The Berkeley City Council met on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 6:08 p.m. The meeting included ceremonial proclamations, public comment on non-agenda items, approval of the consent calendar, and a single action item approving a lease agreement. Council members also made donations to the Juneteenth Festival.
Hello, everyone. Good evening. We're gonna get started. Council members. I'm calling to order the Berkeley City Council meeting today. It's Tuesday, May 12th, 2026. It is 6.08 p.m. Thank you everyone for your patience. Can we start us off with a role, please? Okay. Uh Councilmember Kisserwani. Here. Taplin, present. Bartlett is currently absent. Trego present. O'Keefe. I'm here. Wackaby here. Unapara. Here. Umbert present and Mayor Ishii. Here. Okay. Form is present. Um. So yeah, it is another one. Okay, so on the first meeting of the month, we read the land acknowledgement statement. So I will read it this month. We've been taking turns. 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 Chochenyo-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 Allone 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 of the West Berkeley Shell Mount and the Allonee people who continue to reside in the East Bay. We recognize that the Berkeley's residents have and 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 importance, the history of this land, but also recognize that the Ohlone people are present members of Berkeley and other East Bay communities today. The City of Berkeley will continue to build relationships with the Lijon tribe and to create meaningful actions that uphold the intentions of this land acknowledgement. Thank you. We have three ceremonial matters this evening. Going to start us off with Jewish American Heritage Month. And this was requested by Councilmember Trego with community support from former Council Member Susan Wengraff in recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month. And Robin Mencher, I believe, is here. Ah, hi. Welcome. Come on up. Director of the Jewish Family and Community Services, East Bay. To receive. Hi. Recognizing and celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month, whereas Jewish Americans have been an important part of the American story and have greatly contributed to all areas of American life and culture since our nation's earliest days. And whereas generations of Jewish people have fled to the United States in search of a better life for themselves and their families, and these immigrants make made invaluable contributions in support of equality and civil rights through their leadership and achievements. And whereas Jewish Americans connect to their Jewish identity culturally, ethnically, religiously, and follow Jewish ethics and values, and whereas Jewish Americans are diverse racially, ethnically, socially, politically, and economically, with around 25% of Bay Area Jewish households, including people of color, which increases to nearly 40% in younger households. And whereas the City of Berkeley recognizes Jewish American commitment to civic engagement and stands with the Jewish American community against hatred or bigotry in our city and country.