ITEM 38 AS A NECESSARY FIRST STEP

On November 17, 2025, the City Council Agenda and Rules Committee referred Item 38, Setting Measurable Goals and Metrics for Key City Priorities, authored by Councilmember Brent Blackaby, to the Health, Life Enrichment, Equity and Community (HLEEC) Committee.

We believe Item 38 (page 25) is a necessary first step toward restoring fiscal accountability in Berkeley. To truly succeed, however, this initiative must be strengthened and expanded into a comprehensive, citywide performance management system.

THE CHALLENGE: ALIGNING INVESTMENT WITH OUTCOMES

Berkeley residents have made a significant financial investment in city government. At the same time, there is growing concern that the quality, efficiency, and reliability of core city services are not keeping pace with the city’s expanding fiscal resources.

THE ACCOUNTABILITY GAP IN NUMBERS

Our analysis of city records from 1976 to 2025 shows a clear divergence between population growth and government spending:

• Population growth: Since 1976, Berkeleys population has grown by approximately 12 percent, from about 110,000 to roughly 123,000 residents.
• Budget growth: Over the same period, the city’s inflation-adjusted budget increased by 94 percent, from $297 million to $577 million in constant 2023 dollars.

In other words, while the number of residents served has remained relatively stable, the real-dollar cost of city government has nearly doubled.

STRENGTHENING THE POLICY FOR COMPREHENSIVE STEWARDSHIP

To ensure Item 38 delivers lasting impact rather than becoming a limited pilot, we are asking the HLEEC Committee and the City Council to include the following requirements in the final policy:

• Comprehensive staffing data: Every department should report staffing levels and total compensation costs, including salary and benefits, alongside performance metrics.
• Deliverable-based reporting: Metrics should track tangible outputs such as miles of road paved, permits processed, response times, or housing units cleared, enabling residents to understand cost per outcome.
• Quarterly reporting: Data should be updated every three months to allow timely course corrections, rather than relying on annual reports that are often outdated upon release.
• Universal application and consistency: All departments should report using a consistent format so residents can track performance and efficiency trends over time.

WHY YOUR SIGNATURE MATTERS

A government that operates with clear, public-facing metrics is a more effective and accountable government. Establishing a public dashboard with quarterly performance data would allow Berkeley to move away from anecdotal reporting and toward evidence-based decision-making.

Sign this petition to tell the HLEEC Committee and the City Council that you support the passage of Item 38 as an essential foundation for accountability. Let’s ensure our tax dollars deliver the high-quality services and measurable results that Berkeley residents deserve.