Regular

June 30, 2026 · 7:00 PM

Berkeley’s City Council is poised to act on a wide range of budget, tax, and infrastructure matters, including annual special tax rates for libraries, fire and EMS, parks, affordable housing and street improvements; borrowing up to $85 million in short-term notes; issuing $20 million in Measure T1 bonds; and placing a 2026 ballot measure for a new half-cent sales tax. The council is also expected to finalize major policy and program decisions on expanded parking enforcement and meter hours citywide, North Berkeley BART affordable housing funding and developer changes, police surveillance rules for community video streams and investigative software, and whether to send a rent stabilization initiative to voters in November. Other substantive items include contracts and grants for senior services, emergency medical agreements, park and community facility projects, labor and firefighter staffing changes, and council-backed funding for small business damage relief, downtown artist space activation, and the Solano Avenue Stroll. The council will also consider taking a formal position in support of state legislation aimed at preventing density bonus incentives from being used to override local labor standards.