[2:23] To the Community and Economic Development
[2:26] Committee meeting of Tuesday, July 14th, 2026.
[2:30] The time is now 1:30 p.m.
[2:31] and this meeting may come to order.
[2:33] Before taking roll, I will provide instructions
[2:35] on how to submit speaker cards for items on this agenda.
[2:40] If you're here with us in chamber, would like to submit a speaker card, please fill one out and turn one into myself
[2:44] or clerk representative no later than ten minutes after the start of this meeting
[2:47] or before the item is read in to record.
[2:49] Whichever occurs first.
[2:51] Registering to speak via zoom is now due 24 hours
[2:53] prior to the start of this meeting,
[2:55] and this meeting came to order at 1:30 p.m.
[3:00] and speaker cards will no longer be accepted ten minutes after making that time, 1:40 p.m.
[3:03] we'll now proceed with taking roll.
[3:05] Council members five present Ungar here one
[3:10] as Ramachandran.
[3:12] Oh, sorry. Ramachandran. Excuse me.
[3:14] Transit excuse and chair.
[3:16] Well, present.
[3:19] Thank you. We have three members present.
[3:21] One excused. Ramachandran and chair, before we begin,
[3:23] do you have any announcements at this time? Yes.
[3:26] So first off, just want to make the announcement
[3:30] that this will be,
[3:32] one of our last, CDD meetings until September the 21st.
[3:36] I just want to thank all of the departments,
[3:40] that have presented over the course of the last couple of months. HCD
[3:44] planning and building.
[3:46] And thank you all for all of your hard work.
[3:48] I also did want to take a moment of,
[3:51] personal, privilege to shout out, to, interns
[3:56] in my office, since, as well as Mariana,
[4:00] who also served on the,
[4:02] the school board as the school board representative.
[4:04] And then we'll be heading off to college in the fall.
[4:07] But we're so proud to have you
[4:09] in the office during the summer.
[4:10] So, everyone, please feel free to go
[4:14] introduce yourself
[4:15] and learn all about, some of the
[4:17] things that they're working on.
[4:18] And then also, I would make the announcement,
[4:21] just to ensure that we are staying on time
[4:26] with the amount of, agenda items that we have, I will limit public comment to
[4:29] one minute. Thank you so much.
[4:32] Thank you.
[4:34] Chair. Noting the presence of Council Member Ramachandran at 1:32 p.m.
[4:37] reading in item one approval of the draft minutes
[4:39] from the committee meeting of June 23rd, 2026.
[4:42] We have no speakers on this item, just need a motion.
[4:45] Excellent. Thank you so much, colleagues.
[4:50] Councilmember. Fine.
[4:51] So moved.
[4:52] Thank you. Excellent.
[4:53] Thank you, thank you.
[4:55] We have a motion made by Council Member five,
[4:57] seconded by Council Member Ramachandran
[5:00] to accept the draft minutes from the committee meeting of June 23rd, 2026.
[5:03] Honorable Council Members five I Ravichandran
[5:06] Unger I and Chair Brown, I thank you.
[5:09] Item one passes with four eyes to accept the draft minutes
[5:13] from the Committee meeting of June 23rd, 2026.
[5:16] Item two determination of Schedule,
[5:18] outstanding committee items.
[5:19] And we do have a number of speakers
[5:21] that signed up to speak on this item. Okay.
[5:23] Thank you so much.
[5:24] So to the, administration, any changes?
[5:28] No changes at this time. Perfect.
[5:30] Thank you.
[5:32] We'll I'll go ahead and entertain a motion prior to hearing
[5:34] the public speakers.
[5:40] Council member Unger.
[5:41] So moved.
[5:42] Excellent. Second. Perfect.
[5:45] Thank you so much. And then we can hear from the public speakers.
[5:48] Okay. Calling in the names that signed up to speak on item number two.
[5:51] In no particular order, you can come up to the podium,
[5:53] state your name before making your comment.
[5:55] Or if you're on zoom, please
[5:56] raise your hand to be easily identified.
[5:59] Lawrence Cox.
[6:02] Aaron.
[6:03] Venues.
[6:04] Deshaun taller.
[6:07] Sorry.
[6:09] Give me one moment.
[6:12] Shinobi.
[6:12] Howard.
[6:14] Markel. Duncan,
[6:17] Joyce. Moran, Margaret.
[6:19] Grim. Alice.
[6:21] Sarah. Amir and Nita b.
[6:26] Again, in no particular order, you can come up
[6:28] to the podium, state your name for the record,
[6:30] and then noting the adjustment of the time to one minute.
[6:34] I'm so going so.
[6:41] Hi, my name is Margaret Clemens.
[6:44] I'm a long term resident of Oakland, California, over 60 years.
[6:46] I'm here to, suggest that an agenda item
[6:50] be added to the committee meeting to discuss the street
[6:54] vendor, enforcement plan,
[6:58] or rather, develop an enforcement plan
[7:00] or a compliance plan with the street vendors.
[7:05] And to ensure that the city
[7:07] is in compliance with state law, SB 946 and with the U.S.
[7:11] Constitution, and that they are giving the vendors due process
[7:15] and most importantly, that they engage the vendors in solutions
[7:20] for whatever the issues are, or that the city is determining
[7:24] the issues are with street vending.
[7:26] Street vending vendors are a vital
[7:30] and important and, necessary
[7:34] component of community and, Oakland's authenticity
[7:38] and destroying the street vendors
[7:40] and their source of livelihood
[7:41] in a city where it's so expensive.
[7:51] My name is Nina B, and I've been a street vendor
[7:53] in Oakland since I was 19 years old, and I'm 55 years old now.
[7:56] When I started street vendors, there were no laws that existed.
[7:59] So what I was doing was not illegal.
[8:00] The first set of laws that were implemented that, impacted
[8:04] my livelihood was six years ago and claimed
[8:07] that what I was doing was now criminal.
[8:09] The city should shift from its gatekeeping of street vendors
[8:12] into working in partnership with street
[8:13] vendors and include, longtime informal street vendors,
[8:16] both permitted and permitted, not permitted.
[8:19] The decision making to help us, to waive and subsidize part
[8:22] participation costs for low income vendors design programs.
[8:25] But in an equity and culture around street
[8:27] vending hubs like Lake Merritt, Fruitvale and downtown,
[8:30] advocate for a simpler, clear, streamlined, accessible
[8:33] permit systems.
[8:35] I know lots of vendors who try to get their permits is a runaround.
[8:37] They get their permits, and they're still getting messed
[8:39] with, that you didn't start treating.
[8:41] Vendors are participants in not problems
[8:43] that were leaders and culture keepers,
[8:44] and the city has been destroying property.
[8:46] Both permitted and unpermitted vendors and without warning,
[8:49] without receipt, and with no way to get people's property back.
[9:02] Hello, I'm Lisa Z.
[9:04] I am a home owner.
[9:06] Neighborhood is Cleveland Heights.
[9:09] I live near the Cascade Steps.
[9:11] I feel we need to keep these vendors here
[9:15] by educating kids today.
[9:19] Sorry to the speaker. Do you have a speaker card filled out for this item? Yes.
[9:24] Can you repeat your name?
[9:25] Lisa Z back.
[9:27] I don't have one for you.
[9:29] I'm sorry.
[9:37] The rich and historic street vending culture neighborhood.
[9:40] Please state your name for the record.
[9:42] Julius Murali. Thank you.
[9:45] Economic systems in the Oakland community
[9:46] should not be criminalized or erased.
[9:48] It is part of the Oakland identity
[9:50] and should be protected and supported.
[9:51] This is a quality of life for working
[9:53] class and black and brown folks.
[9:57] Now, because all of us have multiple jobs and side hustles to be able to exist in the city
[9:59] we're born and raised in,
[10:02] our culture and quality of life keeps getting negatively impacted in
[10:05] by the people who are not from here
[10:07] are can't figure out how to fit in.
[10:08] There has been talk about the trash and our noise at the lake,
[10:12] and we vendors all agree.
[10:14] We asked our city workers to help support
[10:17] us, as in getting us more trash bags so we can be able to hold each other accountable.
[10:21] And our customers.
[10:23] They are literally not enough trash cans anywhere in Oakland
[10:26] and definitely not around the lake.
[10:27] So the vendors have been organized
[10:30] to clean up the lake every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and making
[10:32] sure our customers pick up trash too.
[10:34] We encourage each other
[10:35] to turn off our music at the appropriate time.
[10:37] In the ordinance, which is at 9 p.m.
[10:39] when we have the funds, we have been able to put porta
[10:42] potties for our cell.
[10:50] Hello, my name is Shinobi.
[10:51] I'm also a vendor at, on Lake Shore, a lake Shore Avenue.
[10:54] So basically we just ask the city
[10:56] and especially public works.
[10:57] Can they help us with larger trash?
[11:00] And we can put more trash away. And we need porta potties.
[11:03] So we have porta potties for the vendors
[11:05] and for also the for our customers.
[11:08] You know, this is a cultural thing.
[11:11] You know what I'm saying? We've been other vendor out there since 20, since 2018.
[11:14] So I've been up there like about seven years now.
[11:16] And I think it's
[11:18] also we have some of the,
[11:20] some of the city workers have been giving out fake tickets,
[11:23] fake parking tickets, which we've put downtown.
[11:25] They said these tickets are aren't even real.
[11:27] So I think there's just something to distract
[11:28] until people just don't come to the lake.
[11:31] Yes. That's it.
[11:32] Thank you.
[11:35] Oh, nice to be back to
[11:37] stay.
[11:40] Hello, my name is Sarah Mir.
[11:41] I am an Oakland resident, longtime Oakland ready student,
[11:45] and also a teacher here at USD.
[11:50] And I'm always concerned about how, the,
[11:55] you know, the boards and the governments
[11:56] here are actually working in collaboration
[11:59] with the communities here.
[12:00] So there's this, theory of practice
[12:03] defined by Paulo Ferrari called Praxis, which is the continuous
[12:07] and dynamic cycle of reflection and action.
[12:09] You use theory to guide your action,
[12:11] to guide your reflection. And it's continuous.
[12:14] It's working towards a shared goal in collaboration
[12:17] with community members
[12:18] and the most vulnerable. Here
[12:20] you have the most vulnerable standing here before you.
[12:23] And nowhere do I see anything showing that you are working with them.
[12:26] What about the attacks on the vendors is based on theory.
[12:29] What type of reflection is taking place and how is this
[12:33] committee actually protecting these community members?
[12:36] Thank you.
[12:41] Hi, I'm Erin,
[12:42] yes, I live in the Fruitvale Dimond area,
[12:44] another area with plenty of street vendors.
[12:47] These are folks who are a crucial part of the area's,
[12:51] economy and community.
[12:53] They really want to serve their customers and neighbors
[12:56] safely and in compliance
[12:58] with all of the safety rules that would be needed.
[13:02] And the county and city
[13:05] is really punitive and possibly illegal.
[13:09] Code enforcement actions against them
[13:11] are making that impossible.
[13:13] Like, I have talked to folks who are trying to help street
[13:16] vendors in the Fruitvale area navigate the sort of the code
[13:21] compliance process with the county.
[13:24] And they are folks who have sometimes
[13:26] been trying for years and years and years
[13:29] to get their operations in compliance.
[13:31] And they can't because the city and the county
[13:33] are not supporting them, and the city and county
[13:35] are often setting them back by destroying their property
[13:40] without receipts, without any sort of like.
[13:53] Hello, my name is DeShawn.
[13:55] Once again I am a street vendor
[13:57] that make clothes and so clothes for Lake Merritt.
[14:01] I would like the city to not.
[14:06] Traders treat us like criminals and traders and traders
[14:10] like as a partnership. I know everybody's having it.
[14:13] Well, the city's having meetings.
[14:14] We would like to be involved.
[14:16] So you can understand where we're coming from.
[14:18] And we can meet halfway instead of
[14:21] just going about your way and destroying the culture.
[14:25] Because as us, as a community, that's what we are.
[14:29] We are family. So let's treat it like one instead of just having it
[14:33] be one sided.
[14:34] So I would like to see that from the city of Oakland.
[14:39] Thank you.
[14:45] My name is Marco Duncan.
[14:46] I'm a policy fellow at all of us.
[14:48] A nun and legal services children and Oakland resident.
[14:51] I see a lack of
[14:56] empathy.
[14:58] You know, you have people that are trying to do
[15:01] the best they can to to make it honestly,
[15:05] and it's a whole bunch of other stuff going on in this city,
[15:08] trash all over the place and everything else.
[15:11] And instead of doing the things
[15:13] that people care about the most,
[15:15] they messing around with the people
[15:17] that are trying to do better.
[15:19] And that's just not right.
[15:21] It's not right.
[15:22] No give, give people an opportunity to
[15:25] to to make conditions better for themselves and their families.
[15:29] And I understand that there's, you know,
[15:34] laws that, that and,
[15:37] you know, licensing and stuff like that,
[15:38] that people must have to sell stuff.
[15:40] But if that's the case,
[15:41] then apply the laws and policies equally,
[15:44] because it's only one group of people getting messed with.
[15:54] Good afternoon.
[15:56] My name is Lawrence. I am the regional advocacy and organizing associate for
[15:59] LPC, and all of us are known.
[16:00] And briefly,
[16:02] what I want to say is if community matters
[16:04] and the power is with the community,
[16:06] then when decisions are being made for the community,
[16:08] I think the community should be involved.
[16:10] We're looking at public safety,
[16:12] which should be important to everyone up here.
