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Segment 1

Hello.
Good evening, everyone.
We're going to call to order the meeting of the Berkeley City Council.
Today is Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025.
All right.
Clerk, can you please take the roll? Okay.
Council member Kesarwani is currently absent.
Council member Taplin? Present.
Bartlett? Here.
Tregub? Present.
O'Keefe? Here.
Blackabee? Here.
Lunaparra? Here.
Humbert? Here.
And Mayor Ishii? Here.
Okay, clerk is present.
Okay, so it is the first meeting of the month.
And actually, I think Council member Blackabee, is it your turn? Or did you do the last one? I did the last one.
Thank you.
So in that case, Council member Lunaparra, I do have it.
We read the land acknowledgement statement at the beginning of each first meeting of the month, and we've been taking turns.
So, this time, it is Council member Lunaparra's turn.
Thank you.
The City of Berkeley recognizes that the community we live in is built on the territory of the ancestral and unceded land of the Chechenu-speaking Ohlone people, the ancestors and descendants of the sovereign Ohlone Band of Alameda County.
This land was and continues to be of great importance to all of the Ohlone tribes and descendants of the Ohlone 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 at the West Berkeley Shell Mound, and the Ohlone people who continue to reside in the East Bay.
We recognize that Berkeley's residents have and continue to benefit from the use and occupation of this unceded, 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 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 this young tribe to create meaningful actions that uphold the intention of this land acknowledgement.
All right, thank you, Council member.
So, this evening, we have a few ceremonial items and also two adjournments in memory.
So, this evening, we are going to start with the adjournment in memory of Robert Shepard, who was a Berkeley resident.
And I think that Council member Traykov, are you speaking? Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor.
Today, we adjourn in memory of Robert J.
Shepard, a long-time resident of Berkeley who sadly passed away of unknown causes after a long and valiant battle.
He graduated from Case Western in 1972 with a degree in electrical engineering.
And when he moved to the Bay Area, he worked at several tech companies, including Apple and Sybase.
After he retired, he worked as a substitute teacher in Berkeley and Oakland.
He was active in several computer user groups and was committed to social justice and was involved with local politics, including Berkeley Citizen Action for many years.
And it was through involvement in Berkeley Citizen Action is how I got to know him.
He was also an accomplished musician and enjoyed arranging music.
He took advanced classes in transcendental meditation and made several trips to India and Tibet to study meditation and spiritual practices.
While still in his teens, Bob built his own radio transmitter and started a radio station in his attic.
In his early 20s, he obtained his pilot's license.
He was also instrumental in starting co-ops and starting in Cleveland and continuing when he moved to the Bay Area.
As you can see, he was a renaissance man.
And I got to know him through our involvement in Berkeley Citizens Action, a progressive political organization.
What always struck out at me was his incredible kindness and wisdom.
Whenever he spoke, I knew that I better listen, and so did everyone in the room, because he was going to drop incredible wisdom on us.
And whenever we had our disagreements, as political organizations or folks within those organizations sometimes do, he was always the peacemaker.
And when he spoke, everyone followed his call to forge consensus.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to recognize Bob today, a beautiful spirit with a tender heart, intellect, and such integrity and dignity.
He is loved and gratefully missed.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, Council Member.
And I believe his wife is not here this evening to speak, so I will move on to the other adjournment in memory, and that is for Bill DeCarion.
Unfortunately, Council Member Keserwani is sick, and so I will be reading the adjournment in memory, a statement on her behalf.
As a Council Member, we meet hundreds of constituents, and there are always some that stick out for one reason or another.
Bill DeCarion was one of those constituents, as is his surviving wife, Evelyn Larson, who I believe is with us tonight.
Hi.
Those who read the Berkeley Side obituary will learn that Bill was the founder of Import Tile Company, a company whose ceramic and stone tile adorned thousands of Berkeley homes that became a thriving business due to his eye for design and his business skills.
And as Berkeley Side notes, Bill became a force in the development of West Berkeley, sharing his expertise and skills with others and helping establish the area as a hub for construction and design businesses, including Terra Outdoor and Bay Homes.
He eventually owned six warehouses in West Berkeley, three of which he built.
Bill was generous to many people and organizations around him, offering help, advice, mentoring, and financial support.
He helped employees at his company buy homes, cars, and fund projects.
Again, this is from Council Member Keserwani's perspective.
I came to know both Bill and Evelyn in 2019 after first taking office.
Many of Bill's warehouses are in my district.
Bill was one of those rare individuals who epitomized the promise and potential of the West Berkeley industry, a true craftsman, builder, and businessman.
My office got to know him and Evelyn as he founded Import Tile Company on the corner of Hearst and East Shore Highway, an area which at that time was in need of improvements.
At issue was a very small parcel of land that was often the focus of illegal dumping and debris.
It also happened to be one of the first intersections anyone coming into West Berkeley from the 580 saw, creating a negative impression of this thriving area.
This was my first foray into the art of moving projects forward when multiple agencies are involved, Caltrans and the City of Berkeley.
I learned as much about encroachment improvements as I did about the need for patience.
Fortunately, Bill was always gracious and quick to humor and a joy to work with.
I appreciate his love for West Berkeley, his passion for supporting artisans and businesses, and his compassion towards others.
I will personally miss Bill as I know many others will as well.
Thank you.
Evelyn, did you want to say anything? You can come forward to this mic here.
Hi, nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
Thanks for being here.
Hey, it's an honor.
Thank you.
And I want to say that this would give Bill great joy to be recognized in this community.
I happen to have some of his words about community that he wrote.
This is something that he wrote in a guided autobiography class.
He started Importile and ran it for 40 years, so he sounds like an ordinary businessman, right? Aha, well this is what he had to say about community and why he worked so hard to make it better there.
Another love I have is the desire to serve others.
This willingness to serve is the lifeblood of our business, and I would call this love of community what Aristotle called philia.
Community is an organic body that responds to everybody's activity, good and bad, and requires everyone's devotion to the whole.
Shared prosperity is the result of philia, wanting the best for others as well as the community, and that's who he was truly.
So thank you for recognizing him and working hard to make this community better.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing his words with us and for being here this evening.
We also have three proclamations.
The first is for the 2025 Berkeley Poetry Festival Lifetime Achievement Award.
Council Member Taplin will be presenting this proclamation and M.K.
Chavez from the Berkeley Poetry Festival and Ma-Shane Nguyen will be present, I think, at this meeting.
Is that correct? Okay, just M.K.
Come on up, M.K.
All right, so Council Member Taplin will read this proclamation.
Thank you, Madam Mayor.
Thank you, everyone.
Whereas Ma-Shane Nguyen is a Burmese-American educator, poet, writer, multidisciplinary artist, literary curator, collaborator, and community organizer, and is a daughter of Burmese immigrants and whereas she has been teaching for 40 years and presently teaches poetry for the MFA programs at the University of San Francisco and Dominican University and has taught at CCA, AAU, SFSU College, and Extended Learning in addition to many years of teaching adult education for a number of programs and has been a workshop instructor, guest lecturer, and speaker at Amherst College, UC Berkeley, Mills College, St.
Mary's College, the Writers Brotto and Written-in-Written, Let's March and Lead, Jackson Hole Writers Conference, Owado Writers Workshop, and others and whereas she is the author of five poetry collections, The Thinking Jar, Omnidon 2024, Storage Unit for the Spirit House, Omnidon 2020, Invisible Gifts, Manic Depress 2018, Score and Bone, Nomadic Press 2016, and Ruins of a Glittering Palace, a collaborative book with artist Mark Fletcher, SBA Commonwealth 2013, Storage Unit for the Spirit House was nominated for the Northern California Book Award for Poetry, long-listed for the Pan-America 2021 Open Book Award, and shortlisted for the California Bookseller Alliance's Golden Poppy Award for Poetry and whereas she has been published in numerous journals and anthologies including the American Poetry Review, the Courland Review, the Common, the Droid Journal, the Margins, Poetry Daily, the Bangalore Review, and others as well as the anthologies Women in a Golden State, Wandering in American Deserts, Dear Human at the Edge of Time, Rise Like a Wave, and whereas she served as the inaugural poet of El Cerrito, California from 2016 to 2018.
During her tenure, she started a reading series called Poetry in Place and hosted multiple community events and whereas she has received awards and honors as a 2024 Alameda Education Foundation Artist, 2023 YBCA 100 Honorary 2021 Arts Research Community Poetry Fellow, and whereas she is a co-founder with Dawn Angelica Barcelona and Mary Bulmer of Maker Mentor Muse, a teaching platform where artists embrace ongoing community with other writers, and whereas she has performed widely in the Bay Area and beyond including Kearney Street Workshop, Grace Cathedral, Lidquake, Irwin Gardens Festival, Asian Art Museum, Poetry Flash, Watershed, Banffa, Sierra Poetry Festival, Sacramento Poetry Center, Bay Area Book Fest, Mechanics Industry Library, City Lights Bookstore, and other spaces.
Now therefore be it resolved that I, Adina Ishii, Mayor of the City of Berkeley, do hereby recognize Ma Shane Wynn as the 2025 Berkeley Poetry Festival Lifetime Achievement Awardee.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
I'd like to thank the City Council and the Mayor and for your, just for your support for Ma and recognizing her.
This year we get the Lifetime Achievement Award every year and you all support us in doing that and so we're able to recognize writers who are also change makers in our world.
So thank you so much.
Ma Shane Wynn and my co-director Sharon Coleman are not here tonight because we are in the middle of the Berkeley Poetry Festival.
