It seems like every time I sit down to finish my Activist’s Diary something new drops.

Now I find myself two weeks behind with public participation in city meetings on the chopping block, and the most important action for the coming week to make public voices loud enough that council backs off voting to limit public comment in city meetings. I don’t know how this vote will go.

If a council majority votes for the Droste proposal ( “Reforms to Public Comment Procedures at meetings of the Berkeley City Council”) or a council majority votes for the Robinson Supplemental (alternative) co-sponsored by Councilmember Wengraf, then we need to get serious about recalls.

Until then, email council@cityofberkeley.info and cc clerk@cityofberkeley.info with “Do not put public comment and public participation on the chopping block. Vote no on Item 19 February 28 on the Droste and Robinson Supplemental.” And turn on your computer/device to track the meeting if you don’t wish to attend at the BUSD Board Room in person. (see The Activist’s Calendar for links) 

The Robinson-Wengraf alternative lets members of the public comment twice, once at the beginning of the Consent Calendar and once at the beginning of the Action Calendar. The Droste measure plan allows comments just once for the entire meeting, and it proposes exploring limiting the number of people who can speak at all. Robinson offers a third time to comment, which is meaningless as it is just before council adjourns, after all the business of the evening is done and all the votes are taken. 

There are three exceptions in the Robinson-Wengraf proposal recognizing when the public is required to be allowed to speak on individual items: public hearings, appeals and quasi-judicial (court like) proceedings. 

What Robinson misses in his promotional statements is how we got to action items being discussed by council before asking for public comment, and then following public comment with completing council discussion, forming motions and voting. 

It wasn’t always this way. The public pushed to have comment after council discussion of each action item, so comments were appropriate to what was being considered, which quite often diverges from what was published in the agenda prior to the meeting. Commenting on Action Items once at the beginning, or even once before discussion has started, means that public comment is frequently off the mark of what is being considered. 

Robinson avoids addressing the problem of council itself by blaming the public. 

The public is not the culprit when it comes to windy pontificating statements. Each member of the public is restricted to two minutes to comment except when a bunch of us show up for items of great public interest Then the time for each speaker is cut to one minute. 

It is not the public who chooses to put controversial items at the bottom of the agenda so the mayor and council could do a back-and-forth council ping-pong with endless chatter to run out the evening and drive members of the public away so they aren’t present when that last hotly contested vote comes to the floor. 

It is not the public who puts together too many complicated items on the agenda and then waits until late in the evening to start rescheduling. It is not the public who schedules ceremonial matters during what is really a city business meeting instead of setting a separate time for them as many cities do. 

The second most important action is supporting the 100 -100 -100 model bird safe ordinance. The model ordinance is 100% of new buildings, 100% bird-friendly materials in the first 100 feet from the ground up. https://abcbirds.org/glass-collisions/bird-friendly-legislation/ 

Glen Philips, Director of the San Francisco Audubon Society will speak Monday night, February 27 at the Sierra Club on Zoom on the Berkeley Bird Safe Ordinance, and Wednesday is the public hearing on the Bird Safe Ordinance at the Planning Commission at the South Berkeley Senior Center. This is the commission’s first in-person-only meeting since the pandemic shutdown in March 2020. 

Sierra Club Agenda and Zoom Link https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q0qzddOp6nZA0MCnYep0tOJi8gX9Fzum/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115206363740255337859&rtpof=true&sd=true 

This is a big deal. Developers do not implement bird safe glass and bird-friendly design without public pressure and strong ordinances. A strong ordinance from Berkeley using the latest science has enormous reach. Berkeley was the first city to implement the natural gas ban in new construction, and that initial action is spreading across the country. We can do the same if we chose science and not the watered-down staff proposal for the Bird Safe Ordinance. The Audubon bumper sticker is “Protect Birds & We Protect the Earth” and from this corner “Protect the Birds and We Protect Ourselves and Future Generations.” 

On Wednesday as I walked up Shattuck toward the former entrance to the Shattuck Cinemas, someone had chalked “devil-elopers.” I’m not sure how long it had been there. It was starting to fade, but as I noted in the February 5 Activist’s Diary, the appeal of the 2065 Kittredge (demolishes the Shattuck Cinemas) mixed-use project centered on safe working conditions, health care coverage, apprenticeships programs, hiring local and union workers and the protections of the Hard Hat Ordinance. 

The Mayor passed over the worker issues in his amendment to the project approval, to require only an affidavit (report) when the project is completed as to how many union and local workers within ten miles worked at the job site. The “devil-elopers” would be assumed to be Bill Schrader and CA Student Living Berkeley, LLC, now the property owner, which is Student Living – CA Ventures, an international investor, but named underneath “devil-elopers” were City Council members. 

Understanding naming the city electeds in the chalking may be a little better understood by watching Mayor Arreguin promoting the Hard Hat Ordinance as a fait accompli in the Facebook post saying “we have your back.” Arreguin stated at the end that the ordinance was to be passed “this month” (September 2022). https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=800724751065220 

The only problem was that the Hard Hat Ordinance was not actually passed as a city law on September 20, 2022. It was instead a referral to the City Attorney and City Manager to develop an ordinance where it has languished for five months and counting. 

There is another Droste proposal lurking in the draft council agenda for March 14. That is the proposal to limit legislation to one item per councilmember and two items for the mayor. It is called “Bureaucratic Effectiveness and Referral Improvement and Prioritization Effort (BE RIPE).” At the last Agenda Committee, Hahn told Arreguin and Wengraf she was working on an alternate proposal with the City Manager and she just needed a little more time. Hahn suggested that Droste’s measure be forwarded to the full council and then referred back to the Agenda Committee. 

Limiting the number of pieces of legislation is done under the umbrella of lightening the load of the City Manager and staff. As a close observer of city meetings, the real way to lighten the load is not to send half-baked ideas to the city manager as a referral in the first place. 

I truly appreciate how my councilmember Harrison works. She reaches out to the community, industries, unions, experts as she develops legislation. She seeks input from committees and commissions and works with the city attorney. Sometimes it takes months, sometimes it takes years, but when it finally comes for a council vote (and even that can be a major endeavor to get it passed) it is ready. That’s how we got the natural gas ban, that’s how we got the Fair Work Week. 

That is how to lighten the load, unless the motive for all those referrals is to look like you’re addressing many important issues, when all that is really accomplished is dropping another item on someone’s to-do list. 

As an aside on that natural gas ban, there is another natural gas hike coming. It was all that community organizing work that resulted in an electrification fair and the reason why my PG&E bill isn’t skyrocketing. I took it all to heart, went all electric and got rid of the natural gas. 

We might consider ourselves lucky looking at the October 17, 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake with its 4000 landslides and collapsed buildings, freeway and Bay Bridge, in comparison to what is unfolding in Turkey and Syria with the M7.8 earthquake followed with an aftershock that was bigger than our M6.9. 

It is hard to grasp the force of an earthquake that was over thirty times stronger than the Loma Prieta. Looking at the chasm that opened up wide enough to hold a football field and deep enough to absorb a thirteen-story building is quite a shock and that is exactly what was shown on the Thursday, February 16, 2023 on the PBS Newshour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/turkeys-president-faces-scrutiny-after-earthquake-for-construction-standards 

Why is climate, the environment, earthquakes and housing even worth mentioning when it comes to local government, City of Berkeley actions and that race for state senate? 

