Agenda Report
TO:
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilMembers of the Public
FROM: Nikki Fortunato Bas
Council PresidentCouncilmember, District 2
SUBJECT:
FY 2023-2025Council AndCouncilmember Budget Priorities
DATE: March 9, 2023
RECOMMENDATION
Council President Bas Recommends That The City Council: Approve An Informational Report AndRecommendation onFY 2023-2025Council And CouncilmemberBudget Priorities.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Every odd-numbered year, the City of Oakland adopts a biennial budget. The Council holds a retreat tobegin our budget process and develop our priorities.The retreat took place on March 3, 2023.Followingthe retreat, this report provides a summary of the Council’s updated priorities, and proposesequityoutcomesfor the Council’s discussion and approval.If approved, these equity outcomes and prioritieswould guide the development of our biennial budget, and our overall work as the legislative body ofOakland.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Updated Values and Priorities, Proposed Equity Outcomes On March 3, 2023, the City Council held its biennial budget retreat, together with the Mayor’s Office andAdministration.Key themesfrom the day included:● working across our branches of government asOne Oakland,in greater unity● focusing all of our work todeliver core servicesto Oaklanders equitably and achieve results,which starts with filling critical staff vacancies● implementing policies and directivesthat the Councilhas already passed, and taking acomprehensive approach to our work that includescollaborationwith other governmentagencies● ensuring greateraccountability and effectivenessof our budget, along with morecommunityeducation and engagement At the retreat, we re-affirmed and updated a set of priorities rooted in ourvalues of equity, fiscalresponsibility, transparency and resultsto serveall of Oakland and ensure that the most disadvantagedresidents and low-wage workforce are able to thrive.
City CouncilMarch 21, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject:FY 2023-2025Council And Councilmember Budget PrioritiesDate: March 9, 2023 Page2 These priorities will continue to guide our budget and policy work over the two-year budget cycle.Inaddition, we are developing broaderequity outcomesto guide our longerm work beyond the budgetcycle.
As Race & Equity Director Darlene Flynn shared, equity outcomes “begin with the end in mind.” Theselong term outcomes address the systemic change needed to reduce racial disparities and create greaterequity, and all of our priorities/strategies are in service to these outcomes. We also track specific metricsto measure progress towards these outcomes.See theattached Equity Outcomes Worksheet.
A. Housing Security & Homelessness Solutions
Equity Outcome:Housing for all:All residents ofOakland have safe, secure, and affordable housing.Advance a systematic approach toward coordinating these activities in order to reduce homelessness andclose racial disparities. This includes intra-agency coordination among city departments and inter-agencycoordination with the County, State, Federal and other public and private partners focused on the rootcauses driving housing insecurity and homelessness.
Strategies:
a. Protection/Prevention — protect tenants and low-income property owners, preventhomelessnessb. Preservation — preserve affordable housingc. Production — produce deeply affordable housing, including for transitional aged youthand seniorsd. 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 sanitationservicesMetrics: 1. Homelessness2. Affordable housing at or below 30% AMI3. Home ownership4. Displacement B. Community Safety, Prevention & Healing
Equity Outcome:Safe communities for all:All residentsof Oakland live in safe, healthy communitieswhere racial disparities and outcomes have been eliminated. This includes intra-agency coordinationamong city departments and inter-agency coordination with the County, State, Federal and other publicand private partners focused on the root causes of violence.