So if you would like to join us on Sunday for the Lifetime Achievement Award you can do so by going to the Berkeley Arts Center.
We will have a beautiful reading with Tongo Eisen-Martin, Tim Donnelly, and of course Ma Shane Wynn.
We will end with cake that's been donated by a very generous community member.
So please join us and go to berkeleypoetryfestival.org to see the other events that we're hosting this week.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Very appropriate to have Council Member Taplin give that one since he's the poet himself.
The next one is a proclamation for Christine Murphy and I know her family is also here this evening.
Yes, let's see.
And we did adjourn her memory on the May 20th Council Meeting but I'm honored to be able to read the proclamation that we've created for her as well.
Honoring the life and legacy of Christina Murphy.
Whereas Christina Murphy was a lifelong advocate for justice, compassion, and equity deeply rooted in South Berkeley and dedicated her life to uplifting her community through action and advocacy.
And whereas Christina worked at the Berkeley Drop-In Center where she supported unhoused and disabled community members with care, dignity, and direct services while playing a pivotal role in Friends of Adeline organizing against displacement and advancing housing justice in South Berkeley.
And whereas Christina was elected to the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board in 2016 as part of a progressive slate of tenant advocates bringing her lived experience and leadership to local policy making.
And whereas during her tenure on the Rent Board Christina served with distinction by chairing the Section 8 Eviction Foreclosure Committee and contributing to the Outreach Committee and the 4x4 Joint Committee on Housing, consistently centering the needs of the most vulnerable in her work.
And whereas Christina was widely respected for her fairness, honesty, and unyielding commitment to the people of Berkeley advocating for rent control, uplifting small landlords, and defending black, disabled, and unhoused LGBTQ plus and working class communities.
And whereas after stepping down from the Rent Board Christina continued her work as a housing outreach worker for the City of Berkeley directly assisting unhoused residents in finding shelter, care, and permanent housing with empathy and determination.
And whereas Christina's advocacy extended beyond her roles as she championed racial justice, disability rights, housing security, and the dignity and safety of all people in her community.
And whereas Christina Murphy's life exemplified a profound commitment to justice, equity, and humanity, tirelessly uplifting and being a voice for the voiceless, challenging systems of oppression, and standing for what was right with unwavering courage and clarity.
And whereas Christina is remembered as an unvarnished, unapologetic, unbought, and unbossed champion of and for the people, boldly speaking truth to power, and embodying compassion and justice without ego or fear.
Now, therefore be it resolved that I, Adina Ishii, Mayor of the City of Berkeley, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025 to be Christina Murphy Day in Berkeley.
In recognition of her extraordinary life, her decades of service and activism, and her unwavering dedication to justice and equity.
Thank you.
As someone who knew her, I am really proud to be saying this.
I mean, these words are 100% true.
So if her family would like to receive it, I don't know if you have any words that you'd like to share.
Thank you, Mayor Ishii and Council Members.
I'm Chris Trill, Christina's sister.
I spoke with you guys before.
I'm going to keep it short and sweet this time.
I appreciate you all for giving my sister a seat at the table and allowing her to speak for the people and to speak for our city.
And to allow her the opportunity to make good trouble because that's what she do best.
Thank you.
Okay.
All right.
We have one more proclamation.
It is for Berkeley Pride Day 2025.
I know we're jumping around a lot here, folks, so I appreciate you bearing with me.
All right.
Berkeley Pride Day 2025.
Whereas the City of Berkeley, California, in partnership with local community groups, businesses, and institutions, holds a long, distinguished tradition in forging a more inclusive society that welcomes, honors, and nurtures the LGBTQIA plus community.
And whereas for more than 50 years, the City of Berkeley has proudly served as home and partner to the Pacific Center for Human Growth, the oldest LGBTQIA plus center in the Bay Area, and a pioneering provider of compassionate mental health care services to the local LGBTQIA plus communities through accessible, low-cost therapy, peer support groups, educational workshops, advocacy, and other programming that supports and uplifts vulnerable, historically marginalized, and underserved members of our community and promotes their self-expression.
And whereas the Berkeley community has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the LGBTQIA plus equality and well-being throughout through groundbreaking steps, such as the University of California, Berkeley, offering the first undergraduate LGBTQIA plus studies course in the United States in 1970, Berkeley becoming one of the first cities in the nation to establish a domestic partnership registry in 1984, Berkeley being the first American city to mail AIDS information packets to every resident in 1987, and Berkeley emerging as the first city in the United States to proclaim Bisexual Pride and Bivisibility Day in 2012.
And the Pacific Center for Human Growth, City of Berkeley, Downtown Berkeley Association, Visit Berkeley, and others have come together to plan the city's first ever Pride Street Festival celebration for August 16th, 2025.
Whereas the City of Berkeley possesses deep historical ties to the LGBTQIA plus pride and has consistently sponsored vibrant celebrations of the community's culture, diversity, and acceptance, ranging from the 1973 East Bay Gay Festival produced by the Pacific Center at Willard Park to Gay Day festivities at the North Berkeley Senior Center to Annual Pride in the Plaza events in Downtown Berkeley.
And whereas the City of Berkeley, in partnership with the Pacific Center for Human Growth, wishes to codify its unwavering support of the LGBTQIA plus community and to honor the community's vital role in creating a more open and inclusive city by conferring annual recognition, gratitude, and pride.
Now, therefore be it resolved that I, Adina Ishii, Mayor of the City of Berkeley, do hereby proclaim Saturday, August 16th, 2025 to be Berkeley Pride Day.
And we will bring that to them on Pride so that we can present it there as well.
And I just want to say, since many of us on the dais consider, you know, ourselves identified as being part of the community and many of our staff, I think we're particularly proud to have this.
So thank you all.
Okay, so we're moving on to City Manager comments.
City Manager? No comments, Madam Mayor.
Thank you.
No comments.
Okay, thank you.
And then we'll move on to public comments on non-agenda matters.
So there'll be five in-person speakers from the names drawn from the drum, and then there'll be five speakers from, uh, that are on the Zoom.
So if I call your name, then you can come up to speak.
And this is for public comments on items that are not on the agenda.
So the five names are Steve Tracy, Allison Bond, Gina Rieger, Susan Silber, and Nicholas Alexander.
So you can come up and line up on the side or here in any order.
And again, this is for items that are not on the agenda.
If you're speaking to an item on the agenda, that will be, that public comment will be later when the item comes up before the Council.
Thank you, Clerk.
Go ahead.
If your name's been called, you can come on up.
Thank you.
Okay, go ahead.
Whenever you're ready for your comment.
Steve Tracy, Allison Bond, Euclid.
Move by, did a quick tent count.
36 tents at Ohlone Park.
Up from 31 a month ago.
Up from 21 in March.
The handout you're getting is Channel 9 KQED.
Wrote this Friday.
Features Jeremy Wren.
He's 53.
He's camped at Ohlone for two months.
Prior three months camping at Civic.
Six months ago, the man lived in Stockton, California.
But he's very appreciative that the City of Berkeley paid for 28 days in a motel.
Why is he back at Ohlone? Turn to the last page.
I just don't like the confinement.
I'd rather be living in the open.
He plans to move to a different encampment when Ohlone is closed.
The City's 27 million dollars short.
It's no longer feasible to offer shelter to all.
Council, what you're doing is not okay.
Thank you.
Go ahead, next speaker.
Hi, my name is Gina Rieger.
This is a quote from the Berkeley Scanner.
More than 100 people crowded into the Senior Center to strategize about how to address problematic behavior in Ohlone Park, linked largely to the area's growing homeless population.
That quote was published in October 2015, 10 years ago.
We're not a progressive city.
We have progressed.
Last week, Wallet Hump listed Berkeley as the third least affordable city in the country, just behind Santa Monica and Santa Barbara.
Berkeley can't afford to place homeless people in this town.
My daughter had to leave California to afford a home she needed elsewhere.
My son, who's on disability, can't afford to rent in Berkeley.
But I'm supposed to welcome housing the homeless who come here from outside of Berkeley, refuse shelter to live in our parks.
I was a legal aid lawyer who fought for those evicted.
Thank you.
Thanks for your time.
Howdy, my name is Nicholas Alexander.
I want to talk to you about an incident with Jeremy yesterday.
When he came by the dog park, called me a faggot, jumped the fence, tried to attack me, then brought his dog, which was taken by animal control for biting another dog in the small dog park, into the large dog park.
He proceeded to smoke meth in front of us, challenging us.
I believe Eric Larson actually called the police for that incident, and then proceeded to follow us for about 20 minutes back and forth.
My group in the dog park tried to move to the other side.
He'd come and harass us.
And it got to the point where my friend Ziggy, who's a veteran, spent two tours in Iraq, had enough.
And he ended up confronting Jeremy.
And Jeremy, having brought Jeremiah, his aggressive dog, taken by animal control, ended up almost attacking my friend Ziggy.
And I had to get my pepper spray out, and I had to warn him that, you know, I'm about to pepper spray your dog.
This is the daily life we are experiencing at Ohlone.
It's enough.
Thank you.
Thanks for your comment.
My name is Allison Bond.
If you haven't seen Ohlone Park lately, let me paint the picture.
Meth pipes and discarded needles at the playground, trash and human feces everywhere, a crime spike, open drug use.
The park is not usable, as I'm sure all of you know, and it's a public health and safety emergency.
So we've been patient for eight months now, because we know this is a hard problem to solve.
