Printed 03/14/2023
PlanetBids, Inc.
City of Richmond
Services in Support of the Unhoused (CD-Housing-080122), bidding on 09/01/2022 4:00 PM (PDT)
Printed 03/14/2023
PlanetBids, Inc.
City of Richmond
Services in Support of the Unhoused (CD-Housing-080122), bidding on 09/01/2022 4:00 PM (PDT)
Printed 03/14/2023
PlanetBids, Inc.
City of Richmond
Services in Support of the Unhoused (CD-Housing-080122), bidding on 09/01/2022 4:00 PM (PDT)
Printed 03/14/2023
PlanetBids, Inc.
City of Richmond
Services in Support of the Unhoused (CD-Housing-080122), bidding on 09/01/2022 4:00 PM (PDT)
Printed 03/14/2023
PlanetBids, Inc.
Vendor Name 1 2 Total Rank
Five Keys Schools and Programs N/A N/A N/A N/A
Housing Consotium of the East Bay (HCEB) N/A N/A N/A N/A OakBrooks, LLC N/A N/A N/A N/A
Safe Organzied Spaces Richmond (SOS) 88 78 166 1
Social Progress, Inc. 50 71 121 2
DECISION MATRIX
Request for Qualifications - Service Providers for the Unhoused Service Category 3 and 4.
January 20, 2023
March 28, 2023
Mayor's Office
DATE: March 28, 2023
TO: Members of the City Council
FROM:
Mayor Eduardo Martinez
Subject:
Appointment to Community Police Review Commission
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Rachel Lorber is applying for an open position on the
Community Police Review Commission
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPOINT Rachel Lorber to the Community Police
Review Commission, to fill an unexpired term, Term
Expires November 1, 2024 - Mayor’s Office (Mayor
Eduardo Martinez 510-620-6503).
DISCUSSION: Rachel brings a plethora of experience and knowledge of the law.
Rachel has a B/S in Sociology (Concentration in Criminal Justice) and a Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law. Rachel is also a Public Defender.
AGENDA
REPORT
March 28, 2023
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Rachel Lorber’s application
March 28, 2023
Mayor's Office
DATE: March 28, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Mayor Martinez
Subject:
Proclamations for the month of April; Donate Life Month, Earth Day, Sexual Assault Awareness Month,
Transgender Day of Remembrance
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
On March 28, 2023, the City of Richmond recognizes
Earth Day, Sexual Assault Awareness Month,
Transgender Day of Remembrance, and Donate Life
Month
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
PROCLAMATIONS recognizing Donate Life Month, Earth Day, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Transgender Day of
Remembrance - Mayor Eduardo Martinez (510-620-6503).
DISCUSSION:
Earth Day, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Transgender Day of Remembrance, and Donate Life Month proclamations are being presented to honor and raise community awareness to the issues.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Proclamations
AGENDA
REPORT
City of Pride and Purpose
450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804 | www.RichmondCAMayor.org | 510.620.6527
Proclamations April
Proclamation for Donate Life Month
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond, California recognizes the importance of organ and tissue donation and transplantation in saving and improving lives; and
WHEREAS, more than 109,000 people in the United States, and over 23,000 Californians, are currently awaiting life-saving organ transplants, with an average of 17 people dying each day while waiting; and
WHEREAS, one organ donor can save up to eight lives, and one tissue donor can enhance the lives of up to 75 others; and
WHEREAS, organ and tissue donation can have a profound impact on individuals, families, and communities, giving hope to those in need and honoring the legacy of those who have generously given the gift of life; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond, California is committed to promoting organ and tissue donation and transplantation awareness in our community.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mayor Eduardo Martinez, on behalf of the City of Richmond, California, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2023 as Donate Life Month and encourage all citizens to consider becoming organ and tissue donors. Let us work together to increase awareness about the life-saving benefits of donation and transplantation, and honor the donors and their families who have made a difference in the lives of others.
Signed,
Eduardo Martinez
Mayor’s Office
March 28, 2023
Office of the Mayor Eduardo Martinez
CITY OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA
City of Pride and Purpose
450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804 | www.RichmondCAMayor.org | 510.620.6527
Earth Day Proclamation
WHEREAS, Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd, and is a day for people around the world to reflect on the beauty and wonder of our planet, and to commit to protecting it for future generations;
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond recognizes the importance of taking actions to protect our planet, and to reduce our environmental impact in order to create a healthier and more sustainable community for all of its residents;
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond has a long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability, and has implemented numerous policies and programs to reduce its environmental impact and promote sustainability, including promoting renewable energy, supporting public transportation, and implementing programs to reduce waste and increase recycling;
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond recognizes the need for continued efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, to protect our water resources, to reduce waste and increase recycling, and to promote sustainable practices throughout our community;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, the Mayor of the City of Richmond, California, do hereby proclaim April 22nd, 2023 as Earth Day in the City of Richmond and urge all residents to take actions to reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainability in their daily lives.
