Public Works Committee - Regular Meeting

Good morning, and welcome to the public works and transportation meeting for today, January 27. The time is now 11:31. This meeting has come to order. Before taking roll, I will provide instructions on how to submit a speaker's card for items on this agenda. If you are here with us in chambers and you would like to submit a speaker's card, please fill one out and turn into a clerk representative, my left, your right, before the item is read into record.

Online speaker requests were due twenty four hours prior to this meeting. This meeting came to order at 11:31AM. Speaker cards will no longer be accepted ten minutes after the meeting has begun, making that time 11:41AM. But now we proceed to take roll. Council member Gayo? Present. Thank you. Council member Houston? Present. Council member Wong?

Present.

And Chair Unger? Here. We do have four members present. And before we begin, Chair Unger, do you have any announcements for us today?

Yeah. I think we're going to limit speakers to one minute because of the volume of people who came out to say nice things about Doctor. Ford. We don't want him to get too much of a swell head. So we're gonna do one minute per speaker.

Thank you. Proceeding to item one, approval of the draft minutes from the committee meeting on 01/13/2026. We do have one speaker for the sign.

I would move that we approve the minutes. Moving

to our public speaker, Blair Beekman. And I do not see Blair Beakman online. We have a motion made by chair Unger, seconded by council member Houston to accept the the approval of the draft minutes from the committee meeting held on 01/13/2026 as is on row. Council member Gallo? Aye. Council member Houston? Aye. Council member Wong? Aye. And chair Unger?

Aye. This motion passes with four ayes to accept the approval of the draft minutes from the committee meeting held on 01/13/2026 as is. Moving to item two, determination to schedule outstanding committee items, and you do have also known as your pending list, and you do have one speaker for this item.

Do we have anything from staff or council members?

Amendments? Nothing from the administration at this time.

Alright. Let's hear from our speaker, please.

Miss Asada?

I'm going to ask that in conjunction with permitted projects for development of housing, that we take a serious look at the parking spaces that are being provided with those developments. We have a development on West Grand that's going to be 71 units with only six parking spaces. When we develop these units with no parking spaces, then we put cars on the street. And parking becomes problematic. And that's why we need to look at this to resolve that issue.

We need to have a report on Measure U related to the Lincoln Rec Center allocations of Measure U money to the center. The center is not being developed, but the principal issue I have is that that

Thank you for your comment, miss Lozada. And that concludes your public speakers for item two.

Alright. I would move that we accept the pending list. Question?

Not a question so much but I I wanna thank the chair for scheduling the informational report on the parking reorganization. I am getting more and more questions about it frankly from like bids in my district, the chamber and so I think that we do we should discuss this as a public body. So thank you.

It's scheduled for our next public works and transportation committee.

Thank you. We do have a motion made by council chair Anger, seconded by council member Houston to accept the determination of schedule outstanding committee items as is on roll. Council member Regayo?

Aye.

Council member Houston? Aye. Council member Wong? Aye. And chair Onger?

Aye. This motion passes with four ayes to accept the termination schedule outstanding committee items as is moving to item three. Adopt a resolution amending resolution number eight eight two four zero to increase the professional services agreement with Loving Campus Associates Architects and architect architectural Engineering Design Services for the Fire Station 4 and the amount not to exceed $2,700,000 bringing the total amount from $1,500,000 and 4,200,000 in two, waiving the competitive request and proposal qualification requirements, and three, adopting appropriate California Equality Act findings. And you do have two speakers for this item.

Good morning Chair Unger, members of the committee. I'm bearing before the committee today is a resolution to increase the design contract for Loving Campos Associates Architects, a local business enterprise from 1.5 to $4,200,000 for the Fire Station 4 project waiving the competitive RFP, RFQ requirements and adopt appropriate CEQA findings. In July 2020, council approved a 1,500,000 contract with LCA Architects for master planning and design of a new fire station at San Antonio Park. However, after extensive community engagement from 2021 to 2022, the community opposed locating the station within the park as it would reduce park programming. It was also determined that new construction would not be allowable under the city's Oscar element due to the elimination of open space by the fire station.

