Oakland Special Public Safety Committee Meeting - October 13, 2026

The Oakland City Council Special Public Safety Committee convened at 4:10 PM on October 13, 2026, with Chairperson Charlene Wang presiding. All four committee members were present: Councilmembers Carroll Fife, Ken Houston, Rowena Brown, and Charlene Wang. The committee considered a determination of outstanding committee items, a biannual informational report from the Community Police Review Agency (CPRA), and an OPD Firearm Relinquishment Grant. Public comments addressed housing safety, police oversight, gun violence, and community services. The meeting adjourned at 4:57 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 2 – Determination of Schedule: Maeve Griffin (unhoused resident) raised concerns about unsafe housing density, the need to distinguish between militarized and protective equipment, praised the Wood Street People’s Collective, and criticized DPW for removing her RV. Rajni Mandal (District 4) commended the end of federal police oversight (NSA) and suggested the committee reconsider continued NSA reports in favor of periodic updates from OPD risk management or the constitutional policing administrator.
• Item 3 – CPRA Report: Several speakers signed up but waived their time after the item was continued.
• Item 5 – Firearm Relinquishment Grant: Asada Olabala asked whether gun owners can voluntarily forfeit firearms and whether storage fees apply; Lieutenant Urquiza confirmed no storage fees and that forfeited guns are destroyed. Rajni Mandal raised community frustrations with non-emergency crime reporting delays and understaffing, urging a streamlined reporting process.
• Open Forum: Additional comments from Asada Olabala (on police commission, racial profiling), Maeve Griffin (Wood Street Collective displacement), and Edwin Hagler (Community Brothers) requesting city contracts for cleanup work.

Discussion Items

• Item 2 – Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items: The committee accepted the schedule as presented after public comment. A motion by Councilmember Brown, seconded by Chair Wang, passed 4–0.
• Item 3 – Receive Biannual Informational Report from CPRA: Director Lawson appeared but had lost her voice and could not present a planned PowerPoint (not submitted in writing in advance, per City Attorney advice). She provided final physical copies of the 2025 annual report. The committee voted unanimously (4–0) to continue this item to the October 27, 2026 Public Safety Committee meeting to allow formal submission of materials.
• Item 5 – OPD Firearm Relinquishment Grant (Resolution 27-0145): Lieutenant Gabriel Urquiza presented the grant, which ratifies an MOU signed by former Chief Floyd Mitchell with the Alameda County Superior Court, effective December 1, 2024. The grant reimburses up to $1,563,571 for equipment and staffing to support firearm relinquishment, including enforcement of Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs) and removal of firearms from prohibited persons. Key points: 65 of 67 homicides in 2025 involved firearms; 54 firearms have been recovered under the initiative; the grant funds 4 sworn officers (20% of salary) and 1 professional staff member (20%) plus overtime for field operations; the ceasefire section currently has 16 officers (down from over 32). Discussion covered technology integration, community education on GVROs, and staffing strain. Councilmember Brown moved to approve staff recommendations and forward to the full City Council consent agenda on October 20, 2026. Motion passed 4–0.

Key Outcomes

• Item 2: Accepted the schedule of outstanding committee items (4–0).
• Item 3: Continued to October 27, 2026 Public Safety Committee (4–0).
• Item 5: Approved staff recommendation and forwarded to the October 20, 2026 City Council consent agenda (4–0).