Berkeley Public Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez issued an order on Thursday mandating masks, temperature screenings and symptom checks for workers and visitors at skilled nursing and residential care facilities to control the spread of the coronavirus. -more-

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin and City Manager, Dee Williams-Ridley, and Health Officer, Dr Lisa Hernandez will appear at an online town hall tomorrow, Saturday, April 18 at noon. You can submit questions using this form. Watch the live stream at www.jessearreguin.com -more-

On April 11th at 8:23 am, officers responded to the Panoramic Hill neighborhood on a report of a package theft. The alert person in the neighborhood noticed one of the suspects stealing a package from their neighbor and immediately called the police. When officers arrived, they learned that the suspects were last seen driving up the Panoramic Way hill in a full-size SUV and had not returned yet. -more-

First They Came For The Homeless has been acting as an advocate for Phil Woodruff (aka. James Wood) for over a year. He was placed into a group housing situation in Oakland by BACS from their Berkeley Stairway Navigation Center. He currently resides in a house that is not up to code (2326 Myrtle St., Oakland, 94607.) It is a group congregate situation with from 10 to 15 residents and a house manager living or working in it.

We are very concerned about his health and safety at this place. Two weeks ago he was told to leave the house and not come back. He was essentially evicted in the COVID-19 quarantine by the house manager who raged at him that he had "white privilege". He endured at least 5 days living outside and sleeping on the pavement because of this. He did not have his medicine, clothing or even a charger for his phone since he was so abruptly tossed out. He was told to return to the house by BACS, but when he got there, they locked the door on him, would not let him in and the landlady shouted from her car in front of the house at him. He left feeling isolated, in physical pain from falls while he was on the street, in fear and sick from not having his medication. Evicted in the time of the Corona Virus. -more-

There can be no good that comes from a global pandemic, leaving lives and economies in ruins, except hopefully the none-too-soon Trump exit. You would think this period of hording, uncertainty, and paranoia, extending to and including formerly banal activities like food shopping, might have a small silver lining with renewed appreciation for outdoor food shopping at farmers’ markets. Fresh air, disinfecting sunlight, farmers hurting from restaurant shutdowns but more seasonal offerings like asparagus and strawberries, more people cooking at home, with time on their hands and families around. And a renewed appreciation for fresh, local produce and other staples—farm-to-table made real, not just a cliche. Meet the people who grow the food. -more-

This has been an especially bad week for Donald Trump. Multiple media reports have carefully cataloged his conflicting statements in response to the Coronavirus. He initially praised China’s and later charged them with withholding critical information. Twisting his Rubik’s Cube of blame he now blames the World Health Organization (WHO) of being too China-centric.
Halting American funding of WHO during a raging pandemic is like torching a fire department’s trucks in the middle of an inferno. WHO rang the alarm as early as January 4 and declared the Coronavirus an international emergency at the end of the month. Tragically, the Trump administration ignored their warnings and rejected their diagnostic testing kit which has been used in dozens of countries.Trump repeatedly downplayed the severity of the Coronavirus dismissing it as a Democrat hoax claiming the number of infections would quickly disappear. His passivity has caused the death of thousands of Americans and left large numbers of doctors and nurses unprotected. -more-

The Gulf has always been a mecca for poor migrant workers. The local Gulf “Brahmin” inhabitants have always eschewed blue collar jobs importing migrants to do the heavy lifting. Many migrants amassed substantial debts to recruiters and middlemen before arriving. Many are desperately short of food and money and are bitter their host countries treat them as an expendable underclass. Gulf States like Qatar and Saudi Arabia have fired tens of thousands of migrants and ordered a lockdown in overcrowded facilities raising fears of the widespread of the coronavirus. If the migrants are lucky enough to escape the virus they will certainly die of starvation. According to recent statistics released by the CIA, migrants make up more than 30% of Saudi Arabia’s 34 million citizens; more than 50% in Bahrain and Oman and in Kuwait foreigners outnumber citizens by two-thirds. In Qatar the number is a staggering nine to one. It is extremely short sighted to deny them support. A hasty exit would surely cause many of the Gulf States economies to collapse. Equally guilty are their countries of origin who have failed to airlift the migrants back home. In a show of contempt for poor migrants, a prominent Kuwaiti actress said on TV that they should be thrown out “into the desert.” It is appalling that the US,Britain and other western counties who have amassed $billions in arms sales to the Gulf States but show little concern for the welfare of migrant communities. -more-