In March 2022, fire station four was excluded from the council adopted San Antonio Park master plan. After an extensive four year search, the city has since identified the property at 1745 14th Avenue as the future home of fire station four. The state of California has provided $5,000,000 through senate bill one zero one to support property acquisition, and council approved a resolution of necessity in May 2025 to secure the site. However, this site presents significant challenges. A geotechnical environmental report completed in March 2024 revealed a very shallow groundwater table resulting in a high probability of liquefaction.

Additionally, the site requires the removal of a leaking underground storage tank and a hydraulic lift before construction can proceed. The additional $2,700,000 requested today will fund hazardous materials remediation planning to address these site conditions, complete the architectural and engineering design tailored to this new location, and provide design support during construction. The amendment also covers community engagement, permitting, and bidding support. The total design fees as a percentage compared to the construction cost is approximately 25%, which is still below the average statewide percentage of 40% to 50%. Approval of this resolution will advance the replacement of Fire Station 4, a facility built in nineteen o nine that has served our community for over a century.

LCA architects was selected through a competitive process in 2020 and waiving the RFP, RFQ requirements allows us to maintain project continuity and avoid delays. Funding is available through measure KK series three and the item is CEQUA exempt. Staff recommends approval and I'm happy to take any questions.

Colleagues, questions? Council member Wong.

Not working. Thank you. So this is a station that's in my district. So I had a chance to talk with staff in advance of this report. This is a really really critically needed fire station in the district and I also wanna thank you all for working with the community to not place it in in the park that was going to be quite controversial.

Controversial. One of one of the things I did vet with staff is just it did strike me as a high dollar amount to add $2,700,000 for a design contract but I was given helpful stats that show that this is actually pretty par the norm for a public works project of this size that this is not, this is standard. So with that I do want to make a motion to adopt staff recommendation. So thank you.

We have council member Houston next in the queue.

Through the chair, how are you doing this morning? I have a few questions. This was a highly controversial issue when it came to the intimate domain and the whole get down. My question is when we purchased it, do we do inspection on this prior to doing the purchasing of this and do we know the conditions of hazardous because it went from 1.5 and now we got a 2.7 for design. And it's on the design on the 1.5, was that on that location? It was on a different location?

The $1,500,000 was for a design of a fire station and master planning of a fire station at San Antonio Park. The report was done in March 2024 and it determined that there were several issues with the site including shallow groundwater table and also environmental issues that need to be addressed before a fire station could be built. But given site wide search looking for a location for the fire station, the only feasible site was this location at 1745 14th Avenue that would accommodate the 33,600 square foot footprint that the fire department is requesting for.

Yeah, through the chair I'm very familiar with that because it went through closed session. My point is we spent 1.5 on a different location now we're spending another 2.7. Is that what I'm hearing?

That's correct. I

know we need it. I know it's not my district. But I'm a numbers guy and through the chair. The next thing is that the the the designer, he has a office at 590 in Walnut Creek and then one at 197 in Oakland. Which one is his main office?

The main office is in Walnut Creek but their office is

in Oakland. Yeah. Know how that works too. So when it comes to that, what kind of outreach is he doing to to actually embrace our another local designer in Oakland because you know I'm about Oakland, Oakland, Oakland, Oakland, right? So has he embraced what's the subs?

The sub con the subcontractors that he's working for are based on the requirements so they meet that 50% requirement. So we do have local small local businesses that are from the city of Oakland that help with this project.

That's working with them. What what companies are they? Through

Through the chair off the top of my head, don't know just the of the companies but there are structural firms and I

need to know those numbers, who they are. So before we close it out I just want to know I sent it to my office because I want to know what firms they are and how many they are. Some detail on that. Yeah, I know that we need the firehouse and it's not my district at all but I just wanted to find out this detail matter on who is the designer, where that money was spent and now we're spending another 2.7 on a different location. And so through the chair one more time, we did get a inspection prior to purchasing and using the intimate domain? Correct. Okay. I'll let my council member here speak. I got a couple more questions though.

Council member Gayle.

Yes. Thank you. Thank you for that information. Certainly, safety is number one. And and this for this fire station in this area, we've been after this project for many, many years. And and we're at a point now to getting the work done. And certainly, I support that effort for the community that's there. And certainly, I know the the old fire station. We've been there many times and certainly know the challenges that exist. So with that, I second the motion to get this project done. And the sooner we can get it built, the better. Thank you.

