Berkeley Doubles Down on Streets, Sends Rent Reforms to Voters

The Berkeley City Council on July 7 adopted its most ambitious street paving plan in city history and unanimously placed rent stabilization amendments on the November 2026 ballot — two sweeping actions that will reshape how the city maintains its infrastructure and regulates its rental market. A contentious 7-2 vote to study RV parking regulations exposed a familiar fault line between enforcement and housing-first approaches to homelessness.

• $130M street plan to pave 65 miles in five years, combining baseline revenues with Measure FF parcel tax funds and doubling the city's prior pace
• Rent stabilization amendments headed to November 2026 ballot, capping banked rent increases at 10% per year and expanding tenant organizing rights
• RV parking study advances 7-2 over objections from the mayor and homelessness advocates who say enforcement outpaces housing solutions
• Police data-sharing safeguards confirmed: Berkeley does not share license plate reader data with the regional NCRIC fusion center, unlike San Francisco
• AC Transit warns of $200M deficit and up to 16% service cuts by June 2027 without new regional funding

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$130M Plan Targets Berkeley's Crumbling Streets

The council unanimously approved a five-year plan to pave 65 centerline miles — more than 400 street segments — by combining an $88.6 million baseline program with over $40 million from Measure FF, the voter-approved parcel tax targeting the city's worst roads.

Why it matters: Berkeley's citywide pavement condition index sits at 57, rated "at risk," with a deferred maintenance backlog exceeding $330 million. Reaching "good" condition — a PCI of 70 — would require an additional $8 million per year beyond current funding. The new plan roughly doubles the paving pace of the previous five-year cycle.

Where things stand: The baseline plan uses a "critical point management" approach — right treatment, right time — governed by a 2022 paving policy that prioritizes equity zone streets, bikeways, bus routes, and high-injury corridors. Measure FF complements that strategy by picking up the failed streets that cost-effectiveness optimization typically skips.

"Measure FF is in place. And whether Stewart or other segments of Ward Avenue that also have low PCI and would not meet the criteria, really have a good opportunity now to be able to be carried on with Measure FF," said Interim Director of Public Works Wahid Amiri.

Staff deferred several high-profile corridors from the base plan: Claremont Avenue (flood control conflict and Vision Zero study), Telegraph Avenue (pedestrianization study), and Oxford Street (Oxford for All project). Hopkins Street was programmed as a $6.8 million placeholder for FY 2028, pending council direction on multimodal improvements — a decision that drew pointed questions.

"I am just having a lot of trouble thinking through how I'm going to communicate that to the public," said Councilmember Terry Taplin, questioning why Hopkins appeared while other complete streets corridors were deferred.

The other side: Councilmember Brent Blackaby flagged a geographic equity concern: "In D6 we represent about 17% of the total street miles in the city. We're getting 12% of the treatment over the next five years." His district also has the most streets with PCI below 50 remaining after the plan is executed.

Vice Mayor Shoshana O'Keefe offered a blunt caution to colleagues eyeing additions: "Every single street that's on here is another street that's not on here. Every dollar we spend is not getting spent somewhere else where it's needed."

Public commenter Charles Siegel of Walk Bike Berkeley urged funding a Hearst Avenue complete street study to finish the Ohlone Greenway. Another commenter, Kelly, questioned the city's investment in bicycle infrastructure without baseline utilization data, noting the $367,000 bike plan update did not include a bicycle count.

Mayor Adena Ishii connected the plan to a broader fiscal picture: "I really want to remind everyone that we have nearly $2 billion in unfunded infrastructure needs and that's really why we put this infrastructure bond on the ballot for November."

Decisions: The plan passed 9-0 with Councilmember Mark Humbert's amendment requiring further review of five unfunded Measure FF safety projects, including a traffic signal master plan, fiber optic network upgrades, signal modernization, a transportation nexus study, and a Vision Zero phased implementation roadmap.

