The Oak Leaf
Economic Development in Oakley: Building a Vibrant Future
Economic development isn’t just about growth; it’s about creating a future that enhances Oakley’s unique charm and strengthens its community. For a thriving and growing city like Oakley, this means fostering opportunities that improve quality of life, generate jobs, and reinvest revenue into public services that benefit everyone. The city is buzzing with exciting projects that are transforming Oakley into a destination for living, thriving, and connecting. Downtown is at the heart of this transformation, with developments like the Mercantile Building, the Delta Pointe, as well as a brand-new San Joaquins Amtrak Train Station set to be completed in 2025. Plans for a New Library and Community Center will further enrich downtown Oakley, providing spaces for learning, connection, and community events. On Laurel Avenue, a former undeveloped gravel lot is becoming a dynamic center for retail and dining. Oakley Shops at Laurel, an 8.77-acre site, will feature a new Safeway shopping center, restaurants, a gas station, and a convenience store—all designed to meet the needs of a growing population. With 73 EV charging stations and ample parking, it showcases a commitment to sustainable growth and planning for the future. Supporting these developments isn’t just convenient—it’s transformative. Every choice to shop, dine, or fuel up locally strengthens our community, turning your everyday purchases into investments that drive resources back into projects and services for the community’s benefit.
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Putting a Stop to Illicit Cannabis in the Community
Public health and safety is the top priority for the City of Oakley’s Code Enforcement Division, and Code Enforcement has partnered with the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), and the City of Oakley Police Department’s Special Services Team (SST) to successfully eradicate nine illicit cannabis operations since September 2023. During these nine illicit cannabis operations, a total of 7,740 cannabis plants were seized resulting in the issuance of $768,600 in administrative citations under Oakley Municipal Code (OMC) §9.1.1230 C.2 – Cultivation of Marijuana. Additional citations totaling $40,863.50 were issued for Building Code, and Health and Safety violations. This type of illicit activity brings a host of health and safety issues not only to the property itself, but to the surrounding community. The homes used to cultivate cannabis are sig-
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Mission
The City of Oakley will create a resilient future that fosters and attracts a vibrant and evolving community that welcomes and values all people.
Value
The City of Oakley celebrates our unique Delta lifestyle and small-town feel where we LIVE in a safe dynamic community, WORK together to build the future, and PLAY in our own backyard.
Economic Development in Oakley: Building a Vibrant Future
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As Oakley grows, so do the opportunities to shape a brighter future for all. Together, we can create a thriving city. So, the next time you grab a meal, fill your tank or pick up groceries, remember that every dollar spent locally powers Oakley’s progress. Let’s grow our city, one step—and one purchase—at a time!
Discover more about Oakley’s exciting growth and opportunities! Visit OpportunityOakley.com for all the latest updates and information on Economic Development.
City Hall Hours
To better serve the public, the City Hall main lobby is now open from 8:30 am to 5 pm Monday through Thursday. The permit counter is open from 7:30 am to 4 pm Monday through Thursday. Police Department lobby hours remain the same, 8:30 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Come visit us at 3231 Main Street.
Putting a Stop to Illicit Cannabis in the Community
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nificantly altered and sustain severe damage due to the modifications required to grow marijuana indoors, including elevated levels of mold. Stachybotrys and Aspergillus mold, more commonly known as Black Mold, are found in most cannabis properties. Chemicals found at these types of properties used for the cannabis plants are often unlabeled, mislabeled or banned in the United States. Recently Contra Costa County Hazmat has also been contacted to assist in identifying and removing these hazards due to the potential risks these chemicals pose. Modifications to the electricity, including the installation of additional service panels to the interior of the home, pose a significant risk of overload and potential fire. Smoke detectors and other safety devices are also often removed.
PG&E bills often reach tens of thousands of dollars before being disconnected and sent to collections for non-payment. A new account is then established in another individual’s name to repeat the same process. In other cases, the individuals who operate these cannabis houses tap into the PG&E line directly and bypass detection by stealing power to avoid the costly bills.
One Property that was inspected in August of 2024 had an outstanding baance of over $28,000 that was ultimately sent to collections. A new account was opened the same day the collection letter was sent. Mortgage fraud is also prevalent in these types of properties as the buyer, or homeowner, will claim ‘owner-occupied’ as there are incentives for home-buyers to receive lower-interest rates for owner-occupied properties.
As these homes are being used to produce marijuana, the products often end up on the black market, smoke shops or dispensaries. By selling their products to these entities, these home-growers bypass the regulation process by undercutting legal operations and evading taxes leading to the loss of billions of sales tax revenue statewide – annually.
Oakley Code Enforcement’s primary focus is to identify all Building Code violations and health and safety concerns and require owners to complete a thorough rehabilitation process that includes electrical, plumbing, HVAC, structural, mold testing and remediation. With the assistance of our Building Division, we’ve created a streamlined process to ensure these homes are once again, healthy, habitable homes in our community.
Despite the ‘growing’ conceren these properties pose in our community, the City of Oakley is committed to keeping the city a safe and welcoming community for all residents. As of January 1, 2024 new legislation, AB 1684, was passed allowing all cities and counties in California to impose immediate fines for illicit cannabis activities. Additionally, the OMC was updated to specify that each cannabis plant over the legal amount, six plants per household, counts as a separate violation allowing increased fine amounts to be imposed. These operations can have an adverse impact to available housing. We are hopeful that with continued enforcement and imposition of stiff fines and penalties it will discourage these owners and individuals from conducting illicit cannabis operations in our community.
If you have questions or concerns about illicit cannabis activity, please contact Code Enforcement at 925-625-7031 or code-enforcement@ci.oakley.ca.us. Your information will remain confidential.
