OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Meeting - April 21, 2026: Vacancy Report, Consent Calendar, and Public Comments

City Council — Tuesday, April 21, 2026
BodyBerkeley, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:06:55

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Okay, hello everyone.

0:02

Good evening.

0:03

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

0:06

Today is Tuesday, April 21st, 2026, and it is 608 p.m.

0:11

Thank you very much for your patience, everyone.

0:14

Can we please start off with the roll?

0:16

Certainly.

0:16

And Mayor, before we get started with the role, Councilmember O'Keefe will be participating remotely under the Just Cause Provision of the Brown Act.

0:25

So we're going to run through that script real quick.

0:28

Councilmember O'Keefe is intending to participate in the meeting remotely pursuant to the Brown Act under the Just Cause justification.

0:35

A quorum of the councils participating in person at a single physical location that is identified on the agenda, open to the public within the boundaries of the agency and meets accessibility requirements.

0:46

This satisfies the requirements of the Brown Act.

0:49

Councilmember O'Keefe has notified us of her need to participate remotely.

0:54

Councilmember O'Keefe, if you would please provide a general description of the circumstances relating to your need to appear remotely, and you're reminded that you need not disclose any medical diagnosis, disability, or other confidential medical information.

1:09

Yeah, thanks.

1:10

I have a sick kid.

1:12

Thank you.

1:13

Councilmember O'Keefe, please disclose whether any other individuals 18 years of age or older are present in the room at your remote location and the general nature of your relationship with such individuals.

1:28

Just a cat.

1:29

He's under 18.

1:30

Thank you.

1:31

And council member O'Keith, you're reminded that you must participate through both audio and visual technology.

1:38

Okay.

1:39

I might turn off my camera briefly if I have to go check on my kid, but I'll be I'll be here.

1:46

Thank you.

1:47

All right.

1:48

Um and we can go ahead and proceed with the roll.

1:52

Councilmember Kessarwani.

1:54

Here.

1:55

Councilmember Taplin is absent.

1:59

Councilmember Bartlett is absent.

2:03

Councilmember Tracub.

2:06

Thank you.

2:07

O'Keefe.

2:08

Here.

2:09

Blackabee.

2:10

Here.

2:11

Moonapara.

2:12

Here.

2:13

Humbert.

2:14

Present.

2:14

And Mayor Ishi.

2:15

Here.

2:16

Thank you.

2:17

Thank you so much, Rose.

2:19

All right.

2:19

So we have a quite lengthy report out from closed session.

2:23

So please bear with me.

2:24

It's a lot of letters and numbers.

2:26

Item number one, the city council met in closed session on August 20th, 2026, pursuant to government government code section 54956.9 subsection D, and provided directions to outside council and approved a settlement by compromise and release as to a workers' compensation matter assigned claim number BER 220002 and WCAB case number ADJ 15513397.

2:56

Item number two, the city council met in closed session on April 20, 2026, pursuant to government code section 54956.9 subsection D, and provided direction to outside council and approved a settlement by compromise and release with a release of future medical care or in the alternative by stipulations with a request for award with open future medical care as to a workers' compensation matter assigned claim number BER 2000 151 and WCAB case number ADJ 17521808.

3:29

Item number three, the city council met in closed session on April 20, 2026, pursuant to government code section 54956.9 subsection D, and provided directions to outside council and approved a settlement by stipulations and request for award with open future medical care as to a workers' compensation matter, assigned claim number BER2400105.

3:51

Two more items left.

3:52

Item number five, the mayor and city council met in closed session and voted to authorize the city attorney's office to file appeals in the matter of Berkeley Homeless Union et al.

4:01

v.

4:02

City of Berkeley et al.

4:04

Four colon 25-C V-01414-EMC and Proto et al.

4:14

V City of Berkeley case number three, colon 23-CV-04537-EMC.

4:24

Uh in the Northern District California.

