Concurrent Meeting of the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency and the City Council - June 2, 2026

The Oakland City Council and the Redevelopment Successor Agency met on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 3:32 PM in a combined session. The agenda was modified to hear the proposed charter reform measure and the East Oakland Arts Center contract amendment first. Speaker time was reduced to one minute due to the high number of speakers. Six council members were initially present, with Councilmembers Fife and Houston arriving later. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.

Consent Calendar

The consent calendar was approved unanimously (8-0) and included the following items:

• Approval of minutes from May 19, 2026.
• Renewal of local emergency declarations for the AIDS epidemic, medical cannabis access, and homelessness.
• Purchase of an easement at 260 Oak Street ($255,000).
• Commemorative renaming of 99th Avenue and International Boulevard as “Arthur E. Thompson Way.”
• Confirmation of appointments to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, Budget Advisory Commission (District 2 and 4), Library Commission, and Privacy Advisory Commission.
• Recognition of May 2026 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
• Settlement of a claim by BCAL LMP Properties LLC ($61,542.72).
• Support of Senate Bill 1095 (Pérez) regarding data deportation centers (urgency finding passed 8-0).
• Adoption of the City of Oakland Investment Policy for FY 2026-27 and delegation of investment authority to the Agency Treasurer.
• Agreement with Alameda County Flood Control for Collaborative Creek Improvement and Clean Creeks Programs ($1,600,000 over five years).
• Construction contract award for the Lincoln Recreation Center expansion/renovation to S.J. Amoroso Construction Co., LLC ($28,437,000) and amendment to the Shah Kawasaki Architects PSA.
• Acceptance of external funds for transportation projects and SB 1 road maintenance funds.
• Acceptance of grant funds for the Sub-Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan.
• Informational report on housing development programs for FY 2025-2026.
• Approval of new WIOA services contracts and amendments for FY 2026-2029.
• Contract extension with Cityspan Technologies, Inc. for OFCY programs.
• Resolution directing the City Administrator to develop an amortization program to relocate industrial recycling facilities (California Waste Solutions and Cass, Inc.) from West Oakland.
• Amendment to OFCY grant to replace the lead agency for the Healthy Wealthy Wise program.
• Professional services agreement with PMAM Corporation for the False Alarm Reduction Program.
• Professional services agreement with Elite Corporate Solutions, LLC for pre-employment background investigations.
• Ordinance amending Municipal Code Chapter 3.08 regarding election procedures.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Charter Reform (Item 5.2): Numerous speakers expressed support or opposition. Supporters argued the measure would clarify accountability and give voters a choice; opponents preferred a council-manager system and criticized the strong-mayor model. Speakers included representatives from the League of Women Voters, SPUR, labor unions, and community organizations. Some speakers raised concerns about the process and concentration of power.
• Community Violence Reduction Plan (Item S5.4): Dr. Nicole Petway from BOSS requested a geographic equity analysis, noting that organizations in Deep East Oakland were underrepresented in funding recommendations. Other speakers urged approval to avoid disruption of violence prevention services.
• Other Items: Speakers commented on the Mayor's Commission on Persons with Disabilities report, the workforce development contracts (supporting the Unity Council), and the Lincoln Recreation Center project.
• Open Forum: Several speakers addressed general city governance, including calls for better oversight of grants and measures, and support for community-based youth programs.

Discussion Items

• Proposed Ballot Measure to Reform Oakland’s City Charter (Item 5.2): Mayor Barbara Lee presented the measure, which would create a strong-mayor system with council confirmations for certain department heads, a mayoral veto, and other changes. The measure was continued to the June 16, 2026 meeting on a 5-3 vote (Brown, Fife, Houston, Wang, Jenkins aye; Gallo, Ramachandran, Unger no). Councilmembers debated the merits, with some supporting a council-manager alternative. Amendments discussed included removal of section 218A and modifications from the Public Ethics Commission.
• East Oakland Arts Center Construction Contract Amendment (Item S5.5): Approved unanimously (6-0, 2 excused) to increase the change order limit from 25% to 56% due to vandalism, with an insurance claim pending.
• 2026-2031 Oakland Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (Item 4.1): Adopted after a public hearing (7-0, 1 excused). The plan includes equity analysis and 72 mitigation actions.
• Master Fee Schedule for FY 2026-27 (Item 4.2): Approved on introduction as amended (6-1, 1 excused). Amendments corrected a fee listing for nuisance enforcement. Councilmember Wang voted no, citing concerns about fee increases on businesses and residents.
• Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District (LLAD) Confirmation (Item 4.3): Adopted (7-0, 1 excused). No changes to boundaries or assessment rates; rates remain $102.64 (Zone 1) and $111.54 (Zone 2).
• Cost-of-Living Tax Adjustments for Voter-Approved Measures (Item 5.1): Approved on introduction (8-0). Adjustments range from 2.2% to 6.4%, generating an estimated $186.6 million total revenue.
• Mayor’s Commission on Persons with Disabilities Annual Report (Item S5.3): Received and filed (8-0). The chair highlighted understaffing of the ADA programs division and requested additional FTEs.
• 2026-2030 Community Violence Reduction Plan (Item S5.4): After a motion to continue was made and seconded, a substitute motion to adopt the staff recommendation passed 5-3 (Brown, Fife, Gallo, Ramachandran, Unger aye; Houston, Wang, Jenkins no). The plan outlines 12 strategies across OPD, OFD, and the Department of Violence Prevention to reduce homicides, domestic violence, and improve emergency response. Councilmember Wang expressed concerns about the lack of a dedicated strategy for 911 dispatch and wanted to wait for Measure E results.
• FY 2026-27 Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (Item S5.6): Approved for final passage (8-0), authorizing borrowing up to $200 million.
• Arthur E. Thompson Way Commemorative Plaque (Consent Item 6.7): Councilmember Houston recognized Mr. Thompson’s 60 years of service.

Key Outcomes

• Charter Reform: Continued to June 16, 2026, by a 5-3 vote. Amendments due by June 11.
• Community Violence Reduction Plan: Adopted by a 5-3 vote after a substitute motion. The plan will govern Measure NN spending, effective July 1, 2026.
• All other action items on the agenda were approved as noted. The next meeting is scheduled for June 16, 2026.