Executive authority
The mayor would become the chief executive officer, with broad department-management and personnel authority, subject to civil-service provisions and Charter exceptions. The City Administrator would remain, with Finance and Human Resources as guaranteed responsibilities and other duties assigned by the mayor. §§ 305, 503–504.
Council and the mayoral veto
Council would remain eight members and the mayor would lose the existing tie-breaking vote. The mayor would gain a veto over most resolutions and ordinances, subject to listed exceptions. Most overrides would require six Council votes. Budget and line-item vetoes have a separate process. §§ 200, 210, 801.
Appointment checks
Council would confirm the City Administrator and permanent heads of Human Resources, Finance, and specified infrastructure departments. Most other department-head appointments would not require confirmation. There are also timing rules for confirmations and interim appointments. §§ 305(n), 600.
Attendance and public meetings
The mayor and City Administrator could attend routine Council meetings through designees. The mayor would still have to personally deliver an annual state-of-the-city address. The mayor and designated staff would also have to conduct four additional public meetings each year. §§ 305, 504(b).
Oversight and constituent services
The measure preserves Council inquiry and constituent-service follow-up rights, includes investigation and subpoena tools, and authorizes an independent budget and legislative analyst office. Those provisions could improve the Council’s access to information. We do not believe they justify the broader concentration of executive power in this package. §§ 207, 218, 405.
Compensation and costs
New salary-setting criteria would apply through the Public Ethics Commission. The City Auditor estimates a total first-year cost of $2.0–$2.6 million, including Council compensation increases and an analyst office. The measure does not prescribe a fixed salary increase.
Common questions
Does a No vote mean Oakland’s current system is perfect?
No. We support charter reform and believe the current system needs work. We want to improve oversight and professional administration without concentrating this much authority in the mayor’s office.
Would Measure EE eliminate Council districts?
No. District elections would remain. Our concern is how much authority those representatives would have when they disagree with the mayor.
Could Councilmembers still help with service requests?
Yes. Section 218 explicitly allows inquiries, complaints, service-request follow-up, and status updates. It does not allow Councilmembers to direct or coerce administrative action.
Would this apply only to the current mayor?
No. The charter provisions would also apply to future mayors unless changed again. We’re assessing how the rules would work under the people elected after Barbara Lee as well as under the current mayor.
This website explains our position against Measure EE. For the full proposal, read the adopted text and the primary sources. This summary is not the official impartial analysis or legal advice.