We are going to be dealing with the fallout of Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) of adding 8,934 new housing units for a very long time. When all but a pittance of those new developments include affordable housing units, Berkeley will miss the affordability thresholds and roll into Builders Remedy. That gives the developers a lot of free rein (or free reign, as in “sway of a ruler”). The student housing developers with international and national investors have set up camp to pave over Berkeley with mid and large size towers for students, and UC Berkeley feeds the industry with a reliable captive audience of expanding numbers of students. 

One would think that a state-rejected Housing Element would not be used as the basis for justifying a giveaway to developers and real estate investors, but that is exactly what happened at the February 14 City Council meeting and will be confirmed Tuesday evening with the second reading (ordinances require a second reading/vote). Kesarwani claimed that since the state-rejected housing element contained a sliding scale discount for developers it couldn’t be changed. 

I wrote on February 12 that this would be the first important vote by Arreguin after we learned that he filed his intent to run for California State Senate. Arreguin started off looking like he might do the right thing, and then as soon as Councilmember Kesarwani said she couldn’t vote for his motion supporting the Harrison Supplemental, Arreguin caved to Kesarwani and fell in line with a sliding scale discount for buildings with less that 12,000 square feet of residential living space (the calculation uses just the interior of the units). 12,000 square feet is a lot of units. 

Nothing happens in a hurry. Item-2 in the February 21, 2023 City Council worksession agenda titled “Referral Response: Affordable Housing Preference Policy for Rental Housing Created Through the Below Market Rate and Housing Trust Fund Programs” started with Councilmembers Davila and Bartlett on April 30, 2019. It was“Refer to the Planning Commission and Housing Advisory Commission to Research and Recommend Policies to Prevent Displacement and Gentrification of Berkeley Residents of Color and African Americans.” 

This is about establishing a policy for which households receive preference in the bid for the scarce affordable housing units. I can’t say after attending the February 21 City Council meeting that I have a clear picture of what will come back for a vote in the summer of 2023. We’ll just have to wait and of course those displaced families will have months to wait too. It is one more way Berkeley turns into a different kind of city with a different action, not what is seen to be espoused by council members pontificating about their great concerns for displaced families and loss of diversity in the city. 

All that concern didn’t result in higher in-lieu mitigation fees from the national and international investors. The action should have put more money in the housing trust fund for affordable units. Nor has all that concern resulted in the use of the Palmer fix state legislation to require inclusionary affordable housing. 

The Harrison Supplemental lost. Kesarwani won as did the national and international investors on the backs of Arreguin, Hahn, Taplin, Humbert, Kesarwani, Robinson, and Wengraf. 

Harrison voted no and Councilmember Bartlett abstained. 

In March 2020 as I walked with my swim partner for our last hour in the lap pool before the COVID shutdown, I had done some calculations and said we could see as many as 1.2 million people die from COVID. It sounded crazy at the time, but it looks like I underestimated. Sadly, we’ve reached 1,119,544 deaths from COVID-19. 

Governor Newsom has declared the COVID emergency ends February 28. President Biden set the date as May 11. 

On March 1, 2023, with the declared California COVID-19 over, city commission meetings will return to in-person. City Council will continue as hybrid, giving a choice to attendees of in-person or ZOOM. 

As for COVID, it is not over for anyone with underlying health risks, long COVID or older than 65. 

I will not be giving up my N95 mask when going inside businesses and city meetings or in crowded outdoor spaces.

UPDATE: March 23, 2023

Frankly, I’m getting pretty tired of being right. The 20^th anniversary of the ill-fated U.S. invasion of Iraq is also the 20^th anniversary of the O’Malley family’s ultimately unsuccessful attempt to provide Berkeley with a printed newspaper. Here in Berkeley that spring we made every effort from day 1 to warn the Bush administration that their foray into the middle east was doomed, but they ignored us—what a surprise.

Along with our correspondents and our extended families we marched with signs in Berkeley and San Francisco. Many wrote about it, here in Berkeley and elsewhere. A San Francisco Chronicle reporter marched and didn’t write about it but was fired anyway. The war against Iraq took no notice, even though all of us were right.
 

This month we have the opportunity to say “I told you so” one more time about the Iraq invasion.. Cold comfort, at best. So much for being right. And even on a much less consequential matter, it’s depressing.

On Tuesday it was profoundly dispiriting to watch the Berkeley City Council discuss sending a “letter” to the California Supreme Court advocating review of the California Appeals Court’s unanimous decision that UC Berkeley’s environmental impact report for its proposed People’s Park construction project was inadequate. The resolution’s sponsors, Mayor Arreguin and Councilmember Rigel Robinson, a UC graduate student, claimed it was an “urgency” item, exempt from Brown Act noticing regulations because the council was about to go on recess. Take a look, and don’t forget to click on the links.

Urgency Item

Authorizing the City Attorney to Submit a Letter in Support of the UC Regents Petition for Review in
Make UC a Good Neighbor v. Regents of University of California
From: Mayor Arreguin (Author) Councilmember Rigel Robinson (Co-author)
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Attorney to submit a letter in support of the University of California Regents’ petition for review to the California State Supreme Court in Make UC a Good Neighbor v. The Regents of University of California.
Financial Implications: This resolution has no direct financial implications. However, further delay of the University’s development project at People’s Park may cause the City to incur costs to continue temporarily housing unhoused residents, in addition to additional staff time.
Contact: Mayor Jesse Arreguin, (510) 981-7100

It was painfully apparent that six of the seven councilmembers who attended the meeting either hadn’t read the appellate decision or had read it and didn’t understand it or were deliberately trying to mislead the public. I’m not sure which one is worst.

Resolution sponsors Arreguin and Robinson, who are probably in the third category, disingenuously claimed in their submitted draft that the decision turned on the fact that UC had not considered possible noise emanating from student housing. It’s true, the judges did say that, but more important, they also said that UC had totally failed to follow the California Environmental Quality Act, the law which requires UC to give alternative sites at least perfunctory consideration. (See below for a full discussion.) The Arreguin-Robinson draft resolution doesn’t mention alternatives at all.

I have not been able to procure a copy of the final draft as passed, supported by all councilmembers present except Kate Harrison. She says she’s not opposed to the project per se but does believe in following the law. What a concept!

It will be interesting to see what the Berkeley City Attorney, who probably does understand the decision, is able to say with a straight face in that letter she has to write.

And if the California Supreme Court declines to reconsider the appellate decision, I’d not be surprised. If that happens, I'll say, with no regrets, I told you so. 

 

************************************************************************ 

February 27, 2023 

 

Presumably by now you’ve seen various erroneous fulminations in the developer-captive press about the unanimous California Appeals Court decision that the Environmental Impact Report about UC Berkeley’s lust for People’s Park construction didn’t meet the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. 

The opinion is straightforward, well written, in ordinary language, not legalese. Anyone who cares should be able to read it and understand it. You’ll find it here.

It's really simple, with only two operative provisions. First, it reiterates that “an EIR must consider potentially feasible alternatives to a project.”

