We're going to get started.
Council members.
I'm calling to order the Berkeley City Council meeting today is Tuesday, May 12th, 2026.
It is 608 p.m.
Thank you everyone for your patience.
Can we start us off with a roll, please?
Okay.
Councilmember Custer-Wani?
Here.
Taplin?
Present.
Bartlett is currently absent.
Tragem?
Present.
O'Keeffe?
I'm here.
I'll be here uniparra here number present and Mary she here okay form is
present
yes it is
okay so on the first meeting of the month we read the land acknowledgement
statement so I will read it this month we've been taking turns the city of
Berkeley recognizes that the community we live in
was built on the territory of Huchun,
the ancestral and unceded land
of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people,
the ancestors and descendants
of the sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County.
This land was and continues to be of great importance
to all of the Ohlone tribes
and descendants of the Verona Band.
As we begin our meeting tonight,
we acknowledge and honor the original inhabitants of Berkeley,
the documented 5,000 year history of a vibrant community
of the West Berkeley Shell Mount
and the Ohlone people who continue to reside in the East Bay.
We recognize that the Berkeley's residents
have and continue to benefit from the use and occupation
of this unseated stolen land
since the city of Berkeley's incorporation in 1878.
As stewards of the laws regulating the city of Berkeley,
it is not only vital that we recognize the importance,
the history of this land,
but also recognize that the Ohlone people
are present members of Berkeley
and other East Bay communities today.
The city of Berkeley will continue to build relationships
with the Lijean tribe and to create meaningful actions
that uphold the intentions of this land acknowledgement.
Thank you.
We have three ceremonial matters this evening.
Going to start us off with Jewish American Heritage Month.
And this was requested by Council Member Trego
with community support from former Council Member
Susan Wengrath in recognition
of Jewish American Heritage Month.
and Robin Mencher, I believe, is here?
Hi, welcome, come on up.
Director of the Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay
to receive.
Hi.
Recognizing and celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month,
whereas Jewish Americans have been an important part
of the American story and have greatly contributed
to all areas of American life and culture
since our nation's earliest days,
and whereas generations of Jewish people
have fled to the United States in search
of a better life for themselves and their families.
And these immigrants made invaluable contributions
in support of equality and civil rights
through their leadership and achievements.
And whereas Jewish Americans connect
to their Jewish identity culturally, ethnically,
religiously, and follow Jewish ethics and values,
and whereas Jewish Americans are diverse racially,
ethnically, socially, politically, and economically
with around 25% of Bay Area Jewish households,
including people of color, which increases
to nearly 40% in younger households.
And whereas the city of Berkeley recognizes
Jewish American commitment to civic engagement
and stands with the Jewish American community
against hatred or bigotry in our city and country.
Now, therefore be it resolved that I, Adina Ishii,
mayor of the city of Berkeley, call upon all residents
to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month
by learning more about the diversity
of the Jewish American community,
along with contributions made to history and culture,
and to continue efforts to confront anti-Semitism
and other forms of hatred impacting the Jewish community.
Thank you.
would you like to share a few words yes am I do I push or is it working is it
working great thank you Mary mayor Ishi and city council members I am but one
member of Berkeley's long-standing Jewish community but I'm here this evening to
offer appreciations for this recognition as a leader of Jewish family and
Community Services East Bay, an organization almost 150 years old and for many decades
being headquartered here in downtown Berkeley, California. Really glad to be providing community
services to all people of Berkeley, Alameda County, and the greater East Bay. Our work
touches all aspects of our community, providing human services to the youngest and the oldest
among us with a focus on immigrants and refugees
and mental health.
But the reason that I bring that up this evening
is because although our work engages
with the Jewish community and the broader community,
it's founded in the Jewish values
and the diversity of Jewish life mentioned
in this proclamation of welcoming the stranger,
of approaching every community member with dignity,
and of repairing and strengthening our world.
And with those shared values in mind,
I humbly accept this proclamation
and appreciate the city for celebrating this month.
