Thread by @hyphy_republic

The special meeting to introduce Council President Bas' amendments for the budget has begun. That's the first item. Not likely there'd be a vote today at all on the whole budget

Bas is introducing the amendments, she says there've already been hard decisions made. Going through the list, I've already covered this in threads. Reversing the OFD brownouts, adding 2 MM in DVP; ambassadors for biz corridors; traffic safety 1 MM; 2 civ police investigators

Adding a dedicated MACRO team for Oakland libraries, a new fund to create rapid housing for homeless

Cultural affairs grants coming back, the non profit grants of 750k are going to be divided evenly between each CM; 20k for feather river camp

Some of these amendments need fleshing out, unclear how the restoration of the funding for the staffer with only 155k will fund Democracy Dollars

Bas will also be putting forward directives to city admin, new ballot measure to replace Measure Z which expires in 2024, a new study of police staffing [which is budgeted in the amendments] as well as the vacancy report. Bas says meeting on 6/26 will be the one to take action

Jenkins and Fife giving remarks as well, as they were on the budget team. Both say they've met with a lot of constituents and stakeholders on a tough budget. Kaplan also worked on the budget amendment team, but is late to the meeting.

Ramachandran also has budget amendments, she says that a lot of her amendments are parallel and reflected in Bas' amendments already, with some others. She also independently wants ambassadors, plus cultural affairs grant and DVP funding restoration

She says she's supportive of the PEC restorations and funds for traffic safety across the districts. Her slide of goals in budget, "making sure Oakland gets a slice of the economic pie" of public funds...

Ramachandran has amendments she's presenting here, that weren't in the agenda packet, they're only available in chambers. R. says she wants an OPD grant writer which can be paid for with departmental savings; also opposes the HCD/HOmelessness Services merger without a study.

Here's the amendments that R. brought today that aren't in packet, apparently

R. says she wants an additional Public Ethics investigator. The PEC recently hired their vacant role and don't face a reduction. But R. would add another investigator. R.'s view of PEC isa bit off, tbh. PEC can investigate violations of city charter and rules, all kinds of things

R. also wants to add 2 tree workers. She says that trees have been lost or need expensive maintenance because they aren't being serviced.

The chambers are packed today, no empty seats.

Kalb for the record confirms with Bradley Johnson, Budget Director that all of Bas' budget were cleared with the budget department, and that they're sound. Johnson confirms.

Kalb's biggest proposed addition is to restore 10 of the vacant OPD sworn positions. Seems like it would add several million, not sure if he's proposed somewhere to take that from.

Kalb says he wants to add 911 dispatchers, "we need to figure out what we can do to recruit, hire and retain our 911 dispatchers...if retention bonuses are one of those things that does relate to the budget and we need to talk about"...it's a serious challenge we're having.

Kalb says the freezing of vacancies in OPD reduces the amount of funds available to offset overtime. "these positions are not going to be filled in 2 year cycle...because of the freezing of those positions we're reducing available overtime funds and that could cause service gaps"

Kalb, as well as several other CMS, have doubts that IAD can be transitioned into CPRA in the two year cycle as Thao forecasts--with implications for whatever savings are envisioned there.

Kalb: "I was hoping we could find funds to have at least the at-large be the starter for Democracy Dollars in 24...would like to get costing for what it would cost just for the at-large seat for DD and nothing else in coming cycle"

Kalb says that "deep cleanings" in encampments are necessary, "we do know that many encampments are going to exist into the future...if we care about how those people are living and neighbors, having deep cleanings more regularly" is worthwhile investment.

Gallo asks Budget Admin Johnson about the structural deficit, He says this biennial budget is balanced, but this won't be a "vacation" from having to address the long-time concerns "we do have to do the work in meantime". Confirms that the current deficit is 360 MM over 23-25

Johnson says that in 25-26, another 100 MM budget deficit is currently forecast. Gallo just reminded everyone that he was one of the OUSD board members when the state took over the body, which I'm not sure comes off the way he'd like.

