Oakland Rules Committee Meeting – July 9, 2026: Scheduling and Reports
Oakland Rules & Legislation Committee Meeting Summary – July 9, 2026
The Oakland City Council Rules & Legislation Committee convened on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 10:31 AM and adjourned at 11:43 AM. Chairperson Kevin Jenkins presided. The committee approved minutes from prior meetings, determined the schedule of outstanding items, and scheduled numerous new agenda items for upcoming council and committee meetings. A special city council meeting was called for Monday, July 13, 2026, at 10:30 AM, and the regularly scheduled July 23, 2026 Rules & Legislation Committee meeting was cancelled.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Draft Minutes (May 28, June 18, and June 25, 2026): Approved 4-0.
- Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items: Approved 4-0 as presented.
Public Comments & Testimony
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Item 3 (New Scheduling): Four speakers addressed the committee.
- John Jones expressed support for the Coliseum Complex sale amendment (Item 3.1), noting the complexity of the deal involving six entities and thanking former Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan for prior work.
- Asada Olabala objected to the proposed travel reimbursement for the Congressional Black Caucus conference (dais item), questioned the police commission selection process, and criticized the lack of discussion on reparations, gentrification, and impacts on African Americans. He also urged the committee not to approve the new police commissioner slate, arguing that Omar Farmer, a Black candidate, was excluded.
- Blair Beekman supported the Coliseum work, urged transparency in Bay Area UASI governance, and expressed hope for the reappointment of a former police commissioner.
- Zach Unger made technical comments about bond ETFs, cryptocurrency, and public safety funding.
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Item 4 (Review of Draft Agendas): Three speakers.
- Asada Olabala demanded reports on several topics including city employee overpayments, sanctuary city impacts, gentrification, reparations, and the waiting list for housing.
- Zach Unger criticized housing policy and budget processes.
- Blair Beekman urged responsible budget deficit discussions and suggested small payroll cuts to save money.
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Item 5 (OMC Chapter 1.10 Report): Four speakers.
- Asada Olabala denounced the City Attorney’s Office for past failures in representing councilmembers and commissioners.
- Zach Unger challenged various legal complaints and requested appellate review.
- Blair Beekman encouraged continued work on equity and statistics.
- Derek Barnes withdrew his comment.
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Open Forum: Three speakers. Asada Olabala criticized the police commission selection process and the sanctuary city policy’s impact on African Americans. Councilmember Ken Houston (via dais request) expressed frustration that his item on encampment management (presented at the July 7 council meeting) was not fully presented, and he requested a new scheduling item to bring it back before the summer recess. Zach Unger made technical comments about a project.
Discussion Items
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Item 3.1: Second Amendment to Coliseum Complex Sale Agreement – Staff presented a title change and Rule 24 bypass due to recently reached terms with OAC. The ordinance authorizes simultaneous sale of arena ($50M lump sum) and stadium ($60M seller financing), with 6% of gross ticket sales revenue, affordable housing requirements on the stadium parcel, and a daily stadium subsidy redirection of $16,438.36 until December 31, 2026. Scheduled for the July 13 special council meeting on non-consent.
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Item 3.2: 7th Street Design Contract Amendment (Alta Planning) – Title change and urgency finding: staff needs council resolution before summer recess to meet federal funding milestones. Contract increased by $747,288 to a total not-to-exceed $3,955,404, with extension to December 31, 2030. Scheduled for July 14 Public Works & Transportation Committee.
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Item 3.3: Chapter 8 Tax Sale Authorization – Title change on second resolution. Urgency finding: Alameda County Board of Supervisors expected to approve a tax sale on July 14; city must release liens to avoid disruptions. Two resolutions authorize removal of code enforcement liens and vacant property tax liens (up to $10M aggregate) to facilitate affordable housing. Scheduled for July 14 Community & Economic Development Committee.
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Item 3.4: Seminary Point Debt and Rent Forgiveness – Title change on second ordinance. Urgency finding: property is in forbearance until April 21; delay would hinder sale. Forgiveness of up to $2M loan to Athena MT, $1.5M line of credit, and up to $40,000 in rent for Seminary Point LLC, contingent on sale to qualified purchaser. Scheduled for July 14 CED Committee.
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Item 3.5: Resolution in Support of AB 1588 (Sideshow Enhancements) – Rule 24 bypass stated since such resolutions typically go from Rules to Council. Scheduled for July 21 council consent.
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Item 3.6: Final Maps for Oak Knoll Parcels 9 and 10 – Rule 24 for urgency: 35-lot and 24-lot subdivisions; delay affects housing delivery; $13M infrastructure guarantees collected. Scheduled for July 21 council consent.
