Good morning and
Welcome to the rules and legislation committee meeting on this
Thursday October 8th the time is now 1031
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 the agenda
If you are here in person would like to submit a speaker card
please fill out a card on the table there and hand it to a clerk representative either before the item is read into record or
Ten minutes after this meeting began whichever comes first
Online speaker cards were due 24 hours before this meeting began so we will no longer be accepting online speaker cards
But you can again fill out a speaker card here in person
Turn it into a clerk representative before the item is called into record or 10 minutes after this meeting began the meeting began at
1031 with that I will now call roll on
Role for this meeting. I have council members
brown
by present
Ramachandran
chair Jenkins
present
Thank you, and we have
For members present at this time. I will now council member
Chair Jenkins. Do you have any announcements before I go to the first item?
No announcements no announcements. Thank you so much
Moving on to item number one is approval the draft minutes for the committee meeting on April 30th
2026 June 9th 2026 in July 16th
2026 and I need a motion
that was a motion by Councilmember Brown and
Seconded by Councilmember Fife to approve the draft minutes for April 30th July 9th in July 16th
one moment
There you go. All roll councilmember Brown. I council member five. Hi councilmember on the chandrin. I chair Jenkins
Hi item number one is approved with four eyes
Now moving on to item number two, which is determination of scheduling about standing committee items
Which is also known as your pending list and I have three speakers for this item. Thank you
Anything for the administration?
Nothing at this time. Thank you anything for my colleagues
Seeing that let's go to public speakers. Thank you so much. I have a Rajni mandala, Mrs. Ata Ola Bala and
Blair Beekman in any order
Rajni mandala district for if council considers reform of Charter section 604
I encourage you to look closely at the relationship between the police commission and the office of Inspector General
Under the current structure the Commission is responsible for overseeing OIG
But the question is whether the commission is actually supervising the IG's priorities and use of resources
Oakland currently budgets nearly a million dollars for an OIG with two employees including personnel costs benefits and overhead
Now the IG is publicly saying the office needs substantially more staff
Yet the city auditor's performance audit recommended an independent analysis of the staffing and resources actually needed by these agencies
The new follow-up report shows that the recommendation remains not implemented and specifically identifies the commission's objection to the city attorney
conducting that analysis as a barrier.
Meanwhile, OIG has undertaken discretionary policy reviews that overlap with work being done elsewhere
while more than $100,000 has been spent on an outside auditing firm without a completed audit and another auditor RFP being pursued.
These aren't simply funding questions, they are governance questions.
Who establishes OIG's priorities?
Who decides how nearly a million dollars in existing resources should be used?
And who evaluates the results before substantially expanding the office?
That's why Section 604 reform matters.
Independence does not mean an absence of supervision.
If the Commission is not effectively providing that supervision, Council should seriously
consider OIG moving it under the independently elected city auditor where an auditing function
would sit within a professional audit structure. Before adding resources, council should resolve
who is responsible for supervising OIG and to independently determine what resources
it actually needs. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments. Next speaker is Ms. Asada. Thank you so much.
I think it's very important that you schedule a review of outstanding bills just signed
by Governor Newsom, and I'm categorizing the bills, the 21 bills that he signed that have
to do with immigration in the state of California, 21, and how those bills impact your sanctuary
city status.
At the same time, if you would look at the one bill that he signed, it has to do with
the foundational black Americans, better known as African-Americans.
One bill, I think it's 1599, I might have the numbers wrong, it's the disclosure bill.
So companies that have over $100 million profit have to by 2031 disclose any historical connection
they have to slavery.
That's it.
Not that they're going to do anything with it, but they just have to create a database.
I just want you to understand how insulting this is.
21 bills that have to do with immigration status
and protecting that status here in California.
And the one bill that has to do with us,
it's a collection of data by 2031.
If your company had any historical connection to slavery,
I mean, how insulting can we get?
So I'm being facetious by scheduling this,
but I'm gonna constantly bring to your attention
how we are not getting any attention.
Thank you so much for your comments.
Thank you so much for your comments.
We will now move into our Zoom speakers.
Blair Beekman, you have been unmuted
and allowed to speak, welcome.
Hi, thank you.
Blair Beekman.
Hi to everyone.
Nice to be here again.
I was busy in September,
keeping my own house in order,
working on San Diego issues.
I haven't been around so much.
I've kind of tried to keep tabs on what you guys
have been doing in September.
Nice to be here again.
I'm concerned with the civilian oversight measure coming up.
I guess this is going to somehow be at a committee
coming up soon as an outstanding committee item.
You're going to be talking about this ballot measure
or a proposed ballot measure.
Just a reminder an anecdotal reminder that you know
even when the latest Oakland police chief signed on and he gave his first acceptance speech,
he stated he's from Oakland and he knows how Oakland works. So he hopes that can be helpful
to everyone. I think we just have to acknowledge that our current review of police practices in
Oakland is way above any other city. I mean, it's really deep and you guys got to respect that.
You're trying to take away from that and I know you want to make changes
But I think we have to work with the system that we already have in place that does work
Well at review and we just have to better understand those concepts rather than taking it away from us
Good luck how to consider that and I know you're trying to good luck in our continued efforts to thank you
Thank you so much for your comments. That concludes our public commentors for item number two will entertain a motion
That was a motion by a council member Ramachandran seconded by council number five to approve item two as is
On-roll council member Brown. Hi, bye
Ramachandran I and chair Jenkins
Item number two is approved as is with four eyes that now takes us to
item three
Beginning with item 3.0 is the doctor resolution ratifying mo you signed by the former Oakland police chief
Floyd Mitchell with the Alameda County Superior Court Court of California effective December 1st
2024 to fund equipment and staffing to support firearm
relinquishment program addressing gun violence through the removal of illegal possessed firearms firearms possessed by
prohibited persons of subject to gun violence,
restraint, restoring order,
and accept inappropriate up to $1,563,571
in reimbursement funding pursuant to the MOU
for equipment and staffing and support
of firearm relinquishment program.
