Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting – May 12, 2026

The Public Works and Transportation Committee met on May 12, 2026, at 11:33 a.m. with four members present (Councilmembers Gaio, Houston, Wong, and Chair Ungar). The committee considered several items including an illegal dumping expenditure plan, a pedestrian safety beacon project, a cooperative purchasing agreement, and a Caltrans grant for community cleanup and youth employment. All items were approved and forwarded to the full City Council for the May 19, 2026, agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1 – Approval of Draft Minutes: Minutes from the March 24, 2026, and April 21, 2026, committee meetings were approved unanimously (4-0).
• Item 2 – Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items: The pending list was accepted. Councilmember Gaio requested a future report on how Waste Management franchise fees (collected at $2.8 million/month, $34.6 million annually) are used. Public speaker Mr. Sada requested reports on delayed violation notices, Caltrans work commitments, the police administration building, tree removals at West Oakland BART, and project completion timelines. The motion passed 4-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On Item 2 (Pending List): Councilmember Gaio expressed frustration that franchise fee money should go directly to street cleaning and maintenance, not the general fund, and asked for an administrative report. He also noted that the city lacks mechanics (only 3 of 10 remain) and has 50-60 non-functional trucks.
• On Item 5 (Illegal Dumping):
  • Dwayne Nelson (West Oakland resident): Criticized the effectiveness of existing cameras and raised concerns about 311 response times and equity in service delivery. He noted a specific open service request from June 2025 and questioned whether cleaning efforts would reduce dumping without deterrence.
  • Mr. Sada: Emphasized that cultural change, not just enforcement, is needed to solve dumping, and criticized the city for not holding property owners (including a black man and his white wife) equally accountable for violations.
  • Blair Beekman (via Zoom): Suggested using community dumpster days (as in San Jose) instead of relying solely on punitive measures, and urged more community engagement.
• On Item 3 (RRFB Beacon Project):
  • Mr. Sada: Questioned how the two intersections (98th & C Street and Oakland Avenue & Moss Avenue) were selected, arguing for greater equity and asking why funds weren't used on other priorities like storm drains.
• On Item 4 (Cooperative Purchase Agreement):
  • Mr. Sada: Asked why street lights at Keller & Mountain and Keller & Canyon Oaks Drive were installed but never turned on, and requested a list of incomplete public works projects.
  • Kevin Dolly: Supported the agreement but questioned why the city relies on a Missouri-based vendor instead of local electrical suppliers.
• On Item 6 (Caltrans Grant):
  • Kevin Dolly: Criticized the amount of money allocated to Lake Merritt ($1.2 million total for Lake Merritt Institute) and argued for more equitable distribution of funds across the city. He also urged that youth jobs move beyond trash pickup into skilled trades like carpentry and electrical work.
  • Mr. Sada: Expressed concern that nonprofits (e.g., housing consortium, Spanish Speaking Unity Council) have not been held accountable for past mismanagement.
• Open Forum:
  • Kevin Dolly: Called for a future agenda item on trenching deposits and coordination with paving.
  • Mr. Sada: Criticized the city’s Measure E tax proposals and the handling of a tree violation where a property owned by a black man and a white woman was fined $900,000 after a three-year delay.
  • Blair Beekman (via Zoom): Urged the city to address language barriers in 311 services, noting that English-only policies exclude many residents, and recommended learning from San Jose’s multilingual outreach.

Discussion Items

• Item 5 – Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan (IDEA Plan): Staff (Kristen Hathaway) presented a $1.1 million expenditure plan using funds from the FY 2025-27 budget (Fund 1720). The plan covers: renting two lightning loader trucks ($190K), additional equipment for KOCB crews ($95K), restarting bulky block parties, aerial camera imagery via Airbits ($150K), staffing overtime for zone-based surges ($300K), technology systems for data management ($50K), tablets for enforcement officers ($50K), a $40K grant to Keep Oakland Beautiful for outreach, and $60K to a local firm for education on proper waste management. Councilmembers discussed the need for hazmat training for environmental enforcement officers (EEOs), data collection for prosecution, and measuring success. Councilmember Houston emphasized deterrence over cleanup and noted that only 5 of 8 budgeted EEO positions are filled. Councilmember Wong asked about doubling the number of cameras (from 36) and using solar-powered models. Councilmember Fife highlighted the importance of privacy education regarding drone use. Councilmember Gaio criticized the lack of enforcement, noting that graffiti and dumping arrests are rare, and urged more direct action by city workers.
• Item 3 – HSIP 9 Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) Project: Staff (Joe Wang) reported that the city received $250,000 in federal Highway Safety Improvement Program funds for pedestrian safety improvements at 98th Avenue & C Street and Oakland Avenue & Moss Avenue. The contract awarded to Bay Area Lightworks Inc. for $304,900 (26% below estimate) could not include DBE participation due to a federal suspension of DBE goals. Councilmember Houston questioned the implications of rejecting federal terms; staff confirmed that would forfeit the grant. The resolution was amended to include CEQA findings. Councilmember Houston expressed support for the 98th & C Street location due to prior fatal accidents in an underserved area.
• Item 4 – Cooperative Purchase Agreement with Graybar Electric: Staff (Joe Wang) presented a five-year agreement (through June 30, 2031) for up to $1.5 million in electrical, lighting, data, and security supplies via a co-op with Kansas City, Missouri. The contract is a bridge until Oakland-based vendors can be identified. Councilmember Wong raised concerns about slow street light repairs (6-month delays) and asked about theft-deterrent wiring. Councilmember Houston questioned why no Bay Area vendors bid; staff noted that a prior solicitation received no Oakland bids.
• Item 6 – Caltrans Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway (CCEP) Grant: Staff (Kristen Hathaway) presented a $300,000 grant to expand Team Oakland (run by Youth Employment Partnership) from a summer-only program to year-round, and to increase the Lake Merritt Institute contract for cleanup and education. The resolution included urgency action because the grant began April 15, 2026. Councilmember Houston requested quarterly reports on outcomes and skills training for the youth participants. Councilmember Wong emphasized the importance of graffiti removal in Chinatown and language accessibility in 311.

Key Outcomes

• Item 5 (Illegal Dumping): Motion passed 4-0 to approve staff recommendations and forward to the May 19, 2026, City Council agenda on consent.
• Item 3 (RRFB Project): Motion passed 4-0 to approve staff recommendations as amended (adding CEQA findings) and forward to the May 19, 2026, City Council agenda on consent.
• Item 4 (Graybar Cooperative Agreement): Motion passed 4-0 to approve staff recommendations and forward to the May 19, 2026, City Council agenda on consent.
• Item 6 (Caltrans CCEP Grant): Motion passed 4-0 to approve staff recommendations and forward to the May 19, 2026, City Council agenda on consent.
• Direction to Staff: Councilmember Gaio requested a future report on the use of Waste Management franchise fees. Councilmember Houston requested reporting on the Caltrans grant outcomes, including skills training data. Staff committed to providing regular updates on the illegal dumping plan's KPIs and the status of EEO hazmat training.