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Rent Stabilization Amendments Head to Voters

The council voted 9-0 to place amendments to Berkeley's voter-approved Rent Stabilization Ordinance on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot — a package that would cap banked rent increases, expand tenant organizing rights, and offer fee relief to nonprofit housing providers.

The basics: Because the Rent Stabilization Ordinance was adopted by voters, any changes require voter approval. The amendments emerged from a collaborative "4x4" ad hoc committee process involving both the City Council and the Rent Stabilization Board.

Why it matters: The changes directly affect Berkeley's rental market. Fully covered tenants would receive the same 10% annual cap on banked rent increases that partially covered tenants already receive under state law. Sitting tenants would gain protection from losing rent stabilization rights during ownership changes. And the threshold for tenant organizing would drop from buildings with 10 or more units to those with five or more.

Councilmember Cecilia Lunaparra, the measure's author, walked through the provisions, explaining that "landlords do not lose banked AGAs, but may not necessarily impose them all in one year." She withdrew "golden duplex" provisions in response to concerns from the Berkeley Property Owners Association and Councilmembers Humbert and Rashi Kesarwani, and added language clarifying SB 330 replacement unit protections.

The other side: Property owner Karen Chenoy urged removal of the "no removal of rights" provision (Section 13.76050 D), arguing it discourages ADU and duplex construction by creating regulatory uncertainty. Tony Mester, a golden duplex owner who stopped renting, argued that more exemptions from rent control would produce more housing.

Nonprofit housing providers lined up in support. Angela Cavanaugh of Satellite Affordable Housing Associates, which manages nearly 1,200 affordable units in Berkeley, backed the amendments, particularly the nonprofit fee waiver. Courtney Powell of Resources for Community Development also endorsed the package.

Rent Board Commissioner Stefan Elkstrand described the collaborative ad hoc committee process that shaped the final language. Councilmember Blackaby supported the measure but urged better outreach to encourage small landlords to enter the rental market; a landlord workshop was announced for July 22.

Decisions: The measure passed 9-0. Councilmembers Lunaparra and Igor Tregub along with Mayor Ishii were designated to author the ballot argument in favor.

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RV Parking Study Splits Council 7-2

A referral directing staff to study large vehicle parking regulations and abandoned vehicle definitions passed over objections from the mayor, one councilmember, and several unhoused residents and advocates.

Why it matters: Berkeley currently lacks clear authority to abate abandoned vehicles in the public right-of-way. The referral — authored by Councilmember Taplin with co-sponsors Blackaby, Humbert, and Kesarwani — could lead to new enforcement tools while also exploring regional safe parking sites.

Where things stand: The item asks staff to review BMC 12.98 abandoned vehicle definitions, study Bay Area legislation on long-term large vehicle parking, clarify how encampment resolution policy intersects with the municipal code, and draft an ordinance authorizing city manager approval of abatement contracts up to $250,000.

Councilmember Humbert emphasized the item targets abandoned, not occupied, vehicles. Beth Rossner, CEO of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, expressed support, calling it a balanced approach addressing health and safety concerns while recognizing the need for regional coordination.

The other side: Public commenters pushed back hard. Amber Whitson, who described her own frustrating experience navigating the housing system after scoring 96 in coordinated entry, argued the city creates health hazards by failing to provide sanitation infrastructure to unhoused communities and then uses the resulting conditions to justify enforcement. Moni Law called for "house keys, not handcuffs," arguing Berkeley lacks youth housing, women's housing, and domestic violence shelter, and suggested the $250,000 for vehicle abatement could fund housing vouchers instead.

Councilmember Taplin defended the referral as an analytical step, not a final policy: "What this item is asking for is for the city attorney and the city manager to analyze the regional policy shifts and provide recommendations for potential actions council can choose to or not take."

Mayor Ishii voted no: "I'm skeptical that this item will accomplish what it intends to. We already have parking requirements now, and the challenge has been enforcement." She argued the proven RV buyback program deserves more staff attention.

Decisions: Passed 7-2. Mayor Ishii and Councilmember Lunaparra voted no. (For: 7, Against: 2, Absent: 0.)

