Oakland Finance and Management Committee Meeting – May 12, 2026

The Finance and Management Committee met on May 12, 2026, beginning at 9:33 a.m. and adjourning after covering eight agenda items. The committee approved consent calendar items, heard public testimony on police civilianization and budget policy directives, reviewed an audit of business tax collections, and forwarded several items to the full City Council.

Consent Calendar

• Approved draft minutes from the committee meetings of March 24, 2026 and April 21, 2026 (4-0 vote).
• Approved the determination of scheduled standing committee items as amended: item four (originally scheduled for May 26) was moved to the June 23 FMC meeting, and item five was withdrawn with no new date (4-0 vote).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 6 – Policy Directives (22 speakers): A large number of speakers, including representatives from IFPTE Local 21 and community organizations, urged the committee to civilianize at least 38 OPD positions currently held by sworn officers that could be filled by non-sworn staff. Speakers cited the city auditor's findings that OPD spent $55 million on overtime (400,000 hours) in the last year, and noted a 20% increase in administrative investigation overtime from 2019-2024. Several speakers emphasized that civilianization would save money, put more officers on the street, and improve oversight of internal affairs. One speaker from the public argued it was inappropriate for union representatives to criticize the police department. Others called for holding the city administrator accountable for implementing previously adopted directives.
• Item 3 – Business Tax Audit (3 speakers): Speakers expressed concern about millions in uncollected taxes, the three-year statute of limitations, and the need for a clear timeline to fix the Revenue Management Bureau's processes. One speaker also raised the issue of unpaid fire inspection fees.
• Item 4 – Landscaping & Lighting District (1 speaker): The speaker questioned the purpose of the public hearing if the resolution already presumes levy approval.
• Item 5 – Annuity Appointment (2 speakers): One speaker raised environmental concerns about the Oakland Army Base contamination; another requested tracking of maximum hours for retirees.
• Item 7 – Revenue Anticipation Notes (1 speaker): A speaker asked for a guarantee that the city can repay the $200 million notes within one year.
• Open Forum (several speakers): Topics included coordination between paving and utility trenching, the upcoming budget deficit, and opposition to Measure E.

Discussion Items

• Item 6 – Status of Policy Directives: Deputy City Administrator Monica Davis presented a report on the implementation status of council policy directives from fiscal year 2021-23 through 2025-27. Committee members expressed frustration that the directive to civilianize 38 OPD positions and form a task force to transition internal affairs to CPRA by June 30, 2026 had not been acted upon. Chair Ramachandran noted that five civilian positions (already coded as civilian) had been filled by sworn officers due to hiring delays; only one of those five (intake technician) had been posted after 11 months. Councilmember Brown highlighted that a recruitment website would not launch until April 2027. Councilmember Wong questioned delays in abandoned vehicle surge funding under Measure BB. The committee voted to hold the item and request supplemental information from the city administrator, including specifics on barriers to civilianization, and to return at the June 23 FMC meeting.
• Item 3 – Audit of Business Tax Collections: City Auditor Michael Houston and consultant George Sciles presented an audit of the Revenue Management Bureau covering July 2021–June 2024. Key findings: no delinquent accounts were sent to collections in 2023, and in 2024 about 4,100 accounts totaling $14 million were referred without proper research; unregistered business discovery fell 48%; inconsistent use of status codes; and lack of segregation of duties (over 2,800 manual adjustments, 75% by non-supervisory staff). Revenue and Tax Administrator Nicole Welch acknowledged the problems and described recent improvements, including timely delinquency notices, use of postcards to property owners, and a system migration to the cloud. The committee received and filed the audit report.
• Item 4 – Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District: Staff presented the preliminary engineer’s report for FY 2026-27 and set a public hearing for June 2, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. The item was forwarded to the May 19 council agenda on consent.
• Item 5 – Annuity Appointment (Retiree Re-employment): Staff requested council approval for a retiree to work up to 960 hours without a 180-day break to fill a critically needed position. Councilmember Brown asked for clarification on the time limit. The item was forwarded to the May 19 council agenda on consent.
• Item 7 – Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs): Treasury Administrator David Jones presented a first-reading ordinance authorizing up to $200 million in notes to even out cash flow, including a prepayment to CalPERS for a discount of approximately 3.34%. The item was forwarded to the May 19 council agenda on non-consent.

Key Outcomes

• Item 6 – Policy Directives: Continued to the June 23, 2026 FMC meeting with a request for additional information on civilianization barriers, task force status, recruitment academies, and abandoned vehicle surge funding.
• Item 3 – Business Tax Audit: Received and filed (4-0). The finance department’s implementation plan will be attached to the final report.
• Item 4 – LAD Preliminary Report: Forwarded to the May 19, 2026 City Council consent agenda.
• Item 5 – Annuity Appointment: Forwarded to the May 19, 2026 City Council consent agenda.
• Item 7 – TRAN Ordinance: Forwarded to the May 19, 2026 City Council non-consent agenda.
• All votes were 4-0 in favor.