CCMeeting6/9/2026

>> GOOD EVENING. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF COUNCILMEMBERS COMING IN. WELCOME. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE JUNE 9, 2026 MEETING TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M. I'D LIKE TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER SHAO TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLA OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH I ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIB WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. CITY CLERK, COULD YOU TAKE THE ROLL CALL. >> Mr. Quintanilla: YES, COUNCILMEMBER LIU, HERE. COUNCILMEMBER SHAO, PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN, HERE. COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL, HERE. COUNCILMEMBER KENG, HERE. VICE MAYOR ZHANG, HERE. MAYOR SALWAN, PRESENT. >> Mayor Salwan: I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS. THERE ARE VACANCIES ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN APPLYING, PLEASE GO TO THE BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES PAGE ON FREMONT.GOV. OR CONTACT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENING'S MEETING ELECTRONICALLY WHO WISH TO SPEAK MAY DO SO DURING PUBLIC COMMENT BY CLICKING ON THE RAISE HAND ICON OF YOUR ZOOM SCREEN, OR IF BY CALLING, STAR NINE. I WILL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE EACH SECTION OF THE AGENDA. IF NOT NOTED ON THE ZOOM SCREEN, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. IF SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AN ORGANIZATION, STATE THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION YOU ARE REPRESENTING. EMAILS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK ARE COMPILED AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF AND PUBLISHED IN THE CITY'S AGENDA CENTER AT FREMONT.GOV. AND WILL BE PLACED ON FILE AND CONSIDERED PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD. I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS MEETING MAY GO ON UNTIL 11:30 P.M. THIS EVENING IF NECESSARY. WE WILL ALLOW FOR 30 MINUTES OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS FOR ORAL COMMUNICATION AFTER THE INITIAL 30 MINUTES, WE WILL TAKE THOSE SPEAKERS AT THE END OF THE MEETING IF TIME REMAINS. I WILL NOW TURN THE MEETING OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, KARENA SHACKELFORD, FOR HER INTRODUCTIONS AND REMARKS. >> City Mgr. Shackelford: THANK YOU, MAYOR SALWAN. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, WITH US THIS EVENING TO MY LEFT, WE HAVE CITY ATTORNEY RAFAEL ALVARADO. ACROSS FROM HE AND I IS YOU'RE CITY CLERK, ALBERTO QUINTANILLA, AND OUR ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, DINA LEWIS. I DON'T HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING SO I'LL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS WILL BE PASSED WITH ONE COUNCIL VOTE AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION WILL STAND. DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL WISH TO REMOVE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? I SEE A COUPLE OF BUTTONS PRESSED FOR COUNCILMEMBER SHAO AND ZHANG. IS THAT -- NO? OKAY. OKAY. OKAY, SEEING NONE, IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC OR ON ZOOM? >> Mr. Quintanilla: WE HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS, NO HANDS RAISED IN ZOOM. >> Mayor Salwan: SPEAKER CARD TO SPEAK ON A CONSENT ITEM OR ORAL -- >> Mr. Quintanilla: FOR 4A. >> Mayor Salwan: WE'LL LISTEN TO YOU SOON. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, COULD I GET A MOTION? MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER KENG, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER LIU. PLEASE VOTE. OKAY, CONSENT CALENDAR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE CEREMONIAL ITEMS. I WILL JOIN YOU AT THE PODIUM. ALL RIGHT. WELL, IT'S AN EXCITING DAY. WE HAVE A NEW PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, MATT CANO. THERE HE IS. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR HIM. [APPLAUSE] WELL, GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. YES, YOU CAN STAND RIGHT HERE. EVERY CITY HALL HAS THEIR OWN PROTOCOL, RIGHT? HE'S BEEN IN THE BIG PLACES LIKE SAN JOSÉ, SO -- THIS IS A SMALL PLACE. WELL, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, MATT CANO, WHO JOINED THE CITY OF FREMONT ON MONDAY. MATT SERVED AS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF MILPITAS, WHERE HE PROVIDED EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ON A BROAD RANGE OF CITY OPERATIONS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES. PRIOR TO THIS ROLE, MATT SERVED AS DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND ACTING CITY ENGINEER WITH THE CITY OF MATT ALSO BRINGS EXTENSIVE PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE FROM THE CITY OF SAN JOSE, INCLUDING SERVICING AS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND CITY ENGINEER, AS WELL AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD SER THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, MATT HAS HELD A VARIETY OF PROGRESSIVELY RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP AND ENGINEERING POSITIONS FOCUSED O INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. IN ADDITION TO HIS PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, MATT IS ALSO A CURRENT RESIDENT OF FREMONT AND BRINGS A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE CITY IN WHICH HE LIVES. MATT HOLDS BOTH A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AN A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING FROM STANFORD UNIVE. SO HE'S VERY SMART. WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME MATT TO THE CITY OF FREMONT AND ARE CONFIDENT THAT HIS LEADERSHIP, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH WILL SERVE THE CITY WELL. PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING A WARM WELCOME TO MATT CANO! [APPLAUSE] AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MATT TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE INTRODUCTION AND THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR THE APPLAUSE. I'M HUMBLED. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY THAT MY FAMILY AND I CALL HOME. AS A RESIDENT, I'VE EXPERIENCED THE AMAZING SERVICES THAT EVERY SINGLE -- ALL THE STAFF AND EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT HERE PROVIDE TO THE CITY OF FREMONT RESIDENTS AND I HAVE RESPECT FOR THEIR DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM AND HARD WORK. FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS -- I JUST STARTED YESTERDAY -- I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM MORE DEEPLY AND I'M EVEN MORE IMPRESSED HOW DEDICATED THEY ARE TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LISTENING TO OUR RESIDENTS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO YOUR PRIORITIES AND CONTINUE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR RESIDENTS THROUGH EXCELLENT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH EVERYBODY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE FREMONT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> Mayor Salwan: WE HAVE ANOTHER SPECIAL MOMENT, WE'RE RECOGNIZING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR POLICE SERGEANT JACOB BLASS. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR HIM! [APPLAUSE] WHEREAS, JACOB BLASS BEGAN SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF FREMON AS A POLICE OFFICER ON MAY 24, 2006; AND WHEREAS, JACOB BLASS APPOINTED TO SEVERAL COLLATERAL INCLUDING THE POSITIONS OF HONO GUARD, CPR/FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR WRITING INSTRUCTOR (2011), EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATIONS COURSE INSTRUCTOR (2011), WELLNESS UNIT (2022), PEER SUPPORT TEAM (2023), CRIME SCEN INVESTIGATION UNIT (2024), UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE TEAM (2025), AND SPECIAL VEHICLES TEAM. AND WHEREAS, JACOB BLASS WAS APPOINTED AS A GENERAL ASSIGNMENT DETECTIVE IN THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2013. AND AS A CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS DETECTIVE ON JUNE 15TH, 2014, AND AS A FIVE-YEAR ROBBERY/HOMICIDE DETECTIVE ON JULY 8TH, 2016, AND AS THE SEMI PERMANENT COLD CASE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR ON AUGUST 23RD, 2018, AND AS THE SENIOR SEXUAL ASSAULT/CHILD ABUSE DETECTIVE ON NOVEMBER 14TH, 2023. AND WHEREAS, JACOB BLASS WAS PROMOTED TO POLICE SERGEANT ON FEBRUARY 28, 2024. AND WHEREAS, JACOB BLASS HOLDS ADVANCED AND SUPERVISORY CERTIFICATES FROM THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING, AND RECEIVED THE FREMONT POLICE ASSOCIATION OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN 2023. AND WHEREAS, JACOB BLASS HOLDS A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN SPEECH COMMUNICATION CONFERRED BY SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY AND HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 36 COMMENDATIONS AND LETTERS OF APPRECIATION. AND WHEREAS, JACOB BLASS HAS VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS SUCH AS SHOP WITH A COP AND CHRISTMAS GIFT VISITATIONS WITH PATIENTS AT STANFORD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FREMONT, WITH HONOR AND SINCERE APPRECIATION, DO HEREBY EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO SERGEANT JACOB BLASS FOR HIS 20 YEARS OF DILIGENT SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF FREMONT AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION. SO WITH THAT, ONE MORE TIME, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR SERGEANT BLASS. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A SECOND AND THANK SERGEANT BLASS, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT SERGEANT BLASS COULDN'T GET HERE BY HIMSELF. HE NEEDED A STRONG FOUNDATION. SO I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE HIS WIFE, HIS MOM, AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERS UP HERE TO BE WITH HIM WHILE HE ACCEPTS THIS AWARD. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS TO GET 20 YEARS ON THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IN THIS PROFESSION. HE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THESE FOUR STRONG WOMEN IN HIS LIFE, AND I THINK THEY DESERVE THIS AWARD JUST AS MUCH AS HE DOES. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. IT'S AN EXTREME PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF FREMONT. I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW AND EVERY DAY I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE AND TO BE ABLE TO SERVE WITH OTHER OFFICERS THAT ARE EITHER ON MY MIDNIGHT SHIFT OR MY CSI UNIT AND TO SERVE WITH EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, I REALLY FIND IT AN HONOR AND JUST A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SCHEDULED ITEMS. ITEM 5A, WHICH IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION OF THE 2026- >> Mr. Quintanilla: MAYOR, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, 4A. >> Mayor Salwan: I'M SORRY. LET'S GO TO ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FIRST. >> Mr. Quintanilla: WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKER CARDS, NO HANDS CURRENTLY RAISED IN ZOOM. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS -- I'M SORRY, HOW MANY MINUTES? >> Mayor Salwan: 2 MINUTES. >> Mr. Quintanilla: OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS KHALID MECKY FOLLOWED BY MUNA ZA. >> HI. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WENT TO PARKMONT ELEMENTARY, AND CENTERVILLE JUNIOR HIGH, AND WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL AND OHLONE AND CAL BERKELEY AND I WAS ALSO A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE -- I WAS ALSO A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA. AND I HAD TO GET THESE PETITIONS SIGNED IN ORDER TO GET ON THE BALLOT, YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD CHARGE ME, AND AS I WAS TRYING TO GET SIGNATURES, NOBODY IN FREMONT WOULD SIGN IT BECAUSE MOST OF THEM WERE ON THESE FUNNY VISAS, EAST INDIAN, SO I WAS IN OAKLAND GETTING MY SIGNATURES. SO ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS DATA CENTERS. AND I'M WONDERING, I WAS RESEARCHING IT AND I VISITED THE DATA CENTERS AROUND HERE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THEM. THERE'S A LOT OF THEM COMING. SO I WAS WORRIED IF THE POPULATION HERE IS TOO -- THEY DON'T HAVE THE PAPERWORK OR THE -- TO SAY ANYTHING, I WOULD BE CONCERNED IF YOU GUYS JUST START BUILDING A BUNCH OF DATA CENTERS BECAUSE YOU KNOW NOBODY IS GOING TO SAY ANYTHING. SO THAT'S WHAT MY CONCERN IS. SO CAN YOU MAKE ME FEEL BETTER THAT YOU'LL MAKE SURE OUR WATER IS NOT POLLUTED AND OUR ELECTRICITY WON'T GET SOAKED UP AND ALL THE DAMAGE THAT DATA CENTERS CAN DO? I'M TALKING TO YOU GUYS. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU, SIR. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT. WITH ORAL COMMUNICATION, WE CANNOT UNFORTUNATELY ANSWER YOU BACK. AS PER OUR STATE LAW. BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO CONNECT WITH YOU OFFLINE OR ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS CAN CONNECT WITH YOU TO EXPLAIN MORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT. >> OKAY. WELL, YEAH, I VISITED A BUNCH OF THEM AND I'M VERY CONCERNED. YOU REMEMBER AOC, SHE'S SHOWN WHAT THE EFFECTS -- >> Mayor Salwan: WE DON'T HAVE ANY DATA CENTERS RIGHT NOW SIR BUT WE CAN -- >> I WAS JUST AT WAGNER UP ON MISSION AND -- THAT'S KIND OF MILIPITAS BUT THE TRI-CITY AREA. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU, SIR. >> ALL RIGHT. >> Mr. Quintanilla: OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MUNA ZA. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M A CENTERVILLE RES DANT AND PREVIOUS OPERATOR OF EAST BAY CAFE. I WOULD LIKE TO KINDLY ASK THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO LET US KNOW WHEN THE RESULT WILL BE ANNOUNCED AND THE NEXT MEETING. AS A MEMBER OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO START SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE'RE HERE TO HELP AND SUPPORT AND MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO APPRECIATING TO DO SO. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. >> Mr. Quintanilla: OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS -- >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I WAS THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND OPERATOR OF EAST BAY CAFE DEPOT. THE CENTRAL VALLEY TRAIN DEPOT HAS A HISTORICAL LANDMARK AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO PRESERVING AND RESPECTING. THE PREVIOUS OPERATOR SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR 27 YEARS, AND I RESPECT THEIR CONTRIBUTION, BUT THIS IS ALSO A PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY AFTER 27 YEARS, IT IS THE TIME FOR A NEW GENERATION TO BRING A NEW IDEA, NEW ENERGY, AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES WHILE CONTINUING TO HONOR THE PAST. OUR TEAM REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY WITH AFGHAN INDIAN PHILIPPIAN AMERICAN AND MANY OTHER CULTURES REPRESENTED. WE WANT THE CAFE TO BE A WELCOME PLACE FOR EVERYONE. REGARDLESS OF THE BACKGROUND. OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS ARE WAITING FOR THE NEXT RFP RESPONSE. OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE, RESPECT THE HISTORY, SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND CREATE A GATHERING PLACE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Mr. Quintanilla: OUR FINAL SPEAKER CARD IS SUBMITTED BY KRISTEN LANE. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS KRISTEN LANE, PRESIDENT OF NILES MAIN STREET. I JUST WANT TO MENTION ON MAY 24TH, THERE WAS A PICKUP TRUCK FIRE AND EXPLOSION IN THE NILES COMMUNITY PARK. THE RESPONSE WAS INTERESTING. AND WHILE THE -- AFTER THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED, THE RESPONSE WAS QUICK, TURNAROUND TIME WAS QUICK. THE STEPS LEADING UP TO IT ARE SOMETHING THAT NEED TO BE CLEARED UP WITH COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO RESPOND AND HOW TO CALL ON CERTAIN THINGS AND WHETHER OR NOT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A 911 CALL BECAUSE IT WAS CALLED TO NON-EMERGENCY. SO THE CITIZENS SAW AND ACTUALLY HEARD THE GRINDING GOING ON IN THIRD STREET PARK WHICH GENERATED SPARKS WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXPLOSION AND A FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE, THERE WERE SHARPS, THERE WERE HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIALS INCLUDING BIOHAZARDS, FUEL, SO FORTH. THE STRUGGLE AT THE END OF IT IS HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS AT THE END OF IT. AND WHILE THE MAYOR WAS EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE TO THE CITIZEN IN HIS RESPONSE AND EMAILS AND ADVOCATING FOR RESPONSE, IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A CROSS-SECTION OF ALAMEDA COUNTY WATER, CITY OF FREMONT, SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF FREMONT, COUNTY OF ALAMEDA AND CALIFORNIA FISH AND WILDLIFE THAT CAN ALL PARTICIPATE IN THINGS LIKE THIS BECAUSE OF WHERE THIS IS LOCATED. SO IT IS A TIME FOR EDUCATION TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS UNDERSTAND HOW TO REPORT THESE THINGS, HOW TO HELP THE RESPONSE AND HOW TO BE EFFICIENT AND IN MY OPINION, THE PERSON WHO SUBMITTED THE EMAIL TO YOU GAVE SUGGESTIONS, GAVE IDEAS, GAVE THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS, AND THE MAYOR WAS FABULOUS IN HIS RESPONSE AND CULTIVATING THE RELATIONSHIP AND KEEPING IT MOVING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. THAT'S IT? >> Mr. Quintanilla: YES. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY. ITEM 5A, SCHEDULED ITEMS. THIS IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION OF THE 2026-2027 OPERATING BUDGET, AND APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT. THIS IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE HAVE FINANCE DIRECTOR DAVID PERSSELIN WHO'S AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. AND ADDRESSING ANY CONCERNS. >> City Mgr. Shackelford: IF IT'S OKAY, HE CAN START ADDRESSING SOME CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN EMAILS TO US. >> Mr. Persselin: GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR TONIGHT, BUT SINCE LAST WEEK'S PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET, WE'VE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON STAFF VACANCIES AND CITYWIDE SAVINGS BUDGETED IN THE GENERAL FUND. AT THE APRIL 21ST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, HUMAN RESOURCES STAFF PRESENTED A VACANCY SNAPSHOT BY BARGAINING UNIT, SHOWING VACANCIES IN THE 11 TO 13% RANGE FOR THE UNITS WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY'S EMPLOYEES. A FEW UNITS INCLUDING POLICE WERE BELOW 10%, WHILE TWO UNITS WERE JUST UNDER 20%. CURRENTLY, OVERALL, THE VACANCY RATE IS ABOUT 11%. THE DISTRIBUTION OF VACANCIES AMONG DEPARTMENTS VARIES FROM MONTH TO MONTH AS EMPLOYEES RETIRE, RESIGN OR ARE PROMOTED, AND AS VACANT POSITIONS ARE FILLED THROUGH THE CITY'S RECRUITMENT PROCESS. ALTHOUGH VACANCIES ACROSS ALL POSITIONS BUDGETED IN THE GENERAL FUND ARE THE PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SAVINGS WE'VE HISTORICALLY EXPERIENCED, NON-PERSONNEL SAVINGS INCLUDING SUPPLIES, SERVICES AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE ALSO AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT. THAT MIX VARIES FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND THE SAVINGS ESTIMATE IS CALCULATED AS A PERCENTAGE OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURES, NOT AS A SUM OF ESTIMATED VACANCIES AND OTHER SAVINGS. OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, ACTUAL EXPENDITURE SAVINGS VERSUS THE FINAL BUDGET HAS AVERAGED ABOUT 6.6%, WHICH IS CLOSE TO WHAT WE'VE INCLUDED IN NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET. WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT STAFFING AND COMPENSATION LEVELS FOR WHAT MIGHT BE PERCEIVED AS ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR CONSOLIDATION. TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY MANAGER, COMMUNICATIONS AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, HUMAN RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNCTIONS, YOU CAN FIND A DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR SERVICES, A LISTING OF RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND NEXT YEAR'S OBJECTIVES, A SET OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES, AND THE STAFFING CONFIGURATION IN THE DEPARTMENT SECTION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT. SIMILAR INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND EVERY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT. EACH OF THESE FUNCTIONS EXISTS WITHIN ITS OWN CONSTANTLY EVOLVING LEGAL REGULATORY AND OPERATING ENVIRONMENT. ALTHOUGH SOME POSITIONS MAY HAVE SIMILAR SOUNDING TITLES, PRACTICAL JOB FUNCTIONS ARE DEFINED IN PUBLICLY AVAILABLE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND VIA THE CITY'S BUDGET AND WORK PLANS. AN ORGANIZATION AS LARGE AND COMPLEX AS THE CITY OF FREMONT REQUIRES FUNCTIONAL MANAGERS AND SENIOR STAFF WITH THE APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE. AS WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT, OUR CITY IS ALREADY THINLY STAFFED, AND WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY AWARE OF ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR EFFICIENTLY CONSOLIDATING ACROSS FUNCTIONS. FINALLY, THE CITY'S COMPENSATION POLICY IS TO PLACE OUR STAFF'S TOTAL COMPENSATION NEAR THE MEDIAN LEVEL FOR OUR COMPARABLE CITIES. I'D ALSO LIKE TO REPEAT SOME POINTS MADE IN ANOTHER SET OF COMMENTS WE'VE RECEIVED. ALTHOUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 GENERAL FUND PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET IS BALANCED, IT DOES NOT RESTORE THE SERVICE CAPACITY THAT WE LOST WHEN BALANCING AND RE-BALANCING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 ADOPTED BUDGET. THOSE REDUCTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE CITY'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN FACILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE DELIVERY AT THE PREVIOUSLY FUNDED LEVELS. AS THE CITY COUNCIL EVALUATES NEW SPENDING REQUESTS, COMPENSATION COMMITMENTS, DOWNTOWN INITIATIVES, STAFFING ADDITIONS, AND FUTURE CAPITAL PRIORITIES, IT SHOULD ALSO EVALUATE THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF MAINTAINING THOSE UNRESOLVED REDUCTIONS OVER MULTIPLE BUDGET CYCLES, AND IDENTIFY THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THOSE PRIOR REDUCTIONS WILL BE RESTORED. AND AS WE RECOGNIZE THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING IN PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH NEW FACILITIES, PARK IMPROVEMENTS, STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS, PUBLIC SPACE ACTIVATION EFFORTS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE CITY COUNCIL'S FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE OF FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY REQUIRES NOT ONLY FUNDING PROJECT DELIVERY, BUT ALSO FUNDING THE LONG-TERM OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS NECESSARY TO FULLY ENJOY AND PRESERVE THOSE INVESTMENTS WITHIN OUR ONGOING REVENUE STREAM. AND WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT BACK TO THE MAYOR. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU, MR. PERSSELIN. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN? >> Councilmember Kimberlin: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO I THINK SOME OF -- THAT WAS GREAT, SO THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WE RECEIVED VIA EMAIL, AND REALLY GOOD, I REALLY APPRECIATE QUESTIONS LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT JUST DIGS DOWN A LITTLE BIT FARTHER AND SEEKS CLARIFICATION, SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO SENT THOSE IN. THEN ALSO THERE WAS A LITTLE DISCUSSION ABOUT FUTURE BUDGETS, NOT JUST LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, AND I KNOW REPORTS WE'VE SEEN FROM YOU IN THE PAST, I FORGET IF IT WAS AT THE LAST PRESENTATION, BUT YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT FUTURE BUDGETS, AND I KNOW YOU DO LOOK AT FUTURE BUDGETS LIKE OUT OVER THREE YEARS, CURRENT, THEN NEXT AND NEXT TO KIND OF SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING SO THAT WE BUILD A PROPER BUDGET FOR NOW, ANTICIPATING WHERE YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO. THAT'S CORRECT, AND IS THERE ANYTHING YOU COULD ADD ON TO THAT? >> Mr. Persselin: SURE. SO YOU'RE REFERRING TO OUR GENERAL FUND FORECAST THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET, AND WILL BE INCLUDED ULTIMATELY IN THE ADOPTED OPERATING BUDGET DOCUMENT. IT NOT ONLY PROJECTS THE PROPOSED BUDGET BUT THEN THE FOLLOWING TWO FISCAL YEARS BASED ON OUR CURRENT ESTIMATE FOR REVENUES AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE EVOLVING NATURE OF OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. SO THAT GIVES YOU AND THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHETHER WE'RE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINING OUR BALANCE AS WE GO FORWARD OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. >> Councilmember Kimberlin: GREAT, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? WE WILL GO ON TO THE PUBLIC. I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? >> Mr. Quintanilla: NO SPEAKER CARDS, NO HANDS RAISED IN ZOOM. >> Mayor Salwan: I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? IF NOT, WE ARE ALL DONE. THANK YOU, MR. PERSSELIN. >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: THROUGH THE MAYOR THIS, DOES REQUIRE ACTION. >> Mayor Salwan: OH, OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION? MOVED BY VICE MAYOR KENG -- SORRY, VICE MAYOR ZHANG. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER KENG. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 5B, STERLING OSGOOD ROAD GPA AND REZONING. >> GOOD EVENING. TONIGHT WE'LL BE GOING OVER THE STERLING OSGOOD ROAD GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND REZONING. THE PROJECT BEFORE COUNCIL THIS EVENING IS A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT REZONING AND DISCRETIONARY DESIGN REVIEW TO ALLOW FOR AN ADAPTIVE RE-USE OF THE EXISTING BUILDING LOCATED AT 43800 OSGOOD ROAD. THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS SITUATED ON A 11.21-ACRE SITE AT THE CORNER OF OSGOOD ROAD AND THE AUTOMALL PARKWAY. THE EXISTING BUILDING ON SITE WAS COMPLETED IN 1999, AND HOUSED THE RETAIL COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS OF FRYS ELECTRONICS. THERE WAS A PROCESS THROUGH A USE PERMIT WHERE LARGE RETAIL OPERATIONS SUCH AS FRYS COULD BE LOCATED ON SITES NEAR A FREEWAY. THE APPLICANT PROPOSES A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT FROM THE CURRENT REGIONAL COMMERCIAL DESIGNATION TO THE PROPOSED TECH INDUSTRIAL DESIGNATION WITH AN ASSOCIATED REZONING. THE RETURN TO INDUSTRIAL ZONING WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER INDUSTRIAL SITES ALONG THIS PORTION OF OSGOOD ROAD. THIS PROPOSAL IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THE TRENDS WE HAVE SEEN REASONED REENTLY WITH OTHER SITES ALONG THE AUTOMALL CORRIDOR SUCH AS THE PALISADES DEVELOPMENT ON ICE HOUSE TERRACE. THE APPLICANT PROPOSES AN ADAPTIVE RE-USE OF THE EXISTING BUILDING. THESE INCLUDE FA SOD IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL MODERNIZE THE LOOK OF THE BUILDING WITH DESIGNS ARCHITECTURALLY CONSISTENT WITH OTHER NEW INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS WE'VE SEEN IN THE CITY. THESE INCLUDE THINGS LIKE UPDATED PAINT SCHEMES, STOREFRONT GLASS AT THE ENTRANCES AND NEW ACCENT MATERIALS. AS PART OF A ROBUST LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PLAN, OVER 80 ADDITIONAL TREES ARE PLANTED ALONG THE PERIMETER OF THE PROPERTY ALONG I-680, OSGOOD ROAD AND AUTOMALL PARKWAY AS WELL AS SCREENING THE TRUCK DOCKS FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. PROPOSED TO BE REARRANGED IN A WAY THAT IS FUNCTIONAL FOR PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL TENANT WHILE INSTALLING LANDSCAPE TO IMPROVE THE VISUALS OF THE SITE. A THOROUGH ECONOMIC ANALYSIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BY THE INDEPENDENT FIRM STRATEGIC ECONOMICS COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY OF FREMONT. THE AREA OF FOCUS LOOKED AT THE VIABILITY OF THE SITE AS A COMMERCIAL PROJECT VERSUS INDUSTRIAL PROJECT AND THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED. THE STUDY FOUND THE BUILDING TYPOLOGY, PROXIMITY TO OTHER REGIONAL SHOPPING CENTERS, THE PREVALENCE OF E COMMERCE AND LACK OF COMPLEMENTARY RETAIL IMMEDIATELY NEARBY THE SITE PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS FOR A NEW RETAIL DEVELOPMENT ON THE SITE. CONVERSELY THE STUDY NOTES THE DEMAND FOR INDUSTRIAL SPACE REMAINS STRONG IN THE CITY OF FREMONT AS SEEN BY INDUSTRIAL VACANCY RATES. THE SITES WOULD BE ATTRACTIVE FOR AN INDUSTRIAL USER DUE TO ITS REGIONAL ACCESS, THE SIZE OF THE EXISTING BUILDING AND THE ADJACENCY TO THE OTHER INDUSTRIAL USERS. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE BETWEEN 150 TO 333 FULL-TIME JOBS WITH A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION CATEGORIZED AS "MIDDLE INCOME" POSITIONS. THIS BOOST IN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WILL NOT ONLY SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMIC GROWTH BUT ALSO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS. ADDITIONALLY THE CITY STANDS TO GAIN A REOCCURRING GENERAL FUND REVENUE ESTIMATE BETWEEN 124,000 TO 132,000 ANNUALLY WHICH TURNS INTO ABOUT 1.3 MILLION TO 1.4 MILLION OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD. FUSD WOULD ALSO BENEFIT, RECEIVING APPROXIMATELY 1.1 MILLION DURING THIS SAME 10-YEAR SPAN. THERE WILL BE A ONE-TIME IMPACT FEE ASSESSED OF APPROXIMATELY 66,000 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT'S CHANGE OF USE. PUBLIC BENEFITS ARE PROPOSED TO -- OH, TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY FOR THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF A TRAFFIC SIGNAL ON THE NORTH DRIVEWAY, ALLOWING FOR PROTECTED TURNS AND ENHANCED TRAFFIC FLOW. DURING FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS WILL FEATURE AN UPGRADED PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALK ALONG THE SITE'S OSGOOD FRONTAGE AND AN ABA COMPLIANT RAMP WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AT THE CORNER OF OSGOOD AND AUTOMALL. IN APRIL THE PLANNING COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED TO CITY COUNCIL THE PROPOSED PROJECT WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT AND RESOLUTIONS AS WELL AS APPROVAL OF THE ACCESSORY ENTITLE TELLMENTS. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM FROM CITY COUNCILMEMBERS? GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER KENG. >> Councilmember Keng: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S A VERY EXCITING PROJECT COMING UP BECAUSE THAT FRYS ELECTRONIC SITE HAS BEEN VACANT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. HOW LONG WOULD THE -- KIND OF THE REBUILDING TAKE? ONCE IT'S APPROVED? >> I KNOW THE APPLICANT IS EAGER TO GET STARTED. TIMELINES ARE GOING TO VARY BASED ON SUPPLIES AND THINGS. WE DO HAVE THE APPLICANT HERE TONIGHT WHO WILL -- >> Mayor Salwan: WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE APPLICANT TIME TO GO OVER THE PROJECT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> Councilmember Keng: SURE. >> I KNOW THEY'RE EAGER. >> Councilmember Keng: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: VICE MAYOR ZHANG. QUESTIONS. >> Vice Mayor Zhang: OKAY, QUESTION IS, IT'S DESIGNED FOR EITHER WAREHOUSE OR INDUSTRIAL, AND SO HAVE WE HAD A CASE LIKE THIS BEFORE? LIKE YOU WOULD DESIGN FOR THE PURPOSE TO BE POSSIBLE TWO SOLUTIONS? >> YEAH, YOU CAN SEE THIS ALL THROUGHOUT CITY OF FREMONT WHEN THEY'RE DOING SPECULATIVE INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS JUST LIKE IN THE PACIFIC COMMONS SOUTH, THOSE WERE BUILT TO EITHER BE, YOU KNOW, WAREHOUSING OR MANUFACTURING LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USES AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT USES THERE, WE HAVE SOME WAREHOUSES LIKE WITH AMAZON AND UPS THERE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LIKE QUANTA THERE WHO'S DOING MANUFACTURING AND STUFF, SO THAT'S PRETTY TYPICAL WHEN SOMEONE IS BUILDING A SPECULATIVE BUILDING. >> Vice Mayor Zhang: SO ONE CONCERN I HAVE IS BASED ON THE LOCATION, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IF IT'S USED FOR WAREHOUSE, THE TRAFFIC, YOU KNOW, THE TRUCKS GOING IN AND OUT. AND HOW DO YOU SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? >> YEAH, THERE WILL BE A TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL GO INTO THAT THAT THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT AND GET APPROVED. PART OF IT PRELIMINARILY THEY SAID WAS THAT STOPLIGHT WILL BE PLACED ON THAT NORTH DRIVEWAY WHICH GIVES THEM THAT PRO TENGTED TURN AND HELPS WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. IT'S ALSO IDEALLY LOCATED NEAR, YOU KNOW, TWO FREEWAY INTERSECTIONS THERE WITH I-680, I-880 AND WE ALSO HAVE THE I-680 OVER OFF OF WASHINGTON BOULEVARD, SO TRAFFIC STUDIES IS SOMETHING WE HAD DONE, AND IT WAS LOOKED AT AND WITH THESE -- WITH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND A FEW OTHER THINGS, IT SHOULD BE MITIGATED FAIRLY WELL. >> I'LL ADD, VICE MAYOR, THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THE INGRESS AND EGRESS OF THE SITE FOR BOTH THE EMPLOYEES GOING INTO THE FACILITY AS WELL AS ANY POTENTIAL DELIVERY TRUCKS AND SO THE WAY THAT THE VEHICLES GO INTO THE SITE IS REALLY OPTIMIZED TO MITIGATE ANY IMPACTS TO THE ROADWAY AND KEEP ALL THE IDLING VEHICLES ON THE SITE, AND AS MARC SHARED, THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME VERY SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT BY THE DEVELOPER TO ADD A TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO HELP WITH MAKING A SAFE TURN OUT OF THE PROPERTY AS WELL. >> Vice Mayor Zhang: OKAY, THANK YOU. SO IT'S LIKE WHEN THEY TURN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BLOCK THE TRAFFIC, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE THE TRAFFIC FLOW IS GOING TO BE RUNNING SMOOTHLY? >> RIGHT, YES, THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SHOULD HELP ALLEVIATE THAT SITUATION HAPPENING. >> Mayor Salwan: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE APPLICANT COME UP NEXT SO THEY'LL EXPLAIN THAT, I'M SURE. >> Vice Mayor Zhang: OKAY. THAT'S MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. OKAY. I WOULD INVITE THE APPLICANT TO COME UP AND MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION. COME ON UP. FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING WE ALLOW UP TO 10 MINUTES. YOU DONT'S HAVE TO TAKE UP THE FULL 10 MINUTES BUT WE WILL ALLOW THAT SINCE IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING. >> GOOD EVENING. >> CAN YOU GET OUR PRESENTATION UP ON THE SCREEN? IT'S CONNECTED THROUGH -- >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> Mayor Salwan: TIME IS UP. NO, START. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOE DYKSTRA WITH THE STERLING ORGANIZATION. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT OUR PROJECT TO REIMAGINE THE OLD FRY'S SITE AT THE CORNER OF OSGOOD AND AUTOMALL PARKWAY. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO GET TO KNOW EACH OF YOU AND THE FREMONT COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. WE CAN'T COMPLIMENT YOUR TEAM AND YOUR CITY HIGHLY ENOUGH. OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH CITY GOVERNMENT. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECENTLY AND LOOK FORWARD TO TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION. JUST AS BACKGROUND, STERLING IS A REAL ESTATE FIRM THAT FOCUSES ON RETAIL AND STREUL ASSETS ACROSS THE U.S. OUR PORTFOLIO CONTAINS 75 PROPERTIES SPREAD AROUND THE COUNTRY. FREMONT HAS BEEN A VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR US. I'VE REALLY ENJOYED SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN YOUR CITY. WHILE WE ARE BASED OUT OF SOUTH FLORIDA, WE HAVE 15 CALIFORNIA PROPERTIES, 9 PROPERTIES IN THE BAY AREA AND 3 PROPERTIES IN FREMONT. IN ADDITION TO THE OSGOOD SITE, WE ALSO OWN THE FREMONT TOWN CENTER AT MISSION AND WARM SPRINGS AND THE OLD WAL-MART SITE OFF STEVENSON BOULEVARD AND ALBRAE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A GREAT PARTNER TO FREMONT, CLOSELY ALIGNING WITH YOUR OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY'S LAST TENANT WAS FRY'S ELECTRONICS WHICH LEFT THE BUILDING SEVERAL YEARS AGO AS OUR ECONOMY NOT JUST HERE IN FREMONT BUT THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA AND THE UNITED STATES MORE GENERALLY MOVED AWAY FROM LARGE SINGLE USE RETAILERS. SO WHEN WE FIRST SAW THE PROPERTY, WE SAW TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO REPOSITION IT AS AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING. WITHOUT NEEDING TO TEAR ANYTHING DOWN OR MAKE MAJOR CHANGES. IT'S AN IDEAL LOCATION JUST OFF THE FREEWAY. HAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE PARKING AND, FUNNY ENOUGH, WAS ACTUALLY BUILT AS AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING BEFORE FRY'S CAME ABOUT. SO TO ENSURE THE PROPERTY'S LONG-TERM VIABILITY AND TO REIMAGINE A NEW FUTURE FOR THE PROPERTY, WE ARE SEEKING A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO APPROPRIATELY ZONE THE PARCEL TO ALIGN WITH WHERE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRENDS ARE HEADED. AT THE END OF THE T DAY, WE DON'T JUST SEE THIS PROPERTY AS A BUILDING THAT WE'LL INVEST IN AND REHAB. WE BELIEVE WHEN IT'S DONE, IT WILL LOOK LIKE A BEAUTIFUL BRAND NEW CLASS A STATE OF THE ART INSTITUTIONAL PROPERTY THAT WILL ATTRACT BEST IN CLASS COMPANIES, GROWING YOUR TAX BASE AND BRINGING GOOD QUALITY JOBS TO YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR CITY HAS BEEN INTENTIONAL AND HAS A FORWARD-LOOKING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN, A STRATEGY YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF, AND THAT WORK AND THAT REPUTATION IS KNOWN FAR AND WIDE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND WE STAND BEFORE YOU EXCITED TO BE PART OF EXECUTING YOUR OVERALL STRATEGY. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT. AND BEING SO WELCOMING IN YOUR COMMUNITY. AND WITH THAT, I'LL HAND OFF THE DETAILS TO MARK LOPER ON OUR TEAM. THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MARK LOPER ON BEHALF OF STERLING. I WANT TO START JUST BY THANKING YOUR STAFF FOR WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO TO PROCESS OUR APPLICATION AND TO GET US IN FRONT OF YOU, IN PARTICULAR, MARC CLEVELAND. THESE IMAGES SHOW THE SITE'S ZONING IN CONTEXT AND ALSO HAS AN AERIAL VIEW THAT WE THINK TELLS A COMPELLING STORY. THE BLUE AREA TO THE NORTH OF THE SITE ON BOTH SIDES OF OSGOOD IS ZONED INDUSTRIAL. AS IS THE BLUE AREA TO THE SOUTHWEST. THE PINK FURTHER TO THE SOUTH IS THE WARM SPRINGS INNOVATION DISTRICT, WHICH ALLOWS MORE OR LESS THE SAME INDUSTRIAL USES THAT WE ARE REQUESTING. 680 SERVES AS A BUFFER FROM THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE EAST IN THE HILLS, AND THE BART RIGHT-OF-WAY ON THE FAR SIDE OF OSGOOD FROM THE PROPERTY PROVIDES A BUFFER FROM RESIDENCES LOCATED TO THE WEST. JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE DEVELOPMENT HISTORY OF THE SITE, WHICH WE THINK SUPPORTS OUR REQUEST TO RETURN THIS BUILDING TO ITS ORIGINAL INDUSTRIAL PURPOSE. THIS SITE WAS APPROVED FOR AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING IN 1997, BUT A YEAR LATER, FRY'S CAME AND RECEIVED APPROVAL TO MOVE IN AS A RETAIL. AS STAFF MENTIONED, IN THE EARLY 2010s, THE SITE WAS REZONED TO A RETAIL DESIGNATION AS PART OF YOUR OVERALL 2011 GENERAL PLAN UPDATE TO MORE ACCURATELY CAPTURE ITS USE THAT TIME AS A BIG BOX RETAILER. AFTER MORE THAN TWO DECADES AT THE SITE N2021 FRY'S ANNOUNCED IT WAS PERMANENTLY CLOSING ITS REMAINING STORES INCLUDING THE SITE. THE SITE LANGUISHED FOR THE REST OF THE PANDEMIC WITH NO NEW RETAILERS MOVING IN WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE GIVEN THE BUILDING IS NEARLY 150,000 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE. STERLING ACQUIRED THE SITE IN 2024, AND HAS SET ON THE PATH TO BRING IT BACK TO LIFE SINCE. OUR NEXT THREE SLIDES WALK THROUGH -- PARDON ME -- WHAT WE SEE AS, ONE, THE PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT ZONING THAT WAS ADOPTED FOR FRY'S, TWO, THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE BUILT FOR INDUSTRIAL USE TO FURTHER FREMONT'S MARKET-LEADING ROLE IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AND THREE, THE SOLUTION. FOR THE PROBLEM, AS STAFF NOTED BOTH THE GENERAL PLAN AND THE ZONING FOR THE SITE REQUIRE COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL USERS, AND THEY DO NOT ALLOW FOR INDUSTRIAL USE. THE MARKET STUDY PREPARED FOR THE SITE -- OR FOR THE PROJECT CONCLUDES THAT MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS EXIST FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT -- OR FOR RETAIL DEVELOPMENT AT THE SITE, INCLUDING THE RISE OF E-COMMERCE, EXISTING SUPPLY OF LARGE SHOPPING CENTERS AND MALLS IN FREMONT, A LACK OF COMPLEMENTARY NEARBY RETAIL USES, AND THE LIMITED NUMBER OF BIG BOX TENANTS THAT COULD FEASIBLY TAKE THIS SPACE. AT THE SAME TIME A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY EXISTS TO RE-USE THE SITE. FREMONT HAS BECOME THE BAY AREA CENTER FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, ACCOUNTING FOR OVER 75% OF ALL OF SILICON VALLEY'S ADVANCED MANUFACTURING LEASES, WHILE INDUSTRIAL VACANCY RATES ARE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. THE CITY HAS SIGNALED ITS OVER ARCHING SUPPORT FOR SOLIDIFYING FREMONT'S ROLE IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IN RECENT YEARS WITH SEVERAL LARGE SCALE PROJECTS APPROVED OR COMING TO MARKET. THESE PROJECTS AND THE PROJECT BEFORE YOU IF YOU APPROVE IT WILL GENERATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ONE-TIME AND ONGOING FEES AND TAXES AND CREATE GOOD-PAYING JOBS OVER A RANGE OF EDUCATION LEVELS, INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL FREMONT RESIDENTS. AND THE SOLUTION IS REPURPOSE THE SITE AND FURTHER SOLIDIFY FREMONT AS THE BAY AREA CENTER FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, APPROVE THE APPLICATIONS FOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, REZONING, MAJOR DESIGN REVIEW, AND OTHER ENTITLEMENTS. I T-ZONING AS WE SHOWED IN THAT SLIDE THAT HAD THE AERIAL IMAGE ALONG WITH THE MAP SHOWING THE PICTURES OF THE ZONING IS COMPATIBLE WITH ADJACENT LAND USES. IT WILL ALSO ALLOW THE SITE TO RETURN TO ITS ORIGINALLY INTENDED USE, ADAPTIVELY USING AN EXISTING BUILDING AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE ZONING DISTRICT THAT COULD ATRACK TENANTS LOOKING FOR SPACE IN FREMONT. A PICTURE CAN TELL A THOUSAND WORDS. YOU CAN SEE HERE WHAT THE SITE CURRENTLY LOOKS LIKE. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN ADAPTIVE RE-USE AND THE PHYSICAL CHANGES TO THE BUILDING MIGHT NOT SEEM AS DRAMATIC AS A NEW GROUND-UP INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, WE STILL THINK THEY ARE NOTABLE. CHANGES INCLUDE FACADE DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS, FULL INTERIOR RENOVATION AND A NEW MEZZANINE. AS MR. CLEVELAND MENTIONED, THE OVERALL SITE PLAN WILL INCLUDE CHANGES TO THE PARKING LAYOUT, EXTERIOR TRAILER PARKING STRIPING AS WELL AS DOCK DOORS AND BY THE WAY, THOSE DOCK DOORS ARE GOING IN WHERE THE ORIGINAL BUILDING HAD PROPOSED DOCK DOORS TO GO. LANDS SCAPING IS PROPOSED ALONG 680, AUTOMALL PARKWAY AND OS GOOD, SCREENING THE SITE FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. AND THE SIDEWALK ALONG OSGOOD WILL BE IMPROVED AS WILL THE CROSSWALK AT OSGOOD AND AUTOMALL PARKWAY, AND FINALLY AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, THE PROJECT WILL ADD A NEW SIGNALIZED STREETLIGHT AT ITS NORTH ENTRANCE FROM OSGOOD, SO THAT'S TO THE LEFT ON YOUR SCREEN. THAT WILL KEEP TRUCKS CUING INSIDE THE SITE RATHER THAN ALONG OSGOOD OR AUTOMALL PARKWAY. THESE ARE JUST MORE ELEVATIONS. OUR ARCHITECTURE TEAM, HPA, IS HERE AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. STERLING CHOSE HPA BECAUSE IT HAS A DEMONSTRATED TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS IN FREMONT, AND WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WITH THEIR DESIGN. AND FINISHING WITH A FEW BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT. FIRST, AS YOU HEARD FROM STAFF, IT WILL CREATE HUNDREDS OF JOBS ESTIMATED IN THE ECONOMIC STUDY AS UP TO 333 WITH A DIVERSE MIX OF JOBS BY OCCUPATION AND EDUCATION LEVEL. IT IS ALSO EXPECTED TO GENERATE OVER $1 MILLION TO BOTH THE CITY AND FREMONT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT WITHIN NINE YEARS, AND FINALLY, STERLING WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE $150,000 TO THE AUTOMALL CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING ANY GATEWAY ELEMENTS AS DETERMINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCILMEMBER SHAO. >> Councilmember Shao: THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YEAH, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. FIRST ONE IS ABOUT 48 APPROVED CITY PROTECTED TREES. WHAT'S THE REASON FOR REMOVING THOSE TREES? >> >> Mayor Salwan: I THINK THE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW ARE CORRCORRECT DRENGTED TO THE APPLICANT AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO STAFF. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT AT THIS TIME? >> Councilmember Shao: NO, SORRY. >> Mayor Salwan: LET'S DO THIS AGAIN. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? COULD YOU PRESS YOUR BUTTON REAL QUICK, WHOEVER IS INTERESTED IN? INTERESTED? SO COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL THEN COUNCILMEMBER KENG. OH, BECAUSE THERE WAS OTHER PEOPLE IN FRONT OF YOU SO I HAD TO CLEAR THE CUE TO FIGURE OUT WHO WAS SPEAKING FOR WHAT. >> Councilmember Campbell: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A VERY, VERY EXCITING PROJECT. BUT I DID HEAR AT THE END OF YOUR STATEMENT, YOU SAID THERE WAS $150,000 FOR A PUBLIC BENEFIT. CAN YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT IS? >> YES. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER. STERLING IS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE $150,000 TO THE CITY FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AUTOMALL CORRIDOR, AND THAT CAN INCLUDE ANY GATEWAY ELEMENTS, AND THE PROJECTS TO WHICH THAT $150,000 GO WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE MAYOR AND THIS COUNCIL. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER KENG. >> Councilmember Keng: THANK YOU. AGAIN, CONTINUING MY QUESTION FROM EARLIER, DO YOU HAVE A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF HOW LONG THE IMPROVEMENT MIGHT TAKE? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. STERLING IS READY TO SUBMIT BUILDING PERMITS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MR. CLEVELAND WAS VERY NICE, WE'VE KIND OF BEEN HOUNDING HIM RECENTLY, AND WE'RE READY TO GO. WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED. WE'RE HOPING TO GET PERMITS BY THE FALL OF 2026 AND START CONSTRUCTION IMMEDIATELY AT THAT TIME AND COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION IN THE SPRING OF 2027. >> Councilmember Keng: VERY NICE. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: VICE MAYOR, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE LIGHTS OR WAS THAT ANSWERED? DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION ABOUT -- YOU WERE ASKING EARLIER? >> Vice Mayor Zhang: NO, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE STAFF. >> Mayor Salwan: ALL RIGHT. SO WE WILL CLOSE THIS PORTION OUT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM STAFF, STARTING WITH COUNCILMEMBER SHAO. >> Councilmember Shao: THANK YOU. SO ONCE AGAIN, WHAT'S THE REASON TO REMOVE THOSE 47 CITY PROTECTED TREES? >> SURE. SO DURING PART OF THE PROJECT THEY PROVIDED AN ARBORIST REPORT THAT SPOKE TO THE HEALTH OF THE TREES. SOME OF THESE TREES WERE UNHEALTHY AND SHOULD BE REMOVED, AND SOME WERE REMOVED TO RECONFIGURE THE PARKING LOT BUT I WILL NOTE THEY ARE REPLACING EVERY SINGLE TREE THAT THEY ARE REMOVING WITH A NEW TREE, AS WELL AS THEN SOME BY THE EXCESS OF AT LEAST 40, I THINK IT'S EVEN MORE. I DON'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT YEAH, IT'S JUST SITE DESIGN AS WELL AS HEALTH OF TREES. >> Councilmember Shao: THANK YOU. MY SECOND QUESTION IS REGARDING THE IMPACT FEES. IT LISTS IT HERE AS 66 GRANT OF ONE-TIME IMPACT FEES, BUT WE ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC LIGHT IS GOING TO BE ADDED. I REMEMBER WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS, PASEO PADRE PARKWAY, THE COST OF ADDING ONE SINGLE TRAFFIC LIGHT IS WAY BEYOND THAT 66 GRAND OF ONE-TIME IMPACT FEES SO WHAT IS YOUR CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU TRY TO EVALUATE THE ONE-TIME IMPACT FEE AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THAT ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC LIGHT FINANCIALLY TO THE CITY? >> GOOD QUESTION. SO THE IMPACT FEES, THE ONES I'M TALKING ABOUT, THE ONE-TIME, IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO WITH THE CHANGE OF USE. CURRENTLY THE BUILDING IS A RETAIL SERVICE, SO WHEN THEY CONVERT IT OVER TO BE IT MANUFACTURING OR R & D, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE USE MAY BE, OUR MASTER FEE SCHEDULE HAS A SET A IMPACT FEE SO THEY'LL BE CHARGED THE CONVERSION RATE SO THAT'S AN APPROXIMATION RATE BASED TELL CURRENT RATE. IF IT'S R & D, IT WILL BE ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY PLUS OR MINUS A FEW THOUSAND. AS FOR THE IMPACT -- OR AS FOR THE COST OF THE LIGHT, I DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE BUT IT'S WELL INTO, I DON'T KNOW, THE MILLIONS, YEAH, QUARTER MILLION. IT'S PRETTY EXTENSIVE. >> Councilmember Shao: MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT ADDITION OF A TRAFFIC LIGHT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROJECT, OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO USE OF DOING THAT. SO WHY WOULD THE CITY PAY FOR THAT? >> THEY ARE PAYING FOR IT. >> Councilmember Shao: OKAY. GOOD. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY, SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? >> Mr. Quintanilla: YES, WE HAVE TWO SPEAKER CARDS. TERESA WONG AND KELLY ABREU. >> GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M FROM THE FREMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. OUR MISSION IS TO BUT SORT AND ADVOCATE FOR BUSINESSES WHICH IS THE REASON WHY I'M HERE. SO ON BEHALF OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE AND SUPPORT THE STERLING'S PROJECT. WE HOPE THAT FREMONT CONTINUES TO BE A CITY WHERE BUSINESSES CAN SUCCEED AND THRIVE AND TALENT CAN STAY AND OUR CHILDREN DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE OUTSIDE THE CITY FOR OPPORTUNITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROJECT IS MORE THAN JUST A BUILDING. IT'S MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER PROJECT. TO ME, I SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOBS, I SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TALENT TO STAY AND I SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION TO UNDERSTAND THAT FREMONT CONTINUES TO BE THE CITY WHERE OPPORTUNITIES AND INNOVATION THRIVES. SO I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, IF OUR BUSINESSES SUCCEED, THEN THE FAMILIES SUCCEED. WHEN FAMILIES SUCCEED, OUR COMMUNITY SUCCEEDS. AND SINCE FREMONT IS THE HAPPIEST CITY IN THE NATION AND THE NUMBER ONE PLACE TO GROW OUR FAMILY THEN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS TRULY CONTINUES TO BE LIKE THAT AND I HOPE THAT THIS PROJECT -- AND I'M EXCITED FOR THIS PROJECT TO GIVE OUT OPPORTUNITIES AND SEE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WILL GIVE TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> Mr. Quintanilla: OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KELLY ABREU. >> I'M GOING TO DO THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE AND EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT. AND OBVIOUSLY THIS DEVELOPER ACTUALLY PUT SOME THOUGHT INTO THE PRESENTATION AND AS OPPOSED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST THROW OUT STUFF THAT'S KIND OF GENERIC. BUT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COUNCIL -- FOR US TO DISABUSE OURSELVES OF ILLUSIONS AND FALSE ASSUMPTIONS. YOU NOTICE THE ASSUMPTION THAT, OH, THAT SHOULD BE COMMERCIAL, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION WAS WHY SHOULD THIS NOT BE COMMERCIAL? WELL, OF COURSE IT SHOULDN'T BE COMMERCIAL BECAUSE WE GOT TOO MUCH COMMERCIAL, WE DON'T NEED MORE COMMERCIAL. COMMERCIAL IS A WASTE OF TIME AND THIS IS A GREAT USE FOR THIS. BUT THAT ASSUMPTION OF, OH, LET'S BUILD MORE GROUND FLOOR RETAIL, THESE ARE BUILT IN EVERYWHERE IN OPERATING PROCEDURES. THEN THERE'S THIS TRAFFIC LIGHT. YOU KNOW, THESE TRAFFIC LIGHTS ARE MIRACULOUS THINGS BECAUSE HERE, IT'S A METHOD TO INCREASE THE RATE OF TRAFFIC FLOW, BUT ON PASEO PADRE, YOU'RE PUTTING IN TRAFFIC LIGHTS IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND IMPROVE THE SAFETY. SO THESE THINGS CAN DO BOTH THINGS AT ONCE, AND ON MISSION BOULEVARD IN FRONT OF OHLONE COLLEGE, YOU HAVE SIX TRAFFIC LIGHTS THAT IF YOU GO AND WATCH WHAT THEY'RE DOG, THEY'RE DOG, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO BUILD UP CUES OF TRAFFIC, STOP TRAFFIC EVERY SUNDAY MORNING. THEN ACROSS THE FREEWAY, 500 FEET AWAY FROM THIS PROJECT, YOU'VE GOT A HALF BUILT INDUSTRIAL MONSTROSITY. SO I'M SURE THIS PROJECT WILL GET BUILT BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BUILT, BUT WHEN PROJECTS FAIL AND THEY TURN INTO, YOU KNOW, CADAVERS, WHO IS GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND DEMOLISH THEM? THAT THING HAS BEEN THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND IT'S OVERLOOKING THIS SITE. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. >> Mr. Quintanilla: THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER. >> Mayor Salwan: NONE ONLINE? >> Mr. Quintanilla: NONE ON LINE. >> Mayor Salwan: I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO CITY COUNCIL. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER KENG. OH, I'M SORRY. THE APPLICANT IS WELCOME TO MAKE CONCLUDING REMARKS ALTHOUGH I DON'T SEE MUCH OF A REBUTTAL. OKAY. GO AHEAD. >> Councilmember Keng: OKAY. SO IT'S A VERY -- I WOULD SAY A WELCOMING PROJECT TO OUR CITY, AS WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS FROM OUR CITY STAFF. I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY ALL AGREE THAT THE DAYS OF PEOPLE LINING UP TO SHOP AT BLAC BLACK FRIDAY IS OVER BECAUSE THE ONLINE RETAIL AND ALL THE DIFFERENT FACTORS. SO THERE'S AN OBVIOUS NEED FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SPACES IN FREMONT, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE A DEVELOPER THAT IS CAPABLE AND IS CREDIBLE THAT IS TAKING OVER THE SPACE AND THEY HAVE GREAT TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESSFULLY OPERATING SEVERAL SHOPPING CENTERS IN FREMONT AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, SO I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL BRING A NEW LOOK AND KIND OF CONTINUE TO BUILD THE MOMENTUM THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER SHAO. >> Councilmember Shao: THANK YOU, MAYOR. PUBLIC IMAGE-WISE, I THINK THIS PROJECT FITS OUR IMAGE AS THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING HUB IN NOT ONLY CALIFORNIA BUT ALSO NATIONWIDE. REALISTICALLY, I LIVE ABOUT A MILE FROM THAT PLACE AND EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY, YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY HOPING THAT SOMEHOW THIS PLACE CAN BE PUT INTO USE INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING HERE YEAR AFTER YEAR. SO I'M VERY GLAD THAT FREMONT HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE, AND PRAGMATIC, WHEN WE TRY TO MAKE BEST USE OF OUR LAND AND PROPERTIES AND TRY TO USE THE LAND TO CREATE JOBS AND GENERATE REVENUES. WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY EXAMPLES THROUGHOUT FREMONT, AND THIS CERTAINLY IS ONE OF THEM. AND SINCE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE COST OF TRAFFIC LIGHT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED, I WANT TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR ZHANG. >> Vice Mayor Zhang: THANK YOU. FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF TO GIVE US THIS VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION AND INFORMATION. AND ALSO I'M SO GLAD THAT STERLING CORPORATION PURCHASED THIS SITE IN 2024, AND GOOD TO KNOW THAT THIS IS THE THIRD PROJECT YOU HAVE INVESTED IN FREMONT. SO THAT GAVE US A SENSE OF ASSURANCE, AND YOU ALREADY ESTABLISHED YOURSELF. AND ALSO I THINK FROM OUR REPORT FROM STRATEGIC -- WHAT'S IT CALLED -- ECONOMICS, THE REPORT IS ALSO VERY THOROUGH. THEY DISCUSSED WHAT'S THE REASON AND WHY THIS IS GOING TO BE ZONED FOR WHAT IT IS, AND I ONLY HOPE, DO YOU HAVE WHAT KIND OF A SENSE WHAT CUSTOMER YOU WOULD HAVE, I WOULD PREFER IN WHATEVER WAY YOU CAN HIRE FOR WHAT'S IT CALLED -- INSTEAD OF A WAREHOUSE, WHICH ONLY GIVES US 150 EMPLOYEE, I WOULD PREFER SOMEHOW MAGICALLY YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO ATTRACT THE TECH, WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT, MANUFACTURE JOBS WHICH GIVE US 300 EMPLOYEES. SO WHO DO YOU WORK WITH TO HIRE AS A BROKER TO DO THE JOB, TO LEASE IT? THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> Mayor Salwan: SO I THINK AT THIS POINT WE CAN'T GO BACK TO THE APPLICANT -- >> Vice Mayor Zhang: JUST MAYBE FOR -- >> Mayor Salwan: IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A GUESS AT AN ANSWER, YOU'RE WELCOME. >> Vice Mayor Zhang: JUST KIND OF FOR INFORMATION. I FULLY SUPPORT THIS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION, VICE MAYOR. SO FREMONT DOES HAVE A VERY KIND OF WIDE RANGE OF USES THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THE INDUSTRIAL TECH ZONING. PART OF THAT IS TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR DIFFERENT MARKET CYCLES AND DIFFERENT USES, SO FOR INSTANCE, WE'LL OFTEN GET WAREHOUSE USES IN FREMONT LOCATING IN FREMONT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE CLOSE TO A MANUFACTURING SITE, SO LIKE A TESLA WAREHOUSE NEXT TO A MANUFACTURING FACILITY. I CAN SAY WITH A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES THAT ARE ALREADY AWARE OF THIS PROJECT, AND JUST LAST WEEK, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A C-SUITE EXECUTIVE OF A PUBLICLY TRADED MANUFACTURING COMPANY THAT IS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT. SO THEY WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO TONIGHT'S OUTCOME AND I VERY MUCH EXPECT THAT TYPE OF USE TO GO TO THIS PROJECT. >> Vice Mayor Zhang: OKAY. SO JUST ONE ADD-ON, SO THIS PERSON, ARE THEY ALREADY BASED IN FREMONT? >> Mayor Salwan: I'M SORRY, VICE MAYOR, I THINK WE'RE GOING OUT OF THE SCOPE HERE. THIS IS COMMENTS ONLY. >> Vice Mayor Zhang: I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER. >> Mayor Salwan: I THINK WE'RE SPECULATING. I DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE WEEDS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT BEFORE US. IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO WHO THEY'RE GOING TO LEASE IT OUT TO. SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PUTTING TOO MANY COMMENTS THAT WE WANT THIS OR THAT BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONDITION THAT. AS PART OF THIS APPROVAL. COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN. >> Councilmember Kimberlin: THANK YOU. MANY OF US WHO'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE MEMORIES OF FRY'S IN OUR MIND FOR YEARS TO COME. ONE OF THE CRAZIEST MEMORIES I HAVE WAS THE TIME MY HUSBAND LOST OUR SON IN FRY'S, AND HE FINALLY FOUND HIM AMONG ALL THE TVs. MY LITTLE, LITTLE 5-YEAR-OLD SON JUST KIND OF -- YOU COULDN'T FIND HIM. SO THAT WILL BE ONE MEMORY I WON'T FORGET ANY TIME SOON BUT IT WILL BE GREAT TO SEE THE OLD FRY'S GO AWAY AND THIS NEW BEAUTIFUL BUILDING COME IN, AND THIS REPORT HAS BEEN ALLUDED TO BY MY COLLEAGUES IS ONE OF THE MOST THOROUGH REPORTS I'VE SEEN AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. OF COURSE WE SEE THAT IT WAS APPROVED BY PLANNING, AND WHEN THEY RECOMMEND SOMETHING, THEY DID THEIR WORK, IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT WE CAN APPRECIATE THEIR WORK AND GO ALONG WITH WHAT THEY'VE RECOMMENDED. THE GENERAL PLAN CONFORMANCE LISTS OF THE LAND USE GOALS, LAND USE POLICY AND MANY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES THAT WERE REFERRED TO HERE VERY SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THIS REQUEST, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WITH THE CITY'S TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE BEING INCLUDED IN THERE WITH ALL THESE TREES COMING OUT, IF WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, I'M SURE THAT'S MAKING THEM AND ALL OF US FEEL BETTER THAT THIS WAS THOROUGHLY LOOKED AT AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL. >> Councilmember Campbell: THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY ECHO EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT, JOE, YOU BECAME A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. I AM APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU STARTED EARLY WITH ENGAGING WITH ME. YOU'VE MET WITH ME SEVERAL TIMES TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PROJECT, WHAT YOU ENVISION FOR THE PROJECT. I'VE SEEN YOU AT FREMONT COMMUNITY EVENTS, SO YOU'VE REALLY, REALLY ENTRENCHED YOURSELF INTO UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU WILL BE DOING BUSINESS WITH, AND I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THAT OUR COMMUNITY WILL APPRECIATE THAT TOO, BECAUSE YOU'RE VESTED IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT THEY WANT. SO I'M DEFINITELY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ENGAGING ME EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS. >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER LIU. LIU. >> Council >> Councilmember Liu: I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS PRETTY SHORT, I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT TOO MUCH. I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE FRY'S TO BE REVITALIZED INTO SOMETHING ELSE. A QUICK LITTLE FUN FACTUALLY. I HAVE NEVER REALLY, YOU KNOW, BEEN THERE. I'VE BEEN -- LIKE WHEN IT WAS FRY'S MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE. I GREW UP IN LIKE -- IN THE -- IN LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE LATE 2000s, EARLY 2010s, SO BY THEN I WAS -- OUR FAMILY WAS ALREADY USED TO SHOPPING EVERYTHING ONLINE WITH AMAZON ALREADY SO I CAN'T REALLY RECALL ANY SUPER FOND MEMORIES OF THAT SO I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT CAN BE NOW REDEVELOPED INTO SOMEPLACE WHERE FAMILIES CAN BE ABLE TO HAVE GOOD HIGH PAYING JOBS AND FOR THEM TO STAY HERE. SO YEAH, I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS AND I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF IT. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE PART OF THE REASON WHY FRY'S WENT UNDER. [LAUGHTER] >> Mayor Salwan: I, TOO, HAVE A LOT OF NOSTALGIA FOR FRY'S. IT WAS A GREAT STORE AT THE TIME. ITS USE HAS BEEN LONG OVER, AND AS WE KEEP SAYING, FREMONT IS THE MANUFACTURING HUB OF CALIFORNIA, ESPECIALLY WITH ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SO THIS FITS RIGHT INTO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE AS WELL, I WON'T REPEAT MYSELF, BUT STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER, THE STAFF AND THE TEAM THAT'S BEFORE US. COUNCILMEMBER KENG. >> Councilmember Keng: SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE THE CHANGE OF ZONING FROM REGIONAL COMMERCIAL TO TECH INDUSTRIAL. >> Mayor Salwan: MOVED BY KENG, SECONDED BY SHAO. AND BEFORE WE DO THAT, COULD WE ALSO INCLUDE THE OFFER FROM THE APPLICANT OF DONATING $150,000 TO THE CITY FOR WORK ON AUTOMALL OR SOME GATEWAY ELEMENT AS DECIDED BY COUNCIL? >> Councilmember Keng: I THINK THAT WILL BE VERY WELCOME. >> Councilmember Shao: I ALSO ACCEPT THAT AS I SECOND. >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: THROUGH THE MAYOR, JUST TO CLARIFY, COUNCILMEMBER KENG'S MOTION, IT'S TO ACCEPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE THERE IS AN ORDINANCE. >> Councilmember Keng: THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: GREAT. DO YOU NEED TO STATE IT OR WE'RE GOOD? WE'RE GOOD? OKAY. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 6A. AMENDMENT TO CALPERS CONTRACT. WE HAVE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR TINA GALLEGOS. >> HELLO. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU IS INTENDED TO RESTORE THE TOTAL EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION RATE FOR CALPERS PURPOSES FOR OUR SAFETY MEMBERS THAT WERE HIRED AFTER 2013, CONSISTENT WITH OUR LONGSTANDING MOU AGREEMENTS WITH THESE BARGAINING GROUPS. AS BACKGROUND, IN 2013, THE CITY AND THE SAFETY BARGAINING GROUPS AGREED ON A CONTRIBUTION OF 12% THAT CONSISTED OF THE STATUTORY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION THAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW, AND AN ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEE COST SHARE OF .75%. EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2025, CALPERS INCREASED THE REQUIRED 50% OF NORMAL COST CONTRIBUTION FROM 11.25 TO 11.75. COMBINED WITH THE EXISTING .75 THAT EMPLOYEES WERE CONTRIBUTING, THE TOTAL EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION INCREASED TO 12.5, WHICH WAS BEYOND THE AGREED-UPON AMOUNT OF 12% THAT IS IN OUR LABOR MOUs. AS SUCH, THE CITY HAS MET AND CONFERRED WITH ALL OF OUR SAFETY BARGAINING GROUPS THAT ARE AFFECTED, AND WE HAVE EFFECTUATED SIDE LETTERS CONFIRMING THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE 2013 AGREEMENTS ON THIS MATTER, AND TO FORMALIZE AND PRESERVE THE AGREED UPON EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS, THE RESOLUTION OF INTENT THAT IS BEFORE YOU IS INTENDED TO START THE PROCESS WITH CALPERS TO AMEND OUR CALPERS CONTRACT CONSISTENT WITH OUR LONG-STANDING AGREEMENTS WITH THE UNIONS. AS SUCH, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE RESOLUTION OF INTENTION AND FOLLOWING THAT, STAFF WILL CONDUCT A VOTE BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEMBERS AND WE WOULD COME BACK ON JULY 14TH FOR A FINAL ORDINANCE APPROVAL FROM CITY COUNCIL. OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? SEEING NONE, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? >> Mr. Quintanilla: NO, NO SPEAKER CARDS, NO HANDS RAISED IN ZOOM. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY. I WILL THEN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. BRING IT BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR COMMENTS OR A MOTION. DO WE NEED A MOTION ON THIS ONE? >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: YES, MAYOR, WE DO NEED A MOTION BECAUSE THIS EVENING STAFF IS RECOMMENDING BOTH THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AND THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD EFFECTUATE THIS PROPOSAL. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL. >> Councilmember Campbell: I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, PLEASE. >> Mayor Salwan: MOVED BY CAMPBELL, SECONDED BY LIU. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: ALL RIGHT. SO NEXT WE HAVE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. ANY COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS? VICE MAYOR ZHANG? >> Vice Mayor Zhang: SO I AM ON THE GOVERNANCE TRANSPARENCY AND LABOR RELATION POLICY COMMITTEE, AND LAST WEEK I ATTENDED THE QUARTERLY MEETING, AND SO THE BACKGROUND IS THE CITY AND OTHER GOVERNANCE, THE INSURANCE SOMETIMES IS NOT COVERED BY -- THE INSURANCE HAS TO BE I THINK USED BY CALIFORNIA JOINT -- WHAT'S THE NAME? I HAVE TO REPEAT. CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF JOINT POWER AUTHORITIES. AND BECAUSE OF A CERTAIN -- CERTAIN LAWS, I THINK IT'S AB218, AND THERE'S NO CAP ON THE COMPENSATION OF SOME LAWSUIT AGAINST THE GOVERNANCE. SO THAT'S WHY THE INSURANCE KEEPING GOING UP, AND WE DISCUSSED IT AT OUR CLOSED SESSION. AND SO THE PROPOSAL FROM THE CAJPA AND ALSO THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES IS TO HAVING ACTION TO HAVING A REFORM ON THIS POLICY. SO ACTUALLY FROM THE STATISTICS, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS BUT I WILL JUST KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THE OUTCOME OF THIS. BUT ALSO THEY ARE SEEKING TO SEE WHETHER THE CITY CAN ADD OUR LOGO TO THAT, SO I HAVE NOT GOT A RESPONSE ON WHETHER HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED ON THAT. DO WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION OR SOMETHING? >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: STAFF ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THE INQUIRY AND WE'LL RESPOND OFFLINE. >> Vice Mayor Zhang: OKAY, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL. >> Councilmember Campbell: I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ON THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, I'M ONE OF THE LIAISON MEMBERS, AND WE HAD A MEETING LAST NIGHT. IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY WELL ATTENDED. WE HAD LOTS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE HAD LOTS OF INFORMATION ON THE AGENDA. WE TALKED ABOUT COYOTE HILLS, PATTERSON RANCH, DISTRICT PLAN UPDATE, THE REGIONAL DISTRICT PLAN UPDATE. THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW, SO WE'RE EAGER TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS DISTRICT PLAN UPDATE. WE TALKED ABOUT THE ARDENWOOD, MISSION PEAK, AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DECIDED WAS WE WERE GOING TO MEET TWICE A WEEK. THIS COMMITTEE HAS -- >> Mayor Salwan: TWICE A WEEK? >> Councilmember Campbell: A MONTH -- YEAR! SORRY. I WENT FROM WEEK TO A MONTH TO A YEAR. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS TWICE A YEAR. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY, GOOD. >> Councilmember Campbell: SO IT WAS A GREAT MEETING. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE, SOME OF THE CONNECTORS TO CONNECT PARKS TO PARKS. PARKING. PARKING WAS A BIG, BIG CONVERSATION. SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, SO PLEASE GO AND LOOK FOR THE -- ON THEIR WEBSITE TO LOOK FOR THE SURVEY TO GIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE ACTUAL MASTER PLAN THAT THEY'RE DOING FOR THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS, IN PARTICULAR, IN FREMONT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor