City of San Leandro Safety
Ambassador Program Update
Rules Committee
April 23, 2025
Presentation Agenda
Background
Safety Ambassador Program
Options for Moving Forward
Discussion and Next Steps
2 Background
May 2023
3 Housing & Homelessness City Council
Priority Workplan
•Addressing & Preventing Homelessness
•Non-Sworn Safety Ambassador
Program
Safety Ambassador
Program • Launched in downtown San Leandro in 2021 • Partnership with San Leandro Improvement Association and Block by Block
• Services provided: • On the ground patrol to increase visibility, safety, and provide assistance
• Business outreach through regular check- ins to address needs and build relationships
• Street outreach support by engaging
unhoused individuals and connecting
them to services
• Data and reporting using a digital system
to track activities, trends, and outcomes
• Overall goal to create clean, safe, and
welcoming public spaces and to reduce
burden on Police
4 Work to Date
5 Internal review of pilot
expansion sites
October 2023
Greenhouse Marketplace
selected (699 Lewelling
Blvd.)
October 2023
Pilot site discussions
with Kimco Realty
April 2024
Council approval to
allocate existing funds
($400K) to Block by Block
June 2024
Greenhouse program
pilot paused
September 2024
Kimco shared no longer
interested in hosting
program
March 2025
Options for Moving Forward
1. Identify alternative locations to explore Safety Ambassador Expansion
2. Allocate existing funds ($400K) to Alternative Response Unit, reducing FY26 – FY27 request from $1.2M to $800K
3. Discontinue Safety Ambassador exploration and return $400K to General Fund
6