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the first Earth Day. How ironic that this spring marks a big decrease in carbon emissions, due not to a great switch to renewable energy and energy efficiency, but to the global pandemic’s effect on reduced air traffic and other transportation. -more-

I am strongly and unequivocally opposed to any dredging of the San Francisco Bay for oil companies or for any other reason. Dredging destroys the ecosystem that is dredged and stirs up toxic pollutants that had not been causing harm when they were underneath the bottom of the water. Dredging to allow more and larger oil tankers is especially egregious, as we should be moving away from polluting fossil fuels like oil for multiple reasons including human-caused climate change, not accommodating even more of them. We have already done a lot of environmental and ecological harm to the Bay with landfills, pollution, and other dredging. This proposed dredging would do even more harm and should not be approved! -more-

The Army Corps of Engineers' proposal to dredge the Bay should not be allowed. The Corps is working hand-in-glove with Phillips 66, which has a refinery in Rodeo. The dredging would make it easier for the oil company to bring in deeper (thus larger) ships containing tar sands crude, an extremely heavy and dirty oil that requires additional fossil fuel use to break down into a usable state. In the likelihood of a spill, tar sands crude goes directly to the bottom of the Bay. The fact that it is almost entirely irretrievable is proven by its location at the bottom of the Kalamazoo River in Michigan, where a major leak occurred several years ago. We already have a huge problem on our hands with COVID-19, let's not set ourselves up for more heartbreak. -more-

I am really outraged that interests from outside of our community would put us and our environment at risk for profit. The proposal to dredge our beautiful bay, majorly disrupting its fragile ecosystem, churning up mercury and lead from the bottom is bad enough. But to then create an endless parade of massive tar sands oil tankers, each one carrying a potential spill is absolutely unacceptable! The Bay Area should be leading in the move away from fossil fuels and plastic, not participating in its expansion. And we certainly should not be jeopardized the amazing San Francisco Bay which is central to our shared history and way of life! I call on everyone to join in fighting oil companies and the federal government who would steal our this iconic asset from us! -more-

Here's the best article I've seen on this topic:

Saving Your Health, One Mask at a Time

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While the corona virus has focused much of the world on Europe and the United States, India promises to be the greatest victim of the disease. But other than a slick public relations campaign, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done little to confront the crisis. Indeed, a number of policy moves by Delhi have likely fed the spread of the dangerous virus.

When Modi announced a 21-day nationwide shutdown on March 24, he did so without any warning. Almost before the Prime Minister had finished talking, panicked city residents—mostly middle class—poured into the streets to stock up on food and medicines, almost certainly accelerating the spread of COVID-19.

The shutdown instantly made tens of millions of people jobless, setting many of them in motion toward their home villages. Since public transportation has been shut down, that involved journeys of over 300 miles. And because many villages are blocking outsiders, where migrants will get food and water is anyone’s guess.

Except for a few independent news sources, much of the chaos set off by the March 24 orders has gone unreported. Using a combination of financial pressure and outright censorship, Modi and his rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have silenced much of the media. Newspapers and broadcast outlets are finding that criticism of Modi or the BJP results in the loss of government advertising, a major source of revenue. Modi has also filed expensive and difficult to fight tax cases against opposition media outlets. -more-

On April 14, California Governor Gavin Newsom detailed what will be required before the Golden State can begin to open up, shake off the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Newsom's grim assessment stands in marked contrast to the position of Donald Trump.

While acknowledging that California has made significant progress "flattening the curve" of the pandemic, Newsom cautioned that it was premature to declare victory: "As we contemplate reopening parts of our state, we must be guided by science and data, and we must understand that things will look different than before.” (https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/04/14/governor-newsom-outlines-six-critical-indicators-the-state-will-consider-before-modifying-the-stay-at-home-order-and-other-covid-19-interventions/ ) California currently has 28,156 Coronavirus cases and a mortality rate of 3.4 percent -- compared with 5.1 percent for the U.S.