Well, sure. I didn’t go to a UC law school, and I’ve never practiced environmental law, though I did pass the Bar, but even I remember that rule—it’s not news. Here I must say that friends with better qualifications than mine who have read the full pleadings, as I have not, tell me that the legal work on behalf of the defendant Regents of the University of California on this case was incredibly sloppy.

The judges agreed:

…[A]rtfully drafted language … cannot substitute for a conclusion based on facts in the record that there are no potentially feasible alternative sites where the project would cause less damage to historic resources. The Regents’ explanation, premised as it is on ambiguous generalizations rather than analysis and evidence, failed to serve the purpose of enabling informed decision-making and public discussion.”

And then there’s the noise question. The Environmental Quality Act clearly states that excessive noise can be an adverse environment impact, yet counsel for the Regents now seem shocked, shocked, to hear that students can be very noisy.

Here’s what the Court had to say about that: 

 

 

…[T]he Regents’ argument is hard to square with their concession that loud student parties in these neighborhoods are a problem. For more than a decade, the university has partnered with the city and with neighborhood groups to discourage loud parties. It provided funding to neighborhood groups for this purpose. It collects data on the issue and meets regularly with the city and neighborhood groups to discuss progress and 36 potential new initiatives. Presumably the university said and did these things because the university agrees that student noise is a genuine problem and not because the university is prejudiced against its students. None of this can be waived away as speculation, unsubstantiated opinion, or bias. 

But the jackals are already gathering. 

"The courts are micromanaging. It's none of the courts' business where UC Berkeley decides to build housing on its land," California State Senator Scott Wiener told Channel 7. 

Really? Scott Wiener, who went to a much fancier law school than mine and also passed the California Bar, certainly knows better. 

In this country, the laws still apply equally to everyone, and land use regulation enforced by the courts is a well-established policy. Democrats have traditionally accepted that. However, in what is becoming a one-party state, Wiener and his YIMBY chums, including our own Assemblymember. Buffy Wicks, are increasingly assuming the role of Republicans-lite, inveighing against all kinds of regulations on development at every opportunity. 

Among them is our greasy Gov Gavin, who twittered this on Sunday: 

"Our CEQA process is clearly broken when a few wealthy Berkeley homeowners can block desperately needed student housing for years and even decades… 

“California cannot afford to be held hostage by NIMBYs who weaponize CEQA to block student and affordable housing. This selfish mindset is driving up housing prices, and making our state less affordable.” 

Who’s calling who a wealthy homeowner? Wikipedia tells us that in 2006 Newsom paid $2,350,000 for his home in San Francisco and then put it on the market in 2009 for $3 million. In today’s hot market that house is probably worth a whole lot more. And if that’s not enough, remember that Newsom’s career has had the not-so-shabby Getty family as his fiscal sponsor. 

I know many long-time People’s Park supporters, and few among them approach Newsom’s wealth. For the most part the appeal’s backers are ordinary Berkeleyans who believe that every neighborhood needs its calm green space, and national historic resources deserve respect. Most don’t live near the Park, and those who do are tenants, not homeowners. 

What does Gavin Newsom, who didn't go to any law school, believe about CEQA? From his tweet: 

"The law needs to change, and I am committed to working with lawmakers this year to making more changes so our state can build the housing we desperately need."  

Oh, you don’t like having to obey a law, so let’s just do away with it, right? That sounds a lot like Ortega’s Nicaragua or Netanyahu’s Israel or Orban’s Hungary or Putin’s Russia or Erdovan’s Turkey—could it be a trend? 

Well, it’s reached California. See, e.g. Assembly Bill 1700, an amendment to state law covering environmental resources, which was introduced on February 17 by Assemblymember Josh Hoover of Folsom: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And yes, it’s going to be bi-partisan. Josh Hoover is a genuine full-strength classic Republican (though I hope no relation to Herbert or J. Edgar). He should fit right in with Dems. Scott, Buffy and Gavin, who have similar legislation under advisement, despite opposition from labor and environmentalists. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These Sacramento pols, both Democrats and Republicans, are all working the same side of the street when it’s about CEQA, aren't they? 

Dear City Council, I urge you to Vote NO to item 19 and the supplemental proposal that would limit public comment. We are coping with so many things that seek to limit democracy at every level these days, gerrymandering, purging voter databases, and more. And now here in Berkeley, there is the potential for limiting public input on the local issues we care about. Please vote NO on Item 19 this Tuesday.The spirit of the Brown Act, which governs public comment in California, is to safeguard the public’s First Amendment rights and to ensure transparency and accountability. Separating public comment from each policy item effectively strips the public of meaningful input. Critical issues around labor or tenant rights, police reform or the environment do not lend themselves to soundbytes.

Shortly before leaving office in late 2022, former Councilmember Droste submitted an item to Council that would consolidate all public comment to a single period at the beginning of Council meetings and limit the number of speakers. This is instead of our current practice of taking public comment on consent items as a group and then on each action item. While this proposal received a negative vote at the Agenda Committee (chaired by Mayor Arreguin), two councilmembers have revived the proposal through a modified supplemental proposal that consolidates public comment on all action items into one period at the beginning. The supplemental suffers many of the same shortcomings as the original.

I need your help to demand that Council vote no at Tuesday February 28 Council Meeting (details about how to voice your opinion below).

This proposal would mean you would have to condense all of your public comments on scores of complex and different items into one single 1–2-minute period. Councilmembers could effectively forget about or ignore your public comment when the item you care about comes up hours later. The public would not have the benefit of an item’s author description of the item or the initial council discussion before commenting. The spirit of the Brown Act, which governs public comment in California, is to safeguard the public’s First Amendment rights and to ensure transparency and accountability. Separating public comment from each policy item effectively strips the public of meaningful input. Critical issues around labor or tenant rights, police reform or the environment do not lend themselves to sound bites.

The most powerful monied interests have the loudest voice in City Hall. Now some want to further eliminate meaningful public participation.

Please write or call into Tuesday’s Council meeting and demand that Council vote NO to item 19 and the supplemental proposal!

To access the meeting remotely: Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device: Please use this URL https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1610465939. To request to speak, use the “raise hand” icon by rolling over the bottom of the screen.

To join by phone: Dial 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) and enter Meeting ID: 161 046 5939. If you wish to comment during the public comment portion of the agenda, Press *9 and wait to be recognized by the Chair.

To submit a written communication for the City Council’s consideration and inclusion in the public record, email council@cityofberkeley.info and cc clerk@cityofberkeley.info.

I ran for office to represent and listen to the people of Berkeley. Engaging in hours of robust public testimony and debate comes with the job description. Democracy can be messy and time intensive; don’t let Council shirk its duty. 

 

This item is clearly another attempt to weaken democratic participation at the local level under the guise of convenience for City Council and staff. In the holy name of 'efficiency', local democratic participation will be marginalized even more in the last place where individual voices can matter and possibly sway elected officials. The neoliberal elimination of life-protecting laws and regulations at the global, national, state levels is nearly complete, with politicians who strive for higher offices completely captured by the corporate-money-driven political campaigns, and their hopes for revolving-door golden parachutes after they have greased the wheels of corporate profiting. Only at the local level do we still have representatives who may answer to the people, to the public - representatives who can actually interact daily with the people they represent rather than just lobbyists.  

