Berkeley City Council Meeting: Landmarks Reform, ICE-Free Zone, and Firefighter Concerns - April 15, 2026

The Berkeley City Council met on April 15, 2026 (the meeting was convened on April 14, 2026 at 6:05 PM and concluded after midnight) to address a full agenda. Key actions included unanimous approval of a resolution limiting city property use for immigration enforcement (ICE-free zone), adoption of significant amendments to the landmarks preservation ordinance (raising the signature threshold for public-initiated landmark designations to 200 and establishing a five-year moratorium on landmarking for properties with active SB 330 preliminary applications), and approval of the consent calendar. The meeting also featured ceremonial adjournments in memory of community activists Cynthia Brantley Pierce and Winston Burton, and public comment from the firefighters' union opposing proposed position eliminations and the closure of Fire Station 4.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar was approved as amended, including moving item 18 (Mills Act contract for 2845 Woolsey) from the action calendar to consent based on Councilmember Humbert's request.
• Council members made individual donations from their office accounts to support community organizations: Kala Art Institute (item 14), Sylvia Mendez Spring Cultural Celebration (item 15), and others. Contributions ranged from $100 to $500 per council member.
• Other consent items included approval of the Downtown Berkeley Association bid renewal (item 4), initiation of a process to rename Cesar Chavez Park (item 12), support for amendments to the Berkeley Green Code (item 17), and the local density bonus program referral to establish a citywide program for lower-cost ownership homes (item 13).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-agenda items: Speakers addressed historical inaccuracies in street naming (Galapagai Way), accessibility of government services at City Hall, and pedestrian safety issues at the Ashby BART crosswalk. One speaker requested construction cones be replaced at an unfinished crosswalk.
• Firefighters union: Amori Langmom, president of Berkeley Firefighters Local 1227, spoke strongly against the proposed elimination of 20 firefighter positions and closure of Fire Station 4. He noted that voters passed Measures GG (2008) and FF (2020) generating $16.2 million annually for fire services, and that call volume had increased from 11,000 to 17,500 incidents per year. He warned that response delays would increase fatality rates for cardiac arrest and fires.
• Item 13 (local density bonus for condos): Several speakers opposed the proposal, arguing it would allow developers to pay fees instead of building on-site affordable housing, thereby reinforcing housing segregation and reducing affordable units in wealthier neighborhoods. Others supported it as a way to create homeownership opportunities and spur stalled downtown development.
• Item 20 (landmarks ordinance amendments): Speakers including Kelly Hammergren, Isaac Warshower (Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association), and LPC Chair Denise Hall Montgomery advocated for a 100-signature threshold and expressed concerns that the higher thresholds (200 or 400) would effectively end community-initiated landmarking. They also criticized the SB 330 exception as potentially enabling bad-faith applications to block landmarking.

Discussion Items

• Item 19 – Resolution limiting use of city property (ICE-free zone): The city attorney presented a resolution restricting exclusive use of city property without authorization, particularly for civil immigration enforcement staging. Councilmembers discussed the distinction between exclusive and non-exclusive uses and legal limitations. After brief questions and public comment, the council voted unanimously to adopt.
• Item 20 – Amendments to Landmarks Preservation Ordinance: Extensive deliberation centered on two issues:
  • Signature threshold: The referral proposed raising the required number to initiate a landmark designation from 50 to 200 with owner consent or 400 without. The LPC recommended 100. Councilmembers debated between 100, 150, and 200. Councilmember Kessarwani advocated for a differentiated threshold (150 with owner consent, 300 without) to prevent abuse by neighbors. Ultimately, Councilmember Taplin moved a single threshold of 200 signatures regardless of owner consent, which carried 8-0-1 (Councilmember Bartlett abstained).
  • SB 330 exception: Two alternatives were considered: a five-year moratorium proposed by Councilmembers Kessarwani and Humbert (one-time per property, with extension through the life of any entitlement) and a 30-month (2.5-year) moratorium proposed by Vice Mayor Tregub (aligned with state law). After discussion, the council adopted the five-year option as part of the same motion, along with a requirement for staff to report back in one year on implementation.
  • Other technical edits: The ordinance also included fee schedule updates, typographical corrections, and procedural alignments with the zoning adjustments board and sunshine laws.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar: Approved unanimously (9-0) as amended.
• Resolution on city property use (Item 19): Adopted unanimously (10-0).
• Landmarks ordinance amendments (Item 20): Adopted 8-0-1 (Councilmember Bartlett abstained). Key provisions:
  • Signature threshold for public-initiated landmark designation set at 200 (single standard, no distinction for owner consent).
  • Five-year moratorium on landmarking after receipt of an SB 330 preliminary development application, limited to one time per property, with extension through the life of any resulting entitlement.
  • Staff directed to report back to council in one year on the administration of the new regulations.
• Ceremonial adjournments: The council adjourned in memory of Cynthia Brantley Pierce and Winston Burton.
• No action on firefighters' concerns: The council heard public comment but took no vote regarding the proposed position eliminations or closure of Fire Station 4.

The meeting was adjourned shortly after 10 p.m.