Strategies:
a. Implement the12 prioritized recommendations of theReimagining Public Safety TaskForceto increase public safety through alternativeresponses to calls for service,civilianization of certain sworn functions, and investments in addressing the root causesof violence and povertyb. Reduce gun violence and focus on violent crime, including increasing investigation City CouncilMarch 21, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject:FY 2023-2025Council And Councilmember Budget PrioritiesDate: March 9, 2023 Page3 capacity and solve ratesc. Reduce traffic violence, including implementing improvements on Oakland’s High InjuryNetwork and increasing capacity for rapid responsed. Increase violence prevention, trauma-informed care and healinge. Expand alternative responses to police, such as MACROf. Implement and expand Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CEPTED) forcrime prevention and traffic calming Metrics: 1. Homicides2. Shootings3. Gender-based violence4. Traffic deaths C. Good jobs and vibrant economy
Equity Outcome:Economic opportunity for all:Allresidents of Oakland have economic opportunitieswhere racial disparities and outcomes have been eliminated. This includes intra-agency coordinationamong city departments and inter-agency coordination with the County, State, Federal and other publicand private partners focused on the root causes of economic inequality.
Strategies:
a. 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 (especially of Oakland residents),filling vacancies, and increasing both retention and succession planning Metrics: 1. Living wage job placements2. Staff retention and tenure3. Staff vacancies D. Clean, healthy, sustainable neighborhoods
Equity Outcome:Clean, healthy, sustainable neighborhoodsfor all:All residents of Oakland live inclean, healthy, sustainable neighborhoods where racial disparities and outcomes have been eliminated.This includes intra-agency coordination among city departments and inter-agency coordination with theCounty, State, Federal and other public and private partners focused on sustainability and equitableservices.
Strategies:
a. Reduce and prevent illegal dumping, litter and blight, including proactive service andenforcement, and reducing the backlog of abandoned autosb. Ensure safe and well maintained streets and sidewalks City CouncilMarch 21, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject:FY 2023-2025Council And Councilmember Budget PrioritiesDate: March 9, 2023 Page4 c. Invest in parks, libraries, youth development, senior services, arts & cultured. Expand wildfire prevention and disaster preparedness/response Metrics: 1. Clean streets index (establish baseline disparities between neighborhoods)2. Illegal dumping enforcement effectiveness3. Paving condition index4. 311 service request response rates LeadershipAs we discussed at ourJanuary 11, 2023 Council Orientationand Overview meeting, the City Councilserves as the legislative body, the Mayor serves as the executive, and the City Administrator (appointedby the Mayor) with the Administration/Staff implements approved policy and budget. As such, these bigpicture, longer term equity outcomes and shorter term strategies — once adopted by the Council as policyand budget — are furthered by the Administration/Staff who, as experts in their fields, figure out how toimplement our Council direction.
At the retreat, the Mayor and I highlighted the opportunity for greater unity and focus to deliver results toOaklanders, and to do so equitably to serve Black and Brown residents and neighborhoods who have nothistorically been served.
The need to focus, implement, and work across silos of departments means we need strong leadership— in both individuals and in our shared practices. There are critical permanent positions to fill to carryout Oakland’s important work, including City Administrator, Police Chief, Violence Prevention Chief,Homeless Administrator, Director of Housing & Community Development, Director of Human Services,Director of Economic & Workforce Development, and Director of Parks, Recreation and YouthDevelopment. The Council can discuss how we envision sharing our input with the Mayor and CityAdministrator in filling these positions and working together. At the retreat, we discussed tools that couldhelp the Council work better together, such as non-defensive communication; and these leadership toolscan also be a part of developing shared our practices to lead in more unity in service of Oaklanders.
PolicyAs 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.The City Administrator’s Policy Directives Trackingdocumentincludes and tracks the progress ofpolicy directives provided in the Fiscal Year 2019-21 Biannual Budget, Fiscal Year 2020-21 MidcycleBudget, Fiscal Year 2021-23 Biennial Budget, and Fiscal Year 2022-23 Midcycle Budget. You may findthe tracking documents on this page:https://www.oaklandca.gov/resources/policy-directives.Theadministration will provide an update to this tracking document after the conclusion of the current fiscalyear.
FY 2023 - 2025 Budget Timeline & Benchmarks
Oakland’sConsolidated Fiscal Policydescribes thebudget process (see p. 9). Below are somebenchmarks.
