City Council - meeting_joint

Good afternoon and welcome to this council meeting. It is Tuesday, May 19, and this meeting shall come to order. Before I call roll, I would like to give instructions on how to submit a speaker card for items on this agenda. If you are here in person participating and would like to submit a speaker card, you must fill out a speaker card on the table in the middle of the room and turn it into a clerk representative across from the table either before the item is read into record or two minute two hours after this meeting began that would make that time at 05:33. For submitting online speaker cards, they were due twenty four hours before this meeting began.

So those are no longer accepted. But again, if you are wanting to submit a speaker card for an item on this agenda, please fill out a card and turn it into a clerk representative either before the item is called into record or two hours after this meeting began, whichever comes first. With that, I will now call roll. On roll for this meeting, council member Brown. Present. Council member Fife. Excused. Excused. Council member Gayle?

Council member Gayle?

Present.

Present. Thank

you. Council member Houston? Excused. Okay. Council member Ramachandra? Present. Council member excuse me. Unger? My apologies.

Present.

Thank you. Council member Wong? Present. And chair council president Jenkins?

Present.

We have six member present, two two excused. I will now go to our first item, item number three modifications to the agenda.

Any modifications to agenda? Seeing none. Or is there anything from the administration for modifications to the agenda?

Thank you for that. I will now go to our we have no item four, we have no public hearings at this time, so we will go to item five, which are non consent items starting with item 5.1. I will read this item into record. It is a resolution commemoratively renaming the plaza a public right away at the Oakland LGBT Community Center as More Hope Plaza. I do have three speakers for this item.

Thank you. Council member Brown.

Excellent. So I'll go ahead and speak first and then turn it over to council member Wong. So I am beyond honored and humbled to be a part of the renaming of the Plaza near the Oakland LGBTQ Cultural Center in the heart of the cultural district, Moore Hope Plaza. This renaming honors the lives and legacy of Peggy Moore and Hope Wood. These two women were trailblazers in the Bay Area through their passion for social justice, advocacy and community organizing.

Tragically, they were killed in a car accident May 2024 leaving behind just a huge loss here in Oakland and beyond. And so for those of you who don't, may not know, who was Peggy? But I'm confident that many of you have so many stories to tell about her visionary leadership. Peggy was someone who worked on both the Barack Obama campaign and Hillary Clinton presidential campaigns, and also ran for Oakland City Council, a seat that I currently hold, and mentored so many of us finding our way in public service and organizing. I even had the opportunity to volunteer on one of her campaigns while learning my own path forward.

Peggy was a fierce advocate for marriage equality and worked really worked alongside countless community organizations and initiatives across the East Bay in pursuit of social justice. That same passion and fire is exactly why Peggy and her partner, Hope Wood, were such a perfect match after meeting in 2008 while working on the Obama campaign. Hope was someone who also had accomplished a lot as well as attending the Harvard Kennedy School, Color of Change, and Courage of Courage and the Courage Campaign. Together Peggy and Hope created their consulting firm, Hope Action Change, and continued to shape movements in communities throughout the East Bay for many years. And so this tragic, this sudden and tragic loss of Peggy and Hope was deeply felt across the entire city of Oakland and the LGBTQ plus community as well as BIPOC communities.

So the renaming of this plaza outside the Oakland LGBTQ Cultural Center is more than just a ceremonial rec recognition. It is a commitment to honoring the legacy of two women who fought tirelessly to to create a more equitable and just world. More Hope Plaza will stand as a lasting reminder that queer history cannot and will not be erased in Oakland. And then lastly, I do wanna thank the leadership, from the Oakland LGBTQ Cultural Center, Jeff Myers, Joe Hawkins, Brandon Harami for their partnership and leadership. In addition, I also wanna thank the Department of Transportation team, of course, the city attorneys, the office of mayor Barbara Lee, and my colleague council member Wong for all of your support in helping bring this vision to life.

And so, tears to the newest plaza in Oakland, More Hope Plaza. And so I'll turn it over to council member Wong who I believe is gonna share a video.

Is that a motion?

Yes.

Alright. Council member Wong.

First of all, I'm just so privileged and proud to be the council member that is not only a queer woman of color but also represents the LGBTQ cultural district, which is just such an icon. And for Peggy Moore and Hope Wood to be celebrated, you know, in spite of the horrifying loss of their lives due to this due to traffic violence. But I'm glad we can we can celebrate. So this is what I see as a celebration of their lives. I did want to just fill in a few other things that weren't noted that Peggy Moore was also the co founder of Sistas Steppin' in Pride.

This was really to celebrate queer women of color in Oakland. She was the past president of the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club. And Hope Wood as well as Moore, they were leading organizers against the horribly discriminatory proposition eight that happened in California. And following the striking down of proposition eight, it was Peggy and Hope. They had a wedding celebration at Lake Merritt, also in District 2.

And it was really such a landmark and public celebration of marriage equality. And so they've continued they just have such a legacy and I'm so proud to celebrate them. And I think the other thing is beyond just their resumes and accomplishments, also wanted to note Peggy's, her why. Why did she do everything that she did in politics and Oakland? And so I dug into the Peggy Moore archive so to speak. And I have a video to share. This was an interview, just three minute clip with our favorite vlogger, Zenny. Meadow, we can play the clip.

Who's Peggy Moore? Where'd you grow up?

Peggy Moore. Peggy Moore. Right.

Peggy Moore. So look.

I'm born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I'm the oldest of four, raised by my mother,

biological father is a

narrow, and he's now deceased. And I have about, you

know, six siblings on that side,

but but but raised with my four siblings. You know, I went grew up in Oklahoma, went to junior college, but I pretty much worked all of my life. Left Oklahoma and went to Texas and stayed in Texas for about seven years. And then I left Texas, and then I discovered California. I came out for vacation. Uh-huh. And then when I came out for vacation, I decided this is the place that I wanted to be because I can actually fully express myself. Be yourself. Yeah. Completely.

And, you know, that was, you know, as a young, you know, lesbian coming out, not quite sure what all of that meant. But in San Francisco and the Bay Area, I never won't forget one of my one of my mentors. Her name is Sydney Weinstein, and hairdresser in San Francisco, heterosexual woman, just fabulous. She took me to my first lesbian wedding. And it was it was it was like one of the first things I did when I came to town because that was like 20 ago. Yeah. This is before it was legal, but it was really just love. Right? Ayanna Anna and Ayanna, never will forget it, walked into the room, this young lesbian from Oklahoma Mhmm. 100 black women women of color.

Yeah. Majority black. Right. I was

like, where am I? Oh my god. Heaven, rusty, like this. Right? Did you meet Mitch? No. Not there.

He was

the oldest.

He's like 79, I think. Wow. Yeah.

But but I know some Yeah. I know know some lesbians.

Black lesbian. But that that's another story for me.

Yeah. Definitely. So it was it was that moment where I I was I felt whole. I felt like the stereotypes of what it was like being gay and lesbian was really just completely different for me. Because this was a this was a body of women who had children and families and educators and professionals and people who were doing their life and fully engaged. Right? And then I left the wedding. I was like, okay. Where are they? Where where can I find the people?

And it was that moment where I recognized that so many people in the community really chose not to come out or couldn't come out for a variety of reasons, whether it's because of their job or because of their children or their own personal struggle about being out. But it was but it was because of that that I knew that I had to be out, not only for myself,

but for those who couldn't come.

I had to be a voice to say, yes. We do have some strong, dynamic, beautiful, black lesbians that are around.

Thank you. And I, you know, I wanted to just note too about Peggy that even though we didn't cross many paths actually, when I was running in the at large race as the long shot candidate, lost to of course my colleague here on the dais. But I had met up with Peggy and she had actually offered to to help. I was like which is a rare quality quality in politics where you're helping the long shot candidate but she said you're a queer woman of color. I want to help you. And that is the type of person that she was was always extending the ladder behind her. So I just yeah. I think I think it's important to also just note somebody's what what's at their heart. Not only was she a giant, she had a giant heart.

Thank you, council member. I think you missed something. You know where she shot that video at? That's the Lakeshore Cafe, which is now Peach District 2. There we go. Council member Houston.

Yes. I'd like to celebrate Peggy. Me and Peggy go way back When she was working in Home Depot in Emeryville when I was doing construction, I went in there, met her, she was a manager and she embraced me from the jump, you know, and every time I went in there she took care of me. She said, can't go to special order desk, I got you. I'll get in and out because it was real packed up. So I like to embrace her. And when she ran for mayor, you know, when I ran for my first seat, she inspired me. She told me some things. She came out on my first when I did a a tour about illegal dumping. I did council member Brown, I did my first tour through on that 3.5 mile stretch on San Angelo Boulevard.

