–The OO’s considered opinion about what’s most critical and important on tomorrow's City Council agenda.
Non Consent
Moratorium On Data Centers*
Putting an asterisk on this one because of some incongruities in the agenda. Firstly, it's listed on the Consent calendar, but the Life Enrichment Committee specifically instructed it to go to non-consent for deliberation. It's difficult to believe it won't be moved to the Non Consent calendar for discussion during the meeting. Secondly, the notation appears to say the legislation would require 6 votes. The Oakland Observer confirmed with the city that the moratorium requires 7 votes to pass, and yes, confirmed it on a second query. The City spokesperson said that the OCA had confirmed to them the moratorium would require 7 votes. A follow up sent last Friday given the agenda’s statement was not responded to. We’ll see what happens here in both issues, but the moratorium will likely be at least on non-consent, contrary to the agenda. You can read more about it here.
Mayor Barbara Lee’s State of the City Address
Mayor Barbara Lee is scheduled to give her charter-required State of the City address on Tuesday at the start of the meeting. In the past, this has often been a contentious item. Schaaf forewent the charter requirement at least twice and even when honoring it, told people to ignore it in favor of an essentially private function celebrating herself. Sheng Thao’s only state of the city was marked by controversy, as she had already been indicted in a federal bribery case. But Lee’s has escaped any publicity at all.
Auditor’s Recommendations Follow Up Report
The Auditor makes recommendations every time they issue an audit, and this is a report on how well the City has implemented them. Writ large here is the OPD’s failure on dozens of recommendations on overtime, and it could contrast starkly against the salary raise ordinance for OPD’s new MOU in the consent calendar at the same meeting [if any CM brings it up, which is doubtful].
19th Street BART To Lake Merritt Project Change Order
As OO reported last week, the City is proposing a staggering change order that will nearly double the original estimate for this greenway project. Gallagher and Burk, the City’s most highly paid and contracted entity is the contractor. You can read more about it here.
Consent
OPD Salary Increase Ordinance
As a resolution, the OPD’s new contract was already authorized by Council with a single vote. But to implement the raises, a separate ordinance has to be voted on. Ordinances require two votes at two separate sessions of Council, so this is coming back for the second time before the MOU can be honored. It’s on Consent and won’t likely be discussed, but when it passes, the City will have an instant $2 MM increase for this year’s budget. You can read more about the MOU here.
Auditor’s Performance Audit of the Vacant Property Tax
The Auditor mostly found that the vacancy tax works well and is adequately managed, and only suggests that the City keep better track of its expenditures running the tax process, develop a transparent reporting process and focus on how to use the tax to bring about its intended effect, reducing vacant properties.
Ordinance Amending OMC Chapter 8.28 To Improve Waste Disposal Requirements
Various changes in law to address properties that don’t have waste pick up.
OPD Informational Report on Human Trafficking
As OO reported before, the spare report led to revelations that CM Charelene Wang’s ordinance on administrative fines for loitering/solicitation have not begun yet and won’t in the near-future. There’s a slight chance this could be requested to be heard as a non consent item. You can read more here.
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