Berkeley Transparency Hub · Capital Accountability

Measure T1: The Shrinking Phase 2

Berkeley approved $100M in 2016. A decade on, 21 of 37 Phase 2 projects are still unfinished — and in Sept 2025 the city quietly rationed the program on the consent calendar: five projects cut to design-only, three removed, six over budget. Now it wants $300M more.

Measure T1 Tracker Carryover Tracker Mayor's Budget Origins Measure L Projects Paving & Measure FF

The Program

$100M
GO bond · Nov 2016 · 86.5% yes · 40-yr repayment
76
Total T1 projects · 39 Phase 1 + 37 Phase 2
21 of 37
Phase 2 projects still unfinished, ~9 yrs in
$6.28M
Reallocated among projects · consent calendar · Sept 2025
$300M
New GO bond sought · Nov 2026 · ⅔ vote · ~$22/$100k AV

The city states total T1 funding is unchanged at $100M — the Sept 2025 action moved money between projects, not into the program. Original 2016 cost to voters: ~$21 / $90 / $128 per year for homes assessed at $100k / $425k / $600k.

The Auditor's Finding

Badawi & Associates · Independent AUP Report · March 5 2026

The T1 manual requires a program-level financial schedule every six months as part of bi-annual reporting to Council. The auditor's finding: “the City no longer performs this reporting. Reporting is done on an as-needed basis.” The mandated financial-oversight cadence has lapsed — corroborating the erratic, format-shifting updates the public has flagged since mid-2025.

The Sept 2025 Reallocation · A Consent-Calendar Shadow Edit

5
Projects cut to design only — incl. 2 of 3 promised ROW restrooms, Harrison Park, Cesar Chavez
3
Projects removed from T1 — incl. $3.95M street-paving contribution
6
Projects over budget, topped up — MLK YSC, Tom Bates, S. Berkeley Senior…
0
Commission actions taken — PRW & T&I raised concerns, then passed on consent

Staff conceded the program is underwater: “shortages [will] be greater than the remaining $5.633M identified.” The nine-restroom promise is quietly shrinking — several restrooms will be designed but not built with T1 money.

REMOVEDT1 Streets Contribution to Annual Paving · $3.95M — Removed from T1 list Sept 2025; backfilled with 'other funding.' The FY27–31 paving plan adopted July 2026 lists seven funding sources; T1 is not among them. Follow the money →
REMOVEDCorp Yard Facility Assessment — Removed; other funding identified.
REMOVEDCorp Yard Deferred Maintenance (gate, paving, parking, fuel island) · $0.30M — Removed; other funding identified.

Phase 2 Status · 37 Projects

16
Completed
10
Construction
10
Design
1
Planning
16 completed · 10 construction · 10 design · 1 planning
5 reduced to design-only (won't be built with T1)
6 over budget, needing top-ups
3 added to the list in 2025

More than half the Phase 2 program remains unfinished roughly nine years after voters approved the bond.

