Life Enrichment Committee
April 21, 2026
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: Myka Hammock
City Administrator Interim Director
SUBJECT: Acceptance of Oakland Parks and
Recreation Foundation Grants
DATE: March 30, 2026
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To: (1) Accept Monetary Grants, Gifts, And Donations From The Oakland Parks And Recreation Foundation (OPRF) In An Amount Not To Exceed $10,000,000 Through June 30, 2036; (2) Appropriate Said Funds For The City Of Oakland Parks, Recreation And Youth Development Department; And (3) Accept Goods And In-Kind Services From OPRF Valued In An Amount Not To Exceed $10,000,000 Through June 30, 2036.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed legislation is a resolution to authorize the City Administrator to accept donations of goods and in-kind services from the OPRF valued in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000, as well as grants, gifts, and donations of money from OPRF in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000, through June 30, 2036. These monies are to be appropriated for the exclusive benefit of Oakland Parks, Recreation and Youth Department (OPRYD), its clients, and facilities.
The City Council’s action would facilitate the timely use of grants, gifts, and donations from OPRF to supplement the City of Oakland’s adopted budget. The action will also allow for streamlined acceptance from donors who often are working within a compressed timeline. As a result, visitors to OPRYD parks and facilities will receive increased benefits and services they would not otherwise receive.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Created in 2015 through a merger of Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation (established in 1981) and Oakland Parks Coalition, OPRF is a nonprofit organization. For more than 40 years, their mission has been to improve the quality of life for all Oakland residents and members of the public who utilize park facilities by generating funding and support for projects and programs that enhance and supplement recreational, environmental, educational, beautification, and leisure activities offered through OPRYD. OPRF is dedicated to providing financial and Jestin Johnson (Apr 13, 2026 22:49:20 PDT)
Apr 13, 2026
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Acceptance of Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation Grants Date: March 30, 2026 Page 2
Life Enrichment Committee
April 21, 2026
volunteer resources and advocacy for recreation programs and parks in Oakland to expand equitable access to parks and recreation citywide.
OPRF has a proven track record of actively soliciting funds from private and public sources for City parks and recreation programs and can access private funding sources and other entities to which the City may not have access. They are committed to working cooperatively with private entities, endowments, foundations, various public agencies, and other entities to foster public/private partnerships essential to realizing the vision of Oakland as a model city and ensuring accessibility to parks and recreational opportunities for all. Grant funds are restricted for the specific uses that the donors specify.
OPRF is dedicated to working cooperatively with the City of Oakland and its departments. Their longstanding relationship with OPRYD supports and funds the department’s park improvement projects, services, programs, and activities. OPRYD utilizes OPRF grant funds to foster environmental education, enhance recreation experiences, expose children and youth to traditional and non-traditional sports programs, encourage beautification projects at Oakland parks, promote community gardens, and rehabilitate or maintain parks and recreation facilities.
A primary use of OPRF grant funds is to provide scholarships for summer camps, after school programs, sports, and other programs to provide quality out of school care and opportunities to youth whose families are not able to pay the full cost of OPRYD programs.
Over the last 40 years, OPRF has retrofitted more than 55 playgrounds and ball fields throughout Oakland and provided more than 150 grants to worthy programs. OPRF is committed to serving Oakland's diverse community and works with like-minded partners to address facilities and programs most in need.
In 2024 Oakland City Council authorized Resolution 90309 authorizing the City Administrator to accept and appropriate gifts, grants, donations, goods, and in-kind services from OPRF for OPRYD use through June 30, 2026. If adopted, this Resolution will extend the time period through June 30, 2036.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
Using the City Council priorities as a guiding principle, OPRF seeks funds from private and public sources for projects consistent with the City’s adopted policies and priorities, including the City Council’s adopted equity-based Capital Improvement Prioritization and scorecard process.