This item is being requested to be scheduled
for October 13th, 2026 Special Public Works
and Transportation Committee agenda.
there is an urgency finding and I will state that at this time it says at a risk of not
receiving reimbursement for this work in the MOU is not fully executed and the OPD is unable
to invoice for salary reimbursement. Additionally, additional field support cannot be provided
until the MOU is fully executed and additional efforts related to removing illegal possess
firearms from our community
Item three point one is a resolution authorizing the reimbursement from the council contingency fund for the
Councilmember for councilmember Brown travel cost to Washington DC for attendance at the 2026
International LGBTQ plus leaders conference for December
Second through the fifth twenty twenty six this item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 20th
City Council agenda on consent noting there is a rule 24 that needs to be stated which states
Conference reimbursement items typically go straight to full council
Item three point two is a resolution declaring the week of October 18th through the 24th
26 as the united against hate week in the city of oakland to combat all forms of hate and to
promote
Prompt inclusion and equity for all this item is being requested to be scheduled for the october 20th city council agenda on consent
And I will note that
advisory resolutions as such
According to the rules and procedure do not require further
Explanation so noting this is a advisory resolution
moving on to item 3.3
which is a resolution recognizing this week of October 19th through the 25th
2026 as a love life week in the City of Oakland
This item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 20th City Council agenda on consent this to noting as a advisory resolution
I will read the rule 24 as provided. This is an advisory resolution
I'm commemorating Love Life Week,
2026 advisory resolutions of this nature
typically go straight to full council.
Item 3.4 is a resolution.
I do apologize, I do see staff.
This item will be title changed.
Good morning,
Preston Kilgore, Deputy Chief Staff to Mayor Lee.
We would like to make a title change to item 3.4.
The change would be resolution
in support of Proposition 1,
which it passed by voters in the general election
on November 3rd, 2026 would authorize 11.25 billion
in state general obligations bonds
for housing affordability programs.
We would also like to add council president Jenkins
as a co-sponsor.
So noted and there would need to be a rule 24
to be stated on why we're requesting to bypass committee.
Yeah, the request is that in an attempt to get this
to the city council for approval prior to November 3rd election, we're requesting you
all to bypass committee and allow it to go straight to council.
Thank you so much, and yes, noting that these are advisory resolutions.
So according to the rules and procedures, we would typically just no further explanation
would be needed, but just noting that on the record.
And moving to item 3.5, press in again, we would like to make a title change, item 3.5,
So there would be an opposition of Proposition 43 which if passed by voters in the general
election on November 3rd, 2026 would amend the California Constitution to increase the
percentage of voters needed to approve local special taxes from a majority to two-thirds.
We would also like to request adding Council President Jenkins as co-sponsor.
So noted and also noting this item to be an advisory resolution does not require additional
Explanation for bypassing the committee as stated by the rules and procedure. Thank you so much for testing
Moving on and noting council president Jenkins being added as a co-sponsor
moving on to item 3.6 is
Receive an information report on the professional services contract authorized by the city auditor
During fiscal year 25 through 26 to be scheduled in the October 20th city council agenda on consent
there is a rule 24 and I will read that it it states that the
OMC states that the city auditor shall present to the City Council on an annual basis a report listing all
professional services contracts authorized by the city auditor during the prior year
moving to item 3.7
Adopted resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter into an agreement with Bay Area PL services for blood withdrawal and sexual assault
Suspect examination services for a term of three years with an option to extend the agreement for up to two years without
Return to Council City Council for a total amount not to exceed one million nine hundred two thousand five hundred and ten dollars
waving the RFP queue and advertising bidding and the
LsLbE requirements for proposed agreements and
authorizing payment of unpaid invoices due to the Bay Area PL services any amount not to exceed
1 million two hundred thousand five hundred and ten dollars to be scheduled for the October 20th City Council agenda on
Consent noting there is a rule 24
I will read that and that is the coop agreement funding has run out and Bay Area
LP service has indicated that it may
This continues services to OPD if the outstanding invoices are not resolved and OPD does not
currently have any alternative vendor.
Moving to item 3.8, item 3.8 is a resolution accepting and appropriating grant funds in
the amount of $450,900 from the State of California Office of Traffic for fiscal year 2627 through
Selective traffic enforcement program to administer by the Oakland Police Department in authorizing
the use of general purpose
service fund to contribute up to
seventy three thousand two hundred and twenty six dollars to cover the related central service overhead charges
This item is being requested to be scheduled to the October 20th City Council agenda on consent
Noting the real rule 24, I'll read that into record to stop any delays and services such as traffic enforcement DUI checkpoints and
operations with
asco
moving to item
3.9 adopt a resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter into an agreement with the US Department of Homeland Security
FEMA to accept physical year 2025 assistance to firefighter grant funds in the amounts of
$875,000 inappropriate and an administer said funds for the installation of vehicle diesels exhaust
capturing systems in 25 fire stations
expanded assistance
Assistance to firefighter funds in accordance with the city of Oakland's purchasing requirements and program policies and allocating matching funds in the amount of
Eighty seven thousand five hundred dollars this item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 20th
City Council agenda on consent. There is a rule 24 and I will read that into record
this item has a FEMA requirement that the grant must be authorized for acceptance within
30 days of the award the next available meeting to authorize this is outside of the 30-day window
item three point ten
It consists of several pieces of legislation and I will read that into record adopt one of the following pieces of legislation
one a resolution accepting the police commission selection panel slate of jean quan and nicholas
o'brien kovari to serve on the oakland police commission or a
Resolution rejecting the police commission selection panel slate for jean quan and nicholas. O'brien service on the oakland police
Commission this item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 20th City Council agenda on non-consent
There is a rule 24 and I will read that into record
This item is a recommendation from the police commission selection panel and must be
Scheduled by the rules and legislation committee pursuant to the city charter
The selection panel is required to submit its slate to the City Council for consideration to the administration
Why there's so many rules 24s?
We haven't had a regularly scheduled rules committee. And so just trying to make sure the
Critical items get heard before the council in a timely manner. Okay
Thank you for that
We will now move to item 3.11, but I believe there is an additional title change step
If you are present, please approach the podium. Thank you so much
Hi, good afternoon. Amber Lytle. So the new title is staff recommends adopting a resolution authorizing the city administrator
to enter into a cooperative contract agreement
with governmentjobs.com Inc. DBA NeoGov
for Human Resources Information Systems, HRIS.
Subscription services for an initial three-year period
from July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2029
with three one-year extension options
subject to the availability
in terms of source wall contract number 030425-PDMS
for a maximum total term of six years
and an amount not to exceed $3,674,870.80.
Thank you so much, and just noting that this item
is previously scheduled to the October 27,
2026 Finance and Management Committee agenda.
Thank you so much.
So noted.
