Oakland meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Oakland Council Advances Coliseum Sale, Ballot Measures, and $20.9M Streetscape Contract in Busy Two-Week Stretch

Oakland's City Council and its committees moved a packed agenda over the past two weeks, with the most consequential decisions centering on the Coliseum Complex sale, two November ballot measures, and a $20.9 million Broadway streetscape contract now headed to the full council.

City Council: Ballot Measures, Interim Administrator, Coliseum Sale

On July 7, the Council confirmed Elizabeth Lake as interim city administrator in a 6-2 vote. It also voted 7-1 (Jenkins excused) to place two measures on the November ballot: one amending the real property transfer tax foreclosure exception, and an advisory measure on spending increased revenue on homelessness services.

The Council adopted annual budgets for two geologic hazard abatement districts — Leona Quarry GHAD (6-0, 2 excused) and Oakland Area GHAD (7-0, 1 excused) — and adopted the 2026/2027 Annual Action Plan for $14.6 million in HUD grants (8-0). It confirmed delinquent business tax liens and authorized their recordation (8-0), received and filed an AC Transit budget and service update (7-1, Houston abstained), and rescheduled the 2026 Miscellaneous Planning Code Amendments from consent to non-consent (8-0).

On July 13, the Council approved an amended ordinance for the sale of the City's interest in the Coliseum Complex at 7000 Coliseum Way (6-1). The amendment removes a provision directing initial lump sum proceeds to CalPERS and moves the matter toward a July 21 concurrent meeting.

Public Works: Broadway Streetscape and Collision Repairs

The Public Works & Transportation Committee accepted June 23 minutes (4-0) and scheduled the 2025 Safe Oakland Streets report for September 22. It approved collision repair contracts for Quality Body & Fender, rescheduling others (4-0), and forwarded several items to the July 21 Council: an AC Transit Fruitvale Avenue agreement (4-0), a $364,685 energy assessments contract (3-1), a $750,000 EV charging station grant (3-1), a $20.9 million Broadway streetscape contract (3-1), and REAP 2.0 funds for a West Oakland pilot (3-1).

Finance: Parking Contract and Forensic Audit

The Finance & Management Committee advanced a $12,399,039 parking operator contract extension through year-end (4-0), requesting additional facility data before it reaches Council. It also approved a $202,500 technology audit grant (4-0), a strategic plan one-year update (4-0), a bond reimbursement resolution for Measures DD, KK, and U (4-0), and up to $490,000 for a forensic audit agreement with Weaver and Tidwell, LLP (4-0). The committee received and filed the FY 2026-30 fiscal health roadmap update (4-0).

Community & Economic Development: Tax Liens and Seminary Point Debt

The committee approved removal of up to $10,000,000 in code enforcement liens (4-0) and up to $10,000,000 in vacant property tax liens (4-0) to facilitate affordable housing development. It approved forgiveness of a $2,000,000 loan to Athena MT, LLC and a $1,500,000 line of credit to Siavash Afshar (4-0), plus up to $40,000 in rent forgiveness for Seminary Point, LLC (4-0). It also approved workforce development funds totaling up to $4,827,587 and $1,993,914 (4-0), forwarded a professional services agreement with Barretto, Co. for signage (3-1), and received and filed the FY 2025-26 Code Enforcement update (4-0).

Public Safety, Life Enrichment, and Rules

The Public Safety Committee forwarded amended OPD surveillance technology reports (3-0), an Oakland Fire Department operational agreement with Alameda County (3-0), a Department of Violence Prevention annual report and policy (4-0), a Bright Research Group training contract (4-0), OPD Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds (4-0), an OPD RSI helicopter maintenance contract (4-0), and an OPD/California Highway Patrol MOU (4-0) to the July 21 Council.

The Life Enrichment Committee forwarded a $100,000 Construction Resource Center Mentor-Protégé Program grant, HUD Continuum of Care supportive housing renewal funds up to $5,650,302, a $1,319,745 Anti-Poverty Community Services Block Grant, and Measure BB funding for Oakland Paratransit and meal delivery services — all on 4-0 votes.

