Meeting Overview

Mayor Adena Ishii opened the May 19, 2026 meeting at 6:26 p.m.; all eight councilmembers attended. The Council took up ceremonial items first: a proclamation marking National Public Works Week (May 17–23) highlighted Public Works assets and noted the department painted red curbs at roughly 1,700 intersections to comply with new state parking rules. The Council also presented a statewide design award to the Willard Park Clubhouse & Restroom Replacement Project (LEED Gold, net‑zero, resiliency hub). After a break, the meeting continued with public comment and substantive agenda items.

Main Agenda Items

• Bicycle Plan: Removed from the agenda to complete CEQA sequencing; staff now target June 9 for return. Related testimony and a Disaster & Fire Safety Commission recommendation remain on the calendar as precursors.
• Public comment: Covered housing/upzoning criticism (notably People’s Park), workforce cuts, AI governance, Drop‑In Center funding shortfalls, food‑security concerns, pepper‑spray reporting, and records‑retention/transparency issues.
• HomeKey applications (consent): Councilmembers expressed support for two state‑funding applications—People’s Park (SAHA; ~110 permanent supportive/low‑income units) and North Berkeley BART (Insight Housing; ~85 studios/1‑beds). Public testimony both supported the projects and urged more local review for People’s Park.
• Food insecurity referral: Council directed staff to incorporate “food insecurity” as a fundable category in future Community Agency Grant cycles; HOME‑ARP funds (~$377,000) were noted as available for providers.
• Downtown PBID (Item 20): Staff opened a public hearing on renewing the Downtown Property‑Based Business Improvement District and tabulated mailed ballots. Ballot results (175 received, 170 valid; weighted 81.53% Yes) were accepted; Council unanimously approved reestablishing the PBID for a 10‑year term and authorized the City Manager to execute the DBA contract. Speakers raised concerns about the contract length, graffiti at BART approaches, and governance.
• FY2027–FY2028 biannual budget (Item 21): Staff presented a first public hearing on a multi‑year budget facing a structural General Fund gap (~$31M baseline). Key points: reliance on one‑time bridging resources (~$12–13M), an assumed November sales & use tax (~$9.4M) to preserve positions, proposed reductions of roughly 150 FTEs with 33 positions temporarily preserved, and targeted departmental impacts across Police, Fire, HHCS, Parks/Recreation & Waterfront, Public Works and others. Staff preserved Station 4 staffing and funding for 15 police officers and 6 dispatchers in FY27 using one‑time funds pending the tax outcome. Multiple fee and code hearings (animal care, neighborhood services, recreation, planning fees, parking/GoBerkeley items) were opened; several fee schedules were approved as staff recommended.

Other items: Finance staff reported improving portfolio yields as low‑rate investments mature, with investment income assumptions of roughly $10–11M in next year’s budget.

Decisions Made

• Ceremonial: National Public Works Week proclamation; Willard Park project award recognized.
• Consent calendar: Approved by unanimous consent (including HomeKey applications with Council support expressed).
• Food insecurity: Referred for inclusion as a funded category in future Community Agency Grant cycles; staff to implement.
• Bicycle Plan: Removed for CEQA sequencing; return targeted June 9.
• Downtown PBID: Ballot certification accepted; Council unanimously reestablished the 10‑year PBID and authorized the DBA contract.
• Budget process: First public hearing held; no final adoption. Staff will return with follow‑up analyses, vacancy lists, and further hearings; one‑time funds will temporarily preserve select public‑safety and program positions pending the November tax measure.
• Fee items: Animal Care Services, Neighborhood Services code enforcement, select HHCS facility and recreation fees, and Planning & Development fee clarifications were approved as recommended.