Concurrent Meeting of the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency and the City Council – July 15, 2025

The Oakland City Council met on July 15, 2025, at 3:37 PM in City Hall, with Council President Kevin Jenkins presiding. The meeting lasted until 6:43 PM and covered a large consent calendar, public hearings, and several non-consent items, including bond issuances and revisions to the animal control ordinance. Councilmember Janani Ramachandran was excused at the start but arrived at 4:37 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (Item 5.1): Approved
• Declarations of Local Emergency (Items 5.2, 5.3, 5.4): Renewed declarations for HIV/AIDS, medical cannabis access, and homelessness.
• Salary Ordinance Amendment (Item 5.5): Final passage adding classifications and adjusting minimum wage compliance.
• Citywide Impact Fee Regulations (Item 5.6): Final passage of ordinance updating Jobs/Housing, Affordable Housing, and Transportation impact fees.
• Parking Fines Ordinance (Item 5.7): Final passage increasing fines and adopting a $40 fine for daylighting violations.
• Omnibus Planning Code Amendments (Item 5.8): Final passage streamlining design review.
• ADU/Fire Zone Code Amendments (Item 5.9): Final passage updating ADU regulations and fire hazard zone definitions.
• License of 615 High Street to TRYBE, Inc. (Item 5.10): Final passage authorizing a $0 license fee for emergency food storage for two years with three one-year extensions.
• D’Wayne Wiggins Way (Item 5.11): Adopted resolution to commemoratively name intersection of Olive Street and Eightieth Avenue.
• Leimert Bridge Seismic Retrofit Contract Amendment (Item 5.12): Approved $150,000 increase to total $1,840,279.20.
• MOU with Alameda County for HHAP 6 Funds (Item 5.13): Approved roles and responsibilities for homeless assistance funding.
• Caltrans Funding for Trash Capture Projects (Item 5.14): Approved application for up to $8 million design and $20 million construction funds for three trash capture devices in East Oakland.
• Equipment Services Cooperative Purchase Agreements (Item 5.15): Approved ongoing contracts up to $8,329,000.
• Regional Measure 3 Goods Movement Funds (Item 5.16): Two resolutions approved for $29,616,005 for MLK Jr. Way streetscape improvements.
• Lake Merritt Algaecide Exemption (Item 5.17): Approved limited exemption to integrated pest management policy to apply algaecides under NPDES permit.
• Sales Tax Record Examination (Item 5.18): Approved superseding resolution to examine tax records.
• Tree Maintenance Contract (Item 5.19): Awarded to West Coast Arborists, Inc. for $3,500,000 over three years with two-year extension option.
• Emergency Tree Services Contracts (Item 5.20): Awarded to West Coast Arborists and The Professional Tree Care Company, each up to $1,000,000 for three years.
• Item 5.21 (Resolution in Support of SB 332): Withdrawn from the agenda by a 5-2 vote (Fife and Wang voting no; Ramachandran excused).
• UPRR Crossing Agreements for Fruitvale Alive! Gap Closure (Item 5.22): Approved $1,599,998 for rail crossing improvements.
• Settlement in Curran v. City of Oakland (Item 5.23): Approved consent decree for 25-year ADA compliance, $35,000 each to two plaintiffs, and up to $2,008,000 in attorney fees.
• Support for SB 63 (Regional Transit Funding) (Item 5.25): Adopted resolution supporting November 2026 ballot measure.
• Veterinarian Supplies Contract with MWI Animal Health (Item 5.26): Approved $66,000 increase and new $1,000,000 contract through 2028.
• Wildfire Prevention Commission Appointments (Item 5.27): Confirmed seven appointees.
• Employee Benefits Broker Consultant Contract (Item S5.28): Approved five-year agreement with Keenan & Associates for $481,250.
• Fiscal Year 2026-30 Oakland Roadmap to Fiscal Health (Item S5.29): Informational report received and filed.
• Paving Equipment Parts and Repair Services Contract (Item S5.30): Awarded to Nixon-Egli Equipment Company for $2,800,000 over four years, waiving local business requirements.
• Citywide Pavement Rehabilitation Projects (Items S5.31 and S5.32): Two contracts awarded to McGuire and Hester: $25,948,875 and $26,188,425.
• Pedestrian Right-of-Way Construction Contracts (Item S5.33): Approved authorization for contracts up to $7,500,000 each to enable rapid ADA compliance.
• Waiver of Local Business Requirements for PROW Construction (Item S5.34): Approved to increase competition and lower prices.
• Eliminate Annual Cap on Sidewalk Assistance Program (Item S5.35): Approved resolution to authorize no-cost sidewalk repairs for low-income property owners with no cap.
• Memorandum of Agreement for 571 Crofton Avenue (Item S5.36): Approved agreement with Piedmont for processing entitlements.
• Annexation of City-Owned Property at Joaquin Miller Park (Item S5.37): Approved application to LAFCO for annexation of 25,700 sq ft parcel.
• Property BID Annual Reports and Assessments (Item S5.38): Approved assessments for nine business improvement districts, with 5% increases for most and 3.2% for Downtown Oakland District; also approved ORSA resolution for $3,266.79 assessment.
• OAB Air Quality Informational Report (Item S5.39): Received report on operational air quality plans for Prologis warehouses and Oakland Maritime Support Services construction.
• Professional Services Agreement with Cityspan Technologies (Item S5.40): Approved $375,400 for database licensing, plus $64,950 for past due invoices.
• Revisions to Animal Control Ordinance (Item S5.41): Approved on introduction (first reading) with a vote of 7-1 (Ramachandran voting no). Final passage scheduled for September 16, 2025. The ordinance reduces holding period to 72 hours, removes requirement to accept all surrendered animals, allows finders to keep strays, requires spay/neuter for outdoor cats and impounded dogs, and authorizes fee waivers based on financial need.
• Mayor’s Designation to Police and Fire Retirement Board (Item S5.42): Approved urgency finding and resolution designating Finance Director to serve on the board.
• Support for AB 1242 (Language Access) (Item S5.43): Approved urgency finding and resolution supporting establishment of a Language Access Director and amendments to Bilingual Services Act.
• Oakland Head Start Children’s Initiative Funding (Item S5.44): Approved urgency finding and acceptance of up to $27,492,648 from First 5 Alameda County for Head Start programming through 2027, and grant to Bananas, Inc. for $235,130.
• Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program (Item S5.45): Approved urgency finding and authorization for MOU with Peralta Community College District and Tides Center for apprenticeship expansion, accepting up to $449,110 in reimbursements.

