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Record of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting - September 29, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 29, 2026
BodyBerkeley, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 29, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:11:31

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:02

All right.

0:03

Hello, everyone.

0:04

Please take your seat.

0:05

Recording in progress.

0:07

We are going to get started.

0:10

All right, quiet down, please.

0:12

If you would like to continue your conversations, you're welcome to take them outside.

0:16

Um, all right.

0:17

I'm calling to order the Berkeley City Council meeting.

0:19

Today is Tuesday, September 29th, 2026.

0:23

It is 6.04 p.m.

0:25

If we could start off with a roll, please.

Speaker 2

0:27

Certainly.

0:28

And Mayor, before we take the roll, I just want to point out that Councilmember Humbert is participating in the meeting this evening under the Just Cause Provision of the Brown Act.

0:38

So we'll go through that script quickly and then we'll take the role.

0:41

Councilmember Humbert is intending to participate in this meeting remotely, pursuant to the Brown Act under the Just Cause justification.

0:48

A quorum of the council is participating in person at a single physical location that is identified on the agenda, open to the public within the boundaries of the agency, and meets accessibility requirements.

1:00

This satisfies the requirements of the Brown Act.

1:03

Councilmember Humbert has notified us of their need to participate remotely.

1:09

Councilmember Humbert, if you would please provide a general description of the circumstances relating to your need to appear remotely at this meeting.

Speaker 3

1:17

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

1:18

Yeah, I woke up with a rotten cold to which I don't want to expose anyone else.

Speaker 2

1:24

Thank you, Councilmember.

1:25

Sorry to hear.

1:27

If you could also please publicly disclose whether there are any other individuals 18 years of age or older present in the room at your remote location, and if so, the general nature of your relationship with such individuals.

Speaker 3

1:42

There is no one else present.

Speaker 2

1:44

Thank you.

1:45

Councilmember Humbert, you are reminded that you must participate through both audio and visual technology.

1:52

Okay, and with that, we'll proceed to the role.

1:54

Councilmember Keserwani.

1:57

Here.

1:58

Taplin.

Speaker 4

1:58

Present.

Speaker 2

1:59

Bartlett.

Speaker 4

2:00

Here.

Speaker 2

2:00

Tracop.

Speaker 5

2:02

Present.

Unassigned speaker

2:02

Oh,

Speaker 2

2:03

Keith?

2:03

Here.

2:04

Blackaby?

2:04

Here.

2:05

Luna Para.

2:06

Here.

2:07

Humbert?

Speaker 3

2:08

Present.

Unassigned speaker

2:09

And

Speaker 2

2:09

Mayor Ishi.

2:11

Here.

2:12

Thank you.

2:13

Okay.

Speaker 1

2:14

Thank you very much.

2:15

Oops.

2:17

All right.

2:18

So we are going to start off with the ceremonial matters.

2:23

And I would like to start with a proclamation for John Canor.

2:28

John, would you like to come up?

2:30

Hey.

2:35

John, thank you so much for all of your years of service.

2:39

You have been an incredible partner and an incredible advocate for the downtown.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use██████████████████████████26%
Affordable Housing██████████████████████22%
Procedural███████████████15%
Public Comment██████████████14%
Housing█████5%
Community Engagement████4%
Homelessness██2%
Surveillance Technology██2%
Police Accountability██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting - September 29, 2026

The Berkeley City Council met on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 6:04 PM, in the School District Board Room. The meeting included ceremonial proclamations, public comments, approval of a consent calendar with 36 items, a public hearing on bond financing for the Ashby Lofts project, and extensive discussion and adoption of the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan. The meeting was extended to 11:30 PM to accommodate the agenda.

Ceremonial Matters

  • Mayor Ishii presented a proclamation honoring John Caner for 17 years of service as CEO of the Downtown Berkeley Association.
  • An adjournment in memory of Jean Nakamura, former BUSD educator and girls' basketball coach at Berkeley High, was read.
  • Mayor Ishii declared September 29, 2026, as "Julie Sinai Day" in recognition of her service as Chief of Policy.

Consent Calendar

  • The Council approved the Consent Calendar as amended, including two urgency items: a resolution supporting Prop 1 (Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026) and a resolution opposing Prop 43 (limits voter ability to raise revenues).
  • Item 21 (window replacement contract) was removed by the City Manager.
  • Item 13 (Surveillance Technology Vendor Accountability) was amended to change the reporting schedule: the first report under the new calendar-year reporting period will be due in March 2028.
  • Item 36 (Mutual Aid Air Support Surveillance Use Policy) was moved to consent with language from the Police Accountability Board regarding audit requirements.
  • Councilmembers relinquished discretionary funds for various community events: Cal Sailing Club Open House (Item 27), Sinbad Voyage mural restoration (Item 28), Music in the Elmwood Festival (Item 31).
  • Several contracts, grants, and administrative items were approved, including the appointment of Mary Opler as Director of Police Accountability (effective October 5, 2026, at $230,000 annual salary), and ratification of recess actions.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Non-Agenda Matters: Speakers addressed concerns about encampment clearing at Ocean View, the need for Behavioral Health Commission members, affordable housing policy, and Hopkins Street bike lanes.
  • Consent Calendar: Speakers commented on surveillance technology reporting, the Alcohol Policing Partnership grant (urging inclusion of Fire Department data and education components), and the Realize Vision 2050 plan (criticizing Councilmember Taplin's response to a community volunteer).
  • Ashby Lofts (Item 33): One speaker supported the bond financing.
  • San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan (Item 34): A large number of public speakers expressed divided views. Supporters emphasized the need for housing, while opponents raised concerns about gentrification, displacement of businesses, and lack of on-site affordable housing. Several speakers urged a five-story base height to maximize affordable units through state density bonus.

