Resident initiates process for Councilmember’s recall

The Alameda Sun sent a request to the Alameda County District Attorney’s office for a copy of the recording of the meeting between former City Manager Jill Keimach and Councilmembers Malia Vella and Jim Oddie.

The request was made to Deputy District Attorney Teresa Drenick. Drenick said she has received several requests for a copy of the recording of the meeting. The Sun earlier requested the tape from the Alameda County Grand Jury, but were rebuffed.

“Grand Jury investigative materials, by law, cannot be released to the public,” wrote Grand Jury Legal Advisor Rob Warren in an email to the Sun. “Because the jury is an arm of the court, it is not subject to the California Public Records Act.”

Even though members of the Grand Jury are not permitted to give out the recording, the District Attorney’s office can make an exception in certain instances. An initial inquiry was made to the City Clerk’s office, but they said they did not have possession of a copy of the recording.

Keimach made a secret recording of the meeting between her, Vella and Oddie, which took place Aug. 16, 2017. She said she recorded the conversation because she felt pressure from the Councilmembers and fire union to hire Domenick Weaver as the new Alameda Fire Chief. The ordeal resulted in a Grand Jury investigation that concluded last month (“Grand Jury Files Report” June 25).

A new “Notice of intention to circulate recall” petition was filed this week by an Alameda resident. The petition aims to recall Oddie for “improper handling of the City Manager Jill Keimach matter.” Thirty-three residents signed the petition. Authorities require those signatures to be published at the petitioners’ expense.