Other questions from my colleagues? Alright, let's go to our public comment please.

When you recall your name, please approach the podium. You do have one minute. Miss Asada and Blair Beakman.

Clearly, the best way to approach this project was to allow it to be placed on the park area. We already own the land. And, the space, the community's recommendations based on it would interfere with recreational activities. What activities would it have been interfering with? Which should have been the question from whoever.

And, it should be recognized that just because the community has input, that is not the last stand of how we make a decision about the use of our property. The other thing is, in order to acquire some property, you use eminent domain. You force people out of their off their land for this project. Lastly, because this has cost us so much money, if we proceed, we should go with

the Blair Peekman, that concludes your public speaker's write in three.

I believe we have some more questions. Council member Gao? No? Council member Houston?

Ready to support

Through the chair. So can you give me a list? I'll send my my office to Trinity Hall, the subcontractor so I know who he's embracing, how they're embracing, and what the dollar amount that they are actually getting to to grow their business so we can go to Oakland businesses on our next design instead of Walnut Creek, please?

After this meeting, that's the

first thing I do. Alright. Thank you, sir.

We do have a motion made by council member Wong, seconded by council member Gaio to approve the recommendations of staff and to forward this item to the 02/03/2026 city council agenda at the will of this body. Is this consent or non consent?

Would you like it to be on consent or nonconsent?

On consent.

On consent. On roll. Councilmember Gallo? Aye. Councilmember Houston? Aye. Councilmember Wong? Aye. Chair Unger. Aye. The motion does pass with four ayes to approve the recommendations of staff and afford this item to the 02/03/2026 City Council agenda and that is on consent moving to item four. Adopt a resolution honoring Michael p Ford, PhD, for being awarded the National Parking Association Innovator of the Year award, and you do have 14 speakers.

Okay, popular guy. This is a real honor to be able to recognize our employees when they receive outstanding honors in their field as Doctor. Ford has done receiving innovator award from his national organization that recognizes innovation in parking. And I can't claim to be an expert on parking, but I know that Doctor. Ford has been supervising an enormous staff under difficult conditions coming out of the pandemic, trying to use technology and figure out the best way for us to both maximize revenue and maximize turnover and the ability of our streets to be safe.

So this is really a wonderful honor. I don't know if Director Rowan is in the room to speak to this item. There he is, he's hard to miss. If you could come up and give us a few words I would appreciate that.

Yes. Thank you. Through the chair. I don't know if I'm allowed to speak to the gallery, but I'm going to. So for starters, I'm actually wearing Michael Ford sweatshirt today. When I started with City of Oakland, first week, he took me out and he said, I think you need an Oak Dot sweatshirt and I'll give you mine. So that that's the kind of person that that we're we're dealing with. And so it's

a

big deal when your industry recognizes you for excellence. And so I want to thank you, Chair Unger, for bringing this item forward, to recognize the work that Doctor. Ford has done. And I just simply want to say his work's not done. Thank you for what you've done. We we met last week to talk about challenges that we have going forward, and I I think you're going to see him achieve even higher levels with within our team. And one of the things that he always talks about is team. You don't hear him often talking about me or I. It's always the team. Here's what the team needs.

I'm concerned about the team. And I just really appreciate that spirit and that attitude that you bring. And I medicated myself up today, spent the the weekend in bed with the flu. I I may collapse as soon as I step down from here, but I really wanted to thank you, doctor Ford, for all you mean to the team and all that you're going to bring to us going forward. So,

Doctor Ford, would you be so kind as to give us a few words? You have fifteen seconds.

Before I begin my prepared remarks, I I wanted to to say that I'm originally from Saint Paul Minneapolis and my wife is originally from Tehran. So, our thoughts and prayers and support are with the people of Minnesota and Iran. So, thank you, chair Unger and members of the committee. I'd also like to acknowledge and thank Josh and other senior members who are here today. I'm truly honored by this recognition and grateful for all of your continued support.

