https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/ City of Berkeley City Council meeting transcripts. public-meetings Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:00:00 -0700 https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-06-16-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-06-16-city-council.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:00:00 -0700 City Council - June 16, 2026 https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-06-09-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-06-09-city-council.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:00:00 -0700 The council moved through consent-calendar business with brief comments on business improvement districts, emergency dispatch services, and a state health grant before approving the consent calendar. The broader meeting also included public comment, fee and parking items, a housing-related appeal, and updates on Police Accountability Director recruitment. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-06-08-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-06-08-city-council-closed-session.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0700 City Council - June 8, 2026 (Closed Session) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-06-05-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-06-05-city-council-closed-session.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0700 City Council - June 5, 2026 (Closed Session) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-19-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-19-city-council.html Tue, 19 May 2026 18:00:00 -0700 The council approved the consent calendar after discussion and public comment on supportive housing applications, records retention, pepper spray oversight, food insecurity funding, ceremonial street naming, and several community event funding items. It also renewed the Downtown Berkeley property-based business improvement district after a public hearing and later held budget and fee-schedule public hearings. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-19-city-council-special.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-19-city-council-special.html Tue, 19 May 2026 16:00:00 -0700 The City Council reviewed polling results and staff recommendations for a proposed $300 million general obligation infrastructure bond and a 0.5% sales and use tax increase for the November 3, 2026 ballot. Council discussed project priorities, public feedback, fiscal impacts, oversight, and then unanimously directed staff to prepare ballot language for both measures. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-12-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-12-city-council.html Tue, 12 May 2026 18:00:00 -0700 The Berkeley City Council held ceremonial recognitions, heard public comment, then approved the consent calendar after brief comments on several items. Discussion of the provided agenda items focused on a Police Accountability Board appointment, special-events permitting software, and the Easy Does It accessibility contract. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-12-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-12-city-council-closed-session.html Tue, 12 May 2026 17:00:00 -0700 City Council - May 12, 2026 (Closed Session) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-11-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-11-city-council-closed-session.html Mon, 11 May 2026 15:00:00 -0700 City Council - May 11, 2026 (Closed Session) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-07-city-council-special.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-07-city-council-special.html Thu, 07 May 2026 17:00:00 -0700 The council held an extended special meeting on proposed police surveillance technologies, Flock Safety contract authority, and related sanctuary-city concerns. After extensive questions and public comment, the council approved surveillance use policy actions and an RFP process, declined to move forward with the full Flock master services agreement, and separately extended the ALPR contract for up to 12 months while the RFP proceeds. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-04-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-05-04-city-council-closed-session.html Mon, 04 May 2026 16:30:00 -0700 City Council - May 4, 2026 (Closed Session) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-04-28-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-04-28-city-council.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0700 The Council reviewed the City Auditor’s financial condition audit, which highlighted the structural deficit, pension liabilities, enterprise fund practices, and deferred capital needs. It also discussed selected consent-calendar items related to wildfire legislation, a Police Accountability Board appointment, Luna Dance funding, and approved the 2026 HUD Annual Action Plan. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-04-21-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-04-21-city-council.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0700 The council approved the consent calendar after comments on several items, including the Police Accountability Board appointment and affordable housing grant funding. The meeting also included a public hearing on city vacancies, recruitment, and retention efforts under AB 2561. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-04-20-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-04-20-city-council-closed-session.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0700 City Council - April 20, 2026 (Closed Session) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-04-14-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-04-14-city-council.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0700 The meeting opened with ceremonial adjournments in memory of community activist Cynthia Brantly Pierce and Berkeley commissioner and community advocate Winston Burton. Speakers honored Pierce's political fundraising and advocacy for women in public office, and Burton's decades of workforce development, public service, and community leadership. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-24-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-24-city-council.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:00 -0700 The Berkeley City Council meeting included ceremonial recognitions and an adjournment in memory of community activist Marcia Poole, followed by city manager and auditor updates, public comment, and extended discussion of the Flock license plate reader contract. The Flock item was continued to a June 2 special meeting after lengthy public comment. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-24-city-council-special.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-24-city-council-special.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:00:00 -0700 The Council received and discussed the 2025 Berkeley Police Department Annual Report, including staffing, calls for service, crime trends, clearance rates, use of force, accountability data, traffic safety, technology, and community partnerships. Council members and public commenters raised questions and concerns about hate crimes, sexual assaults, ALPR use, racial disparities in stops, dispatch staffing, CSOs, gun violence prevention, and Vision Zero work. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-17-city-council-special.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-17-city-council-special.