Next, we have Affordable Housing Month,
requested by our Labor Commissioner, Joey Fleggel-Mishlove,
in coordination with East Bay Housing Organization,
who is working to bring awareness regionally
to the work of affordable housing organizations
and advocates in the need for more funding.
And I think Tracy Matthews, hello,
will be attending and accepting the proclamation.
Tracy is a Berkeley resident,
a graduate of Ebb Hose Leadership Academy,
a member of Ebb Hose Resident Community Organizing Committee,
and a commissioner on the Board of Berkeley Housing Authority.
Thank you so much for being here.
Yes. Thank you for having me.
Okay, recognizing May as affordable housing month.
Whereas May is recognized as affordable housing month
across the Bay Area in joint acknowledgement
of the coordinated regional work necessary
to ensure that everyone has an affordable and stable home.
And whereas even before current high inflation rates,
increasing housing costs led long-time residents
to be displaced, live in overcrowded homes
or experience homelessness, threatening our region's
racial and economic diversity,
and whereas stable, affordable homes are vital
for a thriving community supporting everyone,
including seniors, families, youth, veterans,
immigrants, people with disabilities,
and whereas across California,
there are over 39,000 affordable homes ready to be built,
but lacking the financing to begin construction.
For two years in a row,
the President of the United States has proposed a budget
that dramatically cuts funding
for affordable and subsidized housing,
which, if actualized, would reduce affordable housing
options by 44%, and whereas the role of state
and local government has never been so critical
in maintaining support for producing, preserving,
and protecting affordable housing opportunities
for low-income communities.
The City of Berkeley continues to support affordable
and stable housing at the local, regional, and state
and federal levels through advocacy, funding,
and policy development.
Now, bless you, now therefore be it resolved
that I, Adina Ishii, mayor of the city of Berkeley,
do hereby declare May 2026 to be affordable housing month
in the city of Berkeley.
Thank you.
Would you like to say a few words?
Yes, please, thank you.
Good evening, my name is Tracy Matthews,
and I'm here as a resident leader
and a member of East Bay Housing Organization.
EBHO is a member-driven organization
governing a diverse coalition
that advocates to produce, preserve, and protect affordable housing opportunities for low-income
communities in the East Bay.
Our membership of over 400 individuals and organizations include nonprofit affordable
housing developers, social service organizations, advocacy groups, faith institutions, and residents
of affordable housing across Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Thank you, Berkeley council members and Mayor Ishii, for recognizing affordable housing
month and affirming your commitment to affordable housing.
I'm particularly happy to be able to receive this proclamation on EBCO behalf as a 32 year
long resident of Berkeley advocating for affordable housing in this jurisdiction.
As we celebrate Affordable Housing Month here in Berkeley, we are joined by EVHO members
and staff who are organizing over 25 public events this month across East Bay to educate
our community about key aspects of affordable housing and housing justice.
Our programming this year includes a great lineup of events, community celebrations,
days of action, panel discussions, housing workshops, community trainings, and more.
There are also grand openings and groundbreaking for new affordable housing communities that
showcase and celebrate what is possible when community members, nonprofits, and local governments
come together.
You can view a full list of events at ebho.org backslash events.
The goal of Affordable Housing Month is to lift up and center those most affected by
housing crises.
This month we call attention to the housing affordable crises, lift up solutions, celebrate
our achievements, and invite all community members to join us in our movement.
At the state level we are inspired by the road map home policy platform and hope to
pass a statewide housing bond during the November 2026 election.
But in the moment of unprecedented instability we cannot look only to the state and the federal
government to sustain our affordable housing system.
In fact, the role of local governments and local communities has never been more important.
We can keep each other safe and we can keep each other housed, but only if we work together
and only if we are committed to a vision of a racially and economically just East Bay
where everyone has access to safe, stable, and affordable homes.
On behalf of myself and East Bay Housing Organization, I thank you very much for this honor and
And we hope to see you soon at one of our many Affordable Housing Month events.
Yay.
Okay.
Housing and housing is one of my top priorities, so it's very exciting to be able to celebrate
Affordable Housing Month.
Okay.
