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Diane Tokugawa

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Feb 26, 2026, 8:03:23 PM (20 hours ago) Feb 26
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Diane

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Subject: District 5 February Newsletter
Date: February 26, 2026 at 4:13:28 PM PST

 
Hello Diane,

At the start of the year, my husband Tim and I decided to take a short walk together every morning while we drink our coffee. It’s been a wonderful ritual that’s helped us feel more connected to each other, to nature, and to our community before we get swept up in our busy days. We always enjoy saying hello to our neighbors and if you see us, please don’t be afraid to stop and say good morning!

One thing I especially love about our daily walks is the chance to track small changes in the plants and trees as Spring takes hold. Today I noticed a nearby flowering crabapple - my favorite Spring tree - starting to develop its stunning pink and white showcase. I also stopped to appreciate the tender, light green new growth on some thick and dusty old ivy pants. Looking at the same plant every day is a rewarding practice at any time of year, but particularly so right now. I couldn’t recommend it more highly.

On the City Council front, we’ve had some interesting meetings you can read about below, and are preparing to take on a series of complex and important matters over the next few months. I also want to apologize that we had to cancel my office hours with Mayor Ishii due to the weather, but I’m glad to announce we’ve found a new date. See below for more information. 

I am looking forward to connecting with you soon and I hope you are enjoying this lovely time of year.

Best,
In this issue: 

  • New Date for Office Hours
  • Council Recap
  • Traffic Safety Updates
  • Apply for Civic Arts Grants
  • Reporting Potholes
  • Community Meeting: Potential Infrastructure Bond
  • Apply to Serve on Alameda County Grand Jury
  • CZU Planning Commission Meeting
  • Small Business Spotlight - A Priori
  • Library Events 
  • City Events

New Date for Office Hours 

We've managed to find a new time for our joint office hours with the Mayor. Please join us next week at the North Berkeley Farmers' Market and hope for good weather!

Council Recap


On February 10th, the City Council engaged in its Re-Weighted Range Voting process, providing city staff with a prioritized list of referrals. The top three items ranked as highest priority are:

  • Budget Referral: Vision Zero Rapid Response on Bicycle Boulevards
  • Referral to Implement State Law AB 43 for Reduced Speed Limits on High-Injury Commercial Corridors
  • Southside Complete Streets: Limiting Cars on Telegraph

You can read more about how the referral prioritization process works here, and more about each item considered here. 


Earlier this month, the City Council unanimously approved the 8-story development on Virginia St. that’s set to bring 110 new homes to North Shattuck Ave, including 9 Very Low Income and 9 Moderate Income units. The new development will also include 109 off-street vehicle parking spaces and 64 bicycle parking spaces. You can read more in Berkeleyside here. 


This platform outlines the City’s legislative priorities and efforts to secure federal and state funding for them. In 2026, the City of Berkeley is prioritizing issues related to homelessness, housing, economic development, infrastructure, public safety, sustainability, and the environment. 


Council adopted Public Works’ Traffic Circle Vegetation Policy and Maintenance Plan to ensure it is consistent with current operational practices and the traffic circle maintenance requirements. This includes the addition of more native California plants and a new, modernized system for program volunteers. 


On Tuesday, the City Council held a Special Meeting to hear the Community Health Improvement Plan from the City of Berkeley’s Health, Housing, and Community Services Department. The comprehensive plan focuses on two major goals: addressing disparities in life expectancy and increasing community power and partnership. 

Traffic Safety Updates

Ada & California 
Public Works has completed pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of Ada and California! We expect these upgrades will help improve visibility and safety for pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists.

If you need a refresher on the specific improvements the City moved forward with, click here.

Upper Marin Ave Corridor Safety
We received an update from Public Works regarding Upper Marin Avenue: the design has been finalized, and we are gearing up for implementation. Weather permitting, construction will begin sometime in March. 

Public Works will be issuing public notice postcards to residents along and adjacent to the corridor so the surrounding neighborhood is aware of the upcoming work. 

As a reminder, pedestrian safety improvements will include high-visibility crosswalks, new pavement markings, rubber hardened centerlines, new stop signs at Oxford and Marin and at Cragmont and Marin, and more.

Although Marin and Shattuck falls outside the current project scope due to funding constraints, Public Works Operations is exploring whether improvements or patches can be made at the crosswalk so that when restriping occurs, it provides a better environment for users.

Apply for Civic Arts Grants

The City of Berkeley offers a variety of grants to support creatives in Berkeley. The deadlines for Individual Artist Projects and Community Festivals grants are coming up in early March. 