At this point, you know, we had a petition with 409 signatures of neighbors saying that this situation is not acceptable and it's out of control.
We've been calling, we've been emailing, we've been attending neighborhood meetings.
And enough is enough.
I'm not going to try to convince you anymore.

Segment 2

Council meeting of the Berkeley City Council.
And we will just litigate to get what we need, because this is, I mean, there's no end in sight.
Thank you.
I'm going to actually, I'm Susan Silver, I'm going to cede my speaking spot to Maya Williams, who is going to talk about something on the consent calendar.
If you're speaking on the consent calendar, you should speak during the consent calendar.
I'm sorry, what item is? That's on the consent calendar, so that public comment is later.
Yeah, there's a..
That'll come up during the consent calendar.
Yeah, consent calendar is after.
Thank you.
Anyone else picking for off-agenda public comment? Here, I'll pick one more card.
Erica Shore.
I'm Erica Shore, a social worker attorney.
Everyone has a right to a safe, sanitary, and secure place to live.
Equally, everyone in Berkeley has a right to full use of city parks.
The illegal encampment in Ohlone Park has become a humanitarian crisis for the people in tents, as well as park users.
The city has full legal authority to clear the illegal camping in the park.
Yet the city has declined to exercise that authority.
I call on the city to immediately establish a sanctioned camping area and relocate the people living in tents in Ohlone Park there, where sanitation, safe monitoring, and other services can be provided.
Please don't tell us what you cannot do.
You can find a sanctioned place for tents.
You can arrange for oversight of that place.
You can show compassion for all the people involved here, housed and unhoused.
Please show leadership and take these actions.
Thank you.
Do we have folks online? Yes.
So now is the time for public comments from people participating remotely.
These are for items that are not on the agenda.
So now is the time to raise your hand.
It's on the Zoom if you want to talk on an item that is not on the agenda.
First speaker is Madeline Roberts-Rich.
Hi, everyone.
My name is Madeline Roberts-Rich.
I'm calling again about the Save the United Artists Theater initiative.
So to the public, on April 22nd, the Berkeley City Council approved the zoning permit for the demolition of the United Artists Theater on Shattuck Avenue.
This was an illegal determination as categorical exemptions are not allowed for buildings on the California Register of Historic Resources.
The city council was informed of this.
They worked with the city attorney to work around public scrutiny and get this approved, although it violates state law, which they knew full well.
I will entreat the public to look at the April 22nd comments from the city council members, particularly Council Member Bartlett, as they were extremely disrespectful.
It's towards the end of the meeting then.
And I find it real rich that you're thinking about continuing the Tourism Business Improvement District when you're getting rid and not defending the assets in downtown Berkeley, like Civic Center Park, which remains closed, and demolishing the United Artists Theater when your comment time is up.
Next is Angela.
I'm sorry, I'm crying.
I'm Bob Shepard's partner, and I wasn't able to attend the meeting in person, but they said I could do it on Zoom.
But I'm not sure if it's appropriate for me to say anything at all, because you said if people want to comment on things that are not on the agenda, and, you know, his..
You can go ahead and comment.
We didn't know that you were here earlier, so please feel free to make your comments.
Thank you.
It'll be brief.
It'll be brief.
I'm sorry I'm crying, but I can't help it.
I wanted to thank Igor for the lovely tribute that he made to Bob, and it would really mean a lot to Bob, and so I thank you for that.
And thank you so much for acknowledging him in his life.
He loved his community, and he was actively involved in trying to make things better.
And so I just want to thank you, and that's all I have to say.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for being here, and I'm so sorry for your loss.
Next is somebody participating on their phone.
The phone number ends in 000.
Hi, good evening.
I also have this minute to give to my two great professors in physics department that won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1959, Owen Champerlain and Eric Gray.
The theory was that I think that I go on to all new modern physics, especially at CERN.
Also, Camila Moussa, the Egyptian mother of physics, was murdered in the city of Berkeley in 1952 by the Algerian Mossad.
She was a genius in physics, and she taught physics, nuclear power for peace.
Thank you, and good to talk to you.
Have a good night.
Thank you.
Next is former council member Cheryl Davila.
Good evening.
So I'm happy that you did.
I'm glad the marionette is leaving the room.
Good.
Happy that you did.
Tribute to Christina Murphy this evening.
And it's unfortunate that the Friends of Adeline community is not able to attend because there's another event.
And the last time we were attending, they weren't notified either.
That's really unfortunate.
But over 50,000 children have been martyred, murdered, but it's not real, a.k.a.
Israel.
We still have time to do something.
Smarts aren't really appropriate.
I don't know about Shoshana's mark on her face, but this is something serious and needs to be addressed.
You interrupted my time, so I'm a couple seconds back.
It's really horrible what's happening in Palestine right now.
Thank you for your time.
Over 50,000 have been killed.
Martyrs have been starving.
There's no medical attention.
It's a free Palestine.
And I pray your time is over.
So I'll draw one more card since that was only nine speakers.
Nadia Demetria? I don't know if I'm the right person.
Nadia? Yeah, yeah.
Go on.
My name is Nadia.
I have been followed and stopped by a camper who had his tent set on fire.
We have witnessed countless other park users regularly and directly be endangered as well by this individual, as many as many others.
We are told to report issues, but we do not feel safe doing so.
The city's inaction unnecessarily pits residents and park users against campers who most of us feel compassion for.
Allowing the encampment to continue allows unsafe and unhygienic conditions for everyone.
This is a public space, and public good is a public nuisance.
And public safety is a public good.
This is a public space, and public good is a public nuisance, an ongoing source of disruption and danger.
Thank you.
I think that was our 10th comment.
I do just want to say, I recognize that what's happening right now at Eloni Park has been very challenging and I'm really sorry for your experience.
Thank you.
This is the first regular meeting of the month.
Are there any unions here in person or online? Okay.
Thank you.
Sorry.
My distance vision isn't great.
Thanks.
Yeah.
We're getting old.
Okay.
It's just me aging.
Okay.
All right.
So.
We received we're moving on to the consent calendar.
So for folks, just give us a minute.
Cause there's a couple of things we're going to do, and then you'll be able to speak.
I'm really sorry about that.
I know it's confusing.
So, okay.
We received an urgency item by vice mayor.
Okay.
I'm going to excuse her absence.
I believe it should say from today's meeting.
I'll entertain a motion to have it added to tonight's agenda under consent.
Motion from.
And a second from council.
And.
If you could take the role, please.
Okay.
To add the urgent item to the agenda.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Okay.
All right.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Okay.
So.
Okay.
Okay.
Thank you.
I just have a few comments.
With respect to.
Okay.
I would like to.
Berkeley.
Berkeley.
Maine.
Annual 11th annual.
Fundraiser.
I would like to.
If it's not already in this item.
To.
Donate $500 from the district office discretionary account.
For this wonderful fundraiser for this wonderful organization.
Okay.
Thank you.
Have a comment on that.
Oh, and finally.
Number 25, the Berkeley baby book project.
That really were the project.
It's an important and longstanding effort.
I'm thrilled to see that council member black.
He has continued this.
Program for many years.
And I'd like to give a shout out to my wonderful constituent.
Helen Marcus, who has been involved with this program for many years.
And contacted both council member black and me about it.
Thank you.
That's all I have.
Thank you.
I'm not sure who was first council member.
Thank you.
Yeah, thank you.
Let me go through my items very quickly as well.
Thank you to customer chaplain for offering the Berkeley.
Item district six office.
Relinquished $250 for item 19.
And similarly customer trade.
And I'd like to give a shout out to my colleague.
For offering the Berkeley baby book project.
And I'd like to give a shout out to my colleague.
For offering the Berkeley baby book project.
I appreciate my colleagues supporting the Berkeley baby book project.
So really terrific project.
I'm honored to.
Take the time from.
On that one.
Question for council member.
23, do you still have a co-sponsor slot? We would be delighted to have you.
Great.
I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.
It's a really important issue, especially again, as we're dealing with.
All sorts of wildfire resiliency and climate change effects.
Creating a fund.
Funded by many of the big companies that helped create.
The mass that we're in, I think is a, is a lot of local.
Really help in terms of where we are.
Thank you.
And then the last time.
I always.
Appreciative to see another person stepping forward to serve on the face accountability board.
I did want to make one minor edit note.
On the resolution itself.
It's on page 47 of the packet.
It's just, I think a grammatical thing.
The header of the resolution should be.
I think at the top of that resolution, if the clerk can see that.
So, it's a minor edit.
I think this item.
I would suggest that we just need to amend that resolution.
The title of the resolution.
Yes.
Thank you.
Okay, and that's all I've got.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I'm going to let council member go next just because it.
Just easier to do the 2 online, but I'm just going to remind.
I'm going to let council member go next.
And then we'll do the.
Timer.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, madam mayor.
I too.
I would like to thank council member Kaplan for item 19, the 11th annual fundraiser.
And I would like to contribute 1.
Which is.
Of office funds.
For the taste of downtown Berkeley, 20, 25.
I would like to thank my call sponsors council member.
Council member Kaplan and.
I would like to invite.
Others colleagues, if they might consider contributing and you will hear.
We do have an organizer from the Berkeley.
This event happens in partnership with every year.
To talk about the.
I would like to thank the council for considering.
Opposition to assembly bill 942.
Which will do.
A contract that the state made.
To have 20 years of a certain incentive based structure.
If they have moved up solar.
Maybe 942.
If it is solid, I would like to thank council member Kaplan and council member Kaplan.
And I would like to invite.
