Berkeley City Council Special Meeting on November 2024 Ballot Measures – May 24, 2024
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Berkeley City Council Special Meeting on November 2024 Ballot Measures – May 24, 2024
On Friday, May 24, 2024, the Berkeley City Council held a special hybrid meeting beginning at 10:45 a.m. to discuss and provide direction on potential ballot measures for the November 2024 election. The meeting focused on a proposed library tax increase, a community survey on other revenue measures (parks tax, Measure P extension/increase, and an arts funding measure), and a proposed reauthorization of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax. The council took no formal votes on the survey but provided clear direction for its content.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Library Tax (Item 2): Multiple speakers expressed strong support for placing a limited library tax on the ballot. Beverly Green (Board of Library Trustees) and Julie Munro (homeowner and voter) spoke in favor, citing the library's role in education and community. Kathy Brown (Friends of the Library) read a letter of support and noted that the Friends would campaign for the measure. Amy Roth (Library Trustees president) shared her personal story of the library as a safe space and urged inclusion on the ballot. Tanier Ami (newest trustee) endorsed the library leadership and the measure. Kathy Hoff (Library Foundation) described the foundation's contributions and the risk of losing services without new revenue. One speaker, Donna Didamar, expressed concern that the city would use the parcel tax to replace general fund support, as happened 40 years ago.
- Community Survey / Ballot Measures (Item 1): Javier Morales and Lolise Ramirez (Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Panel of Experts) presented on the success of the soda tax, citing reduced consumption, increased water consumption, and $11.9 million in community investments. They requested a simple 12-year reauthorization without changes, noting 69% voter support in their own polling. Other speakers included Holly Scheider (former commissioner), Martin Bourke (Ecology Center), and Ayana Davis (Healthy Black Families), all urging continuation. Ari Lipske (Berkeley Rep) spoke briefly about an emergency arts funding measure for performing arts organizations facing structural deficits.
Discussion Items
Library Tax (Item 2):
- Tess Mayer, Director of Library Services, presented a detailed overview of the library's strategic plan, community survey results (87% approval rating, 2,200 responses in 42 languages), and the structural deficit projected to lead to insolvency by 2029-2030 without new revenue. She proposed a new limited tax of $0.06/sq ft on residential and $0.09/sq ft on commercial parcels, raising $5.6 million annually. She explained that 75% of the budget is personnel, and cuts would directly impact staffing and hours. The council discussed the need for the measure, with Mayor Arreguín noting that Proposition 13 constraints force reliance on local taxes. Councilmember Mahan (the council's library board representative) and Councilmember Bartlett voiced strong support. A motion was made to refer the library tax to the city attorney for drafting of legal language; it passed unanimously.
Community Survey for Other Ballot Measures (Item 1):
- Staff presented options for a community survey to test voter support for a parks tax increase, a Measure P extension/increase, and potentially other measures. Scott Ferris (Parks Director) and Gordon Wozniak (PRW Commissioner) outlined a 20% increase in the parks tax (about $0.0426/sq ft, raising $3.6 million annually) to fund tree planting, waterfront maintenance, and capital projects. Councilmember Hahn suggested polling on a 28% increase ($0.06/sq ft) to align with the library tax, but after discussion, the council agreed to test 20% and 28% options.
- Peter Radu (HHCS Deputy Director) presented on Measure P, the real estate transfer tax funding homeless services. He noted that since 2019, $56 million has been committed to 32 programs, leveraging additional state funds and contributing to a 21% reduction in overall homelessness and a 45% reduction in unsheltered homelessness. Options for the survey included a simple 10-year extension, a 0.5% increase (to 3.0%), or a 1% increase (to 3.5%). Councilmembers discussed a tiered approach: keep the current 2.5% rate for sales $1.5M–$3M, 3.0% for $3M–$10M, and 3.5% for over $10M. Some members also suggested possibly lowering the base rate or adjusting thresholds. The council directed staff to include tiered options in the survey.
