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Oakland City Hall,
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Room 201
Oakland, California 94612
City of Oakland
Meeting Minutes - FINAL
*Special Community & Economic
Development Committee
1:00 PM City Council Chamber, 3rd FloorTuesday, November 18, 2025 The Oakland City Council Special Community And Economic Development Committee Convened At 1:31 P.M. With Councilmember Brown Presiding As Chairperson Councilmember Janani Ramachandran Participated By Teleconference COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP:
Roll Call / Call To Order
Carroll Fife, Janani Ramachandran, Rowena Brown, and Zac UngerPresent 4 - 1 No Minutes To Be Approved
2 Determination Of Schedule Of Outstanding Committee Items 26-0224
View ReportAttachments:
0 Speakers Spoke On This Item
A motion was made by Rowena Brown, seconded by Zac Unger, that this matter be Accepted. The motion failed by the following vote:
Aye Fife Ramachandran Brown, Unger4 -
NO VOTE 0
November 18, 2025*Special Community & Economic
Development Committee
Meeting Minutes - FINAL
3 Subject: Memorandum Of Agreement For 30 Blair Place
From: Planning And Building Department
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To Enter Into A Memorandum Of Agreement With The City Of Piedmont Establishing That The City Of Piedmont Will Process Planning Entitlements And Building Permits For A 551 SquareFoot Addition And Remodel Of An Existing Single-Family Dwelling At 30 Blair Place, A Property Located Within Both Jurisdictions; And Adopting Appropriate California Environmental Quality Act Findings
26-0123
Sponsors: Planning & Building Department
View Report
View Attachment A
View Attachment B
View Attachment C
View Attachment D
View Legislation
90969 C.M.S.
Attachments:
The Committee Approved The Recommendations Of Staff And To Forward This Item To The December 2, 2025 City Council Agenda On Consent 0 Speakers Spoke On This Item
A motion was made by Zac Unger, seconded by Carroll Fife, that this matter be Approved the Recommendation of Staff, and Forward to go before the * Concurrent Meeting of the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency and the City Council, to be heard 12/2/2025. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye Fife Ramachandran Brown, Unger4 -
NO VOTE 0
November 18, 2025*Special Community & Economic
Development Committee
Meeting Minutes - FINAL
5 Subject: Economic Activation Zones
From: Councilmember Brown
Recommendation: Adopt The Following Pieces Of Legislation:
1) A Resolution (1) Establishing Economic Activation Zones Under The Town Alive Program To Support Entertainment Zones And Responsible Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Activation Zones In The City Of Oakland, Bringing Innovative Programming To Public And Community Spaces; And (2) Authorizing The City Administrator To Award, Negotiate And Execute A Grant Agreement With Oakland Fund For Public Innovation In An Amount Not To Exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) To Implement The Town Alive Program For A Two-Year Term From November 1, 2025, Through October 31, 2027; And 26-0216
Sponsors: Brown
View Report
View Attachment A
View Attachment B
View Attachment C
View Legislation
90971 C.M.S.
Attachments:
The Committee Approved The Recommendations Of Staff And To Forward This Item To The December 2, 2025 City Council Agenda On Consent 15 Speakers Spoke On This Item
A motion was made by Carroll Fife, seconded by Janani Ramachandran, that this matter be Approved the Recommendation of Staff, and Forward to go before the * Concurrent Meeting of the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency and the City Council, to be heard 12/2/2025. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye Fife Ramachandran Brown, Unger4 -
NO VOTE 0
November 18, 2025*Special Community & Economic
Development Committee
Meeting Minutes - FINAL
Subject: Economic Activation Zones
From: Councilmember Brown
Recommendation: Adopt An Ordinance (1) Adding Chapter 9.54 Of Title 9 Of The Oakland Municipal Code To Establish And Regulate Entertainment Zones Pursuant To SB 969 (2024) To Promote Economic Activation; (2) Making Other Conforming Changes To Sections 9.08.180 And 9.08.190 Of The Oakland Municipal Code; (3) Classifying An Entertainment Zone Event As A Tier Two Or Tier Three Special Event Pursuant To Chapter 9.52 Of The Oakland Municipal Code; And (4) Adopting Appropriate California Environmental Quality Act Findings
26-0217
Sponsors: Brown
View Report
View Attachment A
View Attachment B
View Attachment C
View Legislation And Exhibit A
Attachments:
The Committee Approved The Recommendations Of Staff And To Forward This Item To The December 2, 2025 City Council Agenda On Consent 15 Speakers Spoke On This Item
A motion was made by Carroll Fife, seconded by Janani Ramachandran, that this matter be Approved the Recommendation of Staff, and Forward to go before the * Concurrent Meeting of the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency and the City Council, to be heard 12/2/2025. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye Fife Ramachandran Brown, Unger4 -