Others colleagues, if they might consider contributing and you will hear.
We do have an organizer from the Berkeley.
This event happens in partnership with every year.
Opposition to assembly bill.
942.
If it is signed into law and as written.
Will not only for homeowners.
It will also support renters.
Nonprofit housing organizations.
Because performance are already tight.
Especially in these.
Um, and this bill is going to undo that.
So, um, it will make housing more expensive.
If it moves forward, and we must oppose it and I'm very proud of Berkeley being poised to join hundreds of organizations that don't always agree on much.
But I'm very proud of the fact that there are a number of organizations that agree on this that maybe 942 is a bad bill.
And I encourage members of the public to reach out.
To our assembly member and state senator and make our opposition.
Um, similarly on item 23.
Um, I think we have some members of the public here to speak in support of it as well.
So I am going to not steal their thunder.
I'm going to go back to item 22.
We did submit a revised agenda item under supplemental to.
Um, this will now be a letter.
That will be going out, not just to the U.
S.
postal service postmaster general.
But also to the 2 U.
S.
Senate offices.
Uh, and our wonderful Congresswoman.
Let's see for Simon, the item among other changes also takes into account.
Um, since we submitted it, we've been reached out to by many members of the community.
Reductions in service are happening, not just in the downtown main branch.
But in all branches of the U.
S.
postal service.
Um, these are unacceptable cuts.
And we must stand up and demand.
And that the U.
S.
postal service is more transparent or actually just transparent period.
With the Berkeley community, but they're even contemplating the possibility of reductions of service.
I want to think, um, I'm sorry, you've come up on your time, but thank you comments.
Um, thank you.
Well, I would like to contribute from my team account on item.
That's good.
I am complete.
Thanks so much.
All right, council member Bartlett.
Uh, thank you madam mayor.
I'm just briefly.
I'd like to just contribute from my office here.
A lot of fun.
It's our own local animal.
There's a lot of fun.
Please go to it and give.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I'd like to also contribute to the taste of downtown Berkeley celebration.
Another very fun event.
And downtown, of course, is mine.
My office district.
So my work district.
So I'm ready to the district needs show up and have fun.
And I'd get out of the house.
So I'm ready to the district needs show up and have fun.
And I'd get out of the house.
There's an epidemic of loneliness in this country.
And it allows bad things to happen.
So get out of the house and connect people.
And 23.
I'm sorry.
Thank you for your work on that.
I know it's full, but thank you for your efforts on 23.
Wonderful work.
And then 25.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The 25, the Berkeley baby book project.
That's not full.
The birthday baby book project.
Let's also give $200.
So wonderful program.
The children want to be quickly at a young age.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Both of your offices are downtown actually.
Yeah.
Yeah, thank you.
Just a couple items.
I'll give them my ones first.
I'd like to give to 50 to the Berkeley humane.
And another 50.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I'm kind of late.
So I don't.
21.
Councilor, was there another room for co-sponsoring? Or did somebody else grab it? I believe.
That was a different one.
Yeah, I, I think.
Yeah, I think.
I really would.
I remember we talked about it a long time ago and I didn't know what to fight it.
So I was like, well, I need to research it and make sure, you know, and then I did research it.
And dang.
Maybe then 42 is a really bad law.
So I really actually.
Thank you.
I should have just said yes.
And then I just want to say, thank you for allowing me to go sponsor.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Thank you.
I'd like to give a hundred dollars.
20 and 25.
And thank council.
Thank you.
Okay, so I'm late, so I guess I can't add it to myself.
Okay.
Okay, well, let's see.
I'm going to open it up to comment on consent.
I think we have a spot for you on 23.
Great.
I thought council member Bartlett added.
No.
Yeah.
We still have a fourth spot.
Okay.
No, I'm happy to.
Oh, okay.
Okay, I'm so sorry.
Yeah, no worries.
Thank you.
It's okay.
Okay.
All right.
Let's let's move on.
So.
We will take public comment.
And send calendar information.
So, all you folks who wanted to speak before, please come up.
Okay.
Okay.
Please just come up.
Go ahead.
Oh.
I'm sorry.
No worries.
I don't understand how this works.
Okay.
So, I'm here to thank you.
And in case you don't know what we do.
What we do with the best tools in the best place at the best time.
To plant and nurture the brain roots of literacy.
And right now we have.
Over 2000 books going out every month to children.
In Berkeley and Emeryville, that's 1 program.
And we have 90,000 books to local children since 2015.
And I'm really grateful for your support.
That's helping me in the book project.
Continue what we want to do, which is making the books a birthright in Berkeley and beyond.
And beyond part is important to me.
Because that's how Berkeley raised me.
I was born and raised here.
The birth of a book project was born on a Berkeley.
Unified school bus.
Too many bees in it all the way through.
Thank you for your work.
And she was a bus driver.
So, very from Berkeley Rotary, and I'm here to thank you for your support of the downtown, the taste of downtown Berkeley.
This is a chance for us to showcase downtown Berkeley and show that it's a vibrant live place with 13 restaurants that are all going to be serving food.
People wander by, it's going to be a whole party and help you there.
But really, we're going to proceed and why are we asking for funding? This goes to our 14 scholarships that we give to low income Berkeley high students.
It's a 4 year scholarship for each 1 of these 14 and we mentor them and help them make it through college.
A lot of our first to college in their family.
We also support hygiene kits that go out monthly to locations to the homeless.
So hygiene kits, we probably do 600.
A month, and we also support Richmond Rotary.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Thanks for your work.
All right, here we go.
Take 2.
Good afternoon council.
My name is Maya Williams.
I'm a student at UC Berkeley and we are all here to express our very enthusiastic support of the polluters pay climate super fund bill and the resolution introduced by council member.
Thank you.
Council member respecting the council's time.
I will be expressing the support of the following organizations in the interest of protecting everyone and everything that we love.
So, 1,000 grandmothers.
Indivisible East Bay help now action fund the sunrise movement, extreme weather survivors, 350 Bay area.
Berkeley eco office and the UC Berkeley student community who have endorsed this bill through a resolution as well.
Thank you for your environmental leadership and we hope that this resolution really encourages Senator and assembly member to also support this bill.
Thank you so much.
Thank you to the baby that made it through that whole time.
Good job.
Come on.
Hi, everyone.
Good evening mayor city council.
I'm Sam Greenberg coordinating committee member for walk back Berkeley speaking on consent item.
24.
I wanted to thank council member.
Council member little para and council member Humbert for bringing this forward.
I want to thank council member for leading on such an important project in downtown in his district.
There's been a lot of work and interest in the past on making Oxford work for our city.
So, I applaud council member for including Oxford in.

Segment 3

The 2021 BRT referral is consistently ranked highly on the RRB list.
And then also there's a 2021 UC Berkeley study where UC Berkeley Commissioned, Farron Peers, identified an alternative.
There's a lot of work that's gone into this.
And now it's time to get working and build a corridor that works for everybody.
Oxford serves as a barrier for pedestrians between downtown and campus, and it serves as a barrier for cyclists between South Berkeley and North Berkeley, and one that doesn't have to exist.
So, once again, thank you to Councilmember Tregub for leading so strongly on this project in downtown.
Thank you.
All right, comments online on consent and for information items only? Yes, there's 2 hands raised at this time.
Phone number ending in 485.
Questions for Mr.
Yeah.
CSAT.
Tweeted close to be that one of the Marcelis department in the nation attribute.
To the elite.
Actually achieved it was great chief.
Very much.
I was called the mother of you should watch a tribute to her.
For Lawrence, that was beautiful mother.
Thank you.
I'm good to talk to you.
Okay.
Thank you next for comments on consent calendar items is Madeline Roberts.
Rich.
Hi, again, I just wanted to thank the city council for considering supporting the infrastructure has their performing arts camp.
I am an attendee and a huge fan of the California Brazil camp, which.
Is 1 of the lesser known uses of that camp? It's towards the end of the summer.
It's a beautiful place erosion control is desperately needed there and urgently so that the kids during the summer can use it.
And subsequently CDC can use the creek.
And so I, I'm very grateful for you guys considering this.
Clearly, I want to support the infrastructure, the delicate infrastructure supported by Berkeley or in Berkeley that makes Berkeley a world class community and we need to protect those resources.
So thank you very much.
Thank you.
Okay, is there a council member? Thank you.
On item 20.
Apologies on item 24.
I would just like to thank council member and Humbert for their partnership on this important item as well as council member.
And with that, I would like to make a motion to approve the consent calendar with inclusive of the urgency item and the.
Supplemental to revisions in 2 of the items.
Okay, thank you.
Is there a 2nd.
From council member Humbert, can you please take the roll clerk? Yes, to approve the consent calendar.
Council member Taflin is currently absent.
Bartlett? I'm here.
No.
Oh, there you are.
I'm sorry.
Council member Taflin.
Yes, Bartlett is absent.
You see, sitting over here, Traytum.
O'Keefe.
Blackabay.
Yes.
Yes.
Humbert.
Yes.
And Mary Sheen.
Yes.
Okay.
All right.
Thank you everyone.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Wonderful.
All right, so moving on to the action calendar.
Our 1st item is number 26, the reestablishment of the tourism business improvement district.
It is a public meeting and so I would like to start by.
There is not a presentation for this, but I will take comments.
I'm going to start by taking public comments.
If there's any public comments on this.
Anyone on? There's 1 speaker online.
This is for the reestablishment of the Berkeley tourism bid.
The speaker is Madeline Roberts-Rich.
