City Employee Raises, Potential Censure of Colleague on City Council's Agenda

A potential wrist-slap for Oakland City Councilmember Desley Brooks and a 2 percent cost of living raise for city employees are on the agenda for a special city council meeting Thursday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Council President Patricia Kernighan is asking council members to censure Brooks in connection with the development of a teen center in her East Oakland district. 

Last month the Alameda County civil grand jury issued a report criticizing the way City of Oakland officials oversaw the development of the center, calling the process "a complete fiasco."

The report didn't mention Brooks by name, but it said, "One council member stepped out of their role on the council and inappropriately made administrative decisions throughout the process, often with full knowledge and complicity of city staff."

You may read more about the Grand Jury report in the Rockridge Patch article "Grand Jury Report Calls City's Development of Teen Center a 'Fiasco'" here.

The agenda also includes the first reading of an ordinance that would grant a 2 percent cost of living adjustment to most of the city's non-public safety employees for fiscl year 2013-14 and an additional 1 percent increase the following year.

The proposal is in line with recent agreements reached with several employee unions.

If approved, the salary increases will return to the council for a final reading and approval on Aug. 2.

You may see the complete agenda on the City of Oakland website here.

The meeting will be broadcast live on KTOP-TV, the city's government access channel (Comcast channel 10, AT&T U-Verse 99, live streaming).

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