OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting – April 15, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, April 15, 2025
BodyBerkeley, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 15, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:36:04

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Okay, Mary, we can uh we can start.

0:10

Okay, I'm sorry, everybody, but our microphone system is still not working.

0:15

So we're gonna we're gonna begin the meeting, and we're gonna do our absolute best to this owl situation here.

0:21

So we'll have you online.

0:24

Oh, we can use the mic for now.

0:26

Okay.

0:28

Just our mic.

0:32

Is it gonna be echoey on the zoom?

0:33

Nope, we're good.

0:34

Okay, good.

0:35

Okay, all right.

0:36

Well, that saves me uh some yelling.

0:38

So, yay, yeah, class for that.

0:41

All right.

0:42

Thank you so much to everyone for your patience again.

0:45

Um, I am going to call to order the Berkeley City Council meeting.

0:48

Today is Tuesday, April 15th, 2025.

0:53

And we are going to start with the role.

0:56

Okay, Councilmember Keserwani.

0:59

Here.

0:59

Kaplan present.

1:01

Bartlett is currently absent.

1:04

Trago present.

1:06

O'Keefe here.

1:07

Black B here.

1:08

Luna Para.

1:10

Humbert here.

1:11

And Mayor Ishii.

1:12

Here.

1:13

Okay.

1:14

Okay, thank you very much.

1:15

Um, we are, this is actually our first meeting of the month after our spring recess.

1:21

Um, and we have the land acknowledgement that we read at the beginning of each first meeting of the month.

1:28

And this this month is Councilmember O'Keefe.

1:31

And so she will read for us the land acknowledgement.

1:36

Oh, that's not it.

1:39

Here it is.

1:40

Okay.

1:42

Into the working microphone.

1:44

The city of Berkeley recognizes that the community we live in was built on the territory of Huchun, the ancestral and unceded land of the Chechenyo speaking Ohlone people, the ancestors and descendants of the sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County.

2:03

This land was and continues to be of great importance to all of the Aloney tribes and descendants of the Verona Band.

2:11

As we begin our meeting tonight, we acknowledge and honor the original inhabitants of Berkeley, the documented 5,000 year history of a vibrant community at the West Berkeley Shell Mound, and the Allone people who continue to reside in the East Bay.

2:30

We recognize that Berkeley's resident residents have and continue to continue to benefit from the use and occupation of this unceded stolen land since the city of Berkeley's incorporation in 1878.

2:45

As stewards of the laws regulating the city of Berkeley, it is not only vital that we recognize the history of this land, but also recognize that the Ohlone people are present members of Berkeley and other East Bay communities today.

3:11

Thank you very much, Councilmember O'Keefe.

3:30

The City Council also met in closed session and authorized the city attorney to settle a claim for real property transfer tax overpayment in the matter of DS properties 17 LP, V City of Berkeley et al.

3:42

Alamina County Superior Court case number 23 C V038353 in the amount of 250,000 in exchange for dismissal of the case and a release of all claims against the city.

4:09

Apologies.

4:15

Sonny, would you like to come up to the podium?

4:19

Okay, so um commemorating April 24th, 2025 as Berkeley Holocaust Remembrance Day, whereas the Holocaust was a crime of shocking inhumanity, targeting for persecution and death six million Jews, as well as the Roma and Sinti people, those with mental illness and physical disabilities, members of the queer community, Slavs, Poles, and members of anti-Nazi networks from throughout Europe, and whereas Holocaust Remembrance Day serves as an imperative reminder of the appalling crimes and atrocities of the Holocaust, so that we may keep them in our memory and continue to condemn them for generations to come.

5:00

And whereas false information on the Holocaust continues to distort, deny, and trivialize the horrendous truth about what took place during the Nazi regimes.

5:07

And whereas the Berkeley Police Department reports that since October of 2023, there has been an increase overall in the number of anti-Jewish hate incidents, and that in 2024, anti-Jewish hate crimes made up 18.6% of overall hate crimes, the third highest category, and one of only three categories that are in the double digits.

5:27

And whereas the purpose of Berkeley's Holocaust Remembrance Day is to come together as a community to remember the Holocaust to honor survivors who chose to rebuild their lives in Berkeley and the Bay Area and to reflect on the need to respect all people.

5:40

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Adina Ishi, mayor of the city of Berkeley, do hereby declare April 24th, 2025 to be Holocaust Remembrance Day in the city of Berkeley.

5:52

Thank you.

5:57

To Mayor Ishi and the Berkeley City Council members, I'm deeply appreciative to you for issuing a proclamation for Berkeley's 21st Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day.

6:10

In your issuing this proclamation, you are demonstrating leadership in combating Jew hatred here in Berkeley.