Hello again, I just wanted to make a comment about this.
I mean, I think from what I've read.
Briefly, this is a considerable tax on the hoteliers and Berkeley who have already been hit hard.
Over the last 5 years, I just.
I think Berkeley has a lot to offer as a tourist destination, but I think that I iterated tonight.
Our resources that draw people here are very, very delicate and they need advocates and champions and stewards.
And so you can't tax your way out of this problem or have.
Some sort of organization that solves it solve these problems, just as an organization, there needs to be holistic defense of the things that make this city great.
Such as civic center project talked about previously, or access to cinema in the downtown area, for instance, or just minor improvements to the downtown area as well as I know a restaurant over in Adeline corridor.
And I know that that.
Corridor needs a lot of support to drop foot traffic and I also know a lot of people in the Berkeley theater community and that community needs a lot of support as well.
So, I support the effort to reinvigorate the tourism bid, but I think there needs to be a lot more effort from city officials to protect what the spirit of the city.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Are there any other comments? That's the only raised hand on this.
Okay, are there any council questions actually, before we close? So, is there a motion to close the public hearing? I'm sorry.
No public hearing here.
Sorry, there will be a public hearing.
There will be a public hearing later.
All right, what are the comments then from the council members? I have a comment.
Thank you.
Thank you Madam Mayor.
I just want to briefly thank Eleanor Hollander and all the folks at our office of economic development for the support they provide to the tourism bid and all of our bids.
OED's work is a big part of what keeps our local businesses and business districts strong and I truly appreciate everything they do to sustain them.
It has been said about OED many times actually that it punches far above its weight and it does and we're proud of everyone who works there.
Thank you.
Hear, hear.
Thank you council member.
Other comments? Okay.
Okay.
Jeffrey Church from Visit Berkeley has raised his hand.
Yes, I would love to hear from you, Jeffrey.
Okay.
All right, Jeffrey, go ahead.
Thank you so much Madam Mayor and council members and also for a public comment as well.
Visit Berkeley is dedicated to showcase how amazing Berkeley is not just for our residents, but for our visitors as well.
So, we are here to support every effort that the city has to highlight Berkeley as a beacon for everyone and a welcoming destination, especially during these turbulent times.
So, thank you so much Madam Mayor, elected officials and city staff for all the work that you do to continue making Berkeley a welcoming destination for all and for council member Humbert for your applaud for OED.
They do so much to make sure that Berkeley is resilient, supporting our local businesses and our small associations as well to support our businesses.
So, if there's ever anything that we can do to help support you, please let us know and thank you so much for your time.
Thank you, Jeffrey.
And thank you so much for your work and Visit Berkeley's work.
I definitely have so much appreciation for you.
And I just want to say that this is really actually very important for our city, especially given our current deficit and the lingering impacts of the pandemic on our local economy that we're here.
Berkeley is in the process of restoring its identity and vibrancy.
This renewal will continue stable funding for tourism promotion, visitor resources in Berkeley and will elevate our economic vitality.
This is the way we can actually increase revenue without putting a further burden on Berkeley residents.
Visit Berkeley will continue to build on Berkeley's success as a visitor destination and grow general fund revenues generated by the transit occupancy tax and visitor generated sales tax.
I really want to thank Visit Berkeley, which is an amazing partner for our city to improve the economic vitality of the Berkeley hotel sector and more.
Just to the commenter who made a comment earlier, please check out Visit Berkeley and see because they are actually doing so much work to advertise for all the restaurants and businesses in Berkeley.
Even your friend who is involved in theater, Visit Berkeley helps to advertise those things for free.
I just want to say a big thank you and also just highlight the importance of small businesses and restaurants in Berkeley.
Visit Berkeley helps them so much and our Office of Economic Development helps them.
These are one of the things that really make Berkeley, Berkeley.
Thank you very much.
Any other comments? There's no formal action.
So we can move forward.
All right, so moving on to our public hearings.
We will move on to item 27, which is to conduct a public hearing and compliance with Assembly Bill 2561, government code 3502.3 regarding vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts from the city manager.
And we have a presentation.
And we will start with that, and I believe we need to open our public hearing, so I will do that as well.
Whenever you're ready.
Thank you, Madam Mayor.
I can just say that the presentation is from our acting HR director, Monica Walker, with deputy manager David White supporting as well.
Probably about 12, 15 minutes for the presentation.
Good evening, Honorable Mayor and members of the City Council.
I am Monica Walker, Interim Director of Human Resources, and tonight I will be presenting to you the city's vacancy rates and recruitment and retention efforts as outlined under Assembly Bill 2561.3.
This is a new requirement effective January 2025, in which public agencies must now do the following.
We must track job vacancies and present on the status of these vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts.
And this has to be done prior to the governing body adopting the agency's budget.
And we must also identify policies, procedures and recruitment activities that pose challenges to these efforts.
And we must also identify policies, procedures and recruitment activities that pose challenges to these efforts.
And we must also identify policies, procedures and recruitment activities that pose challenges to these efforts.
And we must also identify policies, procedures and recruitment activities that pose challenges to these efforts.
I will begin with addressing vacancy rates in the city.
All of the data presented in this presentation are from January to December of 2024.
So it's the past calendar year.
And during 2024, the average vacancy rate was 15.4% with a high of 16.1% and a low of 14.7%.
The city has 8 bargaining units.
And 2 of the bargaining units, the Berkeley Police Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers had vacancy rates above 20%, which is the threshold for under AB2561.
Berkeley Police Association had an average vacancy of 21.2%.
And this was mainly in the police officer classification.
And IBW had an end of year vacancy rate at 41.2% and the classifications of electrician, lead electrician and communication supervisor.
As for the recruitment information, there were 306 vacancies filled during calendar year 2024.
Of these, 155 were due to existing eligibility lists and ongoing recruitments.
123 were due to new external or internal recruitments and 28 were internal only recruitments.
This is our recruitment process, all the way from when a position is vacant or newly created, all the way through filing exams and all the way through onboarding.
I will be focusing on one aspect in the next few minutes.
This is the advertising and outreach portion.
In 2022 and 2023, the City launched an Employer of Choice initiative.
And in this initiative, the goal was to recruit and retain a talented pool of employees in many different ways.
From this initiative, we were able to hire an analyst solely dedicated to the Employer of Choice initiative.
And this is an example of an analyst who is dedicated to the Employer of Choice initiative.
And is also dedicated to a lot of the data collection and numbers that went into this presentation and a lot of the numbers that have gone into other measurements as well.
In addition to this initiative, we have a number of other initiatives that are dedicated to creating a career website and also increasing our social media presence.
This is our career website.
So this is a website that's separate from the City of Berkeley's website with its sole focus on careers and opportunities within the City.
As you can see, it's very interactive.
It focuses on sites throughout the City.
It talks about employee testimonials, so actual employee testimonials about how they feel about the job and their own career.
It also highlights some hard-to-fill roles within the City.
It also talks about benefits and all of the perks of working here and our compensation.
But it also has a lot of cultural aspects to it.
So what makes Berkeley unique? It has an interactive map where employees or candidates can see what else is in the City besides work.
And that really emphasizes what the goal is, which is to make someone's career at Berkeley more than a workplace, but a way of life.
And it also has a way to connect with the City if they are interested in working.
On this site, there's also a link to the Berkeley Police Department's career website or landing page.
And in a very similar way, it highlights all the benefits of being in the Berkeley Police Department.
It also has testimonials and videos that candidates can click on to see what it's really like to work here.
It has a message from the Chief, and it has a lot of benefits as well, and a place to leave their contact info.
The Police Department also has a contract with a recruiting company that specializes in public safety.
Our social media presence has also increased.
You'll see we have different sites on Instagram and Facebook and LinkedIn.
And just last month, we featured a Women's History Month ad with different women leaders throughout the City so that candidates could connect with that.
We've also launched algorithms.
So if a candidate, say, searched for a certain type of job, even if it was on a different website, they may see ads that come across for our jobs.
For example, if they searched for a forestry job, they would see one of our employees also in their ad featured.
We've also done direct outreach, very much like an executive recruiter.
So a lot of what I've mentioned so far requires a candidate to come and find us.
In this case, we can reach out to them.
And oftentimes, when a candidate is not looking for a job necessarily, it will pique their interest, and they will likely be a very qualified candidate.
We did this for our electrician recently, and it resulted in an increased number of applications for that recruitment.
And we've also invested in paid lists of those who are SAFE-certified in certain areas so that we can send them notifications about our jobs.
This is an example of an ad that was on YouTube that received almost 150,000 views.
It had a 5% click-through rate, which meant that about 7,000 people actually clicked on it and went to our jobs website.
And it's – I'd like to play a few.
Sorry, I'm not sure why this sound isn't working, but imagine the very nice sound behind it.
Here it is.
So this is – all of those efforts that I've mentioned have received – resulted in an increased number of applications.
In 2024, we received close to 20,000 applications, which was a 70% increase since the time – before the time that the Employer Choice Initiative began.
As you can imagine, this requires an increased number of exams, screening, and we have a dedicated analyst just for the police department.
And she has worked tirelessly to continuously screen and host bi-monthly exams.
And our team has also worked a lot of nights and weekends to support this effort to try and close that vacancy gap in the police department.
We've also instituted a paperless process.
So from the time an applicant applies to the time they are onboarded, they don't need to print anything.
They don't need to use a pencil.
They can do everything online, which promotes sustainability and also reduces time to hire.
I've also instituted on-site live scan fingerprinting.