We will now move to item 312,
receive an information report on all purchases
contracts authorized by the city administrator within the city administrators contract the authority during during fiscal year
23 through 24 24 through 25 25 through 26 in accordance with the OMC section
2.04 point zero to zero to be scheduled on the October 27th
finance and Management Committee agenda
item
2013
Adopt a resolution authorizing the city administrator or designee to enter into a professional services agreement with the Baker Tilly us
LLP to provide procurement purchasing and contract enhancement implement implementation services in the amount not to exceed
$249,000 and waving the city's competitive
RFPQ
requirements under OMC
Code and the local small local business enterprise requirements
This item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 27th finance and Management Committee agenda
item 3.14 and receive an information report on city-wide staffing from the city administrator regarding city-wide vacancy rates and the status as of
September 15th 2026 budgeted vacancy rates for fiscal year
27 the vacancy rates of regional local public entities
recruitment outreach in community engagement and the analysis
City workforce and recruitment conditions this item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 27th finance and Management Committee agenda
item
3.15 is an ordinance
authorizing the borrowing of funds and the issuance of sale of
Remaining general obligation bonds a measure DD measure KK and measure you this item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 26
27th finance and Management Committee agenda
item
3.16 is a resolution of awarding professional services agreement to VSE Inc in the amount of five million dollars to provide
Construction Management Service support services for the Broadway streetscape improvement project and
Adopting CEQA findings this item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 27th Public Works and Transportation Committee agenda
item
3.17
Adopt the following pieces of legislation one resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter into a subdivision improvement agreement with Kenilworth
The property LLC for deferred construction of public infrastructure improvements as a condition to parcel map approval for a parcel map
located at Kenilworth Road and making a CEQA findings and
To a resolution granting a conditional and revocable major encroachment permit to Kenilworth property LLC to allow property
privately owned and maintain retaining walls
pressurized sanitary sewer
systems and storm drain systems and bio retention
planter and
Irrigation systems to encroach into the public right away
beneath and adjacent to Kenilworth and
Adopted sequel findings and a resolution conditionally approving parcel map located at Kenilworth Road
for a four lot subdivision with a remainder parcel a
right of way dedicated dedication and sewers reserve
adaptations
Abandonment to property owner Kenilworth LLC and adopting at CEQA findings. This item is being requested
to be scheduled for the October 26
27th Public Works and Transportation Committee agenda
Item 318 is a resolution approving the annual report of the Montclair Business Improvement District
advisory board declaring the intention to levy and collect an annual assessment for the physical year January 1st
2027 through December 31st 27 for the Montclair business improvement districts including a five percent increase in the annual assessment and
Scheduling a public hearing for December 1st 2026. This item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 27th
community and Economic Development Committee agenda
item 319
Is a resolution approving the annual report of the rock rich business improvement district advisory board
Declaring the intention to levy and collect an annual assessment for the fiscal year. January 1st 27 through
December 31st 2020 27 for rock rich business improvement district including a
3% increase in the annual assessment and scheduling a public hearing for december 1st
26 to be scheduled on the October 27th community and Economic Development Committee agenda
moving to item 3 point 20
Adopt a resolution authorized in the city administrator to apply for accept and appropriate a grant in the amount not to
exceed four million five hundred thousand dollars in the state of California Board of State of Community Corrections
Proposition 64 public health and safety grant program funds
expended and administered the
Prop 64 grant by assisting the city of Oakland's capacity to conduct public safety operations and coordinated
enforcement of illicit
cannabis
activities including a licensed cultivation
manufacturing distribution and retail and
enabling equipment purchases
Covering over time staffing costs and providing funding for other related administrative costs over a five-year period beginning July 1st
2026 and ending June 30th
2031 and this is being requested to be scheduled on the October 27th community and economic development committee agenda
item 3.21
adopt a resolution
requesting the city administrator to negotiate the terms of a non inclusive exclusive agreement
With the nonprofit organization North Oakland South Oakland Little League and the college preparatory school to provide
capital improvements in ongoing
stewardship for North Oakland Regional Support Center known as
Caldecott field located at
6900 Broadway and if successful return to the City Council with legislation
Continuing proposed terms and appropriate California environmental quality act findings
This item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 27th community and economic development committee agenda
item three point twenty-one
receive an information report from the city administrator on
implementation of the 2024 disparity study recommendations in line with the
Contracting equity recommendations in alignment matrix as a presented at the April 21st 2026 life enrichment committee
This item is being requested be scheduled for the October 27th life enrichment committee agenda
moving to item
3.23 a resolution authorizing the city administrator to enter into a mo you
between the city of Oakland and the OUSD to establish the work training partner
Program enabling workplace learning and experiences for all USD students as designated with
designated worksite locations during the applicable
summer program period for a term of three years from the date of execution and
With an option to extend for an additional year
This is being requested to be scheduled for October 27th Life Enrichment Committee agenda
item
3.24
Adopt the resolution accepting and appropriating up to four hundred thousand dollars for service in the med Medi-cal
eligible individuals and receive reimbursement through the county Medi-cal administrative activities program and to
Targeted case management
Program authorizing the city administrator to execute a fiscal year 26 to 27
Mo you with Alameda County Health for administration of the
Cmaa and TCM program in Oakland and accepting an appropriate additional
Cmaa and TCM funds that may become available
During the term of the agreement to be scheduled for the October 27th life enrichment committee agenda
Item 3.25 is a resolution accepting an appropriate authorizing agreement for
receipt of grant funds from the Corporation for National and Community Services for fiscal year
26 to 27 in the amount not to exceed
340 thousand five hundred and thirty seven dollars for a senior companion program and thirty eight thousand eight hundred and twenty three dollars for
foster grandparent program and
authorizing and it's estimated sixty eight thousand five hundred and seventy five dollars in
contributions from the general purpose fund for central service overhead charges
required local match funds and
other programs cost and authorizing the city administrator to accept an appropriate a different additional grant funds for
the seeing the CMC s dash
AmeriCorps senior that become available for the same program within the physical year 26 to 27
This item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 27th life enrichment committee agenda
Moving to item three points
26
it is an
adopting ordinance authorizing the city administrator to negotiate and execute a
purchase and sale agreement with OUSD for the sale of the six acre city-owned portion of Garfield Park located at
201-22 99 East 17th Street for renovation of the Garfield Elementary School campus for
$597,500 less related closing costs in the mo you between oh USD in the city to provide
For the city and the county use of athletic field on the renovated Garfield Elementary School campus
declaring the property exempt surplus land and
Adopting CEQA findings and this item is being requested to be scheduled for the October 27th Life Enrichment Committee agenda
And that concludes your new scheduling items at this time. I believe staff may be
Providing one additional sure
Good morning council president and Rules Committee Tom Morgan assistant director of Public Works
staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution one authorizing the city administrator to apply for accept and appropriate grant funds from the
and construction of this
project.
