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Segment 1

Recording in progress.
Okay, good evening.
Thank you for waiting patiently.
The City Council just met in closed session.
I'd like to report out the action we took in closed session.
The City Council met in closed session, pursuant to Government Code Section 549-56.92, and provided direction to outside Council and approved a stipulated settlement of permanent disability with an award of lifetime future medical care, or in the alternative, by compromising the lease with a release of future medical care as to a worker's compensation matter number BER-2200087 and WCAB case number ADJ-16181002.
Also, before we call the meeting to order, I'd like to make an announcement.
We want to welcome everyone to this meeting of the Berkeley City Council, to allow for full participation by all members of the community, and to ensure that important City business is able to be conducted, we ask that all attendees conduct themselves in an orderly manner and respect the rights of others participating in the meeting.
Please be aware that the City Council's Rules of Decorum prohibit the disruption of the orderly conduct of the City Council meeting.
A summary of these rules is available in the one-page handout at the rear of our boardroom.
Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to, shouting, making disruptive noises, creating or participating in a physical disturbance, speaking out of turn or in violation of applicable rules, preventing or attempting to prevent others who have the floor from speaking, preventing others from observing the meeting, entering into or remaining in an area of the meeting room that is not open to the public, or approaching the Council dais without consent.
We ask that you observe these rules so that all members of the public may observe and participate in tonight's meeting, and thank you for joining us this evening.
So now for the last time, I'd like to call this meeting of the Berkeley City Council to order for Tuesday, November 19, 2024, and ask the Clerk to please call the roll.
Council Member Kesarwani? Here.
Kaplan? Present.
Bartlett? Here.
Dragob? Present.
Hahn? Here.
Landgraf? Present.
Munapara? Here.
Humber? Present.
And Mayor Aragi? Present.
Okay, we're going to proceed now to ceremonial matters.
And first, sadly, we would like to adjourn tonight's City Council meeting in honor of Ben Brown, who on November 14th was killed in an accident at the intersection in North Berkeley.
Rose and Josephine.
Rose and Josephine.
There was a very beautiful obituary about Ben Brown in Berkeleyside just today, who was a skilled cook and gave back to the Berkeley community in so many ways.
And I understand we have some members of his family here tonight.
I want to turn it over to Council Member Munapara.
I believe that they're on Zoom.
I think they're just here to observe.
Obviously, this is a preventable accident that should have never happened.
I know that we're going to be looking at how we can make improvements to that intersection so that this does not happen again.
But I just really want to acknowledge the many ways that Ben Brown had given back to the Berkeley community and want to extend our deepest condolences to his family.
And so I'd like to ask for unanimous consent that we adjourn our meeting in his honor tonight.
Thank you.
Okay.
We'll now proceed to the other ceremonial matter, which is the recognition of outgoing members of the Council.
I want to turn it over to the Vice Mayor.
Well, Jesse, I think I first met you when you were in college, and I was a legislative aide.
And I have watched you over the years develop and evolve into a skilled and incredible leader.
And I say this from the bottom of my heart.
We didn't always agree, especially when you were very young.
But you were always so respectful to me.
You always listened to me.
And we were able to disagree with each other without being disagreeable.
And I have tremendous respect for you because you did that.
So I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service to this community, which has been outstanding, incredible.
How many years have you? 20.
20 years.
And I look forward to your service to the greater community at the state level.
And I think that you probably will go beyond the state because you have those skills.
You have the..
Please.
I read the rules of the quorum at the beginning of the meeting.
You're not allowed to interrupt the meeting.
You do not have the floor.
So just to say I personally have benefited from our working relationship, from your partnership, from your collaboration.
I've learned a tremendous amount from you.
And I just want to say thank you so much.
And best of luck in Sacramento.
Thank you.
Okay.
Once again, please, no interruptions.
I read the rules of the quorum previously.
I'd like to see if any other council members would like..
Yes.
And then I have something to say about you as well.
First you.
Mr.
Mayor.
You know, 15 years ago, we met when you were my representative at my cafe in Berkeley, downtown Berkeley.
And you'd come over, we'd have coffee, we'd brainstorm about how to save the country and save the city and all these new ideas.
And sure enough, years later, idea by idea, we've executed almost all of them.
It's tremendous.
It's amazing.
I have the floor right now, people.
Come on.
Show some respect.
Once again, I read the rules of the quorum.
If people will continue to yell, interrupt the meeting, we'll have to call a recess and we'll have to ask that you leave the meeting.
We don't want to do that.
We'd like you to be able to stay here and serve the meeting.
And I want to say, you know, the city council of old, which you know as well, you turned the rancor of that council, you made it into a consensus body.
Everyone got a chance.
Everyone got supported.
You helped everyone achieve their dreams.
Amazing.
Your tenure here is without comparison.
And I'm so grateful.
Terry's a friend.
And as a godparent to my daughter.
And just so happy for your future.
And I know that your skills will help California turn the corner on this winter we're in now.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay.
Council Member Humbert.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Mayor.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your work and leadership over the past 16 years.
I've been following your trajectory.
And your story really is inspiring.
It's amazing just how long you've been politically active.
It's not everyone who can say that their activism started when their age was in the single digits.
Jesse's mom told me that she brought him to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, I believe it was.
So he could advocate.
I think he's nine years old.
Maybe he was eight.
So he could advocate to rename Army Street in San Francisco after Cesar Chavez.
And obviously his advocacy was incredibly effective because the street was renamed.
And has been for decades now.
You are incredibly skilled when it comes to public policy.
And I think Berkeley has benefited from your sharp eye and mind when it comes to analyzing and crafting policy.
And your expertise in this regard will be sorely missed.
I also really greatly admire your evolution on issues like housing, transportation, and climate action.
You've come very far from some of your early positions on things like our downtown plan and bus lanes.
And I think this shows a lot of maturity and adaptability.
I've moved on those issues too, but it's been really impressive.
These are things I wish we saw more of in our elected leaders.
They demonstrate real and authentic leadership, I think.
I also want to thank you for being a steady hand during council meetings.
Beyond having a strong command of procedure and rules of order, always keeping track of our very complex motions and counter motions and maneuvers.
You always handled even the most contentious atmosphere with aplomb.
And you've kept your cool when other people are completely losing theirs.
And that's a rare ability.
It's something I don't share in the same measure.
I also want to thank you for your leadership during the COVID pandemic.
We had an incredible record of saving people's lives during that period and keeping people well.
And also during the preceding dark times for our country after the 2016 election.
Times that we now seem doomed to repeat.
But I'm glad we'll now have Senator Arreguin in the legislature continuing your work and bringing your policy skills to a new level.
So thank you, Senator, for all your work, and I'm excited to see what's next for you in Sacramento.
And perhaps as Councilmember Windgraf or Vice Mayor Windgraf said, maybe beyond.
Thanks.
Thank you, Councilmember.
Councilman Chaplin.
Thank you so much, Mr.
Mayor.
When you were elected to mayor, it was such a huge inspiration to see a young person of color be elected to lead our city and inspired me to get involved.
I've been so fortunate and grateful to have worked with you these past four years through COVID, getting the Bay Area done, the reimagining.
You've been so responsive to my office and my district and my constituents.
I really admire your your unbroken focus on leadership and service.
You've steered us through what seems to have been crises after crises.
And every step of the way, you've kept all of us involved.
You've been proactive in building trust relationships with each of the members of the community.
And you've ignored all the distractions to lead the city.
And I look forward to working with you and your leadership of the state and keeping Berkeley a powerful force in the region, in the state.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councilmember.
Thank you.
And I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to Mayor Eric in service as well, as well as leading the path as a young person and the first Latina council member and then mayor in the city of Berkeley, as well as his both work and dedication to introducing policy that supports new residential development at all income levels and supporting the needs of tenants.
Most recently, through the demolition ordinance and Measure BB that we've been able to work together on, it's all it's been transformative.
And helping Berkeley address one of its most pressing challenges thoughtfully.
You know, although I wasn't on the council yet, I know that Mayor Ergin played a vital role in guiding our city through the challenges of COVID, navigating a crisis that could have derailed our efforts to protect the most vulnerable to disaster.
And during his leadership, the city increased funding for rent relief and helping to ensure that the residents that residents remain securely housed during one of the most precarious times in our history.
I've also valued his dedication to ending traffic violence through Vision Zero and an unwavering commitment to bike infrastructure, making our streets safer and more accessible to everyone and beyond his legislative accomplishments.
