Berkeley City Council talks Flock cameras, sanctuary policy

Summer vacation may technically end after Labor Day but the truest sign Berkeley is really back to business is when City Council comes back online.

That happens this week.

The first regular Berkeley City Council meeting of the season kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m.

There are just two action items on the agenda: the Flock Safety contract for fixed surveillance cameras (up to $600,000 over seven years); and a proposed sanctuary city ordinance that's been in the works since January.

Berkeley police surveillance camera plans are back on track

City officials spent nearly two hours grilling police and Flock Safety about data security and data-sharing Tuesday night.

The Berkeley ScannerEmilie Raguso

Berkeley is one of 18 sanctuary cities singled out by feds

The list also included the county of San Francisco and the state of California, along with a dozen other states.

The Berkeley ScannerEmilie Raguso

Both items may prompt prolonged discussion if past Berkeley City Council meetings are any indication.

The consent calendar — which officials adopt in a single vote after a single public comment period — includes funding for improvements at the Berkeley Marina and around Codornices Creek at Ninth Street; and an attempt to secure regional funding for an Adeline Street "quick-build" project to improve traffic safety.

There are seven information reports at the end of the agenda, which could result in action or discussion at a later date (but often not).

Two of the reports are focused on fire safety and one is an update on Berkeley police staffing.

Finally, the Berkeley City Council will adjourn its meeting Tuesday in memory of beloved California author Malcolm Margolin, who died in August at 84 years old.

‘A mighty redwood of a man has fallen.’ Remembering Malcolm Margolin, founder of Heyday books

Writer, editor and publisher Malcolm Margolin, who promoted Indigenous cultural renewal across California, died Wednesday. He was 84.

BerkeleysideJoanne Furio

Malcolm Margolin’s Beautiful Life

One of the Bay Area’s master storytellers retires.

Bay NatureEric Simons

The Scanner will be in attendance at Tuesday night's council meeting. See the full agenda online in HTML or as a PDF.

Correction: The Flock camera contract (Item 24) references the amounts of $310,000 and $600,000, with $600,000 being the total amount requested. Due to an error, the story originally added the two amounts. The article has been fixed.