While thinking about what I would like to say on this auspicious occasion, I was reminded of the powerful lines that mayor Barbara Lee spoke last May when she received an honorary doctorate degree from Howard University and she addressed the graduating class. She said quote, prove yourself, work in your community, make the change that is necessary regardless of what your passion is. Do the work and you will get the recognition. If public service is in your spirit, then do the work and quote, by their deeds shall thee know them. I find these words capture perfectly what this recognition represents.

First, I want to acknowledge Mary Lee herself as a tremendous leader. Her decades long dedication to Oakland and commitment to public service is an inspiration to all who work to serve their community. Second, and more importantly, the National Parking Association Innovator of the Year Award is not mine alone. It belongs to every single member of our parking and mobility division. For eight years, I have had the profound honor of supporting and working alongside exceptional public servants.

They are the ones who have done the work. They are the ones who have proven themselves day in and day out. This is this award is a recognition of their hard work and their innovative thinking. From our parking control technicians who are on the streets promoting compliance and safe streets, to our parking meter collectors who keep the coins coming in, to our parking and mobility assistance center staff who, despite appearances, are committed to every constituent's success. To our vehicle enforcement team that is recovering and clearing more and more stolen, blighted, and abandoned vehicles.

To our mobility management team that has taken the active management of the parking system to a whole new level. Each member of our team has contributed to the creative solutions and dedication that earned this national recognition. Finally, I want to say this. Public service is truly in the spirit of this parking staff. They put the work in every single day Through tight budgets and staffing challenges, through pandemics and demanding constituents, they show up and serve the people of Oakland with professionalism, innovation, and heart.

And, by their deeds shall thee know them. Thank you.

Colleagues, who wants to follow that?

I did so first of all, Doctor. Ford actually lives in District 2 and I'm honored to represent him. I first of all wanted to just acknowledge you that parking is really critical to not only public safety but also economic development. It's so linked to so many of the things that we so desperately need in the city of Oakland. So it's it's just it's not just about vehicle placements, it's it's so much more than that.

The other thing that I just wanted to note is I have heard from a number of folks, a little birdie has told me that Doctor. Ford, he's a true servant oriented leader because he is known to do random volunteer projects just across the city of Oakland. Doesn't ask for any recognition. I've heard this from other sources, not Doctor. Ford himself. And I think that so just exemplifies how you really approach public service. So thank you so much and thank you to the chair for putting forward this resolution.

Council member

Gaio. Where's Michael Ford? There he no. Thank you, Michael, for the many, many years of service you've have given Oakland. And, certainly, I know know you for a long time. I'm glad you're here in Oakland and support you. And when we need to make contact with you, you're always there and helping us in the neighborhood. So thank you and we welcome you. And we appreciate everything you've done for this city. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Do you wanna speak? Council member Houston? No. No. Go ahead.

Before I got this seat, I was able to go straight to Michael Ford and speak to him about things in the community. But now that as a council member, you can't do it because you it's almost like directing staff. That's how they say it. So I can't come to you like I used to. I have to go through Josh Rowan. So working with you, Michael, back in the day when we were working together, I appreciate when you did step up for me when I did call you before I was in this seat. I appreciate every time you did return my phone call. Really do. Thanks.

Alright. I see a number of Doctor. Ford's colleagues and coworkers out there and there's no greater testament than when the people who work with you every day wanna come up and and sing your praises. So let's go to public comment.

Thank you. Wanna call your name, approach the podium in no particular order. If you are participating via Zoom, please raise your hands so you're easily identified. We will take in person speakers before Zoom speakers. Kevin Dolly, Daniel Swafford, Henry Simmons, Keith.

And if I mispronounce your last name or your first name, I do apologize in advance, Skrutlitz, Shalina Obey, Miss Asada, Kirby Olson, Savlan Hauser, Craig Raffel, Razu Injin, Douglas Mout, George Spees, Stephanie Tran. Once again, if I called your name, please approach your podium. No particular order. You do have one minute. We will take in person before Zoom. Thank you.

Hi council members. My name is Henry Simons, and I work on BART's government and community relations team. We review Oakland City Council items each week, and we're delighted to see that Michael Ford is being honored by both this council and the National Parking Association as innovator of the year. Michael's been a key partner for BART as we work to ensure the safety of our critical infrastructure throughout Oakland, and he embodies effective intergovernmental partnership, and has been key to keeping our riders safe. And just wanna say congratulations, Michael. We're very happy to see you recognized by the city, and looking forward to many years of continued collaboration with all of you. So thank you.

