Monday, April 28, 2025 ANNOTATED AGENDA Page 1
A N N O T AT E D A G E N D A
S P E C I AL M E E T I N G O F T H E
B E R K E L E Y C I T Y C O U N C I L
Monday, April 28, 2025
5:00 PM
SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM - 1231 ADDISON STREET, BERKELEY, CA 94702
TELECONFERENCE LOCATION - 17900 JAMBOREE RD, IRVINE, CA 92614
TELECONFERENCE LOCATION - 1619 EDITH STREET, BERKELEY, CA 94703
ADENA ISHII, MAYOR
Councilmembers:
DISTRICT 1 – RASHI KESARWANI DISTRICT 5 – SHOSHANA O’KEEFE DISTRICT 2 – TERRY TAPLIN DISTRICT 6 – BRENT BLACKABY
DISTRICT 3 – BEN BARTLETT DISTRICT 7 – CECILIA LUNAPARRA DISTRICT 4 – IGOR TREGUB DISTRICT 8 – MARK HUMBERT
This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid model with both in -person attendance and virtual participation. Live captioned broadcasts of Council meetings are available on B -TV (Channel 33) and via internet video stream at http://berkeley.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=1244. All Council meetings are recorded.
To access the meeting remotely use this URL: https://cityofberkeley-info.zoomgov.com/j/1602247476. To request to speak, use the “raise hand” function in Zoom. To join by phone: Dial 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) and enter Meeting ID: 160 224 7476. To provide public comment, Press *9 and wait to be recognized by the Chair. To submit a written communication for the public record, email [email protected].
This meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Brown Act, Government Code Section 54953. Any member of the public may attend this meeting, however, if you are feeling sick, please do not attend the meeting in person.
The City Council may take action related to any subject listed on the Agenda.
Pursuant to the City Council Rules of Procedure and State Law, the presiding officer may remove, or cause the removal of, an individual for disrupting the meeting. Prior to removing an individual, the presiding officer shall warn the individual that their behavior is disrupting the meeting and that their failure to cease their behavior may result in their removal. The presiding officer may then remove the individual if they do not promptly cease their disruptive behavior. “Disrupting” means engaging in beha vior during a meeting of a legislative body that actually disrupts, disturbs, impedes, or renders infeasible the orderly conduct of the meeting and includes, but is not limited to, a failure to comply with reasonable and lawful regulations adopted by a legislative body, or engaging in behavior that constitutes use of force or a true threat of force.
Government Code Section 84308 (Levine Act) - Parties to a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use are required to disclose if they made contributions over $5 00 within the prior 12 months to any City employee or officer. Parties and participants with a financial interest are prohibited from making more than $500 in contributions to a decisionmaker for the 12 months after the final decision is rendered on the proceeding.
The above contribution disclosures and restrictions do not apply when the proceeding is competitively bid, or involves a personnel or labor contract. For more information, see Government Code Section 84308.
Monday, April 28, 2025 ANNOTATED AGENDA Page 2
Preliminary Matters
Roll Call: 5:04 p.m.
Present: Kesarwani, Taplin, Bartlett, Tregub, O’Keefe, Blackaby, Lunaparra, Humbert, Ishii
Absent: None
Councilmember Taplin participated in the meeting remotely under the just cause exception in the Brown Act.
Action Calendar
Special City Council Meeting: Possible Ceasefire Resolution for Gaza Conflict; and the Impact and Effects of the Conflict on the Berkeley Community and Abroad
1. Resolution for an Immediate and Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza, and an End to U.S. Military Aid to Israel, and Support for Palestinian Self-Determination From: Peace and Justice Commission
Recommendation:
1. The City of Berkeley Council adopt a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel, and support for Palestinian self-determination.
2. Send a copy of the resolution to President Joseph R. Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Vice President Kamala Harris, Representative Barbara Lee, Senator Alex Padilla, Senator Laphonza R. Butler, Representative Cori Bush, and Representative Rashida Tlaib.
Financial Implications: None
Contact: Rex Brown, Commission Secretary, (510) 981-7000
Action: M/S/C (Ishii/Humbert) to suspend the rules and establish a three-hour public comment period for the agenda item with time for both in-person and online speakers.