And Peggy came out. She showed up. She went with me on the tour. She said, Ken, this is horrendous. Right? So I just wanna celebrate Peggy Moore. I never really told her, you know, how much she she met or the things that she did for me to inspire me. So that means just tell people, you know, just tell people, you know, when you see them. John, what's up, man? Just tell them. I got love for you. Right? Just tell them because you never know when. Might be tomorrow. Tomorrow. You never know. So I just wanna celebrate Peggy. Thank you.

Thank you, councilmember Huston. Councilmember Warren McHunger.

Thank you. Several years ago when I was, for the first time ever, vaguely contemplating running for office, I met Peggy at an LGBTQ political training from Equality California. And she was one of the first people who gave me advice, real advice on running for office. And I'll never remember the honesty about which she spoke about what camp how campaigning can take a toll on you, your relationship, and thinking through what your values are and whether it's worth it, and it definitely can be. So as one of the first people ever, specifically LGBTQ women who gave me advice, I remember her words often to this day.

Thank you, colleagues, for honoring her today.

Thank you. I wanna thank council member Ramachandra I mean, council member Brown and council member Wong for bringing this forward. I had the pleasure of knowing Peggy for quite some time since I was a staffer working for supervisor Keith Carson and when she was working for mayor Libby Schaff. And Peggy ran a number of campaigns, was really active in the political scene, really active in equality and always always always loved my conversations with Peggy. She was full of joy, and I very sad when she and Hope tragically lost their lives.

But I I don't think of I don't think there's any more deserving people to rename this after. Council member Wong? Or is that Leiden? Alright.

Sorry. I forgot. I was gonna say something pithy after that clip and then I got so sucked in that I forgot what I was gonna say. But the reason I do love that clip is because it was clear to me in watching it that Peggy was inspired by Oakland and then Peggy would go on to inspire other Oaklanders, especially LGBTQ Oaklanders. So that's why I thought it was important to share it at this meeting. Thanks.

Alright. Councilmember Brown, then we'll go to public comment.

Excellent. Were we gonna hear from the mayor's office as well? Councilmember Wong, were you able to confirm on the item?

They're they will not be saying so I think we can move to public comment.

Okay. Excellent. Thank you.

Thank you. Let's go to public comment.

As I call your name, please approach the podium. If you are here in person, if you're participating via Zoom, please raise your hand so I can easily identify you. As usual we'll start with those who are here in person in chambers. Miss Olavala, Jean Hazard, and Isaac Cost Reid in any order please approach the podium for item 5.1.

We got our prac commissioner here.

Thank you for that recognition of my service but I'm here to recognize Peggy Moore. Such an icon when I saw it on the agenda I thought apart from wanting to speak for affordable housing month I had to come out and honor her. Seeing her in Lakeshore Cafe was kinda trippy because that's like where my family, where my boys grew up running into her with my mother-in-law all the time. I knew and loved her at the risk of offending a current city staff member who I don't see in the room any longer. She was the first person I backed against an incumbent and I remember her kickoff celebration party was at Lake Merritt at the pergola where my wife and I started salsa by the lake and she had us do a little dancing as part of she had like an Afro Cuban energy that she carried forth in her own spirit and politics.

You know I wanted to say I also worked with her as a public affairs professional. She went into the private sector and she fought for her clients beautifully in the same way that she fought for the people when she was in the public sector. So may her memory not just inspire to be inspire us to be our best civic selves but also may it be a reminder of how important safe responsible driving and roads are to a civil society.

I was probably one of the first persons who met Peggy when she came here. Most folks don't realize, and we would do political strategies. And most folks don't realize she was supposed to run for the assembly, the same seat that Mia Bonta has. But then she decided instead to open up a consulting firm, and that's when she, was a consultant for Libby Shaft's campaign. It hurt me because I was ready to hit the ground for assembly race.

And it was sad what happened to her. I was at hopes and her wedding at the return I mean, in the atrium and came over to the place on Broadway for the reception. But, yeah, she had a good heart, good spirit, good person.

Y'all y'all drain my energy when y'all start using that term a woman of color. This this beautiful black woman was outstanding, and her blackness should always stay in place because we struggle as black women to get recognition, to be respected. The only time you hear is we angry black women. So in the future, when you're dealing with black women, keep that perspective black in place. And a woman of color, we are not women of color.

We are strong black women. And the last thing is there are a lot of us here in this city. Some of us are not getting out just to. I'm glad this sister is but I'm gonna bring up Latonya Simmons again and hope someday she will get her due respect in this in this chamber.

Thank you for your comments. That concludes our public speech for this item.

Thank you so much. So we have a motion and a second.

I apologize. I have a motion by council member Brown. The second is Wong. Wong. As stated on the record, motion by council member Brown, seconded by Wong to move item to approve item 5.1 on roll. Council member Brown? Aye. Council member Fife is excused. Council member

Gyle?

Aye.

Houston?

Aye.

Ramachandran? Aye. Unger? Aye. Wong? Aye. Chair Jenkins?

Aye.

Item 5.1 is approved with seven ayes, one excused. That now takes us to item number s 5.2. I will read the item into record. Item 5.2 is adopt a resolution approving the appointment of an annuity without a one hundred and eighty day break in service where the appointment is necessary to fill a critically needed position before a hundred and eighty days have passed since the employee's retirement in accordance with the government code section one two one two two four and seven five two two point five six. I have one speaker for this

item. ACA Baker.

Thank you. And through the chair and the council, my name is Chuck Baker, assistant city administrator. We are bringing this item forward to retain a retiring employee that is supporting critical and time sensitive work with the Oakland army base. John Mineta's been working on this particular project exclusively for over fifteen years. And so this ensures continuity during his transition into retirement. While it's administrative in nature, CalPERS regulations require council approval. And Brendan from our economic and workforce development department will provide additional detail, and I'm answer happy to answer any questions.

Good afternoon. Brendan Moriarty, Director of Real Estate and Special Projects. I'll be very quick with this one. So John Mineta has worked for the city since twenty six years ago. So twenty six years of service here, most of the time working on the Oakland Army based project. He's currently a project manager too in the economic and workforce development department. He is planning to retire in the coming days and And we would like to hire him back as a retired annuitant. It's a temporary part time position. It's a strategy we use in the administration when we need specialized skills performing work of a limited duration. It would be no more than part time, 50% full time equivalent.

So he would be supporting on helping to ensure that we meet our obligations under a quarter billion dollar state grant, ensuring that we're compliant with environmental regulations, ensuring continuity in real estate negotiations such as for the COSCO project, coordinating with agencies around a variety of complex projects and then training other staff so that we can continue the work in the long term. And as Assistant City Administrator Baker said, CalPERS regulation simply requires an act on non consent to approve the continuation of that service after retirement without a break. So that's why we're here to ensure no loss and continuity of operations here. So that is it. Available to answer questions, and thank you much very much for the time.

Thank you. We wish you more in retirement. Council member Houston, turn your mic on. Council member Magaio, turn your mic on.

Sit on now. Testing one two. Yeah. Thank you. I've known, mister Moneda for many, many years. Certainly have known his work. Appreciated the work that he's contributed to this, city of Oakland. And with that, I make a motion to approve, staff's recommendation. Thank you.

I was gonna make a motion this passed unanimously out of the committee I chair finance, and I will second the motion.

Thank you.

And to the chair, I'd like to just share something with the staff. I met John Mineta twenty four years ago. We worked together. He saved the city hundreds of thousands of dollars when they had they were gonna be fined, like, $10,000 a day with the e EPA. And that's when I first started as a community based organization helping out the justice impacted on house. And he actually hired us to actually do the SWEP and and and and he saved the city hundreds of thousands of dollars and worked it out of that that violations that they had with the EPA. So he's a competent person. I'm sad to lose him. He's I love some John Mineta. Right?

So if he's listening, John, I'm glad to keep you here and, keep doing the great work.

EAP is so part of your lexicon. You can't stop saying it.

Submit. EPA. Yeah. Was thinking about the EAP. Yeah. He thinks the same one. So EPA. Thank you.

Let's go to the public speakers.

Miss Asada Olubala?

Like I said in finance committee, I have no problem with this gentleman continuing his work. I do have a tremendous problem with anything going on at the army base. Oakland army base is heavily contaminated with toxic substances, including lead, arsenic, petroleum projects, asbestos, and other solvents. These pollutants remain in the soil and remain in the groundwater causing significant environmental and public health concerns for the surrounding West Oakland community. The site has required extensive remediation with remediation failures throughout with high levels of contamination still in place.

