Upcoming COVID-19 Town Hall, Bayer Agreement, Holiday Updates, and More Berkeley News
Bayer Agreement to Provide Significant Investment to Berkeley Community
The new Development Agreement with Bayer will provide over $33 million in community benefits while creating 1,000 new jobs over the next three decades.
On November 30th, the City Council unanimously approved a 30-year, $33.1 million dollar Development Agreement with Bayer. The agreement renews an expiring agreement and significantly increases community benefits provided by the city’s largest private employer.
The starting total community benefit contributions will be $800,000 in 2022, increasing 2% each year, totaling $1,460,000 annually in 2051. Specifically, the money will be split into the following five categories:
· Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) Education, Career Technical Education (CTE) Partners: 48.5%
· West Berkeley Community Resiliency Funds: 20%
· Affordable Housing Trust Fund: 20%
· Private Percent for Art Fund: 7.5%
· Affordable Childcare Fund: 4.0%
In exchange for these benefits, Bayer will be able to expand development on its existing property, adding 1 million square feet of new space to expand types of pharmaceutical production while adding an additional 1,000 jobs over the next thirty years. Mayor Arreguin and West Berkeley Councilmember Terry Taplin led the city’s negotiations, and engaged West Berkeley neighbors, education, environmental, business, arts and equity stakeholders in developing the framework for the community benefits agreement.
The extended Development Agreement significantly increases local investment from Bayer. According to the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, Berkeley could see a sizable increase in economic activity stemming from Bayer operations. Today, the company generates about $15 million in economic activity in Berkeley. By 2052, this number is projected to increase 97% to $29 million under the development agreement. Over the course of 30 years, Bayer jobs in Berkeley are expected to roughly double from current levels to 2,000. The company’s economic impact extends throughout the Bay Area, as for every Bayer employee, on average, another job is created in the region.
COVID-19 Town Hall this Monday - Updates on Omicron Variant
Join Mayor Jesse Arreguín, City Manager Dee Williams-Ridley, and Berkeley Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez, where they will provide updates on the city’s response to COVID-19 and answer your questions.
What: Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19
When: Monday, December 13, 6pm
Watch live at jessearreguin.com
Submit your questions here by 3pm on 12/13.
Phone in option:
Dial: +1 669 900 6833
Webinar ID: 856 0738 7304
Passcode: 455238
The Omicron variant, which was first discovered in late November, was first detected in Berkeley on December 3rd. The individual is one of several Omicron cases in Alameda County linked to a wedding in Wisconsin on November 27th. While the scientific community is still processing this new variant, initial data suggests that getting a booster shot does help protect people from contracting the variant. While not definitive, it also appears that Omicron is the most contagious variant yet, but may cause milder symptoms. However, these are very preliminary results and further research and data may change our understanding of the variant. Studies also suggest that unvaccinated people who have previously contracted COVID-19 are not immune to this variant and can easily become reinfected as a result.
Berkeley Receives $5 Million for Creation of New Park
Construction of a new park/greenway in Southwest Berkeley on what is currently undeveloped land will likely begin in a couple of years.
This week, the Governor’s Office unveiled that the City of Berkeley will be receiving $5 million as part of its Outdoor for All Initiative. These funds will be used for the development of the Santa Fe Railroad Trackbed Park, one of 112 projects across the state that will split $548 million provided through Prop 68. In 2018, California voters approved Prop 68, a parks and water bond. In early 2021, the City applied for a grant under Prop 68 for the purpose of converting the empty lots into a new park and greenway.
The Santa Fe Right of Way, a 3.5 mile parcel formerly used as an industrial railroad, was first acquired by the City of Berkeley in 1978. Most of the length of the parcel was developed in the early 1980s, including two senior housing apartments, two parks, and two community gardening projects. However, the stretch of land between Blake St and Ward St just west of Sacramento St has remained undeveloped.
The new park, which will develop the aforementioned stretch of the Santa Fe Right of Way, will include two new community gardens, outdoor classroom and orchard, playground (2-5yr olds), tot cycle track, dog park, outdoor exercise stations and gathering spaces throughout the park, pathways, landscaping and lighting throughout the park. This site, which has long been suggested for conversion to a park, was selected for this grant application by the Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department after community consultation.
Future Development of the Ashby and North Berkeley BART Stations
This week marked a critical milestone for the future development of the Ashby and North Berkeley BART Stations. The work of the City’s BART Community Advisory Group (CAG) came to an end this past Monday, as their feedback on recommendations regarding vision, priorities, and zoning at the stations is now being considered by the Planning Commission. This was an unprecedented community process with an exceptional level of commitment from a group composed of diverse expertise and background. The breadth of the CAG’s proficiency allowed for a robust discussion on everything from racial equity and displacement to the technical details of zoning and affordable housing financing.
There remain many opportunities for community involvement in the process, with this issue expected to come before the Planning Commission in the spring. To stay informed of upcoming opportunities for engagement, sign up for email updates at jessearreguin.com/bart.
City of Berkeley’s BART Planning website
Holiday Tree Recycling
When selecting your tree this holiday season, consider a plan that reduces waste and is made with the City's disposal rules in mind for when the season is over. Living trees can be rented for the season or planted in your yard – and avoids waste altogether. You may have your own ideas of how to create the holiday experience without creating holiday waste. If you decide to buy, know how to dispose of your holiday tree later.
If you’re considering a cut tree, know that the City only composts the tree itself. Avoid trees that have been "flocked" - covered with chemicals mimicking snow – as they cannot be composted. When it’s time to dispose of a compostable tree, you’ll have to remove all lights, decorations, tinsel, plastic bags and plastic tree stands. You’ll have to cut them to fit inside your green compost cart with the lid closed (i.e. less than 3' long).
If you don't have the tools to cut your tree to fit into your cart, the Berkeley Tool Lending Library, located at 1901 Russell Street, is a great resource for free tool rental.
Trees left on the curb won't get picked up as they can damage City side-loader collection trucks.
Tree drop-off schedule
You may prefer dropping off discarded trees at the Transfer Station:
City of Berkeley Transfer Station
1201 2nd Street (off Gilman Avenue)
Monday – Saturday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Closed: Christmas and New Year's days
· Compostable trees: free until January 31; $23 starting February 1
· Flocked or plastic trees: $29 fee
As you celebrate the holidays, the City’s Zero Waste Division also hopes you take some steps to reduce holiday waste.
Holiday Toy Donation Drive
The Berkeley Police Department’s Community Services Bureau is leading a Toy Drive that will benefit two programs in our City: the Berkeley Junior Jacket Football and Cheer Team and the Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) program. Each of these programs provide various levels of shelter and support services to unhoused and/or underprivileged families.
The Department is currently accepting new, unwrapped toys for children between the ages of 4-16 years old. Clothes and gift cards cannot be accepted.
There are two more opportunities for the public to drop off gifts:
· Tuesday, December 14th, 4pm-7pm: Peet’s Coffee, 1776 Fourth St
· Thursday, December 16, 4pm-7pm: Berkeley Police Department, 2100 MLK Jr Way
Mayor's Office Closed December 24 - January 2
Please note that the Mayor’s Office will be closed starting Friday, December 24th, and will return on Monday, January 3rd. If you have a constituent issue, please call 311 (510-981-2489) or use the Online Service Center to submit a request. Happy holidays!