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:00:00 -0700 The Berkeley City Council reviewed community survey results on potential November 2026 ballot measures, including a $300 million general obligation infrastructure bond and a half-cent sales tax. Council discussed survey findings, infrastructure priorities, public feedback, and ultimately directed staff to prepare draft ballot language and conduct a second community survey. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-16-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-16-city-council-closed-session.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0700 City Council - March 16, 2026 (Closed Session) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-10-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-10-city-council.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:00:00 -0700 The council received and discussed the city auditor’s report on non-competitive contracts, then handled a consent calendar with several housing, AI, micromobility, public lands, free clinic, and business district items. Later, the council held a public hearing on zoning amendments related to nonconforming residential standards under middle housing rules. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-10-city-council-special.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-10-city-council-special.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:00:00 -0700 The Council held a worksession on Berkeley's 2025 economic dashboards, reviewing employment, hospitality, startups, commercial real estate, vacancies, sales tax, housing, business support, sustainability, arts, and commercial district vitality. Council discussion focused on retaining and attracting businesses, streamlining permitting, filling vacancies, supporting small and legacy businesses, and strengthening Berkeley's innovation economy. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-06-city-council-special.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-06-city-council-special.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:45:00 -0800 City Council - March 6, 2026 (Special) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-02-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-03-02-city-council-closed-session.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:00:00 -0800 City Council - March 2, 2026 (Closed Session) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-24-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-24-city-council.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:00:00 -0800 The council held ceremonial recognitions, took public comment, approved the consent calendar, discussed performance measurement reporting, adopted SB 684 subdivision and zoning ordinance amendments, and continued the 2026 state and federal legislative platform for clearer revisions. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-24-city-council-special.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-24-city-council-special.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0800 The Berkeley City Council held a special meeting focused on the Community Health Improvement Plan, including a staff presentation, dashboard preview, council questions, public comment, and recognition of the community steering committee. Discussion centered on health equity, life expectancy disparities, priority areas of housing, environmental health, behavioral health, and community safety, and how implementation should be measured and funded. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-23-city-council-special.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-23-city-council-special.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:00:00 -0800 The Council held a special meeting on Zoning Adjustments Board appeals for housing projects, with the 2298 Durant appeal withdrawn before discussion. The substantive debate focused on density bonus concessions, labor standards, worker health and safety, housing feasibility, and legal risk, with Council denying the appeal and approving the 2425 Durant use permit. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-23-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-23-city-council-closed-session.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0800 City Council - February 23, 2026 (Closed Session) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-10-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-10-city-council.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:00:00 -0800 The council handled consent-calendar housing, transportation, funding, and procurement items, then held a lengthy public hearing on the 2109 Virginia Street zoning appeal. The council ultimately approved the consent calendar and voted to deny the appeal, affirming the Zoning Adjustments Board decision for the housing project. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-10-city-council-special.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-10-city-council-special.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0800 The Berkeley City Council reviewed and adopted the 2026 prioritized list of 39 council referrals generated through the re-weighted range voting process. Discussion focused on the ranking method, department workload implications, and public comments about fiscal policy, bond issuance, rezoning, and infrastructure priorities. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-09-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-02-09-city-council-closed-session.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:30:00 -0800 City Council - February 9, 2026 (Closed Session) https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-01-27-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-01-27-city-council.html Tue, 27 Jan 2026 18:00:00 -0800 The meeting opened with an urgent item on federal immigration enforcement before moving into ceremonial adjournments in memory of community members. The agenda item honoring Barbara Lubin recognized her lifelong activism for disability rights, inclusive education, neighborhood preservation, and Palestinian children through the Middle East Children's Alliance. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-01-27-city-council-special.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-01-27-city-council-special.html Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0800 The Council reviewed Berkeley's 2026 referral prioritization process using re-weighted range voting, discussed referrals marked for removal and additional low-scoring referrals, and voted to remove a revised set of items. Staff was directed to run the RRV algorithm and return with results on February 10. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-01-20-city-council.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-01-20-city-council.html Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:00:00 -0800 The council recognized Berkeley's poet laureates, heard public comment, discussed selected consent calendar items, and adopted the consent calendar. Later action items addressed ADU condominium sales, public health vital records fees, fire code updates, and by-right approval for certain housing projects. https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-01-20-city-council-closed-session.html https://public-meetings.burke.services/berkeley/2026-01-20-city-council-closed-session.html Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0800 City Council - January 20, 2026 (Closed Session)