OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Oakland Rules and Legislation Committee Meeting – November 13, 2025

City CouncilThursday, November 13, 2025
BodyOakland, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, November 13, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 25:58
Transcript — Verbatim
0:13

Good morning and welcome to the rules and legislation committee of November, excuse me, November 13th, 2025.

0:20

Before I call roll, I will give speaker card instructions.

0:23

If you're looking to speak on any agenda item on this, uh, any item on this agenda, you'll need to fill out a speaker's card before the item is called for discussion or 10 minutes after the start of this meeting.

0:35

This meeting was called to order at 10 30 a.m.

0:38

So that time would be 10 40.

0:40

If you're looking to submit a speaker's card online, that time has passed as those cards were due 24 hours before the start of this meeting.

0:49

On roll, our council member Brown.

0:53

Councilmember Fife, present.

0:55

Councilmember Ramachandran.

0:58

And Chair Jenkins.

1:00

Present.

1:01

Showing four members present.

1:09

Yeah, welcome to Oakland High.

1:10

Welcome, Oakland High School to uh City of Oakland.

1:14

We appreciate you guys being here and uh seeing how democracy takes place.

1:18

Hopefully, we have future council members in here and council staff, the next leaders of Oakland.

1:26

Councilmember.

1:29

Sure.

1:29

Excellent.

1:30

Well, welcome.

1:31

Thank you so much for joining us and look forward to um chatting maybe after, and then um I believe that I will be there at your school next Friday for a special showcase.

1:42

I think some students are doing a bridge to AI event and showcase, so look forward to seeing a lot of you there.

1:49

Um thank you so much for joining us.

1:54

Thank you, Councilmember Brown.

1:56

Going to item two, which is approval of the draft minutes from the meeting of October 30th, 2025.

2:03

We just need a motion.

2:06

I'll move the item.

2:11

Second.

2:12

On the motion by councilmember Brown, seconded by council member Ramachandran to approve the draft minutes, starting with Councilmember Brown.

2:20

Aye.

2:20

Councilmember Fife.

2:22

Aye.

2:22

Councilmember Ramachandran.

2:28

I don't know why it's not up here now.

2:31

Hi.

2:32

Chair Jenkins.

2:33

Abstain.

2:34

Motion passes with a vote of three ayes, one abstain.

2:37

Jenkins.

2:39

Going to your new scheduling items.

2:42

Starting with item 3.1.

2:46

Adopt an ordinance amending Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 10.20 and adopting appropriate SQL findings to reflect changes in Oakland Street Network and to modify speed limits on Broadway and International Boulevard.

3:00

This is requested to go to the November 18th public works and transportation committee agenda.

3:06

Item 3.2 includes the following pieces of legislation.

3:10

A resolution amending, a resolution recommending to the Civil Service Board, the exemption of the classification of payroll administrator from the operation of civil service, and a resolution recommending to the Civil Service Board, the exemption of the classification of procurement and contracts administration from the operation of civil service, and an ordinance amending the salary schedule of ordinance number 12187 to add the full-time classification of payroll administrator and add the full-time classification of procurement and contracts administrator and amend the salary of the full-time classification of park equipment operator.

3:51

Amend the salary of the part-time classification of senior aid to ensure compliance with the Oakland with the City of Oakland's minimum wage ordinance.

4:00

This is asked to go to the December 9th Finance and Management Committee Agenda.

4:05

Item 3.3, a resolution authorizing the city administrator to award a contract to Safeway Sign, a non-local business, enterprise, and the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to furnish traffic sign making supplies and pavement marking materials and the amount not to exceed $2,500,000 for the period from November 20th, 2025 to November 20th, 2030, in accordance with the request for quotation, number 238465.

4:38

Specification number 25 801 00, and the general conditions on file in the purchasing section and the contractor's bid.

4:47

This is requested to go before the December 9th Public Works and Transportation committee agenda.

4:53

Item 3.4, a resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter into a grant agreement with Friends of Peralta Hacienda Historical Park in a total amount not to exceed 45,900 for fiscal year 25 through 26 and 45,900 for fiscal year 2627.

5:14

This is requested to go before the December 9th Life Enrichment Committee Agenda.

5:20

Item 3.5, I believe has a title change from staff.

5:31

Good morning, Council.

5:34

Item 3.5, addendum to affiliation agreement between the University of San Francisco and the City of Oakland.

