OpenCityCouncil

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Segment 1

Segment 2

and just say thank you to our city manager who gave us her all.
I love you and I'm going to miss you.
Aram, thank you for coming in and getting the job done.
Thank you to Latonya who's going to step in briefly and I don't think we're going to miss a beat.
This has been a real tough year for everyone and I just want to say thank you again.
I did get it all in.
I do see Sandra Lewis's hand raised.
We do have 16 more seconds, but if you need a little bit of additional time after that, please, please take it.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I'm going to talk very, very quickly.
So to the mayor and to the city council, Sandra Lewis, a member of the negotiation team for maintenance and clerical and also a happy employee for the city of Berkeley for 43 years.
I have seen city managers come and go.
I have been here for many, many years and I just want to express, first of all, D, I have enjoyed working with you.
I know we always don't agree, but I am truly going to miss the partnership that you have tried to advocate and that you have advocated.
And you have taught me that even when people try to hold you down, even when people try to criticize you, even though when people try to talk about you, you held your head up.
And for that, I thank you, I thank you to the mayor and city council for being able to support us going forward again, been in this for 43 years.
I have seen some councils that don't even spend the day trying to even open up the door and talk to us.
So, for that, I thank you.
I truly thank you for showing leadership and the Tanya.
I know you're going to do good things.
I wish you would have been the next city manager, but whatever time that you have here, I look forward to working for you.
So, working with you, not for you, working with you.
So, again, I just wanted I'm still in the middle of a meeting, but I wanted to take this time to appreciate the mayor, the council and our city manager that I'm truly going to miss.
So, thank you.
Thank you very much.
I don't believe we have any represent some local 1 here tonight.
I don't see any recent on zoom.
I want to thank our city employees and our.
Labor representatives are being here tonight for your comments and your service to our city and we're now going to move to public comment on non agenda matters.
And the way we're going to conduct this public comment period is the city clerk will randomly select 5 cards.
To speak on items, not an agenda.
If you are here to speak to something on the consent or action calendar, we will take public comments on the consent and action calendar.
When we get to that.
Later, this is an opportunity for public comments on anything is not on our agenda tonight.
We welcome your comments and then we're going to 5 speakers on zoom.
So, Mr.
Clark, if you can please read the 5 individuals selected.
We just have 3 cards tonight.
We have we have Roy.
And we have Regina.
Okay, so those are the 3 in person speakers.
I see it here since we didn't, since we'd have 5 cards, we'll go to you as well.
Yeah, former counselor.
Speaking on the budget, we're not going to use that later.
Thank you very much.
Have a good evening.
Happy to see you all.
I'll be brief.
Number 1, we should all work for better Berkeley.
That is number 1.
Bring it the golden days of city of Berkeley in a great city of free speech.
Is he Berkeley and so on this? 2nd, let's all pray for a piece of the Middle East.
Because as of today, over 100,000 people in gas are dead.
And, you know, I think as a human individual, but as nation or not, so when you go home, try to listen to.
Sean Lennon song imagine.
Imagine is no country and no religion to copy as far as business is plus plus plus everybody.
I've been patient and patient and patient.
Time to act time to act and all friends or cousins as great.
So, if you send me.
We are cousins and again, we'll never have a choice.
What family we came to and so on.
We should work as cousins and brothers.
Thank you.
Congress on.
Okay.
Thank you.
And I will see you again soon.
Mr.
Clark, where the other hearts.
Regina and then Roy.
It's best.
Okay.
Hello, city mayor and city council.
I'm Regina of vice president of Berkeley Federation of teachers.
I'm here representing many of our members who are at Berkeley high school.
We are just city council to prove Berkeley hive in the residential, provincial parking ordinance on the consent calendar educators continue to lack the flexibility that other workers in the area have to be able to move their cars and avoid parking tickets.
Even our short lunch break is oftentimes spent with students who need academic support and spend facilitating school clubs.
We think those who participate in these discussions, and especially the residents of district 4, because they know that taking care of our educators and students they teach is an important value that Berkeley holds.
And thank you for those who served on the 2 by 2 back in 2023.
Thank you.
Okay, we'll go to former council member.
And then we'll go to Roy and then.
We'll go to you, Miss Murphy.
Thank you.
Genocide Zionist Jesse and Zionist council, except for district 7 council member.
For 1, I would like for you to support the black repertory theater, give them the same money that you've given.
Um, we need to give them the same money for the only black data in the city of Berkeley at that.
And you give the pink theaters money.
And stop the predatory practices on the black rep.
And allow them to be here and thrive.
And also, I think it's interesting that it's a Berkeley unified school district meetings.
There's no police.
They're not scared of pro Palestine people.
There's no barriers.
You know, it's a whole different scene.
And then I also want to say to the city manager and the deputy city manager that I to please respond to my email and the request that I sent to you and I spoke to you about last time.
