Berkeley City Council Meeting - May 19, 2026

The Berkeley City Council met on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 6:26 PM. The meeting included ceremonial recognitions, public comments, a consent calendar, renewal of the downtown property-based business improvement district (PBID), and the first public hearing on the proposed FY2027-2028 biannual budget. The budget presentation revealed a structural deficit of approximately $30 million per year, with proposed reductions including 150 full-time equivalent positions, potential closure of Fire Station 4 (deferred with one-time funds in FY27), and cuts to various city services. Council members later stated their budget priorities.

Ceremonial Matters

• National Public Works Week Proclamation (May 17-23, 2026): Recognized the Public Works Department for serving over 120,000 residents, maintaining 214 miles of streets, 400 miles of sewers, 78 miles of water piping, 8,000+ street lights, and implementing red curb painting at 1,700 intersections to comply with a new state law.
• Willard Park Clubhouse and Restroom Replacement Project Award: The project received the California Parks and Recreation Society's Facility Design Award of Excellence, along with four other awards (APWA Northern California Project of the Year, etc.). The facility expanded child care and recreation, achieved LEED Gold net-zero status, and serves as a neighborhood resiliency hub.

Consent Calendar

All items were approved unanimously by the council. Key items included:

• Items 6 & 7: Joint Home Key Plus applications for supportive housing: 110 units at People's Park and 85 studio/one-bedroom units at North Berkeley BART, serving low-income and previously unhoused individuals and veterans.
• Item 14: Addition of three ceremonial street name signs honoring Daniel Ellsberg on Kittridge Street (between Milvia and Fulton).
• Item 15: Referral to incorporate food insecurity as a funded category in future community agency grant cycles (co-sponsored by multiple councilmembers).
• Items 16-19: Relinquishment of funds and donations for community events: Berkeley Humane's Pints for Paws fundraiser, 100 Black Men of the Bay Area's Tommy Smith Youth Track Meet, Berkeley Flea Market Art Walk, and Berkeley Rotary Endowment Education and Community Welfare Support. Councilmembers contributed from their discretionary accounts (totals varied; e.g., $250 to $500 per item).

Public Comments & Testimony

Non-Agenda Comments:

• Dr. Stephen Alpert criticized the council for pro-developer bias, overturning labor standards, and pushing a false narrative that market-rate housing produces affordable units, citing a study showing it takes over 20 years (or 100 years historically) to filter down.
• Rohan Prasad urged the council to pass a resolution calling on Governor Newsom to hold a citizens' assembly on AI, citing risks of mass unemployment and authoritarianism.
• Abby Viera, a new Rent Board employee, shared she received a layoff impact notice weeks after starting, moving her family to Berkeley.
• Della Luna praised Oakland Mayor Zoran Mamdani for closing a $12 billion deficit without cutting benefits, urging Berkeley to follow suit.
• Denise Jones (Berkeley Drop-in Center) requested $500K for two years to sustain food, clothing, and services as funding ends July 1, 2026, due to Proposition 1 and BHSA changes.
• Cheryl Davila (former councilmember) criticized the meeting break and reduced public comment time; called for freeing Palestine and opposing fascism.

On Consent Items:

• Pam Gray and Andrew Crispin (Berkeley Food Network) thanked council for item 15 on food insecurity, noting upcoming CalFresh cuts and economic pressures.
• Patricia Ellsberg (Daniel Ellsberg's widow) thanked the council for the street naming.
• Phyllis Olin, Jackie Cabasso, John Burroughs, and Judith Ehrlich spoke in support of the Ellsberg street signs, emphasizing his anti-war and anti-nuclear activism.
• Kelly Hammergren and Carol Morasovic raised concerns about the 90-day records retention schedule for board/commission meeting recordings, arguing it is too short and risks losing historical and legal records.
• Andrew Pritchard (Berkeley CropWatch) criticized the pepper spray reporting requirement on the consent calendar, stating it fails to protect marginalized people and that no non-police alternative exists after the mobile crisis team was cut.
• Aidan Hill (candidate for City Council District 2) urged pulling item 6 (People's Park supportive housing) from consent, arguing the community was not consulted and that South Side lacks open space. He noted the item involves $14.36 million in public housing funding amidst a $30M deficit.
• Ruben Lazardo and Kieran Slaughter supported the 100 Black Men track meet and the People's Park housing.
• DeMarcus Williams (chair of Tommy Smith Youth Track Meet) noted the event provides over 4,000 free meals to young athletes.

