Berkeley Weekly Update - 12/12/23

Climate Action Plan Update Shows Progress

An update to the Climate Action Plan, with data from 2021, has been published. The key takeaway is that overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the City have dropped by 25% since 2000, even with the population increasing by 21% during the same timeframe. The Climate Action Plan, adopted in 2009, called for an 80% reduction from 2000 levels by 2050. This goal was updated in 2021 to become net zero emissions by 2045 or sooner. Based on recent advancements the city has undertaken, we remain on track to achieving these goals.

While the 2021 GHG emissions represent an 8% increase from 2020, this increase was to be expected. Transportation emissions account for a majority (54%) of the City’s GHG emissions, which plummeted during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. These numbers rebounded in 2021, when there was slow uptake in using public transit. Transportation is expected to decline in the future as people return to public transit and the City expands on its Electric Mobility options. The second largest contributor of GHG emissions, natural gas (29%) is expected to fall significantly over the coming years as the City advances its electrification policies. The third largest source of GHG emissions, electricity, is expected to drop from 14% in 2021 to near zero today, thanks to Berkeley switching to 100% renewable energy in 2022. The remaining 3% come from landfill waste, water, and municipal energy use.

Southside Complete Streets Project Begins

Construction has begun this week on a widely anticipated project that will improve transportation and safety in Southside. The Southside Complete Streets Project will provide improvements on Bancroft Way from Piedmont Avenue to Milvia Street, Fulton Street from Bancroft Way to Dwight Way, and Dana Street from Bancroft Way to Dwight Way. Improvements include curb-protected bike lanes, transit improvements for buses and bus stops, and other factors incorporated through community feedback including commercial loading, accessibility, and maintenance. The project advances goals outlined in Vision Zero, the General Plan’s Transportation Element, and the Southside Plan.

The project is divided into four phases, which is expected to be completed in one year. The total cost of the project is $16.5 million, with half of the funds coming from a federal grant from the Alameda County Transportation Commission and Caltrans. This work builds upon ongoing efforts to improve traffic flow and multimodal accessibility in Southside. Additionally, last month Council approved plans to repave a significant portion of Southside streets over the next few years.

Age Friendly Community Survey

Alameda County Residents aged 55 and older are encouraged to take a survey to share perspectives on various needs impacting seniors including housing, healthcare, and transportation. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and will help inform senior services provided in the City and County. Please complete the survey by December 31st.

It is estimated that 20% of Berkeley’s population will be aged 65 and over by 2030. In anticipation of addressing the needs of a growing aging population, the City launched its Age Friendly Berkeley Action Plan in 2018. The purpose of this plan is to improve the experience of seniors, especially as it relates to housing, economic security, mobility, health, and civic engagement. For more details on the survey, Action Plan, and related senior services, click here.

Promoting Employee Ownership Regionally

Stakeholders met last month to discuss expanding Berkeley's success on employee ownership to a regional level.

The City has been in partnership with Project Equity since 2019 to advance worker cooperatives and employee ownership. These businesses, which are owned and run by employees, often provide higher wages, benefits, professional development, job security, and upward mobility for low to moderate income people. Just as importantly, these small businesses provide a diversity of locally owned services that have become valuable community assets. This partnership has been successful in the conversion of several Berkeley businesses into employee ownership.

Building upon the success in Berkeley, Project Equity and Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development hosted a regional roundtable with stakeholders to advance the conversion of businesses across the East Bay into employee ownership. Worker cooperatives have long been shown to be an effective way at transitioning businesses when the owner retires. 51% of East Bay business owners are at or near retirement age. During the pandemic, employee retention became a major issue, and studies have shown that employee ownership leads to lower employee turnover. Overall, the regional interest in this shows that Berkeley is yet again leading the way on innovative ideas.

New City Poet Laureate Selected

The Berkeley Public Library, in partnership with the Civic Arts Commission, has led efforts on the Poet Laureate Program.

The Civic Arts Commission has selected Berkeley’s second Poet Laureate - Aya de León. The responsibilities of the Poet Laureate over the two-year term are to complete an original poem inspired by or related to Berkeley, coordinate at least two public readings, recite poems at City or Berkeley Public Library events, and act as mentor for Berkeley’s Youth Poet Laureate. Aya de León is a poet who has written ten novels. She serves as Director of Poetry for the People at UC Berkeley.

The Civic Arts Commission, in partnership with the Berkeley Public Library, has developed a process for selecting future Poet Laureates and developed criteria for the position. To learn more about the Poet Laureate program, click here.

Supporting the Berkeley Community This Holiday Season

As mentioned in last week’s update, we unfortunately will not be able to host a holiday party this year. In the past, we have partnered with the Berkeley Holiday Fund and the Alameda County Community Food Bank for these events. We encourage donations to these amazing organizations that are making a difference in the Berkeley community.