The Keep Oakland Clean and Beautiful ("KOCB") Division of Oakland’s Public Works Agency is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the City’s natural aesthetic qualities. In pursuit of this goal, KOCB is responsible for regularly scheduled street sweeping, the elimination of litter,
keeping our downtown area clean and free of overgrown vegetation, and other refuse discarded on our streets, and the removal of graffiti on public property. The Division also plays a support role in keeping our City parks at their best.
Keep Oakland Beautiful ("KOB") is the volunteer branch of KOCB. KOB is a local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and provides ongoing opportunities for Oakland’s citizens to make a difference, while simultaneously enjoying Oakland’s remarkable beauty. Some of KOB’s annual activities include the planting of daffodils in the fall, participation in Creek-to-Bay Day, Community Clean-Up Days, Earth Day events in April, and the Great American Cleanup in May.
For more information on how you can make a difference, click below on volunteer opportunities through Keep Oakland Beautiful.
The various branches of KOCB provide these services:
Contact:
Operations Manager
David Ferguson (510) 434-5111
Administrative Assistant II
A. L. “Toni” Anderson (510) 434-5107
Illegal Dumping
750 50th Avenue
(510) 615-5566
- The Illegal Dumping program is responsible for removal of trash, debris and refuse illegally dumped in the public-right-of way. The program is also responsible for removal of vegetation from public properties, and for litter and weed removal in medians and islands.
- The Illegal Dumping program collects over 3,900 tons annually of illegally dumped appliances, furniture, tires and household trash. Learn more Facts About Oakland's Infrastructure (.pdf format).
- For more information or to report illegal dumping activity or illegal haulers, call (510) 615-5566.
- When reporting illegal dumping problems be sure to have the exact address and type of debris, for example, tires, couches, trash bags, etc.
Public Works Supervisor I
Robert Newman (510) 434-5106
Acting Public Works Supervisor I
Clarence Saunders (510) 434-5109
Acting Public Works Supervisor I
Asmeron Ghebremedhin
(510) 434-5103
Public Works Supervisor II
Jamil Blackwell (510) 535-5666
Litter Enforcement
Mission Statement
The mission of the City of Oakland Litter Enforcement Officer ("LEO") program is to provide a fast, effective, and professional response to illegal dumping and nuisance blight on public property. The LEO program utilizes the Oakland Municipal Codes and California Penal Codes, as well as existing blight laws. The program enforces City statutes in an unbiased and ethical manner, with the utmost regard for courteous and respectful treatment of all citizens.
Our Vision
The Litter Enforcement program’s vision is to eliminate illegal dumping and blight on public property. Fostering relationships and partnerships with other City and Regional agencies and the community is a top priority.
Duties
The Litter Enforcement Officers are the City of Oakland's investigative arm in the fight against illegal dumping and hauling, and blight. The LEOs investigate illegal dumping and blight problems on public property. Our duties consist of:
- Investigating illegally dumped debris on public property.
- Assessing fines against perpetrators of illegal dumping. (The officers are authorized to assess these fines in accordance with the Oakland Municipal Codes and California Penal Codes.)
- Tagging and towing abandoned vehicles left on the streets of Oakland.
- Issuing citations on vehicles parked illegally on the streets and sidewalks.
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Educating and providing outreach to the community on issues of illegal dumping, hauling, and blight.
Our duties do not include:
- Tagging or towing vehicles parked on private property.
- Investigating illegal dumping on private property.
- Picking up tires or refrigerators. For pickup of these items, contact our Illegal Dumping staff.
- Litter Enforcement Information and Brochure (.pdf format)
Clean Community Supervisor I
Cookie Robles-Wong
(510) 434-5126
Public Service Representative
Tanya Simmons (510) 434-5117
Public Works Supervisor II
Jamil Blackwell (510) 535-5666
Litter Enforcement Officers
Quincey Smith (510) 434-5122
West Oakland - SDS District 1
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Bobby McConnell (510) 434-5115
North Oakland - SDS District 2
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Vacant (510) 434-5125
Central Oakland - SDS District 3
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Florence Blackburn (510) 434-5129
Central Oakland - SDS District 4
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
German Gella (510) 434-5123
East Oakland - SDS District 5
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Richard Wright (510) 434-5118
East Oakland - SDS District 6
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Street Cleaning
750 50th Avenue
(510) 615-5566
- This unit is responsible for keeping all city streets, major street thoroughfares, and arterials clean of trash and debris. Street sweeping not only keeps city streets cleaner and safer, but it also helps reduce the amount of trash that enters our storm drain system, which flows into the San Francisco Bay.