[16:14] The opportunities that we give those in our lower,
[16:17] lower socioeconomic, demographics is important.
[16:20] What we do for individuals
[16:21] who are returning home and may find themselves
[16:24] unable to be employed, but find that
[16:26] they have some type of hustle where they can do something
[16:28] legally, should not be discouraged
[16:30] or sent the wrong message as if they are
[16:32] still doing something criminal.
[16:33] And I think when we when we fail to realize that
[16:37] and create a conduit to where there's a two way street
[16:39] and there's understanding,
[16:41] we run the risk of jeopardizing our public safety.
[16:44] Because when you're killing the culture and you're
[16:45] killing economic opportunities for our communities,
[16:48] under the guise of trying to make better, it doesn't work.
[16:53] And it doesn't it doesn't make sense.
[16:54] And I'll stop there. Thank you.
[16:57] Thank you for your comments, chair.
[16:59] That concludes all speakers on this item.
[17:03] Excellent. Thank you so much. Just want to, acknowledge and thank, all of the speakers
[17:07] for coming out. I also saw the video that you that was posted online, about
[17:12] just some of the activities that have been occurring.
[17:14] And I do think it's very important
[17:16] that our street vendors have a
[17:18] seat at the table and are included
[17:21] in the conversations that involve them.
[17:23] And so, I look forward to, need to be and all of us
[17:27] at leadership, at all of us or none.
[17:28] I believe you all know how to get in contact with me.
[17:31] And so I definitely welcome, having a discussion,
[17:35] and seeing how we can move that forward.
[17:38] So thank you so much for the for those comments.
[17:44] Thank you. And we have a motion made by Council Member Unger,
[17:45] seconded by Council Member Ramachandran,
[17:47] to accept the determination of schedule,
[17:49] all Standing Committee items as is on roll.
[17:52] Council members five Ramachandran.
[17:55] Unger I and Chair Brown.
[17:58] Thank you. Item two passes with four eyes to accept the determination
[18:02] of schedule. All standing committee items as is reading in.
[18:06] Oh, sorry. Before reading in item S three.
[18:09] This does require an urgency finding vote as this was added at the three day.
[18:12] Okay. Thank you so much.
[18:14] I'll move with the urgency vote.
[18:16] Just need a second.
[18:21] Okay.
[18:28] Thank you. We have a motion made by council,
[18:29] by Chair Brown, seconded by council member
[18:31] five to accept the urgency finding on item S three on roll.
[18:37] Council members five.
[18:38] Ramachandran.
[18:40] Unger I and Chair Brown I thank you urgency
[18:44] finding passes with four eyes.
[18:46] Sorry to accept the urgency and urgency finding on item S3.
[18:50] Now reading in item S3,
[18:53] adopt the following pieces
[18:54] of legislation A resolution authorizing
[18:56] the City Administrator to remove delinquent
[18:58] City of Oakland code enforcement liens and unlink fees.
[19:02] Cost assessment
[19:03] and civil penalties on certain tax defaulted properties
[19:07] for a period of four years.
[19:08] To facilitate the development
[19:10] of these properties into affordable
[19:11] housing via Alameda County's Chapter eight tax sale program,
[19:15] and limiting the aggregated amount of liens removed pursuant
[19:19] to the authorization to a nominal well, you not to exceed
[19:23] $10 million, and acknowledging the transmutation,
[19:27] transmutation of the of these code enforcement
[19:30] liens at all into prorated chapter eight sales
[19:34] proceeding or sorry proceeds that proceeds that will be paid
[19:37] to the city of Oakland and
[19:40] a resolution authorizing the city Administrator
[19:42] to remove delinquent City of Oakland vacant property.
[19:45] Vacant property tax liens on certain
[19:48] tax defaulted properties for a period of four years.
[19:50] To facilitate the development of these properties
[19:52] into affordable housing via Alameda County's Chapter eight
[19:56] tax sale program, and acknowledging the transmutation.
[19:59] Sorry, these vacant property tax liens into prorated chapter
[20:03] eight sale proceeds
[20:05] that will be paid into or paid to the city of Oakland,
[20:09] and limiting the aggregated amount of liens removed pursuant to
[20:12] this authorization to a nominal
[20:14] to a nominal value, not to exceed $10 million.
[20:16] And we have
[20:18] one speaker the signed up for this item.
[20:20] Perfect. Thank you so much.
[20:21] We'll hear from staff
[20:22] on this item and we'll do, eight minutes.
[20:27] All right.
[20:30] Good afternoon councilmembers.
[20:33] My name is Kelly Smith. I'm a senior advisor in the city of Oakland's
[20:34] Housing community development Department.
[20:36] We have a brief presentation for this item.
[20:41] Thank you.
[20:43] So today's item, is related to
[20:47] the county of Alameda is a desire
[20:49] to move forward with chapter eight tax sale process.
[20:51] For some lots here in Oakland.
[20:54] So as we all know, there are a number of vacant
[20:57] lots in Oakland.
[20:59] A subset of these lots are effectively abandoned by their current owner
[21:02] and have entered a tax defaulted status.
[21:05] This means that they have failed to pay their property taxes
[21:08] for over five years.
[21:09] Normally when that happens,
[21:11] the county will first try
[21:12] to sell the property at auction
[21:14] to try to repay the local governments
[21:16] as much of those back taxes as possible.
[21:19] However, what we see are that
[21:21] some of them are unsuccessful in selling at that auction.
[21:25] Sometimes the properties are undeveloped,
[21:27] but they may have no road access.
[21:29] There may be other site conditions
[21:30] that make them difficult to develop.
[21:32] In other cases, the value of the back taxes
[21:35] is more than the value
[21:36] of the properties themselves, which deters people
[21:39] from buying the properties because under state law,
[21:41] the minimum auction price
[21:43] is the value of those back taxes and liens.
[21:46] This puts these properties in limbo.
[21:48] There's no one to pay these
[21:50] back taxes and liens, so they're effectively uncollectible.
[21:53] But the property remains vacant and without anyone
[21:56] to move it forward.
[21:58] There is a provision in state law
[21:59] that can help with this situation.
[22:01] The chapter eight tax sale process allows the county's
[22:04] tax collector to negotiate a lower fair price to sell tax
[22:08] defaulted properties to affordable
[22:10] housing nonprofits, or to public agencies
[22:12] or nonprofits for other public purposes.
[22:15] The chapter eight tax sale process has the potential
[22:17] to help address some blight concerns in Oakland,
[22:20] as we know that a number of these vacant lots
[22:22] are significant attractors of blight and nuisance activities.
[22:25] Many of these activities ultimately have to be abated
[22:28] by the city of Oakland at expense to the city of Oakland,
[22:32] with no one to recover those costs from.
[22:35] Now, in terms of the process here, this is very much
[22:39] led by Alameda County's tax collectors office.
[22:42] The city of Oakland is in a supporting role,
[22:44] the Alameda County Tax Collectors Office,
[22:47] because they it's their responsibility
[22:49] to collect taxes and dispose of properties
[22:51] where they cannot collect of the taxes
[22:53] they identify the locations that are suitable
[22:55] for sale under chapter eight tax sales.
[22:57] They identify which parties to sell those to,
[22:59] they identify the sales price,
[23:01] and they complete the mechanics of the transaction itself.
[23:05] The city of Oakland sprawls primarily later in the process,
[23:07] after a property has been sold
[23:08] to a potential affordable housing developer.
[23:11] The city of Oakland has land
[23:12] use authority through our zoning code,
[23:14] and we also are oftentimes a funder of affordable housing.
[23:19] Now, today's council action is fairly narrow.
[23:23] We are primarily in the role
[23:24] of removing a constraint on this process.
[23:27] Most of the time when there's this tax sale,
[23:29] whether that is an auction
[23:30] or through this chapter, a tax sale process,
[23:33] the outstanding taxes
[23:34] are wiped out via the sale under state law,
[23:38] based on guidance from our city Attorney's office,
[23:40] as well as conversations
[23:41] with the county council and Alameda County,
[23:44] we've identified that there are some specific actions
[23:47] the council would need to take to unblock
[23:49] these kinds of transactions from moving forward,
[23:51] primarily removing vacant property tax liens and code
[23:55] enforcement liens to make sure that these historic liabilities
[23:58] do not unduly burden the new owners of the property,
[24:02] who we want to take control of these properties and then exercise
[24:05] responsible ownership moving forward
[24:06] and ultimately develop affordable housing on them.
[24:09] This item has an upper
[24:11] limit of four years, or $10 million in liens that we expect,
[24:15] the actual amount of waived taxes and liens to be far lower.
[24:20] The city will receive a prorated share of whatever the sale price is,
[24:23] even if we're not able
[24:24] to collect the full value of those back taxes.
[24:27] If the city had 50% of the outstanding taxes on a property,
[24:30] then whatever the sale price is, the city would expect
[24:33] to receive about 50% of those proceeds.
[24:37] Now, this is,
[24:39] here is a list of properties that Alameda County
[24:42] has identified as the ones they think are most suitable to development.
[24:46] I'd like to emphasize that this is just Alameda
[24:48] County's first pass at this.
[24:50] There in our follow up conversations,
[24:52] there may be additional properties that are identified,
[24:54] whether that is properties that become tax defaulted,
[24:57] that are not currently tax defaulted,
[24:58] or whether there are properties
[25:00] that are currently tax defaulted
[25:01] but have barriers to development,
[25:03] that in further conversation, we can help address.
[25:08] So in terms of the next steps here,
[25:10] that we've been coming towards this for a long time,
[25:14] I know that council member five in particular has been,
[25:17] seeking to use this as a lever opportunity to address
[25:21] some of the issues with these tax defaulted,
[25:23] blighted lots in Oakland for a number of years.
[25:27] Really? And it's just a mechanically relatively complicated process,
[25:31] which is required,
[25:32] this sort of coordinated city county action.
[25:35] Today, later today, we're expecting the county
[25:38] Board of Supervisors to approve the first chapter eight tax sale, this decade,
[25:42] for 8215 MacArthur Boulevard, to the Black Cultural Zone
[25:46] Community Development Corporation.
[25:48] After this item went to, print,
[25:52] we heard that there's actually a second
[25:53] affordable housing developer, which is interested
[25:55] in a different, property here in Oakland.
[25:58] We're still gathering more information about that.
[26:00] We also are hoping to expand the range of properties
[26:04] available to affordable housing developers in Oakland.
[26:06] We know that
[26:08] there are a lot of brownfield sites in Oakland
[26:09] with environmental contamination,
[26:11] which can deter developers from wishing
[26:13] to move forward with this process.
[26:15] Just last month, we got word that the city and county
[26:18] had successfully won $1.5 million from the Environmental
[26:21] Protection Agency
[26:23] for a Brownfield Assessment grant,
[26:24] which will help us understand which of these properties are
[26:27] relatively clean and are able to move forward
[26:30] into redevelopment into a productive,
[26:32] affordable housing use quickly.
[26:34] And which of them
[26:34] need additional funding
[26:37] to address historic pollution issues before they can receive a more permanent yes.
[26:41] So we do expect a majority of that $1.5 million grant
[26:45] to serve these, tax defaulted properties
[26:48] in Oakland, as well as some other sites
[26:50] that are going to be used for affordable housing.
[26:53] So that is a brief overview of this item.
[26:55] Now please take any questions.
[26:58] Thank you. Excellent. Thank you so much, Caleb, for a comprehensive presentation.
[27:01] I don't have any questions on this item.
[27:03] Colleagues.
[27:05] Councilmember five
[27:07] I can't state enough through the chair how elated
[27:10] I am that there has been some movement on this, process.
[27:14] I've been working on it for almost a decade.
[27:17] And to see this type of, action
[27:20] happen at the hands of HCD, I just.
[27:24] My hat's off to you. This has been a Herculean task, for whatever reason, to get
[27:28] the county to move forward.
[27:29] And I know this is on the city side,
[27:31] and we're working in partnership with them,
[27:33] but I just wanted to thank you publicly for that.
[27:36] And I wonder,
[27:39] I'm looking at page six and the majority of these sites
[27:43] that are currently listed are in district three.
[27:46] Are they all zoned residential?
[27:51] Through the chair to council member five
[27:53] for the initial list of sites that the county's identified,
[27:55] they are indeed all zoned residential.
[27:57] There are a number of other tax
[27:59] defaulted lots in Oakland which have nonresidential uses.
[28:03] However, rezoning is a, complicated process at time.
[28:07] So at the moment the county has been
[28:08] focusing on sites which do, under current zoning,
[28:11] allow for residential use. Outstanding.
[28:13] I know several of the lots I've, I've investigated
[28:18] have, a need for potential rezoning,
[28:20] and that adds to the complication.
[28:22] So I'm happy that these are all residential.
[28:24] And then what role would planning and building
[28:28] play in potentially, working with HCD
[28:33] to see if, like, tiny homes could be put on these lots?
[28:36] Do you know if,
[28:38] there would need to be a zoning change for, for tiny homes
[28:42] or if there would need to be an existing
[28:44] dwelling on the parcel in order to have additional,
[28:47] dwelling units.
[28:49] So the chair accessory.
[28:51] I'm sorry. Through the chair to council member five.
[28:54] I might have heard some of my colleagues
[28:56] here from putting a building department on that.
[28:57] I think it probably to the developable capacity of the lots
[29:02] probably depends on a case by case basis.
[29:04] Based on the current
[29:05] zoning as well as the specific use intended.
