OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Oakland Public Works and Transportation Committee - January 13, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, January 13, 2026
BodyOakland, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:27:06
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Thank you.

0:30

Thank you.

1:00

Thank you.

1:30

Thank you.

2:00

Thank you.

2:30

Hello, everybody.

2:52

We are just waiting until we have quorum, and then we can get started.

3:00

Thank you.

3:30

Thank you.

4:00

okay I believe we have quorum let's get this party started good morning and welcome to the

4:10

public works and transportation committee meeting of today Tuesday January 13 2026 the time is now

4:16

11 32 a.m and this meeting has come to order before taking roll I will provide instructions

4:24

on how to submit a speaker's card for items on this agenda if you are here with us in chambers

4:29

and you would like to submit a speaker's card,

4:32

please pull one out and turn it into a clerk representative to my left or right

4:35

before the item is read into record.

4:39

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

4:43

The meeting came to order at 11.32 a.m.

4:47

Speaker cards will no longer be accepted 10 minutes after the meeting has began,

4:53

making that time 11.42 a.m.

4:56

With that, we proceed to take roll.

4:59

Council member Agayo.

5:07

Council member Houston.

5:08

Present.

5:09

Thank you.

5:10

Council member Wong.

5:12

Interesting.

5:13

Here.

5:14

Thank you.

5:15

And Chair Unger.

5:17

Here.

5:18

Here.

5:19

We do have four members present.

5:21

And before we begin, Chair Unger,

5:23

do you have any announcements for us today?

5:26

No announcements.

5:28

Thank you.

5:28

first item of the day, which is approval of the draft minutes from the committee meeting on December 9th, 2025.

5:36

And we do have zero speakers for this item.

5:42

OK, I will make a motion that we approve the minutes.

5:47

We have a motion made by chair Anger, seconded by Councilmember Gaia to accept

5:55

to accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting on December 9,

5:58

2025 as is on the roll.

6:00

Council member Gallo.

6:01

Council member Houston.

6:03

I.

6:05

Council member Wong.

6:06

I. And chair Unger.

6:08

I. This motion passes with four eyes to accept the draft minutes

6:12

of the committee meeting being held on December 9, 2025, as is.

6:16

Item two, determination to schedule outstanding committee items.

6:19

And you do have two speakers for this item.

6:22

All right, let's hear from our speakers, please.

6:26

thank you when i call your name please approach the podium if you're participating via zoom please

6:30

raise your hands so you're easily identified as practice we will take in-person speakers

6:35

before zoom speakers miss assada and kevin dolly

6:43

i'm asking for the following topics be considered rate

6:46

considered for discussion in this body uh where's the clock system

6:55

If we can have KTOP display the clock, please.

7:03

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████33%
Transportation Safety█████████████████████████████████33%
Procedural████████████12%
Homelessness██████6%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Workforce Development███3%
Economic Development███3%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Pending Litigation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Oakland Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting - January 13, 2026

