THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 1-6
–OAKLAND– [MEETINGS CANCELLED DUE TO LABOR NEGOTIATIONS] City Council committee meetings, Tuesday, Dec. 5, start at 9 a.m.
➤Finance & Management Committee, 9 a.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–PUBLIC SAFETY OT IN THE RED– Oakland’s overtime budget for police and fire is projected to be in the red by more than $38 million, according to a staff report. The 2017-18 fiscal year budget alloted only $14.8 million for overtime. The bulk of the increased overtime this year comes from OFD, projected to be $22.3 million, but the city only budgeted $1.2 million for the year, while setting aside $12.4 million for OPD. The police department’s overtime, conversely, is projected to be $29.9 million. // Embattled Oakland City Auditor Brenda Roberts will provide the committee with the offic’s annual report.
➤Public Works Committee, 11 a.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–PARKING PROPOSAL– An informational report on Oakland’s Residential Parking Permit program includes a potentially novel way to repurpose technologies associated with Licence Plate Readers to manage its parking supply. “…Staff believes that the same technologies have the potential to significantly enhance the City’s capacity to actively manage the parking supply in general and RPP areas in particular. For example, by combining LPR and electronic permits in the RPP program the City could reduce the cost of issuing permits and improve customer service. Moreover, the same investment could be used to support the City’s new car share program by making it easier for qualified car share organizations to permit and deploy shared vehicles around the City and provide a steady stream of occupancy and turnover data for the City’s new demand-responsive parking management initiative.”
➤Community & Economic Development Committee, 1 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT OAK KNOLL– “The City of Oakland owns an approximately 5.4 acre parcel of vacant real property in the Oak Knoll redevelopment project area located on portions of Barcelona Street and St. Andrews Road, commonly known as the “Barcelona” parcel,” Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan wrote in a memo. “For this reason, we are bringing this Resolution directing the City Administrator to issue a request for proposals for the development of affordable housing on the 5.4 acre parcel of land owned by the City at Oak Knoll.”
➤Special Educational Partnership Committee, 4 p.m. // Presentation From The Superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District On Long-Term Strategies To Improve Academic and Financial Performance [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
➤Life Enrichment Committee, 5 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–SODA TAX BOARD– “Measure HH was approved by a majority of Oakland voters in the November 8, 2016 General Election establishing a general excise tax of 1 cent per ounce on the distribution of sugar sweetened beverages in Oakland. The tax took effect on July 1, 2017 and created the Sugar Sweetened Beverages Community Advisory Board… An appropriation of $278,758 for FY2017-2018 and $399,649 for FY2018-2019 will cover personnel and operating expenses to support the administration, planning and capacity to meet the objectives of the Board.”
➤Public Safety Committee, 6 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–NO ICE REDUX– Oakland Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan and Desley Brooks thought legislation last summer cutting the city’s tie with ICE was clear. Not so after Oakland police officers aided an ICE raid last August in West Oakland, specifically acting as traffic enforcement. Tuesday’s resolution adds that “OPD shall not provide law enforcement assistance, including traffic support, to ICE, including any subdivision of ICE, in any capacity, except to respond to a public safety emergency.”
➤Rules Committee, Thursday, Dec. 7, 10:45 a.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–BERKELEY– Regular council meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–TICKET RELIEF FOR LOW-INCOME– Councilmember Ben Bartlett is proposing the city opt-in to a new state law that allows cities to grant relief to low-income residents on vehicle violations such as unpaid registration. The ordinance would allow qualified residents to pay fines based on their income, take away the DMV’s ability to put holds on the record, and allow a maximum monthly payment of $25 on unpaid fees over $300.
–COMMUNITY BENEFIT PACKAGES– “In response to a request by the Zoning Adjustments Board that the Council provide direction as to how it should evaluate significant community benefits proposals [on downtown buildings taller than 75 feet] to comply with Berkeley Municipal Code… Requires Community Benefits Packages be at the highest level that the project can financially support based on an independent economic analysis; Requires that applicants designate in their permit application whether their proposed package of Significant Community Benefits will be included on site or made as payments to the City; and Defines mitigations in contrast to community benefits.”
➤Special council work session, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–POSITIVE CLIMATE ACTION UPDATE– “This report provides the City Council with an annual update on progress toward achieving the Berkeley Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals of reducing community-wide emissions 33% below 2000 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050. According to the latest and best available data, Berkeley’s 2015 community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including emissions from transportation, building energy use, and solid waste disposal, are approximately 12% below 2000 baseline levels, despite a population increase of approximately 18% in that same time period. Data for 2016 are not yet available.”
–ALAMEDA– Regular council meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–CLIMATE ACTION PLAN $$– Since it is an island, Alameda’s Local Climate Action Plan might be a bit more important to the city than other East Bay locales. A Request for Proposal is slated for approval Tuesday to offer a $300,000 consultants contract to begin work on an update to its existing Climate Plan. The funding is cobbled from a long list of funding pots, including proceeds from previously countywide transportation measures, storm water and sewer funds, among others.
–SISTER CITY– A proposed city sister relationship with the Palestinian village of Wadi Foquin was pulled from the last council agenda. It returns Tuesday with the possibility of controversy. Wadi Foquin has gained some international notoriety in the past year. Located near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, Wadi Foquin has become somewhat of a flashpoint in the Israel-Palestine conflict. As opposed to Alameda’s previous sister city arrangements, this one would by far be the most symbolic.
–PLANNING BORED– Will Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer have a sixth Planning Board nomination rebuffed by the City Council this year? Two weeks ago, three councilmembers abstained, thereby, turning away Sylvia Gibson nomination. Spencer, though, is coming right back with another choice, Jeffrey Cavanaugh, a environmental consultant.
–HAYWARD– Regular council meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–CANNABIS RFP– With cannabis legalization upon the state on Jan. 1, the Hayward City Council hopes to approve a Request For Proposal (RFP) process for commercial cannabis on Tuesday night. A refundable deposit of $5,000 is being proposed by city staff for processing of applications. The RFP, according to a staff report, will includes a criminal background check and a competitive scoring and ranking system, with the proposal’s business and operations plan counting as 25 percent of the 1,000 point criteria. The City Council would have final approval under the recommendation.
–SAN LEANDRO– Regular council meeting, Monday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m. // Presentation by the San Leandro Transportation Management Organization (SLTMO) of the LINKS Shuttle Annual Report for FY17-18 // Presentation of 2017 City Council District Leadership Awards and Mayor’s Award of Excellence [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]
–GATHERINGS– Annual Holiday Party & Toy Drive, hosted by Rep. Barbara Lee, Assemblymember Rob Bonta and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., West Oakland Youth Center, 3233 Market Street, Oakland. For info: eastbayholiday2017.eventbrite.com.
–Alameda County Democratic Central Committee meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m. San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Avenue, San Leandro.
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