San Leandro Adopts Hazard Mitigation Plan, but Key Projects Remain Unfunded

San Leandro's City Council on Nov. 2, 2026, unanimously adopted its 2026 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, a federally required document that keeps the city eligible for FEMA mitigation grants. The 7-0 vote came alongside a proclamation of the threat of a local emergency ahead of a forecast severe El Niño season. Residents pushed the council on the next question: who pays for Lake Chabot Road, the Neptune levee and Mission Bay evacuations.

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• Hazard Mitigation Plan adopted 7-0, unlocking FEMA mitigation funding eligibility
• Lake Chabot Road divides residents: all want repairs, but they disagree on reopening it to two-way traffic
• Neptune levee listed in the plan but faces a $3.8M funding gap
• El Niño threat-of-emergency proclamation passes as staff forecast a season "significantly worse" than 2022-23
• Mission Bay mobile home residents ask how seniors will be alerted and evacuated

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Hazard Plan Clears Council, Opens Federal Grant Door

The basics: A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is a long-term risk-reduction blueprint. It is not an emergency response or construction plan. It lists hazards and ranks projects that could reduce harm before disaster strikes.

Why it matters: "Without an approved LHMP, the city cannot access FEMA mitigation funding," said Emergency Services Specialist Libby Bessman. The plan also guides permitting and capital priorities.

Where things stand: Bessman said the plan took two years to complete. The process included three planning team meetings and a community survey of 668 people. FEMA had conditionally approved it pending council adoption. "Adoption is required every 5 years under federal law," Bessman said.

Survey respondents ranked earthquakes, wildfire smoke, climate change and flooding as their top concerns. Dylan Kilby, a consultant with Navigating Preparedness, described a 25-criteria rubric for ranking projects. The rubric also gives weight to projects that already have funding or policy backing.

Gaps in coverage: Public commenter Alvaro Ramos urged the city to plan for infectious disease outbreaks. Vice Mayor Sbeydeh Viveros-Walton asked where that planning lives. Kilby said he and staff decided that, because of how funding flows, it was "better put under the purview of the Alameda County Health Department." He said it could be added in the next plan cycle or in an annual update.

The vice mayor also asked how the city would operate if a cyberattack shut it down. Mayor Juan González III said the topic was too sensitive for open session. "We would take that briefing and set of answers in closed session," he said.

The Neptune levee: Mayor González asked whether the Neptune Drive levee is part of the plan. Public Works Director Sheila Marqueses said the Neptune Flood Protection Project appears as mitigation action 22 on Table 6-4 and is not fully funded. Viveros-Walton cited the 10-year capital plan, which shows "an estimated cost of $5,250,000 with a gap of $3.8 million."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmember James Aguilar moved adoption and Councilmember Xouhoa Bowen seconded. The vote was For: 7 (González, Viveros-Walton, James Aguilar, Victor Aguilar Jr., Fred Simon, Bowen, Dylan Boldt), Against: 0, Absent: 0. Adoption gives the city a path to compete for federal dollars. A place in the plan, however, does not guarantee funding. Projects such as the Neptune levee still need money from somewhere.

What's next: Watch whether infectious disease planning is added in an annual update. Also watch whether the cyberattack briefing reaches a closed-session agenda.

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Lake Chabot Road: Repairs Wanted, Two-Way Traffic Disputed

Why it matters: Lake Chabot Road is a key evacuation and fire-response route for the Bay Vista neighborhood. Only part of the repair work is funded.

Where things stand: During general public comment, Sarah Bailey asked the city to stabilize the road for police, fire and possible evacuation use. She noted that cost estimates rose from $10 million in 2023 to $15 million in January 2025.

On the hazard plan item, public commenter Ann Kaywood said the plan documents the road as a vital evacuation route. She urged the city to prioritize funding to repair it and reopen it to two-way traffic. She cited positions taken by the Fire Chief and the ACFD Chief. She also thanked the mayor and Assemblymember Liz Ortega for $1.5 million in state funding.

Public commenter Paul Wellenkamp said he read the plan and found it thorough. He thanked staff for naming the road a critical evacuation route.

The other side: Public commenter Douglas Spaulding supported repairing the road for evacuation. He warned, however, that reopening it to two-way traffic would be disastrous. He also urged the city to rebuild three firehouses, noting that earthquakes rank as the top hazard.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmember Bowen confirmed with Public Works that mitigation action 24 refers to the approved capital improvement plan. That plan funds Phase 1, which covers slides 1 and 4. "Phase 2 is included in the 10-year capital plan, except it's unfunded," Viveros-Walton said. She added that its cost estimates need updating. Bay Vista residents have secured a place in the plan and some state money. The harder fight over full funding and how the road is ultimately used remains open.

What's next: Updated Phase 2 cost estimates will shape any future funding push.

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Council Braces for El Niño With Emergency Proclamation

Why it matters: "It is predicted to be significantly worse than the '22-'23 storm," said City Manager Janelle Cameron, citing the city's emergency services specialist.

Where things stand: Councilmember Bowen pulled Item 5c from the consent calendar to ask "what this proclamation means and what it entails." Cameron said the proclamation signals that the city is taking the state-declared emergency seriously. It supports hazard work on trees, storm drains and temporary flood barriers. "By proclaiming an emergency, it helps us to get funding back through FEMA or any other agency," she said.

Cameron offered no cost figure. "I don't have a dollar amount of that," she said. She added that some of the spending may move up work already planned for spring. Alameda County had not declared an emergency, she said, though county emergency managers meet monthly and have a working group.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The item stayed on consent. The full calendar passed on a motion by Councilmember James Aguilar, seconded by Councilmember Victor Aguilar Jr. The vote was For: 7, Against: 0, Absent: 0. Because the cost is unknown, the reimbursement strategy carries budget risk until bills are filed.

Residents ask about seniors: Residents of Mission Bay Mobile Home Park, which has 366 homes, raised concerns about evacuation. Public commenter Cindy Vozendo asked how seniors fit into the city's emergency plan. She also asked how residents would be alerted, noting that many seniors do not use Nixle. She asked what shelters will be available and how residents with mobility issues will evacuate.

Public commenter Deborah Acosta said Mission Bay homeowners learned of the meeting only on the preceding Thursday. She said the city and park owners Brandenburg, Stadler and Moore should take responsibility for infrastructure and flood readiness. The council gave no formal response to these questions.

What's next: Residents of shoreline neighborhoods should press for specific alert and shelter plans before storms arrive.

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• Native American Heritage Month: Mayor González proclaimed November 2026 Native American Heritage Month and presented the proclamation to Marilyn Chot of the Comanche people.
• Library grant: The council accepted a $20,000 Play for All grant for play-based learning at the public library.
• Investment report: The council accepted the third-quarter 2026 investment report on consent.
• Data centers and Flock cameras: Public commenter Mike Katz-Lakabe urged a ban on new data centers and an end to the city's Flock camera contract, citing 86 cameras.
• Storm prep asks: Vice Mayor Viveros-Walton promoted the city's Adopt-a-Drain program, and Mayor González urged residents to move their cars on street-sweeping days.

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Mayor González noted that the Air District will vote Wednesday on heat pump water heater rules, and public comment remains open until then.