Oakland Life Enrichment Committee Meeting – June 23, 2026

The Oakland City Council Life Enrichment Committee convened on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 4:04 PM in City Hall, with Chair Carroll Fife presiding. The meeting lasted until 4:58 PM. Members present: Noel Gallo (District 5), Charlene Wang (District 2), and Carroll Fife (District 3). Ken Houston (District 7) was excused initially but arrived at 4:07 PM via teleconference due to a flat tire, participating under California Government Code Section 54953.8.3(c)(4) (just cause provision). The committee approved the consent calendar, discussed the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) year-round grants, and heard public comments. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Draft Minutes (June 9, 2026): Motion by Noel Gallo, seconded by Charlene Wang, carried 3-0-1 (Houston excused).
• Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items: Motion by Noel Gallo, seconded by Carroll Fife, carried 4-0. Two public speakers addressed this item before the vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 2 (Schedule of Outstanding Items):
  • Missada Olavala spoke against data centers in Oakland, citing concerns about water quality, electricity usage, and noise. She also criticized the city’s sanctuary city ordinance, arguing it negatively impacts housing and jobs for African Americans. She referenced a senior housing issue where the agreement was changed to allow non-seniors.
  • Blair Beekman thanked Chair Fife for pausing a digital billboard item and expressed hope for open dialogue on the proposed Costco at the former Oakland Army base, noting concerns about land use and food distribution.
• Item 3 (OFCY Grants):
  • Katia Cabrera (in English and Spanish) thanked OFCY for funding the Baby Learning program, emphasizing its positive impact on family quality time and child development.
  • Candy Lozano (via video) expressed gratitude for OFCY support, saying it strengthens children’s future and community hope.
  • Yasmin Villalobo (in person) criticized the use of the term “BIPOP” in reports, stating “we are not the same.” She questioned funding for organizations serving Latino youth and noted gender imbalance in Civil Corps (81% men). She opposed funding for Asian Health Services and the Unity Council, arguing they lack cultural competency for African American youth and that African Americans should train their own children.
  • Christopher Martinez (Executive Director, Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation) thanked the committee for funding the Libra Independent Living Project, which serves immigrant and newcomer youth. He emphasized the program’s staff are alumni who provide culturally competent support.
  • Alexander Gutierrez (program participant) thanked OFCY, noting the grant helps students transition to adulthood with mentorship on budgeting, career skills, and self-sufficiency.
  • Blair Beekman did not appear when called.
  • Jordan Hernandez and David Gallegos were called but did not unmute.
• Open Forum:
  • Missada Olavala criticized the city’s sanctuary city policy, arguing that 40–46% of undocumented immigrants are overstayed visa holders, and asked the committee to consider those who follow legal immigration processes.
  • Blair Beekman was not present.

Discussion Items

• OFCY Year-Round Program Service Term Awards FY 2026–2028 (Item 3):
  • Robin Love (Children and Youth Services Manager) and Robin Levinson (Program Planner) presented the staff recommendation to adopt a resolution accepting the Planning and Oversight Committee’s recommendation to award OFCY grants totaling $20,677,356 per year for two fiscal years (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 and July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028), contingent on funding availability and program performance.
  • The RFP received 333 proposals (a 45% increase from 229 in 2022), with a total request of $62 million (65% increase from $37.8 million in 2022). 175 readers scored proposals using a rubric covering budget, program alignment with geographic equity, and other criteria. 253 individuals signed up to be readers, 175 completed training and scored. Six readers removed for potential conflicts. Over half of proposals scored 85/100 or above. The committee considered additional factors such as geographic distribution, number of proposals per agency, and support for small/emerging agencies. One-third of funded agencies are new to OFCY.
  • The funding gap is approximately $3.5 million, to be covered by Oakland Children’s First Carry Forward.
  • Programs are estimated to serve 22,000–23,000 youth annually. Demographics: 41% Hispanic/Latinx, 31% Black/African American, 10% Asian/Asian American/Filipino. Primary council districts served: District 3 (7,642 youth), District 2, and District 7 (3,336 youth, 15% of total). Councilmember Houston requested more detailed data on Black youth served in District 7 and across ages, especially at-risk youth. Staff agreed to provide an informational report in fall 2026.
  • Councilmember Gallo asked about the attachment documents, clarifying that Attachment A and E list recommended awardees, Attachment B lists non-recommended proposals, Attachment C details outreach, and Attachment D covers summer programs already approved.
  • Councilmember Wang asked about evaluation criteria (outlined in the RFP) and data on homeless youth. Staff said they would provide specific homeless youth numbers later. Wang noted appreciation for including commercially sexually exploited youth.
  • Chair Fife asked about the impact of high proposal volume on awards. Staff explained they considered agency capacity and number of proposals submitted; they may explore proposal limits and past performance criteria in future RFPs.
  • Councilmember Houston emphasized the need for culturally competent services for Black youth and requested demographic breakdowns by district and age.

Key Outcomes

• Item 3: Motion by Charlene Wang, seconded by Carroll Fife, to approve the staff recommendation and forward the item to the July 7, 2026 City Council meeting on the consent calendar. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).
• Consent Calendar Items: Approved unanimously.
• Next Steps: Staff will provide an informational report in fall 2026 with detailed demographics of youth served by district and age for the 2025–2026 cycle. The City Council will consider the final resolution on July 7, 2026.

Note: The meeting was adjourned at 4:58 PM.