Gallo is reading a prepared statement on the budget: "we commit to placing racial equity and justice in all decision making in such way that addresses past harm and levels the playing field in the future" [that sounded okay, but he quickly moved on to Gallismos]

Gallo says that half of his "brothers are still locked up and my sister I don't know where she is..." he mentions truancy, family issues..."I want violence prevention to be in cooperation with OPD, OUSD, ALCO, DA"

All Cms working on something else while Gallo goes on

A lot of the talk about walking officers belies the fact that Oakland is contractually obligated by the COPS grant to have 15 cops allocated to that, no matter what

Reid is up now, she says that they've had more than 500 stakeholders and D7 residents giving feed back on issues of budget. "when we saw Thao's budget, we saw that a lot of it is aligned with our budget priorities..."

Reid said there were some reductions they didn't agree with, in terms of violence prevention, illegal dumping, blight removal, but she says that Bas amendments have restored most of those...

Everyone wanted ambassadors, it's relatively cheap, so it looks like a no brainer.

She says D6 and D7 carry the weight of 50% of the illegal dumping and blight, 311 service requests, she says that wasn't addressed in either budget; she says there should be investment in OPW vehicle repair, and clean and clear teams, KOB crews;

Reid's questions about Bas' budget: she says that Bas' budget amendments = about $17 MM. She asks about a 3MM addition to property tax funds, apparently Bas based her increase on sale of the Raiders facility, but Reid wants to know when there will be definitive news about sale

Reid also asks how DVP increases for sex working intervention is funded, and under what programs, if it will have connection to Mayor's sex trafficking taskforce.

Reid asking how the community ambassador allocations will be decided. A lot of Reid's commentary is about how much greater the needs are in D7, she's absolutely right.

Per Reid, MACRO is down to 9 from 18 funded staff city wide. She is asking how Bas' recommendation for a library-dedicated MACRO team would work with the vacancies.

Reid asking how the 8 MM Rapid Rehousing fund Bas has in her directives and funding would work, how the grants would be disbursed. Reid has a request for purchasing 3 hotels in D7, but it's not clear if those are included in Bas' budget

Reid mentions that the Feather River Camp's request was for 70k, but they only got 20k in Bas' amendment [yearly]; Reid asking Council to consider the full amount.

There's an open question about use of fund balance in Measure Q and maintenance of effort, but I'm not sure I can shed any light on it.

Reid has some questions about Thao's proposals for merging. She says that the merger of OPW and OakDOT [or the creation of DOT, actually] cost millions of dollars. There's a growing concern by Council that the mergers may not work, and are going to be a cost rather than savings.

We're going to public comment; Bas says there's 149 speakers cards and that would take 5 hours at 2 minutes each if everyone uses their full time, kindly suggests people be as brief if they can.

I did some digging about SAFER grant, in past that grant has been like COPS grant in that it required the CIty to contribute matching funds, so it was meant to increase staffing, not maintain it or pay for it. Per OFD spoxe, it doesn't have that req this time, its free and clear.

Several speakers have been focused on the SABA food card program, in support and thankful for funding.

An IFPTE member who works in IT says he supports the proposed library-dedicated MACRO team, supports Bas' amendments. [this is probably the most harmonious budget process I've seen in years at the City]

Another IFPTE member, thanks Bas/Thao for nto laying off workers, as well as dedicated HR focus on hiring for vacancies, she says vacacnies can't be filled if there are vacancies in HR>

Speaker works at Center for Independent Living, says she has several concerns, dept of aging/persons with disabilities is being lumped into "family dept", "older adults, disabled do not have same types of needs as kids or teens or folks like that..."

The speaker who is blind: "I'm not the advocate at our organization, I came because I'm an Oaklander and a person with a disability, and I'll be a senior soon...if you're within the sound of my voice you will get there too...I hope"

Young Oaklander speaks on behalf of CURYJ, urging Council to fully fund violence prevention programs

Another young participant in the one of the non violence grant programs Youth Alive, says he's really grown in the program

Speaker works for Youth Alive, says that "All of the DVP budget is not fully restored..." wants the Council to pass all of the various amendments in Bas' budget that restore some of the DVP

Speaker is a manager at a mom and pop store speaking in favor of the SABA food programs:"our mom and pop stores are now becoming our grocery stores and adding these grocery products is something that helps our neighborhoods"

Speaker speaks in Spanish [but is a MAM speaker], she says that the SABA program has given her convenience to be able to shop at a local store instead of having to eat out [due to food deserts]

Most of the speakers are speaking on behalf of SABA food program and DVP; SABA got its funding, and DVP is going to get some but not all of the funding they were hoping for.