Mayor Ergin has impressed us all with his incredible mastery of parliamentary procedure and a memory that seems almost superhuman.
These skills have enabled the council to navigate the complexities of governance with precision, grace and efficiency.
And even though we did not agree on all issues, I respect the work that you have done to move Berkeley forward.
And I wish you the very best.
Thank you for your hard work, your vision and your commitment to our city.
Thank you.
Councilor Castellano.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Mayor and Senator elect.
I want to thank you for your dedicated service to our city over these past 20 years.
I particularly want to note that our our city experienced a historic reduction in homelessness under your leadership.
We saw a 45 percent reduction in unsheltered homelessness in our latest point in time count.
And I want to know that that was made possible by your leadership on Measure O and Measure P.
These two measures gave our city the resources to provide permanent affordable housing, permanent supportive housing and the multiple motels that we've been able to master lease so that we can bring people inside and give people an opportunity to transform their lives.
I also want to thank you for your partnership and leadership in negotiating with BART and bringing us to this point where we will see more than 700 homes at the North Berkeley BART station with half of them affordable to low income households.
Again, because of Measure O, because we could make that funding commitment as a city and then use those dollars to to draw down even more funding, $50 million from the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities Program and another $25 million in state transportation funds that we just received.
And because of your leadership, we will see a similar number of homes or more at the Ashby BART station in the future.
These are marquee projects.
They will be with us for the rest of our lives.
And we will be able to know that we worked in partnership under your leadership to see those major projects through.
As others have noted, you also shepherded us through the pandemic and have led us through some contentious meetings throughout your time, particularly some challenging meetings just this year.
So for Berkeley's benefit, I wish you luck and great success as our next state senator.
Well, thank you.
And I, I join myself to all the comments that have been made.
You know, I kind of I look back and.
A lot of the things that people see happen in Berkeley, they're like, oh, that happened in the last few months.
But what what Senator Adeguine has actually done for Berkeley is methodically over his, what is it, 18 years, 20, 20 years of service to this community in many different positions.
Is that he has put in place brick by brick the foundations and then the building blocks to achieve these victories that those of us who come along later just see and think, oh, well, that just happened.
How did we get money into our affordable housing trust fund? Is it measure? Well, somebody had to actually create the trust fund.
Guess who did that as a council member? Guess who advocated for affordable housing when they were on on the rent board? There are so many layers that have been put down by this mayor over his career.
So much of the city's success on so many issues that I think we all hold dear.
It's not just what he did as mayor.
It's not just, oh, thanks for this.
Thanks for that.
It's he's built the whole house.
He really did.
And, you know, I, I think I have a floor.
I have a floor.
Let's be, let's be adults here.
Yeah.
So, so looking back, I think, you know, others here have have have enumerated some of his incredible achievements, but they go a lot deeper and he does not someone who toots his own horn.
So a lot of it is is work that is unseen, but we all stand on those foundations and the city has benefited enormously.
So, looking forward, when when Nancy Pelosi announced that she was going to retire from being speaker of the house, I just thought, wow.
Who the heck has those skills? What is this country going to do? It's just such a bizarrely unique set of skills that you have to have to be to be a kick butt speaker of the house over 20, 25 years.
And I was kind of moping for a couple of days thinking nobody can do this.
And then I thought, actually, I know someone who could do it.
I don't know if they ever will.
I actually hope they will.
But I know someone who has that skill set.
I know someone who I get to work with every day who has a set of skills that are that extraordinary.
And this country needs people like that.
The city has had the benefit for 20 years.
Let's hope the state has the benefit for as long as the state will allow.
And then I hope our whole country has the benefit.
So, thank you.
Come on, folks, let's give him.
Come on, Council, get up.
Get up.
Oh, he's not.
Not yet.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry.
I thought.
Council Member Trager.
I think City Manager wants to speak.
We'll do it.
We'll do it after that.
No, that's OK.
No, that's OK.
I thought they took away my button.
I was speaking too much, but I found it.
Well, Jesse, I first met you when I was running for student government office, the ACC Senate.
And I still remember that it's like a five minute conversation.
I think we walked all the way to the end of Eucalyptus Grove.
We were I was so impressed to meet someone who was a fellow student.
I think you were maybe a rising sophomore or junior at the time.
Have such vast command of local governance, but also the reasons why it was important for students to get involved in their community.
And our public service and our friendship grew from there.
It was a deep honor.
It was a deep honor to see you grow through the grant board and then in starting in 2008, the council as my predecessor in District 4.
And of course, now in your next assignment, I am not going to repeat what already has been said by my colleagues, which I absolutely agree with.
I will provide one example, and this is one of many examples in my district alone, and that is the Holt Project on Berkeley Way.
You laid the groundwork for that 20 years ago when you were in the Housing Advisory Commission.
And, you know, that is a project that has helped so many be able to come out of homelessness and have shelter.
They may not realize and the community may not fully appreciate the incredible work that you have done to move that project forward.
And so many like it.
But I certainly do, and we certainly do.
And of course, with every bigger step that you took, it came at a tough time.
It was a recession in 2008 when you first were elected to the council.
The pandemic, well, first Trump won and then the pandemic.
And I don't know anyone who was so ready to, you know, it's one of those, we don't choose the moment.
The moment chooses you.
You were at every step of the way, the right.
The fact that the city has been able to expand its innovative, inclusive approach where everyone is welcome.
And do it in a way that allows us to plan for leaner years.
Thank you.
And thank you for helping me evolve to not just on policy, but also to evolve on having the right kind of mindset to be able to move forward.
Thank you.
And thank you for helping me evolve to not just on policy, but also to evolve on having the right kind of mindset to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.
I can think of no better leader in the state Senate for this moment.
We will miss you here, but I'm proud to call you my senator.
Thank you.
Okay.
Before we go to the city manager, next meeting on December 3rd will be chaired by our vice mayor, who will be the acting mayor for about a week.
And that will be an opportunity also to recognize her.
But I just want to take this opportunity before I leave the dais to honor council member Susan Wingraft for her 16 years of service to the city of Berkeley.
And I read this proclamation at your event last week, so I'll skip to the highlights.
We all know about her incredible long service to the city of Berkeley, 30 years as a legislative aide, 16 years as a Berkeley City Council member, as our vice mayor.
The incredible leadership she's provided on wildfire safety, the incredible work she's done serving her constituents.
And I'll just skip to the last parts, which are the best parts.
Council member Susan Wingraft is beloved by her constituents, her colleagues.
I think we can all agree.
City of Berkeley leadership and staff.
So now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Jesse Ettingham, the mayor of the city of Berkeley, do hereby recognize, thank, and honor council member Susan Wingraft for her 16 years of service as a council member, two of which as vice mayor, her 32 years of service to the city of Berkeley in various capacities.
And be it further proclaimed that the city of Berkeley and your colleagues wish you all the best in your retirement.
And we know and we hope that you will continue to be involved.
So let's give council member Wingraft a round of applause.
Thank you.
Back in 2016, we were having a meeting in Old City Hall and you were the D4 council member.
I had just started as HHCS director and we were on a recess and you walked past me and you asked me a detailed question about one of your items from like three years prior, which I, of course, had no idea what you were talking about.
And the city attorney, Zach Cowan, happened to overhear that.
And you walked past and he just looked at me and he said, word of advice, stay on top of his items.
He never forgets anything about any of them.
And he was absolutely right.
You never forgot any of those items.
You didn't forget much of anything, frankly.
And on behalf of staff, we all want to thank you for your service to the city for these last 20 years.
For the way that you partnered with staff in a very respectful and collaborative way in the service of moving things forward in the interests of the city.
Staff are all very grateful for that.
I'm very grateful for that.
And we all wish you all the best of luck and look forward to watching your success in the Senate.
So thank you for that.
In fact, if I could also quickly also recognize Officer Dozier.
Officer? Hey, Officer Dozier.
I'm recognizing you too.
So this is his last meeting with us.
He's retiring on Tuesday.
And so and that's after a 25 year career here with the city of Berkeley doing everything from homicide investigations to school resource officer to many other things.
We thank you for your service as well.
You've been here with us in these chambers for many years, quietly out of sight, but keeping an eye on the safety of all of us.
And we thank you for that and wish you all the best in your retirement.
Let me also thank Vice Mayor Weingraf.
Thank you for your wisdom, for your partnership.
As I said before, at your party, I don't know what the feminine version of the word mensch is, but you embody it.
You bring wisdom.
You bring strength.