The Rules & Legislation Committee scheduled the Coliseum Complex sale amendment for the July 13 Council meeting and forwarded a $747,288 contract increase for the 7th Street Connection Project to the July 14 Public Works Committee. On July 16, the committee recorded that a proposed severance resolution for Jestin Johnson was withdrawn with no new date.

Coming Up

The concurrent meeting of the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency and City Council on July 21 will consider appointments of Ricardo Garcia-Acosta and Joey Harrison to the Oakland Police Commission, final passage of the ordinance for the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election, a proposed amendment to the Real Property Transfer Tax Ordinance projected to raise $4-$13 million annually, renewal of local emergency declarations for HIV/AIDS, medical cannabis access, and homelessness, and Councilmember travel reimbursements to the League of California Cities and Congressional Black Caucus conferences.

Oakland Council Places Tax and Homelessness Measures on November Ballot; Confirms Interim City Administrator

The Oakland City Council voted July 7 to place two measures on the November ballot — one amending the real property transfer tax foreclosure exception and an advisory measure on spending increased revenue on homelessness services. The ballot measures passed 7-1, with Councilmember Jenkins excused. In the same meeting, the Council confirmed Elizabeth Lake as interim city administrator on a 6-2 vote.

July 7 Council Actions

The Council adopted the 2026/2027 Annual Action Plan for HUD grants totaling $14.6 million (8-0) and confirmed delinquent business tax liens, authorizing their recordation (8-0). It also adopted annual budgets for two geologic hazard abatement districts: the Leona Quarry GHAD budget for FY 2026/27 (6-0, 2 excused) and the Oakland Area GHAD budget (7-0, 1 excused).

The Council received and filed an AC Transit budget and service update (7-1, with Councilmember Houston abstaining) and rescheduled the 2026 Miscellaneous Planning Code Amendments from consent to non-consent (8-0).

Rules & Legislation Committee Sets July Agenda

The July 9 Rules & Legislation Committee meeting handled procedural business, approving draft minutes from May 28, June 18, and June 25 meetings (4-0) and accepting the committee scheduling report as amended (4-0). The committee forwarded several items to upcoming hearings without taking final action on their merits:

• Coliseum Complex sale amendment scheduled for the July 13 council meeting.
• A $747,288 contract increase for the 7th Street Connection Project forwarded to the Public Works Committee on July 14.
• Tax lien removal resolutions of up to $10 million each scheduled for the Community & Economic Development Committee on July 14.
• Debt and rent forgiveness proposals for the Seminary Point retail project scheduled for July 14.
• Oak Knoll subdivision maps, a public safety grant MOU, and multiple board appointments forwarded to the July 21 council meeting.

July 2 Committee Meeting Cancelled

The scheduled July 2 Rules and Legislation Committee meeting was cancelled due to a lack of quorum. The committee had been discussing a resolution to submit measures to voters regarding real property transfer tax amendments and homelessness services — items the full Council later approved July 7.

Coming Up

Several meetings in the next two weeks address significant financial and policy decisions:

• **July 13 (Special Council):** Consideration of an amendment to the Coliseum Complex sale agreement at 7000 Coliseum Way, including a proposed $50 million lump sum sale of the Arena Parcel and a $60 million sale of the Stadium Parcel with City seller financing, plus a requirement for on-site affordable housing and an agreement for buyers to pay 6% of annual gross ticket sales.
• **July 14 (Finance & Management Committee):** Review of a parking operator contract extension up to $12,399,039, a $202,500 grant for an independent technology audit, and up to $490,000 for forensic audit services.
• **July 14 (Public Works & Transportation Committee):** Vote on a $20,881,650 Broadway streetscape construction contract and a $750,000 grant for 30 electric vehicle charging ports at 7101 Edgewater Drive.
• **July 14 (Community & Economic Development Committee):** Consideration of removing up to $10 million in delinquent liens to facilitate affordable housing and forgiving up to $2 million in city loans and $1.5 million in revolving credit for the Foothill Seminary Point retail project.
• **July 14 (Life Enrichment Committee):** Review of $5,650,302 in HUD supportive housing grants, $3,202,298 in Measure BB paratransit funds, and $1,319,745 in anti-poverty program funding.
• **July 14 (Public Safety Committee):** Vote on a helicopter maintenance contract up to $1.7 million and a $513,000 training services agreement.
• **July 21 (Council):** Consideration of two Police Commission appointments, final passage of the November 3, 2026 municipal election ordinance, and a proposed real property transfer tax amendment projected to raise $4–$13 million annually.