And please, please pass a good.
Resolution to for a ceasefire all the bodies.
He said 100,000 people have been murdered by.
It's not real.
And children, the starvation.
It's really disgusting and sad that, um, you know, you guys will not and refuse to pass a ceasefire when people are dying and you have no.
No, you know, thought for humanity.
And, you know, you're an elected official and you should look it out for all humanity, not just your constituents, not just your districts, but the whole city and all the people of the world because 1.
Issue and another part of the world is our issue here in Berkeley and people in Berkeley's families are dying in Gaza.
And we need a ceasefire now, so 3, 3 Palestine.
And 2nd represents Roy Roy came with a complaint to you that he another 10 employees.
Yeah, the microphone on so could you so yeah, the name boy was hold on 1 2nd.
Yeah.
The name boy was selected.
Yes.
Are you saying they yielded you there a minute? Yes.
Okay.
Yeah, he just had to leave and he has the card in his name.
He wrote it himself.
We need to go forward because this episode is shameful and shame on the city of Berkeley mayor council people.
You can just like, backward when people are crying for not being able to shop our great business, at least in employees and very large advertising budget.
Very high credit limit.
Hi, we're getting offers of clients from everywhere.
The state, even so we need to go forward.
No more joke.
No more laughing and don't do not ignore us.
You're a good people.
You all like to work for the better Berkeley.
I wrote many articles and many avenues newspaper from Berkeley is it on.
Now, we can make better and better Berkeley a better city.
Just offer that work all together.
If anybody have a question.
Please call me, we said we'll pay for a year if we have to.
1100 again is 10,000.
This is how they're doing the rest of them.
Good to see you again.
Thank you.
Okay.
Miss Murphy.
We'll go to you next.
And then we'll go to the speakers on zoom.
Hey, family, hi, everybody doing in Berkeley.
All right, all right, so I'm Christina Murphy for people that don't know me.
It was really nice to see all the people who just remind me of back in the days when we all used to come to city council.
So we knew what was going on.
I want to also say, Miss D.
I'm going to miss you a lot.
I really am going to miss you because when I first got involved in politics, you was the 1st person that I say, you was very, very, very kind to me and approachable and I'm a miss that I don't know you yet, but I will get to know you.
But I really want to tell you, I appreciate you for all that the lady said up there and you inspire me and I'm really grateful for the opportunities that I have coming towards me in the next couple of days.
And I'm really grateful and ready to serve as well and continue to do the work.
I came up from the layout to come speak.
Most of y'all don't know, but we all got time and we don't know how much time we have left on this earth.
And I was diagnosed with stage for a cancer and I want y'all to know that my last wish that I'm asking city council to do is to please support black repertory theater.
I support the fact I understand that we have procedures and there's things and that we have to get done meet up to code and all that.
But what I'm asking is the same way.
We're so behind that you stepped up for the lonely people so they can get their land back, help us step up so we can get our theater back because that's what they spoke earlier.
But that's the only black theater we have.
We have black rep up here in Berkeley at the downtown, but it's not like black repertory theater in South Berkeley.
So, whoever becomes city council for district 3, I beg you to do everything you can.
It goes along with the Ashby bar station stuff.
So please find the black rep.
Please find a black rep and offer your support so they can get up to code so they can get what they need.
I'm here to support it as well as long as I'm alive.
Thank you.
And thank you.
And please support black rep.
Please support black rep.
Thank you.
Okay, we'll go to speakers on zoom Blair Beekman Blair Beekman, you should not be able to speak.
Hi Blair Beekman here.
Thanks for the meeting tonight to try to offer public comment on agenda public comment.
Thank you, city of Berkeley that with all the mayhem that's going on both in Israel and in the Ukraine area.
I think you've tried to take a position to offer you know public safety matters you try to work.
You know, try to offer a system that to talk about accountability.
And I think that's important.
Now it's from that I hope tonight's meeting we make some Interesting new choices and talk about some interesting new choices and talk about concepts of peace at the local level instead of war and The overuse of law enforcement and surveillance.
Good luck.
How we can do that tonight.
I'm going to really be thinking of Kate Harrison tonight and the work she's done.
And I hope we can honor her tonight.
And the work we do for everyone working on the issues of the Mideast at this time if we work towards issues at the local level towards peace towards openness and accountability.
That's an important step this time.
Thanks.
Okay, our next speaker is Justin Smith.
So again, this is public comment on non agenda matters, followed by money law.
Oh, good evening.
Mayor.
Good evening.
Council members.
The name is Justin Smith.
I'm speaking on behalf of the community members interested in the Ashby BART Center development.
The question or issue at hand is we've not seen an update on the MOU between the city of Berkeley and BART.
And not seeing any public sort of information associated with that.
We're asking the council to provide an update and public access Into the process for that MOU and associated with the process is the RFQ for the Ashby BART station.