[29:09] I know that our, colleagues at the planning building
[29:13] department are always happy to talk
[29:14] with potential developers about different,
[29:17] potential development approaches
[29:21] and get a better sense of which might be suitable for current zoning or what
[29:24] the options might be if,
[29:25] additional zoning actions are required.
[29:27] Okay.
[29:29] I'm sorry, and I have a colleague here
[29:30] from Planning Building to add further to that.
[29:34] Good afternoon, committee chair.
[29:35] And through the chair, Council member five
[29:37] to answer your question, yes, I would my bureau
[29:41] as well as the planning bureau would have to meet
[29:43] and discuss how that would look for tiny homes on a parcel
[29:47] and what approaches we might take
[29:49] that would basically straddle both our permitting process
[29:52] as well as the planning review process.
[29:54] And, I'm just asking for the public
[29:58] because through the chair, I've asked Director Gilchrist this question many times.
[30:01] And there are a couple I see, back there.
[30:04] I know Roots Clinic wants to put some tiny
[30:08] homes on parcels in district three.
[30:10] They primarily operate
[30:11] in East Oakland. And so we've been
[30:13] in conversation about utilizing some lots.
[30:16] They're privately owned, but it's similar in nature.
[30:19] So I just wanted to state that for the record,
[30:21] this is exciting and I'm happy to make the motion.
[30:23] I know we have a public speaker, but happy.
[30:26] I cannot again express how happy I am
[30:29] for this particular moment. Thank you both.
[30:31] Thank you. Yeah.
[30:33] Thank you. Remember Councilmember Ramachandran.
[30:35] Thank you. Thank you for the report.
[30:37] This is, This is great.
[30:40] I wanted to know, per the chapter eight sale laws
[30:45] from the county side, could it be used for
[30:48] not only affordable housing, but like safe RV parking
[30:52] and other and transitional housing as well?
[30:55] Or is it limited to
[30:57] a housing developer and a building going up?
[31:02] Sure. Through the chair to Council Member Ramachandran.
[31:05] I think that that's a question that may require
[31:08] some further analysis.
[31:09] With the county's attorneys.
[31:12] The chapter eight tax sale law does allow for uses
[31:15] beyond strictly affordable housing.
[31:17] Public agencies are allowed to purchase properties.
[31:20] And there may be other kinds of public use which is allowed.
[31:24] I think that the county task
[31:26] collector's office has given some early thought
[31:29] to what additional categories of public use would be eligible here.
[31:31] But I'm sure they would be happy to participate
[31:36] in the conversation about additional opportunities, because some of these sites,
[31:39] like the ones here, may be highly suitable
[31:41] for permanent affordable housing development,
[31:44] but there may be other sites that would be a better fit for other uses.
[31:46] Okay. Thank you. Perfect.
[31:48] And we can hear from the public speaker
[31:51] calling in the name that signed up to speak on item number S3.
[31:54] Miss Asada, Ola Bala.
[32:00] So no more
[32:02] tiny home projects until we can stop
[32:06] the destruction that takes place.
[32:08] When we put tiny homes
[32:10] at Lake Merritt and West Oakland, we had to destroy
[32:13] After the the use of them were, well finished.
[32:18] This item says that the Alameda County Board of Supervisors
[32:21] expected to approve the chapter
[32:23] eight tax sales at their July 14 meeting.
[32:27] So they're meeting today to approve the use of chapter
[32:32] eight. Expected to the timeline is is that you would wait
[32:36] until Alameda County Board of Supervisors approves this.
[32:42] Just to say they expecting to do it.
[32:44] You need to have them officially do it.
[32:47] And why is this?
[32:49] Is that the reason why this is rule 28.
[32:52] And you have to do this by the end of July.
[32:57] And that vacancy tax, another absurd tax where you have people
[33:00] paying up to $6,000 annually.
[33:08] Thank you for your comments, chair. That concludes all speakers that signed up to speak. Perfect.
[33:11] Thank you. I'll second, Council member five motion.
[33:15] Thank you. We have a motion made by council member five second by Chair Brown
[33:17] to approve the recommendations of staff
[33:20] and to forward this item to the July 21st City Council agenda on roll.
[33:23] Council members five I Ramachandran K, Unger
[33:28] I and chair Brown I thank you motion passes with for
[33:32] I support this item to the July 24th City Council agenda
[33:35] and to the maker of the motion or on consent.
[33:39] Thank you. On consent.
[33:40] Before reading in item three.
[33:42] This does require an urgency finding vote as this was added
[33:45] at the three day.
[33:48] Perfect. Thank you so much. So moved on the urgency finding a second that.
[33:54] Thank you. On the urgency finding motion, we have a motion
[33:56] made by Chair Brown, second by Councilmember Ungar,
[33:59] to accept the urgency finding on item
[34:02] four on roll Council members.
[34:06] Sorry, Council members five I Ramachandran I,
[34:10] Ungar I and chair Brown
[34:12] I thank you motion passes with four eyes
[34:16] to accept the urgency finding One moment.
[34:22] We need to.
[34:24] Once he sits down.
[34:30] It's just a motion to adjourn into a special meeting.
[34:34] So moved.
[34:35] Thank you.
[34:36] Do, we have a motion made by Councilmember
[34:38] Ramachandran, seconded by Chair Brown.
[34:41] Due to the presence of council members,
[34:43] Council President Jenkins, to sorry to adjourn
[34:48] the meeting and to reconvene as is city Council on roll.
[34:53] Council members five Ramachandran.
[34:55] Ungar. And chair Brown Thank you.
[34:58] Motion passes with four eyes to adjourn that meeting.
[35:02] Economic development Committee meeting
[35:03] and to reconvene as a special city
[35:06] council reading in item as S4.
[35:11] Adopt the following pieces of legislation a resolution
[35:13] authorizing the forgiveness of a city loan to Athena.
[35:17] Empty, LLC of up to $2 million in outstanding principal,
[35:21] plus all accrued and unpaid interest and fees.
[35:25] And be a sorry a city revolving line of credit
[35:30] to sub app Shah with a final
[35:33] outstanding balance of $1,500,000
[35:36] plus accrued and unpaid interest and fees for the Foothill
[35:40] Seminary Point retail project, each contingent upon
[35:43] sale of the transfer.
[35:44] The sale or transfer of the project to a qualified purchaser
[35:48] and making appropriate SQL findings and
[35:52] to an ordinance authorizing the forgiveness of
[35:54] of outstanding and future rent balances,
[35:58] and an amount up to $40,000 for Seminary Point, LLC pursuant to the ground lease
[36:01] with the city, contingent on the sale
[36:03] or transfer of the leasehold interest
[36:05] and the property at a, sorry property
[36:08] to a qualified purchaser and making Sigma findings.
[36:10] And we have two speakers that signed up to speak. Perfect.
[36:14] Thank you so much. So for this item, we'll hear from the our director of
[36:18] IWD as well as someone from the team as well.
[36:23] Good afternoon, chair Brown, Council president KD Committee members.
[36:26] My name is Ashley it, director
[36:27] of economic and workforce development,
[36:30] Seminary point was developed on city owned land to address
[36:33] a long standing need for neighborhood
[36:35] serving retail in the Foothill Seminary area.
[36:40] And like many commercial centers, it was hit hard by the pandemic
[36:42] and the departure of its anchor tenant created
[36:44] additional challenges
[36:45] and has contributed to decreased activity.
[36:48] Today, the project is at risk of foreclosure.
[36:51] The recommendation before you is a practical, forward
[36:54] looking solution.
[36:56] Staff is recommending the forgiveness
[36:58] of the city's existing loan and line of credit,
[37:01] but only if a qualified buyer acquires the leasehold
[37:04] and takes over stewardship of the center.
[37:07] This action removes a significant barrier to a sale,
[37:10] improves the project's marketability,
[37:13] and gives us the best opportunity to attract an experienced owner
[37:16] who can stabilize the property
[37:17] and preserve this important community asset.
[37:20] Without this action, foreclosure becomes much more likely
[37:24] and the city would likely lose its investment regardless.
[37:26] Because our debt is subordinate to the senior lender,
[37:30] this recommendation offers the strongest path towards
[37:33] protecting neighborhood retail, supporting existing businesses
[37:36] and positioning Seminary Point for long term success.
[37:40] With that framing, I'm going to turn it over to Teresa Lopez,
[37:42] manager of the public private development division within,
[37:46] to move through some of the details.
[37:47] Thank you.
[37:55] We have a PowerPoint presentation.
[37:58] And, good afternoon.
[38:00] As it's mentioned, my name is Teresa Lopez.
[38:02] I'm the development manager in the public
[38:03] private development division.
[38:05] And I'm going to give you provide
[38:06] an overview of the Foothill Seminary retail center.
[38:10] And, the history and to date, what has occurred.
[38:15] So a new POI is located on Foothill Seminary.
[38:20] It is made up of 1.69 acres,
[38:23] with 29,950ft of commercial space with parking.
[38:28] And the city developed the site in partnership
[38:31] with Sunfield Development via a land, a lease disposition
[38:35] development agreement and a 66 year ground lease.
[38:42] As you can see here from the aerial,
[38:44] an example of the tenants on the in the property,
[38:48] it has provided services to the community.
[38:51] There is a Bank of America ATM, a grocery that provides,
[38:55] women and an infinite children's grocery services
[38:58] and we, wireless, Verizon, MetroPCS.
[39:02] And it's a great cafe and pizza.
[39:04] A more recent tenant is the flower of Yemenis,
[39:08] restaurant that will be opening soon.
[39:13] There. We do have a vacancy where the old Walgreens was located
[39:16] and was left in January 2025 as a part of a larger
[39:22] local Walgreens closing in the Bay area.
[39:28] So the history of this site is that the former Oakland Redevelopment
[39:32] Agency acquired 11 parcels at the corner Foothill Seminary.
[39:37] From 2027 to 2012,
[39:42] the city worked on demolition of the buildings, cleaning up the property,
[39:45] the soil,
[39:46] and when that was completed, we released in 2012
[39:50] a request for proposal to develop on the site.
[39:54] The specific goal was to create a retail center
[39:58] for the community to provide goods and services.
[40:01] So we were able to to complete that process.
[40:04] And in 2013, after release of the RFP,
[40:10] some field development
[40:11] was selected to construct and manage the property.
[40:15] In 2015, as part of the closing
[40:18] for construction, we provided,
[40:22] well, we provided a $2
[40:23] million C loan and a $1.5 million
[40:27] line of credit to the developer to support the project.
[40:31] After signing the Ltda and the ground lease,
[40:33] completion of construction was in 2017.
[40:37] And the property the center has been was doing
[40:40] well until the pandemic.
[40:46] Since the pandemic, the property has struggled,
[40:49] to retain tenants and to pay
[40:52] the debt on the senior loan, which was used for construction,
[40:57] which is now at 6.2 million, and to pay the city's loan,
[41:02] that $2 million loan and the 1.5 million line of credit
[41:07] some feel has, we have been working with some fields
[41:11] during this time to see if he could refinance alone
[41:15] or sell the leasehold interest, because we are,
[41:19] the owners of the property.
[41:22] The he has not been able to because of the debt
[41:25] on the property, with our loan and the line of credit
[41:30] and the senior loan, it's over 8.5 million.
[41:34] So it's it's
[41:36] the value that puppy is less than the debt on the property.
[41:40] So again, since 2023, we've been working with
[41:44] some field real estate agents and its lenders to stabilize
[41:48] the project and sell or refinance the lease interest.
[41:52] And our efforts have not been successful
[41:55] because of this debt.
[41:58] So the problem that we have now is that if we do not take
[42:02] any action, we have a very high risk of foreclosure.
[42:06] We're going to lose the city loan and line of credit
[42:09] because it will not be recoverable through foreclosure.
[42:12] It may create threats, threaten
[42:15] the stability of the retail center and, the services there,
[42:20] and it may create negative impact for the neighborhood.
[42:24] When you don't have a property that's being managed
[42:28] that cannot pay debt
[42:29] issues that come up if it's in foreclosure,
[42:32] the lender, will wait to get a buyer
[42:36] or it may stay, unmanaged for some time.
[42:41] So that's our concern as well.
[42:43] So the action we're requesting again is to forgive the $2
[42:46] million city loan.
[42:47] Forgive the $1.5 million line of credit
[42:50] and forgive the, the rent to a $40,000,
[42:55] all contingent on finding a qualified buyer.
[43:02] And the benefits of doing this, it would avoid foreclosure.
[43:04] It would place the project in the hands of a qualified buyer.
[43:08] It avoids retail vacancy blight, and it maintains sales
[43:12] tax and local economic activity for the community.
[43:16] It preserves our relationship with the ground lease,
[43:19] and the purchaser and ensures
[43:24] the center can continue to serve its Oakland residents.
[43:28] So in conclusion, we,
[43:31] would request your approval of the resolution
[43:35] that's being recommended to forgive the $2 million
[43:37] in the 1.5 million line of credit and the ordinance
[43:41] to forgive the $40,000 in rent ground rent that is due.
[43:48] Thank you. If you have any questions, I'm here. Perfect.
[43:50] Thank you so much, Teresa.
[43:52] Let's go ahead and,
[43:56] turn it over to, our council president.
[43:59] For his question, since this is in district six.
[44:03] Oh, thank you so much, Chair Brown.
[44:04] And thank you, Committee, for allowing me to join.
[44:07] This is truly a crown jewel
[44:09] in the neighborhood that absolutely needs some work.
[44:12] I know, many residents use this place
[44:16] to get coffee, pay their cell phone bills in the past.
[44:19] Got a sweet fingers, a number of things.
