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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Join the #berkmeeting tomorrow at 6pm to hear about updates from Human Resources and Environment Health on our Domestic Violence Policy and Restaurant Inspections audit recommendations. Visit the City Council webpage for more info on how to join: berkeleyca.gov/city-council...

berkeleyca.gov

City Council Regular Meeting eAgenda September 29, 2026

Printer-friendly PDF AGENDABERKELEY CITY COUNCIL MEETINGTuesday, September 29, 20266:00 PMSCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM - 1231 ADDISON STREET, BERKELEY, CA 94702 Adena Ishii, MayorCouncilmembers:

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

💻However, the Division has still not resumed publishing food inspections data online after it removed this information from the City’s Open Data Portal. The Division is preparing to launch the new inspections database but has postponed the release date from summer 2026 to fall 2026.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

📐Since their last update in February of this year, the Environmental Health Division implemented the recommendation from the restaurant inspections audit to track and report how food inspection program revenues were used.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

✅With implementation of this final open recommendation, we formally closed the 2019 audit.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

📜 Since their last audit update, Human Resources launched employee training on the new leave policy for absences related to acts of violence.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

On this #AuditorProudDay, we are proud of the impact our audit recommendations have on the Berkeley community! Join the #berkmtg on Tuesday, September 29 for updates on our domestic violence policy and restaurant inspections audit recommendations. More below⤵️

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Tomorrow at 10 AM, the Council Budget and Finance committee will consider changes to the municipal code to require competitive procurement for services. Check out our contracts audit from earlier this year to learn why having competition for contracts matters⤵️ [REPORT] bit.ly/BerkeleyCont...

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Our Evaluation of Workplace Relationship Policies report is on tomorrow's City Council agenda. Council will consider our recommendations, including next steps for broader nepotism and cronyism provisions in the Berkeley Municipal Code. Read the full report at bit.ly/Relationship...

bit.ly

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

🏛️ The report will be presented at the September 15 City Council meeting.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

🛠️ The report recommends strengthening Berkeley’s policies to align more closely with Oakland and San Francisco. Management agreed with the recommendations. The report also recommends considering nepotism and cronyism provisions in the Berkeley Municipal Code.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

⚠️ We found that current policies do not address romantic or cohabiting relationships when they intersect with hiring or supervision, and there is no consistent process to manage conflicts of interest in these situations.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

📝 The review was prompted by a concern about a supervisor–employee relationship and potential favoritism. Because the conduct described was not prohibited under current policy, this report reflects a policy review rather than an investigation.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

📢 New Whistleblower Program Special Report We published a report evaluating the City’s workplace relationship policies following a concern raised through the program. 🔎📄 Read it here: bit.ly/Relationship...

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Earlier this year, we released our first Whistleblower Program Annual Report, summarizing the program’s first year and how reports were reviewed, referred, investigated, and closed. Read the Annual Report to learn more: [URL] berkeleyca.gov/sites/defaul...

berkeleyca.gov

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Today is #NationalWhistleblowerDay, a day to recognize the important role whistleblowers play in promoting accountability, transparency, and integrity in government. The Berkeley City Auditor’s Whistleblower Program helps identify and address potential fraud, waste, and abuse of City resources.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

📰Check out the @dailycal.bsky.social article on our first Whistleblower Program Annual Report, which summarizes the program’s first full year receiving, reviewing, referring, investigating, and closing reports of potential fraud, waste, and abuse of City resources. www.dailycal.org/news/city/fl...

dailycal.org

Fledgling Whistleblower Program releases first annual report, receiving 42 cases

The office of Berkeley City Auditor Jenny Wong released the first-ever Whistleblower Program Annual Report for the 2025 calendar year June 10, summarizing how the program has processed and closed

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

📢 Join the special City Council meeting tomorrow on June 23 to participate in the public hearing to adopt the City’s budget for FY 2027-FY 2028 and the Capital Improvement Program for FY 2027-FY 2031. Visit the Council agenda webpage for information on how to attend: berkeleyca.gov/your-governm....

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

📝In 2025, the Program received 42 new reports and closed 41 cases. View the full report for more information about this important program that helps strengthen accountability and public trust in government (3/3). berkeleyca.gov/sites/defaul...

berkeleyca.gov

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

📞The Berkeley City Auditor Whistleblower Program launched in 2024, and provides a confidential mechanism for City employees and officials to report concerns related to fraud, waste, and abuse of City resources (2/3)

berkeleyca.gov

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

🆕 Our first Whistleblower Annual Report is out! The Annual Report summarizes Whistleblower Program activity for calendar year 2025, including how reports were received and evaluated, the number and types of reports submitted, reporter characteristics, and how cases were resolved (1/3)

Graphic titled "New! 2025 Whistleblower Program Annual Report"

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

📢 Join the City Council meeting tomorrow on June 16 to participate in continued discussion around the FY 2027 and FY 2028 budget. Visit the Council agenda webpage for information on how to attend City Council meetings remotely or in-person: berkeleyca.gov/your-governm....

berkeleyca.gov

City Council Agendas

City Council AgendasAttend an upcoming City Council meeting or find annotated agendas and recordings from past meetings.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Our FY 2027 Audit Plan is out! In the next year, we plan to audit: 🪙Business License Taxes (audit in progress) 🏘️Rent Stabilization Board (audit in progress) ❤️‍🩹Public Health 🦺Measure FF (sidewalk and streets) Read more at bit.ly/4x017DM.