Deem it has been deemed that the parts of the site are too costly to develop for residential, commercial, or temporary shelter use. But you're ignoring that, and you you do this a lot. You ignore the best interest of health and safety to to do things that are gonna be financial beneficial in this city. So the the man okay. Anything going on at West Oakland Army Base is inappropriate and not safe.

Thank you, miss Asada. Does that conclude the public speakers?

That concludes our public speakers.

Okay.

There was a motion by council member Gaio, seconded by council member Ramachandran to approve item s point five s 5.2 on that for roll, council member Brown? Aye. Council member Fife is excused. Council member Gayle?

Aye. Houston?

Aye. Ramachandran? Aye. Unger?

Aye.

Wong? Aye. And chair Jenkins? Aye. Item number s 5.2 is approved with seven ayes, one excused five. That now takes us to item s 5.3. I will read the ordinance into record. Adopt an ordinance authorizing the borrowing of funds and the issuance and sale of the twenty twenty six twenty seven tax revenue anticipation notes in principal amount not to exceed $200,000,000 payable from revenues received for and accrued to the general fund of the city during the fiscal year twenty six to twenty seven in approving certain related matters. I do have one speaker for this item.

Alright. Good afternoon, president Jenkins and council members. I'm David Jones with the treasury bureau. Before you this afternoon is the first reading of the ordinance providing for the borrowing of funds and the issuance and sale of the 2627 notes payable from revenues received during the twenty six twenty seven fiscal year in an amount not to exceed $200,000,000. The note will mature in less than fifteen months, and the city has done this successfully over over the years, if you will.

The funds will be used to finance the temporary cash flow needs, basically arising from fluctuations in monthly and tax receipts as well as including a prepayment of the city of an of Oakland unfunded accrued liability, which allows for the city to garner a 3.34% discount from CalPERS. The ordinance only approves for the borrowing of funds, and we will be coming back next month for the second reading of this ordinance as well as a resolution approving the documents for for the transaction. And I'm available for any questions that you may have.

Thank you. Seeing no question oh, council member Ramachandra?

Thank you. Just another statement this passed out of finance committee unanimously and I'm happy to make a motion.

Got a motion and then council member Gayo. You want turn your mic on. Yeah. I mean, he's

It's going off.

You go.

Went off again. Alright. Anyway, so is this an ongoing practice every year where we do this type of borrowing?

That is correct. That is

correct. And so when do we make we borrow the money. When do we repay the money?

In in approximately fifteen months. And it basically is to to smooth out the fluctuations in your revenues throughout the course of the of the of the fiscal year.

Specifically the 200,000 be used for for what service?

Your general fund, you know, operations, essentially.

For the general fund operation, not a specific activity or service?

No. No. Just operations as well as potentially prefunding your CalPERS

Yeah.

Accrued liability contribution, which would allow for us to receive a discount from from CalPERS.

Alright. Thank you. I'll I'll second the motion. Thank you. Alright.

Let's go to the public speakers.

Miss Asada Olabala.

I found it interesting during the discussion period of this item in finance that nobody brought up that the arrangements saw that the money would be repaid within one year. Not only be repaid using expected future revenue such as fees, grants, or taxes. So it sounds like you might be looking for Measure E money, that's future money, to be the source of how you repay this, and now we're talking about measure e is strongly gonna fail, thank God. Vote no on measure e, please, everybody. But that was never discussed.

Fiscally, that should have been a point of clarification. We have to pay this back in one year. You brought it up, mister Gallo. It wasn't brought up in committee. And the actual identification of how we will pay this back in one year. And the last question should have been, if we don't pay it back in what year, what are the consequences for not paying it back in one year? Do we have to give a council member up or what? What what is the consequences?

We got a motion and a second.

There was a motion by council member Ramachandra and seconded by council member Gaio to approve this ordinance on introduction. Council member Brown. Aye. Council member Fife is excused. Council member Gaio. Aye. Council member Houston. Aye. Council member Ramachandran. Aye. Council member Unger. Aye. Council member Wong. Aye. Chair Jenkins.

Aye.

Motion passes with a vote of seven ayes, one excused. Council member Fife, moving to your consent calendar which includes all of item six. Starting with item 6.1, approval of the draft minutes from the meeting of 05/05/2026. Item 6.2, a declaration of a local emergency due to the AIDS epidemic. Item 6.3, a resolution renewing the declaration of medical cannabis health emergency.

Item 6.4, a declaration of a local emergency due to homelessness. Item 6.5 is an ordinance for the easement at 260 Oak Street. Item 6.6, an ordinance for adoption of a federally compliant flood plan, management ordinance and flood hazard maps. Item 6.7, a rev a resolution for s b thirteen thirteen for public water systems grant loans related to PFAS. Item 6.8, a resolution for a b eighteen twenty one for the California Public Records Act.

Item 6.9, a resolution for s b one three one four for smoke shops, locations, hours of operation, and sale of nitrous oxide. Item 6.1, a resolution for assembly bill seventeen thirty eight. Item 6.11, a resolution for s b one two three zero, strengthening illegal dumping enforcement. Item 6.12, a resolution in support of assembly bill two three one zero for illegal dumping, liability and enforcement. Item 6.13, a resolution in support of s b four one seven.

Item 6.14, a resolution for a b two three five one. Item 6.15, a resolution celebration of May 2026 as affordable housing month. Item 6.16, a resolution for support of assembly bill one eight three seven, video imaging of parking of violations on public transit vehicles. Item 6.17, a resolution authorizing reimburse excuse me, reimbursement for council member Cobb. Item 6.18, a resolution for Gary pay Gary Payton commemorative street renaming.

Item 6.19, a resolution for a settlement for Madison Clark versus the city of Oakland. Item 6.2, a resolution for national prescription opiate opiate opioid legislation. Item 6.21, a resolution for appointments of the commission on persons with disabilities. Item 6.22, a resolution for District 1 appointment to the budget advisory commission. Item 6.23, a resolution for fiscal year twenty six to twenty seven, Landscaping And Lighting Assessment District.

Item 6.24, a resolution for HSIP nine, rectangular rapid flashing beacon project construction contracts award. Item 6.25, a resolution for cooperative agreements for purchasing electrical equipment and accessories with Gaybar Electric Company. Item 6.26, a resolution regarding the illegal dumping expenditure plan. Item 6.27, a resolution for Caltrans community cleanup and employment pathway grant. Item 6.28, a resolution for digital lift digital literacy training for older adults.

Item 6.29, a resolution for a past cited program, acceptance of intergovernmental transfer award. Item 6.3, a resolution for OFCY 24 to 25, final year in independent annual evaluation. Item 6.31, a resolution for ceasefire lifeline contracts. Item 6.32, a resolution for purchasing agreement with Bauer Compressors. And your final item, 6.33, a resolution for purchase agreement with Ellen Curtis and Son. And I believe staff has some amendments to item 6.6.

Hi. Good afternoon. Council member Jenkins, a member of the council. Chief building official Cecilia Moila. I wanted to bring forth item 6.6 as the adoption of this flood plain ordinance as an emergency ordinance pursuant to city charter section two one three.

It's necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, and safety because failure to adopt FEMA compliant floodplain management regulations by May 25 would result in suspension of the city of Oakland's good standing with the National Flood Insurance Program or the NFIP, thereby jeopardizing the availability of federal funding for our constituents and the eligibility for certain forms of federal disaster assistance in the event of a natural disaster or other flood related events. So immediate adoption is further necessary to ensure continued implementation of the updated floodplain management standards that protect life, property, and public infrastructure from flood hazards, and we would like to amend, the ordinance to include this statement. It's also important to know that, the flood floodplain ordinance did pass with a four zero vote at public works committee and a seven one vote at council's first reading. Thank you.

Thank you.

We will also include an amendment to the ordinance with findings.

Thank you. Thank you. Any Through

the chair, if I could, I'd also ask the council to include in their approval of the consent calendar to continue item 6.5 to the June 2 council meeting which is the council meeting immediately following this meeting.

So the motion should include that we're gonna continue item 6.5 to the following meeting and the amendments that staff read, correct? Yes. Alright. Alright, no comments from my colleagues? Then we'll go to public comment.

As I call your name, please approach the podium in any order. As with practice, persons in chambers will be taken first. Those on Zoom will be taken immediately after. And please raise your hand on Zoom so I can easily identify you. And those in chambers, state your name and step to the podium in any order.

