Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting - May 14, 2024
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Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting - May 14, 2024
The Berkeley City Council met on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, starting at 6:00 PM in a hybrid format (in-person and via Zoom). The meeting included ceremonial proclamations, consent calendar approvals, a discussion on the Council Referral Prioritization (RRV) process, and an update on the Reimagining Public Safety initiative. Notable actions included adding an urgent item to support the Aurora Theatre Company, adopting the RRV rankings with amendments, and receiving a status report on public safety reforms.
Ceremonial Matters
- National Public Works Week Proclamation: Mayor pro tem read a proclamation declaring May 19–25, 2024 as National Public Works Week. Public Works Director Terrence Davis and staff members introduced themselves.
- Affordable Housing Month Proclamation: Tori Hoff from Eden Housing accepted the proclamation, highlighting the regional housing bond measure (potential $10–20 billion) and EBHO's 40th anniversary.
Consent Calendar
- Urgent Item Added: Councilmember Hahn introduced an urgent item to provide financial and technical assistance to Aurora Theatre Company, including a budget referral for a one-time emergency grant of up to $150,000. Added by a 7-0 vote.
- Supplemental for Item 26: Councilmember Lunapara submitted supplemental rankings for the RRV process, citing the need to represent District 7 after the special election. Accepted by a 7-0 vote.
- Items Moved to Consent: Item 28 (implementation of AB 1033 for homeownership opportunities) was moved to consent after clarification that it requires an ordinance and public process.
- Other Approvals: Items included approval of settlements from closed session (Derek Brown $50,000, Charles Delphin $27,500, CSA claim $17,843.58), support for SB 1144, ferry project items (7,8), purchase of traffic signal controllers (17), and numerous discretionary fund contributions to Berkeley Symphony and other organizations.
- Amendments: Councilmember Humbert amended item 25 to change parking/loading zone time limits from 10/15 minutes to 20 minutes for legal compliance. Items 50 and 57 (plant-based food) removed and combined; items 16 and 17 (artist housing) combined with added language.
- Vote: Consent calendar adopted as amended by a 7-0 vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Comments:
- Nathan Meisell criticized the city's failure to retain text messages related to the police bike team scandal, urging transparency.
- A resident complained about parking permit limits causing her granddaughter to accumulate 38 violations.
- Speakers from Aurora Theatre Company (Robin Dolan, Josh Costello, Jamie Martin) requested financial help due to inflation and pandemic losses.
- A speaker discussed historical crimes and business theft issues.
- AC Transit representative Ryan Lyle provided an update on the Realign initiative.
- Consent Calendar Comments:
- A speaker opposed the ferry project (items 7,8), urging focus on marina maintenance.
- Support for officer resilience and stolen goods items.
- Concerns about the repeal of the natural gas ban (item 2) and the need for police accountability.
- Support for the ADU homeownership item (28) but caution about tenant protections.
- Discussion Item 26 (RRV) Comments:
- Carol (public) asked for public tracking of referrals.
- Kelly Hammer criticized low ranking of nature and dark skies items.
- Todd Andrew asked how new referrals are handled.
- Alana Auerbach questioned the ferry project's alignment with climate goals and working-class needs.
- Reimagining Public Safety Comments:
- Carol requested a single dispatch line and criticized SCU response times.
- Nathan Meisell reminded council of the task force's original goal to cut police budget by 50% and urged broader reforms.
- A speaker shared a personal experience to argue against surveillance cameras.
- Jesse criticized defunding the police rhetoric and displacement from development.
Discussion Items
Item 26: Council Referral Prioritization (RRV) Process
City Clerk Mark Numainville presented the RRV process: 57 unfunded referrals ranked by council members through a weighted scoring system. Planning department has the most referrals (20). Council debated amendments:
- Councilmember Hahn proposed combining items 50 & 57 (plant-based food) and 16 & 17 (artist housing) into single items with broader language.
- Councilmember Kesarwani moved to adopt the rankings with those removals/combinations, and to redo the RRV in early 2025 (February-March) for better budget alignment.
- Councilmember Bartlett initially offered a substitute motion without the redo, but withdrew after discussion.
- Councilmember Lunapara expressed frustration that the #1 priority is surveillance cameras, particularly objecting to a camera at Telegraph and Dwight in District 7. She voted no.
- Mayor Arreguín noted the budget constraints and that the Agenda & Rules Committee is working on a new legislative system.
- Vote: Motion passed 6-1 (Lunapara opposed). The RRV list was adopted with removal of items 50, 57, and 55 (Kia thefts), and combination of 16 & 17. A redo will occur in early 2025.
Reimagining Public Safety Update
City Manager and staff (Kariana Adolondo, Rex Brown, police & fire chiefs, Eric Anderson) presented a status update on Phase 2 deliverables:
- Specialized Care Unit (SCU): Launched Sept 2023, now operating 6 AM-9 PM seven days, with 650+ calls and ~200 clients served. Expanding to 24/7; 6 vacancies remain.
- Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI): Rex Brown hired as first DEI officer; administrative assistant hired.
