Oakland Rules & Legislation Committee Meeting - April 16, 2026

The Oakland City Council Rules & Legislation Committee convened at 10:32 AM and adjourned at 11:05 AM. All four members (Councilmembers Brown, Fife, Ramachandran, and Chair Jenkins) were present. The committee approved minutes, determined scheduling for outstanding committee items, processed 18 new scheduling items (including title changes and an urgency finding), reviewed draft agendas and pending lists, and forwarded a resolution adding Rule 33 (hybrid meetings) to the City Council's rules of procedure. All votes were unanimous (4-0).

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Approval of Draft Minutes – Approved the minutes from the March 26 and April 2, 2026 Rules & Legislation Committee meetings.
• Item 2: Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items – Approved the pending list.
• Item 3: New Scheduling Items – Approved as amended (see Discussion Items for details).
• Item 4: Review of Draft Agendas, Pending Lists, City Council and Committee Meetings – Approved as amended (see Discussion Items for details).
• Item 5: Adding Rule 33 to the Council’s Rules of Procedure – Approved to be forwarded to the May 5, 2026 City Council meeting on non-consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kevin Daly (speaking on item 2 and item 3 via Zoom) – Was unable to be heard due to technical difficulties; his microphone did not function.
• Rajani Mandal (District 4, speaking on item 4) – Requested that the April 21 Public Safety Committee agenda include the end-of-independent-monitor’s most recent sustainability report, noting progress in OPD internal affairs investigations (minor cases meeting 85% timeliness goal, major cases close).
• Kevin Daly (speaking on item 5 and open forum) – Encouraged the city to go beyond state minimums for two-way remote participation at commission meetings, and expressed concern that the parking administrator item was not on the finance committee pending list.
• Rajani Mandal (speaking on item 5 and open forum) – Noted that Rule 33 requires two-way public participation, but the Police Commission currently limits Zoom to observation only. Asked council to ensure consistent implementation across all boards and commissions. Also raised points about the police commission alternate appointment process and noted that since 2020 about one in four city attorney legal opinions involved the police commission.
• Paula Hawthorne (Open Forum, in person) – Asked that the city put a report on the public safety agenda regarding changes to the Oakland Police Officers Association MOU (expiring June 30, 2026), and urged an open, transparent discussion before the council votes on it.

Discussion Items

• Item 3.1: Floodplain Management Ordinance – Title change read: adopt ordinance replacing OMC Chapter 15.80, authorizing floodplain administrator, adopting CEQA findings. Scheduled to April 21 Public Works & Transportation Committee.
• Item 3.2: L/SLBE Certification and Road Map Update – Title change: receive informational report on impact of Ordinance 13825 and draft roadmap. Scheduled to April 21 Life Enrichment Committee.
• Item 3.3: Peregrine Technologies Contract – Resolution to authorize three-year agreement (not to exceed $1,024,000) for law enforcement records search platform, waiving competitive bidding and L/SLBE requirements. Scheduled to April 21 Public Safety Committee.
• Item 3.4: Police Commission Appointment – Title change to “Mayoral Alternate Appointment”; urgency finding read due to recent resignations. Resolution to confirm Mayor Lee’s appointment of Doug Wong as alternate. Scheduled to April 23 Rules & Legislation Committee.
• Items 3.5–3.14 – Various resolutions and informational reports scheduled to future committee meetings (dates and committees as per agenda).
• Items 3.15–3.18: Recommendations from Special Education Partnership Committee – Four informational reports (Children’s Initiative, illegal dumping mitigation, Youth Commission, OUSD school safety) were received and filed.
• Item 4: Draft Agendas and Pending Lists – Administration recommended: (1) Reschedule the April 28 Special City Council/Public Safety Planning/CPAB/Police Commission meeting to September 29, 2026; (2) Reschedule item 3 (Homelessness Strategic Action Plan) to May 5 City Council consent; (3) Schedule the OPD bi-annual crime data report (File 26-0591) to May 12 Public Safety Committee. All changes adopted.
• Item 5: Adding Rule 33 – City Clerk Reed presented: SB 707 requires a policy on hybrid meeting disruptions. Rule 33 mandates hybrid format, outlines procedures for internet disruption, and allows limited exceptions. The resolution restates existing rules and adds Rule 33. Forwarded to May 5 Council on non-consent.

Key Outcomes

• All items approved unanimously (4-0).
• The April 28 Special City Council, Public Safety Planning, CPAB, and Police Commission meeting was cancelled and rescheduled to September 29, 2026.
• The 2026 Homelessness Strategic Action Plan informational report was withdrawn and rescheduled to the May 5, 2026 City Council meeting on consent.
• The OPD Bi-Annual Crime Data Report was scheduled to the May 12, 2026 Public Safety Committee.
• Rule 33 (hybrid meetings and technological disruptions) was approved and will go before the full City Council on May 5, 2026 as a non-consent item.