OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting - April 29, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, April 29, 2025
BodyBerkeley, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 29, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:49:57

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

All right.

0:00

Hello, everyone.

0:01

Good evening.

0:02

Thank you for your appreciation.

0:03

In progress.

0:06

We are going to call this meeting to order.

0:09

Today is Tuesday, April 29th, 2025.

0:13

And I would like us to start with a roll, please.

0:17

Okay.

0:20

Councilmember Kisserwani is currently absent.

0:25

Taplin.

0:27

Present.

0:29

Bartlett.

0:30

Trey Government.

0:33

O'Keefe.

0:34

Here.

0:34

Blackby.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Luna Para.

0:37

Here.

0:37

Humbert.

0:38

Here.

0:39

And Mayor Ishi.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Okay.

0:42

And for Councilmember Taplin.

0:45

We just have to read through our script here.

0:49

Uh, Councilmember Taplin is participating in the meeting remotely, pursuant to the Brown Act as amended by AB 2449 under the Just Cause exception.

1:00

A quorum of the Council is participating in person at a single uh physical location that is noticed on the agenda, open to the public and within the boundaries of the agency.

1:10

This satisfies the requirements of the Brown Act.

1:13

Um Councilmember Taplin, uh, please provide a general description of the circumstances relating to your need to appear remotely.

1:23

Or another night, I have to care for my mother who was ill, uh, because some of us have responsibilities such as that.

1:30

Thank you.

1:31

Okay.

1:32

And uh Councilmember, please disclose um whether there are any individuals 18 years of age or older present with you uh from where you are participating, and if so, what is their general uh relationship to you?

1:45

In this room, I am joined by my spouse.

1:48

Okay.

1:49

And um, Councilmember Taplin will participate through both audio and visual uh technology.

1:55

Okay, we can proceed.

1:59

Okay, all right.

2:00

Well, um, the first thing on our list today, we have a few ceremonial matters.

2:06

Um, I have four adjournments in memory, including one proclamation, and I would like to start with the adjournment in memory for Mary Wainwright.

2:14

I know her family's in the audience today.

2:16

Thank you so much for joining us.

2:18

And I believe that council member um taplin, did you have some comments you wanted to share?

2:25

Yes.

2:28

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

2:29

I do have some remarks, and I am very honored to be able to read these, having been very inspired by the legacy of former Councilmember Wayne Wright.

2:41

Um you all hear me.

2:44

Yes.

2:45

Um tonight we are adjourning in the memory of Berkeley Councilmember Mary Wainwright, who passed away in her kinsman home on April 2nd.

2:53

Council Member Wayne Wright was born on June 19th, 1930 in Marvel, Arkansas, and moved to Berkeley with her late husband, Frank Wainwright, entered her home on Bonard Street in 1958.

3:05

A trustee of Star Bethel McCurry Baptist Church, a life member of the NAACP, and president of the Channing Bonard Neighborhood Association, Councilmember Wayne Wright, representative on the city council from 1988 to 1996, and championed the causes of civic engagement, environmental stewardship and social justice, neighborhood safety and infrastructure, leading in leading efforts, underground PG electrical lines and help secure city sponsorship for the Berkeley June Team Festival.

3:33

Councilmember Wayne Wright also served on the boards of Berkeley's Alternative, Berkeley Juneteenth, Friends of the Center of Independent Living, and was active in League of Women Voters, Berkeley Democratic Club, and a support of revolting together.

3:46

May her leadership be a beacon for all for all of us and her memory be a blessing for our entire community.

3:53

Thank you.

3:55

Thank you so much for reading that, Councilmember Taplin.

3:58

And I also have a proclamation that I'd like to present to her family.

4:01

If you'd like to come join us up here at the podium, I can read this.

4:06

And if you have some remarks, I also allow you to say those as well.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Public Comment████████████████16%
Cultural Recognition██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Homelessness█████5%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Disability Rights█████5%
Public Transit████4%
Immigration████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting - April 29, 2025

The Berkeley City Council met on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the School District Board Room and via teleconference. The meeting included ceremonial adjournments, public comments, a consent calendar with 27 items, and action items including a public hearing on the 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan and a residential parking program. The meeting lasted several hours, with councilmembers participating both in-person and remotely.

Ceremonial Matters

  • The Council adjourned in memory of former Councilmember Mary Wainwright, with a proclamation presented to her family. Councilmember Taplin read a tribute.
  • Adjourned in memory of Bill Chapman, a longtime League of Women Voters member, honored by Mayor Ishii.
  • Adjourned in memory of environmental activist David "Chicken" Nesmith, with remarks from Councilmember Tregub.
  • Councilmember Taplin also adjourned in memory of constituents Betty and Jimmy Pugh.

