1 APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
___________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ________________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER WANG
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO
TEMPORARILY CLOSE TO THROUGH TRAFFIC 9TH AVENUE, 10TH
AVENUE, AND 11TH AVENUE BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL
BOULEVARD AND 15TH ST REET, FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS, PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE SECTION 21101.4, TO
DISRUPT PERSISTENT ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH SEX
TRAFFICKING
WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code (“CVC”) section 21101.4, allows a local authority by resolution, to adopt rules and regulations for temporarily closing to through traffic a street under its jurisdiction when the local authority, after a public hearing, finds that the following conditions exist:
• serious and continual criminal activity or serious and continual illegal dumping exist along the portion of highway recommended for closure;
• the highway is not designated as a through highway or arterial street of if so designated the temporary closure may be accomplished without significant impact on the normal flow of traffic;
• vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the highway contributes to serious and continual criminal activity or illegal dumping; and
2 • closure will not substantially adversely affect traffic flow, safety of adjacent street or surrounding neighborhoods, operation of emergency vehicles, performance of municipal or public utility services, delivery of freight in the area of the closed street; and
WHEREAS, International Boulevard within Beat 19 experienced the highest number of shootings and robberies citywide in 2025, according to Oakland Police Department beat data; and WHEREAS, human trafficking continues to be a significant concern throughout this corridor and remains a major driver of violence along International Boulevard and the streets that intersect International Boulevard within Beat 19 including 9th Avenue, 10th Avenue, and 11th Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a strategic methodology that reduces the opportunity for crime by altering the physical environment; and WHEREAS, the proposed pilot program would place temporary barricades across 9th Avenue, 10th Avenue, and 11th Avenue on their southbound approach to International Boulevard to restrict access between International Boulevard and 9th, 10th, and 11th Avenues; and WHEREAS, the intent of this closure is to reduce opportunities for sex buyers ( “Johns”) to utilize concealed access points and to improve visibility for patrol officers; and WHEREAS, the Oakland Police Department supports the Council Office 's initiative as a test pilot program, and OakDOT and OPD will jointly evaluate the effectiveness of the project during the pilot and provide a follow-up report upon completion; and WHEREAS, the community has been briefed on the initiative, and the Oakland Fire Department (OFD) indicated that the barricades are not expected to interfere with emergency response times; and
WHEREAS, OakDOT worked with AC Transit and OFD to conduct an analysis to minimize community disruption that would result from the temporary closure of the designated streets as it relates to the flow of traffic, safety on the adjacent streets or in the surrounding neighborhoods, the operation of emergency vehicles, the performance of transit service , or the delivery of commercial freight in the area; and
WHEREAS, funding for the costs associated with the barricades and signage is available from the District 2 Council Discretionary Funds in Project 1007112, Fund 2218; and
3 WHEREAS, pursuant to CVC 21101.4(c), the City is required to mail written notice of a public hearing to all residents and owners, as shown on the last equalized assessment roll, of property adjacent to where the temporary closure or extension of closure is proposed; and WHEREAS, the City has complied with CVC 21101.4(c) by providing said written notice by mail of this public hearing to all residents and owners of property adjacent to where the temporary closure will occur; and
WHEREAS, the City Council shall conduct a public hearing to receive input on the above findings and the affected residents and owners of properties adjacent to the portion of the streets to be temporarily closed have been duly notified by mail of the Council’s public hearing to consider the temporary closure of 9th Avenue, 10th Avenue, and 11th Avenue; and WHEREAS, this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15301 (existing facilities) and 15061(b)(3) (no significant effect on the environment), each as a separate and independent basis; now, there fore, be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council, based upon information from OakDOT and OPD, finds the following conditions exist: (1) there is serious and continual criminal activity occurring on 9th Avenue, 10th Avenue, and 11th Avenue off of International Boulevard and as a result the streets are being recommended for temporary closure to through traffic, (2) the designated blocks are not designated as a through highway or arterial street, (3) vehicular and pedestrian traffic on these streets contribute to the human trafficking and violence occurring in the area, and (4) the closure of these portions of 9th, 10th, and 11th Avenues will not substantially adversely affect traffic flow on the adjacent streets; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Council, pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 21101.4, hereby authorizes the temporary closure to through traffic of 9th Avenue, 10th Avenue, and 11th Avenue at International Boulevard for a 6- month trial period and that this closure may be extended up to eight (8) times for additional consecutive periods of not more than 18 months each if prior to an extension, the Council holds a public hearing and makes similar findings by ordinance or resolution as those needed for this closure; and be it
4 FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Administrator is authorized to spend funds from the so-designated funds listed in the above recitals for the actions authorized by this resolution; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council finds and determines that the decision made hereby is exempt from CEQA, on a separate and independent basis pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15301 (existing facilities) and 15061 (b)(3) (no significant effect on the environment).
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - BROWN, FIFE, GALLO, HOUSTON, RAMACHANDRAN, UNGER, WANG, AND
PRESIDENT JENKINS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
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