A Better Pier. A Better Ferry. For Less!
Write Council and show up on Tuesday, November 17.
WRITE COUNCIL
Email all nine at council@berkeleyca.gov.
By 5 pm Tue, Nov. 10 to make the agenda packet. By noon Mon, Nov. 16 to reach Council before the meeting.
Ask them to continue the item, put it to a Measure L vote, study the in-marina terminal, and show ten years of operating money.
The button writes the email for you.
ATTEND THE MEETING
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 6:00 pm.
BUSD Board Room, 1231 Addison St. Open to everyone.
Remote: Zoom link is on page 1 of the agenda, posted about Nov. 5. Or call 1-669-254-5252 and press *9.
Speak for 2 minutes, 1 if more than 10 sign up. Wear blue.
Adds to Google Calendar. Apple or Outlook: .ics file.
WHY NOW
On Tuesday, November 17, the City Council is expected to vote to certify the Pier-Ferry environmental report, approve the project, and grant the use permit. The city's plan puts a commuter ferry terminal on the pier: roughly $170 million, new bay fill for breakwaters, up to 400,000 cubic yards of dredging, paid commuter parking, and service around 2030, on land Berkeley promised in 1965 would stay a park.
There is a better option the city refused to study: a ferry landing inside the marina for about $20 million, with no new fill, far less dredging, all-weather operation, more parking choices, and service years sooner. The money saved could rebuild a real recreational pier. (Cost figures are campaign estimates; see the comparison below.)
WHAT WE'RE ASKING COUNCIL TO DO ON NOVEMBER 17
1. Continue the item. Do not certify the EIR or approve the project yet.
2. Put the change of park use to a public vote, as Measure L requires.
3. Study the in-marina terminal seriously.
4. Show where ten years of operating money will come from.
SUGGESTED MESSAGE (COPY, EDIT, SEND)
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
Please require a serious comparison of the sheltered inner-marina ferry option before committing Berkeley to the proposed waterfront terminal.
Berkeley should pursue a better pier and reliable ferry service at a price we can afford. The inner-marina proposal deserves full evaluation for its potential to reduce construction costs, environmental impacts, and weather disruptions while preserving recreational access and allowing a larger multi-use public pier.
Please direct staff to compare both options, including Berkeley's construction contribution and ongoing operating obligations. Keep the public pier's recreational purpose central to that work.
We should not commit to the more expensive option without showing why the less expensive approach cannot meet our needs.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Berkeley neighborhood, if applicable]
Two ways to build a Berkeley ferry: the $170 million pier plan, with new bay fill and heavy dredging, or a $20 million terminal inside the marina that leaves the pier for recreation. Save this flyer and share it.