The fate of more than 3,000 students who otherwise would be enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley next school year rests with a case before the California Supreme Court starting today. 

Some residents of the city of Berkeley are seeking to have university enrollment frozen at the 2020-2021 level to ensure UC analyzes and mitigates the impacts of enrollment on the city and its residents. 

The court could decide to review the case, deny a review and let the lower court's ruling stand, or take other action such as referring the case back to the lower court with instructions on how to proceed.  

The California Court of Appeals decided on Feb. 10 to let a lower court ruling stand. UC Berkeley appealed the ruling to the state Supreme Court Feb. 14.  

Chancellor Carol Christ and Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Catherine Koshland said the evolving situation has "enormous potential significance."  

In terms of enrollment, it means at least 3,050 fewer undergraduate students in 2022-23 than is called for in the university's plan. 

It may mean $57 million in lost tuition, fees, and state support, which would limit the university's "ability to deliver instruction, provide financial aid for low and middle-income students, adequately fund critical student services, and maintain our facilities," Christ and Koshland wrote.  

Gov. Gavin Newsom weighed in on Friday, asking the Supreme Court to grant a stay in the case, which the regents of the University of California requested.  

Newsom had state Attorney General Rob Bonta file an amicus brief in the 'Save Berkeley's Neighborhoods v. Regents of the University of California' case because the enrollment cap could undermine state priorities.  

According to Newsom's office, the loss of the more than 3,000 students would affect disadvantaged and underrepresented students more than others.  

"We can't let a lawsuit get in the way of the education and dreams of thousands of students who are our future leaders and innovators," Gov. Newsom said in a statement Friday. "I urge the Supreme Court to step in to ensure we are expanding access to higher education and opportunity, not blocking it." 

Phil Bokovoy, president of Save Berkeley Neighborhoods, said he feels for the young people who could be affected by the enrollment cap.  

The university has made students "political pawns" in this case, Bokovoy said. He also said university leaders have done so out of incompetence and cynical political maneuvering.  

"It's dishonest about how the problem was created," Bokovoy said. 

Bokovoy argued that UC Berkeley does not have to reject any in-state students under the enrollment cap if they admit zero out-of-state students and graduate students in certificate programs.  

He also argues that the $57 million is little money for the university. 

The lower court found that the environmental analysis of the impact of enrollment was inadequate for three primary reasons: housing displacement, increasing homelessness, and noise in Berkeley neighborhoods.

Mayor Arreguin and others are dead wrong about the cap on enrollment at UC Berkeley. The number of students admitted is decided by the University, and now they choose to enroll large numbers of foreign and out of state students because they pay more.

UCB can decide to enroll more California students if it chooses to do so. So the cap will not restrict the number of freshmen from California if UCB chooses to enroll more.

Right now, there are over 45,000 students at Berkeley and there is a severe housing shortage for everyone. A cap is necessary to challenge UCB greed in enrolling foreign and out of state students and more students than it can house.

Californians support UCB and UCB can admit more Californians.

Thank you, Margot Smith, for your important letter, which was published in the LA Times. Many people are twisting the facts and failing to see the urgent need for the court order to be upheld capping enrollment. The city foolishly sent a letter of support to our alma mater to continue its reckless policy of over-enrolling and under-promising housing. And no, destroying a historic park or evicting rent controlled tenants and demolishing their building is not solving the housing crisis - six other opportunity sites were identified to build student housing that remain available. It is reckless and cruel to students left scrambling for housing (as you know- Cal provides the least housing of all UCs) AND harmful to the local community to create a huge increased demand for services without providing the infrastructure to meet that demand.

Remember when the city didn’t have enough ambulances when a number of students fell ill from partying and the city had to contract outside cities to transport sick and injured Berkeley residents and students to the hospital? There is a long list of rational, justifiable, critical and urgent reasons the court order stopping reckless over enrollment must be upheld. The Mayor spoke in support of the UC practice of over-enrollment as necessary and that if denied would result in the denial of enrollment to thousands of Students of Color. He said that the lawsuit by concerned community was ‘bludgeoning’ the problem instead of performing a surgical solution. Can someone outline a compelling rebuttal -? Rhetoric 101– don’t allow a fallacious argument go by without a swift and persuasive counter argument.

