Berkeley City Council Regular Meeting – October 13, 2026

The Berkeley City Council met on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 6:06 PM in a hybrid format. The meeting began with roll call (7 of 9 councilmembers present; Bartlett absent initially, Taplin absent later), a land acknowledgement, and ceremonial matters including a BART update, a proclamation for United Against Hate Week, and a proclamation for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. The council then proceeded through a consent calendar, public hearings, and action items, concluding near 10 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1 – Surveillance Technology Vendor Accountability – Adopted second reading of Ordinance No. 8,033-N.S., requiring enforceable provisions in contracts with surveillance tech vendors and revising the annual reporting schedule (first report due November 17, 2026; subsequent reports in March beginning March 2028).
• Item 2 – San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan – Adopted second reading of Ordinance No. 8,034-N.S., creating the San Pablo Commercial District and making conforming zoning amendments. Public comment criticized last-minute amendments and the process; several speakers urged reconsideration.
• Item 3 – Bid Solicitations (Measure BB Paratransit Fund $2,240,000) – Approved.
• Item 4 – BOSS Contract Amendment (McKinley House) – Approved, increasing contract by $104,474 to $1,015,607 (Behavioral Health Services Act Fund).
• Item 5 – BCFOA Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan Side Letter – Approved.
• Item 6 – Rolling Orange Website Maintenance – Approved, $115,000 over two years, total not-to-exceed $909,300.
• Item 7 – Granicus Video Streaming – Approved, $72,200 increase, total not-to-exceed $395,146.
• Item 8 – Protiviti Professional Services (GSA vehicle) – Approved, up to $425,000 through June 30, 2027.
• Item 9 – Paymun K-Dock Restroom Renovation – Approved, $11,000 increase to $451,000.
• Item 10 – BORP Adaptive Sports 50th Anniversary – Approved, councilmembers donated from office budgets ($1,000 Taplin, $100 Ishii, $150 Tregub, plus contributions from Kesarwani, Blackaby, Bartlett, Humbert, O'Keefe, Lunaparra).
• Item 11 – Creations Berkeley Dance Tour – Approved, councilmembers contributed from office budgets ($250 Bartlett, plus others).
• Item 12 – Resolution Supporting Proposition 4 (California Fair Elections Act) – Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-Agenda Public Comment (first period): Speakers raised concerns about hate speech in political campaigns, the Turtle Island Monument project, and pedestrian safety (citing hit-and-run on University Avenue). A resident noted Berkeley's high pedestrian injury rates.
• Consent Calendar Comments: Multiple speakers criticized the San Pablo Specific Plan process, alleging last-minute amendments violated the Brown Act and suppressed public input. Others supported the surveillance tech accountability item.
• Item 15 – Affordable Housing Preference Policy: Several speakers supported the policy but urged deeper affordability and better outreach. Moni Law highlighted that 9,000 applicants sought 87 units at the Modell-Miller-Sherrick building, and that many unhoused people grew up in Berkeley. A speaker asked that outreach organizations track verified applicants beyond initial lotteries.
• Item 14 – Undergrounding Transformers: Developers, an architect, and a planning commissioner spoke in favor, describing how above-ground pad-mounted transformers can destroy project viability. A PG&E representative noted the company's preference for above-ground but acknowledged the city's authority.
• Item 16 – 2027 Meeting Schedule: One speaker (Kelly Hammergren) suggested extending summer recess through Labor Day.
• Final Non-Agenda Comment: Speakers discussed concerns about elevator breakdowns in affordable housing, rental housing safety inspections, a smoke shop opening without notice, and criticisms of the United Against Hate proclamation for not adequately addressing anti-Black racism and Islamophobia.

Discussion Items

• Item 13 – Environmental Health Fee Schedule: Opened and closed public hearing; adopted Resolution to approve revised fee schedule effective October 13, 2026, rescinding Resolution No. 72,308 N.S.
• Item 14 – Undergrounding Electrical Transformers (BMC 23.304.100): Staff presented; council commended the work. After public comment, adopted first reading of ordinance prohibiting above-ground installation of electrical transformers on private property for new residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects, preserving city engineer's discretion over public right-of-way.
• Item 15 – Affordable Housing Preference Policy Pilot Assessment and Policy Update (continued from Sept. 29, 2026): Staff presented findings from the pilot: 17 preference households placed in the Modell-Miller-Sherrick building; highest-priority applicants (4 points) were all descendants of redlined neighborhood residents. Proposed shifting from a points-based system to a tiered system (Tier 1: BART-displaced; Tier 2: descendants of redlined neighborhoods; Tier 3: current/displaced Berkeley households; families with children prioritized within tiers). Council adopted the staff recommendation unanimously.
• Items 18, 19, 20 (Information Reports Pulled to Action): Council discussed Inclusionary Housing Annual Report (FY2026), Measure O Impacts, and Condominium Conversion Report. Key data: Housing Trust Fund has $4.9 million uncommitted; Measure O has ~$2.9 million remaining (report had error stating $17M); 34 new BMR units were made available in FY2026. Council acknowledged the cyclical nature of fee revenue and the need for future affordable housing bonds.
• Item 16 – 2027 City Council Meeting Schedule: Council adopted an amended schedule removing the August 31, 2027 regular meeting, making the last meeting before summer recess July 6, 2027, and resuming September 14, 2027, after Labor Day.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar passed unanimously (all ayes).
• Item 13 (Environmental Health Fee Schedule) adopted unanimously.
• Item 14 (Undergrounding Transformers) adopted first reading unanimously.
• Item 15 (Affordable Housing Preference Policy) adopted staff recommendation unanimously.
• Item 16 (2027 Meeting Schedule) adopted with amendment (remove Aug. 31 meeting) unanimously.
• Ceremonial Matters: Recognized outgoing Interim Director Kathy Lee and new Director Mary Opler for Police Accountability; proclaimed October 18–24, 2026 as United Against Hate Week; proclaimed October 2026 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.