And the City of Berkeley HR Department has four certified rollers who can – I'm sorry, five certified rollers who can live scan candidates.
This also reduces time to hire, and it also reduces the burden on candidates' time if you go outside to either UPS store or with our internal partners at the police department.
And now I'll address retention.
So we start new employees off very strong with the on-site new employee orientation where we talk about city policies.
We do city training.
We talk about all the benefits that they have of working for Berkeley.
We talk about promotional opportunities as well.
Particularly in the bargaining units that have vacancies, we also offer competitive pay and very strong benefits.
We have a lot of incentive pays, base salaries that are within or above market range.
We offer a health plan at no cost with Kaiser.
We offer 15 holidays and three floaters, which is very, very competitive with the market.
We also offer parental leave with one-year full benefits.
Very similar benefits occur in BP as well, as well as a lot of incentive pays and also competitive base salary.
The police department also has a recruitment and retention incentive program that rewards candidates upon hire and also upon completion of probation.
And it also rewards employees who successfully refer candidates.
We also offer training and development because we really value not just hiring employees, but also developing them in their careers and growing them to the next level and beyond.
We just launched a supervisor learning plan, which is a hybrid training program where they have a cohort that meets with a training expert in this area, but also they can supplement it with online classes.
And it lasts an entire year.
Every week in our newsletter, we feature promotional opportunities in Berkeley Matters to encourage employees to test often and qualify and get on eligible lists for promotions.
And this gives them incentive to also grow and take the next step in their career.
All of these efforts have resulted in the vacancies that we talked about before.
15% of those results from staffing growth and 38% from internal opportunities.
And although there's been 18% resulting from retirement and voluntary separation and 29% from voluntary separation, overall, our retention rate in the city is 92%, which is very strong and very high.
So, thank you very much.
Thank you.
In closing, I'd just like to thank our hiring managers and all our departments for working with us on our hiring process.
And most of all, even though I am presenting this presentation, I stand on the shoulders of a very strong and very dedicated human resources department.
Without them, I would not be able to present to you the work that we do today.
So, thank you.
Thank you.
I'm so thrilled to see all the work that you all are doing.
Thank you so much for everything.
And, yeah, I'm very thrilled to see all of that.
I think, are there other people here to make presentations as well? Okay, sure.
Okay.
In that case, I would like to take questions, if there's any questions from Council members.
Are there questions from Council members? Oh, sorry, yes.
Council member, maybe Treyka was first.
Thank you so much for the presentation.
I have three questions.
I wanted to ask, if you've done any kind of internal tracking, how is the top line numbers compared to past years, particularly 2023, that calendar year? I was wondering how you plan for expected attrition due to retirements.
And then I'm wondering, we're going into a challenging year, and what impacts in staffing should we be looking at in the coming two years? Thank you, Council member Treyka.
For your first question, because this is the first year that we've tracked vacancies in this way, I only have at this time data for 2024, but I'd be happy to go back and compile and compare it to 2023.
With a little bit of time, I could do that for you.
For the second question, how to plan for retirements.
I'm going to go back and compile it for you.
It's a little hard to predict sometimes, though we can kind of pinpoint when employees will retire.
We do need additional planning time, and the department does plan for that.
In terms of covering this year, I anticipate that next year's data may look a little different, simply because of the hiring process.
However, there's been very intentional hiring, so departments who feel like there is an essential need to provide services have submitted their exception requests to be reviewed.
And that is being reviewed by the budget team and city manager's office in June.
We are still hiring in key areas that really need essential services.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Council member Blackaby.
Thank you, Madam Mayor.
Thank you to Monica for the question.
It's really great to see the data, the numbers, and it really, you know, I think we have a sense that things have been kind of turning around for us.
And it's great to see the numbers back that up, in particular, that we're able to track and retain great talent, which is terrific.
My question was on the areas where we had a little bit of a delay in hiring.
I'm curious if there's going to be more drill down available there in those spots where we've got more than 20% vacancy, like, you know, the number of people that are going to be working on the site.
I'm curious if there's going to be more drill down available there in those spots where we've got more than 20% vacancy, like, you know, the numbers of applicants we're getting for those positions, the average amount of time it's taking to fill those positions, just any other color we can get there to just see again a little bit more of maybe what's going on underneath.
So, again, just be curious about that, kind of that level of detail for those bargaining units.
Okay, would you like that now? You can also follow up.
I don't think we need it right now, but I think, in my understanding too, and I know we're trying to figure out the requirements here, but that might also just be required for us to track, but I don't know.
So I just was curious to see it.
I do have some data surrounding that.
I can either share it now, or I can follow up.
Sure, go for it.
Yeah, I'll see that.
That'd be great actually.
Yeah, thank you.
Do you have a particular bargaining unit that you'd like to share? There was the IBEWP, and then there was the Police Officer's Association, I think, were the 2 in particular.
Okay, this is for, I'm sorry.
Sorry, the ribbon for the sharing screen is blocking.
No problem.
All right, so this one's for IBEWP, I believe.
So, the number of vacancies filled by an existing eligible is 1.
The average number of calendar days to fill this vacancy was 245 days.
And then the 1 for external or internal recruitments was 1, and the average number of calendar days was 95.
And these were the 7 vacancies in the department, or in the bargaining unit.
And then on the police.
The total number of vacancies was filled was 20.
The average number was up to days to fill vacancies was 421.
A lot of that in public safety is due to backgrounds.
So, the recruitments are a little more extended.
In that area, and the reason that.
It says new external or internal crewman's or new internal crewman's is that a lot of these are the police officers.
So, they have to fill the vacancies.
Police officers.

Segment 4

We're going to start with a brief overview of what we're going to be talking about today, and then we're going to move on to some of the questions that we're going to be asking at the level.
So that wouldn't necessarily be filled by an internal recruitment.
The applications received, as you can see, is very high, 1,142, which is the reason why we do so many bimonthly tests and applications reviews.
So we're going to start with a brief overview of what we're going to be talking about today, and then we're going to move on to some of the questions that we're going to be asking at the top of the funnel to start with, which is interesting.
And I would also, I guess, I'd assume, hopefully, going forward, it will be interesting to track as this recruitment firm is really kind of getting into the next year of their work, if we improve on, obviously, the number of calendar days to fill vacancies, because that obviously is such a long lead time, and if we can reduce that cycle, obviously, it'll be really beneficial.
So, yeah, if there's any other commentary here, that's great.
But otherwise, this is really helpful to see.
So, thank you.
Thank you.
Other questions? Okay.
All right, then I will move us on to public comment on this.
Thank you.
Good evening, Madam Mayor, members of the Council.
My name is Justin Pitcher, and I have the honor of serving as the President of Public Employees Union Local 1 AFSCME for the Berkeley chapter.
AFSCME worked really hard to bring the legislation to make tonight's report requirement possible, so we're proud to be here tonight to witness this great report that Monica and her team put together for us.
Berkeley has made some great gains in addressing this staff shortage in the last couple of years under Monica's leadership, and we definitely are pleased to have been part of that process.
Filling these roles and the team that comes together each day to serve the public is going to become even more important as we spearhead this budget for a fall together to provide the same services.
The Human Resources Department has a track record of working with department collaborations to correlate the uptick in filling these vacancies that you've seen tonight, and I'm honored to see that in action and work in a department that has a single vacancy.
And so our union would urge the other department directors to look at the work that Director Farris and Director Walker are doing with their teams to fill those roles, to put boots on the ground, to provide services to our community and our constituents immediately, as soon as possible, and make that really a priority for what we can accomplish within the budget means that we have.
Local 1 wishes to be a partner in any way we can to fill these vacancies and civil service roles and continue to work with our positive relationship we have with the city manager's office and the HR team to work together into the future.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you so much.
I appreciate your message of working together too, especially.
So, thank you.
Any other comments? 1 hand raised on the zoom.
Kelly hammer did I hear correctly that it took over a year to process applicants.
So, the presentation was great, but the part that was missing.
Was how long once we get applicants in, is it taking.
The city to screen and actually do the hiring process.
And how do we compare with other cities? Because if we have.
Qualified people, and it takes really months to get through the system and.
We risk losing them in the application process.
But that was my only comment, which is really kind of a question.
And I know we don't have a back and forth.
Thank you.
Kelly.
That's it.
That was the only raised hand on the zoom for for this.
Okay.
So, is there a motion to close the public hearing before the comments? Great.
Great.
Can you take the roll please? Okay.
To close the public hearing.
Thank you I can.
Council member.
Yes, yes okay.
I think other comments from counsel.
Okay all right.
All right, thank you so much for your work and thank you so much for your team and for bringing the presentation forward this evening.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Okay.
We are moving on to item 28 zoning adjustments for appeal 1950 to 1998 shot at Avenue used permit.
Zp 2023 dash 0 0 4 0.
And here is our.
Great timing.
We're moving too fast for you.
Okay, thanks whenever you're ready.
Hello, Thomas right there.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And council members employee client doctor planning development.
Staff staff table by in heretics.
And I'm going to turn it over to the project manager for the city.
And I'll give you a little slide there now.
So, yes, good evening.
Madam mayor and city council and her latest planning manager for the city for you.
This evening is an appeal of a project approved by the zoning adjustments board for new development at 1950 through 1998 Avenue.
I will provide you with a brief background on the project and the points of the appeal.
The project is designed to accommodate a total of 3,000 square feet of commercial space, including the ground floor and the rooftop bar, 58 units of which will be dedicated for very low income occupancy.
