Berkeley council directs staff to draft parks, Measure P, soda and arts ballot measures after poll

Berkeley City Council on June 14 directed city staff to prepare draft ballot language for multiple potential November 2024 revenue measures after staff presented results from a May 30–June 4 poll of 500 likely Berkeley voters.

The council voted to move forward with drafting a 20% increase to the existing parks parcel tax, a Measure P extension that would remove the current 2029 sunset and add tiered higher rates for very-high-value transactions, and an amendment to remove the expiration date on the citys sugary beverage tax. Council also authorized a short, additional poll to test three revenue vehicles for an arts funding measure (parcel tax, sales tax, or a 2% increase in the transient occupancy tax) and gave the mayor authority to work with the polling firm on those questions.

The staff poll presented by David Mermin of Lake Research showed an initial 68% yes or leaning‑yes for a 20% parks tax increase (it fell to about 62% on an "informed" ballot after both pro and con arguments were read), and about 62% support for a tiered Measure P extension that would raise rates on very-high-value property transfers. Mermin noted the parks item requires a two‑thirds threshold to pass, while Measure P would need a simple majority. "That 20% level looks like the easier path to the two‑thirds threshold," Mermin said, summarizing the split‑sample results.

Council members stressed they were directing staff to prepare language and analysis, not placing measures on the ballot that day. Mayor Arregine emphasized that staff reports must be "impartial and not advocate for any particular point of view," citing Elections Code provisions that allow legislative bodies to request factual analyses of proposed initiatives.

Several council members flagged risks to ballot success if too many revenue measures appear together and urged careful campaign planning. Councilmember Hahn, who moved the direction, said the Measure P proposal should retain the annual reset formula that aims to approximate the top one‑third of transactions but acknowledged council would return to finalize exact tier cutoffs after staff provided transaction‑level counts and revenue estimates.

The motion (moved by Councilmember Hahn, seconded by Mayor Arregine) passed on a roll call vote with the council members present recorded as voting yes.

Officials said next steps include staff drafting resolution language, additional polling for an arts revenue option (estimated cost roughly $28,000–$30,000 if done quickly), and returning to council at a special meeting in late July to consider final ballot placement and exact wording. The registrars office deadline for final placement was noted as early August.