I know by observation and anecdotal evidence that the excessive number of enrolled students is not done for the purpose of enrolling more Black, Brown and Indigenous students. Our alma mater has a horrible track record of under enrolling a racially diverse population and only adopted initiatives recently after Black students, staff and alumni waged a strategic series of protests six years ago with a list of demands. #BlackLivesMatter - I was a part of that historic process.  

I worry about the fallout and consequences of over-enrollment. I get calls all the time from young people accepted at Cal who cannot find safe, affordable housing — whose excitement from the admission letter fades when they cannot get admission to a place to live. I know too many students (many Black and Brown) who arrive ready and excited to start school at Cal who end up sleeping in their car or couch surfing.  

The real bludgeoning is the failure to meet the students need for housing to accompany that admission letter - and the cruel and reckless policy of saying ‘welcome to Cal, but sorry there’s no room for you to be housed.’  

Go Bears!

It is profoundly disturbing that President Biden chose to seize $7 billion of Afghan assets frozen in U.S. banks and divert the money to victims of the 9/11 attacks. Many of these families have condemned Biden’s actions has a crass attempt to ingratiate himself with the American people as a desperate attempt to lift his falling approval rating. The Afghan people did NOT attack the US; this heinous crime was orchestrated by the Saudis with direct links to the monarchy. 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens. Why have the Saudis been given a free pass by successive US administrations? 28 pages of the 9/11 report have still been withheld from the American public. Why? President Biden why have you reneged in your pledge to halt all further weapons sales to the Saudis? Why do we continue selling weapons to the Saudis who have launched relentless attacks on the poverty-stricken Yeminis? The United Nations and many aid groups had been calling on the Biden administration, as well as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, to unfreeze all Afghan funds in order to stem Afghanistan’s growing economic and humanitarian catastrophe.

Antipsychotics suppress brain activity and that's apparently why they work to alleviate symptoms of psychosis. Additionally, these drugs produce a whole gamut of side effects, some of which directly cause extreme physical suffering. If you have never taken antipsychotic medication, you have no concept of this. If you've taken antipsychotics, you likely have a good idea of what I'm talking about. 

Metabolic type side effects of Second-Generation Antipsychotics, such as Olanzapine, are often apparent to anyone observing--unusual and alarming weight gain. With the weight comes Type-2 Diabetes. The medication additionally makes it much harder to get up off the sofa and exercise. 

When taking Olanzapine and most other antipsychotics, it is much harder than you can imagine, to move your body. If someone tells you that you ought to go jogging for some exercise, good luck. A futile attempt at making the body try to do something it won't. 

I recall I was just out of the hospital, and employed as a janitor at eighteen, and was medicated with "Prolixin", a relatively older antipsychotic, following my first psychotic break. For the job, I had to use my body and make myself do tasks. To do this, I faced massive difficulty and massive suffering, as my body exceedingly[JB1] resisted being made to move. 

To be able to perform at the job, I became medication noncompliant. I was able to pull this stunt off for about a year before relapsing. I earned ten thousand dollars in that year, 1983, at my janitor job. And back then, ten thousand was a lot, especially for an eighteen-year-old. Since that time, whenever I've made a work attempt, it has been while medicated. I've had to maneuver around the depressing effects of the medication. This has been tough, and it has been problematic. I haven't earned as much at a job since that time. 

Antipsychotics cause depression. It is a very physical form of depression, produced by a lack of available neurotransmitters. It is harder to read. In my teens, I was an insatiable reader. Upon being medicated, it is hard for me to get through more than ten pages of a book, without taking a break. In my writing, I'm forced to take short shifts with numerous breaks from the work. My brain doesn't like sustained exertion. If I wanted to exercise, such as going for a long walk, symptoms such as paranoia and agoraphobia interfere, but so does the suppression of the mind and body, produced by antipsychotics. 