Newsom presented a six-part plan that will enable California's leaders to determine when to begin to "dial back" the current stay-at-home order: -more-

April Fool's Day of 2020 marked 24 years since my most recent inpatient psychiatric hospital admission. The release was about two weeks after. When I got out, I had the nerve to solicit a marriage proposal from my girlfriend, Joanna Freeman. We moved in together, and I needed to have someone (my fiancé) help me, because I was not yet normal upon release. It was to take several months for me to find my way back to reality--following being reinstated on antipsychotics. -more-

Trump claims that he, not the state governors, have the ultimate authority to reopen the American economy. Actually, he is wrong. The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” -more-

Getting to Know God's Bisexual Critters

One wonders how a Bible-thumping, Hetero-Christian evangelist would react to this news: Scientists have discovered that the Creator has created a thriving community of animals that are bilateral gynandromorphs. Or, in layman's terms: bisexual!

From Texas to Pennsylvania, birdwatchers have been bewitched by sightings of Northern Cardinals whose feathered forms are, as LiveScience describes them, "divided down the middle like a winged black-and-white-cookie"—but, in this case, a manly scarlet on one side and a lady-like taupe on the other.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology researchers assured the National Geographic that these "half-siders" are not just a cardinal rule: they exist in many species of birds, crustaceans and butterflies. (Yes, there are bisexual crabs in Chesapeake Bay.)

Gynandromophism is not just a superficial divide. As Virginia Institute of Marine Science geneticist Kimberly Reese explained to the New York Times, the bird's brain would also be "half male" and "half female." These birds have been seen to court but, with only a half-brain, the birds lack the male's ability to sing. On the other hand, the bisexual budgies could still produce an egg, as long as the bird's "left ovary" remains functional.

More Weird Bird News -more-

Worth Noting:

All City meetings and events are either by videoconference or teleconference.

Video Updates from the Mayor on COVID-19 are on Mondays and Wednesdays and will be posted on the Mayor’s YouTube page, the April 10 Town Hall is also posted https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgXaP2idglejM_r7Iv7my6w

• Saturday, April 18 - Virtual Town Hall, 12 – 1 pm, Live stream on jessearreguin.com

submit questions ahead of time using this form by 9am on Saturday.

• Tuesday, April 21 – City Council Regular meeting is at 6 pm,
• Thursday, April 23 – Fair Campaign Practices Commission meets at 7 pm via teleconference

The agenda for the April 28 City Council meeting is available for comment and follows the daily list of meetings. The agenda includes 7. opting up residential and commercial customers to Brilliant 100 and Municipal accounts to Renewable 100.



Dashboards for Tracking the Incidence and Trends of COVID-19

• The Worldometer dashboard gives totals for “today” and “yesterday” and includes incidence by population making comparisons by country and states possible. The dashboard clock is set to GMT+0, which translates to 5 pm California Time. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

• 91-DIVOC shows trends by country and state. The totals lag behind the Worldometer by a day http://91-divoc.com/pages/covid-visualization/?fbclid=IwAR39UvU_W-bIImcZ1O8UItJ2mlIgBIjOw7m7KXJLwg1YeEwiIVVvqWjryzY

• COVID-19 Compiler provides a map of the US with every county outlined. To view the incidence of COVID-19 by county just click on the county. https://covid19.topos.com

Sunday, April 19, 2020

No City meetings or events found

Monday, April 20, 2020

No City meetings or events found

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

LATE ENTRY – Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, 3:15 pm, meeting announced, but no agenda available teleconference/videoconference information to be posted Monday, April 20, 2020, go to website for details

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/rent/

Berkeley City Council, Note there are different teleconference and videoconference numbers for the closed session and the regular session. Videoconference: If you do not wish for your name to appear on the screen, use the drop down menu and click on “rename” and rename yourself to be anonymous use the “raise your hand” and wait to be recognized to comment Teleconference: to comment press *9 and wait to be recognized, you will hear your phone number when recognized

LIVE AUDIO: KPFB 89.3, LIVE CAPTIONED BROADCAST: Cable B-TV (Channel 33) for the full agenda use the link

