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Record of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting October 15, 2024: Consent Calendar, Cal Sailing Club Berths, Tax Exemption Debate, and Police Brutality Resolution

City Council — Tuesday, October 15, 2024
BodyBerkeley, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, October 15, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:07:46

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Recording in progress.

0:08

Good evening.

0:09

Thank you for waiting patiently.

0:10

I'd like to call to order the Tuesday, October 15, 2024 regular meeting of the Berkeley City Council.

0:15

And the first item of our agenda is roll call.

0:17

I'd like to ask the city clerk to please call the roll.

0:20

Okay.

0:20

Councilmember.

0:23

Currently absent.

0:24

Uh Chaplin is currently absent.

0:26

Bartlett.

0:27

Present.

0:28

Gregov.

0:28

Present.

0:29

On.

0:30

Present.

0:31

Wanggraf.

0:32

Present.

0:34

Uh Luna Parra.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Umbert.

0:37

Present.

0:38

Mayor Aragine.

0:39

Present.

0:40

And I see Councilmember Kaplan is on the Zoom.

0:46

I understand he wants Councilor Taplin wants to participate under provisions of Assembly 2449, the emergency exception.

0:56

Yes, that's correct.

0:57

So we can just run through the script real quick.

1:01

Councilmember Taplin is going to participate in the meeting remotely, pursuant to the Brown Act as amended by AB 2449 under the emergency circumstances justification.

1:12

In form of the councils participating at the noticed fiscal location identified on the agenda.

1:26

And under the emergency circumstances, Councilmember Taplin must disclose at the meeting whether any individuals 18 years of age or older are present from where he is participating in the nature of their relationship.

1:43

Councilmember Taplin.

1:46

In this room, I am alone.

1:48

Okay.

1:49

And the council member must participate through both audio and visual technology.

1:54

For the emergency circumstances, justification, the council must approve um this uh request uh by a majority vote.

2:03

Okay, I'll make a motion to allow Councilor Taplin to participate under the emergency exception 2449, seconded by Trego.

2:11

Okay.

2:12

Could you please call the role on the motion?

2:14

Okay.

2:14

On the motion, Councilmember Castroani absent.

2:17

Um Chaplin.

2:20

Yes.

2:21

Bartlett.

2:22

Yes.

2:22

Trayvon.

2:23

Aye.

2:24

On.

2:25

Yes.

2:26

Wengra?

2:27

Yes.

2:28

Lunapara.

2:29

Yes.

2:29

Humbert.

2:30

Yes.

2:31

And Mayor Argan.

2:32

Yes.

2:33

Okay.

2:34

We can proceed.

2:35

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment█████████████████17%
Parks and Recreation████████████████16%
Public Safety████████████████16%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Arts And Culture████████8%
Economic Development████████8%
Procedural██████6%
Public Health██████6%
Government Ethics█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting – October 15, 2024

The Berkeley City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the School District Board Room (1231 Addison Street) and via teleconference. The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format. The council approved a 20-item consent calendar, including an urgent resolution supporting California Proposition 6, and continued one item to November 12, 2024. Several items were referred to committees or commissions. The meeting adjourned after the consent calendar vote, without taking up action calendar items.

Ceremonial Matters

  • Proclamations presented to Gordon Wozniak (former councilmember and Parks Commissioner) and for National Breastfeeding Month 2024.
  • The meeting was adjourned in memory of Arthur Boom, a community environmental activist.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Non-Agenda Public Comment: Speakers addressed the Black Repertory Group Theatre lease negotiations, alleging inequitable treatment compared to other theaters. City staff reported sending a lease agreement to the theater's attorney on October 4, 2024, and proposed a meeting on October 30, 2024. A speaker also raised concerns about the city's compliance with California Public Records Act requests.
  • Consent Calendar Public Comment: Multiple speakers (approximately 15) voiced strong support for Item 20 (Cal Sailing Club berths), emphasizing the club's community sailing programs, safety training, and low-cost access. Several speakers opposed Item 21 (tax exemption for R&D grants), arguing it benefits large biotech firms at the expense of small businesses and residents. A few speakers supported Items 22 (skate park naming), 25 (police brutality resolution), and 26 (community safety plans). One speaker urged passage of the Prop 6 resolution.

