City Council Regular Meeting eAgenda September 16, 2025

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AGENDA

BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Tuesday, September 16, 2025
6:00 PM

SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM - 1231 ADDISON STREET, BERKELEY, CA 94702

Adena Ishii, Mayor

Councilmembers:

District 1 – Rashi Kesarwani

District 2 – Terry Taplin

District 3 – Ben Bartlett

District 4 – Igor Tregub

District 5 – Shoshana O’Keefe

District 6 – Brent Blackaby

District 7 – Cecilia Lunaparra

District 8 – Mark Humbert

This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid model with both in-person and virtual attendance. Attend this meeting remotely using Zoom. To request to speak, use the “raise hand” function in Zoom. To join by phone: Dial 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) and enter Meeting ID: 160 732 4158 To provide public comment, Press *9 and wait to be recognized by the Chair. To submit a written communication for the public record, email council@berkeleyca.gov.

Live captioned broadcasts of Council meetings are available on B-TV (Channel 33) and via internet video stream. All Council meetings are recorded.

This meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Brown Act, Government Code Section 54953. Any member of the public may attend this meeting, however, if you are feeling sick, please do not attend the meeting in person. The City Council may take action related to any subject listed on the Agenda.

Pursuant to the City Council Rules of Procedure and State Law, the presiding officer may remove, or cause the removal of, an individual for disrupting the meeting. Prior to removing an individual, the presiding officer shall warn the individual that their behavior is disrupting the meeting and that their failure to cease their behavior may result in their removal. The presiding officer may then remove the individual if they do not promptly cease their disruptive behavior. “Disrupting” means engaging in behavior during a meeting of a legislative body that actually disrupts, disturbs, impedes, or renders infeasible the orderly conduct of the meeting and includes, but is not limited to, a failure to comply with reasonable and lawful regulations adopted by a legislative body, or engaging in behavior that constitutes use of force or a true threat of force.

Government Code Section 84308 (Levine Act) - Parties to a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use are required to disclose if they made contributions over $500 within the prior 12 months to any City employee or officer. Parties and participants with a financial interest are prohibited from making more than $500 in contributions to a decisionmaker for the 12 months after the final decision is rendered on the proceeding. The above contribution disclosures and restrictions do not apply when the proceeding is competitively bid, or involves a personnel or labor contract. For more information, see Government Code Section 84308.

Preliminary Matters

Roll Call:

Land Acknowledgement Statement: The City of Berkeley recognizes that the community we live in was built on the territory of xučyun (Huchiun (Hooch-yoon)), the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo (Cho-chen-yo)-speaking Ohlone (Oh-low-nee) people, the ancestors and descendants of the sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County. This land was and continues to be of great importance to all of the Ohlone Tribes and descendants of the Verona Band. As we begin our meeting tonight, we acknowledge and honor the original inhabitants of Berkeley, the documented 5,000-year history of a vibrant community at the West Berkeley Shellmound, and the Ohlone people who continue to reside in the East Bay. We recognize that Berkeley’s residents have and continue to benefit from the use and occupation of this unceded stolen land since the City of Berkeley’s incorporation in 1878. As stewards of the laws regulating the City of Berkeley, it is not only vital that we recognize the history of this land, but also recognize that the Ohlone people are present members of Berkeley and other East Bay communities today. The City of Berkeley will continue to build relationships with the Lisjan Tribe and to create meaningful actions that uphold the intention of this land acknowledgement.

Ceremonial Matters: In addition to those items listed on the agenda, the Mayor may add additional ceremonial matters.

Adjourn in memory of Ann Fagan Ginger, Attorney and Activist

City Manager Comments:The City Manager may make announcements or provide information to the City Council in the form of an oral report. The Council will not take action on such items but may request the City Manager place a report on a future agenda for discussion.

Public Comment on Non-Agenda Matters: Up to ten persons will be selected to address matters not on the Council agenda. If five or fewer persons are identified to provide non-agenda comment, each person selected will be allotted two minutes each. If more than five persons are selected to address matters not on the Council agenda, each person selected will be allotted one minute each.

