Oakland City Council Concurrent Meeting – July 1, 2025

The Oakland City Council and Redevelopment Successor Agency met on July 1, 2025, at 3:32 p.m. The meeting included adoption of the consent calendar, several public hearings, and discussion of a rent adjustment ordinance amendment. Key outcomes included approval of a new lease for the César E. Chávez Library, establishment of the Laurel Business Improvement District 2025, and introduction of code amendments for design review, ADUs, and impact fees. The council also withdrew an agenda item to designate a President Pro Tempore.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (8-0) the consent agenda, including:
  • Approval of minutes from June 11 and June 17, 2025.
  • Resolutions renewing local emergencies for the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Resolution 90770 C.M.S.), medical cannabis access (90771 C.M.S.), and homelessness (90772 C.M.S.).
  • Resolution honoring Bobby Seale, declaring October 22 as Bobby Seale Day, and renaming the intersection of 57th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way as 'Bobby Seale Way' (Resolution 90773 C.M.S.).
  • Ordinance (first reading) to license city-owned property at 615 High Street to TRYBE, Inc. for $0 for two years (for emergency food storage and community services).
  • Resolution accepting $426,870 in Summer Food Service Program grant funds (Resolution 90774 C.M.S.).
  • Resolution accepting $343,037 for the Senior Companion Program and $41,323 for the Foster Grandparent Program (Resolution 90775 C.M.S.).
  • Resolution waiving bidding requirements and awarding $1,500,000 for two sewer power rodder vehicles (Resolution 90776 C.M.S.).
  • Resolution accepting public infrastructure improvements for Brooklyn Basin Phase Two (Resolution 90777 C.M.S.).
  • Ordinance (first reading) increasing parking fines and adopting a $40 fine for daylighting violations.
  • Resolution requesting the city administrator to negotiate a lease agreement with the East Bay Recreation & Culture Club, Inc. for the former Montclair Firehouse (6226 Moraga Avenue) for up to 15 years as a community arts center (Resolution 90778 C.M.S.).
  • Resolution authorizing a five-year lease for the César E. Chávez Library at 3301 E. 12th Street, Suite 275, at an initial monthly rent of $18,898.75, plus a one-time back-rent payment of $340,177.50 (Resolution 90779 C.M.S.).
  • Resolution accepting the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth Final Evaluation Report for FY 2023-2024 (Resolution 90780 C.M.S.).
  • Resolution authorizing a $350,000 professional services agreement with The Bridging Group for evaluation of the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (Resolution 90781 C.M.S.).
  • Resolution accepting $1,223,533 in asset forfeiture funds for OPD Ceasefire purchases (Resolution 90782 C.M.S.).
  • Resolution confirming the reappointment of Barbara Leslie and appointments of Alvina Wong and Derrick Muhammad to the Board of Port Commissioners (Resolution 90783 C.M.S.).
  • Resolution (urgency finding, 8-0) waiving bidding requirements and authorizing a $700,000 contract with Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods (a nonprofit) for site preparation at 2201-2601 Wood Street to return the property to the owner (Resolution 90784 C.M.S.). Councilmember Fife expressed concerns about transparency in the sole-source contracting process.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Consent Calendar (26 speakers): Speakers addressed:

  • Bobby Seale resolution: A speaker urged honoring Bobby Seale and called for food sovereignty and medical cannabis.
  • Homelessness emergency: Speakers criticized broken promises to homeless communities and demanded actual solutions, citing the Wood Street decommission and the 2016 emergency declaration that led to sweeps.
  • Brooklyn Basin certificate of completion: A speaker presented photos showing incomplete parks (Gateway Park as an abandoned gravel pit) at the project's main entrance, arguing the developer had broken commitments.
  • East Bay Recreation & Culture Club lease: Multiple speakers supported transforming the abandoned Montclair Firehouse into a community arts center, stressing it would require no city funds.
  • Port of Oakland appointments: Several speakers opposed the appointment of Alvina Wong, citing her connection to former Mayor Sheng Thao (indicted for allegedly selling commission seats) and arguing she does not represent the Asian community. Councilmember Fife defended Wong, citing their work together on anti-Asian hate and environmental justice.
  • Cultural Affairs Manager position freeze: Many speakers urged the council to unfreeze and fund the Cultural Affairs Manager position, arguing arts and culture are essential for public safety, economic development, and community cohesion. They noted the position brought in millions in federal and private funding.
  • OFCY evaluation and OPD asset forfeiture: Speakers questioned the effectiveness of the Ceasefire program and criticized asset forfeiture funds.

• Laurel BID (11 speakers):

  • Support: Property owners, the Laurel District Association, and the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce cited the BID's effectiveness in reducing blight, improving safety, and fostering economic vitality.
  • Opposition: Several residential property owners on 35th Avenue objected to their inclusion, calling it a "money grab" and a "double tax" since they already pay for city services. Some submitted petitions for exclusion.

• Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2 speakers):

  • One speaker noted the report lacked documentation of citizen participation and argued spending on homeless prevention was minimal.
  • A second speaker criticized the city for using federal funds on high-rises while people remain homeless.

• Omnibus Planning Code Amendments (1 speaker): The speaker questioned the role of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee and the Landmark Preservation Board's public hearing process.

• ADU/Fire Zone Amendments (1 speaker): The speaker criticized the race and equity statement for assuming ADUs would be built in displacement-risk areas without evidence.