I call on all residents to join together to celebrate Earth Day, and to commit to taking actions to protect our planet for future generations.
Signed,
Eduardo Martinez,
Mayor’s Office
March 28, 2023
Office of the Mayor Eduardo Martinez
CITY OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA
City of Pride and Purpose
450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804 | www.RichmondCAMayor.org | 510.620.6527
Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation
WHEREAS, sexual assault is a pervasive and damaging crime that affects individuals and communities across the nation, and it is estimated that one in three women and one in six men will experience sexual assault in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond recognizes that sexual assault is a serious and violent crime that has a devastating impact on survivors and their families, and on the safety and well-being of our community as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond is committed to raising awareness about sexual assault, promoting prevention strategies, and providing support to survivors of sexual assault and their families; and
WHEREAS, April is nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, providing an opportunity for all citizens to increase their understanding of this issue and take action to support survivors and prevent sexual assault;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the City of Richmond, California, hereby designates April 2023 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and urges all citizens to observe this month by taking steps to prevent sexual assault, supporting survivors of sexual assault, and promoting greater understanding of this issue in our community.
Signed,
Eduardo Martinez,
Mayor’s Office
March 28, 2023
Office of the Mayor Eduardo Martinez
CITY OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA
City of Pride and Purpose
450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804 | www.RichmondCAMayor.org | 510.620.6527
Transgender Day of Remembrance
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond, California, is home to a diverse and inclusive community, including transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals; and
WHEREAS, the transgender and gender-nonconforming community faces pervasive discrimination, harassment, and violence, including hate crimes and homicides, at alarming rates; and
WHEREAS, the Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed annually on November 20th to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence, to raise awareness of the ongoing violence faced by the transgender and gender-nonconforming community, and to recommit ourselves to working towards a world where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect; and
WHEREAS, according to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 44 transgender and gender- nonconforming individuals were killed in the United States in 2020, making it the deadliest year on record for this community; and
WHEREAS, the majority of these individuals were Black and Latinx transgender women, who face heightened levels of violence and discrimination due to the intersections of racism, transphobia, and misogyny; and
WHEREAS, these statistics are deeply concerning and highlight the urgent need for continued efforts to address the systemic issues that contribute to the discrimination and violence faced by the transgender and gender-nonconforming community;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the City of Richmond, California, recognizes November 20th as Transgender Day of Remembrance and urges all residents to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence, to stand in solidarity with the transgender and gender-nonconforming community, and to commit ourselves to creating a world where everyone can live free from discrimination, harassment, and violence.
Signed,
Office of the Mayor Eduardo Martinez
CITY OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA
City of Pride and Purpose
450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804 | www.RichmondCAMayor.org | 510.620.6527
Eduardo Martinez,
Mayor’s Office
March 28, 2023
March 28, 2023
Fire Department
DATE: March 28, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Angel Montoya, Fire Chief
SUBJECT:
Report by the West Contra Costa Fire Safe Council
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The West Contra Costa Fire Safe Council (WCCFSC)
intends to introduce itself to the City of Richmond and discuss its mission, objectives, and achievements.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a presentation from West Contra Costa Fire
Safe Council (WCCFSC) regarding its mission,
objectives, and achievements – Fire Department (Chief
Angel Montoya 510-307-8041). This item was
continued from the December 20, 2022, January 24,
2023, February 28, 2023, and March 7, 2023,
meetings.
AGENDA
REPORT
March 28, 2023
DISCUSSION:
The West Contra Costa Fire Safe Council (WCCFSC) was established in May 2022 to provide education, exchange information and foster wildfire prevention and fire safety within the City of Richmond and County of Contra Costa.
Objectives
WCCFSC aims to promote wildfire risk reduction and resiliency through public education and raising awareness to Richmond and Contra Costa County residents. In addition, WCCFSC intends to continue collaborating with fire agencies and public entities to perform vegetation management and fuel reduction throughout the City of Richmond and Contra Costa County.
Achievements
Some of the most recent achievements of WCCFSC includes collaborating with multiple public safety agencies in managing projects such as clearing evacuation routes and public emergency egress routes, performing fuel reduction, and installing fire danger signs throughout Contra Costa County.
Additionally, WCCFSC along with Richmond Fire Prevention Services Division, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Fire Marshal’s Office, and the City of Richmond’s Public Works Department provided shaded fuel breaks on sides of Castro Ranch Road, an evacuation route for Carriage Hills and Castro Heights neighborhood.
Lastly, on May 19, 2022, the Richmond Fire Department, WCCFSC, Richmond Police Department, Contra Costa County Office of the Sherriff, and Office of Emergency Services conducted Richmond’s first emergency evacuation drill.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – WCCFSC PowerPoint
West Contra Costa Fire Safe Council
(WCCFSC)
Richmond City Council
November 15, 2022
WCCFSC
Mission: To provide education, exchange
information and foster wildfire prevention and fire safety within the City of Richmond and County of Contra Costa.
