Extra

Posted Mon., Feb. 4—Berkeley city manager for five years, Phil Kamlarz will get his first City Council evaluation tonight (Monday) in a special closed-door council session. 

Special meetings require only 24-hour notice to the public. Tonight's meeting was announced Thursday afternoon. 

“I doubt if many members of the public are aware of the evaluation,” Councilmember Kriss Worthington told the Planet. The public is not permitted at closed session meetings but may comment before the meeting. 

Noting that the city has a council-manager form of government, Worthington said he thought the manager should be evaluated annually. 

Another hot-button issue to be discussed behind closed doors this evening is a possible settlement of the lawsuit brought against the city by the Elmwood Neighborhood Association, which has argued that the John Gordon “Wright’s Garage” project, approved by the city, is out of scale with the neighborhood. 

Public comment begins at 5 p.m. 

“In order to participate in the Public Comment portion of this meeting, you must arrive in the building prior to 5 p.m. Entrance to this building closes at 5 p.m.,” the notice says. 

Worthington pointed out that notice may impinge on the right of persons to speak before closed session if they arrive a few minutes late. 

The closed session begins at 5 p.m. at city administration building, 2180 Milvia St., 6th floor, the Redwood Conference Room.