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Record of Proceedings

Rules and Legislation Committee Meeting – February 19, 2026

City Council — Thursday, February 19, 2026
BodyOakland, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, February 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 17:04

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:38

I think I think I think I think I think I think I...

1:35

Okay.

3:10

Okay.

3:11

Good afternoon, everyone.

3:12

We're gonna go ahead and start.

3:14

Good afternoon, good morning, and welcome to the rules and legislation committee meeting of Thursday, February 19, 2026.

3:22

Before I call roll, we will go over the speaker card instructions.

3:27

If you'd like to speak on any item on this agenda, you must fill out a speaker's card by 1043 a.m.

3:34

or before the item is called for discussion, whichever happens first.

3:37

You can fill out a card by getting a card off the front table and turning it into the clerk representative sitting at the front table again before 1043 or before the item is called for discussion, whichever occurs first.

3:50

If you're looking to turn in an online speaker card, they were due 24 hours before the start of this meeting.

3:55

So you will have to submit a in-person speaker card.

3:58

Our role for this meeting are Councilmember Brown present.

4:01

Councilmember Ramachandran.

4:05

And Councilmember Fife present.

4:08

We'll be sharing this meeting.

4:10

So President Jenkins is excused today.

4:12

Before we get into the agenda, do you have any announcements?

4:15

No announcements.

4:16

Thank you.

4:28

We'll hear from the speaker.

4:32

Derek Barnes.

4:37

Don't see him in chambers.

4:39

I do not see him on Zoom either.

4:45

So just need a motion.

4:48

Move approval.

4:50

Second.

4:54

On the motion by councilmember five, seconded by councilmember Ramachanjar to approve the minutes from February 5th.

5:02

Sorry.

5:04

Councilmember Brown.

5:05

Aye.

5:05

Councilmember Ramachandran.

5:07

Aye.

5:08

Chair Fife.

5:09

Aye.

5:09

Motion passes with a vote of three ayes.

5:12

Council President Jenkins is excused.

5:14

Going to item three, which is new scheduling.

5:19

And if I could, through the chair to the council members, I'm just gonna leave your mics on.

5:24

So press your button to mute yourself since it's only the three of us in the meeting today to make it easier on myself.

5:31

Starting with item 3.1, receive an information report on the 2024 City of Oakland disparity study prepared by Mason Tillman Associates pursuant to resolution number 89058.

5:45

And I believe you all want to schedule this to the March 3rd City Council meeting.

5:50

That is correct.

5:52

So noted on consent or non-consent.

5:56

Non-consent.

5:59

Schedules to go to March 3rd on non-consent.

6:03

Item 3.2 receive an information report on measure Q.

6:07

Why was extreme making changes to this?

6:12

I'm sorry.

6:13

Why was extreme fiscal necessity declared without open discussion?

6:17

What the timeline is for making changes to this practice following the grand jury report.

6:22

When can the biennial audit report be expected?

6:26

What will the process be defining extreme fiscal necessity with measure Q and other stakeholders?

6:31

This is asked to go to the March 10th and Finance and Management Committee agenda.

6:44

Report we'd also like to remove Councilmember Brown as a co-sponsor on that.

6:49

I put that there accidentally.

6:50

If you could start over, we missed half of what you said on the microphone.

6:53

Yeah.

6:54

Uh we're okay with this being an oral report from staff.

6:57

And then also we'd like to remove councilmember Brown uh as a co-sponsor.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Personnel Matters███████████████████████████27%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████████████18%
Environmental Protection██████6%
Public Safety██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Rules and Legislation Committee Meeting – February 19, 2026

The Rules and Legislation Committee met on Thursday, February 19, 2026, to address scheduling, draft agendas, and a mayoral appointment resolution. Councilmembers Brown, Ramachandran, and Chair Fife were present; Council President Jenkins was excused. All motions passed with a vote of three ayes.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (February 5, 2026): Moved by Councilmember Fife, seconded by Councilmember Ramachandran, and approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Rajni Mandal (District 4): Expressed concern about item 3.2 (Measure Q), arguing that "extreme fiscal necessity" cannot become a routine bypass for voter-approved parcel taxes. Stated that definitions, thresholds, and processes must be transparent and consistently applied. Also flagged structural concerns about the upcoming Skelly item, noting that the CIPRA Director has objected to nearly every Skelly decision and that the Inspector General’s presence may blur the lines between investigation and independent review. Urged council to ensure neutrality.
  • Open Forum – Rajni Mandal: Commented on the recent security lapse at City Hall, stating it feeds a negative perception of safety that discourages public participation in evening meetings. Urged action to address perceptions and ensure safety for employees and the public.