Only at the local level does the public still have a chance to sway government to act on their behalf instead of servicing money-interests. Only at the local level can we have a majority of office holders who are more likely to be interested in their community rather than in their career up the public-private partnership of political corruption. Local government is the only remaining defense of life-sustaining systems (climate, clean water, air pollution, healthy food, affordable housing, decent wages) since corporate capture rules at all higher levels of government.  

Please don't marginalize the public at the only level of government where individual voices, as opposed to corporate lobbyists, can be heard. Take the time to listen to your constituents and weigh their pleas for life-supporting decisions that enhance our community rather than money-driven-decisions to feed the corporate cancer that has infected our social-political system.  

Please vote No on item 19.

San Ramon Valley High School in California is embroiled in a growing nationwide debate over book bans. Around the country, parents are increasingly clashing with librarians and school districts over book bans, demanding titles they find inappropriate — often with LGBTQ content — be removed from shelves. Actually, the best way to protect our children’s “innocence” is to take away their access to the internet and lock them up until they reach age 18 or move to Florida. 

Remember the Index Librorum Prohibitorum ("List of Prohibited Books"), a list of publications deemed heretical or contrary to morality by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Catholics were forbidden to read them? As a youngster, I remember some of my Catholic friends telling me that the "List" was a great source of a good read.

Raging Against the War Machine

There was a good deal of agitation, debate and disagreement surrounding the "Rage Against the War Machine" rally held in the nation's capital on February 19. The divisive issue was a question about whether groups like CODEPINK could share the stage with groups like the Libertarian Party. 

One of the best observations regarding the problem of political differences was uttered by someone who was not even at the event. It was Frederick Douglass who offered the sage advice: "“I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.” 

There were more than a dozen Rage rallies held across the US, including one in San Francisco that drew a crowd of several hundred. 

Some people arrived on canes. Some younger spectators arrived on electric scooters. Many held hand-crafted protest signs proclaiming "War Is A Racket" and "There Is No Military Solution!" One bearded gent sported a sign that read "Mend Your Fuelish Ways." A serious-looking couple brandished twin signs that read "Jungians Against Shadow Projection." Others carried a sign that read: "Not Anti-Ukraine. Not Anti-Russia. Pro-Peace." 

Rally Rouser and CODEPINK activist Cynthia Papermaster advised the crowd that there would be a march to the Financial District to rage against Pentagon profiteers—including James D. Taiclit, CEO of Lockheed Martin, and the CEOs of Chevron, the New York Times, and UC Berkeley's Livermore Lab—followed by a car caravan to the home of the former Democratic House Speaker where, Papermaster explained, "I want to let you all know that we are ‘pink-slipping’ Nancy Pelosi at the end of our skit 'More War Please.'" 

Speakers at the Justin Herman Plaza event included (among others) Shahid Buttar (activist/Congressional candidate), John Walsh (Vets for Peace), Eric Garris (Antiwar.com), Starchild (Libertarian Party), an electrifying Arieann "I Am Radioactive!" Harrison (Bayview Hunter's Point activist), and a furry contingent known as Dogs Against Nukes. 

The message (shared from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to the Embarcadero Plaza) came in the form of a list of demands: 

1. Not One More Penny for War in Ukraine
2. Global Nuclear De-Escalation
3. Slash the Pentagon Budget
4. No War With Russia or China
5. Disband NATO
6. Restore Civil Liberties
7. Climate Justice
8. Free Julian Assange and All Political Prisoners
9. Community care, not War 

 

Fashion Plates 

Black GT: ZENNY19 (Did Zenny have a Zen moment in New York in 2019?) 

Blue Honda: DAFODYL (I love flowery language) 

Black Tesla: LINGNOI (Promoter of Thai Kickboxing?) 

Black BMW: AG DIGTL (Attorney General with a Smartphone? A hands-on agriculturist?) 

Bumper Snickers 

"Militant Agnostic. I Don't Know and You Don't Either." 

"Do Not Meddle in the Affairs of Dragons… For You Are Crunchy & Good with Ketchup." 

Big Business, Autocracy, and Jimmy Carter's Quotes 

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the infamous 2010 Supreme Court ruling, has allowed billionaires and Big Business to spend unlimited waves of cash to influence elections and sabotaging American democracy. 

In response to this sad state of affairs, Public Citizen recently compiled the following list of "Carterisms," a collection of President Jimmy Carter's complaints about Citizens United uttered over the years:
• Citizens United is an “erroneous ruling” and “the most stupid decision the Supreme Court ever made.” 

• Citizens United has turned America into an “oligarchy with unlimited political bribery.” 

• Citizens United “violates the essence” of our democracy and represents “the biggest change in America” since 1976. 

• Citizens United has left everyday Americans “cheated out of” the chance to make their lives better." 

• Citizens United has led to “a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors.” 

MoveOn Wants to Buy an Ad on Fox News 

The progressive juggernaut that is MoveOn is about to do something unprecedented: paying Fox News to place an ad on Trump's favorite broadcast network. 

The add would feature clips of Fox Faves Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, and Sean Hannity spouting Trump's conspiracies on air while secretly dismissing and demeaning Trump's Big Lie promoters off air. Here's a bit of MoveOn's alert: 

Immediately following Election Day in 2020, Fox News picked up the mantle of Trump's Big Lie, allowing members of his legal team, including Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, to appear repeatedly in prime time pushing baseless lies and conspiracy theories without any pushback from the hosts. 

But while Tucker Carlson sat back and allowed these lies to go unchallenged on air, this is what he was saying behind the scenes: 

"This software s*** is absurd … Sidney Powell is lying by the way. I caught her. It's insane." 

Laura Ingraham, who also had Sidney Powell on her show multiple times and went so far as to call on the attorney general to take action to overturn the election, responded to Carlson: "Sidney is a complete nut. No one will work with her. Ditto with Rudy." 

Sean Hannity was even more blunt, calling Giuliani, Powell, and Trump's cast of conspiratorial lawyers: "F***ing lunatics." 

Even Rupert Murdoch himself agreed that these lies were dangerous, texting another Fox executive that allowing Powell and others to continue spewing these lies on air was "Terrible stuff damaging everybody, I fear." 

Only one problem with MoveOn's plan: What makes them think Fox would ever air such an ad? 

 

Is Solar Power The Future Of Electric Vehicles?

The Biden Administration has laid out a plan to reduce global warming by encouraging the transition to electric automobiles. The Biden plan calls for spending billions of dollars on a nationwide network of charging stations. The proposal would create new opportunities for Corporate America to profit off the owners of millions of plug-in vehicles that would be critically dependent on industry-controlled recharging stations. 

 

Exxon could become Elexxon. Mobil could become VoltMobil. Texaco could become Elexaco. Same players: same consolidated gameplan. 

But what if automobiles were no longer dependent on gas stations—or gauss stations (a "gauss" is an electrical measurement equal to "one ten-thousandth of a tesla")." 

What if, instead of remaining dependent on finding a corporate-owned recharging station—and hoping it's not already occupied—there was an already existing recharging option that is not only available but is not tied to the capitalist economy and, therefore, free? 

Introducing Sono Motors, a German firm that is building vehicles that run on pure sunshine—no hook-ups required. The secret? The exteriors of these tankless cars incorporate solar panels built into the body of the auto that soak up and store energy every minute the sun is shinning. 

