Arts & Events

Worth Noting:

Goto meetings and agenda items are bolded.

• Monday:
  • At 10 am City Council holds a special meeting in the hybrid format with item 2 rules for conduct at public meetings.
  • At 4 pm the 8-part series on Mindfulness begins. Registration required.
• Tuesday: A
  • t 10 am the Solano BID meets in person.
  • At 3 pm City Council holds a closed session in the hybrid format with agenda item 4 relating to council meetings and public participation.
  • At 6 pm City Council holds a special meeting on Re-imagining Public Safety update
• Wednesday:
  • At 5:30 pm is the in person San Pablo Specific Plan Presentation and Open House.
  • At 1:30 pm is an online HAC subcommittee meeting.
  • At 6 pm the Environment and Climate Commission meets in person.
  • At 6:30 pm the PAB meets in the hybrid format.
  • At 7 pm the Disaster and Fire Safety Commission meets in person.
  • From 12 – 3 pm the City offers appointments for displacement certificates. Pre-registration for appointments required.
• Thursday:
  • At 10 am the Budget & Finance Committee meets in the hybrid format.
  • At 6:30 pm the Community Health Department meets in person.
  • At 7 pm the Mental Health Commission meets in person.
  • At 7 pm the ZAB meets in the hybrid format. Note the 2587 Telegraph project chopped 2 feet off of the standard height for ground floor commercial (13 foot height instead of 15 foot height).

Sunday, January 21, 2024 - no city meetings or events found 

Monday, January 22, 2024 

CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting at 10 am 

A Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 1231 Addison St. in the School District Board Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1616910770 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (toll free)  

Meeting ID: 161 691 0770 

AGENDA: All items on CONSENT  

1. Call for a Special Election for April 16, 2024 to fill the City Council District 7 Vacancy
2. Amendment to Council Rules of Procedure and Decorum – Amplified Sound and Decorum
3. Temporary Hiatus for City Council Policy Committees from January 22 – March 1 with certain exceptions due to vacancy in District 7.

MINDFULNESS WORKSHOP SERIES from 4 – 5:30 pm 

REGISTER: use link 

In-Person: at 1900 Sixth Street, West Berkeley Wellness Center 

WORKSHOP: Every Monday January 22 – March 18 on Mindfulness ages 11 and up 

https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/events/free-mindfulness-workshop-series 

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 

SOLANO AVENUE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT Advisory Board at 10 am 

In-Person: 1801 Solano, Mechanics Bank 

AGENDA: 4. 2024 Workplans, equity, parking and sidewalks, Peralta Services Feedback, 5. Public comment. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/solano-avenue-business-improvement-district-advisory-board 

CITY COUNCIL Closed Session at 3 pm 

A Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 1231 Addison St. in the School District Board Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/160421762 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (toll free)  

Meeting ID: 160 421 7623 

AGENDA: 1. Conference with legal counsel anticipated litigation a. Worker’s Comp ADJ16352062, 2. Conference with legal counsel pending litigation a. SEIU Local 1021 CSU/PTRLA b. City of Berkeley Arb No. 21-0278, 3. Conference with Labor Negotiators, Labor Organizations Berkeley Fire fighters Local 1227 I.A.F.F., Berkeley Fire fighters Local 1227 I.A.F.F. / Berkeley Chief Fire Officers Association, Berkeley Police Association, SEIU 1021 Community Services and Part-time Recreation Activity Leaders, SEIU 1021 Maintenance and Clerical, Public Employee Union Local 1, Unrepresented Employees, 4. Conference with legal counsel anticipated litigation – Berkeley People’s Alliance (relates to conduct of city council meetings). 

https://berkeleyca.gov/city-council-closed-meeting-eagenda-january-23-2024 

CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting at 6 pm 

A Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 1231 Addison St. in the School District Board Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1613079321 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (toll free)  

Meeting ID: 161 307 9321 

AGENDA: Re-Imagining Public Safety Update 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas 

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 

SAN PABLO SPECIFIC PLAN OPEN HOUSE from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm 

In-Person: at 1701 San Pablo, Berkeley Adult School 

AGENDA: PRESENTATION from 5:30 – 6 pm followed with open house from 6 pm until 7:30 pm 

https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/events/san-pablo-avenue-specific-plan-open-house 

HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION (HAC) CDBG Subcommittee at 1:30 pm 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1611764563?pwd=SnVnU0x4dU5HaURGcmpINUhjVFZNZz09 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-435-1820 (toll free) 

Meeting ID: 161 176 4563 Passcode: 534703 

AGENDA: 4. FY2025 – FY2028 Community Agency Request for RFP 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/housing-advisory-commission 

