Concurrent Meeting of the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency and the City Council – March 3, 2026

The meeting convened at 3:34 PM, chaired by Council President Kevin Jenkins, with all eight councilmembers present. Agenda modifications moved item S6.9 (initiative petition) to first, followed by Item 4.2 (SB 79 Planning Code) and then Item 4.1 (S‑14 Housing Sites amendments). Speaking time was reduced to one minute due to quorum concerns. The meeting adjourned at 7:33 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the draft minutes of February 17, 2026.
• Renewed declarations of local emergencies: AIDS/HIV epidemic, medical cannabis health emergency, and homelessness crisis.
• Authorized settlement with Oakland Unified School District for $860,000 covering the full cost of the 2022 school board election and a commitment by OUSD to pay for future elections.
• Called a special municipal election on June 2, 2026, consolidating with the statewide direct primary, and added the ballot question for the “Oakland Public Safety, Cleanliness and Community Accountability Act of 2026” (parcel tax of $192 annually for single‑family parcels, raising approximately $34 million annually for nine years, with exemptions for low‑income and senior households).
• Approved contracts: Allstar Fire Equipment (firefighter turnouts, $2.5 million total), Stryker Sales LLC (emergency medical equipment, $3.4 million over five years), ImageTrend LLC (records management software, $1.37 million), Adeline Street Bridge seismic retrofit construction contract with Bay Line Cutting & Coring Inc. ($3.33 million), design and inspection amendments with Biggs Cardosa Associates (total $918,000 and $200,000 respectively), and an unconditional certificate of completion for 4430–4448 Howe Street public improvements.
• Authorized acquisition of property rights from Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. for the 42nd Avenue and High Street Access Improvement Project (total not to exceed $975,659).
• Accepted the OPD Surveillance Technology 2024 Annual Reports (automated license plate readers, DNA analysis, FLIR, live stream transmitter, drone, Coplink/Crimetracer, pen register) and continued their use.
• Confirmed reappointments to the Housing, Residential Rent, and Relocation Board: Kara Brodfuehrer (landlord representative), Cinthya Munoz Ramos (tenant representative), and Deseanna Williams (alternate tenant representative).
• Received and filed informational reports: Department of Race and Equity update and Black New Deal Racial Impact Study. All consent items were approved with a vote of 5 ayes (Fife, Houston, Unger, Wang, Jenkins) and 3 excused (Brown, Gallo, Ramachandran).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item S6.9 (Initiative Petition): Eight speakers. SEIU 1021 President Antoinette Blue and Oakland Firefighters Local 55 President Seth Oyer expressed full support for the revenue measure, citing the need to fund 911, fire stations, and core city services. Several other residents also spoke in favor. One speaker (Mr. Hazard) opposed, arguing the city fails to comply with existing measures and that voters are misled.
• Item 4.2 (SB 79): Eight speakers. Supporters (Paul Maldonado of East Bay YIMBY, Sarah Rowley of San Antonio Station Alliance, Gordon Douglas, Kevin Dowley) urged full implementation of SB 79 and adoption of amendments by Councilmembers Unger and Wong, stating that exclusions delay housing production. Opponents (Jennifer McElrath of Upper Broadway Advocates, Naomi Schiff of Oakland Heritage Alliance) backed the staff proposal for exclusions, arguing that a one‑size‑fits‑all approach ignores local conditions and that the city should use the time to develop a tailored alternative plan.
• Item 5.2 (Disparity Study): Fourteen speakers. Many small business owners (Kathy Adams, Roxanne Mosley, Annabelle Goodrich, Lynn Turner, Paul Cobb, and others) expressed frustration with systemic discrimination and demanded immediate action. They called for formal acceptance of the study findings, creation of a business‑led task force, and a 60‑day implementation roadmap. Speakers also highlighted the loss of generational wealth, economic leakage, and the need to enforce prompt payment and eliminate waivers.
• Consent Calendar: Six speakers. Rajni Mandal and Chris Moore spoke on the OPD surveillance reports and reappointment to the rent board, respectively. Others commented on the settlement with OUSD and the cost of the special election.
• Open Forum: Four speakers, including comments on a community garden citation and opposition to the upcoming ballot measures.