Status: California Registered non-profit 501(c)(3)
Established: May 2022
Officers
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Soheila Bana
Marilyn Saarni
Ra Criscitiello
Rebecca Orona
Agency Liaison: Richmond Fire Chief Angel Montoya
Advisory Board
• Richmond Fire Department
• Pinole Fire Department
• Contra Costa County Fire Prevention District
• Cal Fire
• California Fire Safe Council
• Diablo Fire Safe Council
• Oakland Fire Safe Council
• Contra Costa County Sheriff
• Richmond Police Department
Advisory Board (Continued)
• East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD)
• East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD)
• Coastal Conservancy
• California Dept. of Transportation (Caltrans)
• Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
• Team Rubicon
• Wildcat Canyon Community School
• California Department of Conservation
WHY?
MORE…
PG&E Gas Transmission
Pipeline
Hayward Fault
• Hayward Fault
• PG&E Gas Pipelines
Both crossing I-80
Objectives
• Fuel Reduction
• Residents (Education & Awareness)
• Community (FireWise)
• Advisory Agencies (Vegetation Management/Fuel Reduction) • Raising Public Awareness
• Emergency Preparedness (Individual & Community)
• Emergency Communication Network
Achievements
Cooperation with Con Fire >>> Use Measure X Resources >>> Crew 12 I. Clearing Evacuation Routes
• Carriage Hills/Castro Heights
• Pinole Valley Road
II. Promoting FireWise Communities
III. Clearing Public Emergency Egress Routes:
• El Sobrante & Pinole by Con Fire & Pinole Fire Dept.
• Hilltop Green by RPD and Pinole Fire Dept.
Achievements (Continued)
IV. Fire Access Lanes
• Identifying Issues (4 so far)
• Accessibility, Marking, Grading, Clearing
V. Fuel Reduction Recommendations/Updates
• EBRPD – Tour + Report + WCCFSC Recommendations
• EBMUD - Report
VI. Installing Fire Danger Today signs by CCCFPD, RFD, EBRPD
Achievements (Continued)
VII. Raising Public Awareness about CWS & Zonehaven
• In Collaboration with CCCFPD (Con Fire) & CCC Tax Collector VIII. Collaboration with Emergency Communication Network IX. Fire Station #63 Open House with WCCFSC – Fire Prevention Week X. Emergency Evacuation Drills – First in Richmond!
I
Clearing
Evacuation
Routes
Measure
X
Resources
Crew
12
II - FireWise Communities
• 1 community started (11 homeowners)
• 3 more communities starting soon (total of nearly 30 homeowners)
V – Fuel Reduction Recommendations/Updates (EBRPD)
Left to Right:
• EBRPD Captain McIntyre
• EBRPD Fire Chief Theile
• WCCFSC Agency Liaison
Fire Chief Montoya
• EBRPD Assistant Chief
Helae
• EBRPD Fuel Reduction
Coordinators, Collin Galla
gher and Steve Keller
III – Installing Fire Danger Today signs
by CCCFPD, RFD, EBRPD
• Increase Public Awareness on Red Flag Days
In collaboration with:
• CCC Tax Collector
• CCC Fire Protection District
VII – Raising Public Awareness: CWS & Zonehaven
• Date: May 19th, 2022
• Drill Area: Carriage Hill North & Castro Heights
• Destination: Hilltop Mall
• Project Leader: Richmond Battalion Chief Victor Bontempo • Participants: Richmond Fire Department
Richmond Police Department
CCC Sheriff
CCC Office of Emergency Services
Richmond Office of Emergency Services
X – Richmond’s First Emergency Evacuation Drill
WCCFSC & Richmond Fire Department
COLLABORATED ON FIRST EV ACUATION DRILL
WCCFSC Invites City of Richmond to
Collaborate on Wildfire Safety
1. Public Works:
• FireWise assistance by free green dumpsters & chippers
2. Building Division:
• Enforcement of California Fire Marshal Building Code
• Residents
• Contractors
Invitation to the City of Richmond
LET’S TEAM UP!
for
PUBLIC SAFETY!
THANK YOU!
WCCFireSafe.org
[email protected]
QUESTIONS?
March 28, 2023
City Council
DATE: March 28, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
Subject:
Presentation from District Attorney Diana Becton
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact related to this item
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
n/a
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The district attorney will provide an overview and update on the District Attorney’s Office.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a presentation from Contra Costa County
District Attorney Diana Becton – Councilmember Jimenez
(510-620-6581).
DISCUSSION:
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez has requested a presentation from the District Attorney on the services provided to the City of Richmond. The mission of the District AGENDA
REPORT
March 28, 2023
Attorney’s Office is to seek justice and enhance public safety for all residents. By fairly, ethically, aggressively and efficiently prosecuting those who violate the law, and by working to prevent crime.
