Approved as to Form and Legality
City Attorney’s Office
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. _______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NIKKI FORTUNATO BAS
RESOLUTION CELEBRATING CITY OF OAKLAND DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR RYAN RUSSO FOR HIS SERVICE TO
THE CITY OF OAKLAND
WHEREAS, Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas would like to take the opportunity celebrate City of Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) Director Ryan Russo for his ser vice to the city of Oakland and congratulate him on his career transition; and
WHEREAS, Director Ryan Russo began his service with the City of Oakland in 2017 and was the first permanent director of OakDOT, leading a team of more than 350 public servants to envision, plan, build, operate and maintain a transportation system for the City of Oakland and assure safe, equitable, and sustainable access and mobility for residents, businesses and visitors; and
WHEREAS, Director Ryan Russo earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and has a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley; and
WHEREAS, Director Ryan Russo championed equity both internally by actively participating in and supporting OakDOT’s Racial Equity Team, and externally by embracing prioritization factors that integrate equity metrics to help reverse decades of disinvestment in Oakland’s highest priority equity communities; and
WHEREAS, Director Ryan Russo led the Department through the successful implementation of innovative safety treatments, such as the Lake Merritt cycle track, left turn traffic calming, rapid response safety projects, the Telegraph Avenue redesign, and the 90th Avenue Scraper Bikeway project; and
WHEREAS, Director Ryan Russo led the Department in delivering over two times the miles of paving than ever before, while receiving national recognition for integrating equity metrics into prioritization methods; and
2 WHEREAS, Director Ryan Russo set the vision to embrace new mobility while setting policies to promote and encourage their equitable deployment; and
WHEREAS, Director Ryan Russo crafted and launched the first Slow Streets program, closing over 25 miles of streets for socially distanced recreation and active transportation space during the COVID- 19 pandemic, gaining international recognition and encouraging numerous jurisdictions to follow; and
WHEREAS, Director Ryan Russo has served as a mentor to colleagues of color, helping to break down barriers to facilitate more diverse and representative future planners, engineers and public servants; and
WHEREAS, Director Ryan Russo has made tremendous strides for Oaklanders through his tireless work to improve the safety, equity, and vibrancy of the transportation network; and
WHEREAS, the City of Oakland and its residents have benefited tremendously from his leadership and are a healthier, safer, more equitable city because of it; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the Oakland City Council celebrates and honors the leadership, vision, service and commitment of OakDOT Director Ryan Russo to the city of Oakland and congratulates him on his career transition.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, KALB, KAPLAN, REID, TAYLOR, THAO AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
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