CITYOFOAKLAND
BUDGETMEMORANDUM
DATE: June22,2023TO: CityCouncilandMembersofthePublicFROM: CouncilPresidentNikkiFortunatoBas,CouncilmembersRebeccaKaplan,CarrollFifeandKevinJenkinsSUBJECT: CouncilPresident’sAmendmentstotheFY23-25ProposedBudget DearCityCouncilColleaguesandMembersofthePublic,
AttachedforyourconsiderationareamendmentsandpolicydirectivesfortheFiscalYear2023-2025ProposedBudgetfrommyCouncilPresident’sBudgetTeamincludingCouncilmembersRebeccaKaplan,CarrollFifeandKevinJenkins.
WehaveappreciatedhearinginputfromeachCouncilmemberaswellasthepublic.Wevaluetheinformationandfeedbackwehavereceivedfromourcitydepartmentleaders.And,wearegratefulforourcollaborationwiththeMayor’sOfficeandherAdministration,particularlytheFinanceDepartment.
OurstartingpointfortheseamendmentsisMayorThao’screativeandthoughtfulplantoachieveabalancedbudget,closingahistoric$360milliondeficit.Toughdecisionshavealreadybeenmadetoreduceexpenditureswhileavoidinglayoffs,maintainingcriticalservices,andmakingrecordinvestmentsinaffordablehousing.
Ourteamscrutinizedtheproposedbudget,spokewithcitystaffandcommunitymembersaboutpriorities,andidentifiedavailablefundbalance,revenue,andexpenseadjustmentsinordertoproposetheseamendmentstomeetourcity’sneeds.
TheMayorandCouncilPresidenthavemadeacommitmenttoworktogetherasOneOakland— tofocusondeliveringeffectiveandequitableservices,andtolaythefoundationfortacklinghistoricracialinequitiesandsystemicproblemsinordertochartapathforwardtowardsanequitableandthrivingfutureforallOaklanders.OurBudgetTeamlooksforwardtodiscussingtheseamendments,andultimately, hopesthatwewillcollaborativelyapproveabalancedbudget.
Budget AmendmentsBelowisasummaryofouramendments.UpdatessincetheJune14thmeetingarenotedinblueinthismemo.Inthebudgetamendmentsspreadsheet,updatesarehighlightedinorangeandyellow.
Revenue&ExpenditureAdjustments1. AcceptanceoftheFEMASAFERgranttoreversetherollingFireStationbrownout2. Useofavailablefundbalancefromseveralfunds3. $3millionincreaseinassumedrevenuefrompropertysales4. $2milliondecreaseindebtpaymentstotheColiseumJointPowersAuthority5. FreezingthevacantCouncilBudget&PolicyAnalystposition($300,000)inordertoincreaseDVPgrantstoaddressthesextraffickingcrisis6. Vacancysavingsduetorecruitmentforpositionsinvariousdepartments,withpositionsstartinginOctober2023orJanuary2024 ExpenditureAdditions
CommunitySafety, Prevention&HealingTheseamendmentsexpandourcomprehensivecommunitysafetyprogramby:1. Committingtocitywidefireandemergencyservices(reversingrollingFireStationbrownout)2. Investing$2.1millioninviolencepreventionprograms($1millionperyearinDVPgrants,with$300,000peryearsetasidetoaddressthesextraffickingcrisis)3. Adding$391,000instaffingtoensure24/7crisisresponsetoviolentincidents4. Addingcommunityambassadorsinourbusinesscorridors($1millioneachyear)5. Increasingtrafficsafetywith$1.7million— $800,000tobeallocatedevenlybyeachCouncilmember($100,000each),$770,896forviolenceprevention/sideshowprevention, and$100,000peryearfortrafficsafetyaroundLakeMerrittfromparkingrevenue6. Addingtwo(2)civilianpoliceinvestigatorstosolvecrimes(unfreezingtwo(2)positions).Thesecivilianpositionscouldhelpwithmissingpersonsandvehiclecollisioninvestigations,forexample,andallowsworninvestigatorstofocusonsolvingviolentcrimes.7. AddingHumanResourcesstaffingtohireandfillvacantMACROcrisisresponsepositions8. UnfreezingtheAdministrativeAnalystIIpositionintheOfficeoftheInspectorGeneral(OIG)9. Adding$100,000foranOPDstaffingstudytobeconductedbytheOIG(totalfundsforthestudywillbe$200,000includingfundscommittedinthelastbudgetcycle) HousingSecurityandHomelessnessSolutionsTheseamendmentsbuildontheMayor’sproposedinvestmentsinaffordablehousingandhomelessnesssolutionsby:1. CreatingaRapidResponseHomelessHousingAcquisitionFundwith$8.8million.Thisfundsupplementsthe$216millionalreadyintheMayor’sproposedbudgetforaffordablehousing,inordertomorerapidlycreatehousingforunhousedresidents2. Adding$1millionperyearfortenantlegalservices3. Supportinghousingandrealestatedevelopmentwith:1FTEpositiontocoordinateappraisalsofpropertiesforacquisitionforhomelesshousingandofcitypropertiesforpotentialsaleandredevelopmentpurposes;$50,000forappraisalsofpotentiallandsales,developmentandItemNo.:________SpecialCouncilMeetingJune26,2023Page2 acquisition;and$100,000tosupportappraisals,seismicassessments,andenvironmentalreportsforaffordablehousingacquisition GoodJobs&VibrantEconomyTheseamendmentssupportourartistsandculturekeepers,businesscommunityandworkersby:1. IncreasingCulturalAffairsgrantsby$300,000eachyear2. UnfreezingtheProgramAnalystIIpositionintheCulturalAffairsDivision3. UnfreezingtheSpecialEventsCoordinatorposition4. Adding$100,000peryearforactivationofFrankOgawaPlaza5. UnfreezingtheUrbanEconomicAnalystIIinEconomic&WorkforceDevelopmenttoprovidemultilingualbusinessassistance6. Adding$200,000peryearfortheFacadeImprovementProgramtosupportsmallbusinesses7. IncreasingtheWorkplaceOutreach&EducationContractby$43,000toaccountforsix(6)yearsofinflation(totalcontractwouldbe$283,000peryear)8. AddingHumanResourcesstaffingtohireandfillvacantPlanning&Buildingpositions Clean,Healthy, SustainableNeighborhoodsTheseamendmentssupportourdiverseOaklandcommunityandenvironmentwith:1. Increasingthefundsfordirectcommunitygrants,tobeallocatedevenlybyeachCouncilmemberat$119,150eachinYear1and$106,250inYear2.Notethatourbudgetteam,incollaborationwiththeFinanceDepartment,planstobringagrantsresolutiontoCouncilonJuly18,2023.CouncilmembersmaynametheirgranteesiftheyarereadytodosobythepublicationofthemeetingagendaonJuly16thorthesupplementalagendaonJuly13th.Seethe2023DirectCommunityGrantsEligibilityListintheonlineBudgetPortal.AnyremaininggrantstobeallocatedwillbebroughtbacktoCouncilintheFall.2. $100,000peryearfortheOaklandPublicLibrarytopurchasecanopies,tables,chairs,andrugsforeachlibrarylocationforexpandedoutdoorprogramming3. UnfreezingtheSeniorServicesSupervisorintheHumanServicesDepartment4. $500,000toSABAGrocersFoodCardProgrameachyearforfoodsecurity. NotethattheSugarSweetenedBeverageTaxAdvisoryCommissionwillallocatetheremaining$1.5million.5. $300,000toSOSMealsonWheelseachyearforseniorfoodsecurity6. $70,000toFeatherRiverCampeachyear7. $43,200toFairylandtorestorethecontractamounteachyear8. $40,000toOaklandAsianCulturalCentertorestorethecontractamounteachyear9. $9,180toPeraltaHaciendatorestorethecontractamounteachyear10.Allocationof$1millionperyearinparkingrevenueforLakeMerritttoadvanceequityandinclusionviatheLakeMerrittFreedomMarketsupportingBIPOCvendorsandLakeMerrittevents;ParkStewards;parksmaintenance;trafficsafetyimprovementsaroundLakeMerritt;andstaffingtosupportsafetyandcomplianceattheLake11.AvailablefundsfromMeasureQtoprogramforparksmaintenance($1.6M)andstormwater($126k). ItemNo.:________SpecialCouncilMeetingJune26,2023Page3 