 

Relying on these solar-powerplants-on-wheels would obviate the tremendous cost of a nationwide charging infrastructure. This would also free car-owners from the control and manipulation of large, profiteering industries. 

While it would be tempting to call these carbon-neutral cars "revolutionary," that would do a major disservice to solar engineering history. Read on! 

The Future of Electric Cars Overlooks the History of Electric Cars 

There is a long, sad history of revolutionary inventions that have been blocked and hidden because they posed a threat to existing corporate interests. This history includes the SunRaycer, a solar-power car that publicized its prowess by winning a race across a California desert decades ago in 1987. Chevy bought the company to block its development. 

The documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" recounts the short, zappy life of the General Motors electric-powered Impact, a forerunner of the EV1. The owners of this pioneering electric vehicle (including actor Mel Gibson) fell in love with these cars. As the film documents, they were distraught when GM eventually knocked on their doors, seized the cars, trucked them off to junkyards and had them destroyed. They just posed too big a threat to powerful oil companies—the climate be damned. 

 

An Oklahoma inventor named Troy Reid invented—and patented—a "magnetic motor" that consumed no fuel, emitted no fumes, and powered a car without the need of a battery. (According to the online rumor mill, Reid was killed to prevent the commercialization of his invention.) 

 

The invention of electric automobiles dates back to the world of Nicola Tesla, who is credited with creating the first "magnetic carriage" in 1897, as recounted in this video: 

 

Jay Leno reminds us that the first automobiles in America were electric. Here he is with his 1916 Owen Electric. 

 

In the beginning, the world's automobiles were all clean, electric vehicles. That all changed when Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller—in pursuit of profits—joined forces to steer the industry to abandon electric autos in favor of oil and gasoline-powered cars, as recounted in this video: 

 

Stop the Banks' Billion-dollar Late Fee Scam! 

Barks used to be the target of robbers. Now, it turns out, US banks have become the robbers. 

US banks are quietly making billions by charging credit card late fees that can reach $41 per transaction. Rohit Chopra, director of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has revealed that a reasonable late fee—one that covers the actual collection costs—should be no more than $8. No wonder Bank of America, Chase, Discover, and American Express are raking in $12 billion-a-year from these phony, felonious fees. Last year, Discover booked more than $400 million in late fees while Capital One netted $1.4 billion. 

It's expected that limiting late fees to the "cost of collection" would save US families $9 billion. Americans for Financial Reform and More Perfect Union Media want to "make sure that Wall Street doesn’t kill this vital reform with an astroturf campaign of paid commenters and automated bots." 

The ActionNetwork has posted a petition calling for abolition of the Late Fee Scam here. This video explains it all: 

 

Emotions get thorny. They are a semi-intangible cause of human suffering, but also a cause of great joy. Without emotions, where would we be? Emotions are the powerhouses that motivate humans to the point that we have civilization. And yet, for mentally ill people, it almost seems as though emotions are more a source of difficulty than anything. 

When we think we are non-emotional, it is probably an illusion. We're probably seeing an area of consciousness that doesn't have strong emotions at the time. This plateau of reduced emotion may fool some people into believing they're truly non emotional. If something difficult or provocative happened, it will probably blow a hole in this perception. 

How do we truly become non emotional? The answer is that probably, we don't. Emotions are always going to be around. The idea then becomes how we can mitigate the negatives of having too many or too strong emotions. But also, how we can obtain some of the really good feelings that we can enjoy. 

Emotions aren't often the direct consequence of facts. When something good happens to us, it is normal to feel good about it. But the vast bulk of emotions we feel are generated by how and what we think. And this includes meanings that we assign to events that could otherwise be seen as "objective." 

But I'm trying to build up to this question: Once we have exceedingly painful emotions in our laps, how do we cope with this? The exact source of an emotion isn't always pertinent. On the other hand, if we have a painful emotion, one technique of getting relief is to trace it to its source thoughts. If we can't do that, and many people probably can't, we need some other, simpler way of handling a painful emotion. 

1. Stop resisting the emotion. This often works and could allow a limited amount of pain to pass through you, in one end and out the other. It doesn't work a hundred percent of the time. In some cases, a painful emotion never stops, and it only intensifies if we fail to block it. This is a technique that works some of the time, and it might be something you could try first.
2. Change the content of your thinking. This could be equivalent to distracting yourself. This is very powerful and should not be underestimated. If you change the content of your thinking to things unrelated to what's getting at you, it has the potential to bring a period of real relief. Then you could come back to it later, if it is something you need to deal with.
3. Take a prescribed medication, thereby dealing with an emotion as being a symptom. This is sometimes not correct even if some prescribing doctors are willing to go along with it. On the other hand, if something is taking you over and it is too strong for you to deal with, why suffer when you don't have to?
4. Restrict consciousness to the "here and now." This is like putting a blinder on a horse to prevent it from seeing what's happening to its left and right sides, thus helping the horse do its job and not get distressed. In your case it is a restriction on consciousness. It is where you block out tomorrow, and hour from now, or five minutes from now. You could be focused merely on taking another breath. This is a very profound method, and it is derived from Buddhist mindfulness. It is not necessary to sit cross-legged to do this. You could play a radio and scribble bizarre drawings while you're doing this. The point of these side extra tasks is to remove areas of consciousness from the load you have to deal with.
5. Talk to someone. Talking to an understanding person can do a lot to bring relief. I personally have dialed 211 two times in the last month when I was distressed. The volunteers there are very dedicated and very helpful.

You should not talk to a random passenger on a subway train. You should talk to a family member, a person within your church, mosque, temple, or synagogue, or to a mental health professional, preferably one who knows you. 

The above are some practical tips that can help you manage difficult emotions. No one has the right to tell you that you should not feel a particular way. Your emotions are your property. Anyone helping you with them is a guest, someone whom you are admitting to your inner self. As a guest they need to respect the items in your mind. And you, as their host, should be respectful and grateful. 

---

Jack Bragen is a writer, a meditation practitioner, and a person with mental illness, with 27 years in recovery.

I'm sure I've heard somewhere that 'Berkeley'--the city, the campus, both--is the home of, or defender of, something called Free Speech. The phrase may even show up in tourist brochures. 

As has happened over recent years in Council decisions, the aims of Item 19 will result in further erosion of that sacred right regarding citizen input during Council meetings. Given the ongoing hostile takeover of the town by insincere powers, this is no surprise, but it may be the last straw. 

What really alarms me is that a former and two current councilors--among others, no doubt--actually believe that this move will make things better for all. In fact, it will remove the 'noise' you need to hear.  

If this move prevails, I hope news of it spreads, so that people far and wide realize that Berkeley has at last come to its senses, as Gov. Reagan hoped, and no longer stands for anything. No more Berkeley jokes, smirks, rolling eyes .. 

Please turn out the lights when you leave ..

Worth Noting:

Plan Ahead: City Commissions return to in-person only attendance on March 1, 2023. Check calendar post when planning to attend city meetings for location and if online option is available.

