MEMORANDUM TO: City Clerk, City of Oakland FROM: Mayor’s Office DATE: June 11, 2026 RE: Charter Reform — Proposed Amendments to the Oakland City Charter AMENDMENT 1 — Section 216(d): Effective Date of Ordinances Charter Section: Section 216. Effective Date of Resolutions and Ordinances, Subdivision (d) Amended Section Section 216(d). All ordinances shall take effect upon the seventh day after final passage unless a later
effective
date
is
indicated
therein
or
is
otherwise
required
by
law
,
except
that
the
following
ordinances
shall
take
effect
immediatelyupon
final
passage
unless
a
later
effective
date
is
indicated
therein:
AMENDMENT 2 — Section 218: Non-Interference / Right of Inquiry and Access for Constituent
Services
Section 218. Non-Interference in Administrative Affairs. Right of Inquiry and Access for Constituent
Services.
Amended Section Remove Section 218(a) Each department under the Mayor’s or City Administrator’s jurisdiction shall
maintain
at
least
one
designated
Council
liaison
for
Council
inquiries,
and
the
Mayor
or
City
Administrator
shall
ensure
coordination.
AMENDMENT 3 — Section 218: Non-Interference / Right of Inquiry and Access for Constituent
Services
Charter Section: Section 218. Non-Interference in Administrative Affairs. Right of Inquiry and Access for Constituent
Services.
Amended Section Section 218 (c) Councilmembers and their staff shall not have the power to direct, give orders to, or
attempt
to
coerce
any
department
head
or
any
other
subordinate
of
the
City
under
the
jurisdiction
of
the
Mayor,
City
Administrator
or
other
appointed
or
elected
officers
in
respect
to
any
administrative
action.
AMENDMENT 4 — Section 305(r): Functions, Powers and Duties of the Mayor Charter Section: Section 305. Functions, Powers and Duties. Amended Section 305 (r) To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or by ordinance or resolution.
AMENDMENT 5 — Section 502: Acting City Administrator Charter Section: Section 502. Acting City Administrator.
Amended Section
Section 502. Acting City Administrator. The City Administrator shall designate two or more of
the
City
Administrator's
assistants
or
department
heads,
in
the
sequence
in
which
they
are
to
serve,
as
Acting
City
Administrator
to
serve
as
City
Administrator
in
the
temporary
absence
or
disability
of
the
City
Administrator.
In
the
event
of
the
removal
or
resignation
of
the
City
Administrator,
the
Mayor
may
designate
one
of
the
City
Administrator’s
assistants
or
a
department
head
to
temporarily
serve
as
Acting
City
Administrator.
An
Acting
City
Administrator
shall
have
all
the
powers
and
duties
of
the
City
Administrator.
AMENDMENT 6 — Section 603(c): Elected Official Salary Increases Charter Section: Section 603. Public Ethics Commission, Subdivision (c). Elected Official Salary Increases.
Amended Section 603 (c) Elected Official Salary Increases. The Public Ethics Commission , with the assistance of
the
City
Administrator
and/or
outside
consultants,
at
the
discretion
of
the
Executive
Director,
shall
set
the
salary
for
the
City
Councilmembers,
the
Mayor,
the
City
Attorney,
and
the
City
Auditor
as
provided
for
in
Charter
Sections
202,
300,
401(1),
and
403(1).