I haven't truly covered side-effects of antipsychotics; I haven't even quite scratched the surface. I've discussed a couple of the effects and how they impact work and health. Yet there are other side effects, called "Extrapyramidal" side effects, that include rigidity and involuntary movements. This class of side effects doesn't happen to everyone and doesn't always happen. Yet, if you have Tardive Dyskinesia, which is involuntary movements of the mouth, tongue, neck, head and/or upper body, it is disfiguring and makes you stand out like a freak. And it is devastatingly disabling. Tardive Dyskinesia is often irreversible and may get worse if antipsychotics are discontinued. In recent years there are some new treatments for it, following fifty or more years of human suffering, affecting perhaps millions of psychiatric patients. 

If you decide to comply with doctor's orders and take prescribed antipsychotics, you are making a substantial sacrifice. 

And what if you defy your doctor's orders or even court orders? --You are making a substantial sacrifice, a much bigger one. You are putting your mental health at risk, and because of that, you are risking life and limb, not only of yourself, but also of others. Psychosis is a very unforgiving symptom of psychiatric illness. It can cause you to lose your connection with reality. When that happens, you can't rely on your mind to prevent you from making devastating, in some cases life threatening mistakes. 

Recovery back to reality from a period of psychosis often takes months to years, and it is a considerable life setback. Your life circumstances will probably be affected. Your mind and body will not be as good as they were before you became psychotic. 

Recovering from psychosis might only happen because of other people forcing you to take medication. In the absence of that, you could remain psychotic until you die. The decision not to comply with doctor's orders to take antipsychotics is usually foolish, and it will usually bring bad things upon you and by consequence upon your loved ones.  

Jack Bragen is author of "Revising Behaviors That Don’t Work," and lives in Martinez. He can sometimes be reached for reasons other than mental health advice at jackbragen@yahoo.com.  

Just exactly what is going on with the mayor? How does a meeting get posted as closed and then at the nearly last minute become public? As of Sunday, February 20, the City Council posted agenda page still lists that 9 am Friday, February 18, 2022 meeting as closed. This was the council vote on whether to side with UC to increase student enrollment, “Authorize Amicus Curae Support of Petition for Review in Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods v. The Regents of the University of California (American Campus Communities).”

There are lots of people unhappy with the housing situation in Berkeley and the number of ever-expanding UCB admissions is at the center of it. Did the mayor fear he couldn’t pull off a unanimous vote in closed session? 

I didn’t get the quote from former Mayor Shirley Dean exactly word for word last week. It was even stronger than I remembered it. She corrected me, “Redistricting is always political.”  

The Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) is trying awfully hard to be independent. They spent months going over regulations and responsibilities before starting on the maps. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a swirl of politics underneath the submitted maps, letters and public comment at hearings. 

I became so engrossed reading the letters to the IRC everything else came to a standstill except the pressure cooker on the stove which finally forced me to tear myself away as the beans turned into burned charcoal. To find the letters is a little complicated, as you need to scroll down to the bottom of the IRC webpage https://www.cityofberkeley.info/irc/ to “Public Submission of Proposed Maps” and click on “Submitted Community of Interest Forms.” That opens a dropbox page and the letters ( “communications”) are the very last two items. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x6p2q96if60elap/AAAWJQgxUMSskuG1AKbMZ-n7a?dl=0 

The Amber map was always the heavy favorite, going back to the first four, Amber, Blue, Maroon, Orange. After the borders were moved between District 3 and 8 to reunite the historical South Berkeley to create Amber 2 in the final round, the public response was overwhelmingly in favor of the Amber 2 map at both the Thursday evening and Saturday morning public hearings and in the emails. 

There were several emails and one speaker, Chimey Lee, who wanted to see the border between District 3 and District 4 moved back to Blake. Another speaker, Andy Katz, who also wrote a long letter, requested three blocks (one is the swimming pool) moved out of District 7 into District 4. Historically and in Amber (1), and Amber 2 the three blocks are in District 7. Ben Gould closed his 40-page letter saying he wasn’t seeking office in the foreseeable future.  

The commission chair, Elisabeth Watson, has been superb with encouraging discussion while some of us are on the edge of our chairs awaiting the outcome. Moving the District 3 boundary back to Dwight couldn’t be done without removing other blocks/sections from the District 3.  

Commissioner Rhodes, who is on the commission map subcommittee used the analogy that making tweaks, moving boundaries here and there, is like pulling a thread on a sweater: Soon the whole thing unravels. There is overwhelming support for the Amber 2 map as it is. Changes can’t be made without making other groups dissatisfied. 