Good afternoon, members of the council. My name is Shalini Abegunasekar, and I'm a program manager with Trillent, one of Citi's parking technologies partners. I just want to briefly congratulate doctor Michael Ford on his well deserved recognition. Michael leadership ambition had had a meaningful impact how on how the city approaches parking compliance and collections. His ability to bring data driven practical innovation into day to day operations have helped improve outcome for the city while also supporting fair and efficient experience for the public.

We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Michael and the city of Oakland on this initiative and appreciate the continued collaboration and commitment to modern responsible solution that benefit the city and its resident. Congratulations again, Michael, and thank you for your leadership. Thank you.

Hello, George Spees. I'm here both to give my respect to Mr. Ford, but also to to go to the question of the challenges that the parking team faces going forward that were referred to by director Rowan. And in my view splitting the team and sending part of it to finance is probably the biggest challenge. From my perspective, the idea that that parking is transportation is is self evident.

If that's not something that's obvious to you, then there's plenty of work online to show, to demonstrate that. So, it seems to me also that this move needs to be justified. And so far, I think I feel safe in calling it unjustified. Why? Because no public justifications have been offered. It's an unjustified move. I think the city administrator needs to come before the change is made rather than after, which is not the case right now. Thank you.

JR Unger, honorable city council members. My name is Doug Mount. I'm here to urge you to recognize and celebrate Doctor Ford's award for innovator of the year from the National Parking Association. I have worked with Michael Ford for a number of years. I know him as a highly respected head of the parking and mobility division. He is a visionary. He's a man of intellect and integrity. And, I urge you to publicly recognize Doctor. Ford's many innovations and awards to today. And, I'd like to share my minute, what's left, with my colleague, Shala.

Thank you so much, Doug. Good afternoon, chair Anger. I really appreciate you guys recognizing the great work that Michael Ford has done throughout the years.

To the public speaker, to the chair, could you please announce your first name, please?

Sure. Shala is s h a h l a. Last name is Azimi. Michael Ford has done a great job since he has, you know, I've been with him in DOT for the past several years. I can't say enough about his innovation, about the respect, about this work, tireless dedication that he has to the work he's been doing.

My name is Keith Scherholz. I'm with Oak Dot. I'm here to speak about Michael Ford receiving the National Award for Parking Innovation. And while Michael absolutely deserves recognition for innovative programs he's pioneered at Oak Dot, I wanna talk about something that doesn't fit neatly into award categories, the way he shaped the people who work for him. In the twenty six years that I've worked for the City of Oakland, Michael is the best leader I have ever had. He doesn't lead by memo or by theory. He leads by doing. He shows us what good leadership looks like. We see that it works, and then we work to do it ourselves. He's taught me many things in the time that I've been here, but here's what tells you who Michael really is.

When our contract for bus shelter maintenance was terminated, we had no one to assume it, Michael went out himself to clean up broken glass, waste, and refuge from the bus stops. That's not any job description. That's someone who understands that public service means serving the public whatever it takes. That's the kind of character that matters. That's leadership under pressure. That's why this

Good morning. For the record, Kirby Olsen. I'm speaking as a local twenty one union member and an Oakland resident. Thank you to council member Unger for introducing this item. When I think of the word good governance, Michael comes to mind. He is constantly looking to improve both the staff who work under him and the efficiency with which we do our work. He has worked tirelessly to staff up the parking division to bring together all of the teams that work on parking under one roof and to introduce new more efficient processes. The proposed reorganization of the parking division into finance is a terrible idea for so many reasons. One of them becomes all the more evident as a result of this item. The administration is removing from parking leadership one of your most effective staff in the entire city of Oakland.

Finance's plan is to replace Michael with two new positions who will together cost almost $1,000,000 per year fully loaded. That is not good governance. That is the opposite of good governance. Oakland has 99 problems and Michael is not one of them.