Speaker works at St Mary's, says she's concerned about the merger of Homeless Services in HCD. She works with unhoused seniors, counseling at "housing clinic" at St Mary. She says that the center also intervenes for seniors facing homelessness, urges not to cut funding.

James Vann of OTU calls the proposal the Mayor's proposed mergers of departments "insanity". Says that Lake Merritt Lodge should be at the top of the Council's budgeting list. Vann also says that the City got into deficit with unbudgeted additions throughout period.

Speakers in Spanish supporting San Antonio Senior Center funding "el centro es nuestro segundo hogar...the center is our second home", says that the Center is crucial for help, programs, services and meals

[getting emotional hearing all these spanish speaking abuelas]

Young speaker speak from the heart about Dept of Violence funded programs..."folks don't respect the police but they do respect these organizations"

"our communities deserve much more than what was in those amendments...this proposed budget is a continuation of a dangerous trend of balancing budget on" our backs..."I also propose the Mayor's proposed police increase budget"

She also criticized Gallo, she says he had been at an event where young people were speaking out on issues of DVP/Violence Prevention, he promised to bring up issues of DVP here, but he mostly spoke about the police and misled them

Many of the DVP speakers have spoken about OPD increases, also mentioned that the data shows that DVP has had an effect on violent crime, while the police haven't.

George Galvez co-founder of "i'm hearing the same old song" after coming to city council meetings for 25 years, reminds Council of the Riders scandal, Celest Guap rape scandal, Tran perjury/payment scandal, how little has changed, many of officers still work for OPD

Even Gene Hazard applauded for that one.

Galvez co-founder of CURYJ

No camera crews today capturing all these young BIPOC people talking about the impact of DVP and its programs, I see. Wrong type of person, wrong narrative to sell lexuses to people.

Actually, there's practically no media here at all. It's pretty amazing.

CURYJ principal says that they agree with transfer of IAD into CPRA, but that DVP and cultural funding need to be increased "it's a drop in the bucket, and will be bare minimum..." object to restoration of 10 vacant sworns from Kalb, OPD grant writer

Several speakers have opposed merger of dept of aging into OPRYD. "the merger threatens to undermine progress made by" senior initiatives. Appears ageist and ableist [for disabled]

There's been no public support about proposed dept mergers today, and at least two CMs have also objected. Given that they are so nebulously described and even departments have pushed back against them a bit in their reports, wouldn't be surprised to see them disappear in final

Formerly incarcerated speaker spent 14 years in jail, says he felt lost coming out of prison, but CURYJ provided space for him to be a part of community, along with life coaching

Another formerly incarcerated participant in CURY..."we do this by building a movement, ad not just services, this movement is what I'm asking you to restore"

Another formerly incarcerated participant in CURYJ, says that after all the success of DVP, the budget is still being balanced on the backs of violence prevention..."we're paying police that aren't doing anything"

He follows up on Gallo's claims that Fruitvale business owners want more police, he says he has also spoken to them and says "they're looking for someone to do their job"

Another formerly incarcerated person says that CURYJ has also helped him find his way after being incarcerated "please don't cut the funds, but increase them"

"...it is important to defund police and invest in community resources..." she also criticizes Gallo's claims about homelessness and his long history on Council. Gallo is getting a lot of pushback about his claims a,bout Fruitvale from his constituents.

Speaker a program director at CURYJ says that Bas' restoration of 2.1 m over two years is a drop in the bucket. "we're facing a 42% cut..."

Formerly incarcerated person: "CURYJ helped me get back on my feet...I would have been part of the violence, but my life coach helped me have a level head...it's very easy to detour the youth with your actions...there's adults like myself that need this help..."

Speaker is VP of League of Women Voters, supports Bas amendments, regrets full implementation isn't possible, but that Bas' restoration is a step in the right direction.

