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RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, June 21, 2021
The Special Meeting of the Richmond City Council was
called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Thomas K. Butt via teleconference.
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Contra
Costa County and Governor Gavin Newsom issued multiple orders requiring sheltering in place, social distancing, and reduction of person-to-person contact. Accordingly, Governor Gavin Newsom issued executive orders that allowed cities to hold public meetings via teleconferencing (Executive Order N-29-20).
DUE TO THE SHELTER IN PLACE ORDERS, attendance
at the City of Richmond City Council meeting was limited to councilmembers, essential City of Richmond staff, and members of the news media. Public comment was confined to items appearing on the agenda and was limited to the methods provided below.
Consistent with Executive Order N-29-20, this meeting utilized teleconferencing only. The following provides information on how the public participated in the meeting.
The public was able to view the meeting from home on KCRT Comcast Channel 28 or AT&T Uverse Channel 99 and livestream online at http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/3178/KCRT-Live
and
http://www.youtube.com/user/KCRTTV.
The methods to submit public comment were via mail,
email to [email protected], teleconference, and telephone during the meeting. Written comments received by 1:00 p.m. on June 21, 2021, were put into the record and considered before council action. Written comments received after 1:00 p.m. and up until the public comment period on the relevant agenda item closed, were also put into the record. Attached herewith all written public comments received.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Nathaniel Bates, Claudia
Jimenez, Eduardo Martinez, Gayle McLaughlin, Melvin Willis, Vice Mayor Demnlus Johnson III, and Mayor Thomas K. Butt.
Absent: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
The Public Comment Instructional Video was shown.
STATEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None.
AGENDA REVIEW
None.
REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER
City Manager Laura Snideman announced that Contra Costa Health Services was providing free mobile COVID-19 vaccination services at workplaces and community organizations for groups of five or more people.
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Police Chief Bisa French provided a brief report on the shooting that occurred in the 2100 block of Dunn Avenue on June 20, 2021.
BUDGET SESSION
F-1. The matter to approve $7.25 million in American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as part of the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 Annual Budget to replace lost revenue in the amount of $4 million; upgrade heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in the amount of $2 million; invest in community beautification efforts in the amount of $1 million; and conduct a community needs assessment in the amount of $250,000 to help inform the City Council's future decision for the City of Richmond's remaining ARPA allocation, was introduced by City Manager Laura Snideman. Interim Library and Community
Services Director LaShonda White presented a Powerpoint that highlighted the following: ARPA overview; FY 2021-2022 proposed ARPA allocations; ARPA categories and stakeholder input; and next steps. Discussion ensued. The council requested the following: Utilize ARPA funds for crucial recovery; focus on the most urgent needs for the most vulnerable and low-income communities, unemployment, youth, and the community most impacted by COVID-19; provide hard numbers for the community needs, existing services, and gaps in service; select consultants that were part of the community; and provide detailed plans for the community project proposal. The following individuals gave comments via teleconference: Mark Wassberg, Steve Bischoff, Katrinka Ruk, Shawn Dunning, Leisa Johnson, Linda Whitmore, Valerie Jameson, Mia Carbajal, Jasmine Jones, Mapuana Bal, Valeska Castaneda, and Jose Arebalo. Further discussion ensued.
The council recommended staff to incorporate $1 million of ARPA funds to the Richmond Rapid Response Fund and housing
initiatives; and add funding for a consultant to come up with a Green and Blue New Deal. A motion was made by
Councilmember McLaughlin, seconded by Councilmember
Jimenez, to utilize $300,000 in ARPA funding for an
environmental planning consultant to come up with a one-year to 18-month planning process that included meetings and workshops with environmental justice organizations and stakeholders for the creation of a local Green and Blue New Deal. Further discussion ensued. The council recommended the following: Allocate $6,000 or more in ARPA funding directly to families; staff to consider improving street safety infrastructure and program in conjunction with YouthWORKS among other recommendations discussed in community meetings; and utilize ARPA funding to provide ongoing language translation services at City Council meetings.
The council requested information regarding the City of Richmond’s noise ordinance and the status of license plate readers.