You bring advice.
You bring a collegiality that is felt by all.
And in disagreement or agreement, you support the work of everybody.
And on behalf of staff, we thank you very much for that.
Do we get a standing ovation from the council now for these two? Please.
I just want to say very briefly, I never intended to be a politician.
It was not in my plan, but it happened.
It just happened.
And I've never regretted a single moment.
I just feel like I tried to make Berkeley a better place.
I gave it my all.
And I found that it was very satisfying.

Segment 2

I want to thank the residents of District 6 for their trust and confidence in me all of these years.
I've worked very hard to represent them and be true to them.
And at the same time be true to myself.
So thank you to my colleagues, to my current colleagues, to my former colleagues, to staff.
It's really been quite a journey and quite a pleasure.
Thank you.
I'll just close this out by saying that I just want to thank my colleagues for the very kind words and thank our city manager as well.
I'm deeply moved by your comments and your acknowledgement of the partnership and what we've been able to accomplish these past 20 years.
And this really is an end of an era for the city of Berkeley government between myself and the vice mayor.
50 years of institutional memory and so much good that's been accomplished for our community.
And I think we can look back and be proud of what we've accomplished together because it's really been a partnership partnership with the council and the staff.
And I'm just I'm really grateful for what we've been able to get to to accomplish for our community.
And thank you to the over nearly 200,000 voters in Senate District 7, some of whom aren't here tonight, obviously, but 200,000 who elected me to be their next representative in the California State Senate.
And look forward to look forward to being able to continue the work that we started here in Berkeley to make a bigger impact for Berkeley, for the East Bay, for the state of California.
This is probably one of the most challenging times our country has ever faced.
And it's all the more critical that we that our Berkeley values are our shared progressive values lead the way and that we not only to fight to protect our residents to protect our California values, but that we also work to fix some of the systemic problems facing our state to increase equity and opportunity for everyone.
And so we'll work hard these next few years to not just resist and to fight back, but to help make our state better and look forward to working with the council as your representative in Sacramento.
One of the pledges I made during my campaign was that I will be visiting the city councils once a year to update the city councils on the work I am doing the legislature and to get input on budget and policy priorities.
So, look forward to coming back and look forward to look forward to seeing what you all can accomplish and continue the work that we started.
So, once again, I don't want to call recess, please.
Can you control yourself? Please can we be adults here? Do you have any respect? Please, ma'am, you're out of order.
You are out of order.
I will have to call recess.
Anyways, so with that, thank you.
That completes our ceremonial calendar with that.
I want to turn over to our city manager.
I actually don't have any comments, Mr.
Mayor.
Thank you.
That's all right.
Oh, thank you.
I'll just say before we go to public comment on non-agenda matters, the work that I've been able to do as mayor and as a city council member would absolutely not have been possible if it wasn't for the work of our incredible staff, not just our city staff, but I've been really honored and blessed to work with so many great people over the years.
I just want to acknowledge for my staff and the mayor's office that are here today, my chief of staff, Lars Sherping, Stephan Elstrand, Erica Neal, and Anthony Rodriguez.
And so all the kind words you said about what I did, they're words of thanks and appreciation to them because they're the people that did the hard work with me to help write and to implement some of these transformative policies.
And I'm just so honored and grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you and incredibly grateful for your service to our city and look forward to seeing what you do next.
So thank you.
So with that, we'll proceed to public comment on non-agenda matters.
So we're going to select five in-person speakers and we'll go to five speakers on Zoom.
We have more than five raised hands on Zoom.
We've got Jonathan, looks like Mincer, Eva Diaz, Paola Verde, Alana Arrowback, and Tim Obie.
So come up in any order.
Yeah, if any of those names can please come forward in no particular order.
Thank you.
Good evening.
Good evening.
My name is Jonathan Mincer, and I serve as Senior Director of Government Affairs for JCRC Bay Area, the largest collective voice of Bay Area Jews representing over 65 synagogues and organizations.
Usually when people address council, they come to criticize an action or ask for something, but that's not the case today.
I'm here to say thank you.
Thank you to Mayor Arreguin for his over 20 years of service to the city of Berkeley, for being a dynamic and compelling leader navigating us through the COVID pandemic, through the awful policies of the past presidential administration and making Berkeley safer.
I also want to thank every city council member on this dais.
At a time when various political forces seek to spread hate and divide communities, you continue to take steps to unite Berkeley and ensure this is a welcoming place for all residents.
So my ask to you tonight is to continue your work, focusing on the local needs of every resident and ensuring that Berkeley remains an innovative city in which we can all take pride.
Thank you for your time tonight.
Thank you for your public service.
Thank you.
As we continue with public comment tonight, I, at the beginning of the meeting, read our rules of the quorum.
Many of you have been to our meetings many, many times.
You've heard them many, many times.
Disruptive behavior includes, but it's not limited to, shouting, making disruptive noises, speaking out of turn, preventing or attempting to prevent others to have the forefront, because that means interrupting people who are speaking.
Let's show people the respect that they deserve and let people have the opportunity to speak, even if we don't agree with them.
If people continue to engage in disruptive behavior, I will call a recess and ask the Sergeant of Arms to please approach you and to ask you to cease this disruptive behavior.
And if disruptions continue, we will have to ask you to leave the meeting.
We'd like to be able to continue with the meeting, so let everyone be heard.
Let's be respectful of each other, even if we have strong differences of opinion.
That's how we do our public process here in Berkeley.
Ms.
Sauerbach, if you'd like to speak, please go ahead.
Okay, I'm frozen.
All right.
I am one of the many growing number of Jews that that man who spoke before me does not represent.
Huge, huge Jewish population who do not feel that you have listened to us and feel very disrespected.
But, Mayor Bravo, you have created a gentrifying system of top-down, behind-closed-doors governance in Berkeley over these past eight years.
You have claimed that unsheltered homelessness has gone down by 45%.
That was 350 people from 2022 to 2024.
During that same time, guess what? Oakland's unsheltered homelessness went up by 435 people.
Where did they go, you ask? To Oakland, because they were swept from Berkeley.
You purport to advocate for police accountability, and yet you created a fair and impartial policing task force that had no teeth and, as a result, was an abject failure.
Racial profiling is higher now than it was in 2018.
Low-level stops by the hundreds per year.
Just one of the many things that the BPD was meant to cease and desist doing, according to this task force.
You have obstructed and ignored true police accountability, promoted a chief of police during a scandal when the results of the scandal hadn't even been revealed, and still have yet to be publicly addressed, the findings and recommendations of the heinous text threads and arrest quotas by the Berkeley Police Bike Force.
When will the July 2024 report by the Police Accountability Board, who 85% of us voted for, and you claim to be for police accountability, when will it be heard by the City Council? When will those recommendations be implemented? You have hung many of our unionized workers out to dry for years, negotiating in bad faith, and not fulfilling on agreements made by the city even two years ago.
In the 11th hour yesterday, you avoided a strike for tomorrow and the next day.
So, we have a lot to do, we have a lot to clean up with after your service as mayor.
Free Palisades, and free Palisades, and you have completely ignored the main issue at this time, which is there's a genocide being live streamed right now.
And if you can't replicate that, then you're not.
Next speaker please, you know how the rules work, let's move ahead, come on.
I think Ava's going to give me her minute as well.
I'm Tim, Tim O'Brien.
I'm going to wait until everybody's back.
Do I get to just leave? Yes, there's a quorum present, please continue.
Wow.
Wow.
That's funny because Senator-elect Aragin isn't the only one leaving us.
This is likely the last or possibly penultimate city council for all three members who so zealously guarded the agenda committee this past year as if it was your own personal fiefdom.
I'm speaking of members Wengrof and Hahn, who conveniently left the chambers when I came to speak.
All three of you will be sorely missed by the special interests you carried favor with, by the JCRC and other foreign lobby groups whose talking points you've made your own, and by virulent Zionists in our community who have looked to you three as their standard bearers and heroes.
Like the woman at last night's Peace and Justice Commission hearing who called a 16-year-old high school student commissioner a Nazi for wearing a keffiyeh.
She will miss you, and you too, council members Hahn and Wengrof.
On the other hand, you won't be missed by Berkelians like myself who value transparency in government, international human rights, and honoring the will of the people.
And for the rest of you up on the dais, let the likely failed male candidacy of your colleague who you all so many backed, let that be a cautionary tale.
Do the bidding of special interests at your own peril.
Carry the water for foreign lobby groups at your own peril.