EffectiveGovernmentTheseamendmentsadvanceamoreeffectivegovernmentby:1. AddingcapacitytothePublicEthicsCommissionwiththeunfreezingoftheProgramManagerpositiontoimplementMeasureWandadding$155,000indiscretionaryfunds2. Adding$10,900forlaptopsforjobfairstoimproveonsiteapplicationandhiringprocess3. AddingaGrantWriterundertheCityAdministrator’sOfficetosupportincreasedrevenuegenerationandadvancingthehealth&well-beingofOaklandresidentsby:○ coordinatingapplyingforgrantsacrossdepartments,withafocusonraisingrevenue,○ seekingstateandfederalgrants,collaboratingwithOakland’slobbyist,and○ partneringwiththeOaklandFundforPublicInnovation(OFPI)onprivatefundraising.OFPIalreadypartnerswithDVP,CulturalAffairs,andEWD/YouthSummerJobs.
Thispositionwouldfocusonseekinggrantsthataddressandadvanceholisticcommunitysafety,children,youth,familiesandparks(workingwithDepartmentofChildren,Youth&Families,DVP, OPD,OFD/MACRO,NeighborhoodServices,OakDOT/TrafficSafety).
TheCityAdministratorshallprovideaninformationalreporttotheFinance&ManagementCommitteebyOctober31,2023detailingthepositiondescription,potentialgrants,andinitialfundraisingpriorities;andtheCommitteeshallreceivequarterlyreportstoensurealignmentofprioritiesthatadvanceholisticcommunitysafety,children,youth,familiesandparks,aswellastransparencyandaccountabilityinfundraisingandprogramming.
PleasenotethattheseamendmentsincorporaterequestsfromtheAdministrationandOfficeoftheCityAttorney, whicharemostlybudgetneutral.SeethebudgetamendmentsspreadsheetitemshighlightedinblueandthememofromtheAdministration.
Budget PolicyDirectivesAttachedareourteam’sBudgetPolicyDirectives.Highlightsinclude:1. AffordableHousing:developmentofacoordinatedadvocacystrategywithCounty, State&FederalGovernmentforfundingandpolicythatsupportssuccessfullyexitingunhousedindividualsfromshelterintopermanenthousing.2. CommunitySafety:staffingandresourceanalysisoftheOaklandPoliceDepartmenttobeconductedbytheOfficeoftheInspectorGeneralto:identifycurrentresources;determinethenumberofofficersneededinaparticulargeographicarea;anddecidehowstaffingandoperationalresourcesshouldbeallocated.3. EffectiveGovernment:a. ReorganizationPlanandquarterlyinformationalmemostoCouncilandPublic,withareporttoCouncilbyMarch30,2024forconsiderationduringmid-cyclebudget.b. VacancyStrikeforceinformationalreporttoCouncilandPubliconfillingprioritypositionsinPublicWorks,Housing&CommunityDevelopment,Planning&Building, ItemNo.:________SpecialCouncilMeetingJune26,2023Page4
andDepartmentofTransportation, andcreatingamorerobustpipelineintoCityjobsandfocusedoutreachtopopulationswhohavehistoricallybeeneconomicallymarginalized4. RevenueGeneration:developmentofaplanforincreasedrevenuegeneration,thatincludesbutisnotlimitedto:aneconomicdevelopmentstrategytogrowthetaxbase;developmentofanewballotmeasuretoreplaceMeasureZ,theOaklandPublicSafetyandServicesViolencePreventionAct,whichexpiresin2024;partneringwiththeAssociationofBayAreaGovernmentstoplacearegionalaffordablehousingbondmeasureonthe2024ballot;andpartneringwiththeOaklandFundforPublicInnovationtodevelopprivatepartnershipstoresourcetheCity’skeypriorities.