- Javier Morales and Lolise Ramirez presented the sugar-sweetened beverage tax reauthorization, proposing a simple 12-year extension (no changes) starting January 1, 2027. They cited strong community support and polling at 69%. Councilmembers expressed support for moving forward, and the mayor asked the city attorney to draft options for a 12-year extension or a permanent continuation.
- Councilmember Hahn introduced a proposed arts funding measure to provide emergency support for performing arts organizations (e.g., Berkeley Rep, Aurora Theatre, Freight & Salvage) that have not recovered from the pandemic. She suggested a general fund tax with a target of directing 80% of funds to arts organizations, with some funds for school arts, grants, and a capital fund. The council agreed to include a question about an arts funding measure in the survey.
Key Outcomes
- Library Tax: The council voted unanimously to refer the library tax measure to the city attorney for drafting of legal language. The measure will return to council for final approval before the August 9, 2024 deadline for the November ballot.
- Community Survey Direction: The council provided the following direction for the survey (to be fielded May 28–June 4, with results presented at a special meeting June 14):
- Parks Tax: Test two increase options: 20% (raising $3.6M) and 28% (raising $5.1M, equivalent to $0.06/sq ft).
- Measure P: Test three options: (1) extension as is (10 years, no increase), (2) tiered structure: 2.5% on $1.5M–$3M, 3.0% on $3M–$10M, 3.5% on over $10M, and (3) no across-the-board increase.
- Arts Funding: Include a question on a potential measure to fund arts organizations (specifics to be developed).
- Soda Tax: The city attorney will draft language for a 12-year extension and a permanent continuation; council will decide later which to place on the ballot.
- Next Steps: The special meeting on June 14 will present survey results, and council will make final decisions on which measures to place on the November ballot. The final deadline for submitting measures to the county registrar is August 9, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Yes. Good morning. Thank you for waiting while we establish quorum. I'd like to call to order the special meeting of the Berkeley City Council for Friday, May 24, 2024, the first order of businesses roll call. I'd like to ask the clerk to please call the roll. Councilmember Kesserwani. Here. Taplin present. Bartlett. Here. Okay. Present. Wengraff. Present. Here. Humbert present and Mayor Eric. Present. Okay. Okay, a form of the city council is present. Um, so this is a special meeting of the Berkeley City Council, specifically focused on discussing potential measures for the November 2024 Berkeley ballot. And in consultation with the city manager, we're going to go to item two first, which is the um request from the Board of Library Trustees to place a limited library tax on the November 2024 ballot. And so we'll go to that at this time. I'll turn over to the director of library services. And uh thank you to the library trustees and all the library supporters here in the room. Um we'll not proceed to that item. Thank you. Good morning. How's the sound? Good. I am Tess Mayer, and I'm the director of library services for the City of Berkeley. And I arrived in Berkeley in fall of 2020. I really appreciate and thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council, for the opportunity to address the Board of Library Trustees' recommendation that we include on the November 24 ballot a limited additional tax for library services. Um but before we get to that, I would like an opportunity to describe some of the services that we share with the community. I think everyone is familiar with the library. But a few of the things that I'd like to point out are our exceptional collection. So we have over 400,000 books. And in addition to that, uh 700,000 e-books, which are incredibly popular collections. There are some things that people are not as familiar with. For example, the way that we facilitate access to museums and the ability to visit state parks for free. We also circulate laptops with hot spots to members of our community, including people who are experiencing housing insecurity. This is an incredibly important service. And as of right now, we're trying to identify additional funding to make that collection even larger. We also provide very important platforms for learning, for example, for homework help. So in addition to in-person homework help, providing that online as well. So for example, you may be coming into the library to print out an assignment to turn in. You may be meeting a friend or connecting with other caregivers to attend a program. You may be seeking respite from being outside. There are a number of different reasons that people come to our libraries. Sometimes they just want a comfortable space.
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