City of Berkeley Measure T1 Bond Policies and Procedures Manual

Like many of California’s cities, Berkeley must respond to numerous urgent and often unprecedented needs related to its aging infrastructure and facilities. These repairs run the gamut from replacing streets and water lines to addressing the impacts of climate change on community assets. Berkeley’s challenges had been magnified by resource limitations along with the elevated expectations of city leaders and their constituents. 

In November 2016, Berkeley residents approved Ballot Measure T1, Infrastructure Bond Program, which authorized the issuance of $100 million of general obligation bonds for repair, renovation, replacement, and reconstruction projects. The City then chose Harris to craft a Policy and Procedures Manual that would keep officials and projects on the right track.  

Harris drew from more than 40 years of experience in successfully implementing capital improvement programs—the vast majority of which involved municipal infrastructure. The team applied decades of lessons learned to address modern challenges. The resulting manual will help confirm to all stakeholders that the City uses T1 funds with full accountability and transparency on infrastructure projects that enhance quality of life for current residents and future generations.

Core Elements

Harris’ T1 Bond Manual included detailed procedures for defining performance metrics and requirements for project evaluation and selection methods, including:

• Public engagement
• Program management structuring
• Financial control standards
• Reporting methods

The guidelines also help to ensure that the City of Berkeley abides by industry best practices in capital project delivery.