Hayward council approves consent items, designates mayor as Cal Cities delegate and adopts salary amendments

The Hayward City Council on Tuesday moved several routine items, designated the mayor as the city’s voting delegate to the Cal Cities annual conference and adopted changes to the city salary plan that reflect previously negotiated labor agreements.

Consent calendar: The council voted to approve the consent calendar while pulling item 4 for separate review. Councilmember Goldstein moved the consent motion and Mayor Pro Tem Roach seconded; the motion passed without objection. The consent package, as approved, included item 3 — a staff request tied to fire-department training funds that prompted council questions during the meeting.

Fire training funding (consent discussion): Councilmembers asked the fire chief and staff to explain a requested allocation to support EMTs completing required paramedic training. Staff said the immediate request would cover approximately $140,000 for the first cohort of 11 employees who are registered to begin paramedic school at the UC Davis program; a second group of hires could raise the total to roughly $300,000 if additional cohorts are funded later. Staff described the payment as tied to contractual commitments and an agreement that allowed the department to hire EMTs who would complete paramedic certification while employed. The appropriation was identified as coming from the CIP (Fund 405) and, as approved on the consent calendar, will move forward as described in the staff report.

Cal Cities delegate: The council considered designating voting representatives to the California Cities (Cal Cities) annual conference in Long Beach (Oct. 8–10). An initial motion to send both the mayor and a councilmember was amended after Councilmember Bonilla said he would not attend. The council then voted to designate Mayor Mark Salinas as the city's voting delegate. The motion passed 6–0 with Councilmember Benia absent.

Salary-plan amendment and council pay adjustment: The council adopted a resolution approving salary-plan amendments that reflected three categories of changes: newly created classifications effective Sept. 22, 2025 (for example new fire plan-examiner and senior plan-checking engineer classifications); increases tied to negotiated agreements in the Hayward Police Management Unit (effective June 30, 2025); and adjustments linked to the municipal living-wage provision. Human Resources Director Ian Test Gun explained that the living-wage provision would have produced a 1.5% adjustment effective June 30, 2025, but the council unanimously agreed to forego that 1.5% increase for elected officials and to reduce the mayor and council salaries an additional 5% effective Sept. 22, 2025, as a leadership contribution toward the city’s budget shortfall. City Attorney advice that the increases tied to MOUs are contractually required was read into the record. The resolution passed 6–0 with one absent.

Votes at a glance - Consent calendar (all items except item 4): moved by Councilmember Goldstein, second by Mayor Pro Tem Roach; outcome: approved (unanimous among members present). - Cal Cities voting delegate: moved as amended by Councilmember Sirep, seconded by Councilmember Goldstein; outcome: Mayor Mark Salinas designated as voting delegate (6–0; 1 absent). - Resolution: Amend FY 2025 salary plan (effective dates: 06/30/2025 and 09/22/2025); mover Councilmember Zirmeno; second Goldstein; outcome: adopted (6–0; 1 absent).

Councilmembers and staff said they plan to continue a series of meetings and budget briefings as the city works to address a structural deficit in the general fund. During the meeting several members emphasized the need for expedited weekly budget updates and close review of any future general-fund expenditures.