CLOSED Session, 4 pm,

Videoconference: https://zoom.us/j/96450029566,

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID 964 5002 9566, Agenda: 1. 295 University Negotiating Parties City of Berkeley (Dee Williams-Ridley, Paul Buddenhagen, Scott Ferris) and YOONACO dba Hana Japan, 2. Conference with Legal Council – Pending Litigation, Harris v. City of Berkeley, RG HG19025563

REGULAR Session, 6 – 11 pm,

Videoconference: https://zoom.us/j/257156624

Teleconference: 1-669-9009128 Meeting ID 257 156 624

Agenda: CONSENT: 1. Adopt Resolution Ratifying COVID-19 Local Emergency, 2. Bid Solicitations and RFP, 3. On-Call Landscape Architectural Services for Capital Improvement Projects, 4. FY 2021 Street Lighting Assessments, 5. Letter to Assemblymember Wicks supporting AB 1851eliminating parking requirements on faith-based properties for density bonus qualifying housing development projects, ACTION: 6. Public Hearing to grant Franchise Agreement Amendment for Electric Bike Share Program with Bay Area Motivate, LLC, a subsidiary of Lyft, A. Resolution Oppose Alameda County Sheriff Proposal for additional $85,000,000 for Santa Rita Jail, B. Establish Moratorium on Enforcements of BMC 14.48 Ordinance 3x3 regulation, Encampment Evictions, Sweeps, RV Parking and towing/ticketing/impounding of vehicles used for shelter during COVID-19 Pandemic, 7. Adopt Resolution to upgrade residential and commercial customers to a 100% GHG-Free Electricity Plan (Brilliant 100) and to upgrade Municipal accounts to 100% Renewable (Renewable 100), 8. Urgency Ordinance 1. Limit Commercial Rent Increases to 10% thru and 6 months after emergency declaration, 2. Send Correspondence to District DA and authorize City Attorney to take action against any violator who seeks rent increase that has the effect to evict any commercial tenant.

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

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

No City meetings or events found

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Open Government & Fair Campaign Practices Commission, 7 pm, Teleconference: 213-279-1690 Meeting ID 783454379, Agenda: 3. Public Comment non-agenda items, 7. Negotiated stipulation with Lacey for 2018, Amendments to Election Reform Act, 9. Officeholder accounts, 10. Presentation 2020 Census, 11. FCPC 2020-2021 Work Plan, 13. Lobbying registration and reporting, 14. D-13 accounts and nonprofit donations, 15. Open Government 2020-2021 Work Plan

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/FCPC/

Friday, April 24, 2020

No City meetings or events found

Saturday, April 25, 2020

No City meetings or events found

Sunday, April 26, 2020

No City meetings or events found

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The April 28, 2020 City Council Agenda is available for comment for comment email council@cityofberkeley.info

The April 28 City Council Meeting will be conducted exclusively through VIDEOCONFERENCE: https://zoom.us/j/96207688419

TELECONFERENCE: 1-669-9009128 Meeting ID 962 0768 8419

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2020/04_Apr/City_Council__04-28-2020_-_Regular_Meeting_Agenda.aspx

April 28 Agenda: CONSENT: 1. 2^nd reading Amendment to FY 2020 Annual Appropriations Ordinance $28,565,263 (gross) $15,378,568, 2. 2^nd reading lease agreement with 200 Marina Blvd LLC, Doubletree Hotel 60-year term 5/14/2020 – 12/31/2080, capital contribution from 200 Marina LLC to Marina Street improvements, 3. Zoning Ordinance Amendment for Family Daycare Homes to comply with Senate Bill 234, 4. 2^nd reading Amend Tenant Screening to prohibit fees to existing tenants and lease terminations, 5. Approve 5/10/2020 minutes, 6. Ordinance to establish Citizen Redistricting Commission rules and procedures will convene in Fall in response to 2020 Census results, 7. Formal Bid solicitations, RFP Sanitary Sewer Rehab Project, 8. Contract $32,160/yr for FY21 with City Data Services and authorization to extend for additional 3 years (FY21+FY22+FY23+FY24=$128,640), 9. Amend and extend Contract add $117,000 total $217,000with Youth Spirit Artworks for Transition Age Youth Case Management, Linkage Services and Tiny House Case Management, 10. Contract $500,000 with ENGEO for testing and inspection services for Tuolumne Camp Construction project 5/1/2020 – 7/1/2022, 11. Contract $556,292 (includes 10% contingency) with Andres Construction for Sanitary Sewer Rehab at West Frontage Road, 12. Contracts 1. Add $1,000,000 total $1,500,000 and extend to 6/30/2022 with LCC Engineering & Surveying Inc for on-call civil engineering, 2. Add $1,000,000 total $2,500,000 and extend to 6/30/2022 with Pavement Engineering In for on-call engineering services, 13. Approve Proposed Projects anticipated to be paid for by State Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) for FY 2021, 14. Fill Vacancy with appointment of Mr. Carlos Hill (District 1) on Human Welfare and Community Action Commission,

