Meeting Overview

Date: January 27, 2026. Mayor Adena Ishii and all eight councilmembers (Rashi Kesarwani, Terry Taplin, Ben Bartlett, Igor Tregub, Shoshana O’Keefe, Brent Blackaby, Cecilia Lunaparra, Mark Humbert) were present. City staff, Police Accountability Board (PAB) representatives, community members and outside commenters participated. The council opened with ceremonial adjournments in memory of three community members and recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Main Agenda Items

• Urgent immigration resolution: Councilmember Brent Blackaby introduced a resolution demanding an end to “Operation Metro Surge” and broader ICE/CBP actions, calling for DHS leadership changes, congressional guardrails on DHS funding, and other accountability measures. Mayor Ishii announced that Berkeley will join an amicus brief seeking to halt the Operation Metro Surge and affirmed the City Attorney’s authority to join related briefs. The item was added to the consent calendar as an urgent item with Councilmember Terry Taplin co‑sponsoring at the meeting.
• Telegraph Avenue pedestrianization (Item 22): A budget referral to advance a car‑free, pedestrian/transit‑oriented Telegraph Avenue north of Dwight was moved to the consent calendar with broad bipartisan support. Councilmembers emphasized safety, equity and funding strategies that rely on restricted funds (UC LRDP settlement funds, Measure FF) and external grants rather than the general fund. Speakers and advocacy groups supported the initiative; business stakeholders asked staff to ensure freight/delivery, emergency access and business operations are addressed in design.
• Police equipment and PAB review timing (Items 21/related code changes): The council debated timelines for PAB review of police equipment/use reports. Staff favored a 30‑day baseline; many councilmembers, PAB representatives and public commenters argued for more time to permit substantive review and to accommodate PAB capacity and state‑law interactions (e.g., AB 481). A substitute change to the ordinance extending the PAB review period to 45 days (with a 30‑day exception for time‑sensitive grant applications) was discussed and ultimately approved by roll call. The ordinance consolidation, retention of equipment categories and geographic reporting, and the role of a possible private right of action were also debated; some technical clerical edits were adopted for consistency.
• Local operational items: Item 18—implementation of residential preferential parking (RPP) on the 1700 block of Cedar Street—was approved following a public hearing. Item 19—selected marina fee increases—was approved. Item 11—Urban Ore contract renewal—was advanced after resolution of labor issues. City Manager clarified Item 6 (option agreement for 199 Seawall Drive) will require compliance with Berkeley’s Labor Peace Policy and evidence of a labor peace agreement before executing a marina hospitality lease. Item 20 (appeal of ZAB approval for 2109 Virginia) was removed for improper noticing and rescheduled for Feb. 10.

Public comment emphasized police accountability, concerns about automated license‑plate surveillance (Flock/F.L.O.T.) and calls for tangible local protections against federal immigration enforcement in addition to resolutions. Fiscal, parking and business‑impact concerns were raised in relation to Telegraph and broader budget choices.

Decisions Made

• Urgent ICE/DHS resolution added to consent calendar and included for immediate action; Mayor reported City will join an amicus brief on Operation Metro Surge.
• Item 22 (car‑free Telegraph budget referral) moved to and passed as part of the consent calendar to fund design/implementation work using restricted funds and grants where possible.
• Police equipment/PAB review timeline amended: PAB review period set to 45 days generally, with a 30‑day exception for grant‑driven, time‑sensitive items; substitute motion passed by roll call.
• Item 18 approved: RPP on 1700 block of Cedar Street implemented.
• Item 19 approved: selected marina fee increases adopted.
• Item 11 (Urban Ore contract renewal) advanced; Item 6 requires proof of a labor peace agreement before marina lease execution.
• Item 20 removed from the agenda for improper noticing and rescheduled for Feb. 10.