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2026-04-28 - City Council (regular)

Summary

Built from the official approved minutes of the April 28, 2026 regular meeting (approved on the May 19, 2026 Consent Calendar). No video or transcript is posted, so there is no timing.

  • Roll call 6:03 p.m.; all nine members present: Kesarwani, Taplin, Bartlett, Tregub, O'Keefe, Blackaby, Lunaparra, Humbert and Mayor Ishii. Bartlett took part remotely under the Brown Act "just cause" exception for a need related to a physical condition. Adjourned 7:41 p.m. on a motion by Humbert, seconded by Lunaparra, all ayes.
  • Ceremonial recognition of April 2026 as American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month. City Manager comments: none. The City Auditor presented the financial condition audit (Item 9).
  • Public comment: 8 speakers on non-agenda matters, 0 on the Consent Calendar and information items, and 1 more on items not listed on the agenda at the end of the meeting.
  • Consent Calendar adopted in one motion (Blackaby/Humbert), all ayes, "except as indicated": Item 7 (SB 894 support) drew no action.
  • Auditor's report on the City's structural deficit approved, with a report back from the City Manager due by Fall 2026 and annually after that.
  • Four public hearings, all closed and adopted by unanimous vote: the federal Annual Action Plan, TEFRA bond financing for Ephesian Legacy Court, the state-law zoning code update (first reading) and the Fifth Street rezoning (first reading).
  • First readings set up second readings on May 12, 2026 for the Fifth Street property sale, the zoning code update and the Fifth Street rezoning.
  • Council Consent Item 10 (May Day event grant) was adopted as amended with eight members adding contributions.
  • Certified by City Clerk Numainville.

Financial Condition Audit Response

  • Item 9, from the City Auditor: report on Berkeley's financial condition, FY 2016 to FY 2025, "Structural Deficit Poses Risk to Financial Sustainability." Recommendation that Council ask the City Manager to report back by Fall 2026, and annually, on the status of the audit's 9 recommendations. Approved. Presented at the meeting by the City Auditor; a supplemental communication carried the auditor's presentation and a letter from three residents.

Annual Action Plan Federal Funds Allocation

  • Item 12 (public hearing): Program Year 2026 Annual Action Plan allocating federal CDBG, ESG and HOME funds. 2 speakers. Hearing closed (Humbert/Tregub, all ayes). Resolution No. 72,251-N.S. adopted (Tregub/Blackaby), all ayes.

Ephesian Legacy Court Bond Financing

  • Item 13 (public hearing): TEFRA hearing on California Municipal Finance Authority bonds for the Ephesian Legacy Court Apartments. 0 speakers. Hearing closed (Humbert/Tregub, all ayes). Resolution No. 72,252-N.S. adopted (Humbert/Kesarwani), all ayes.

Zoning Code State Law Consistency Update

  • Item 14 (public hearing): Title 23 (Zoning) amendments for consistency with state law and technical edits (SLTE 2026). 1 speaker. Hearing closed (Tregub/Humbert, all ayes). First reading of Ordinance No. 8,007-N.S. adopted (Tregub/Humbert), all ayes. Second reading set for May 12, 2026.

Fifth Street Mixed Use Rezoning

  • Item 15 (public hearing): General Plan and West Berkeley Plan map amendments and a zoning map change for portions of two Fifth Street parcels, from Mixed Use-Light Industrial to Mixed Use-Residential. 1 speaker. Hearing closed (Humbert/Ishii, all ayes). Resolution No. 72,253-N.S. and first reading of Ordinance No. 8,008-N.S. adopted (Humbert/Kesarwani), all ayes. Second reading set for May 12, 2026.

Fifth Street Property Sale

  • Consent Item 4: Resolution No. 72,246-N.S. declaring the City property exempt surplus land, and first reading of Ordinance No. 8,006-N.S. approving its sale for $750,000. Second reading set for May 12, 2026.

Landmarks Preservation Ordinance Amendments

  • Consent Item 1: second reading of Ordinance No. 8,005-N.S. amending Title 3.24 on designating landmarks, historic districts and structures of merit. The first reading vote had been 8 ayes, with Tregub abstaining.

Megafire Prevention Package Support Resolution

  • Council Consent Item 11 (Blackaby, with co-sponsors Ishii, O'Keefe and Humbert): Resolution No. 72,250-N.S. supporting the 2026 Joint Megafire Prevention Package, adopted as revised in Supplemental Communications Packet 2, with letters to designated officials.

Wildfire Bill Support Positions

  • Consent Item 7, from the Disaster and Fire Safety Commission: official Support position on SB 894 (Allen), the California Wildfire Resilience Loan Program. No action taken.
  • Consent Item 8: Support position on SB 1076 (Perez), the Insurance Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes Act. Approved.

Council Discretionary Fund Grants

  • Council Consent Item 10 (Taplin, author): Resolution No. 72,249-N.S. spending up to $500 per Councilmember, including $500 from Taplin, for Luna's May Day Gathering and Bazaar (Luna Dance Creativity). Adopted as amended with contributions up to: Bartlett $250, Lunaparra $200, Blackaby $250, Tregub $150, Humbert $200, Kesarwani $100, O'Keefe $250, Ishii $250.

Encampment Resolution Program Evaluation

  • Information Item 16: UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative interim evaluation of the Berkeley Encampment Resolution and RV Buyback Program, from the City Manager's Office. Received and filed.
  • Item 2: minutes approved for the March 2, 6, 10, 16, 17 and 24, 2026 meetings (closed, special and regular sessions).
  • Item 3: Resolution No. 72,245-N.S. appointing a new Police Accountability Board member nominated by Blackaby. The minutes do not name the appointee.
  • Item 5: Resolution No. 72,247-N.S. rescinding Resolution No. 68,099-N.S. and approving an agreement, effective through 2035, with the Alameda County Operational Area Emergency Management Organization for disaster resource sharing among cities, counties and the State.
  • Item 6: Resolution No. 72,248-N.S. amending the NEOGOV (GovernmentJobs.com) contract for applicant tracking, onboarding and learning management: not-to-exceed amount raised by $190,000, from $180,000 to $370,000, with an end date of May 15, 2027.

Communications

  • The minutes list 92 communications items. The largest groups concerned Hopkins Street (36 letters), the GO bond measures (5), Flock (6) and e-scooters (8 senders). Others covered a proposed local tax increase, upzoning, a missing person case, public safety technology, a cement factory, 2128 Oxford Street, lead contamination, Union Pacific Railway, and a development agreement. The minutes do not state positions. Related: Hopkins Street Bikeway Referral, Flock Safety Contract Extension.

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