Discussion Items

• Item S6.9 – Oakland Public Safety, Cleanliness and Community Accountability Act of 2026: The city clerk certified that the initiative petition contained 887 valid signatures (113.47% of the required number). An urgency finding was approved (8‑0). The council adopted a resolution accepting the certification, calling a special election on June 2, 2026, and placing the measure on the ballot. The ballot language was amended to read: “Shall the measure to prevent increased 911 response times; maintain fire stations, fire protection services, police patrols and investigations, and gun‑violence and crime prevention services; address homelessness; and remove illegal dumping and trash by imposing a parcel tax of $192 annually for single‑family parcels, and other parcels as specified, exempting certain low‑income and senior households and others, raising approximately $34,000,000 annually for nine years, with oversight, audits and public disclosure, be adopted?” The motion passed 8‑0.

• Item 4.2 – Senate Bill 79 Planning Code Implementation Ordinance: Staff presented an ordinance to add Chapter 17.86 (S‑8 Combining Zone) and make zoning map amendments to designate parcels eligible or excluded from SB 79 property development standards. The ordinance allows temporary exclusions (until 2032 or adoption of an alternative plan) for sites meeting at least 50% of SB 79 density, for low‑resource areas meeting 40% aggregate density, and for historic resources. The Planning Commission recommended exclusions. After debate, first motion (Unger and Wong amendments) failed on a 4‑4 tie (4 ayes, 1 abstention, 2 absent, 1 no). Mayor Lee declined to break the tie. A second motion by Councilmember Ramachandran, seconded by Councilmember Wang, included the Unger and Wong amendments plus a friendly amendment by Councilmember Houston removing Coliseum BART Station and certain AC Transit stops from exclusion lists. The motion passed 6‑1‑1 (Fife abstained, Gallo absent). The ordinance was approved on introduction, with final passage scheduled for March 16, 2026.

• Item 4.1 – Amendments to Planning Code Chapter 17.96 (S‑14 Housing Sites Combining Zone): Staff proposed clarifying the definition of “development project,” adding a conditional use permit procedure for non‑housing developments, and updating “work/live” and “live/work” unit area definitions to align with state building codes. Two speakers commented. The council approved the ordinance 7‑0‑1 (Jenkins absent) on introduction, with final passage set for March 16, 2026.

• Item 5.2 – 2024 City of Oakland Disparity Study Final Report: Dr. Eleanor Mason Ramsey of Mason Tillman Associates presented the study, covering the period 2016–2021. Key findings: $486 million in prime contracts; 71% of contracts under $100,000; 59 businesses received 50% of all dollars; systemic discrimination in informal (no‑bid) contracts, waiver practices, and lack of enforcement of the Local/Small Local Business Enterprise (LBE/SLBE) program. Disparity was highest where oversight was weakest – informal contracts under $50,000 produced the highest disparity rates. Non‑minority males received 82% of dollars while representing 68% of available firms. The study also found the city failed to meet federal DBE goals (2.1% vs. 17.06% goal). Recommendations included increasing accountability, eliminating waivers, requiring prompt payment, publishing quarterly reports, and establishing a business‑led task force. Council received and filed the report (7‑0‑1). Councilmember Fife announced a March 17 roundtable and a March 24 Life Enrichment Committee meeting to develop an implementation roadmap within 60–90 days.

Key Outcomes

• June 2, 2026 Special Election: The city will place the “Oakland Public Safety, Cleanliness and Community Accountability Act of 2026” on the ballot – a parcel tax of $192/year for single‑family parcels, raising ~$34 million annually for nine years, with exemptions for low‑income and senior households.
• SB 79 Implementation: Approved an ordinance that temporarily excludes certain parcels from SB 79 density standards while the city develops an alternative plan through the General Plan update. Exclusions are removed for Coliseum BART Station and specific AC Transit stops, and for parcels zoned to exceed 50% of SB 79 density between specified boundaries. Final passage March 16.
• S‑14 Housing Sites Amendments: Adopted changes to permit conditional use permits for non‑housing development on housing sites, and updated work/live definitions. Final passage March 16.
• Disparity Study: Received and filed; immediate next steps include a March 17 roundtable and a March 24 Life Enrichment Committee meeting to produce a 60‑ to 90‑day implementation roadmap focusing on low‑hanging fruit (e.g., prompt payment enforcement, elimination of waivers, enhanced LBE/SLBE oversight).
• Consent Calendar: All items approved with amendments, including the ballot question for the initiative petition.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:33 PM.