exploring opportunities the City could support. He also asked for clarification on what a pump track is. He noted that while HARD maintains the Eden Greenway, there should be future discussions on how to better activate these spaces to make them standout destinations. He emphasized their potential to host events and community activities and reflected that while Greenway was once a key neighborhood destination,
it has largely remained passive in recent decades, expressing interest in revitalizing and enhancing its use. He concluded by commending HARD for their longstanding efforts, noting that even during times of limited resources prior to bond funding, they have done an excellent job maintaining parks, keeping them clean, and ensuring they remain usable and welcoming for recreation.
Public Comments
Mimi Dean expressed enthusiasm for the number of projects underway and noted appreciation for the frequent mention of Skywest during the meeting. She emphasized that open space is a top priority for the community, agreeing with earlier comments, and encouraged the City to continue prioritizing what residents want.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS
There were none.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Salinas adjourned the meeting at 6:57p.m.
MEETINGS
Attendance Present
2/5/26
Meeting
Present
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Excuse
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Absent
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Angela Andrews ✓ 13 0 0
Mark Salinas ✓ 13 0 0
George Syrop ✓ 13 0 0