Public Safety Ballot Measure Certified as Oakland Sets Packed Spring Agenda

Oakland's Rules & Legislation Committee moved more than 30 items through the legislative pipeline on Feb. 26, certifying a citizen-initiated public safety ballot measure for the June 2026 election while fast-tracking a gender-affirming care resolution ahead of expected federal restrictions. The session also revealed friction between council members and the administration over transparency — from a homelessness plan unveiled without elected officials' knowledge to cooperative purchasing deals that lacked basic vendor details.

• Citizen-initiated public safety and accountability measure certified for June 2, 2026 special election with urgency finding to meet a March 6 filing deadline

• Gender-affirming care resolution fast-tracked directly to Council, bypassing committee, as federal HHS rules restricting care loom

• $80.5 million in state affordable housing funds for two projects scheduled for committee review

• $40 million parcel tax proposal shelved indefinitely with no timeline for return

• Council member blasts administration for publicly unveiling homelessness plan without briefing elected officials

• SB 79 dense housing near BART heads to Council after an amendment to exclude three stations fails

• $8 million in cooperative purchasing deals delayed as members demand vendor transparency

The committee certified the Oakland Public Safety, Cleanliness and Community Accountability Act of 2026, a citizen-initiated petition that will now appear on the June 2, 2026 statewide primary ballot as a special municipal election.