Chair Watson initially made a motion to move the three blocks requested by Andy Katz and then withdrew it after hearing no substantial reason for making that change. The number of people represented by a single council member also came into the picture. 

What many of us didn’t know at the time I learned later: that moving the blocks requested by Andy Katz would have moved Councilmember Robinson out of District 7 into District 4 and pitted him against Councilmember Harrison in the upcoming fall election. Although where council members live is not supposed to be considered, it is a relief that the overwhelming favorite map, Amber 2, as it now is leaves every councilmember in their current district. 

The IRC voted to eliminate the Violet map. It was not supported. They also decided to make no changes to Amber 2, and to delay the final vote on the remaining Amber 2 map until February 28^th when the full commission is in attendance. My count was that five of the commissioners could not attend the extra Saturday meeting. Alternates were called in to make a quorum.  

Tuesday evening was a special City Council worksession on Homeless and Mental Health Systems and Services in Berkeley. As usual the mayor fell all over himself as did councilmembers in praise of the report and staff work. I can’t say from reading the report and listening to the presentation that I feel I really have a better grasp of the services provided. What was at the center of the evening was the sharp contrast between community members’ descriptions of what they observed in the treatment of the homeless and the glowing staff reports. 

Through all of it, this statement from a speaker several weeks ago on housing stays with me: “Shelter solves your sleeping problem, housing solves your homelessness problem.” There are not enough shelter beds for the homeless on our streets, and the gap between income and the cost of housing keeps growing. And, how can anyone be healthy mentally being shooed from one place to another, let alone those who are already suffering with mental illness? 

Last week I mentioned the book, The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities and the Remaking of the Civilized World by Jeff Goodall, 2017. Today when I looked at Earthweek: a diary of the planet, in the Chronicle, it said “Sea level rise is accelerating along the U.S. Coast and is expected to bring an additional hike of up to 12 inches by 2050 according to NOAA study…” 

There was another piece in Earthweek that caught my attention, “Pharma pollution: Active pharmaceutical ingredients that are being flushed into the world’s rivers in sewage are a ‘global threat to environmental and human health’…” Some months ago I attended an EBMUD Wastewater Treatment Plant webinar and asked about pharmaceutical pollution in sewage and if pharmaceuticals were removed in the treatment plant processing of sewage before it is released into the Bay. The answer was, No. EBMUD has no way to remove the pharmaceuticals. 

Not that sewage has ever been anywhere near the top of my list of things to track. The CDC is now publishing the data on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, which is a better indicator of increasing or decreasing COVID-19 in the community than testing. I’ve signed up. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/surveillance/wastewater-surveillance/wastewater-surveillance.html Will let you know more next time. 

Last, I finished Unthinkable by Jamie Raskin. There is a lot in the book. I didn’t know that Jamie Raskin as Maryland State Senator introduced legislation that made Maryland the first state to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. If you are not familiar with the National Popular Vote Compact you can read all about it at https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/. California signed on in 2011. When enough states sign the popular vote compact to reach 270, the presidential election will be won by who received the most votes. Right now, the total is 195. 

There are quotes in the book from Nancy Pelosi showing her quick wit that had me laughing out loud. I will never think of Nancy Pelosi in the same way. 

The loss of Jamie Raskin’s son is heartbreaking. It brings depression and suicide right to the forefront. The isolation from COVID-19 has made mental health so much harder sustain for those who are already having difficulty. 

While Tommy Raskin did not have COVID-19 and it is not mentioned in the book, a large peer reviewed study just released from Washington University in St. Louis found COVID-19 survivors (serious and mild infections) face increased mental health risks. “…one of the leading hypotheses is that the virus can enter the brain and disturb cellular and neuron pathways, leading to mental health disorders” https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/943601. 

Worth Noting:

Only three days of City meetings.

Tuesday the Civic art Commission Visioning Subcommittee meets at 12 pm to discuss planning for the Maudelle Shirek and Veterans Buildings. The City Council Agenda Committee meets at 2:30 pm to plan the March 8 council agenda. Tuesday evening at 6 pm is the Regular Council meeting.

