OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Alameda County Health Committee Meeting: Measure A1 Expenditure Plan and AHS Reduction in Force Update - January 26, 2026

Board of SupervisorsMonday, January 26, 2026
BodyAlameda County, California
SessionBoard of Supervisors
DateMonday, January 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:21:27
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Okay, so good uh good morning.

0:01

Morning, good morning, so we call the health committee to order the clerk could take the role.

0:11

Supervisor Tam present supervisor Milan present before any instructions you need to provide in person.

0:22

The meeting site is open to the public.

0:24

If you'd like to speak on an item, you can fill the speakers card in here to me.

0:29

And for remote participation, use the raise for hand function online.

0:34

Right.

0:35

So good morning, everybody.

0:36

Sorry for the um inconvenience of being here.

0:40

They're doing some work toll in the chambers.

0:45

So we were displaced this morning.

0:48

We're in this room.

0:49

I'm not sure why the other rooms are there.

0:52

But we'll do the best we can.

0:54

It's great seeing so many people out this morning.

0:56

We have an overflow room as well.

0:58

Yeah, folks online and got some um major items here.

1:03

So let's deal with item A.

1:06

First item measure A1.

1:12

Good morning, supervisors.

1:13

My name is Michelle Starr.

1:15

I'm the housing director under the community development agency.

1:18

Uh, we're gonna be presenting a PowerPoint this morning and have a written staff report for you as well, which goes over the use and expenditure plan for uh additional revenue that has come in.

1:31

Dylan Sweeney of my team should be there, and I believe he's gonna be doing the presentation, but if he's in the overflow room, um I'm gonna I'll I'll launch in.

1:41

So if Dylan is there, if he could step up.

1:44

There he is.

1:45

Thank you.

1:53

Good morning.

1:54

Um, here to um Dylan Sweeney, I'm the programs and policy manager for Alameda County Housing and Community Development.

2:01

Here to present uh the measure A1 program income benefit requirements and graphic expenditure plan.

2:11

I was uh may know measure A1 was a voter approved general obligation bond, provided 580 million dollars.

2:17

Purchased and improvement of the property to create affordable housing in Alameda County.

2:23

Um the bond has now been fully issued from two tranches in 2019 and 2021.

2:30

Um those funds were divided among five program areas uh rental development and basement opportunities, first-time home buyer programs, uh homeowner redevelopation and homeowner development, serving both homeowners and renters.

2:48

Um and currently virtually all of those initial program funds have either been committed or expended, um, ending with the launch last winter of patron fund programs, first funds, tax default and property loan programs.

3:10

I think it's worth noting that the county exceeded its targets for the production of new affordable housing units as well as its 20% of uh unsheltered homeless housing to that goes.

3:25

Um, in addition to beating those targets, uh administration of the bond is required to comply with compliance and oversight.

3:34

During responsible use of those public funds, they've been drafting and providing reports to the one annual over.

3:41

Sorry, measure A1 oversight commitment and providing those to the supervisors, but today we are actually here to talk about program income.

3:53

So, in addition to the 580 million dollars, um everyone has generated secondary funding streams.

4:01

Well, so there are two sources for these streams.

4:03

One is return funding project payments that are made.

4:10

And the second is interest earned on invested bond proceeds.

4:14

Um these are the uh the funds that were held before they were expended.

4:20

Those 500 eight million dollars.

4:21

So this is a source of income that will not be reoccurring.

4:27

So to date, there has been 48 million uh and 240,000 dollars in program income.

4:36

The vast majority of that 43 million is from that's from the bond issuance, and less administration that leaves 33 million four hundred and sixteen thousand change uh available for new housing investment.

4:53

Um, so the since these are measure a one funds, they are still responsive to that measure A1 framework, as well as the Alameda County 10-year housing plan that was adopted last year in July 2025.

5:11

So the expenditure plan that we provided like lessons that we learned during the implementation of Measure A1 and those five programs focused on maximizing the impact and leveraging uh the scarce funds that we have right now.

5:26

So the expenditure plan that we provided lists uh lists four areas uh for investment.

5:36

One is affordable rental development, so that's the sort of large tax credit affordable development that you know two rounds.

5:44

Uh the second areas two new innovation and small development programs.

5:47

One is the Airs First Jails Last revolving loan fund, and that would provide $8.5 million to stabilize re-entry boarding care system here in Alameda County that has been in capacity and then people exiting the justice system to find stable housing.

6:03

Um then the second is the shift or the scalable housing in the program, and that's a program which can intended to catalyze and support and non-tax credit, small-scale missing middle development here in addition to those rental development programs.

6:23

Uh, this expenditure plan also proposes an ADU loan program, which can support homeowners funding, we apply prices here in Alameda County by building new housing.

6:35

Uh, bond funds for the no use.

6:38

This expenditure plan includes rental funds for service.

6:44

The plan aligns with the broad tenants in the five-year housing plan as well as the um elementary one plan um by maximizing state and federal fund leveraging by investing in innovative cost-effective solutions and by prioritizing service to vulnerable property populations.

7:05

Staff report the recommendations are to approve for A1 program income expenditure plan and direct staff to further develop programs of earn contracts to the board of supervisors for approval.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Healthcare Services███████████████████████████████31%
Personnel Matters██████████████████18%
Mental Health Awareness███████████████15%
Affordable Housing██████████████14%
Fiscal Sustainability█████████████13%
Homelessness███3%
Workforce Development███3%
Procedural██2%
Engineering And Infrastructure1%
Summary of Proceedings

Alameda County Health Committee Meeting: Measure A1 Expenditure Plan and AHS Reduction in Force Update - January 26, 2026

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors Health Committee met on January 26, 2026, to discuss two major items: an expenditure plan for Measure A1 program income and an informational update from the Alameda Health System (AHS) regarding its financial status, the impact of federal HR1 cuts, and a planned reduction in force (RIF). The meeting included extensive public testimony from healthcare workers, patients, and community members opposing the AHS layoffs.

