ATTACHMENT B
City Responses to Grand Jury Recommendations & Findings
RECOMMENDATIONS
Grand Jury Recommendation City’s Response/Comments
Responsible
parties
Timeline, Next Steps
Recommendation 26-1: Within 120
days, the City of Oakland (City
Council) should enact an ordinance
requiring businesses to subscribe to
waste collection services.
This recommendation has been
implemented. This ordinance currently
exists – it is already mandatory that
commercial properties subscribe to mixed
materials waste disposal services per
Oakland Municipal Code Chapters
8.28.100, 8.28.120, and 8.28.142
https://library.municode.com/ca/oakland/c
odes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8H
ESA_CH8.28SOWACODIRE
The City has drafted an amendment to the
existing ordinance to create a mechanism
to collect the debt from unpaid garbage
bills and to impose these services on a
commercial property that is subscribed to
inadequate service or lacks it altogether.
This modification will be implemented in
the near future. City staff already conduct
outreach and enforcement to require
businesses to obtain sufficient service.
The Ordinance modification will
strengthen the City’s available
enforcement mechanisms.
Oakland Public
Works
Additional Ordinance to be presented to
Council for action by September 30, 2026.
Recommendation 26-2: Within 120
days, the City of Oakland (City
This recommendation has already been
partially implemented, and the rest of the
The City
Administrator’s
Ongoing. The City will continue working
with leaders both regionally and at the
Council) should enact legislation
regulating private junk haulers
similar to the city’s ordinance
regulating construction and
demolition debris haulers, including
registration requirements,
prohibitions on the use of
unlicensed haulers, the creation of
a public list of licensed haulers, and
a requirement that haulers provide
proof of proper disposal to the city.
recommendation is being pursued with a
statewide, rather than local, hauler
registry. The City agrees that more
regulation is required around improper
haulers, and to help the public identify
valid haulers. On the latter, the City has
already created and shared a public list at:
https://www.oaklandca.gov/My-
Household/Waste-and-Recycling/Illegal-
Dumping-Services-for-Oakland/Licensed-
Junk-Haulers
However, the City disagrees that a purely
local municipal code revision is the
solution, given junk haulers operate across
city and county lines. For that reason, a
regional and/or state-level approach is
required.
Office and
Oakland Public
Works
State level to advance legislation for a
broader hauler registry and enforcement
system.
Recommendation 26-3: Within 90
days, the City of Oakland must
undertake improved education
campaigns to promote use of the
free bulky waste pickup and drop-
off services, including targeted
outreach to residents of multi-unit
dwellings and communities where
English is not a first language.
This recommendation has been
implemented. Oakland has already
launched this expanded education and
outreach campaign to promote the use of
the free bulky services, in multiple
languages, including specifically for
residents of multi-unit dwellings. This
work recently benefited from funding via
the Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action
Plan and will expand and intensify with
the Crankstart Foundation’s investment.
The City
Administration
and Oakland
Public Works
are undertaking
this work.
Ongoing. The City is partnering with
community organizations and local
businesses and expanding public
education.
OPW Staff receives monthly reports from
WM that document monthly bulky pickup
and drop off usage with a breakout
between single family and multifamily
participation. This report is and will
continue to be used to track changes in
utilization of bulky services as new
outreach and education initiatives are
deployed. See, e.g.:
Recommendation 26-4: Within 120
days, the City of Oakland (City
Council) should amend city policy
on the use of Automated License
Plate Reader data to allow such
data to be shared with the Public
Works Department for Illegal
The recommendation has not yet been
implemented, but the process to authorize
it has begun. This item requires action by
both the Privacy Advisory Commission
and by the City Council. The first step for
this action, Privacy Advisory Commission
approval, was given on June 4, 2026.
City Council This item is scheduled to come to the
Oakland Public Safety Committee on July
14, 2026, and would thereafter go to the
City Council, with final action expected
before September 30, 2026.
dumping enforcement, subject to
appropriate safeguards.
Recommendation 26-5: Within 120
days, the City of Oakland must
provide Environmental
Enforcement Officers with handheld
technology, like the technology that
the city’s parking enforcement
officers currently use.
The recommendation is authorized and
funded, and implementation has
commenced with the ordering of the most
appropriate device(s) for the usage needs
of the Environmental Enforcement Unit.
Oakland’s Illegal Dumping Expenditures
Action Plan allocated money for this
work. Coordination between OPW and
Finance has already begun to enhance the
connection with citation data to enable
improved citation issuance and
collections.
Oakland Public
Works
The handheld devices are funded in the
Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action
Plan, adopted May 19, 2026. Full setup
and deployment to all relevant personnel
is expected to be completed before
December 31, 2026.