$1,200,000 in the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban
Development's community project
funding for the Brooklyn Plaza
Project in the amount of $250,000.
Two, authorizing the city
administrator to enter into a
grant agreement or similar
agreement with Sarshen OHP-1 LLC
in an amount not to exceed $250,000.
And three, adopting appropriate
the city of Brooklyn. The only
reason for bypassing committee
is that the city is required to
enter into this grant agreement
no later than October twenty
twenty six. And it is necessary
that this item is taken directly
to the full council for approval
on October twenty for the
Brooklyn basin correct okay.
Anything else from staff. Anything
from my colleagues. Councilman
Houston are you speaking on
something. Okay scheduling
related right. I did welcome
So I wanted to see him a 98-year-old grandmother in Mexico,
and I still got pesos, right?
So I still got them in my pocket.
So good morning, good morning, colleagues.
I want to say 100% agree with the recommendation
of the mayor's appointment of my brother, David Newton,
to the Planning Commission, 100%.
I 100% agree with you, but we're not on that item.
Oh, I thought you said scheduling.
Yeah, this is for item three.
OK, OK.
You got something on item three?
No, I don't have nothing.
I got something on 3.10.
What do you have?
I'm against that.
Is it related to scheduling?
Yes, I don't want it to be scheduled,
and let me tell you why.
I was trying to get this separated
because Nicholas is a good candidate
for the police commission.
But Jean Quann, the old guards, they got to move on.
I'm not going to agree with that.
they're not going to do that
because I'm going to go against
it on to a rejection- because.
We need young people new people
new faces those people had
their time. And they didn't do
a good job. So I'm rejecting
that so was that okay president.
I can't speak to that. Do we
have public speakers yes we do
speakers after we take those who are here in person. I have Miss Rajni
Mandal, Miss Asada Ola Bala, and Blair Beekman in any order. Okay, so I want to
do a follow-up on why I object to Jean Quam. I did some research on her. She has
former Mayor Jean Quam's relationship with the Oakland Police Department was
deeply strained and marked by internal conflict. She was constantly politically clashing with
the police union. As a city council member she voted to lay off roughly eighty to a hundred
police officers to address a severe budget deficit. She campaigned for mayor with the
the understanding that police officers would have to contribute to their own pensions.
She also had, she presented a public letter expressing that they were in conflict with,
that's the union, say they were in conflict with her as a leader.
Police Chief Anthony Bass resigned having to do with her interference in his leadership.
That was followed by police chief, Howard Jordan, resigning because of her interference
in the leadership.
Now let me go to some of the problems she had with the ethics commission.
Okay, former Mayor Jean Kwam was involved in several notable matters receiving contributions
that had to do with the Fair Political Practice Commission
during her tenure.
She used campaign money that was considered
money laundering money during her campaign.
She had personal loan reporting investigation
from 2020-10 to 2014.
She had independent expenditure challenges
by the Ethics Commission.
Quan actively utilized the PEC to challenge her political rivals.
City charter says that she interfered with the city charter, her administration was frequently
moored in controversy involving city charter violations.
Now when she was asked by the police selection panel why she wanted to be on the police commission,
because somebody asked me to do it. I strongly suggest that this person not be
recommended to go forward. The police, her issues with the police department says
they may be a bias or prejudice on her side on her on representing the police
based on all the conflicts she had with police union. They had a picture in the
the police administration bill, uh, that they had to take down because they were defying
the picture. This woman is hated by. Thank you so much for your comments, Ms. Assata.
Rajni Mundal, district four. I'm just going to start with item 3.8. Um, OPD disbanded
its traffic enforcement unit because staffing shortages require those officers to return
to patrol. So before accepting the $450,000 grant for selective traffic enforcement program,
should ask who will actually perform the work. Will it be patrol officers on overtime? Officers
be diverted from patrol? Or how many office hours does a grant fund? The report should
explain how OPD plans to operate a traffic enforcement program when it no longer has
a dedicated traffic unit. Item 3.9, I support accepting the $875,000 FEMA grant for diesel
exhaust removal systems. OFD has proposed using approximately $1.6 million in measure
and then funds for these systems while its grant applications were pending.
Now that the grant has been awarded I ask that OFD and OP-SPOC update that proposal
and determine whether a measure and then funding is still necessary.
For item 3.10, first of all, Ms. Asada's quote is absolutely correct.
You can look at the video for the selection panel interview of Jean Kwon.
As council considers Jean Kwon's nomination to the police commission, I hope her social
media activity and the commission's code of conduct are specifically addressed.
Commissioners are entitled to personal political views and advocacy, but there needs to be
a clear boundary between personal speech and statements that may be reasonably perceived
as representing the police commission.
Given the commission's recent governance issues, council should establish those expectations
during the appointment process rather than after a controversy arises.
Thank you.
Thank you for your comments.
We will now move to Zoom speakers.
Blair Beekman, you are unmuted. You may begin.
Hi, Blair Beekman.
Boy, I really, really liked Jean Kwon,
and I thought she got a real bad rap in her practices.
But the people here today spoke of
a long ethics list that I hope can be addressed.
She sounds like she has to make some good criticisms of
police themselves which is needed.
It's our other practices being a part of the old
guard like myself or I hope we can keep up as old people.
So good luck how that can go.
Thank you in your work and efforts in trying
to figure out police commission practices overall by the way.
Blair Beekman I have three items 3.4 no 3.3 3.10 and or no
3.8 and 3.14. 3.3 is Love Life Week believe it or not I really I I take an approach of
your love life philosophy in Oakland is how we can define good policies in Oakland. You
guys have a policy practice with your budgeting that it doesn't hurt everyday people and of
the community and I've been trying to offer that in San
Diego with their budget issues.
They've been working with austerity and budget cuts
and budget cuts to social programs up the yin yang.
And we've been really trying and I've been using
your examples in Oakland.
I really think that's part of a love life philosophy
where we do not harm our community in policy making.
And that's awesomely beautiful.
And I'm trying to practice that everywhere I go
and talk about it everywhere I go.
So so thank you for that.
Good luck in how the many ways we can talk
about love life in Oakland.
For item 3.8 the OPD Traffic Safety Grant
for STEP programs and such I'm trying to get you know
with the that we're going to be eventually leaving
flocked as a community full process.
I hope we also can be considering how we can actually
be limiting and reducing redundant use of AOPR
and technology surveillance tech in our local communities.
I think that's a 1-2 of how we address the future
of leaving Flock.
And I hope we do that as part of these safety grant programs.
And that discretionary stops with AOPR use
is really questionable.
