Attachment B
Environmental Justice Meeting
Input Summary
The City of San Leandro held a virtual public meeting on September 14, 2022, to receive feedback the public on the draft Environmental Justice Element and policies.
The following is a summary of input from the public by meeting topic, and how staff addressed the topic, if applicable (shown in italics).
Goal 1: Air Pollution
● The ability for people to bike and walk is important.
Bicycling and walking are addressed in existing General Plan policies T-3.1, T-3.1.A, T3.4.B , T-3.6, T-3.7, and T-6.1. ● Contaminated soils need to be addressed.
Contaminated soils are regulated by DTSC (environmental screening levels by land use). CalEnviroScreen identifies areas nearby to known cleanup sites, which are required to be cleaned up by the property owner or government. ● Indoor air quality is a concern when there are fires.
Staff will determine if appropriate to include policy for N95 mask distribution. ● A request to clarify what is meant by electric vehicle infrastructure.
Staff clarified that the supporting policies relate to electric vehicle charging stations. ● Moped and electric bikes are important to address.
Staff noted comment.
● Loans should be available for air quality monitoring.
Staff noted comment, referred to Action EJ-1.3B on air quality monitor loan program through the library.
● City should distribute air quality monitors.
Staff noted comment and will examine increasing public awareness though outreach actions.
● Air quality information should be provided in multiple languages.
Added to Policy EJ-1.9 Air Quality Information Dissemination. ● The City should monitor sensors implementation.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) conducts ongoing ambient air monitoring through a fixed-station network and short-term studies. ● Permanent air quality monitoring should be conducted in areas with high rates of pollution so businesses can stop if a threshold is met.
BAAQMD conducts ongoing ambient air monitoring (see previous note). Business emissions are separately regulated by BAAQMD.
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● Increase tree coverage and plant pollinator friendly plants.
Staff will examine current tree program.
● Pivot away from car-centric city.
Existing General Plan policies supporting this comment include T-3.1, T-3.1.A, T-3.4.B , T-3.6, T-3.7, and T-6.1.
● More oversight for businesses known to generate pollution.
Stationary sources of pollution, such as some types of commercial businesses, are regulated by the government, including Federal, State, and local programs that regulate the use, storage, and transportation of hazardous materials and hazardous waste.
Goal 2: Physical Activity and Public Facilities
● The frequency of buses and accessibility for people to get to the bus stops is a concern.
Staff referred to existing General Plan policy T-4.1 and related actions. ● Cleanliness of sidewalks, especially along East 14th Street is a concern.
Staff referred to existing General Plan policy T-3.6.
● Crosswalk safety and lighting, especially along East 14th Street is a concern.
Staff referred to existing General Plan policy T-7.3.
● A question about whether the City can partner with private industry to provide residents with rides.
Staff referred to the existing Flex shuttle on demand service. ● A suggestion to include the Flex shuttle in map on future presentations.
Comment noted.
● A suggestion to have electric buses.
Staff noted that a 100% zero emission fleet by 2040 is well underway at AC Transit, which is San Leandro’s primary transit provider.
● Bus routes are currently in areas with undeveloped tree canopy.
The City is in the process of preparing a Tree Master Plan and received a recent $1.5 million Cal-Fire grant with a goal of planting 5,000 trees citywide.
Goal 3: Food Access
● The community garden at Monroe is thriving.
Comment noted.
● A suggestion to turn vacant lots into community gardens and/or food forests.
Addressed in existing General Plan Policies OSC-2.6 and OSC-2.7. ● Village Harvest harvests fruit and gives to people in need.
Comment noted.
● A suggestion to create Resilience Hubs.
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Staff referred to Action EJ-6.1.B: DAC Frontline Neighborhood Plans.
Goal 4: Safe, Healthy, Affordable Homes
● A suggestion to create teacher housing on school district properties.
Staff noted that this suggestion would be better suited for the Housing Element Update.
Schools are owned by the school districts, which are under the jurisdiction of the State of California. The City can make suggestions for the use of school district properties, but the authority to make changes lies with the school districts and the State.
Other Concerns
● A concern about groundwater threats.
CalEnviroScreen includes an indicator of the locations of places where groundwater may be threatened by identified sources of pollution. Identified groundwater threats are characterized and remediated per the direction of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Safe drinking water is provided by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). All residents of San Leandro are encouraged to use the water provided by EBMUD which is regulated by the State.