Hayward's Public Works department told council members at the March 8 strategic roadmap retreat that it has expanded pavement work, advanced key design projects and is piloting electric vehicle (EV) charging in city‑owned lots.

Alex Lemery, Public Works director, said the department completed 15 miles of pavement improvements in the last year and “increased our pavement condition index to 76,” a level the department described as historically high for the city. Lemery also said Main Street and Mission improvements are nearing completion and that staff plan bids for several parks and facility projects.

On utilities, Lemery reported ongoing design and environmental work at the water treatment plant and said the department is working on a roughly $33 million pipeline and well program. He told council that plans for a multi‑year wastewater project have reached a 60% design milestone and that the city is preparing to request construction bids on several utility projects.

Lemery discussed a $244 million loan the city expects to seek in April from a regional financing source (project name not specified on record) and said the city is monitoring federal and state loan programs that could affect project funding and timing.

On environmental and transportation initiatives, Public Works said it has selected a vendor to install EV charging stations in the Millielot Ford parking area (behind an AT&T site between B and C streets) and plans to add parking on a downtown loop street segment to better serve businesses and reduce congestion. Lemery said the city has also evaluated downtown traffic calming and will install additional parking where appropriate.

Council members asked about the staffing and funding risks to utility replacement projects. Lemery said sewer replacement is primarily funded through the sewer operating budget and that the city has been moving $7 million per year from operating funds into replacement work to enable multi‑year projects for economies of scale. He cautioned that if a planned external loan or grant falls through, the city might need to explore revenue borrowing with different terms and flexibilities.

The Public Works presentation also covered environmental services items, including the city's greenhouse gas reduction progress and a small ($600,000) pilot for nature‑based shoreline and treated effluent discharge work near oxidation ponds; Lemery described the pilot as a dual‑purpose shoreline protection and discharge approach.