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Record of Proceedings

Finance & Management Committee Meeting - July 8, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, July 8, 2025
BodyOakland, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:05:21

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
3:40

Good morning.

3:42

And welcome to your finance and management committee meeting.

3:48

For Tuesday, July eighth.

3:50

The time is now nine thirty-three AM, and this meeting has come to order.

3:55

Before taking roll, I will provide instructions on how to submit a speaker cards for item on this agenda.

4:01

If you are here with us in chambers and you would like to submit a speaker's card, please fill out one and turn it into a clerk representative before the item is read into record.

4:11

All my speaker requests were due twenty-four hours prior to this meeting.

4:15

This meeting came to order nine thirty-three AM.

4:18

Speaker cards were no longer be accepted.

4:24

With that, we would now proceed to take roll.

4:26

Councilmember Brown.

4:28

Councilmember Ungar.

4:30

Councilmember Wong.

4:33

Here and Chair Ramachandran.

4:35

Present.

4:36

We have four members present.

4:37

And before we begin, Chair Ramatandron, do you have any announcements for today?

4:41

No announcements.

4:43

All right, moving to our first item.

4:46

Approval of the draft minutes for the committee meeting on June twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-five.

4:51

I will entertain a motion.

4:53

So moved.

5:00

We have a motion made by Councilmember Unger, seconded by Councilmember Brown to accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting of June 24, 2025 as is on roll.

5:06

Councilmember Brown.

5:08

Aye.

5:09

Councilmember Unger.

5:10

Aye.

5:10

Councilmember Wong.

5:11

Aye.

5:12

And Chair Ramachandran.

5:13

Aye.

5:14

This motion passes what?

5:15

Four ayes to accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting on June 24, 2025.

5:20

Item two, determination of scheduling outstanding committee items, and you do have one speaker for this item.

5:25

Thank you.

5:26

Anything from the administration.

5:30

Nothing at this time.

5:32

But I if if it's a pleasure to chair, I'd like to take a moment to introduce uh interim finance director Jan Mazek, who joined us on on last week, so wanted to give uh her the introduction also if they're want to share a few words this morning.

5:48

Good morning, everyone, and thanks for being welcoming.

5:52

Um it's good to be back in Oakland.

5:54

I look forward to working with uh all of you, and um feel free to reach out uh when you need to.

6:02

Thank you so much.

6:03

Bye bye.

6:04

Bye bye.

6:07

Thank you, Director Mazzik.

6:09

Welcome.

6:09

Um, thank you, Administrator Johnson.

6:12

And I will entertain um a motion.

6:15

Oh, sorry, public comment.

6:16

Move approval.

6:24

Motion second.

6:27

Thank you.

6:28

Moving to our public speakers, Ms.

6:30

Asada Alobala.

6:35

I'm requesting that the following fiscal issues uh have a report on them.

6:45

The local immigration and integration and inclusion grant for 275,000.

6:52

Where are we with that grant?

6:54

The 2024 immigration immigrants micro business support program with the fiscal obligation around that, the 100,000 dollars that Mr.

7:06

Gallo is putting forward to fund street level day labor program when the day labor program has been taken out of the budget, a report on the translation department because when they did give their report, they did not give a fiscal or financial accounting related to translations, a report on the budget for author Shanks juniors signs and plaques that were approved last June, and nothing has happened, a report of the at-risk federal funding circumstances that we're dealing with.

7:46

A report on the 101 million dollars spent out of measure you, including the 32 million dollars for the Lincoln Rec Center, which was not uh required spending because the organization who put forth the spending said they would raise the money and basque went out and gave them the money from measure you, a report on why we are not seeking funds from the California Black Freedom Fund, why we are not seeking funds from the state black ownership and inclusion program, a report on what funds can be made available through the reparations task force of the state of California.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget and Finance█████████████████████████████████████████████49%
Contracting And Procurement██████████████15%
Fiscal Sustainability██████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Property Tax████4%
Economic Development███3%
Sanctuary City Policy███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Finance & Management Committee Meeting - July 8, 2025

The Oakland City Council Finance and Management Committee convened at 9:33 AM on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, with Chairperson Janani Ramachandran presiding. All four committee members (Rowena Brown, Zac Unger, Charlene Wang, and Janani Ramachandran) were present. The committee approved routine items, considered a professional services agreement for employee benefits broker services, and received a presentation on the multi-year Oakland Roadmap to Fiscal Health. The meeting adjourned at 10:35 AM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Draft Minutes (June 24, 2025): Motion by Unger, seconded by Brown, to accept the draft minutes. Unanimously approved (4-0). No public speakers.
  • Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items: Motion by Brown, seconded by Wang, to accept the schedule as presented. Unanimously approved (4-0). One speaker (Sodan) requested reports on several fiscal issues.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 2 (Determination of Schedule): Asad Alobala (Sodan) requested reports on: local immigration grant ($275,000), 2024 immigrant micro-business program ($100,000), translation department fiscal accounting, budget for Authur Shanks Jr. signs/plaques (approved June 2025 but not implemented), at-risk federal funding, $101M from Measure U including $32M for Lincoln Rec Center, why the city is not seeking funds from California Black Freedom Fund or state Black ownership and inclusion program, and potential funds from the state reparations task force.
  • Item 3 (Keenan Contract): Asad Alobala questioned the lack of a contract for Keenan's previous work and called for quantitative/qualitative data to justify the renewal. He also asked about mandated benefit types and suggested reviewing benefit costs to address the structural deficit.
  • Item 4 (Fiscal Health Roadmap):
    • Kevin Daly (Transport Oakland) expressed encouragement and highlighted the need for fire department to require fixes of violations, not just collect fees, to prevent future incidents like Ghost Ship fire.
    • Brooke Levin (Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation and Measure Q co-chairs) supported the roadmap but raised concerns about meeting voter-mandated service levels (Measures Q, C, D, X, Z, N, sugar-sweetened beverage tax). She noted that Measure Q revenue has grown by $10M yet performance measures are not met, and the city auditor has not been budgeted for mandated audits (per Alameda County Grand Jury report). She urged full funding for the auditor and inclusion of auditor in any new ballot measure.
    • A speaker (no name given) expressed concern about oversight and accountability, citing the Grand Jury report that warned the council ignored finance warnings. The speaker stated that 11 homes for sale on Keller Street and high property taxes are driving people out of Oakland; they opposed additional taxes.
  • Open Forum:
    • Asad Alobala criticized sanctuary city funding taken from existing programs (e.g., county social services, probation, Alameda Health) that impact Black communities. He accused the city of gentrification pushing Black people out.
    • Brooke Levin reiterated the need for city auditor to include mandated audits for Measure Q (2022-2024 and future) and noted the independent financial audit was excluded from the recent audit contract. She stated that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) and homelessness commission have failed in oversight responsibilities per the Grand Jury report.