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE COMMISSION at 6 pm 

In-Person: at 1901 Hearst, North Berkeley Senior Center 

AGENDA: 6. Update from staff on BESO, Just Transition Pilot, 7. Presentation on Native Plants and Pest Reduction, 8. 2024 Draft Workplan, 9. Reports from Commission Liasons, 10 Subcommittee Updates a. Vehicle Miles Traveled, Native Plants, Electrification. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/environment-and-climate-commission 

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD at 6:30 pm 

A Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 1901 Hearst, North Berkeley Senior Center 

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82653396072 

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 

Meeting ID: 826 5339 6072 

AGENDA: 3. Public comment on non-agenda and agenda items, 5. Staff Reports, Chair and Board Reports, Chief of Police Reports, 8. Subcommittee reports, 9. Legislative Updates, 10. New Business, a. Elections, b. Recap of 50th Anniversary of Civilian Oversight, c. 2024 PAB Strategic Planning session, d. Report on Policy Complaint No. 2023-PR-0009, e. Presentation of new ODPA Policy Complaint No. 2024-PR-0001, f. BPD MOU with other agencies, 11. Public Comment, 12 Closed Session. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/police-accountability-board 

DISASTER and FIRE SAFETY COMMISSION at 7 pm 

In-Person: at 997 Cedar, Fire Department Division of Training Classroom 

AGENDA: 2. Fire Department Staff Report, 4. Workplan 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/disaster-and-fire-safety-commission 

DISPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE Application Assistance Appointments from 12 – 3 pm 

Relates to application for affordable housing preferences. Use this link for overview of eligibility: https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/affordable-housing-berkeley/apply-affordable-housing-preferences 

Use this link to register for an appointment: https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/events/displacement-certificate-application-assistance-appointments-0 

4 x 4 JOINT TASK FORCE COMMITTEE on HOUSING – Cancelled 

CIVIC ARTS COMMISSION - Cancelled 

Thursday, January 25, 2024 

BUDGET and FINANCE at 10 am 

A Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 2180 Milvia, 6th Floor Redwood Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1606002506 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (toll free) 

Meeting ID: 160 600 2506 

AGENDA: 1. Williams-Ridley - Federal and state Legislative Update, 2. Radu, CM Office - State of California Encampment Resolution Funding Program – Round 3. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/council-committees/policy-committee-budget-finance 

COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMISSION at 6:30 pm 

In-Person: 2939 Ellis, South Berkeley Senior Center 

AGENDA: 7. 2024 Workplan, 8. City council referral on Long Term Care Facility Oversight. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/community-health-commission 

MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION at 7 pm 

In-Person: 1901 Hearst, North Berkeley Senior Center 

AGENDA: 3. SCU Update, 4. Cares First, Jails Last Update, 5. Proposal for Early Intervention in Psychosis Program, 6. Meeting calendar, 7. Proposal to establish subcommittee concerning statewide effort to build residential facilities, 8. Revisit conducting meetings in hybrid format, Mental Health Manager Report. 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/mental-health-commission 

ZONING ADJUSTMENT BOARD at 7 pm  

A Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at at 1231 Addison St. in the School District Board Room 

Videoconference: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84697222602 

Teleconference: 1-669-444-9171 

Meeting ID: 846 9722 2602 

AGENDA:  

2. 2587 Telegraph (between Parker & Blake) – on consent – Use Permit #ZP2023-0068 – State Density Project SB 330 - demolish 2-story retail building and construct 8-story 112,562 sq ft mixed-use with 52 units including 6 very low-income units, 78 long term, 6 short term bicycle parking spaces. (In lieu fee for remaining low income units to meet Berkeley 20% requirement not provided in documents) Ground floor commercial is proposed with floor height of 13 feet instead of standard 15 feet making building look top heavy and out of place with neighboring buildings.
3. 1840 Woolsey – on consent – Use Permit #ZP2023-0127 – convert existing 920 sq ft 2nd floor office space of single-family dwelling unit into a separate dwelling unit. No changes to height and structure.

Friday, January 26, 2024 – no city meetings or events found 

Saturday, January 27, 2024 - no city meetings or events found 

Sunday, January 28, 2024 - no city meetings or events found 

+++++++++++++++++++ 

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA for Regular 6 pm Meeting on January 30, 2024 

Hybrid Meeting 

In-Person: at 1231 Addison St. in the School District Board Room 

Videoconference: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1600654738 

Teleconference: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (toll free)  

Meeting ID: 160 065 4738 

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas 

RECESS ITEMS: 

1. Sprague, Fire – Purchase Order Firehouse Alerting System $175,000
2. Sprague, Fire – Reject all bids and negotiate with contractors for Berkeley Fire station landscape project No. 24-11622