We'd also like the city and the council to request that BART Have a public review of the RFQ beforehand.
This is a customary practice that we've seen with other RFQs so that either input or comments and or consideration can be provided.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We'll go next to money law.
Good evening, mayor and council and my fellow community members of Berkeley.
I speak just as my personal Position as a resident of Berkeley.
I'd like to second the Motion by Miss Murphy regarding support full at 100% for black rep theater in South Berkeley.
I've attended events there.
It's an excellent space and it's historic and needs to be preserved and supported.
Please do so.
Secondly, I attended a cert class on sat on Sunday and I'd like to second the Position of the firefighter who spoke earlier.
Cert is a very important program community emergency response teams.
FF funds and others should be supported to provide more training to our residents in the event of an earthquake, which is likely to happen in the future and wildfire.
We need those cert classes and we need their expanded space because we were packed in a room wall to wall and they definitely need additional space and more funding can go to neighborhood support, including low income neighborhoods to provide cash to them.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay.
Our next speaker is Ilana Auerbach.
Good evening, everybody.
Okay, just had to pull over.
Okay.
Y'all can hear me.
Yes, I imagine.
Yes.
Yes.
It's all my time.
Thank you.
Y'all can hear me.
Yes, I imagine.
Yes.
Yes, it's all my time.
Thank you.
So I just finished campaigning in this town and the level of unnecessary meanness was astounding.
I'm still astounded by it.
The level of lies and just slander and misinterpreting.
It was really thick.
And especially from campaigns that most or all of you all supported and endorsed.
So wow.
And let's do better.
You know, we don't need to be so mean.
Let's bring more kindness to Berkeley.
And I'm even more tripled down on kindness that's needed in our beautiful town.
Kindness and equity, which we all talk about.
Yes, to the Black Repertory Theater.
Give it as much money, maybe a fraction, maybe half as we give to the White Repertory Theater.
And also, don't miss the opportunity, because we're going to end up on the really wrong side of history, free Palestine and pass a ceasefire before the ceasefire occurs, which may it be this hour during this meeting.
Thank you.
Okay, thank you.
That completes public comment on non-agenda matters.
We will have another public comment period at the end of our agenda on non-agenda matters.
Thank you, everyone, for your comments.
We'll now proceed to the consent calendar.
And we have received a couple of urgent items.
The first from the city manager on the title lease urgency ordinance for the leasing of real property at 1250 to 1288 9th Street.
In addition to other addresses, this is the lease of these properties by the Berkeley Fire Department.
And there was an extensive explanation in the material submitted, which is also posted on our website about why this meets the standard under government code section 54954.2b2.
So I move that we accept this material under the provisions to government code section 54954.2b2.
Is there a second? Second.
The two-thirds vote requires the question before the council is whether to add this item to the agenda tonight.
Please call the roll.
Council Member Kiss-Irwani? Yes.
Kaplan? Yes.
Bartlett? Yes.
Haun? Yes.
Lengraaff? Yes.
Lunapara? Yes.
Humbert? Yes.
And Mayor Irving? Yes.
Okay, that motion carries.
That item has been added to our agenda.
It is on the consent calendar.
Anyone who would like to speak to the urgency ordinance approving the lease for the property at 1250 to 1288 9th Street by the Berkeley Fire Department, we will take your comments when we take public comment on the consent calendar.
We also received an urgent item submitted by Council Member Haun under the provisions of government code section 54954.2b2.
And the fact supporting the addition of this item as stated on the cover sheet, the agenda for the June 4th meeting was posted on May 23rd.
At the two-by-two meeting the next day, the council became aware of a few remaining regulatory and administrative challenges precluding the issuance of RPP permits to Berkeley High School.
The window for issuance of permits to neighborhood-serving community facilities is closing imminently.
Without immediate council action, the Berkeley Unified School District would not be able to obtain the permits they are entitled to before the 2024-25 school year.
This item restates the actions taken by council on January 16th, 2024, and that's clarification around the remaining regulatory and administrative concerns allowing these permits to be issued expeditiously.
So, do you want to make a motion to add this item? Yes, I move that we add the urgent item for Berkeley High parking permits to the consent calendar.
Second.
Second.
Okay, thank you.
So, colleagues, the question for the council is whether to add this item to the agenda and the provisions of government code section 54954.2b2.
If there's a need to take immediate action, the need for action came to the attention of the local agency subsequent to the agenda for this meeting being posted.
This does require a 2-3 vote, and I'll ask the clerk to call the roll on the motion.
Council member Kastarwani? Yes.
Kaplan? Yes.
Bartlett? Yes.
Hahn? Yes.
Langraff? Yes.
Lunapara? Yes.
Humbert? Yes.
And Mayor Iroby? Yes.
Okay.
Okay, that motion carries unanimously, and this item will be on the consent calendar.
Anyone who'd like to speak to this item, we welcome your comments when we get to the consent calendar, just public comment period.
