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Agenda Item
9 24-0669 Subject: Report On Coliseum Land Sale, Contingency Budget, And Strategic Planning Process
From: Council President Fortunato Bas
Recommendation: Receive An Oral Informational Report From The City Administrator On The Status Of: (1) The Coliseum Land Sale, (2) The Contingency Budget, Including Safety Operations Of Police, Fire, And Violence Prevention, And (3) The Citywide Strategic Planning Process, Including Fiscal Sustainability
I am concerned that Oakland’s Senior Centers will be at risk should the revenues from the sale of the coliseum fail to arrive by September 1 2024.
The closure of the city’s three senior centers is not a part of Exhibit 3 (the list of cuts that will be triggered on September 1 if Coliseum revenues are not received). However, the adopted Mid-Cycle Budget Resolution grants to the City Administrator broad powers to take the measures he deems necessary to preserve the fiscal health of the city. Moreover, the closure of 3 senior centers was included as a potential savings on the list of Alternative Balancing Measures (Attachment B to the June 28 budget hearing packet). Nothing is stopping the City Administrator from taking action to close senior centers should the Coliseum revenue fail to show up.
We urge the City Council to take steps to clearly and explicitly prevent the City Administrator from closing the senior centers and other senior services that are essential for the health and safety of Oakland's older residents.
5,000 seniors rely on Oakland senior centers for connection to services and community engagement. 1,000 vulnerable seniors rely on senior center meals programs and food pantries in order to eat.
Closing senior centers would result in a loss of more than $700,000 in revenues to the city in the form of a county Information & Assistance program grant, federal Senior Companion Program grant, and rental fees.
I am concerned that Oakland’s Senior Centers will be at risk should the revenues from the sale of the coliseum fail to arrive by September 1 2024.
The closure of the city’s three senior centers is not a part of Exhibit 3 (the list of cuts that will be triggered on September 1 if Coliseum revenues are not received). However, the adopted Mid-Cycle Budget Resolution grants to the City Administrator broad powers to take the measures he deems necessary to preserve the fiscal health of the city. Moreover, the closure of 3 senior centers was included as a potential savings on the list of Alternative Balancing Measures (Attachment B to the June 28 budget hearing packet). Nothing is stopping the City Administrator from taking action to close senior centers should the Coliseum revenue fail to show up.
We urge the City Council to take steps to clearly and explicitly prevent the City Administrator from closing the senior centers and other senior services that are essential for the health and safety of Oakland's older residents.
5,000 seniors rely on Oakland senior centers for connection to services and community engagement. 1,000 vulnerable seniors rely on senior center meals programs and food pantries in order to eat.
Closing senior centers would result in a loss of more than $700,000 in revenues to the city in the form of a county Information & Assistance program grant, federal Senior Companion Program grant, and rental fees.