Public Safety Committee
June 9, 2026
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Elizabeth Lake FROM: Sofia Navarro
Acting City Administrator Deputy City Administrator
SUBJECT: Receive and File Annual Report On
Measure MM Spending From The
Oakland Wildfire Prevention
Commission
DATE: June 4, 2026
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Receive and File Verbal and Written Annual Report On Measure MM Spending From The Oakland Wildfire Prevention Commission
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This informational report of the Oakland Wildfire Prevention Commission (WPC) includes a detailed summary of the Commission’s activities and assessment of spending under Measure MM. It also includes recommendations to the Oakland City Council regarding the budgeting and implementation of Measure MM funds to implement the City’s Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) in future years.
REASON FOR URGENCY
The need to take immediate action on this item results from the May 2026 adoption of this Year One Report to the City Council (Attachment A) by the Wildfire Prevention Commission (WPC).
In order to provide this report to Council prior to adoption of the mid-cycle budget for 2026-2027, the item was requested for consideration at the June 9, 2026 Public Safety Committee meeting.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
The Oakland Wildfire Prevention Commission is an oversight body, the existence of which is mandated by voter-enacted Measure MM in 2024. Its structure and duties are further enumerated in Resolution No. 90258 C.M.S.--as enacted by the Oakland City Council in 2024.
Members of the Commission were appointed by City Council in 2025 via Resolution 90808 C.M.S. and have held monthly meetings since September 2025 to fulfill their requirements under these Resolutions.
Betsy Lake (Jun 5, 2026 08:24:12 PDT)
Jun 5, 2026
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: 2026 Wildfire Prevention Commission Annual Report Date: June 4, 2026 Page 2
Public Safety Committee
June 9, 2026
The primary role of the WPC is to provide public oversight and review of spending under Measure MM, which generates an estimated $2.7 million annually to support wildfire prevention activities via implementation of the City’s Vegetation Management Plan. Following review and analysis, the Commission is required to present their findings annually to the City Council.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
The Commission’s conclusions, found in their Year One Report to the Oakland City Council (Attachment A). Based on information provided by various City staff, Oakland City Councilmembers, public testimony, and independent research, the WPC provided seven recommendations to Council to ensure appropriate use of Measure MM funds and to improve overall functionality of the WPC. The seven recommendations are:
1. Provide Better, More Detailed Information
WPC needs more timely, granular, and complete information in several categories, including on vegetation management activities; timing and amounts of Measure MM funding receipts; Measure MM expenditures including overtime; historical budget information; and richer description of properties in the wildfire zone.
2. Expedite Hiring the Measure MM Supervisory Position
WPC strongly recommends that the City act immediately to permanently fill the “Parks Supervisor - Measure MM” position. This need was established by Council in June 2025 and has been a priority for WPC since our first meeting in September 2025.
3. Enhance Compliance with Fire Safety Rules for Developed Residential Parcels OFD’s inspections of developed residential parcels work reasonably well, however there
is opportunity to increase public safety by focusing more attention on outcomes. Use technical means such as drones to allow inspections to see all of a parcel, not just the view from the street. Establish a mechanism where public observations of non- compliance can trigger a re-inspection. Establish a commitment to outcomes (not just inspections) by, when necessary, hiring contractors to do the work should a property owner refuse to follow the rules. Rapidly follow the state’s leadership to establish strong Zone Zero regulations.
4. Inventory and Examine All Properties in the WPZ
There is opportunity to enhance wildfire safety by systematically looking at all properties in the WPZ, not just developed residential parcels. WPC recommends an inventory and examination of, undeveloped private parcels (which can be overgrown; some are sizable), city-owned land with leaseholders (who might not be undertaking commitments to mitigate wildfire risk), private commercial parcels with open land (who might have unsatisfied wildfire-related permit obligations), parcels managed by other public agencies; and parcels managed by PG&E.
5. Enhance Identification, Hardening, and Operation of Wildfire Evacuation Routes Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: 2026 Wildfire Prevention Commission Annual Report Date: June 4, 2026 Page 3
Public Safety Committee
June 9, 2026
Collaborate with other agencies to systematically learn from past fires and establish best practices for the identification of wildfire evacuation routes, for “hardening” evacuation routes by reducing fuel loads and increasing traffic capacity especially on red flag days.
The operation of evacuation routes needs to insure smooth traffic flow and minimize congestion at predictable “choke points”. These are major challenges faced by many jurisdictions, not just Oakland. In addition, use fire-service hand crews for additional vegetation management clearing.
6. Honor Endangered Species Commitments in the WPZ
The VMP and associated Environmental Impact Report commit the city to honor certain endangered species; the new Measure MM Supervisor (see Recommendation 2 above) should be accountable for these commitments
7. Ensure Fire Hydrant Accessibility
For many years, a number of fire hydrants in the WPZ have not been appropriately accessible by firefighters due to vegetative overgrowth, accumulation of debris, and landslides. There does not seem to be clarity on who is responsible for maintaining access. A responsible entity with accountability for ensuring access should be identified.
FISCAL IMPACT
This report provides recommendations to the City Council for appropriation of funding under Measure MM, as part of the bi-annual budget process. There are no additional fiscal impacts associated with this informational report.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
Public outreach and engagement for this item was conducted as part of the regular monthly meetings of the WPC, held every third Thursday of each month, typically in Council Chambers at Oakland City Hall.
COORDINATION
Coordination in the presentation of information in support of this item was done by staff of Oakland Public Works, the Oakland Fire Department, and the City Administrator’s Office.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: 2026 Wildfire Prevention Commission Annual Report Date: June 4, 2026 Page 4
Public Safety Committee
June 9, 2026
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends that the City Council receive and file verbal and written annual report on Measure MM spending from the Oakland Wildfire Prevention Commission.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Daniel Hamilton, Chief Resilience Officer, at [email protected] or 510-238-6179.
Respectfully submitted,
Sofia Navarro
Deputy City Administrator
Prepared by:
Daniel Hamilton
Chief Resilience Officer, City Administrator’s
Office
Attachments (1)
A. Year One Report to the Oakland City Council