OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting – May 21, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, May 21, 2024
BodyBerkeley, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 21, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening.

0:01

I'd like to ask the city council members to please join us so we can start the meeting.

0:05

And as the council members are joining us, I'd like to just uh make a few announcements.

0:12

Want to welcome everyone to this meeting of the Berkeley City Council to allow for full participation by all members of the community and to ensure that important city business is able to be completed.

0:23

We ask that all attendees conduct themselves in an orderly manner, respect the rights of others participating in the meeting.

0:30

But please be aware that the city council rules of decorum prohibit the disruption of the orderly conduct of the city council meeting.

0:37

A summary of these rules is available in the one-page handout at the table in the rear of the boardroom where those firefighters are currently located.

0:45

Um, disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to shouting, making disruptive noises, creating or participating in a physical disturbance, speaking out of churn 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, and or approaching the council dais without consent.

1:10

We ask that you observe these rules so that all members of the public may observe and participate in tonight's meeting, and we welcome your participation and thank you for being here this evening.

1:18

So I now like to call to order the regular meeting of the Berkeley City Council for Tuesday, May 21st, 2024 for sort of businesses roll call.

1:26

The city clerk can please call the roll.

1:28

Councilmember Keserwani.

1:31

Here.

1:35

Here on present.

1:37

Wengra present.

1:40

Here.

1:40

Humber here.

1:42

And Mayor Aragine present.

1:44

Okay.

1:44

Okay, a quorum of the city council is present.

1:46

Councilmember Taplin will not be joining us this evening due to illness.

1:49

We wish them a speedy recovery.

1:51

I will be asking council when we get to the consent calendar to approve an excuse absence for Councilmore Taplin.

1:58

Okay.

1:59

Um we'll proceed now to ceremonial matters.

2:01

I have no ceremonial matters this evening.

2:04

Um, so we'll go to city manager comments.

2:06

Madam City Manager, if you have any questions.

2:07

Thank you, Mr.

2:08

Mayor and Council no comments this evening.

2:10

Okay, thank you.

2:11

So I know tonight um that we have a number of our city employees here.

2:15

Um, and normally we take public comment from employee unions at the first regular meeting of the month, but given uh the uh both SCIU as well as local one are here tonight, and we have city employees and union leaders here who wish to address the council.

2:33

I'd like to ask unanimous consent that we do go to public comment from employee unions.

2:38

And so I'm gonna ask is there a designated representative for SCIU who'd like to address the city council tonight, and a designated representative for local one.

2:48

And uh, as as the rules prescribe, we'll give each union five minutes.

3:06

Okay, you can hear me.

3:07

Well, okay.

3:11

Hello, mayor and council.

3:13

My name is Alison Reimer, and I work in the planning department, and I'm a member of SCIU 1021, Community Services Union, and part-time recreation leaders association.

3:28

Members of SEIU 1021, CSU PTRLA, and local one spoke at the council meeting last Tuesday.

3:38

Our chapters are ready to bargain new contracts and an open and transparent manner, but city management and their lawyers have refused to meet the HR director, excuse the mispronunciation, Aram Kumudujan claims he is acting under direction from the city council.

4:01

The city's bargaining team says they can only bargain with only one union bargaining team present, and it must be done in person.

4:12

SCIU 1021 successfully bargained openly in 2021.

4:18

Why is what worked in 2021 suddenly unacceptable in 2024?

4:26

What do you have to hide?

4:28

Berkeley's workers and community members have a right to know how these contracts are bargained because these contracts determine the services they receive from city of Berkeley.

4:41

These contracts help retain the current workers, which helps support everyone's goals to get the job done.

4:55

Why are you spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on these law firms?

5:00

Anything you spend that amount of money on should be done publicly.

5:05

Workers and Berkeley residents demand that you retract your directive and instruct the law firms to engage in open, transparent, and coordinated bargaining with SEIU 1021, CSU, PTRLA, and Local One.

5:23

If we're really one city, one team, please tell HR and their lawyers, you support open, coordinated, and hybrid bargaining.

5:34

And I'm going to yield my time to Julia.

5:44

Hi.

5:45

Hi, my name is Julia Whistle.

5:47

I'm a librarian for the city of Berkeley, and I'm a member of SCIU 1021, CSU PTRLA.

5:54

I'm also a member of the bargaining team.

5:58

Last week, the city's union busting lawyers informed the SCIU 1021 and Local One bargaining teams that City Council issued a directive to deny open and coordinated bargaining.