Wednesday the 4 x 4 (Rent Board/City Council meets at 3 pm and the Energy Commission meets at 5 pm. The Police Accountability Board meets in a special closed session at 5 pm followed with the regular meeting at 7 pm. The Civic Arts Commission meets at 6 pm and will review the public art a poem by “In This Place” by Amanda Gorman to be placed on the mixed use building at 2352 Shattuck. The developer is requesting exception to existing policy that public art remains for the life of the building to instead remove and replace it after 10 years. The Disaster and Fire Safety Commission meets at 7 pm.

Thursday the council Budget and Finance Committee meets at 10 am. Only the agenda is posted, none of the documents. The Zoning adjustment Board meets at 7 pm. The 3233 Ellis project removes five trees and plants three non-native cypress trees.



Sunday, February 20, 2022 & Monday, February 21, 2022 – Presidents’ Holiday Weekend

 

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 

Agenda and Rules Committee at 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm, 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82263035613 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 822 6303 5613 

AGENDA: Public Comment, 2. Review and Approve Draft Agenda for 3/8/22 - 6 pm Regular City Council Meeting – full draft agenda posted after list of meetings or use link, 3. Berkeley considers, 4. Adjournments in Memory, 5. Worksessions Schedule, 6. Referrals for Scheduling: 2. Berkeley’s 2019 Community-Wide GHG Emissions Inventory, 7. Land Use Calendar, Referred Items for Review: 8. Impact of Covid-19 on meetings, 9. Analysis of return to In-person meetings, Unscheduled Items: 10. Discussion regarding design and strengthening of Policy Committee Process and Structure (including Budget referrals), 11. Strengthening and supporting City Commissions. Unfinished Business for Scheduling: Surveillance Technology Report, Acquisition and ALPR. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/Policy_Committee__Agenda___Rules.aspx 

CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting at 6 pm,  

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89664206619 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 896 6420 6619 

Full agenda follows list of city meetings or use this link. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx 

Civic Arts Commission Civic Center Visioning Subcommittee at 12 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89713843527 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 879 1384 3527 

AGENDA: Discussion and possible action V. Use of the buildings (Maudelle Shirek and Veterans), Who will administer the buildings, sustainability of arts hub. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/CivicArtsCommissionHomepage/ 

Wednesday, February 23, 2022 

4x4 Joint Task Force Committee on Housing: Rent Board/City Council at 3 pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89750806233?pwd=Q2lQMVQzUER2SGRqd0VrUGp6di82UT09 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 897 5080 6233 

AGENDA: 4. Public Comment non-agenda items, 6. Update Measure MM registry expansion, 7. Discussion potential for adding more rent controlled units, 8. Discussion regarding welfare exemption policy, 9. Discussion possible action remedies for situations where landlords unilaterally change keyed entries to keyless entries. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Home/4x4_Committee_Homepage.aspx 

Civic Arts Commission at 6 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86147520326 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 861 4752 0326 

AGENDA: 6. Presentations, Discussion & Action: a) Update Hinkel Park, b) 2352 Shattuck (Logan Park building) Final Public art Plan – Poem “In This Place” by Amanda Gorman, 1998, c) 2352 Shattuck (Logan Park building) request by Developer for exception to Public Art Policy if developer wishes to remove art may do so with 6 month notification to city and replace with alternate art of equal or greater value – Existing policy art remains for the life of the building, removal of art after 10 years is agreement between developer and artist and art is donated to the City, d) Revise public art percentage to 1.75%, e) FY 23 Guidelines for Festivals and Individual artists 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/CivicArtsCommissionHomepage/ 

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission at 7 pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83604595954 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 836 0459 5954 

AGENDA Action: 3. Election, 4. GG and FF, 5. Cal-OES/FEMA grant application, Discussion: Defensible Space for Wildfire, 7. Workplan, 8. City budget, 9. Community Wildfire Protection Plan Public Engagement and Scope, 10. Presentation Hillside Fire Safety Group, 11. Wildfire Public Education. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Disaster_and_Fire_Safety_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

Energy Commission at 5 pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84780611377 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 847 8061 1377 

AGENDA: 6. Update Climate Action Plan Report, 7. Workplan, 8. Housing element update, 9. Budget priorities for city budget, 10. Plastic bag referral, 11. 100% Sustainable trips. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Energy_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