So finally, we have requested by Councilmember Lunapara a recognition of Eid, excuse me,
And I think that we have, yes.
I just wanted to mention
that this proclamation was written by our interns
and wanted to give them the kudos for that credit for it.
Yeah, thank you so much.
And actually I think one of your interns, Sophia is here.
Would you like to come up?
Is anyone from care here as well?
No, okay.
All right.
Good, you, oh.
Oh, so honoring Eid al-Fatiir and Eid al-Adha.
Am I saying that right?
Adha.
Adha.
Yeah.
Okay, thank you.
Whereas Eid al-Fatiir and Eid al-Adha
are two of the most significant holidays observed
by Muslims around the world and by many residents,
students, workers, and families in the city of Berkeley,
and whereas Eid al-Fatiir marks the conclusion
of the holy month of Ramadan,
a period devoted to fasting, reflection, prayer,
charity, and spiritual renewal during which Muslims seek
to strengthen their faith and deepen their commitment
to compassion and service.
This year, Eid Al-Fitr was celebrated on March 20th, 2026,
starting at sundown on May 19th, 2026.
Whereas Eid Al-Adha commemorates the values of sacrifice,
generosity, and devotion, and is traditionally observed
through acts of charity, community gatherings,
and sharing meals with family, friends, and neighbors,
This year, Eid al-Ada will begin on May 27th, 2026.
And whereas the dates of Eid follow the lunar calendar
and therefore change annually,
yet each year these holidays bring communities together
in celebration, gratitude and acts of generosity
towards those in need.
And whereas traditions associated with Eid
include charitable giving, hospitality and community service
reflecting values of mutual care and responsibility
that strengthen neighborhoods
and support those facing hardships,
and whereas Muslim residents contribute significantly
to the civic, cultural, academic, and economic life
of Berkeley as educators, students, public servants,
entrepreneurs, health professionals,
and community advocates,
and whereas the city of Berkeley is committed
to honoring religious diversity
and fostering an inclusive community
where residents of all faiths and backgrounds
are welcomed, respected,
and able to practice their traditions freely.
Whereas recognizing important cultural
and religious holidays helps build understanding
among neighbors and affirms Berkeley's long standing
commitment to pluralism, inclusion and mutual respect.
Now therefore be it resolved that I, Adina Ishii,
Mayor of Berkeley, do hereby declare
that the City of Berkeley hereby recognizes
and celebrates Eid al-Fitir and Eid al-Adha each year
and extends its warmest wishes to all residents
observing these holidays.
The city of Berkeley encourages all members of the community
to learn about and appreciate the traditions
and values these holidays represent,
and to join in celebrating the diversity
and shared humanity that enrich the Berkeley community.
Thank you.
Yeah, good evening.
My name is Sophia Shaik,
and I'm currently a senior at UC Berkeley.
And I'm here on behalf of Asya Siddiqui,
who is truly the one behind writing this entire proclamation.
And she has worked tirelessly in hopes of being able
to represent the Muslim population
through having these two important hallways
represented by Berkeley.
Ida bifit in Marx and Ramadan,
where Muslims spend a lunar month
fasting and devoting themselves in worship
in hopes of strengthening their commitment
to compassion and service,
while increasing their devotion to their faith.
Meanwhile, Ida Adha commemorates
the value of sacrifice and generosity
towards those in need,
which is reflected in the Muslims community's
contribution to daily life in Berkeley.
Having these holidays visible and commemorated
in local governance uplifts local communities,
especially the Muslim community
currently residing in UC Berkeley,
which currently has 23 distinct Muslim student organizations,
each holding a space for academic and personal interests
that are connected to our religious identity and interests.
Despite these spaces, we often rely on accommodations
for spending these two days in celebration,
often taking away from class and work.
Having these two holidays commemorated in a showcase
allows greater representation of a vast, thriving community
that makes up a great portion of Berkeley constituents.
Berkeley is a community built off
a multitude of different communities,
and it is critical that we ensure all of their traditions
are taken into account and respected.
Having these holidays commemorated into local governance
allows a greater sense of visibility
and support for marginalized communities,
especially in uncertain times.