AOPR use is really good for very focused specific things
but not for discretionary stops.
There the technology is terrible and you guys
make really bad decisions there.
So I hope we work on that issue and those issues together.
And 3.14 is items about citywide staffing,
how to hire staff.
I think morale is based on having good retirement plans
and health plans.
People want to be there for that.
Having to pay for your own health plans,
it kind of negates the purpose
of being a good city government.
I hope you can work on that, even if it's a budget issue.
I'm sorry that it is something to consider
and that we talked more openly about, thank you.
Thank you for your comments.
That concludes the speakers for item number three.
Councilmember Brown.
Excellent, I had a quick inquiry on items 3.23,
internship program, OUSD,
and items 3.26, sale of Garfield, OUSD.
While I recognize that it may be past president
due to the inconsistent scheduling
of the Education Partnerships Committee,
I received feedback from the school board members
wanting more partnership and collaboration between the city
and just ongoing efforts such as this.
And so I guess I was curious,
I know that I scheduled an Education Partnerships meeting
before we went on summer recess.
And so I think that both of these items
that could have potentially been scheduled
to the education partnerships meeting
that we had on September the 30th,
and so I wanted to inquire,
well I guess also I will say that
one of the additional goals that I will be,
as the chair of education partnerships is
to actually schedule consistently,
like provide a schedule of when we'll be meeting
for all of 2027, so that there's more I guess
around the scheduling of the Ed Partnerships Committee,
but I just wanted to inquire on those two items.
Maybe it might be appropriate for the administration
as we look to have more formalized meetings
with Ed Partnerships Committee,
referring items that involve OUSD to that committee
when possible.
In particular for item 3.26 the disposition of city land, the approval of that matter
typically falls within the city council's authority exclusively.
I'm sorry Monica.
That's okay.
I get so particularly with item 3.26 the disposition of city land.
It's my understanding that that authority lies within our City Council exclusively, and as I understand it the membership of the
Education Partnership Committee consists of also OUSD members and so
The forum in which they're currently scheduled
Or just appearing in front of specifically just City Council members means is a more appropriate voting
body because OUSD wouldn't be the ones approving that land sale however I
understand like if you wanted an informational report related to that in
advance I think that could be appropriate but the specific land
disposition would fall within the City Council's authority and I apologize the
other item you mentioned? 3.23. Yeah that would be a similar rationale. Again
happy to provide informational reports but the decision authority. Oh okay thank
you DCA Navarro. Good morning DCA Navarro just a little bit of context for 3.23.
The fire department did reach out to me about a potential of doing this MOU with
with OUSD, there is an interest and ongoing conversation
about making it city-wide
so that it includes other departments.
Right now those conversations with OFD were happening prior.
I did, again, recently get looped into that conversation,
so I'm happy to bring back more information
about what the plan is to coordinate that
and have processes in place to ensure that city departments,
one, are prepared to take on interns
and then have it better coordinated.
So more work is happening,
but this is the first kind of step on that effort.
Can I speak?
Yeah, please.
Hi, I'm Quincy Williams
and I'm Assistant Capital Improvement Project Coordinator
for Oakland Parks Recreation and Development,
and I've been working with real estate division
on item 3.26 about the sale for Garfield Park.
We coordinate with Garfield Park.
We share the park with OUSD.
we're good colleagues anything else nope councilmember five all right so noting
three point four title change in adding myself as a co-sponsor three point five
title change adding myself as a co-sponsor three point eleven with title
change and new scheduling item the grants item scheduled for the October
20th council meeting of entertaining
Has a member. I'm gender. I'm sorry. I pressed it and I now remember my comment. I
Would like to request item in item 3.8 since it is going on consent
to include in the report
Information about Opie the status of Opie D's current traffic safety program
Thank you.
Okay.
If you're amenable to it.
Thank you.
All right.
So noting item 3.4, title change, adding myself as a sponsor, 3.5, title change, adding myself
as a co-sponsor, 3.8, informational report on the traffic safety program and 3.11, title
change and new scheduling item, grant item to be scheduled for October 20th council meeting.
I'll entertain a motion.
One second.
One second pardon me through the chair to council member matron drain. Can you restate the report that you wanted in 3.8?
I just want to make sure it's within the scope of the notice. That's all
if D grants
What opd's traffic safety program currently looks like and what the funds would be used for?
council member five
Okay, so
3.8 adding the informational
informational report
About the status of opd's traffic safety. I think it would just be incorporated into
The report that stuff will will bring as part of the item. There wouldn't be a separate report. Okay, I'll entertain a motion as amended
so moved second
And that was a motion by councilmember five seconded by councilmember
Ramachandran to approve item three as amended on roll councilmember Brown. I
Council member fight. I counsel member Ramachandran. I and chair Jenkins
I item number three was approved as amended with four eyes
That now takes us to item for
Item four is review of the draft agendas pending list and the council committee meetings. This is your
Agendas for the October 13th committees October 15th rules your pending list in your draft agenda for October
20th council in October 22nd rules draft
And I have two speakers for this item
Anything from the administration?
Tracy Tracy Jones Oakland Police Department
legislative services manager
OPD is requesting
That for October 13th public safety, there's the coverdale grant, which is already scheduled that that be
Withdrawn from that agenda and moved to October 20th
Council on consent and
Just to note council member Wong already approved by passing committee for this item
This item have a number
item 4 on the current special public safety committee agenda for October 13th.
It's the OPD Paul Coverdale 2026 grant. Thank you. And then our rule 24, this
grant covers the period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. And this grant
is actually for the crime lab. And so the crime lab has nine months now to
to complete our required product activities,
which includes buying materials for the crime lab
as well as training for the employees.
So prompt consideration is essential
to ensure timely authorization and prevent any delays.
We also have a change and one more item under four.
Staff would like to request from the Public Works
and Transportation Committee Pending List,
Item number two, under pending no date specific,
received the 2025 Safe Oakland Street's
Annual Informational Report from DOT
in coordination with OPD and DRE and the CAO.
Staff is actually requesting to move this
to the October 27th Public Safety Committee.
safety committee. Thank you. Thank you. Anything else? Let's go to the public
speakers. Thank you and we have Mr. Sada Ola Bala and Blair Beekman. I gotta say
this that Garfield situation is very confusing because I go to all the
facility meetings. There has been discussion about Garfield and the city
partnering up on the use of their park property but there's never been a vote
by the board to buy property. It's never been a vote to buy property.
Recommendation and the problem is that they tell me that the city schedules all
the partnership meetings that they don't have a voice in scheduling and that
needs to be dealt with too. There is no data collection system in the city of
Oakland, you need to establish one that identifies your unauthorized immigration status. This
is important for continuation of discussion of your sanctuary city status. Public works.