Consent Calendar

  • The Council approved an urgent item (added to the agenda) supporting AB-389, which would provide a state income tax credit for fire-resistant home improvements. The resolution passed unanimously.
  • Item 7 (Adjustment to Police Accountability Board Stipend Cap) was approved after a brief discussion; Councilmember Taplin voted no, Councilmember Humbert abstained, and Councilmember Blackaby recused himself.
  • Item 19 (Resolution opposing police brutality and use of force on nonviolent protesters) was on the consent calendar with a negative recommendation from the Public Safety Policy Committee. The Council took no action; Councilmembers Tregub and Lunaparra abstained.
  • Numerous budget referrals and resolutions were approved as part of the consent calendar, including:
    • Item 15: Budget referral for afterschool program expansion ($300,000).
    • Item 16: Budget referral for F and G dock deck replacement ($250,000).
    • Item 17: Relinquishment of council office budget funds for Berkeley Juneteenth Festival (multiple councilmembers contributed).
    • Item 18: Support for Berkeley High Robotics Team (funds contributed by several councilmembers).
    • Item 21: Budget referral for deportation defense legal and education funds ($200,000). Mayor Ishii and Councilmember Tregub pledged additional funds from their office budgets.
    • Item 24: Budget referral for Street Spirit drop-in center ($25,000).
    • Item 25: Resolution supporting state and regional funding for Bay Area public transit.
    • Item 27: Deferral of $150,000 for Round Park conversion.
  • Item 22 (Adding ADA expertise to the SAFE STREETS Citizen Oversight Committee) was moved to the Action Calendar for amendment.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Non-Agenda Matters: Speakers addressed concerns about a proposed public bathroom at Adeline and Alcatraz, the demolition of the United Artists Theater, and the city's meeting procedures.
  • Consent Calendar: Numerous speakers supported items including Juneteenth, Street Spirit, afterschool programs, deportation defense funds, and public transit funding. A robotics team representative thanked the council for support. One speaker expressed confusion about item 19 (police brutality) and urged its passage. Parents highlighted the need for more aftercare slots.
  • Public Hearing on Item 28 (Consolidated Plan): One speaker asked about flexibility in funding allocations given potential federal cuts.
  • Public Hearing on Item 29 (RPP on Virginia Street): A resident of the block spoke in favor, citing spillover parking from BART.
  • Item 22 (ADA expertise): Speakers supported the amendment, including a commissioner on aging and the founder of Streets of Equality, emphasizing the need for disability representation.

Discussion Items

  • Item 28: Submission of 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan and PY 2025 Annual Action Plan – Staff presented the HUD-required plan, detailing $3.3 million in estimated annual funding for CDBG, ESG, and HOME programs. Councilmembers asked about federal funding uncertainty and the difference between CDBG and HOME programs. The plan was approved unanimously.
  • Item 29: Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) on the 1500 block of Virginia Street – Staff reported that 83% of residents opted in, exceeding the 51% threshold. A parking occupancy study confirmed need. The item was approved unanimously.
  • Item 22: Adding ADA expertise to the SAFE STREETS Citizen Oversight Committee – Councilmember Blackaby proposed an amendment to clarify that at least one member should have experience with ADA compliance or accessible infrastructure challenges. The amendment was approved unanimously after public comment.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes:
    • Urgent item (AB-389) added to consent calendar and approved unanimously.
    • Consent calendar approved as amended (with Item 7 passing 6-1-1-1, Item 19 taken as no action).
    • Item 28 (Consolidated Plan) approved 8-0.
    • Item 29 (RPP) approved 8-0.
    • Item 22 (ADA expertise) approved 8-0.
  • Budget referrals: Items 15, 16, 21, 24 were referred to the Fiscal Year 26 Mid-Biennial Budget Update process.
  • Next steps: Staff will finalize and submit the Consolidated Plan to HUD; implement RPP signs on Virginia Street; and reopen the application process for the SAFE STREETS committee with the new ADA criteria.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Hello, everyone. Good evening. Thank you for your appreciation. In progress. We are going to call this meeting to order. Today is Tuesday, April 29th, 2025. And I would like us to start with a roll, please. Okay. Councilmember Kisserwani is currently absent. Taplin. Present. Bartlett. Trey Government. O'Keefe. Here. Blackby. Here. Luna Para. Here. Humbert. Here. And Mayor Ishi. Here. Okay. And for Councilmember Taplin. We just have to read through our script here. Uh, Councilmember Taplin is participating in the meeting remotely, pursuant to the Brown Act as amended by AB 2449 under the Just Cause exception. A quorum of the Council is participating in person at a single uh physical location that is noticed on the agenda, open to the public and within the boundaries of the agency. This satisfies the requirements of the Brown Act. Um Councilmember Taplin, uh, please provide a general description of the circumstances relating to your need to appear remotely. Or another night, I have to care for my mother who was ill, uh, because some of us have responsibilities such as that. Thank you. Okay. And uh Councilmember, please disclose um whether there are any individuals 18 years of age or older present with you uh from where you are participating, and if so, what is their general uh relationship to you? In this room, I am joined by my spouse. Okay. And um, Councilmember Taplin will participate through both audio and visual uh technology. Okay, we can proceed. Okay, all right. Well, um, the first thing on our list today, we have a few ceremonial matters. Um, I have four adjournments in memory, including one proclamation, and I would like to start with the adjournment in memory for Mary Wainwright. I know her family's in the audience today. Thank you so much for joining us. And I believe that council member um taplin, did you have some comments you wanted to share? Yes. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I do have some remarks, and I am very honored to be able to read these, having been very inspired by the legacy of former Councilmember Wayne Wright. Um you all hear me. Yes.

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