Kevin Dally, Carla Guerrero, Dwayne Nelson, John Jones the third, Arthur Shanks, miss Asada Olabala, I have you with multiple items for the maximum amount of time. Mister Hazard, I have you with multiple items for the maximum amount of time. Jason Dixon, Isaac Cost Reed, Annie Elaine Ledbury, Nima Link, Cecilia Winn, Renee Hayes, Jesse Williams in any order and again if you're on Zoom please raise your hand so I can easily identify you.

Hello. Is this thing on? I'm I'm speaking on the consent calendar today. There are many items on the consent calendar. But before I speak on the particulars, there's some statistics the council should know about days.

So there are fifty two weeks in a given year. And 20 of those weeks, approximately, are council weeks, which means that there's about a 38% chance that any given week will be a council week. Now there are three sixty five days in a year. And there is a one in seven chance that that day will be a Tuesday. And there's a one in three hundred sixty five percent chance that that will be a birthday.

So if we combine all of these statistics together, that there's a 14% chance that any birthday will be on a Tuesday and a 38% chance that that Tuesday will happen to be a council day multiplied by the point

You can extend the time. His mic wasn't on, I don't think.

I'm sorry. I didn't give you all your time. So you have two minutes left.

Thank you. So so I think it's important for the council to know that information on the consent calendar. Today is council member Rowena Brown's birthday. Happy birthday, council member. And I know she keeps it a secret, so she might be mad at me for doing this, but I have lit you a candle, which is Palo Santo. So I don't know if you can blow this out from there. You wanna try? Happy birthday, council member.

Thank you, Neema.

Hello, council. Hello, council members. I'm here speaking on item 6.18, the renaming of this commemorative plaque for Gary Payton. I grew up in East Oakland. I was able to spend some time with his father, Gary Payton senior.

He knew I wasn't much of a basketball player, so he mentored me off the court. Right? And Gary Payton is carrying on that legacy. He expressed to me how he wants to revitalize basketball courts that aren't as attractive in Oakland, and it's it's just good that we're uplifting community members that has poured into the community. So, thank you to the Peyton family and council member. No. No. It's just real important that we uplift our community members. So, yes, thank you to the the Payton family. Jason Dixon, Zeric Payton, Brandon Payton, and the whole Payton family. Thank

Before you go, can you give me your name?

Arthur Shanks.

Woah. Woah. Woah. How y'all doing? How y'all doing?

Good afternoon. My name is Cecilia w, and I am here as a hope and justice committee member with Saint Mary's Center. I am proud to be a member also with the East Bay Housing Associations. East Bay Housing is a member driven organization convening and diverse coalition that advocates to produce, preserve, and protect affordability, housing opportunities for low income communities in the East Bay. Our membership of over 400 individuals and organizations include groups, faith, institutions, and residents of affordable housing across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

Thank you, Oakland City Council, for recognizing affordable housing month and affirming your commitment to affordability housing.

Good afternoon. Good afternoon. I'm Renee Hayes, also with Saint Mary's. As we celebrate affordable housing here in Oakland, we are joined by EPO members and staff who are organizing more than 25 public events across the East Bay this month to educate our community about key aspects of affordable housing and housing justice. Our program this year includes a great lineup of events, community celebrations, days of action, panel discussions, housing workshops, community trainings, and more.

There are also grand openings and groundbreakings of new affordable housing communities that showcase and celebrate what is possible when community members, nonprofits, and local governments come together. You can view a list a list of events at epo.org/events. Thank you.

Hi. My name is Jesse Williams. I'm also representing Saint Mary's Center here in Oakland. The goal of affordable housing month is to lift and up and up the cent, lift up the the center of those and center those affected by housing crisis. This month, we call attention to the housing affordability crisis, lift up solutions, celebrate our achievements, invite all community members to join us in our movement.

As we continue this work, we are reminded that real change only happens when communities come together to prevent and advocate for one another. We can keep each other safe and housed, but only if we work together and remain committed to a vision of a racially and economically just East Bay, where everyone has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. On behalf of Saint Mary's Center and East Bay Housing Organization, I thank you very much for this honor, and we hope to see you soon at

Hello. My name is Annie Ledbury, and I'm with the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation. Thank you so much to city council for your support and leading a strong affordable housing culture here in Oakland. Thank you so much to HCD staff and OHA staff for their hard work in collaborating with the Balti this year. We've been able to work on four affordable housing new construction projects with the city this year.

That includes Sen Lake, the Phoenix, Clara E. Chan residence at Chinatown BART, and thirty fourth apartments. Abalzi is proud to be an anchor partner on meeting the affordable housing needs of Oaklanders for the last fifty years and is excited to be leading 15% of Oakland's current construction and predevelopment in the in the pipeline. Thank you so much to all of our partners and all of the residents helping to advocate for affordable housing and stability. Thank you so much.

Good afternoon. For the record, John Jones the third here to speak in support of item 6.18. Before I speak, I I just wanna do a moment a quick moment of silence for all the loved ones and family members who was impacted by the horrible tragedy on 85th. And behalf on behalf of my family, I wanna just give a special shout out to o g fraud from 85th. My uncle o g Ben is from 85th.

And when my uncle passed away a couple months ago, frog came to the funeral and spoke on his behalf. East Oakland is hurting right now, so I I just wanna ask all of us to really focus prayers of healing and mercy for our community. And with that being said, this commemoration for Gary Payton, I love the fact that it's occurring on the same birthday as El Hajmanlik El Shabazz, aka Malcolm X. I see Davis referred to Malcolm x as our prince, a shining black prince. And I think those were those words are also can and most certainly apply to the one

Isaac Cosrite again to speak in support of affordable housing month. Thank you for bringing this resolution forward and recognizing this important moment. And more importantly, thank you to all of the council for investing in affordable housing and good policies that are driving down costs. Cost of home ownership is down in Oakland. I know that's not good news for everybody, but it is certainly good news for affordability.

And also I can't believe we made it this far in the meeting without noting the huge success that was realized today of a 20% reduction in the point and count for homelessness in the city. So kudos to staff for all their work Emily Weinstein and her team they have truly been delivering on the promise of affordable housing in this city. I'm lucky enough to work with Ibal Sy that spoke earlier and we'd like to reiterate our invitation to their groundbreaking and night market next Friday at the 34th in San Pablo project it's going to be beautiful. Hope to see you there.

Miss Brown, you are so blessed to be born on Malcolm's birthday as well as the fact that you've been gifted with so many talents. Happy birthday, Malcolm. Okay. So I would hope at some point staff would be instructed related to items 6.6, you have to do something about bringing items for which they are time constraints that you have to immediately move on something. Make sure that staff is instructed to do everything in a timely manner.

That tree notice of violation took three years for them to give a notice of violation. Item six, 6.19, the lawsuit, Department of Transportation. I keep asking you, when are you going to bring a discussion to the table about the number of lawsuits that are being incurred relating to the Department of Transportation, mostly around potholes? We have to have that discussion and stop these lawsuits. Item 6.25, cooperative agreement.

Do y'all understand this is a cooperative agreement from the city of Kansas City, Missouri? What does that mean, council members? You're gonna approve it, rubber stamp it. Do you understand what that means? A cooperative agreement.

S 6.26 illegal dumping plan, like I said in committee, we have a culture of disrespect related to illegal dumping going on. That culture has to change, and it won't change anytime soon. All of these initiatives, we're gonna be be repeating picking up trash because people do not respect the cleanliness of this city. Item 6.27, grant for youth employment. We got $2,100,000 for our youth employment summer program to be expanded past past the summer, but we got these young people picking up litter, cleaning up graffiti, and abatement.

We gotta find better ways to have our children engaged. We're having a lot of children a lot of problems with our youth, and we gotta give them some opportunities to have activities of substance. 6.28, the literacy training for older adults. Our senior centers all open up, mister Houston. They all open now. Good. Six point two nine, nonprofits. That is that is an item involving nonprofits. The Lyle family and the Spanish speaking unity council is getting rich off of the city of Oakland. You give them too much money.

Six point three one ceasefire life strategy. I have asked you and over and over present the data of effectiveness of ceasefire. Have not seen it. That's the last one.

My name is Dwayne Nelson, District 3 West Oakland resident, proud supporter of the Arsenal Football Club, presumptive champions in the English Premier League for the first time in twenty three years. I rise in opposition to item 6.26, the $1,100,000 spend on the legal dumping. The mayor last night, council member Wong, talked about how the budget reflects our values and commitment to transparency. But I don't feel like we're getting that from public works here. Now you're about to bypass the procurement process, but we don't have any KPIs.

What's going on with that? Why are you gonna allow them to do that? And also they said they're ready to execute right away. If they're ready to execute right away, why do we have to wait a year before we get a report? I don't understand why this council isn't exercising their oversight. I don't think that the urgency is about spending the money. It's out on those streets. The same streets that you're on Monday through Sunday picking up trash. I wanna see urgency around the outcome here, not on spending the money. You need more frequent reporting and you need to see see those KPI.

