Arts & Events
The Berkeley Activist's Calendar, June 19 - June 26, 2022
Worth Noting:
All City meetings are currently virtual
Sunday - June 19th at 11 am – 7 pm Juneteenth Festival at Adeline and Alcatraz
Monday - City offices closed in observation of Juneteenth Holiday
Tuesday – City Council at 4 pm are the two continued items from June 14 Axon contract and police equipment, impact statements, policies and reports. At 6 pm is discussion and direction for potential ballot measures for a bond or bonds and parcel tax that may cover affordable housing, the marina, streets, sidewalks, and other infrastructure.
Wednesday – The new merged Environment and Climate Commission starts at 5 pm with an ambitious workplan and agenda. The Civic Arts Commission at 6 pm considers the Queen Shamiram sculpture placement (this is cool check the attachment for photos). The Disability Commission also meets at 6 pm and the Disaster and Fire Safety Commission and Police Accountability Board meet at 7 pm.
Thursday –The mayor is expected to present his proposed biennial budget for 2023 & 2024 at the 10 am Budget and Finance Committee. The Mental Health Commission meets at 7 pm and will receive an update on the SCU (Special Care Unit). The Zoning Adjustment Board meets at 7 pm with the 2213 Fourth Street and 747 (787) Bancroft Way project as the only action item (1 project, 2 sale of alcoholic beverages on consent). The 4 ½ story parking garage with 412 parking spaces accompanying the R & D & manufacturing project met with very vocal neighborhood opposition.
The June 28 Council Regular meeting agenda is available for comment. Use HTML to review individual items. https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas
The Housing Element Draft is available for comment from now until Thursday, July 14, 2022. Do not leave this to the last minute. If you review everything including all the appendixes it is 590 pages. The base element is 152 pages. The community workshop is June 29th from 6 to 8 pm.
Draft: https://raimi.konveio.com/city-berkeley-housing-element-update-public-draft
Housing Element Update Webpage: https://berkeleyca.gov/construction-development/land-use-development/general-plan-and-area-plans/housing-element-update
January 6th hearings are Tuesday at 10 am and Thursday (?). The LA times lists the June 23 hearing starting at noon and cable MSNBC and CNN show 9 am with preview. To watch go to cable MSNBC, CNN or online for streaming and replays. Local TV and FOX are not broadcasting the hearings.
Sunday, June 19, 2022 – Father’s Day
Sunday, June 19th at 11 am – 7 pm Juneteenth Festival at Adeline and Alcatraz
Monday, June 20, 2022 – Juneteenth Holiday
The City of Berkeley recognizes Juneteenth as a holiday and all city offices will be closed on Monday in observation. At this writing, AB 1655 for California to recognize Juneteenth as a State paid holiday is pending. California has had a Juneteenth Day of Observance since 2003, but it is not an official state holiday.
President Biden signed into federal law on June 17, 2021, the recognition of June 19, 1985 as the end of slavery when Union Army Major General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas and informed slaves of their emancipation more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1983.
Remember there are states that in their ban of Critical Race Theory would interpret teachers explaining the origin and meaning of Juneteenth as crossing into prohibited topics, because Juneteenth cannot be explained without discussion of slavery.
State by state bans: https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2022/02/16/teacher-anti-crt-bills-coast-to-coast-a-state-by-state-guide/?sh=3a76cb004ff6
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
January 6 Hearing at 10 am
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING 4 PM
Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81179114559
Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID: 811 7911 4559
AGENDA: 1. Contract $1,115,000 thru FY 2027 with Axon Enterprise, Incorporated for Body Worn Cameras, Storage and Software – moved to action Bartlett, Hahn, Harrison and continued from June 14th, 2. Police Equipment & Community Safety Ordinance Impact Statements, Associated Equipment Policies and Annual Equipment Use Report – continued from June 14th.
use link and HTML to see agenda and document details
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING 6 PM
Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81179114559
Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID: 811 7911 4559
AGENDA: 1. Discussion and direction regarding Vision 2050 Program Plan and potential ballot measures for the November 8, 2022 election.