4:27

Item number six, the mayor and city council met in closed session to discuss the matter of INRE DHCS audit of City of Berkeley Reed GEMT cost reports.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters███████████████████████████27%
Public Comment███████████████████████23%
Procedural████████████████16%
Surveillance Technology██████████10%
Public Safety████████8%
Pending Litigation██████6%
Transportation Safety███3%
Legislative Advocacy███3%
Homelessness██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Berkeley City Council met on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 6:08 PM. The meeting included a report from closed session, adoption of the consent calendar with several legislative support positions, a public hearing on city vacancies and recruitment under AB 2561, and extensive public comment on non-agenda matters and consent items. Council members participated both in-person and remotely.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 14: Support for SB 1301 (insurance non-renewal reform) – sponsored by Councilmember Tracub with co-sponsors Blackaby, Humbert, O'Keefe.
  • Item 15: Support for SB 1257 (federal immigration enforcement report) – sponsored by Councilmember Tracub with co-sponsors Mayor Ishi, Lunapara, and added Casarwani.
  • Item 16: Support for three environmental bills (SB 222, SB 868, AB 2389) – sponsored by Councilmember Tracub with co-sponsor Lunapara.
  • Item 17: Setting measurable goals and metrics for key city priorities – sponsored by Councilmember Blackaby with co-sponsor Tracub.
  • Item 13: Peace and Justice Commission item reaffirming commitment to international peace – Councilmember Humbert noted it was duplicative of prior council action; council agreed to take no action.
  • Items 11 and 12: Peace and Justice Commission recommendations on flock safety and controlled weapons were moved to future meetings (May 7 and when items return from public safety committee).
  • Item 2: Councilmember Bartlett's nomination to Police Accountability Board (Benjamin Nash) – acknowledged and approved as part of consent.
  • Item 4: $9 million in state funds secured for affordable housing at North Berkeley BART station – acknowledged.
  • Consent calendar adopted unanimously with amendment to take no action on item 13.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Non-agenda public comment:
    • Rachel Barry (Root and Bloom Institute): Expressed concern about loss of nearly 50 parking spaces (including ADA) after a new traffic light at 6th and Bancroft; noted 16 months of emails with no traction and requested council support.
    • Rolf Bell (26-year resident and business owner): Described impact on 30 small businesses and 16 residences from intersection reconfiguration; criticized lack of notice and inability to meet with Mayor Ishi or Councilmember Taplin.
    • Lily Howell (parent of three): Opposed proposed elimination of Parks and Recreation therapeutic recreation program for children with disabilities; called it shameful in the birthplace of the disability rights movement.
    • Della: Requested public reporting on causes of recent fires in Berkeley to help residents avoid hazards.
    • Craig Nagasowa (property owner at 1201 6th Street): Described dangerous conditions from unhoused encampment including a fire that blistered his building; criticized city for allowing the person to return.
    • Additional speakers supported Peace and Justice Commission's recommendations on flock safety (George Lippman, Wendy, Lisa).
  • Consent calendar public comment:
    • George Lippman (Peace and Justice Commission): Strongly opposed Flock contracts, citing data sharing with ICE, political corruption, and influence of Trump-supporting investor; urged council to be careful.
  • Public hearing on vacancies (Item 18):
    • Thomas Gregory (SEIU 1021 president): Stressed that eliminating 114 vacant positions (42 in his chapter) would permanently reduce city capacity for constituent services (planning, behavioral health, revenue collection).
    • Berkeley Police Association representative (Monarch): Presented current sworn vacancies (46 vacant positions, 66% of authorized staffing); noted recruitment challenges (lack of tools, competition from SFPD) and proposed budget cuts that would worsen staffing; 19 officers eligible to retire.

Discussion Items

  • Item 18: Public Hearing on Vacancies, Recruitment, and Retention (AB 2561)
    • Presenter Monica Walker (HR) reported a 15% average vacancy rate citywide in 2025, with highest in small bargaining units (BFCOA, IBEW). The city received ~16,000 applications (12,000 unique) and filled 248 vacancies. Retention rate was 93%. Benchmarking comparable to other municipalities (14-20% vacancy). Councilmember Blackaby asked for follow-up on benchmarking retention.
    • Councilmember Casarwani asked for clarification on retention calculation (retirements + voluntary separations divided by budgeted positions).
    • Councilmember Humbert thanked staff for the presentation.
    • Public hearing closed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar adopted unanimously as amended (no action on item 13).
  • Items 11 and 12 deferred to future meetings (May 7 and as scheduled from public safety committee).
  • Public hearing on vacancies (Item 18) was held and closed unanimously; no formal vote required.
  • Councilmember Tracub added co-sponsors on several items (Casarwani, Lunapara).
  • Councilmember Humbert raised concern about duplicative item 13; council agreed to take no action.
  • Meeting adjourned unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, hello everyone. Good evening. I am going to call to order the Berkeley City Council meeting. Today is Tuesday, April 21st, 2026, and it is 608 p.m. Thank you very much for your patience, everyone. Can we please start off with the roll? Certainly. And Mayor, before we get started with the role, Councilmember O'Keefe will be participating remotely under the Just Cause Provision of the Brown Act. So we're going to run through that script real quick. Councilmember O'Keefe is intending to participate in the meeting remotely pursuant to the Brown Act under the Just Cause justification. A quorum of the councils participating in person at a single physical location that is identified on the agenda, open to the public within the boundaries of the agency and meets accessibility requirements. This satisfies the requirements of the Brown Act. Councilmember O'Keefe has notified us of her need to participate remotely. Councilmember O'Keefe, if you would please provide a general description of the circumstances relating to your need to appear remotely, and you're reminded that you need not disclose any medical diagnosis, disability, or other confidential medical information. Yeah, thanks. I have a sick kid. Thank you. Councilmember O'Keefe, please disclose whether any other individuals 18 years of age or older are present in the room at your remote location and the general nature of your relationship with such individuals. Just a cat. He's under 18. Thank you. And council member O'Keith, you're reminded that you must participate through both audio and visual technology. Okay. I might turn off my camera briefly if I have to go check on my kid, but I'll be I'll be here. Thank you. All right. Um and we can go ahead and proceed with the roll. Councilmember Kessarwani. Here. Councilmember Taplin is absent. Councilmember Bartlett is absent. Councilmember Tracub. Thank you. O'Keefe. Here. Blackabee. Here. Moonapara. Here. Humbert. Present. And Mayor Ishi. Here. Thank you. Thank you so much, Rose. All right. So we have a quite lengthy report out from closed session. So please bear with me. It's a lot of letters and numbers. Item number one, the city council met in closed session on August 20th, 2026, pursuant to government government code section 54956.9 subsection D, and provided directions to outside council and approved a settlement by compromise and release as to a workers' compensation matter assigned claim number BER 220002 and WCAB case number ADJ 15513397.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com