This proclamation is a symbol of representation
and honoring our traditions,
essentially making a space for every community.
Thank you so much for your commitment
to recognizing all of our diverse communities,
especially these two holidays,
which many Muslims hold dear to their hearts.
Thank you.
I think during these times,
it's really important that we get our opportunities
to celebrate, and so I really wanna thank the community
for bringing these forward for us,
to be able to acknowledge and recognize
they are really very meaningful.
So thank you all so much for coming
to receive the proclamations and also to those
who recommended for us to celebrate them.
Okay, so moving on, we have city manager comments.
No comments, Madam Mayor, thank you.
Okay.
Is there any public comment on non-agenda matters?
We have five cards chosen for in-person non-agenda speakers.
And once your name is called, you can come up and line up.
There's no specific order.
The speakers are Jess Heinselman, Richard Woods,
Samar Birdwalker, Celeste Marks, and Steven Albert.
So those are the five in-person public commenters
just come up in any order.
One.
Hello, City Council.
I'm Jess Heinselman.
I'm one of the co-founders and COO of Throne Labs.
And I wanted to just come and thank you all personally
for the pilot we've been hosting.
I think one of our closest thrones
is over at Strawberry Creek Park.
And we also have one at Cesar Chavez.
The Berkeley pilot has had particular meaning for me.
I decided to leave my job and tackle this big problem,
talking to my mom as we walked around Cesar Chavez Park
during COVID.
So it was not necessarily the inspiration,
but it has been kind of a homecoming
as that throne has continued to serve that park.
And I knew that clean restrooms were really important
and would allow people to stay out and enjoy parks more
and stay out and be in community longer.
But I think the survey was still surprising.
I know that your wonderful staff has actually given you
a recent memo to this effect.
I'm happy to also answer any questions
the state of the state. So I'm
going to go ahead and I'm going
to go ahead and I'm going to
provide provide data as needed.
Thank you. I'm sorry. No, it's a
really quick time. Okay. 90% of
the paper and I'm sorry. Okay,
Yeah, but feel free to I know we
have a memo so we'll make sure
that everyone reads it. Thank
you. Much appreciated. Hi. Good
You have defiled the land and the
instead of Europe and Arabia and Taiwan wherever we're from because we killed
the animals over there and we got spewed from the lands in the ancient Israelites
with sheep killers and they ate sheep and they got spewed from ancient Egypt
and they had to go to where the Philistines was and they had to kill them.
I mean you never resolve your Native American ownership of the land.
Thank you.
Hi everyone. My name is Marber Watker. I've been a resident and homeowner in
Berkeley for the last six years. I live on on Bancroft and 6th and I'm sure
several folks from our little community have brought this up on several
different occasions. About 17 months ago there was a pretty elaborate traffic
light put on our corner on Bancroft and 6th and we're all in support for that to
manage traffic that go that's going towards the aquatic park but again it's
a very elaborate traffic light that's actually the turn lanes have taken
between 40 and 50 parking spots away from our community that about 30
businesses and several homeowners rely on that and we've brought this up on
several occasions but it hasn't been addressed or we haven't gotten a
response of if it can be fixed so I'm here to ask this group to pay attention
to this matter and get back to a little group.
Ralph, who runs the little community
on the corner of the street,
is leading the charge from our side.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. I'm sorry.
I thought that we had gotten back to you.
So I'll follow up.
Celeste, do you have any comments?
Good evening.
I'm Dr. Steven Alpert.
For several weeks, I have focused attention
on a recent study by Buckholtz
published by the prestigious London School of Economics.
That study analyzed real-world data
from San Jose and San Francisco.
As shown in table one,
even under overly optimistic conditions,
in our area, it takes over 20 years
for market rate housing to filter down
and eventually become reformable, affordable.
Whereas with historical data, it takes over 100 years.
Evidently, these findings are troublesome
the Council Member Humbert, who I notice has left.
This is a composite screenshot from markhumbert.com.
The blue underlying text are hyperlinks,
and note the portions of this section that I've highlighted.