The graphic shows items on the FY 2027 Audit Plan represented with icons: business license taxes, public health, Measure FF, Whistleblower Program, Rent Stabilization Board, and Audit Follow-Up.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Check out the Capital Assets section of our Financial Condition for more context on the City's needs: bit.ly/BerkeleyFina....

bit.ly

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

📝 In our recent financial condition audit, we recommend the City develop a capital financing plan that proposes future funding sources to help address the City’s growing unfunded capital needs. To learn more, read our full audit report here: bit.ly/BerkeleyFina.... #MakingCents (5/5)

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

🏦💵 General obligation bonds are one way cities can finance capital infrastructure projects. The City is considering placing a $300 million general obligation bond measure on the 2026 ballot to help address some of these unfunded capital needs. #MakingCents (4/5)

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

📊Berkeley’s unfunded capital and deferred maintenance needs have grown to $1.8 billion in FY 2024, up from $1.2 billion reported in our 2022 audit. The longer the City leaves unfunded capital needs unaddressed, the more expensive they will be to address in the future. #MakingCents (3/5)

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

👷‍♀️🏗️ Berkeley owns a wide range of capital assets, including public buildings, streets, sidewalks, sewers, traffic signals, and parking infrastructure. When the City does not invest sufficient resources in capital assets, this can lead to unfunded capital and deferred maintenance needs. (2/5)

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

🤓 💵 This week we will be #MakingCents of Berkeley’s unfunded capital needs. ICYMI: the City just released its new Capital Improvement Program on the Budget and Finance Committee webpage: berkeleyca.gov/your-governm... (1/5)

berkeleyca.gov

Policy Committee: Budget & Finance

Reviews legislation relating to investment policy, budget development, revenue development, expenditures, fiscal planning and policy, taxes and fees, and large-scale fiscal investments.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

📢 Join the City Council meeting tonight to participate in the public hearing on the City Manager’s proposed budget for FY 2027 and FY 2028. Visit the Council agenda webpage for information on how to attend City Council meetings remotely or in-person: berkeleyca.gov/your-governm....

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

For more context on the City’s ongoing structural deficit in the General Fund, please read our latest audit report: bit.ly/BerkeleyFina....

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

📢 The City Manager’s proposed budget for FY 2027 and FY 2028 is now publicly available on the Budget and Finance Committee’s webpage: berkeleyca.gov/your-governm....

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

📬If you miss this deadline or have other audit ideas later in the year, please feel free to email our office at auditor@berkeleyca.gov. Our office values and encourages community input. (2/2)

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

🔔Last call to respond to our audit topics survey! Please fill out our audit topics survey by Friday, May 15, 2026 to have your ideas considered for the FY 2027 Audit Plan: forms.office.com/g/Zwq9GnAKpq. (1/2)

Graphic with text “Share your audit ideas!”

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

📝 City management has recently implemented some more sustainable practices to develop the upcoming budget – our goal is to ensure this continues through policy adoption. To learn more about the City’s overall financial condition, read our full audit report here: bit.ly/BerkeleyFina.... (5/5)

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

💭 How can the City improve? Our audit recommends the City adopt a fiscal policy to formalize the use of more sustainable budget strategies to help achieve a structurally balanced budget. A budget is structurally balanced when recurring revenues are equal to or exceed recurring expenditures. (4/5)

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

🔍 How did the City get here? Berkeley faces an ongoing structural General Fund deficit due in part to the City’s repeated use of one-time balancing measures. Additionally, General Fund expenditures have substantially grown over time. (3/5)

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

📊For the upcoming budget, the City faces a projected structural General Fund deficit at $29.3 million in FY 2027 and $29.5 million in FY 2028 based on estimates from April 2026. (2/5)

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

🤓 💵 This week, we will be #MakingCents of Berkeley’s ongoing structural budget deficit. A structural deficit occurs when budgeted revenues are projected to be less than budgeted expenditures. (1/5)

Graphic titled ”#MakingCents of Berkeley’s Financial Condition: A breakdown of the FY 2016-2025 Financial Condition Audit” with decorative background of money and coins

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

📊This audit includes recommendations for the City to formalize the use of sustainable budget strategies, ensure funds withdrawn from the pension savings fund are replenished, and develop a capital financing plan to address the City’s growing unfunded capital needs.  bit.ly/BerkeleyFina... 2/2

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

While the City’s revenues generally exceeded expenses for governmental activities, the City still faced a structural budget deficit. We’ll dive into the budget deficit our next edition of #makingcents. 6/6

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

📊 Over the past ten years, Berkeley’s governmental activities revenues and expenses increased overall, adjusted for inflation. From FY 2022 to FY 2025, however, revenues for governmental activities have decreased while expenses have increased. #makingcents 5/6

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

📈Berkeley’s revenues exceeded expenses for governmental activities every year between FY 2016 and FY 2025, except FY 2020. #makingcents 4/6

Graphic with a line graph titled “Governmental Activities Revenues and Expenses (in millions, in 2025 dollars).” Line graph includes a dark blue line representing governmental activities expenses and a light blue line representing governmental activities revenues for fiscal years 2016 to 2025. Governmental revenues exceeded governmental expenses for all years surveyed except for fiscal year 2020. There is a decorative background with coins.

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

💵Expenses are the money the City spends to provide services. Berkeley’s largest expense for governmental activities is public safety, which includes police and fire. #makingcents 3/6

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

🪙Revenues are the money the City brings in. Berkeley’s revenues for governmental activities primarily come from property taxes and state and local taxes. #makingcents 2/6

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

This week we will be #makingcents of @berkeleyca.gov’s revenues and expenses. To learn more about the City’s revenues and expenses, read our full audit report here: bit.ly/BerkeleyFinancialCondition. 1/6

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Jenny Wong, Berkeley City Auditor @berkeleyauditor.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

💡Do you have an idea for an audit? As we develop our next annual audit plan, we want to hear from you!  Please fill out our audit topics survey by Friday, May 15, 2026 to have your ideas considered for the FY 2027 Audit Plan: forms.office.com/g/Zwq9GnAKpq.

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