Okay, on the consent calendar, Madam City Manager, I understand that item 34, the contract with Edgeworth Integration LLC for the installation of security cameras at council-approved locations, that you would like to continue that item to the June 25th agenda? That is correct.
Okay, so since this was submitted by the City Manager, without objection, we'll continue that item to June 25th.
I'm very excited to announce that when we adopt the consent calendar tonight, we will be approving the appointment of LaTanya Bellow as our interim City Manager for the period of July 11th to September 15th, 2024, and so I want to first read the recommendation and the compensation information.
State law requires that we read it into the record before we take action.
By approving item 39 tonight, the council will be approving the appointment of LaTanya Bellow as interim City Manager to be effective July 11th, 2024 to September 15th, 2024, at a prorated rate of pay based upon the annualized salary of $401,722.10 for the period of service in this role, in addition to employee benefits, and we'll also be approving an employment agreement as well.
I want to just take this opportunity to thank Ms.
Bellow for her years of service to our city and stepping in to serving as our interim City Manager during this critical leadership transition, and you have demonstrated, not just through your work as Human Resources Director and Deputy City Manager, but as Acting City Manager at times, incredible dedication and professionalism, and we're really grateful for your willingness to step into this important role, and thank you so much, and we look forward to working with you, so congratulations.
And by approving item 40 as well, the City Council will be approving the appointment of Paul Budenhagen as a City Manager of the City of Berkeley, effective September 16th, 2024, at an annual salary of $401,722.10, and additional employee benefits, as well as approving an employment agreement, so I want to also thank Mr.
Budenhagen, who's in a City Council meeting, and not able to join us tonight, but he wanted to express his gratitude to the City Council and to the community for this opportunity.
We have worked with him for years, and grateful that he'd be coming back to Berkeley to serve as our new City Manager, starting in September.
But I want to give the opportunity, Ms.
Bellow, if you want to make any comments, the floor is yours.
I don't want to put you on the spot, but if you want to make any comments, please do, and we'll get you on the spot.
But given the, you know, this is a pretty significant moment for Berkeley, I want to give the opportunity to make any comments.
Thank you so much, Mr.
Mayor, and to the Council, and to the community of Berkeley.
I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this opportunity to continue to lead this wonderful organization, this wonderful community, through this time of transition and change.
I thank both the Mayor and the Council for their trust in for their confidence in me, because that that is pretty significant as well.
And I look forward to continuing to be supportive, to be communicative, to be collaborative with the community, as well as the Council, and to serve, which is exactly what I enjoy doing.
So thank you all so much for this opportunity.
Okay, thank you very much, and we know the City Manager will be retiring soon.
We will definitely acknowledge the City Manager's service at the June 25th Council meeting, and excited by the leadership transition here in Berkeley, and we're so grateful.
We have such brilliant, dedicated, exceptional public servants who are going to continue this important work for our community, so thank you.
Item 47, this was from former Council Member Harrison, amending BMC Chapter 3.78 to expand the requirements for representatives of the poor to serve on the HWCAC.
Council previously took action to amend the enabling legislation for the Human Welfare and Community Action Commission, so this item is moot.
So the Agenda and Rules Committee sent this to Council with a negative recommendation, because we don't need to adopt this since we've already taken the action former Council Member Harrison recommended.
So I'd like to make a motion, I'd like to ask that we move this item to consent, and that we take no action on Item 47.
Is there any objection to that? Okay, hearing no objection, that will be the action.
If you'd like to speak on Item 47, we welcome your comments during the consent public comment period.
And then colleagues, I know we have a number of young people here tonight who'd like to speak on the City Budget.
I'd like to ask that after we vote on the consent calendar, we give those young people the opportunity to speak, because I know that they're here tonight with their parents, and we don't want to keep them here too late.
We definitely want to hear their comments.
So after we vote on the consent calendar, we'll open the floor for any young people that'd like to address the City Council on the City Budget.
So those are all my comments.
Vice Mayor Wenger? Thank you.
Very simple.
On Number 41, I'd like to be recorded as donating $250 from my discretionary account.
And Council Member Tatlin, if there's room on that item, I'd like to join it.
Yes, of course.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We'll go next to Council Member Humber.
Thank you, Mr.
Mayor.
On Item 32, Grant Funding Applications, I'm really excited about both these potential grants and the cyclist and pedestrian safety work that they'll make possible.
The Adeline improvements will match those on the north side of Ashby, as I understand it, and will link up with new bike lanes on the Oakland part of Adeline.
Money for the bike lane boulevards in West Berkeley is sorely needed to help us move toward our Vision Zero climate action goals.
Let's see very quickly here.
On Item 39, I fully support the appointment of Ms.
Bellow as our interim City Manager.
Deputy City Manager Bellow knows the ropes, and I'm very thankful that we're going to have someone so knowledgeable and dedicated to take the reins as we make this transition.