[44:22] And we're really happy that we have a new restaurant,
[44:25] Yemeni restaurant in the facility.
[44:28] And I'm happy that district three got sweet fingers.
[44:30] And I know they will definitely be successful. But
[44:35] this truly needs some help.
[44:37] And I've talked with C.J.
[44:38] from the black Cultural zone, and I'm really interested
[44:41] in the black cultural zone running this facility.
[44:43] But a barrier to
[44:45] that is the city loan and the city line of credit.
[44:47] And so we,
[44:51] as a city, need to ensure
[44:55] that we are uplifting East Oakland and doing everything we can to make sure
[44:57] that the residents have the amenities that they need.
[45:01] And I am in full support of staff.
[45:03] And I know staff has been working diligently.
[45:05] I've been working with staff to ensure that this
[45:09] this parcel doesn't go to waste.
[45:11] This, and the community has, access to coffee,
[45:16] which might not mean much, but in East Oakland,
[45:18] it has access to coffee, access
[45:20] to restaurants, access to a police substation.
[45:22] And so I ask that you guys approve this.
[45:25] Thank you.
[45:26] Thank you so much, Council president.
[45:28] I also agree.
[45:30] And, you know, I hope that,
[45:33] you know, whoever takes over the property,
[45:35] I know that there was,
[45:37] a lot of feedback about the current, owner and,
[45:41] just really making sure that we're able to attract,
[45:46] an owner that can really pour into this space and attract,
[45:51] you know, actual, businesses that the community needs, right?
[45:56] Whether it is, no matter what that may be.
[46:00] And then they can it could also be sustained.
[46:04] Right. And avoid some of the things that you mentioned
[46:06] in the PowerPoint around blight and different things.
[46:09] And maybe, you know, welcome Walgreens back or something.
[46:15] Right. I know, I know, so many community members
[46:17] had reached out about, the Walgreens when it closed.
[46:21] So, I am in support.
[46:23] Thank you so much, council president, for your presence.
[46:26] As well as supporting moving this item forward
[46:29] for it as well.
[46:30] Council Member Ungar.
[46:35] Yeah. Thank you. So, you know, I support moving this item forward, but, you know, sort of pulling back
[46:37] and looking at it from a larger perspective.
[46:41] This is the third loan forgiveness we've voted on this year, over $16 million with the
[46:45] about the item and one in district three.
[46:48] And it just feels like we're always in a subordinate
[46:51] loan position with no real ability
[46:52] to drive these projects
[46:54] forward, even in this case, when we own the land.
[46:57] And I'm all for the city
[46:58] taking risk and helping make important projects
[47:02] like this happen. This is a key space that would that we need to, help.
[47:05] But I just think we need to have a larger, serious conversation
[47:10] about how we participate financially in real estate development.
[47:13] And I also would love to have more of an analysis
[47:18] in general from finance and maybe the auditor.
[47:22] I don't think we've budgeted for receiving this money,
[47:24] so it's not going to hit our in our general fund or anything.
[47:27] But I just wonder,
[47:31] you know, where where we are,
[47:33] are we going to be for giving a lot more loans in the future?
[47:37] Are we at sort of, are there other properties
[47:40] or investments that we have that are likely to go bust?
[47:43] Is this the end of the wave or just the beginning?
[47:45] You know, and obviously I'm not asking that directly to you,
[47:48] but I just think that, you know, we're in this space where
[47:50] we're for giving a lot of loans and what that means for us
[47:53] and how we start getting ourselves out of the subordinate position
[47:55] and make ourselves more of the driver
[47:57] when when these things go belly up.
[48:01] I think you raise a really good question.
[48:03] And I'm like, I'm almost curious exactly what you said.
[48:06] Like, and I imagine that our team,
[48:10] potentially has a list of,
[48:12] we do of, some of these properties
[48:15] and what may or may not be coming.
[48:16] And so that may be something we may want to request,
[48:19] like as an informational item,
[48:20] just so that we can get the lay of the land.
[48:23] So thank you for flagging that.
[48:25] Councilmember Ungar.
[48:26] Do we have public speakers?
[48:29] Yes, we can hear from the public speakers
[48:34] calling in the names. I signed up to speak on item number four, Mrs.
[48:36] Sardo, Ola Butler, and Blair Beekman.
[48:42] I want to respond to Mr.
[48:44] Ungar comments.
[48:46] You've done a lot of things related to forgiving loans
[48:49] and helping, certain parts of the city
[48:52] remain viable, but we haven't done a lot for
[48:57] Councilmember Jenkins district,
[49:00] where we look at the economic struggles of district
[49:03] six and district seven, and we come up with a way
[49:07] to deal with those struggles.
[49:11] And so the balance here is not so much we got to look at.
[49:16] We got to put this as a priority because this district
[49:20] has many economic needs.
[49:22] And this is one opportunity
[49:24] for for the community to have access to services.
[49:29] And so that's why I'm supporting it.
[49:32] And we got to give more
[49:36] economic opportunities for African-Americans
[49:40] to have opportunities to be sustainable
[49:43] and to be viable.
[49:49] Thank you for your comments. Switching to zoom user Blair, you can unmute yourself
[49:52] and begin your comment.
[49:56] All right. Thank you. Thank you for the words of the previous, public comment.
[49:59] This is, item is to be helping,
[50:02] the future, communities of Oakland.
[50:06] We need the color.
[50:07] Real congratulations.
[50:10] And I wanted to quickly comment that,
[50:12] thank you for the previous item that you were able to,
[50:15] work out, a nice effort with, Alameda County,
[50:20] the kind of things that that previous item
[50:22] can be working towards and addressing,
[50:24] is in the good spirit of what,
[50:26] working on the Oakland Coliseum, things are about.
[50:29] And good luck bringing those sort of items up.
[50:31] When the previous item up here, Oakland Coliseum things as
[50:35] a way to develop dialog and,
[50:39] good discussion.
[50:39] Thank you.
[50:43] Thank you for your comments, chair. That concludes our speakers on this item. Excellent.
[50:45] Thank you so much.
[50:46] Councilmember five
[50:48] yes, I just wanted to ask through the chair if,
[50:50] there is not another entity that takes over the space
[50:55] by April of 2027, then what are the next steps?
[51:01] If there isn't, the lender
[51:04] will foreclose
[51:05] and then we we'd have to go through that process.
[51:07] We may be able
[51:09] to negotiate with the lender and see if we can extend it.
[51:12] So that is an option.
[51:14] But we're going to work diligently with them
[51:17] and with, the developer to find another,
[51:23] purchaser to take over the leasehold interest.
[51:25] So that is something actively that needs doing and working
[51:29] to find another. Yes. Use. Okay. Yes, yes, yes.
[51:32] Thank you. Perfect. Thank you so much.
[51:34] And I think maybe my last comment would be, just
[51:37] as we are looking at a potential buyer,
[51:41] just really ensuring that they have the track record,
[51:44] in order to, really like,
[51:47] live up these, retail spaces and attract,
[51:52] you know, key businesses and to also be a very good,
[51:56] I guess, landlord, because I'm sure you all maybe heard
[51:59] some of the feedback that came from
[52:01] some of the business owners
[52:02] that were renting the spaces as well.
[52:05] So those were some of the areas
[52:06] of opportunity with the existing yes owner. Yes.
[52:10] We we have the ground lease, so we will have the,
[52:14] the say in the person or purchaser who's taking over.
[52:19] And we have our criteria is the financial capacity history
[52:23] and we're kind of similar,
[52:25] area and
[52:27] addressing issues of tenants.
[52:31] Yeah. And then really having the ability to take the pulse of what the,
[52:34] what the community needs in that space.
[52:39] Awesome. Thank you so much. Was there a motion on this item?
[52:46] Excellent and perfect.
[52:48] Thank you so much.
[52:52] Thank you. We have a motion made by council member five, second by Councilmember Ramachandran
[52:54] to approve the recommendations of staff
[52:56] and to forward this item to the July 21st City Council agenda on roll.
[52:59] Council members five I Ramachandran I, Unger I
[53:03] and chair Brown I thank you.
[53:05] Item S4 passes with four eyes to pass this item
[53:08] to the July 21st City Council agenda
[53:11] and to the makers of the motion is that on consent?
[53:14] On consent.
[53:15] Thank you.
[53:16] Reading in item five,
[53:20] receive an informational report regarding the fiscal year
[53:22] 2025 to 26, quarter one and quarter two.
[53:26] Update on the planning and Building
[53:27] Department's Code enforcement activities.
[53:29] And we have one speaker on this item.
[53:31] Perfect. Thank you.
[53:33] And so we can hear from staff on this item.
[53:39] Good afternoon. Committee Chair Brown and members of the committee.
[53:41] My name is CC Mueller, chief
[53:42] billing official with planning and Building this afternoon,
[53:45] principal supervisor for code enforcement,
[53:47] Mariano Rajoy will be providing the bi annual report.
[53:50] Mariano.
[53:54] Thank you. Building official Mueller.
[53:58] Good afternoon. Committee chair Brown and members of the committee
[54:01] today, we are pleased to provide an update on the planning
[54:04] and building Department code enforcement activities
[54:07] for the first two quarters of th
[54:14] Code enforcement plays an important role protecting
[54:16] public health, safety and neighborhood quality
[54:20] by ensuring compliance with Oakland's building,
[54:22] housing, property, maintenance, and zoning regulations.
[54:26] While today's report contains a significant amount of data,
[54:30] I'd like to point out three key takeaways.
[54:33] We are improving operational efficiencies.
[54:37] We are reducing our backlog by closing more cases
[54:39] than we open investments in staffing, technology,
[54:43] partnerships and producing measurable
[54:45] improvements and civil in service delivery.
[54:50] Next slide. Oh, some of the things we're going to talk about
[54:53] today is going to be quarterly complaint volume by category
[54:57] enforcement actions issued and cases abated and closed.
[55:01] Next slide.
[55:03] This slide shows some of our top complaints by category.
[55:07] It's important to note that some of these complaints
[55:11] can be climatic in relation to summer or winter months,
[55:15] where we experience unpermitted work taking place,
[55:18] or heating and mold issues due to cold and rainy weather
[55:21] and or blight resulting from overgrown vegetation
[55:26] by grasses, trees, fruit trees, avocado trees, trimmings, etc..
[55:31] Next slide
[55:34] as shown here. We continue to receive high volume of complaints
[55:37] each quarter.
[55:38] However, a key takeaway is not the number
[55:40] of complaints received,
[55:42] but how effectively we're responding to them,
[55:45] as shown in the reduction of cases from previous quarters.
[55:48] Next slide
[55:50] as shown in slides five and six, increased
[55:53] staffing and technology
[55:54] have allowed inspectors to spend more time in the field,
[55:58] resulting nearly 11,000 inspections during the reporting period.
[56:02] Next slide please.
[56:05] These are enforcement tools.
[56:07] We use only voluntary when we when we don't
[56:11] or to gain voluntary compliance efforts have been exhausted.
[56:14] And these are stop work orders compliance plans
[56:18] and cleanup contracts.
[56:20] Next slide.
[56:23] These before and after photographs
[56:25] demonstrate the tangible improvements
[56:28] occurring in neighborhoods throughout Oakland.
[56:35] Perhaps one of the most encouraging
[56:36] trends is the improvement in case resolution times
[56:41] blight response improved approximately 35%.
[56:46] If there's one slide, I
[56:47] encourage the committee to remember it's this one.
[56:51] We opened 3905 cases
[56:54] and closed 4709 cases, meaning we closed more cases
[56:59] than we opened open cases decreased.
[57:03] That shows a source of code enforcement teams.
[57:05] Great work.
[57:08] The slide summaries.
[57:10] The slide summarizes the enforcement fees assessed
[57:12] during the reporting period.
[57:15] I'd like to emphasize that the fees are not intended to generate revenue.
[57:20] They're primary purpose. Purpose is to recover the city's costs associated with
[57:22] investigating violations, conducting inspections,
[57:26] performing administrative work, and pursuing compliance.
[57:30] When property owners fail to voluntarily correct violations,
[57:35] property owners are first provided an opportunity
[57:37] to voluntarily comply through courtesy notices,
[57:40] notices of violation, and the appeal process.
[57:43] Fees are only assessed when those compliance efforts
[57:47] are unsuccessful
[57:48] and additional enforcement actions become necessary.
[57:53] The next slide shows how these assessed field fees are ultimately collected.
[57:58] One encouraging trend we've seen is a, improvement in fee collections.
[58:02] It's important to note that collections in any given quarter
[58:07] are not necessarily tied to fees assessed during the same quarter.
[58:10] Many enforcement cases have take months to resolve,
[58:15] and payments often occur after liens have been recorded
[58:18] or when property taxes are paid through the county.
[58:22] During the reporting period, we saw an increased collection
[58:26] because staff, I mean, I'm sorry, increased collections
[58:29] because staff continued to improve
[58:31] follow up on delinquent accounts and transferred
[58:34] priority leads to the county for collection.
[58:37] As those leads are paid through the property tax process,
[58:40] the city recovers costs that were previously outstanding.
[58:44] This is why you'll notice collections in quarter
[58:46] two exceed the amount assessed during the same quarter.
[58:51] Those revenues reflect payments on enforcement actions
[58:54] from prior reporting periods, not just new cases.
[58:59] That being said, one of our
[59:00] goals is to maximize voluntary compliance whenever possible.
[59:04] When that does not occur,
[59:06] we have responsibility to recover the public resources
[59:09] expended on prolonged enforcement efforts,
[59:12] improve collections, reflect better
[59:15] fiscal stewardship.