- Major arterials and commercial areas are swept at night and residential areas are swept during the day, according to a predetermined monthly schedule. The frequency of street sweeping is determined by State mandates and environmental conditions. Signs are posted on each block to notify residents of the day and time sweeping will occur, so that vehicles will be moved accordingly.
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For more information or to report an area that needs additional attention, contact the division at (510) 615-5566, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- To request a change in your street's regular sweeping schedule, please contact the Public Works Agency Call Center at (510) 615-5566. At least 67% of the residents of the affected block must sign any petition requesting a change in schedule.
City of Oakland Leaf Season Policies:
The fall and winter leaf season (September through February) presents special difficulties and challenges for us all. Tree-lined streets are literally inundated with leaves for several months. Until we reach the end of the leaf season, the Keep Oakland Clean and Beautiful Division (KOCB) would like your help and cooperation.
Here is how you can assist us in keeping your street clean:
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Do not pile leaves or other debris for the street sweeper to pick up. The sweepers are not designed to pick up large piles of leaves. Any debris in the leaves could damage the sweeping unit.
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Do not sweep leaves from your front yard, sidewalk, or planter strip onto the roadway. Oakland Municipal Code §13.16.100 states, in part: “Sweepings from said sidewalk shall not be swept or otherwise made or allowed to go into the gutter or roadway, but shall be disposed of in receptacles maintained on said real property as required for the disposal of garbage.”
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Working together, we can minimize the aggravation of the leaf season.
Holiday Schedule for Street Cleaning:
Street sweeping will not occur on the following City of Oakland holidays. Street sweeping will resume on the street's next scheduled day (providing it is not a holiday):
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents' Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day (July 4th)
- Labor Day
- Veterans' Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
Street sweeping and parking enforcement will occur on the following holidays:
- Lincoln's Birthday (February 12)
- Admissions Day (September 9)
Any day not listed here is not a City of Oakland holiday, and street sweeping and parking enforcement will occur on those days.
Acting Public Works Supervisor I (Day Sweeping)
Rickey Persons Sr. (510) 434-5130
Public Works Supervisor I (Night Sweeping)
Robert Tillman (510) 434-5110
Acting Public Works Supervisor II
Robert Newman (510) 434-5106
Downtown Maintenance / Vegetation Control
750 50th Avenue
(510) 615-5566
- Waste Management of Alameda County is responsible for servicing the litter containers in the downtown area. The Downtown Maintenance staff is responsible for maintenance and repair of these containers. Staff also provides a second service, if needed.
- Staff is also responsible for clearing debris from the areas in the vicinity of downtown bus stops, and clearing the sidewalk and areas surrounding the litter containers.
- Staff uses specialized equipment to maintain the sidewalk and gutters in the downtown area.
- In the winter, staff is responsible for cleaning the storm drain inlets in the downtown area.
- The Vegetation Control program (also known as the “Cut and Clean” crew) is responsible for cutting and keeping the City’s medians, islands, pathways, and public rights-of-way free of excess vegetation.
- In the winter, the Cut and Clean crew is also responsible for cleaning the storm drain inlets in Zone 3 (consisting of the area from High Street to Durant Avenue and from Oakport / Hegenberger to Skyline Boulevard).
- For more information or to report an area that requires attention, call (510) 615-5566.
- When reporting problems, be sure to provide the exact address or nearest cross streets.
To report a vegetation management or sidewalk maintenance problem in the downtown area, contact the PWA Customer Call Center at 615-5566.
Public Works Supervisor I
Frank Foster (510) 434-5109
Acting Public Works Supervisor II
Robert Newman (510) 434-5106
Graffiti Abatement
750 50th Avenue
(510) 615-5566
- The Graffiti Abatement painting program is responsible for the abatement of graffiti on public property in targeted areas of the City.
- This program is also responsible for abating graffiti from all City electroliers and signal control cabinets, and maintaining the painting schedule for graffiti abatement.
To report a graffiti problem, contact the PWA Customer Call Center at 615-5566.
Public Works Supervisor I
Arthur Watson (510) 434-5112
Public Works Supervisor II
Jamil Blackwell (510) 535-5666