If you are interested, you can visit the Civic Arts Grants page to learn more about these funding opportunities. 

• Individual Artist Projects – $5,000 | Deadline: March 4, 2026
• Community Festivals – up to $7,000 | Deadline: March 11, 2026

Reporting Potholes

It is officially pothole season! If you notice potholes in District 5 and around Berkeley, please report them so our Public Works Department can address them as soon as possible. 

You can report potholes and other issues through the City of Berkeley’s online portal.

When submitting a report through the online portal, including pictures and the exact location can help Public Works complete repairs faster and more efficiently. 

You can also call “3-1-1” while within Berkeley. 

Please feel free to reach out to my office if you’d like help following up on a previous report. 

Community Meeting: 

Potential Infrastructure Bond 

During the next 5 weeks, the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department will be hosting 4 in-person community meetings to solicit feedback on a list of infrastructure projects that could be funded by a potential bond measure on the November ballot

The District 5 meeting will be held March 18th, 7:00 pm at Live Oak Community Center. You can view more meeting information here. 

The full meeting schedule can be viewed on the City of Berkeley events page and is as follows:

February 26, 7:00pm at James Kenney Community Center for residents of City Council D1 and 2
March 3, 7:00pm at Willard Clubhouse for residents of City Council D3 and 8
March 12, 7:00pm at Willard Clubhouse for residents of City Council D4 and 7
March 18, 7:00pm at Live Oak Community Center for City Council D5 and 6

Apply to Serve on Alameda County Grand Jury

Each year, a new group of Alameda County residents serves on the Alameda County Civil Grand Jury to keep public agencies and local governments accountable. The investigative powers of the Grand Jury help recommend improvements that strengthen transparency and public trust. 

If you are interested in applying, you can do so here; final decisions are made in June of each year. 

CZU Planning Commission Meeting



On February 4th, the Planning Commission held another meeting about the Corridors Zoning Update.

In this meeting, city staff presented on anti-displacement strategies that would help mitigate some of the specific issues business owners are worried about: construction-phase disruption for adjacent businesses, displacement from redevelopment, and changes in neighborhood character. Potential mitigation tools discussed were ground-floor design standards, campaigns to support businesses impacted by construction, tax forgiveness during construction, and empty storefront penalties. I encourage you to look through the slide deck here. 

The second presentation focused on ground flood objective design standards, including retail tenant standards, sidewalk activation, and many others. You can view that deck here. 

Both of the presentations were followed by a Q&A with our Planning Commission and an opportunity for public comment. You can view the meeting minutes and supplemental correspondence on the Planning Commission's website. 

The Planning Commission will meet again on March 4 at 6:00pm. For the agenda click here. 

Small Business Spotlight - A Priori

A Priori has been a Vine Street (2100 Vine Street) fixture for the past 14 years. This retail store specializes in curating sustainable items from U.S. artisans and fair-trade items from around the world. The owner, Lisa Tana, fell in love with North Shattuck’s mixture of restaurants, retail, and customers of all ages. 

Lisa’s core goal is sustainability and having something for everyone at her store. In an era dominated by online shopping, A Priori encourages you to slow down and take the opportunity to see and touch items before you take them home. 

The next time you find yourself in North Shattuck, spend some time in A Priori. With a rotating inventory, there is always something new to discover. Lisa recommends Motawi art tiles, local chocolate, and Fair Trade baskets made by hand in Guatemala. She is also excited about several new artisanal bath and body lines.

Library Events

Don’t forget to check out the Berkeley Public Library’s events calendar. Our libraries host hundreds of events a month. You can check out the full list of offerings here. 

City Events


Address: Shorebird Nature Center, 160 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm



Address: 711 Harrison St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026 | 11:00 am - 2:00 pm




Address: West Berkeley Family Wellness Center 1900 Sixth St, Berkeley CA 94710
Date: Monday, March 2, 2026 | 4:30pm - 6:00pm





Address: Fire Department Training Facility, 997 Cedar Street
Date: Thursday, March 5 | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm & Saturday, March 7 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Address: San Pablo Park, 2800 Park Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 9:15 am - 1:00 pm



Address:  Corner of Adeline St & MLK Jr. Way
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 9:00 am - 3:30pm



Address: MLK Jr Civic Center Park, 2151 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley CA 94704
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026 | 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm



Address: Frances Albrier Community Center, 2800 Park Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 9:30 am - 12:00 pm




Address: Shorebird Nature Center, 160 University Ave Berkeley CA 94710
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 9:00 am - 11:00 am




Shoshana O'Keefe | 1320 Spruce St. | Berkeley, CA 94709 US

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