Thank you. Thank you. One second. I need a council member to come to the dais. I need one council member to come to the dais.

So we do not have a quorum. We need to wait. We cannot continue this meeting. Oh, there we go. No. He finished. He finished? Thank you.

If your name was called and you wish to speak, please approach the podium.

Good good evening. With much respect to the president, and we've I've been in communication with item six one point eighteen with mister Noel and Rosa. And I just appreciate the council creating this platform for us to speak weekly. And and cheers to everybody here at all the places we can be. We're here, trying to make Oakland a better place, but, Oakland has a lot to be proud of too. Specifically, this item I'm speaking on, but we're doing a lot of good things in Oakland. It's not just things we need to fix. So I just want to say that. But, yeah, cheers to everyone here. Let's make sure we keep appreciating the things we doing good and the things we can work on as well.

But, yeah, I'm here speaking on behalf of Gary Payton. I appreciate the city council, the mayor's office, everybody involved, mister Jones, mister R Shanks, and appreciate all your time and your effort. And we we're basically here to as they already spoke and considering honoring Gary Payton, the legend, Gary Payton, the glove, with the street naming. This means a lot personally to me because the Payton family helped shape my life. Gary's, father helped guide me at a young age. When I, became a father at a early age, he, he helped me, and, I passed on the blessing to the community like he, helped me, coach me in basketball and, helped me through mentorship and discipline in the community and, with my

I'm sorry. Your time is up. And can you give me your name, please?

Thank you. Alright.

I'm getting tired of this council, you mister Jenkins, violating the rules. This is the transcript from 04/14/2026 on the protected tree ordinance, and I got it on May 5. I handed out to you the following. Look at it, Gyle. I tried to tell you don't do a motion for reconsideration at that May 5 meeting, But you want to rush back in here and listen to the lies from the city attorney.

April fourteenth, that matter died because it didn't have president Jenkins a majority vote. The mayor refused to break the tie. Let me tell you what the legal opinion of two previous city attorneys. The core legal consensus under both John Russo, city attorney February 2011 and Barbara Parker '2 2011 to '23 is dictated by the Oakland City Charter, the definitive legal posture on what happens during a tie vote when the mayor declines to break its break it. Core legal mechanism.

If the mayor declines, the item fails. Under both Russo and Barbara Parker, the legal opinions of the city attorney have consistently maintained a bedrock principle of municipal law. Get it. And parliamentarian, won't you listen because you you have to clarify what I'm saying. A tie vote means there's no majority from a vote, therefore, the motion legislation fails.

Russo's opinion reinforced that when council members split evenly, the item is effectively frozen without a majority. If the mayor does not step in to provide the fifth vote, the item cannot legally pass. So what you did and there's no such thing for your edification, mister Guile. There's no such thing as a motion for reconsideration. But you went because the city attorney said to you, I tried to warn you in the bathroom, and I was gonna out you when you got in here.

It's illegal. So how do you correct it? You gotta cure and correct under the law. Government code five four nine five four prohibits motion for reconsideration without agendized. You didn't even agendized May 5. It has to be agendized.

Thank you, mister Hazard. Well, can you address it in open forum? Mister Hazard? Can you address it in open forum, In open forum? Your time is up. You cannot prove this mess. Thank you. I didn't

talk to

you. Thank you, mister Thank you, mister. Mister Hassett, you're violating the brown actor, mister Bay you're violating the brown actor. You're the brown actor, actor. You're violating the mister Hassett. Mister Hazzard, open forum. Mister Mister Hazzard. You cannot approve the minutes. It is not Thank you, mister Hazzard. You'll be back for open forum. It's okay. Okay. Kevin

Dally, are you in the for tickets. In the chamber?

Don't go. Don't go, mister Hazard. You. Thank you, mister Hazard.

The Zoom speaker, miss Guerrero, please unmute yourself and begin your comments. I have you with one card for item 6.15.

Thank you. Good afternoon, council members. My name is Carla Guerra. I am the policy and advocacy senior manager at the Unity Council, and I'm speaking in support of I m six fifteen affordable housing month. On behalf of the Unity Council, we wish council member Brown a happy birthday and we also want to thank you all for bringing forward this resolution for acknowledging the collective work happening across Oakland to build, protect and preserve affordable housing.

This past Friday we celebrated the exciting groundbreaking of 2700 International Boulevard, development that's very beautiful and it's 75 units, multi family affordable housing development with 22 units set aside for formerly homeless veterans. This was only possible because of Measure U funds and your support. Across our portfolio, the Unity Council currently has four zero eight affordable units under management, five eighty nine units built and preserved, and six zero seven units in the pipeline. We look forward to many more years of building affordable homes together. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments. Kevin Dally, I do not see him in the chamber or on Zoom. That was your last speaker.

I'll entertain a motion.

Excellent. Thank you so much. If you would like, council president Jenkins, if you wanna put time on the clock because I'm gonna be speaking to a number of the, items. So to start off, with the items that we are supporting from our state legislators, SB thirteen fourteen for the smoke shops, both of the legislation around illegal dumping as well as the affordable housing bond which is s b four seventeen. Also, assembly member Bonta's a b twenty three fifty one around the Shelter Bed Transparency We know that this is super important to ensure accountability and also that there's data to help address homelessness in our city and getting and getting the accurate data.

I do wanna shout out the recent results of the point in time count where the city of Oakland showed a 20% reduction in homelessness. And I think that that is absolutely amazing. Earlier before the council meeting, I had the opportunity to connect with a handful of our community organizations that are supporting the work of building more affordable housing as well as our amazing city staff from HCD during affordable housing month. And so as the chair of community and economic development, it is the tradition to ensure that we are recognizing May as affordable housing month. We know that this is so crucial giving all given all of the federal cuts that are taking place in social services, rental assistance, grants to support with affordable housing.

I did want to just shout out that at the next CED meeting on May 26, we will, have a handful of items coming to report back on the city of Oakland's annual regional housing needs allocation, receiving different various data, as well as a report from the Oakland Housing Authority as well. And so I just wanted to give a huge shout out to all the organizations and community members and all of the great work of so many of our providers working to build more affordable housing in our city. And then lastly, I did want to thank city staff as well as my council colleagues that were on the council budget committee for for the allocations to help support the illegal dumping expenditure action plan. And we know that these investments will definitely help mitigate the impacts of illegal dumping in our communities. And so that's item 6.26 all of which I'm 100% in support of.

And so I'll make that motion to move the the consent calendar.

As amended. As amended. Alright. Council member Houston.

Through the chair before council member Houston begins just including that that amendment includes this item 6.5 continue to the next council meeting which I believe is June 2 and item 6.6 as amended in an emergency ordinance.

Council member Houston then council member Gaile.

Through the chair, I I really don't know where to start. There's a bunch of things that I like to address on here. I wanna just piggyback on my council member Brown's. I agree with with what she's saying. A tragedy happened in my district, on 85th.

And it's tragic. It's tragic. Individuals ran down. It's still under investigation. I'd like to close this meeting mentioning the deceased and the ones that were injured, and it's maybe a couple that I won't say because I'm not sure if their family knows the condition. But Robert Dixon call him frog. He was from 85th. And I got a call at one 01:23 on Sunday, May 17 in the morning. And they said, Ken, where are you? And I went out there, and it was just tragic.

Right? And I thought it was the frog from eleven five. You know, it's two frogs. There's one from eleven five and there's one from 85th, and I thought it was that one. But it wasn't. But this is just a tragic situation. So I wanted to end the meeting with saying the individuals that were deceased. Maybe

this might be more appropriate for item number seven, right, when we have announcements and adjournments.

Yes.

Yes.

So But I but I wanted

to talk about some other things.

Okay.

But I'll bring that up. I'll bring that in under seven. I wanted to talk about on the the street warming or it's really the flashing beacon on s 6.24. When you think about it, since set 01/17/2020, Misha Singleton was ran over on ninety eighth. And in 05/17/2023, you had Carlos ran over on ninety eighth.

This is all in my district. My district's been suffering. Right? And I just I I appreciate all my council members understand what's happened in my district to embrace it. And then on four one, Lewis was ran over. I wanted to mention Misha. She was she was killed. She had seven kids on 98th. Yeah. So and this is somebody that I that I knew personally that I did work with in the community at Stonehurst Elementary School, right, with illegal dumping.