The report will include the budget, personnel, a department overview and programs. Overview of the criminal process
Divisions and Units
Racial equity, social justice and reducing incarceration The District Attorney’s Office website is www.contracosta.ca.gov and the staff contact is Bobbi Mauler [email protected] .
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Slide Deck
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
DIANA BECTON, DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Budget and Personnel
Budget and Personnel
Department Overview
Department Overview
Programs
Programs
1
COLLABORATION
2
FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 BUDGET
3 $32.8
$24.7
FY 2023-2024 Budget
$57.5MRevenues Inclusive of
Prop. 172 Funds
Net County Cost Target
PERSONNEL
85%
15%
FY 2023-24 Budget
Salaries/Benefits Services/Supplies/Other
$57.5M
4
ALLOCATED POSITIONS (AS OF 03/01/23)
Description FTE
Attorney 104.1
Investigative 30
Victim/Witness 17
Administration and
Support
80.5 T otal 231.6
5
DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Mission
T o seek justice and enhance public safety for all our residents.
By fairly, ethically, aggressively and efficiently prosecuting those who violate the law, and by working to prevent crime.
Seek Justice. Serve Justice. Do Justice.
6
2022 PERFORMANCE
Statistics
1.15 Million residents
25 law enforcement agencies within 19 cities
Filed over 3,242 felony cases
Filed over 3,765 misdemeanor cases
7
OVERVIEW OF CRIMINAL PROCESS
Incident
Occurs
• No Report T o Law Enforcement
Police Agency
Notified/
Investigation
• No Suspect Apprehended
CCCDA
Review
• Cases Not Charged
• Return to agency for additional investigation
• Or other action taken, ex. Diversion
Charges
Filed
8
DIVISIONS AND UNITS
Function
Superior Court Operations
Special Operations
Community Violence Reduction
Homicide
Family Violence
Juvenile
Victim/Witness
Bureau of Investigations
9
2021-22 SPECIALTY UNITS AND PROGRAMS
Specialty Units and Programs
Conviction Integrity Unit
Cold Case Unit
Human Trafficking Unit
Hate Crimes Review
Workplace Justice Unit
10
2021-22 RACIAL EQUITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND REDUCING
INCARCERATION
Reducing Incarceration
Y outh Restorative Justice Diversion
Neighborhood Community Courts
Mental Health Diversion
Vera
Post Conviction Resentencing
11
2021-22 EQUITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND REDUCING INCARCERATION Reducing Incarceration
Sexual Assault T est Kits
Immigration Training
Implicit Bias Training
Training Oversight Committee
Community Academy
Code 4 America
Fatal Incidents
12
CONTACT US
Community Academy
Application is on the website
www.contracosta.ca.gov
13
NEIGHBORHOOD
RESTORATIVE
PARTNERSHIP
[email protected]
14
15
March 28, 2023
City Council
DATE: March 28, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Vice Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and Councilmember Cesar
Zepeda
Subject:
Presentation from Center for Biological Diversity and
Biofuelwatch on the impacts of the Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) wood pellet project
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact related to receiving the presentation
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) has put forward
a wood pellet project which has public health & safety
and environmental justice implications. GSNR is
proposing to store the pellets in silos at the ports of Richmond and/or Stockton
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a presentation from the Center for Biological
Diversity and Biofuelwatch on the wood pellet project
proposed by Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR)
and its pollution exposure and risk to the community and the environment - Vice Mayor McLaughlin (510-620-
6636) and Councilmember Zepeda (510-620-6593).
AGENDA
REPORT
March 28, 2023
DISCUSSION:
This item is to receive a presentation from Shaye Wolf, Climate Science Director at the Center for Biological Diversity and Gary Graham Hughes, Americas Program Coordinator at Biofuelwatch.
The Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) wood pellet project is proposing to build two of the country's largest wood pellet mills in Tuolumne and Lassen Counties—equal in size to the Enviva pellet mills that are devastating the southeast U.S.—transport the pellets by rail across California, store the fire-and-explosion-prone pellets in silos at the ports of Richmond and/or Stockton, and then ship them overseas to Asia or Europe to be burned in converted coal-fired power plants, threatening public health and safety, the climate, environmental justice, and our forests. The presenters will discuss port operations, dust and fire risks, among other major concerns to the community and to the environment.
Richmond has a Health in All Policies Ordinance and Strategy, as well as a Climate Action Plan. In addition, our General Plan has a Health and Wellness Element and an Energy and Climate Element. It is important that we adhere to these policies and guidelines.
It is also important that we hear from Environmental Justice and Climate Justice experts who will be making this presentation so that we are well-informed in making any decisions to come regarding this GSNR wood pellet project.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – GSNR project (summary of impacts)
Attachment 2 – Slideshow
Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) Wood Pellet Project
The Golden State Natural Resources wood pellet project proposes to build two of the country's largest wood pellet mills in Tuolumne and Lassen Counties—equal in size to the Enviva pellet mills that are devastating the southeast U.S.—transport the pellets by rail across California, store the fire-and-explosion-prone pellets in silos at the ports of Richmond and/or Stockton, and then ship them overseas to Asia or Europe to be burned in converted coal-fired power plants, threatening public health and safety, the climate, environmental justice, and our forests.
