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
AND THE PUBLIC ETHICS COMMISSION
RESOLUTION:
1) ACCEPTING AND APPROPRIATING A GRANT FROM THE
EVELYN AND WALTER HAAS, JR., FUND IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($200,000) FOR
THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 15, 2024, TO JULY 15, 2025; AND
2) AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY FOR THE CITY TO RECEIVE THE GRANT; AND
3) ALLOCATING GRANT FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($200,000) TO HIRE 1 FTE
GRANT FUNDED LIMITED DURATION EMPLOYEE TO PREPARE
THE DEMOCRACY DOLLARS PROGRAM OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION PLAN FOR THE PUBLIC ETHICS COMMISSION FOR
THE PERIOD OF APRIL 1, 2024, TO JUNE 30, 2025, WITH ANY
REMAINING FUNDS USED FOR PROGRAM-RELATED NON-
SALARY OUTREACH EXPENSES.
WHEREAS, the Democracy Dollars Program is designed to address disparities across income and race produced by the traditional campaign finance system. Increasing civic participation among residents historically ignored in the campaign process because they lack the social and economic resources to contribute to candidate campaigns is an explicit goal of the program aligned with improving outcomes for voter participation, an Oakland Neighborhood and Civic Life equity indicator; and
WHEREAS, a core need of the Democracy Dollars Program will be preparing a robust outreach and education program to let the approximately 245,000 Oakland registered voters know about the Program, and how to use their vouchers; and
WHEREAS, in light of the significant budget deficit the City was facing, Democracy Dollars funding was reduced in the 2023-2025 Budget, effectively postponing the Program to
2 2026, and the PEC was provided with one staff position to begin Program implementation, instead of the four required under Measure W; and
WHEREAS, resources for inclusive outreach and involvement with the communities experiencing the greatest barriers to political access and participation to achieve Measure W’s goal to “expand public participation in the local democratic process and empower all Oakland residents with an opportunity to engage meaningfully in the campaign process”; and
WHEREAS, on November 21, 2023, the Public Ethics Commission was notified that its grant application to the Haas Jr. Fund for additional resources to prepare for Democracy Dollars implementation, with outreach and education being one crucial area that will require early planning and preparation was selected for funding; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council hereby authorizes the City Administrator to accept and appropriate a grant from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr., Fund in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) to hire 1 FTE Grant Funded Limited Duration Employee to prepare the Democracy Dollars program outreach and education plan for the period April 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, with any remaining funds used for program-related non-salary outreach expenses; and be it;
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council hereby appropriates said funds to Fund (To-be-determined), Project (To-be-determined), Program (To-be-determined); and be it;
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Administrator is hereby authorized to complete all required negotiations, certifications, assurances, agreements, and documentation required to accept, modify, or extend at no-cost the grant award; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That prior to execution, all agreements shall be reviewed and approved as to form and legality by the Office of the City Attorney and placed on file in the Office of the City Clerk.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, 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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