Budget Workshop, State of City Speech, Rainbow Flag & Other City News

Budget & Capital Improvements Workshop on Monday Night

On Monday, March 25, 2013, at 7:00 p.m., the City Council will conduct a workshop on our budget and capital improvements program.  This is the first year the City will adopt a 2-year budget, for fiscal years 2013-2015 (July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015).  Moving to a biennial budget is one means of being more prudent in our budgeting.  It forces the city to adopt a budget that is balanced for the next two years.  

And we have a challenge ahead of us.  After two years of running in the black, we are looking at deficit spending in the next two years.  We will take corrective action to avoid deficit spending which could include new budget cuts.  Please come to the workshop to offer your views on the budget.  Attached is the powerpoint presentation staff will give on Monday night. 

New Contract with San Leandro Police Officers Association

The San Leandro Police Officers Association (“SLPOA”) and the City of San Leandro have agreed on a labor contract for 2013 through 2015. The new agreement advances the shared interests of the City and SPLOA in providing reasonable compensation to retain valued officers and to recruit qualified new officers and in placing the City on a firm foundation for long-term fiscal sustainability. 

The agreement provide budget savings to the City in the first two years, and SLPOA members will pay the employee share of the City’s annual pension obligations to the California Public Employee Retirement System (“CalPERS”).  The employee CalPERS contributions will be 3 percent of salary in 2013 and increasing by 3 percent each year thereafter until reaching the employee share of 9 percent of salary in 2015.

In 2014, SLPOA members will receive a 4 percent raise and up to 8% in 2015. There is no raise in 2013.  Officers will also continue the 50/50 sharing of health insurance increases over the contract term and cost are projected to rise. 

I commend the San Leandro Police Officers Association for working diligently with the City to produce a new agreement that recognizes our shared goals of public safety and fiscal responsibility. San Leandrans are rightly proud of having one of the finest police departments in California. We deeply appreciate the service and dedication of our police officers to the safety of our City.  

 Rainbow Pride Flag to Fly At City Hall

Last Monday, the City Council unanimously voted to fly the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Rainbow Pride Flying this week on the dates of oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in two cases involving same sex-marriage as a statement that we support marriage equality for same-sex couples and that marriage is a fundamental human right that all couples who love each other should be able to enjoy.  

We also sought to send a message that San Leandro is a diverse, tolerant and welcoming community.  This will be the first time in the City's history that the Rainbow Pride Flag will be flown at City Hall.  Because of our action, elected officials in Oakland and Berkeley decided the fly the Rainbow Pride Flag this week in their cities. 

State of City Speech This Thursday Night

The City of San Leandro and the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce will partner in hosting the annual State of the City address on Thursday, March 28, 2013, at 6:00 p.m.  The public is invited to attend this free event, which will take place at the San Leandro Senior Community Center, 13909 East 14th Street, next to San Leandro Hospital.

This is a dynamic and challenging time in San Leandro's history. With the assistance of our civic, neighborhood and business leaders, and many partners at all levels of government, we are transforming San Leandro into a center of innovation.

More Coverage of Exciting Tech Developments in San Leandro

We continue to receive great media coverage of the exciting developments by San Leandro's tech companies, and the impact Lit San Leandro, our high speed fiber optic network, is having in our city.  See this article in the Mercury News featuring PhaseSpace 

The San Francisco Business Times also recognized Lit San Leandro last Friday with its award for Real Estate Deal of the Year in the category of public-private partnerships.  The Times noted, "San Leandro is not commonly thought of as a tech hub, especially when compared to company-ladden neighbors such as San Jose and San Francisco.  City leaders think that could change.  Along with the new fiber optic system, the city's lower commercial rents and proximity to the Bay Area's tech workforce could elevate its profile in Silicon Valley."