As OO juggles several hefty issues as the fiscal year and June election approaches, it's getting harder to get one of these previews out. I've focused on the things that jump out to me as of interest to the public, and it's not all exhaustive. You'll find the link to the full committee agenda in each header.
Finance Committee
Q3 Revenue and Expenditure
After many years of dread about the Q3 report, Council may breathe a sigh of relief at this one—FY 25-26 appears to be on track to end with a significant surplus of about $32 MM in June. The surplus may go part of the way to patch a hole in the oncoming budget, currently on paper without Measure E funds, though some significant part of it is already spoken for in carry overs and required set asides.
Oakland’s police, over-budgeted at nearly 60 more officers than the department could bring on over a fiscal year, will come in at, or even under budget, also a rarity. But the OPD’s budget health hides a practical problem—overtime overages are still a big part of the OPD’s expenditures, but the over-budgeting on straight personnel goes to pay off the overages, an untransparent practice that got the City into trouble for years before being briefly suspended several years ago. If Measure E fails, OPD's overbudgeting will come to an end, and un-forecast expenditures in overtime come about instead.
Oakland Investment Policy
These investment policy updates are usually a quick affair, though passage is required even if there are no changes. This year it could become more complicated with a pro-Palestine and anti-carceral divestment campaign demanding changes about where Oakland's residents taxes are invested. Notably, however, there’s no visible action from CMs to add or subtract any of the Council resolutions that modify the City’s investment policy.
Public Works and Transportation
Construction Contract Award To S.J. Amoroso Construction Award for Lincoln Rec Center
East Oakland Arts Center Project Doubling of Change Order Percentage
Compliance Status of the Sewer Consent Decree Program
Community and Economic Development
Annual Housing Programs Informational Report for Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Updates From The Oakland Housing Authority From: Councilmember Brown Recommendation
Informational Report From The Oakland Housing Authority On The Status Of Their Programs
Approval Of New WIOA Services Contracts For FY 2026-2029
Life Enrichment
Amortization of CASS and CWS Facilities
CM Fife is proposing that the City develop a process of amortization for the CASS and CWS recycling facilities in West Oakland, where they would be shifted out of their current now mostly residential area in some way. The amortization process is now required after the collapse of deals at the Army Base that would have shifted them there—but the companies did not meet benchmarks and their development agreements were cancelled.
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