The Lowdown: Berkeley council on South Berkeley pizza plans, electronic cigarettes, the water shortage and more

With California facing water shortages, cities like Sacramento have taken steps to reduce municipal water usage. Berkeley is set to form its own plans in the coming months. Photo: Kevin Cortopassi — With California facing water shortages, organizations in cities like Sacramento have taken steps to reduce water usage. Berkeley is set to form its own plans in the coming months. Photo: Kevin Cortopassi

Summer recess is just around the corner, with Tuesday night’s Berkeley City Council meeting the final one scheduled until Sept. 9. Council will hear an appeal regarding a zoning board decision to allow a family-owned Domino’s Pizza shop to open in South Berkeley, consider the regulation of electronic smoking devices, such as e-cigarettes, and talk about water conservation.

Action items

Earlier this year, the city zoning board approved plans from a family that wants to open a Domino’s Pizza restaurant in South Berkeley on Adeline Street. Some neighbors and businesses said they did not believe the project would work in the neighborhood. Council will hear an appeal from opponents Tuesday night. See the staff report.

Council may tackle regulations related to electronic smoking devices, with a recommendation from the city’s Community Health Commission, along with a report from the city manager’s office, about a new law to limit their use. The proposed ordinance would “prohibit the use of electronic smoking devices in all places where smoking is currently prohibited” except inside residential units in multi-unit housing; tobacco smoking was banned in those units in December, effective as of May 2014.

The city plans to look at water conservation measures, with a report back from staff in September. The Public Works and Community Environmental Advisory commissions have asked the city’s Public Works Department to come up with a longterm plan “to reduce municipal water use by 20% from 2012-2013 levels within 12 months, to move toward EBMUD WaterSmart Certification for all facilities, and to replace lawns not used for recreation with mulch until appropriate low-impact development measures or drought-tolerant plantings can be established.”

Those interested in city finances will also want to check out the city’s auditor’s report on budget decisions moving forward and how to improve the process. And, if you haven’t gotten your municipal fill, there’s much more to read in the posted agenda.

Meeting details

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The Berkeley City Council meets Tuesday nights at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Special sessions generally take place at 5:30 p.m. and regular meetings begin at 7 p.m. Council agendas are available online here. Watch the meetings online here.

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Council-related Twitter handles:
@MayorTomBates
@LindaMaio (District 1)
Darryl Moore @BerkCouncil (District 2)
@JesseArreguin (District 4)
Laurie Capitelli @berkcap (District 5)
Kriss Worthington @k__worthington (District 7)
Gordon Wozniak @Gordon_Wozniak (District 8)

Learn more about the Berkeley City Council and how to connect with local representatives via the city website.

Has something else on the agenda caught your interest? Let us know in the comments.

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Action items

Meeting details

Emilie Raguso