Public health: Wood pellet production facilities emit toxic air pollution including particulate matter, NOx, SOx, heavy metals (lead, mercury), and hazardous air pollutants (benzene, formaldehyde, dioxins). Exposure to these pollutants is linked to an increased risk of premature death and serious illnesses including cancer, respiratory diseases, and heart disease. The estimated 285 daily truck trips through small rural communities to deliver wood to the mills will create noise and diesel pollution impacts.
Public safety: Wood chip piles are prone to spontaneous combustion, threatening workers and nearby communities with fires and explosions. Fires and explosions have erupted in pellet plants in at least five states. In 2017 a wood pellet storage silo in Port Arthur, Texas, caught fire, with flames burning for more than 100 days, and sent many local residents to the hospital.
Climate: Wood pellets are a highly carbon-intensive, polluting, expensive, and inefficient energy source. Burning wood to generate electricity produces more carbon emissions at the smokestack than coal per unit of electricity produced. Greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution would be emitted at every step of the project—from cutting forests, trucking cut trees long distances, chipping wood and producing pellets, transporting pellets by rail hundreds of miles to ports, and shipping pellets to be burned overseas. The project would incentivize a massive ramp-up of logging of California’s forests, releasing their stored carbon, at a time when it is critical to increase forest protection and stored carbon.
Environmental justice: The two proposed deep-water port sites, Stockton and Richmond, are located in low-income communities of color (majority Hispanic) with some of the highest pollution burdens in the state, according to CalEnviroScreen. The Tuolumne pellet mill site has a higher-than-average pollution burden and a high poverty rate.
Forest ecosystems: The project would remove trees of any type and size within a 100-mile radius of each pellet facility to manufacture one million metric tons of pellets every year, damaging habitat for sensitive and endangered species and harming forest ecosystems.
Golden State Natural Resources
Wood Pellet Export Scheme:
What it means for Richmond
Richmond City Council Educational Agenda Item
Guest Presenter: Gary Graham Hughes
Americas Program Coordinator
Biofuelwatch
• An ’affiliated entity’
of Rural County
Representatives of
California
• Sister affiliated entity
is Golden State
Finance Authority
• GSFA is also lead
agency on CEQA
review
Who/what IS Golden State Natural Resources?
Which counties are represented on the
board of directors of GSNR?
•Modoc
•Inyo
•Butte
•Humboldt
•Siskiyou
What is the status of the project now?
• Scoping on California Environmental Quality
Act initiated in November 2022, public
comment period closed Dec 19, 2022.
• Awaiting the imminent release of the Draft
Environmental Impact Report.
• DEIR release will offer public comment
period.
wood pellet
manufacture
and export scheme
• Site and construct two new
wood pellet manufacturing
facilities
• One each in Tuolumne and
Lassen Counties
• Feedstock sourcing from 100
mile radius around each
facility (and more?)
• Feedstock sourcing from
Public and Private lands
• Lassen facility proposed to be
700,000 tons/year facility, one
of the biggest in the world
• Manufacture 1,000,000 tons
of wood pellets a year
wood pellet
manufacture
and export scheme
• Wood pellets shipped by
rail to ports in SF Bay
Area: Richmond, Stockton
• Conversion of Levin
Terminal in Richmond
from exporting coal to
exporting wood pellets
• Export wood pellets to
global markets to burn in
coal plants converting to
burning biomass
What are wood pellets?
Civil society and grassroots climate justice organizations around the world, in the US, the UK, Europe, Latin
America, and Asia are organizing to challenge conversion of coal plants to biomass as a climate solution.
Founded in United Kingdom and USA. International in Scope.
Biofuelwatch provides information, advocacy and campaigning in relation to the climate, environmental, human rights and public health impacts of large‐scale industrial bioenergy.
Central to the Biofuelwatch mission is promoting citizen engagement in environmental decision making in relation to bioenergy and other bio‐ based products – including bioenergy‐related decisions on land use and environmental permitting.
Biofuelwatch in the USA is under fiscal sponsorship of Global Justice Ecology Project.
www.biofuelwatch.org.uk
Threats from the proposed Golden State Natural
Resources wood pellet project
Threats to:
• Community health
and safety
• Environmental
justice
• Climate
• Forest ecosystems
Shaye Wolf, Ph.D.