- Police Dispatch: Needs assessment validation complete; next phase involves RFP for implementation planning.
- Police Staffing Study: Citigate Associates study ongoing; expected June 2024.
- Vision Zero: New program coordinator hired; safety projects on MLK Jr. Way and Southside underway.
- Gun Violence Intervention: RFP released for custom notifications and street outreach; soft launch by fall 2024.
- Gender Violence System Analysis: Policy recommendations being finalized with stakeholder feedback.
- Challenges: Funding constraints (no more ARPA), delays in assessments, staffing needs, regulatory compliance. Councilmembers praised the work and discussed next steps for funding and integration. No action was taken; the report was for review only.
Key Outcomes
- Aurora Theatre Urgent Item: Added to consent and approved; city manager directed to explore support.
- RRV Rankings Adopted (6-1): List approved with removals of items 50, 57, 55 and combination of 16 & 17. Process to be repeated in early 2025.
- Consent Calendar Approved: All items approved as amended, including numerous discretionary fund contributions.
- Reimagining Public Safety Update Received: No action required; report accepted for budget consideration.
- Closed Session Settlements: Approved $50,000 (Derek Brown), $27,500 (Charles Delphin), and $17,843.58 (CSA claim).
- Adjournment: Meeting adjourned without objection.
Meeting Transcript
Uh clerk, please call the role. Okay, calling the roll for the six o'clock regular meeting on May 14th. Councilmember Kesserwani. Here. Taplin presence. Bartlett. On present. Wangra. Present. Luna Fara. Here. Humbert present and Mayor Aragine. Present from the teleconference location at the Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, D.C. Thank you, uh, everyone. Before we start our meeting, I'd like to report out from our closed session. The council convened in closed session on May 13th, 2024 and approved the following legal settlements. In the matter of Derek Brown versus the City of Berkeley, Alameda County Superior Court case number 22 C V 012371 in the amount of 50,000 in exchange for a release of all claims against the city. In the matter of Charles Delphin versus City of Berkeley, Alameda County Superior Court case number 23 CV 049225 in the amount of 27,500 in exchange for a release of all claims against the city. The council also approved the acceptance of a government claim of C SAA Insurance Exchange as subrogie of Jane Haysen in the amount of 17,843 and 58 cents. Now I'd like to read to you about our rules of order. Welcome to this meeting of the Berkeley City Council to allow for full participation of all members of the community and to ensure that important city business is able to be completed. We ask that all attendees conduct themselves in an orderly manner and respect the rights of others participating in the meeting. Please be aware that the city council's rules of decorum prohibit the disruption of the orderly conduct of the council meeting. A summary of these rules is available in the one-page handout on the table at the rear of the boardroom. Disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to shouting, making disruptive noises, creating or participating in a physical disturbance, speaking out of turn or in violation of applicable rules, preventing or attempting to prevent others who have the floor from speaking, preventing others from observing the meeting, entering into or remaining in an area of the meeting room that is not open to the public or approaching the council dais without consent. We ask that you observe these rules so that all members of the public may observe and participate in tonight's meeting. Tonight we have ceremonial uh matters. We have two proclamations, and I would like to um move forward with them. We have a proclamation for national public works week, and I believe we have Terrence Davis, our director of public works here. Yes, please come forward, and I believe you have a team with you. And I am rooting this on behalf of the mayor. National Public Works Week 2024. Whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities, and services that are of vital importance to sustainable communities and to the health, safety, and well-being of the people of the city of Berkeley. And whereas these infrastructure facil these infrastructure, facilities, and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public work professionals, engineers, managers, and employees who are responsible for rebuilding, improving and protecting operating and maintaining the transportation, sewer, and refuse disposal systems, public buildings and facilities essential to serve our citizens. And whereas it is in the public interest for the citizens, civic leaders, and children in Berkeley to gain knowledge of and to maintain a progressive interest and understanding of the importance of public works and its programs in the community. And whereas the year 2024 marks the 64th annual National Public Works Week, sponsored by the American Public Works Association. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Council of the City of Berkeley hereby proclaims the week of May 19th to May 25th, 2024 as National Public Works Week in the City of Berkeley and encourages all members of our community to acquaint themselves with the issues involved in providing our public works and to recognize the substantial contributions which public works employees make every day to protecting our health, safety, and advancing quality of life for all. And would you like to make some comments? Thank you, Vice Mayor, Council, Community, Terrence Davis Public Works Director, new to the community. So thank you all for having me here. And also the people who really get it done. So what I'd like to do is allow them to all introduce themselves. And as they do so, I just want to point out that this team, a small team that came tonight, represents the diversity of what we do for public works, everything from zero waste, traffic, transportation, operations, fleet, et cetera. And so this is a small sampling of the face of our department. And so thank you all for being here. And with that, I'd like to let them introduce themselves if I could. Hey everyone, uh, my name is Ariel Abdon. I am a traffic engineering inspector for the transportation division. And what we do in transportation is we review and inspect traffic control plans for all developments, capital improvement projects, as well as City of Berkeley Street Advents. Hi.
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