San Leandro: The City Council voted last Tuesday to pay incoming City Manager Chris Zapata $223,000 a year. Former San Leandro city manager Stephen Hollister, who retired last June, made $12,000 shy of Zapata’s salary. Zapata was bringing in $165,000 as the previous city manager of National City.

Berkeley: The City Council began their first talk on the redistricting process at the first meeting of 2012 last Tuesday. A public hearing was held to discuss the six qualifying proposals for how and when city council districts should be redrawn to reflect the 2010 Census data. According to the numbers, the eight city council districts have very unequal populations.

Oakland: The City of Oakland will take responsibility for the Oakland Redevelopment Agency’s affordable and low income housing programs, enforceable financial obligations and oversee the division of the agency this spring. The agency will close permanently on Feb. 1 due to the recently passed state law that requires all 400 agencies to cease operations.