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Civic Arts Commission at 6pm
Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86147520326
Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 ID: 861 4752 0326
AGENDA: 6. Presentations/ Discussion & Action items: a0 Proposed placement of Queen Shamiram sculpture at redwood grove next to Maudelle Shirek (Old City Hall) Fred Parhad, Artist, Narsai and Venus David Donors (very cool – see attachment on website) , b) Artist Certification for Affordable Housing for Artists and Housing Element, c) Artist Cathy Lu for Cube Space exhibition
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/civic-arts-commission
Commission on disability at 6 pm
Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86209159746?pwd=WUlJRWRlUmJFUmV6NVJjWFAxdlRrUT09
Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 ID: 862 0915 9746
AGENDA: 1. Emergency Preparedness, Evacuation and registries, 2. Dockless Scooter Presentation, 3. Elevator Update, 5. Inclusive Disaster Registry, 6. Commission Workplan, 7. Increasing Public Participation, 9. Berkeley Bike Plan, 10. ADA and City Programs, 11. ADA Pacific Center Training for Commissioners.
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/commission-disability
Disaster and Fire Safety Commission at 7 pm
Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81595546232
Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 ID: 815 9554 6232
AGENDA: 1. Fire Dept Staff Reports, FF, GG, Overall call metrics, Special Reports, Status Commission Actions, 3. Annual Workplan, 4. Update on Red Curbs and Faded Parking Signs/Repairs, 6. CERT Training, New Commission Web Page.
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/disaster-and-fire-safety-commission
Environment and Climate Commission at 5 pm
Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88100099142
Teleconference: 1-669-9006833 ID: 881 0009 9142
AGENDA: 5. Update from Chair, 6. Update from Staff, 7. Workplan, 8. Climate Literacy, 9. Gas Station Ban and EV Charging Extension, 10. Fossil Free and Just Transition Overlay, 11. Potential Revenue Measure Process & Procedures a. Fossil Fuel Parcel Tax Recommendation (levied on properties which sell nonrenewable fuels such as gasoline or methane), Building Emission Tax, 12. Tracking Climate Action and Resilience Implementation Process.
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/environment-and-climate-commission
Police Accountability Board Regular Meeting at 7 pm
Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82237902987
Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 ID: 822 3790 2987
AGENDA: 3. Public Comment on agenda and non-agenda items, 5. Report on Juneteenth, 6. Director’s Report, 7. Chief’s Report, 8. B. Director Search, 9. a. Proposed Equipment Impact Statements, Use Policies, Military Equipment Policy and Annual Use Report, b. draft Regulations for Handling Investigations and Complaints.
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/police-accountability-board
Thursday, June 23, 2022
January 6 hearing check news announcements for the latest schedule different sources list different starting times for the daytime hearing.
City Council Budget & Finance Committee at 10 am
Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81460801605
Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID:814 6080 1605
AGENDA: 2. City Manager’s FY 2023 & 2024 Budget Discussion and possible action (expect Mayor Arreguin to present his proposed budget), 3. Council fiscal policies, 4. Energy Commission – Recommendation on climate, building electrification and sustainable transportation for 2023 & 2024, 5. Bartlett, co-sponsors Harrison, Taplin – Budget referral, updated guidelines, procedures and staff expenditures, 6. CM – Investment policies.
Mental Health Commission at 7 pm
Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83719253558
Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 ID: 837 1925 3558
AGENDA: 3. Bridge to SCU and SCU update, 4. Selection of Mental Health Division Manager, 5. Mental Health Service Act FY2023 Annual Update, 6. Mental Health Manager’s Report, caseload stats, diversity-multicultural events list, 7. Review and Vote on Application from Judy Appel for Mental Health Commission, 8. Establish Education Subcommittee, 9. Site Visit, 10. Santa Rita Jail, 11. Workplan.
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/mental-health-commission
Zoning Adjustments Board at 7 pm
Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83586319905
Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 ID: 835 8631 9905
AGENDA: 2. 2328 Channing Way – on consent – demolish the rear, non-historic portion of City Landmark single-family residence relocate building closer to the street with 8 ft front yard setback where 10 ft is otherwise required and construct 4-story 45 ft tall residential building with 13 dwelling units immediately abutting the rear of the historic building to reduce the minimum building separation from 20 ft to zero and reduce minimum rear yard setback of 10-17 ft to 5 ft
3. 921 University – on consent – allow retail market to sell beer, wine and distilled spirits for consumption off premises,
4. 925 University – on consent – allow service of beer, wine, and distilled spirits incidental to food service in full-service restaurant,
5. 2213 Fourth Street and 747 (787) Bancroft Way - on action staff recommend approve MND and both projects – 1) demolish three existing non-residential buildings and one duplex and construct a new 128,143 sq ft building (bird safe glass only west side) and 4.5 – story parking lot with 412 off-street auto parking spaces and one loading space, and 2) demolish six existing buildings and construct a 159143 sq ft 3-story building, 124,539 sq ft of R & D space and 34,604 sq ft of light manufacturing space and surface parking lot 76 off-street parking space and 5 loading spaces,
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/zoning-adjustments-board
Friday, June 24, 2022 & Saturday, June 25, 2022 – no city meetings/events found
Sunday, June 26, 2022
Equity Summit Series #9
Videoconference: https://bit.ly/3aKPafw
Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 ID: 818 2594 9827 Passcode: 028103
AGENDA: Honoring Black Men!