Welookforwardtodiscussingourproposedamendments,hearingpubliccomments,andworkingtowardachievingabalancedbudget.ThankyoutotheFinanceStaffandotherDepartmentStaffforsupportingourbudgetdeliberations,andtotheMayor’sOfficeforyourpartnership.
Forquestionsregardingthismemo,pleasecontactCinthyaMuñozRamos,ChiefofStaff,OfficeofCouncilPresidentNikkiFortunatoBas,[email protected].
RespectfullySubmitted,
NikkiFortunatoBas RebeccaKaplanCouncilPresident,District2 Councilmember,AtLarge CarrollFife KevinJenkinsCouncilmember, District3 Councilmember,District6 Attachments:1. BudgetPolicyDirectives2. SpreadsheetofBudgetAmendments3. SlidePresentation ItemNo.:________SpecialCouncilMeetingJune26,2023Page5
OaklandCouncilPresident’sBudgetTeamBudget PolicyDirectives AffordableHousing
1. DirecttheCityAdministratortodevelopacoordinatedadvocacystrategywithCounty, State&FederalGovernmentforfundingandpolicythatsupportssuccessfullyexitingindividualsfromshelterintopermanenthousing.a. TheRapidResponseHomelessHousingAcquisitionFund, createdwiththeseproposedbudgetamendments,setsaside$8,871,364torapidlycreatehousingtoserveunhousedindividuals,includingfundingcapitalandoperatingcosts.ThissupplementsmillionsfromMeasureU,aswellaspotentialfundsfromStateHomekeyGrants.TheCouncilPresident’sbudgetteamincollaborationwiththeCityAdministratorshallprovideaninformationalreportandrecommendationtotheLifeEnrichmentCommitteebeforeOctober31,2023proposingtheprocessforallocatingthesefunds.b. Thiscoordinatedstrategyincludesseizingopportunitiesforhousingbyrapidlyconductingappraisalsforproperties,includingtheSageMotellocatedat4844MacArthurBlvd.,thepropertylocatedat674SycamoreStreet,andtheWelcomeInnHotellocatedat9920MacArthurBlvd.forthepurposeofacquisitionforhomelesshousing;evaluatingthefeasibilityofacquiringthesethreepropertiesforhomelesshousinginpartnershipwithRuby’sPlace,theOaklandLGBTQCommunityCenter,andLaFamilia;andauthorizingtheCityAdministratorortheirdesigneetopursueappraisalsforotherpropertieswithoutreturningtoCouncilfortheacquisitionoftransitionalandhomelesshousingunits.2. DirecttheCityAdministratortodesignatefuturenetproceedsgeneratedfromthesaleorleaseofCityownedpropertiesdesignatedforaffordablehousingdevelopmenttotheAffordableHousingTrustFund. Netproceedsisdefinedas"allsales/leaseproceedsnetoftransactioncosts.”Netproceedsdoesnotincludeanyfeespaidbydevelopersintendedtocoverthird-partyexpensesrelatedtothenegotiationofDDAs,LDDAsandGroundLeasesorfundsneededforinterimpropertymaintenanceandotheradministrativecosts.3. DirecttheCityAdministratortodesignatetheEast12thparcelleasepaymentstotheAffordableHousingTrustFund.4. SubjecttofundingavailabilityforanadditionalRealEstateFTE,whichisincludedintheCouncilPresident’sbudgetamendments,directtheCityAdministratortopursueaprogramtoofferavailable,smallproperties(lessthan5,000sqft)toabuttingpropertyownersforpurchase(perGov. Code§54221(f)(1)(B),excerptedbelow).a. (f)(1)Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(2),“exemptsurplusland”meansanyofthefollowing:(B)Surpluslandthatis(i)lessthan5,000squarefeetinarea,(ii)lessthantheminimumlegalresidentialbuildinglotsizeforthejurisdictioninwhichtheparcelislocated,or5,000squarefeetinarea,whicheverisless,or(iii)hasnorecordaccessandislessthan10,000squarefeetinarea;andisnotcontiguoustolandownedbyastateorlocalagencythatisusedforopen-spaceorlow-andmoderate-incomehousingpurposes.Ifthesurpluslandisnotsoldtoanownerofcontiguousland,itisnotconsideredexemptsurpluslandandissubjecttothisarticle.