Kowtow to the wishes of Berkeley's pro-Israel fringe at your peril.
Shut out the good people of Berkeley at your own peril.
Long live democracy.
Long live Berkeley.
Thank you.
I'm going to ask colleagues who typically forward our city honor the opportunity to make remarks.
I'm going to ask unanimous consent to let our city honor an elected official address the council.
Once again, please, let's not interrupt the meeting.
Okay, we're going to call a recess.
If people continue to be disruptive, this behavior is completely unacceptable.
It's your behavior is unacceptable.
Act like an adult.
Act like an adult.
Okay, let's stop interrupting the meeting.
Stop interrupting the meeting.
I got to say, one of the great things about this being my last means I have to listen to this vitriol again.
So we'll go to the next speaker.
So I just wanted to I know this is the last meeting that we have with our mayor and the second to last meeting with.
Okay, with Vice Mayor Windgraf.
And so I just wanted to take a minute and thank the outgoing members of the city council for their service.
I've appreciated the council and I've appreciated the mayor and vice mayor on a variety of issues, including fiscal issues, such as establishing the section 115 trust to address our unfunded liabilities and establishing the reserve fund, navigating the challenges of the financial climate during COVID and your overall support on accountability issues, including establishing the whistleblower program in my office.
Collectively, there's a lot of institutional knowledge leaving the city.
50 years of background and information will no longer be on the dais.
Thanks again for your willingness to serve in your roles.
And I wish you the best in your next chapter, whether in retirement or as our state senator.
Thank you.
Okay, we're going to go to speakers on Zoom.
And if the clerk can make me a code so I can help with the facilitation.
Okay, thank you.
Okay.
I see our former colleague, Laurie Drosty.
Hello.
Can you hear me? Yes, we can.
Hi, my name is Laurie Drosty and I'm the former District 8 council member and I'm speaking on my own accord.
I'd like to take a moment to honor Jesse Aragine for your eight years of dedicated service.
Over the course of your mayoral tenure, I've had the privilege of watching you grow in this role, always striving to make Berkeley a more inclusive and equitable city.
Your work on tackling homelessness, advocating for tenant rights, and pushing for social justice initiatives have truly shaped our community for the better.
While we may not have agreed on every issue, I've always respected your commitment to serving Berkeley with integrity, as well as your ability to lead smooth and effective meetings that allowed for productive discussions, even when some people like tonight have engaged in disrespectful and gross behavior.
It really just says more about them than it does about you.
I have no doubt that your effective leadership will continue to thrive as you move on to serve in the State Senate.
Jesse, I really wish you the best in this next chapter of your public service journey, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact that I know you'll continue to have.
Thank you so much for your service to our city and best of luck to you in Sacramento.
I'll save my comments for Councilmember Susan Weingraf for her last meeting in a couple weeks.
Thanks again, Mayor Erging.
You've really done our city a wonderful, you've made great, great changes in our city and have done us all proud.
Thank you so much.
Thank you very much.
Okay, we're gonna go next to Liza Lutzker.
Hi, can you hear me? Yes.
Hi, this is Liza Lutzker.
I'm calling in about the tragic and preventable fatality of Ben Brown on Rose and Josephine last week.
First, thank you for acknowledging him.
I will say Ben was so much more than what was described there.
He was a really strong community member, worked at a business owner, worked at Cheese Board, at the Berkeley Hort, at Edible Schoolyard.
He was incredible.
He knew everybody.
And I knew him.
This was not an accident.
This was a predictable collision that happened on a road that was paved with no safety improvements, despite city policy stating that that road was supposed to receive safety treatments.
This is an issue that has been raised by Walk, Bike, Berkeley over and over on Rose, as well as on many other streets.
We have great policies and plans in place, but they are not going to work if we do not have full support for city staff to implement these plans from City Council.
And we at Walk, Bike, Berkeley are really asking for courage from the Council to not bow down to people who want to save one or two parking spots when we can be saving lives.
Please, please, as you move forward, don't be cowards.
Move forward with what we know helps.
Thank you.
Okay, our next speaker.
Yeah, I know.
Yeah, I'm not sure what's..
This one sounds okay.
Try yours, Mayor.
Testing.
Might be mine.
It's all yours.
Okay.
Our next speaker is Aviva Ruby.
Hello.
Thank you so much for calling on me.
I actually just very quickly wanted to play this.
What I experienced when I came into office was the presence of neo-Nazis marching on the streets of Berkeley.
And we stood with our faith leaders, with our Jewish leaders, with our African-American community to take a very strong and unequivocal stance against the presence of these violent hate groups in our city.
And we worked to form a regional..
What you forgot to mention when you gave this speech at the 75th JCRC anniversary is that you doxed the anti-fascist activists who very courageously went to the streets to fight the Nazis that you claim to fight against.
I will not miss you on Berkeley City Council.
I wish you nothing but the worst in the Senate.
You are an S-H-I-T stain on our city's legacy.
Good riddance.
Sophie, thank you, God, for losing.
Terry, you're next.
Susan, also good riddance.
We have nothing polite to say to you.
Okay.
So..
It's really, it's really incredibly shameful that even if people disagree, I mean, obviously you don't agree that we didn't take up a ceasefire resolution, for example.
But this, this, this, this, this behavior..
Sir, you're not recognized.
Stop yelling.
Shut up.
You don't have the floor.
It's unacceptable that people are engaging in this type of incredibly disrespectful, vitriolic behavior.
It's unacceptable.
It's unacceptable.
So..
I, I don't want to have to keep reading the rules of the quorum.
Okay, if people are going to keep disrupting the meeting, we're going to have to call a recess.
All right, we're going to go to the next speaker.
Beth Rosner.
Good evening, Mayor.
Good evening.
Good evening.
Good evening.
Good evening.
Good evening.
Good evening.
Good evening.
Good evening.
Good evening.
And Council, this is Beth Rosner, CEO of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce.
I'm just calling in tonight to say that on behalf of the Chamber, I wanted to extend our sincere thanks to you, Mayor Jesse Edegine, for your years of dedicated service to the City of Berkeley.
While we may not have always seen eye to eye on every issue, I have deeply appreciated your openness, accessibility, and willingness to engage in thoughtful dialogue.
Your leadership has had a lasting impact on our community, and your commitment to fostering a thriving and inclusive Berkeley has benefited both residents and local businesses alike.
So, thank you for your contributions and for your service to our City, and I and the Chamber wish you all the best as our next State Senator.
Thank you so much.
Okay, I'm going to go last to Nina Link.
Hello.
This is Nina Link.
I would like to cede my time to Emily, if possible.
Is Emily in the room? Okay.
Yes, please.
Thank you.
Good evening, Mr.
Mayor and City Council.
My name is Emily Schoenfreund, and I'm the Executive Director of BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation, one of the organizations that received funding of up to $100,000 under the proposed agreement with Becker Boards that was referred to the City for review.
While we understand that the special meeting to discuss the agreement had to be canceled, I wanted to take this opportunity to speak briefly about the proposal during public comment.
For those unfamiliar, BORP is a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and adults with disabilities through athletic and outdoor programs.
BORP is very excited about partnering with Becker Boards to bring much needed funding to Berkeley.
We hope to work with the City to bring something back soon because the community desperately needs the support that this agreement could provide.
Like many community nonprofits, BORP is facing significant challenges in this time of economic instability and uncertainty.
Costs have skyrocketed across the board, while grants and other funding have not kept pace.
Our staff have made extraordinary efforts to sustain our programming, which many participants call life-changing.
We've had to make difficult cutbacks, and this agreement would go a long way towards fostering our programs.
Thank you so much, and thank you for your service.
Thank you very much.
Okay, that completes public comment on managing matters.
So, we still have this feedback issue.
Okay, let's take a break.
We need to take a caption break, right? So, we'll take a break, and you can check out the speaker system.
Thank you, and we'll come back for the consent calendar.
Recording stopped.
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Segment 3

Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Jesse Blum.
Thank you.
I would like to see if we can move my colleagues to add a number 25 amendment to the FY 2025 annual fund balance.
In conversation with Councillor Humber there was one addition he wanted to recommend.
If I could just share screen I can show this.
He had requested that we add this item on line 84 to allocate 150,000 to create a city park at Parkside Drive.
So I would like to ask that we add that.
I would like to ask that we add that.
I would like to ask that we incorporate that recommendation.
So with that amendment do we agree to move it to consent? I'm looking for nodding heads.
