San Leandro council splits on exploring 2026 revenue measure as debate over survey transparency deepens

San Leandro — The City Council failed to approve a direction tonight to continue exploring a potential revenue measure for the November 2026 ballot after a heated debate about transparency and legal privilege over survey work.

Deputy City Manager Dustin Clausen and Finance Director Nicole Gonzales presented preliminary, unaudited fiscal-year 2025 results and a proposed phased approach for exploring a measure that staff said would focus primarily on infrastructure needs. Gonzales said the city ended FY25 with a projected ending fund balance of about $69.6 million and a projected draw on reserves of roughly $5.89 million, excluding $9.1 million in encumbrances carried forward. Staff described an initial outreach and survey step that would use an existing contract for $92,000 for polling and consultant work and a separate outreach allocation of about $20,000.

Supporters on the council and members of the public said San Leandro needs a long-term funding plan to address falling roads and aging public facilities. “If we prepare this properly, and I think our staff can do it, I think it’s gonna pay dividends,” Council Member Simon said, urging the council to pursue measured steps toward a ballot measure after polling.

But the meeting’s central disagreement was whether the city’s polling and consultant work should be treated as public or shielded by attorney-client or deliberative-process privilege. Council Member [name in transcript: Aguilar] moved to continue exploring revenue measures, including a consulting agreement with Clifford Moss to perform outreach and survey work. Several council members and the city manager said there are legitimate legal and managerial reasons to reserve the option of confidential deliberations in some circumstances. City Attorney Richard Pia Rota said contract language can define what consultant materials are privileged and what would be public.

Opponents on the dais and some speakers in public comment pressed for full transparency. Mayor Gonzales said she did not believe the survey process should be covered by deliberative-process privilege: “I do not believe that a survey is covered by deliberative process privilege, period,” she said.

Public commenters voiced competing views. Sarah Blady Bailey, who identified herself as a San Leandro resident and community leader, urged the council to move forward without polling and to prioritize roads and fire-station repairs, saying the community would support a targeted public-safety and roads measure. Other commenters stressed that any polling results posted should be made public so residents and civic groups can respond.

After extended debate the council voted and the motion to continue exploring the revenue measure in the form presented failed, with the clerk announcing the tally as three yes votes, two no votes and one abstention; Vice Mayor Bowen was absent. Mayor Gonzales said she would seek reconsideration at the council’s next scheduled meeting.

The council also discussed earlier procedural business related to a limited waiver of attorney-client privilege for a draft June 2024 community survey document; staff confirmed that a public records request exists and that the single draft document could be released if the council adopts a waiver resolution.

What happens next: Staff said they would carry out any actions directed by the council, and if the council chooses to proceed in the future the city would return with polling results and a recommendation on whether to advance a ballot question. Mayor Gonzales indicated she will file for reconsideration of the failed motion at the next meeting.

(Reporting in this article is based solely on the council meeting transcript and on statements made during the public comment period.)