Berkeley council approves ICRI lease, street‑lighting assessments and passes consent calendar

At its July 14 meeting, the Berkeley City Council approved the consent calendar and a set of routine actions, including a lease agreement with the International Child Resource Institute (ICRI) for office space at 127 University Avenue and the levy and collection of fiscal year 2027 street‑lighting assessments.

Staff said there was no presentation for the ICRI lease and no public comment; councilmembers moved and seconded the motion to approve and the roll call vote carried. On the street‑lighting assessments (item 22), council heard brief public comment urging designs that follow a dark‑skies initiative and improve pedestrian crossing lighting; after closing the public hearing the council approved the levy and collection.

During the consent discussion councilmembers announced discretionary donations to community items (including the Bertha Brown Community Memorial Gathering and the RISE program) and confirmed appointments to the Police Accountability Board that fill alternating vacancies. Mayor Adina Ishii also listed three citizen ballot measures included on the consent calendar: an arts parcel tax, a public‑bank initiative, and a sugar‑sweetened beverage excise.

City staff stated there were no additional recurring costs associated with the lease and that the street‑lighting assessments will be implemented as part of the standard assessment process. The council recorded motions and took roll‑call votes on the consent calendar items; the clerk announced that the motion carried.