Oakland Life Enrichment Committee Meeting – March 10, 2026

The Life Enrichment Committee of the Oakland City Council met on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:14 p.m. The committee approved several contracts, accepted and appropriated homelessness funding, and received the 2026 Homelessness Strategic Action Plan. Councilmembers present: Noel Gallo (D5), Ken Houston (D7), Charlene Wang (D2), and Chair Carroll Fife (D3). Councilmember Wang arrived at 4:03 p.m., excused initially.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of February 24, 2026 Minutes: Accepted unanimously (3-0-1, Wang excused).
• Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items: Approved as amended, rescheduling two Library Agreement items (with Piedmont and Emeryville) from March 24 to April 21, 2026. Motion carried 4-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 3 (American Building Service): David Boatright and Ms. Sada spoke. Boatright criticized the lack of a formal performance matrix and questioned the contract extension timeline. Sada asked about cleaning frequency and oversight.
• Item 4 (Atthowe Fine Arts): Boatright questioned the $60,000/year storage cost, access to materials, and the contingency clause. Sada expressed distrust regarding treatment of African American materials.
• Item 5 (Innovative Interfaces): Sada raised concerns about overdue fees and replacement charges; criticized the library's handling of African American collections.
• Item S7 (HHAP-6/Winter Relief/OPRI): Ms. Sada urged continued transparency and accountability, citing examples of fraud in San Francisco.
• Item 6 (Homelessness Strategic Action Plan): Damian Scott (East Bay Housing Organizations) and Jeff Levin spoke. Scott praised the equity‑centered approach and noted that 60-70% of unhoused residents lost their last housing in Oakland. Levin emphasized balancing encampment management with dignity, and urged reliance on data rather than sweeps.
• Open Forum: Jennifer Findley (D2) urged the same scrutiny applied to homelessness data to also be applied to police (OPD) data. Ms. Sada demanded the city disregard Proposition 209 when addressing racial disparities in homelessness.

Discussion Items

• Item 3 – American Building Service Janitorial Contract Amendment (26-0411): Staff requested a $750,000 increase on an existing $250,000 contract (new total $1,000,000) and term extension through June 2029 for nightly cleaning and pressure‑washing at 11 early childhood facilities. Councilmember Gallo emphasized local business (Oakland‑based) and no service complaints. Councilmember Houston asked about scope and how the original $250,000 was approved (by City Administrator for urgent need). The committee approved and forwarded to the March 16 Special Council meeting on consent (4-0).
• Item 4 – Atthowe Fine Arts Services Contract (26-0408): Library Director Jamie Turback presented a five-year contract (not to exceed $300,000) to continue storing overflow archival materials from the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AMLO) at the How Storage Facility. Councilmember Wong requested more written metrics and security protocols. The item was approved and forwarded to March 16 consent (4-0).
• Item 5 – Innovative Interfaces Contract Renewal (26-0409): A five-year contract (not to exceed $2,000,000) for the library’s integrated system (catalog, circulation, patron records). Director Turback noted only three to four vendors exist globally; migration would cost over $1 million. Councilmember Houston questioned cost increases and the long tenure (21 years). Approved and forwarded to March 16 consent (4-0).
• Item S7 – HHAP-6, Winter Relief, and OPRI Funding (26-0437): An urgency item (Friday notice, approved 4-0) due to April 1 start date for state funds. Shallan Keener (Manager, Community Homelessness Services) presented: accepting $23,029,455.86 in HHAP‑6, $441,350 in County Winter Relief through May 2028, and $4,209,693 from Oakland Housing Authority for the Oakland PATH Rehousing Initiative. These funds support 452 shelter and interim housing beds. During FY 2024-25, programs served 781 people, 70% Black/African American, 40% with behavioral health issues, 48% with chronic health/disabilities. Councilmember Wang introduced an amendment requiring six‑month performance reports including metrics: total funding, clients served, racial demographics, exits to permanent housing, housing retention (6&12 months), length of stay, occupancy rates, and Black client outcomes. The amendment also requires the City Administrator to impose remedies for failing to meet benchmarks and to incorporate performance into future funding recommendations. After debate (Chair Fife requested collaborative refinement, but accepted the amendment), the committee approved as amended and forwarded to March 16 Special Council on non‑consent (4-0).
• Item 6 – City of Oakland 2026 Homelessness Strategic Action Plan (26-0476): Informational report presented by Sasha Housewold (Interim Chief Homelessness Solutions Officer). The 80‑page plan (plus 40‑page racial equity analysis) aims to reduce unsheltered homelessness by 50% over five years and targets functional zero in ten years (estimated $3.2 billion gap). Strategies include scaling targeted homelessness prevention, improving outreach coordination, creating priority no‑camping zones, adding up to 860 interim beds, and 730 permanent housing exits. Councilmembers posed questions: Councilmember Wang on diversion pilots, no‑camping zones, Oakland Glitter co‑managed pilot, county coordination; Councilmember Gallo on commission input, model cities, and church/school property use; Councilmember Houston on low/high sensitivity maps. Chair Fife forwarded with a supplemental report addressing her questions (excluding Prop 209 legal opinion, to be handled separately) and community feedback. Approved to March 16 Special Council on consent (4-0).

Key Outcomes

• Votes and Decisions:
  • Items 3, 4, 5 forwarded to March 16 Special Council on consent (all 4-0).
  • Item S7 (HHAP-6 bundle) approved as amended (4-0) and forwarded to March 16 Special Council on non‑consent.
  • Item 6 (Homelessness Strategic Action Plan) forwarded to March 16 Special Council on consent (4-0) with a supplemental report.
• Amendments Added:
  • For HHAP‑6 bundle: three new resolved clauses mandating six‑month performance reports with 10 specific metrics, remedies for underperformance, and integration of performance into future funding decisions.
• Directives:
  • Staff to provide supplemental reports for Item 6 including answers to Chair Fife’s six questions (excluding Prop 209 legal analysis).
  • Staff to incorporate results‑based accountability language into upcoming contract renewals (as per Councilmember Houston’s request).
• Schedule Changes:
  • Library agreements with Piedmont and Emeryville moved from March 24 to April 21, 2026 Life Enrichment Committee agenda.