Public Comments & Testimony

• 64 speakers addressed the consent calendar, with many speaking on the withdrawn SB 332 resolution, the animal control ordinance, and other items.
• Support for SB 332 (Item 5.21): Dozens of speakers urged the council to support the resolution, arguing that PG&E’s rate increases and safety record necessitate a feasibility study of not-for-profit utility models. Speakers included Scott Brown, a licensed engineer, who called PG&E a “continuing menace.” Many noted that low-income and communities of color are disproportionately affected by high rates and disconnections.
• Opposition to Section 2 of the Animal Control Ordinance (S5.41): Numerous volunteers and residents spoke against the provision allowing the shelter to reject owner-surrendered animals. They argued it would lead to increased abandonment, particularly in low-income communities, and that the shelter is already underfunded. Speakers like Cindy Cooper, Johanna Widger, and Valerie Green shared personal stories of turned-away cats and kittens. Some requested more time for stakeholder input.
• Support for SB 63 (Item 5.25): Ariana Casanova (State Senator Jesse Arreguín’s office), Robert Rayburn (BART Board), and Maria Henderson (AC Transit) urged passage, citing transit funding deficits and the importance of BART to Oakland.
• Support for AB 1242 (Item S5.43): Julia Liao (Asian Health Services) and others spoke in favor of the language access bill.
• Support for Bond Issuances (Items 11 and 12): Angelina Cornejo, Tono Trachtenberg, Nicole Guzman, and Mary Ann Lim urged the council to proceed with bond sales to fund affordable housing and infrastructure, warning that delays could cause project cancellations.
• Concerns about Bond Issuance: Gene Hazard argued that the city’s negative credit ratings make bond sales risky, and that refunding existing debt may not be authorized by the original ballot measures.
• Comments on Homelessness, Parking Fines, and Parks: Several speakers raised issues about homeless encampments, parking citations on stolen vehicles, and neglected parks.

Discussion Items

• Withdrawal of Item 5.21 (SB 332): Council President Jenkins moved to withdraw the item, citing a need for more discussion. Councilmember Fife spoke in favor, explaining that the resolution only called for a feasibility study and that she was concerned about PG&E’s rate hikes and disconnections. The motion passed 5-2 (Fife and Wang dissenting; Ramachandran excused).
• Animal Control Ordinance (S5.41): Councilmember Ramachandran registered opposition to Section 2, expressing concern about turning away animals. Deputy City Administrator Joe DeVries explained that the ordinance aligns with best practices and that the shelter is under severe staffing and budget strain (200 hours monthly overtime, an officer working 2.5 weeks without a day off). He committed to developing administrative guidelines before final passage and to meet with stakeholders. Councilmember Wang requested a three-month and six-month data report back. Councilmember Gallo emphasized the need to support volunteers. Councilmember Fife noted that budget cuts have hurt the shelter and urged transparency. Councilmember Houston asked about alignment with other Bay Area shelters; DeVries confirmed that Oakland is the only one without a managed intake policy.
• Brooklyn Basin Bonds (Item 10): Staff presented the resolution to approve the official statement for special tax bonds. Councilmember Brown asked about the impact of assessed value reductions on parcels G and J; the municipal advisor confirmed no impact on bond security. Councilmember Fife clarified that the park parceling controversy is not part of this item. The resolution passed 7-0-1 (Fife excused).
• General Obligation Bonds (Item 11): Staff presented the first reading of an ordinance authorizing up to $300 million in new bonds and up to $55 million in refunding bonds for streets, facilities, and affordable housing. Councilmember Ramachandran asked about the timeline and rating; staff noted pricing around October 24 and closing November 4, with a strong team. The ordinance was approved on introduction 7-0-1 (Houston excused).
• Bond Issuance Plan Informational Report (Item 12): Received and filed 7-0-1 (Houston excused).
• Parking Citation System Agreement Extension (Item 9): Staff requested a one-year extension with Modaxo Traffic Management for $2,509,697 to allow time to finalize a new procurement. Gene Hazard spoke against the practice of extending expired contracts. The resolution passed 8-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar Approved: 8-0, with Ramachandran voting no on S5.41 only.
• Item 5.21 Withdrawn: 5-2-1.
• Animal Control Ordinance (S5.41): Approved on introduction (first reading) 7-1, with final passage scheduled for September 16, 2025. Commitments made to develop administrative guidelines, engage stakeholders, and report back on data at 3 and 6 months.
• Brooklyn Basin Special Tax Bonds (Item 10): Adopted 7-0-1.
• GO Bonds (Item 11): Introduced 7-0-1; final passage September 16, 2025.
• Bond Issuance Informational Report (Item 12): Received and filed 7-0-1.
• Parking Citation System Contract (Item 9): Adopted 8-0.
• Council Adjourned: In memory of civil rights attorney Dan Siegel at 6:43 PM.