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Item 3.7: Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative MOU – Rule 24 bypass to avoid forfeiting federal homeland security funds. Scheduled for July 21 council consent.
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Items 3.8–3.12: Appointments and Reappointments – All scheduled for July 21 council consent with Rule 24 statements due to quorum challenges or vacancies.
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Item 3.13: Resolution in Support of SB 954 (CEQA Exemption) – Councilmember Brown added as co-sponsor. Rule 24: urgency to make city support known before Senate vote. Scheduled for July 21 council consent.
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Item 3.14: Amendment to Cultural Affairs Commission Enabling Ordinance – Rule 24 to bypass Life Enrichment Committee due to time sensitivity. Scheduled for July 21 council consent.
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Item 3.15: Police Commission Selection Panel Slate – Two options: accept or reject slate of Ricardo Garcia-Acosta and Joey Harrison. Scheduled for July 21 council non-consent.
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Item 3.16: 2025-2026 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) – Informational report. Rule 24: due to HUD by September 28, 2026. Scheduled for September 15 council public hearing.
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Item 3.17: Cooperative Contract with NEOGOV for HRIS – No urgency; scheduled for September 22 Finance & Management Committee.
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Dais Item (26-0906): Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference Reimbursement – Council President Jenkins and Councilmembers Brown and Houston request reimbursement for travel to Washington, DC, September 16-20, 2026. Rule 24 bypass. Scheduled for July 21 council consent.
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Item 4: Review of Draft Agendas and Pending Lists – Approved 3-0 (Jenkins excused).
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Item 5: OMC Chapter 1.10 Three-Year Report – Deputy City Attorney C-Maro Penny presented an informational report on the Civil Protection of the People of Oakland Ordinance, noting five lawsuits filed in three years and next steps for equity analysis. The committee received and filed the report 3-0 (Jenkins excused).
Key Outcomes
- Approved minutes (May 28, June 18, June 25) 4-0.
- Approved pending list 4-0.
- Approved new scheduling items as amended (including all 3.1-3.17 and the dais item) 4-0.
- Approved draft agendas and pending lists 3-0 (Jenkins excused).
- Received and filed OMC 1.10 report 3-0 (Jenkins excused).
- Special city council meeting called for July 13, 2026 at 10:30 AM to consider the Coliseum sale amendment.
- July 23, 2026 Rules & Legislation Committee meeting cancelled.
Councilmember Houston indicated he would submit a new scheduling request to bring back the encampment management presentation for the July 21 council meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, and welcome to the rules and legislation committee meeting on this Thursday, July 9th. The uh time is now ten thirty-one and this meeting shall come to order. Before I call roll, I would like to give instructions on how to submit a speaker card for items on this agenda. If you're here in person and um would like to submit a speaker card, please fill out a speaker card and turn it into a clerk representative either before the item is called or ten minutes after this meeting began. Again, this meeting started at ten thirty-one, so that time will be ten forty-one. We will stop receiving in-person speaker cards. Online speaker cards were due 24 hours before this meeting began, so those will no longer be accepted at this time. With that, we will now call roll on roll for this meeting. Councilmember Fife. Present. Present and Chair Jenkins. Before I go to the first item, do you have any announcements, Council President Jenkins? Yes, we are calling a special meeting the third thirteenth at 10 30. Special meeting of the city council. Thank you so much for that. So noted. Also, we will be canceling July twenty-third rules. I mean on camera looking crazy. With that, we will now move to the first item. Item number one is approval of the draft minutes for the committee meeting on May 28th, June 18th, and June 25th, 2026. I have one speaker for this item. Move them. Move approval. Let's go to the public speaker. Thank you so much. I have Blair Beekman. If you are um would would like to speak to this item, Blair, please raise your hand in the queue so we can unmute you and give you an opportunity to make your comments. You've been unmuted, you may begin. Hi, uh Blair Beekman. Uh I signed up for this item. I think I'm going to pass uh this time and uh good luck for the meeting today. Thank you. Thank you so much for your comments. There was a motion by Council Member Brown, seconded by Council Member Five to approve item one, uh, the committee meeting minutes for May 28th, June 18th, and June 25th on that um on roll, Councilmember Brown. Aye. Five, aye. Councilmember Ramachandrin. Aye. And Chair Jenkins. All right. Item number one is approved with four eyes. Thank you for that. Moving to item number two, number two is the determination of scheduling of outstanding committee items, which is your pending list for rules. And I have two speakers. This anything from the administration. Uh no changes at this time. Thank you. Let's go to our public speakers. Thank you so much for that. I have Ms.
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