A friendly amendment made by Councilmember Willis, to also include an ARPA funding allocation of $1million to housing initiatives and the Richmond Rapid Response Fund as indicated in the letter mentioned during the discussion, was accepted. (The counc
il agreed to vote on the friendly amendment as a separate motion). The motion made by Councilmember McLaughlin,
seconded by Councilmember Jimenez, to utilize $300,000 in ARPA funding for an environmental planning consultant to come up with a one-year to 18-month planning process that included meetings and workshops with environmental justice organizations and stakeholders for the creation of a local Green Blue New Deal passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, and Willis. Noes: Councilmember Bates cc21Jun2021 - Special Meeting
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and Mayor Butt. Abstained: None. Absent: Vice Mayor Johnson III. A motion was made by Councilmember McLaughlin, seconded by Councilmember Willis, to accept the staff
recommendation. Further discussion ensued. A substitute motion made by Councilmember Martinez, to only approve the $4 million to replace lost revenue, died for the lack of a second. A motion made by Councilmember McLaughlin, seconded by
Councilmember Willis, accepting the staff recommendation to approve $7.25 million in ARPA funds as part of the proposed FY 2021-22 Annual Budget to replace lost revenue in the amount of $4 million; upgrade heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in the amount of $2 million; invest in community beautification efforts in the amount of $1 million; and conduct a community needs assessment in the amount of $250,000 to help inform the City Council's future decision for the City of Richmond's remaining ARPA allocation passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Jimenez, McLaughlin, Willis, and Vice Mayor Johnson III. Noes: Councilmembers Bates, Martinez, and Mayor Butt. Abstained: None. Absent: None. A motion made by Councilmember Willis, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, to allocate $1 million of ARPA funding with $600,000 going directly to families and $400,000 for the project design and development of a Universal Basic Income pilot program, that would go to the Richmond Rapid Response Fund (R3F) passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, and Vice Mayor Johnson III. Noes:
Councilmembers Bates and Mayor Butt. Abstained: None.
Absent: None. (Mayor Butt corrected the R3F amount from $100,000 to $400,000). A motion made by Mayor Butt, seconded by Councilmember Bates, to use $3 million to restore funding for seven sworn positions in the Police Department failed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmember Bates and Mayor Butt.
Noes: None. Abstained: Councilmembers Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, and Vice Mayor Johnson III. Absent: None.
(At approximately 8:01 p.m., the council recessed and
reconvened at 8:06 p.m. with all councilmembers present).
F-2. The matter to receive the five-year Capital
Improvement Plan (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2021-2022 through 2025-2026, and a budget appropriating $30,196,844 for projects in the Capital Improvement Plan Budget for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2022, was introduced by City Manager Laura Snideman.
Accounting Manager Antonio Banuelos presented a Powerpoint that highlighted the CIP project funding, major revenue sources, and corresponding projects. Discussion ensued. The council requested or recommended the following: Staff to seek funding for upgrades to the Richmond Memorial Auditorium and other City of Richmond facilities; consideration of the importance of rebuilding the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) community center; percentage of staff time spent on projects for FY 2020-2021 and projected for FY 2021-2022; clarification for the $600,000 allocation for the Fire Station No. 6 gender-specific restroom; costs to repair the Booker T. Anderson community center, build a new MLK
community center, and upgrade the Richmond Memorial
Auditorium’s sound system; and staff to locate the previous design plans for the proposed new MLK community center. Mark
Wassberg gave comments via teleconference. Further discussion ensued. The council requested the following for the future: More flushed-out details of the CIP allocations; quarterly or mid-year reports for CIP project expenses; and community input. A motion was made by Councilmember Willis, seconded by Councilmember cc21Jun2021 - Special Meeting
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McLaughlin, to move the item as recommended by staff. Further discussion ensued. The council suggested staff prioritize soliciting council and community feedback regarding capital improvements.
Further discussion ensued. On motion of Councilmember Willis, seconded by Councilmember McLaughlin, received the five-year CIP for FY 2021-2022 through FY 2025-2026, and budget appropriation of $30,196,844 for projects in the CIP budget for the FY 2021-2022 by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, Vice Mayor Johnson III, and Mayor Butt. Noes:
Councilmember Bates. Abstained: None. Absent: None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m., to meet again on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 6:30 p.m.
Clerk of the City of Richmond
(SEAL)
Approved:
Mayor
From: Katrinka Ruk
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comment: 06/21/21 Council Item #F-1 $7.25 million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds Date: Monday, June 21, 2021 12:43:34 PM
Attachments: 06.21.21 Item F-1 ARPA.docx
COUNCIL OF INDUSTRIES
P.O. BOX 70088, PT. RICHMOND, CA 94807
(510)215-9325
501(C)(6) FED ID# 94-0672760
June 21, 2021
/email/
To: City Clerk
To: Mayor, Vice Mayor, City Council, City Manager
Re: 06/21/21 City Council; Item F-1 $7.25 million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds
as part of proposed FY2021-22
On behalf of the Council of Business and Industries (COI) the following comments are being submitted for your review.
Last night three individuals were killed and eight wounded, and just a month ago on Memorial weekend an individual was shot and killed. Last year, our city lost 21 sworn police officer positions – never to be filled. Now you – city council – in opposition to the stated needs of the Richmond community – decided NOT TO FILL 12 additional sworn officer positions. That is a total of 33 sworn officer positions in 2 years.
Our deep concern still remains that your decision to not fill these positions will continue to be an open door for criminals to commit more crime on our residents, community, businesses and homeless.
An appropriate use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding is to fully staff police to pre-pandemic levels.