She was a straight advocate and she left left behind seven children. My community has been suffering. Right? And then at 01:00, these individuals was ran down. It's a lot more to it, but I just wanna tell everybody that's out here that's listening, let's just wait until the investigation is over before we make some some some moves or some decisions on what we're do because this can be very, very dangerous in a critical situation with the things that are happening.

But what I'm saying is just just wait. Just wait until the police do what they have to do to investigate. And on the the illegal dumping pieces, like 6.11, 6.12 that my colleague was talking about. These these issues, and I'm a say it again, my community's been suffering. Right? The some of these penalties is too light. I'm a go with it, and I endorse them. Right? I'm a go with them, but some of these penalties is $500, a thousand dollars. They've been dumping hazardous contaminated materials in my community for decades.

Right? People need to be prosecuted. People need to go to jail. Right? Because it's been happening to my people. My mother's black. My father's Latino. I touched both worlds. And as I touched both worlds, and they've been impacted on a whole another level. District 7, council member Wayne, impacted on levels where they drop off asbestos, things that the dump won't take.

So think about this. Things that the dump won't take that it would take a special permit to go dump it, they dump it in my community where my seniors and my babies are. Let me tell you something. People better be glad I'm a council member because what it's doing is it's pulling me back from how I would really act because I gotta behave myself a lot a lot more. So let me say this.

These people that are dumping on my community, the support, the new d a, the d a that's in place because she's gonna prosecute. She gonna prosecute. Right? And what we need to do with some money put to the side through the budget, because I only had three small things that I wanted in my budget. It was about public safety, homelessness, and the EEOs.

The EEOs are the individuals that actually collect the the the the the data, collect the addition. Right? They need to be safe too. And if you don't have the right information and they don't collect the right data, how can you prosecute these fools that's dumping in my community? So my thing is this, that money that was put to the side in the last budget, and I know council member Brown heard me because she had mentioned something about it. I wanna find out how our EEOs are going to be trained to collect the data. Say, for instance, somebody go to the block and they shoot. Right? They're not just gonna sweep up the bullets. They're collect them.

Right? So what we're doing is we just collect we just cleaning up trash that's dumped in our community instead of logging it in so we can prosecute these fools that's dumping in my community because my community is fed up. People ready to stand up on a whole another level because they ain't gonna keep doing this now that I'm elected. My my I'm from a different fabric. People don't understand where what what what trickles through my bloodline.

Right? So I'm from a different fabric, and I'm tired of my babies and my community being dumped on. So these these things these these fines is way too light. But I supported it because we gotta start somewhere. But here's my last point. We need to stop clean up, clean up, clean up, clean up, clean up is not working. It has not worked. It has not worked. Council member Gayle goes out every day, every weekend cleaning up, which should be applauded. But we're not a cleanup service.

We need to deter this problem and prosecute these fools that's dumping in my community. Or we're gonna have to do something else to these fools. And let me say this to you. It's not only a public health and safety issue on the people that have to clean it up or the people have to live amongst it. It's another public health and safety issue for the people that report it. Because these individuals that reported it that they got guns pulled on them, pull a gun on me. I shoot back.

Council member, I think you've exceeded your time. Did you

wanna wrap it up? Alright.

You wanna wrap you wanna wrap it up?

To say that I'm I'm a support these these these things, but we're being a little bit too soft. We need to be harder because it's a it's proof. I've been in this game for twenty something years, and it has not changed but got worse. So we must do something different, president. That's all I'm saying.

Thank you. Is that a second? Alright. So we have a, council member Mamtundra.

Thank you. You know, council member Houston brought up a good point on item s 6.26, which I support, and I'm really glad that we're going to have a thoughtful expenditure plan moving forward. But I do wanna uplift what he said about the positions that were put in in the past budget. So when we're thinking about expenditure, what about the environmental environment officers that we put in there? What about I'm looking at the budget amendments right now Unfreeze two EOs for illegal dumping enforcement.

Add funds for technology improvements to address illegal dumping, $850,000. O and M for environmental officer training. O and M for environmental crime data collection. Public information officer. Oakland Prada legal dumping education campaign.

Unfreeze a painter for graffiti abatement. These are things that are budgeted. So when we think about expenditures, where if if these positions haven't been hired, where is that money? And so I hope that they're going if they're not going to these positions but haven't which haven't been hired, that they're going somewhere related to illegal dumping. But as we think about dumping illegal dumping expenditures, I would like to understand, not today because it's not this is not here, but where's the money that's already been expended that we've already put in the budget around these matters?

And I I'm grateful to councilmember Brown and Houston for uplifting what we put in the budget, but we only have the power to put items in the budget, not control what happens to it once it once it's there. So I I know that there's they're thoughtful leaders in all of these departments, and I wanna I I wish I I hope that there's more transparency moving forward.

Councilman Magaio. Turn this mic on.

Am I on test testing one, two, three. Alright. Thank you. Thank you for that information. I'm not gonna get into the illegal dumping right now, but but if you have a recommendation, I can give you one that but, you know, you gotta understand. Okay. San Leandro, city next door, they're allowed to go once a month to waste management and dump their trash like other cities do. Why can't Oakland do that? Why? And I've been recommending we do that.

Right? As opposed to going down to to the public works yard, having people stand there overtime whole day waiting for people to come to dump their trash, then they gotta take it to waste management. But San Leandro, I was there Saturday unloading our trucks, long line of cars, and I could say, where are they from? Oh, they're all from San Leandro bringing their trash and unloading it free. And why can't Oakland do the same thing?

You know, members of the council, come on. Let's. Why can't we do that here as they do in other cities? But I wanna take take my two minutes and recognize Gary Payton, as we celebrate not only his contributions, but for those of you that don't, I see a lot of young people that don't know Oakland in the past, Oakland at one time was the fifth largest market in the country for recruiting professional athletes. The fifth largest market in the country for recruiting professional athletes from basketball, football, baseball, and so forth.

And you would see them at our high schools a lot recruiting. A lot of our youngsters that were graduating from Oakland High, Fremont, McClymans, and so forth. As an example, you have Marshawn Lynch, Gary Payton, Damian Lillard, they're still playing, Ricky Henderson Jason Kidd is still coaching Brian Shaw Bill Russell Paul Pierce Dave Stewart that I played baseball with in high school, a hall of famer, Kurt Flynn, and many others that came out of Oakland. And I just wanna thank the family. Gary Payton junior is playing for the Goma State warriors still, and I'm sure he'll be present in our dedication with some other warrior athletes, but I wanna publicly thank Gary Payton for his con contribution.

I know there's a couple of schools in East Oakland where he's contributed to the basketball court. He came out of Jefferson Elementary School. His mother taught at Jefferson Elementary ary School. And but on June 18, for those of you that are interested in joining us, please come out and celebrate and recognize his contribution because not only, you know, our schools in in East Oakland, but there's other elementary schools where, the Golden State Warriors, Adjacent Kidd, and many others have contributed for its development. But I wanna thank the family of of Gary Payton for joining us, and, certainly, it's an honor to recognize his leadership contributions.

And I've already received from Dave Stewart and other professional athletes that wanna join you, And, it's an honor to have you, and thank you so much. And, and I'll second the motion on the items. Thank you.

Alright. Thank you, council member Gyle. Council member oh, you're already second. Council member Houston already second. Council member Wong?

Since we're all weighing in here, I just wanted to talk about that. I I think in the upcoming budget process we have an opportunity. I I think we need at least one full time OPD officer that's dedicated to illegal dumping and graffiti vandalism. I've been engaged in this uphill battle with our city staff on to get to have somebody to give a crap about the graffiti problem.

So this is related to item 6.12. Right?

Absolutely. Yep. Yes. It is. So but I just and the other thing that was noted in the auditor's report, right, is that when their team had notified OPD, nobody actually bothered to file, you know, actually investigate the crime of an illegal dumping.

So we need to dedicate some resource And on top of that, the other problem is the DA didn't even take up the case. So we have multiple issues to solve but we, I think, as a body need to start really be unified in in pressuring both the DA and our own police department to make some changes because it's these quality of life crimes that continue to contribute to the fact that people do not feel safe and they do not feel like it's a clean city and, like, we don't have basic pride in the city of Oakland when we allow this to happen.

Thank you, council member. So we have a motion and a second. I believe that's Brown in Houston.

Yes. We have a motion by council member Brown, second by council member Houston to approve the consent calendar, which also includes continuing item 6.5 to the next council meeting of June 2 and with item 6.6 as amended and as an emergency ordinance. Council member Brown.

Aye.

Council member Fife is excused. Council member Gaio. Aye. Council member Houston. Aye. Council member Ramachandran. Aye. Council member Unger. Aye. Council member Wong. Aye. And chair Jenkins?