On PBID Renewal (Item 20):

• Tim Southwick (property owner) objected to the 10-year term, citing failure to clean graffiti at BART station; he proposed opting out and cleaning it himself.
• Tom Parrish (Berkeley Repertory Theater) supported the PBID for its cleaning, hospitality, and marketing services.
• Tim Southwick Jr. also advocated for reducing the term to five years.
• Cheryl Davila called the 10-year, $33.5 million contract a "no-bid contract" and excessive given the city's deficit.

On FY2027-2028 Budget (Item 21):

• Justin Pitcher (president of Public Employees Union Local 1) urged the council to see employees as people, not statistics. He cited the loss of 20 positions in his unit, including the street trauma prevention program (which was applying for a grant) and a Rent Board employee who just moved to Berkeley.
• Leah Simon-Weisberg (Housing Advisory Commission) asked for adequate funding for the Small Sites program to preserve affordable housing.
• Rebecca Webb (clerical chapter president) noted 50 positions lost in her unit, representing 10% of the workforce, and warned that remaining workers cannot do more with less.
• Christina Oatfield (Planning Commission member) supported Small Sites funding as an anti-displacement strategy.
• Michelle Tuedi (Firewise organizer) advocated for priority-based budgeting as recommended in a 2013 city auditor study.
• Carol Morasovic (Homeless Services Panel of Experts) opposed eliminating the winter shelter and funding for DBA social workers; she noted additional revenue from Measure W expected in late 2027.
• Ben Nash (Parks Recreation Waterfront Commission) urged not to cut parks department budget and recommended a parks impact fee for new development.
• Andy Katz (Community Health Commission) asked to retain Heart-to-Heart health program and public health emergency preparedness positions.
• John Canner (Downtown Berkeley Association) noted the homeless outreach position was co-funded by the DBA and important for downtown.
• Tom Parrish (District 6 resident) advocated for maintaining civic arts grant funding, citing a $197 return on investment per dollar.

Discussion Items

PBID Renewal (Item 20):

• Staff (Elinor Hollander) presented the proposal to reestablish the downtown property-based business improvement district for 10 years (through 2036), managed by the Downtown Berkeley Association. After a public hearing and ballot tabulation, 170 valid ballots were counted: 81.53% in favor (weighted by financial obligation), 18.47% opposed. The council voted unanimously (9-0) to approve the renewal and the 10-year contract with DBA.

FY2027-2028 Biannual Budget – Public Hearing #1 (Item 21):