On Item 40, appointment of City Manager, I know that our current City Manager still has another month and change to go, but as part of this item, I wanted to go ahead and thank City Manager Dee Williams Ridley for her incredible work, poise, and dedication to our city over the course of her tenure.
I wasn't on this Council yet, of course, but her steady hand and work with the Council and other staff is a big part of why Berkeley did, frankly, so superbly during the pandemic.
I think the city will forever owe her a debt of gratitude, and I hope that we can find another occasion, and I guess we will on the 25th, to express our thanks as we draw closer to her departure date.
As much as I will miss you, Madam City Manager, I also want to express my staunch support for making Paul Buddenhagen our next City Manager, and want to extend an early welcome to him.
This was before my time, but everything I've heard about him tells me he was incredibly patient, knowledgeable, dedicated, and great to work with, so I'm really happy and excited he will be.

Segment 3

Thank you.
Thank you for having me.
Serving our city again this time a city manager.
On item 41, I'd like to contribute $500.
From our district eight office account to support the bark and meow.
Around the block.
Adoption event item 41.
I'm deeply grateful for the work Berkeley humane does for animal welfare.
And help abandon and lost dogs and cats.
I'm deeply grateful for the work.
Berkeley humane does for animal welfare.
And help abandon and lost dogs and cats.
And help abandon and lost husky pups.
Let's see, that may be it.
Yeah, that's it for my comments on the consent calendar.
Thank you.
Councilor Hahn.
Thank you, mayor.
I also would like to take the occasion to start.
I would like to thank.
The city manager for her leadership, her friendship.
For her mentorship, her patience.
And her incredible ability to hold so many things up at once.
Not just for our city.
But the leadership that she provides across the state and nationally.
For other city managers and other young people.
I would also like to thank the city manager for her leadership.
As a.
A role model and an example of.
Of things they can achieve that they might not have dreamed of.
Or imagine for themselves.
So D Williams really is an important leader for our city.
She was an important leader in her profession.
And she's an example of that.
I also want to thank.
Latonya Bellow for her.
Willingness to step up is not easy.
When you step up to be an interim city manager.
You don't have two deputies.
It's a big task.
This is a big city with a lot of different functions.
And a lot of different constituencies.
To respond to.
And I appreciate your.
Helping us at this important time and hopefully.
Continuing with us.
Thank you.
I look forward to being crazy enough to come back to Berkeley.
And.
Look forward to working with him in, in this new role.
On item and now to smaller things, but also important.
On item 41, I would also like to give $250.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
We are at four.
Okay.
You're at four.
Great.
But I will still make my contribution.
Thank you.
Okay.
Councillor Luna par.
Thank you.
For item 26.
I want to emphasize my support for the work that Bonita house is doing.
I know that it's really difficult to develop new.
And imaginative forms of public safety and I really strongly commend their work.
And every all the work that went into developing this program and how it has been so thoughtfully carried out.
For item 41, I just want to say thank you to the entire council for their support.
I just want to thank every single person who's at the head and me out event.
It's so cute.
For item 32, I'd like to think walk, like walk, bike Berkeley for their advocacy for these issues and so much more in our community.
And finally, I have a couple of questions on item 23, and I'm wondering if I can ask the city manager a question.
Thank you.
A couple of questions 1st.
Do you know how much of the funding for this contract will come from the fire department? I don't have the exact breakdown, but we can certainly get that for you.
Okay, thank you so much.
I think.
I'm I'm appreciative of the fire department's commitment to the safety of our community.
And I also think that a redundancy of resources for non-life threatening resources and healthcare and social services are essential to our public safety, but I'm also concerned about a lack of communication between other public safety responses and the specialized care unit.
I'm on a broader level.
I'm also worried about the lack of integration into our 9, 1, 1 system.
And I know that this is a conversation, but just something I thought would be important to bring up right now and looking forward to continuing that program.
Thank you.
Really looking forward to working with both deputy city manager bellows and Paul Budenhagen moving forward.
And I think them both as well as our current city manager for their willingness to serve our city with such dedication.
Thank you so much.
And I will finally also be abstaining on item 33.
Thank you.
Okay.
Thank you.
Council member Bartlett.
Thank you.
And I'd like to briefly just.
Give my regards to Pacific center earlier in the night.
I used to host them at our cafe.
One of four organizations.
I'd like to.
Big number five, which is the parking benefit district.
A really novel piece of local financing, local finance that will help capture revenue and keep it in the community.
This has been a couple of years now we've been working on this.
So happy that a council has been chosen to devise the program.
Number 26.
Yes.
The 20th specialized care unit, really happy that.
Receiving more funds.
This, this, this approach that we are so proud of in the city.
And then number four, this.
This tablet command for mobile computer assistant dispatch.
And it's the command.
It looks like an interesting.
First step.