Housing Development in Oakley
Why is so much housing being built in Oakley? Housing projects start out as applications with the City that are subject to compliance with the City’s General Plan and applicable zoning regulations. Staff processes these applications analyzing them for compliance, conducting environmental reviews, and soliciting comments from other agencies, interested parties and the public. Staff presents the applications to the Planning Commission and/or City Council at a public hearing for final approval.
Housing development is often a product of the free market and can happen in cycles of growth that are dependent on many factors often outside of the City’s control. When the market is good for building, developers build. When it is not so good, development slows down. In addition to market influence, California law requires local governments to plan for housing needs for all income levels. The City does this through the Housing Element update every eight years. The State also mandates a Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), which determines the number of new housing units, and their affordability levels, to be planned by the City. The City’s leading role is to ensure development adequately avoids, minimizes, or mitigates potential impacts and that it meets all applicable regulations.
“Planning for” does not mean “building,” rather it means the City must ensure there are adequate sites and acreage zoned to accommodate the various levels of housing affordability in the RHNA:
• 42% (446 units) for above moderate income
• 16% (172 units) for moderate income
• 15% (161 units) for low income
• 26% (279 units) for very low income
The City’s current zoning can accommodate the above moderate and moderate units. For the 440 affordable units (low income and very low income), Oakley must zone land for higher density, typically for apartments.
Does the City build affordable units? No. The City is required to zone land for affordable housing but not build it. Private developers, often using State tax credits, build and manage affordable housing. The City’s role is to process development applications, review building permits, and inspect construction.
What’s next for Oakley? Oakley has existing sites zoned for affordable housing, but more land needs to be zoned to satisfy the current RHNA. This process will start in 2025 and will include public outreach, workshops, and sessions with the Planning Commission and City Council. Oakley will look for smaller, manageable sites for development. To become familiar with the City’s Housing Element, please visit:
www.ci.oakley.ca.us/OakleyHousingElement2023
Update on the Oakley Senior Center and Library & Community Center Project
At the January 14th City Council meeting, the Council approved the execution of a Purchase and Sale Agreement with the County and accepted a grant deed conveying to the City the vacant parcel at 220 O’Hara Avenue that shares a City block with the City-owned parcel at 215 Second Street; the Second Street parcel currently houses the old Fire Station being leased by the Oakley Senior Citizens (“OSC”) to run the Oakley Senior Center. At the meeting, the Council also declared both properties as surplus as the next required step in making the land (red square on the picture) available to affordable housing developers, school districts and other public agencies before considering other disposal options. You can watch the meeting and read the staff reports on the City’s website in the 2025 tab at www.ci.oakley.ca.us/agendas-minutes-videos-archive/ under “City Council.”
The City has been discussing these two parcels, which are critical to the revenue generation goal for the new Library & Community Center project, at public meetings and with key stakeholders, including the County and the OSC. Once the public process regarding the sale or disposal of the land is complete, the City Council will discuss the demolition of the Old Fire Station and the City taking over senior programming and senior lunchtime service as part of citywide recreation programming. Those public discussions will take place at a noticed City Council meeting in the future. Follow this exciting project at https://engage.oakleyca.gov/en/library.
Movies in the Plaza
Please join us in 2025 at Civic Center Plaza as the Oakley Recreation Division will be Combining two great American pastimes, sports and cinema. For this year’s movie lineup, Recreation Staff has selected classic films that all share the common theme of sports to be featured in the “Movies on Main Street” event series. Each movie has a different sports theme in order to appeal to all residents of the City. The fun starts with a screening of everyone’s favorite hardball movie, The Sandlot on May 17th.
Movies will run once per month, concluding with 2024’s biggest theatrical hit, Inside Out 2 on October 10th. Experience these movies on the big screen with Civic Center Plaza’s newly installed sound system which brings the sounds of each film to life in a way that hasn’t been experienced before.
Each movie will begin at sunset; but remember to come early as family fun including trivia, games, scavenger hunts, crafts and more begin approximately one hour before show time. Popcorn, candy and snacks are sold from the Civic Cener Plaza snack shack behind the main stage.
Civic Center Plaza is located in the heart of Downtown Oakley on Main Street, which features numerous restaurants, retail and more.
2025 Dates:
May 17th- The Sandlot
June 21st- Space Jam A New Legacy
July 26th- Kung Fu Panda 4
August 16th- Kicking and Screaming
September 13th- Remember the Titans
October 10th- Inside Out 2
Lend a Helping Hand at Oakley’s First Day of Service
The City of Oakley is organizing the first ever Day of Service event to be held on Saturday, April 12th. The day will begin at the Recreation Center with a welcome breakfast and keynote speaker before transitioning to different sites around the City. Each site will feature community service centered projects that residents can assist with. Some examples include planting trees, cleaning up trash, removing graffiti, invasive plant removal, park beautification and more.
The Oakley Recreation Center will be the hub of the event. In addition to the event kick-off, the Center will also be hosting a variety of opportunities to participate in throughout the day including a blood drive, drug take back drive, and non-profit booths.
The event is free to participate in, but registration is required through the City of Oakley Recreation Division. Register online at https://secure.rec1.com/CA/oakley-ca/catalog or inperson at the Oakley Recreation Center, 1250 O’Hara Avenue.
Have you signed up to receive the weekly Oakley e-News? This weekly email is a great source of information about upcoming events, programs, job opportunities, classes, volunteer opportunities, City Council meeting recaps and more. You can sign up to receive the e-News by texting OAKLEY to 42828 and following the prompts or by visiting:
www.ci.oakley.ca.us/public-information/
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