We are therefore requesting that $2.3 million in ARPA funds be added back to the FY2021-22 police department budget to fill the twelve open positions. This is in addition to the $7.25 million in ARPA funds staff is recommending for $4 million in lost revenues replacement, $2 million for HVAC upgrades for the community centers, $1 million for city beautification efforts and $250,000 for a community needs assessment.
The Interim Final Rule provides that:
“State, local, and Tribal governments continue to see pandemic impacts in overall staffing levels: State, local, and Tribal government employment remains more than 1 million jobs lower in April 2021 than prior to the pandemic.[88] Employment losses decrease a state or local government's ability to effectively administer services. Thus, the interim final rule includes as an eligible use payroll, covered benefits, and other costs associated with rehiring public sector staff, up to the pre-pandemic staffing level of the government.” We have seen an increase in crime in our business community– robberies, break-ins, vandalism. Limiting the police staffing and budget led to increases in public safety risks in other bay area cities. If that happens in Richmond, our businesses will suffer through loss of customers; leading to lower revenue, lower business taxes to the city, increased businesses moving to a "safer" city, loss of local jobs, less opportunity to support YouthWorks programs…all adding to the same systemic root causes the task force is hoping to address with its recommendations.
With a $2.3 million reduction in the police budget, focus will be directed to emergency and violent situations. We have yet to hear how the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force and the Implementation Team will address the following public safety issues:
<!--[if !supportLists]--> · <!--[endif]--> Our patrol staffing will be impacted – Current staffing does not allow for coverage seven days /week, as a result, overtime is required to cover additional hours. The reduction in staffing has impacted their ability to respond to crime trends and district/beat/neighborhood needs. Patrols in our business community help defray criminal activity and without this we foresee an uptick in vandalism and customers visiting stores in other cities.
<!--[if !supportLists]--> · <!--[endif]--> Police response to the following will be limited or eliminated due to lack of staffing:
<!--[if !supportLists]--> ü <!--[endif]--> Response to older/cold-cases:
This is a service the RPD is unable to provide with its current resources.
<!--[if !supportLists]--> ü <!--[endif]--> Response to domestic violence and sexual assault cases: has not diminished but the number of detectives assigned to those cases has resulted in cases not getting the attention they are due for a rapid response.
<!--[if !supportLists]--> ü <!--[endif]--> Response to robbery cases:
There are not enough detectives to handle in-custody robbery cases, leaving little time to investigate cases with existing leads. Robberies at businesses will increase and could determine if a business remains in Richmond. This will also impact and increase insurance coverage with many small businesses may not be able to financially support. <!--[if !supportLists]--> ü <!--[endif]--> Intelligence gathering to thwart crimes (fireworks, side-show activity, etc.): Due to reduced staffing they cannot focus on gathering intelligence as they are focused on combatting retaliatory shootings, or repetitive vandalism of business entities.
<!--[if !supportLists]--> ü <!--[endif]--> Response to human trafficking operations: Current staffing provides for only ONE DETECTIVE focused on this who is also pulled to assist other teams with their case load. <!--[if !supportLists]--> ü <!--[endif]--> Response to quality-of-life issues (prostitution, drug house abatement, open air narcotic sales, homelessness issues, citizen/business complaints, etc.): Previous teams addressing these issues – BRAVO and Street Teams – had to be eliminated when staffing was reduced. Beat Patrol has the responsibility and in the past required overtime to address issues due to lack of proper staffing. These issues impact how safe individuals feel in approaching local businesses.
<!--[if !supportLists]--> ü <!--[endif]--> Response to evacuations: RPD is responsible for coordinating emergency evacuation and for enforcing laws against illegal fireworks. In the case of needing to coordinate a widespread evacuation due to a wildfire, the Police Department’s current staffing will likely require requesting assistance from neighboring cities- depending upon their availability.
The reduction in the police department budget will impact public safety, however, the Task Force has not addressed how funding of other programs will address these gaps in public safety. The city has a fiscal responsibility to ensue that funding is adequate to support the need of the community, residents and businesses in regards to public safety. Not filling the vacancies and elimination of these key programs will add to the deterioration of our blue-ribbon community-based nationally recognized public safety program. It also impacts recruitment and growth of economic development. Therefore, redirecting the $2.3 million to the police department budget will ease this gap.
Katrinka Ruk, Executive Director
Katrinka Ruk
Executive Director
Council of Business & Industries
510)260-4820 cell
http://www.councilofindustries.com
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From: Cordell Hindler
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments F-2 Budget Session
Date: Thursday, June 17, 2021 2:12:12 PM
good Evening Mayor Butt, Council Members and City Staff, Let me reiterate the comments from Last Tuesday
I have looked at the Power Point Presentation and I was very Impressed that the Finance Department with the assistance of the city manager's office,
I am asking that the council to Adopt the resolution as presented Sincerely
Cordell