City Manager Christine Daniel, leaving for the deputy position in Oakland. Photo: Emilie Raguso Christine Daniel, Berkeley’s city manager since May 2012, will be leaving in July to become assistant city administrator in neighboring Oakland. Daniel became acting city manager when Phil Kamlarz retired in November 2011, and was appointed to the city’s top role […]
Phil Kamlarz
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety, Fire
Think you can hear Berkeley Police online? Think again
For most community members, easy ways to listen to Berkeley Police scanner traffic are now out of range. Photo: Emilie Raguso In recent months, Berkeleyside has heard from multiple residents who still believe they can listen to what’s happening with local police calls on their phones or online. Said one, in response to an email […]
Posted inBerkeleyside, Crime & Safety, Schools
The most important stories in Berkeley in 2012
Spring storms over Berkeley. Photo: Joe Parks Berkeley in 2012 was filled with drama — a contested election, a failed nomination for a new school superintendent, a few missteps by the Chief of Police, and major changes at the University of California, among other events. Here’s a recap of the issues that had the deepest […]
Posted inCity
Spotlight on city manager’s response to Chief Meehan
Christine Daniel, Berkeley’s interim city manager Christine Daniel, Berkeley’s interim city manager While eyes across the country are focused on Berkeley’s City Hall to see how it responds to Police Chief Michael Meehan’s attempts to get a reporter to change his story, the eyes at City Hall are all focused on Interim City Manager Christine […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz: The exit interview
Former city manager Phil Kamlarz, just before his retirement Phil Kamlarz, city manager for eight years and a city employee for 36, retired this month. He first became a Berkeley city employee as a temporary associate accountant in the Berkeley Public Library in 1975, and a year later transferred to the city manager’s office. He […]
Posted inCity
City Manager Phil Kamlarz announces his retirement
Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz: grateful to city employees for making cuts. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Phil Kamlarz, Berkeley’s City Manager for the past eight years, today announced his retirement. His last day on the job will be November 30th. Kamlarz has served the city for 36 years. “He’s been an absolutely remarkable city manager,” said […]
Posted inCity
City workers make sacrifices, help alleviate budget crisis
Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz: grateful to city employees for making cuts. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel The city could achieve annual savings in excess of $4 million, if an agreement reached this week with more than 500 city employees on salary cuts and pensions is also adopted by other union members, according to City Manager Phil […]
Posted inCity
Layoffs, fee increases proposed for 2012 budget
Mary Kay Clunies-Ross and Phil Kamlarz at city budget briefing on May 3. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel In order to close a $12.2 million deficit next year – and a projected $13.3 million deficit in 2013 – the city of Berkeley will eliminate 79 positions, cut services, and may raise fees on garbage collection, marina rentals, […]
Posted inCity
Fire and police officials earn more than Berkeley managers
Berkeley fire officials earn more than many city employees If you are looking for a job in Berkeley, steer clear of City Hall. Instead, head on over to the fire or police department. They pay way more. In an analysis of public employee salaries, the Bay Area Newspaper Group determined that at least 35 fire […]
Posted inCity
City’s best scenario: cuts of $12.5 million
Some of the scale of the budget difficulties face by the City of Berkeley was painted graphically at a special session of the City Council last night. The city faces a deficit of $3 million in its general fund and $9.5 million in its special funds that could require the elimination of 96 positions over […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley city salaries track neighbors closely
State Controller John Chiang California State Controller John Chiang started releasing data on city and state employee salaries and compensation last fall. His office is steadily adding to the database: last week data for transit, water, hospital and other agencies was added to the publicly available information. Whenever Berkeleyside writes about city government, it’s a […]
Posted inCity
City budget faces $1.8 million mid-year shortfall
City Manager Phil Kamlarz The City Council tonight will hear a report on mid-year budget revisions for the current fiscal year, designed to respond to a revenue shortfall of $1.8 million. According to City Manager Phil Kamlarz, planned savings are already on track for $1 million. The remaining $800,000 of the deficit will be covered […]
