Events

THE BERKELEY ACTIVIST'S CALENDAR, March 5-12, 2023

Kelly Hammagren

Sunday March 05, 2023 - 05:00:00 PM

Worth Noting:

City meetings at 2180 Milvia in the Redwood Room (City Council committees) and at 1231 Addison in the BUSD Board Room (City Council and ZAB) are hybrid, in-person and by videoconference. All other city commission and board meetings in city buildings at 2939 Ellis the South Berkeley Senior Center, 2800 Park the Frances Albrier Community Center and Live Oak Park are in-person only.

SUNDAY: At 2 pm is the North Berkeley BART Housing Site Walk
MONDAY: At 12 noon the Community for a Cultural Civic Center (CCCC) meets via ZOOM. At 2:30 pm the Agenda and Rules Committee meets on a hybrid format on the draft agenda for the March 21 regular City Council meeting. The Peace and Justice Commission and the Personnel Board meet in person at 7 pm.
TUESDAY: CANCELED - The planned Council worksession on BMASP (Berkeley Marina Area Specific Plan) has been canceled.
WEDNESDAY: From 8 – 11 am is the planting of 40 native California trees. At 5:30 pm the Police Accountability Board (PAB) holds an in-person special meeting on fixed camera surveillance policies. At 7 pm the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission meets at 7 pm with a full agenda on the marina, capital projects, aquatic park and grants.
THURSDAY: At 10 am the Budget Committee meets in a hybrid format. At 7 pm ZAB meets in a hybrid format. Two projects are in the Hillside Overlay, the high fire hazard area. The Hayward Fault runs through the Berkeley Hills and many areas of the hills are mapped as hillside slide areas.
SATURDAY: At 10 am the Berkeley Neighborhoods Council (BNC) meets for the first time in a hybrid format. The agenda is not posted yet. BNC meetings are always full and worth attending.
SUNDAY: At noon there is a special gathering at Peoples Park

The Droste proposal to limit Public Comment at City Council meetings was rescheduled from February 28 to the March 14 City Council meeting as the first action item, item-20

The proposals were item-19 in February 28 council meeting agenda which is why these commentaries from Councilmember Kate Harrison, Phil Allen D-1 Resident and the Activist’s Diary from February 26, 2023 list the Droste & Robinson/Wengraf proposals as item 19.

The full Agenda for the March 14 City Council meeting is after the calendar of meetings and after the draft agenda for the March 21 City Council meeting.

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

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, 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/

Monday, March 6, 2023

COMMUNITY FOR A CULTURAL CIVIC CENTER (CCCC) at 12 noon

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84774865934?pwd=T1RNOTc2TTNxUnFmTGJpNmNTZmFwUT09

Teleconference: Meeting ID:

AGENDA: General meeting and planning for the March 21 City Council work session on the Civic Center Plan

https://berkeleycccc.org/what-were-about

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/s/1615313815

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 161 531 3815

AGENDA: Public Comment on non-agenda and items 1 – 7. 1. Minutes, 2. Review and Approve 3/21/2023 draft agenda – use link or read full draft agenda below at the end of the 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. Strengthening and Supporting City Commission: Guidance on Development of Legislative Proposals, 11. Discussion Regarding Design and Strengthening of Policy Committees Process and Structure (Including Budget Referrals),

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

PEACE and JUSTICE COMMISSION at 7 pm

In-Person Only: 2939 Ellis, South Berkeley Senior Center

AGENDA: 4. Public Comment, 6. Commission & Chairperson’s Report, 7. Secretary’s Report, Discussion/Action Items: 8. Reimaging Public safety, 9. Shellmound Issues and possible modification of land acknowledgement, 10. Update Reproductive services and Education Access Survey, 11. Update BUSD on Ethnic Studies, 12. Seating at Berkeley Post Offices

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/peace-and-justice-commission

PERSONNEL BOARD at 7 pm

In-Person Only: at 1301 Shattuck at Live Oak Community Center, Fireside Room

AGENDA: III: Public Comment, V. Request for Extension of Temporary Animal Services Assistant, VI. Recommendation to Create New Classifications of Electrical Supervisor and Communications Supervisor in Public Works, Facilities Division IBEW

