February 3, 2025 - City Council Meeting

The City Council meeting of San Leandro on February 3, 2025, focused extensively on the status and future of Lake Shabo Road, which has been closed due to significant structural damage and safety concerns. The council discussed a staff recommendation to keep the road closed until major repairs are completed, citing fire safety risks and the road's unstable condition. A key agenda item was the consideration of a supplemental geotechnical investigation costing approximately $89,500 to assess whether the road could safely support one-way traffic as an interim measure. The council debated the merits of this study and the potential for one-way versus two-way traffic reopening, with public safety experts, including the fire department, advising against reopening until full repairs are made. Public comments reflected strong community concern about evacuation safety, traffic impacts, and the urgency of repairs. The council voted to proceed with the geotechnical study focused on one-way traffic feasibility, with the condition that design work would only proceed if the report deems it safe. The meeting also included recognition of Black History Month and the appointment of a new Finance Director, Nicole Gonzalez. No contract awards or new procurement contracts were approved, but the discussion highlighted the need for future capital improvement funding to repair Lake Shabo Road, estimated at several million dollars.