Curious about the latest on increasing the minimum wage in Oakland? Here you go:

This week, on Tuesday, April 29, the Community & Economic Development (CEDA) Committee of the Oakland City Council heard an item presented by Oakland City Councilmember & Vice Mayor Larry Reid to increase the minimum wage in Oakland to $10.20/hour next year, about one year and ten cents ahead of the already approved state increase in the minimum wage, but with some very important exceptions (trainees, youth employment, etc.). The primary alternative proposal, which continues moving forward, is a voter initiative currently gathering signatures to go on the November ballot and increase the minimum wage to $12.25 next year with no exceptions and requires paid sick leave and other measures as well.

The item was heard, no action taken, and staff was directed to conduct additional research and outreach. The Chamber's input on the issue was reflected in the staff report and discussion of the item. Specifically, based on the survey results (see below or in the latest Oakland Business Review) our new President & CEO Barbara Leslie provided the following public comment recommendations for any minimum wage policy for Oakland:

1. Transparency: Any minimum wage policy should not be crafted behind closed doors by special interests. It should be enacted through a transparent legislative process.
2. Sustainability: There are currently important questions to be asked relative to any proposed wage increase. How much? How fast? What areas should it cover? Who will be the winners and losers? Are there any businesses or industries that should be exempted or treated differently (small businesses, non-profits, and/or tipped employee businesses like restaurants, for example)? What will be the unintended consequences of some proposals? 
3. Regionalism: The greater the region covered by the proposal, the better for Oakland employers and workers because it ensures a level playing field and broader regional benefits. What happens when a business is choosing to locate on the Oakland/San Leandro or Oakland/Emeryville border and they can reach the same market with lower labor costs? They may not choose Oakland. Further, whatever policy we adopt locally or regionally, we should advocate on a broader scale.

Here is a link to the original staff report including a cover letter from Vice Mayor Reid.

Here is a link to the supplemental report with updated information about proposals across the region.

The CEDA Committee is Chaired by Vice Mayor Larry Reid, and includes Councilmembers Libby Schaaf, Lynette Gibson-McElhaney, and Pat Kernighan. Click on any of their names if you would like to send them an e-mail regarding this issue.

If you would like to see the complete survey results, please check out the latest edition (May 2014) of the Oakland Business Review. Here's one graphic showing that the majority of respondents felt they would not benefit from an increase in the minimum wage, with a plurality not sure or saying it depends on the details:

Ed Forum- 1 Week Away RSVP Today

To RSVP contact Paul Junge | OMCC Public Policy Director

 at (510) 874-4817 or email: pjunge@oaklandchamber.com

Just Stay Baby

Just stay. It’s a simple way to sum it all up.

Here’s how a good friend describes the Raiders’ experience. It describes why the Raiders are one of Oakland’s leading economic development lights and why we as a business community should do everything we can to keep them.

"The three-hour drive to Oakland is worth every minute just to be a part of one of the most unique cultural celebrations in North America – a Raiders home game. Since the last game, a day has not gone by without a laughter-filled conversation about going to a Raiders game as a family. The Raider Nation is alive and well and the experience lives up to the all the hype." – Josh Cook, Chico, CA.

The Raider Nation in Oakland is arguably the most passionate and loyal group of fans in the history of American sports. The team owns a storied history in Oakland, with championships in 1976 and 1980.

Last season, nearly a half-million people came through the turnstiles, many from far beyond the I-880 corridor. Raider fans spend money in Oakland. Raider fans drive national visibility for Oakland. Raider fans hella love Oakland.

The legacy of Al Davis looms large over the franchise, its fans and our city. Young fans are indoctrinated into the Raider Nation by learning some of Al Davis's (literally) trademarked slogans: "Pride and Poise," "Commitment to Excellence," and "Just Win, Baby." Photos of famed players hang in the lobby of the Tribune Tower.

But Raider Nation is far more valuable than just slogans. The most recent Forbes NFL franchise valuations show 19 of 32 clubs being worth at least $1 billion. In Major League Baseball, only the Yankees have a valuation of over $1 billion, as ranked by Forbes.

And the economic importance of the Raiders makes it to the grassroots as well. During last year’s lockout, the NFL Players Association estimated that shutting down the league would cost each city $140 million in revenue. The NFL supports about 110,000 jobs in NFL cities and adds about $5 billion to the economies of those cities (according to Edgeworth Economics).

Let’s be very clear, the Raiders are a nearly billion-dollar enterprise in the midst of our city. Shouldn’t we do everything we can to find them a new home in the city and grow jobs and the economy at the same time?

Oakland is the epicenter of Bay Area sports. We host to the Raiders, the A’s and the Warriors. While two of the teams are making noises about leaving, the Raiders, by way of Amy Trask and Mark Davis, Al’s son, have consistently said that the city, the community, and the fans make this their number one choice for a home for generations to come. Our job as East Bay business leaders is to ensure it stays that way. Let’s win baby.

P.S. – As an aside, if you have read this far, you know the value that the Oakland Business Review has to you, your business and your customers. Please take a moment to consider advertising in some of our upcoming editions and in our on-line properties. You’ll get huge bang for your marketing buck.

Dan Cohen, a principal at Full Court Press, a full-service public relations, public affairs and crisis communications agency in downtown Oakland, is a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and is chair of the Communications Department.

Workforce Investment Board Community Meeting

Attention Chamber business owners, employees, and workforce partners: 
You are invited to attend a meeting sponsored by the City of Oakland's Workforce Investment Board and hosted by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to discuss workforce training and employment services needs important to your business and industry.  The Workforce Investment Board is planning to issue a Request for Proposals for workforce development services and is seeking input from community and business stakeholders.