Oakland committees approve $20.7M youth grants, Costco negotiation, and street safety contracts ahead of July 7 council meeting

Oakland's Life Enrichment Committee approved up to $20,677,356 per year in Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) grants for fiscal years 2026-2028, forwarding the two-year package to the City Council's July 7 meeting on a 4-0 vote. The June 23 decision was one of several committee actions that will land on the council agenda this month.

Youth & Community Funding

The Life Enrichment Committee's OFCY grant package is contingent on funding and performance and covers year-round youth programs. The Community & Economic Development Committee separately forwarded a $14.7 million HUD annual action plan — $14,674,799 in federal CDBG, HOME, ESG, and HOPWA grants — to the council on a 4-0 vote. The same committee approved a sale amendment converting the city-owned parcel at 319 Chester Street from for-sale to affordable rental (3-0, Ramachandran excused).

Public Works & Streets

The Public Works and Transportation Committee approved a $2,490,000 contract with Gruendl Inc. for the 14th Street Safety Project (4-0). It also approved two $750,000 street sweeper brush contracts — one to United Rotary Brush Corp and one to Owen Equipment Sales (4-0 each). Asphalt and concrete disposal contracts for Argent Materials and Bee Green Recycling were approved at up to $2.8 million each over five years (4-0). The Broadway Streetscape Improvements contract award was tabled to the July 14 meeting (4-0).

Economic Development & Land Use

The Community & Economic Development Committee voted 4-0 to forward a 24-month exclusive negotiation agreement with Costco for a store on city property at 101 Admiral Robert Toney Way and 2308 Wake Avenue. The agreement includes a $300,000 payment and two six-month extensions at $25,000 each. The committee also approved Business Improvement District annual reports with assessment increases up to 5% (4-0).

Public Safety

The Public Safety Committee approved amendments to the Sanctuary City Ordinance that remove exceptions allowing police to detain individuals on civil immigration detainers and respond to notification requests (3-0). The committee also approved temporary street closures on 9th-11th Avenues to disrupt sex trafficking, forwarding the item to council (3-0). The Sideshow Penalty Ordinance was withdrawn and rescheduled to the pending list (3-0). A report on police chief recruitment was received and filed (3-0).

Governance & Administration

The Finance & Management Committee approved a $200,000 contract with InnoFin Solutions for Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service support over five years (4-0). It also forwarded civil service exemptions for four employee classifications and salary ordinance amendments covering council members, the city attorney, and the city auditor (4-0 each).

The Rules & Legislation Committee approved the reappointment of Alvina Wong to the Board of Port Commissioners (4-0) and continued a real property transfer tax ballot measure to its next meeting with five amendments (3-1). No action was taken on the Mayor's appointment of Elizabeth Lake as Interim City Administrator. The scheduled July 2 Rules & Legislation meeting was cancelled due to a lack of quorum; items on that agenda — including the transfer tax foreclosure exception and an advisory measure on homelessness spending — were not acted on.

