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Agenda Item
6.13 26-0523 Subject: Purchase Of Real Property At 3105 San Pablo Ave For A Hoover Library
From: Oakland Public Library And Councilmember Fife
Recommendation: Adopt An Ordinance: (1) Authorizing The City Administrator To Negotiate And Execute A Purchase And Sale Agreement With 3105 San Pablo, LLC To Acquire The Improved Real Property Located At 3105 San Pablo Avenue In Oakland, California, For $3,495,000 And Related Due Diligence And Closing Costs, For Redevelopment As A Hoover Branch Library; And
(2) Reallocating $242,000 Of Measure KK Funds For The Property Acquisition; And
(3) Adopting California Environmental Quality Act Findings
As a District 3, West Oakland resident, I strongly support the immediate purchase of this property to reestablish a library. The council should act without delay to acquire the building, secure a permanent parking solution, and commit the funding necessary to fully renovate and reopen it. West Oakland deserves access to a fully functioning library, and this is a critical investment in our community’s future.
I ask the Council to support the capital appropriations needed to build the Hoover Durant library. We are at a historic juncture to reconstitute this branch, closed 45 years ago, to address an injustice in this underserved neighborhood with many children and schools.
Also I urge you to fully fund the Library Services Retention and Enhancement Act (Measure C), including the additional $2.7 million from the General Purpose Fund for Oakland Public Library. I also ask that the Council restore the $14.5 million General Fund appropriation to OPL's budget for FY2026–27 and include electrical and energy upgrades at multiple branches in the next bond sale.
As a Board Director of the Friends of the Oakland Public Library, I have seen first hand how OPL delivers essential services to children, youth, families, and adults across Oakland — including residents who are difficult to reach through other city programs. The library is one of the few institutions that meets people where they are, regardless of income, age, or background.
I am writing to urge your support for several critical items related to the Oakland Public Library (OPL).
First, following the Life Enrichment Committee's vote on March 24th, I urge the full Council to approve the land purchase at 3105 San Pablo Avenue for the Hoover-Durant Branch Library. Reconstituting this branch, which has been closed for 45 years, is a vital step toward addressing systemic service gaps in an underserved neighborhood. I also request that the Council support the capital appropriations necessary to complete this project.
Second, I ask that you fully fund the Library Services Retention and Enhancement Act (Measure C), including the $2.7 million allocation from the General Purpose Fund. Furthermore, please restore the $14.5 million General Fund appropriation to the OPL budget for FY2026–27 and include funding for essential electrical and energy upgrades in the upcoming bond sale.
In my experience as a former Library Commissioner and current Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Friends of Elmhurst Library, I have seen how OPL provides essential services to Oakland’s most vulnerable residents. While I recognize the city's current fiscal constraints, budget adjustments should not come at the expense of core public services that enable our community to thrive.
Thank you for your time and your leadership on these important issues.
--redress the unfair decision to close the branch library 45 years ago
--support truly public spaces and hyper-locally responsive services that libraries provide
A fuller rationale for supporting a yes on this consent item is in my email message to Council members and others.
I encourage you to support this agenda item. On March 24, the Life Enrichment Committee voted to approve the allocation of funds for the land purchase for the Hoover-Durant Branch Library. I urge the full Council to approve the purchase of the property at 3105 San Pablo Ave.
For more information, please see the Friends of the Hoover Durant Public Library (FOHDPL) website linked here (https://www.fohdpl.org), and the Hoover Branch Library Feasibility Study page on the City of Oakland Website linked here (https://www.oaklandca.gov/Community/Library/Projects/Re-imagining-Two-Oakland-Public-Library-Experiences/Hoover-Branch-Library-Feasibility-Study).
I also urge you to fully fund the Library Services Retention and Enhancement Act (Measure C), including the additional $2.7 million from the General Fund for Oakland Public Library. Lastly, I ask that the Council restore the $14.5 million General Fund appropriation to OPL's budget for FY26–27 and include electrical and energy upgrades at multiple branches in the next bond sale.
I am writing to urge your support on items related to the Oakland Public Library.
First, on March 24, the Life Enrichment Committee voted to approve the allocation of funds for the land purchase for the Hoover-Durant Branch Library. I urge the full Council to approve the purchase of the property at 3105 San Pablo Ave. We are at a historic juncture to reconstitute this branch, closed 45 years ago, to address an injustice in this underserved neighborhood with many children and schools. This is also an opportunity to support a community that has advocated long and hard for the library services that every Oakland neighborhood deserves.
Second, I urge you to fully fund the Library Services Retention and Enhancement Act (Measure C), including the additional $2.7 million from the General Fund for Oakland Public Library. I also ask that the Council restore the $14.5 million General Fund appropriation to OPL's budget for FY26–27 and include electrical and energy upgrades at multiple branches in the next bond sale.