Aye.

Motion passes with a vote of seven ayes. That concludes all your action items moving to item seven which is council acknowledgments and announcements.

Yes. So in addition to victims that tragically lost their lives on 85th Avenue this weekend, when I joined this meeting in memory of Wilson Wiles Junior, former council member who departed and former police commissioner who did wonderful work for the city of Oakland while he was here. I also wanna say happy birthday to Kevin Garnett, Malcolm X, and my council member council member Brown.

Thank you. Happy birthday council member Brown. Happy Heritage Month. Happy Women's Health Month. And I in addition to all of the names mentioned, I wanted to also adjourn in the memory of Christopher Buckley who just succumbed to a battle with cancer.

He's a former arborist for the city of Oakland who spent his time really committing to the cause of supporting and uplifting Oakland trees, including for many years after he retired. He continued to work tirelessly to beautify the city of Oakland and balance it with historic preservation, public green space and the importance of well maintained street trees. He personally donated and planted and cared with his own hands for thousands of Oakland trees. And yes. Thank you.

Thank you. Council member Houston.

So through the chair, I wanna say happy birthday. My council member Brown, happy birthday. And and and remembrance and of the injured, the deceased and the injured, Robert Dixon frog 80 forever, Charles Blackman deceased, Sylvester Patterson and injured Deshaun and Gabriela. I'm a go call Gabriela, and it's another one that I'm not gonna mention because I'm not sure if family knows, but I wanna end the meeting and for the deceased and the injured in my district.

Thank you, council member. Let's go to open forum.

As I call your name, please approach the podium in any order. Please state your name for the record before beginning. If you are on Zoom, please raise your hand so I can easily identify you. You will have one minute to address the council. Kevin Dally, miss Asada Olavala, mister Hazard, Sylvia Guzman, Cynthia Rodriguez, Jacqueline Guillen, Daniela Lopez, Asuena Serrano Hernandez, Alicia Pablo, Jason Chales, Brianna Ramirez, Bruce Condie, Linda Wade, Fic p Fiomo, Alberto Parra, Thomas Aberg, Mark Robles, Renee Moon, Lucretia Flemings, Melvin Callamy, Gudelia Cruz Hernandez, Mary Luckett, Kathy Harris, Sharon Green Pace.

I think this is a duplicate. Kathy Harris, Cora Clark, Isabelle Ruiz, Michelle Washington, Greg Slaughter excuse me. Greg Slaughter and Crystal Harding.

So it's real clear, 5495O, the government code. And the government code 5496O, actions taken in violation of key open meeting laws are avoidable by the court. City must explicitly and this is your notice now. You have to cure and correct 05/05/2026 public hearing. President Jenkins, vote no on Jenkins.

Vote no on measure e. The minutes are an accurate record of what actually happened, not a declaration of whether what happened was legal. May 5 was legal, illegal, Gyle. Open your mouth. Get a legal opinion from the city attorney. I gave you the legal opinion from Russo and Barker. May 14 was April 14 was failed.

Thank you, mister Hazard. Your time is up.

An effective voice, not just a channel.

Good afternoon, council members. My name is Sylvia Guzman. I'm a healthy housing champion with La Clinica de la Raza. I live, work, and play out of East Oakland. I'm a mother of three and recently a grandmother to one. When my youngest children were born, they were born into a building that was infested with lead. Lucky, we were able to move out. To hear, I'm I'm here to talk to you about proactive rental inspections. Many of the families that grew up with my children are now parents themselves like my eldest. Most of these families continue to live there being impacted by the conditions in the outside.

If you walk by that building, it's now falling from the outside in. It's literally falling, and you can see that. I'm here to ask you for proactive rental inspections. As council members, you have the power to help prevent children from being exposed to lead before it causes irreversible harms. Unfortunately, I see this in those neighbors.

Today, I'm here to ask that you have the power to create these policies policies and give priority to prevent in Please take action. Good afternoon, city council members. My name is Cynthia Rodriguez. I'm a Oakland resident, and I'm also youth parade coordinator for La Clinica, Healthy Homes Initiative, where we work to address the ongoing issue of lead exposure in Oakland. So throughout this school year, our youth have had the opportunity to learn about the dangers of lead and how deeply this issue impacts our communities.

They have worked hard to raise awareness, educate the community, advocate and for the health and safety of their families, their friends, and community members. Today, we come before you in hope and urgency. We ask that the lead settlement funds be used to strengthen and expand the lead abatement and and proactive rental inspection program so that more families can live in safe and healthier homes. Thank you for your time.

Good morning I mean, afternoon, city council. My name is Daniela Lopez. I am an 18 year old senior in high school and a resident of Oakland. I am part of CASACHE in collaboration with Healthy Homes Initiative to support healthier and safer communities for youth and families. Throughout this program, I've learned more of civic engagement and how important it is for you young people to speak up about issues affecting our community.

Today, we are here to talk about our policy campaign focused on lead exposure and the importance of lead abatement programs. With the support of CASA CHE, we are here advocating in support of using the city's lead settlement funds to start an equitable lead abatement program and proactive rental inspection program. These policies are important to me because they help create safer homes, healthier communities, and better opportunities for children to grow and succeed. Thank you for your time.

Good afternoon. My name is Jose Hernandez. I'm a senior in high school and I am a member and I'm here today as a member of the Youth Bridge Program at Casa Che in collaboration with the Healthy Homes Initiative. Today, I want to bring attention to a problem our community faces on a daily basis, lead contamination in houses. Lead contamination has been a serious problem in Oakland for almost half a century now.

In a report done by k q e d, it was reported that 83% of rental houses in Oakland are lead contaminated. Many of these houses are occupied by immigrant families who are often aware of the dangers they are being exposed to, leaving them at a great disadvantage and at risk of the developing health conditions in life. And even if the families are aware of the dangers they are being often exposed to, they are often unable to speak up and advocate for themselves such as language barriers, immigration status, and economic insecurity. So I come here today as to ask for your support. The city plans to use the land settlement funds to create an equitable debt abatement program supported by

Good afternoon everyone. My name is Brianna Ramirez. I am 16 years old. I attend Oakland Technical High School and I'm here today to speak about how lead is affecting our community. Lead exposure is a serious health issue especially for children. There is no safe amount of lead exposure for children because it can affect brain development, learning behavior, and growth. Many people are exposed to lead without even realizing it. Lead can be found in older homes through peeling paint, contaminated dust, old water pipes, and soil. This is important in Oakland because many buildings and homes in our city were built before 1972 and may still contain lead material. Families should not have to worry about whether their water or homes are safe.

As a student, I believe every child deserves a healthy and safe I where they can learn and grow without being harmed by something preventable. Our community needs more awareness, safer housing conditions, and action from local leaders to help protect families from lead exposure. If we work together as a

Good afternoon council members. My name is Jacqueline Guillen. I am 16 years old, and I am currently a junior at Crystal Ray de La Salle. I am a part of La Clinica's Healthy Homes Initiative working to address the issue of lead in homes and protect families in our community. Lead poisoning is a serious issue because it can affect children's brain development, behavior, growth, and ability to learn and concentrate.

This issue matters deeply to me because many families in Oakland, especially in the Fruitville area, live in older homes where lead paint is still a danger. Many families may not even realize their homes contain lead hazards, and their children should not have to grow up in unsafe environments that can harm their health in future. As young people, we care about creating safer and healthier communities for for future generations. That is why we are asking for continued investments in lead prevention programs, home inspections, and resources for families affected by lead exposure. Thank you for your time.

Hello, everyone. My name is Alicia Pablo. I'm a senior at CCPA. Today, I'm here on behalf of Healthy Housing Initiative with La Clinica. In Oakland, there are many challenges we face, one of them being lead poisoning. Today, we are seeing the impacts it has on children, and no one is doing anything about it. Those who are exposed to lead have many health problems, like cognitive, emotional, physical development that could be long term. As a teen living in Oakland, specifically East Oakland, I have seen the impacts of lead firsthand. My little sister, is seven years old, was exposed to lead in a house she would spend time in. She began having stomach pain.

This was the start of her suffering. We began looking for answers, and it wasn't until she got tested that we found her pain was due to lead poisoning. No child should have to go through this. Luckily, she was taken care of. But imagine how many children in Oakland are currently experiencing these same health issues, and no one is doing anything about it. This is why I am here to advocate for those who can't be here today. I want you to know that I'm advocating not only for my sister, but for the future of other children. We need

Hello. My name is Kathy Harris, and I live at 1428 105th Avenue. I just wanna thank, councilman Jenkins and miss Brown and Ken Houston for coming to our apartment building with the city administrators and the building inspectors, fire chief, and

whoever else was it was a

bunch of people there, inspecting our building. I just wanna say that we, as residents there, want our building cleaned up, and I don't know what they're gonna do about it. Can you tell me what they're gonna do about it? Anybody have a guess? Chen Houston is my council member. Yeah.