• SUNDAY: The BART site walk is rescheduled for March 5
• MONDAY: At 2:30 pm the Agenda and Rules Committee item-9 Droste’s Legislative process (limiting legislation) is on the agenda. At 6:30 pm is a special City Council meeting (online only) on the COVID emergency and the Rental Eviction Moratorium. At 6 pm Speaking Up for Point Molate (online only) presents GeoTracker the Water Board’s monitoring system that provides progress on groundwater cleanup.
• TUESDAY: At 4 pm is a City Council special meeting on increasing the solid waste container fees to cover cost. The Zero Waste Commission meets 6 pm
• The Go To Meeting is Tuesday at 6 pm the City Council regular meeting with a submission from Robinson and Wengraf to limit public participation in city council meetings by restricting public comment to a single comment on all action items. On Tuesday evening this major change is scheduled to come up for a vote as the very LAST ITEM of the evening, agenda item-19. This started as a Droste item and then Robinson and Wengraf submitted an alternative (supplemental) The Exceptions to a single comment are when a public hearing, an appeal or a quasi-judicial (court like) item are on the agenda. In these exceptions the public may comment on those individual items.
• WEDNESDAY: Both BOLT (in-person) and the Ohlone Park Improvements (online) meet at 6:30 pm. The Homeless Services Panel of Experts meets at 7 pm.
• At 7 pm the Bird Safe Ordinance hearing is on the Planning Commission agenda. The proposed ordinance DOES NOT meet the American Bird Conservancy model ordinance to reduce bird collisions see: https://abcbirds.org/glass-collisions/bird-friendly-legislation/
• THURSDAY: At 1 pm FITES meets on GEG emissions and Climate Action Plan. Item-5 is for $600,000 total for studies for adding bike lanes, dedicated bus lanes and raised platforms to University and modifying Shattuck - all of these traffic narrowing impacts emergency access and evacuation routes. The HAC and LPC meet at 7 pm. WETA meets at 1 pm ferry ridership continues to drop. At 4 pm is a Webinar (online) on Transforming the Nation's Food System.
• SUNDAY March 5: At 2 pm North Berkeley BART Housing Site walk at 2 pm

Check the City website for late announcements and meetings posted on short notice at: https://berkeleyca.gov/



Directions with links to ZOOM support for activating Closed Captioning and Save Transcript are at the bottom of this calendar.



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BERKELEY PUBLIC MEETINGS AND CIVIC EVENTS



Sunday, February 26, 2023 - The North Berkeley BART site walk is rescheduled to March 5

 

Monday, February 27, 2023 

 

AGENDA AND RULES COMMITTEE Meeting at 2:30 pm 

Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 2180 Milvia, 6th Floor – Redwood Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1603320255 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 160 332 0255 

AGENDA: Public Comment on non-agenda and items 1 – 7. 1. Minutes, 2. Review and Approve 3/14/2023 draft agenda – use link or read full draft agenda after list of city meetings, 3. Berkeley Considers, 4. Adjournment in Memory, 5. Council Workssessions, 6. Referrals for scheduling, 7. Land Use Calendar, Referred Items for Review: 8. COVID, 9. Discussion of Potential Changes to City Council Legislative Process, Unscheduled Items: 10. Discussion Regarding Design and Strengthening of Policy Committees, 11. Supporting Commissions, Guidance on Legislative Proposals. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/council-committees/policy-committee-agenda-rules 

 

CITY COUNCIL Closed Session at 4:30 pm 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1616821086 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 161 682 1086 

AGENDA: 1. Pending litigation a. Cantin v. City of Berkeley Alameda Co Superior Cout #22CV009096, b. Government Claim of Gregory H. McCormick, 2. Conference with City property negotiators for 1619 University (Campus Motel), 3. Conference with labor negotiators related to Berkeley Fire Fighters Assoc. Local 1227. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas 

 

CITY COUNCIL Special Session at 6:30 pm 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1600096551 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 160 009 6551 

AGENDA: 1. Extends the Covered Period of the COVID-19 Emergency Response for 60 days beyond the expiration of the local emergency, 2. Amends COVID-19 Emergency Response Ordinance related to evictions establishing a transition period. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas 

 

SPEAKING UP for POINT MOLATE FROM 6 – 7 PM 

Videoconference: https://sierraclub.zoom.us/j/99891619534 

AGENDA: Celina Hernandez, Senior Engineering Geologist at SF Bay Regional water Quality Control Board presents: How to Use GeoTracker – GeoTracker is the Water Board’s data management system for sites that require groundwater cleanup and for permitted facilities that could impact groundwater. 

 

Tuesday, February 28, 2023 

 

CITY COUNCIL Special Session at 4 pm 

Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 1231 Addison, School District Board Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1610465939 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 161 046 5939 

AGENDA: 1. Five Year Zero Waste Schedule, the current fee for the smaller solid waste containers do not cover the cost with proposed increases starting at per month $6 for 20-gallon and 32 gallon and $5.25 for 45 gallon, the chart of rate increases is on page 4 of the HTML packet 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas 

 

CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting at 6 pm 

Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 1231 Addison, School District Board Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1610465939 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 161 046 5939 

AGENDA: Use the link and choose the html option (at website) or see the agenda as listed at the end of the calendar. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas 

 

ZERO WASTE COMMISSION at 6 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/s/82587046286 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 825 8704 6286 

AGENDA: 6. Staff Updates on Rate Schedule, progress on Zero Waste Strategic Plan, SB 1383 Implementation, SUDs Ordinance Enforcement, Discussion and Action Items: 1. Woolsey Garden Presentation, Lithium Ion Battery Discussion, 3. Compost Kitchen Pails & Batteries, 3. Officer Elections, 4. Update on Rates, 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/zero-waste-commission 

 

Wednesday, March 1, 2023 

 

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES (BOLT) at 6:30 pm 

Central Library, Teen Room 1st Floor 

AGENDA: III.A. Recruitment process to fill BOLT vacancy 

https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/about/board-library-trustees 

 

HOMELESS SERVICES PANEL of EXPERTS at 7 pm 

1301 Shattuck, Live Oak Recreation Center, Fireside Room 

AGENDA: 6. Staff Update Here/There Closure, Emergency Resolution Grant Funding, 7. Chair Report, 8. Mission and goals, 9. Report on Council Budget meetings, 11. Homeless Services and inclement weather 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/homeless-services-panel-experts 

 

PLANNING COMMISSION at 7 pm 

2939 Ellis, South Berkeley Senior Center 

AGENDA: 10. Elections of Chair and Vice-Chair, 11. Public Hearing Bird Safe Ordinance, 12. Discussion Pacific Steel Casting Zoning and General Plan 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/planning-commission 

 

OHLONE PARK IMPROVEMENTS COMMUNITY MEETING from 6:30 – 8 pm 

Videoconference: See the flyer or webpage for link to register for meeting https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Ohlone%20Park%20Restroom%20Lighting%20Community%20Meeting%203-1-23_0.pdf 

Teleconference: 1-669-444-9171 Meeting ID: 844 2930 2020 Passcode: 130415 

AGENDA: Restroom and Lighting improvements at Ohlone Park 

https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/events/ohlone-park-improvements-community-meeting 

 

Thursday, March 2, 2023 

 

FACILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY (FITES) at 1 pm 

Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 2180 Milvia, 6th Floor – Redwood Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1611429430 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 161 142 9430 