Any objection? Hearing none.
We'll move item 25, the FY 2025 annual appropriations to consent.
I know we have a number here in support of that.
I would like to move item 26, amendments to BMC chapter 22.16, the development agreement procedures.
I would like to move that to consent as well.
Is there any objection to that? Hearing no objection we'll move that to consent as well.
If you would like to speak to item 26, the amendments to BMC chapter 22.16, development agreement procedures, we'll take your comments on the consent item.
Thank you.
Any other councillors wish to recognize on consent? Councillor Kishanwani.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Mayor.
For item 23, is this the appropriate time to refer that to the budget and finance policy committee? That's the council's prerogative.
So is there any objection to referring that to the budget and finance policy committee? I would like to understand why.
Because it doesn't have a budget ask.
It's basically just handing off a project from the mayor's office that I happen to have worked on with the mayor's office as well.
But there's no budget implication.
So I'm trying to understand why it would need to go to the city manager or others.
I think there's a desire to better understand the legal and financial structures that are contemplated here, such as a joint powers authority.
And this would be authorizing the city manager and city attorney to engage staff or consultants as needed.
So I think there's a desire to understand what is the cost of doing so if we were to proceed here.
So to have further discussion at the budget committee.
I think it would be appropriate for them to get that information.
That information is not in hand.
Not to go ahead and do something.
But literally the information is not available at this time.
So it would be to get that information and come back to council with ideas and recommendations.
I'm just clarifying.
Madam Vice Mayor.
Yeah, I just say if council members have a desire to have more information, maybe we should pull it to action.
I mean, one suggestion was made to send it to budget and finance, but.
Yeah, I mean, I just was saying that there wasn't a budget implication.
So I just didn't understand why it would go to health.
I mean, if there's supposed to be some kind of substantive discussion of hospitals, then maybe it goes to health or something.
But it's yeah.
I think there's simply a desire to better understand this.
So I think either the budget committee or the health policy committee would be fine.
All right.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I mean, I guess we're on is correct that this is this is not asking the council appropriating money.
It's actually asking staff to do the analysis so we would understand what the cost of this would be and so that we can.
So the council at a future point can have that information and make decisions.
Yeah.
I mean, I think it's fair.
After tonight's council, those continuing counselors want more time to discuss this.
I don't have a problem with that personally.
So I send it to the health and life enrichment policy committee would be appropriate.
So I have no objection that I think we could move forward tonight.
But I'm not going to I'm not going to stop until we have time to review the studies and to have a discussion.
I just won't be here.
So I can't answer your questions.
So but I know the city attorney's office engaged some experts who assisted in this analysis.
So perhaps they can they can help answer any questions that that counselors may have and this goes to policy committee.
I think Humber, did you want to be a co-sponsor? Yeah.
To that item.
Thank you.
And to have the floor.
Councilor Kisilani, anything else? I think that that is all for now.
Thank you very much.
OK.
Councilor Trago.
Thank you.
I support the moving of all of these items to consent.
Thank you.
I had a question on item 26, which I think could just be answered by staff.
How does this structure differ from the agreement that was done with Bayer.
Mr.
Mayor, Director Kline is on the line is best positioned to answer that question.
Good evening, council members.
The proposed amendments to the development agreement provisions would make slight amendments to streamline the process to establish and review a development agreement.
It wouldn't necessarily change the nature of the resultant agreement.
It wouldn't limit the city in any way in the manner in which it could negotiate from with prospective applicants.
Sorry.
And I had a different question.
The report said that no DAs have been executed since the 90s when this structure was first put in place.
Correct.
So if you can just remind me what the vehicle was for.
I see.
Thank you.
Yes.
The the the the the the the Yes, the the the the.
Yes.
The the the Bayer DA was initially executed I believe in 1991.
And then the city of Berkley and Bayer amended that agreement to extend it for an additional 30 year term.
Okay.
That that makes sense.
And then I just wanted.
We followed the procedure right and the old old code.
That's correct.
We provide.
We followed the procedure for amendments that was established to come up with a much, much more thoughtful process to consider these development agreements and hopes that more people will take advantage of development agreements as a tool to implement large projects in Berkley.
Great.
Thank you.
And then I just wanted to thank the mayor and the work of the Budget and Finance Committee for and the city manager and staff for their thoughtful recommendations.
There are so many good things here.
And I am in particular because this is obviously pedestrian safety and bike safety is so important and so near and dear to our hearts.
I want to thank the committee for its recommendation of fifty five thousand dollars to install an accessible pedestrian signal at the intersection of Sacramento and Austin.
Any other council members on the consent calendar.
Councilman.
I just wanted to take a short occasion to speak to the fatal accident in my district at Josephine and Rose which is very heartbreaking.
But I also wanted people to know that that is an intersection where I have repeatedly requested upgrades over the years.
I have an item that was passed by this city council called Bright Streets which specifically directed our staff to improve all the crosswalks and safety markings around our public schools but also along key routes to and from buses and from other transit that bring our children our youth to their schools.
And I literally have walked Rose Street with the previous traffic engineer and asked for crosswalks to be put in that location.
I did get a stop sign on Rose at Walnut which was a very dangerous corner.
And it was so difficult to get that I finally had to do a standalone council item to direct staff to put that stop sign in.
And then it still took them more than three years to actually place it.
So I want the public to know that this council as a whole has repeatedly requested and has repeatedly emphasized the need for us to put safety improvements in.
I personally have worked really hard to try and improve safety on the rim where we had a number of fatalities and thank goodness the new folks and public works are finally listening and they're going to be putting in safety improvements that I asked for and council member Wengraf probably longer than me for many years.
So people have had to give their lives literally for the inability to get this kind of safety infrastructure in place.
So I just want to be very upfront and clear about it that there is it's a tragedy.
And it is something that is a grave concern to me and my level of frustration when something like this happens at a location that I have repeatedly identified as problematic and that this council has referred to staff to improve.
It just exacerbates my level of heartbreak over this.
Any other comments or questions on the consent calendar.
Yes.
Thank you Mr.
Mayor.
I just wanted to also note that on this consent calendar we're going to be accepting the grant award from the state of more than $5 million to resolve the encampment at Cedar and Second Street with the use of the Howard Johnson Motel at 1619 University Avenue that will be operated by Dorothy Day House.
This is an incredible opportunity for us to provide 24 7 shelter for people who are currently in an unsafe area.
So I just wanted to note that.
Thank you very much.
And I'll just also note on the consent calendar as well as another pretty significant item item 13 which is the approval of agreements to effectuate the transit oriented development project at the Ashby BART station.
And this follows up on the action we took on September 16th to approve the agreement to provide the air rights exchange for various community benefits and ownership of what's called the East slot around adjacent to the Ed Roberts campus.
And I just want to take this opportunity to thank BART particularly director now Congresswoman Latifah Simon our city attorney and all the staff in the city attorney's office our city manager and counselor Bartlett in particular for his leadership in helping move this transformative project forward.
And this I think is going to create hundreds if not a thousand new homes at the Ashby BART station 50 percent of which at the West slot would be permanently affordable.
And with our right to return policy we're going to prioritize people that lived in the South Berkeley neighborhood for who have been displaced to be able to live in the new affordable housing at this project.
So this is I think a huge step forward for South Berkeley and for the Berkeley community and just want to acknowledge that we're taking action on this on this consent calendar.
Councillor Kaplan I'm sorry it wasn't actually in the queue.
Thank you.
Council member Casper Ronnie's remarks jogged my memory that yes there is a I I to applaud this opportunity.
I do want to acknowledge that this particular hotel is in my district.
I wanted to note that the Dorothy Day house which is cited in my district as well has a stellar reputation for managing projects like this demonstrating both compassion for the residents and great respect for neighbors and the community at large.
Our office does plan to hold an in-person community meeting to discuss this project in more detail.
Neighbors will have the opportunity to ask questions of the city staff responsible for coordinating it and representatives from the Dorothy Day house.
So to the community and interested parties please save the date Wednesday December 11th 530 to 7 p.m.
We will be following up with more details and we also sent this out in our neighborhood newsletter earlier today.
Thank you so very much.
OK.
Any other council members who wish to be recognized in the consent count.
Councilor Bartlett.
Thank you Mr.
Senator.
The item 23 very important.
So I think I still serve on the health life enrichment.
Yes I do.
OK.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I really accept this is about saving all debates.
It's about the creeping hospital desert that has crept into Berkeley and California itself and the whole country.
