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Council moves multiple citizen measures to July 30 special meeting and clears rent‑payment measure for November ballot
Summary
Council approved placing several citizen initiatives on a July 30 special meeting agenda for ballot certification and voted to submit an initiative on direct rental payments (item 18) to the November 5, 2024 ballot; supporters from labor and neighborhood groups testified for and against various measures.
The Berkeley City Council on July 9 voted to move several citizen initiative petitions — including an indoor air quality ordinance (item 21), a fossil fuel emissions tax on large buildings (item 19), and a Safe Streets/Fix the Streets parcel tax (item 22) — to a special meeting on July 30 so the council and staff can review required reports and, if appropriate, place the measures on the November ballot.
Mayor Aragon said the special meeting will allow staff to provide the Government Code/92.12 reports and financial analyses that council members and the public have requested. "We will put them on the ballot, but I believe it would be beneficial for us and for the public to have that information before we take action," he said.
During the same meeting the council approved submission of item 18 — an initiative that would create a direct payment program and amend the rent stabilization ordinance — to the November municipal election. Council debate and public comment focused on implementation details; the finance director told council that if the measure passes the city would need to develop eligibility criteria and administrative rules.
Unions and proponents used public comment to press for adoption of indoor air quality standards in city buildings (Amanda Montes of AFSCME Local 1 urged action on item 21), while opponents and other speakers raised concerns about potential costs or procedural issues for some measures.
Council members emphasized that moving items to the July 30 agenda would preserve public review and ensure staff reports on fiscal and legal implications were available before final placement on the ballot.
The calendar adjustments and the action to submit item 18 to the ballot were recorded and carried on council roll calls; final decisions about items 19–22 will be taken at or after the July 30 special meeting once staff reports are complete.
