OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting - October 28, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, October 28, 2025
BodyOakland, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, October 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:36:00
Transcript — Verbatim
1:29

Good afternoon.

1:32

Welcome to the community economic committee meeting for today's date.

1:36

Today is October 28th.

1:37

The time is now one thirty-one p.m.

1:44

And this meeting has come to order.

1:46

Before taking roll, I will provide instructions on how to submit a speaker's card for items on this agenda.

1:51

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

2:00

Online speaker requests were due 24 hours prior to this meeting.

2:03

Making this meeting came to order at 9 31.

2:10

Speaker requires for due.

2:12

We're no longer be accepted 10 minutes after this meeting has begun, making that time 141 p.m.

2:17

With that, we would now proceed to take rolls.

2:29

Is excused.

2:31

Absent.

2:32

Absent.

2:34

Councilmember Ramachandran.

2:36

Present.

2:37

Councilmember Unger.

2:38

And Chair Brown.

2:39

Present.

2:40

We have three members present, one absent five.

2:42

Before you begin, Chair Brown, do you have any announcements?

2:45

Yes.

2:46

Um, so good afternoon, everyone.

2:48

Welcome to community and economic development.

2:50

Um, we definitely have a full agenda with several important items to consider.

2:55

So to ensure that everyone um has a chance for their voices to be heard, we will limit public comment to just one minute.

3:03

Um, also ensuring that the committees that um follow this one can also start on time.

3:09

Thank you.

3:14

Thank you for that, Chair.

3:15

Moving to our first item of the day, which is the approval for the draft minutes of the committee meeting held on October 14th, 2025.

3:25

Excellent.

3:26

Thank you so much.

3:27

Um, I'll entertain a motion.

3:29

So moved.

3:30

Second.

3:30

We have a motion made by Councilmember Ramachandran, seconded by Council Member Unger to accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting on October 14th, 2025, as is on roll.

3:40

Councilmember Fife is absent.

3:42

Councilmember Ramachandran.

3:44

Aye.

3:44

Councilmember Unger.

3:46

Aye.

3:47

And Chair Brown.

3:48

Aye.

3:48

Motion passes with three ayes and one absent five.

3:53

To accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting October 14th, 2025, as is moving to item two.

4:07

And you do have one speaker for this item.

4:09

Excellent.

4:10

Thank you so much.

4:10

Um, and so uh on uh here on behalf of the administration, um, Winnie.

4:16

Are there any um changes we need to make?

4:18

Uh through the chair, no, we have no changes.

4:20

Excellent, thank you.

4:21

Um, I'll make a motion to move this item.

4:24

Second.

4:25

Call it in our public speakers, Mr.

4:28

Ralph Cantz.

4:31

Please approach the podium.

4:32

State your name for the record, and you do have two minutes.

4:36

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development████████████████████████████████32%
Land Use and Zoning███████████████████19%
Affordable Housing███████████11%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Workforce Development██████6%
Procedural████4%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Active Transportation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting - October 28, 2025

The Community and Economic Development Committee met on October 28, 2025, at 1:31 PM. Chair Brown presided with Councilmembers Ramachandran and Unger present; Councilmember Fife was excused. The committee considered seven agenda items, including a study session on the general plan update, resolutions for affordable housing funding, and a transient occupancy tax sharing agreement to support the Oakland Roots and Soul soccer club during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Public comment was heard on several items.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Draft Minutes (October 14, 2025): Approved unanimously (3 ayes, 1 excused).
  • Termination Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items: Approved unanimously (3 ayes, 1 excused).
  • Resolution Requesting Two-Year Extension for OSCAR Element Update: Approved unanimously (4 ayes, after Councilmember Fife arrived) and forwarded to the November 4, 2025 special city council consent agenda at 9 AM.
  • Home Key Plus Resolutions (Four Items): Approved unanimously (3 ayes, 1 excused) and forwarded to the November 4, 2025 special city council consent agenda at 9 AM. The resolutions amend previous authorizations for the Mark Twain Homes (up to $35 million), 34th & San Pablo (up to $35 million), Maya Affordable Housing (up to $8.5 million), and add a new project at 3135 San Pablo (up to $13 million).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Ralph Cantz (on item 2) expressed frustration about house flippers in Oakland, alleging they cost the city millions in lost permit fees and perform shoddy work without inspections. He urged the committee to schedule enforcement discussions.
  • Ralph Cantz (on item 3) criticized the General Plan Advisory Committee for lacking institutional memory and geographic diversity, stating that a member who moved to Oakland in November 2024 was selected over long-time residents.
  • Sharifa Taylor (CBE, on item 4) submitted a comment letter urging that the general plan redress environmental and racial injustices, and flagged failure to consider environmental impacts of RD centers in EJ communities.
  • John Dari (Alameda County Building Trades, on item 4) noted the plan overlooks 20,000–25,000 construction trade jobs generated by the plan and urged policies for local hiring and workforce preparation.
  • EJ Sire (Sheet Metal Workers Local 104/Rising Sun, on item 4) highlighted the Women Build the Bay cohort (27 women, 80% women of color, 10 from Oakland) and emphasized the need for strong local hire goals in the general plan.
  • David Ralston (resident and BPAC chair, on item 4) commended staff but argued the base map excludes key assets (e.g., ECAP, EONI) and that mapping reflects what the city values.
  • Isaac Cosreed (District 2 resident and PRAC member, on item 4) stressed focusing on jobs, playing to Oakland’s strengths as a port city, and not spreading resources too thinly.
  • Ralph Cantz (on item 4) criticized the process for ignoring endangered species protection, citing past failures at Oak Knoll and Oakland Zoo.
  • Ms. Asada (on item 5) questioned the geographic balance of Home Key projects and whether all categories of need (families, veterans, etc.) are being considered.
  • Ms. Asada (on item 6, withdrawn) questioned the forgiveness of $3 million in principal and $661,042 in interest for East Bay Highland Farms, arguing the city should not forgive loans when properties are poorly maintained.
  • Ms. Asada (on item 7) opposed the TOT sharing agreement, arguing it diverts funds from city services and noted a video discouraging visits to Oakland due to crime.
  • Josephine Guzman (Oakland Metro Chamber, on item 7) expressed strong support for the TOT agreement, calling it a strategic investment in Oakland’s economy and global visibility.

