Berkeley City Council Special Meeting - March 25, 2025: Pavement Management Plan and Referral Prioritization

The Berkeley City Council held a special meeting on March 25, 2025, at 4:00 PM at the School District Board Room, 1231 Addison Street. The meeting focused on two major action items: a presentation on pavement management and infrastructure planning, and the review and adoption of the 2025 City Council Referral Prioritization results using Re-Weighted Range Voting (RRV). The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format with both in-person and remote participation.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Amend Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to include Cesar Chavez Day as a paid city holiday. The City Manager recommended adopting a resolution to add Cesar Chavez Day (last Monday of March) as a paid holiday for represented employee groups, beginning in 2025. The item was on the consent calendar and was adopted without discussion as part of a unanimous consent motion.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Pavement Management & Infrastructure Planning (Item 2):

• Margot Shuler (former Public Works Commissioner) commented on the street saver concept, noting it is geared for asphalt and makes integration of innovative materials difficult. She highlighted the need for coordination with parks department on street trees and heat impacts, and raised concerns about asphalt's environmental effects on salmon and the Bay. She also questioned bundling utility requests with neighboring cities.
• Ray Yep (former Public Works Commission and Transportation Infrastructure Commission member) praised the presentation and credited former commissioners, auditors, and council members for advancing infrastructure funding and awareness.
• An unnamed speaker thanked Councilmember Kesarwani for thoughtful comments and questioned the status of a grant writer position.
• Former Councilmember Gordon Wozniak expressed concern that the PCI (Pavement Condition Index) has not improved after 14 years. He urged reducing indirect costs, earning higher interest on idle funds, and considering permeable pavers for arterial streets.
• Nancy Rader (on behalf of Berkeley's for Accessible Rights of Way) stressed the need to prioritize ADA compliance and accessibility in Measure FF implementation, urging a holistic approach to serve disabled and senior populations.
• Blair Beekman commented on the meeting procedure (public comment before council questions) and urged tech accountability in infrastructure planning.
• Helen Walsh (Commission on Disability) emphasized that accessibility and the ADA transition plan must be integrated into roadway planning, and asked how ADA updates would be funded.
• Meryl Siegel requested inclusion of businesses in infrastructure planning to support economic vitality.

On 2025 Referral Prioritization (Item 3):

• Blair Beekman briefly commented on the item, expressing hope for a good process.

Discussion Items

Pavement Management & Infrastructure Planning (Item 2): The presentation by Public Works Director Terrance Davis outlined the current condition of Berkeley's streets, the impact of Measure FF funding (which began billing in January 2025 with an 18-month initial period), cost escalation drivers (labor, traffic control, regulations), and a proposed unified planning framework. Council members asked questions and discussed:

• Councilmember Kesarwani asked about regional coordination, leveraging Measure FF for grants, community notification, and the potential for a user charge (impact fee) for large vehicles or electric vehicles. She requested a chart showing the funding needed to achieve Measure FF goals.
• Councilmember Lunaparra asked about street safety after repaving (risk of increased speeds) and was told that post-construction analysis and engineering treatments are planned.
• Vice Mayor Bartlett asked about cost escalation drivers (labor, traffic control subcontracting, prevailing wage regulations). He suggested communicating with city lobbyists on potential policy fixes.
• Councilmember O'Keefe asked about the holistic prioritization process for Measure FF, Complete Streets, and other plans. Staff indicated that the prioritization criteria and policy recommendations would come before council for approval before significant project design begins.
• Mayor Ishii expressed support for a community-facing dashboard to improve transparency.

2025 City Council Referral Prioritization (Item 3): City Clerk Mark Numainville presented the results of the Re-Weighted Range Voting (RRV) process, where council members scored 43 outstanding referrals. The final prioritized list placed Public Works as the top department (four of the top six). Staff noted that the city manager has discretion to adjust assignments based on departmental capacity. Councilmember Taplin moved adoption of the resolution approving the prioritized list, seconded by Councilmember O'Keefe. A brief discussion occurred on bundling related arts referrals; the city clerk preferred keeping them separate. The resolution was adopted unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Adopted unanimously, including the Cesar Chavez Day paid holiday resolution.
• Pavement Management Presentation: No vote required; the report was received and discussed. Council direction emphasized transparent communication, community engagement, and a unified prioritization policy.
• 2025 Referral Prioritization Resolution: Approved unanimously (8-0). The final ranked list (Attachment A) will guide staff work, with the city manager retaining discretion for departmental capacity. Councilmember Taplin and O'Keefe made and seconded the motion.