Berkeley City Council Special Meeting - May 19, 2026: Community Survey Results and Ballot Measure Direction

The Berkeley City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 4:03 PM to discuss the results of the second community survey and provide direction on potential ballot measures for the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election. The two proposed measures are a $300 million general obligation bond for infrastructure and a 0.5% increase in the sales and use tax (from 10.25% to 10.75%) to address the city's structural deficit. Staff from Lake Research Partners presented survey findings, and city staff presented a refined project portfolio for the bond. The council unanimously voted to affirm direction to prepare ballot language for both measures.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Judy Zaika (Co-president, Berkeley Historical Society and Museum) expressed concern about the perception that the Veterans Memorial Building and Old City Hall are vacant, noting they are used daily and seismically unsound. She urged adequate funding for seismic upgrades.
• Alison Labonte (District 2 resident) questioned the user-friendliness of smart bathrooms requiring QR codes and noted a discrepancy in the King Pool project cost (still $5 million despite locker room removal).
• John Kane (Downtown Berkeley Association) supported the FEMA grant match approach for the Civic Center but requested flexibility in how the $5 million match is deployed if the grant is not secured.
• Karen Chapman (Berkeley Historical Society) asked the council to approve the bond and reconsider the allocation for Old City Hall to build a great museum.
• Ann Harlow (Berkeley Historical Society) highlighted that the Dorothy Day House and Options Recovery Services also occupy the buildings and warned of earthquake risk.
• Erin Dean supported projects 30 and 31 (Model Sherick and Veterans Memorial Building) and projects 22 and 23 (native plant median conversions), citing community enthusiasm for native plants.
• Mary Carlton suggested adding "as needed" to soil replacement and irrigation for median conversions to reduce costs and plastic use.
• Ted Steen (Eshore Alliance FC) urged inclusion of the Harrison Park turf field conversion and bathroom improvements, noting a petition with hundreds of signatures. He also raised concern about a 40-60% increase in youth sports fees.
• Lisa Bullwinkle (Art Commission, speaking as resident) advocated for fixing existing facilities and increasing funding for the Veterans Building to create an art center.
• Irene (Bay Area Adult Soccer League) strongly supported the Harrison Park artificial turf conversion to relieve congestion at Tom Bates fields, calling it a public health and mental health issue.
• Tasha Baptist (speaking as individual) urged the council to reject the $300 million bond as insufficient, noting the city's infrastructure needs exceed $1.5 billion, and proposed a higher bond amount.
• Jeannie Hammond (Sacramento Street resident) supported median conversions for biodiversity and pollinator habitat.
• Amy Woodward (District 3 resident) supported median conversions and the Francis Albrier Community Center.
• David Flores (District 2 resident) endorsed investment in the Civic Center for community gathering and historic preservation.
• Lonnie Hancock (former mayor and state senator) urged saving historic buildings for legacy and community soul, comparing to the East Bay Regional Park District.
• Harry Dowert (Bay Area Adult Soccer League commissioner) supported the Harrison Park turf conversion and thanked staff for field coordination.

Discussion Items

• Community Survey Results (Lake Research Partners): David Mervyn presented findings from a survey of likely Berkeley voters conducted April 21-25, 2026 (margin of error ±4.4%). Key results:
  • General Obligation Bond: 69% inclined to vote yes (initial ballot), 16% no, 15% undecided. After pro/con arguments, support dropped to 64% yes, 20% no, 15% undecided—still close to the two-thirds threshold needed for passage.
  • Sales and Use Tax: 52% yes, 32% no, 16% undecided initially. After arguments, support rose to 56% yes, 30% no—above the simple majority needed.
  • Both measures saw slight declines from February polling, attributed to a crowded ballot with other revenue measures (regional transit, living wage, arts tax, soda tax increase, public bank). The bond and sales tax performed slightly better when heard second in the survey order.
  • Undecided voters were more likely to be renters, women, independents, and voters in the Berkeley Hills (for sales tax).
• Infrastructure Bond Project Portfolio (City Staff): Deputy City Manager David White, Assistant to City Manager Carrie, Parks Director Scott Ferris, Fire Chief Sprague, and Public Works Interim Director Wahida Miri presented the refined project list totaling $272.5 million, with $40.5 million for staffing and implementation. Key changes from December 2025:
  • Community Facilities & Quality of Life: Francis Albrier Community Center replacement, Harrison Park turf conversion, restroom upgrades (Harrison, Waterfront, Cedar Rose, Courtnesis), King Pool renovation (reduced from $25M replacement to $5M for concrete/piping/pumps), removal of dog parks, Live Oak Park improvements, and other projects. Added: Monkey Island Park, Garber Path, Adeline Corridor open space, Dwight Twelve Open Space, native plant median conversions.
  • Public Safety: Fire station renovations (including Station 4), 2100 MLK Public Safety Building (911 dispatch and police), fire training center. Stations are outdated (built 1950s-60s) and need to meet Essential Services Act and reduce carcinogen exposure.
  • Critical Infrastructure & Accessibility: $14.6M for 50/50 sidewalk program, $4.5M for ADA barrier removal, upgrades to animal services, Mental Health Annex, South Berkeley Senior Center HVAC, African American Holistic Resource Center. Civic Center buildings (Old City Hall and Veterans Memorial Building) scaled to grant match only ($5M total for both).
  • Evaluation Framework: Six-factor scoring (health/life safety, infrastructure condition, accessibility/resilience, community use/equity, green sustainability, deliverability, external funding potential) used to prioritize projects.
• Sales Tax Use: Proposed to generate $9-10 million annually for general fund structural deficit, allocated to maintain Fire Station 4, fund 15 police officers and 6 dispatchers, and support Parks Recreation and Waterfront staffing for after-school programs, camps, pools.
• Council Deliberations: Councilmembers expressed general support for both measures. Several members (Blackaby, Tregub, Bartlett) requested consideration of increased funding for Old City Hall and Veterans Memorial Building seismic upgrades. Councilmember O'Keefe noted concern about sales tax polling being close to 50% but was reassured by survey context. Councilmember Kesarwani emphasized transparency on costs and highlighted West Berkeley projects. Councilmember Humbert praised the 50/50 sidewalk program. Councilmember Blackaby stressed accountability and transparency. Mayor Easy acknowledged the challenge and supported moving forward.

Key Outcomes

• Motion: Councilmember Taplin moved to affirm direction to prepare ballot language for a $300 million general obligation bond and a 0.5% sales and use tax increase for the November 3, 2026 ballot. Seconded by Vice Mayor Tregub.
• Vote: Unanimous (8-0, with Councilmember Casserwani absent). All present councilmembers voted yes: Kesarwani, Taplin, Bartlett, Tregub, O'Keefe, Blackaby, Humbert, and Mayor Easy.
• Next Steps: Staff will return on June 16, 2026 with proposed ballot language. Final language must be submitted to the county by August 7, 2026, with a target of council approval by July 28, 2026. The project list will be finalized with flexibility for grant leverage and cost changes.