• Citywide Impact Fee Regulations (10 speakers):

  • Support: Housing advocates EBHO, EAH Housing, Eden Housing, and the Unity Council opposed any new exemptions or deferrals, arguing impact fees are critical for funding affordable housing and that delaying collection would harm production.
  • Opposition: A planning commission member and some developers called for eliminating the moderate-income tier and for making fees due earlier.

• Delinquent Business Taxes (3 speakers): One speaker questioned notification procedures; another described receiving no prior notice of the delinquency.

• Rent Adjustment Ordinance Amendment (34 speakers):

  • Opposition: Tenant advocates (ACE, Oakland Tenants Union) argued the amendment was unnecessary, would increase displacement, and was a backdoor to weaken rent control. Several tenants shared stories of landlord harassment and non-responsive property management.
  • Support: Small property owners (East Bay Rental Housing Association, Alameda County Housing Providers Resource Center) said rising operating costs (insurance, taxes, waste fees) were unsustainable, forcing them to sell. They stated the current petition process is too burdensome and requested a streamlined pass-through mechanism.

Discussion Items

• Item 6.1 – Laurel Business Improvement District (BID) 2025: After the public hearing, staff announced ballot tabulation results: 73% in favor, 27% opposed, with no majority protest. Councilmember Ramachandran praised the BID's work and noted a hardship exemption process is available for residential owners. Councilmember Brown questioned the expansion onto 35th Avenue; staff explained the area faces blight from a vacant gas station and freeway-related dumping. The council approved the BID (7-1, Fife excused).

• Item 6.2 – Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan for HUD Formula Grants: Councilmember Wong asked how the city ensures grantees are responsible, referencing a recent article about a non-operational HOPWA grantee. Staff explained they follow a competitive RFQ process and conduct on-site monitoring; the non-performing grantee has been terminated, and a new RFP has been issued. The resolution was adopted (8-0).

• Item 6.3 – Omnibus Planning Code Amendments (Design Review Streamlining): Staff described changes to implement objective design standards for projects up to 30 units (missing middle housing) and to streamline approval for larger projects unless they require a conditional use permit. Councilmember Houston emphasized the importance of community engagement. The ordinance was approved on introduction (8-0).

• Item 6.4 – ADU/Fire Zone Code Amendments: Staff outlined updates to comply with state law (SB 1211), increasing the number of detached ADUs on multifamily properties from two to eight. The definition of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones was updated to align with the city-adopted map. Approved on introduction (7-1, Fife excused).

• Item 6.5 – Citywide Impact Fee Regulations Amendments: Staff recommended exempting projects with 2–4 units (missing middle) and single-family homes under 1,750 sq. ft. from affordable housing impact fees, maintaining current fee levels, and moving payment to certificate of occupancy. Council President Jenkins and Councilmember Wong proposed amendments: (1) suspending impact fees for three years in Zone 3 (East Oakland) and (2) rezoning a portion of District 2 from Zone 2 to Zone 3 to exempt it temporarily. Councilmember Jenkins argued the fees were not being collected anyway and the suspension could spur development. Councilmember Wong noted her district has low rents, high gun violence, and needs more housing. The consultant stated the fee suspension would not harm revenue since little development is feasible there currently. The council voted 7-1 (Fife excused) to approve the amendments and the ordinance on introduction.

• Item 6.6 – Delinquent Real Property Transfer Tax Liens: Staff reported that of 57 original delinquencies, 20 had been resolved, leaving 35 accounting for $465,072.41. Councilmember Ramachandran praised the team's auditing efforts. The resolution was adopted (7-1, Fife excused).

• Item 6.7 – Delinquent Business Tax Liens: Staff reported 4,772 properties originally identified, reduced to 1,944 (now 1,744) after outreach. The total owed was approximately $9.5 million. Staff described a parallel hearing process for dispute resolution. The resolution was adopted (7-1, Fife excused).

• Item 6.8 – Delinquent Trash Service Fee Special Assessments: Staff reported 21,013 delinquencies, reduced to 19,832 after postcard mailing. Two speakers, including a senior on a fixed income who had difficulty accessing the phone hearing, were directed to staff for individual resolution. The resolution was adopted (7-1, Fife excused).

• Item S8 – Rent Adjustment Ordinance Amendment: The proposed amendment would have allowed landlords to petition for rent increases based solely on increased waste service rates, without a hearing. Staff noted that neighboring jurisdictions do not allow such pass-throughs. After lengthy public comment, Councilmember Gallo made a motion to not approve the item. The city attorney clarified that a motion to take no action is not procedurally required. The item received no motion to adopt, so no action was taken.

• Item S9 – Designation of President Pro Tempore: This item was withdrawn from the agenda upon motion (7-1, Fife excused).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (8-0).
• Laurel BID 2025: Established (7-1, Fife excused).
• Five-Year Consolidated Plan: Adopted (8-0).
• Omnibus Planning Code Amendments: Approved on introduction (8-0).
• ADU/Fire Zone Code Amendments: Approved on introduction (7-1, Fife excused).
• Citywide Impact Fee Regulations Amendments: Approved as amended on introduction (7-1, Fife excused). Further action (second reading) set for July 15, 2025.
• Delinquent Tax/Trash Liens and Assessments: All resolutions adopted (7-1 or 8-0).
• Rent Adjustment Ordinance Amendment: No action taken; effectively defeated.
• President Pro Tempore Designation: Withdrawn from the agenda.
• Special Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m. in memory of Daryl Carey.