Ryan Metric Chair of PEC: would prefer Kalb's idea for a district-specific pilot, but supports Bas restoration for Democracy Dollars if there isn't a pilot as a step toward implementing in 2026. Also supports Ramachandran's proposal for an additional investigator in Enforcement

David Shor with Common Cause supports the Bas amendments as important step, and future steps towards full implemenation

Speaker says her son was shot paralyzed, when she arrived at scene "cops treat us like we're criminals, it was unfair, to this day I haven't heard updates on my son's case...this program [CURYJ] has helped me and my son...please don't take the funds from us"

This isn't the first time I've heard this kind of story.

Speaker from Mercy Brown Bag which feeds 9k low income seniors in ALCO, 5k are in Oakland. She says that they're receiving no funding in current budget.

Speaker from CURYJ: 90% of the children I saw in our juvenile halls at an event last week were Black. She says think about that when you are talking about giving OPD a grant writer [ridiculous] , lateral academies, facial recognition

It's absolutely true that in the two years DVP had unprecedented budget, crime that had increased when police had closer to fuller staffing decreased, while at the same time, OPD faced some of its highest attrition and lowest staffing in its history.

Several senior organizations came tonight to oppose the merger of Ageing services into OPRYD. No one has vocalized any support for any of the mergers, all the opposite.

Many of the speakers for the SABA food program have been Spanish speakers.

One thing we've heard not much about is increasing police funding tonight. I will have to check, but I believe I have only heard one speaker asking for more funding for police. It's interesting given the narrative I'm hearing, that residents are rioting in the streets for more.

"we've helped get countless people off street, getting people food...without these programs crime is going to increase trauma...many come out of foster system...this is the first time they have adults in their life teaching them life skills...don't cut funding, we need more..."

Probably won't hit many more speakers...saving my energy for the deliberation...public comment has been going on for over three hours.

Several speakers from APEN called in to ask Council not to invest more money in police, but to invest in community resources, several in Chinese.

Several speakers called in to support Reid's proposal for financial aid housing repair for seniors.

Clerk is calling in dozens of speakers who fell off over the past few hours, I guess...only two speakers left.

Speaker says that many called had to leave before they could speak because of their kids.

Jennifer Findlay points out that after more academies than usual in 21-23, there's 3 police fewer today than there were in 2021.

Okay, public comment is over.

Now some deliberation, Bas says this is the last chance to have a discussion on proposed amendments before the meeting on 6/26. There's also two sets of questions and answers from Finance, here: oaklandca.gov/topics/fiscal-…

Budget Admin Johnson speaks to Ramachandran's proposal of grant writer: says there's no department that has a specific grant writer, it's an additional task of existing positions, often called program analysts. "we do not have a city classification of grant writer"

Bas says there's a proposal for 400k for comprehensive grant management software, will manage department grant requests, so City is not competing with itself.

Bas says that Townsend Public Affairs provides grant writing support, "frame work, who to call, talk to...critical information before the grant comes out"

Johnson says that the RETT for the Raiders Facility is actually a cost to Oakland, because it is partial owner. He says that will be 2% of 40 MM [that's 3.2 MM cost...huh]

Ramachandran says that she spoke with OPD staff about freezing vacant crime analyst positions to fund the grant writer role; she says they assured her that those wouldn't be filled in the biennial.

A bit of a back and forth about what the Transportation Impact Fee can be used to cover, it's a restricted fund that Bas is using in her budget.

Bas asking OFD about challenges for hiring for MACRO, solutions. Elliot Jones the MACRO program manager fielding it; he says it's the City process that takes longest...he says getting a dedicated staff person to help with HR process would help.

Ramachandran following up in the proposal in Bas' amendment for specific MACRO team for libraries. The request is for additional MACRO staff for more shifts to support library interventions; Jones says that with a full staff, they'd be able to serve that role.

Bas says she'll withdraw the line on library specific Macro team in her budget based on that and other convos

Don't know what happened in my math about the Raiders facility, disregard that, that's way off, lol.

Question for OPD: authorized, filled civilian and sworn investigators. Allison responds, there's no civilian criminal investigators, 100 superivisors and officers that have the capability to do investigations.