So we know that the distance between hospitals and patients increase the likelihood of death.
And we know that in Berkeley we deserve a hospital.
So every one of us in this community deserves a hospital that could save it.
So I'm looking forward to unpacking it.
I want to thank you for your work.
Councilman Han and Mr.
Senator for devising these programs.
And you know I think we'll have a good players with us in the regional level here to help us develop it.
And 24 again Mr.
Mayor you're Mr.
Senator your work on devising the ABB initiative with Anthony particular Anthony from your office.
How many meetings we have so far.
How many meetings we've had this year.
And you've been diligent and developing really a next generation initiative and really thankful for your work.
Thank you.
Any other comments.
OK.
If not I'd like to summarize the changes to the consent calendar.
So the consent calendar is as in our published agenda with the following changes.
Item 23 is on the consent calendar that's being referred to the consent calendar.
Item 25.
The ordinance amending the FY 2025 and appropriations ordinance or major budget that's been moved to the consent counter.
So if you're here to talk about that we welcome your comments on it.
When I opened the public comment period for the consent calendar item 26 amendments to BMC Chapter 2 2 1 6 development agreement procedures that's been moved to the consent count as well and you're able to speak to that when we open public comment on the consent counter.
So now open public comment on the consent calendar.
Please limit your comments to items on the consent counter only.
And we'll see if people can line up on this side of the room and then we'll go to speakers on Zoom.
Thank you.
Good evening.
Item for encampment resolution the money from the state to sweep and demolish communities around the area.
Not a really good idea.
It's not.
It doesn't help people.
It takes state money and isn't that a very very long way.
People's Park it's not over.
And there's a connection between the two and how those people who were there went elsewhere on those from there got kicked out into Oakland.
When I hear you say that you're elected to do certain things but yet you're sworn to defend against enemies foreign and domestic.
The foreign enemies of course would be the Zionists in Israel comments.
The message for the next terrorist would be domestic.
I'm just I'm just so fed up.
These are the best of times times.
I'm going to leave it like that.
I'm going to leave it like that.
I'm the president of the and I'm going to be here for a couple of years.
I have been here today.
We have a crisis at that location.
I have at least 15 kids who are sick with pneumonia.
I have another 15 seniors who are sick with pneumonia.
We have a change.
We are experiencing rain.
We know that at least two storms, severe storms, are coming into Berkeley.
We want the cold shelters to be open immediately.
Thank you, ma'am.
Keep us up to date with your comments.
They have to be open immediately so that we can take care of our people.
Because the liability of this city for all the death after note, I have been interning for over almost 50 years.
I promise we will litigate this and we will sue the city of Berkeley for not opening those shelters immediately.
I'm not going to have our residents die because of your lack of action.
Thank you.
Your time is up.
That was not on the agenda.
Your time is up.
We need to go to the next speaker.
Ma'am, sit down.
Your time is up.

Segment 4

We have a process.
We need to hear from other speakers.
They've been waiting patiently.
Your time is up.
We appreciate your comments.
We need to go to the next speaker.
Ma'am, please come forward.
Ma'am, your time is up.
You need to sit down.
I'm going to have to call a recess if you don't sit down.
Okay.
Colleagues, we're going to take a five-minute recess.
I'd like to address the special care unit evaluation.
I think I have a minute or two.
I've got at least two minutes.
Recording in progress.
Look, I have to say, number one, that I'm actually grateful for her intervention.
People's lives are on the line, and I think we're forgetting that in the pomp and the ceremony of it all, that if one person's life is valuable, everybody's life is valuable.
The special care unit, so I'm on the Mental Health Commission.
I was also on the special care unit steering committee.
I'm really, I was not told, I didn't realize that $40,000 was being added to the evaluation.
To make that evaluation of the special care unit, almost $300,000.
In my time on the steering committee and on the Mental Health Commission, we have not seen any financials of how the original $5 million has been spent.
What we have is a situation where still the special care unit is not being broadly advertised.
This past Sunday, a man was stopped.
A man with his clothes were soiled.
He was drinking a beverage.
He was sitting on a bench.
Two cop cars are around him.
They say that they're doing a wellness check.
This is on Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
Those are special care unit hours.
That is supposed to be happening.
I asked the cop, wait, if this is a wellness check, why isn't the special care unit here? He said, well, they called us and not them.
The system is not working.
You don't need $300,000 to tell you that.
I can tell you that right here.
And most of us who are paying attention can tell you that if the fire department, if they're not getting dispatch calls, if they are not being called, if the phone number is not being broadly advertised, nobody is using the service.
There's nothing to evaluate.
This project is being horribly mismanaged.
There's no project manager.
Scott Gitlin has taken it over de facto among all his other responsibilities.
Katie Hahn left, right? There's no replacement there.
The people at Bonita House who are in charge of it, they're gone.
Chris is out.
At this point, it's careening like a giant with no head.
Giving it more money right now is not the answer.
You have to figure out what has been done with the other money.
And to give RBA $300,000 to evaluate something, we already know the problems.
You haven't been able to fix the problems that we already have.
So getting, you know, and there's abysmal, what can I say? You don't need to go to the dude with the soiled pants and say, how did the SEU do, right? You don't need some focus groups.
You don't need all that.
We don't even have a sample size that really would give you the information you want.
This is a bad idea.
You need a different idea.
We want the special care unit to succeed.
God knows we need it.
But right now, I haven't seen, Cecilia has come to the Mental Health Commission.
She's putting her toe in the water, but we need direct involvement.
Ben, you and I talked over the summer.
Somebody with power has to intervene.
It's sinking.
The ship is sinking.
I just wanted to let the city council know, sorry, that SEU refuses, refuses to come to our encampment.
The police cannot, can't not even direct them to come to our encampment.
They refuse and our people are dying and very sick.
♪ neighbors and I are opposed to this development because of one pedestrian safety.
There are no additional sidewalks or pedestrian barriers.
I have seen this happen to my kids, dog walkers and pedestrians in this area.
My children have almost been run over multiple times.
Stop controls are not provided on the east-west side of the cycle track.
The sight lines from Bonnard and Dwight intersection are compromised on the north side of this intersection.
Two, bicycle safety.
Bikes exiting the cycle track will have a conflict in front of a driveway where it is the only location for trash, recycling and compost, weekly pickups by the city of Berkeley and delivery.
Three, fire safety.
Dwight way is a designated evacuation road.
The California DOT recommends not narrowing lanes in the direction of evacuating traffic.
Placing the bike lane on the north side of the street as shown in the current plans narrows the bike lane and narrows the vehicular lane.
Putting it on the south side of the street does not do that.
Four, this is negligence by the city over safety.
Homeowners and residents have warned this council about the dangers associated with this alignment for two years.
Terry, we've been trying to talk to you.
The city has failed to adequately address the risks associated with the new bike lane design and failed to implement adequate safety measures to mitigate these risks.
Five, this design is promoted by advocacy groups rather than residents who live within 300 feet of this intersection.
Countless data points related to pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic patterns at this intersection have been provided to the city via videos, PDFs and photos.
The city has relied on the emotional appeals of advocacy groups while they repeatedly fill vacancies at the transportation and planning department.
Data points from the public and city and regional planning best practices have been dismissed.
We've warned you.
If this goes through and is approved, the accidents and the lawsuits are going to begin.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Next speaker, please.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Hi, mayor, council members.
My name is Consuelo Duber Hernandez and I am the executive director of La Pena Cultural Center.
Really more than anything today, I want to thank the overwhelming support that you all have given us and also the support from our community members during this whole campaign this year and these hard times for La Pena.
In previous council meetings, I have talked about La Pena's five decades of work building strong communities in Berkeley.
I've also talked about La Pena's financial challenges, about the changes in local and national philanthropy.
Last week, I talked about the recent elections and the rising need for solace and protection that we see and need to hold for our communities.
And I've also talked about my own experience at La Pena as an immigrant.
So I guess what is left to say today is that although this is a one-time fund responding to a very particular moment in time, it is also an investment in the future, not only of La Pena as an organization, but of countless of diasporic and marginalized communities who rely on people, on places like La Pena to make sense of their lives in this country and to hold tight to their value as artists, as educators, as cultural bearers, as human beings.
I take very seriously the fact that what we do today is what we teach the younger generations to replicate in the future.
And in that sense, I believe La Pena is a school where together we are constantly crafting, modeling, and also experiencing the future we want to live in five, 10, 50 years from now.
La Pena is a constant teacher.
It is a generational bridge.