Vote: Ayes – Kesarwani, Taplin, Bartlett, Tregub, O’Keefe, Blackaby, Humbert, Ishii; Noes – None; Abstain – Lunaparra.
Action: M/S/C (Lunaparra/Ishii) to suspend the rules and extend the public comment period for an additional hour.
Vote: Ayes – Kesarwani, Bartlett, Tregub, O’Keefe, Blackaby, Lunaparra, Ishii; Noes – Taplin; Abstain – Humbert.
Action: M/S/C (Ishii/Lunaparra) to suspend the rules and extend the meeting to 12:00 a.m.
Vote: All Ayes.
Action Calendar – New Business
Monday, April 28, 2025 ANNOTATED AGENDA Page 3
Action: M/S/Failed (Ishii/Blackaby) to adopt the resolution submitted by Mayor Ishii and Councilmember Bartlett in Supplemental Communications Packet #2 titled “Resolution Reaffirming the City of Berkeley’s Commitment to Combatting Hate, Supporting a Lasting Peace Between Israel and Gaza, Opposing a U.S. Occupation of Gaza and Respecting Freedom ‘f Speech.”
Vote: Ayes – Bartlett, Tregub, Lunaparra, Ishii; Noes – Blackaby; Abstain – Kesarwani, Taplin, O’Keefe, Humbert.
Action: 197 speakers. M/S/Carried (Lunaparra/Ishii) to adopt Resolution No. 71,726–N.S. submitted by Councilmember Taplin in Supplemental Communications Packet #2 titled “Reaffirming Berkeley’s Commitment to Peace, at Home and Abroad.”
Vote: Ayes – Kesarwani, Taplin, Tregub, O’Keefe, Blackaby, Humbert, Ishii; Noes – Lunaparra; Abstain – Bartlett.
Adjournment
Action: M/S/C (Humbert/O’Keefe) to adjourn the meeting.
Vote: Ayes – Kesarwani, Taplin, Bartlett, Tregub, O’Keefe, Blackaby, Humbert, Ishii; Noes – Lunaparra.
Adjourned at 11:48 p.m.
Communications
Item #1: Resolution for an Immediate and Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza, and an End to U.S. Military Aid to Israel, and Support for Palestinian Self-Determination
1. Iris Greenberg-Smith
2. Diana Bohn
3. Allen Mayer
4. David Garner
5. John Wolfe
Supplemental Communications and Reports 1
• None
Supplemental Communications and Reports 2
Item #1: Resolution for an Immediate and Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza, and an End to U.S. Military Aid to Israel, and Support for Palestinian Self-Determination
6. Revised agenda material submitted by Mayor Adena Ishii and Councilmember Ben Bartlett
7. Supplemental agenda material submitted by Councilmember Terry Taplin
8. Robert Bonam (2)
9. Sriram Gopalakrishnan
10. Youval Dar
11. Sara S Ishikawa
Monday, April 28, 2025 ANNOTATED AGENDA Page 4
12. Jamie Cooney
13. Angie Chang
14. Hali Hammer
15. Pat O’Brien
16. Jan Leuin
17. Cynthia Papermaster and CODEPINK Bay Area Chapter
18. Tam Sababa
19. Tal Garner
20. Kelly Hammergren
21. Stephen M. Lipson
22. Julie Goldobin
23. Gayle McLaughlin
24. Kate Greene
25. Susanne (Sanne) DeWitt
26. Nathan Hunt
27. Fredda Cassidy
28. Laura Lipman
29. Deborah Cohan
30. Jon Jackson
31. Terry Fletcher
32. Ana Tellez-Witrago on behalf of Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez
33. Alan Kittner
34. Claudia Jimenez
35. Carl Nelson
36. Esther Brass-Chorin
37. Daren Fields
38. Sari Alper
39. Shifra Pride Raffel (2)
40. Miriam Green
41. Linda Press Wulf and Stanley Wulf
42. Sara Sunstein
43. Ilene Lee
44. Cynthia Papermaster
45. Dorothea Dorenz (3)
46. Naama Sadan
47. Jean Tepperman
48. Tamara Gurin
49. Desmid Lyon
50. Vicki Sommer (2)
51. Ellen Feigenbaum and Peter Schwab