5:42

There is a title change, and the recommendation should read authorizing the city administrator to accept a gift of in-kind services pursuant to the affiliation agreement with the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions to implement nurse-led and public health initiatives to expand health and wellness access, student engagement, and community programming for older adults at an estimated value not to exceed $150,000 per year for up to three years, and to negotiate and execute any additional agreements required to facilitate receipt of the in-kind services.

6:29

Thank you.

6:30

And that is requested to go to the December 9th Life Enrichment Committee Agenda.

6:35

Going to item 3.6, a resolution authorizing the city administrator to accept and appropriate the fiscal year 24 and 25 state of California Citizens Option for Public Safety for State COPS grant allocation of the amount of $851,072 to fund helicopter maintenance, computer technology upgrades, marketing supplies, workforce supplies, asset management and technology refurbished work stations, and state cops grant allocation in the amount of $529,037 to helicopter maintenance, crime lab equipment upgrades, training and commute computer technology upgrades on the December 9th Public Safety Committee Agenda.

7:22

Item 3.7, receive an information report from Oakland's Police Department Surveillance Technology 2024 Annual Reports on the December 9th Public Safety Committee Agenda.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████████████39%
Public Safety████████████████████20%
Public Engagement██████████████████18%
Transportation Safety█████████████13%
Technology and Innovation██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Community Engagement1%
Summary of Proceedings

Oakland Rules and Legislation Committee Meeting – November 13, 2025

The Rules and Legislation Committee of the Oakland City Council met on November 13, 2025, at 10:30 AM. All four members (Councilmembers Brown, Fife, Ramachandran, and Chair Jenkins) were present. The meeting covered approval of past minutes, new scheduling items, review of draft committee agendas, and public comments on a range of topics including public safety, historical parks, and surveillance technology.

Approval of Minutes

  • The committee approved the draft minutes from the October 30, 2025 meeting by a vote of 3 ayes (Brown, Fife, Ramachandran) with 1 abstention (Jenkins).

New Scheduling Items (Item 3)

Staff presented nine new scheduling items (3.1 through 3.9) requesting placement on upcoming committee agendas. A summary of key items:

  • 3.1 – Ordinance to amend speed limits on Broadway and International Boulevard, referred to the November 18 Public Works and Transportation Committee.
  • 3.2 – Multiple resolutions and ordinances regarding civil service exemptions and salary schedule amendments, referred to the December 9 Finance and Management Committee.
  • 3.3 – Contract award to Safeway Sign for traffic sign supplies (up to $2,500,000 over 5 years), referred to the December 9 Public Works and Transportation Committee.
  • 3.4 – Grant agreement with Friends of Peralta Hacienda Historical Park ($45,900 per year for two years), referred to the December 9 Life Enrichment Committee.
  • 3.5 – Affiliation agreement with University of San Francisco School of Nursing (in-kind services valued up to $150,000 per year for three years); title change noted by staff, referred to the December 9 Life Enrichment Committee.
  • 3.6 – Acceptance of State COPS grant funds ($851,072 for FY24/25 and $529,037 for helicopter maintenance, technology, and equipment), referred to the December 9 Public Safety Committee.
  • 3.7 – Receipt of Oakland Police Department Surveillance Technology 2024 Annual Reports, referred to the December 9 Public Safety Committee.
  • 3.8 – Two professional services agreements: Bright Research Group ($75,000) and ROCA ($36,000) for training and capacity building, with waivers of competitive bidding, referred to the December 9 Public Safety Committee.
  • 3.9 – Amendment of agreement with University of Pennsylvania’s Crime and Justice Policy Lab (additional $362,087, extended to 2028) to evaluate the Ceasefire Lifeline strategy, referred to the December 9 Public Safety Committee.

Public Comments on Item 3

  • Blair Beekman (Oakland resident) expressed concerns about using COPS funds for militarized equipment like helicopter repairs and bear cats, and urged more community consideration. He also spoke on 3.7 and 3.8, advocating for a more transparent process regarding Flock ALPR data and supporting cognitive behavioral training programs.
  • Rajni Mandal (District 4) commended the grant for Peralta Hacienda Historical Park and noted the park’s need for additional funding.
  • Kevin Daly (Transport Oakland) supported the speed limit changes on Broadway and International, hoping they reduce traffic fatalities.