NO VOTE 0
7 Subject: Citywide Permit Reform: Fall 2025 Update
From: Office Of The City Administrator
Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report Regarding Citywide Permit Reform:
Fall 2025 Update
26-0125
Sponsors: Office Of The City Administrator
View Report
View Supplemental Attachment
View Presentation
Attachments:
3 Speakers Spoke On This Item
A motion was made by Janani Ramachandran, seconded by Zac Unger, that this matter be Received and Filed. The motion carried by the following vote:
November 18, 2025*Special Community & Economic
Development Committee
Meeting Minutes - FINAL
Aye Fife Ramachandran Brown, Unger4 -
NO VOTE 0
4 Subject: East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation Property Sale/Loan Forgiveness
From: Housing And Community Development Department
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To Forgive $3,000,000 In Outstanding Principal And All Accrued And Unpaid Interest Owed By East Bay Highland Palms II, LP For The Highland Palms Property, And $5,000,000 In Outstanding Principal And All Accrued And Unpaid Interest Owed By East Bay Capital Fund II, LP For The Eastlake Property, To Preserve Long-Term Affordability Until 2073 And Facilitate The Property Sale To A New Owner
26-0215
Sponsors: Housing And Community Development Department
View Report And Attachments A and B
View Presentation
View Legislation
90970 C.M.S.
Attachments:
The Committee Approved The Recommendations Of Staff And To Forward This Item To The December 2, 2025 City Council Agenda On Consent 2 Speakers Spoke On This Item
A motion was made by Zac Unger, seconded by Carroll Fife, that this matter be Approved the Recommendation of Staff, and Forward to go before the * Concurrent Meeting of the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency and the City Council, to be heard 12/2/2025. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye Fife Ramachandran Brown, Unger4 -
NO VOTE 0
November 18, 2025*Special Community & Economic
Development Committee
Meeting Minutes - FINAL
6 Subject: Planning Code Amendments To Streamline Conditional Use Permit Regulations
From: Planning And Building Department
Recommendation: Adopt An Ordinance, As Recommended By The City Planning Commission (1) Amending Title 17 Of The Oakland Municipal Code (The Planning Code), To (A) Adjust Regulations For Permitted And Conditionally Permitted Activities And Facilities For Purposes Of Providing Greater Opportunities For Ground Floor Activities And Ease The Permitting Burden For Commercial, Civic, And Low Impact Industrial Activities; And (B) Make Related Miscellaneous And Administrative Changes; And (2) Making Appropriate California Environmental Quality Act Findings 26-0229
Sponsors: Planning & Building Department
View Report And Attachment A
View Legislation And Exhibit A
View Supplemental Legislation And Exhibit A - 11/20/2025 View Supplemental Report And Attachment A - 11/25/2025
View Supplemental Legislation And Exhibit A - 12/03/2025 Attachments:
The Committee Approved As Amended The Recommendations Of Staff And To Forward This Item To The December 2, 2025 City Council Agenda As A Public Hearing
With The Amendments As Follows:
Amending Title 17 Of The Oakland Municipal Code ( The Planning Code) To:
A. Adjust Regulations For Permitted And Conditionally Permitted Activities And Facilities For Purposes Of Providing Greater Opportunities For Ground Floor Activities And Ease The Permitting Burden For Commercial, Civic, And Low Impact Industrial Activities; And
B. Make Related Miscellaneous Clean-Up And Administrative Changes; And 2.
Making Appropriate California Environmental Quality Act Findings.
With The Following Revisions:
1. Retain L4 For Administrative Civic Activities In All Zones In Table 17.17.01
2. Add Footnote To Table 17.11.060 Stating Food Service And Other Concessions Does Not Include Any Temporary Structures Or Movable Carts Or Trucks COMC Chapters 5.51 And 12.64
3 Speakers Spoke On This Item
A motion was made by Carroll Fife, seconded by Rowena Brown, that this matter be Approved the Recommendation of Staff, and Forward to go before the * Concurrent Meeting of the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency and the City Council, to be heard 12/2/2025. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye Fife Ramachandran Brown, Unger4 -
November 18, 2025*Special Community & Economic
Development Committee
Meeting Minutes - FINAL
NO VOTE 0
Open Forum
0 Speakers Spoke During Open Forum
Adjournment
There Being No Further Business, The Oakland City Council Community And Economic Development Committee Adjourned The Meeting At 4:16 P.M. * In the event of a quorum of the City Council participates on this Committee, the meeting is noticed as a Special Meeting of the City Council; however no final City Council action can be taken.
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