Oakland Rules and Legislation Committee Meeting - October 22, 2026

The Rules and Legislation Committee of the Oakland City Council met on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The meeting began at 10:31 a.m., just after the posted 10:30 a.m. start time, in the City Council Chamber, 3rd Floor, Oakland City Hall. Council President Kevin Jenkins chaired the meeting. Councilmembers Rowena Brown and Janani Ramachandran were present at roll call; Councilmember Carroll Fife was excused and arrived at 10:33 a.m. The committee approved minutes, the outstanding-items schedule, two new scheduling items, and the draft agenda and pending-list review, with all votes unanimous.

Approval of Draft Minutes (Item 1)

• A motion by Councilmember Brown, seconded by Councilmember Ramachandran, approved the draft minutes of the October 8, 2026 committee meeting. The vote was 3 ayes (Brown, Ramachandran, Jenkins); Councilmember Fife was excused.

Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items (Item 2)

• A motion by Councilmember Ramachandran, seconded by Councilmember Brown, approved the Rules and Legislation Committee pending list as presented. The vote was 3 ayes; Councilmember Fife was excused.

New Scheduling Item 3.1 - Minimum Wage Ballot Measure

• The City Clerk requested scheduling of the certified initiative petition for the Oakland Living Wage For All Act of 2026. Under Rule 24, election matters move directly to the City Council.
• The proposed package includes a resolution accepting the certification of the petition examination results and, under California Elections Code Section 9215, requires the City Council to choose one of three options:
  • Adopt without alteration an ordinance increasing Oakland's minimum wage to $30 for Oakland employees by July 1, 2037, among other provisions;
  • Submit the initiative to voters at the next general municipal election on November 7, 2028, or at a special election held 88-103 days after the call of the election; or
  • Order a report on the measure's effects under Elections Code Section 9212, to be presented to the City Council within 30 days on the December 1, 2026 non-consent agenda.

New Scheduling Item 3.2 - Data Center Moratorium Report and Extension

• The committee considered scheduling a state-required written report under Government Code Section 65858, subdivision (d), due within 35 days of the October 6, 2026 approval of the 45-day interim emergency moratorium (Interim Emergency Ordinance No. 13899 C.M.S.). The report would describe measures taken to alleviate the conditions that led to the moratorium and include appropriate CEQA findings.
• The committee also considered scheduling an interim emergency ordinance to extend the temporary moratorium on approvals of land use entitlements and agreements for data center development or operation in Oakland for 10 months and 15 days.
• Both pieces were requested for the November 10, 2026 special City Council agenda as a public hearing, using Rule 24 to bypass committee review because of state-law deadlines.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tonisha Scott, a member leader of One for Wage, thanked the committee for taking up the living wage for all measure and following the law. She said a colleague, Miss Edwards of District 3's Acorn Project, could not attend because she does not earn $30 an hour and must work as many hours as her employer offers; Ms. Scott lives in District 7, earns more than $30 an hour, and was attending on her day off to advocate for workers. She stated that Oakland workers deserve a living wage and asked the committee to meet with the coalition.
• The chair noted two speaker cards for this item; only Ms. Scott's remarks appear in the transcript.

Review of Draft Agendas, Pending Lists, and Committee Meetings (Item 4)

• The committee reviewed the October 27, 2026 committee agendas, the October 29, 2026 Rules and Legislation Committee agenda, pending lists, and the draft November 5, 2026 agenda, noting that November 3, 2026 is canceled for the election.
• Michael Ford of the Department of Transportation requested that item 3 on the October 27 Public Safety Committee agenda be withdrawn and rescheduled to the November 17 Public Safety Committee meeting; he said Chair Wong supported the request by email.
• A motion by Councilmember Brown, seconded by Councilmember Ramachandran, approved item 4 as amended. The vote was 4 ayes (Brown, Fife, Ramachandran, Jenkins).

Key Outcomes

• Item 1 approved, 3-0 with one excused.
• Item 2 approved, 3-0 with one excused.
• Item 3 (both the minimum wage and data center scheduling items) approved as submitted, 4-0.
• Item 4 approved as amended, 4-0, including withdrawal and rescheduling of the Public Safety Committee item to November 17, 2026.
• Open Forum had no speakers, and the meeting adjourned.