Public Comment

If you enjoy the weekly Chavez Park Conservancy newsletter, you may have read about a remarkable bird called a Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) that recently visited our shoreline. It forages for food by turning over stones with its curved bill. You can watch a slow motion video of this unique foraging behavior and learn more about these fascinating birds on the Chavez Park Conservancy website.

I couldn’t help but visualize the Ruddy Turnstone in the video last Thursday while listening to an intense 3-hour Budget and Finance committee meeting on how to solve Measure T-1's $9.06 million deficit.

Given this financial predicament, it seemed inevitable that there would be drastic cuts or deferments to the long list of promised Phase 2 projects, including the much-needed restrooms at Chavez Park. But I was badly mistaken. 

Like a hungry Turnstone hunting for crustaceans or other edibles under rocks, the three members of the committee (Mayor Arreguin, Councilmember Harrison, and Councilmember Kesarwani) hunted vigorously in the dark recesses of the budget for cash rather than entertain cuts to projects. 

However, it was Councilmember Harrison's perseverance with this seemingly impossible task which stood out. And in contrast to Councilmember Kesarwani, she insisted that the full $9.06 million deficit be closed this fiscal year rather kicking the can down the road to next year. 

Harrison’s determination to find the money was impressive: 

Could the General Fund Reserve (catastrophic and stability) be used? No, said the Budget Manager, the shortfall is due to increased construction costs (inflation) which are not included in the reserve policy. (No tasty worms under that rock!) 

How about the unassigned General Fund? There's $75 million there. No, said the Finance Director, most of that money is needed to pay CalPERS. (No yummy larval flies hiding under that stone either!) 

Can the Streetlight Fund finance the Ohlone Lighting project? No, said the Public Works Director, it doesn’t benefit the City right-of-way sufficiently. (There must be a stone to turn with food!). 

How about we use the sewer fund interest to fund the restrooms? Sorry, the interest stays in the fund. (Alas, no delicious spider for lunch!) 

As the questioning and brainstorming went on and on, it was starting to look grim. But then finally a feasible option emerged. How about borrowing from the Workmen's Compensation fund, a technique previously employed in the City’s purchase of Premier Cru? This idea to close the T-1 funding gap had been proposed in a letter by members of the Parks and Recreation Commission including Gordon Wozniak, Erin Diehm and Claudia Kawczynska. 

After exploring this proposal and drafting spreadsheets to share with staff, the committee voted unanimously to tap into the Workmen’s Comp to successfully plug the hole. Most importantly the 6,000 square foot African American Holistic Resource Center would be paid for in full. 

But for it to pencil out, a few projects took a direct hit including the complete Hopkins re-do at a cost of $11.5 million (however, $2.8 million of this amount was provisionally clawed back and limited to pedestrian safety improvements and placemaking; the money for paving will be used elsewhere in Berkeley); a paperless contract system; North Berkeley Senior Center solar batteries; and Fire Station #6 improvements. 

The full City Council will vote on the committee's recommendation soon. Stay tuned.