[59:19] As I conclude today's presentation,
[59:22] I'd like to highlight some initiatives
[59:23] that are strengthening our code enforcement
[59:25] program and positioning us for continued success.
[59:32] First, we're continuing to leverage technology
[59:34] through our Code Enforcement Inspector app,
[59:37] which allows inspectors to document violations,
[59:40] generate notices of violations directly from the field,
[59:43] and spend more time serving the public
[59:45] rather than completing administrative tasks.
[59:49] The investment has contributed to improved
[59:51] inspection capacity and faster case processing.
[59:55] Second, we've made significant progress
[59:58] in building our workforce
[59:59] by bringing in our code enforcement staff
[1:00:01] and support personnel.
[1:00:03] As reflected throughout today's presentation.
[1:00:06] Those staffing investments are producing measurable results
[1:00:09] due to reduced response times, increased
[1:00:13] inspections, and reduction in overall backlog.
[1:00:16] Finally, none of this work happens in isolation.
[1:00:20] Our success depends on strong collaboration with our partners
[1:00:24] across the city, including the fire department,
[1:00:27] housing and community development,
[1:00:29] economic and workforce development, public works,
[1:00:35] the encampment management team, the City Attorney's office and many others.
[1:00:40] These partnerships allow us to address complex cases more efficiently
[1:00:43] and provide coordinated solutions to our community.
[1:00:46] In closing,
[1:00:47] this report demonstrates that the Planning
[1:00:49] and Building Department Code Enforcement
[1:00:51] Division continues to make measurable progress
[1:00:53] and improving service delivery, reducing our backlog,
[1:00:57] increasing inspection capacity,
[1:00:59] and strengthening compliance throughout Oakland.
[1:01:02] While there is still an important work ahead,
[1:01:05] the results presented today reflect the positive impact
[1:01:08] of our investments in staffing, technology,
[1:01:12] operational improvements and strategic partnerships.
[1:01:15] Thank you.
[1:01:17] Thank you so much.
[1:01:18] For the for the report.
[1:01:20] And, you know, thank you to you and staff,
[1:01:23] for bringing such a comprehensive report.
[1:01:26] I want to say this is maybe the second time
[1:01:28] that we've at least for myself, I've heard this item.
[1:01:32] I am curious, as I'm looking at the slides, I think
[1:01:35] is slide 26 and 27.
[1:01:38] I would be curious if when we get this item again,
[1:01:43] I guess in the next six months or before we.
[1:01:47] Yeah, maybe in the next six months,
[1:01:48] I would be interested in seeing the data presented.
[1:01:52] I guess as a I know this is a quarterly report,
[1:01:56] but I would be interested
[1:01:58] in seeing it reflected like year over year
[1:02:01] so that we could actually get a true understanding of like,
[1:02:07] okay, these are, you know, these are all of the cases, these are the categories.
[1:02:09] And so in 2025 we were able to close X amount.
[1:02:13] And now in 2026 we have this many cases.
[1:02:17] And this is how many we were able to close.
[1:02:19] Just so that because as I'm looking at the numbers
[1:02:22] there's this on page 28.
[1:02:24] It says, you know, open cases at the end of Q4.
[1:02:27] And then it immediately jumps to Q2.
[1:02:30] And, you know, like I think I want
[1:02:33] I want a better perspective of how well we're doing.
[1:02:37] But when you're looking at these columns from left to right, as is presented,
[1:02:40] it's it's,
[1:02:42] and I'm looking at blight to be specific on the slide.
[1:02:47] I'm not really. It just seems kind of stagnant, if I had to be honest.
[1:02:51] But I would love to.
[1:02:52] The opportunity to be able to see,
[1:02:54] hey, this is the work that we've been doing in this year,
[1:02:57] and then this is what's happening
[1:02:59] in the next year as well.
[1:03:00] Just a true like compare and contrast.
[1:03:03] But all in all, thank you so much for
[1:03:06] I think one of the key highlights
[1:03:08] that I was really delighted to see was, it just showcase
[1:03:12] the cross Departamento collaboration
[1:03:15] in order to get all of this accomplished.
[1:03:17] And that is something that,
[1:03:19] you know, myself and my colleagues
[1:03:21] were all on finance and we just had a report,
[1:03:24] about the city's strategic plan plan.
[1:03:28] And one of the key components there is around
[1:03:31] cross departments collaboration.
[1:03:33] And so I think that this is a clear example
[1:03:35] of how that's happening.
[1:03:36] So thank you so much.
[1:03:38] And so I'll go to my colleagues,
[1:03:42] So this is great.
[1:03:45] You guys are crushing it. I love that you're closing more cases than are getting opened.
[1:03:47] How's your staffing?
[1:03:49] Through the chair.
[1:03:51] Honorable council member Unger.
[1:03:54] We're not currently fully staffed,
[1:03:56] but we have an ongoing, recruitment.
[1:03:59] And, in fact, we just have a first
[1:04:01] round of recruitment that we're going to,
[1:04:03] start the interview process.
[1:04:05] Process shortly.
[1:04:07] They've gone through the initial application process and then the vetting
[1:04:10] and the testing, and we're just waiting for,
[1:04:13] list to be given to us so we can start with just,
[1:04:15] conducting the, the interviews.
[1:04:19] But we're looking to get fully staffed as quickly as possible.
[1:04:22] But that may take a while to get.
[1:04:23] Yeah, I guess that's my question.
[1:04:24] How's the process working for you?
[1:04:26] Is it are there hiccups that we can help resolve or that
[1:04:30] need to be resolved?
[1:04:33] Through the chair?
[1:04:35] Council member Unger yes, we have been working actually closer with a chart
[1:04:38] to ensure that not only our job descriptions, but,
[1:04:42] but the the type of work that we're looking for and
[1:04:46] experience is clearly depicted so that we can allow
[1:04:49] for more applicants.
[1:04:50] I'm happy to report that this last go around
[1:04:52] we did had about 65 applicants
[1:04:53] for our principal supervisor position. That's great.
[1:04:56] And that was just in a two week time frame.
[1:04:58] So we were very excited to hear that.
[1:05:00] So we are working closely with our HRT.
[1:05:04] Very cool. Keep your foot on the gas I appreciate it.
[1:05:05] Thank you. Perfect. Thank you.
[1:05:07] We could hear from the public speakers calling in the name
[1:05:11] that signed up to speak on item number five, Mrs.
[1:05:13] Sarah Ola Bala.
[1:05:22] The department's
[1:05:25] that collaborate to work on blight housing,
[1:05:29] building code maintenance, noise complaints and zoning.
[1:05:34] But in order for you to deal with,
[1:05:37] environmental health code enforcement,
[1:05:40] which is air and water and food quality or safety,
[1:05:46] that is the Alameda County Department
[1:05:48] of Environmental Health, and you haven't specified
[1:05:54] related to code enforcement around those areas of water,
[1:05:59] air and food safety.
[1:06:01] How you collaborate with the county.
[1:06:06] And this is very important.
[1:06:08] So right now we got this explosive diarrhea thing going
[1:06:11] on. And they're saying it is very serious.
[1:06:15] And it has to deal with raw vegetables,
[1:06:18] raw fruit, meat not being cooked correctly.
[1:06:21] This is a serious issue.
[1:06:25] And so how do we have the enforcement without vendors or with any
[1:06:29] food vendor?
[1:06:33] Thank you for your comments.
[1:06:34] Miss Ola Bala,
[1:06:36] chair, that concludes our speakers on this item.
[1:06:42] Thank you. Thank you so much. Council member five on that note,
[1:06:45] I just wanted to say to the public, Cyclosporiasis
[1:06:49] cook, you cook your vegetables and I will make a motion
[1:06:52] to accept, wash them and cook them.
[1:06:56] You know, wash them really well.
[1:06:59] I'll make a second.
[1:07:04] Thank you. We have a motion made by council member five, second by Chair Brown to receive this receiving file.
[1:07:07] This informational report.
[1:07:09] Honorable council members five
[1:07:11] I Ramachandran I, Ungar I and chair Brown I thank you.
[1:07:16] Item five passes with four eyes
[1:07:18] to receive and file this informational report.
[1:07:21] To staff is is to receive and file in committee or forward.
[1:07:27] Does staff have,
[1:07:28] preference on this item,
[1:07:31] file and committee or
[1:07:33] are forward to the full body?
[1:07:37] Through the chair city administrators office,
[1:07:39] receive our file.
[1:07:41] Okay. Okay.
[1:07:42] Thank you. This received file made sure through the
[1:07:44] filing through the committee. Okay. Okay.
[1:07:47] Thank you. Now, reading in item six,
[1:07:49] adopt a resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter
[1:07:52] into a professional services agreement with Burrito Co, LLC,
[1:07:56] an Oakland certified small local business enterprise,
[1:07:58] for signage and wayfinding graphic design services at 25.
[1:08:04] Sorry. 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza for a one year
[1:08:07] term with an option to extend for an additional one year
[1:08:10] work contract amount not to exceed $300,000,
[1:08:12] and waiving the competitive request
[1:08:14] for proposal qualification requirements.
[1:08:17] And we have one speaker on this item.
[1:08:19] Okay. Thank you.
[1:08:20] Oh, hey. Good to see you again.
[1:08:22] Please go ahead.
[1:08:24] Good afternoon, Chair Brown and members of the city committee.
[1:08:28] My name is Rose ripple.
[1:08:29] I'm an assistant to the city administrator
[1:08:31] with the city administrator's office.
[1:08:33] The proposed resolution before you would authorize
[1:08:35] the city administrator to enter
[1:08:37] into a professional services agreement with Burrito Co, LLP,
[1:08:40] an Oakland certified small local business enterprise,
[1:08:43] for signage and wayfinding graphic design
[1:08:45] services, at the Single Storefront
[1:08:47] Permit Center in 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza for a one year
[1:08:51] term, with the option to extend
[1:08:53] for an additional one year for a total contract amount
[1:08:55] not to exceed $300,000, and waive the competitive request
[1:08:59] for proposals. Qualifications requirements.
[1:09:02] The proposed Professional Services
[1:09:03] Agreement was initiated under the ongoing OGC
[1:09:06] Permit Citywide Permitting program,
[1:09:08] led by the office of the City Administrator,
[1:09:11] to develop and scale efficiency solutions across various customer journeys
[1:09:14] from digital platforms available through the city's website
[1:09:17] to in-person services offered
[1:09:18] at the permit center at 250 Franco Gold Plaza.
[1:09:22] Under the proposed project, the city is seeking
[1:09:24] design services for an updated wayfinding signage deployment
[1:09:29] at the permit center commensurate with other physical and operational upgrades.
[1:09:32] The public service areas of the permit center occupy
[1:09:35] the first and second levels of 250 Franco Gall Plaza,
[1:09:38] where in-person
[1:09:39] permitting and related services
[1:09:40] are provided by city agencies including planning, building,
[1:09:44] transportation, public works, fire prevention,
[1:09:47] housing and community development, and business tax.
[1:09:50] On March 17th of this year, city staff issued
[1:09:54] an informal request for proposals to nine firms in total for the vendors
[1:09:58] were identified from the city's business directory and the other five
[1:10:00] were identified from the City of Oakland
[1:10:02] Local Small Local Business Enterprise Certified Directory,
[1:10:06] each with North American Industry Classification system
[1:10:08] codes related to graphic design, services design, manufacturing
[1:10:13] and or interior design services, and with experience
[1:10:15] performing similar relevant work
[1:10:17] as depicted on their business websites.
[1:10:19] Responses were due to the city by April 10th,
[1:10:22] and staff received one proposal from Burrito Co LLC.
[1:10:25] A cross-departmental team
[1:10:27] of staff from the city administrators, Office
[1:10:29] Planning and Building department and Oakland
[1:10:30] Public Works Facility Services Division
[1:10:33] evaluated the proposal from Burrito Co, LLC and engage
[1:10:36] the firm, and in a Q&A session and presentation
[1:10:39] of the proposed scope of work and other contract terms.
[1:10:42] The review team found the proposal
[1:10:44] to be extremely thorough and well structured,
[1:10:46] and the firm's portfolio of past work
[1:10:48] to be aligned with the proposed outcomes of the project.
[1:10:52] The proposed agreement with Burrito Co,
[1:10:54] LLC will deliver a comprehensive catalog of signage
[1:10:57] typologies and associated specifications,
[1:11:00] as well as a style guide with colorways, typeface,
[1:11:03] hierarchy and other details.
[1:11:06] A resource the city does not currently possess
[1:11:07] for existing signage and wayfinding assets.
[1:11:10] In 2023, the original design documentation for the facility,
[1:11:14] including signage design specifications,
[1:11:17] were lost in the ransomware attack.
[1:11:19] Staff had intended to provide these original specifications
[1:11:23] to the selected vendor to update and revise for the new signage program,
[1:11:26] but after learning, from Facility Services
[1:11:30] Division staff that the files have been lost, staff determined
[1:11:32] the scope would need to be expanded and the dollar amount
[1:11:34] increased to allow the vendor to develop specifications
[1:11:37] for existing assets at the permit center.
[1:11:40] Additionally, increasing the proposed contract
[1:11:42] amount will also enable staff to include
[1:11:44] an optional fabrication, planning
[1:11:46] and management component,
[1:11:47] allowing the vendor to deliver the newly designed assets
[1:11:50] to the city for installation at 250
[1:11:52] Franco Gold Plaza, rather than separately contracting out this
[1:11:55] portion of work.