• City Manager Paul Buddenhagen, Budget Manager Maricar Dupaya, and Deputy City Manager David White presented the proposed budget.
• Deficit: $31.3 million in FY27 and $29.5 million in FY28 after adjustments. The deficit stems from structural imbalance (expenses growing 8% vs. revenues 6.5% over past decade), reliance on one-time fixes, rising pension/healthcare costs, and uncertain state/federal funding.
• Balancing Plan: Includes 150 FTE reductions (45 already frozen, 85 vacant, 20 filled), use of $12.045 million in one-time resources (from AA-1 excess equity and dissolution of rural development fund) to smooth the deficit and preserve public safety positions until a November 2026 sales tax measure vote. If the measure fails, an additional $9.6 million in cuts would be needed in FY28.
• Key Reductions:
  • Police: Reduction of 25 sworn positions (23 officers, 2 sergeants) from baseline; one-time funds retain 15 officers (net reduction of 10) and 6 of 13 dispatchers. Specialty units (traffic, community services bureau, bicycle team, parts of detectives) would be consolidated or eliminated.
  • Fire: 12% reduction proposed; Fire Station 4 would close (9 positions), but one-time funds keep it open in FY27. Street trauma prevention program and CERT trainings would be eliminated.
  • Health, Housing & Community Services (HHCS): 45 positions eliminated, including mobile crisis response team, Heart-to-Heart health program, and 32 mental health positions (right-sizing due to lost revenue). Vector control transferred to county.
  • Parks, Recreation & Waterfront: Reductions to after-school programs, camps, and community center/pool hours; one-time funds maintain three positions for pool hours. Marina and capital project staff also cut.
  • Other departments: Cuts to city clerk, city manager (including all DEI staff), communications, finance, HR, IT, planning, and charter offices. Economic development loses one filled position (community development project coordinator).
• Council Questions: Members probed the rationale for targeting Fire Station 4 (Chief Sprague explained it was the second slowest station but could be covered from three sides; brownouts would not save enough). Chief Lewis described the impact on police specialty units. Councilmember Bakabi asked about revenue-generating positions lost and the effect of not including proposed fee increases in the budget. Staff confirmed fees are not yet in the budget.
• Councilmember Priorities:
  • Councilmember Taplin: Prioritized minimizing workforce cuts, keeping Fire Station 4 open, maintaining street trauma prevention and CERT, preserving police community services bureau and special units.
  • Councilmember Bartlett: Focused on defending the weak (seniors, mental health, outreach, warming center, small sites) and maintaining public safety.
  • Councilmember Humbert: Emphasized public safety/fire, preserving jobs, especially the OED position, and cybersecurity.
  • Vice Mayor Tregub: Prioritized protecting jobs (especially 311/911 dispatchers), and retaining the filled OED position and street trauma prevention.
  • Councilmember O'Keefe: Stressed preserving fire station 4 due to wildfire risks in the hills and older population.
  • Councilmember Bakabi: Top priority was public safety (no closure of station 4), then infrastructure, and supporting economic development and technology to boost productivity.
  • Councilmember Kesarwani: Emphasized looking at vacant positions before filling filled ones, monitoring contracts, and competitive procurement; opposed cutting small sites funding further.
  • Councilmember Lunapara: Minimizing layoffs, maintaining non-police responses to homelessness/mental health, preserving street trauma prevention and small sites, and reducing council policy committees and non-personnel budgets.
• Mayor Ishi: Stated priorities: housing/homelessness, public safety, infrastructure, accountability/transparency. Noted inclement weather shelter remains funded; winter shelter closure may be offset by a new alternative shelter. Advocated for recouping owed revenue, tourism promotion, and exploring mandatory time off if sales tax fails.

Other Items (Fee Schedules):

• Items 22, 23, 25, 26, and 27 (fee schedules for animal care services, neighborhood services code enforcement, HHCS facility rental, recreation facilities/programs, and planning/development) were passed unanimously with minimal discussion. An amendment to item 22 removed the senior altered animal permit fee per the municipal code. Items 24, 28, and 29 were continued to June 9, 2026, because public hearings were already opened but the meeting ran late.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
• PBID Renewal: Resolution reestablishing the downtown PBID for 10 years and contract with Downtown Berkeley Association approved 9-0.
• Fee Schedules: Items 22, 23, 25, 26, and 27 approved as recommended (with amendment on item 22).
• Budget: Public hearing remains open; next steps: Budget & Finance Committee on May 28, full council on June 9 (CIP) and June 16, with adoption target June 23. The council will consider mayor's budget recommendations and potential adjustments.
• Continued Items: Public hearings for items 24 (environmental health fees), 28 (Go Berkeley parking program), and 29 (zero waste fees) were continued to the June 9, 2026 meeting.