Recommendation 26-6: Provide and
reinforce training to employees in
OPW KOCB so they do not
prematurely and improperly close
illegal dumping cleanup work
orders before all waste has been
removed from a location.
The implementation of this
recommendation has begun and will
continue. The City identified challenges
both with the premature closure of some
work orders when an area has not been
fully cleaned, yet the work order is closed,
and areas that are fully cleaned but not
correctly closed out. Training has begun
and will continue. The City believes two
systems will significantly improve this
issue. First, consistent aerial imagery will
help to open and close work orders based
on actual, timely conditions on the street.
Second, OPW is deploying tablets to
abatement staff to verify work order
closures.
Oakland Public
Works
Funding for technology to help remedy
this issue was approved in Oakland’s
Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan
on May 19, 2026 and expanded by the
Crankstart Foundation grant, announced
on June 11, 2026. By December 31, 2026,
OPW will regularly use a) aerial imagery
to help accurately open/close work orders
and b) tablets or other handheld devices to
assist in verifying work order closures.
Recommendation 26-7: Within 90
days, the City of Oakland should
designate a single official or point
The recommendation has already been
implemented consistent with the Oakland
City Charter. Most of the eradication,
Oakland Public
Works
Completed.
person to manage and coordinate
all illegal dumping efforts.
enforcement, and education efforts are led
by Oakland Public Works and the Public
Works Director is the point person or
single official responsible for managing
and coordinating these efforts. Per the
City’s Charter, the City Administrator is
the single official holding overall
management authority for all City
operations. The Mayor’s Office and City
Administrator’s Office including the
Project Manager, have an important role
in advancing the work around illegal
dumping, too, especially regarding
education and outreach, participation with
regional and state illegal dumping
leadership groups, drafting legislation,
and enhancing cross-departmental
coordination to strengthen enforcement.
Recommendation 26-8: Through
ongoing negotiations with Waste
Management, the City of Oakland
must complete amendments to its
franchise agreement that will help
fight illegal dumping, including:
Changing the rate structure to make
larger garbage containers more
affordable
Enabling increased and easier use
of the free bulky waste pickup and
drop-off services, such as additional
pick-ups and drop-offs
The recommendation is being pursued in
part through ongoing negotiations with
Waste Management and in part through
other approaches to the same goals. The
City agrees that improving access to
convenient, affordable, and legal disposal
options can help reduce illegal dumping.
Many of the concepts identified in this
recommendation are already under
discussion as part of ongoing negotiations
with Waste Management. However, some
may be implemented through operational
or administrative changes, not franchise
amendments. The City cannot unilaterally
change rate structure or other terms; it
Oakland Public
Works
Ongoing
Allowing disposal of more waste,
and
Reducing the time between
scheduling appointments and
pickups for bulky waste disposal.
would take agreement from the franchise
holder. In addition, the City is pursuing
complementary strategies outside of the
franchise agreement. For example, with
funding from the Crankstart Foundation,
Oakland will pilot a program that provides
larger garbage containers at no additional
cost to households in neighborhoods with
high levels of illegal dumping to evaluate
whether increased disposal capacity
reduces dumping on surrounding streets.
While negotiations with Waste
Management remain an important
opportunity to improve disposal services,
the City's comprehensive illegal dumping
strategy does not depend on those
negotiations.
FINDINGS
Grand Jury Finding City’s Response Explanation
Finding 26-1: Illegal dumping of
trash has been a massive problem
in the City of Oakland for many
years.
Agree
Finding 26-2: In recent years, the
City of Oakland has collected
about 20 million pounds of
illegally dumped waste annually.
Agree
Finding 26-3: Illegal dumping in
the City of Oakland is a multi-
faceted problem, with several
causes and several different
actions necessary to tackle
different parts of the problem.
Agree This is reflected in the City of Oakland’s strategy and lllegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan, which includes education, eradication, and enforcement of illegal dumping. The multi-faceted approach can be found in the Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan at:
https://oakland.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7989762&GUID=3A7C0 038-B049-42E0-8C1D-75FB01F98D57
Finding 26-4: Among the causes
of illegal dumping, the City of
Oakland’s rates for residential
garbage containers have spurred
illegal dumping of excess trash,
as customers choose smaller
containers that cost less, rather
than a sufficient size for the
amount of waste they generate.
Partially Disagree While the City generally believes this to be true, Oakland is undertaking a study, with support from the Crankstart Foundation, to evaluate the impact of providing larger garbage containers to residents in neighborhoods impacted by dumping at no additional cost.
