Berkeley City Council Moves Meetings

BERKELEY, CA – The Berkeley City Council will hold its meetings in West Berkeley instead of downtown starting next week.

The council has met for many years at Old City Hall at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, one block away from city offices at 2180 Milvia St., but from now on it will hold its meetings in the Berkeley Unified School District's board room at 1231 Addison St., which is near the busy intersection of University and San Pablo avenues.

City officials explained the move by saying that the school district's board room handles crowds double the size of Old City Hall and offers increased seismic safety and easier access for those with limited mobility.

The first council meeting at the board room will be Tuesday and will feature the swearing in of newly elected and re-elected councilmembers in Districts 1, 4, 7, and 8 and a new city auditor.

City officials say the school district's board room is close to the North Berkeley BART station and several Alameda-Contra Costa Transit lines and offers ample free parking.

The Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board will also permanently move to the school district's board room starting in January.

The city's Rent Board is currently evaluating alternate meeting locations.

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