Berkeley City Council Special Meeting on Waterfront Specific Plan – November 18, 2024
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Berkeley City Council Special Meeting on Waterfront Specific Plan – November 18, 2024
This special meeting, held on November 18, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the School District Board Room, was a work session dedicated to receiving an update on the Waterfront Specific Plan (WSP) and providing direction to staff. The council heard a detailed presentation from Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Director Scott Ferris and Deputy Director Christina Ericsson, followed by a recommendation from the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission (PRWC) delivered by incoming Chair Alan Aschez. Public comment was taken, and the council deliberated on three potential paths: proceed immediately with CEQA, pause for additional studies, or stop the project. The council ultimately voted to take a pause to complete a parking study and a conceptual plan for César Chávez Park, then pursue an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the highest development scenario.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Approximately 20 speakers addressed the council, both in person and via Zoom. The majority urged the council to pause the specific plan process until the parking study is completed and to develop a recreation- and nature-based conceptual plan for César Chávez Park. Many speakers expressed concern that the current plan lacks a solid parking baseline, could lead to excessive commercial development, and may jeopardize existing recreational uses and diverse community access. Speakers from the Cal Sailing Club, the Chavez Park Conservancy, and the Berkeley Commission on Disability highlighted the importance of preserving the working waterfront, affordable access, and ADA-accessible amenities. A few speakers, including former Councilmember Gordon Wozniak, supported moving forward with development to generate revenue for critical infrastructure repairs, noting the $94 million in unfunded capital needs.
Discussion Items
- Staff presented the history of the WSP, noting that the marina fund faces an $850,000 annual operational deficit and $94 million in unfunded infrastructure needs. They outlined three development scenarios (low, moderate, and high) that would add 380,000, 605,000, or 835,000 square feet of new development, respectively, with potential annual revenue gains of $2.2 million, $3.5 million, or $4.8 million. The PRWC recommended pausing to complete the parking study (Task 3) and prepare a conceptual plan for César Chávez Park before proceeding to CEQA. Staff recommended the moderate scenario but agreed with the commission’s call for a pause and additional planning. Council discussion focused on the need for fiscal sustainability, the value of studying the highest development scenario for EIR flexibility, and the importance of integrating César Chávez Park into the plan. Councilmembers expressed support for the commission’s recommendations while emphasizing the need to move forward strategically.
Key Outcomes
- Councilmember Taplin made a motion to “first complete the parking study and prepare a nature- and recreation-based conceptual plan for César Chávez Park, then pursue an EIR for the high development scenario, then come back to council for approval of the waterfront specific plan and certification of the EIR.” The motion was seconded by Councilmember Kesarwani and passed unanimously (8-0) with Councilmember Hahn participating remotely under AB 2449. The mayor was absent. The motion directs staff to return to council after completing the parking study (expected in 2–3 months) and the conceptual plan for César Chávez Park (estimated cost $200,000–$250,000, to be funded in the FY 2025-26 budget process). The high development scenario will be studied in the EIR, providing maximum flexibility for future councils. The council also noted that the Bernal Ferry project will proceed independently with its own funding and environmental review.
Meeting Transcript
Today is November 18th, 2024, and this is the special meeting of the Berkeley City Council. It's a work session to consider the waterfront specific plan. Before we get started, I'd just like to read some introductory comments 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 guy without consent. We ask that you observe these rules so that all members of the public may observe and participate in tonight's meeting. Thank you. Recording in progress. Okay, Councilmember Kessarwani. Here. Bartlett here. Drago. Han. Present participating remotely. Here. Here. And Humbert. Present. Mayor Aragine is absent this evening. And for um Council Rahan's participation, we just need to go through the AV 2449 script. I'm understand that Council Maharaj is intending to participate tonight under the emergency circumstances of the justification under the Brown Act as amended by AB 2449. A quorum of the council is participating in person at the physical meeting location that is identified on the agenda and open to the public, which satisfies the requirements of the Brown Act. Councilmember Hahn has notified the council of her need to participate remotely. Councilmember Han, if you could provide a general description of the circumstances relating to your need to appear remotely. However, please do not disclose any medical diagnosis, disability, or other confidential medical information. Thank you. Yes. I need to take care of a family member who has a sudden emergency. Thank you. And uh Councilmember Han, um, please disclose if there are any other individuals 18 years of age or older present in the room from which you are participating, and the general nature of their relationship to you. I am uh I think there is nobody else with me at this time. Okay. And Councilman will participate through both audio and visual technology. Um so actually, this um if it's a uh family caregiving need, then that falls under the uh could fall under the just cause um circumstances, and then the council does not actually need to vote to permit um the participation so uh we can uh proceed with the meeting at this time. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Uh this is a special meeting, and we will be only taking public comment on the one item on our agenda tonight. Um City Manager, um, do you do suggest that we take public comment before the presentation or after the presentation? Doesn't matter. Okay, whatever you like to do. Madam Vice Mayor, uh I think I think it's uh useful to take it after, frankly. But okay, yes, okay. Um we will uh proceed then. Um Madam Vice Mayor. Uh tonight staff is prepared to review with the mayor, the council, and the public, the waterfront specific plan. Um this is an item that has been worked on for a number of years. Tonight you will have our park rec and waterfront director, uh Scott Ferris, and then our deputy director, uh, Christina, and they will take over the presentation now.
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