In Collaboration with Friends of Adeline
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JUNE 28, 2022 - CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AT 6 PM
Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82212647688
Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (toll free) Meeting ID: 822 1264 7688
https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas
CONSENT: 2nd reading items 1 – 13. 1. Ashby and North Berkeley BART Station zoning, EIR, MOA passed June 2, 2. FY 2023 Tax Rate: Measure M Street and Watershed Improvements General Obligation Bonds, 3. FY 2023 Tax Rate: Library Improvements Measure FF 2008 4. FY 2023 Tax Rate: Fund General Obligation Bonds Measure G, S & I from years 1992, 1996, 2002, 5. FY 2023 Tax Rate: 0.0130% Affordable Housing Measure O 2018 6. FY 2023 Tax Rate: Business License on Large Non-profits $0.7573, 7. FY 2023 Tax Rate: Paramedic Tax $0.0433, 8. FY 2023 Tax Rate: Measure FF Firefighting $0.1123, 9. FY 2023 Tax Rate: Fund Maintenance Parks, City trees and Landscaping, $0.2039, 10. FY 2023 Tax Rate Measure T1 2nd reading general obligation bonds, 11. FY 2023 Tax Rate: Measure E Services for Severely Disabled $0.01932, 12. FY 2023 Tax Rate: Measure GG Fire Protection $0.05818, 13. FY 2023 Special Tax Rate: Library services $0.3906, 14. Continuation of COVID Emergency, 15. FY 2023 Tax Rate: Fund 3. Continuation boards and commissions to meet via videoconference, 16. Extension of PAB Interim Director Katherine Lee salary $182,260.65, 17. Minutes, 18. Formal bid solicitations, $4,856,000, 19. FY 2023 Revision to investment policy confirms authority Director of Finance to make investments, 20. Appropriations limit for FY 2023 $328,834, 462, 21. Revenue Grant MediCal $4,200,000 FY 2023 – 2025, 22. Amend contract add $200,000 total $6,375,185.82 with O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc for Berkeley Marina Roadway, 23. Accept Vision Zero Annual Report and direct CM to form coordinating committee to continue BerkDOT – may be held over to July, 24. P.O. $400,000 to purchase two chipper trucks, 25. P.O. $165,000 to purchase one CASE Tractor Loader, 26. P.O. add $1,900,000 total $10,744,000 and extend term to 12/31/2023 with Diesel Direct West, Inc for Fuel for City Vehicles and Equipment (EV charging infrastructure for city vehicles at the corporation yard a - $1 million request for 2023) - is not included in the CM proposed budget for 2023 – 2024) 27. Contract $2,512,152 with Sposeto Engineering Inc. for FY 2022 Sidewalk Repair Project, 28. Amend Contract add $200,000 total $632,750 with Direct Line Tele Response for Citywide after-hours answering services and extend to 12/31/2024, 29. Amend Contract add $150,000 total $750,000 with Alta Planning and Design, Inc, for On-Call Transportation Planning Services, 30. Amend Contract add $150,000 total $650,000 with Community Design and Architecture for on-call transportation planning services, 31. Amend Contract add $200,000 total $650,000 with Clean Harbors, Inc for hazardous waste removal and disposal and extend to 6/30/2024, 32. Amend Contract add $150,000 total $423,534 with Don’s Tire Service, Inc for tire repair and replacement and extend to 6/30/2024, 33. Amend Contract with EBMUD CAP (Customer Assistance Program) expands 35% discount on sewer services for qualifying customers, 34. Disaster and Fire Safety Commission – recommendation to use Measure FF funds as intended by voters – wildfire prevention, 35. Mental Health Commission – appoint Mary-Lee Smith and Glenn Turner to Commission, 36. Arreguin - Suspension of Sister City Relations with Dmitrov, Russia and Ulan-Ude, Russia, 37. Taplin, co-sponsor Wengraf, Hahn– Support AB 2156 prohibits ghost guns, 38. Taplin, co-sponsor Wengraf, Hahn, Robinson – Support AB 256 Racial Justice for All allows retroactive appeals of past convictions and sentences with racial bias, 39. Taplin – Parking Minima for Mixed-Use Projects and Manufacturing Districts – reduces parking space requirements in manufacturing districts for mixed-use projects and changes off-street parking for manufacturing to a maximum, 40. Hahn, co-sponsor Wengraf, Hahn- Support AB 2408 and AB 2273 holding social media companies accountable,
