Committee Meetings Council Meetings Open Forum Speaker Cards FAQ
Your Guide to Participating in Oakland City Council Meetings
The Oakland City Council has changed its meeting times to better accommodate your participation in Committee and City Council meetings. Council committee meetings are scheduled later in the day and into the evening so you can come after work. The first hour of City Council meetings -- 6 to 7 p.m. -- will be designated for Open Forum, ceremonial presentations, and non-controversial items; from 7 p.m. on, the meeting will focus on items requiring more discussion.
Opportunities to Speak at Council Meetings
1) At the City Council Committee meetings on any individual agenda item.
2) At City Council meetings on any agenda item.
3) During the Open Forum portion of the Committee or Council meetings.
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| Rules and Legislation | Public Works | Finance and Management | Community & Economic Development | Life Enrichment | Education Partnership | Public Safety |
All Council Committees Meet
2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month
From 1:00 p.m. Until 9:00 p.m.
Location: Hearing Room 1, 1st Floor, City Hall
Watch Meetings on the Web
Council Agendas
The Education Partnership Committee will meet only on the 4th Tuesday of every other month, beginning June 2003.
Speaking at a Council Committee Meeting
The City Council encourages public input as early in the decision making process as possible. Council Committee meetings provide the most effective opportunity for you to express your concerns and opinions on agenda items.
To speak at a Committee meeting, submit a speaker card to the City Clerk for each agenda item you wish to address.
a) Beginning at 12 noon on Friday for the upcoming Tuesday meeting, or
b) During the meeting, before the item begins.
Generally, speakers will be given two
The Rules & Legislation Committee ("Rules") meets every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers. It generally makes all scheduling decisions, such as what committee an item will be assigned to and what date it will be heard. Rules also decides what items go on the Consent and Non-consent portions of the full City Council Agenda and whether they will report to the full Council one week or three weeks after being heard in Committee. Any member of the public may propose an agenda item for Council consideration to the Rules Committee, which will then assign the item either to an agenda or to city staff, as appropriate. Rules also considers substantive policy items regarding endorsement of State or Federal Legislation, matters related to elections, matters related to City Council procedures and most items referred by the
Chairperson Ignacio De La Fuente, Dist. 5
Henry Chang, At-Large
Larry Reid, Dist. 7
Danny Wan, Dist. 2
Chairperson Nancy Nadel, Dist. 3
Jean Quan, Dist. 4
Desley Brooks, Dist. 6
Henry Chang, Jr., At-Large
Chairperson Danny Wan, Dist. 2
Jane Brunner, Dist. 1
Vice Mayor Nancy Nadel,Dist. 3
President Ignacio De La Fuente, Dist. 5
Chairperson Jane Brunner, Dist. 1
Larry Reid, Dist. 7
Henry Chang, At-Large
President Ignacio De La Fuente, Dist. 5
Chairperson Henry Chang, At-Large
Jane Brunner, Dist. 1
Jean Quan, Dist. 4
Danny Wan, Dist. 2
Co-Chair Henry Chang, Jr., At-Large
Jean Quan, Dist. 4
Danny Wan, Dist. 2
Jane Brunner, Dist. 1
The Education Partnership Committee will meet only on the 4th Tuesday of every other month, beginning June 2003.
Chairperson Larry Reid, Dist. 7
Vice Mayor Nadel, Dist. 3
Jean Quan, Dist. 4
Desley Brooks, Dist. 6
1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesday of each month
Ceremonial presentations and consent items: 6:00 p.m.
Items requiring discussion -- non-consent: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers, 3rd floor, City Hall
Speaking at a CITY COUNCIL meeting:
Complete a speaker card for each agenda item you wish to address.
Submit the card(s) to the City Clerk:
a) Beginning at 12 noon on Friday for the upcoming Tuesday City Council meeting
b) By 6 p.m. for items agendized from 6 to 7 p.m.
c) Before 7 p.m. for items scheduled for 7 p.m. and later
Cards will no longer be accepted after 7 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
Generally, speakers will have at least two (2) minutes to speak prior to any vote or action by the Council.
Under specific circumstances, the Council President may reduce each speaker's allotted time to one (1) minute.
All speakers on any one item will have the same amount of speaking time.
Open Forum is your opportunity to bring issues to the City Council's attention that are not on the meeting agenda. The City Council cannot take action or comment on these issues. There will be a 15-minute Open Forum at the beginning of the 6 p.m. portion of the City Council meeting and again at the end of the 7 p.m. meeting.
To speak:
Submit a Speaker Card to the City Clerk by 6 p.m.
Generally, speakers will have at least one (1) minute to speak.
If everyone who submitted a speaker card is not heard within the 15-minute period, the City Council will continue Open Forum at the end of the agenda.
You may also submit a speaker card by 7 p.m. to speak at the second Open Forum at the end of the Council meeting.
You can now submit speaker cards to the City Clerk starting at 12 p.m. the Friday before the following Tuesday meeting.
By email to: cityclerk@oaklandnet.com
By fax: (510) 238-6699
In person at the Office of the City Clerk, 2nd floor of City Hall
Include your name, the date of the meeting, the item number you wish to address, and indicate "for" or "against".
If my neighborhood or interest group wants to speak on an issue, can we organize our presentation?
Yes. You are strongly encouraged to designate a spokesperson(s) to represent the position of multiple speakers. Please contact the City Clerk ahead of time to assist you in arranging your presentation.
How much time does an organization or group have to speak?
The City Council President (or presiding officer) will allot an appropriate amount of time to address the Council on behalf of all the speakers.
Can I cede my allotted time to another speaker?
Ceding time is allowed only when the presiding officer allots less than two (2) minutes per speaker on an agenda item. You will receive one (1) additional minute from each ceding speaker, up to a maximum of five (5) minutes. You must submit the ceding speakers' speaker cards and they must be present when you speak.
How will I know what is on the City Council agenda?
The City Council and Committee meeting agendas are available ten (10) days before the meeting at the following locations:
1) On the City's official website: Council Agendas
2) At the Office of the City Clerk, 2nd floor, City Hall
3) At the Main Library
4) On a bulletin board in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
Can members of the public submit items for scheduling?
Yes. Any member of the public may propose an agenda item for Council consideration to the Rules Committee, which will then assign the item either to an agenda or to city staff, as appropriate.
What is the difference between an action item, a consent item, a non-consent item, and an informational item?
An action item is a resolution, ordinance, public hearing, or recommendation requiring official vote and approval of the City Council.
A consent item is forwarded to City Council by a City Council Committee with unanimous recommendation for approval by the full Council.
A non-consent item is one that a Committee has forwarded to the City Council without unanimous recommendation for approval, or that has a high level of public interest or controversy as determined by the Rules Committee.
An informational item consists of an informational report and does not require or permit Council action.