As Advocacy Chair of the Friends of the Oakland Public Library and former Chair of the City of Oakland Library Commission, I have seen firsthand how OPL delivers essential services to children, youth, families, and adults across Oakland — including residents who are difficult to reach through other city programs.
As a District 3, West Oakland resident, I strongly support the immediate purchase of this property to reestablish a library. The council should act without delay to acquire the building, secure a permanent parking solution, and commit the funding necessary to fully renovate and reopen it. West Oakland deserves access to a fully functioning library, and this is a critical investment in our community’s future.
I ask the Council to support the capital appropriations needed to build the Hoover Durant library. We are at a historic juncture to reconstitute this branch, closed 45 years ago, to address an injustice in this underserved neighborhood with many children and schools.
Also I urge you to fully fund the Library Services Retention and Enhancement Act (Measure C), including the additional $2.7 million from the General Purpose Fund for Oakland Public Library. I also ask that the Council restore the $14.5 million General Fund appropriation to OPL's budget for FY2026–27 and include electrical and energy upgrades at multiple branches in the next bond sale.
As a Board Director of the Friends of the Oakland Public Library, I have seen first hand how OPL delivers essential services to children, youth, families, and adults across Oakland — including residents who are difficult to reach through other city programs. The library is one of the few institutions that meets people where they are, regardless of income, age, or background.
Thanks, Colleen Haikes
I am writing to urge your support for several critical items related to the Oakland Public Library (OPL).
First, following the Life Enrichment Committee's vote on March 24th, I urge the full Council to approve the land purchase at 3105 San Pablo Avenue for the Hoover-Durant Branch Library. Reconstituting this branch, which has been closed for 45 years, is a vital step toward addressing systemic service gaps in an underserved neighborhood. I also request that the Council support the capital appropriations necessary to complete this project.
Second, I ask that you fully fund the Library Services Retention and Enhancement Act (Measure C), including the $2.7 million allocation from the General Purpose Fund. Furthermore, please restore the $14.5 million General Fund appropriation to the OPL budget for FY2026–27 and include funding for essential electrical and energy upgrades in the upcoming bond sale.
In my experience as a former Library Commissioner and current Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Friends of Elmhurst Library, I have seen how OPL provides essential services to Oakland’s most vulnerable residents. While I recognize the city's current fiscal constraints, budget adjustments should not come at the expense of core public services that enable our community to thrive.
Thank you for your time and your leadership on these important issues.
--redress the unfair decision to close the branch library 45 years ago
--support truly public spaces and hyper-locally responsive services that libraries provide
A fuller rationale for supporting a yes on this consent item is in my email message to Council members and others.
Dear City Councilmembers,
I encourage you to support this agenda item. On March 24, the Life Enrichment Committee voted to approve the allocation of funds for the land purchase for the Hoover-Durant Branch Library. I urge the full Council to approve the purchase of the property at 3105 San Pablo Ave.
For more information, please see the Friends of the Hoover Durant Public Library (FOHDPL) website linked here (https://www.fohdpl.org), and the Hoover Branch Library Feasibility Study page on the City of Oakland Website linked here (https://www.oaklandca.gov/Community/Library/Projects/Re-imagining-Two-Oakland-Public-Library-Experiences/Hoover-Branch-Library-Feasibility-Study).
I also urge you to fully fund the Library Services Retention and Enhancement Act (Measure C), including the additional $2.7 million from the General Fund for Oakland Public Library. Lastly, I ask that the Council restore the $14.5 million General Fund appropriation to OPL's budget for FY26–27 and include electrical and energy upgrades at multiple branches in the next bond sale.
Thank you,
Rafael Henriquez
I am writing to urge your support on items related to the Oakland Public Library.
First, on March 24, the Life Enrichment Committee voted to approve the allocation of funds for the land purchase for the Hoover-Durant Branch Library. I urge the full Council to approve the purchase of the property at 3105 San Pablo Ave. We are at a historic juncture to reconstitute this branch, closed 45 years ago, to address an injustice in this underserved neighborhood with many children and schools. This is also an opportunity to support a community that has advocated long and hard for the library services that every Oakland neighborhood deserves.
Second, I urge you to fully fund the Library Services Retention and Enhancement Act (Measure C), including the additional $2.7 million from the General Fund for Oakland Public Library. I also ask that the Council restore the $14.5 million General Fund appropriation to OPL's budget for FY26–27 and include electrical and energy upgrades at multiple branches in the next bond sale.
As Advocacy Chair of the Friends of the Oakland Public Library and former Chair of the City of Oakland Library Commission, I have seen firsthand how OPL delivers essential services to children, youth, families, and adults across Oakland — including residents who are difficult to reach through other city programs.
Thank you,
Kathryn Sterbenc