OAKLAND (ORANGE COUNTY) · LOCALlocal legislationIn Rules Committee

Local Impact

Proposed Ballot Measure to Change Police Oversight and Appointments

Original title: Subject: Proposed Ballot Measure To Amend The City Charter To Improve Civilian Oversight Of OPD From: Councilmember Houston Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Submitting To The Voters At The November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election A Measure That Would Amend City Charter Section 604 To, Among Other Things (1) Simplify The Process For Appointing Police Commissioners By Only Having Regular Police Commissioners That Are Appointed One Each By The Councilmembers And One By The Mayor; (2) Strengthen The Independence Of The Office Of Inspector General By Having The City Auditor, Rather Than The Police Commission, Appoint The Inspector General; (3) Streamline The Process For Appointing Police Chiefs By Using The Same Processes Used To Appoint Other Department Heads; And Directing The City Clerk To Take Any And All Actions Necessary Under The Law To Submit This Measure To The Voters At The November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election; And Making Appropriate California Environmental Quality Act Findings

May 7, 2026

police oversight city charter elections municipal governance

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The Frame

What this does

If approved by voters in November 2026, this measure would change the structure of civilian police oversight and the appointment process for the Police Chief and Inspector General in the City.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

City Residents

Residents will vote on the proposed charter amendments in the November 2026 election.

Police Commission

The Commission would lose its authority to appoint the Inspector General under the proposed changes.

City Auditor

The Auditor would gain the authority to appoint the Inspector General.

OPD (Police Department)

The department would be subject to new oversight structures and appointment processes for its leadership.

What changed

Last recorded activity May 7, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

Councilmember Houston has proposed a resolution to place a measure on the November 3, 2026, ballot that would amend the regarding police oversight. The measure aims to change how Police Commissioners and the Police Chief are appointed and shift the authority to appoint the Inspector General from the Police Commission to the City Auditor.

Key Facts

The resolution proposes a ballot measure for the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election.
The measure would amend City Charter Section 604.
Police Commissioner appointments would be simplified to one appointee per Councilmember and one appointee by the Mayor.
The City Auditor would be granted the authority to appoint the Inspector General, replacing the Police Commission's current role.
The process for appointing the Police Chief would be streamlined to match the process used for other city department heads.
The City Clerk is directed to take all necessary legal actions to place the measure on the ballot.
The resolution includes findings related to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Frequently Asked Questions

When will voters decide on these changes?

The measure is proposed for the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election.

How would the Inspector General's appointment change?

Currently, the Police Commission appoints the Inspector General; the proposed measure would shift this appointment authority to the City Auditor.

What happens to the Police Chief appointment process?

The process would be streamlined to align with the standard appointment process used for other city department heads.

Why It Matters

If approved by voters in November 2026, this measure would change the structure of civilian police oversight and the appointment process for the Police Chief and Inspector General in the City.

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