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San Leandro staff update council on five priority work plans: arts, parks, business support, public safety and housing
Summary
City staff briefed the council on updates to five priorities — quality of life (library, arts, parks), economic development, public safety, infrastructure and housing/homelessness — reporting program milestones, grants, project timelines and implementation steps and noting several items (mobile‑home ordinance, stormwater fee outreach, and NEPA delays) that will return to council for later action.
City staff presented updates to the council’s five priority work plans at the July 13 work session, walking members through completed milestones, near‑term tasks and areas requiring more outreach or funding.
Library Director Bridal Simons summarized quality‑of‑life accomplishments including an arts grants program funded at $30,000 for fiscal year 2027, expanded gallery‑space planning and growth in library programming (presentation noted about 945 events in the prior fiscal year, with early data showing roughly 1,100). Recreation & Parks Director Vicente Zuniga said Beautify San Leandro has funded 13 community‑led projects and a volunteer network of more than 600 people; staff also secured a $244,000 state grant for urban forestry work and launched a turf‑reduction planning effort.
"We've been able to really keep on track" with aligned strategic planning, Bridal Simons said, noting ongoing needs for partnerships, exhibit insurance and artist outreach for larger outdoor pieces.
Economic Development Manager Katie Bowman described six focus areas from the city’s 2024 economic strategy: supporting target industries (notably advanced manufacturing and battery/clean tech), zoning updates, industrial‑district infrastructure assessments, retail attraction and placemaking and workforce development. Bowman highlighted a $5,000 streamlined commercial incentive grant and a San Leandro 1st Jobs manufacturing internship program supported by the chamber and private employers.
Council members pressed for clearer permit‑center performance metrics, stronger ties to local community colleges for certificate programs and improved multilingual outreach to small businesses; staff said performance measures exist and that they will provide details.
Public safety staff (Captain Abe Tang and Emergency Management Specialist Elizabeth Vessman) reported the department is at roughly 76% of sworn staffing and on track for incremental increases; the department is shifting animal‑control duties to cross‑trained police service technicians to provide broader coverage and has increased warnings and citations for animal violations (70 citations and 133 warnings Jan–May). The city is conducting biweekly coordination with Union Pacific Police and human‑services staff on encampment removals and fast‑tracking a local hazard mitigation plan that will be submitted to Cal OES and FEMA after public comment closes July 24.
Public Works Assistant Director Nick Tom reviewed capital projects and policy work, including a planned update to the stormwater fee (the fee was last set in 1993), an ongoing electric‑vehicle fleet transition hampered by limited external rebate availability, and progress on CIP items (Memorial Park pavilion, Kerry Haas pedestrian bridge, Mulford branch library). Staff recommended deferring a PG&E rebate application (the program was at capacity) while continuing EV planning and urged better imagery and messaging for any future fee measure to improve voter understanding.
Housing staff said the homelessness prevention rental assistance program launched in April 2026 and has served eight households in its first quarter (seven with minor children); staff are on track to launch the rent‑program implementation in January, combining previously adopted rent stabilization and rent‑registry ordinances, and a phased public outreach program will follow for a mobile‑home space rent‑stabilization amendment (timeline extends into 2028 and is contingent on funding). City staff also reported preliminary outcomes from the Llewellyn interim housing/drop‑in center: 618 people used the center and 36 moved into permanent housing.
Several public commenters thanked staff and urged faster action on mobile‑home protections and housing production. A number of council members asked for clearer metrics, improved public communications on project delays and better cross‑departmental coordination as work plans move toward implementation and budget proposals.
The presentations were informational; no ordinances or fee measures were adopted at the session. Staff will return with more detailed metrics, funding requests and draft ordinances for items that require council approval.
