Subject: Informational Report On Charter Reform Recommendations From: Councilmember Ramachandran And Council President Jenkins Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report From The Mayor’s Charter Reform Working Group

This informational report from Councilmember Ramachandran and Council President Jenkins details the findings and recommendations of the Mayor's Working Group on Charter Reform. The group conducted extensive community outreach and analysis to address governance challenges in Oakland, including fiscal stress, inequities, and a lack of clear authority.

Key Findings:

• Misaligned authority disconnects public expectations from actual powers.
• Weak institutional alignment hinders long-term planning, fiscal discipline, and oversight.
• Organizational complexity leads to inefficiencies and a lack of accountability.

Core Recommendations:

1. Choose One Coherent Model: Adopt either a "Strong Mayor" system (Mayor as chief executive, Council as legislative body) or a "Council-Manager" system (Council as unified legislative body, appoints City Manager). The report leans towards a "Strong Mayor" model.
2. Establish a Clear Executive Structure: Recommend adopting a Strong Mayor system where the Mayor is the chief executive, has veto power over council decisions (overridable by a two-thirds vote), and retains a City Administrator for internal functions. Deputy mayors would lead policy departments.
3. Strengthen the City Council: Establish a permanent legislative and budget analyst office to provide independent analysis, clarify oversight authority, phase out the at-large council seat to create a seven-member council, and explicitly define council service as full-time with a prohibition on outside employment.

Next Steps: The Mayor and City Council will determine which recommendations to advance for a ballot measure, requiring voter approval. Any changes will necessitate a thoughtful transition period. The report also suggests establishing a Charter Review Commission every 10 years to keep the Charter a living document.