As written, this clearly implies that Buckholt's quote
has received serious and swift methodological criticism
from other economics.
However, the two links review Louis et al
and do not refer whatsoever to Buchholz.
Why this deception, Councilman Humbert?
If there's authoritative criticism of Buchholz,
please correct your website to so reflect.
This is incredibly deceptive on your part.
Thank you.
Your website is inaccurate.
Thank you, yeah, please address your comments
to all of us in the future, thank you.
And I disagree.
My website is not inactive.
Thank you.
OK, is there any.
Excuse me.
All right.
Mark, is anyone online?
Yes.
We have hands raised online.
The first is Ryan Lau from AC Transit.
Ryan Lau from AC Transit.
This is for non-agenda public comments.
My apologies, I couldn't unmute myself.
Good evening, Mayor and Council.
My name is Ryan Lau with AC Transit,
just wanting to share an update
on the future of our service.
On June 10th, 5 p.m.,
the AC Transit Board of Directors
will be reviewing two scenarios
for a potential reduction in service
due to a significant budget shortfalls.
The state alone has stabilized our immediate budget,
but we are looking at a $200 million deficit
over the next four years
with the possibility of a service reduction of 16%
and up to 300 jobs lost.
So again, June 10th at 5 p.m.,
it'll physically be held at 1600 Franklin Street,
also online, wanting to make sure
to avail ourselves for comment.
We're obviously prioritizing the preservation
our service, but without additional revenues, we will have to make some hard choices. So
I appreciate your time and have a great evening. Thanks, Ryan. Next is Rosalina.
Hello. Can you hear me? Yes. Thank you very much. My name is Rosalina Guttman and on behalf
of millions of victims of intolerable painful and incurable environmental illness of multiple
chemical sensitivity. I call upon the leaders of the Berkeley community for issuing official
proclamation in honor of May 12th marked as the day for global awareness for this environmental
affliction caused by the loss of tolerance to normalized toxicants as well as the entire month
of May. The emerging platform www.environmentalsanitynow.org featured my victim's commentary
on the data produced by Canadian public. Your time is up, thank you for your comment.
Next is a speaker with a caller with a phone number ending in 2-1-1.
Hi, well I heard my name mentioned several times this evening. So just I was by our
Company manager Roy and you some beaver is it and I think mayor issue should be you know, expect for more reason
Just say all right need means holiday
collaboration, so it'll fit it is
Separation when we will have very nice dinner at the end of the month from a dot either out
How is a pot is a DHA is the celebration whenever ham try to sacrifice his son now?
Jewish people's things on with Isaac. The Muslim people's things on with Ishmael. They're really the same person.
They really are the same person. Jews and
Muslims are cousins. All of this war and all this thing does not belong to them. These on earth again,
Maryishi, give me a call. I think it will be very good and education makes big difference.
Muslim and Jews and Christians are cousins and all the same people. Thank you very much.
Next is Friends of Five Creeks.
Yes, can you hear me?
Yes. Hi, I'm Susan Schwartz, the head of Friends of Five Creeks for about 27 years.
I hope you will get time to read our May 11th letter. I apologize that it came late.
On despite the fiscal problems of Berkeley, please
fund and construct the city's long plan
green infrastructure at Channing Way and Aquatic Park,
because if you don't,
you will lose a million and a half dollars in a US EPA grant that is not coming back.
There is adequate batch in the green infrastructure fund,
and if that is somehow not enough,
the city got more than a million dollars from a settlement of Monsanto's.
PCB pollution, which is specifically the main target of this project, it all went to the general fund. Now, it didn't all go to PCs. Thank you. I'm sorry. Your minute is up.
All right, and the last speaker is.
Yes, this is pronounced Wubell.
My name is Wubechet. I am here representing and speaking on behalf of
Alchemy Community Therapy Center, a non-profit organization
offering sliding scale mental health services, clinical trainings, and
community workshops. We would like to move our practice of 20 therapists and
roughly 250 clients to Berkeley at Root and Bloom
Institute this summer. However, as this space was being
renovated, a traffic light was put on the corner of
of Bancroft Way and 6th Street, and took out the loading zones and ADA parking adjacent to the building.