City CouncilMarch 21, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject:FY 2023-2025Council And Councilmember Budget PrioritiesDate: March 9, 2023 Page5 ● 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. These priorities will be published on the FinanceDepartment’s web page, and we may each discuss our individual priorities at the March 21st Councilmeeting.
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. ● March 21 Council Meeting: Review Updated Council Priorities and Councilmember BudgetPrioritiesWe will discuss the Council priorities, and Councilmembers may share their individual priorities. Pleasebe prepared to speak within 2-5 minutes to share your budget priorities. ● 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 budgetevents, 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 ForumsDistrict Community Budget Forums will take place between May 14 - 25. ● 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
These proposed equity outcomes and priorities were developed during the March 3, 2023 Council retreat,which is an important part of the budget process, as described in the Consolidated Fiscal Policy.
City CouncilMarch 21, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject:FY 2023-2025Council And Councilmember Budget PrioritiesDate: March 9, 2023 Page6 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 discussion allowed the Council to begin to address a key issue that emerged from the 2021retreats, which was: Making our work more cross-cutting to follow through on the Council’s budgetingand policy making with implementation, evaluation and leveraging other resources. The proposed equityoutcomes aim to do this by explicitly naming the need for inter-department and intra-agencycollaboration.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact from the creation of this report.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
Members of the public joined the March 3, 2023 retreat where these equity outcomes and priorities weredeveloped, as well as informed by the biennial budget survey. The retreat meeting minutes and video areavailable online viaLegistar. The Councilmemberswill publish their individual priorities by March 15,conduct budget related Council meetings, conduct District Community Budget Forums, and considerpublic input prior to adopting 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 the Council Budget retreat. Theretreat was a discussion among the Council, Mayor, Interim City Administrator, Finance Director, BudgetAdministrator, and Race & Equity Director, among others. Council President Bas consulted with theDepartment of Race and Equity in drafting these equity outcomes.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: These Council priorities can result in increasingeconomic opportunities for Oaklanders,including those who have been most deeply impacted.
Environmental:These Council priorities can resultin increasing environmental sustainability forOaklanders, including those who have been most deeply impacted.
Race & Equity:These Council priorities can resultin increasing racial equity for Oaklanders, includingthose who have been most deeply impacted.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Council President Bas Recommends That The City Council: Approve An Informational Report AndRecommendation onFY 2023-2025Council And CouncilmemberBudget Priorities City CouncilMarch 21, 2023
Honorable Mayor & City CouncilSubject:FY 2023-2025Council And Councilmember Budget PrioritiesDate: March 9, 2023 Page7 For questions regarding this report, please contact Cinthya Munoz-Ramos, Chief of Staff to CouncilPresident Nikki Fortunato Bas, District 2 at [email protected].
Respectfully submitted,
Nikki Fortunato BasCouncil President, District 2
Attachment: Equity Outcomes Worksheet
City CouncilMarch 21, 2023
RACIAL EQUITY OUTCOME WORKSHEET
1. Describe the program, policy or budget issue you are evaluating and its general purpose.
2. Name group(s) and, if applicable, the geographic area(s) of the City who/that are experiencing disparities related to the issue being addressed and the racial equity disparity or disparities that the action intends to improve.
3. Be explicit about change in conditions for those historically impacted by racial disparities.
Sample Draft Equity Outcome Statement:
All residents of Oakland are experiencing economic security, living in healthy, thriving, vibrant communities, and related racial disparities and barriers have been eliminated for Black, Indigenous, Latino and Asian communities.
Equity Approach:
~Establish a Racial Equity Outcome
• State desired universal outcomes for all
• Identify disparities in for specific groups
• Acknowledge differences in conditions
Proceed by working with community to
identify/clarify root causes of disparities then
design strategies that remove barriers for groups
impacted by racial disparities, to support all to get
to the desired outcome.
(Adapted from work by: john a. powell)
If opportunities in key areas of well-being are
equitable, then equitable results will follow.