52. John Farnkopf
53. Sally Nelson
54. Madeline Feingold
55. Rachel Schiff
56. Michal Weber
57. Jude Berman
58. Michael Cassidy (2)
59. Larry Hobel
60. Larry Bradshaw
61. Imtiaz Ghori
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62. Stephanie Guynn and William Guynn (2)
63. Rosa Harroun
64. Simin Shamji
65. Kara Nelson
66. Marsha Rosenblatt
67. Andrea Cassidy
68. Leah Greenblat
69. Leah Rothman
70. Stevie Schwartz
71. Sarah Lefton
72. Judy and Isaac Lieber
73. Marisa Lin
74. Michelle Mascarenhas
75. Allen Mayer
76. Judd Goodman
77. Janice Schroeder
78. Lori Berlin and Michael Stephens
79. Omowale Fowles
80. Jim Haydel
81. Faith Meltzer
82. Hannah King
83. Rob Wrenn
84. Mary Wrenn
85. Rissa Coplan
86. Zohe Slack
87. Jason Rose
88. Barbara Gilbert
89. Betsy Bigelow-Teller
90. Bruce Feingold
91. Howard Hertz
92. Kyra Subbotin
93. Marc Sapir
94. Monica Renner
95. Friends of Adeline
96. Mary Prophet
97. Mati Teiblum
98. Tarnel Abbott
99. Elsa Tranter
100. Leah Rosenthal
101. Moni T. Law
102. Kathy Kojimoto
103. Scott Sepke
104. Valeria Kaim
105. Jeannine Cohen
106. Khalil Bendib
107. Joel A. Biatch
108. Avi Tsang Jaffe
109. Jonathan Jaffe
110. David Spero
111. Coby Huizenga
Monday, April 28, 2025 ANNOTATED AGENDA Page 6
112. Tobie Lurie
113. Ednah Beth Friedman
114. Thomas F. Luce
115. Orli Loewenberg
116. Harry Devlin
117. 46 Similarly worded form letters “On behalf of the Berkeley community” 118. 15 Similarly worded form letters “I wish to express my concerns” 119. 8 Similarly worded form letters “As a resident of Berkeley” Supplemental Communications and Reports 3
Item #1: Resolution for an Immediate and Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza, and an End to U.S. Military Aid to Israel, and Support for Palestinian Self-Determination 120. Alan Jencks
121. Sara Sunstein
122. Wendy Patterson
123. Naomi Kincler
124. Barryett Enge (2)
125. Lyra King (2)
126. Monica Renner
127. Idit Minka
128. Malka Weitman
129. Leah Greenblat
130. Vicki Sommer
131. Elana Auerbach
132. Martha Wallner
133. Hassan Fouda
134. Stephania Widger
135. Dorothea Dorenz
136. Eric Friedman
137. Cynthia Papermaster
138. Anna Concepcion
139. William Selig
140. Kelsi Perttula
141. Shirley Kirsten
142. Amanda Berger
143. Dahlia Frydman (2)
144. Anita Barrows (2)
145. Sonja Trauss (2)
146. Gabriela Kipnis (2)
147. JJ Noire (5)
148. Yoshiko I. Wada
149. Karen Roekard
150. Paul Liem
151. Elana Naftalin-Kelman
152. David Sweet-Cordero
153. Elaine Stelton
154. Tarek Milleron
155. Noga Ravid
156. Jean Krois
157. Nitzan Pelman
Monday, April 28, 2025 ANNOTATED AGENDA Page 7
158. Grace Morizawa on behalf of the Japanese American community 159. John Hagopian
160. Vanessa and Andres Moraga
161. Tony Schmiesing
162. Niloofar Shambayati
163. Robin Wenrick
164. Miriam Ferris
165. Alicia Tan
166. Anne Marx
167. Richard Boubelik
168. Daniel Brownson
169. Robin Milleron
170. David Levinson
171. Lorrie Beth Slonsky
172. Pamela Sawyer
173. Melissa Chapman
174. Barry Rosen
175. Amy Zucker Morgenstern
176. Camille Watts-Zagha
177. Rachel on behalf of the Jewish Coalition of Berkeley 178. Mollie Starr
179. Kelly Segal
180. Tobey M. Wiebe
181. Esther Brass
182. Tamara Gurin
183. Anna Talamo
184. Jim Haydel
185. 50 Similarly worded form letters
186. Thomas F. Luce