Project Ledger

ProjectAreaStatusSept '25 ChangeCost
MLK Jr. Youth Services Center
Construction started July 2025; completion expected early 2027.
Facilities Construction Over budget $13M
T1 + CIP + Parks Tax + grants; an $836k FEMA grant was indefinitely postponed.
South Berkeley Senior Center Renovation
Seismic renovation in permitting; water heater bid opened.
Facilities Design Over budget $5M
T1; shortfall from increased construction costs.
African American Holistic Resource Center
ZAB approval Dec 11 2025; working toward final design.
Facilities Design
Restrooms in ROW: Channing & Telegraph
Completed Jan 2025; grand opening Feb 2025.
Facilities Completed
Restrooms in ROW: Adeline & Alcatraz
Design only; technical utility difficulties and/or negative public feedback.
Facilities Design Cut to design
Restrooms in ROW: San Pablo & University
Design only; will not be built with T1 funds.
Facilities Design Cut to design
1947 Center Street Window Replacement
Permit approved; next step is to bid. Scope changed to replace all windows.
Facilities Design Over budget
Fire Station #2 (HVAC, electrical, solar, roof)
Construction in progress; tentative completion April 2026.
Facilities Construction
Fire Station #6 (windows, energy efficiency)
Notice to proceed March 23 2026; construction in progress.
Facilities Construction Over budget
PW Corp Yard: Green Room (8)
Under construction; tentative completion April 2026.
Facilities Construction
PW Corp Yard: Wash Station
Work completed March 2026.
Facilities Completed
PW Corp Yard: Storage Room (H) Roof
Shortage from increased construction costs.
Facilities Design Over budget
PW Corp Yard: Generator Upgrades Facilities Planning
Telegraph-Channing Garage Restrooms & Elevators
Entry/restroom work complete; full completion expected May 2026.
Facilities Construction $2.10M
'Oxford' was inadvertently dropped from the project name in Sept 2025.
Cazadero Dining Hall & ADA Improvements Camps Completed
Willard Clubhouse & Restroom Replacement
Clubhouse opened June 2025 (LEED Gold, all-electric); restroom opened Aug 2025.
Parks Buildings Completed $8M
Tom Bates Restroom / Community Space
Contract awarded Dec 2 2025; start late spring 2026; completion mid-2027.
Parks Buildings Construction Over budget $8M
T1 + CIP + Parks Tax; shortage from increased construction costs.
Harrison Park Restroom Renovation
Conceptual design completed; project delayed due to lack of funding.
Parks Buildings Design Cut to design
Ohlone Park New Restroom
Opened to public January 2026.
Parks Buildings Completed
Ohlone Park (East) Playground & Site Improvements
Project complete.
Parks Completed
John Hinkel Park Lower (playground, picnic, parking)
Playground & amphitheater improvements complete.
Parks Completed
Grove Park (playground 2-5 & 5-12, field)
Field and both playgrounds complete.
Parks Completed
Aquatic Park Tide Tubes Clean-Out & Soil Removal
Completed phases.
Parks Completed
Ohlone Park Lighting (dark-sky)
Dark-sky compliant fixtures installed.
Parks Completed
Civic Center Park Upper Plaza Improvements
Completed and reopened August 2025.
Parks Completed
Adeline Area Dog Park & Landscaping
Miyawaki Forest done; dog park/landscape construction began March 2026, ~June 2026 completion.
Parks Construction Added '25
Santa Fe Trackbed to Park Conversion
Phase 1 (remediation) ~Spring 2026; Phase 2 (park) ~Fall 2026.
Parks Design Added '25 $7.5M
State grant + Parks Tax; +$150k T1 for contaminated-soil cleanup.
King Pool Tile & Plaster Replacement
Project complete.
Pools Completed
Marina Piling Replacements
Project completed.
Waterfront Completed
D & E Dock Replacement
In-water demo done; landside/waterside in construction; ~late Summer 2026.
Waterfront Construction
K Dock Restroom Renovation
Contract awarded Nov 18 2025; construction in progress; ~mid-2026.
Waterfront Construction
Cesar Chavez Park Restroom (Spinnaker)
Design 90% done; original site has landfill contamination; relocated, +$300k cost.
Waterfront Design Cut to design
F & G Dock Re-Decking
Project completed.
Waterfront Completed Added '25 $500k
Added Sept 2025; $250k GF + $250k additional needed.
Bollard Conversion to Landscaping
Conceptual design complete; T1 funds design only.
Streets/ROW Design Cut to design
Sidewalks Maintenance & Safety Repairs
FY22 sidewalk repair project complete.
Sidewalks Completed
Pathway Repairs & Improvements
Most paths done; Upper Columbia Path ~April 2026.
Pathways Construction
Stormwater Infrastructure Repairs/Replacement
John Hinkel, Marin, Euclid, Spruce, Grizzly Peak, San Benito, High Court, Virginia complete.
Storm Completed

Costs shown are total project costs (often blended T1 + CIP + Parks Tax + grants), not isolated T1 allocations — the city does not publish a clean per-project T1 allocation/spend table. Roster reflects Exhibit A as revised Sept 16 2025; 37 lines, matching the city's official count.

What's Still Not Disclosed

No per-project T1 dollars

No public table of $ allocated vs. spent per project. Project pages show a dollar figure for only 6 of 56 listings, mixing grants with totals.

Lapsed financial reporting

The independent auditor confirms the required six-month program schedule is no longer produced — “as-needed” only. The latest “quarterly update” (Mar 2026) is a Parks email newsletter with zero financials.

Changes buried on consent

The $6.28M reallocation and scope cuts passed on the Sept 16 2025 consent calendar. Both oversight commissions objected; neither took action.

Dashboard lags the roster

The public funded-projects dashboard doesn't flag design-only downgrades, removals, or over-budget status — the distinctions that actually matter.

PRIMARY SOURCES · Resolution updating the Measure T1 Phase 2 project list, Item 10, Consent Calendar, Sept 16 2025 (Exhibit A + reallocation tables) · PRW Capital Projects / Measure T1 Quarterly Update, March 2026 · Independent Accountant's AUP Report on Measure T1, Badawi & Associates, March 5 2026 · Proposed FY27–FY31 CIP Budget Presentation, May 28 2026 · Measure T1 funded-projects dashboard, berkeleyca.gov.

Berkeley Transparency Hub · civic accountability project · figures verified against Council documents; blended-fund project costs should not be read as isolated T1 spend.