Berkeley Council Approves Mid-Year Budget with Focus on Safety, Equity and Sustainability
December 4, 2019
(Berkeley, CA) – Last night, the Berkeley City Council approved Mayor Jesse Arreguin’s recommendations for the mid-year budget, building upon the work over the last couple of years to prioritize the long-term fiscal health of the city while addressing the priorities of its residents. This includes $550,000 for wildfire safety mitigation, a concern that has been heightened by the wave of devastating wildfires statewide, in response to Berkeley’s location on the urban - wild land interface. In line with the city’s Vision Zero policy to eliminate pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, $275,000 will go towards various pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvement projects. An additional $200,000 will be added to monies appropriated last June to address environmental and health concerns resulting from illegal dumping.
“I am pleased the Council agreed to approve a budget that is reflective of the needs and values of our community” said Mayor Arreguin. “Approving a balanced budget while advancing a more equitable and sustainable city is a sign of a healthy budget that we can all be proud of.”
Other highlights in the budget include $250,000 for environmental review of future development at the North Berkeley and Ashby BART stations, as part of a collaboration between the City and BART for the construction of affordable and environmentally friendly transit-orientated development. $60,000 is being spent to continue operations for the inclement weather shelter, providing 65 beds during times of wet or cold weather or poor air quality. Separately, the Council also voted that evening on the first round of Measure P allocations, providing millions of dollars for various homeless services and programs.
The Mayor’s recommendations come after receiving months of community input while balancing the requests from Councilmembers to provide geographic equity. The full list of recommendations can be found in the Mayor’s mid-year budget message.
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