Discussion Items

  • General Plan Update – Oakland for All Options Report (Item 4): Staff (Lakshmi Rajkopalan, Bibi Legado, and youth fellows) presented three broad options (A, B, C) for growth and stabilization through 2045. All options share a baseline of adding housing and jobs near transit and downtown, with differences in density, location of new development, and transportation/park improvements. Option A spreads development across 18 mixed-use centers; Option B concentrates along major transit corridors; Option C creates a midtown waterfront district with a potential San Antonio BART station. Staff emphasized the options are flexible and can be mixed. Community engagement included over 65 events, a youth fellows program, and a survey. Councilmembers Unger and Ramachandran raised questions about implementation capacity, local hire policies, and job types. Staff noted that the draft land use framework will be published in early 2026, with council feedback in April 2026. The item was received and filed unanimously.
  • Transient Occupancy Tax Sharing Agreement for Oakland Roots and Soul (Item 7): Director Ashley Canett presented a proposal to share up to $300,000 of incremental TOT (over June 2025 baseline) with Oakland Roots and Soul if they are selected as a team base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA estimates host communities could see 30,000 hotel room nights, 60,000–80,000 visitors, and $25–33 million in expenditures. The Roots and Soul would incur ~$700,000 in additional costs for security, staffing, etc. The city would only share TOT if revenues exceed baseline; if not, no payment. Oakland Alameda has already approved a similar measure. Councilmembers expressed excitement and support, with Councilmember Unger requesting an informational report on outcomes by October 13, 2026, to CED. The item was approved as amended and forwarded to the December 2, 2025 city council consent agenda as a public hearing.

Key Outcomes

  • Approvals: All consent calendar items passed unanimously (except item 3 passed 4-0 after Councilmember Fife arrived).
  • Forwarded to City Council:
    • OSCAR extension resolution (to Nov 4, 2025 special consent).
    • Four Home Key Plus resolutions (to Nov 4, 2025 special consent).
    • TOT sharing agreement (to Dec 2, 2025 regular meeting consent, with amendment for informational report by Oct 13, 2026 to CED).
  • Withdrawn: Item 6 (loan forgiveness for Highland Farms and East Lake) was withdrawn by the city administrator’s office to be rescheduled at the Rules Committee on Thursday.
  • Study Session: Received and filed without further action.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. Welcome to the community economic committee meeting for today's date. Today is October 28th. The time is now one thirty-one p.m. And this meeting has come to order. Before taking roll, I will provide instructions on how to submit a speaker's card for items on this agenda. If you are here with us in chambers and you would like to submit a speaker's card, please fill one out and turn it into myself before the item is read into record. Online speaker requests were due 24 hours prior to this meeting. Making this meeting came to order at 9 31. Speaker requires for due. We're no longer be accepted 10 minutes after this meeting has begun, making that time 141 p.m. With that, we would now proceed to take rolls. Is excused. Absent. Absent. Councilmember Ramachandran. Present. Councilmember Unger. And Chair Brown. Present. We have three members present, one absent five. Before you begin, Chair Brown, do you have any announcements? Yes. Um, so good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to community and economic development. Um, we definitely have a full agenda with several important items to consider. So to ensure that everyone um has a chance for their voices to be heard, we will limit public comment to just one minute. Um, also ensuring that the committees that um follow this one can also start on time. Thank you. Thank you for that, Chair. Moving to our first item of the day, which is the approval for the draft minutes of the committee meeting held on October 14th, 2025. Excellent. Thank you so much. Um, I'll entertain a motion. So moved. Second. We have a motion made by Councilmember Ramachandran, seconded by Council Member Unger to accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting on October 14th, 2025, as is on roll. Councilmember Fife is absent. Councilmember Ramachandran. Aye. Councilmember Unger. Aye. And Chair Brown. Aye. Motion passes with three ayes and one absent five. To accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting October 14th, 2025, as is moving to item two. And you do have one speaker for this item. Excellent. Thank you so much. Um, and so uh on uh here on behalf of the administration, um, Winnie.

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