Albany Council Set to Place Four Tax Measures on November Ballot; Planning Commission Reviews New Home Construction
The Albany City Council was scheduled July 20 to consider placing four special-tax measures on the November 3, 2026 municipal election ballot, covering street paving and storm-drain work, emergency medical services, business license taxes, and real-property transfer taxes. Minutes from that meeting and two others on the recent calendar have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.
City Council — July 20, 2026
The council agenda listed several substantive items alongside routine consent-calendar approvals such as payroll ratification, bill claims, investment transactions, and staff recommendations.
The most consequential scheduled action involved four resolutions to place special-tax measures on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. The measures would cover street paving and storm-drain infrastructure, emergency medical services, business license taxes, and real-property transfer taxes. No dollar amounts or proposed tax rates were specified in the agenda.
The council was also set to consider a contract with Insight Housing for Albany Project HOPE, with a maximum value of $457,965 for services running through June 30, 2028.
Other items on the agenda:
- An encroachment permit and fee waiver for the Albany Community Triathlon, which would authorize temporary street closures on Key Route Blvd, Portland Ave, Thousand Oaks Blvd, and Carmel Ave for three years.
- Appropriation of Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Funding for fiscal year 2026–27 under the State and California Citizens Option program. No dollar amount was listed.
- Authorization of a grant of bikeway easement for the Jackson Street Bikeway Project (CIP No. 25015), running from Buchanan St to Ohlone Ave.
Because minutes have not been published, it is not yet confirmed which items the council approved, rejected, or continued.
Planning & Zoning Commission — July 22, 2026
The commission was scheduled to review Planning Application PA25-049, a design review request to demolish an existing home at 846 Washington and build a 1,991 sq. ft. two-story residence with a one-car garage.
The agenda included a staff recommendation to approve the project. No commission vote has been recorded yet because minutes are not available.
Police & Fire Pension Board — July 28, 2026
The Albany Police & Fire Pension Board was set to ratify pension payments for April through June 2026, totaling $196,458.69. The breakdown:
- April 2026: $65,486.23
- May 2026: $65,486.23
- June 2026: $65,486.23
The board was also scheduled to hear a quarterly investment report from CIBC Private Wealth for the quarter ending June 30, 2026, and to discuss and possibly approve an annual payment update. No dollar amount was specified for that update.
The meeting included public comment and consent-calendar items.
What This Means for Residents
The four proposed ballot measures, if placed before voters and later approved, would determine how Albany funds road and storm-drain maintenance, emergency medical response, business licensing, and property-transfer taxation. The Project HOPE contract with Insight Housing relates to housing and support services in the city. The triathlon permit would affect traffic on four streets during event days. The Jackson Street Bikeway easement relates to the city's planned bike infrastructure between Buchanan St and Ohlone Ave.
Residents should note that all three meetings are listed as agenda-only — minutes have not been published, so the items above reflect what each body was scheduled to consider, not confirmed decisions.
Coming Up
No upcoming meetings are listed on the published calendar for the next 14 days. Residents seeking to confirm outcomes from the July 20, July 22, and July 28 meetings should watch for the release of official minutes from the City Council, Planning & Zoning Commission, and Police & Fire Pension Board, respectively.