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Council could catch eye of the nation, again

By John Geluardi Daily Planet staff
Tuesday October 16, 2001

The City Council could find itself the subject of national media attention again if it approves a controversial recommendation by Councilmember Dona Spring, who is asking the council to send letters to congressional representatives and the president calling for an end to U.S. bombing in Afghanistan.  

Berkeley has been in the national eye twice since the Sept. 11 attacks, once over the temporary removal of American flags from fire department vehicles during a protest and once over a controversial statement by a councilmember – a misquote according to Councilmember Dona Spring, picked up by a Wall Street Journal Web site columnist. The quote had Spring saying the United States is a terrorist country, while Spring said she meant that the Afghanis would believe the United States was a terrorist country for dropping bombs on Afghanistan. 

Spring placed the resolution to call for an end to the bombing on the agenda at last week’s meeting as an emergency item, but it failed to get the six votes it needed to be put on the agenda. The nine-member council voted in favor of the item 5-4, with Mayor Shirley Dean and councilmembers Betty Olds, Polly Armstrong and Miriam Hawley voting in opposition.  

Tonight the item needs only five votes to gain approval. The five-member progressive faction, which includes Vice Mayor Maudelle Shirek, and councilmembers Spring, Kriss Worthington, Linda Maio and Margaret Breland, is expected to approve the item.  

 

Counter terrorism equipment 

The council is expected to authorize the city manager to join with the cities of Albany and Emeryville to accept a state grant from the Office of Emergency Services to respond to chemical or biological terrorist attacks. 

The grant will reimburse the city for $54,000 worth of equipment including portable decontamination showers, shelters and antidote kits. 

The fire department has been planning to purchase this equipment for the last six months, but according to a department staff report, Fire Chief Reginald Garcia is asking the council to expedite the purchase “in light of the terrorist attack on Sept. 11.” 

 

Capturing the wind 

The council is expected to waive fees and expedite permits for a nonprofit advocacy group to erect a wind monitoring station on an unused section of the Berkeley Pier.  

Local Power wants to place the equipment on the pier to test the feasibility of wind-powered, energy-producing technology. The Waterfront Commission has already approved the project.  

The proposed section of pier is ideal for the project because it’s among the windiest sections of the San Francisco Bay, according to the recommendation submitted by Councilmember Linda Maio.  

The report goes on to say that conventional electricity production accounts for about 30 percent of global warming, making it the largest single contributor. While on the other hand, wind power is the greenest electricity source available and is economically competitive with coal and other carbon-based sources of electricity. 

The equipment will be in place for approximately 18 months. The associated costs to the city is approximately $675. 

 

Un-reinforced masonry 

The council will be presented with an status report by the Planning and Development Department regarding the remaining un-reinforced masonry buildings in the city.  

Since the Un-reineforced Masonry Building Ordinance went into effect after the Loma Prieta Earthquake, 100 of the city’s 301 un-reinforced buildings have been seismically upgraded. That leaves 201 to go, according to a recently prepared Planning Department report. The report also mentions that retrofitting work on some of the remaining buildings has already begun or are near completion.  

According to the report, there are four buildings considered in the highest risk category and another 21 in the medium risk category.  

The privately-owned building highest on the city’s priority list is the California Theater at 2115 Kittredge St. The city’s concern stems from the large numbers of people who attend films there and the historical status of the building itself.  

Because the building is on the State Historic Building Resources Inventory, the Landmarks Preservation Commission had to approve the retrofit plans, which it did in August. According to the report, the theater operator has committed to completing the retrofit by the court-ordered deadline of December. 

City-owned businesses on the URM list include the former Fire Administration Building at 2121 McKinley St., the Facilities Maintenance Building at 1326 Allston Way and the Live Oak Recreation Center at 1301 Shattuck Ave. 

 

Green building 

The City Council will likely approve and increase in funding for the Green Building Design Assistance Program. The city's housing department is asking for an increase of $5,580 to add building assistance consultations and sessions for private and commercial builders. If the increase is approved, the budget for the program through December 2002 will be $95,000. 

The Green Building Design Assistance Program was established to assist builders make preliminary design decisions about energy systems, building design and environmentally conscious building materials. 

For more information about the program call 705-8187. 

 

Other items to be considered include: 

• The second reading of the newly-drawn council districts.  

• A charter amendment that, if approved by city voters, would create a student-dominated district, which would likely result in a student being elected to the city council. 

• Authorizing the city manager to accept a $100,000 grant from the Alameda County Public Health Department to launch a smoking prevention campaign aimed at college students. 

• The conversion of all city vehicles to fuel sources that are environmentally friendly.  

 

Not for the public 

A closed session meeting will be held prior to the regular City Council meeting to continue contract negotiations with the Berkeley Police Association. The council will also hear from legal counsel about a litigation against the city by the 620 Hearst Group, which is currently in Alameda County Superior Court. 

The public will allot 10 minutes to make comments to the public prior to the closing of the meeting, which will be held 2180 Milvia St., in the sixth floor conference room at 5:30 p.m.  

 

The City Council meeting will be held tonight at 2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The meeting will also be broadcast live on KPFA Radio, 89.3 and Cable B-TV, Channel 25.