Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting - June 9, 2026
Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting - June 9, 2026
The Oakland City Council Public Works and Transportation Committee met on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 11:33 AM in the City Council Chamber. The meeting was chaired by Councilmember Zac Unger and included Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Charlene Wang, and Ken Houston (arriving at 11:34 AM). The committee considered six agenda items, including a utility easement vacation, equipment purchases, a bike share franchise extension, and a major streetscape improvement contract. The meeting adjourned at 1:01 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Draft Minutes (May 26, 2026): Approved 4-0 (motion Gallo, second Unger) to be forwarded to the June 16 City Council consent agenda.
- Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items: Approved 4-0 as presented.
- Summarily Vacating Public Utility Easement at 747 52nd Street (Children’s Hospital): Approved 4-0 (motion Gallo, second Houston) to be forwarded to the June 16 City Council consent agenda. Staff confirmed the easement was no longer needed after utility relocation.
- Owen Equipment Sales Inc. Purchase Contract ($2.5M for three Vactor sewer cleaner trucks): Approved 4-0 (motion Gallo, second Houston) to be forwarded to the June 16 City Council consent agenda. Discussion included fleet replacement backlogs, extended warranties, and compliance with the federal sewer consent decree.
- MLK Jr. Way Streetscape Improvements Construction Contract Award ($26,499,339.50 to McGuire and Hester): Approved 4-0 (motion Houston, second Gallo) to be forwarded to the June 16 City Council consent agenda. The project will add protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, 79 new trees, and upgraded signals on MLK from 2nd to 14th Street.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (Minutes): One speaker (Zach Tyler) made procedural challenges citing federal codes and court cases; no substantive position on the minutes.
- Item 2 (Schedule): Four speakers:
- Zach Tyler requested audits of sales/property taxes and a review of active theater bankruptcy claims.
- An unnamed speaker requested free parking at the ice skating center, reports on Mosswood toddler center matting, traffic signal operations, transportation permits, Oakland School of the Arts park usage, and sidewalk vendor interruptions.
- Lars Barnes (Diamond District resident) complained about lack of timely communication regarding no-parking signs during street repaving and difficulties contacting OakDOT.
- Blair Beekman did not speak.
- Item 3 (Easement): No public speakers.
- Item 4 (Sewer Trucks): Two speakers:
- Asada Olabala questioned why the department avoids cooperative agreements, noted they should simplify procurement, and asked about total rental costs ($30,000/month) and whether delays in bringing the item caused excessive rental expenses.
- Blair Beekman did not speak.
- Item 5 (Bike Share Franchise): Four speakers:
- Asada Olabala raised concerns about enforcement of regulatory violations (e.g., running red lights) and theft/vandalism of bikes by homeless individuals; asked if losses challenge the program's viability.
- Kevin Daly expressed strong support, noting benefits of reduced car space and collisions.
- Colin Hughes (MTC) spoke in support, citing 30% year-over-year ridership growth since 2023 and multiple ridership records set in 2026.
- Buffalo Soldier asked whether Lyft pays fees for interrupting parking (like restaurants do) and criticized city administrators.
- Item 6 (MLK Streetscape): Three speakers:
- Asada Olabala asked about private vs. city sidewalk responsibility, timeline completion fees, business interruption, parking disruption, and questioned the cost breakdown.
- Kevin Daly expressed strong support, looking forward to safer streets.
- Blair Beekman did not speak.
- Open Forum: Three speakers:
- A speaker made cryptic references to court cases and missiles.
- An unnamed speaker demanded the city rename Cesar Chavez Library and Park due to alleged sexual abuse allegations; also criticized the union's ballot Measure E, calling it disrespectful since only 32% of city employees live in Oakland.
- Simeon Ramey (California Oakland Union and Homeless for Mental Health Outreach) spoke about broken systems, called for firing violent people, and requested information on three shelters.
Discussion Items
- Item 5: Bike Share Franchise Amendment (Lyft/Bay Wheels): Staff (Kirby Olson) presented a proposal to extend the exclusive franchise agreement with Lyft through December 31, 2032, aligning with the regional program. The program operates at no cost to the city (except staff time) and includes 102 stations, 500 e-bikes, and 350 pedal bikes. Ridership grew ~30% year-over-year since 2023; Q1 2026 saw a 50% increase. Revenue sharing has only triggered once (small amount). Councilmember Houston questioned financial benefits to Oakland, noting Lyft’s vehicles advertise Lyft, not Oakland. He proposed holding the item to explore direct benefits. Councilmember Gallo moved to approve; seconded by Unger. Councilmember Houston voted no. The item passed 3-1 and was forwarded to the June 16 City Council non-consent agenda.
