Agenda Report
TO:
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilMembers of the Public
FROM: Nikki Fortunato Bas
Council PresidentCouncilmember, District 2
SUBJECT: 2023 Council Retreat DATE: February 21, 2023
RECOMMENDATION
Council President Bas Recommends That The City Council: Adopt AReport And Recommendation ToEstablish Council Values And Budget And Policy Priorities For Fiscal Year 2023-2025 BudgetingProcess Following Facilitated Discussion On The Same
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Every odd-numbered year, the Council holds a retreat to begin our budget process and develop ourpriorities. This retreat will take place on Friday, March 3rd at 9am to approximately 5:30pm at LakesidePark Garden Center, Vista Room (666 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610). This report provides asummary of the Council’s budget and policy priorities to date, which we will update at the retreat. Afacilitation agenda is attached with more detailed information about the retreat.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Current Values and Priorities
In March 2021, the City Council developed a set of priorities rooted in ourvalues of equity,transparency and effectivenessto serve all of Oaklandand ensure that the most vulnerable residents andlow-wage workforce, who were already disproportionately impacted before COVID, are able to thrive aswe move towards a more healthy and more just recovery.
These priorities have guided our budget and policy work over the last two fiscal years.
A. Affordable Housing & Homelessness Solutionsa. Protection/Prevention — protect tenants and low-income property owners, preventhomelessnessb. Preservation — preserve affordable housingc. Production — produce deeply affordable housingd. House unsheltered residents — lease/purchase hotels; utilize public land for emergencyshelter, safe parking sites, transitional housing and permanent deeply affordable housinge. Service encampments with outreach and supportive services, and health and sanitationservices Special City CouncilMarch 3, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject: 2023 Council RetreatDate: February 21, 2023 Page2 B. Public Safety & Violence Preventiona. Take action on the recommendations of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force toincrease public safety through alternative responses to calls for service and investments inthe root causes of violence and povertyb. Reduce gun violence and focus on violent crime, including increasing investigationcapacityc. Increase violence prevention, trauma-informed care and healingd. Develop and implement alternative responses to police, such as MACROe. Implement and expand Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CEPTED) forcrime prevention and traffic calming C. Good jobs and vibrant economya. Create and maintain family-sustaining jobsb. Enhance workforce development and training, and youth jobs programsc. Support small businesses, addressing racial and gender disparities, and enhancingbusiness districtsd. Fully staff City Departments by improving recruitment, filling vacancies and increasingboth succession planning and retention D. Clean, healthy, sustainable neighborhoodsa. Reduce and prevent illegal dumping, litter and blight, including proactive service andreducing the backlog of abandoned autosb. Ensure safe and well maintained streets and sidewalksc. Invest in parks, libraries, youth development, senior services, arts & cultured. Expand wildfire prevention and disaster preparedness/response In April 2021, we began work to advance these priorities with the Administration with CommitteeChairs and Department Directors collaboratingto bringfurther discussion and action to Council,starting with existing department plans. This work has included:● Housing Elementof the General Plan Update● 2021-2023 Strategic Action Planof the Housing & CommunityDevelopment Department, alsosee2021 Impact Report● Permanent Access To Housing (PATH) Framework and Homeless Strategyof the HumanServices Department● Economic Development Strategyof the Economic & WorkforceDevelopment Department● Reimagining Public Safety Task Force Recommendations,also seeResolution PrioritizingRecommendationsFrom The Reimagining Public SafetyTask Force● Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) Program● Violence Prevention Services Spending Planof theDepartment of Violence Prevention● Transportation Strategic Planof the Department ofTransportation In May 2021, theAdministration proposed a FY 2021-2023budgetin anaccessible on-line platformfor the first time, introduced a Racial Equity Analysis tool that was used to assess how any proposedservice changes would either benefit or not disproportionately impact low-income Black, Indigenous, andother communities of color, and implemented recommendations by the City Auditor, correcting the pastpractice of under budgeting police overtime by accurately funding expenditures required to maintainservices.
