Don't miss our guide to May 16 council highlights: federal funding and an armored van for police that's been disputed by activists, infrastructure updates, the Library Board, more.
After three months at the Berkeley Unified school board chambers, Berkeley City Council is returning to the seismically unsafe, dilapidated (but externally photogenic) Old City Hall. Before the regular Berkeley City Council meeting at 7 p.m. tonight, there is a brief special meeting of the Joint Powers Financing Authority at 6:45 p.m. to approve the issuance of up to $40 million in parking revenue bonds to finance the new Center Street garage. Then, at the regular 7 p.m. meeting, items include two rival minimum wage/sick leave ballot measures, support for the Berkeley Housing Authority, a small business development package, and a ballot measure to allow 16-year-olds to vote in school board elections. Scroll down to see how to follow live meeting coverage and participate from afar. (more…)
Two special sessions take place tonight, Tuesday, at 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., both of which are open to the public, before the regular Berkeley City Council meeting. The first session focuses on the City Council referral prioritization process. It will examine the system of “re-weighted range voting” to provide direction to city staff on which referrals are the highest priority. The session at 6:45 p.m. will consider a resolution to vote in support of district formation on the “Ballot to Reestablish the Downtown Berkeley Property-Based Business Improvement District.” Then, at the regular 7 p.m. meeting, items include a proposal to help small businesses and a request to increase development potential in the Telegraph commercial district. Scroll down to see how to follow live meeting coverage and participate from afar. (more…)
A 5:30 p.m. special session tonight, before the regular Berkeley City Council meeting, focuses on the city’s hiring practices. Then, at the regular 7 p.m. Feb. 23 meeting: continuing discussion on potential ballot measures for the November election, the mid-year budget update, proposals to use surplus transfer tax revenues for parks capital projects, a proposal for publicly financed local political campaigns, the audit report on the city’s general fund reserve. Scroll down to see how to follow live meeting coverage and participate from afar. (more…)
Election season is already heating up, with a special session tonight, before the regular Berkeley City Council meeting, on possible ballot measures for November. Then, at the regular Feb. 9 meeting: the latest minimum wage proposal; a zoning permit appeal for a project approved on Blake Street; the paving plan update; a proposal to restrict parking in the Berkeley Hills; several items related to homelessness and housing; and a living wage for city employees. Could be a long night, with 16 items on the action calendar alone. Scroll down to see how to follow live meeting coverage and participate from afar. (more…)
Noisy parties around UC Berkeley, an analysis of the police response to the December 2014 Black Lives Matter protests, and a proposal to raise the smoking age to 21: It’s all up for discussion at Tuesday night’s Berkeley City Council meeting.
It may be another late night for the Berkeley City Council, which has two meetings Tuesday night set to include more than 60 agenda items. At 5:30 p.m., there’s a special session on the city’s economic profile, as well as updates from state Senator Loni Hancock and Assemblymember Tony Thurmond. For the regular 7:30 p.m. meeting, there are 19 items on the action calendar alone. There’s a public hearing on a new bike sharing program the city hopes to launch, council consideration of the Police Review Commission’s look into last year’s protests, a proposal to add homeless services to what the city already offers, and several council proposals related to living wages and housing. The latest five-year paving plan is also on the agenda, along with a resolution from the Peace and Justice Commission to end drone warfare. (more…)
At its Dec. 1 meeting, the Berkeley City Council is set to kick off with a special 5:30 p.m. session on affordable housing, followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m. The action calendar includes two appeals related to a Durant Avenue housing project, a look at the Police Review Commission’s report about last December’s protests, and a proposal from Councilman Jesse Arreguín to expand the city’s services for the homeless. The meeting is set to take place in the Longfellow Middle School auditorium, at 1500 Derby St. Scroll down to see the highlights and learn how to follow along. (more…)
At its Nov. 3 meeting, the Berkeley City Council is set to consider an expansion of the city’s services to help the homeless, as well as relaxed parking rules for those who wish to build “granny flats” and live near transit. Council is also set to receive an update on its Climate Action Plan goals, and how the city proposes to close the gap between the emissions reductions it hopes to achieve and the reality of the most recently-measured levels. Scroll down to see the highlights and learn how to follow along. (more…)
It’s no secret that the city has been struggling to come up with solutions to Berkeley’s housing crunch, and that issue will be front and center at the Oct. 27 council meeting tonight. There are a total of 11 housing-related items on the consent and action calendars. Our guide to the items is below. There’s also a special session before the regular meeting that is focused on street repaving and watershed improvements funded by Measure M. (more…)
The Berkeley City Council meets tonight, Oct. 13, beginning with a special session at 6:30 p.m. to look at a new crowd-sourcing app from Berkeley Community Media called “Mediaphile.” The regular meeting begins at 7 p.m., with only 13 items on the agenda. On the action calendar: Acme Bar & Company has appealed a rejection of its request to expand alcohol service onto its back patio; an enforcement program proposal related to lead paint; and a proposed prevention program related to hate crimes. (more…)
The Berkeley City Council meets tonight, Oct. 6, beginning with a special session at 5:30 p.m. focused on Tasers, which Berkeley police have been saying they should be able to carry. The regular meeting begins at 7 p.m., with only 13 items on the agenda. On the action calendar: A package from Councilwoman Lori Droste related to making it easier to build affordable housing, and reduce parking requirements for those projects; a proposal from Councilman Kriss Worthington asking the city to prioritize a plan to overhaul the city’s transfer station into a “state of the art Zero Waste facility”; and the first of two votes to enact the city’s new cellphone warning ordinance. (more…)
Get ready: The Berkeley City Council meets Tuesday nights for the next three weeks running. Tonight, Sept. 29, begins with a special session at 5:30 p.m. focused on new regulations for mini-dorms and other group living accommodations. The regular meeting begins at 7 p.m. Included on the action calendar: a proposal to make a plan to put Berkeley’s utility wires underground; an update on the city’s selection process for its fourth medical cannabis dispensary; and an amendment to the city’s accessory dwelling unit law to remove parking requirements near some transit lines. (more…)
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