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The Parks and Waterfront Department is asking the City Council to approve a environmental report that deems the Harrison Street Skate Park project is ready to continue after months of setbacks related to the discovery of a carcinogen in the groundwater below the site. 

According to Parks Department report, the city has spent about $265,000 to clean up the contaminated groundwater. The groundwater was treated and discharged into the sanitary sewer in accordance with regulatory procedures. 

In addition to the report, Parks and Waterfront is requesting the council accept a new design for the skate park and approve $410,000 for the construction of the project, which includes above-ground skate bowls. 

Antenna moratorium 

The council will hold a public hearing to extend an emergency moratorium on the erection of wireless communications antennas, which facilitate mobile and cellular phones. 

Residents concerned about negative health effects asked the council to enact the moratorium after two antennas were proposed near residential neighborhoods, one was near a school. 

The council first enacted a 45-day moratorium in December and renewed the January for an additional six months. The purpose of the moratorium was to allow the Planning Commission to hold hearings on revisions to the zoning ordinance that would cover the public’s health concerns about the antennas. 

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on a draft ordinance, drafted by planning department staff but has requested additional time because a sub-committee is considering issues related to the zoning amendment and will make a full report to the commission at summer’s end. 

Rental Housing Safety Program 

The Housing Advisory Commission recommended the council adopt an amendment to the Berkeley Municipal Code that would require landlords to self inspect their properties yearly and submit a completed checklist to the city. 

The amendment would also require city inspections of rental units each time a unit is vacated. 

The city began to consider the amendment after several deaths related to home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Two UC Berkeley students were among those who died. One of the key features of the landlord checklist is making sure carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are in good working order. 

The Housing Advisory Commission has held numerous public hearings and has worked with landlords, tenants and UC Berkeley representatives to develop the amendment to the Municipal Code. The inspection program is estimated to cost upwards of $400,000. UC Berkeley is contributing $65,000.