3. Klein, Planning - 2nd Reading Prevailing Wage Requirements in the Southside Plan Area add BMC 13.108 for projects exceeding 50 units or 50,000 sq ft
4. Hollander, Economic Development – 2nd Reading Expansion of the Elmwood Business Improvement District (BID) Levy Assessments in the District for 2025 and Authorize a Contract with Elmwood Business Association (EBA) to receive revenue
5. Oyekanmi, Finance – Formal Bid Solicitations $200,000 (Staff uniforms and resale items for Recreation Division)
6. Sprague, Fire – Grant Application $1,100,000 from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire) Wildfire Prevention Grant to Implement an Incentive Program for Residents in Berkeley’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
7. Sprague, Fire – Grant Application $99,600 to State Homeland Security Grant Program to implement CAD to CAD interface between the City of Berkeley Communications Center and the Alameda County Regional Dispatch Center
8. Sprague, Fire – Contracts total $4,000,000 for hazardous fire fuel treatment and removal 2/1/2024 – 1/30/2028 with $1,00,000 each to Julian Tree Care, Professional Tree Care, West Coast Arborist Inc, West Coast Tree Service
9. Warhuus, HHCS – Revenue Contract accept Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) Contract Number 24F-3001 for $299,495 from CA State Department of Community Services and Development 1/1/2024 – 5/31/2025
10. Warhuus, HHCS - Revenue Grant $300,000 from State of CA Tobacco Control Program for Tobacco Control Program for FY 2025
11. Expenditure Contract $159,000 Alameda County Public Health Department (Office of Dental Health) to provide dental services in BUSD 1/1/2024 – 6/30/2027
12. Warhuus, HHCS – Expenditure Contract $150,000 with Berkeley Free Clinic for Laboratory Services 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2027
13. Warhuus, HHCS – Amend Contract No. 32300149 add $30,000 total $158,315 with mySidewalk, Inc for HHCS Web-Based Population Health Data Platform through 3/4/2026
14. Warhuus, HHCS - Amend Contract No. 32300112 add $20,000 total $145,000 with Harold Dichoso for COVID-19 Outreach and Education
15. Warhuus, HHCS – Martin Luther King Jr. House RFP recommendation 1. Approve transfer from RCD to Insight Housing, 2. Extend $1,178,974 funding reservation to Insight Housing, 3. Reserve $822,014 from Housing Trust Fund to Insight Housing, 4. Waive Sections I.A.1 and IV.C.1 of Housing Trust Fund Guidelines, 5. Authorize CM to amend contracts
16. Transfer Tax Refund $95,625 for 1741-1747 Russell to Insight Housing to support renovation at 1741-1747 Russell
17. Kouyoumdjian, HR – At-Will Designations – 1. Amend BMC 4.04.120(A) designate unrepresented classifications of Employee Relations Manager and Assistant to the City Attorney as at-will, 2. Approve 5% salary differential for the Employee Relations Manager classification and modify job specification to state that the incumbent “may act as department head in the absence of the Director of Human Resources.”
18. Ferris, Parks – Donation $3,400 Memorial Bench at Cesar Chavez Park in memory of Samuel Lepie Hallward
19. Louis, Police - Amend Contract No. 31900143 extend contract due to expire 2/4/2024 by 2 years with Passport Labs Incorporated for a Parking Management System
20. Murray, Public Works – Contract $814,680 with CESCORP, dba Cal Elite Builders for Corp Yard City Fleet EV Charger Project Specification No.23-11546-C
21. Murray, Public Works – Contract $1,566,000 (includes contingency $261,000) with CESCORP, dba Cal Elite Builders for Central Library HVAC Replacement Project
22. Murray, Public Works – On-Call Contracts totaling $8,400,000 with $2,800,000 each 1/1/2024 – 6/30/2025 with 1. Hollins Consulting, Inc. (Hollins), 2. Kitchell/CEM, Inc (Kitchell), 3. O’Connor Construction Management, Inc. (OCMI)
23. Murray, Public Works – Contract $311,348 (includes $29,045 contingency) with Shaw Industries, Inc. for Civic Center Building Carpet Replacement Project
24. Murray, Public Works – Amend Contract No. 108007-1 add $650,000 total $1,073,534 with Don’s Tires Services, Inc for City fleet vehicles and extend through 6/30/2025
25. Murray, Public Works – 5 Year Lease Agreement with We Wield The Hammer at 2440 Durant in the Telegraph-Channing Mall and Garage

26. Arreguin - City Council Committee and Regional Body Appointments through 1/31/2025
27. Hahn & Robinson - Support for ACA 4 Elections: Eligibility to Vote repeal constitutional requirement disqualifying electors incarceration for felony convictions
28. Wengraf, co-sponsors Humbert, Hahn, Harrison - Adopt Resolution urging PG&E to underground utilities in Berkeley’s VHFHSZ (Very Hire Fire Hazard Severity Zone)

