Features
Council Looks at Items for City Budget Consideration
The council unanimously approved putting a number of budget items on a list for further consideration. They include:
• the costs to implement an anti-sweatshop policy for the city—the purchase of goods not made in sweatshops: $50,000
• Office of Emergency Services: $120,000
• Center for Accessible Technology: $10,000
• Civic Arts Commission work plan: $12,000
• Fire Department Services: $1 million
• West Berkeley Neighborhood Development Corporation and food festival: $10,000
More controversial was Councilmember Gordon Wozniak’s proposal to place on the budget-request list $50,000 for the Public Safety Commission. Councilmember Dona Spring argued that the Police Review Commission should take on that function. The measure passed 6-0-3, with Councilmembers Spring, Max Anderson and Laurie Capitelli abstaining.
The council put over until next week a proposed ballot measure to support greenhouse gas emission reductions and a review of the environmental impact report for southeast campus projects, including Memorial Stadium.
Students came to the council meeting to lobby for a November ballot measure to survey Berkeley voters on the issue of lowering the voting age to 17 for school board elections, but council put off a discussion of the question until June 20. The group’s website is www.berkeley.youthrights.org.
Also held over until an undetermined date was the zoning ordinance allowing side yard and backyard parking with an across-the-counter permit.