Finding 26-5: The City of
Oakland has thousands of
businesses without mandatory
Partially Disagree The current number of businesses lacking mandatory garbage service is estimated to be 1079, (according to information provided by Waste Management) but we are not certain. OPW has been working with identified businesses to bring them garbage service, resulting in
illegal dumping of their waste.
into compliance and has drafted an Ordinance to better remedy this issue by providing for stronger enforcement. An ordinance to strengthen enforcement to help remedy this issue has already been drafted by OPW, and is expected to come to Council by September 30, 2026.
Finding 26-6: Over the years, the
City of Oakland has tried
different approaches to fighting
illegal dumping, with various
programs using different names
Agree
Finding 26-7: Eradication, or
cleaning up illegally dumped
waste, alone is not a solution; it
must be combined with education
about proper disposal and strong
enforcement of laws against
dumping.
Agree Oakland’s Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan (adopted May 19, 2026) includes all three of the components identified in this Finding: education, eradication, and enforcement.
Finding 26-8: While the City of
Oakland has made some
particular enforcement efforts
against illegal dumping, such as
having Environmental
Enforcement Officers and using
cameras, its overall illegal
dumping enforcement has been
inadequate.
Partially Disagree This has been true previously, but with the Mayor, City Council, and Crankstart’s investment, the City is significantly increasing its enforcement efforts.
On May 5, 2026 the City Council passed the Illegal Dumping Enforcement Ordinance to increase penalties and strengthen enforcement against illegal dumping violators.
On May 19, 2026, the City’s Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan passed, which includes enforcement cameras, personnel time, technology to more effectively issue and collect citations, and authorized the City to seek grant funding to expand illegal dumping programs.
On June 11, 2026, the Mayor and Crankstart announced a $9.2 million program, which includes partnering with OPD, Alameda County, and OPW to strengthen enforcement of illegal dumping, and expanding the enforcement camera system.
On June 12, 2026 the City Council passed the 2026-2027 budget, which added both enforcement personnel and additional capacity to eradicate via improved equipment and more staff support.
Finding 26-9: Although the City
of Oakland’s ordinances provide
for civil and even criminal
penalties for illegal dumping, the
amount of civil penalties has been
too low to deter or effectively
punish illegal dumping.
Partially Disagree This has been true previously, but Oakland in May 2026 became the first City in the County to adopt amendments, inspired by the Alameda County Model Ordinance recommendation to increase penalties for illegal dumping, and prohibit transporting waste in a vehicle without a license platte. Now Oakland has some of the highest penalties. The Illegal Dumping Enforcement Ordinance, was co- authored by Mayor Barbara Lee and Councilmember Zac Unger and passed by the City Council, April 14 and May 5, 2026.
https://oakland.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7947032&GUID=FE875 6DB-E9C7-4048-8F95-3539268CA0B0
Finding 26-10: Current state law
does not allow the Department of
Motor Vehicles (DMV) to
withhold vehicle registration
renewals for vehicles used in
illegal dumping if the owners
have any delinquent illegal
dumping fines.
Partially Disagree The City of Oakland, together with State Senator Jesse Arreguin, is sponsoring legislation to help resolve this issue.
Finding 26-11: Currently, the
City of Oakland cannot use
delinquent illegal dumping fines
imposed under its local ordinance
to prevent the DMV from
renewing a vehicle registration.
Agree The City of Oakland is working with its State Legislators to resolve this issue.
Finding 26-12: The City of
Oakland has implemented
cameras around the city to catch
people engaged in illegal
Agree In addition, Oakland is expanding the illegal dumping enforcement camera system, with funding from the City’s Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan, and from the Crankstart Foundation.
dumping, and the city council
recently allowed Community
Safety (CS) camera footage to be
used for illegal dumping
enforcement.
Finding 26-13: The City of
Oakland has prohibited the
Oakland Police Department from
sharing Automated License Plate
Reader data with the Public
Works Department for illegal
dumping enforcement.
Partially Disagree This has been true previously, but the Privacy Advisory Commission (PAC) approved the use of ALPR’s for illegal dumping enforcement on June 4, 2026:
https://www.oaklandca.gov/Public-Meetings/Privacy-Advisory- Commission/2026/06-04-26-PAC
This item is scheduled to come to the Oakland Public Safety Committee on July 14, 2026.
Finding 26-14: In the past several
years, the City of Oakland has not
made any referrals to the
Alameda County District
Attorney’s office for criminal
prosecution of illegal dumping.
Agree OPW is making referrals to OPD currently, OPD is initiating investigations based on those referrals, and the City is expanding coordination with the County on illegal dumping, including with the District Attorney. The recent Crankstart Foundation funding award adds resources to support these efforts.