[1:11:57] The expanded currently proposed Professional Services Agreement
[1:12:01] includes the reconstruction of lost design
[1:12:03] assets and consistent deployment of customer
[1:12:05] wayfinding in a key public facility.
[1:12:09] Staff expect this project will have citywide benefits as we anticipate
[1:12:11] the deliverables to be applicable at many,
[1:12:14] if not all, city facilities.
[1:12:15] In addition to the permit center at 250 Franco Gallo Plaza.
[1:12:19] Additionally, all design layouts and location specifications
[1:12:22] produced through this project shall comply
[1:12:25] with current Americans with Disabilities
[1:12:27] Act requirements under federal Ada Accessibility standards.
[1:12:31] Title three, chapter seven.
[1:12:33] Some of the existing assets in the Permit center
[1:12:35] do not meet current standards,
[1:12:37] and this project will prioritize replacing these fixtures.
[1:12:41] As mentioned earlier, the proposed vendor, Burrito
[1:12:43] Co, LLC, is a small, minority owned creative agency
[1:12:46] that is certified by the City of Oakland
[1:12:48] as a small local business enterprise
[1:12:50] for graphic design services.
[1:12:52] The firm has completed similar projects
[1:12:54] for the University of California, Santa Cruz
[1:12:56] and the Jack London Business
[1:12:57] Improvement District, among others.
[1:13:01] Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 2.04.040 stipulates that contracts
[1:13:05] procured through an informal
[1:13:07] advertising and bidding process cannot exceed $50,000.
[1:13:11] While staff initially believed that the scope of work or staff
[1:13:14] initially believed that the scope of work
[1:13:16] could feasibly be performed for this amount,
[1:13:18] and again, this was through by not including
[1:13:22] a fabrication component in the scope,
[1:13:24] and also by providing the original design
[1:13:26] specifications for the building,
[1:13:27] which we've since learned we're not able to provide.
[1:13:32] In addition, through discussions
[1:13:34] with the proposed vendor and internally,
[1:13:37] we we developed a much clearer picture of the tasks and steps
[1:13:41] required to meaningfully achieve the project's goal
[1:13:44] to create a visually cohesive,
[1:13:46] brand aligned and Ada compliant wayfinding system.
[1:13:50] Wayfinding signage system for fabrication to enhance
[1:13:53] orientation and visitor experience at the permit center.
[1:13:56] The revised currently proposed Professional Services
[1:14:01] Agreement reflects. This facilitates the reconstruction of the lost
[1:14:04] design assets
[1:14:07] and in and will ensure consistent deployment of customer
[1:14:09] wayfinding and signage in a key public facility.
[1:14:12] For the sake of time, I won't go into it now,
[1:14:15] but I'm happy to provide more of a breakdown of the costs
[1:14:18] for, each phase of the proposed expanded, expanded, contract.
[1:14:21] If there are questions about this.
[1:14:24] So, in conclusion, staff are recommending
[1:14:27] that the city council waive the competitive request
[1:14:29] for proposals, qualifications, requirements
[1:14:31] and authorize the city administrator to enter
[1:14:33] into professional services agreement with Barretto Co, LLC,
[1:14:37] an Oakland certified small local business enterprise,
[1:14:40] for signage and wayfinding, graphic design services, at 250
[1:14:43] Frank Ogawa Plaza for one year term,
[1:14:45] but the option to extend for an additional one year
[1:14:48] for a total contract amount not to exceed $300,000.
[1:14:52] Thank you and staff are available to answer questions.
[1:14:55] Perfect. And while while we have you there, Rose,
[1:14:57] can you actually highlight the cost breakdown?
[1:15:00] Sure, sure.
[1:15:02] So just noting that, we are still kind of finalizing
[1:15:05] the contract details and, negoti
[1:15:10] There we have currently
[1:15:13] laid out five phases of this, of this project.
[1:15:17] So phase one would be, approximately 50,000,
[1:15:22] this would include at least one site visit by the vendor
[1:15:25] and allow for the creation.
[1:15:26] As I mentioned, of the, design specifications
[1:15:29] for existing assets of the permit center,
[1:15:31] which were lost previously in the ransomware attack phase two.
[1:15:35] Is, about $50,000.
[1:15:40] This includes graphic design, styling and refinements.
[1:15:44] Phase three is 75,000.
[1:15:47] This includes creation and delivery
[1:15:49] of a comprehensive system style guide and layout production
[1:15:53] recommendations for all signage types.
[1:15:56] Phase four is 23,000
[1:16:00] and includes the delivery of templates
[1:16:02] for signage, typologies
[1:16:03] and production of digital files for all, digital assets.
[1:16:07] And then phase five is the, optional
[1:16:12] $100,000 component, which would include
[1:16:15] the fabrication of the site.
[1:16:17] So construction of the actual signs
[1:16:19] and associated material materials,
[1:16:21] which would then be delivered to the city for installation.
[1:16:26] And so in that, in that breakdown with the vendor, also be
[1:16:30] actually doing the install,
[1:16:33] we would I think that's still being somewhat determined,
[1:16:38] but the idea would to have as much of that done in-house by facilities, services
[1:16:41] staff, as possible, I see and this is,
[1:16:45] this is my first time seeing, a contract of this,
[1:16:49] amount for signage.
[1:16:53] And so do we have,
[1:16:55] some historical context
[1:16:57] around, like, how much we've spent in the past?
[1:17:00] I think so, I can start by saying that,
[1:17:05] to our knowledge, a project of this type has not been undertaken by the city in
[1:17:09] in quite a number of years.
[1:17:10] And so through,
[1:17:14] this process, through discussions
[1:17:16] with the vendor and internally, there, there was
[1:17:20] we really gained a stronger understanding of, of the tasks,
[1:17:24] that would be required, to, to meaningfully achieve this.
[1:17:29] Going to,
[1:17:31] I don't know if.
[1:17:32] Robin, do you have anything to add there?
[1:17:34] I'm going to ask that my colleague Robin Abad.
[1:17:36] Add to that as well.
[1:17:40] Good afternoon, Chair Brown.
[1:17:43] Council members Robin and Bob with the city administrator's office
[1:17:44] working with Rose on this project.
[1:17:46] You know, we basically lost all of our design documentation,
[1:17:51] for the signage program at 250.
[1:17:56] That's the entire facility that permit center is a key
[1:17:59] facility for, conducting business and providing service
[1:18:04] to, our constituents.
[1:18:08] Currently, we have a very inconsistent strategy for ensuring that folks
[1:18:11] can navigate the facility with clarity.
[1:18:14] You know, with consistency
[1:18:16] in language and with, graphics that are Ada compliant.
[1:18:20] We've we've basically just been making,
[1:18:24] new stuff ad hoc as we've we've gone along.
[1:18:26] So one thing we'd like to
[1:18:28] emphasize is that by creating,
[1:18:30] recreating an asset that we lost,
[1:18:32] which is basically design guidelines for 250,
[1:18:35] this project is actually an investment in the building
[1:18:37] that will pay forward for another decade.
[1:18:40] Facility staff will be able to use this to update signage
[1:18:44] not only in the public portions of the building,
[1:18:47] but throughout the entire facility.
[1:18:49] So we're really having to reinvest,
[1:18:52] in something that was lost in the ransomware attack, I see.
[1:18:55] And then in the selection of the said vendor,
[1:18:59] would you happen to know offhand, what other
[1:19:02] local projects they've they were able to complete?
[1:19:07] I can share that.
[1:19:10] They have done, as I mentioned,
[1:19:14] a similar project for the Jack London Business
[1:19:18] Improvement District. And I believe there are some other local examples
[1:19:21] that I'd be happy to to share with you,
[1:19:23] directly and follow up. Interesting.
[1:19:25] And you know, specifically, what was it, a Jack London square,
[1:19:29] I believe it was a similar sort of, signage type of,
[1:19:34] development, a creation of a comprehensive
[1:19:38] signage plan, for, for that entity.
[1:19:42] Okay. Excellent.
[1:19:43] Thank you so much. Rose.
[1:19:44] And, Robin, Council member, Ungar.
[1:19:49] Yeah. I mean, I
[1:19:51] can't help but think that this seems like an enormous amount of money for signage,
[1:19:52] and maybe I'm thinking about this wrong.
[1:19:54] I mean, in my mind, this is like,
[1:19:56] permit counter to the left,
[1:19:58] pay your parking tickets to the right, and that's $300,000.
[1:20:01] I mean, is there not a way to do this more cheaply?
[1:20:06] That would also help people just find their way around the building?
[1:20:08] Thank you. Council member Ungar.
[1:20:10] It is a not to exceed.
[1:20:12] So these are you know, the budget is built around a conservative element.
[1:20:15] Important to note too, that fabrication is part of this.
[1:20:19] So materials actually, you know, printing things,
[1:20:24] fabricating things. That is a huge part of the, sort of, projected
[1:20:28] cost of the project.
[1:20:31] As you mentioned, we are wanting to rely on our internal facilities,
[1:20:34] public works, to actually do install.
[1:20:36] So my assumption is that if we were to go through,
[1:20:42] for example, through a city contracting process
[1:20:44] or that it's we're going to get
[1:20:45] really high numbers when it comes to,
[1:20:48] actually procuring materials, fabrication.
[1:20:51] The production piece is really,
[1:20:53] the largest share of this not to exceed budget amount.
[1:20:57] And this is,
[1:20:59] are we actually in a situation
[1:21:01] where people are giving up on applying for permits
[1:21:04] because they can't find the right office?
[1:21:06] I mean, is this a genuine problem that, well,
[1:21:09] that needs to be solved, or is it just like it would?
[1:21:11] Is it just a nice to have?
[1:21:14] I think that since we've, consolidated
[1:21:17] more and more public services into building to 50,
[1:21:21] this really that us wanting to create a dignified
[1:21:26] and clear environment for our public to navigate is part of a general, program
[1:21:30] we have at 250 to provide better service,
[1:21:34] more efficiency, clarity, and continued consolidation.
[1:21:37] So, part of the investment we're making here is developing
[1:21:41] a scalable system and a standard that will
[1:21:45] evolve with the building and the facility as we
[1:21:48] consolidate more, you know, public facing services
[1:21:50] into that facility as we're up staffing, the departments
[1:21:54] that provide counter staff and creating more positions,
[1:21:57] physically reconfiguring the permit center over time.
[1:22:02] Right now,
[1:22:04] we just don't have adequate guidelines to be able to provide the,
[1:22:10] the, the wayfinding and the navigation that really our public deserves
[1:22:14] when they come to visit. 250 and do you see this as a first step, as something
[1:22:17] you're going to come back to us for, for more
[1:22:21] signage later?
[1:22:23] This is a big first investment for sure to create the system.
[1:22:29] And so what we anticipate being able to accomplish with
[1:22:32] this is a comprehensive,
[1:22:35] implementation in the public portions
[1:22:37] of the first and second floors of building 250.
[1:22:39] So we do anticipate that this will cover that.
[1:22:43] It's also important to note that this is funding that is not
[1:22:47] coming out of the general fund.
[1:22:49] These are this is fee revenue that's specifically collected
[1:22:54] for fee related services
[1:22:56] and facilities for the city.
[1:22:59] So it is it's it's money that it's funding that we have
[1:23:03] that's actually dedicated for us improving this,
[1:23:05] the experience of our customers.
[1:23:07] And my understanding is that those funds are more
[1:23:09] in better shape than the general fund.
[1:23:13] I would say for the moment,
[1:23:14] thankfully they are council member.
[1:23:16] I'm I'm a little bit,
[1:23:20] relieved to hear that it's not coming from the general fund.
[1:23:22] That that does help a little bit.
[1:23:23] Thank you.
[1:23:25] And I, just to piggyback off of what Councilmember Ungar
[1:23:28] was bringing up,
[1:23:29] you know, I, I really want to say out
[1:23:31] loud that, I think it's not only 250,
[1:23:36] that need some support in, you know, ensuring
[1:23:40] that our community members know where to go,
[1:23:42] when they just come to the plaza.
[1:23:46] Right. And so, I would be interested in the future,
[1:23:48] given the success of this very robust,
[1:23:52] you know, wayfinding plan that you all have established,
[1:23:57] what it would look like to expand that right to other coming into City Hall
[1:24:00] or how to get up to the chamber, second floor, etc..
[1:24:04] I think that that could be of great, great value
[1:24:07] to the community as well.
[1:24:09] And so Council member five, did you have your, hand raised
[1:24:14] and then Council Member Ramachandran
[1:24:16] yes, I wanted to just say through the chair
[1:24:17] that I was actually happy to see 2415 listed in the actual,
[1:24:22] packet to show where the funds were coming from.
[1:24:26] It seemed a little high to me as well, so I definitely want to echo
[1:24:29] what my colleagues have stated here.
[1:24:31] But I also wanted to know, I know you stated
[1:24:36] that you reached out to nine different vendors.
[1:24:40] Is that the widest net
[1:24:41] that could be cast for this type of quote,
[1:24:44] or is that just what we had on hand
[1:24:49] through our existing, partners, through the city's system?
[1:24:53] In this case, and and being that,
[1:24:57] you know, initially this was an in and through the chair,
[1:24:58] this wasn't it, initially an informal process
[1:25:02] and not subject to the same sort of advertising, you know,
[1:25:04] noticing requirements that a, that a formal RFP would be,
[1:25:07] we followed sort of the standard process,
[1:25:11] for informal RFPs, whereby we, we went,
[1:25:16] we went into those different resources and tried to identify
[1:25:19] as many applicable firms as possible, to, to cast
[1:25:23] that wide net, to the extent that we could,
[1:25:26] I, personally heard back from a number of firms,
[1:25:30] you know, responding that they
[1:25:34] weren't able or don't typically do this sort of work and declining
[1:25:35] to provide a proposal.