Alchemy has clients and staff who needs these kind of accommodations.
Accessibility is a major value of ours, while deepening financial accessibility and cultural accessibility for mental health services,
we cannot sacrifice, including any of our community members with such physical barriers to accessing our office.
We understand that the city has received several requests to remove some of these left turn lanes to and from a traffic suppression street to reinstate the loading zones and ADA parking, but no action has yet been taken.
We would like to understand the city's position and thank you so much.
That's it. That's the last non agenda.
speaker okay thank you very much are there any employee unions here or online
I don't see any no okay we will move on to the consent calendar then do my
council colleagues have any comments on the consent calendar councilmember
Kesterwani thank you madam mayor I'd like to be recorded as donating $100 to
the Berkeley Juneteenth Festival and thank Council Member Bartlett for bringing that
item forward and look forward to the event.
Thank you Council Member Leno Parra.
Thank you.
I would like to donate $200 to the Juneteenth Festival and also thank Council Member Bartlett.
Thank you.
Council Member Blackaby.
Yes.
Thanks Madam Mayor.
Keep that theme going.
I wanted to thank Council Member Bartlett for his item on Juneteenth.
I believe he added me as a co-sponsor.
I believe that's correct.
Thank you and I'd like to donate $500 from our office fund for that event.
The only other thing I want to comment on was thanking Councilmember Tragov on item
four for his appointment of a new HAB member.
Stephanie Allen is an amazing choice, worked with her on many projects and I think she's
going to bring a really wonderful perspective to the body.
So thank you Councilmember Tragov and thank you to Stephanie who's not here but for her
willingness to serve in this important role.
That's all I had, thank you.
Thank you very much, Vice Mayor Trago.
Thank you, Madam Mayor.
I want to also thank Council Member Bartlett
for his item regarding the Barkley Juneteenth Festival
and contribute $200 out of my T-13 account.
I also wanted to just thank my colleagues
for their support, it's on the consent calendar.
I wanted to recognize my appointee to the PAB,
Stephanie Allen, who lives in my district
and has had extensive familiarity
with a variety of different negotiations over the years.
and has deep familiarity with the workings
of the Police Accountability Board and its predecessor.
And lastly, I want to thank the staff,
including Peter Houdou and Jordan Klein
for putting forward item five,
which would be a contractual amendment
to add a special events permitting software module
into the city's new permitting platform.
It goes without saying that the events process
needs some work and along with continued initiatives
to make it run more smoothly,
this is an important component
and I will be ready to move the consent calendar
when appropriate.
Thank you, Council Member Bartlett.
Thank you Madam Mayor, and thank you Mr. Vice Mayor,
as well Mr. Vice Mayor, for your support here.
And I wanna thank Councilor Blackaby for joining my item
to provide resources for the Juneteenth Festival.
Obviously, this is important.
It's our annual event in South Berkeley.
It's a lot of fun, a lot of fun.
And we are the longest running Juneteenth Festival
on the West Coast.
San Francisco denies this and we go back,
We go back and forth, but it's here.
It came from here.
And so now it's a national holiday.
It's even more important.
And thank you so much for all my colleagues
here for contributing to this new event.
And also, we've moved locations.
It's going to be a new area now.
It's going to be a new dynamic.
And I want to thank you for supporting the change.
Thank you so much.
And I want to quickly just call out one of my entities
in my district who I support a lot.
They got a new contract, Easy Does It
support the movement of people who need help moving around and thank you senior
manager and the staff for supporting them thank you thank you very much
councilmember councilmember Humbert thank you madam mayor as to number 16 the
Juneteenth festival I thank councilmember Bartlett for bringing this and
want to contribute $250 from our from our discretionary office account and
And then as to 15a and 15b, I want to confirm that it's on the consent calendar for purposes
of approving 15b, which is the City Manager's companion report, and technically taking no
action on 15a, although 15a really is essentially incorporated in 15b.