Coming up

• **July 7, City Council:** Public hearings on up to $14,674,799 in federal housing grants, FY 2026-27 budgets for the Leona Quarry and Oakland Area Geologic Hazard Abatement Districts, and confirmation of delinquent business tax, property transfer tax, and trash fee liens.
• **July 14, Finance & Management Committee:** A proposed extension of the Oakland Parking Partners contract up to $12,399,039, a $202,500 technology audit grant, and up to $490,000 in forensic audit services.
• **July 14, Public Works & Transportation Committee:** A $20,881,650 Broadway streetscape contract with McGuire and Hester, a $750,000 grant for 30 EV charging ports at 7101 Edgewater Drive, and a $400,000 prepaid Clipper card pilot for West Oakland.
• **July 14, Community & Economic Development Committee:** Authorization to remove up to $10 million in delinquent liens to support affordable housing, up to $3.5 million in debt and rent forgiveness for the Foothill Seminary Point project, and a $300,000 City Hall signage contract.
• **July 14, Life Enrichment Committee:** $5,650,302 in HUD supportive housing grants, $3,202,298 in paratransit funding, and $1,319,745 in anti-poverty program funding.
• **July 14, Public Safety Committee:** A $1.7 million helicopter maintenance contract, a $513,000 training services agreement, and annual reports on eight police surveillance technologies.
• **July 9 and July 16, Rules & Legislation Committee:** Administrative items, minutes approval, and scheduling reviews.

Oakland Committee Roundup: Costco Talks Advance, Youth Grants Approved, Sanctuary Strengthened

Oakland City Council committees forwarded a series of substantial items to the full council this week, including a potential Costco store, $20.7 million in annual youth grants, and strengthened sanctuary city rules. All committee votes were 4–0 or 3–0, and the decisions will appear before the City Council on July 7.

Costco exclusive negotiation agreement moves ahead

The Community & Economic Development Committee voted 4–0 to authorize a 24-month exclusive negotiation agreement with Costco for a store on city property at 101 Admiral Robert Toney Way and 2308 Wake Avenue. Under the deal, Costco would pay Oakland $300,000, with two possible six-month extensions costing $25,000 each. The resolution now heads to the full council.

$20.7 million in annual youth grants forwarded

The Life Enrichment Committee approved Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) year-round program grants totaling up to $20,677,356 per year for fiscal years 2026–2028, contingent on funding and performance. The 4–0 vote sends the item to the City Council for final approval.

Public safety panel bolsters sanctuary protections

The Public Safety Committee voted 3–0 to remove exceptions in the city’s Sanctuary City Ordinance that allowed police to detain individuals on civil immigration detainers and to respond to notification requests. The strengthened ordinance now goes to the council. The same committee also approved (3–0) temporary street closures on 9th–11th Avenues aimed at disrupting sex trafficking. A sideshow penalty ordinance was withdrawn and rescheduled.

$2.49 million 14th Street safety project approved

The Public Works and Transportation Committee advanced a $2.49 million contract to Gruendl Inc. for the 14th Street Safety Project. Members also approved two $750,000 street sweeper brush contracts (to United Rotary Brush Corp and Owen Equipment Sales) and asphalt/concrete disposal contracts worth up to $2.8 million each over five years. The award of a Broadway streetscape improvement contract was tabled until July 14.

Finance committee OKs budget software contract

The Finance & Management Committee approved a $200,000 contract with InnoFin Solutions for Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service support over five years, along with several civil service exemptions and salary ordinance amendments. All items passed 4–0.

What’s coming up

July 7 – City Council / Redevelopment Successor Agency

Public hearings and votes on up to $14,674,799 in federal housing and community development grants for FY 2026–27, budgets for geologic hazard abatement districts, and confirmation of delinquent tax and trash fee liens.

July 14 – Public Works and Transportation Committee

Vote on a $20,881,650 construction contract to McGuire and Hester for Broadway streetscape improvements, plus acceptance of a $750,000 grant for 30 electric vehicle charging ports and multiple fleet repair contracts.

July 14 – Community & Economic Development Committee

Consideration of removing up to $10 million in delinquent tax and code enforcement liens to facilitate affordable housing, forgiving up to $3.5 million in debt for the Foothill Seminary Point retail project, and approving $300,000 for City Hall signage design.

July 14 – Finance & Management Committee

Extension of the municipal parking management contract up to $12,399,039, along with audits and bond reimbursement resolutions.

July 14 – Life Enrichment Committee

Recommendations on over $5.6 million in HUD supportive housing grants, $3.2 million in paratransit services, and $1.3 million for anti-poverty programs.