Police Accountability Board (PAB) Special Meeting CLOSED SESSION at 5 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82237902987 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 822 3790 2987 

AGENDA: 2. Public Comment, Closed Session – Berkeley Police Association v. City of Berkeley, case no. 2002 057569 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=162752 

Police Accountability Board (PAB) at 7 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82237902987 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 822 3790 2987 

AGENDA: 3. Public comment on agenda and non-agenda items, 6. Status of complaints, 7. Police Chief report, 8. Subcommittee reports: a. Fair and Impartial Policing, b. Director Search, c. Regulations, d. Mental Health Response, e. Fixed Surveillance Cameras, 9. a. Revision Policy 425 Body worn camera, b. ALPR (automated license plate readers), c. Form subcommittee on PAB budget proposal, d. Lexipol policies, 10. a. Consider ways to contribute to hiring and selection of new Director of PAB, b. Review policy 319 Hate Crimes, 11. Public Comment.  

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=162752 

Thursday, February 24, 2022 

City Council Budget & Finance Committee at 10 am 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83865327729 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 838 6532 7729 

AGENDA: 2. FY 23 & 24 Biennial Budget Development Calendar, 3. Homelessness Funding Priorities, 4. FY 22 Mid-Year and American Rescue Plan Act Update, 5. General Fund Expenditures, FY 23 & 24 Budget Assumptions on Personnel Costs, Including Salary Savings. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Home/Policy_Committee__Budget___Finance.aspx 

Zoning Adjustment Board (ZAB) at 7 pm 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88654379637 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 886 5437 9637 

AGENDA: all projects on consent. 

2. 3233 Ellis – demolish existing single-family home and construct 3 detached single-family dwellings, staff recommend approve (removes 5 trees from lot – replants 3-non-native cypress trees) 

3. 760 Hearst - Establish 3,366 sq ft veterinary clinic in existing tenant space, staff recommend approve 

4. 1695 Ward – construct a 105 sq ft 2^nd story addition and roof deck, construct a porch in the existing non-conforming set-back, add an off-street parking space to rear yard on a lot that is non-conforming for lot coverage and occupied by existing 2-story, 2058 sq ft single-family dwelling. Staff recommend approve. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/zoningadjustmentsboard/ 

Friday, February 25, 2022 & Saturday, February 26, 2022 & Sunday, February 27, 2022 

No City meetings or events found 

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Agenda and Rules Committee at 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm, February 22, 2022 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82263035613 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 822 6303 5613 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/Policy_Committee__Agenda___Rules.aspx 

March 8, DRAFT AGENDA: 

