Prevent lithium battery fires: use certified parts, do not leave batteries charging unattended, and watch for signs of damage or overheating. Call 9-1-1 if fire starts. Know how to safely care for, replace, and re-charge lithium batteries, which are common in household devices.Berkeley has had eighteen fires linked to lithium-ion batteries involving e-skateboards, e-scooters, and e-bikes since 2023. Although incidents are down in the city, these dangerous fires continue to happen around the region and nation. Simple tips can help keep you and your household safe:

Sign up for disaster preparedness classes to learn how to extinguish fires, rescue victims, perform first aid, and help others cope with stress. Take emergency preparedness classes with fellow Berkeleyans to learn practical skills you can use in your neighborhoods before, during, and after disasters.These classes include skills such as:

Thursday and Friday pickups – on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1 and 2 – will be pushed a day later. Cut, compost your holiday tree – or drop it off whole at Transfer Station. If your home or business gets trash, recycling, and compost normally collected on a Thursday or Friday, put your bins out a day later due to Christmas and New Year’s days.Following those holidays, customers with regular Thursday pickups should place their bins curbside on Friday mornings by 7:00 am. And those with Friday pickups should set out their bins on Saturday by the same time.

The city uses parking meters as a way to free up spaces in high-traffic commercial areas. Parking meter prices and time limits vary based on demand in the area. Many commercial areas of Berkeley, such as downtown and Solano Avenue, use parking meters as a way to free up spaces. Under the goBerkeley program, the City of Berkeley sets prices and time limits based on current and estimated future demand for parking in a given area. For example, on Shattuck Avenue, meter prices may vary from $1.50 to $4 per hour as you get closer to the downtown arts district. Time limits range as short as 30 minutes up to 8 hours.

The official website of the City of Berkeley, California.

Thursday and Friday pickups – on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1 and 2 – will be pushed a day later. Cut, compost your holiday tree – or drop it off whole at Transfer Station. If your home or business gets trash, recycling, and compost normally collected on a Thursday or Friday, put your bins out a day later due to Christmas and New Year’s days.Following those holidays, customers with regular Thursday pickups should place their bins curbside on Friday mornings by 7:00 am. And those with Friday pickups should set out their bins on Saturday by the same time.

When you hear the outdoor warning system, check the City's online emergency map and AC Alert for more information. If you hear the City of Berkeley’s outdoor warning system—a wailing siren tone followed by a voice message—check the City’s emergency map and alerting systems to find out if you need to evacuate or shelter in place.Once you hear the siren and voice message, take emergency protective action, which would be detailed in our text, email, and online emergency notifications.

Prevent lithium battery fires: use certified parts, do not leave batteries charging unattended, and watch for signs of damage or overheating. Call 9-1-1 if fire starts. Know how to safely care for, replace, and re-charge lithium batteries, which are common in household devices.Berkeley has had eighteen fires linked to lithium-ion batteries involving e-skateboards, e-scooters, and e-bikes since 2023. Although incidents are down in the city, these dangerous fires continue to happen around the region and nation. Simple tips can help keep you and your household safe:

The official website of the City of Berkeley, California.

Thursday and Friday pickups – on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1 and 2 – will be pushed a day later. Cut, compost your holiday tree – or drop it off whole at Transfer Station. If your home or business gets trash, recycling, and compost normally collected on a Thursday or Friday, put your bins out a day later due to Christmas and New Year’s days.Following those holidays, customers with regular Thursday pickups should place their bins curbside on Friday mornings by 7:00 am. And those with Friday pickups should set out their bins on Saturday by the same time.

Sign up for disaster preparedness classes to learn how to extinguish fires, rescue victims, perform first aid, and help others cope with stress. Take emergency preparedness classes with fellow Berkeleyans to learn practical skills you can use in your neighborhoods before, during, and after disasters.These classes include skills such as:

County emergency messaging platform is used by Berkeley to send text messages, emails and calls. Quickly getting authoritative information is the first step in an emergency. Sign up for AC Alert—Berkeley’s main emergency alerting system—to quickly know what protective actions you, your family, or your co-workers should take during emergencies.When you sign up, include all your phone numbers, email addresses, and locations of interest to get critical emergency information wherever you are.Make sure each member of your household signs up for their own account so each person can receive alerts.