Good morning. My name is Craig Raphael. I'm a project manager with Oak Dot and I've worked with Michael over the last six years, most recently through my role leading speed camera implementation. I'm proud that Oakland is the second city in California to launch speed cameras and that would not have been possible without Michael's leadership. Michael was a key partner throughout the process helping us to get a consultant on board, ensuring the parking department was properly staffed and troubleshooting all the issues that came up along the way.

Some other things I appreciate about Michael, he's deeply committed to equity. He operates with transparency and skill, especially evident around complex and fraught issues such as abandoned autos. So I wanted to take this time to thank him, let him know I appreciate him, especially with everything going on. And I'm hopeful that I'll continue to partner with Michael on issues related to parking and mobility well into the future. Thank you.

Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Svelan Hauser. I'm the chair of the Oakland Bid Alliance and executive director of the Jack London Improvement District. We are the city's partners in creating vibrant commercial neighborhoods and same fantastic streets and public spaces. We collectively reinvest $13,000,000 of private funding and mobilize dozens of street ambassadors that help revitalize, invigorate, make our neighborhoods amazing and safe.

And this award is in no small part for the teams and Michael's strategic management of parking and the use of our curbs and streets as a critical and dynamic component of transportation, mobility, and Oakland's equitable economic development. This is part of the core mission of the Department of Transportation to envision, plan, build, operate, and maintain a transportation system for Oakland and ensure safe, equitable, and sustainable access and mobility for residents, businesses, and visitors, which I just had to look up on par I apologize. I don't have that memorized. Just congrats to the team, and we look forward to

Kevin Dally speaking for myself. Congratulations to Michael Ford and the parking and mobility division. Part of the award is for improving collections of citations, which makes this move of parts of Michael's division to finance particularly ironic, sad. If collections are being improved now, what is it that the finance director can add to that process? I'm concerned that a discussion on moving parking to finance was originally scheduled for today's meeting at the city administrator's request that move that date was changed to February 10.

And now we find out that the city administrator plans to change all the positions move all the positions February 7, three days before the hearing. This sounds like an end run around the city count.

Good afternoon. Razu Angan and here to echo a lot of the previous speakers comments recognizing Doctor. Ford and the other wonderful public servants we have here in Oakland. Really appreciate all the work that they do every day and it's really wonderful. I am going to also echo the concerns expressed by other speakers about the move to take apart this award winning division and move it to different departments.

I don't think that that's a fully baked idea and would like to hear more about how this will be implemented and affect parking operations throughout Oakland before it's put into effect. I think it's putting the horse before the cart if you have it broken apart and then have a hearing at city council about it. Thank you.

Hello council members. My name is Stephanie Tran, President of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. We of course are supportive of this recognition and are so excited that Doctor. Ford is being recognized and honored for all the great work that he does for Oakland. For more than a decade, Doctor.

Ford has been a wonderful partner to Chinatown. He has overseen the city's garages at the Pacific Renaissance Plaza and Frank G. Marr, and he has consistent understood the importance of parking in to Chinatown small businesses. He has been a responsive and reliable partner working to ensure that parking is safe, clean, and accessible for our community. When street parking transitions to DOT, doctor Ford listened to our merchants concerns, addressed placard abuse, and helped implement loading zones and updated signage that was in language, changes that really made a difference for businesses on the ground.

So Ford really understands the need for small businesses to thrive and congratulations on this very well deserved national recognition and we look forward to continue working together.

Good afternoon. My name is Sharnell Smith and I'd like to thank the council for hearing me. I've worked in the department of parking control for over thirty five years and I've seen our departments go from public works to finance to OPD, and finally, we're in DOT. Well, for years, we've been the foster children of Oakland, and we finally found a home. Under Michael Ford, we've gotten more responsibilities. Our our gifts to the city have grown. We're working lots. We're our our duties have expanded. Our morale is picking up. And I think for the city to just snatch all of that away from us is gonna be a big slap in the face of morale.

We've built the VEU from parking enforcement to serve the city better, and we're doing that. We're recovering stolen vehicles, blighted vehicles, abandoned vehicles, and I think the growth that we experience in DOT under Michael Ford is revive

Thank you.

Okay. Here's some areas that we need to work on seriously related to parking. Illegal parking in handicapped zones. Parking large vehicles in what is considered compact spaces. Double parking in Chinatown and other spaces in Oakland, broken parking meters, parking on the sidewalk, ticketing parked stolen vehicles.