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CommunitySafety
1. DirecttheCityAdministratorortheirdesignee(OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral)toconductastaffingstudyandresourceanalysisoftheOaklandPoliceDepartment(OPD). Thisstudywouldhelpto:a. Identifycurrentresourcesb. Determinethenumberofofficersneededinaparticulargeographicareac. DecidehowstaffingandoperationalresourcesshouldbeallocatedCallsforserviceauditsandresourceallocationreviewsarebestwhentiedtoastaffingstudy. IftheCityofOakland’sobjectiveistodetermineifpolicearerespondingtocallsforserviceinanefficienttimeframe,itiscriticaltofirstknowthenumberofavailableofficers,targettimeframes,andhowalternateresourcescanbeusedtosupplementservices.$200,000shallbeallocatedforthisstudy($100,000designatedintheFY2021-2023budgetand$100,000designatedintheproposedbudgetamendments).2. DirecttheCityAdministratorortheirdesigneetodevelopanewcivilianinvestigativeclassificationforaPoliceServicesTechnicianpositiontomanagetrafficcases,replacingPoliceOfficerswhoarecurrentlyperformingtheseduties.
EffectiveGovernment
1. DirecttheCityAdministratortoprepareaReorganizationPlanandprovidequarterlyinformationalmemostotheCouncilandPublic,andscheduleareporttoCityCouncilbyMarch30,2024forconsiderationduringthemid-cyclebudgetprocess.a. ThePlanshouldaddressquestionsthathavearisenduringthebudgetprocessandincludeinformationonefficiencies,costssavingsandmeetinggoalsandprioritiesforservicedelivery.b. ThePlanshallalsoincludeafeasibilitystudyregardingmovingthe911CallCenteroutoftheOaklandPoliceDepartment(OPD)andintocivilianadministration.2. DirecttheCityAdministratortoprovideanupdateviaaninformationalreportonthe“VacancyStrikeforce…fillingtheover340vacantpositionsinOaklandPublicWorks,HousingandCommunityDevelopment,PlanningandBuilding,andtheDepartmentofTransportation.”a. TheupdateshouldalsoincludeinformationoncreatingamorerobustpipelineintoCityjobsfromlocalschoolsandcommunitycollegesandfocusedoutreachtopopulationswhohavehistoricallybeeneconomicallymarginalizedsuchasformerlyincarceratedindividuals.3. DirecttheCityAdministratortoprovideanupdateviaaninformationalreportonthe“studyofsalariesandcompensationforallCityworkerstoassessiftheCityiscompetitivewithotherneighboringpublicagencies.”4. DirecttheCityAdministratortoresearchandapplyforlocal,state,andfederalgrants/programsthatacceleratetheCity’seffortstoprocure,operate,andmanageazero-emissionvehiclefleetandbuildouttheCity’szero-emissionchargingandfuelinginfrastructureasoutlinedintheCity’sZeroEmissionVehicleActionPlan,ActionCL-8–AccelerateCityFleetVehicleReplacement.5. DirecttheCityAdministratortocreateaplanforincreasedrevenuegeneration, thatincludesbutisnotlimitedto:a. Aneconomicdevelopmentstrategytogrowthetaxbase,currentlyunderwayandanticipatedforcompletioninthesecondhalfof2024, ItemNo.:________SpecialCouncilMeetingJune26,2023Page7 