AGENDA: 2. Harrison, co-sponsors Bartlett, Hahn – Adopt Ordinance adding new chapter BMC 12.01 Establishing Emergency Greenhous Gas Limits, Process for Updated Climate action Plan, Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Regional Cooperation, 3. Garland – Audit Status Report Fleet Replacement and Berkeley Streets, 4. Taplin – 51 Bus Rapid Transit 1. Refer to City Manager the development of implementation and community engagement plan to install Bus Rapid Transit with Dedicated bus lanes, transit signal priority, elevated platforms from Sixth St to Shattuck and along Shattuck from University to Durant, 2. Refer $300,000 FY 24-25 to conduct Complete Street Corridor Study along University from 6th St to Oxford, 3. Refer $300,000 FY 24-25 to conduct Complete Street Corridor Study along Shattuck from Virginia to Woolsey, 4. Refer FYx$X to install quick-build bus station improvements along the 51b route, 5. Initiate consultation with AC Transit and UC Berkeley Bear Transit as soon as possible. (Accompanying materials pages 33 – 110 in packet). 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/council-committees/policy-committee-facilities-infrastructure-transportation-environment-sustainability 

 

HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION (HAC) at 7 pm 

2939 Ellis, South Berkeley Senior Center 

AGENDA: 7. Recommend HOME-ARP substantial amendment for Council approval (HUD requires a HOME-ARP allocation plan before allocating the $2,735,696 grant – deadline to submit 3/21/2023, failure to submit causes loss of funds), 8. Discussion and Possible action Fair Access and Transparency in Residential Application Process. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/housing-advisory-commission 

 

LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION (LPC) at 7 pm 

2800 Park Street, San Pablo Park, Frances Albrier Community Center 

AGENDA: 6. 1919 Addison – Structural Alteration Permit, 7. 1960 San Antonio Ave – Structural Alteration Permit, 8. 2800 Telegraph – Demolition Referral 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/landmarks-preservation-commission 

 

Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) at 1 pm 

Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 425 Market 26th Floor, San Francisco 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89718217408 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 897 1821 7408 Password: 33779 

AGENDA: 6. Reports of Staff, b. Financials, c.&d. Legislative updates, e. Ridership chart on page 23 of packet (ridership is dropping), 9. Fare Program, 

https://weta.sanfranciscobayferry.com/next-board-meeting 

 

Living New Deal presents: Transforming the Nation’s Food System at 4 pm 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85483883419 

AGENDA: Lessons from the New Deal and Strategies for Today, Roundtable discussion on reform of the nation’s food system and lessons from FDR’s New Deal 

https://livingnewdeal.org/webinars/ 

 

Friday, March 3, 2023 – No city meetings listed 

Saturday, March 4, 2023 – No city meetings listed 

 

Sunday, March 5, 2023 

 

NORTH BERLELEY BART HOUSING SITE WALK at 2 pm 

Meet at the station building to begin the public walk tour. 

https://www.northberkeleyhousingpartners.com/ 

 

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AGENDA AND RULES COMMITTEE Meeting at 2:30 pm 

Draft Agenda for March 14 City Council Regular Meeting at 6 pm 

Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 2180 Milvia, 6th Floor – Redwood Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1603320255 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 160 332 0255 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/council-committees/policy-committee-agenda-rules 

 

AGENDA on CONSENT: 

1. Oyekanmi, Finance - Formal Bid Solicitations $2,802,400
2. Sprague, Fire – Contract $400,000 with KLD Engineering, P.C. for Evacuation and Response Time Modeling from 4/1/2023 to 6/30/2024 with option to renew for $100,000 for additional 2 years
3. Warhuus, HHCS – Contract $350,000 with GoGo Technologies Inc for Transportation Services for Seniors and Disabled from 4/1/2023 to 6/30/2026 for 24/7 call center to arrange rides with Uber and Lyft for customers of the Aging Services Division’s Berkeley Rides for Seniors and Disabled
4. Warhuus, HHCS – Contract $128,315 with mySidewalk, Inc for HHCS Web-Based Population Health Data Platform 3/15/2023 to 3/14/2026
5. Kouyoumdjian, HR – Amend Contract 32000225 add $149,000 total $349,000 and extend 6/30/2024 with Its Personnel Consulting for Recruitment, Hiring, and Independent Workplace Investigation
6. Kouyoumdjian, HR – Amend Contract 32100046 add $139,000 total $189,000 with HR Acuity, LLC for Case Management and Employee Relations Software
7. Kouyoumdjian, HR – Purchase Order $150,000 with Glassdoor to Provide Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Ad Work from4/1/2023 to 3/31/2025
8. Kouyoumdjian, HR – Purchase Order $150,000 with Indeed to Provide Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Ad Work from4/1/2023 to 3/31/2025
9. Fong, IT – Amend Contract 31900187 add $106,000 total $278,000 with LV.NET (formerly Towerstream) for Secondary Internet for Redundancy and Load Balancing from 10/3/2017 to 6/30/2024
10. Arreguin – Opposition to Initiative #1935 deceptively named “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act”
11. Arreguin, co-sponsor Robinson – Resolution Support SB 50 – would allow Berkeley to move forward with BerkDOT program for a Berkeley Department of Transportation instead of police to enforce vehicle or bike low-level infractions (traffic stops and enforcement)
12. Arreguin – Support SB 252 State Divestment from Fossil Fuels
13. Kesarwani, co-sponsors – Budget referral Addition Street Maintenance Funding to Improve Payment Condition, Saving Tax Dollars add $4.7 million total $20 million FY 2024-25
14. Taplin – Budget Referral Vision 2050 Complete Streets Parcel Tax Community Engagement and Program Plan refer $400,000 to June 2023 mid-year budget update to conduct community engagement, public information campaign and program plan development and climate resilient infrastructure
15. Taplin – Support Unionization Efforts by Urban Ore Workers under representation by the IWW Union 670
16. Taplin - Support for SB 58 Controlled Substances, decriminalization
17. Robinson, co-sponsor Arreguin – Support SB 466 reforming Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act
18. Robinson – Support H.R. 852 Investing in Safer Traffic Stops Act

AGENDA on ACTION: 

19. Sprague, Fire - Ambulance User Fee Increase
20. Fair Campaign Practices Commission – Cost of Living Adjustment for $250 campaign contribution limit increase by nearest $10 in every odd-numbered year
21. Klein, Planning – Climate Action Plan and Resilience Update
22. Droste – Bureaucratic Effectiveness and Referral Improvement and Prioritization Effort (BE RIPE) limits submission of legislation to 1 item per year per council member and 2 items per year for the mayor

INFORMATION REPORTS: 

23. Hollander, Economic Development – Berkeley Economic Dashboards Update

 

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February 28, 2023 Agenda for CITY COUNCIL Meeting at 6 pm 

A Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 1231 Addison St. in the School District Board Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1610465939 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (toll free) Meeting ID: 161 046 5939 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas 

 

URGENT ITEM: Increase Funding to Housing Retention Program Contract 

1. Arreguin - Add $300,000 to Housing Retention Program
2. Arreguin – Amend contract 32100023 add $300,000 with Eviction Defense Center (EDC) for rent debt or other expenses that would enable applicants to retain housing

AGENDA on CONSENT: 

