*Special Public Safety Committee
TL;DR
The Oakland City Council's Special Public Safety Committee met to discuss updates to the city's encampment management policy. The committee scheduled a resolution to repeal the 2020 policy and replace it with a new 2025 Encampment Abatement Policy that modifies how the city handles homeless encampments, including vehicle-related regulations.
Key Decisions
- 2025 Encampment Abatement Policy Scheduled for City Council Agenda
- Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items Accepted
Agenda
- DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT JENKINS , A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS NOTED, AND A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER BROWN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HOUSTON TO ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE SPECIAL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING, AND TO CONVENE AS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FULL COUNCIL AT 1:24 P.M. THE MOTION PASSED WITH 4 AYES
- The Roll Call was modified to note Councilmember Fife present at 1:23 p.m.
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- DEFINITION OF TERMS: • Action Item: shall mean any resolution, ordinance, public hearing, motion or recommendation requiring official vote and approval of the City Council to be effective. • Informational Item: shall mean an agenda item consisting only of an informational report that does not require or permit Council action. • Consent Item shall mean, for the purposes of the City Council agenda: 1) approval of Council minutes, and 2) any action or informational item placed on a Council agenda for a Regular Meeting or Special Meeting (i) as a Consent Item by the Rules and Legislation Committee, (ii) pursuant to Rule 28, or (iii) that a Standing Committee has forwarded to the full Council with unanimous recommendation for approval by the members who are present: Consent Item shall not include: 1) any item having a high level of public interest or controversy as determined by the Standing Committee Chair, or the Rules and Legislation Committee, or pursuant to Rule 28; 2) any item that requires a public hearing or that otherwise is ineligible by law as a Consent Item. • Non-Consent Item shall mean, for the purposes of a City Council agenda for a Regular Meeting or Special Meeting, any action or informational item that: 1) a Standing Committee has forwarded to the full Council without unanimous recommendation for approval; 2) has a high level of public interest or controversy as determined by a Standing Committee Chair, the Rules and Legislation Committee, or pursuant to Rule 28; or 3) requires a public hearing or is otherwise ineligible by law as a Consent Item.
- The Oakland City Council Special Public Safety Committee Convened At 11:01 A.M. With Councilmember Wang Presiding As Chairperson
- COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP:
- Roll Call / Call To Order
- No Minutes To Be Approved
- 2 Determination Of Schedule Of Outstanding Committee ItemsReport and RecommendationAction: Accepted Passed
A motion was made by Rowena Brown, seconded by Ken Houston, that this matter be Accepted. The motion carried by the following vote:
- 3 Subject: Repeal 2020 Encampment Management Policy And Adopt 2025 Encampment Abatement Policy From: Councilmember Houston Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 88341 To Repeal The 2020 Encampment Management Policy And Replace With A 2025 Encampment Abatement Policy That (A) Defines “Encampment” To Exclude Vehicles And Authorizes Citation And Towing Of Inhabited Vehicles By City Departments Pursuant To The California Vehicle Code And Oakland Vehicle Code; (B) Continues To Require Reasonable Efforts To Make Shelter Offers And 7-Day Notice Prior To Non-Urgent Encampment Closures; And (C) Clarifies Emergency And Urgent Health And Safety Conditions That Authorize Immediate, 24-Hour, Or 72-Hour Notice For Encampment Closures, Including Encampments Blocking Sidewalks; On The December 2, 2025 City Council Agenda On Non-ConsentCity ResolutionAction: Scheduled Passed
A motion was made by Rowena Brown, seconded by Ken Houston, that this matter be Scheduled to go before the *Public Safety Committee. The motion carried by the following vote:
- Open Forum
- Adjournment
- In the event of a quorum of the City Council participates on this Committee, the meeting is noticed as a Special Meeting of the City Council; however no final City Council action can be taken.
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