Into the evolution.
Is the evolution of our, of our dispatch system.
The more we embrace the systems, this computer says a dispatch, the more likely.
We can have a robust dispatch system that can incorporate.
The paramedic response.
SCU response, police response.
And more.
So very excited about that and we'll get into it when I'm well, thank you.
Okay.
Thank you, mayor.
I did want to make a comment about the Berkeley high parking item.
And thank you to my colleagues for putting that on the agenda because it is actually.
Very urgent, but I just wanted to.
Say to Berkeley high and BUSD that I'm sorry that the process has been bumpy.
And.
That.
I, and I know my colleagues on council.
Are committed to the path that allows Berkeley high and BUSD to save $25 million and not build a huge parking lot and in downtown parcel directly.
Across the street from Berkeley high school that.
I think both the BUSD board and.
The Berkeley city council are committed to.
And.
I think that the solution that we have in place now.
And it's going to be part of the city's plan to.
To save $25 million.
And to build a parking lot in downtown parcel directly across the street from Berkeley high school that.
I think both the BUSD board and.
The Berkeley city council has previously expressed that they did not think this was.
An optimal use of space or money.
And I think that.
The solution that we have in place now.
Is fair and.
It's going to be part of the city's plan to save $25 million.
Across the street from Berkeley high school that.
And it's going to be very supportive of our teachers and the.
And the staff who work directly with our youth.
And.
I do believe that our youth are not just the responsibility of the district.
They're also the responsibility of the city council.
And our schools need our support.
Our teachers need our support.
And I'm very pleased.
I do want to say that.
We have surmounted all of the.
Remaining issues and that nothing new will come up.
But I do want to say that if something were to come up.
I will be here to solve that problem.
And you can count on that.
I am committed to making sure that that this outcome.
Is met.
We do have a lot of new people in public works.
And they kind of inherited this project.
And have been very diligent and forthcoming.
In fact, it is because.
Of their work that we learned that there was another potential hurdle.
And I'm very grateful for them for alerting us to that and giving us the opportunity to.
To work with them.
At the staff level.
And so I just want to make sure to give a shout out to public works department.
They also worked with me to try and find a solution to this last challenge.
And again, I think everyone in the city manager's office.
As well, and the city attorney who has reviewed this.
So, thank you very much.
Thank you.
Okay.
Aside from continuing that item, do you have any other comments on the consent calendar? Thank you, Mr.
Mayor.
No additional comments.
Okay.
Thank you.
Okay.
So we'll now take public comment on the consent calendar.
So if anyone would like to address any of the items, those urgent items, we added to the agenda.
Or anything that's on our consent calendar now is the time.
Okay.
We'll go to speakers after consent.
Because that's because the budget is an action items on, on the consent calendar.
So once again, public comment on the consent calendar.
If anyone would like to speak on the consent calendar, please line up on this side of the room.
And we'll go to speakers on zoom as well.
I will speak to item number 28, the RDA.
I mean, I'm not sure how much of it is just data on paper.
We do need.
Extensive improvement in our mental health division.
The SCU.
Great having crisis response, but the, the system needs to be far better refined.
I know it's a fledgling program, but there's a lot to be done to improve the mental health system.
I know it's a fledgling program, but there's a lot to be done to improve this and have a much more comprehensive.
Crisis response system, including a Berkeley based crisis stabilization center, but it just is not working smoothly right now.
And so I look at this.
Amount of money.
And we always find money for our consultants.
So, we're not funding money for the actual CBOs that are providing the services and actually to what extent are those looked at carefully? Because there is a disparity and the quality of services that are provided by the CBOs.
But some of them work at very low salaries.
And they can't really have the stagnant salaries.
They need a cost of living increases increased.
And they need to be funded for it.
And they're not just like bats, but they're doing it for families.
They need to be funded for it.
Last.
Pacific center.
It's great to have words.
But we hope you can actually show them the money to provide the services.
They that they have applied for, because these are life saving services for many LGBT persons.
So, we hope you can show them the money to provide the services so that they can be both safe and the homeless shelters.
And instead they need to be facilitated and supported.
So that they can have.
Thank you.
Great.
Thank you, Dr.
Kelly and council members.
We are glad to see the council was able to act quickly.
Once you found out that the original original resolution from January was not going to be implemented as intended.
Today's resolution will resolve and allow our educators.
From Berkeley high to start the year off with the right foot.
Having the ability for some of our workers to partner their work site without getting parking tickets will improve morale, reduce turnover.
We want to thank the entire council and the mayor for prioritizing this item and supporting Berkeley schools.
Thank you.
Good evening.
How's everybody doing? Thank you so much for allowing us the opportunity to give feedback.
To counsel.
My name is Yvette holds.
I'm the founder of the.
Organization of black owned businesses.
And I'm also a board member of the Lauren business association.
And I'd like to read a letter that we just sent recently in support of item five.