Climate Science Director
Center for Biological Diversity
Oakland, CA
[email protected]
Credit: cn.ca
Harms at every stage for communities, climate and forests Credit: Dogwood Alliance
Credit: Dogwood Alliance
Credit: Dogwood AllianceCredit: Dogwood Alliance
Pellet storage at ports (fire and explosion
risk + methane release), ship to Asia/EU/UK
Logging forests Long‐distance trucking Wood pellet mills Burning pellets in converted coal‐fired
power plantsTransport by rail across state
Credit: panews.com
• Wood pellet storage facilities at ports and pellet mills pose substantial fire and explosion hazards
• Wood pellet piles prone to spontaneous combustion
• Fine wood dust released during pellet production,
transportation and handling can “pose catastrophic
fire and explosion hazards” (OSHA)
• The Environmental Integrity Project reported that at
least 8 of the 15 largest US wood pellet facilities have had fires or explosions since 2014
• Repeated fires and explosions at ports:
• injure or kill workers, first responders
• harm residents with air pollution from smoke
and dust
Harms to Port Communities and Pellet Mill Communities:
Fire and Explosion Hazards
Fires (red) and explosions (yellow) at dozens of wood pellet mills and storages silos. Source: Dogwood Alliance
Fire and explosion hazards to port communities
and workers
• Pellets stored in large silos at ports,
typically 50 ft diameter, 65 ft high, hold
several thousand tons of pellets
• Fires in storage silos and warehouses:
• Difficult to detect early
• Difficult to fight: water is ineffective
• Burn days, weeks, or months
• Emit health‐harming smoke
Credit: IndexNews
Fires at Wood Pellet Storage Silo at Port Arthur, TX
• In April 2017 wood pellets inside the German Pellets
storage silo at Port Arthur, Texas,caught fire:
• Burned for 102 days
• Sent smoke for months into predominantly Black
Port Arthur West Side neighborhood
• Many residents sent to the hospital
• Woman who was paraplegic reportedly died
from symptoms caused by the fire
• Silo collapsed in June
• Worker Jesus Cuevas was killed when pellets fell on
his Bobcat machine and smothered him
• Other recent fire incidents at this port pellet
storage facility:
• February 2017
• Closed for 18 months, rebuilt
• January 2020
• October 2022
• Repeated OSHA violations
Credit: panews.com
Credit: FleetMon
Credit: Google maps
Fire and explosions at wood pellet storage warehouse
at Port of Brunswick, GA
• In May 2021 massive explosion and fire at Logistec
wood pellet warehouse at port of Brunswick, GA:
• Firefighters tried to go inside to put out the fire
but pushed back by a second explosion
• More than 100 firefighters and police officers
responded; stayed for weeks
• Warehouse collapsed
• Sent heavy smoke into neighborhood; residents
could hear and feel the explosion blocks away
• Other fires at this port warehouse:
• In 2015, wood pellet fire destroyed two 50,000‐
square‐foot wood‐frame warehouses
• Logistec built new aluminum warehouse in 2016
• Four fires at the new warehouse in 2017, 2018
and 2019, followed by the massive fire in 2021
Credit: Google maps
Environmental Justice Harms:
Communities and Workers
• Port communities of Richmond and Stockton
have some the highest pollution burdens in CA:
• high exposure to particulate matter
• high rates of asthma, low birth weights,
and cardiovascular disease
• high poverty rates
• majority communities of color
• Richmond: Recent victory in phasing out
storage of coal and petcoke by end of 2026
• Tuolumne wood pellet production site:
• higher‐than‐average pollution burden
• high poverty rate
• high rates of asthma and cardiovascular
disease
Credit: www.celebratestockton.com
Port of Stockton
Source: Google Maps
Levin‐
Richmond
Terminal
Harms to Public Health
• Wood pellet mills and pellet burning release
health‐harming pollutants:
• particulate matter (fine dust), NOx (smog),
SOx, CO
• heavy metals (lead, mercury)
• hazardous air pollutants including
carcinogens (benzene, toluene,
formaldehyde, dioxins)
• linked to premature death and serious
illnesses: respiratory and heart disease,
cancer
• Increased truck traffic from this project:
~285 daily truck trips through small rural
communities: noise, dust, diesel pollution
• Increased rail and ship traffic
• Dust issues from pellets
Credit: Dogwood Alliance
Credit: Dogwood Alliance
Woody Biomass Energy Is Harmful to the Climate
• Woody biomass, including wood pellets, is currently categorized as a “renewable” energy source alongside solar and wind
• But like coal and oil, woody biomass is a carbon‐burning form of energy production that emits CO2 and worsens the climate crisis • More climate‐polluting than coal: Burning trees to generate energy produces more carbon emissions per unit of electricity than coal • This project would increase greenhouse gas emissions and decrease forest carbon stocks, harming the climate
Biomass Energy is Not Carbon Neutral
• Biomass industry claims that new tree growth will offset the carbon pollution released by burning wood to make electricity
• But forest regrowth takes time and is highly uncertain • Even if forests are allowed to regrow, burning wood for energy increases carbon in the atmosphere for decades to centuries
• Cutting trees for biomass energy ends their carbon storage and sequestration • This project would worsen carbon pollution at a time when global emissions must be cut in half this decade to limit the worst damages of the climate crisis
Triple Hit to the Climate
•“ burning forest biomass is a
triple hit to climate mitigation.