So approving this one-time fund, and I hope you see it in this way too, means betting on that future to exist and betting on all of us to have agency in it.
So thank you for your trust in our work and for your consideration of this funding.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mayor Argin.
My name is Kristin Argin.
I'm the former president of Berkley Arts Center, and I'm here in support of consent item number 25 that includes a budget referral line item for Berkley Arts Center.
I would like to take this time to thank Mayor Argin for including our item in this recommended budget, and also to thank Councilmember Hahn for authoring our item and for supporting our organization during this time of crisis.
These funds will allow us to continue our mission of supporting artists, allowing them to create and exhibit work, and most importantly, these funds will allow us to pay artists for their labor.
In addition, these funds will help the organization continue to contribute to the economic vitality of artists here in Berkley.
So thank you so much for your support and partnership, and I hope to see you soon at Berkley Arts Center.
Thank you.
Good evening, Councilmembers.
I just want to thank you guys for actually show my appreciation for the way you guys navigate the complexity of all of this, and I come with Carrie representing the Berkley Arts Center, and you know my family came to Berkley in 1950s.
My grandfather was an artist.
He showed at the Berkley Arts Center.
The Berkley Arts Center supported him and many other artists in the community.
We see artists as sensitive people who are in touch with deeper truths, and the Berkley Arts Center nestled in the heart of Live Oak Park is a gem of Berkley where people can share these truths and where these visions and ideas can be shared and appreciated with the community at large.
So thank you for supporting the Berkley Arts Center and including this item on the budget.
Thank you, Council and friends.
My name is Betsy Morris, and I want to thank you for your hard work, of course, but I'd like to thank you for receiving and appointing Maria Sol as a member of the Mental Health Commission.
She's a valued board member of our Berkley-East Bay Gray Panthers.
Having said that, I'd like to cede the rest of my time to another Gray Panther member active in Berkley Affairs, Carol Morozovic.
First, as to Items 3 and 4, I'm very pleased to see this moving forward and thankful to the diligence of Peter Radue and the work that he has done to provide alternatives for persons to go to outside the encampments.
But this project began when Martin v.
Boise was in effect, and now that Grant's Pass has transpired from the U.S.
Supreme Court, we need to continue the same trend.
We need to continue to find housing for people to go to rather than just abandon them.
And as such, it would have been good if in this budget cycle, money would have been set aside so that the City of Berkley could identify a location similar to a Horizon-type location.
It worked.
It worked for people that were on the freeway that everyone thought were very difficult to house, who ended up going to Horizon and ended up going to Spark satisfactorily.
We're very satisfied with the settings, and we're sorry to see it have closed.
I also have a minute from Fernanda back here.
And so I want to move to Item 8, which is, as we know, the City has to tighten their belt, that we have to be very cautious because of what's transpiring with the federal government.
And again, in Item 8, we're putting money into a consultant.
And with the SEU, we could have had Carrie Arredondo, who's doing an excellent job with the reimagining process.
She could be taking this on and working with the community in terms of evaluation.
Instead, we have this ongoing evaluation when the SEU has not improved.
It's a great idea, but the model needs a lot of work.
There are a lot of deficiencies.
And I want to draw attention to that a couple of years ago, to deflect attention from a Crisis Stabilization Center, which the Homeless Commission had recommended and Councilmember Kaplan had also worked on, former Councilmember Harrison had passed $100,000 for a crisis response study.
That $100,000 came from Measure P monies.
I was advised in January of 2023 in a private meeting with former HHSCS Director Lisa Varjos that that went to RDA.
It was folded into the SEU evaluation so RDA could do a report.
Almost two years later, we have not seen any report.
We need to have the SEU work so that's very, very effective and viable.
We don't need ongoing consultants making them wealthier without results.
Thank you.
Hi, my name is Gordon Gilmore.
I'm with the Berkeley, representing for the Berkeley Homeless Union, and I'm here to speak to item number 4 predominantly, but with reference to item number 3 tangentially.
According to the application for the ERF-3 funds submitted by Joshua Jacobs from the Homeless Response Team, the majority of those funds have been allocated to interim housing, such as the hotels you already heard discussed, although these funds are supposed to be used for permanent housing solutions.
Interim housing, funded by previous encampment resolution funds 1 and 2, is filled quickly by a small percentage of the folks at the encampments being cleared, and the folks who end up acquiring these rooms are thrown into a situation of insecurity.
A number of times, folks have found themselves violating rules for living there that they didn't understand or hadn't been informed of, and this has been used as cause to kick them out without forewarning, such as with Tom and Mike.
These empty rooms are then used to house new folks who lose their shelter during sweeps, so Homeless Response Team can maintain optics of housing people with reference to federal best practices.
With the recent encampment policy resolution, which encourages the use of hardscaping and the possibility of arrest for re-encampment without one of the six rationalizations for sidestepping the ruling of Martin v.
Boise 2018 and initial approaches to encampments since the ruling, to enter into such interim housing can only seem like leaving your safety net to be dangled over perilous precarity.
We need to talk about more helpful solutions and how these funds are allocated, and we're planning to reach out to talk to the state about the HRT's disingenuous application, as we need to find someone who will listen, and we have yet to hear from you regarding our letter to you from November 1st about how the ERF-3 grants will be put to use.
Thank you.
Hi, my name is Jessica Prado, and I'm a representative for the Berkeley Homeless Union.
As Gordon had reiterated to you guys, we have reached out to your office multiple times.
We have called you.
We have come in person.
We have requested an appointment, and then your staff told us to call 311 to make an appointment with you.
So there has been no way to even to talk to you about these issues that are going on on the streets, and then you guys are wondering why we're filing lawsuits when you're not even willing to communicate to find solutions with us.
So we have outlined it with you and given you this letter that outlined the specific requirements that Second Street residents are asking about this grant.
They would like for compensation for vehicle residents.
If the city is requiring them to surrender their security for an offer of shelter, RV residents will be compensated fairly to provide equivalent safety.
After careful consideration, the Berkeley Homeless Union has determined that a fair and just compensation for any RV in this community is $10,000.
And this is a collective bargain.
All residents would like to have this money to be able to be secure.
The other one, we also would like to have a meeting with the response team to review the shelter rules, as this is what you noted in your application for the grant.
And you have yet to met with the residents about the shelter and what we'll provide for them.
We also would like a clear timeline on when the encampment will be closing.
People are living in constant uncertainty, not knowing when there will be this place without access to safe shelter.
We are requesting a clear, transparent timeline so people can plan for the closure of this encampment.
We're also asking for transparency and equity in shelter bed allocation.
It appears that city staff may be selectively determining who will receive shelter at this encampment.
And they have done this in previous priority encampments like 8th and Harrison, which I witnessed firsthand, rather than engaging with all camp residents equitably.
We further request that all outreach staff leave their contact information with residents and throughout the encampment so people in this encampment know who to contact and know their follow up options.
We're also asking for ensuring a fair and transparent communication.
You know, city staff often leave big messaging, and we just simply want to clearly communicate so people can be transitioned into housing.
Thank you.
Okay, don't start my time, please.
Can I just have 10 seconds to tell me any game that I am wishing you the best of luck and do well and be blessed? Because I think what's important is that we all get along and compromise.
That's democracy.
And so congratulations, as well as Council Member Winegrap.
I know this is your last meeting as well, too.
But that's someone who's saying that.
Well, still, I just want to wish you all the best, both of you.
And it's been good to be here and for us all to work together.
Even if we disagree, it doesn't matter.
So thank you.
Okay, now, is that okay? All right.
So my name is Andrea Henson, and I'm the executive director of Where Do We Go? I'm speaking to item 3 and 4, which Where Do We Go is mentioned because we're supposed to work together.
But sometimes I don't think we're working together now because folks get upset that I say that maybe sometimes the homeless response team isn't as nice as they ought to be.
I really value kindness and politeness.
And even if we disagree, we all have to get along.
And so lately, they haven't been talking to us.
They haven't been working with us.
And a key part to success of this grant is working with us.
I'm out on the street.
I have a guy going out tomorrow from the hospital who has lung cancer and bone cancer.
And he's going to be in a tent.
We're going to provide that tent.
I'm going to need to work with the city on that.
And if they're mad at me, that's not good.
I had a young woman last week who was shot in the head, and they didn't want to work with me.
She was put out on the street the same day because they disagreed with my views.
It's not time for that.
We all go back and forth.
And even if we disagree, we have to work together for this to be successful.