Bas' proposal is to create a civilian investigator position, she says she already spoke to Allison and others about creating that classification

To a question about how to instill equity in to the OPW processes, Director Duffey explains that they could do an analysis of the most impacted areas, and create an equity map that way. Ramachandran also asks about equity tree service.

Duffey says that they've mapped the City's trees and lay it over an equity map. Tree department is only staffed at level where they only address priority 1 trees, critical issues. They only respond to emergencies.

Ramachandran says that the City spent over a million dollars on issues with trees that could have been avoided. Bas interjects that Ramachandran's proposal for two tree service workers is an allowable use of Measure Q funds that can be discussed.

Reid asking about the equipment repair/replacement process for DPW. Duffey says that they don't have the funding to buy new equipment, which requires more in house maintenance, but they're understaffed, unit takes care of all equipment assets, including police.

Duffey says they're not at the point where they can't put equipment out on the street, but they are close, they need to think out of the box, because they're competing for mechanics with private sector; "we can't compete" for hiring mechanics

Duffey: "If we don't rectify this within the next year and a half, we'll be reaching those concerns [point of being unable to use equipment]"

Bas asked City Admin Jestin Johnson about the consolidation of departments "given our budget realities, this is where we are" . Johnson says that they'll contract outside consultants about the restructuring, he says that they have the time to do it right.

Bas followed up on timeline for drafting scope and securing consultant. Johnson says within 45 days of passing budget, they'll pull together the scope and begin to put out RFP.

Ramachandran says that there was a study done about merging Parks and Recs and Human Services in 2013, which found against doing it. Johnson said he's not aware of the study, but will get back to Council.

Ramachandran asked if there was already a department head for the new dept, Johnson said he they hadn't begun. Ramachandran then dropped the idea that someone in the Mayor's office had already held themselves out for that position, but Johnson couldn't speak to her claim.

Reid says that the public wants transparency on the mergers, not only how much they're supposed to save, but how much doing them will cost.

Finance Dir Roseman says in every dept being changed, there's a listing of all significant changes in budget book, but you cross reference across depts. Majority of the savings would be in deleting duplicative positions or keeping them frozen, ex, a dept director would be deleted

Reid says that there should be a simple way for the public and council people to see how the changes happen. Reid asks also asks what would be the cost of paying a consultant and then not going through with the consolidation.

Reid says that historically, the cost has been greater than assumed, example of auto detail moving to DPW from OPD [just recently revealed that the costing was not sufficient to support the unit without deleting staff to cover operating costs]; creation of DPW

Bas notes that her spreadsheet does actually show where the funds come from and where they go in her amendments, contrary to some claims from the public [they do, I can assure you]

Bas on the Housing Fund says that they would partner with HCD on how to make decisions on deploying funds, but the goal would be rapid deployment, such as the Sage Motel

Ramachandran asks how community ambassador funding would be allocated. Bas says they'd build on the holiday grants for ambassadors that they gave December. Bas also says that they need to also focus on areas w/out BIDS, mentions Hegenberger being a crime hotspot, but no BID

Bas says that her decision to move $1M allocation from homelessness prevention pilot to tenant legal services is based on the idea that the pilot hasn't started yet, and in evaluating, they believe given potential eviction tsunami its the better use of funds

Having trouble believing how friendly this all is. its a trip

Reid brings up the concern about the maintenance of effort stipulation in Measure Q, apparently Council will have to declare an emergency in relation to the use of those funds.

Budget Admin Johnson says that the Council will have to formally suspend Measure Q, C, D, and other Measures maintenance of effort; along with consolidated fiscal policy requirements. They will do it in resolution prior to passing budget👀

Johnson also said that they're not likely to be able to pay in the maintenance of effort for foreseeable future until the GPF is healthy...interesting issue for bond measures.

Bas says that not all of the potential funds on Measure Q were actually allocated in her spreadsheet, waiting to have the discussion first.

Ramachandran says that a grant writer for OPD would allow it to access funds that would connect across the departments, including DVP and OakDOT. R. says that a grant writer can spot opportunities and create the grant narratives

Ramachandran mentions her time on Public Ethics Commission and Espinoza case. She says that there are "bad actors" in various departments, and its an investment, for example, recouping fines.

