Committee approves vacant property tax ordinance amendments, continues revenue collection report, and receives Q1 cash management report
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The Oakland City Council Special Finance & Management Committee met on November 18, 2025 at 9:30 AM in the City Council Chamber, 3rd Floor. Chair Janani Ramachandran and members Charlene Wang, Rowena Brown, and Zac Unger (present 4) acted on four docket items: accepted the schedule of outstanding committee items; approved Finance Department recommendations to amend the Vacant Property Tax ordinance and forwarded the ordinance to the December 2, 2025 City Council agenda on consent; continued the informational Special Revenue Collection Project to April 21, 2026; and received and filed the FY 2025-2026 first quarter cash management report (quarter ended September 30, 2025). The meeting convened at 9:32 AM and adjourned at 10:09 AM.
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Key decisions
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- Accepted the Determination of Schedule of Outstanding Committee Items (Item 2).
- Approved the Finance Department recommendation to amend Oakland Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 4.56 (Vacant Property Tax) — adding an exemption for parcels that change ownership after assessment, requiring hearing officers to include findings of fact, and establishing a 12-month petition period — and forwarded the ordinance to the December 2, 2025 City Council agenda on consent (Item 3).
- Continued the Informational Report on the Special Revenue Collection Project (Item 4) to the April 21, 2026 Finance & Management Committee meeting.
- Received and filed the Cash Management Report for FY 2025-2026 first quarter ended September 30, 2025 (Item 5).
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Meeting information
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*Special Finance & Management Committee
Agenda
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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 Finance And Management Committee Convened At 9:32 A.M. With Councilmember Ramachandran Presiding As Chairperson
- COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP:
- Roll Call / Call To Order
- No Minutes To Be Approved
- Determination Of Schedule Of Outstanding Committee Items
- Subject: Vacant Property Tax Ordinance Amendments From: Finance Department Recommendation: Adopt A Ordinance Amending Oakland Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 4.56, Vacant Property Tax To (1) Add An Exemption For Parcels That Change Ownership After Assessment, (2) Require The Hearing Officer To Include Findings Of Fact In Their Decisions, And (3) Establish A Twelve Month Time Period Within Which Owners Of Parcels Deemed Vacant And Assessed The Vacant Property Tax Must File A Petition To Reverse The Assessment, Claim An Exemption, Or To Seek Refund Of Taxes Paid
- Subject: Informational Report On Special Revenue Collection Project From: Councilmember Kaplan And Councilmember Ramachandran Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report From The City Administrator Or Their Designee On The Special Revenue Collection Project, Including Hiring And Activating The Work To Bring In Additional Revenue From Non-Filed Businesses
- Subject: Cash Management Report For FY 2025-2026 First Quarter Ended September 30th, 2025 From: Finance Department Recommendation: Receive The Informational Cash Management Report For Fiscal Year 2025-2026 First Quarter Ended September 30, 2025
- 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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- MATERIALS RELATED TO ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGENDA PACKETS MAY BE VIEWED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, 1 FRANK H. OGAWA PLAZA, 1ST AND 2ND FLOOR, OAKLAND, CA 94612 FROM 8:30 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M.
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