We'll make sure that you guys give updates.

Okay. Great. Thank you.

Good evening, everyone. Good evening. My name is Crystal Harding. I'm representing All Children Thrive at California and the Havens Court Safe Homes Initiative. Shout out to those of you that just spoke. Give it up for them. That's what I'm talking about. ACT transforming how cities address childhood trauma, bringing together residents, city staff, and elected officials to codesign policies and programs that foster child and family well-being. Communities of color in East And West Oakland, including Havens Court, are among the most at risk for childhood lead poisoning in the entire state. Fruitvale had higher lead poisoning rates than Flint, Michigan at the height of its water crisis.

We know that it has some permanent harm and damages, and Oakland has over 14,000,000 from the 2019 legal settlement with the paint companies. We want you to take action and move this money forward. Invest in the equitable lead hazard abatement program and the proactive rental inspection. We thank you for your time.

Thank you.

I just wanna encourage African American black people, take an opportunity to embrace yourself and talk about what's going on with us. We're so open hearted, we're always talking about everybody, but concentrate on us. Nothing wrong with that. I am concerned about the West Oakland senior center. I just got a text that it's still not open.

I'm gonna say vote no on measure e, and we have an important decision to make in this city, and I wanna address it right now. We have to appoint a police chief. And I am in a position my position is it can't come from a person from within the Oakland police department. That culture of the police department is well protected. Somebody's gotta come in here and change the culture and be willing to make a difference. And it's not gonna happen with anybody that's already in that police department. When they came here and gave a report and said that no longer do we have racial profiling in the Oakland Police Depo

How are doing, council members? I talked to you earlier today, president Jenkins. Okay. I wanna do what I need to do right now. I need to ask you to stay here. I need to ask council member Brown. Can she please stand? You know I'm coming at you, council member Houston. I need you to stand. Okay. This is what I wanna tell you guys. To me, personally, you guys are the dream team for Oakland Station. The reason why I say that, councilwoman Brown, when you came there, you left a grown man in tears because he you listen to him. He felt real good when you did that. Okay?

And I thank you, and he thanks you. President Jenkins, Jenkins, when you came on a Saturday, I got a call 08:30 Sunday morning to get my butt over to Oakland Station because you came there with a team. And one of the team members you came with is sitting over here. And I wanna do this in front of your colleagues, mister Houston. Like, I owe you an apologies for the things I had said in the past because after the conversation that me and you had and what you've been doing, you just did it on the under

Do you have anything else to say?

Okay. You let me know what you was doing, and we appreciate that. You guys should take a bow seriously. I have one more place that I need you and Brown to come to, and that's City Towers, 8th Street, Oakland. It's just as bad as Oakland Station. And with the team effort that we're doing together, we're gonna get we'll get that building together like we do on oce Oakland Station. Ken, I'm a tell you, I am with you a 100% behind circling that building that they're trying to build, and let's shut it down. We're gonna do it as we're gonna do it as a team. Me, you're be up front. You're gonna be you're gonna be the general.

I'm gonna be your lieutenant right up front on you because I'm gonna stand up there in front of you and get nobody in there. Okay? And I personally, personally thank you guys. Alright?

Before you go, can you give me your name, please? Sir? What is your name.

Oh, I'm sorry.

My name is Gregory Slaughter.

Thank you.

And I'm a resident of Oakland, California. Next month on the twenty eighth, I'm proud to say I'll be 73 years old. And I'm still handsome too.

Okay. Hello. My name is Tomasa Bird, and I live at 105 International in the new building so called. I've had so much problems. I broke my wrist being there and lost my car.

I've been there for five years and nothing's been done about the bars in my bathroom. I've fell so many times and I'm sick and tired of it. You people are here to help me, we're shit. Five years without bathroom bars. And, I've just been falling all the time.

I fell they said I have to pay for my bars to be put in the bathrooms. From what I know, I'm not supposed, they were supposed to be there already. I've been writing down every year for bars in my bathroom and nothing's being done. There's still no bars. I went out and all they had was plastic bars.

Can you guys go I need to ask her a question. Can you give her twenty more seconds? Was there anything else you have to say?

Yeah. I have I have rained inside my apartment and I had roaches the following day. I I would really hate to wake up with one crawling on me. I really need that done.

Thank you, ma'am.

If your name was called and you're in the chambers and you wish to speak during open forum, please approach the fort, excuse me, the podium. At this time, all names have been called.

Aye. If

no if open forum is done, I would like to ask the council if I too could do an adjournment in honor of Edda Mae Johnson. Many of you know she used to come to council meetings all the time and she passed away on April 21. I So would ask that the council adjourn in her honor and her services I believe are Friday, May 22.

Thank you for that. Council member Houston.

Through the chair, I wanted to tell all the individuals that came out from the Oakland Station, I got you. I got you. And let me say this, when we went out there, expired fire extinguishers. Handrails didn't work. The the roll up door didn't work. It smelled like stench, and it it was just awful. No one should have to live like that. And let me tell you what I did, and I'm a bring it to the next council member meeting. I'm a bring the bottle the glass of roaches that I got from there. I'm a show it. I'm a put it online. So I'm a say, do you wanna live like that? I have them, and I'm gonna bring them. And I'm a show them what you had because you showed me something. I went there and got got them myself.

So I'm a show the public, should my seniors, should my Oaklanders have to live like this? Would you live like this? And you're gonna say, no. It's appalling. And I'm gonna bring it. I'm a show it.

Thank you, council member.

Thank you and thank you for everyone that joined us this afternoon. For those that brought up the issue of lead in the paint, there is a process for that. The city does have it was awarded $5,000,000, and the county has $9,000,000. Alright? But the process for if you get ill, you go to if you're a child, you go to children's hospital.

They'll do the testing, and they'll submit that information to the city or or to the county for service. If, you know, if you're an adult, you can go up to Kaiser and get tested, and they'll submit that information to the city or to the county to follow-up, test, your facility, your home, and also remove the the lead the paint the lead and the paint. And so we'll all ask the city administrator. We've been through this challenge where there have been some lead in the paint issues, but we have not responded as a city. Alright?

And we've been at this for a number of years. And I've tried working with the county, but then the county says we deal with the county and not the city because that city property and the city has been finally, we hired a consultant group to tell us how to do it after a number of years. And, so if you can respond to those that are here, because we do have the money. And I'll give you this last example because it happened here at City Hall, at my office upstairs. This is a 113 year old building.

Alright? And so what happened is one of my assistant's child got ill, And he went we he went to Children's Hospital, and he came back extremely positive with lead and the pain. But the mom said, well, you know, I already had my home tested. It's not there. But if she brings her child here to mind, then she went to got tested, and the numbers were extremely, extremely high.

But I'm trying to work with the city, with the inspectors to come, but it took a while to get it done. But I'm still waiting for the results of the lead and the paint issue. Because in some of our offices, the lead is falling through the walls, through the ceilings, the windows, and the the strong paint came out of the windows that we have. And but I'm still waiting for the the inspectors came a month later to inspect my office, but I'm still waiting for the results. Because I saw your previous office upstairs, man. They're paints peeling left and right in. And I know you're no longer there, but I

I know. I'm still up there.

But, anyway, so I think that the city administrator, you need to communicate and and let the council members know where are we with the lead and the pain issue. Because we have not responded to members of the public

Yeah.

Including to our own facility that I'm still waiting to hear. My assistant, the test got ill and the numbers were extremely high, and they come out of this facility. So city

So, madam city administrator, we're gonna hold you responsible for responding outside of council and making sure that we get on debt led settlement money getting out. Councilman Wong?

I am just on the topic of lead, on last Friday, I went to Castleman Castlemont High School with the Frontline Catalysts group And something that I had picked up there from one of the student presentations where they were doing lead testing given all the lead in the school pipes is that they basically rely on these electronic filtration systems and there is literally only one working drinking fountain for the entire school. And I know that's on this that is part of, you know, capital improvements for the school district but man, it's just totally unacceptable to have lead going into our children's bloodstreams like that.

Thank you, council member. Alright, open forum's done. Adjournments are done. Oh, no. Now it's time for adjournments.

Thank you. We adjourn this evening in honor of all the victims of the 85th Avenue tragedy, those who passed and those who are injured. Wilson Ryals junior, Christopher Buckley, and Edda Mae Johnson.

Thank you. This meeting is adjourned.