- Item 5 (continued): Councilmembers discussed dock placement (driven by density and transit), ability to move low-utilization stations, and liability for injuries.
- Item 4 (Sewer Trucks): Staff (Richard Battersby) explained the urgent need due to 7 of 8 sewer trucks being out of service, requiring $30,000/month in rentals. The purchase of three trucks ($2.5M) is critical to meet federal consent decree cleaning 184 miles/year. Councilmember Houston asked about warranty and recommended exploring extended warranties. Councilmember Gallo requested a comprehensive report on city vehicle replacement needs and electrification. Councilmember Wang praised the economic argument and asked about truck lifespan (5-7 years ideally, but Oakland averages 10 years).
- Item 6 (MLK Streetscape): Staff (Emily Ellers) detailed the safety project on Oakland's high-injury network. Four bids were received; McGuire and Hester’s bid ($26.5M) was 8% below engineer’s estimate. Councilmember Houston questioned change order management (25% allowance). Staff noted internal protocols to prevent abuse and that change orders above 25% require council approval. Councilmember Wong highlighted improved connectivity to Jack London Square and noted an associated undercrossing project.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1-4, 6: All approved unanimously (4-0) and forwarded to the June 16, 2026 City Council consent agenda.
- Item 5 (Bike Share Franchise Extension): Approved 3-1 (Houston opposed) and forwarded to the June 16, 2026 City Council non-consent agenda due to the dissenting vote. Councilmember Houston expressed desire to see direct economic benefits for Oakland.
- Directives: Staff will provide the correct DOT email (DOTOnlinePermits@OaklandCA.gov) to the public and follow up on extended warranty options for sewer trucks. Staff will also connect Councilmember Houston with construction management for change order oversight on MLK streetscape.
Meeting Transcript
Good. Morning, and welcome to the rules of legislation. Excuse me. I'm usually sharing rules. Good morning and welcome to the public works and transportation committee meeting on this Tuesday. This is June 9th. The time is 11 33 and this meeting shall come to order. Before I um go over roll call roll, I would like to give instructions on how to submit a speaker card. If you are participating with us here in chambers in person, would you like to speak submit a speaker card? Please fill out a card and turn it to a clerk representative. Either 10 minutes before the minute begin, um, no later than 10 minutes after the meeting began. The meeting began at 1133. So 1143, we will stop except accepting speaker cards or before the item is called into record. Um electronic speaker cards were um due 24 hours before this meeting began. So we will no longer accept online speaker cards. With that, I will now call roll on roll for this meeting. Council member Guile. Present. Councilmember Houston. Excuse. Excuse Council Member Wong. Uh present. And Chair Unger. Here. We have three members present. One excuse council member Houston. Um we will now, if you have no announcements, we will go to our first item item. Oh, excuse me. My apologize, yeah. Our first item, item number one is approval of the draft minutes for the committee meeting on May 26th. Uh the May 26th. And I do have one speaker for this item. Okay, I will second it and let's hear our speakers, please. All right. Noting council member Houston arriving at 11 34. I have one speaker for this item that is Zach Tyler for item number one. Um, so I'm not here to um uh uh joke. Um 13 12 1382 LWR terahertz um is our current um reactor sitting outside of uh in the city of Oakland. We need a 712753 terahertz LWR reactor in this community by procedures of active theater under UNCJ court nine uh article nine twelve subsection C I challenge under five USC CFR twenty-nine zero one six three CFR and view of procedural code of conduct based on military standards as a conflictual application. I the deputy um FEMA and deputy interior secretary that was nominated by the Senate and the House Committee, confirms my field directives, and Dove V. Rubenstein, Hensley v. Sealy, special recommendation nine two eight uh one three, New York pistol and rifle via the United States, TVA Authority v. The U.S. Colorado Basin V the Arkansas v. Oregon, Trump v. Hawaii, Trump v. the water resource board, and voices via the lands via the United States and uh San Leandro Police Department via the city of San Leandro. I move against a requestment of active theater for a review for a state measure for purposes of duality for that as an economic planner and as a commercial developer by that uh of the view of the state. I request an independent audit of under the Sunshine Act and compliances of measure N and Measure M against uh quantifiable views of the state under state uh state charter state senate bill uh nine. Thank you for your comments that concludes your speaking for this item.
openpublica.com