WHERE:         Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 475  14th Street, Oakland

DATE:             Wednesday, August 15, 2012

TIME:             3:00 - 5:00pm

For more information on this important meeting, please contact: Lorraine Giordano, Office of Workforce and Economic Development at the City of Oakland at 510.238.3630 or by email: lgiordano[at]oaklandnet.com for more details.

Possible Oakland Law Discourages Investment

The Oakland City Council is considering a bill that would put new regulations and fees on the purchase of residential investment property.  Proponents of the measure acknowledge it is meant to place controls on who can invest and how much they can invest in Oakland.

It’s called Non-Owner Occupied Residential Building Registration, and it would require owners to register each residential building with the City which is not occupied by the owner and pay substantial fees to be determined by the City.

The registration requirement will include providing a written Property Report in an approved format to the City by an approved local individual or firm.  The report will include an interior and exterior inspection of the premises attesting to the conditions of the property including readily apparent violations of various City codes.

The failure of an owner to comply with the provisions of these new requirements will receive violation notices for each building immediately subject to abatement actions and fees, assessment of penalties and fines, and collection actions. Each and every day a violation of any provision of this proposed law exists would constitute a separate and distinct offense.  The penalties in this new law are in addition to and do not supersede or limit any other remedies, whether civil or criminal, including demolition or receivership by the City.

 The matter was heard yesterday by the Community & Economic Committee.  Many objections were raised and further consideration of the ordinance was postponed to September.

Oakland City Council Committee Meetings on March 27, 2012

Public Works 10:30 am  Chair – Nancy Nadel

No items to highlight

Finance & Management  Noon  Chair – Ignacio De La Fuente

-              Require City Administrator to get Council approval before extending banking contract

-              Open Data Policy (from Schaaf) get city info on web for people to access

Community & Economic Development  2pm  Chair – Jane Brunner

-              Lake Merritt BART Preferred Development plan

-              Economic Development Strategy for the City

-              Review schedule to declare Enforceable Obligations – shutting down Redevelopment Agency

-              $873,497 from Army Base lease revenue to keep staff members

Life Enrichment  4pm   Chair – Desley Brooks

Meeting Cancelled

Public Safety  5:30 pm    Chair – Patricia Kernighan

-              Cabaret Hours Pilot Program – set to expire April 2012 extend it to May 2014

Economic Development Forum Next Week – Program Confirmed

Join us at the Chamber on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 from 3-4:30 PM for a great Economic Development Forum on the Proposed Gateway Park Development at the base of the east span of the Bay Bridge and a discussion of Alameda County transportation for the 21st century, the 2012 Measure B Reauthorization. Please bring your questions and observations for an engaged discussion.

Gateway Park

Over 10 years ago, the Bay Bridge design team identified a unique opportunity to create a park that would provide a memorable gateway to Oakland at the point where the new bridge touches down in the East Bay. The park would offer an unprecedented way to experience the Bay and the new bridge. Representatives of nine agencies are working to explore the possibilities of a new park for local residents, commuters, businesses, international travelers, environmentalists, boaters, cyclists, and others. Mike Anderson, Assistant General Manager Planning Stewardship, Design and Construction of the East Bay Regional Park District  and Leslie Pritchett, Project Co-Director of the Friends of the Gateway (FOG) will share their take on the project.

Measure B Reauthorization for the 2012 Ballot

Measure B, Alameda County's half-cent transportation sales tax, was originally approved in 1986, which brought revenue into Alameda County and enabled transportation projects to move forward. The funds went to administering timely project and program delivery on capital projects, local transportation, transit operations, and special transportation programs like paratransit. Voters reauthorized the half-cent sales tax in November 2000 to deliver a fresh set of transportation improvements including bicycle and pedestrian safety and transit center development. In 2000, The Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (ACTIA) was created to deliver the new set of authorized projects. In June of 2010, the ACTIA merged with the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency (ACCMA) whose primary responsibility is to coordinate a congestion management program, designed to assist local governments in tackling the complex problem of traffic congestion. The newly formed agency is called the Alameda County Transportation Commission and aims to enhance mobility throughout Alameda County. In November 2012, Measure B will go to the ballot again. Join us as we hear from Alameda’s CTC first top leader, Arthur L. Dao, Executive Director Alameda County Transportation Commission.

Also, mark your calendars for:

à Next month’s Economic Development Forum on December 14^th at 3pm will be both a holiday-themed mixer + educational forum presentation.

Meet our New Economic Development Director!

Hi there Chamber Blog readers,

My name is Eleanor Hollander and I just started as the Economic Development Director at the Oakland Chamber. I recently moved to the Bay Area from Chicago, where I was working as the manager for a large multi-neighborhood special service area (similar to Oakland’s business improvement districts). My background is in city planning and I am very much looking forward to getting to know Oakland. So far, I have found everyone that I have met here to be kind and generous with both their time and information. This really is the ‘bright side of the bay!’

Last week, we had a great Economic Development Forum meeting that was planned by my colleagues and committee chairs. Three excellent presenters shared their time with us. They included:

• Jim Falaschi, Chairman of Transbay Holdings, who gave an update on the leasing and development progress in Jack London Square
• Debbie Hauser the Executive Director of the Airport Area Business Association (AABA) described the AABA’s progress in developing a BID in the airport area.
• Chris Jackson, Executive Director of the Rockridge Business Improvement District described how his organization has helped their merchant members promote their businesses in a number of ways from organizing street fairs and engaging in marketing efforts, to interfacing with local schools.

Next month, on November 9 at 3pm, the Economic Development Forum will cover the Measure B Reauthorization and the Gateway Park Project development at the base of the east span of the Bay Bridge. Please join us!