Special City CouncilMarch 3, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject: 2023 Council RetreatDate: February 21, 2023 Page3 In June 2021, theCouncil adopted a balanced budget, with amendments proposed by the CouncilPresident’s Budget Team, and began a path towards more intentionally addressing the systemicdisinvestment in marginalized communities. The following 2021 budget allocations and policy directives,among others, are creating a more comprehensive infrastructure where community well-being isinvestments in housing, jobs, violence prevention, and young people. ● Policy directive to: Instill Equity in the City Budget Process, incorporating equity tools into thebudgetary processes, which evaluate whether budgetary actions reduce or exacerbate existingracial disparities, how negative impacts will be mitigated, and how we will measure outcomes.● Policy directive and budget allocation to: Stand up MACRO as an effective alternative responsesystem as first responders to non-violent calls for service when Oaklanders call for help.● Investment of $17 million more in the Department of Violence Prevention, including violenceinterrupters and community ambassadors who live in our neighborhoods -- a community-centeredworkforce, which is a new form of public health worker or community safety professional.● Policy directive to modernize our business tax to make it progressive and more equitable, andraise millions for city services. (Placed on the 2022 ballot and passed by voters.)● Policy directive to explore a possible new Infrastructure Bond ballot measure in 2022 for publicinfrastructure and affordable housing. (Placed on the 2022 ballot and passed by voters.) As part of the City’s Biannual or Midcycle Budgets, in addition to the adopted budget allocations, theCity Council also directs staff to assess or implement specific policies, programs, or performance targetsand report back at a future date with findings, recommendations and/or a proposed implementation plan.ThePolicy Directives Tracking documentincludes andtracks the progress of policy directives providedin the Fiscal Year 2019-21 Biannual Budget, Fiscal Year 2020-21 Midcycle Budget, Fiscal Year 2021-23Biennial Budget, and Fiscal Year 2022-23 Midcycle Budget. You may find the tracking documents onthis page:https://www.oaklandca.gov/resources/policy-directives.The administration will provide anupdate to this tracking document after the conclusion of the current fiscal year.
FY 2023 - 2025 Budget Timeline & Benchmarks
Oakland’sConsolidated Fiscal Policy(2020) describesthe budget process (see p. 9). Below are somebenchmarks. ● March 15: Statement of Councilmember PrioritiesCouncilmembers must submit their budget priorities to the Mayor, Interim City Administrator, FinanceDirector and Budget Director by March 15, 2023.
City Council Members will have the opportunity to advise the Mayor and City Administrator publicly oftheir priorities. Each Council member shall be invited to submit up to seven expenditure priorities inranked and/or weighted order for changes to the baseline budget as presented in the Five-Year Forecast.Councilmember priority statements must be submitted as part of a report to be heard by the City Counciland/or in a publicly available writing to the Mayor and City Administrator by March 15. In addition tothe priorities, Councilmembers may also submit other suggestions, including revenue suggestions. ● Before April 15: Budget Outlook Message & Calendar ReportReport to the City Council a Budget Outlook Message & Calendar no later than April 15th that providesan overview of the budget development process and lists all key dates and estimated dates of key budget Special City CouncilMarch 3, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject: 2023 Council RetreatDate: February 21, 2023 Page4 events, including release of the Proposed Budget, Community Budget Forums, Council budget meetings,and formal budget passage dates. ● By May 1: Mayor’s Proposed Budget Published
● Before May 15: Mayor’s Proposed Budget Presented at Special Council Meeting ● May & June: Community Budget ForumsPlease schedule your District Community Budget Forum between May 14 - 25 with the BudgetAdministrator. ● By June 1: Budget Advisory Commission's Report
● By June 12: Council President’s and Other Amendments published ● Before June 17: Council President’s and Other Amendments presented at Special Meeting ● By June 30: Council adopts a balanced budget
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
This Council retreat is an important part of the budget process, as described in the Consolidated FiscalPolicy.