The last major update to the city's parking signage was fifteen years ago. Cars parked on the street that impedes street cleaners needing to clean areas of our city. And that's just some of them, I just wrote on my own. So all this praise about parking, we got a lot of work to be done related to parking, particularly in Chinatown and Fruitvale where there is no parking that's sufficient on international and in in Chinatown.

Let's call the roll. Oh, I will make a motion to accept and send this to full counsel on consent. Any other comments? Council member Houston.

Yeah. I'll second it. Did you second it, council member? Okay. I'm sorry. Thank you. Yeah. I did. I heard four different I thought this was about iron honoring Michael Ford, but I heard four different individuals mention something about currency and finance. And I was already briefed on that. And I with Justin Johnson's office and I from my briefing, I because I heard the statements. I agree with Justin Johnson, but now that I'm hearing what I'm hearing, I think I'm have to go back and We have an informational. I'm not gonna go back. Okay. I just I just wanted because I heard some stuff

at At our next public works meeting, we're gonna

have a full informational report on this. Okay. Yeah. So Okay. Alright. Thank you.

Thank you. We have a motion made by chair Anger, seconded by council member Wong to approve the recommendation of the staff and afford this item to the February 3 city council agenda on consent, noting council member Gayle excused at 12:03. Council member Gayle is excused. Council member Houston? Aye. Council council member Wong? Aye. And chair Unger? Aye. The motion does pass with three ayes and one excused. Gayle, to approve the recommendations of staff and to forward this item to the 02/03/2026 City Council agenda and that is on consent moving to open forum.

If I could ask folks to stick around for a minute after open forum, I'd love to get a photo with Doctor. Ford and everyone in attendance after we adjourn.

Thank you. I want to call your name. Please approach the podium in no particular order. You do have one minute. If you're participating via Zoom, please raise your hands so you're easily identified. We will take in person speakers first and then Zoom. Razu, Kevin Dolly, Blair Beekman, Miss Asada.

Hi. Kevin Dolly speaking for myself. One of the problems with the way the current municipal code is structured for Oakland is that there is a list of departments. There's a title of departments to guarantee that there is a director for each department, but there is no responsibility assigned to the departments. With three exceptions.

But transportation is one of those departments that does not have written responsibility. We have trusted in the past that the city administrator would honor the concept of transportation and assign all transportation related items permission to do otherwise. This city administrator is violating norms and procedures and is moving

Okay. So in February, we're gonna readdress the public hearing on the tree cutting issue where you're trying to find a property owner $900,000 for cutting trees without permission. You had two employees who testified around that issue. One said that the reason why it took them three years to bring it before you was lack of staffing. And then another employee said, or staff member said, that it was because you had no process in place.

Now, this property owner had plans for development of that property, and for three years he's been denied an opportunity to get permits for his development. This is outrageous. It's outrageous that three years has been you've held up a property owner, and I don't know if he had to pay vacancy tax or not because the property was vacant.

Moving But to our Zoom speaker, Blair Beakman, you may unmute yourself and begin your one minute comment.

Hi. Blair Beakman. Only four public commenters, so hopefully, we can get two minutes in the future. As current, local crime numbers have been lowering in Oakland across the state and across the country since 2023, let's hope the Trump administration can can begin to offer more sensible ICE and immigration policies and so as to not start new levels of violence within our local communities. Thank you for the patience to the Oakland community as we're trying to understand how the future of neighborhood surveillance and technology and, data collection compared with the open practices of tech accountability can be equals.

We're not using shock and awe with armaments and military, but creating open conversation and increasingly familiar dialogue, Oakland can continue to develop a well balanced approach of social services, the Oakland macro program, open accountable tech practices, and law enforcement all working together as how to continue to build the future of Oakland neighborhood public safety. And to give good examples to the Trump administration at this time.

That concludes your speaker's open forum.

Before we adjourn, I believe council member Houston would like to adjourn in the honor of someone who's passed.

Yeah. I'm I'm I'm I'm toe up right now. I just got news that Bridget Cook passed away. Yeah. And I wanna close this meeting in the memory of Bridget Cook.

We'll just do a moment of silence. Thank you all. This meeting is adjourned.