There's a total of 16,000 square feet of commercial space between the ground floor and the rooftop bar.
The project also has a labor agreement as part of the requirements for community benefits and it's important to note that up to the February 27th hearing labor representatives were present and addressed the zoning adjustments board in favor of the project.
The scope includes the demolition of 5 existing buildings encompassed on 4 lots.
The 4 lots would be merged into 1 parcel and the new building would be constructed on this newly created lot.
The project site is located at the northwest corner of Shattuck Avenue and University Avenue and goes all the way through to Berkeley way.
One other point of interest in this is that this building is the 5th of the tall buildings identified within the downtown area plan.
So this fills out the full requirement of the tall buildings.
Just to give you some review history on this project was submitted to the city on December of 2023 and deemed complete in April of 2024 determination was issued in November of last year.
And we went in quick succession with a landmark preservation commission review for a demolition referral on January 6th followed by the design review committee review on January 16th and then ultimately the ZAB hearing in February.
The appeal was filed on March 19th, which brings us to the appeal hearing tonight.
In appeal point 1, the appellant states that the height and density of the project is excessive and will negatively impact the city.
The housing accountability act establishes that the city may not disapprove or reduce project density without making findings based on the preponderance of evidence.
This project complies with all of the applicable development standards and requirements of the downtown area plan.
In appeal point 2, the appellant has requested additional meetings for public review.
The permit streamlining act limits the city's authority to a total of 5 public meetings for housing development application.
The appeal hearing tonight is the 4th of those 5th meetings.
With that staff recommends that the city council conduct a public hearing and adopt a resolution affirming the ZAB decision and dismiss the appeal.
That concludes the staff presentation and we are available to answer questions.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you for the presentation.
Is the appellant here to speak? And you'll have 5 minutes to present.
Good evening.
I argue this project strains infrastructure, won't build quickly, and does not offer housing of the kind needed.
Shattered corners made California history is the tallest building granted a class 32 exemption, which bypasses environmental review.
The development recently used class 32 in the city is being sued on grounds that exemption violated sequel shattered corners is likely to invite more litigation against the city that will delay housing and reduce funds needed for other public budgets.
Exemption is barred when development cannot be supported by existing infrastructure.
Berkeley fire commented the response cannot serve beyond 75 feet state need for a specially trained high rise battalion.
How is the new station with capable equipment built by UC's campus even if supported through mutual aid city such limits pose a real safety risk to persons in downtown during fire and earthquake evacuations, especially with roadways congested by construction detours.
That's the response if you'd like to see where it's capacity and what weather conditions in the past 5 years, multiple roster, which overflows occurred with 1 case, expelling 50 gallons.
There is no document to plan by city or private utilities to address added demand on firefighters or sewage such infrastructure risks make a class 32 infill exemption inapplicable in isolation to the site.
Especially considering cumulative effects of the whole downtown areas build up looking to traffic in transit.
Each new high rise plans a garage to hold 1 car for every 4,000 units.
Constraints may encourage public transit use rather than clog parking on street, but Barton AC transit covert relief funds have expired by 2030 Bart has outlined an accumulated shortfall potential of 1.3Billion and expects 300Million of cumulative deficit ridership increase could ease deficit.
But current transit operation operation is questionable in the last month Bart had a system wide 5 hour shutdown from out of tech and redundancy protection failures weeks later and electrical fault in Bart's power system caused 20 minute fire with explosions damaging 3500 feet of service cabling normal operations of Bart's full system did not resume for 5 days and less transit can be maintained to accommodate an influx of writers.
The likelihood is that public cannot be properly served coinciding with city developments or expansions, but you see, Berkeley city has no purview over UC builds, but it's important to consider the additional strain on infrastructure concentrated with 1, 1 area supporting current builds is based on data from 2009 and prior the current degree of schedule developments exceeds the construction overlap and evaluated in lieu of the city approved shattered corners after review of analysis, prepared by even applicants legal letter states, the project plan exceeds unit limit and contains unusual circumstances that could trigger complications and using a categorical exemption noting that those inconsistency with the development standards or policies.
Despite size, this building only offers 58 affordable housing units majority or luxury studios at market rate and California assigned Berkeley, the goal of providing 2,446 units for by 2031 and hold the downtown density bonus bill adds 113 units intended for representing less than 5% of goal.
Blight has increased downtown as many long term businesses shuttered for new builds.
Multiple projects have not begun construction and cannot serve pop up leases and commercial spaces that lack electric or sewage interconnection.
Some are simply cratered sites a decade later, shattered corners would cause the closure of 7 restaurants, including spats previously, which has existed as part of Berkeley's cultural landscape since 1950 each restaurant statement intent to begin closure and not renew their lease besides McDonald's, which has at least till 2032 expressed intent to operate through that period.
This would delay construction by at least another 6 years.
Well, most of the block is vacant.
Speculative real estate is the case with mixed-layer developments because recent downtown builds are having vacancy issues.
Developers are not motivated to build with current costs of construction as well as the logic that each new build will outpace demand with units that don't seem to properly fit the real housing and commercial needs of public.
These sites are often resold in ways that benefit investors, but not the public.
There is not an obligation to build despite entitlement of permit extensions being granted year after year.
In short, shattered corners is likely to negatively impact and underserve the public and the CEQA exemption is improperly applied.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Is the applicant here? Yes, come on up.
Sorry, I didn't see you behind Jordan.
Thank you.
I did send around a handout just before we get started, but 1st of all, thank you.
Madam.
Mayor members of the city council.
I have to say that.
Since 2016, this is probably the least amount of stress I've showed up at this podium with so I appreciate the direction of our new city council and our staff and I want to thank staff.
The planning department's been through some challenges over the years, but I think that Jordan and Ann are doing a terrific job of rebuilding and I think our city management team and our new city council are providing exactly the kind of leadership that's going to help planning thrive.
This project is the culmination of many elements of both my career and the change in attitude around housing production in Berkeley over the last.
25 years from 1997 to 2007, Berkeley taught me that not only did housing production need to be disrupted here, but it needed to be disrupted statewide and that's what I've said about doing in my career.
Between 1970 and 1996, and out of only 126 dwelling units were allowed to be built in Berkeley as your former city planning manager.
I delivered more than 1200 housing units in the 10 years that I was with the city by using the state laws and our own policies.
I brought development feasibility to Berkeley.
It was my pro forma analysis that informed the day pack that 10 story buildings weren't going to provide community benefits and probably weren't feasible to build that pushed the planning commission and city council to look at at least 16 stories and for the 8 story base unit height or base project height that we have today without that pro forma analysis and using feasibility as a data point that plan would have probably done nothing for our downtown.
I started planning group in 2012, we have planned and entitled thousands of units all over the Bay Area and the north part of the state and in Berkeley and a high percentage of them below market rate units participated in writing statewide legislation, including the process elements of SB330 the 5 meetings rule, preliminary applications, increasing fees and standards.
This legislation was born of what I saw happening here in Berkeley off of this diet in the early 2000s in the late 1990s housing production.
California's got a lot easier because we've changed the circumstances for entitlement.
There's still challenges building, permitting, financing construction, but statewide housing applications have increased 25% and 40% more housing has been built in 2025 as compared to 2017 before SB330 and SB35 were legislated.
Tonight's project is reflection of the changed housing equity values of our Berkeley community and of a changed approach to housing production in California.
We work hard with staff on this project.
We've documented the science behind the exemption.
We've shown it to be a class 32 exemption from CEQA and the state law requires that the city grant that except that exemption if it can be shown that it fits.
We've used the tools of state density bonus law to scope the project to be as one DRC architect described gorgeous for someone who's.
Apparently, never even lived in Berkeley to make this appeal is somewhat preposterous and I urge you to make a referral to the planning commission tonight to think about tightening up the zoning ordinance with respect to who has standing for an appeal of such an important project in our downtown.
I only have one simple ask tonight and it's the item that I handed out and that is to modify condition of approval number 82.
These projects are not easy to build.
Some development groups come to town with huge buckets of money, core spaces.
They got right into building permitting before the entitlement was even granted.
Our group isn't like that.
We're local, we're smaller, but we have a proven track record and it's going to take us some time to put the investment money necessary for this project to work.
So, I've asked for additional time for the building permits to middle.
I've asked for additional time and responses and I've asked for additional time to get under construction.
We should all be celebrating the fact right now that rents in Berkeley are down 20 to 25% citywide because of the new housing production that we've seen in the last couple of years.
We're hitting that that supply side of the demand.
And so I asked you to help us give this project a chance.
These are some of the worst economic circumstances of the last couple of decades.
Thanks to our president.
And it's a complicated engineering project to put together.
So I'm happy to answer any questions.
You might have appreciate that.
I'm going to open the public hearing.
So I guess I did not do that yet.
And then I will see if council members have any questions.
Council member, thank you.
I have a question for staff and I have a question for the applicant for staff.
And I apologize, I was trying to find the transcript of the meeting and for whatever reason couldn't.
I noticed that there were 2 abstentions.
I was wondering if you have any recollection of any rationale given on record for abstaining.
For the applicant, I wanted you to conform.
Um, I believe I saw in the representation that you intend, uh, for.
The successor of spots, whatever it is to be cited.
And we came the same, um, ABC, uh, license.
Um, as currently exists, and, um, you mentioned this in the handout, but just as a matter of public record, could you say on, could you confirm.
That you are not planning to demolish anything until, um.
Sufficient funds are assembled that there is a reasonable chance of construction of the new project.