In-person attendees wishing to address the Council on matters not on the Council agenda during the initial ten-minute period for such comment, must submit a speaker card to the City Clerk in person at the meeting location and prior to the moment that the Presiding Officer calls for public comment on non-agenda items. Remote attendees must raise their hand in the videoconference application when the Presiding Officer calls for non-agenda speakers. The first five raised hands on the videoconference application will be selected to speak and the first five cards drawn at the meeting will be selected to speak. The number of in-person and remote speakers selected may be adjusted by the Presiding Officer if fewer than five speakers from either format are identified.

The remainder of the speakers wishing to address the Council on non-agenda items will be heard at the end of the agenda.

Public Comment by Employee Unions (first regular meeting of the month): This period of public comment is reserved for officially designated representatives of City of Berkeley employee unions, with five minutes allocated per union if representatives of three or fewer unions wish to speak and up to three minutes per union if representatives of four or more unions wish to speak.

Urgent Item: Letter of Support to Governor– SB-326, AB-1143, AB-888
From: Councilmember Brent Blackaby (Author)
Recommendation: Send a letter to Governor Newsom in support of SB-326 (Becker), AB-1143 (Bennett) and AB-888 (Calderon), with a cc to the authors, Assemblymember Wicks and Senator Arreguín.
Financial Implications: None
Contact: Brent Blackaby, Councilmember, District 6, (510) 981-7160

Consent Calendar

-The Council will first determine whether to move items on the agenda for “Action” or “Information” to the “Consent Calendar”, or move “Consent Calendar” items to “Action.” Three members of the City Council must agree to pull an item from the Consent Calendar or Information Calendar for it to move to Action. Items that remain on the “Consent Calendar” are voted on in one motion as a group. “Information” items are not discussed or acted upon at the Council meeting unless they are moved to “Action” or “Consent”.

No additional items can be moved onto the Consent Calendar once public comment has commenced. At any time during, or immediately after, public comment on Information and Consent items, any Councilmember may move any Information or Consent item to “Action.” Following this, the Council will vote on the items remaining on the Consent Calendar in one motion.

For items moved to the Action Calendar from the Consent Calendar or Information Calendar, persons who spoke on the item during the Consent Calendar public comment period may speak again at the time the matter is taken up during the Action Calendar.

Public Comment on Consent Calendar and Information Items Only: The Council will take public comment on any items that are either on the amended Consent Calendar or the Information Calendar. If ten or fewer persons are interested in speaking on an individual agenda item, each speaker may speak for two minutes. If there are more than ten persons interested in speaking, the Presiding Officer may limit the public comment for all speakers to one minute per speaker. Speakers are permitted to yield their time to one other speaker, however no one speaker shall have more than four minutes. The Presiding Officer may, with the consent of persons representing both sides of an issue, allocate a block of time to each side to present their issue. A speaker may only speak once during the period for public comment on Consent Calendar and Information items.

Additional information regarding public comment by City of Berkeley employees and interns: Employees and interns of the City of Berkeley, although not required, are encouraged to identify themselves as such, the department in which they work and state whether they are speaking as an individual or in their official capacity when addressing the Council in open session or workshops.

Consent Calendar

1.-Contract: Sorell Raino-Tsui for Public Artwork Commission for Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Services Center/Young Adult Project Clubhouse (MLK/YAP)
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract and any necessary amendments with Sorell Raino-Tsui for an amount not to exceed $442,000 for a public art commission of an 885 square foot mosaic on the exterior East wall, exterior North wall, and interior North wall of the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Services Center/Young Adult Project Clubhouse located at 1730 Oregon St.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Eleanor Hollander, Economic Development, (510) 981-7530

2.-Contract No. 32000060 Amendment: Toshiba Business Solutions Inc for Citywide Multi-function Devices
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend Contract No. 32000060 with Toshiba Business Solutions to extend the term through September 15, 2029, and to approve an additional $2,000,000 for appropriations related for performance of this contract. This brings the total NTE amount of this contract to $3,750,000 over a ten-year term.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Henry Oyekanmi, Finance, (510) 981-7300

3.-Purchase Order: Blaisdell’s Business Products for Office Supplies, Printing Paper, Small Equipment and Office Furniture
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to increase the Blanket Purchase Order with Blaisdell’s Business Products for the purchase of miscellaneous office supplies, printing paper, small equipment and office furniture. The City is currently piggybacking off Omnia Partners Region 4 ESC Contract No. R190301. The contract term will commence on June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026, with the option of one (1) single-year renewal for a total not to exceed amount of $1,100,000 over a two-year term, subject to the City’s annual budget appropriation.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Henry Oyekanmi, Finance, (510) 981-7300