The Mayor and City Council will hold a bi-annual budget workshop soon after the commencement of theCouncil term. The workshop will include briefings on estimated baseline expenditures, revenueprojections and an overview of the City's budgeting process. The workshop will provide the Mayor andCouncil with the opportunity to begin discussing priorities for the next budget year based on theAssessment of Stakeholder Needs, Concerns and Priorities.
The retreat provides the Council, together with other branches of government, an opportunity to considerand seek input from Oaklanders, reflect on our values, priorities, and the current fiscal outlook, and refineour priorities throughout the budget process to best meet the needs of our Oakland community.
A key issue emerged from the 2021 retreats that requires ongoing discussion and action, which is:Making our work more cross-cutting to follow through on the Council’s budgeting and policymaking with implementation, evaluation and leveraging other resources.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for direct expenses for conducting the Council retreat such as meeting facilitation and meals is inthe Council Administration budget.
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Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject: 2023 Council RetreatDate: February 21, 2023 Page5
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
The retreat agenda and materials are being published with 10 days notice per the Sunshine Act. Theretreat will be a public in-person meeting atLakesidePark Garden Center, Vista Room (666 BellevueAvenue, Oakland, CA 94610). The meeting will not beavailable via Zoom. Members of the public mayattend the meeting and comment. At the meeting, the Council will consider results from the biennialbudget survey. The Councilmembers will publish their priorities by March 15, conduct budget relatedCouncil meetings, conduct District Community Budget Forums, and consider public input prior toadopting a balanced budget by June 30, 2023.
COORDINATION
Council President Bas and her office worked with the City Administrator, Budget Office, Department ofRace and Equity, City Attorney, City Clerk, and HR&A Advisors on this report and retreat agenda.
HR&A Advisors is interviewing Councilmembers and the Administration to develop the retreat agendaand will facilitate the retreat. HR&A has a unique combination of mission which is aligned with the City'sequity goals and priorities, policy and budget analysis, community engagement techniques, as well as atrack record and expertise across multiple cities in the Bay Area and country. The facilitators are:● Lamont B. Cobb, Director, who will serve as Project Manager and Lead Facilitator. He is anurban planner who focuses his work on uplifting the voices and power of marginalizedcommunities in shifting urban development paradigms. He brings a special lens to this project asa fourth generation Californian and former L.A. City Council Deputy.● Kayla Jaffe, Senior Analyst, who will serve as Co-facilitator. Kayla is a skilled facilitator andconvener, supporting projects to develop equitable work programs for the L.A. CountyDepartment of Planning, as well as leading major engagement and policy efforts for the transitionof Judge Linda Hidalgo in Harris County, TX.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: The Council retreat and budget process withcommunity engagement can result in increasingeconomic opportunities for Oaklanders, including those who have been most deeply impacted.
Environmental:The Council retreat and budget processwith community engagement can result inincreasing environmental sustainability for Oaklanders, including those who have been most deeplyimpacted.
Race & Equity:The Council retreat and budget processwith community engagement can result inincreasing racial equity for Oaklanders, when those who have been most deeply impacted are better ableto share their experiences and opinions, and give input to legislation that affects them.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Council President Bas Recommends That The City Council: Adopt AReport And Recommendation ToEstablish Council Values And Budget And Policy Priorities For Fiscal Year 2023-2025 BudgetingProcess Following Facilitated Discussion On The Same For questions regarding this report, please contact Cinthya Munoz-Ramos, Chief of Staff to CouncilPresident Nikki Fortunato Bas, District 2 at [email protected].
Special City CouncilMarch 3, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject: 2023 Council RetreatDate: February 21, 2023 Page6 Respectfully submitted,
Nikki Fortunato BasCouncil President, District 2
Attachment:1. Facilitation Agenda
Special City CouncilMarch 3, 2023