Explore Berkeley nonprofits this holiday season and find ways to give back to the community across causes like youth, health, arts, and more.

Prevent lithium battery fires: use certified parts, do not leave batteries charging unattended, and watch for signs of damage or overheating. Call 9-1-1 if fire starts. Know how to safely care for, replace, and re-charge lithium batteries, which are common in household devices.Berkeley has had eighteen fires linked to lithium-ion batteries involving e-skateboards, e-scooters, and e-bikes since 2023. Although incidents are down in the city, these dangerous fires continue to happen around the region and nation. Simple tips can help keep you and your household safe:

Sign up for disaster preparedness classes to learn how to extinguish fires, rescue victims, perform first aid, and help others cope with stress. Take emergency preparedness classes with fellow Berkeleyans to learn practical skills you can use in your neighborhoods before, during, and after disasters.These classes include skills such as:

From birthdays to weddings, block parties to sports teams—reserve Berkeley parks, courts, and facilities for your next event. Throw a birthday party at James Kenney Park’s pickleball courts. Host a neighborhood potluck with a bounce house at San Pablo Park. Say your vows in the Rose Garden.By working with City staff, you can book various City facilities or temporarily use a variety of public spaces for your events – both big and small.Reserve courts, picnic areas, or sports fields. Close down streets for a party. Rent a community center – or even our camps in the Sierras. Use a City venue for your family reunion, wedding, meeting, or youth sports camp.

Shop local at the Dec. 4 Holiday Gift Fair, support nonprofits in the Berkeley Holidays Community Giving Guide, or buy a flexible Berkeley Bucks gift card. Buy thoughtful gifts that support Berkeley’s small businesses and non-profits by using a variety of tools: a local gift fair, a gift card usable at more than 115 Berkeley shops, and an online giving guide.The art you display in your home, the snacks you nosh on, the jewelry you wear, the charities you support, and the tea you sip to warm up this winter can all be made from Berkeley.

Buy a living, compostable tree; learn composting guidelines. When selecting your tree this holiday season, consider a plan that reduces waste and fits the City's disposal rules for when the season is over.If you get a cut tree or another type of holiday tree, know which ones you can compost and which ones you should throw away in the trash bin.Consider buying a living tree to plant in your yard after the holidays – and avoid waste altogether.Whatever tree you choose, aim for an option that minimizes waste and contributes to Berkeley's efforts to reduce landfill contributions.

Holiday Toy Drive 2025! --Last ChanceHelp us spread joy this season! We’re collecting new, unwrapped toys for children ages 4–16. Every gift will go to kids in our local community—let’s make their holidays a little brighter! ✨Curbside drop-off!

City Manager Paul Buddenhagen reflects on the City of Berkeley’s work to improve infrastructure and services over the past year. Having completed my first year as Berkeley’s City Manager, I’m honored to share my first annual report, highlighting some of the remarkable work our staff accomplished over the past year.As the City’s administrative leader, I guide the implementation of policies set by our Mayor and Council into action and service.On a broad scale, that means closely collaborating with our City Council to prioritize the City’s fiscal health, support and develop staff, work with community partners, and find efficiencies to enhance everyone’s experience in Berkeley.

Prevent lithium battery fires: use certified parts, do not leave batteries charging unattended, and watch for signs of damage or overheating. Call 9-1-1 if fire starts. Know how to safely care for, replace, and re-charge lithium batteries, which are common in household devices.Berkeley has had eighteen fires linked to lithium-ion batteries involving e-skateboards, e-scooters, and e-bikes since 2023. Although incidents are down in the city, these dangerous fires continue to happen around the region and nation. Simple tips can help keep you and your household safe:

Holiday Toy Drive 2025! --Last ChanceHelp us spread joy this season! We’re collecting new, unwrapped toys for children ages 4–16. Every gift will go to kids in our local community—let’s make their holidays a little brighter! ✨Curbside drop-off!