Is that correct, City Manager?
Mr. City Manager, thank you.
Yes, thank you, Council Member.
That's all I have. I'm really looking forward to Juneteenth. It is really a lot of fun. It's very cool
Thank you. Councilmember Taplin
Thank you and good evening on item 16. I would like to be recorded as relinquishing
$250 for Juneteenth and
If there's room I request being added as a co-sponsor
Thank you very much. And thank you for your leadership. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you
Thank you Councilmember O'Keefe
Councilmember Bartlett, I thought I asked you if I could co-sponsor it, but I think so. It's okay. How about I just donate instead?
No, no, it's fine. I relinquish my spot to Councilmember Taplin, but I may or may not. I may have
I'm sorry. I don't hear a so.
I am already one of those cosponsors on there,
so thank you very much.
Happy to cosponsor an event that is in our neighborhood
and that I've been going to for many years
and will also put $250 from my account into it as well.
So thank you.
Thank you all so much for being here.
Okay, very good.
I think that that's all of the council member comments,
so we will go to public comment
on consent calendar information items.
State which bear council members is always a pleasure
being before you guys is so inspiring to hear you guys
co-sponsoring this.
So we're really, really happy and pleased with that.
What I do wanna share is Eid al-Fateer you know,
in the spirit of giving, you know,
we're happy to see you giving from your hearts
and from your souls and not just thinking with your minds
and filling with your spirits.
Share with you something really briefly,
my father used to always tell me. Now it's basically you got two options in
life and then this moment right now you have your first option is to give to the
Berkeley Juneteenth. Your second option is not to give. Now you got a million and
one choices how you choose to give. You can give willingly, you can give
generously, you can give you know with your heart felt or you can not give
begrudgingly. You cannot give at all but you guys chose to give and we're
hoping that this is a very gleeful, happy and heartfelt gift that you're
requesting upon us. We're appreciative. You know, if you reconsider
somewhere down the line and want to dig a little deeper and give a little bit
more will be even more appreciative. So we do thank you for that. Good evening,
Council. Lucky Thomas Juneteenth Festival. And again, thank you again for
your generous gifts and your support of Juneteenth Festival. It definitely in
the past and currently. Thank you again. Thank you. Thanks for coming. Carol
Morassovic, very pleased to see item 15a 15b on the agenda and very pleased with
the land use committee referring this to the Commission on Aging, hoping that
they they do develop these models. This is an extremely important item. I was
the author of this item when I was chair of the Commission on the status of
women and we brought it was developed after I brought out the staff attorney
from the National Housing Law Project where they were litigating a number of
cases where vulnerable homeowners, particularly women were exploited. One
of those cases that was memorialized in the media is an 81 year old San
Francisco resident Susan fight to stay in longtime upper height home where
she had her 1.4 million condominium,
this is an 81-year-old,
was purchased for $10,000 that she didn't realize,
that she had agreed to pay a loan as collateral,
that was worth less than $10,000,
and that's how she lost her home.
Another case, which was memorialized in the media,
was she sold a 1.7 million Bay Area home
for a third of its value over margaritas.
What happened?
This is a senior who was a part-time crossing guard
who is caregiver for her husband with dementia
and she was taken out by a realtor
who bought her some margaritas
and somehow persuaded her to sell her house
for one third of its value.
and it was to an actor.
It went to an actor who then immediately flipped it.
And this type of exploitation is, thank you.
Thank you, Carol.
Any comments online for, any public comment online
for consent calendar or information items only?
One speaker, one hands raised.
Caller and phone number ending in 211.
Okay consent item number four. I like to bring the memory one first. I like to say Berkel always had one of the best
Beautiful people very opinion good
Memory of Berkel police chief that spotter who died and I think some years ago
He's in my million my life and when some employees in my business business over million dollars
It was a great man
The last thing I like to say
The best mayor Berkeley ever had was Shirley Dean
Mary E. She I like to consider you like Shirley Dean and
lived here 62 years
Very disappointed as many of us
Really Dean was a great woman. Everybody means he was a Cal person
Mary E. She be another Shirley Dean gave me a call
Other people mess
Well, other people like to talk to you. Have a good night
Thank you. Any other public comment? That's all. Okay, thank you very much.