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/personnel-board

Tuesday, March 7, 2023 – CANCELED Meeting on the BMASP (Berkeley Marina Area Specific Plan)

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

PARKS, RECREATION and WATERFRONT (PRW) at 7 pm

In-Person Only: 2800 Park St Auditorium

AGENDA: 6. Public comment, 7. Chair’s Report, 8. Director’s Report, 9. Discussion/Action – Potential FY 2023-2023 PRW Capital Projects Reductions, 10. Update Marina BMASP (Berkeley Marina Area Specific Plan), 11. Update: Marina – project grant funding from Sate Coastal Conservancy, 12. Update – Aquatic Park water Quality, 13. Update – aquatic Park Berkeley Commons 600 Addison, 14. Workplan

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/parks-recreation-and-waterfront-commission

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD at 5:30 pm

In-Person Only: 2939 South Berkeley Senior Center

AGENDA: 3. Special comment Public Comment limited to agenda items, 4. Presentation of the Policy Review Board on Proposed BPD Policies 351 (External Fixed Video Surveillance Cameras) and 1304 (Surveillance Use Policy - External Fixed Video Surveillance Cameras). (56 page packet contains the current policies, camera sites, and council approval of purchasing surveillance cameras)

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/police-accountability-board

JOHN HINKEL PARK TREE PLANTING from 8 am – 11 am

At 41 Somerset Place

AGENDA: If joining in the planting wear closed toes shoes and plan to get dirty – city supplies the tools or watch the planting of 40 California native trees – 30 coast live oak and 10 California buckeyes

https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/events/john-hinkel-park-tree-planting

Thursday, March 9, 2023

BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE at 10 am

Hybrid Meeting

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

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1601862854

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 160 186 2854

AGENDA: 2. Friedrichsen, Budget Manager - Unfunded Liability Obligations and Unfunded Needs, 3. Robinson & Arreguin - Approval of the Public East Bay Viability Study.

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/council-committees/policy-committee-budget-finance

ZONING ADJUSTMENTS BOARD at 7 pm

Hybrid Meeting

In-Person: at 1231 Addison, BUSD Board Room

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83222545623

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 or 1-669-444-9171 Meeting ID: 832 2254 5623

AGENDA: 3. 2600 Benevenue – On Consent – Legalize unpermitted addition and add two ADUs (1723 sq ft) to a 2-story 4,906 sq ft apartment building with 8 dwelling units

4. 612 Cragmont – On Consent – Construct new 2-story (height 33 ft) 2095 sq ft single family dwelling and one-car garage with a roof deck (20 feet) on a 16,550 sq ft vacant lot in Hillside Overlay District (High Fire Hazard Zone)

5. 725-A Gilman – On Consent – establish a winery with tasting room and incidental retail sales of goods under Type 2 ABC license

6. 870 Santa Barbara – On Action – Appeal of Administrative Use Permit – To construct a 6 ft fence on top of a 3-ft retaining wall in Hillside Overlay District (High Fire Hazard Zone)

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/zoning-adjustments-board

Friday, March 10, 2023 – A Reduced City Service Day

Saturday, March 11, 2023

BERKELEY NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL at 10 am

Hybrid:

In-Person: at 1901 Russell, Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library

Videoconference:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4223188307?pwd=dFlNMVlVZ2d6b0FnSHh3ZlFwV2NMdz09

Teleconference: 1-669-444-9171 Meeting ID: 8422 318 8307 Passcode: 521161

AGENDA: Not posted, check later in the week

https://berkeleyneighborhoodscouncil.com/

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Community Climate Healing Gathering at Peoples Park from 12 – 3 pm

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AGENDA AND RULES COMMITTEE Meeting at 2:30 pm

DRAFT AGENDA for March 21 City Council Regular Meeting at 6 pm

Hybrid Meeting

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

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/s/1615313815

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) Meeting ID: 161 531 3815

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

AGENDA on CONSENT:

Brown, City Attorney – Resolution Reviewing and Ratifying the Proclamation of Local COVID Emergency
Williams-Ridley, City Manager – Designate the Line of Succession for the Director of Emergency Services in the event of an emergency
Sprague, Fire - Grant Application: FEMA to expand National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582/1583 for $840,000 with 10% or $84,000 city matching funds for Wellness, Fitness and Human Performance Program
Warhuus, HHCS - Amend Contract #32200156 add $561,917.11 total $1,201,917.11 with Options Recovery Services for Community Response Services and extend to 12/31/2023
Warhuus, HHCS - Amend Contract #32200147 add $75,600 total $195,000 with Women’s Daytime Drop-in Center for Community Crisis Response Services and extend to 12/31/2023
Warhuus, HHCS - Amend Contract #32300025 add $300,000 total $350,000 with Non-Profit Intelligence Partners for Flexible Funding program services and extend to 6/30/2024
Warhuus, HHCS – Revenue Agreements with California Department of Public Health (CDHP) for 1. Total $383,455 for Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention for years FY 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2. Total $487,170 or $162,390 each year for CalFresh Healthy Living Program FFY 2024, 2025, 2026
Warhuus, HHCS – Funding Recommendation and Joint Homekey Application for University Inn at 1461 University for 1. Measure P $8,500,000 for University Inn permanent supportive housing, 2. Measure P $1,000,000 to operate University Inn as emergency shelter prior to conversion to permanent housing program, 3. Authorize submission to CA Housing and Community Development (HCD) for University Inn permanent supportive housing project, 4. Authorize CM or designee to eneter agreements with HCD, 5. Authorize CM or designee to execute all original or amended documents to effectuate these actions.
Warhuus, HHCS – Amending the 2021 Annual Action Plan to Accept Home-American Rescue Plan Funds, $2,735,696, allocate 15% $410,354 for administration and planning, 5% $136,785 for nonprofit capacity building, and remaining 80% $2,188,557 to supportive services for qualifying populations
Kouyoumdjian, HR – Salary adjustments Local 1 Senior Behavioral Health Clinician by 0.83%, Mental Health Clinical Supervisor by 4.18%, Mental Health Program Supervisor by 7.33%, Assistant Manager of Mental Health Division by 7.33%, and Manager of Mental Health Division by 1.2% effective 1/14/2023
Kouyoumdjian, HR – Salary Range Adjustments increase top step salary of Deputy City Manager classification from $277,840.99 to $291,733.04 and the Employee Relations Manager fro $175,026.38 to $180,065.60 effective 1/14/2023
Ferris, Parks - Contract $260,312.50 includes $52,062.50 contingency with TERCONS Inc. for Aquatic Park Paddling and Rowing Club Parking Lot Improvements
Klein, Planning – Grant Funding $80,000 to CA Energy Commission to integrate Application for SolarAPP+ Integration web software to the Permit Service Center operations
Garland, Public Works – Amend Contract #32100192 add $200,000 total $2,375,900 with California Constructores for Sidewalk Repairs FY 2020 Project
Garland, Public Works – Contract $10,203,711 with JV Lucas Paving, Inc for Street Rehabilitation FY2023 Project
Garland, Public Works – Purchase Order $215,000 for one John Deere 320P Backhoe Loader with Pape Machinery, Inc
Garland, Public Works – Purchase Order $496,454 with Nicholas K Corp dba Ford Store San Leandro for eight Ford Interceptor Hybrid Utility Vehicles
Art Commission – Referral Response Grant Program $300,000 for retaining and improving creative spaces
Mental Health Commission – Resolution to Adopt a City-Wide “Care First, Jails Last” Policy
Peace and Justice Commission – Referral of two health educator positions to the COB FY 2024 budget process
Arreguin – Budget Referral $2,000,000 to augment the post COVID-19 Rental Assistance/Anti-Displacement administered by the Eviction Defense Center
Arreguin – Relinquishment Council Office Budget funds to co-sponsor Bioneers Conference
Hahn – Budget Referral $40,000 for speed feedback sighns for Arlington Ave.
Hahn – Budget Referral for $35,000 for Pedestrian Safety Upgrades for Arlington Ave, refresh painted markings
Wengraf - Relinquishment Council Office Budget funds for 2023 Virtual Holocaust Remembrance Day Program
Wengraf – Proclamation in Honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day April 16 from 2-3 pm

AGENDA on ACTION:

Garland, Public Works – Implement Residential Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) on 1600 block of Fifth Street
Friedrichsen, Budget Manager – Presentation Unfunded Liability Obligations and Unfunded Infrastructure Needs
Garland, Public Works – Adopt resolution approving Berkeley Transit-First Policy and appoing two members and one alternative to serve on the Inter-Agency Liaison Committee between COB and AC Transit
Taplin & Bartlett – Incentives for Equitable and Affordable Middle Housing refer to CM and Planning Commission to study and return to Council potential amendments to BMC and General Plan (Middle Housing is duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes ) – this adds ADUs
Harrison – Adopt Ordinance Adding BMC Chapter 2.102 to Establish a Labor Peace Policy Minimizing Labor/Management Conflict in Berkeley Marina Zone
Robinson – Referral to CM for On-Street Secure Bike Storage

INFORMATION REPORTS:

Fiscal Year 2023 Mid-year Budget Update
LPO NOD 1581 1581 LeRoy Ave #LMSAP2022-0009
LPO NOD 1325 Arch #LMSAP2022-0013
LPO NOD 1911 Fourth Street #LMSAP2022-0014
2022 Disaster and Fire Safety Work Plan

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March 14, 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/1600955724

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (toll free) Meeting ID: 160 095 5724

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

AGENDA on CONSENT:

Arreguin – 2nd reading – Amendments to COVID-19 Emergency Response Ordinance, Suspend the application of the ordinance to commercial property, permit lawful owner move-in evictions, and establish a Transition Period during which time specified evictions would be prohibited
Harrison – 2nd reading - Modifies Environment and Climate Commission membership to add two youth members appointed by council in addition to commissioners appointed by each councilmember and mayor.
Oyekanmi, Finance - Formal Bid Solicitations $2,802,400 (Mobile Wellness Services for individuals who are unhoused and living in area encampments).
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
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
Warhuus, HHCS – Contract $128,315 with mySidewalk, Inc for HHCS Web-Based Population Health Data Platform 3/15/2023 to 3/14/2026
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
Kouyoumdjian, HR – Amend Contract 32100046 add $139,000 total $189,000 with HR Acuity, LLC for Case Management and Employee Relations Software
Kouyoumdjian, HR – Purchase Order $150,000 with Glassdoor to Provide Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Ad Work from4/1/2023 to 3/31/2025
Kouyoumdjian, HR – Purchase Order $150,000 with Indeed to Provide Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Ad Work from4/1/2023 to 3/31/2025
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
Arreguin co-sponsors Hahn, Harrison, Wengraf – Opposition to Initiative #1935 deceptively named “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act”
Arreguin, co-sponsor Robinson, Hahn – 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)
Arreguin, co-sponsors Hahn, Harrison, Wengraf – Support SB 252 State Divestment from Fossil Fuels
Taplin, co-sponsors Harrison, Robinson – 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
Taplin co-sponsors Robinson – Support Unionization Efforts by Urban Ore Workers under representation by the IWW Union 670
Taplin, co-sponsor - Robinson - Support for SB 58 Controlled Substances, decriminalization
Robinson, co-sponsor Arreguin, Hahn, Harrison – Support SB 466 reforming Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act
Robinson, co-sponsor Hahn – Support H.R. 852 Investing in Safer Traffic Stops Act

AGENDA on ACTION:

Droste – REFORMS TO PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES AT MEETINGS OF THE BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL – LIMITS PUBLIC COMMENT TO ONCE FOR THE AGENDA ON CONSENT AND ONCE FOR THE ENTIRE AGENDA ON ACTION with three exceptions: hearings, appeals and quasi-judicial (court like) proceedings. After all the council votes have been taken, all decisions made, the public would have a 3rd opportunity to speak before the council adjourns.
Sprague, Fire - Ambulance User Fee Increase
Fair Campaign Practices Commission – Cost of Living Adjustment for $250 campaign contribution limit increase by nearest $10 in every odd-numbered year
Klein, Planning – Climate Action Plan and Resilience Update
Hollander, Economic Development – Berkeley Economic Dashboards Update – move to action
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

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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:

~~March 7 - Berkeley Marina Area Specific Plan~~ Canceled

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 ?May

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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.

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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.

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_01F5XW3BGWJAKJFWCHPPZGBD70