Discussion Items

  • 3.1 – Disparity Study Report: Scheduled for the March 3, 2026 City Council meeting on the non-consent calendar.
  • 3.2 – Information Report on Measure Q: Amended from an information report to an oral report from staff. Councilmember Brown was removed as a co-sponsor. Scheduled for the March 10, 2026 Finance and Management Committee.
  • 3.3 – Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Resolution: Scheduled for the March 10, 2026 Community and Economic Development Committee. The resolution authorizes acceptance of up to $4.4 million in federal grant funds, a professional services agreement with Habitat for Humanity (up to $3,886,283), waivers of local contracting requirements, and grants for lead-paint remediation.
  • 4 – Review of Draft Agendas: The February 24, 2026 Public Safety Committee’s item 7 was moved to pending with no specific date. Draft agendas for March 3 City Council and March 5 Rules Committee were reviewed.
  • 5 – Resolution Confirming Mayoral Reappointments to the Housing Residential Rent and Relocation Board: Continued to the February 26, 2026 Rules Committee to allow completion of the legislative file and to hear all three appointments together.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous (3-0) with Council President Jenkins excused.
  • Item 3.1: Scheduled to March 3 (non-consent).
  • Item 3.2: Changed to oral report, removed co-sponsor, scheduled to March 10 Finance Committee.
  • Item 3.3: Scheduled to March 10 CED Committee.
  • Item 4: Approved pending list with removal of item 7 from Feb 24 Public Safety.
  • Item 5: Continued to February 26, 2026 Rules Committee.

Meeting Transcript

I think I think I think I think I think I think I... Okay. Okay. Good afternoon, everyone. We're gonna go ahead and start. Good afternoon, good morning, and welcome to the rules and legislation committee meeting of Thursday, February 19, 2026. Before I call roll, we will go over the speaker card instructions. If you'd like to speak on any item on this agenda, you must fill out a speaker's card by 1043 a.m. or before the item is called for discussion, whichever happens first. You can fill out a card by getting a card off the front table and turning it into the clerk representative sitting at the front table again before 1043 or before the item is called for discussion, whichever occurs first. If you're looking to turn in an online speaker card, they were due 24 hours before the start of this meeting. So you will have to submit a in-person speaker card. Our role for this meeting are Councilmember Brown present. Councilmember Ramachandran. And Councilmember Fife present. We'll be sharing this meeting. So President Jenkins is excused today. Before we get into the agenda, do you have any announcements? No announcements. Thank you. We'll hear from the speaker. Derek Barnes. Don't see him in chambers. I do not see him on Zoom either. So just need a motion. Move approval. Second. On the motion by councilmember five, seconded by councilmember Ramachanjar to approve the minutes from February 5th. Sorry. Councilmember Brown. Aye. Councilmember Ramachandran. Aye. Chair Fife. Aye. Motion passes with a vote of three ayes. Council President Jenkins is excused. Going to item three, which is new scheduling. And if I could, through the chair to the council members, I'm just gonna leave your mics on. So press your button to mute yourself since it's only the three of us in the meeting today to make it easier on myself. Starting with item 3.1, receive an information report on the 2024 City of Oakland disparity study prepared by Mason Tillman Associates pursuant to resolution number 89058. And I believe you all want to schedule this to the March 3rd City Council meeting. That is correct. So noted on consent or non-consent. Non-consent. Schedules to go to March 3rd on non-consent. Item 3.2 receive an information report on measure Q. Why was extreme making changes to this? I'm sorry. Why was extreme fiscal necessity declared without open discussion?

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