ACTION: 41. CM – Clean Stormwater Fee, 42. CM – Street Lighting Assessment, 43. CM- Transfer Station Rates, 44. FY 2023 & 2024 Biennial Budget Adoption, 45. FY Annual Appropriations Ordinance $737,068,278 gross, $620,623,866, 46. Borrowing of Funds and the Sale and Issuance of FY 2022-23 Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes 47. CM – goBerkeley SmartSpace Pilot Program Implementation Recommendations 1. Adopt an Ordinance repealing and reenacting Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 14.52 Parking Meters to enable demand-responsive paid parking for non-RPP permit holders in the 2700 blocks of Durant Avenue, Channing Way, and Haste Street and the 2300-2400 blocks of Piedmont Avenue (a portion of Residential Preferential Parking Program Area I) for the duration of the grant-funded goBerkeley SmartSpace pilot program, and allow payment via license plate entry pay stations (“pay-by-plate”) to improve convenience and enforcement; and 2. Adopt a Resolution approving the pilot proposals to be implemented and evaluated as part of the goBerkeley SmartSpace pilot program. 48.a. Disaster and Fire Safety Commission – Requests for Timely Fiscal Information on Measures FF and GG the Fire Dept and City Manage to provide the Commission with fiscal information for Measures FF and GG with monthly expenditure reports and proposed budgets, b. CM companion report acknowledges need to provide accurate, timely and relevant information, (Arreguin plans to move 48.b. to consent at meeting) INFORMATION REPORTS: 49. Voluntary Time Off Program for FY 2023, 50. Annual Update on Wells Fargo, 51. FY 2022 2nd Quarter Investment Report, 52. FY 2022 3rd Quarter Investment Report, 53. HWCAC 2018-2023 Work Plan, 54. Annual Report LPC Actions, 55. Zero Waste Commission FY 2022-2023 Work Plan.
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LAND USE CALENDAR:
Public Hearing to be scheduled
1201 – 1205 San Pablo at ZAB Date - 9/29/2022
Remanded to ZAB or LPC
1643-47 California – new basement level and 2nd story
1205 Peralta – Conversion of an existing garage
Notice of Decision (NOD) and Use Permits with the End of the Appeal Period
Bad news on tracking approved projects in the appeal period. Samantha Updegrave, Zoning Officer, Principal Planner wrote the listing of projects in the appeal period can only be found by looking up each project individually through permits online by address or permit number https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/Online-Building-Permits-Guide.pdf
The website with easy to find listing of projects in the appeal period was left on the “cutting room floor” another casualty of the conversion to the new City of Berkeley website.
Here is the old website link, Please ask for it to be restored item 28 on the June 14 Council agenda.
WORKSESSIONS:
June 21 – Ballot Measure Development Discussion – Streets Parcel Tax and Bond
July 19 – Fire Facilities Study Report
Unscheduled Workshops/Presentations
Cannabis Health Considerations
Alameda County LAFCO Presentation
Civic Arts Grantmaking Process & Capital Grant Program
Kelly Hammargren’s on what happened the preceding week can be found in the Berkeley Daily Planet www.berkeleydailyplanet.com under Activist’s Diary. This meeting list is also posted at https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html on the Sustainable Berkeley Coalition website.
If you would like to receive the Activist’s Calendar as soon as it is completed send an email to kellyhammargren@gmail.com. If you wish to stop receiving the weekly summary of city meetings please forward the weekly summary you received to kellyhammargren@gmail.com.
If you are looking for past agenda items for city council, city council committees, boards and commission and find records online unwieldy, you can use the https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html on the Sustainable Berkeley Coalition website to scan old agendas. The links no longer work, but it may be the only place to start looking.
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