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Record of Proceedings

Oakland Finance & Management Committee Meeting - November 18, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, November 18, 2025
BodyOakland, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, November 18, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 38:42

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
4:48

Good morning and welcome to the Finance and Management Committee meeting of today, November 18th.

4:53

The time is now 9 33 a.m.

4:56

and this meeting has come to order.

5:00

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

5:05

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

5:13

All our speaker requests were due 24 hours prior to this meeting starting.

5:17

The meeting came to order at 9 33 a.m.

5:19

speaker cards will no longer be accepted 10 minutes after the meeting has begun, making that time 9 43 a.m.

5:25

With that, we would now proceed to take roll.

5:30

Councilmember Brown.

5:32

Present.

5:34

Councilmember Onger.

5:37

Here Councilmember Wong.

5:44

Present.

5:45

Thank you.

5:46

And Chair Ramachandran.

5:48

Present.

5:49

We have four members present.

5:50

And before we begin, Chair Ramachandra, do you have any announcements this morning?

5:54

Um except to congratulate our new finance director, Mr.

5:58

Bradley Johnson on the new role.

6:02

And also to our new revenue administrator, Miss Nicole Welch.

6:09

And that's it.

6:10

Happy to get started.

6:12

Thank you so much and congratulations to everyone as well involved.

6:15

Thank you.

6:16

Going to item one.

6:17

There are no minutes to be approved.

6:18

Please do remember as this is a special meeting.

6:21

Moving to item two, determination of schedule not standing committee items.

6:24

Is this also known as your pending list?

6:26

And there are no speakers for this item.

6:28

To administration, any changes?

6:31

Nothing at this time.

6:32

Thank you.

6:32

Okay.

6:33

I will entertain a motion.

6:38

Move approval.

6:42

Second.

6:44

Thank you.

6:45

I have a motion made by Councilmember Brown, seconded by Councilmember Unger to accept the termination of schedule outstanding committee items as is on roll.

6:52

Councilmember Brown.

6:53

Aye.

6:54

Councilmember Unger.

6:56

Aye.

6:57

Councilmember Wong.

6:58

Aye.

6:59

And Chair Ramachandran.

7:01

Aye.

7:01

This motion passes with four ayes to accept the termination of schedule outstanding committee items as is.

7:06

Moving to item three.

7:10

Adopt an ordinance amending Oakland Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 4.56.

7:16

Vacant property tax to one add an exemption of par for parcels that change ownership after accessments.

7:24

Two, require the hearing officer to include findings of fact in the decisions, and three establishing a 12-month time time period within each month of parcels deemed vacant assessed, and the vacant property tax must file a petition to reverse the assessment claim and exemption or the seek refund for taxes paid.

7:42

And you do have two speakers for this item.

7:51

Today we bring before you uh the ordinance, uh staff recommends that the city council adopt an ordinance amending Oakland Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 4.56.

8:02

Vacant property tax to A.

8:04

Number one, add an exemption for parcels that change ownership after assessment.

8:09

Two, require the hearing officer to include findings of fact in their decisions, and three establish a 12-month time period within which owners of parcels deemed vacant and assess the vacant property tax must file a petition to reverse the assessment.

8:25

Claim an exemption or to seek a refund of taxes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Fiscal Sustainability█████████████████████████████████████████████82%
Procedural██████11%
Public Safety████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Oakland Finance & Management Committee Meeting - November 18, 2025

This meeting of the Finance and Management Committee was called to order at 9:33 a.m. on November 18, 2025, with Chair Ramachandran, Councilmembers Brown, Onger, and Wong present. The committee addressed an ordinance amendment to the vacant property tax, received updates on the special revenue collection project, and reviewed the first-quarter cash management report.

Determination of Schedule – Pending List

  • The committee unanimously approved the termination of schedule of outstanding committee items as presented (4 ayes).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 3 (Vacant Property Tax Ordinance): Two speakers were listed (Kevin Daly and Derek Barnes) but no testimony was provided.
  • Item 4 (Special Revenue Collection Project): Kevin Daly (District 4) asked whether collections on fire code inspections have improved and emphasized the need for consistent follow-up and fee collection. David Boatwright (District 4) praised the plan but requested data on revenue generated to date. Derek Barnes (via Zoom) commended the outreach and enforcement efforts, offered partnership in outreach and data improvement, and encouraged continuous improvement.
  • Item 5 (Cash Management Report): David Boatwright commented on seasonality of cash balances, noting the drop was normal.
  • Open Forum: David Boatwright requested that speakers use microphones for clarity.

