Meeting Overview

The Berkeley City Council met on June 30, 2026, with Councilmembers Taplin, Tregub, O’Keefe, Blackaby, Lunaparra, Humbert, and Mayor Ishii present at roll call. Councilmembers Kesarwani and Bartlett were initially absent; Kesarwani later participated.

The meeting opened with an adjournment in memory of longtime Berkeley educator Flora Russ. The council also recognized August 2026 as Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Month and heard remarks from Ruth Konoff of Berkeley WIC about family, workplace, and childcare support for breastfeeding.

The City Auditor gave an information report on the annual audit plan and the city’s whistleblower program. The auditor said the whistleblower program received 42 new reports in 2025 and closed 41 cases.

The council also took public comment on non-agenda matters, including Gaza, street paving, and fire station concerns.

Main Agenda Items

• Consent calendar: Most items passed together in one vote. Councilmembers commented on several funding “relinquishment” items, meaning council offices voluntarily gave up part of their office budgets to support specific community efforts. These included:

  • replenishing the business damage mitigation fund,
  • support for the Berkeley Nikkei Senior Center,
  • a Little Free Store/community cleanup and mural event,
  • a “Zero Empty Spaces” downtown storefront activation effort,
  • and the Solano Avenue Stroll.

• Item 19, public safety technology RFP: The council approved issuing a request for proposals (RFP), meaning the city will seek bids from vendors for public safety technology tools. Public speakers strongly opposed the item, raising concerns about surveillance, privacy, and possible misuse of data. The mayor and several councilmembers emphasized that this vote only authorized the RFP process, not a final contract.

• Tax and revenue anticipation notes: The council approved its annual short-term borrowing item, which city staff said helps cover expenses until property tax revenues arrive.

• Measure T1 bond proceeds: Staff presented an update on how infrastructure bond money has been spent and proposed issuing the remaining roughly $20 million in bonds. Staff highlighted completed and ongoing projects including parks, restrooms, pathways, storm drains, and building improvements.

• Rent stabilization ballot measure: A proposed ballot item to amend the rent stabilization ordinance was not decided. Councilmember Lunaparra asked to move it to the July 7 meeting to allow more review. Public speakers included small property owners opposed to further changes to the “golden duplex” exemption and nonprofit affordable housing providers supporting a proposed fee waiver.

• Community video streams and investigative software: The council separately considered surveillance policies tied to the earlier May 7 direction. Police staff said the tools would help investigations and emergency response, with limits on use, audits, public camera maps, and a ban on using the systems for immigration enforcement. Public comment was overwhelmingly opposed, with many speakers warning about privacy harms and abuse.

Decisions Made

• Consent calendar approved, 8-0.
  Ayes: Kesarwani, Taplin, Tregub, O’Keefe, Blackaby, Lunaparra, Humbert, Ishii.
  This included approval to issue the public safety technology RFP. Councilmember Kesarwani abstained on Item 40, a letter supporting state Senate Bill 1383; the rest of the consent calendar passed unanimously.

• Approved annual short-term borrowing for tax and revenue anticipation notes.
  No vote count was stated in the discussion provided.

• Approved issuance of the remaining Measure T1 general obligation bond funds, 8-0.
  Ayes: Kesarwani, Taplin, Tregub, O’Keefe, Blackaby, Lunaparra, Humbert, Ishii.

• Continued: The proposed rent stabilization ballot measure was moved to the July 7 meeting.

• Approved surveillance use policies for community video streams and investigative software.
  Vote: 6 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention, 1 absent.
  Ayes: Kesarwani, Taplin, O’Keefe, Blackaby, Humbert, Ishii.
  No: Lunaparra.
  Abstention: Tregub.
  Absent: Bartlett.