On the consent calendar regarding the hiring of a marriage.
Act.
Honorable council folks.
Oh, let me get my glasses.
Hold on a second.
It'd be a long read without my glasses.
Honorable city council folks.
We are writing to express our support and gratitude regarding the recent effort.
And funding on behalf of the Lauren and Berkeley school district.
And I'd like to read a letter that we just sent recently in support of item five.
On the consent calendar regarding the hiring of a marriage.
Act.
Honorable council folks.
Oh, let me get my glasses.
Hold on a second.
It'd be a long read without my glasses.
Honorable city council folks.
We are writing to express our support and gratitude regarding the recent effort.
And funding on behalf of the Lauren and Gilman districts, developing business improvement district.
Supported by parking revenue or P bids.
This innovative approach to establishing a bid will direct much needed funding to our respective business districts in a way that doesn't tax our already challenged storefronts.
We are excited to announce that we have been selected as a consultant for volunteer energy.
Thanks in large part to Karen slaughter and the team at OED.
And last year's capacity building grant.
Thank you so much.
We are thrilled to learn a consultant has been selected and funding approved or is pending approved.
We believe the timing is excellent.
Given the imminent changes outlined in the Adeline corridor plan.
We are excited to announce that we have been selected and funding approved.
And we are thrilled to learn about the types of opportunities that some of our neighbor districts like Solano, North Shattuck.
Telegraph and downtown have been able to mature into.
On behalf of the residents and businesses in the Lauren.
We thank you ever so much.
We also encourage the support of the black rep in our district.
And I also want to say.
Thank you so much to.
The city staff for their support.
And to the city council members and.
Miss Bell is who's coming on board.
Thank you.
Hi, good evening.
Jennifer should ask you with the Berkeley unified school board.
I just want to thank.
The city council for their support.
And for identifying a solution to the parking.
Issues at Berkeley high and thanks to council.
And mayor again for agreeing to put the solution on the consent calendar and hopefully passing it shortly.
I also want to express while I'm here, my enthusiastic support for the junior jackets.
Thanks.
Good evening.
My name is Jeff.
I'm the director of the telegraph district.
And I'm pleased to be in this work with the event and the other business leaders in Berkeley.
Speaking on item number 8, the.
The TBI's annual report.
I just want to highlight quickly, some activity in the district.
And all organizations work.
As you know, for context.
We have and represent about 180 businesses and growing.
In the telegraph district.
And we have about 17 new businesses.
And 17 new businesses have opened in the last 12 months.
With 13 more on the way.
Of the active development projects that we have going on right now.
They're.
Estimated to bring in about 832 more residential units.
45,000 commercial square feet of new commercial square feet space.
And that's across 17 residential and mixed use.
And, of course.
What is.
Terribly important to our work and to serve in the communities are, is all the direct partnerships we have.
With several city departments from public works.
Office of economic development, civic arts.
The police department, land use planning, division, zero waste.
Neighborhood services and more.
We're we're able to help.
To implement nearly a dozen different public projects and initiatives.
Some of those include the 24, 7 public restroom project.
The utility box art project.
That's just recently getting started.
Durant quick build and curb management strategy on Durant.
Telegraph Plaza.
And more, but, of course, a key, the key element of our work is our ambassador team, which still provides 240 hours of cleaning and hospitality 7 days a week.
Their daily stewardship, they're managing a public realm that has.
Upwards of 10,000 pedestrians daily.
A team of 6, and they're doing great work.
So we really appreciate the partnerships and thank you for your ongoing support.
Thank you.
Good evening, mayor and city council members.
And especially I want to thank for.
Cecilia.
For saying almost exactly.
I'm a little bit confused by the, this pilot fire department, alternative medical response unit.
We already have a crisis team.
We have the and now is this the 1, especially tailored for the.
I'm a little bit confused as to where.
Half a dozen dozen people that were mentioned in the last.
Meeting about meeting the frequent flyers who show up all the time.
In the downtown business district is just with that particular.
Police responses, it's fire department.
I'm a little bit confused as to where.
Where this gets into all our other mental health department.
Our crisis intervention team.
I'm curious about that and then the 2nd area is the house.
I'm a little bit confused as to where.
That the city is doing.
The reimagining that was asked for by the city of Berkeley.
And producing the, so I hoping that will continue.
But then I came to item number 33.
And it's like.
Like, it seems like a, like a million dollars for police cars.
I'm a little bit confused as to why.
Why do we suddenly have.
Lots and lots of money for police.
Type responding or needs police needs and not for.
The people like the serving the people who are.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay, public this is public comments on the consent calendar.
Okay.
Hi.
I'm with the Lauren business association.
And what's the Ephesian children's center? What had been? We recently changed the name.
To big Oaks learning center and Greg Brown park.
But it's in support of the parking district for the district.
And also in support of black repertoire.
Thank you.