It increases emissions,
decreases the [planet’s] forest
carbon sink, and soaks up
subsidies that could instead
be allocated to zero
emissions technologies or
efficiency.”
-Mary Booth, PFPI
Enviva’s Sampson county, North Carolina, facility. Most U.S.‐made wood pellets are shipped to Europe where they’re burned to make electricity. Photo credit: Dogwood Alliance
Cutting Forests for Biomass Energy Is Not Effective for Protecting Communities from Wildfire
• Logging/thinning forests is not effective for
reducing wildfire intensity or protecting
communities during wildfire
• Community fire‐safety retrofits work, not
cutting forests:
• What works: home hardening, air filters, fire and
smoke shelters, defensible space work immediately
around home
• Dead trees do not increase wildfire activity
• Broad‐scale thinning to alter fire activity
releases more carbon emissions than it
prevents from being released in a wildfire
Biomass logging, Stanislaus National Forest, 2019, photo by Chad Hanson
Credit: Rick Kuyper, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office Credit: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Credit: Ryan Hagerty, US Fish and Wildlife Service
This project would:
• Remove trees of any type and size
within a 100‐mile radius of each
pellet mill
• Harm sensitive species and
wildlife habitat
• Cover 18 national forests
• Incentivize increases in logging
Pellet facilities would be located
within 100 miles of treasured places:
Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe,
Mono Lake, June Lake, Mammoth,
Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mount
Shasta, and Shasta Lake
Cutting forests for biomass energy harms forest
ecosystems and wildlife habitat
Thank you!
Contacts:
Shaye Wolf, PhD
Climate Science Director
Center for Biological Diversity
Oakland, CA
[email protected]
Gary Graham Hughes
Biofuelwatch
[email protected]
March 28, 2023
City Manager's Office
DATE: March 28, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Shasa Curl, City Manager
LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager, Community Services Lilia Corral, Management Analyst
Subject: The Latina Center & RCF Connects Presentations FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
In honor of Women’s History Month, the City Manager’s
Office is highlighting The Latina Center and RCF
Connects, two organizations that offer programming that supports and empowers women in the Richmond
community.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a presentation from The Latina Center and
RCF Connects in recognition of International Women’s
Day and Women’s History Month – City Manager’s Office
(Shasa Curl 510-620-6512).
AGENDA
REPORT
March 28, 2023
DISCUSSION:
On March 2, 2021, City Council approved a proclamation declaring March as Women’s History Month in the City of Richmond. In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8) and Women’s History Month, the City Manager’s Office wants to highlight two non-profit, Richmond-based organizations that focus on uplifting Black, Indigenous, and people of Color (BIPOC) women and supply them resources to help them thrive.
In 1999, the Latina Center was created as part of the statewide Women’s Health Leadership to adapt and incorporate Latina culture. The Latina Center’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of the Latino community by providing leadership and personal development opportunities for all Latinos. Its services include leadership development, health and well-being, economic empowerment, and legal support. Its programs are available in English and Spanish and range from domestic violence prevention and intervention to workshops for microenterprises. Latina Center’s presentation will provide an overview of the organization, its programs, and the impact those programs have made in the Richmond community.
Formerly known as Richmond Community Foundation, RCF Connects’ mission is to mobilize the power of connection to help build healthy, thriving communities. RCF Connects focus is impacting the five areas of community building: Restoring Neighborhoods, Health, Community Growth, Quality Education and Public Safety. Its presentation will highlight one of its programs; “The Equity for Black Women and Girls Initiative”. This program’s goals include: provide funding and technical assistance to deliver sister circles, launch a black women and girls incubator program for new and existing business enterprises, establish an Equity for Black Women and Girls taskforce, convene black-led organizations and other organizations that serve black people in Contra Costa County (CCC) to inventory services for black women and girls, and create and fund a permanent position staffed by a black woman to support the goals of the Equity for Black Women and Girls Initiative.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – The Latina Center Presentation
Attachment 2 – RCF Connects Presentation
The Latina Center
Celebrating 23 Years of Personal & Community Transformation March 28, 2023 - Richmond City Council Meeting
Presentation by Miriam Wong, Executive Director & Founder
Mission
The mission of The Latina Center is to improve the health and well-being of our Latino community by providing leadership and personal development opportunities for all Latinos.
Vision
Our vision for the future is that Latinos continue to learn, heal, and build the skills and self-reliance to overcome their challenges, achieve their dreams, and emerge as strong business and community leaders.
What We Do
Leadership Development
• Women, Health & Leadership / Mujer, Salud y Liderazgo • Young Latinas Future Leaders
• Policy & Advocacy Leadership
Health & Well-Being
• Mental Health Services
• Our Children First / Primero Nuestro Niños
• Enough! / Ya Basta!
