Berkeley City Council Meeting - July 29, 2026

The Berkeley City Council met on July 29, 2026, to discuss a range of items, including an urgent resolution supporting hotel workers' unionization, consent calendar approvals, and a major action item on repaving Hopkins Street with enhanced safety features. The meeting featured extensive public comment and debate over competing proposals for bicycle infrastructure, parking, and pedestrian safety on the Hopkins corridor.

Consent Calendar

• Urgent Item Approved: Resolution supporting Graduate Hotel workers' union vote (Unite Here Local 2), added to consent calendar; passed unanimously.
• Other Consent Items: Approved relinquishment of council office budget funds for the citywide Berkeley School Supply Distribution and Resource Fair (Item 22) and Russell Street Halloween festivities (Item 25), along with various grants and appointments. All consent items passed by roll call vote (8-0, with one absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-Agenda Comments: Dr. Steven Alpert criticized council's pro-developer bias, citing lack of community consultation and questioning market-rate housing affordability. Juliet Leftwich objected to new aggressive parking meter rules. Derek Abbasi and Dennis Fanton opposed the 1130 Oxford Street project, alleging abuse of state housing laws. Several speakers supported the Graduate Hotel workers.
• Hopkins Street Comments (Item 27): Dozens of speakers gave passionate testimony. Supporters (including parents, cyclists, climate advocates) stressed safety for children and all users, citing high injury rates and the need for protected bike lanes to reduce fatalities. Opponents (including residents, church members, business owners, seniors, people with disabilities) raised concerns over loss of parking (estimated 145 spaces or more), impacts on small businesses (e.g., Monterey Market, flower seller Mahmoud), accessibility for disabled and elderly, cost overruns (projected $15-20 million vs. $6 million budgeted), and fire department access. Many urged consideration of alternative routes (Rose/Ada streets) and more community engagement. Some speakers disputed claims that the fire department had approved the design.

Discussion Items

• Item 26: Inclusionary Housing In-Lieu Fee Update: Council received staff report and public comment. Motion to approve passed unanimously (8-0).
• Item 27: Hopkins Street Repaving with Safety Improvements: Councilmember Kessarwani presented the main motion to repave Hopkins from Sutter to San Pablo with one-way protected bike lanes (class IV) from Alameda to Peralta, buffered bike lanes east of Alameda, traffic calming west of Peralta, a raised intersection at Monterey, bus boarding islands, and a curb management plan. Amendments were made regarding tree assessment and placemaking.
  • Councilmember O'Keefe offered a substitute motion to remove protected bike lanes, use class III sharrows to preserve parking, and refer implementation of Rose Street bike boulevard. It failed 3-6.
  • Councilmember Blackaby offered a substitute motion to have staff develop two alternative plans (one with protected lanes, one minimizing parking loss) and return for decision before detailed design. It failed 3-6 (or 3-5, with one abstention).
  • Councilmember Kessarwani's main motion, with her amendments, was then voted on and passed (6-3, with O'Keefe and Blackaby opposing; Bartlett voted yes but later indicated support for study; Taplin, Traga, Lunapara, Humbert, and Mayor Ishii in favor; Kessarwani also in favor as author).

Key Outcomes

• Item 26 Passed: Amended inclusionary housing in-lieu fee for single-family homes over 2,500 sq ft; motion carried unanimously.
• Item 27 Passed: Council adopted Kessarwani's referral directing staff to design and implement repaving of Hopkins Street with protected bike lanes, pedestrian safety features, and a curb management plan. The design will include outreach to businesses, schools, and residents. The motion also supersedes prior council actions on Hopkins design. Final vote: 6-3 (Kessarwani, Taplin, Traga, Lunapara, Humbert, Mayor Ishii in favor; O'Keefe and Blackaby opposed).