Strong-mayor measure heads toward Oakland's November ballot, 5-3

Oakland
City Council Meeting
June 2, 2026

TL;DR

• A strong-mayor charter measure cleared the first of two required votes, 5-3, and could reach the November ballot.
• The council approved a four-year plan, 5-3, for spending Oakland's $45 to $47 million a year in voter-approved violence-reduction money.
• Property tax rates on nine voter-approved measures are set to rise 2.2% to 6.4% next year, after a first vote.
• The city's fee schedule for next year cleared a first vote, 6-1, with most fees up about 3% and some parking fees higher.
• The council approved a contract worth about $28.4 million to expand the Lincoln Recreation Center.

What happened

1. A strong-mayor charter change moves toward the November ballot
   1. Oakland may ask voters this November whether to give the mayor more control over how the city runs. The council voted 5-3 to send the strong-mayor measure to a second and final hearing on June 16. That hearing is the last council step before it could reach the ballot.
   2. Mayor Barbara Lee, who proposed it, said it would make clear who is accountable when city services fall short. The measure would make the mayor the city's chief executive and add a mayoral veto the council could override by a two-thirds vote. It would also let the council confirm four top department heads and create an office for independent budget and policy analysis. Three members voted no, all saying they would rather see a council-manager system.
   3. What this means for you: If it passes the next vote and then the November ballot, it would change who runs City Hall, not any single service or fee. The council would keep its budget and lawmaking power and the ability to override the mayor's vetoes. Voters, not the council, would make the final call.
2. The council locked in a 4-year plan for Oakland's violence-reduction money
   1. Oakland set how it will spend the $45 to $47 million a year that voters approved in 2024 to fight violence, known as Measure NN. The council approved the four-year plan 5-3, with Public Safety chair Charlene Wang, vice chair Ken Houston, and Council President Kevin Jenkins voting to wait.
   2. The money funds anti-violence police work, outreach to people at high risk of gun violence, and help for domestic-violence and sex-trafficking survivors. A commissioner called sexual exploitation in Oakland a visible crisis, and the plan aims to reduce it, including cases involving minors. Other goals include cutting homicides and shootings 10% a year through 2030 and faster 911 response.
   3. What this means for you: Approving the plan lets Oakland release this safety money by a June 30 deadline, including grants to community anti-violence groups. The plan sets goals and strategy, not dollar amounts; those splits are fixed by the measure, with the largest share going to police. Oakland's homicide count hit a recorded low in 2025, and the plan aims to keep that trend going.
3. Property taxes for 9 voter-approved measures are set to rise
   1. The part of your property tax bill that funds nine voter-approved measures is set to rise between 2.2% and 6.4% next year. These pay for libraries, parks, paramedics, children's programs, the zoo, wildfire prevention, and violence reduction. The council approved the increases on a first vote, 8-0, with a final vote set for June 16. Together the nine measures are expected to raise about $186.6 million, including about $9.4 million from the increases.
   2. What this means for you: If the final vote passes, the higher rates show up on your next property tax bill. These are the yearly increases voters already approved when they passed each measure, so the council is applying limits voters set, not creating new taxes.
4. Most city fees are going up about 3% next year
   1. Most of the fees Oakland charges for permits, parking, and recreation are going up about 3% next year. The council approved the updated fee schedule on a first vote, 6-1, with a final vote set for June 16. Some parking fees and parking-garage rates would rise more, while some planning and building fees would drop. Charlene Wang cast the only no vote and urged departments to find ways to lower fees for residents and small businesses.
   2. What this means for you: If the final vote passes, the new fees start with the budget year on July 1. If you pull a city permit or park in a city garage, you may pay a bit more, since most fees rise about 3%. A handful of fees drop.
5. About $28.4 million to expand the Lincoln Recreation Center
   1. Oakland approved a contract worth about $28.4 million to expand and renovate the Lincoln Recreation Center. The council awarded the work to S.J. Amoroso Construction Co. on its consent calendar, with no debate. It also raised the project's architect contract by up to $848,797, bringing that contract to $3,877,646.
   2. What this means for you: The contract clears the way to start building a larger, renovated rec center. A Friends of Lincoln Square Park speaker said the city's open-space plan first called for the expansion 30 years ago.

What residents brought up

• The charter measure. Eighteen people spoke, and they were split. Speakers supporting the move to the ballot included the League of Women Voters of Oakland, SPUR, Faith in Action East Bay, and AFSCME Council 57. Others, including members of the Oakland Charter Reform Project, asked the council to reject the strong-mayor plan and choose a council-manager system instead. Several said they support reform but worry about giving one person too much power.
• Sidewalk access. Anwar Baruti, who chairs the Mayor's Commission on Persons with Disabilities, said the city office handling disability access has only two staff. A 2016 report said it needs at least four. He said he walked into construction equipment blocking a sidewalk last week and was hurt. He added that 25% of the trips Oaklanders using wheelchairs attempt end in failure. A resident asked the council to fund the missing positions and to unfreeze parking-enforcement jobs so blocked sidewalks get ticketed.

Also happened

• Adopted Oakland's updated hazard mitigation plan, which the fire department said is needed to tap certain disaster funding (7-0).
• Raised the East Oakland Arts Center construction contract from $1,785,000 to a total not to exceed $2,784,600 after vandalism (6-0). The extra covers repairs, including stolen heating, cooling, and kitchen equipment.
• Directed the city administrator to develop a plan to move two recycling facilities (California Waste Solutions and Cass) out of West Oakland. The goal is to reduce pollution on nearby residents; the plan goes to the Planning Commission by December 31.
• Backed state Senate Bill 1095, which would stop California "fusion centers," state data-sharing hubs, from sharing personal information for immigration enforcement.
• Renamed the intersection of 99th Avenue and International Boulevard "Arthur E. Thompson Way," honoring the founder of Thompson Funeral Home for nearly 60 years.
• Gave final approval to borrow up to $200 million in short-term notes, repaid from this year's revenue, to manage cash flow.

For any updates or corrections, please email steven@polisdesk.com