Discussion Items

  • Urgent Item – Resolution Supporting Proposition 6: Councilmember Tregub introduced an urgent resolution to support Proposition 6 (removing involuntary servitude from the California Constitution). The item was added to the consent calendar by a two-thirds vote (8-0). Councilmember Bartlett expressed strong support, noting the historical link between slavery and prison labor. The resolution passed as part of the consent calendar.
  • Item 20 – Cal Sailing Club Berths (Council Consent): Councilmember Taplin proposed a resolution to retain six J-Dock berths for nonprofit sailing instruction. The city manager presented amended language requiring compliance with city policy on berth use by nonprofits. The council approved the amended resolution unanimously.
  • Item 21 – Tax Exemption for R&D Grants (Mayor’s Item): Mayor Arreguin requested to continue this item to November 12, 2024, for additional public review. The council unanimously agreed. The mayor stated the estimated economic impact is $9,000 per year. Some councilmembers expressed concerns about timing and conflicts of interest.
  • Item 22 – Naming Harrison Street Skate Park (Council Consent): Councilmember Kesarwani’s referral to name the skate park after Terrance McCrary Jr. was supported by several councilmembers. It was referred to the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission.
  • Item 23 – Russell Street Halloween Festivities (Council Consent): Councilmember Humbert’s resolution to allocate discretionary funds (up to $1,000 per councilmember) for the event was approved. Several councilmembers donated $250 or $100 from their budgets.
  • Item 24 – Zero NOx Building Code Amendments: The city manager removed this item from the agenda for further analysis.
  • Item 25 – Resolution Opposing Police Brutality (Former Councilmember Harrison): Councilmember Lunaparra noted she helped draft the resolution and urged its passage. The council did not take action; the item remained on the agenda but was not voted on before adjournment.
  • Item 26 – Community Safety Plans (Councilmember Hahn): Councilmember Humbert moved to refer the item to the Public Safety Policy Committee. The council unanimously approved the referral.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved as amended (unanimous, 8-0): All items on the consent calendar were approved in one motion, including:
    • Urgent resolution supporting Prop 6
    • Item 20 (Cal Sailing Club berths) with amended language
    • Item 22 (skate park naming) referred to commission
    • Item 23 (Halloween festivities) with donations
    • Item 21 continued to November 12, 2024
    • Various contracts, purchase orders, grant applications, and code amendments (Items 1–19, 21–23)

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution Supporting Prop 6: Adopted (8-0). The city clerk will send copies to state officials.
  • Cal Sailing Club Berths: The council approved the resolution retaining six J-Dock slips for nonprofit sailing instruction, subject to compliance with city policy.
  • Tax Exemption for R&D Grants: Continued to the November 12, 2024 council meeting for further discussion.
  • Skate Park Naming: Referred to the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission.
  • Halloween Festivities: Approved with $1,000 from Councilmember Humbert and additional contributions from Vice Mayor Wengraf ($150), Councilmember Bartlett ($250), Councilmember Lunaparra ($250), Councilmember Hahn ($250), Councilmember Kesarwani ($100), and Councilmember Taplin ($250).
  • Police Brutality Resolution: No action taken; item remains on the agenda.
  • Community Safety Plans: Referred to the Public Safety Policy Committee.
  • Zero NOx Building Code: Withdrawn from the agenda by the city manager.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at approximately [time not specified] after a motion to suspend the rules and adjourn was approved (8-0).

Meeting Transcript

Recording in progress. Good evening. Thank you for waiting patiently. I'd like to call to order the Tuesday, October 15, 2024 regular meeting of the Berkeley City Council. And the first item of our agenda is roll call. I'd like to ask the city clerk to please call the roll. Okay. Councilmember. Currently absent. Uh Chaplin is currently absent. Bartlett. Present. Gregov. Present. On. Present. Wanggraf. Present. Uh Luna Parra. Here. Umbert. Present. Mayor Aragine. Present. And I see Councilmember Kaplan is on the Zoom. I understand he wants Councilor Taplin wants to participate under provisions of Assembly 2449, the emergency exception. Yes, that's correct. So we can just run through the script real quick. Councilmember Taplin is going to participate in the meeting remotely, pursuant to the Brown Act as amended by AB 2449 under the emergency circumstances justification. In form of the councils participating at the noticed fiscal location identified on the agenda. And under the emergency circumstances, Councilmember Taplin must disclose at the meeting whether any individuals 18 years of age or older are present from where he is participating in the nature of their relationship. Councilmember Taplin. In this room, I am alone. Okay. And the council member must participate through both audio and visual technology. For the emergency circumstances, justification, the council must approve um this uh request uh by a majority vote. Okay, I'll make a motion to allow Councilor Taplin to participate under the emergency exception 2449, seconded by Trego. Okay. Could you please call the role on the motion? Okay. On the motion, Councilmember Castroani absent. Um Chaplin. Yes. Bartlett. Yes. Trayvon. Aye. On. Yes. Wengra?

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