6:12

We'd like to request that the public be able to see that directive.

6:23

And something you spend that kind of money on should be accessible to the public.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis███████████████████████████27%
Public Safety█████████9%
Public Comment████████8%
Procedural███████7%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Public Engagement███████7%
Mental Health Awareness██████6%
Labor Relations█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting – May 21, 2024

The Berkeley City Council held a regular hybrid meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The agenda included union public comments on bargaining, a lengthy consent calendar with numerous funding relinquishments and policy items, the first public hearing on the FY2025-26 biennial budget, and adoption of several fee schedules. Councilmember Taplin was absent due to illness; the council unanimously excused her absence and added three urgent items.

Consent Calendar

  • Excused Absence: Approved 8-0 to excuse Councilmember Taplin’s absence.
  • Late Item – BIHS Graduation Sashes: Added as urgent; Councilmember Bartlett’s proposal to fund sashes for Berkeley International High School and African American Studies Department graduation ceremonies on May 31, 2024. Relinquishments: Councilmembers Hahn ($250), Wengraf ($250), Lunaparra ($100).
  • Late Item – Berkeley Faith and Justice Coalition: Added as urgent; a budget referral to support grassroots leadership capacity building for 10 African American-focused community organizations in South and West Berkeley. Co-sponsored by Bartlett and Humbert.
  • Item 2 – Family/Relationship Structure Discrimination: Second reading of ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on family or relationship structure. Co-sponsors updated to include Wengraf, Lunaparra, and Hahn.
  • Item 14 – Pilot Program for Seriously Mentally Ill: Introduced by the Mayor; develops a pilot program for 5–10 individuals needing frequent interventions, implementing a friendship/care team. Co-sponsors: Humbert, Bartlett.
  • Item 16 – July 4th Celebration: Mayor’s referral to restart a July 4th celebration; Hahn joined as co-sponsor.
  • Item 17 – Taste of Downtown Berkeley: Relinquishments: Hahn ($200), Wengraf ($250), Hahn ($250 for item? mix-up but noted). Councilmembers contributed: Hahn $250, Wengraf $250, Bartlett $250, Hahn also $250? Actually multiple contributions; ensure accuracy: Hahn contributed $250 to item 17? Per transcript: Hahn said "I would like to contribute 250 to that" after Bartlett's comment on item 17. Then later Hahn also said "I missed item 17… I would like to contribute 250 to that." So two contributions? Possibly double? Summarize as multiple council members contributed.
  • Item 19 – Juneteenth Festival: Relinquishments: Hahn ($500), Humbert ($200), Lunaparra ($200), Kassarwani ($100), Wengraf ($200), Hahn also $500? Actually Hahn said earlier $500, then later said "I failed to note… $500 for item 19" — likely final amount $500. Also Bartlett contributed $250 to item 17.
  • Item 20 – Speed Bump on Russell Street at King Street: Approved; funded and co-sponsored by Bartlett, Humbert, Mayor added as co-sponsor. Multiple public speakers supported.
  • All consent items approved unanimously (8-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Employee Unions: SEIU 1021 and AFSCME Local One members requested open, transparent, hybrid joint bargaining. Speakers (Alison Reimer, Julia Whistle, Katrina Lapira, Ananda Montes, Ruth Reisner, Thomas Gregory, Rebecca Milliken) criticized the city’s directive to deny open bargaining, noting $3.5 million spent on outside attorneys and successful open bargaining in 2021. Berkeley Firefighters Local 1227 President Mori Langmo urged approval of a fire apparatus mechanic pilot program, citing nearly $1 million in repair costs over two years.
  • Non-Agenda Matters: Speakers addressed: grassroots leadership support, Dwight Triangle park locks, police presence at People’s Park closure, housing for single parents, and the Special Care Unit’s implementation issues.
  • Consent Calendar Public Comments: Several speakers supported item 14 (mental health pilot), noting the need for community input and urgency. Others supported item 20 (speed bump) and item 2 (polyamory protection).
  • Budget Public Hearing: Over 30 speakers addressed the FY2025-26 budget. Topics included: funding for Aurora Theatre ($300,000 request), Berkeley Food Network ($150,000 ongoing support), Small Sites Program ($8 million annually), Solano Stroll ($60,000 average cost, need for barriers), community gardening, Berkeley Junior Jackets youth violence prevention, and opposition to Safe City Connect surveillance cameras.