CONSENT: 1. Resolution to Continue to Meet Via Videoconference and Teleconference, 2. Formal Bid Solicitations and RFP $7,470,316, 3. Contract add $50,000 total $100,000 end 6/30/2023 with Housing Consultant – Anjanette Scott, LLC, 4. Contract add $60,000 total $245,000 end 6/30/2023 with Resource Development Associates to Facilitate Grant Writing for the Specialized Care Unit, 5. Contract add $10,000 total $539,300 with Rolling Orange, Inc for additional website redesign 3/1/2019 – 6/30/2024, 6. Contract $1,010,000 which included 10% contingency $20,551 with Western water Features Inc, for the King Pool Plaster and Tile Replacement and West Campus Pool Plaster, Tile and Filter Replacement, 7. Amend contract add $42,000 contingency $4,200 total $188,400 and contingency $47,000 with Lind Marine for removal of Derelict and Abandoned Vessels at Berkeley Marina, 8. 10 year Lease Agreement with NFS, LLC for Skates-on-the-Bay with two 5-year option to extend effective 5/1/2022. 9. Updates to Measure T1 Phase 1 Project list, 10. Donation $3,400 Memorial Bench at Berkeley Marina in front of M-Dock in memory of Roger Garfinkle, 11. Ratification of Police Accountability Board’s Standing Rules, 12. Arreguin, co-sponsores Taplin, Bartlett, Robinson - Support of SB 922 (Wiener) which would permanently exempt transportation-related projects from CEQA, 13. Opposition to the California 2/3 Legislative Vote and Voter Approval for Fee and Charge Increases, 14. Harrison, co-sponsors Arreguin, Taplin - Resolution support relinquishment of Council Office Budget Funds to the General Fund and Grant of Funds for Commission on status of Women, 15. Harrison – Reduce or Waive Park Fees for Free Permitted Outdoor Theater, Arts Events and Other events based on Objective Public Welfare, Criteria and Relinquishing Council funds to Support SF Mime Troupe’s Payment of Park fees for 2022 free outdoor season, 16. Hahn, co-sponsors Harrison, Bartlett - Budget referral $300,000 for FY 2022-2023 budget process for Grant Writing Services, 17. Robinson – Support for AB 1713 Idaho Stop – allows adult bicyclists to proceed through stop signs after yielding the right-of-way to immediate hazards, ACTION: Disaster and Fire Safety Commission – Parking Enforcement of Existing Parking Code in Fire Zones 2 & 3, direct BPD to enforce parking in all fire zones, 19. Kesarwani – Referral $25,000 - $50,000 for new speed limit signage to Implement State Law AB 43 for Reduced Speed Limits (5 mph) on High-injury Commercial Corridors, 20. Taplin, co-sponsor Robinson – Refer to City Manager reduction of speed limits in accordance with AB 43 within following categories, High Injury streets, Business Activity Streets, Senior ones, and any residential streets that may be defined as High-Injury, 23. Taplin – Equitable Safe Streets and Climate Justice Resolution committing City and state/federal matching/recurring funds on city maintained roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes to accelerate safety improvements, and adoption of NACTO Urban Street Design Guide as default engineering standard for city streets and transferring legal liability for safe streets designs from individual city engineering/public works staff to the City of Berkeley. 

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CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting at 6 pm, February 22, 2022 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89664206619 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 896 6420 6619 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx 

AGENDA CONSENT: 1. Minutes, 2. Formal Bid Solicitations$234,000, 3. Contract $625,000 3/1/2022-4/30/2024 with Berkeley Youth Alternative for Proposition 64 Grant-Proposed Work and Services, 4. Amend Contract add $355,000 total $992,778 with BUSD to provide Mental Health Services in local schools thru 6/30/2022, 5. Revenue contract accept $1,000,000 from CA Dept of Health Care Services for Crisis Care Mobile Units and any resultant revenue agreements to augment Specialized Care Unit through 6/30/2025, 6. Accept $25,000 donation for Meals on Wheels, 7. Amend BMC 4.38, Supplementary Retirement and Income Plan II to Permit Participation of Berkeley Fire Fighters Assoc Local 1227 I.A.F.F., 8. Grant Application up to $600,000: Clean CA Local Grant Program for Civic Center Plaza Turtle Garden Beautification Project, Memorial Benches donation $3,400 items 9, 10, 11, 13: 9. In memory of Susan P. Kwong at Cesar Chavez Park, 10. In memory of Asia Blau Feese at Berkeley Rose Garden, 11. In memory of Anne Rogin Blau at Cesar Chavez Park, 13. In memory of Key Slay at Shorebird Park, 12. Donation $16,720 from Rorick Family Trust for Strawberry Creek Park for tree planting, 14. Three Contracts with 3-year terms totaling $4,000,000 for Plan Checking Services: Telesis Engineers $1,500,000, West Coast Code Consultants $1,500,000 and TRB and Associates $1,000,000, 15. Contract $1,260,000 including 15% - $171,525 Contingency with Cratus Inc for Storm Drain Improvements Projects at Marin, Virginia, Grizzly Peak & High Court. 16. Contract $2,590,468 including 10% - $235,497 contingency with Cratus, Inc, for Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation at various locations, 17. Contract $3,873,843 including 10% - $352,167 contingency with Cratus, Inc, for Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation at various locations on Shattuck Ave, 18. Contract $391,872 includes 10% - $35,624 contingency with Kolos Engineering, Inc for Urgent Sewer Repair FY2022 Project, 19. Contract add $1,891,415 total $8,924,872 with IPS Group, Inc for Parking Meter thru 6/30/2024, 20. Arreguin Co-sponsors Taplin, Harrison – Resolution supporting Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act, 21. Taplin - Budget Referral: 1. $200,000 for four (4) Traffic Circles at Seventh St, Ninth St, Browning St, & Bonar St, 2. $50,000 one (1) Traffic Diverter at Tenth St, 3. $500,000 for two (2) Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons at San Pablo and Sacramento, 4. $70,000 for Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons and median refuge island at Sixth and Channing, 22. Taplin, co-sponsors Hahn, Bartlett, Arreguin - Streamlining Toxic Remediation in Manufacturing Districts Referral to City Manager, (the dormant Pacific Steel Casting site is at the center of this), 23. Harrison - Resolution in Support of State of CA Legislature Introducing a CA Resident-Designated Support Person Act, 24 Authors - Robinson, Taplin, Kesarwani, Arreguin – Budget Referral: $350,000 for Dredging South Sailing Basin, 25. Robinson Co-sponsors Wengraf, Bartlett, Harrison - Support AB 1602 Student Revolving Loan Fund, ACTION: 26. CM - ZAB Appeal 1527 Sacramento, 27. Southside Complete Streets Project, 27. Taplin – Amend BMC Chapter 13.84 to Expand Relocation Assistance and Conflict Resolution for Tenants, 28. Resolution Adopting the Resolution of Intention of Amendment to the Miscellaneous CalPers Contract Pursuant to Californinia Gov Code 20516 to effectuate changes to the cost sharing agreement between the City and PEPRA members of SEIU, Local 1021 Maintenance and Clerical (SEIU MC), Public Employees Union Local 1, Community Services & Part-Time Recreation Leaders Associations Local 1021 (SEIU CSU/PTRLA) and Unrepresented Employees Group. INFORMATION REPORTS: 29. City Council Short Term Referral Process Quarterly Update, 30. Age-Friendly Berkeley Update, 31. LPO NOD 3125 Arch, 32. Update on the Implementation of Fair and Impartial Policing Task Force Recommendations, 33. 2021 Year End Crime and Collision Data. 