6:18

It shows that you are committed to preventing a recurrence of the horrendous act of genocide committed by the Nazi government in Europe in the 1930s, never again.

6:31

There should be no doubt that anti-Semitism is rising, visible, chilling, and increasingly normalized in our public discourse, politics, and institutions.

6:43

It requires urgent and consistent action by our national political, academic, religious, and civic leaders.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Police Accountability████████████████████████████28%
Public Comment█████████████████████████25%
Holocaust Remembrance█████████████13%
Procedural███████████11%
Public Safety██████████10%
Cultural Recognition█████5%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Public Engagement█1%
International Relations█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting – April 15, 2025

The Berkeley City Council held a regular hybrid meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, a unanimous consent calendar, and a contentious action item concerning police accountability. The council also approved an urgent item and heard extensive public testimony on a range of topics including Holocaust remembrance, police oversight, and park improvements.

Consent Calendar

The council voted unanimously (9-0) to approve the consent calendar, which included the following items:

  • Item 1: Second reading of amendments to the Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) for small residential buildings (first reading all ayes).
  • Item 2: Second reading establishing the Manufacturing, Research & Development (M-RD) zoning district for the former Pacific Steel Casting site (first reading all ayes).
  • Item 3: Appointment of a new member to the Police Accountability Board.
  • Item 4: Contract with UC San Francisco for Encampment Resolution Funding evaluation ($200,000).
  • Item 5: Approval of formal bid solicitations and RFPs.
  • Item 6: Amendment to contract for Mental Health Crisis Line services (add $50,001, extend term).
  • Item 7: Amendment to contract for Substance Use Disorder services (add $500,000, extend term).
  • Item 8: Amendment to NextRequest PRA software contract (add $61,098).
  • Item 9: Purchase order for a portable emergency power generator for Berkeley Tuolumne Family Camp ($116,766).
  • Item 10: Proclamation declaring April 17 as Police Accountability Day.
  • Item 12: Referral to City Attorney for Sanctuary City Ordinance.
  • Item 13: Budget referral for Ohlone Greenway Safety Improvements Project ($150,000 for final design).
  • Item 14: Establish rules for community-based organizations receiving emergency funds without procurement (annual limit $225,000 total, $25,000 per org).
  • Item 15: Relinquishment of council office budget funds for Sylvia Mendez Elementary School Spring Cultural Celebration.
  • Item 16: Resolution commemorating April 24, 2025, as Berkeley Holocaust Remembrance Day.
  • Item 17: Relinquishment of council office budget funds for 2025 Virtual Holocaust Remembrance Day Program.
  • Item 18: Resolution supporting California Senate Bill 42 (California Fair Elections Act of 2026).
  • Item 19: Budget referral for Thousand Oaks Park Playground Update ($80,000 for airplane-themed structure).
  • Item 20: Study of sabbatical leave for City employees (policy committee gave negative recommendation; no action taken on consent).
  • Item 21: Relinquishment of council office budget funds for Music in the Elmwood Festival.

Additionally, an urgent item (Kala Art Institute 2025 Relinquishment) was added to the agenda by a unanimous vote and approved as part of the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public comment was taken on both non-agenda matters and consent/information items. Key themes included:

  • Holocaust Remembrance (Items 16–17): Many speakers expressed appreciation for the recognition, with survivor Sunny DeWitt sharing her harrowing story. Others urged the council to also recognize the plight of Palestinians, arguing that "never again" must apply to all.
  • Police Accountability (Items 11A & 11B): Multiple speakers, including former commissioners and community members, urged the council to adopt the PAB's recommendations rather than the substitute resolution. Speakers highlighted the need for a formal arrest quota ban and full document access.
  • Ohlone Greenway (Item 13): Several members of the California Habitats, Indigenous Activists (CHIA) group opposed widening of the pathway, citing Measure L protections and the value of the native plant garden. Councilmember Kesarwani clarified that Measure L does not prohibit changes and that safety improvements are needed.
  • Thousand Oaks Park Playground (Item 19): Supporters, including friends of Michael Seltzer, spoke in favor of the airplane-themed structure. Neighbors raised concerns about the location, process, and cost, suggesting alternative memorial options.
  • Other: A speaker highlighted the lack of public space in District 7; another criticized the city's public records request process. Union representative Jocelyn spoke about moral injury regarding the lack of a ceasefire resolution.

Discussion Items

The main discussion focused on Items 11A and 11B, taken together as a single action item:

Item 11A (PAB Report): The Police Accountability Board and ODPA presented their investigation into BPD Downtown Task Force texting offenses, recommending: (1) affirm PAB access to documents, (2) adopt a resolution ensuring accountability for misconduct, (3) create a public repository for sustained allegations, and (4) call on state legislators to extend the arrest quota prohibition beyond vehicle code. The Public Safety Policy Committee had given a negative recommendation.

