Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Berkeley council directs staff to finish parking study, add Cesar Chavez plan and pursue EIR for high build-out
Summary
After presentations and extensive public comment, the Berkeley City Council voted to direct staff to complete the Pier Ferry parking study, prepare a nature-and-recreation conceptual plan for Cesar Chavez Park, and then pursue an EIR studying the high-development scenario; the motion passed by roll call.
Vice Mayor opened a Nov. 18 special meeting of the Berkeley City Council on the Waterfront Specific Plan and heard a staff presentation laying out the plan’s purpose, fiscal context and three development scenarios. Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Director Scott Farris told the council the waterfront currently generates about $2.2 million a year in Marina Fund revenue, that the Marina Fund runs an approximately $850,000 annual operating deficit and that the city has identified roughly $94 million in unfunded waterfront infrastructure needs (exclusive of the Berkeley Pier).
The staff presentation and commission briefing framed the core choice: proceed now to environmental review under a selected study envelope, pause to finish additional studies, or stop the project. Scott Farris said Measure Y, the new parks tax, is expected to shift about $1.5 million in operating costs off the Marina Fund but would not cover the full capital shortfall. He…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