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Police Data-Sharing Draws Scrutiny

The council unanimously approved the 2026 police MOU compendium — the annual review of all operational agreements between Berkeley PD and other law enforcement agencies — after an extended exchange on surveillance data safeguards.

Why it matters: In an era of heightened concern about federal immigration enforcement and surveillance partnerships, Berkeley's explicit restrictions on data sharing with the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC) set it apart from cities like San Francisco.

Councilmember Blackaby drove the questioning: "I note that in the MOU it explicitly prohibits the sharing of our ALPR and body worn camera data with the NCRIC."

Police Chief Jennifer Louis confirmed: "In our community we do not share with NCRIC. We do not provide them ALPR information." She explained that agencies receiving Berkeley's ALPR data must sign waivers attesting compliance with sanctuary city policies and state law, and described a 60-day collaborative review process with the Police Accountability Board.

Public commenters from the Berkeley Friends Meeting pressed for broader restrictions. Wendy Alton urged that data-sharing limits be extended beyond ALPR to cover all surveillance technologies, including community video cameras, fixed cameras, and drones. Marilyn Cleveland flagged concerns about suspicious activity reports — 12 issued the previous year — and the potential for information to reach federal agencies including ICE and DHS.

Chief Louis noted BPD provides alternative assignments when mutual aid agencies cannot comply with Berkeley's policies.

Decisions: Passed 9-0.

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AC Transit Sounds the Alarm

AC Transit staff delivered a stark warning: without new revenue, the agency faces a $200 million deficit over four years and could cut up to 16% of bus service by June 2027.

Why it matters: AC Transit carries 40 million rides annually, supports 5,100 jobs, and generates nearly $1 billion in East Bay economic activity. Three-quarters of its riders are people of color and nearly two-thirds are low-income.

Federal pandemic relief has ended, sales tax revenue has flattened, and costs for fuel (up 28%), parts (up 14%), and new buses (up 35%) have surged. A $55 million state bridge loan averts cuts for the current year but must be repaid. The Connect Bay Area Act (SB 63), a proposed half-cent regional sales tax, could generate $52 million annually for AC Transit. Without it, a contingency plan would reduce service by up to 16% and potentially lay off 300 employees.

The contingency plan preserves over 90% of the bus network and maintains 15-minute-or-better weekday service on key corridors including Telegraph, Broadway, San Pablo, and International boulevards, but reduces frequency on lower-ridership routes to every 30–40 minutes. Transbay weekend service on Line F would be eliminated.

The AC Transit Board will hold a public hearing in October and must decide by year-end. Mayor Ishii asked AC Transit staff to share ridership surveys with UC Berkeley and Berkeley City College students.

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Minor Items

• $921.6M FY 2027 budget adopted on second reading as part of the consent calendar (9-0).
• $750,000 contract amendment approved for Tyler Technologies' Computer Aided Dispatch software used by police, fire, and EMS (consent, 9-0).
• Willdan Financial Services contract authorized for nexus study updates supporting development impact fees (consent, 9-0).
• Federal JAG grants accepted for police overtime and community safety initiatives, totaling roughly $80,000 (consent, 9-0).
• Annual police equipment report approved under AB 481, showing only 13 uses and 61 deployments of less-lethal tools over the past year (consent, 9-0).
• Ambulance transport fee increase approved to match Alameda County's schedule (9-0, public hearing).
• Waterfront Specific Plan CEQA environmental review authorized at maximum 1.2 million square foot buildout scenario, moved to consent with no objection (9-0).
• FY 2026 Q3 investment report received as information (consent, 9-0).
• The council adjourned in memory of Carl Anthony, environmental justice pioneer, co-founder of Urban Habitat, former Berkeley Planning Commission president, and UC Berkeley architecture professor. His grandson Makai Sloan Anthony spoke about his legacy, including being the only African American student at Columbia's architecture school and traveling to West Africa to study traditional African architecture.