Jenny Wong, City Auditor
Promoting transparency and accountability in Berkeley government.
Audit News
from the City Auditor
January 2021
Street Paving Plan on Council Agenda
At the upcoming Tuesday City Council meeting, Item 14 on the agenda is the Five Year Paving Plan. This is a yearly plan submitted to City Council that details the paving of specific streets in Berkeley as suggested by the Public Works Commission. The item is currently on the Action Calendar. You can provide comment at the City Council meeting during public comments or email council@cityofberkeley.info.

Last month, I presented the findings of our recently released audit, Rocky Road: Berkeley Streets at Risk and Significantly Underfunded to City Council. The report highlights street conditions that are at risk, a lack of long-term underfunding, and an outdated policy that does not address equity. While the purpose of the Five Year Paving Plan on the Council agenda is not to address long-term funding needs, it does state the need for a long-term funding gap analysis. The Plan also states that the Commission is currently revising the outdated paving policy. The current plan needs to be revised to reflect any new breakdown of the proportion of streets paved between arterials, collectors, and residential streets; and align with other plans like Vision Zero and Vision 2050. In addition, my hope based on the audit report is that the new policy will include guidance on an equitable distribution of funding based on outcomes across districts that include demographic factors like income and education.
Get Notified When COVID-19 Vaccines are Available
Sign up for our COVID-19 vaccine interest list to be notified about vaccination opportunities through the City of Berkeley.

Supplies of COVID-19 vaccine are limited and being offered to different groups in phases, following state and federal frameworks. The City is currently vaccinating residents 75 and older and healthcare workers. If you are in one of these groups, signing up now will add you to the Berkeley Public Health vaccination waitlist. When a vaccine is available for you, you will be notified with instructions to register for your appointment.

If you are not in either of these groups, the City will use the contact information you provide to notify you when the waitlist expands to include more groups, or when appointments are broadly available.

How will you get vaccinated?
Most people will be vaccinated through their health care provider. COVID-19 vaccines will be free for everyone. You will not need insurance to get vaccinated.

Currently, vaccines are being distributed to the highest priority groups - healthcare workers, paramedics, and residents of long-term care facilities. Some large health care providers have begun vaccinations for their members over a certain age.

When can you get vaccinated?
The California Department of Public Health determines the order the vaccine is distributed. People at high risk of serious illness or at risk of being exposed at work will receive the vaccine first. Within this group, there are three priority levels. Please visit the https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines website for full descriptions of the priority levels.

Resources
Vaccines (covid19.ca.gov)
COVID-19 Vaccines (California Department of Public Health)
COVID-19 Vaccine fact sheet (California Department of Public Health)
COVID-19 Vaccine doses shipped (California Department of Public Health)
Resources For COVID-19 Information and Updates
Berkeley City Auditor | Website