The Public Works and Transportation Committee met on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 11:32 a.m. with Chair Unger and Councilmembers Gaio (Agayo), Houston, and Wong present. The committee approved minutes, a pending list, a parking garage management agreement, a Caltrans maintenance agreement, and heard public comments.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Draft Minutes (December 9, 2025): Motion to approve passed 4–0.
  • Determination to Schedule Outstanding Committee Items (Pending List): Motion to approve passed 4–0.
  • Agreement with Montclair Village Association (MVA) for LaSalle Garage and Scout Lot: Adopted a resolution authorizing a five-year agreement with MVA for operation of the LaSalle Garage (305 spaces) and Scout surface lot (28 spaces) at annual compensation of $295,000 (including $275,000 reimbursable operating expenses and $20,000 management fees), total not to exceed $1,476,000. The resolution waives competitive bidding, SLBE/LBE requirements, and adopts CEQA findings. The committee voted 4–0 to forward to the January 20, 2026 City Council on consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 3 (Parking Garage Agreement): Speakers included Daniel Swafford (MVA executive director, supporting), Andrew Jones (Uptown Downtown CBD, supporting), Keith Sherholtz (DOT staff, supporting but urging no changes to DOT structure), Tammy Bird (parking meter collection supervisor, opposing moving parking to Finance), George Spies (Traffic Violence Rapid Response, opposing moving parking to Finance), Kevin Daly (Transport Oakland, supporting the agreement but opposing moving parking), and Blair Beekman (concerns about technology and transparency). Many speakers expressed opposition to a rumored transfer of parking enforcement from OakDOT to the Finance Department, calling for public discussion and data before any changes.
  • Item 5 (Caltrans Maintenance Agreement): Kevin Daly, Ms. Assata, and Blair Beekman spoke. Ms. Assata strongly opposed the agreement, arguing Oakland lacks staff to address its own illegal dumping and should not take on Caltrans’ responsibilities. Councilmember Gaio expressed similar concerns about accountability of state agencies. Supporters noted the agreement allows the city to clean contiguous city and Caltrans property, making the city look cleaner.
  • Open Forum: Speakers included Charlton Burks (criticizing overtime and tree permitting delays), Charlotte Niles Bergson (parking technician, urging no move to Finance), Blair Beekman (ALPR vendor and surveillance issues), Kevin Daly (fire code copyright issue), and Derrick Hilger (Vehicle Enforcement supervisor, opposing moving parking to Finance).

Discussion Items

  • Item 3 – MVA Parking Agreement: Staff (Michael Ford, DOT) presented the contract, noting that MVA has managed the garage since the 1970s, successfully piloted gateless parking, and consistently earned customer service incentives. Councilmembers asked about staffing (four part-time employees, two Oakland residents), revenue projections (net gain expected over five years based on demand-responsive pricing), and integration of enforcement. Staff confirmed that parking citations in the garage are issued by city enforcement using ALPR technology.
  • Item 5 – Caltrans Delegated Maintenance Agreement: Staff (Cesar Macias, Mayor's office; Kristen Hathway, Public Works) explained the agreement funds weed abatement, litter, and debris removal at 29 of 57 selected Caltrans ramp locations. The city will receive $375,000 from Caltrans and use overtime for city staff. Councilmember Houston supported it, noting it prevents incomplete cleanups where city property abuts Caltrans property. Councilmember Gaio voted no, citing insufficient city capacity and a need to hold Caltrans accountable.
  • Open Forum: Several speakers again raised concerns about a rumored transfer of parking operations to the Finance Department. They cited risks to service, public safety, and collaboration, and requested the council investigate before any change.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 3: Approved and forwarded to January 20, 2026 City Council on consent (4–0).
  • Item 5: Approved and forwarded to January 20, 2026 City Council on non-consent due to one dissenting vote (3–1, Gaio no).
  • Item 4 (Measure DD Grant Agreement): Withdrawn and rescheduled to the February 10, 2026 committee agenda.
  • General: The committee took no formal action on the parking department reorganization mentioned in public comments.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hello, everybody. We are just waiting until we have quorum, and then we can get started. Thank you. Thank you. okay I believe we have quorum let's get this party started good morning and welcome to the public works and transportation committee meeting of today Tuesday January 13 2026 the time is now 11 32 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 pull one out and turn it into a clerk representative to my left or right before the item is read into record. Online speaker requests were due 24 hours prior to this meeting. The meeting came to order at 11.32 a.m. Speaker cards will no longer be accepted 10 minutes after the meeting has began, making that time 11.42 a.m. With that, we proceed to take roll. Council member Agayo. Council member Houston. Present. Thank you. Council member Wong. Interesting. Here. Thank you. And Chair Unger. Here. Here. We do have four members present. And before we begin, Chair Unger, do you have any announcements for us today? No announcements. Thank you. first item of the day, which is approval of the draft minutes from the committee meeting on December 9th, 2025. And we do have zero speakers for this item. OK, I will make a motion that we approve the minutes. We have a motion made by chair Anger, seconded by Councilmember Gaia to accept to accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting on December 9, 2025 as is on the roll. Council member Gallo. Council member Houston. I. Council member Wong. I. And chair Unger. I. This motion passes with four eyes to accept the draft minutes of the committee meeting being held on December 9, 2025, as is.

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