I'm with the city of Berkeley.
We have 20 extra for police cars over a million dollars.
There's plenty of police at Berkeley.
They have plenty of cars.
And that's just not, in my opinion, a good use of Berkeley funds.
Especially with so many people calling for a defunding of police.
These measures to show that we are not defending the police throughout the whole state.
Thank you.
Okay.
We have a couple of speakers on zoom.
Justin Smith on the consent calendar.
We should not be able to speak.
All right.
Good evening.
And thank you, mayor and council members.
First off, I like to acknowledge.
A city manager, D Williams.
Ridley for her, her experience.
For her leadership.
Over the countless number of years, the, the community.
She's been an asset to the community for many, many years.
So.
Thank you best wishes and hope all goes well with, with your future and so on.
And related to that, which is item 39, you know, I want to also support.
Latonya bellow.
Thank you.
I want to let her and everyone in the city know that we support her efforts for energy.
Going forward as the interim city manager.
I wish you the best.
We know she'll do well because she has done well.
And just, just applause or efforts.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We'll go next to.
Blair Beekman.
Hi, thank you.
I wanted to speak on items 31 to 34.
Protection item.
Yeah.
For police equipment and community safety ordinance annual report.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I hope the surveillance ordinance for yourselves is working out.
Well, Santa Clara county, which was the second.
Of all the things they work on and inventory with their tech.
Their April meeting.
Has a long list of items of tech.
That yourselves in Berkeley have a difficult time in wanting to inventory and put as a part of the ordinance.
Really look to Santa Clara county.
For ideas of that.
You can.
Yes, you can.
Add a lot of tech.
To the ordinance and it's okay.
We should be working towards a future where we can inventory everything.
I hope you can work towards that.
With that said in my remaining time.
Thank you that you're practicing.
Thank you that you're practicing whistleblower protections.
That's really vitally important stuff.
Thank you for those efforts.
And good luck on overall practices of accountability.
And one more thing, public safety is important.
Thank you.
And thank you to the new supervisor.
We don't need half as much tech as we place in our local seeds.
As we do.
Half the tech does the same amount as, as what you currently want.
And thank you to the new supervisor or to the new.
Council person who we can work to, to question the future of tech and not just automatically placed tech.
Thank you.
Okay, we'll go next to the collar with the number ending four zero five.
Okay.
Call up the number any four zero five.
Okay.
They should be able to speak, but we cannot hear them.
Okay.
Thank you.
So.
For one.
Yeah, I'm glad to see that there's a reappointment for Monica Jones.
I did appoint her to the commission when I was on council.
So that's great.
The whistleblower is great.
That's great.
I'm glad that it's coming back.
Wonder what that's about.
Hope.
It's not to continue the status quo.
Because we need changes.
To that and yeah.
Thank you for your service.
City manager.
But I'm also curious as to the.
I know at the time I thought it was $800,000 that the city gave you And I'm curious as to where that line item is and how much you paid back.
And if you'll pay that back.
And as I said earlier, please respond to my email.
That I sent to the city attorney as well as city manager and deputy city manager.
Because that's pending and I need to get back and know what, what the status of that is.
I'm curious as to where that line item is.
I do not.
Purchase $1 million in police cars that could be much better used.
And.
I don't know.
I haven't read the item, but.
Are they electric cars? I don't think so.
Tesla provided.
I think it was like union city or some other city.
In the bay with.
Or brand new.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Why are we spending a million dollars? Why are we spending a million dollars? Like.
And they should be electric.
And yes, good, good for whistleblowing.
I can't think of the word.
I want to use measures to protect them.
And free Palestine.
Passive resolution.
And the.
Okay.
Good evening again.
Quickly.
I don't have the full item in front of me either, but the concept of the police vehicles purchased.
They should be either hybrid or electric.
There are other cities who have obtained all of their new vehicles.
That must meet climate crisis goals.
And are these consistent with our goals in the city of Berkeley? Yes.
I think that all vehicles when purchased should meet climate goals, which would be not having carbon polluting.
Vehicles.
And the Lauren district I'd like to support the comments made by earlier.
Members of the community.
The black community in Berkeley used to be one of the largest in the country.
Is now shrunk by gentrification to a very small number.
So I would like to support the comments made by members of the community.
Thank you for your service to our community.
Thank you for your service to our schools, safe jobs, safe physical and mental health.
Thank you for your service and please keep Berkeley.
Berkeley.
And all our values.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay.
See no additional speakers on the consent calendar.
We'll close a public comment on the consent calendar.
I'll move.
That we approve the consent calendar as amended.
Second.
Colleagues, any additional comments? Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Okay.
Okay.
The consent count is approved.
So we're not moving the action calendar.
And on our agenda.
We have the opportunity to speak now.
We have anyone who would like to speak on item 25.
The FYI, 25, 26 proposed budget.
The opportunity to speak now.

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