MEMO
TO: HonorableCityCouncil FROM: Nikki FortunatoBasMembersof thePublic Council President, District 2 SUBJECT:
Responseto2023-2024AlamedaCountyCivil GrandJuryReport onOaklandBillboards DATE: October 31, 2024
HonorableCityCouncilandMembersofthePublic,
InmyroleasCouncilPresident,I amherebysubmittingdraftresponsestothe2023-2024AlamedaCountyCivilGrandJuryReportonOaklandBillboardsforCouncilconsideration.TheseresponsesweredraftedbythesponsorsofthelegislationincoordinationwiththeOfficeoftheCityAttorney, andwillbeconsideredasanon-consentitemontheNovember12,2024Councilmeetingagenda.
The2023-2024AlamedaCountyCivilGrandJuryincludedareportontheOaklandCityCouncil’sdecisiontoapprovearelocationagreementforBecker/OFIthatcreatedsignificantcommunitybenefitsandadvancedthepublicinterest.
TheGrandJuryreportassertsthattheCouncilmadeahastydecisionthatcoststheCitymillionsofdollars.However, astheadministrativerecordreflects,theCityCouncilconsideredtheevidencepresentedtoitontherecord,boththroughwrittenandoraltestimony, fromseveralinterestgroups,communityactivists,andnon-profitleaders,citystaff andconsultants,aswellasthebillboardcompaniesthemselves.
AttheCouncilmeetingonNovember12,2024,theCouncilwillconsiderthedraftresponsesandanypotentialamendmentsthereto.UponapprovaloftheCouncil,myofficeintendstosubmittheresponsestotheAlamedaCountyCivilGrandJuryonorbeforeNovember15,2024.
I’dliketoextendmygratitudetotheCityAttorney’sofficefor their support andcollaborationwithmyofficeandinbringingthisforward. Thankyoufor your consideration.
Attachments:A. Draft ResponsetoCivil GrandJuryRegardingOaklandBillboardsB. OaklandBillboardsLegislationC. AlamedaCountyCivil GrandJuryReport - Excerpt onOaklandBillboard CityCouncilNovember 12, 2024