Oakley · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Oakley public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Cemetery consolidation proposal
Two BBK Union Cemetery trustees warned that Supervisor Burgess plans to replace the board to consolidate the cemetery with Alamo-Lafayette, potentially diverting East County tax dollars to Alamo's $3.5 million debt. They'll present more at the November 10 meeting.
New Senior Public Works Inspector Position
Instead of paying contractors $248K-$600K a year for construction inspection, the city will hire an in-house inspector at about $186K, saving roughly $200K annually.
Hybrid meeting minutes format
Councilmember Shaw asked to rethink how minutes are prepared — blending the old detailed style with the current summary — and Williams added a review of technology to ease staff workload.
Possible reallocation of saved election funds to the library
The library served about 8,200 patrons last year — more than half of Oakley's youth — ran 241 free programs, and handed out 333 cards to second graders. All free, with no overdue fines.
Council appointments for Districts 2 and 4
No one ran against the two incumbent council members, so the council got to pick between appointing them or holding a $31K-$50K election anyway. They chose appointment, meaning Districts 2 and 4 won't appear on your November ballot.
FY 2026/27 City Budget Adoption
The Council got a deep dive on the city's General Fund, the 10-year plan, and reserves, including CalPERS and unfunded liability. These numbers set the stage for everything the city can fund next year.
Street Lighting and Landscape Assessment District No. 1
A consultant explained how Landscape and Lighting Assessment Districts and the Community Facilities District work. These special districts fund things like streetlights and landscaping in specific neighborhoods.
City Manager compensation increase and bonus
The city manager gets a 7% raise to $333,596 starting July 1 plus a one-time $15,589 retention bonus. Total cost to the general fund is about $43,400 a year once benefits are included. The raise is about 4 points above this year's cost-of-living adjustment.
November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election
The council formally called the general municipal election for council Districts 2 and 4. Candidate filing runs July 13 to August 7, with a $25 filing fee.
City council salary/stipend review
The council chose not to raise its $800/month stipend, though state law would now allow up to about $882 (5%) or about $848 (CPI). Members asked that the topic return every few years so compensation doesn't fall a decade behind again.
Mid-year budget health
The city's general fund is balanced without one-time money, but development is slow so impact fees are coming in under budget, and stormwater and lighting funds are running deficits that staff will address at the April 23 budget retreat.
City-owned House Leases on Dutch Slough and Jersey Island Roads
The council was set to approve amended lease agreements for three city-owned houses at 1821 Dutch Slough Road, 5890 Jersey Island Road, and 5920 Jersey Island Road, but staff pulled the item for a future agenda.
Senior Meal Program Funding Gap at Studio 55
Contra Costa County reduced the Café Costa meal allocation for Studio 55 from about 409 to 282 meals per month starting January 2026 due to demand outpacing county estimates region-wide. The city will cover the shortfall through June using general fund contingency funds, and new enrollment will be limited to Oakley residents.
Labor Agreements / Project Labor Agreement Research Request
Councilmember Williams asked staff to take extra time researching labor agreement questions — local-hire goals, apprenticeship pipelines, and reporting requirements — before a future work session on a possible project labor agreement, then withdrew the request after a tense exchange with Councilmember Fuller.