Oakland Public Safety Committee Meeting - June 23, 2026

The Public Safety Committee convened at 6:05 PM on June 23, 2026, with Chair Charlene Wang presiding. Members present: Rowena Brown, Ken Houston, and Charlene Wang. Councilmember Carroll Fife was excused. The committee modified the agenda to hear Item 6 (police chief recruitment) before Item 3. The meeting adjourned at 8:36 PM. Key actions included advancing a strengthened "City of Refuge" sanctuary ordinance to the full council and approving a pilot street closure to disrupt sex trafficking.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (June 9, 2026): Approved unanimously (3-0-1).
• Determination of Schedule: Approved as amended to withdraw the Sideshow Penalty Ordinance (Item 4) and schedule it to the committee pending list with no date specific (3-0-1).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Police Chief Recruitment (Item 6): Three speakers commented, including concerns about the lack of public interviews for finalists and questions about the charter process for police chief selection.
• Street Closure to Disrupt Sex Trafficking (Item 3): Eleven speakers testified, mostly in support. Residents described the harmful effects of sex trafficking on the neighborhood, including impacts on Franklin Elementary School and community institutions. Some speakers expressed concern that the closures would simply displace the problem, citing the earlier East 15th Street barricades. One speaker noted that the barricades on East 15th successfully eliminated activity on that street but moved it elsewhere.
• Sanctuary City Ordinance (Item 5): Thirty-two speakers spoke overwhelmingly in support. Many were from Faith in Action East Bay, St. Augustine Catholic Church, and other community organizations. Speakers argued that the ordinance would provide enforceable protections, allow undocumented residents to access services without fear, and improve public safety by encouraging crime reporting. Several speakers also raised concerns about surveillance technology (Flock cameras) as contradicting sanctuary ideals. One speaker, Asada Olabala, opposed the ordinance, arguing that the city has not done enough to protect African Americans from police brutality. Councilmember Houston expressed frustration that the ordinance did not also address the needs of Black residents, leading to a brief disruption and loss of quorum, which was later restored.
• Open Forum: Six speakers addressed topics including Flock cameras, police oversight, and the Skelly hearing process.

Discussion Items

• Police Chief Recruitment Process (Item 6): Consultant Daniel Hahn from Ralph Anderson and Associates presented an oral report. He described the process: the police commission's ad hoc committee held six community forums and an online survey, received 18 applicants, interviewed 10, and forwarded four finalists to the mayor. Key community priorities included better 911 response times, constitutional policing, staffing, and public safety. Councilmembers asked questions about assessing innovation and diversity in candidates. The item was received and filed.
• Temporary Street Closure for Sex Trafficking Disruption (Item 3): Chair Wang presented the proposal to close 9th, 10th, and 11th Avenues between International Boulevard and 15th Street for six months, citing a successful model in Houston. The cost is estimated at $98,000, funded by Councilmember Wang's discretionary funds. OakDOT will collect data on traffic and human trafficking activity. Councilmember Houston expressed support while noting the closure may displace the problem. The committee approved and forwarded to the July 7 City Council meeting as a public hearing.
• Sanctuary City / City of Refuge Ordinance (Item 5): Chair Wang and Councilmember Gallo co-sponsored the ordinance to codify Oakland's sanctuary policies into municipal code. The ordinance would: prohibit city employees from assisting federal civil immigration enforcement; ban collection of immigration status data unless required by law; require a judicial warrant for ICE to enter non-public city facilities; and bar OPD from detaining individuals based solely on civil immigration detainers. The committee adopted amendments to strike exceptions that would have allowed OPD to cooperate with ICE for individuals convicted of certain felonies. Councilmember Houston raised concerns about the lack of parallel protections for African American communities, but ultimately voted to advance the ordinance. The motion passed 3-0-1 to forward to the July 7 City Council consent agenda with the amendments.
• Sideshow Penalty Ordinance (Item 4): The committee took public testimony (three speakers) and then voted to withdraw the item and schedule it to the pending list with no date specific, per a prior action in the schedule determination.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1: Approved minutes of June 9, 2026 (3-0-1).
• Item 2: Approved schedule as amended to withdraw Item 4 to pending list (3-0-1).
• Item 3: Approved street closure resolution and forwarded to July 7 City Council as public hearing (3-0-1).
• Item 4: Withdrawn and rescheduled to pending list, no date specific (3-0-1).
• Item 5: Approved as amended (striking exceptions to detention and notification provisions) and forwarded to July 7 City Council consent agenda (3-0-1).
• Item 6: Received and filed informational report on police chief recruitment (3-0-1).