See coverage at: https://oaklandside.org/2026/06/11/illegal-dumping-crankstart- foundation-grant-oakland/
Finding 26-15: The City of
Oakland’s Environmental
Enforcement Officers lack
sufficient technology for their
enforcement and citation efforts
involving illegal dumping.
Partially Disagree Funding for the hand-held electronic devices to enhance the issuance and collection of citations was included in Oakland’s Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan, adopted May 19, 2026. Oakland Public Works personnel are implementing handheld electronic devices for Environmental Enforcement Officers. The tablets have begun to arrive and be setup, along with associated software and training. The full implementation for all relevant personnel should be complete no later than December 31, 2026.
Finding 26-16: The City of
Oakland recovers a low
percentage of civil penalties
imposed on illegal dumping
offenders through administrative
citations.
Agree This has been true, in large part, due to the need for a connected, comprehensive tracking system for citations, so they are uploaded consistently, and in a manner that provides the needed information for staff in the Finance department to be able to obtain collections. This is enabled through the acquisition of software and technology (tablets) for entering citations, as has been approved in Oakland’s Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan, and is underway.
Finding 26-17: The City of
Oakland’s free programs for
bulky waste disposal have been
underutilized for various reasons,
such as lack of awareness,
scheduling, and language hurdles,
making it difficult for residents to
use them.
Agree
Oakland’s plan includes enhanced community education about the free bulky services, especially for underserved communities, renters, and in multiple languages. This work has already launched, and is a funded item in the Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan. This effort is being further expanded with support of the Crankstart Foundation.
Finding 26-18: The City of
Oakland does not regulate private
junk haulers, except those
handling construction and
demolition debris.
Partially Disagree The City of Oakland has produced and posted a list of licensed haulers at the local level, which can be found at: https://www.oaklandca.gov/My- Household/Waste-and-Recycling/Illegal-Dumping-Services-for- Oakland/Licensed-Junk-Haulers
The City is also working in coalition throughout the region and the State to advocate for a broader hauler regulatory system, due to the fact that illicit haulers often cross city lines.
Finding 26-19: The City of
Oakland’s crews in its Keep
Oakland Clean and Beautiful
division, who are responsible for
illegal dumping cleanup, also
conduct work clearing homeless
encampments.
Agree
Finding 26-20: The City of
Oakland’s OAK311 system
allows the public to inform the
city where illegal dumping
problems occur.
Agree The Oak311 system does intake service requests from the public. It does not contain a comprehensive and detailed accounting of all abandoned trash, along with type of waste and exact location, nor does it always confirm when a site is cleaned. Those capabilities will be provided by the aerial imagery which the City has approved and funded.
Finding 26-21: The City of
Oakland (Keep Oakland Clean
and Beautiful) has prematurely
closed illegal dumping work
orders before all types of waste
had been removed from a
location.
Agree This has been true previously, but by December 31, 2026, OPW will regularly use a) aerial imagery to help accurately open/close work orders and b) tablets or other handheld devices to assist in verifying work order closures.
Finding 26-22: The City of
Oakland (Keep Oakland Clean
and Beautiful) has provided
training to its employees on the
proper closure of work orders, but
needs to reinforce that training.
Agree Additional training and procedures are a component of the work to strengthen the handling and proper closure of work orders. This is also being accompanied by investments in technology, devices and software, and additional personnel time, to further enhance these systems.
Finding 26-23: The City of
Oakland’s Keep Oakland Clean
and Beautiful crews have had
their illegal dumping cleanup
work slowed by vehicles and
equipment not being in working
condition.
Agree The City’s plan recognizes the need for working vehicles for cleanup crews.
Funding for Lightning Loader vehicles was approved by the City Council on May 19th, 2026, and those vehicles are being ordered. In addition, the City applied for and received an EPA grant to purchase vehicles for OPW, and City funding via the Illegal Dumping Expenditures Action Plan and the adopted budget will bring in more funds for KOCB vehicles.
Finding 26-24: The City of
Oakland does not have a single
point person responsible for
overseeing and coordinating its
illegal dumping efforts.
Partially Disagree Most of the eradication, enforcement, and education efforts are led by Oakland Public Works and the Public Works Director is the point person responsible for managing and coordinating these efforts. The City Administrator is ultimately the single point person responsible for managing all City operations. The Mayor’s Office and City Administrator, including the Project Manager, have an important role in advancing the work around illegal dumping, too, especially regarding education and outreach, participation with regional and state illegal dumping leadership groups, cross departmental coordination on enforcement.