Financing Recreational and Community Facilities: at City Council FITES Committee, 2pm Wednesday, Sept 3
John Caner
CCCC,
I wanted to let you know that the City Council FITES Committee is meeting Wednesday next week at 2pm and will be discussing Facility Improvements including two of our Civic Center Buildings.
You can attend in person or via Zoom. Thank you to Councilmember Terry Taplin for making us aware of this meeting and discussion.
- Maudelle Shirek Building (Old City Hall) ○ Completed in 1909, the building has significant seismic issues that prevent it from being used except for short term uses. This historic structure urgently needs full seismic, systems, and accessibility upgrades and restoration of architectural features.
- Veterans Building ○ This historic structure urgently needs full seismic, systems, and accessibility upgrades and restoration of architectural features.
BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL FACILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE will be holding a
SPECIAL MEETING
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 2:00 PM
Redwood Room – 2180 Milvia Street, 6th Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704
Committee Members:
Councilmembers Terry Taplin, Cecilia Lunaparra, and Mark Humbert Alternate: Mayor Adena Ishii
Recreation and Community Facility Improvement Measures From: Councilmember Taplin (Author)
Referred: August 25, 2025
Due: March 6, 2026
Recommendation: Refer to the City Manager the assessment of potential revenue measures to finance capital improvements for certain recreational and community- serving city facilities that have completed the conceptual or design phase and return to the City Council with recommendations for placing such measures on the November 2026 midterm Election ballot.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Terry Taplin, Councilmember, District 2, (510) 981-7120
John Caner, CEO
Downtown Berkeley Association
Office: 1917 Addison Street, Suite 191
Berkeley CA 94704
O 510.549.2230 x5
M 510.501.0256
jca...@downtownberkeley.com
On 8/25/25, 4:05 PM, "Taplin, Terry" <tta...@berkeleyca.gov> wrote:
Dear friends,
I wanted to let you know that my Recreational and Community Facility Revenue Measures has been referred to the City Council's Facilities, Infrastructure, Transportation, Environment, and Sustainability (FITES) Policy Committee for review. The item (attached) asks the City Manager to begin preparing recommendations to place revenue measures on the 2026 ballot to finance several community facility and infrastructure projects that have undergone the public process and have completed the design phase. These include:
- The Frances Albrier Community Center
- Maudelle Shirek Building (Old City Hall)
- Veteran’s Building
- King and West Campus Pools
- The Transfer Station
- Dreamland at Aquatic Park
- Shorebird Park Play Structure Replacements
- Berkeley Waterfront Bike Park
- South Cove Seawall Replacement
- Adeline Corridor Open Space and Street Improvements
I plan to agendize the item at FITES in September. Your support for this item will be critical to getting this passed at Council in time to be considered for next year’s ballot. Please share these messages with your neighbors and networks who advocated and supported these projects, and with anyone who might benefit from their advancement into the next phase. Please offer written comments by emailing policyc...@berkeley.ca.gov, and copying cou...@berkeleyca.gov, as well as me (Tta...@berkeleyca.gov. Please also let me know if you would like to be kept in the loop as this item moves forward.
Thank you for everything you do to ensure that the City of Berkeley provides state-of-the-art, well-maintained infrastructure, amenities, and facilities for our residents and community members.
Kind regards,
Councilmember Terry Taplin
Berkeley City Council – District 2
Pronouns: he/him
2180 Milvia St
Berkeley, CA 94704