Discussion Items

  • Item 3: Employee Benefits Broker Consultant Contract (Keenan & Associates)
    • Staff (Tammy Honda, Benefit Supervisor) recommended a five-year contract with a two-year extension option, not to exceed $481,250. Keenan has provided services since 2015, selected through RFP processes in 2015, 2021, and 2025. Councilmember Brown noted the contract had been expired for two years (ended August 2023); staff acknowledged an error and stated the RFP process began in 2024. Councilmember Wang asked about employee satisfaction surveys; Human Resources Director Mary Howe said such surveys would interfere with labor relations. The committee unanimously approved forwarding to the July 15 City Council consent agenda (motion by Unger, seconded by Brown; vote 4-0).
  • Item 4: Fiscal Year 2026-30 Oakland Roadmap to Fiscal Health
    • City Administrator Johnson introduced consultant Ben Rosenfield, Deborah Edgerly, Monica Davis, and Budget Director Bradley Johnson. The roadmap is a multi-year project plan to address $130M+ structural gaps, including 11 strategic projects. Key projects: voter-approved tax proposal (options in October 2025, council action January 2026, ballot June 2026) to raise $40M; multi-year plan to comply with voter-mandated maintenance of effort (MOE) for ballot measures (January 2026); pension cost containment plan (March 2026); contingency plans for federal grant revenue loss (interim September 2025, final May 2026); review of fiscal policies (October 2026); multi-year infrastructure plans; revenue collection improvements (hiring project manager, new automated system); economic development action plan (September 2025 or 2026, confirmed as 2025); and improved accountability structures (performance standards in contracts by July 2026, department performance management by May 2027). Councilmember Ramachandran asked about the project team and timeline capacity; Councilmember Brown clarified the economic development plan date; Councilmember Wang requested exploring multiple tax options (not just parcel tax) and asked about pushing accountability timelines earlier; staff explained sequencing based on urgency and capacity. The committee unanimously approved receiving the report and forwarding to the July 15 City Council consent agenda (motion by Wang, seconded by Brown; vote 4-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Item 1: Minutes of June 24, 2025 approved (4-0).
  • Item 2: Schedule of outstanding committee items accepted as presented (4-0). One speaker's requests noted but no action taken.
  • Item 3: Resolution authorizing a five-year professional services agreement with Keenan & Associates (with two-year extension option, $481,250 max) approved and forwarded to July 15 City Council consent agenda (4-0).
  • Item 4: Informational report on Oakland Roadmap to Fiscal Health received and forwarded to July 15 City Council consent agenda (4-0). No further action at this meeting; next steps include regular updates and specific deliverables throughout 2025-2027.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. And welcome to your finance and management committee meeting. For Tuesday, July eighth. The time is now nine thirty-three AM, and this meeting has come to order. Before taking roll, I will provide instructions on how to submit a speaker cards for item on this agenda. If you are here with us in chambers and you would like to submit a speaker's card, please fill out one and turn it into a clerk representative before the item is read into record. All my speaker requests were due twenty-four hours prior to this meeting. This meeting came to order nine thirty-three AM. Speaker cards were no longer be accepted. With that, we would now proceed to take roll. Councilmember Brown. Councilmember Ungar. Councilmember Wong. Here and Chair Ramachandran. Present. We have four members present. And before we begin, Chair Ramatandron, do you have any announcements for today? No announcements. All right, moving to our first item. Approval of the draft minutes for the committee meeting on June twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-five. I will entertain a motion. So moved. We have a motion made by Councilmember Unger, seconded by Councilmember Brown to accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting of June 24, 2025 as is on roll. Councilmember Brown. Aye. Councilmember Unger. Aye. Councilmember Wong. Aye. And Chair Ramachandran. Aye. This motion passes what? Four ayes to accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting on June 24, 2025. Item two, determination of scheduling outstanding committee items, and you do have one speaker for this item. Thank you. Anything from the administration. Nothing at this time. But I if if it's a pleasure to chair, I'd like to take a moment to introduce uh interim finance director Jan Mazek, who joined us on on last week, so wanted to give uh her the introduction also if they're want to share a few words this morning. Good morning, everyone, and thanks for being welcoming. Um it's good to be back in Oakland. I look forward to working with uh all of you, and um feel free to reach out uh when you need to. Thank you so much. Bye bye. Bye bye. Thank you, Director Mazzik. Welcome. Um, thank you, Administrator Johnson. And I will entertain um a motion. Oh, sorry, public comment. Move approval.

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