We need a review of the protected bike lanes. I think there's unfair distribution of those
lanes. Trees at risk. We have tree branches falling all over the city, falling down, and
of the city of Oakland and
where I live one fell on a
bench that could have hurt
someone we need a status report
of the West Oakland senior
center.
We need a report on consideration
of an incentive pay for city
employees who live in Oakland
you have currently 68% of your
city employees that live outside
over 80% of your firefighters live outside of Oakland.
We need to look at the stop data in Dr. Everhart's report.
You have never looked at the stop data.
That's all a part of the NSA.
And remember, the NSA is not over.
It just decided to turn everything over to y'all.
So don't say it's over.
It's not.
Thank you so much for your comments, Mrs. Hadda.
We will now move to our Zoom speakers.
Blair Beekman, you are unmuted. You may begin.
Hi. Thank you, Blair Beekman.
A really nice informative list again by public speaker, Ollabala.
Thank you. I don't have a lot to say on this item.
Yes, but as you are apparently leaving the NSA,
good luck that we have a mindful system in place.
We have a lot of things we still want to be working on.
I hope that that list can be brought out and talked about regularly and openly.
Thank you.
Thank you for your comments.
That concludes our speakers for item 4.
Okay, bear with me.
Item 2 from Public Works and Transportation, schedule October 27th to the Public Safety
public safety.
And then from public safety safety item number four.
On October 13th will go to October 20th on consent.
I'll entertain a motion.
Right.
I'll entertain a motion.
Before that I just wanted to state that the West Oakland senior center is reopening on
October 21st that is coming up very soon.
Just wanted to state that for the record and I will move the item.
That was a motion by council member five seconds and by council member Brown to approve item four as amended on roll council member
Brown aye council member fight. Aye
Council member Rama Chandra
Chair Jenkins, aye and item four is approved with four eyes as amended
Can you call in item s5 and s6 together, please? Okay as stated by the chair
I will read the next two substantive items together item s point five is a
resolution confirming the mayor's appointment of Peter Smith to the City
Planning Commission and item s6 is a resolution confirming the mayor's
appointment of David Newton to the City Planning Commission we have two
speakers for each I chair to the clerk and council president both items
require an urgency finding and a vote prior to discussion apologies thank you
so much we will need an urgency finding from staff too before these items are
the city of Toronto. And I'm
approve the emergency binding, stated on record on roll councilmember
Brown? Aye. Aye. Aye. Ramachandran? Aye. And Chair Jenkins? Aye. The urgency
finding is approved with four ayes. Thank you. Good morning again y'all. So the
mayor is excited to appoint Peter Smith to serve on the Oakland planning
commission. Peter has a long history of service to the city of Oakland, including
previously serving as a member and chair of the Planning Commission and as chair of the
General Plan Congress. Peter brings more than 35 years of legal experience, including
extensive work in land use, development, real estate, and construction. He has also served
as legislative counsel with the California State Legislature and is currently a mediator
and arbitrator. His prior experience on the Planning Commission, where he served two one-year
terms as chair, we believe gives him a deep understanding of the Commission's work and
and land use issues facing Oakland.
The mayor's also excited to appoint Mr. David Newton
to serve on the Oakland Planning Commission.
David is a lifelong Oakland resident
with deep roots in Oakland.
And has a strong commitment to housing stability,
working families, and equitable development.
He brings more than a decade of professional experience
and a background in zoning, land use,
entitlements, and project feasibility.
He also brings valuable labor, community,
and fiduciary experience through his work with ILWU,
his combination of professional experience
and knowledge of Oakland.
We believe he'll be a valuable addition
to the commission as well.
Thank you all for your time.
I will say that Mr. Newton is here
and Peter is online if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Mr. Newton, do you want to have anything to say?
I see Melvin Newton there.
As we're celebrating the 60th year of Black Panthers,
thank you for your service.
Thank you President.
Thank you President Jenkins.
It's a, I have to thank Mayor Barbara Lee
who I've always looked up to
and she's truly a pinnacle in our society
and it's an honor to serve next to her
and serve next to all of the council members here.
Council Member Brown, Council Member Fife,
Council Member Janine, I remember supporting you
when you went to San Leandro when you first started running
with my little sister who has special needs.
And I care about this city as deeply as I care about the humans
I'm looking at.
It's such a beautiful landscape of people here.
And the son of Oakland just walked up here,
and I told him Oakland is dark without the sun.
And it's very true.
My dad is here.
I won't take too much time and my fiance is here.
And my dad just showed me his house he grew up in
before they moved to North Oakland,
which was on 17th and Castro,
which is now the 980 freeway.
And to make it full circle,
we just spoke about the West Oakland Health Center,
but my mom was on the board and they redeveloped
or revitalized the North Oakland Senior Center.
And Ella Hugh Harris was the mayor at the time.
He approved it.
And that is a landmark for us now.
And she would have been in her 60s at that time.
And to go full circle, my dad will go there
and he'll be 89 this year for services.
So this work that we put into our community,
we really have to think about how going forward
this helps us, it helps our children,
It helps their children.
It helps the people of Oakland.
And as a lifelong member, as Mr. Kilgore explained,
we are this fabric of this city.
And this is a more than meaningful thing for me
because going backward, 1967 June,
the Black Panther Party demanded that a stoplight
be put at 55th and Market
because you had an elementary school there
and little children were getting ran over left and right.
And they demanded that that stoplight be installed.
Now to bring that to current time,
I know that across the street from that stoplight,
this man, some people may know, named Ryan Coogler's
grandmother lives there.
So that means her children lived there.
And that could have easily, his life,
could have never even been formed, just as a today example.
So that installation was approved,
was denied by the Planning Commission.
And they forced that it be approved.
So to have a child of the Panther
now as a planning commissioner for me
is more than monumental and I appreciate the opportunity
and I'm ready to go to work, thank you.
Thank you so much and Mr. Peter.
Yeah, it's tough to follow Mr. Newton.
I enjoyed my service on the planning commission in the 90s and look forward to working with
the commissioners if I'm approved.
There is a lot of work to be done and both large and small and I hope to get your support.
I would be happy to answer any questions.
Thank you.
Council member Ramachandran and then Brown.
Thank you.
I'm very excited to support Mr. Newton's appointment to the Planning Commission.
Just like you mentioned, these commissions have played such a pivotal role in the ugly
part of our city's history.
And we are here to bring these commissions forward to have people like you with the background
and perspectives that you hold to be able to change that narrative.