ACTION: 15. Public Hearing Redesign and Rezone of Rose Garden Inn at 2740 and 2744 Telegraph and 2348 Ward, 16. Public Hearing Submission of 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), allocate 85% of Program Year (PY20) to Housing Trust Fund, 5% to Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) and 10% Program Administration and authorize City Manager to submit Plan to HUD, 17. Discussion and Direction to City Manager regarding community survey for Nov 3, 2020 Ballot Measures,

18. Charter Amendment on Nov 3, 2020 Ballot changing Mayor and Councilmembers to full-time status with salary increase, 19. Prepare City Ballot Measure to Create a Climate Action Fund to become fossil free – response to Climate Action Plan and Climate Emergency, 20. Ballot Measure to introduce Term Limits 3 – 4 year terms or twelve years with required 2-year hiatus in order to serve additional terms for Mayor and City Councilmembers, INFORMATION REPORTS: 15. Mid-Year Budget Update, 16. Eight Previous Referrals to Planning Dept Which Can Be Tracked as Fulfilled,

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Public Hearings Scheduled – Land Use Appeals

1533 Beverly (single family dwelling) 6/2/2020

0 Euclid – Berryman Reservoir TBD

Remanded to ZAB or LPC With 90-Day Deadline

1155-73 Hearst (develop 2 parcels) – referred back to City Council – to be scheduled

Notice of Decision (NOD) With End of Appeal Period

1132 Amador 4/28/2020

2590 Bancroft 4/30/2020

2715 Belrose 5/5/2020

1440 Bonita 4/28/2020

1449 Grizzly Peak 4/28/2020

1484 Grizzly Peak 4/30/2020

1476 Keoncrest 4/28/2020

2150 Kittredge 4/28/2020

1397 La Loma 4/30/2020

11 Maryland 4/30/2020

74 Oak Ridge 4/30/2020

1231 Ordway 4/28/2020

1205 Parker 5/5/2020

1315 Peralta 4/28/2020

2418 Sacramento 4/28/2020

2910 Seventh 4/23/2020

1998 Shattuck 4/30/2020

600 Spruce 4/28/2020

2650 Telegraph 4/28/2020

1665 Thousand Oaks 4/30/2020

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/planning_and_development/land_use_division/current_zoning_applications_in_appeal_period.aspx

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

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WORKSHOPS

June 23 – Climate Action Plan/Resiliency Update,

July 21 – Crime Report

Sept 29 – Digital Strategic Plan/FUND$ Replacement Website Update, Zero Waste Priorities

Oct 20 – Update Berkeley’s 2020 Vision, BMASP/Berkeley Pier-WETA Ferry



Unscheduled Workshops/Presentations

Cannabis Health Considerations

Vision 2050

Ohlone History and Culture (special meeting)

Presentation from StopWaste on SB1383

Systems Realignment

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To Check For Regional Meetings with Berkeley Council Appointees go to

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



To check for Berkeley Unified School District Board Meetings go to

https://www.berkeleyschools.net/schoolboard/board-meeting-information/



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

http://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html and in the Berkeley Daily Planet under activist’s calendar http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com



When notices of meetings are found that are posted after Friday 5:00 pm they are added to the website schedule https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html and preceded by LATE ENTRY



If you wish to stop receiving the Weekly Summary of City Meetings please forward the weekly summary you received to kellyhammargren@gmail.com, -more-