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Record of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Special Meeting - May 7, 2024: Election Certification & New Councilmember Welcome

City Council — Tuesday, May 7, 2024
BodyBerkeley, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 7, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 7:14

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0:01

Recording in progress.

0:05

Yes.

0:06

Yep.

0:08

Okay, good afternoon.

0:09

I'd like to call to order the 4 p.m.

0:11

special meeting of the Berkeley City Council for Tuesday, May 7, 2023.

0:15

And if the city clerk can please call the roll.

0:18

Councilmember Kessarwani.

0:22

Here.

0:25

Bartlett is absent on.

0:27

Present.

0:28

Wangraff.

0:32

Councilmember Wengraff calling the role.

0:35

Yes.

0:35

Sorry, present.

0:37

Okay.

0:38

Councilmember Lunapara.

0:39

Here.

0:40

Umbert.

0:41

Present.

0:41

And Mayor Aragine.

0:43

Present.

0:43

Okay.

0:44

A quorum of the city council's present.

0:45

Thank you very much.

0:46

This is a special meeting of the city council to take up one item, which is on our consent calendar item one, confirming the results of the April 16th, 2024 special municipal election in District 7.

0:58

And just take this opportunity to welcome officially our first regular city council meeting, our new colleague, Councilmember Cecilia Lunapara.

1:07

And we look forward to working with you and congratulations.

1:11

Thank you so much.

1:16

Okay, so I will move adoption of the consent calendar.

1:21

Second point.

1:22

Moved and seconded.

1:23

We will take public comment on the consent calendar, which consists of one item confirming the results of the district seven special election on April 16th, 2024.

1:32

Are there any in-person speakers?

1:34

If so, please come forward.

1:37

Seeing none, are there any speakers on Zoom?

1:39

If so, please raise your hand.

1:41

If you're on the Zoom platform.

1:44

Seeing none, we'll close public comment and uh any um discussion of the item.

1:51

Councilmember Humper.

1:52

Oh, yes.

1:54

Thank you.

1:55

Um, I just I know we have a long evening ahead of us, so I'll make this quick.

1:59

Congratulations, Councilmember Lunapara.

2:03

Welcome.

2:04

And this is welcome to the Thunder Dome.

2:10

I'm excited to have you as a co-sponsor on an item already.

2:14

And I'm looking forward to working with you on fights and land use those subthose committees.

2:21

Thank you.

2:22

Welcome.

2:24

Thank you.

2:24

Any additional comments, Councilman?

2:27

Yes, I also wanted to formally welcome you and say that I'm looking forward to working on you with you on many things as well.

2:38

Uh thank you.

2:38

I joined my colleagues, and I look forward to working with you on fights and on critical issues, including uh safe streets, modal shift and and housing.

2:46

Thank you.

2:49

Um yes, I I join my colleagues in uh congratulating you, uh, council member Luna Barra and look forward to working with you.

3:00

Thank you.

3:00

Are there any other comments from members of the council, Vice Mayor Wenga?

3:04

Sure.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████86%
Election Reform███████14%
Summary of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Special Meeting - May 7, 2024

The Berkeley City Council held a special 4:00 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, to confirm the results of the April 16, 2024 special municipal election in District 7 and to formally welcome newly elected Councilmember Cecilia Lunapara. The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format with both in-person and virtual participation. A quorum was present, with Councilmember Bartlett absent.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 1: Confirmation of Special Election Results – The council unanimously approved the consent calendar, confirming the results of the April 16, 2024 special municipal election in District 7. The roll call vote was 6-0 (Bartlett absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the public comment period for the consent calendar, either in person or via Zoom.

Discussion Items

  • Welcome and Remarks for Councilmember Cecilia Lunapara – Councilmembers individually welcomed Lunapara, with several highlighting shared priorities such as land use, housing, safe streets, and modal shift. Councilmember Humbert described the council as the "Thunder Dome." Councilmember Lunapara delivered a brief acceptance speech, noting that she is the first undergraduate student, first Latina, and first queer woman of color elected to the council. She expressed full support for the Gaza Solidarity encampment at UC Berkeley’s Sprout Plaza and stated she would do everything in her power to ensure no city, county, or UC resources are used to arrest, suspend, evict, or otherwise punish nonviolent student protesters. She also emphasized the power of students and young people, and her commitment to accountability to her constituents in District 7.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar Adopted – Motion passed 6-0 (Bartlett absent) to confirm the results of the April 16, 2024 special municipal election in District 7, officially seating Councilmember Cecilia Lunapara.
  • Meeting Adjourned – The special meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:15 p.m. following the adoption of the consent calendar and welcoming remarks.

Meeting Transcript

Recording in progress. Yes. Yep. Okay, good afternoon. I'd like to call to order the 4 p.m. special meeting of the Berkeley City Council for Tuesday, May 7, 2023. And if the city clerk can please call the roll. Councilmember Kessarwani. Here. Bartlett is absent on. Present. Wangraff. Councilmember Wengraff calling the role. Yes. Sorry, present. Okay. Councilmember Lunapara. Here. Umbert. Present. And Mayor Aragine. Present. Okay. A quorum of the city council's present. Thank you very much. This is a special meeting of the city council to take up one item, which is on our consent calendar item one, confirming the results of the April 16th, 2024 special municipal election in District 7. And just take this opportunity to welcome officially our first regular city council meeting, our new colleague, Councilmember Cecilia Lunapara. And we look forward to working with you and congratulations. Thank you so much. Okay, so I will move adoption of the consent calendar. Second point. Moved and seconded. We will take public comment on the consent calendar, which consists of one item confirming the results of the district seven special election on April 16th, 2024. Are there any in-person speakers? If so, please come forward. Seeing none, are there any speakers on Zoom? If so, please raise your hand. If you're on the Zoom platform. Seeing none, we'll close public comment and uh any um discussion of the item. Councilmember Humper. Oh, yes. Thank you. Um, I just I know we have a long evening ahead of us, so I'll make this quick. Congratulations, Councilmember Lunapara. Welcome. And this is welcome to the Thunder Dome. I'm excited to have you as a co-sponsor on an item already. And I'm looking forward to working with you on fights and land use those subthose committees. Thank you. Welcome.

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