The committee approved all new scheduling items by a vote of 4 ayes, noting the title change on 3.5.

Review of Draft Agendas and Pending List (Item 4)

The committee considered the upcoming agenda schedule for the next two weeks, including canceled meetings for Thanksgiving week.

Public Comments on Item 4

  • Kevin Daly (Co-chair, Bicyclist and Pedestrian Advisory Commission) requested that the fire code item be added to the pending list, proposing that traffic-related sections go to Public Works and Transportation, and the rest to Public Safety/Economic Development.
  • Rajni Mandal urged agendas to be published at least five days in advance to improve public participation.
  • Blair Beekman stressed the importance of the November 18 Public Safety Committee meeting on ALPR/Flock and suggested taking six months to explore alternative vendors.

The committee approved the draft agenda list by a vote of 4 ayes.

Open Forum

  • Rajni Mandal called for the immediate removal of Police Commissioners Omar Farmer and Ricardo Garcia-Costa, alleging violations of the commission’s code of conduct.
  • Blair Beekman advocated for more open dialogue and a public subcommittee process regarding Bay UASI (Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative) to improve emergency preparedness planning.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes from October 30, 2025 (3-1).
  • Approved all nine new scheduling items (4-0).
  • Approved the draft committee agendas and pending list (4-0).
  • No votes on substantive legislation; items were scheduled for future committee meetings.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning and welcome to the rules and legislation committee of November, excuse me, November 13th, 2025. Before I call roll, I will give speaker card instructions. If you're looking to speak on any agenda item on this, uh, any item on this agenda, you'll need to fill out a speaker's card before the item is called for discussion or 10 minutes after the start of this meeting. This meeting was called to order at 10 30 a.m. So that time would be 10 40. If you're looking to submit a speaker's card online, that time has passed as those cards were due 24 hours before the start of this meeting. On roll, our council member Brown. Councilmember Fife, present. Councilmember Ramachandran. And Chair Jenkins. Present. Showing four members present. Yeah, welcome to Oakland High. Welcome, Oakland High School to uh City of Oakland. We appreciate you guys being here and uh seeing how democracy takes place. Hopefully, we have future council members in here and council staff, the next leaders of Oakland. Councilmember. Sure. Excellent. Well, welcome. Thank you so much for joining us and look forward to um chatting maybe after, and then um I believe that I will be there at your school next Friday for a special showcase. I think some students are doing a bridge to AI event and showcase, so look forward to seeing a lot of you there. Um thank you so much for joining us. Thank you, Councilmember Brown. Going to item two, which is approval of the draft minutes from the meeting of October 30th, 2025. We just need a motion. I'll move the item. Second. On the motion by councilmember Brown, seconded by council member Ramachandran to approve the draft minutes, starting with Councilmember Brown. Aye. Councilmember Fife. Aye. Councilmember Ramachandran. I don't know why it's not up here now. Hi. Chair Jenkins. Abstain. Motion passes with a vote of three ayes, one abstain. Jenkins. Going to your new scheduling items. Starting with item 3.1. Adopt an ordinance amending Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 10.20 and adopting appropriate SQL findings to reflect changes in Oakland Street Network and to modify speed limits on Broadway and International Boulevard. This is requested to go to the November 18th public works and transportation committee agenda. Item 3.2 includes the following pieces of legislation. A resolution amending, a resolution recommending to the Civil Service Board, the exemption of the classification of payroll administrator from the operation of civil service, and a resolution recommending to the Civil Service Board, the exemption of the classification of procurement and contracts administration from the operation of civil service, and an ordinance amending the salary schedule of ordinance number 12187 to add the full-time classification of payroll administrator and add the full-time classification of procurement and contracts administrator and amend the salary of the full-time classification of park equipment operator. Amend the salary of the part-time classification of senior aid to ensure compliance with the Oakland with the City of Oakland's minimum wage ordinance. This is asked to go to the December 9th Finance and Management Committee Agenda. Item 3.3, a resolution authorizing the city administrator to award a contract to Safeway Sign, a non-local business, enterprise, and the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to furnish traffic sign making supplies and pavement marking materials and the amount not to exceed $2,500,000 for the period from November 20th, 2025 to November 20th, 2030, in accordance with the request for quotation, number 238465. Specification number 25 801 00, and the general conditions on file in the purchasing section and the contractor's bid. This is requested to go before the December 9th Public Works and Transportation committee agenda.

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