Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Time: 1:34 PM – 3:58 PM
Location: City Council Chamber, 3rd Floor, City Hall
Committee Members Present: Rowena Brown (Chair), Janani Ramachandran, Zac Unger, Carroll Fife (arrived at 1:38 PM)
Excused: None (Fife arrived)
Also Present: Councilmember Kevin Houston (created quorum of City Council)
The Community and Economic Development Committee met to consider eight agenda items. Due to the presence of Councilmember Houston, a quorum of the full City Council was noted, and the committee adjourned at 1:42 PM to convene as a Special Meeting of the City Council. All subsequent actions were taken under that Special Meeting.
Item 3: San Leandro Creek Trail Cooperative Maintenance Agreement
Staff (Shaina from Sustainability) presented a 25-year license agreement with Alameda County Flood Control for a 0.7-mile trail segment (from Hagenberger to Columbia Gardens Park). The county received a $4.1 million state grant in 2018. The city would immediately sub-license to the Oakland Parks & Recreation Foundation (OPRF) for 25 years, building on successful OPRF stewardship at Lake Merritt and Tyrone Kearney Park. Community groups have raised over $500,000; annual city maintenance cost estimated at $20,000–$25,000 if no sub-licensee. Councilmember Houston asked about insurance requirements; staff confirmed OPRF must provide adequate insurance. Councilmember Fife asked if volunteers would be compensated; staff noted that is the goal but depends on fundraising. The trail is already being used; a December 31, 2026 deadline for a coastal commission grant was noted. Approved and forwarded to Oct. 20 City Council (consent), 4-0.
Item 4: Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency Termination Plan
Ashley Cannett (EWD) and Patrick Lane (former redevelopment manager, now annuitant) explained the plan to transfer all ORSA assets/liabilities (except bond debts) to the city, writing off $1.6 million in uncollectable loans (doubtful accounts for 20+ years). Remaining assets: three active commercial loans, affordable housing loans, development agreements (e.g., Courtyard Marriott, Swan's Market, Uptown), and seven small properties in Oak Center (West Oakland). The Franklin 88 parking garage is closed and likely to be sold. Councilmember Fife asked about the seven small parcels; staff said they are under 1,000 sq ft and not developable, and neighbors may think they own them. Councilmember Ramachandran asked about revenue; staff said only net staffing costs would come to the city; bond funds are swept annually. Approved and forwarded to Oct. 20 City Council (consent), 4-0.
Item 5: TOT Sharing Agreement with Oakland Roots & Soul Soccer Club – Informational Report
Ashley Cannett presented results: City entered a TOT share agreement on May 12, 2026, to incentivize attracting a World Cup team. The Australia men's national team (Socceroos) used the Roots facility as base camp. Performance targets were met: June 2026 TOT revenue was $1.735 million vs. a $1.35 million baseline. City retained the baseline $1.35M, Roots received $300,000 (the agreed share), and city kept an additional $80,000. Occupancy rose from 67% to 73.6%; average daily rate from $128 to $147. Five fewer hotels and 360 fewer rooms in inventory made the increase more notable. The report will go to full council as a public hearing. Councilmember Ramachandran noted that Alameda City had a similar agreement ($150,000) and expects payment; the county did not participate. Councilmember Houston asked for a district-by-district hotel performance breakdown. Councilmember Fife clarified that the Claremont Hotel is in Oakland (District 4), not Berkeley. Received and forwarded to Oct. 20 City Council as public hearing, 4-0.
Item 6: Affordable Housing Funding and Measure U Capital Funding Authorizations
Deanna Talavera (HCD) and Shalán Garcia presented: Request to authorize $50 million in Measure U Tranche 3 funds and other non-bond funds for affordable housing programs (new construction, rapid response homeless housing, acquisition/conversion, rehabilitation). Staff read three amendments into the record: (1) add "contingent on issuance and sale of Measure U Tranche 3 bonds" to first resolve; (2) add "as consistent with Measure KK" to second resolve; (3) replace "among" with "from" in fourth resolve and add consistency language. The Health and Safety Rehabilitation Program needs $2 million recapitalization (funds exhausted). Councilmember Unger expressed concern about running out of funds; Director Weinstein noted about $50 million remaining for a potential Tranche 4, dependent on bond sales. Councilmember Ramachandran asked about the ACA program (acquisition/conversion of existing buildings) and the rehab program; staff explained details. Chair Brown noted a geographic gap in East Oakland (Districts 6 and 7) and asked about scoring preferences; staff said points are given for high-displacement areas and near transit, but state funding competitiveness often favors high-opportunity areas. Councilmember Fife highlighted successes of the ACA program (formerly PAF) in preventing homelessness. Approved as amended and forwarded to Oct. 20 City Council (consent), 4-0.