[1:25:37] So, we did ultimately have to have the one
[1:25:40] from burrito, but, but yes, that that's sort of
[1:25:43] the background and process, that led us to those nine firms.
[1:25:47] So to be clear, did you reach out to nine
[1:25:50] firms and heard back from who you heard from,
[1:25:52] or did you reach out to more than nine?
[1:25:54] We we reached out to nine,
[1:25:55] and that was based on the specific,
[1:25:58] classification codes that I mentioned
[1:26:00] to be able to do this sort of work.
[1:26:01] And wanting to ensure, for primarily,
[1:26:08] you know, a significant number of, of firms that we knew
[1:26:11] to be certified as local small local business enterprises.
[1:26:15] Okay. I'll talk more.
[1:26:17] Yes. It just seems like, with signage
[1:26:20] there would be more firms that could be responsive,
[1:26:24] but maybe they're not in the system.
[1:26:25] And if they're not in the system,
[1:26:26] then we need to figure out
[1:26:27] how to get more people, more small businesses
[1:26:30] to be aware when these contracts come up.
[1:26:33] Because for a small business,
[1:26:34] a $300,000 contract could be significant.
[1:26:36] Absolutely. Right.
[1:26:38] So we want to make sure that I would like to see double digits, and and up
[1:26:42] when we're reaching out to small businesses
[1:26:44] for these types of contracts,
[1:26:46] this is almost a half million dollars.
[1:26:47] So through that, you know, that's understood.
[1:26:50] Thank you, thank you.
[1:26:53] Okay. Thank you so much for your your work on the ow.
[1:26:54] Councilmember Ramachandran.
[1:26:56] Thank you. How many signs are going to be
[1:27:01] constructed total with this?
[1:27:06] I don't see the chair. I don't know that we have a specific number yet.
[1:27:08] I will note that it the scope sort of includes
[1:27:14] not just development of of signs specifically, but also other fixtures.
[1:27:18] There, for example, is a large, directory,
[1:27:22] on the first floor of the building that has
[1:27:25] at this point rather dated, and inaccurate information.
[1:27:29] So this would include,
[1:27:30] like those types of assets as well, beyond
[1:27:33] just sort of directional signage or that kind of thing.
[1:27:36] And see if Robin has anything to add or
[1:27:39] if there's a range of the number of physical products.
[1:27:42] Yeah.
[1:27:45] We, we don't know for certain at this point.
[1:27:47] I think, that's part of the scope
[1:27:49] is for this contractor to come in, assess the building,
[1:27:54] the various different ad hoc signs that we have.
[1:27:56] Are they in the right place?
[1:27:58] Are they duplicative?
[1:28:00] Can we streamline and reduce the number of assets that are currently deployed?
[1:28:05] Right now we have things made out of acrylic, out of aluminum, things that are printed on a photocopier
[1:28:08] that are stuck up on the wall.
[1:28:10] And so part of this is really to sort of
[1:28:12] clean up and establish a, a more streamlined
[1:28:17] number of fixtures.
[1:28:19] We also have new digital wayfinding.
[1:28:21] So, Rose has led a huge project at that building, 250 facility
[1:28:25] for folks to be able to to sign up for appointments
[1:28:29] or walk in for appointments and, you know, get get a ticket.
[1:28:33] We have digital monitors
[1:28:36] and displays that have, since the pandemic been installed throughout 250
[1:28:38] that aren't graphically, aligned, nor potentially
[1:28:43] sort of fully Ada accessible that we need to assess as well.
[1:28:46] So part of the reason it was so difficult to.
[1:28:49] Council member five question to get the right mix of skills
[1:28:53] is because this is a highly specialized design project.
[1:28:56] And, you know, sort of spatial space organizing project.
[1:29:01] So we really need to,
[1:29:02] needed to find a firm
[1:29:03] that had the right profile that could do the design work,
[1:29:06] that could do the spatial planning work,
[1:29:11] and then also, you know, deliver on different kinds of access
[1:29:12] assets, whether they were digital or, physical.
[1:29:17] Okay. Thank you.
[1:29:21] All right. Well, thank you so much. We can hear from the public speakers
[1:29:24] calling in the name that signed up to speak on item six.
[1:29:26] Mr. Sato.
[1:29:42] So I was in the,
[1:29:46] Let me see.
[1:29:53] I was in the office of the, citation
[1:29:58] parking citation office, and they had a sign
[1:30:03] and a sign reference.
[1:30:06] This office serves citizens.
[1:30:10] And it also said if you act in a disrespectful
[1:30:14] way, you'll be asked to leave.
[1:30:17] So you're telling people you only,
[1:30:19] dealing with citizens.
[1:30:22] So y'all need to check that no signs will have citizens on it.
[1:30:27] And then you say you have to leave,
[1:30:28] but you got to pay the ticket
[1:30:30] so you don't give no other instructions on
[1:30:31] how they pay the tickets on the sign.
[1:30:34] So the sign has to be complete.
[1:30:35] If you're asked to leave, you will be
[1:30:38] asked to pay the ticket through email or whatever.
[1:30:42] Okay, so that's just one example.
[1:30:44] Then I heard somebody say, we use the informal process.
[1:30:49] How do you use an informal process in any way
[1:30:52] having to deal with spending a public money?
[1:30:58] Thank you for your comments, chair.
[1:30:59] That concludes our speakers.
[1:31:01] All right. Thank you so much.
[1:31:02] I'll entertain a motion on this item.
[1:31:08] I'll make the motion to move this item
[1:31:10] to the full city council on consent.
[1:31:13] I was going to make a motion with the definition
[1:31:15] of what's the informal versus formal bid process?
[1:31:20] Sure. If that if that could be answered by staff.
[1:31:21] Okay.
[1:31:24] These processes are outlined in the Oakland Municipal Code.
[1:31:28] They have different requirements and procedures.
[1:31:32] And also are associated with different
[1:31:36] not to exceed dollar amount thresholds.
[1:31:41] And I can so with the informal process
[1:31:43] that is a not to exceed a $50,000, as I mentioned.
[1:31:49] In order to execute contracts
[1:31:52] above,
[1:31:56] and I apologize, I'm remembering this off the top of my head.
[1:31:59] But the,
[1:32:03] contracts exceeding the $250,000 are outside of the city
[1:32:06] administrator's authority and therefore
[1:32:07] require council approval in order to proceed.
[1:32:10] Yep. Thank you. Second.
[1:32:13] Thank you, thank you.
[1:32:16] We have a motion made by Chair Brown, seconded by Council Member five
[1:32:17] to approve the recommendations of staff
[1:32:20] and to forward this item to the July 21st City Council agenda on consent.
[1:32:23] Honorable Council members by Ramachandran
[1:32:27] Unger now and Chair Brown.
[1:32:31] Thank you.
[1:32:32] Motion passes with three eyes.
[1:32:33] One no. Due due to the no vote.
[1:32:36] This will have to go on on consent.
[1:32:38] Okay. Thank you.
[1:32:40] Hey. Sorry.
[1:32:42] Reading in item number seven, adopt a resolution authorizing
[1:32:46] the following actions in fiscal year 2026 to 2027 one.
[1:32:50] Accept an appropriate workforce innovation and opportunity.
[1:32:54] Title one formula funds for adult dislocated
[1:32:57] worker and youth and rapid response services in an amount
[1:33:00] up to $4,827,587 to accept
[1:33:07] and appropriate California Volunteers Youth Service Corp.
[1:33:11] funding in an amount not to exceed $1,993,914
[1:33:17] from California Volunteers Youth Service.
[1:33:19] So Service Corp's program for the Oakland Port Initiative
[1:33:24] through December 31st, 2027, and three authorizing
[1:33:28] the City Administrator to execute
[1:33:30] grant agreement amendments
[1:33:32] and related documents necessary to implement the programs
[1:33:35] and for authorizing,
[1:33:37] Sorry, authorize the City administrator
[1:33:38] to apply for accept inappropriate grant funds
[1:33:41] and contributions for workforce development service services.
[1:33:45] Beyond the wire, a title one for formula funding
[1:33:49] and other budgeted funding sources up to $250,000
[1:33:55] per instance, with the approval of the Oakland Workforce Development Board
[1:33:58] and we do have two speakers on this item.
[1:34:00] Okay. Thank you.
[1:34:01] We can hear from staff on this item.
[1:34:05] Hello. Good afternoon.
[1:34:07] Speaking to the mic, on Narada Lindsay, economic aid,
[1:34:10] workforce development.
[1:34:13] So staff is requesting an approval of a resolution
[1:34:16] that will authorize the city to accept an appropriate.
[1:34:19] It's approximately
[1:34:21] 6.8 million in federal and state workforce funding.
[1:34:25] And this is for fiscal year 2627.
[1:34:28] So the current fiscal year that we're at,
[1:34:30] I also want to just start out by noting that this particular
[1:34:34] item, it's not going to, approve any new service
[1:34:38] providers, or create any new programing at this time.
[1:34:42] The council already approved our, Workforce
[1:34:45] Innovation and Opportunity Act, or what?
[1:34:48] I'll refer to it now as we, our,
[1:34:50] service provider contracts on June 2nd.
[1:34:53] So that action already happened.
[1:34:55] And so today, what we're, requesting is that,
[1:34:58] this body does authorize the city to receive
[1:35:02] the funding that's necessary to implement these services
[1:35:05] that have already been approved.
[1:35:09] So this funding package includes, two allocations, 4.8 million,
[1:35:13] and we are fund eight, and then nearly 2 million.
[1:35:17] So it's 1.9 million from the California Volunteers program.
[1:35:22] And that is to continue our Oakland forward Youth service,
[1:35:26] public Services Career Pathways program
[1:35:30] for this program year.
[1:35:32] These investments for Wioa are expected to serve
[1:35:36] approximately 900 residents, Oakland residents.
[1:35:40] It's not citizens,
[1:35:42] Oakland residents
[1:35:44] and, and the California Volunteers
[1:35:50] funding will support approximately
[1:35:52] 45 youth and young adults in paid public service
[1:35:55] positions through the Oakland Public Works Program.
[1:35:59] And lastly, this item, has included
[1:36:02] a request to authorize
[1:36:03] the city administrator to accept and appropriate
[1:36:06] future workforce.
[1:36:07] Grant funding up to 250,000 per award
[1:36:13] with approval of the Oakland Workforce Development Board.
[1:36:15] And by doing so, this will allow the city,
[1:36:18] to respond quickly to smaller grant opportunities
[1:36:21] where we're able to remain competitive
[1:36:23] for workforce funding, with out having to come back to council,
[1:36:27] for a separate action for each individual award.
[1:36:32] These funds are critical to
[1:36:33] maintaining Oakland's workforce development system
[1:36:36] and provide residents with access
[1:36:38] to training, career pathways, and employment opportunities
[1:36:41] while also supporting employers meet their workforce needs.
[1:36:46] And also supporting the city's economic development goals.
[1:36:49] Staff is respectfully requesting approval
[1:36:51] of this resolution and I'm happy to answer questions.
[1:36:55] Thank you.
[1:36:56] Thank you so much for the the report.
[1:36:58] And I guess, just for clarity, is it routine that
[1:37:01] the item comes two times?
[1:37:04] This is not this is again it this is a separate.
[1:37:07] Oh, let me add some clarity.
[1:37:09] So in the first item that we had earlier,
[1:37:12] this year, we were
[1:37:16] you know, approving the recipients of the
[1:37:19] we owe a dollars.
[1:37:21] And so can you explain what is what is the.
[1:37:24] So that was for the recipients.
[1:37:25] And so in this moment, we are simply allocating
[1:37:29] the funds that we are going to receive.
[1:37:31] Is that correct? That's correct. Okay.
[1:37:33] And then so my question has to do with the table on page
[1:37:37] four when you were looking at, the last component.
[1:37:41] So can you,
[1:37:44] refresh my memory, who who receives the funds
[1:37:48] that are slated for program rapid response?
[1:37:51] Who is the awarding the the program?
[1:37:54] Rapid response dollars go directly to the city who has,
[1:37:57] oversight of the services, directly to the businesses.
[1:38:02] There's some funding
[1:38:04] that's utilized there that goes out to service providers through,
[1:38:07] the supports that are provided around the rapid
[1:38:10] response activities.
[1:38:12] The largest buckets that go out to the service providers
[1:38:15] through the regular funding are going to be the adult,
[1:38:18] the dislocated worker and the youth dollars I see.
[1:38:22] And so to the T is the table with the table view,
[1:38:27] the dollar amounts that are listed in the table,
[1:38:30] are they also representative of the prior,
[1:38:34] kind of funding that's going out of the that
[1:38:36] is going out for those grantees that we awarded earlier.
[1:38:40] It is inclusive of those dollars.
[1:38:41] Okay. Perfect. Thank you for clarifying.
[1:38:43] Any questions on this item, colleagues?
[1:38:46] Okay. We can go to the public. Speaker
[1:38:50] calling in the name of the sign up to speak on item number seven.
[1:38:52] Mrs. Sardo Obama and Blair Beekman.
[1:38:58] So the race equity statement says that she's going to provide
[1:39:01] for the populations
[1:39:03] that experienced the highest degree
[1:39:05] of disproportionality of barriers to employment.