OPRF grants, gifts, and donations improve parks, enhance visitors’ experiences, increase neighborhood health and vitality, and provide equitable access to recreation programs by providing funds for scholarships and program supplies.
It is beneficial for the City and OPRF to work collaboratively and in their respective areas of expertise to improve and enhance Oakland’s parks and recreation facilities and recreational programs throughout Oakland. OPRF has the qualifications, philanthropic expertise, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation status to encourage private donations.
Under Oakland Municipal Code section 2.04.160 (Acceptance, appropriation and expenditures from restricted gift proceeds), the City Administrator is delegated limited authority to accept gifts and donations to the City up to $50,000 without City Council action provided that: (1) the Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Acceptance of Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation Grants Date: March 30, 2026 Page 3
Life Enrichment Committee
April 21, 2026
gift/donation does not create unbudgeted costs for the City, (2) the gift/donation is for a program or project that has been approved by the Council in the biennial or mid-cycle operating or Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget, or by City Council legislation during the fiscal year, and (3) the gift/donation or proceeds therefrom are used in accord with restrictions and/or special conditions of the donor. Given the volume of OPRF donations, the City Administration seeks a solution to streamline and simplify the acceptance of gifts and donations from OPRF.
Staff is therefore seeking authority to accept gifts and donations from OPRF which individually may be valued over the City Administrator’s $50,000 threshold limit under Administrative Instruction #1052. The resolution being proposed would allow the City Administrator to accept monetary donations totaling up to $10,000,000 through June 30, 2036. Additionally, the resolution would give the City Administrator the authority to accept goods and in-kind services from OPRF, valued up to a total amount not exceeding $10,000,000, through June 30, 2036.
RELATED PLANNING EFFORTS
This agenda item is a routine item and does not relate to any Oakland strategic planning efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT
Based on recent trends, it is estimated that OPRF will grant the City annual gifts, donations, and grants of approximately $200,000 to $1,000,000 each fiscal year. Most of these monies are non- recurring, with no commitment to be funded for multiple fiscal years. The monies are stipulated by the donors and/or grantors to be used specifically to benefit OPRYD programs and/or patrons. OPRYD is committed to expending these funds in accordance with donor and/or grantor stipulations.
The proposed resolution authorizes the City Administrator to accept grants, gifts, and donations of money from OPRF in a total amount not to exceed $10,000,000 through June 30, 2036, and appropriate them into the Parks and Recreation Grant Fund (2996), Office of OPR Director Organization (501110), OPR Small Grants Project (1006523), and Recreation and Cultural Civic Program (NB03).
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No outreach was deemed necessary for the proposed policy action beyond the standard City Council agenda noticing procedures because it is a routine item.
COORDINATION
This report and legislation have been reviewed by the Office of the City Attorney and the Budget Bureau.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Acceptance of Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation Grants Date: March 30, 2026 Page 4
Life Enrichment Committee
April 21, 2026
Myka Hammock (Apr 9, 2026 14:18:02 PDT)
RACE AND EQUITY
Staff did not complete a Racial Equity Impact Analysis on the recommended policy/program/planning action. OPRF gifts, donations, and grants can be used to mitigate enrollment costs as a barrier to entry via subsidizing recreational programs' enrollment cost.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To: (1) Accept Monetary Grants, Gifts, And Donations From The Oakland Parks And Recreation Foundation (OPRF) In An Amount Not To Exceed $10,000,000 Through June 30, 2036; (2) Appropriate Said Funds For The City Of Oakland Parks, Recreation And Youth Development Department; And (3) Accept Goods And In-Kind Services From OPRF Valued In An Amount Not To Exceed $10,000,000 Through June 30, 2036.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Sarah Herbelin, Assistant Director, at (510) 238-3095.
Respectfully submitted,
MYKA HAMMOCK
Interim Director, Oakland Parks, Recreation
and Youth Development
Prepared by:
Sarah Herbelin, Assistant Director
Administrative Unit