February 1, 2022
Economic Development
DATE: February 1, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
(List all relevant/responsive staff
persons)
Shasa Curl, Interim City Manager
Gabino Arredondo, Project Manager
Subject:
(This will appear on the agenda)
2022-1-11(sr)(IO) COMMUNITY BENEFITS
POLICY.docx
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There will be a fiscal impact resulting from staff time and possible additional consultant support to implement the ordinance. However, the exact amount of that impact is
unknown currently. Any financial impacts related to this ordinance will be brought to City Council for
consideration.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
(List all dates items were heard or
council action took place)
June 8, 2021, July 27, 2021, September 28, 2021,
November 2, 2021, December 14, 2021.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff members and the consulting team are providing a draft/proposed city-wide Community Benefits ordinance for City Council’s consideration.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
(This will appear on the agenda)
ADOPT an ordinance (second reading) for a city-wide
community benefits policy – City Manager’s Office
(Shasa Curl 510-620-6512).
AGENDA
REPORT
February 1, 2022
DISCUSSION:
At the June 8, 2021, City Council meeting, City staff members were directed to solicit feedback and engage in community outreach regarding terms of a proposed city‐wide Community Benefits Policy (“CBP”), with the public and City Council providing input during two City Council Study Sessions prior to final presentation. In addition, pursuant to City Council action on July 27, 2021, city staff members engaged a consulting team to assist in development of a proposed CBP. City staff members have been working collaboratively with the consulting team, which has (i) interviewed several key staff members regarding the City’s community benefits programs and approach; (ii) conducted a “landscape scan” of existing City programs; and (iii) performed preliminary research into national models for community benefits policies. City staff members and the consulting team presented detailed information on these topics to the City Council at its September 28, 2021, study session and received feedback from the City Council and the public.
In September and October 2021, the consultant team conducted interviews with ten (10) city staff members from six (6) city department whose work relates to development, procurement, and contract compliance, to gather information and insights on how a new CBP could enhance and streamline the City’s current requirements. Additionally, each City Council member was invited to provide an individual perspective. In the area of community engagement, the City staff members held two (2) community input sessions to further inform the development of a CBP on October 13th and 14th. A report-back from these public input sessions was presented to the City Council on November 2, 2021.
City staff members have also provided an update on the CBP development and ways to provide community input to the Economic Development Commission on September 8, 2021, and November 10, 2021, and to the Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council on November 9, 2021. During the CBP community input session there was a request for a CBP presentation by the Healthy Richmond Team and Race Equity Team Resident Ambassadors. Staff presented to this group on November 8, 2021. All materials from the meetings are on the project website, https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4126/Community-Benefits-Policy-Development.
Based on the input from City officials, staff, and the public, the consulting team developed a proposed draft framework for the new City-wide Community Benefits Policy and presented it to the City Council on December 14, 2021. During the study session, City Council provided additional direction for City staff to consider. Some City Council members suggested adding additional community benefits such as: job training, reparations for former Richmond residents who have been displaced, and enhancement of the Business Opportunity Ordinance. After this study session, the consulting team offered to meet with City Council members for additional input.
Building off the proposed draft framework and additional City Council guidance, the consulting team has drafted a City-wide Community Benefits Ordinance for City Council’s review and consideration (Attachment 1). The draft ordinance includes a proposed scope, application, and procedures for public consideration of large
February 1, 2022
development projects under consideration by the City, and baseline community benefits expectations.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – City-wide Community Benefits Ordinance