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RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, September 27, 2023
Richmond Civic Center Auditorium, Bermuda Room
403 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804
_____________________________________________________________________
A. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL The Special Meeting of the Richmond City Council was called to order at 4:14 p.m. by Mayor Eduardo Martinez.
B. ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Claudia Jimenez, Doria Robinson, Melvin Willis, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez.
Absent: None.
C. AGENDA REVIEW
Facilitator Henry Gardner gave an overview of the proposed agenda as follows:
1. Roll call
2. Review and modification of the proposed agenda
3. Framing of overarching strategic goals and priorities
4. Public comment
5. Next steps and final comments
6. Adjournment
D. CITY COUNCIL GOALS
D.1 Presentation and Discussion of Metrics, Tracking, Timelines, and Assigned Responsibility of City Council Goals and Objectives
RECEIVE a report providing an update regarding the proposed timeline, progress, cost, funding source(s), and performance metrics for the goals that City Council approved by vote; ACCEPT updated focused priorities for Fiscal Year 2023-24 through Fiscal Year 2025-26; and PROVIDE direction to staff – City Manager’s Office (Shasa Curl 510-620-6512).
Mr. Gardner advised that the current spreadsheet in the council's agenda packet incorporated the council's requests from its previous goals and objectives meetings. Mr. Gardner suggested the council review the spreadsheet and advise staff of any areas that were not clear or not captured correctly. Mr. Gardner recommended moving to future quarterly reports to review staff's progress for each of the council's goals and objectives.
Mr. Gardner reviewed the following six overarching goals voted on by the council at its June 15, 2023, meeting: (1) improve the quantity and quality of housing, especially low-income housing and reduce homelessness; (2) increase revenue and improve economic development; (3) improve the quality of life and community health/improve social determinants of health; (4) improve public safety; (5) strengthen the city's internal infrastructure and processes; and (6) address shoreline issues and ecological sustainability. Mr. Gardner gave a
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high-level summary of the council's sub-goals and key objectives. The council expressed concerns regarding the prioritization of items, not listed on the spreadsheet, that were currently in progress such as the implementation of a Public Bank and offshore winds at the Richmond Port. The council suggested that staff specifically state what was included with Goal 1.1.4 regarding Public Housing Agency Recovery and Sustainability (PHARS).
Project Manager Patrick Seals presented a PowerPoint that highlighted the staff-recommended priorities based on the six council-voted strategic goals areas and work plan examples. Mr. Seals advised that the priorities were based on the following criteria: projects that were already in progress; staffing and staff capacity to complete the work within the current or subsequent fiscal year; and budget.
Discussion ensued. The council stressed the urgency to increase staff capacity to complete projects, apply for grants, and for skilled staff to implement the Richmond Community Crisis Response Program. Staff agreed to prepare another "Bike Rack" list of projects that did not currently have a definitive strategy, such as a new police station, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center renovation, Port revitalization, and noise reduction from trains. The council requested staff to consider assigning one person every Friday from the Public Works Department to handle council requests.
Mr. Gardner guided the council through each of the strategic goals areas and priorities. The council requested various additions as noted in the following:
Revised Goals List. The council recommended the following next steps: update the goals and priorities with the council's changes; and hold a joint meeting in the fall or early next year with the City Council and West Contra Costa Unified School District to discuss the Maritime Academy and soccer fields.
Mr. Gardner gave closing remarks and recommended a future special meeting to discuss council rules, procedures, and effective communication. The council gave closing remarks. Staff advised it was researching a more dynamic and publicly accessible software for the council's list of goals that would be connected with the city's budget. The council recommended a goals outcomes matrix for residents.
The council tentatively set November 14, 2023, to hold its next special meeting.
E. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public speakers.
F. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
Pamela Christian, Clerk of the City of
Richmond
Eduardo Martinez, Mayor