[1:39:10] So that's going to be African-Americans, because we 10% of the unemployment that, in the city
[1:39:14] the next group is Latinos, which is 4.7 unemployment.
[1:39:20] Now, you are this is a department that has applied for a grant
[1:39:23] from the state for non-citizen, support for small businesses.
[1:39:28] So you serve non-citizens.
[1:39:30] Of the 900 residents served, how many of citizens
[1:39:35] are going to get that? How many non-citizens is that going to be equally done
[1:39:38] halfway,
[1:39:41] citizens halfway non-citizens?
[1:39:45] How do you do it? How do you verify that a person is a non-citizen or a citizen?
[1:39:48] You know, y'all just don't have these discussions at all.
[1:39:51] But it's important
[1:39:53] that that's
[1:39:54] why South Africa is being torn up,
[1:39:56] because the South African people,
[1:39:57] black people in this city not addressing
[1:39:59] this issue, you're not getting.
[1:40:03] But you are not the party you got.
[1:40:06] You guys, thank you for your comments.
[1:40:09] If your name was called and you still
[1:40:11] wish to speak on this item,
[1:40:12] you can come up to the podium or raise your hand.
[1:40:15] At this time, all names have been called perfect.
[1:40:19] Thank you. Colleagues, is there a motion to move this item?
[1:40:24] Councilmember Ungar so moved.
[1:40:26] Second.
[1:40:30] Thank you. We have a motion made by Councilmember Ungar,
[1:40:31] seconded by Councilmember Ramachandran,
[1:40:33] to approve the recommendations of staff
[1:40:36] and to forward this item to the July 21st City Council Agenda on Roll.
[1:40:38] Council members by Ramachandran I, Ungar I and chair Brown
[1:40:44] I thank you motion passes with for
[1:40:46] I support this item to the July
[1:40:48] 24th city Council agenda on consent.
[1:40:51] Moving on to open forum
[1:40:53] calling in the names that signed up to speak.
[1:40:55] In no particular order.
[1:40:56] You can come up to the podium,
[1:40:57] state your name before making your comment.
[1:40:59] If you're on zoom, please
[1:41:01] raise your hand to be easily identified.
[1:41:03] Shinobi Howard, asado.
[1:41:05] Walla Walla, Blair Beekman,
[1:41:07] Margaret. Margaret.
[1:41:08] Grimsley, Sarah. Amir, Julius.
[1:41:12] Morale, DeShawn. Taller.
[1:41:16] Nita B.
[1:41:24] Marco.
[1:41:25] Duncan. Lisa.
[1:41:26] Zebra. Jack
[1:41:28] and Aaron.
[1:41:30] Venus.
[1:41:35] Hi. I'm Margaret Grimsley.
[1:41:38] I spoke earlier on behalf of the street vendors who are here to talk about the,
[1:41:42] problematic enforcement of,
[1:41:45] supposedly laws and regulations around street vending.
[1:41:49] I mentioned that I've lived in Oakland for over six years.
[1:41:54] Street vendors have been a major part of the community here for me.
[1:41:58] And, I also want to speak, to,
[1:42:01] the fact that I walk Lake Merritt every day
[1:42:03] and have never seen vendors bring anything but like, joy
[1:42:06] and community and love and delicious food,
[1:42:10] I don't see any of the problems that are being cited.
[1:42:13] I also want to read talk from talking points provided by Nida
[1:42:17] that the city should shift from gatekeeping to partnership,
[1:42:21] include long term and informal vendors and decision making.
[1:42:24] Waive or subsidize partition
[1:42:26] participation costs for low income vendors.
[1:42:29] Design programs rooted in equity and culture advocate
[1:42:32] for simpler, simpler, clearer, streamlined, accessible
[1:42:36] permitting systems and treat.
[1:42:44] Joy as morality.
[1:42:46] Instead of going out to the lake and talking
[1:42:49] to us about these issues, the city had meetings
[1:42:52] and text messages and emails.
[1:42:54] I did include us and decided to smash instead of communicate.
[1:42:58] So we are taking it upon ourselves to handle it ourselves
[1:43:01] and let you know.
[1:43:02] We read up on the concerns and don't agree
[1:43:05] with your approach, and we'll handle it ourselves.
[1:43:07] Since you don't want to work with us,
[1:43:09] protect our culture and support real grassroots community
[1:43:12] economic development,
[1:43:14] and for the neighbors who can't stand us.
[1:43:16] Have you ever had a conversation with us?
[1:43:18] Have you tried our food or our sweets?
[1:43:20] Have we sat in the sun and listened to the live music?
[1:43:22] The open natives make and share out there?
[1:43:25] Have you supported your local clothes
[1:43:26] and jewelry marketers that work and make everything from hand?
[1:43:30] Or do you sit on your balcony
[1:43:32] and see a sea of black folks in our own home town
[1:43:35] and don't like what you see because it's not your people?
[1:43:41] From what we have seen over the past two and a half months,
[1:43:43] the city needs to stop all raids.
[1:43:52] My names need to be.
[1:43:53] I'm a local street vendor.
[1:43:55] I want to
[1:43:58] just make sure folks understand that street vending
[1:44:00] isn't just commerce, it's survival.
[1:44:02] It's mutual aid. It's ingenuity.
[1:44:04] It's how working class black, Latino, and Asian
[1:44:06] and immigrant families have made ends meet in informal
[1:44:08] economies have shut us out.
[1:44:10] What the city is currently doing to street
[1:44:11] vendors is not meaningful legislation.
[1:44:13] It's violent gatekeeping.
[1:44:15] The shift transforms meaning from community
[1:44:17] survival economy into a managed experience
[1:44:20] that squeezes every dime it can get at a street vendors
[1:44:22] through permits, fees, and licenses.
[1:44:24] When vending becomes overly curated, someone decides
[1:44:27] who gets to bend, who doesn't get to vent,
[1:44:29] what they can vent, and how they can show up,
[1:44:31] and whether they even belong in street vending at all.
[1:44:33] This kind of thinking and behavior can't be separate
[1:44:35] from the broader forces of gentrification.
[1:44:37] The issue is how street vending is allowed,
[1:44:39] who benefits and who's being excluded.
[1:44:41] The same for dollar tacos and overpriced street food
[1:44:43] celebrating upscale food halls.
[1:44:45] Food halls become become they become legal vending
[1:44:51] and then while the illegal vending are the $2 tacos where the street.
[1:44:58] Oh, she's giving me her time.
[1:45:00] My name is DeShawn.
[1:45:01] I'm giving you my time.
[1:45:05] The issue is how to be vending is allowed.
[1:45:07] The same entrepreneurial hustle praised by the middle class
[1:45:10] startup culture becomes noncompliance
[1:45:12] when practiced by the flatland families curbside.
[1:45:14] This is nothing short of cultural displacement.
[1:45:17] Our culture gets stigmatized, is regulated out of existence,
[1:45:21] and then repackaged. And so back to sanitize and expensive
[1:45:25] from what we've seen over the past two and a half months, the city needs to stop all raids on the vendors
[1:45:27] and do a serious legal review of Oakley's enforcement policies
[1:45:31] and practices. The vendors and their advocates have collected
[1:45:32] enough factual support for investigating
[1:45:35] whether Oakland exceeds legal authority,
[1:45:38] and whether or not his deprive vendors of property without due process,
[1:45:40] and this destruction of property,
[1:45:42] has happened without warning, without receipt,
[1:45:46] without any appeal process
[1:45:47] or any opportunity to get property back.
[1:45:50] Our legal representative has requested documents
[1:45:52] twice already around citations,
[1:45:55] around enforcement documents about any kind of writing,
[1:45:58] around any kind of implementation.
[1:46:01] He's been ignored and Friday filed a lawsuit against the city of Oakland,
[1:46:03] in violation of the California public act.
[1:46:13] Hello, I'm Lisa Zbornak.
[1:46:15] I am a homeowner in the neighborhood of Cleveland
[1:46:18] Heights.
[1:46:19] By educating kids today, we will all have a better
[1:46:25] tomorrow.
[1:46:26] It's important that we keep the vendors.
[1:46:30] One of my wellness tools is going to the lake
[1:46:34] and dancing and talking to all the vendors.
[1:46:38] I feel it's really important to keep,
[1:46:42] especially the local Oakland women vendors,
[1:46:45] like the ones that help educate kids and cook
[1:46:50] ethnic foods that are helpful for the community,
[1:46:54] that are therapists, the local artists and educators
[1:46:59] that are now dear friends of mine
[1:47:02] and are teaching me how to educate.
[1:47:05] I was born in Berkeley.
[1:47:07] I was raised in Oakland, California,
[1:47:10] and we need the vendors here to educate the kids.
[1:47:13] Thank you.
[1:47:19] Good afternoon. My name is Virginia Davis. I'm here representing the Black cultural Zone.
[1:47:21] I wanted to speak,
[1:47:22] just very briefly about, the seminary, the speaker.
[1:47:26] It's okay. Thank you.
[1:47:29] Want to participate?
[1:47:31] And we congratulate you on being able to move forward past some of the,
[1:47:33] financial obstacles and this project.
[1:47:36] So thank you very much.
[1:47:42] And finance again, district five.
[1:47:45] During this meeting, we saw the City council show
[1:47:48] tremendous amounts of supportive ness and leniency
[1:47:52] toward the developers of a multi-million dollar,
[1:47:54] commercial real estate project, because the council recognized
[1:47:58] that that project is important to the economic
[1:48:01] fabric of the city and to the community around it.
[1:48:04] We just want to see the city and the county show
[1:48:08] that same kind of consideration to
[1:48:12] street vendors who are smaller interests,
[1:48:14] but are also just as crucial to the fabric of the community
[1:48:17] and giving the rest of my time to Sarah,
[1:48:20] to the member of the public.
[1:48:22] Once you start your time, you cannot see
[1:48:24] the rest of your time. So, Sarah, you'll have one minute.
[1:48:26] That's okay.
[1:48:27] All right.
[1:48:28] Hi again. It's Sarah again.
[1:48:30] Just coming back to just end it off.
[1:48:34] Closed it off with some, thoughts on Praxis again.
[1:48:38] Making sure that this committee is,
[1:48:41] dedicated to, you know, finding the theory.
[1:48:44] Why exactly is all of this happening?
[1:48:47] And making sure that the actions you take,
[1:48:50] are in line with what the community is saying.
[1:48:54] How again, answering the questions of what exactly
[1:48:58] about the tax on the vendors and is based on theory,
[1:49:02] what type of reflection is taking place
[1:49:04] and how this community is actual
[1:49:09] I want to just close it off by saying the city should shift
[1:49:11] from gatekeeping to partnership,
[1:49:13] including longtime informal vendors
[1:49:15] and decision making, waiving
[1:49:17] or subsidizing participation costs for low income vendors,
[1:49:21] designing programs rooted in equity and culture,
[1:49:24] advocating for simple,
[1:49:25] simpler, clearer, streamlined, accessible permitting systems,
[1:49:28] and treating vendors not as participants in problems,
[1:49:31] but as actual leaders and culture keepers.
[1:49:33] Thank you.
[1:49:40] Margo Duncan, policy fellow at Legal Services.
[1:49:43] Prince with children. All of us are none.
[1:49:45] You know, at first glance, sometimes
[1:49:48] things can appear one way and be another way.
[1:49:52] And I think I see as some of you guys
[1:49:55] said, all of you guys had no empathy.
[1:49:58] And I don't think that anymore.
[1:49:59] I think a few of you guys
[1:50:02] understand what's going on, and I think you mean, well.
[1:50:06] And I also think that,
[1:50:10] you know, openly don't look like
[1:50:11] it used to look 40, 50 years when I was growing up.
[1:50:15] It's different now.
[1:50:16] But people that are coming into this space,
[1:50:19] they still need to understand the history behind it.
[1:50:23] You know, people, we have a right to be here
[1:50:25] just like they do,
[1:50:28] you know, and they may not like a lot of things,
[1:50:29] but everything for everybody to like,
[1:50:32] you know, and, and and just I would just ask
[1:50:34] that they be mindful of that, you know,
[1:50:36] I mean when they want people to turn music down and don't
[1:50:39] drive this way and don't.
[1:50:50] You get all upset when you talk about privacy.
[1:50:54] These people are talking about
[1:50:56] their private property
[1:50:59] is being confiscated
[1:51:01] by the Oakland police Department, Public Works
[1:51:03] and Code Enforcement.
[1:51:07] That is a violation of their human right.
[1:51:10] You have no right to take their property.
[1:51:14] They can be cited.
[1:51:16] You can confiscate illegal alcohol and drugs,
[1:51:20] but you cannot do this.
[1:51:23] And somebody needs to investigate what's going on.
[1:51:27] And somebody needs to file a lawsuit
[1:51:32] because you cannot you cannot take it upon yourself to want to have that space
[1:51:36] at Lake Merritt appropriate for them.
[1:51:38] White folks,
[1:51:40] at the expense of violating the rights
[1:51:43] of these black people and other people that decide
[1:51:45] they want to be on that lake that is public property.
[1:51:49] It is not private property for.
[1:51:55] Thank you for your comments. If your name was called and you still
[1:51:56] wish to speak for open forum, you can come up to the podium
[1:51:59] or raise your hand to be easily identified on zoom.
[1:52:03] At this time all names have been called excellent.
[1:52:07] All right. Well thank you everyone for coming to KD and to all the public commenters.
[1:52:11] I'll have some additional conversations
[1:52:13] and get more information on the street vending issue.
[1:52:16] But until then, this meeting is adjourned.