from the Oakland Chamber of Commerce
Sick Leave Policy Passes with Key Amendments
On May 12 the Council passed an expanded Emergency Sick Leave policy authored by Councilmembers Thao, Kalb, and Taylor to extend the federal government's emergency paid sick leave two-week requirement to employers - including nonprofits and franchises - that have over 500 employees globally, regardless of how many are in Oakland. The federal sick leave expansion applied only to employers with under 500 workers and provided some exemptions for those with under 50. Oakland's sick leave ordinance increases the amount employers with between 50-500 workers will have to pay in certain instances and also requires all employers with over 50 employees to pay out sick leave accrued under Oakland's Measure FF to laid off workers.
The Chamber successfully advocated for key amendments including a clearer total exemption for small employers under 50 and an amendment to protect nonprofits and employers that already provide generous paid time off. There are many aspects of the ordinance that remain unclear and will need to be addressed through regulations and FAQs that have yet to be released, despite the law taking effect on May 12.
City Proposes 5% or More Increase to All Fees
The City Administration released its annual proposal for adjustments to fees the city charges for services provided to the public, called the Master Fee Schedule. Under state law, cities are not allowed to charge a fee that exceeds what it costs to perform the associated service - otherwise it is deemed a tax and should be subject to voter approval. These can be anything from the cost of renting a picnic area to reviewing the plans for major housing developments. The City Administration is proposing to increase all fees by 5 percent fee to cover COLA increases included in various labor agreements. It will be considered at the May 26th Special Budget Council Meeting.
Fee Changes of Note:
Minimum Wage Enforcement: Instead of charging $23 flat rate per business for minimum wage enforcement, it will now be applied as $5 per employee. It’s expected to raise the same amount of money but in a more equitable way based on size.
Parcel Maps: OakDOT is increasing the flat rate it charges for reviewing a subdivision parcel map and final map by 102 percent, from $1,792 to $3,615 and from $1,992 to $4033 respectively
Small Cell Telecommunications Lease: Economic and Workforce development is adding an Administrative Processing Fee for new small cell telecommunications lease or license of $750 per individual request. If submitted in a batch of 10 or more, it is $500 per request.
Pre-Application Meetings: Planning and Building is adding a new fee for pre-application meetings that involve multiple departments of $1275 per meeting
Inspection Cancellations: Planning and Building is adding two new fees if an inspection is cancelled by an owner/agent of owner. If the inspector is en route or at the site it is $189 and with less than 48 hours’ notice it’s $70.
SRO and Hotel Code Inspections: Planning and Building is adding a Single Room Occupancy Hotel inspection fee of a flat $3852 for up to 49 units and $604 per unit above 49. It’s also changing the way it charges other hotels inspections fees. Instead of a flat rate for hotels over 50 rooms, it will be charged as $336 per room over 49 plus the flat rate of $7286 for the first 49 rooms
Inspection of Private Infrastructure: It also appears Planning and building will restructure the inspection fee for private infrastructure to potentially charge more for larger projects. The previous fee maxed out at $117,000 for projects with construction value over $2.5 million. The new structure divides that into two fees, one for review and one for the actual inspection. The actual inspection fees charges more as projects increase in value up to $50 million.