Measure A1 Program Income Expenditure Plan

  • Staff presented a plan to allocate $33.4 million in program income from Measure A1 bond proceeds to four areas: affordable rental development ($24 million earmarked for Broadway properties), a Care First Jails Last revolving loan fund ($8.5 million), the SHIFT small-scale development program, and an ADU loan program.
  • Discussion included geographic distribution of prior funds (Oakland received over 50% of rental development funds), prioritization of shovel-ready projects, and the need to support emerging developers.
  • Public speakers from housing organizations and advocacy groups expressed strong support for the plan, particularly the Care First Jails Last and SHIFT components.
  • Supervisor Miley moved to approve the expenditure plan and direct staff to develop programs and contracts for full board approval; Supervisor Tam seconded. The motion passed.

Alameda Health System Informational Update and Reduction in Force

  • AHS CEO James Jackson and staff presented financials showing year-to-date net income of $5.5 million but projected deficits due to federal HR1 cuts (estimated $100-$150 million annual revenue reduction by 2028) and state budget pressures.
  • The RIF originally targeted 247 positions, reduced to 229 after 73 employees accepted voluntary separation or retirement. Layoff notices were sent in December and January, with effective date March 9, 2026.
  • Public testimony overwhelmingly opposed the layoffs, with over 60 speakers including doctors, nurses, therapists, and patients describing the impact on patient safety, mental health services, and essential care. Speakers criticized AHS management for lack of transparency, inadequate bargaining with unions, and failure to consider alternatives. The union claimed to have identified $40 million in savings that management ignored.
  • Board members expressed concern and commitment to work with AHS and the county administrator to mitigate impacts. Supervisor Miley noted the upcoming Bilson hearing on February 25, 2026, as the appropriate venue for further discussion and potential direction.

Key Outcomes

  • Measure A1: The committee approved the program income expenditure plan and directed staff to develop programs and contracts for full board consideration.
  • AHS Reduction in Force: No formal action was taken; the item was informational. The committee scheduled a Bilson hearing for February 25, 2026, to further examine proposed service reductions and explore collaborative solutions.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, so good uh good morning. Morning, good morning, so we call the health committee to order the clerk could take the role. Supervisor Tam present supervisor Milan present before any instructions you need to provide in person. The meeting site is open to the public. If you'd like to speak on an item, you can fill the speakers card in here to me. And for remote participation, use the raise for hand function online. Right. So good morning, everybody. Sorry for the um inconvenience of being here. They're doing some work toll in the chambers. So we were displaced this morning. We're in this room. I'm not sure why the other rooms are there. But we'll do the best we can. It's great seeing so many people out this morning. We have an overflow room as well. Yeah, folks online and got some um major items here. So let's deal with item A. First item measure A1. Good morning, supervisors. My name is Michelle Starr. I'm the housing director under the community development agency. Uh, we're gonna be presenting a PowerPoint this morning and have a written staff report for you as well, which goes over the use and expenditure plan for uh additional revenue that has come in. Dylan Sweeney of my team should be there, and I believe he's gonna be doing the presentation, but if he's in the overflow room, um I'm gonna I'll I'll launch in. So if Dylan is there, if he could step up. There he is. Thank you. Good morning. Um, here to um Dylan Sweeney, I'm the programs and policy manager for Alameda County Housing and Community Development. Here to present uh the measure A1 program income benefit requirements and graphic expenditure plan. I was uh may know measure A1 was a voter approved general obligation bond, provided 580 million dollars. Purchased and improvement of the property to create affordable housing in Alameda County. Um the bond has now been fully issued from two tranches in 2019 and 2021. Um those funds were divided among five program areas uh rental development and basement opportunities, first-time home buyer programs, uh homeowner redevelopation and homeowner development, serving both homeowners and renters. Um and currently virtually all of those initial program funds have either been committed or expended, um, ending with the launch last winter of patron fund programs, first funds, tax default and property loan programs. I think it's worth noting that the county exceeded its targets for the production of new affordable housing units as well as its 20% of uh unsheltered homeless housing to that goes. Um, in addition to beating those targets, uh administration of the bond is required to comply with compliance and oversight. During responsible use of those public funds, they've been drafting and providing reports to the one annual over. Sorry, measure A1 oversight commitment and providing those to the supervisors, but today we are actually here to talk about program income. So, in addition to the 580 million dollars, um everyone has generated secondary funding streams. Well, so there are two sources for these streams. One is return funding project payments that are made. And the second is interest earned on invested bond proceeds. Um these are the uh the funds that were held before they were expended. Those 500 eight million dollars. So this is a source of income that will not be reoccurring. So to date, there has been 48 million uh and 240,000 dollars in program income. The vast majority of that 43 million is from that's from the bond issuance, and less administration that leaves 33 million four hundred and sixteen thousand change uh available for new housing investment. Um, so the since these are measure a one funds, they are still responsive to that measure A1 framework, as well as the Alameda County 10-year housing plan that was adopted last year in July 2025. So the expenditure plan that we provided like lessons that we learned during the implementation of Measure A1 and those five programs focused on maximizing the impact and leveraging uh the scarce funds that we have right now.

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