29. Humbert – Budget Referral: Additional Security Cameras at Intersections Experiencing Increased Violent Crime proposed intersections: Alcatraz and College, Woolsey and Telegraph, Woolsey and Shattuck, Alcatraz and Adeline, Alcatraz and Sacramento

30. Removed by City Manager - Warhuus, HHCS – Receive Presentation on Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) and its preparation for a $10 to $20 billion Regional General Obligation Affordable Housing Bond under consideration for the November 2024 election
31. LPO NOD: 2119 Marin #LMSAP2023-003
32. LPO NOD: 910 Indian Rock #LMIN2023-0002

LAND USE CALENDAR PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

• 2924 Russell 2/27/2024
• 1960 San Antonio 645 Arlington Avenue 2/13/2024
• 3000 Shattuck Avenue (Construct 10-story mixed-use building) – TBD

• January 23, 2024 – Re-Imagining Public Safety Update (special meeting)
• January 30 at 3 pm – Ashby BART TOD (Tentative), Berkeley – El Cerrito Corridor Access Plan Presentation (tentative)
• February 6, 2024 – Office of Economic Development (OED) Dashboards Presentation
• February 6, 2024 - Draft Waterfront Specific Plan (tentative) – rescheduled from November 2, 2023)

• Fire Department Standards of Coverage & Community Risk Assessment - (removed)
• Dispatch Needs Assessment Presentation
• Presentation on Homelessness/Re-Housing/Thousand-Person Plan (TBD regular agenda)

• May 16 - Fire Facilities Study Report, Wildfire Prevention Plan https://berkeleyca.gov/city-council-special-meeting-eagenda-may-16-2023-6-pm
• June 20 (WS) - Climate Action Plan & Resilience Update, Berkeley Economic Dashboards Update reports available https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/city-council/city-council-agendas/city-council-2023-06-20

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

Kelly Hammargren’s summary on what happened the preceding week is posted on the What Happened page at: https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/what-happened.html and in the Berkeley Daily Planet https://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/ 

The Activist’s Calendar of meetings is posted on the What’s Ahead page at: https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html 

If you would like to receive the Activist’s Calendar as soon as it is completed send an email to: kellyhammargren@gmail.com.If you want to receive the Activist’s Diary send an email to kellyhammargren@gmail.com. If you wish to stop receiving the weekly calendar of city meetings please forward the email you received to- kellyhammargren@gmail.com -with the request to be removed from the email list. 

______________ 

For Online Public Meetings 

CLOSED CAPTIONING, SAVE TRANSCRIPT OVERVIEW, DIRECTIONS and ZOOM SUPPORT LINKS:
.
ZOOM has as part of the program -(for no extra cost)- Closed Captioning (CC). It turns computer voice recognition into a text transcript. Closed Captioning and show full transcript and the save option are only available when the person setting up the ZOOM meeting has activated these options. If you don’t see CC ask for it. If it can’t be activated for the current meeting ask for it for future meetings. 

The accuracy of the Closed Captioning is affected by background noise and other factors, The CC and transcript will not be perfect, but most of the time reading through it the few odd words, can be deciphered--for example "Shattuck" was transcribed as Shadow in one recent transcript. 

For the online attendee, the full transcript is only available from the time the attendee activates Show Full Transcript. But if you sit through a meeting and then remember 10 minutes before it is over to click on Show Full Transcript you will only get the last 10 minutes, not the full transcript – So click often on both Save Transcript and on Save to Folder during the meeting for best results. 

When you click on Show Full Transcript it will allow you to scroll up and down, so if want to go back and see what was said earlier you can do that during the meeting while the transcript is running. 

At the bottom of the transcript when we as attendees are allowed to save there will be a button for, "Save Transcript," you can click on the button repeatedly throughout the meeting and it will just overwrite and update the full transcript. Clicking on the Save Transcript repeatedly as the meeting is coming to an end is important because once the host ends the meeting, the transcript is gone if you didn't save it. 

Near the end of the meeting, after you click on "Save Transcript," click on "Save to Folder." The meeting transcript will show up (as a download to your desktop) in a separate box as a text file. (These text files are not large.) After you have done your last Save Transcript and Save to Folder (after the meeting is over) you can rename the new transcript folder on your computer, and save it (re-read or send or share it). 

Remember, allowing us attendees to save the meeting transcript does not require the public meeting host to save the transcript (for public record.) 

Here is the link to ZOOM Support for how to set up Closed Captioning for a meeting or webinar:
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/8158738379917#h_01GHWATNVPW5FR304S2SVGXN2X 

Here is the link to ZOOM Support for attendees in how to save Closed Captions: 

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360060958752-Using-save-captions#h_01F5XW3BGWJAKJFWCHPPZGBD70 

How to convert a YouTube video into a transcript 

Copy the YouTube url into the box with “enter a youtube url” and click on go https://youtubetranscript.com/ 

The transcript (not perfect, but very close) will appear instantaneously