Audit: Berkeley’s finances ‘strong’ for now, but long-term challenges loom
Rising infrastructure and pension liabilities could threaten the city’s fiscal health, a recent audit found.
Dee Williams-Ridley
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City employees have 95% vaccination rate. Is a booster mandate next?
Berkeley hasn’t decided whether to grant 61 workers’ requests for medical or religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate.
After long delay, North Berkeley Senior Center could finally reopen in March
City officials and the project’s contractor are pointing the finger at one another for problems with the $8.7 million renovation.
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In brief
Council approves 28% pay raise for city manager
Seven other officials will get salary bumps too. City officials contend the raises bring top Berkeley leaders’ pay in line with what other local governments offer.
Number of unvaccinated city workers still unclear as deadline approaches
At least 80% of Berkeley’s city workers are fully vaccinated, based on limited data released Wednesday.
Berkeley enacts COVID vaccine mandate for city workers
Workers have until Nov. 15 to get vaccinated, unless they can claim a medical or religious exemption from the requirement.
Mayor calls for mandatory COVID-19 vaccines, or testing, for city workers
Berkeley mayor Jesse Arreguín said he wants the city to require its workers to receive COVID-19 vaccines, or be tested for the virus regularly.
Berkeley looks at $7M earmark for expanded mental health services
Most of the money is for a new Specialized Care Unit that would respond instead of armed police to people in crisis.
Nationwide search for new Berkeley police chief expected to take 6 months
The city says the process will focus on finding diverse candidates and that it will involve robust community engagement.
In brief
An ‘economic windfall’: Berkeley expects to get $68M in federal COVID-19 aid
Berkeley can use the money to help pay for emergency COVID-19 operations, infrastructure improvements and more.
Berkeley to paint Black Lives Matter ‘mural’ on downtown street
Berkeley will be getting its own version of a Black Lives Matter street mural, probably on Milvia Street in front of City Hall, and likely completed this week.
Berkeley city manager may waive your ticket fine (but only if you ask her)
We have the details about how to request a review of your street-sweeping tickets.