1. 2nd Reading of Citywide Affordable Housing Requirements
2. Minutes
3. Radu - Donation $5000 to Animal Shelter from Stephen and May Birch Foundation
4. Oyekanmi, Finance - Formal bid solicitations $2,220,000 ($290,000 to Aquatic Park, $1,500,000 to Tree Removal and Pruning Services, $330,000 to Echo Lake Camp Accessibility Upgrades, $100,000 to Harriet Tubman Terrace Tenant Support)
5. Warhuus, HHCS – Contract $60,055 with Street Level Advisors and Strategic Economics for Housing to provide Fair Housing Analysis services 4/1/2023 – 4/1/2023
6. Kouyoumdjian – Increase Wage Ranges of Seasonal Camp Staff Classifications
7. Garland, Public Works – Final map of Tract 8573: 2628 Shattuck for 81-unit condominium project consisting of 78 residential units and 3 commercial units
8. Garland, Public Works – Final map of Tract 8626: 2023 – 2025 Kala Bagal Way for 49-unit condominium project consisting of 48 residential units and 1 commercial unit
9. Garland, Public Works – Final map of Tract 8490: 739 Channing Way for 15-unit condominium project consisting of 10 residential units, 4 live/work units and 1 commercial unit and merge 2 existing parels at 739 Channing
10. Garland, Public Works – Bauman Lease Termination with Bauman Wellness and Settlement of Balance Due at 1007 University
11. Taplin co-sponsor Hahn - Support for AB-309 Social Housing update version of AB 2053
12. Taplin, co-sponsors Bartlett, Kesarwani, Arreguin – Resolution Condemning a pattern of attacks targeting Black political leaders
13. Harrison – Support for HR 8040: People Over the Pentagon Act – calls for reducing bloated military budget by $100 billion and just transition for workers in militarized industries
14. Robinson, co-sponsor Humbert, Hahn, Harrison – Creation of an intersection daylighting policy, referral to the city manager to increase lighting at high-injury streets, intersections and seek input from the Transportation and Infrastructure Commission

AGENDA on ACTION: 

15. ZAB Appeal 1262 Francisco, Use Permit #ZP2021-0006 and ZP#2020-0122 to add 40 sq ft on first floor and balcony on 2nd floor to an existing single family dwelling unit
16. Williams-Ridley, City Manager – Making Berkeley an Employer of Choice with 1) hire two Associate HR Analysts and one Assistant Analyst (cost of new staff not listed), 2) contract $250,000 with branding and marketing agency, 3) $200,000 to enhance communications and social media content including department communications
17. Resolution terminating the COVID-19 Emergency
18. a. Youth Commission – Add a Youth Member to the Environment and Climate Commission. b. Billi Romain, Commission Secretary – Add a Youth member appointed and confirmed by BUSD with a referral to the City Manager to evaluate the feasibility and prepare draft language, c. Harrison – Adopt an Ordinance Amending BMC 3.82 to add two youth members recommended by BUSD and appointed by the full council.
19. Droste – Reforms to Public Comment Procedures at City Council meetings (limiting public comment). The Agenda and Rules Committee sends the measure to council with a negative recommendation to take no action.

*Robinson, co-sponsor Wengraf – Supplemental – alternate – LIMIT PUBLIC to a SINGLE COMMENT on all Action items excluding public hearings, appeals and/quasi-judicial matters. 

INFORMATION REPORTS: 

20. Oyekanmi - FY 2023 First Quarter Investment Report (ended 9/30/2023)

 

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LAND USE CALENDAR: 

 

Public Hearings 

1262 Francisco (add 40 sq ft and 2nd story balcony) 2/28/2023 

469 Kentucky (single family dwelling) 5/23/2023 

Remanded to ZAB or LPC 

1205 Peralta – Conversion of an existing garage 

 

WORK SESSIONS & SPECIAL MEETINGS: 

 

February 27 – Eviction Moratorium 

February 28 – Zero Waste 5-Year Rate Schedule at 4 pm 

March 7 - Berkeley Marina Area Specific Plan 

March 14 – Annual Crime Report at 4 pm 

March 21 - Civic Arts Grantmaking Process & Capital Grant Program at 4 pm, Civic Center Vision Project at 4 pm 

April 18 – Hopkins Corridor Plan 

May 16 - Fire Facilities Study Report 5/16/2023 

 

Unscheduled Presentations: 

Climate Action Plan and Resilience Update – regular agenda March 14 

City Policies for Managing Parking Around BART Stations – check with Garland 

 

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

 

This meeting list is also posted at: https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html 

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 calendar of city meetings please forward the email you received to kellyhammargren@gmail.com with the request to be removed from the email list. 

________ 

 

For Online Public Meetings 

CLOSED CAPTIONING, SAVE TRANSCRIPT OVERVIEW, DIRECTIONS and ZOOM SUPPORT LINKS: 

 

ZOOM has as part of the program - (for no extra cost) Closed Captioning (CC). It turns computer voice recognition into a transcript. Accuracy of the Closed Captioning is affected by background noise, the volume and clarity of the speaker, lexicons/wordbook and dialect of the speaker. The transcript will not be perfect, but most of the time reading through it the few words that don't fit, can be deciphered, like Shattuck was transcribed as Shadow in one recent transcript. 

 

One advantage of ZOOM live transcription over the Captioner’s Record for City Council meetings, is that Zoom grabs the speaker’s log-in name. The City Captioner recorder (a live person typing) uses the public comment speaker’s name from the person or someone else stating the name. The person speaking is frequently not identified. The small advantage of the CC Captioner’s record is the captioner is familiar with Berkeley specific terms. 

 

For the online attendee the full transcript is only available from the time the attendee activates Closed Captioning. If Closed Captioning is activated and you sit through a meeting and then remember 10 minutes before it is over to click on CC then go to the arrow/carrot next to CC for the menu and click on Show Full Transcript you will only get the last 10 minutes, not the full transcript – So click often on both Save Transcript and on Save to Folder during the meeting for best results. 

 

When you click on Show Full Transcript it will allow you to scroll up and down, so if want to go back and see what was said earlier you can do that during the meeting while the transcript is running. 

 

At the bottom of the transcript when we as attendees are allowed to save there will be a button for, "Save Transcript," you can click on the button repeatedly throughout the meeting and it will just overwrite and update the full transcript. Clicking on the Save Transcript repeatedly as the meeting is coming to an end is important because once the host ends the meeting, the transcript is gone if you didn't save it. 

 

After you click on "save transcript," click on "Show In Finder." The meeting transcript will show up (as a download to your desktop) in a separate box as a text file. (These text files are not large.) After you have done your last Save Transcript and Show In Finder, after the meeting is over you can rename it the downloaded transcript and save it (or send and share it).  

 

Also a meeting does not have to be recorded to allow Closed Captioning and allow to Save Transcript. Saving the transcript saves it to our own computers. Closed Captioning is completely separate from recording a meeting, therefore recording a meeting does not activate closed captioning. The meeting host can activate closed captioning and block attendees from saving the transcript. When this is done there will be no “Save Transcript” button. Also, allowing attendees to save the transcript does not require the meeting host to save the transcript (for the public record). 

 

Here is the link to ZOOM Support for how to set up Closed Captioning for a meeting or webinar:  

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/8158738379917#h_01GHWATNVPW5FR304S2SVGXN2X 

 

Here is the link to ZOOM Support for attendees in how to save Closed Captions: 

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360060958752-Using-save-captions#h_01F5XW3BGWJAKJFWCHPPZGBD70vv