Community & Economic Development Committee – November 18, 2025
Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting Summary – November 18, 2025
The Community and Economic Development Committee (CED) met on November 18, 2025, at 1:30 PM. Chair Brown presided, with Councilmembers Fife, Ramachandran, and Unger present. The committee considered six agenda items, including an interjurisdictional agreement, the establishment of entertainment and AI activation zones, a permit reform update, loan forgiveness for two affordable housing properties, and zoning code amendments to streamline permitting. Public comment was limited to one minute per speaker due to the full agenda.
Consent Calendar
- Item 2: Determination to schedule outstanding committee items (pending list) – Approved unanimously (4-0) as presented.
- Item 3: Authorization for the City Administrator to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the City of Piedmont to process planning and building permits for a 551 sq ft addition/remodel at 30 Blair Place. Approved unanimously (4-0) and forwarded to the December 2, 2025 City Council consent agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 5 (Town Alive program): Twelve speakers expressed support, including business owners, representatives of the Oakland Fund for Public Innovation, Northeastern University, Laney College, and chambers of commerce. Some speakers requested inclusion of Chinatown and other districts in future phases. One speaker questioned funding allocation and the type of entertainment allowed.
- Item 7 (Permit Reform): Four speakers praised the streamlined permitting process, citing improved interdepartmental coordination and faster approvals. One speaker urged continued improvements for certainty in development.
- Item 4 (Loan Forgiveness): A representative of the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) spoke in favor, explaining the need to preserve 58 affordable units. One public commenter questioned why the original project plan failed.
- Item 6 (Zoning Amendments): Two speakers from Lake Merritt community groups raised concerns about loosening CUP requirements for park concessions, fearing loss of public oversight and impacts on park use.
Discussion Items
- Item 5 – Town Alive Program: Chair Brown presented the initiative to establish four pilot entertainment zones (Jack London Square, Broadway Valdez/North Lake, Temescal, Uptown/Downtown Arts & Entertainment District) and create responsible AI activation zones in partnership with Laney College, Mills at Northeastern, and the Unity Council. A $1 million grant to the Oakland Fund for Public Innovation would fund implementation. Councilmember Fife expressed concerns about lack of prior engagement with district businesses and public safety in the Uptown/Downtown area. She requested a meeting with stakeholders before the final City Council vote. Staff noted that detailed management plans are required before zones activate, and that OPD has been consulted.
- Item 7 – Permit Reform Update: Robin Abad (City Administrator’s Office) presented the Oak Permits initiative, including expansion of same-day digital permits, consolidation of permit centers, and development of internal dashboards. Councilmembers commended the progress and asked about public communication and performance data tracking. Staff confirmed a new external dashboard is expected in Q1 2026.
- Item 4 – Loan Forgiveness for Highland Palms and East Lake Apartments: Staff recommended forgiving $3 million and $5 million in outstanding principal and accrued interest respectively to facilitate the sale of two distressed affordable properties to a new owner, preserving 58 units as deed-restricted affordable housing through 2073. Councilmember Unger asked about the vetting of the new buyer and potential precedent. Staff emphasized this is a unique case and that the city retains monitoring rights. EBALDC noted that the properties have negative cash flow and the buyer will assume no legacy debt.
- Item 6 – Zoning Code Amendments: Planners presented a package to reduce conditional use permit (CUP) requirements for many commercial, civic, and park uses by raising square footage thresholds and establishing performance standards. Two corrections were noted: retaining the L4 limitation for administrative civic activities in residential zones and clarifying that food service concessions in parks do not include temporary structures or mobile vendors. Councilmember Fife asked about enforcement of existing illegal mobile vending; staff clarified this is a separate code issue. The item was set for a public hearing at the December 2 City Council.
Key Outcomes
- Item 3: Approved and forwarded to December 2 City Council consent agenda (4-0).
- Item 5: Approved the resolutions and ordinance (first reading) to establish pilot entertainment zones and AI activation zones, and to authorize the grant agreement. Forwarded to December 2 City Council consent agenda with a note that Councilmember Fife will meet with stakeholders before final passage (4-0).
- Item 7: Informational report received and filed (4-0).
- Item 4: Approved loan forgiveness and forwarded to December 2 City Council consent agenda (4-0).
- Item 6: Approved the zoning code amendments with the two staff-adopted corrections and forwarded to December 2 City Council as a public hearing (4-0).
The meeting adjourned at approximately 4:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. They're uh the community and economic development committee will start late today, and I apologize for the inconvenience that this may cause. Hal, and we're all L'autre, Good afternoon, and welcome to the community economic committee meeting for today's date, November 18th. The time is now one thirty pm, and this meeting has come to order. Speaker cards were no longer being accepted ten minutes after this meeting has begun. Councilmember Ramachandran. Um, excellent. Um, we'll welcome everyone to the community and economic development committee. Um, given the number of speakers and all of our council committees starting now until the evening, being relatively impacted. Um, first for this committee, we will uh limit um public comment to about one minute. Um, thank you so much. Thank you for that, Chair Brown. Moving to item one. There are no minutes to be approved as this meeting is a special meeting. Moving to item two, which is the termination of schedule outstanding committee items, also known as your pending list. Oh, I have announced it. And we're gonna go back to council member council's announcements. In addition, I also had one other announcement around the so calling your attention to the agenda and the order. Um, given uh some uh requests, we are going to change the order so we will hear item number three, and then followed by item number five, then seven, four, and six. Excellent. Thank you so much. Thank you, Chair Brown. Noting the agenda change items on the agenda that's changed. Moving to item two, determination to schedule outstanding committee items, also known as your pending list, and there are no speakers for this item. Excellent. Thank you. Um to the city administration. Any changes on this administrator lake? Thank you, Chair. No changes at this time. Okay, I'll make a motion to move this item. Is there a second? Second. Thank you. We have a motion made by Chair Brown, seconded by Councilmember Unger to accept the termination of schedule outstanding committee items as is on roll. Councilmember Fife. Aye. Thank you. Councilmember Ramatandran. Aye. Councilmember Onger. Aye. And Chair Brown. Aye. This motion passes with four eyes to accept the termination and schedule outstanding committee items as is. Moving to item three. Okay. Adopt a resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the city of Piedmont establishing that the city of Piedmont will process planning entitlements in the building permits for the 551 square foot edition and remodel of an existing single family dwelling at 30 Blair Place, a property located at both jurisdictions and adopting appropriate California Environmental Quality Act findings, and you do have five speakers for this. Two speakers for this item. Excellent.
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