Oakland Community & Economic Development Committee Meeting, March 10, 2026
Oakland Community & Economic Development Committee Meeting - March 10, 2026
The Community & Economic Development Committee met on March 10, 2026, from 1:33 PM to 3:18 PM. The committee considered four agenda items, including a $4.4 million federal lead hazard reduction grant, a $1.6 million state prohousing incentive grant application, and an informational report on the Housing and Community Development Department's Anti-Displacement Strategic Action Plan. All items were approved unanimously and forwarded to the March 16, 2026 Special City Council meeting on consent.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Draft Minutes (February 24, 2026): Accepted unanimously (4-0).
- Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items: Accepted unanimously (4-0) after one public speaker urged the committee to engage the Oakland Housing Authority on public housing issues.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item S3 (Lead Hazard Reduction Grant): One speaker criticized the city's slow use of $4.8 million from a 2019 legal settlement with paint manufacturers, questioned coordination between the city and county, and noted that lead hazards persist in water (OUSD schools) and soil (McClymonds football field). Another speaker requested to speak on Item 4 instead.
- Item S5 (Prohousing Incentive Pilot Program): One speaker questioned the program's pilot status and the small amount ($1.6 million), and asked how funds would be combined and where they would sit until used. Another speaker raised concerns about rushing the application (due March 31, 2026), compliance with federal housing laws, and geographic allocation of funds.
- Item 4 (Anti-Displacement Strategic Action Plan): Nine speakers testified. Many called for a proactive rental inspection program (PRIP) to enforce habitability standards, citing mold, pests, unsafe conditions, and tenant retaliation fears. Speakers from ACE Oakland and other organizations shared personal stories of neglect and harassment. Jeff Levin (East Bay Housing Organizations) commended the plan's racial equity lens and urged using resources to fully implement strategies. One speaker criticized the plan for not addressing gentrification and the impact of immigration on Black displacement, arguing the city is not serious about Black displacement. Another speaker supported the plan and emphasized the need for scaled homelessness prevention.
- Open Forum: Two speakers addressed the meeting. One speaker compared his stance on immigration to Cesar Chavez's opposition to undocumented workers. Another speaker asked about the status of the Dignity Village modular project on Eads Avenue and its cost per unit.
Discussion Items
- S3: Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program: Staff presented a $4.4 million HUD grant to remediate lead-based paint hazards and fund healthy home improvements, with Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley as subrecipient and $334,878 for workforce development. The committee discussed the difference between this grant and the earlier equitable lead hazard abatement program (expected in May 2026), and the need for a waiver of local business enterprise and apprenticeship requirements due to a limited pool of certified contractors. Councilmember Fife praised the workforce development component as a model for racial equity.
- S5: Prohousing Incentive Pilot Program Grant Application (Round 4): Staff requested authorization to apply for up to $1.6 million from the state program for capitalized service reserves for affordable housing. The committee noted the city's Prohousing Designation unlocks scoring advantages for other grants. The funds would be flexible and used for deeply affordable housing projects. The committee approved the urgency finding and forwarded the item.
- 4: Anti-Displacement Strategic Action Plan: Staff presented the plan, which focuses on protecting residents from displacement through three Ps (production, preservation, protection). Key data: Black population declined from 43% (1990) to 21% (2023); 62% of Black renter households are rent-burdened vs. 37% of white; 52% of unhoused individuals are Black. The equitable investment framework prioritizes homelessness prevention, then tenant support, small property owner assistance, and strengthening tenant protection policies. Implementation strategies include partnering with Alameda County (Measure W), scaling Keep Oakland Housed, and exploring a proactive rental inspection program. Councilmember Fife asked about social housing; Director Weinstein noted it largely falls under production and depends on funding and ownership structures. Chair Brown highlighted the need to address seniors on general assistance and the potential of neighborhood revitalization strategy areas (NRSAs) to increase CDBG funding for services.
Key Outcomes
- All four items were approved unanimously (4-0) and forwarded to the March 16, 2026 Special City Council meeting on consent.
- Urgency findings were approved for Items S3 and S3 (both 4-0) to allow same-day consideration.
- Staff will provide a follow-up email on how the first round of Prohousing funds were allocated.
- HCD will prepare an annual anti-displacement report and continue to explore NRSAs, social housing, and partnerships with the Department of Violence Prevention.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the community and economic development committee meeting of Tuesday, March 10th, 2026. The time is now 1.33 p.m. and this meeting may come to order. Before taking roll, I will provide instructions on how to submit speaker cards for items on this agenda. If you're here with us in chamber, would like to submit a speaker card. Please put one out and turn one into myself or a clerk representative no later than 10 minutes after the start of this meeting. Um or before the item is read into record. Online speaker requests were due 24 hours prior to the start of this meeting time. This meeting came to order at 133 p.m. and this and speaker cards will no longer be accepted 10 minutes after, making that time 143 p.m. We'll now proceed with taking roll. Councilmember five is excused. Councilmember Ramachandran present. Councilmember Unger. Here. And Chair Brown. Present. Thank you. We have three members present, one excused five. And Chair, before we begin, do you have any um announcements at this time? Yes. Um we'll welcome everyone to the community and economic development committee. Um first announcement is just we will be um changing the order of the items so we will hear item s three, followed by S five, and then the last item will be item number four. Um no other announcements at this time. Thank you. Noting the presence of councilmember Pipe at 134 p.m. And also noting the changes made to the agenda, um, noting that we'll be hearing items one, two, three, five, then four. Reading in item one, approval of the draft minutes from the committee meeting held on February 24th, 2026, and there are no speakers on this item. Move approval of the minutes. Second. Thank you. That was the motion made by Councilmember Unger, seconded by Councilmember Ramachandran to accept the draft minutes from the committee meeting held on February 24th, 2026. On roll council member five. Aye. Councilmember Ramachandran. Aye. Councilmember Unger. Aye. And Chair Brown. Thank you. Item number one passes with four eyes to accept the draft minutes from the committee meeting held on February 24th, 2026. Reading in item two, determination of schedule about standing committee items, and we have one speaker that signed up. Excellent. Um and did we need to um do a vo uh urgency? Oh, this is the item three. Okay, so um to the administration. Um, any changes for the pending list. Um, so for um the next item, any changes to our um pending list. No, no changes. Thanks.
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