Public Works Commission

Mark Humbert, a federal employee benefits attorney and 20-year Berkeley resident, is running for the Berkeley District 8 City Council seat.

The city of Berkeley’s Public Works Commission discussed its visions for the Berkeley Department of Transportation, or BerkDOT, at its regular meeting Thursday.

At its regular meeting Tuesday, Berkeley City Council heard testimony from dozens of city residents in support of Samuli Seppälä, a wealthy artist who purchased the derelict Hillside School property to use it as his private residence.

Berkeley City Council is scheduled to vote on referring a plan for installing additional street lighting to areas surrounding campus to the Public Works Commission at its regular meeting Feb. 25.

At Tuesday’s weekly meeting, Berkeley City Council adopted a proposal to establish a temporary, outdoor emergency homeless shelter with 50 tents.

Shattuck Avenue crossing University Avenue will become a two-way street, instead of the current two separate one-way streets, to alleviate traffic and improve safety for pedestrians.

The Berkeley City Council met Tuesday for its last regular meeting of the year, at which it swore in its newly- and re-elected representatives as well as addressed a variety of issues including the Alta Bates Hospital closure, street paving and tobacco sales.

Berkeley City Councilmember Linda Maio, who currently represents District 1, will not seek re-election in the November 2018 midterm election, as first reported by Berkeleyside.

Since Measure T1, a plan to improve Berkeley’s infrastructure, passed in November, the city has begun repaving its roads, with future plans to renovate senior and recreation centers, parks, sidewalks, storm drains and streets.

Voters in Berkeley will receive the opportunity in November to approve a $100 million bond measure to improve infrastructure and facilities after City Council voted unanimously to put it on the ballot at its Tuesday meeting.