b. DevelopmentofanewballotmeasuretoreplaceMeasureZ, theOaklandPublicSafetyandServicesViolencePreventionAct,whichexpiresin2024,includingpolling,c. PartneringwiththeAssociationofBayAreaGovernmentstoplacearegionalaffordablehousingbondmeasureonthe2024ballot,andd. PartneringwiththeOaklandFundforPublicInnovationtodevelopprivatepartnershipstoresourcetheCity’skeypriorities.6. DirecttheCityAdministratortohireaGrantWriterundertheCityAdministrator’sOfficetosupportincreasedrevenuegenerationandadvancingthehealth&well-beingofOaklandresidentsby:a. coordinatingapplyingforgrantsacrossdepartments,withafocusonraisingrevenue,b. seekingstateandfederalgrants,collaboratingwithOakland’slobbyist,andc. partneringwiththeOaklandFundforPublicInnovation(OFPI)onprivatefundraising.OFPIalreadypartnerswithDVP,CulturalAffairs,andEWD/YouthSummerJobs.
Thispositionwouldfocusonseekinggrantsthataddressandadvanceholisticcommunitysafety,children,youth,familiesandparks(workingwithDepartmentofChildren,Youth&Families,DVP, OPD,OFD/MACRO,NeighborhoodServices,OakDOT/TrafficSafety).
TheCityAdministratorshallprovideaninformationalreporttotheFinance&ManagementCommitteebyOctober31,2023detailingthepositiondescription,potentialgrants,andinitialfundraisingpriorities;andtheCommitteeshallreceivequarterlyreportstoensurealignmentofprioritiesthatadvanceholisticcommunitysafety,children,youth,familiesandparks,aswellastransparencyandaccountabilityinfundraisingandprogramming.7. DirecttheCityAdministratortocarryforwardthefollowingfundsintotheFY2023-2025budgetcycle:a. TheCouncilPresidentrequeststhatallunexpendedfundsfrompriorbudgetsforthefollowingarecarriedforwardtotheFY2023-2025budgetcycle:i. CouncilMuralFundsii. CouncilTrafficSafetyProjectsiii. CouncilParksImprovementProjectsiv. CouncilDirectCommunityGrantsTheCouncilPresidentshallbeavailabletomeetwiththeCityAdministratortoreviewsuchunexpendedfunds.b. TheDistrict3officerequeststhatallunexpendedfundsfrompriorbudgetsfortheBlackArtsMovementandBusinessDistrict(BAMBD)arecarriedforwardtotheFY2023-2025budgetcycleforthepurposesstatedintheFY2021-2023biennialbudgetpolicydirectives,includingprogramdevelopmentforsmallbusinessincubation,leasesupport,grants,andsignage.c. TheDistrict7officerequeststhat$150,000includedintheFY2021-2023forpublicsafetysecuritycamerasincommercialcorridorsinEastOaklandDistricts6and7arecarriedforwardtotheFY2023-2025budgetcycle.
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d. TheCouncilPresidentrequeststhat$70,000fromFY2021-2023fortheOfficeoftheInspectorGeneral(OIG)beencumberedforthepurposesofcoveringYear1expensesfortheOIGAuditSoftware.AuditSoftwarewillstreamlinereportingfortheOIGandwillalsoprovidemoretransparencytostakeholdersandmembersofthepublic.
ItemNo.:________SpecialCouncilMeetingJune26,2023Page9