Item 11B (Councilmember Blackaby): Blackaby's resolution affirmed support for BPD, acknowledged the PAB’s work, condemned racism and misconduct, opposed arrest quotas, and asked the legislature to expand the quota prohibition.

Council debate revealed disagreements over whether existing state law (Vehicle Code §§41600–41603) already prohibits all arrest quotas. The city attorney clarified it applies only to vehicle code citations, not all arrests. The chief stated the department interprets it broadly. Multiple councilmembers (Bartlett, Taplin, Tregub, O'Keefe, Humbert) supported the substitute resolution, arguing it captured the actionable items and respected the ongoing meet-and-confer process. Councilmember Lunaparra expressed concern that the resolution did not go far enough and voted against.

The final motion (to accept the PAB report with thanks and adopt Resolution 11B) passed 8-1 (Lunaparra dissenting).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (9-0) with all listed items.
  • Urgent Item: Added and approved unanimously; councilmembers contributed discretionary funds to Kala Art Institute (up to $500 each) and other community events (Sylvia Mendez, Holocaust Remembrance, Music in the Elmwood).
  • Items 11A & 11B: Motion to accept the PAB report and adopt Councilmember Blackaby’s resolution passed 8-1. The PAB report was acknowledged, but its specific recommendations were not adopted as binding policy.
  • Proclamations: Holocaust Remembrance Day (April 24), Muslim American Appreciation Month (April), and Education and Sharing Day (April 9) were all proclaimed.
  • Referrals: The Sanctuary City Ordinance referral (Item 12) and budget referrals for Ohlone Greenway (Item 13) and Thousand Oaks Park (Item 19) were approved as part of the consent calendar and will proceed to the June budget process.
  • Next Steps: The meet-and-confer process for PAB regulations is expected to conclude within a few months. The council directed staff to continue work on transparency and accountability measures.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, Mary, we can uh we can start. Okay, I'm sorry, everybody, but our microphone system is still not working. So we're gonna we're gonna begin the meeting, and we're gonna do our absolute best to this owl situation here. So we'll have you online. Oh, we can use the mic for now. Okay. Just our mic. Is it gonna be echoey on the zoom? Nope, we're good. Okay, good. Okay, all right. Well, that saves me uh some yelling. So, yay, yeah, class for that. All right. Thank you so much to everyone for your patience again. Um, I am going to call to order the Berkeley City Council meeting. Today is Tuesday, April 15th, 2025. And we are going to start with the role. Okay, Councilmember Keserwani. Here. Kaplan present. Bartlett is currently absent. Trago present. O'Keefe here. Black B here. Luna Para. Humbert here. And Mayor Ishii. Here. Okay. Okay, thank you very much. Um, we are, this is actually our first meeting of the month after our spring recess. Um, and we have the land acknowledgement that we read at the beginning of each first meeting of the month. And this this month is Councilmember O'Keefe. And so she will read for us the land acknowledgement. Oh, that's not it. Here it is. Okay. Into the working microphone. The city of Berkeley recognizes that the community we live in was built on the territory of Huchun, the ancestral and unceded land of the Chechenyo speaking Ohlone people, the ancestors and descendants of the sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County. This land was and continues to be of great importance to all of the Aloney tribes and descendants of the Verona Band. As we begin our meeting tonight, we acknowledge and honor the original inhabitants of Berkeley, the documented 5,000 year history of a vibrant community at the West Berkeley Shell Mound, and the Allone people who continue to reside in the East Bay. We recognize that Berkeley's resident residents have and continue to continue to benefit from the use and occupation of this unceded stolen land since the city of Berkeley's incorporation in 1878. As stewards of the laws regulating the city of Berkeley, it is not only vital that we recognize the history of this land, but also recognize that the Ohlone people are present members of Berkeley and other East Bay communities today. Thank you very much, Councilmember O'Keefe. The City Council also met in closed session and authorized the city attorney to settle a claim for real property transfer tax overpayment in the matter of DS properties 17 LP, V City of Berkeley et al. Alamina County Superior Court case number 23 C V038353 in the amount of 250,000 in exchange for dismissal of the case and a release of all claims against the city. Apologies. Sonny, would you like to come up to the podium? Okay, so um commemorating April 24th, 2025 as Berkeley Holocaust Remembrance Day, whereas the Holocaust was a crime of shocking inhumanity, targeting for persecution and death six million Jews, as well as the Roma and Sinti people, those with mental illness and physical disabilities, members of the queer community, Slavs, Poles, and members of anti-Nazi networks from throughout Europe, and whereas Holocaust Remembrance Day serves as an imperative reminder of the appalling crimes and atrocities of the Holocaust, so that we may keep them in our memory and continue to condemn them for generations to come.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com