Should I go 1st, or should staff go first? I got a very brief.
Okay.
Go ahead.
They actually were not abstentions.
We had 2 vacancies at that time.
Okay, thank you.
We have been watching some of the shutdowns of the retail spaces downtown.
I just finished my tenure on the downtown Berkeley Association board of directors.
We've got a lot of issues in downtown with respect to retailing and commercial.
1 of them about 20% of the vacancies.
Uh, 15% are due to development projects that are stalled out.
1 of them got into the ground.
2 of them cut power.
1 of the ones that cut power probably isn't even moving forward.
The 1 at Alston and Chaddock has gone back to the real estate company.
The developer let it go.
So that's going to be low hanging fruit for somebody else potentially to come in and take that tall building position.
We are not going to close any of those businesses.
Absolutely not.
Some of those businesses have been fighting it out for a while.
Not the least of which is spats and we've actually 1 new business has opened on the street in the last few months and we're actively looking for other tenants.
We know that this is going to take a couple of years to get building plans together and to get financing together for this project and we have, there's no way that we're going to cut power and empty out those spaces.
If this project never happens, then those tenants continue to operate in those spaces as they have been and maybe we can get more in there, but we fully intend to push this project forward and we're not going to shut those businesses down until the issuance of a building permit is more imminent.
Much, much more imminent.
Thank you.
Thanks for that.
And 1 more question for staff actually, in response to the proposed modification of condition 82 staff was, was this proposal shared with you? And if so, do you have any opinions on it? I believe we're just seeing it for the 1st time today, but we have no objections to.
Okay, thank you.
Okay.
Yes.
Councilor Bartlett.
Thank you.
Regarding the, the, the condition 82 change, are you able to explain it to us? Sure.
So the, the time limits for building permit for pursuit of a building permit, I think it's really the intent is so that an applicant won't sit on an entitlement and this is particularly important for these very tall buildings authorized under the downtown area because there's only 5 slots as we noted with this entitlement, all the slots will be taken and so so we don't want projects just sitting on them and so we establish time limits.
They're pretty tight time limits that we know for projects at least of this scale as as the applicant noted, it takes a while.
And so, you know, going from.
I think this extended period.
Is not a typical for, um, for the.
Uh, development timeline for, for getting the building permit.
So that's why I mean, the city has spent a lot of time on this entitlement.
And so we want the sponsor to have the opportunity to do the work they need to do on their end to secure the building permits in light of the financing to make the project reality more question for the for the young man here.
I'm I'm curious what what was the, uh, get the main impetus for the challenge of the project.
I appreciate your, your, your, your language when you spoke.
I'm just really curious.
Thank you.
Well, I just want to see people properly.
I'm happy that rates throughout the city have been going down due to recent developments, but I am a bear local.
I was born and raised out here, and I have always loved Berkeley as my destination, but the recent years, the amount of vacancy downtown, I've just been very concerned that we're perpetuating a model, which hasn't proven any immediate reality to the aspirations, which I agree with.
I think, you know, ideally, all of this will work out beautifully and we have a very vitalized downtown in Berkeley full of beautiful venues and cultural, you know, especially also just needs to be a return of a broader demographic in the last 50 years.
You know, the black population of Berkeley has have twice between 1970 and then 2000 and then again, between 2000 and 2020.
so it went from about a quarter to like 7% and I just have to wonder if any of these policies are working to solve or perpetuate that I think that that student kind of influx is at a bit of a stall and I don't know that we need so many more of these professionally oriented or student oriented luxury units when families and working class people are left a little bit unaccommodated.
Hopefully, yes, if people go into these other smaller units, they won't be taking multifamily, whatever, or homes that could be shared by a larger group.
So I see the potential for all of this.
I just want to make sure that policies are guiding towards a reality and I'm experiencing it as sort of the opposite.
So, thank you for your question.
I'm sorry, were there other questions from Council? Okay.
Oh, we have not taken all the comments.
Oh, Council Member, did you have a..
No, I didn't.
I'm just going to move too close to the mic here.
Oh, okay.
I would like to take public comment first.
Thank you.
Is there anyone here for public comment? Or online? There is one hand raised online.
That's Kelly Hammerman.
Go ahead.
So, Berkeley does have a lapse permit ordinance, which is you must apply for a building permit within one year of approval and the City of Berkeley rarely enforces that ordinance.
But Mr.
Rhodes is asking for an extension and I guess I'm scrambling here to try and find out what that extension is, but I didn't hear it.
So, it would seem reasonable, I think a reasonable change to that ordinance would be two years from the time a project is approved.
To actually move forward with a project and we really don't want to see any more holes in the ground like we've got at the site in Alston and across from the library.
We don't want more of that and we also don't want projects holding a lot that could be developed when someone else might be able to build on that lot.
A project that is less ambitious, but would serve a more diverse community than what we're building for right now.
So, I think that's what I'm trying to get at.
I don't want to see any more holes in the ground.
I don't want to see any more studio apartments doesn't seem to support a family.
And so those are my comments.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thanks, Kelly.
And actually, it says two years.
That was what is written here actually on the paper.
So you got it on the notes.
Any other comment? All those in favor.
To close the public We have a motion to.

Segment 5

Councilmember Lunaparra, do you have any additional comments or I'll entertain a motion either.
Yes, Councilmember Lunaparra.
Thank you.
I just wanted to talk about something that was said a little earlier about student housing, and I want to emphasize how important it is to build student housing, the housing that is for people studying in our city.
40% of UC Berkeley students will be food insecure at some point during their time at Cal.
43% of students are housing insecure.
10% of students are unhoused at some point during their time at Cal.
And countless others experience landlord harassment, habitability issues, and increasing rents, and they deserve housing as well.
And with that, I would like to make a motion to approve, to deny the appeal with the condition of approval requested by the appellant.
Okay, sorry.
Yeah.
That's fine.
Go ahead.
And then Councilmember Humbert.
I'm in the queue.
Thank you.
At this point in the queue.
I'm going to try to figure that out.
Wrong for the reasons.
I'll try to figure that out real quick.
Oh, wait.
Sorry.
Are you saying you can hear it now? Yeah.
Just in time.
Okay.
All right.
Thank you, Councilmember Humbert.
Thank you.
I guess, please send me a sign if you can't hear me because it was.
Okay, thank you.
I will be supporting this motion.
I think a lot of what a lot of what I was going to say has already been said.
Downtown Berkeley is the district that I have the honor of serving.
It does have its challenges.
Absolutely.
And to Kelly's point and condition 28 as modified does have the 2 year provision.
But this is actually 1 of the elements I'm contemplating in an item that our office will be bringing in the future on economic revitalization in the downtown and other commercial districts in Berkeley.
On the merits of the appeal.
And I will start by saying.
We all want the same thing we want a vibrant downtown Berkeley where everyone can be housed.
Housing is abundant for folks at all income levels.
And where small businesses can thrive.
Obviously, there have been some challenges and particularly right now.
It is an important time to support something that could actually be viable.
I served on the staff council since 2012 and in that time state law has changed and.
We disagree with the merits of the project itself and I actually support the proposal, but regardless state law does not provide this question that local agencies once used to have.
And so just on the parts of the appeal.
There is a limit to the number of public hearings that state law allows and that is 5 and this has been for 3 of them.
And there are other state laws that don't allow local jurisdictions to limit height.
And, um.
Um, you know, with certain provisions, but, um, but I, I would also say, um.
This is the place to build, um.
It is right in the heart of the downtown core and I could really see this activating.
And, um.
The, um, this very important part of, um.
And so, um.
I just, um, I do want to make sure that we learn.
Um, what has happened? Uh, where capital is raised sufficiently before a demolition of course.
And, um.
You have been a part and parcel efforts to revitalize downtown.
And so you.
We care about this issue deeply and so, and, um.
I level of confidence that that will happen.
Thank you.
I just wanted to say very briefly because we often, or we sometimes hear people citing.
The strain of growth on the fire department utilities as a pretext to deny housing.
My colleagues and I, the city, our utility partners are all actively engaged in efforts to modernize our modernize and upgrade our fire service and our infrastructure.
I just want to make sure that the people aren't out there worrying about that.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Other comments.
Okay, and I just want to clarify the motion just to make sure that that's something that we can do this evening.
And that was me here.
Okay.
I just want to make sure.
Okay, great.
And that keeps the table about a 2nd clerk.
Could you please take the role.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Okay, thank you.
Thank you so much for the presentation.
Okay, so we, that is actually for our agenda this evening, but there is public comment for items not listed on the agenda.
Is there any other public comments? Okay, so I'm going to go ahead and close out the public comment section because we've already.
Yeah, thank you.
Any other public comments here in person online.
There's 1 hand raised online.
That's Kelly.
Okay, go for it.
Kelly.
I didn't realize my hand was still raised.
Okay.
Okay.
So, I made my comment previously.
I guess I just say, I'm really saddened by what is happening to.
The Palestinians is just heartbreaking and it just makes me cry every day.
I'm just so sad.
And I want to pick up the book 1 day when it's safe.
When there's no personal downside to calling a thing.
What it is.
When it's too late to hold anyone accountable.
Everyone will always have been against this.
By Omar.
So, I'm just so saddened by what's happening to him.
He runs a book club and he deals with a very difficult subject.
In a beautiful prose, so I highly recommend it.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Kelly.
Okay, I will, unless there's anyone else.
Nope, I will entertain a motion.
Motion to adjourn the meeting.
I have a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Okay, to adjourn the meeting council member.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.