Gallo is ready to go home.

Kaplan never made the meeting after all.

On next steps; Bas says the next step is a special budget meeting on 6/26; there will be the resolution to pass the budget, along with her amendments. CMs can still submit their amendments if they have any additional ones, but that will be to the clerk for addition to the agenda.

Bas follows up on Reid's amendment for senior housing repair proposal, says finance characterized as duplicative of other programs. Apparently this proposal covers renters as well.

Scott Means Interim Dir of HS says he believes that there's enough of a unique difference in program to justify it, and it will be using funds from Measure BB anyway, they both just revealed so the question is moot anyway

Ramachandran and Bas clarify that the Sage Motel would be purchased through Homekey, with partners, not in ownership of City.

I want to note that no one has brought up Kalb's proposal to unfreeze 10 of the vacant officer positions, not even Kalb after he introduced it in brief comments. Seems to be no support for it, or at least no interest in discussing it.

It's so weird how you can have an 8 hour meeting for an entire agenda, and an 8 hour meeting for just one item. Still here.

Fife following up on the OPD grant writer with Ramachandran, wants to know if the actual focus of that grant writing would be for DVP, and if she's proposing the idea that the grants would replace GPF funding [that would not happen, IMO]

Ramachandran mentions joint grants with DVP and OakDOT, mentions the COPS grant [but that requires an additional outlay of GPF funds, it's not free, it comes out of GPF in a non budget year]

Ramachandran also mentions potential grants for rape kit processes. Fife follows up, "are you suggesting that a grant writer would write DVP grants" where would those funds stay.

Fife says that she believes OPD would continue to draw down on GPF in addition to getting grants [I agree, no doubt, they'll never ask for less GPF]

I don't know why they don't call up the DVP and OakDOT on the grants. I believe that in both cases those grants originated in the other depts.

Ramachandran says she believes that in the future through policy they could call on to OPD to use less GPF; but she agrees there's a defnite possibility that could happen.

Fife says that she would prefer a city wide grant writer that helps all departments, she says there's departments that are in great need of funding, she would prefer they get the funding. She says it would be difficult to reign back OPD funding.

FIfe says she'd be more likely to add a friendly amendment to change Ramachandran's proposal to a city wide grant writer.

Fife mentioned Ramachandran's claim about a member of Thao's staff holding themselves out for a potential new dept director positions. Ramachandran says she saw "it on a screen" today: "I don't know the truthfulness of it, but I had multiple individuals raise red flags"

Fife is drawing out that you shouldn't make claims like this "you don't call stuff out unless you have absolute evidence...I want to caution all of us to have the facts before we make public statements'. Ramachandran says that it was a question not a statement

Fife says that the question could have been made to the Mayor's office directly. Fife raised the name "Brooklyn Wiliams", though Ramachandran didn't. Bas says that since the question has been asked publicly, it will have to be answered publicly.

Okay, Kalb's proposal of adding back 10 frozen sworn police positions never came up again. Worth noting.

Gallo went home early again, FYI

Clarifying that since this isn't a continuation of the budget item, all the additional amendments that CMs want included will have to be resubmitted as new agenda items in the packet.

On the next item, its relevant. A report back on implementing the policy directives of Council in past 4 years.

Kalb asked Asst City Admin Pinon if there were any failures on policy directives that stood out for the public interest; she responded that the Reimagining Public Safety recs stand out, they're an ongoing convo

Bas asks about the policy request on short term rentals, which never came back, as well as the public lands resolution [that stalled 5 years ago. I knew that one would come up]

Planning Director Gilchrist says that they are almost ready to bring the short term rentals resolution close to the end of the year, comparing to other jurisdictions, while also looking at enforcement requirements.

Bas brings up the policy directive about purchasing Lake Merritt Lodge; no one answered her question about the public lands policy.

Bas says that her proposal to have a staffing study of OPD is part of meeting the taskforce recs.

No one awake enough to ask questions about this

Kalb wants to create this as an annual report on Finance Committee.

I am just going to assume they will pass this as an annual report and go home. Good night all.

@threadreaderapp unroll