Oakland Rules & Legislation Committee Meeting - April 23, 2026

Meeting convened at 10:34 AM and adjourned at 12:10 PM. The committee processed a large agenda of scheduling items for future City Council and committee meetings, including resolutions supporting state legislation, contract awards, settlements, and land use matters. A quorum of the City Council was present after 10:39 AM, leading to an adjournment to a special meeting of the full Council for the remainder of the agenda. Key discussion focused on a proposed charter amendment to reform civilian oversight of the Oakland Police Department and the Mayor's appointment of Doug Wong to the Police Commission.

Consent Calendar

• Items 3.1–3.8 (resolutions supporting state bills SB 1313, AB 1821, SB 1314, AB 1738, SB 1230, AB 2310, SB 417, and AB 2351) were approved with an urgency finding and scheduled for the May 19, 2026 City Council consent agenda. Co-sponsors were added for several bills.
• Item 3.9 (Feather River Camp septic and water system replacement) approved with a title change and a Rule 24 urgency, scheduled for May 5, 2026 on consent, total amount not to exceed $523,938.09.
• Items 3.10–3.12 (three lawsuit settlements: Andrew Marshall-Buselt $512,500; Vima Harrison 1, LLC $695,000; Kenneth Sanchez $130,000) approved with Rule 24, scheduled for May 5, 2026 on consent.
• Numerous items from the April 21 special committee meetings were ratified and forwarded to the May 5, 2026 council agenda: LLAD initiation (3.27), MacArthur Transit Village certificate (3.33), easement at 260 Oak Street (3.34), floodplain management ordinance (3.35), Fire Station 29 design contract amendment (3.37), Museum of Jazz & Art negotiation agreement (3.39), surplus land declaration (3.40), resilience hub grant (3.41), library agreements with Piedmont ($1,082,955) and Emeryville ($459,827), Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation grants up to $10,000,000 (3.45), Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program grants totaling $3,192,811.60 (3.46), OPD Federal Task Force 2025 annual reports (3.50), and Ceasefire-Lifeline contracts with University of Pennsylvania and Faith in Action East Bay (3.52).
• Informational reports were received and filed: BAC recommendations on RETT revenue (3.28), budget process (3.29), and parcel tax measure (3.30), salary survey results (3.31), special revenue collection project (3.32), L/SLBE certification update (3.47), NSA update (3.51), and audit of police oversight agencies (3.53).
• Item 3.44 (customized goods and apparel contract) was withdrawn and rescheduled to the Life Enrichment Committee pending list.
• Items 3.14 (LLAD intention), 3.15 (Illegal Dumping Expenditure Plan, $1,100,000), 3.16 (General Plan Update study session), 3.17 (DigitalLIFT literacy MOU, $67,500), 3.18 (PATH CITED program award, $1,351,113.75 plus $675,556.75 local match), 3.19 (Bauer Compressors agreement, up to $1,000,000 over five years), 3.20 (Ceasefire-Lifeline grant to Community Initiatives, $100,000), 3.23 (Oakland Housing Authority update), 3.24 (2026-2031 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan), 3.25 (Prompt Payment Policy report), and 3.26 (OMC 9.08.260 report) were scheduled to respective future committee agendas.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Seven speakers addressed the committee on item 3 (new scheduling items).
  • Millie Cleveland (Coalition for Police Accountability) opposed item 3.13, stating the proposed charter amendment would weaken civilian oversight by eliminating community role in selection of police commissioners and chiefs, contrary to the City Auditor's recommendations.
  • Pamela Drake (Wellstone Club, Block by Block Organizing Network) called the amendment Orwellian and urged stopping it.
  • Kevin Daly supported AB 1821 (public records response) but noted difficulties with record release; expressed skepticism on item 3.13.
  • Twan supported item 3.13, arguing the current selection process is broken and public safety needs improvement.
  • Jose Dorado commented on multiple items: supported illegal dumping enforcement (3.5, 3.6, 3.15), criticized Feather River Camp costs, opposed the $40 million parcel tax, and urged letting police use technology like Cellebrite.
  • Blair Beekman (via Zoom) praised Oakland's social services approach, supported litter-related items, and urged creative solutions for unhoused issues.
• On item S5 (Police Commission appointment):
  • Kevin Daly expressed concern that the NSA compliance must continue and urged consideration of all nominees.
  • Jose Dorado supported Doug Wong.
  • Blair Beekman reminded of the role of the Police Advisory Board and urged forward movement.
• During Open Forum, Jose Dorado alleged bullying by the Unity Council, and Blair Beekman urged improved community engagement on trash and police vendor processes.

Discussion Items

• Item 3.13 – Charter Amendment for OPD Oversight: Councilmember Houston introduced a resolution to place a measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot. He stated it aims to improve, not dismantle, civilian oversight by simplifying police commissioner appointments, strengthening the Inspector General's independence, and streamlining police chief selection. Public speakers opposed the measure. The item was scheduled for the May 7, 2026 Rules Committee without a vote.
• Item 3.36 – Cooperative Purchase Agreements: Initially forwarded on non-consent due to a 3-1 committee vote (Councilmember Houston voting no). After discussion, Councilmember Houston requested it be moved to consent but then reversed, returning it to non-consent for further discussion at council.
• Items 3.48 and 3.49 – OPD Technology Contracts: Cellebrite ($140,000) and Peregrine Technologies ($1,024,000) were sent to council on non-consent per Councilmember Fife's request.
• Item S5 – Appointment of Doug Wong to Police Commission: An urgency finding was approved (4–0) due to recent resignations. Councilmember Fife pressed Wong on constitutional policing; he did not give a definitive answer. Councilmember Ramachandran highlighted his decades of public service. The committee voted to send the appointment to the May 5, 2026 City Council on non-consent (4–0), with Council President Jenkins noting scheduling constraints.

Key Outcomes

• Approved scheduling of over 30 items for future meetings, with multiple amendments to sponsors and titles.
• Item 3.3 (smoke shops) co-sponsors changed to Councilmembers Fife, Wong, Houston, and Ramachandran (Jenkins removed).
• Item 3.15 (illegal dumping) added Councilmembers Fife, Wong, Houston, and Brown as co-sponsors.
• Item 3.22 (Affordable Housing Month) moved from ceremonial to consent.
• Items 3.36, 3.48, and 3.49 set for non-consent on May 5, 2026.
• Item S5 forwarded to council on non-consent; urgency finding approved.
• Two items removed from Life Enrichment Committee pending list: repeal of 2020 encampment policy and contract for customized goods and apparel.
• FLSA overtime report rescheduled to June 23, 2026; parking reorganization rescheduled to June 16, 2026.
• The meeting adjourned at 12:10 PM.