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Public Hearings Scheduled – Land Use Appeals 

1527 Sacramento – 2^nd story addition date 2/22/2021 

1643-47 California – new basement level and 2^nd story date 4/26/2022 

Remanded to ZAB or LPC 

1205 Peralta – Conversion of an existing garage 

Notice of Decision (NOD) and Use Permits with End of Appeal Period,  

SFD = Single Family Dwelling 

2427 Browning – Major residential addition over 14’ in average height 2/23/2022 

1228 Carleton – Add a hot tub to the rear yard 3/4/2022 

1833 Sixty-Third – 388 sq. ft. addition including extending the non-conforming rt side setback at 1^st floor 191 sq. ft. addition, 197 sq ft addition above 14’ in ave. height at 2^nd floor for shed dormers, add 5^th bedroom at front of dwelling on 4,725 sq. ft. lot that contains 2 dwellings 2/23/2022 

185 The Uplands – Demolish existing garage, add new attached garage with 2-story addition above 14’ ave. ht. and legalize existing retaining walls, fences and hedges over 6’ in height on 10,011 sq. ft. lot 2/23/2022. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Planning_and_Development/Land_Use_Division/Current_Zoning_Applications_in_Appeal_Period.aspx 

LINK to Current Zoning Applications https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Planning_and_Development/Land_Use_Division/Current_Zoning_Applications.aspx 

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WORKSESSIONS 

March 10 – Reimagining Public Safety 

March 15 – Housing Element Update 

April 19 – Fire Department Standards of Coverage Study, BART Station Planning 

June 21 – open 

July 19 - open 

Unscheduled Workshops/Presentations 

Cannabis Health Considerations 

Alameda County LAFCO Presentation 

Civic Arts Grantmaking Process & Capital Grant Program 

Civic Center – Old City Hall and Veterans Memorial Building (Tentative: Action Item) 

Mid-Year Budget Report FY 2022 

Kelly Hammargren’s comments on what happened the preceding week can be found in the Berkeley Daily Planet www.berkeleydailyplanet.com under Activist’s Diary. 

If you have a meeting you would like included in the summary of meetings, please send a notice to kellyhammargren@gmail.com by noon on the Friday of the preceding week. 

This meeting list is also posted on the Sustainable Berkeley Coalition website. 

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