4.-Contract No. 32000164 Amendment: CGB Enterprise, LLC (purchased from Synthesis Group, Inc.) dba Minuteman Press Contract for Citywide Copying & Printing Services
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend Contract No: 32000164 with Minuteman Press, to provide copying and printing services to the City, increasing the amount by $400,000 for an amended total amount not to exceed $1,375,000 and extending the term until June 30, 2027.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Henry Oyekanmi, Finance, (510) 981-7300

5.-Formal Bid Solicitations and Request for Proposals Scheduled for Possible Issuance After Council Approval on September 16, 2025
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Approve the request for proposals or invitation for bids (attached to staff report) that will be, or are planned to be, issued upon final approval by the requesting department or division. All contracts over the City Manager’s threshold will be returned to Council for final approval.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Henry Oyekanmi, Finance, (510) 981-7300

6.-Contract: Swifthawk Consulting, LLC for Professional Services
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract and any amendments with Swifthawk Consulting, LLC for surge staffing services for the Berkeley Fire Department (Department), in an amount not to exceed $300,000 per year for the period October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028, with an option to extend for two (2) additional one-year terms, not to exceed $300,000 per year.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: David Sprague, Fire, (510) 981-3473

7.-Updated Findings of Facts Associated with Berkeley Fire Code
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution revised with updated Findings of Facts associated with the Council’s June 17, 2025, adoption of the Fire Code, and rescind Resolution No. 71,710-N.S.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: David Sprague, Fire, (510) 981-3473

8.-Contract No. 32300108 Amendment: Street Level Advisors, LLC for Housing Consulting Services
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to execute a fourth amendment to Contract No. 32300108 with Street Level Advisors, LLC increasing the contract by $36,450 for consulting services in a total amount not to exceed $415,950, with a contract end date of December 31, 2026.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Scott Gilman, Health, Housing, and Community Services, (510) 981-5400

9.-Purchase Orders: CDW-G for using Omnia Partners Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for Adobe Acrobat Pro Software
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to issue purchase orders with CDW Government LLC (“CDW-G”) for Adobe Acrobat Pro (“Adobe”) software, licensing and support, utilizing pricing established by Omnia Partners (“Omnia”) for a total not to exceed amount of $281,400 from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Kevin Fong, Information Technology, (510) 981-6500

10.-Updates to the Measure T1 Project List
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the updated list of current Measure T1 projects as outlined in the report.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Scott Ferris, Parks, Recreation and Waterfront, (510) 981-6700

Council Consent Items

11.-The Parent Writing Circles Initiative- Relinquishment of Council Office Budget Funds to General Fund and Grant of Such Funds
From: Councilmember Bartlett (Author)
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution approving the expenditure of funds, including $500 from the discretionary Council Office Budget of Councilmember Ben Bartlett, to The Parent Writing Circles Initiative. The funds will be relinquished to the City’s General Fund from the Discretionary Council Office Budget of Councilmember Ben Bartlett and the Discretionary Council Office Budgets of any other Councilmembers who would like to contribute.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Ben Bartlett, Councilmember, District 3, (510) 981-7130

12.-Zoning Ordinance Modification for Telegraph Avenue Commercial District
From: Councilmember Lunaparra (Author), Councilmember Humbert (Co-Sponsor)
Recommendation: Refer to the City Manager and Planning Commission to amend BMC Chapter 23.204.020 to allow for Alcoholic Beverage Retail Sales in the Telegraph Avenue Commercial District.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Cecilia Lunaparra, Councilmember, District 7, (510) 981-7170

Public Comment – Items Not Listed on the Agenda

Adjournment

NOTICE CONCERNING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS: If you object to a decision by the City Council to approve or deny a use permit or variance for a project the following requirements and restrictions apply: 1) No lawsuit challenging a City decision to deny (Code Civ. Proc. §1094.6(b)) or approve (Gov. Code 65009(c)(5)) a use permit or variance may be filed more than 90 days after the date the Notice of Decision of the action of the City Council is mailed. Any lawsuit not filed within that 90-day period will be barred. 2) In any lawsuit that may be filed against a City Council decision to approve or deny a use permit or variance, the issues and evidence will be limited to those raised by you or someone else, orally or in writing, at a public hearing or prior to the close of the last public hearing on the project.

Archived indexed video streams are available at: berkeleyca.gov/council-agendas.
Channel 33 rebroadcasts the following Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. and Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

Communications to the City Council are public record and will become part of the City’s electronic records, which are accessible through the City’s website. Please note: e-mail addresses, names, addresses, and other contact information are not required, but if included in any communication to the City Council, will become part of the public record. If you do not want your e-mail address or any other contact information to be made public, you may deliver communications via U.S. Postal Service to the City Clerk Department at 2180 Milvia Street. If you do not want your contact information included in the public record, please do not include that information in your communication. Please contact the City Clerk Department for further information.

Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the public counter at the City Clerk Department located on the first floor of City Hall located at 2180 Milvia Street, and through the City's online records portal: https://records.cityofberkeley.info/.

Agendas, agenda reports, and revised/supplemental material may be accessed via the online agenda for this meeting at: berkeleyca.gov/council-agendas
and may be accessed at reference desks at the following locations:

City Clerk Department - 2180 Milvia Street, First Floor
Tel: 510-981-6900, TDD: 510-981-6903, Fax: 510-981-6901
Email: clerk@berkeleyca.gov

Libraries: Main – 2090 Kittredge Street,
Claremont Branch – 2940 Benvenue, West Branch – 1125 University,
North Branch – 1170 The Alameda, Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch – 1901 Russell

COMMUNICATION ACCESS INFORMATION:

This meeting is being held in a wheelchair accessible location.

To request a disability-related accommodation(s) to participate in the meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, please contact the Disability Services specialist at ada@berkeleyca.gov, (510) 981-6418 (V), or (510) 981-6347 (TDD) at least three business days before the meeting date.

Attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various scents, whether natural or manufactured, in products and materials. Please help the City respect these needs.

Captioning services are provided at the meeting, on B-TV, and on the Internet. In addition, assisted listening devices for the hearing impaired are available from the City Clerk prior to the meeting, and are to be returned before the end of the meeting.

Questions regarding public participation may be addressed to the City Clerk Department (510) 981-6900 or by email at clerk@berkeleyca.gov.

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I hereby certify that the agenda for this meeting of the Berkeley City Council was posted at the display case located near the walkway in front of the Maudelle Shirek Building, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, as well as on the City’s website, on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

Mark Numainville, City Clerk

Communications

Council rules limit action on Communications to referral to the City Manager and/or Boards and Commissions for investigation and/or recommendations. All communications submitted to Council are public record. Copies of individual communications are available for viewing at the City Clerk Department and through Records Online.

Global Warming & Homelessness Solution

Mike Vandeman
Berkeley Marina
Paul Roberts
Freedom of Speech
Lori Pottinger
Noise Detectors
Rod Richardson
Rent Board
Lance Montauk
Muwekma Ohlone Resolution Inquiry
Aaron Lobo
Imraan Mohammed (2)
Etienne Yang
Housing & Homelessness
Summer Brenner
Upzoning
Susan Nunes Fadley
President
Mona VScott
Prop 50
Robbie Steinhart
Debbie LeVeen
1598 University Construction Project
Alice Chuang
Corridor Meetings
Nori Hudson
Joaquin R Carbonell IV
Frances Albrier Community Center
Mira Stein
Kelly Zito
Vegetation Management Work Group
Gina Rieger
Abhijit Bhat
Colin Arnold
Large Vehicle Parking
Steven Donaldson
Berkeley’s Future
Margot Smith
Center Street Concerns
Lori Pottinger
Bike Plan Feedback
Carol Denney
Tree Trimming Concern
Kelly Zito
Gray Panthers Speaker
Betsy Morris on behalf of the Gray Panthers Berkeley East Bay
E-Scooters
Robert Borghese Byler (9)
Middle East Conflict
Crystyrusty
Russbumper
Forwards
Russbumper
URL’s
Russbumper (2)
Candace Hyde-Wang

Supplemental Communications and Reports
Items received by the deadlines for submission will be compiled and distributed as follows. If no items are received by the deadline, no supplemental packet will be compiled for said deadline.

Supplemental Communications and Reports 1
Available by 5:00 p.m. five days prior to the meeting.
Supplemental Communications and Reports 2
Available by 5:00 p.m. the day before the meeting.
Supplemental Communications and Reports 3
Available by 5:00 p.m. two days following the meeting.