Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting - October 29, 2024

The Berkeley City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the School District Board Room. The meeting included ceremonial matters, public comments from employee unions and community members, and a consent calendar that was approved unanimously. Several action items were moved to the consent calendar, including the Age-Friendly Action Plan referral, Measure P allocations, and a TNC tax budget referral.

Ceremonial Matters

• Councilmember Tregub presented a proclamation honoring the life and legacy of Al Weinrub, a pioneer in energy democracy and community energy advocacy. The proclamation was accepted on behalf of his family and friends.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Employee Union Representatives (AFSCME Local 1, SEIU 1021, CSU): Multiple speakers from city employee unions addressed the council regarding contract negotiations. They expressed frustration with the city's refusal to meet demands for cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), retroactive pay, and linking salaries to CPI and AMI. Speakers highlighted disparities in salary increases between workers and councilmembers (e.g., workers received 3% COLAs in 2021-2022 while council received 5-13.8%), and noted that many city employees cannot afford to live in Berkeley. Union representatives also withdrew two proposals (parental leave and lactation policy) in hopes the council would adopt them as ordinances. They called for fair contracts, equitable pay, and competitive benefits to retain staff.
• Community Members: Several residents spoke about homelessness, urging the city to establish a sanctioned encampment and enter dialogue with the Berkeley Homeless Union. Others commented on the need for public safety, mental health services, and the slow implementation of the Specialized Care Unit. A speaker from the Open Government Commission expressed disappointment that many of their recommendations for public comment procedures were not included in the council's rules of procedure revisions.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent calendar as amended, which included the following items:
  • Item 1: Minutes for approval.
  • Item 2: Resolution revising City Council Rules of Procedure and Order.
  • Item 3: Formal Bid Solicitations.
  • Item 4: Purchase Order with ZOLL Medical Corporation for ECG monitors ($2.8M).
  • Item 5: Contract with Berkeley Food Network for food assistance ($400,000).
  • Items 6-7: Contract amendments for health officer coverage.
  • Item 8: Housing Trust Fund recommendations for BUSD Workforce Housing ($2M) and St. Paul Terrace ($3.5M).
  • Item 9: Meals on Wheels donations.
  • Item 10: Contract amendment with SmartWave for Wi-Fi.
  • Item 11: Contract with American Debris Box for portable toilet service.
  • Item 12: Contract for MLK Jr. Civic Center Park Upper Plaza Improvements ($1.04M).
  • Item 13: Donation from Berkeley Echo Lake Camp Association ($25,000).
  • Item 14: Contract with Green Pocket Forest for Miyawaki forest design ($142,775).
  • Item 15: Agreement for railroad crossing improvements with Berkeley Commons.
  • Item 16: Contract amendment for window stabilization at 2180 Milvia Street ($947,671).
  • Item 17: Renewal of Solano Avenue BID for 2025.
  • Item 18: Budget request for speed bump at Russell St. ($7,000).
  • Item 19: Budget request for replacement of wrought iron barriers on South Adeline ($50,000).
  • Item 20: "Your Rose Garden" film funding ($500 per contributing councilmember).
  • Items 21a-21b: Referral of Age-Friendly Action Plan to City Manager (moved to consent from action).
  • Items 22a-22b: Measure P allocations for FY2025-26 (moved to consent).
  • Item 23: Budget referral for TNC tax allocation to traffic calming (moved to consent).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar Approved Unanimously: The council voted unanimously (8-0, with Councilmember Hahn absent) to approve the consent calendar as amended.
• "Your Rose Garden" Film Contributions: Several councilmembers contributed from their discretionary funds: Vice Mayor Wengraf ($500), Councilmember Taplin ($500), Councilmember Tregub ($100), Councilmember Humbert ($500), Councilmember Lunaparra ($150), Councilmember Bartlett ($500), and Councilmember Kesarwani ($100). Total contributions support the completion of a short film about Berkeley's Rose Garden.
• Age-Friendly Action Plan: The council referred the Commission on Aging's recommendations and the City Manager's companion report to the City Manager for evaluation and prioritization.
• Measure P Allocations: The council approved the Homeless Services Panel of Experts' recommendations for FY2025-26, as already incorporated in the biennial budget.
• TNC Tax Budget Referral: The council referred the proposal to allocate 50% of TNC tax revenues to traffic calming and 50% to bike/pedestrian/transit projects to the FY2026 budget process.
• Public Comment on Non-Agenda Matters: Items raised included union contract disputes, homelessness, mental health services, and policy accountability. No direct action was taken on these comments.