Item 7: Affordable Housing Trust Fund Ordinance Update
Caleb Smith (HCD) presented: The ordinance removes the June 30, 2027 sunset on using Affordable Housing Trust Fund (Fund 1870) monies for homelessness prevention and anti-displacement services, and allows operating subsidies for housing serving people experiencing homelessness and extremely low-income households. No fiscal impact from this change; any future service contracts require separate council approval. The fund is the only flexible source for HCD; over the past five years, fund balance dropped from $50M to $12.3M (fully committed). The fund has supported over 1,000 Oaklanders in the past year; 84% said they would have lost housing without intervention. It also enabled rapid response to four apartment fires in 2026 affecting over 100 families. Councilmembers expressed support. Approved and forwarded to Oct. 20 City Council (consent), 4-0.
Item 8: Increasing Civil Penalties on Unabated Nuisances
Councilmember Unger presented the ordinance to raise maximum civil penalties from $1,000/day (set in 1968) to $2,500/day for repeated/continuing violations, and up to $10,000/day for unabated nuisances on real property after notice and opportunity to abate. The ordinance includes an escalating ladder of fines, city administrator discretion, and six factors for assessment. Two amendments were read: (1) change the third-to-last whereas to state fines above $2,500 are only given after initial fine and opportunity to cure; (2) insert "major" in Section 1.08.060 B to read "first major violation" and "subsequent or continuing major violation". Councilmember Fife asked if it covers blight/graffiti; yes. Councilmember Ramachandran asked about due process; supervising City Attorney Laura Lane confirmed the six factors protect against disproportionate fines. Councilmember Fife requested broad public communication of the changes and that district offices be alerted when fines are applied. The city administrator noted they have already shifted to proactive inspection model. Approved as amended and forwarded to Oct. 20 City Council as public hearing, 4-0.
Good afternoon, and welcome to the fight. Good afternoon and welcome to the fight or sorry to the community and economic development committee meeting of Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The time is now 1.34 p.m. And this meeting may come to order. Before taking roll, I will provide instructions on how to submit speaker cards for items on this agenda. If you're here with us in chamber and would like to submit a speaker card, please fill one out and turn one into myself no later than 10 minutes after the start of this meeting or before the item is read into record, whichever occurs first. Registering to speak via Zoom is now due 24 hours prior to the start of this meeting time. This meeting came to order at 134 p.m. And speaker cards will no longer be accepted 10 minutes after, making that time 144 p.m. We'll now proceed with taking roll. Council member five, excused, council member Ramachandron. Present. Unger. And Chair Brown. Present. Thank you. We have three members present, one excused five. Um and Chair, at this time, do you have any announcements? Yes. Um good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us. Um, given the lengthy agenda that we have and in an effort to stay on schedule, I'm gonna modify the public speaking time to 90 seconds. Thank you. Thank you for the announcement. Starting off with item one, approval of the draft minutes from the committee meeting of September 22nd, 2026. There are no speakers on this item. We just need a motion. Excellent, thank you so much. So moved. Second. Thank you. That's a motion made by Councilmember Unger, seconded by Chair Brown to approve the draft minutes from the committee meeting of September 22nd, 2026. Honoral Councilmember Fife excuse council member Ramachandron. Aye. Unger. I and Chair Brown. Thank you. Item one passes with three eyes, one excused five to accept the draft minutes from September 22nd, 2026. Moving on to item two, determination of scheduled outstanding committee items, and we have two speakers that signed up to speak. Excellent. Thank you so much. Um to the administration, any changes on this item. Uh no, Chair. Excellent. Thank you. We can hear from the public speakers. Calling in the names that sign up to speak on item number two, Mrs.