And I'm very grateful for you and your entire family's
service to the city.
And we need people like you on commissions like this.
And I do have a quick question for Preston.
Which, how many planning commissioners resigned
and who are they?
That's a good question.
I don't have the full list in front of me,
but if we let other folks speak,
I can get that list for you and come back up in a second.
Okay.
Thank you.
Council Member Brown.
Excellent.
Yeah, I just wanted to say that I'm similar
to Council Member Ramachandran's remarks.
Just really delighted to know that,
David Newton will be serving on the Planning Commission.
You bring just a true level of heart and care
for all of Oakland, right?
Whether from east to west, and so to have your voice
in your determination on that body.
It's more of our pleasure, right,
to have you serving on that commission.
So thank you so much for stepping up into that role.
And I'll make a motion to approve, I guess,
S5 and S6?
I think we have to take separate votes.
Okay. Okay, but, go ahead.
Yes, the committee should take separate votes
on the two separate items.
Okay, so I'll make the first motion.
Council Member Fife.
Yes, I have two questions.
I'll start with Peter online.
I wanna know how you plan on engaging issues
around the lack of affordable housing
and displacement in your role,
particularly because you served
on the Planning Commission before,
understanding the push for a tech expansion into the city.
I'm deeply interested in that,
especially in how it's going to impact my district
and West Oakland, with the potential
for displacement and gentrification.
Thank you, council member, that's an excellent question.
I think it's a combination of many factors
and none of them are simple.
One, we have to have a regulatory structure
that allows, therefore, the prompt building of housing.
We probably also need to look at inclusionary zoning
and probably do more to create an opportunity
for the building of affordable housing.
I have worked with many of the non-profits
in the area of funding affordable housing
and feel that some of those relationships
could help with the process.
It has a real need and we studied that extensively
when I was part of the general plan, Congress,
and that general plan is now being updated,
and I think that we'll have an opportunity to do more.
Thank you for that.
Can you expand on your anti-displacement part?
I understand the development piece.
There's a lot, particularly at the state level,
that is encouraging additional development like SB 79,
but the anti-displacement piece is what I'm asking about.
Yeah, an excellent question,
And it's certainly something that should be addressed
by the Planning Commission and others.
It's not directly in the purview
of the Planning Commission as I understand it.
But that is a city policy where I and others
on the Commission I'm sure would work closely
with the council to address it.
It's just not necessarily part of our role as I see it.
Okay, we should definitely debate that moving forward.
And then I'm fine.
And for our public speak,
well, our potential planning commissioner,
Mr. Newton, if you could come back.
Thank you for your responses, sir.
You know, we go back and you know,
because of the relationships that we share
across this country, that I'm looking at you different
than other planning commissioners.
And so that means I'm going to push you
different than other planning commissioners
because of the politics that you hold
and the politics that we share.
And one of the questions that I have for you
is how do you balance out what tends to be
a capitalistic push for the haves versus the have nots
when it comes to addressing the issues
that you just spoke to.
How are you gonna balance that out in a city
that is experiencing the downward pressures
of gentrification and displacement on the communities
that we care about?
How do you deal with that?
I don't think Jesus could answer that question.
But to give a human answer, I think
we have to collectively come together as a people,
meaning the community has to take action, speak and take
action, not just speak.
We don't need armchair revolutionaries.
we need people on the front line.
So when you balance the capitalist versus the very
oppressed, you want equal opportunity,
and you want the right to earn.
You want the right to live.
You want the right to eat.
How do you balance that?
I think our true power is in the labor, which
you know I'm a labor representative.
And if we stand down on labor, I think
you can control pretty much any and everything.
but I can't necessarily answer how you balance it.
I just know that in the trenches, we will do everything we can to balance it.
And we do share a life of blood
that will die for these people out here, and that's I hope I answered it.
Thank you, Ms. Newton, Councilmember Brown,
and then Councilmember Houston, did you want to have words after that?
Excellent. And I just had a really quick
question and or comment just around I know that these are volunteer positions
they take up a lot of time and I also know that many of us may have you may
have your own platform right and the ability to reach large audiences in our
city and I know a lot of times folks aren't even aware of when these
commissions meet and I think that maybe one ask that I would have of both of the
So I think that that is a part of, you know, I think it's also a part of the question councilmember Fife was raising. Where is this like with all of these influences that we may have? I think one of the best things that we can do is actually make sure that we're sharing like, Hey, here's the discussion that's taking place.
is actually make sure that we're sharing like hey here's the discussion that's taking place
and if you have some a common or input come join us. Thank you. Can you since son of Oakland
district seven council member I can't explain it or say it as well as Preston said it and as well
know that's David, a child of the Panther said it himself.
But what I can't say is integrity, his legacy,
and his commitment is entrenched in our city.
It's in his DNA.
It's in his blood.
So whatever he fights for, and it's
in the best interest of the city,
I'm going to stand right side of him and fight for him, too.
So I 100% agree with the Honorable Mayor Lee's recommendation
to appoint David Newton on the Planning Commission.
I don't know Peter Smith, haven't spoke to him,
but I'm gonna get to know him before the vote.
So thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you.
So I have the pleasure of...
No, please, pussy.
I was gonna answer Councilor Ramachandran's question.
Thanks for the question, Councilor Ramachandran.
So to answer your question, Natalie Sandoles.
former commissioner term ended on May 4th on,
she was on holdover status in her last meeting was July 15th.
And then we have former commissioner Maurice Robs.
He had resigned from the planning commission on July 14th.
Thank you. I just want to say,
I have the pleasure of severing with commissioner Newton on the
Coliseum JPA and he always shows up thoroughly prepared more prepared than
And I know he will be an added
value on the planning commission
and getting looking forward to
knowing Peter and looking
forward to both of their
services.
And I think we have a motion.
I do have a motion but I also
have speakers for this item for
item S5.
It's Ms. Asada.
She signed up for S5 as well as
Blair Beakman, and I know that
she signed up for S5.
She signed up for S5 as well as
Blair Beakman, as well as
Blair Beekman, and are we taking, okay.
Being in the position you're in,
you have to be all inclusive.
You can't leave anybody out.
I don't have to do that.
I am specifically always concerned about my people,
and it has nothing to do about degrading
or putting down anybody, because in reality,
we're all part of the human race.
It really hurts me that you can give so much love and deserve it love to this beautiful black man and at the same time.
Do what you did to Omar former who has a legacy a history of service to this city and to allow him to be a target with not identifying what did he do that he deserved not to be reappointed to the police commission.