• Contra Costa Cares, Art Healing Workshops & More
Economic Empowerment
• Microenterprise / Microempresas
• Financial Independence Workshops
Legal Support
Women, Health & Leadership (WHL) /
Mujer, Salud y Liderazgo (MSL)
WHL / MSL
• 800 Peer Leaders have graduated from our yearlong
program since its start in 2000
• Transformative Process
• Social Responsibility: Each Leader develops a learning project to address a need in their community
• 35,000 community members reached through learning
projects
“I graduated from the Women, Health & Leadership program in 2003 and then was fortunate to work at The Latina Center for two and a half years as an Assistant Director.
What I learned during the program and through my experience working at Latina Center was some of the most important training in my professional career, not to mention all the deep friendships I still have through the programs. The center is a semillero (seedbed) of talent where you get to teach and learn, your service to the community is celebrated, and you are encouraged to be all you want to be.”
Nancy Villaseñor
Health Educator, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Young Latin Future Leaders
(YLFL)
• 406 Middle & High School Students have participated in our program since its start in 2009
• Provides Latino youth with leadership development, peer support, mentoring, and advocacy training to improve
their quality of life and academic success
• Social Responsibility
• Designed to support self-esteem and health
Our YLFL youth led a successful campaign to preserve the jobs of WCCUSD School Community Outreach Workers (SCOWs) this month. They wrote a letter, collected 653 signatures (576 students, 51 parents, etc.) and presented it on 3/15 to the WCCUSD Board.
Ya Basta! / Enough! Program
• Domestic Violence prevention and intervention program • 1320+ survivors of domestic violence served
• Provides education, support, and training on how we can together end family violence in our Latino community.
• The Caminos Al Apoyo Support Group is for women who have experienced physical, emotional, and/or sexual violence. • Our Celebrating Recovery Support Group is a 12-step
program for survivors of domestic violence seeking inner peace.
¡Ya Basta! + Sin Miedo Campaign
Our Children First / Primero
Nuestro Niños
• 4200 parents trained through the program since it started in 2008
• The program offers a Parenting School (Escuela de Padres), which uses the evidence-based curriculum STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting). The school teaches Latino parents how to support the healthy emotional, social, and educational development of their children.
• This program is a part of our Mental Health Services and, through it, we make referrals for support and treatment including individual therapy
Microenterprise / Microempresas
• Our program provides classes, workshops, technical
assistance, small grants, a peer network, and other
support to help entrepreneurial Latinos succeed.
• We help entrepreneurs develop a business plan, generate financial projections, identify potential lenders, prepare loan applications, and create strategic marketing tools.
Legal Advice
• Monthly free consultations with an Immigration Lawyer • We provide Legal Advice related to immigration, U-Visa, and VAWA (Violence Against Women Act). VAWA is
legislation, first passed in 1994, that creates and
supports comprehensive, cost-effective responses to
domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
We Listen & Respond
• Covid 19 Community Response
• Covid Vaccine Campaign
• Emergency Rent Assistance Program
• Census 2020
• Vote 2020
• Multicultural Wellness Walks
Impact
• 23 Years of Serving the Latino Community in the Bay
Area!
• 16 Programs since 2000
• 8+ Additional Services (Legal Advice, Mental Health
Services & More)
• 65,000+ Served
• 220,000+ Reached
• 14 Staff Members currently and many trained Parent
Educators and Volunteers
Thank You!
3701 Barrett Avenue, Richmond CA 94805
(510) 233 – 8595 (9AM-5PM Pacific Time)
[email protected]
www.thelatinacenter.org
Convene Black-led organizations
and other organizations that serve
Black people in Contra Costa
County to inventory services for
Black women and girls.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Funding and
Technical Assistance
to deliver Sister
Circles.
Launch a Black
Women & Girls
Incubator Program,
for new and existing
business enterprises.
Establish an Equity for
Black Women and Girls
Taskforce.
Create & fund a permanent position,
staffed by a Black woman, to support the
goals of the Equity for Black Women and
Girls Initiative.
Taskforce Members
SUCCESS
OPPORTUNITIES
APPRENTICESHIP
RESILIENCE
03. SISTAS SOAR
PROGRAMMING
Partners: Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and Chase Minority Business Program.
o Two cohorts: East and West County
Important Dates
o March 21 – April 20: Chase Minority Business Program
o May 2 – June 22: Smart Start with Renaissance Entrepreneurial Group o June 24: Sowing Seeds for Success Event
o July 11 – Sept 14: Business Prep with Renaissance Entrepreneurial Group
o Sept 16: Taking Flight Event
04. SISTER CIRCLES
CREATING A SAFE SPACE TO BE
Sister Circles will provide safe
spaces for Black Women and Girls
to convene, discuss community
challenges and community-
based solutions.
FACILITATION TRAINING PROCESS
HEALING TOOLS &
SKILLS
CURRICULUM
BUILDING
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Email: [email protected]
THANK YOU!