Discussion Items

  • Item 3 – Ordinance Amending Vacant Property Tax (OMC Title 4, Chapter 4.56): Staff presented three proposed amendments: 1) an exemption for new owners who acquire a parcel after assessment via an arms-length transaction (less than 50 calendar days in the relevant year), 2) mandatory language requiring the hearing officer to include findings of fact in decisions, and 3) a 12-month statute of limitations (beginning on the due date of the second installment of the secured property tax bill) for owners to file petitions to reverse assessment, claim exemptions, or seek refunds. Chair Ramachandran expressed support for the clear-cut amendments. No council discussion beyond that.
  • Item 4 – Informational Report on Special Revenue Collection Project: Revenue Administrator Nicole Welch reported on measures taken since August 2025. An annuitant was onboarded to revitalize outreach, reestablish partnerships with chambers of commerce, develop field activity programs, produce targeted media, and coordinate with other city departments. Actions included participation in community events (First Friday, Oktoberfest, Día de los Muertos), outreach to business organizations (Unity Council, Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Black Chamber of Commerce, Chinatown Business Chamber), mailing approximately 7,025 delinquency notices (Sept 10 – Nov 14, 2025), follow-up phone and field visits, and a contractor/subcontractor compliance initiative using building permit data. Field visits identified 20 unregistered businesses. The office served 1,552 citizens, a 30% uptick. Councilmember Brown requested a written follow-up report with specific data on revenue collection and illegal dumping fines; Chair Ramachandran suggested continuing the item. Councilmember Unger inquired about the biggest barrier to collections; Welch cited interdepartmental coordination and valid referral requirements. Councilmember Wong noted the link to addressing nuisance businesses.
  • Item 5 – Cash Management Report for Q1 FY 2025-26: Treasury Bureau’s David Jones presented the report. As of September 30, 2025, the portfolio balance was approximately $2.09 billion, with 242 days to maturity, a yield of 3.98% (slightly down from June), daily liquidity of 20.97%, and about 70% maturing within 180 days. Full compliance with the city’s investment policy was confirmed. Councilmember Unger asked about seasonality; Jones explained fluctuations (e.g., a large Port debt service payment in October) and affirmed that the portfolio is managed daily and liquid.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 3: The committee voted unanimously (4 ayes) to forward the ordinance to the December 2, 2025, City Council meeting on the consent calendar.
  • Item 4: The committee voted unanimously (4 ayes) to continue the item to the April 21, 2026, Finance and Management Committee meeting, with a request for a written report including revenue projections and delinquency data.
  • Item 5: The committee voted unanimously (4 ayes) to receive and file the cash management report.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning and welcome to the Finance and Management Committee meeting of today, November 18th. The time is now 9 33 a.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 into a clerk representative to my left or right before the item is read into record. All our speaker requests were due 24 hours prior to this meeting starting. The meeting came to order at 9 33 a.m. speaker cards will no longer be accepted 10 minutes after the meeting has begun, making that time 9 43 a.m. With that, we would now proceed to take roll. Councilmember Brown. Present. Councilmember Onger. Here Councilmember Wong. Present. Thank you. And Chair Ramachandran. Present. We have four members present. And before we begin, Chair Ramachandra, do you have any announcements this morning? Um except to congratulate our new finance director, Mr. Bradley Johnson on the new role. And also to our new revenue administrator, Miss Nicole Welch. And that's it. Happy to get started. Thank you so much and congratulations to everyone as well involved. Thank you. Going to item one. There are no minutes to be approved. Please do remember as this is a special meeting. Moving to item two, determination of schedule not standing committee items. Is this also known as your pending list? And there are no speakers for this item. To administration, any changes? Nothing at this time. Thank you. Okay. I will entertain a motion. Move approval. Second. Thank you. I have a motion made by Councilmember Brown, seconded by Councilmember Unger to accept the termination of schedule outstanding committee items as is on roll. Councilmember Brown. Aye. Councilmember Unger. Aye. Councilmember Wong. Aye. And Chair Ramachandran. Aye. This motion passes with four ayes to accept the termination of schedule outstanding committee items as is.

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