Discussion Items

  • Item 33: Ashby Lofts Bond Financing – The public hearing was held and closed with no objections. The Council approved the resolution authorizing tax-exempt bond issuance by the California Municipal Finance Authority for the Ashby Lofts project.
  • Item 34: San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan – Staff presented the three-year planning process. Key features include a new San Pablo Commercial (CSP) zoning district with maximum heights of 7 stories (75 feet) for residential/mixed-use and 3 stories (40 feet) for non-residential, with height increases allowed via state density bonus up to about 8 stories. The plan includes design standards, incentives for public open space, and sidewalk widening. Councilmember Kesarwani offered four amendments: (1) increase non-residential height to 75 feet and 5 stories; (2) set minimum density at 100 dwelling units per acre (staff had proposed 145); (3) correct a drafting error regarding ground-floor residential restrictions; (4) adjust affordable housing requirements on MULI parcels to 35% family-sized units and income mix up to 120% AMI with at least 50% at 80% AMI. Councilmember Traegub offered an amendment to reference commercial anti-displacement provisions from the Corridor Zoning Update and Renaissance referrals. Councilmember O'Keefe added a suggestion for a business license tax waiver. Councilmember Blackaby added specific ideas for business support during construction. After extensive debate, Councilmember Blackaby made a substitute motion to set base height at 5 stories (55 feet) for both residential and non-residential, which failed 3–6. The main motion (with 7-story base and amendments) passed 8–0.
  • Item 35: Affordable Housing Preference Policy – Continued to the October 13, 2026, council meeting due to time constraints.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted Urgency Resolutions: Support for Prop 1 (Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act) and opposition to Prop 43 (limit on revenue-raising).
  • Approved Consent Calendar: 34 items (including amended items) passed unanimously.
  • Approved Ashby Lofts Bond Financing (Item 33): Unanimous, resolution adopted.
  • Adopted San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan (Item 34): The Council approved the resolution adopting the Specific Plan, Design Standards, General Plan and zoning amendments, and repealing the West Berkeley Plan and San Pablo Avenue Public Improvements Plan. The motion included Councilmember Kesarwani's four amendments, the commercial anti-displacement language, and the friendly amendments from Councilmembers O'Keefe and Blackaby. Base height: 7 stories (75 feet) for residential/mixed-use; non-residential height increased to 5 stories (75 feet). Minimum density set at 100 dwelling units per acre. First reading of ordinance to create San Pablo Commercial District (Chapter 23.202.160) approved.
  • Continued Item 35: Affordable Housing Preference Policy to October 13, 2026.
  • Extended Meeting Time: Rule suspended to 11:30 PM to complete the agenda.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Hello, everyone. Please take your seat. Recording in progress. We are going to get started. All right, quiet down, please. If you would like to continue your conversations, you're welcome to take them outside. Um, all right. I'm calling to order the Berkeley City Council meeting. Today is Tuesday, September 29th, 2026. It is 6.04 p.m. If we could start off with a roll, please. Certainly. And Mayor, before we take the roll, I just want to point out that Councilmember Humbert is participating in the meeting this evening under the Just Cause Provision of the Brown Act. So we'll go through that script quickly and then we'll take the role. Councilmember Humbert is intending to participate in this meeting remotely, pursuant to the Brown Act under the Just Cause justification. A quorum of the council is participating in person at a single physical location that is identified on the agenda, open to the public within the boundaries of the agency, and meets accessibility requirements. This satisfies the requirements of the Brown Act. Councilmember Humbert has notified us of their need to participate remotely. Councilmember Humbert, if you would please provide a general description of the circumstances relating to your need to appear remotely at this meeting. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Yeah, I woke up with a rotten cold to which I don't want to expose anyone else. Thank you, Councilmember. Sorry to hear. If you could also please publicly disclose whether there are any other individuals 18 years of age or older present in the room at your remote location, and if so, the general nature of your relationship with such individuals. There is no one else present. Thank you. Councilmember Humbert, you are reminded that you must participate through both audio and visual technology. Okay, and with that, we'll proceed to the role. Councilmember Keserwani. Here. Taplin. Present. Bartlett. Here. Tracop. Present. Oh, Keith? Here. Blackaby? Here. Luna Para. Here. Humbert? Present. And Mayor Ishi. Here. Thank you.

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