Local Politics
  1. Home
  2. US
  3. California
  4. Berkeley
  5. Issues

Infrastructure Bond Ballot Measure

At a glance

  • What: A $300 million general obligation bond for public infrastructure and facilities, placed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, together with a Council policy that bond-funded projects (and other City capital spending) install no new natural gas infrastructure.
  • Where it stands: On June 16, 2026 Council adopted Resolution No. 72,338-N.S. placing the bond measure on the ballot and Resolution No. 72,336-N.S. affirming all-electric standards, both with all ayes.
  • Next: Voters decide on November 3, 2026. Other measures on the same ballot are in Sales Tax Ballot Measure, Charter Amendment Ballot Measure, Rent Stabilization Ballot Measure and November 2026 Ballot Initiative Measures.

Detail

  • Action Calendar item 38, from the City Manager (Buddenhagen): determine public interest and necessity for a $300 million general obligation bond for the acquisition or improvement of real property for public infrastructure and facilities, submit it to voters on November 3, 2026, find it is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act, and designate Council members to file ballot arguments. 1 speaker.
  • Motion (Humbert/Tregub), all ayes, to adopt Resolution No. 72,338-N.S. including (a) new ballot measure language on all-electric construction and replacement from Supplemental Communications Packet 2 of the City Manager, (b) new ballot language read into the record by the City Attorney, and (c) a severability clause added as Section 7, read into the record by the City Attorney. Council also designated Mayor Ishii, Blackaby, Tregub and Taplin to file ballot measure arguments.
  • Action Calendar item 36, from the Environment and Climate Commission after review by the Facilities, Infrastructure, Transportation, Environment and Sustainability Policy Committee: adopt a formal policy barring new natural gas infrastructure, or replacement of gas equipment with new gas equipment, in any project funded by the 2026 bond; put explicit all-electric language in the measure; and direct staff to apply the no-new-gas standard to all City capital spending. The committee sent it to Council with a Qualified Positive recommendation, adding exception language to be approved by Council. 0 speakers.
  • Motion (Humbert/Tregub), all ayes, to adopt Resolution No. 72,336-N.S. as recommended by the committee, including the revisions in Supplemental Communications Packet 2 from the City Manager, and further amended with a new resolved clause: Council's authority to grant exceptions to the all-electric requirements is a legislative discretionary act, and neither granting nor denying an exception gives rise to any claim or cause of action in any court.
  • Same evening, in ceremonial matters, outside counsel Chris Lynch gave Council bond disclosure training (presentation filed as a supplemental communication).
  • Written communications on item 36 and item 38 included revised material from the Planning and Development Department and a resident letter on item 36; one letter on the bond vote came in the general communications.

May 19, 2026 survey results and direction

  • Special meeting item 1, from the City Manager: review the second community survey and affirm direction to prepare ballot language for a potential $300 million general obligation bond for priority infrastructure, and provide input on the list of infrastructure projects. 15 speakers.
  • Motion (Taplin/Tregub), all ayes, affirming the direction to prepare the bond ballot language (together with the sales tax direction in Sales Tax Ballot Measure). The minutes record no separate action on the project list.

Sources

Log

2026-05-19 - City Council (special)

Direction to prepare the $300 million bond ballot language affirmed, all ayes, after 15 speakers.

2026-06-16 - City Council (regular)

Bond measure (Resolution 72,338) and all-electric standards (Resolution 72,336) adopted, all ayes; bond disclosure training for Council.