Councilmember, Vice Mayor Tracob, were you moving? You had moved the item, I think.
So moved. Is there a second? Second. Second by Humber. Okay, thank you very much.
Oh, we're all here. So, is there any opposition to approving the consent calendar?
All right, then we will approve it by unanimous consent.
Thank you very much everyone.
Okay, so moving on to our singular action item.
Item number 17, the lease agreement with Patia
and Associates, Inc. for 125 to 127 University Avenue.
Thank you, Mayor.
It was actually just a little weird quirk in the code
that required this to be a public hearing,
otherwise we wouldn't have put it in this place,
but Director Farris is here if you have any questions
or I can answer questions too.
Otherwise, we don't have a presentation.
Thank you.
Are there any questions from council members?
Yes, Council Member Black.
I have one question.
So you run, rent is 4265.
I know they were in similar space before.
What's this, what was the previous rent?
I'm just curious how this, from what to what?
Sorry Scott, and then if it's not there, I can look it up.
No, it's it's a good. Good question.
It's that's I'm not sure I have that information right now. Okay. Let me double check.
Thank you. I know kind of 1 of the things I know we were talking about with the general is just making sure we're yeah, I think it went to 2 dollars and.
2 dollars and 50 cents a square foot from 2 0, 5 or 2 15. Great.
I know that's something you guys were working on was sort of how do we continue to sort
of maximize the opportunity of the space.
I just wanted to verify that.
It's actually an increase over what they're currently paying, which is really useful.
So thank you.
Thank you.
Any other questions?
Public comment on this item?
Is there any public comment for item number 17?
Lease agreement with Pat Patia and Associates.
Anyone online?
No hands raised on the Zoom.
Any comments?
So I will just say thank you very much.
I really appreciate you negotiating this.
I know we've been trying to update the lease agreements
for many different organizations, especially in the marina.
So thank you very much to Director Farris and staff.
And is there someone that would like to make the motion?
To close the public hearing.
Thank you, to close the public hearing?
So moved.
Second.
Is there any opposition to closing the public hearing?
Okay, we will close the public hearing by unanimous consent.
Is there anyone who'd like to make the motion
to approve the item?
We'll move adoption of the item.
Second.
Okay, is there any opposition?
Okay, we will approve the lease agreement.
Thank you very much, by unanimous consent.
Very good, is there any other public comment
for items not listed on the agenda?
Yes, on the homeless services panel of experts,
as we began to dialogue on the budget.
The issue of contractors, consultants,
non-competitive bidding came up.
So I made an inquiry to the city auditor
asking her if she could provide information
as to consultants, how much the city has spent
on consultants for each year for the last five years.
This is the response I received.
Hi Carol, thank you for our interest
in our non-competitive contracts audit.
Based on our work, it does not appear
there is an easy way with the city's current system
to determine how much the city has spent on consultants.
To review how much has spent would require
reviewing a large export of the city's contracts
and purchase orders.
Part of the challenge is departments classify
the type of contract inconsistently.
So it would require manually reviewing
each contract and purchase order
to ensure that the list includes all of the consultants
and not personal services, goods or software.
So there is no standardized procedure
and there should be a standardized procedure
that all departments follow
so that this information can be identified.
And so the council know in the context of the whole budget,
this information, evaluate it, weigh it,
and I mean this is pretty critical information.
I was actually somewhat shocked to receive that response
from the city auditor that even her
with her very talented skilled staff
cannot respond to what I did not think
was a very complex question.
So I hope council will address this
and staff will address this after the budget is through.
I know everybody's really busy, but I hope you will.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thanks, Carol.
Any other public comment for items
that not listed on the agenda online?
No, none.
All right.
Thank you very much.
Is there a motion to adjourn?
Second.
Is there any opposition to adjournment?
All right, we are adjourned.
Thank you very much.
Have a good evening, everyone.
Recording stopped.
It's the quick hour.