I'm going to the, tonight to, they're giving him some honors tonight.
We can't do that to each other, brothers and sisters.
We can't do this and I will continue to address that.
Now, one thing I have concern about a lot of people who are being appointed to
these commissions, we have to pay attention.
I'm not saying this is the case here, but they get these appointments to fill
they resume up and they stay a little while and then they leave.
That's been happening with the police commission, particularly,
particularly when you have this person that's going to be a lawyer.
A lot of these people are lawyers building a resume using the police
commission, stay a little while and leave.
I'm not, but the point I want to return to,
we as a collective group of black people have to love each
other enough not to allow others to to pull us into the ranks of hurting each
other that's what happened with Omar farmer and at some point I hope we stop
that thank you so much for your comments mr. Sada we're now go to our zoom
speaker Blair Beekman hi Blair Beekman thanks for this item and the
appointments it was really nice to hear public the presenters
or the applicant's words. It was really nice. Thanks.
I'm I come from a place my concerns are you know I got
a really good understanding of life actually listening
to this presentation from everyone today. Thank you.
To me what became really clear and important
was as Councillor Perks and Fife asked.
My my emphasis and belief in my learning has been
that the practice and skills you know we develop in
in creating you know best community services
with our police practices and such.
That was the impetus for me.
You know I started coming to Oakland meetings back
in 2010 or so or just I was watching from far away
and attending more frequently after that.
And I've been trying to learn how it's the community effort
that is what creates our future.
And the person mentioned having a good foundation
in labor development,
understanding that is how to build housing
is another way to really do it.
And I come from the idea of best practices of community,
how they can develop their best police practices.
The other person mentioned that he seems
with affordable housing issues agreeable
to middle income housing ideas,
which I think is an vitally important concept
that strangely has become a center of controversy.
And I don't think it has to be at all.
And it's become this, you know, to the death of height
that you're somehow a red leaning communist
if you're into middle income housing
and what that can do for our future as a starting point.
So, and growing up in the past decade and a half
with somewhat around Oakland stuff,
you know, and trying to learn the lessons
that are the failures of Jerry Brown in his mayoral term
that I sadly have to agree with.
It was a problem.
I wish I didn't have to.
Our real estate issues in Oakland I've been learning
have been a real sore point and a real cause of problems
in how to better facilitate best practices
for the community.
And I've taken the approach that if we work on community
and policing and the community role in that,
that develops our future best practices.
And from there, that's how I'm branching out.
How do we address housing now?
How do we address this subject now?
Tech accountability, all the good stuff.
So that's where I come from.
It's anecdotal as anything.
Good luck how you can work on this.
I hope my ideas, yeah, I have a good part on my thinking towards these matters.
I hope it can help in how we're going to have to decide our future decision making and planning
for Oakland and our housing that really has to serve, you know, truly affordable housing
needs.
Man, we got to work on truly affordable and not just middle income, truly, truly affordable.
That's so key.
And that's the kind of stuff we got to be doing.
When we talk about labor, when we talk about community policing concerns and developing
housing concerns.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for your comments.
That concludes our speakers for both items S5 and S6.
So let's take the motion on S5.
We have a motion from Brown.
Is there a second?
Five?
Oh, I thought that was pretty much in a second.
You seconded already, Councilmember Ramachandra?
Oh, is there a second?
I'll second.
Thank you so much councilmember five. There was a motion by councilmember Brown seconded by councilmember five to approve item s5
to be forwarded to the October 20th
20th City Council agenda on roll councilmember Brown. I fight abstain
my chondrin I and chair Jenkins. I
So the motion was approved with three ayes one abstain five to be forwarded to the
October 20th City Council agenda and that would be on consent
No consent. I'm sorry
That's correct your counsel rules
Provide that if an item does not have a unanimous vote. It's not played. It's not automatically placed on consent
Yeah, that's up to this subject to the jurisdiction of the rules committee
Okay, can someone bring?
All right, and I'll make a motion to move s6
Appointment of David Newton
There was a motion by council a member Brown seconded by council member fight to approve item s6
To be forwarded to the October 20th City Council agenda on roll councilmember Brown. Hi. Bye. I
rama Chandran I in chair Jenkins aye item number s6 was approval for eyes to be forwarded to the October 20th City Council agenda on
consent
And now that takes us to
Item our open forum. I have Rajni mandal, Mrs. Sada, Ola Bala and Blair Beekman in any order
Rajni mandal I wanted to alert council to a proposed use of more than 1 million dollars in measure and end funds
OpSpock is developing a public safety fellowship that goes well beyond administrative support.
It includes training future public servants, community organizing, communications, and
even advocacy directed at this City Council.
Commissioners have described using fellows to mobilize residents to support OpSpock recommendations.
The City Attorney's written guidance on whether this is an appropriate use of measure and
end funds is still pending.
procurement moves forward, Council should know about the significant proposed expenditure
and ensure that restricted, voter-approved, public safety funds are being used for their
intended purpose. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your comments.
I carried this in my purse. You know what this is? My son went to Africa, climbed Mount
Kilimanjaro, and this is soil from the top. Carried in my purse.
I wasn't born Assata Olibala.
My name was Karen.
I legally changed my name.
It's all my birth certificate.
I changed it.
I wore dreadlocks in honor of the Mau Mau people of Kenya.
At one point, I was wearing all African clothes, OK?
Now, I love Africa.
And my son has a greed.
When I die, my ashes go back to Africa.
That's how much I love Africa.
But I'm in a position right now,
I have to talk about issues we're having,
because our African brothers and sisters,
our Caribbean brothers and sisters,
our Haitian brothers and sisters, we're not united.
And some things that are happening.
I apologize, Miss Olibala, your time is up, my apologies.
Our next and final speaker is Blair Beekman.
You are unmuted, you may begin.
Hi, Blair Beekman.
Thank you for the words Ms. Alawala.
I didn't know her story before.
I now better know her story.
I am traveling to Southeast Asia and to Africa
starting this November.
So when you hear me after November I'll be in different
parts of the world calling you guys
and it should be interesting.
I hope I'm going to travel to East Africa
and I'm really looking forward to that trip.
So yeah I wanted to comment that San Diego
they're really addressing the concepts of the strong mayor with an additional extra step of
what you guys want to do with an IPA. San Diego already has that and they're having trouble with
it. Good luck that you can work it out but they need a something called you know a chief operations
officer to to manage the programs besides the IPA and I don't know how to address that for
your election issues this fall but I hope to talk about it more in the coming weeks.
That concludes your speakers for open forum thank you this meeting's adjourned