Berkeley council convenes closed session to discuss interim and permanent city manager appointments after public comment

The Berkeley City Council convened a special meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, 2024, and moved into closed session to discuss public-employee appointments for an interim city manager and the city manager position under Government Code section 54957. Public comment on the agenda was allowed before the closed session.

During public comment, Kelly Hammergren urged the council to conduct a formal evaluation and competitive search for the permanent city manager rather than immediately appointing someone. "I hope that item 2 on the agenda means that you're going to establish a process for evaluating candidates. Not that you're going to appoint someone," Hammergren said, adding she was concerned the council "sounds like you've already made up your mind" based on prior agenda committee discussion.

At the start of the meeting the clerk took the roll and reported that Councilmember Casarwani and Taplin were absent, Bartlett was 'on his way,' and Councilmembers Han, Weingraff, Munepara, Humbert and Mayor Arreguin were present, giving the council a quorum. The presiding official read the closed-session items aloud and cited Government Code section 54957 as the legal authority for discussing public-employee appointments in closed session.

No motions or votes on the public record were recorded in the transcript. The council closed the public-comment period after hearing from Hammergren, convened in closed session, and said it would report any action taken in open session upon adjournment.

The meeting did not include a public decision on the appointments; any formal actions taken in closed session were not captured in the public transcript.