Discussion Items

  • FY2025-26 Budget Presentation: City Manager and Budget Manager Sharon Friedrichson presented the proposed biennial budget. Key points:
    • General fund revenues growing 3–4% annually; expenditures growing 15% due to personnel costs.
    • Baseline deficit: ~$5 million in FY25, ~$3.9 million in FY26.
    • Proposed balancing strategies: workers’ compensation holiday, salary savings target increase, possible use of Section 115 pension trust, deferring reserve contributions.
    • Total council funding requests: $23.6 million over two years; tier-one mandates total $12.9 million.
  • Councilmembers discussed: concerns about using reserves, need to prioritize mandates, and request for detailed information on salary savings. City Manager suggested a pause on new expenditures until November 2024 for clearer fiscal picture.
  • Fee Schedules (Items 22–25): The council held public hearings and unanimously adopted resolutions for:
    • Environmental Health Division fee schedule (Item 22)
    • Senior Center facility rental security deposit increase (Item 23)
    • Sports field fee increases at Tom Bates Regional Sports Complex and Harrison Park (Item 24)
    • Planning Department fee schedule changes (Item 25)

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar approved 8-0 (all items including late additions).
  • FY2025-26 Budget: No action taken; next hearing June 4, 2024, adoption June 25, 2024. Budget and Finance Policy Committee to meet May 22, 2024, to discuss tier-one mandates and balancing strategies.
  • Items 22–25: Each approved unanimously (5-0 or 8-0) after public hearings.
  • Future Meeting: Council will continue budget discussions and consider remaining action items at the June 4, 2024 meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I'd like to ask the city council members to please join us so we can start the meeting. And as the council members are joining us, I'd like to just uh make a few announcements. Want to welcome everyone to this meeting of the Berkeley City Council to allow for full participation by 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, respect the rights of others participating in the meeting. But please be aware that the city council rules of decorum prohibit the disruption of the orderly conduct of the city council meeting. A summary of these rules is available in the one-page handout at the table in the rear of the boardroom where those firefighters are currently located. Um, disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to shouting, making disruptive noises, creating or participating in a physical disturbance, speaking out of churn 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, and 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, and we welcome your participation and thank you for being here this evening. So I now like to call to order the regular meeting of the Berkeley City Council for Tuesday, May 21st, 2024 for sort of businesses roll call. The city clerk can please call the roll. Councilmember Keserwani. Here. Here on present. Wengra present. Here. Humber here. And Mayor Aragine present. Okay. Okay, a quorum of the city council is present. Councilmember Taplin will not be joining us this evening due to illness. We wish them a speedy recovery. I will be asking council when we get to the consent calendar to approve an excuse absence for Councilmore Taplin. Okay. Um we'll proceed now to ceremonial matters. I have no ceremonial matters this evening. Um, so we'll go to city manager comments. Madam City Manager, if you have any questions. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council no comments this evening. Okay, thank you. So I know tonight um that we have a number of our city employees here. Um, and normally we take public comment from employee unions at the first regular meeting of the month, but given uh the uh both SCIU as well as local one are here tonight, and we have city employees and union leaders here who wish to address the council. I'd like to ask unanimous consent that we do go to public comment from employee unions. And so I'm gonna ask is there a designated representative for SCIU who'd like to address the city council tonight, and a designated representative for local one. And uh, as as the rules prescribe, we'll give each union five minutes. Okay, you can hear me. Well, okay. Hello, mayor and council. My name is Alison Reimer, and I work in the planning department, and I'm a member of SCIU 1021, Community Services Union, and part-time recreation leaders association. Members of SEIU 1021, CSU PTRLA, and local one spoke at the council meeting last Tuesday. Our chapters are ready to bargain new contracts and an open and transparent manner, but city management and their lawyers have refused to meet the HR director, excuse the mispronunciation, Aram Kumudujan claims he is acting under direction from the city council. The city's bargaining team says they can only bargain with only one union bargaining team present, and it must be done in person. SCIU 1021 successfully bargained openly in 2021. Why is what worked in 2021 suddenly unacceptable in 2024? What do you have to hide? Berkeley's workers and community members have a right to know how these contracts are bargained because these contracts determine the services they receive from city of Berkeley. These contracts help retain the current workers, which helps support everyone's goals to get the job done. Why are you spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on these law firms? Anything you spend that amount of money on should be done publicly.

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