Oakland City Council Special Meeting – December 16, 2025

The Oakland City Council held a special meeting on December 16, 2025, starting at 1:03 PM. The meeting covered a lengthy consent calendar, a major debate on expanding the Flock ALPR and community safety camera contract, a tree-removal penalty appeal, amendments to the council’s rules of procedure, and several other items. Public testimony was extensive, with 145 speakers on the Flock item alone.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar included 36 items, covering approvals of minutes, declarations of local emergencies (AIDS, cannabis, homelessness), cooperative agreements, business relief, campaign finance reform, honors, audit reports, salary ordinance amendments, software contracts, professional services, sustainable fleet transitions, traffic maintenance, a construction-mentor-protégé program, an electric-bike lending program, Bay-Rin decarbonization, an MOU with San Leandro, an exclusive negotiation agreement for Costco at the former Army base, zero-emission building appliance rules, grants for Peralta Hacienda, university affiliation, OPD citizen option for public safety grant, training services contracts, ceasefire evaluation, Lynn Marine contract, emergency amendments to the Oakland Fire Code, and more.
• Item 5.10 (27th Street construction contract with Regwick) was pulled from consent by Councilmember Fife due to a recently occurring industrial accident in Hayward involving the contractor. The item was deferred to the January 6, 2026 meeting.
• The remaining consent calendar was approved 8–0 as amended.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Consent Calendar (including Flock and other items): Approximately 145 people spoke on the Flock contract. Supporters cited reductions in carjackings (66% decrease), robberies (41% decrease), stolen vehicles (58% drop), and over 230 arrests and 68 firearms recovered using Flock ALPR. Opponents raised concerns about data sharing with ICE, past breaches, the company’s ties to federal agencies, and the lack of a competitive procurement process. Many speakers also addressed the 27th Street contract, the fire code amendment, the campaign finance reform, and the Costco ENA.
• Tree Violation (Item 6.1): A few speakers, including the property owner and arborists, presented conflicting accounts regarding the number of trees removed (the city claims 38; the owner says 8).
• Council Rules of Procedure (Item 8): Several speakers opposed the changes, arguing they would reduce public participation and were procedurally improper after a previous tie vote failed.
• Audit Report (Item 10): Multiple community members spoke in support of Saba Grocers' Fresh 5X program, thanking the council for supporting food access.
• Security Contract (Item 12): Speakers urged the council to pay outstanding invoices to ABC Security but asked for a shorter extension and reconsideration of other qualified bidders.

Discussion Items

• Flock Safety Camera System (Item 9): OPD presented data showing that since Flock ALPR deployment in July 2024, there have been 188,964,975 license plate reads, leading to 232 arrests, 68 firearms recovered, 573 “successful outcomes,” and significant reductions in carjackings and robberies. The department requested a two-year contract for 290 existing cameras plus 40 new pan-tilt-zoom community safety cameras at a cost of $2,252,500. After extensive public comment, Councilmembers Wong, Unger, and Brown offered multiple amendments strengthening data-sharing prohibitions, requiring quarterly certifications, a two-key approval system, an independent compliance audit by the city auditor, and a requirement for a new RFP within 18–24 months. The motion passed 7–1 (Fife dissenting).
• Protected Tree Violation (Item 6.1): Public Works staff detailed the illegal removal of 38 protected trees on Claremont Avenue between February 2021 and May 2022. The property owner argued he removed only 8 trees and had obtained a permit. Given the factual discrepancies, the council voted 7–0 (Fife excused) to continue the matter to the February 3, 2026 meeting with the public hearing left open.
• Council Rules of Procedure (Item 8): Proposed amendments sought to move non-consent items earlier, add a vice-chair role for committees, and make technical edits. After a tie vote in a previous meeting and the mayor declining to break it, the item was brought back. The council voted 5–3 (Fife, Gaio, Wong dissenting) to approve the amendments as modified by the removal of two provisions.
• PFERS Charter Amendment (Item 11): A resolution to place a charter amendment on the June 2026 ballot to expand eligibility for the Police and Fire Retirement System board and reduce meeting frequency. The item was continued to the January 6, 2026 meeting by a 7–0 vote (Gaio absent).
• Security Services Contract (Item 12): Staff requested a 15-month month-to-month extension of the ABC Security contract worth up to $6.75 million and payment of $818,989.40 in outstanding invoices. After debate on the procurement process and the possibility of using existing qualified bidders, the council approved a 12-month extension (including 6 months past due) on a 5–1–1 vote (Fife opposed, Jenkins abstained, Gaio absent).
• Cooperative Purchase Agreements (Item 13): A resolution to approve ongoing cooperative purchase agreements for facilities maintenance up to $3.5 million was approved 7–0.

Key Outcomes

• Flock Contract Approved: Resolution approving the OPD surveillance use policy and a two-year contract with Flock Safety for ALPR and community safety cameras, with multiple amendments including a new RFP requirement within 18–24 months and independent audits. Vote: 7–1 (Fife no).
• Tree Violation Continued: Public hearing and decision on the illegal tree removal penalty postponed to February 3, 2026. Vote: 7–0.
• Council Rules of Procedure Amended: Resolution adopting changes to council rules (excluding two previously proposed provisions) passed 5–3.
• PFERS Ballot Measure Continued: Charter amendment resolution continued to January 6, 2026. Vote: 7–0.
• ABC Security Contract Extended: Approved a 12-month month-to-month extension and payment of outstanding invoices. Vote: 5–1–1 (Fife no, Jenkins abstain).
• Cooperative Purchase Agreements Approved: Resolution for facilities maintenance contracts approved 7–0.