And so as you all get this money, I look forward to working with you because I'm going to keep trying.
I've also reached out to the businesses in District 1 because it's time for us to create a culture of solutions and to help the people who really need it and figure out how we can fix this rather than go back and forth and fight.
We all want the best for the people on the street and those in our community in Berkeley, everyone.
So I look forward to working with all of you on the receipt of this funding.
And good luck to both of you.
Thank you.
Okay, we're going to go to those speakers on Zoom who would like to speak on the consent calendar.
David's iPhone.
Hi.
A few things that were on action, so I hope you'll indulge me, but I understand if not.
First, I want to thank Mayor Aragine and Council Member Hahn for your leadership on the hospital issue.
It's so important.
My two kids were born in Alta Bates.
I have darkened that ER doorstep several times.
My family has relied on the hospital in times of need.
What you guys are trying to do is really hard.
You're trying to exercise regional leadership to build a new hospital.
That kind of effort and that kind of leadership is the best of Berkeley, and I thank you for it.
And I hope that, you know, this is something that we're going to pick up and not let that ball drop.
As for the budget, you absolutely should not fund any new nexus studies.
I'm on the Housing Advisory Commission, speaking only for myself, but we are reviewing the feasibility study in a few weeks.
You've all seen it.
It is bleak.
And we should not be layering on new fees to build housing in the city of Berkeley if we are serious about housing in the city of Berkeley.
Lastly, the development agreement reforms.
Great stuff.
Love it.
Why is it 2024? And we're talking about referrals from 2018 and 2011.
That's 13 years it took to get this from the original referral to getting it back in front of council.
There's something seriously wrong with how we do business in this town, and I hope that we're able to, like, tighten up these cycles going forward, because it's very difficult to make progress when it takes 13 years for something to come back to council.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is former Councilor Davila.
Yeah, I'm talking about Item 4.
I agree with all the things that Jessica and Andrea, where do we go, said.
And what Andrea Pritchett said also, it's interesting that, you know, the SCU isn't functioning, and now you're going to put $40,000 additional dollars into evaluating it.
That seems like a waste of money, like I agree with what was previously stated.
And it's really sad that, you know, Zionists have an opportunity to speak at this council meeting.
Our next speaker is Thet, followed by Jess.
Good evening.
I'm Thet Shane Nguyen, board member of the Berkley Arts Center and a North Berkley homeowner, asking you to please support back Item Number 25.
On Saturday, we had an event for painting ourselves into society, featuring the work of incarcerated artists.
The two curators, formerly incarcerated writer, Rahsaan Thomas, and artist Orlando Smith, calling us from inside San Quentin prison, shared their intentions with an audience of about 30 people from Berkley, Richmond, Oakland, SF, and Lafayette, who were artists, teachers, social workers, writers, and one tech worker.
They were homeowners and renters, old and young, black, white, Burmese, Latino, Iranian, Jewish, straight, and queer.
My point is, all of these folks, many grieving after our recent election, came out on a Saturday morning, united by their desire to support artists, back, and to hear how art gives voice to incarcerated artists, enabling them to express their humanity within a system that dehumanizes them.
This is just one powerful example of what Back Since 1967 offers our community through visual art.
The show is open until January 12th and is free to everyone.
Please consider supporting us.
Thank you so much, and thank you for your service.
Thank you very much.
Okay, our next speaker is Jess, followed by Liza.
Can you guys hear me now? Yes, we can.
Good evening, council members.
I'm speaking tonight in support of item 25.
My name is Jess Shirkey, and I'm honored to serve on the board of the Berkley Arts Center.
My journey there began at a transformative community dinner on the bridge, where art and connection came together in a beautifully powerful way.
In light of our recent presidential election, I feel more committed than ever to the BAC's role as a place of refuge, a space where marginalized voices can find support, expression, and belonging.
The BAC is more than a gallery.
It's a sanctuary for creativity and inclusivity, bringing people together to foster understanding and hope.
That's why I joined the board, to ensure that this vital work continues to grow.
I believe that art has the power to unite us and to create meaningful change, and I'm proud to be a part of a community that embodies that vision, and I want to thank you for your consideration this evening.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is Liza Lutzker.
Good evening again, council.
I just wanted to say that WalkBike Berkley is really in support of item number 25.
Thank you for moving it to consent.
We're especially excited about the $55,000 to install an accessible pedestrian signal at the intersection of Sacramento and Alston Way.
Thank you, Councilmember Tragob, for putting that forward.
This is a critical intersection that is used all the time by many families and children going to and from Starbuck Creek Park to Oxford to the new Longfellow site.
There has never been a pedestrian signal at this intersection, which is just wild.
I'm really grateful that this is moving forward.
This is a really important feature for those folks with disabilities in our community, as well as for the general public.
Thank you so much for supporting this.
Appreciate it.
Our next speaker is Ben Kuczynski, followed by Kelly Hammerkamp.
Hello.
I'd like to comment on consent item number 15, and more specifically, the proposed bikeway crossing along Dwight Way between Mabel and Benar.
In today's agenda packet, city staff have recommended a two-way cycle track for this crossing, and the report also outlines the lengthy public outreach process.
However, what they neglected to mention was the overwhelming local community support for the one-way bike lane option.
We have communicated our concerns with city staff through in-person conversations, emails, Zoom meetings, attendance at public information sessions, and have also provided staff with information on the proposed bikeway crossing.

Segment 5

a letter signed by over 60 households that live within a few blocks of the proposed improvements, outlining point by point the community's preference for the one-way bike lane design and our safety concerns for the two-way cycle track option.
If the city proceeds with the proposed improvements, there will be a significant negative impact to the safety and quality of life of the local community.
We ask you not to approve this resolution today without first improving the bikeway design at this intersection so that it truly creates a safer crossing for everyone.
Thank you for your time.
Okay, our next speaker is Kelly Hambren.
Okay, item 24.
This looks very good, but I was wondering why the Black Repertory Group Theater wasn't in the list.
I remember when I moved to Berkeley, I was really excited that we had a Black Repertory Theater, and I'm sorry not to see that on the list.
Number 26, the development agreement.
I mean, I support development agreements, but I really wish that ZAB was involved in looking at the agreements.
I attend the ZAB meetings regularly and also the design review committee, which might be the better place.
They really have great suggestions for making projects better, improving projects, so I'm sorry to see that they won't, doesn't look like they'll be part of it any longer.
On the AA01, I was hoping we would have a larger reserve and postpone what could be postponed to AA02.
I'm afraid we're in for some very rough times with our national government.
We really don't know what this is going to be like.
We'll know a little more at the beginning of January, but it looks like it's going to be pretty bad.
On the shelters, we used to have, we used to open senior shelters for overnight.
I was wondering if we had any capacity to do that anymore to augment the other shelters that we have.
And, you know, workable light at Alston and Sacramento is nice, but we already have a signal there, and I know there's other intersections in the city that don't have anything at all that are really pretty precarious for pedestrians and bicyclists.
So those are my comments.
I'm not watching the clock.
I don't know how much time I have left.
Do I have another minute? No, but that's, please complete your thought.
I covered what's on my list.
And then just the SCU, I agree we sent too much money to consultants.
I think we can hear from the community.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Are there any other attendees on Zoom wishing to speak on the consent calendar? If so, please raise your virtual hand.
I don't see any other hands raised.
Okay, so I'll bring it back to the Council.
I'll move the consent calendar as amended.
Any further discussion? Council Member Trageb? I just wanted to clarify with respect to the APS item.
This is specifically to make sure that it is ADA accessible.
We have constituents in our district that are, yes, it has a button, but they're not able to use it the way it's designed, and this would ensure that it is a more safe and accessible intersection for pedestrians and bicyclists of all abilities.
Thank you.
Okay, unless there's any further discussion, if the City Clerk can please call the roll on adoption of the consent calendar.
Okay, Council Member Castorwani? Yes.
Taplin? Yes.
Bartlett? Yes.
Trageb? Aye.
Ahn? Yes.
Weintraub? Yes.
Lunafarra? Yes.
Humbert? Yes.
And Mayor Eric? Yes.
Okay.
Okay, that completes our agenda.
The ADA is approved.
Thank you all for coming tonight.
I'll move to suspend the rules and to adjourn.
Second.
Is there any objection to that motion? Okay, hearing no objection, just say it's been an honor.
It's been a privilege.
I wish you all the best.
Look forward to working with you, and with that, this meeting is now adjourned.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Recording stopped.