Berkeley City Council Meeting – June 16, 2026

The Berkeley City Council met on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 6:03 PM to address a full agenda including ceremonial honors, federal securities law training, approval of the consent calendar, several action items placing charter amendments and bond measures on the November 3, 2026 ballot, and a detailed presentation and discussion of the proposed fiscal year 2027–28 biannual budget and five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The meeting extended past midnight with extensive public comment on the budget.

Consent Calendar

• Approved routine items including memoranda of understanding, tax inflators for voter-approved measures (items 3–17), the bicycle plan update (item 29), and community support items (items 31 and 33). Councilmembers made discretionary donations from their office budgets to items 31 (Resourcery Org mural reveal and food drive) and 33 (United for Health Moffat Library Clinic). The consent calendar passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-agenda public comment: Reverend Angela Jernigan spoke in support of the Live Free community violence intervention program; Dr. Stephen Albert alleged a First Amendment violation at a prior meeting and demanded a cease-and-desist; Martin Kirkwood expressed concerns about extended parking meter hours reducing economic activity; Makai Freeman and others commented on parking and accessibility.
• Consent calendar public comment: Amori Langmo (Berkeley Firefighters Association) warned about the proposed elimination of 20 firefighter positions in the budget; Tao Passell supported the bike plan; Jeff Lomax criticized parcel tax inflators on businesses; Carol Murasovic clarified the transition from the Mental Health Services Act to the Behavioral Health Services Act and the continuation of the Options encampment wellness team; others spoke on the bike plan and small sites.
• Item #38 (General Obligation Bond) public comment: A speaker noted that inflation has increased 50% (from 2.4% to 4.2%), warning that construction cost escalation could lead to budget overruns and require higher taxes.
• Item #39 (Sales Tax) public comment: Several speakers opposed the sales tax measure as regressive and harmful to low-income residents and small businesses, noting it would give Berkeley one of the highest sales tax rates in the country.
• Item #40 (Budget) public comment: SEIU representative Thomas Gregor urged funding filled positions over vacancies and criticized the elimination of the street mobility team; Amori Langmo highlighted that the fire department is 15% less reliant on general funds than a decade ago and urged preserving firefighter and paramedic positions; advocates for the Small Sites program (Benito Goel, Asa Ndi, Angela, Matt Gustafson, Charlie, Kelly, Avery Arbah, Sophia DeWitt) requested the city accept the Housing Advisory Commission’s recommendation to allocate $2.5 million for small sites; Kelvin Ward and Teresa Gonzalez supported Live Free funding, citing a 13:1 return on investment; others spoke on street paving (Linda Artell), cultural grants (Claire Greensfelder), and fire safety (Alan Kane for Solano Stroll).

Discussion Items

• Securities Law Training: Chris Lynch from Jones Hall provided training on federal securities laws for the upcoming bond issuances, emphasizing disclosure obligations, the city’s written policies, and the importance of including all material facts.
• Item #34 – Residential Preferential Parking Program: Approved for the 1500 block of Delaware Street after a standard opt-in process with 82% resident support.
• Item #35 – Policy for Disruption of Remote Participation: Approved to comply with SB 707, requiring a one-hour recess attempt before reconvening or adjourning.
• Item #36 – All-Electric Standards for Infrastructure Bond: Approved with the city manager’s supplemental allowing rare exceptions for gas infrastructure, plus a friendly amendment stating council authority is a legislative discretionary act not subject to litigation. Councilmember Humbert offered the amendment; it passed unanimously.
• Item #37 – Charter Amendment Measure: Approved to place on the November 3, 2026 ballot, covering electoral reforms and protections for elected officials. Councilmembers Mayor Ishi, Taplin, and Lunapara designated to draft ballot arguments.
• Item #38 – General Obligation Bond Measure: Approved to place on the November 3, 2026 ballot for $100 million in infrastructure. Included a friendly amendment from Councilmember Humbert similar to item 36, plus a severability clause read into the record. Authors designated: Mayor Ishi, Councilmembers Blackaby, Tregob, Taplin.
• Item #39 – Sales Tax Measure: Approved to place on the November 3, 2026 ballot, a 0.5% transactions and use tax to bring Berkeley to parity with neighboring cities. First reading of ordinance passed. Authors designated: Mayor Ishi, Councilmembers Kessarwani, O’Keefe.
• Item #40 – Budget and CIP Presentation: The council heard a two-hour presentation on the five-year CIP ($410.6 million planned, $2.12 billion unfunded needs) and the proposed FY2027–28 biannual budget. The city manager outlined a structural deficit of approximately $30 million, requiring elimination of 183 positions (20 filled, expected to reduce to ~14 through attrition and flexible placement). The mayor presented budget amendments identifying $514,000 in general fund savings to support five priority projects: a full-time Office of Economic Development position ($236,000), Solano Stroll ($40,000), Live Free ($100,000), DBA outreach worker ($38,000), and the Pitch project ($250,000 from salary savings). The mayor also added $160,000 from city attorney savings and other adjustments. Councilmembers discussed revenue options including utility users tax on streaming services and ambulance transfer fees. No vote taken on the budget; adoption scheduled for June 23, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved (all items).
• Item 34 (Residential preferential parking) adopted.
• Item 35 (Remote participation policy) adopted.
• Item 36 (All-electric standards) adopted with friendly amendment.
• Item 37 (Charter amendment) adopted for November ballot.
• Item 38 (General obligation bond) adopted for November ballot with severability clause.
• Item 39 (Sales tax) adopted for November ballot; first reading of ordinance passed.
• Item 40B (Solano Stroll referral) – motion to take no action passed.
• Budget discussion continued: Council will consider final adoption of the FY2027–28 budget and CIP on June 23, 2026. Mayor’s budget amendments will be incorporated into that discussion.
• The meeting was extended to 12:00 AM and adjourned after non-agenda public comment.