City Council

The City Council is the governing body of the City of Oakland. Its eight members are elected directly by the citizens of Oakland. The City Council is made up of one representative from each of seven districts and one at-large representative to represent all the residents of Oakland. Oakland has had a mayor-council governing structure since 1998.

The City Council sets goals and priorities for the City. The City Council approves the City budget, adopts ordinances to help the City serve its citizens, and appoints members to various boards and commissions.

Current members of the Oakland City Council are as follows:

Council District 1 - Dan Kalb || [email protected] || @DanKalb
Council District 2 - Nikki Fortunado Bas
Council District 3 - Lynette Gibson McElhaney (Council President) || [email protected] || @LynetteGM
Council District 4 - Sheng Tao
Council District 5 - Noel Gallo || [email protected]
Council District 6 - Loren Taylor
Council District 7 - Larry Reid || [email protected]
At Large - Rebecca Kaplan || [email protected]m || @Kaplan4Oakland

All councilmember terms are 4 years long. The terms are staggered: Group 1 ("1990") is D2, D4, and D6, last elected in 2018 and up for new elections in 2022. Group 2 ("1992") is D1, D3, D5, D7, and D-At Large, last elected in 2020. http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityCouncil/a/CityCharter/index.htm

The Oakland City Council meetings are on the first, third and fifth Tuesdays of the month in Council Chambers on the 3rd floor of City Hall.

Various Committee Meetings are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Council committees meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 9:30 am until convened in Sgt. Mark Dunakin room, on the first floor of City Hall. The Rules and Legislation Committee meets every Thursday at 10:45 am in Council Chambers on the 3rd floor of City Hall. Meeting schedule is subject to change. Please contact the Office of the City Clerk to verify meeting time and location.

Finance and Management Committee: 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Public Works Committee: 11:30 am– 1:30 pm

Community & Economic Development Committee: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Life Enrichment/Education Partnership Committee: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Public Safety Committee: 6:00 pm – until convened

Rules and Legislation Committee: Thursdays at 10:45am

City Council Districts

Every 10 years (or when significant changes in territory occur), Oakland goes through a redistricting process. The City is in the midst of a redistricting process now based on the 2020 Census that is supposed to be completed by the end of 2021.