PLEASE NOTE: HYBRID MEETING FORMAT
AGENDA(s)
-REGULAR MEETING OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 4:30 p.m.
Community Services Building
440 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804
Members:
Eduardo Martinez, Mayor at Large
Melvin Willis, Councilmember District 1
Cesar Zepeda, Councilmember District 2
Doria Robinson, Councilmember District 3
Soheila Bana, Councilmember District 4
Gayle McLaughlin, Vice Mayor, District 5
Claudia Jimenez, Councilmember District 6
NOTICE: SEATING IN THE CHAMBERS WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FIRST 39 PEOPLE AND MASKS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.
Link to City Council Agendas/Packets
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4157/City-ofRichmond-Council-Meetings Register to receive notification of new agendas, etc.
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/list.aspx
HOW TO WATCH THE MEETING FROM HOME:
1. KCRT – Comcast Channel 28 or AT&T Uverse Channel 99
2. Livestream online at http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/3178/KCRT-Live HOW TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS:
In Person: Anyone who desires to address the City Council on items appearing on the agenda, including Open Forum, must complete and file a pink speaker’s card with the City Clerk prior to the City Council’s consideration of the item. Once the City Clerk has announced the item, no person shall be permitted to speak on the item other than those persons who have submitted their names to the City Clerk. Each speaker will be allowed up to TWO (2) MINUTES to address the City Council on NON-PUBLIC HEARING items listed on the agenda. Speakers are allowed up to THREE (3) minutes on PUBLIC HEARING items.
Via Zoom: Anyone who desires to address the City Council on items appearing on the agenda, including Open Forum, must raise their hand once public comment is open. The public speakers attending in person will be called first, followed by Zoom participants. Only those public speakers that have their hand raised once the speakers are called will be recognized.
Open Session and City Council: Please click the link below to join the webinar:
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International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/aehrwCgISx To comment by video conference: click on the Participants button at the bottom of your screen and select the “Raise Your Hand” button to request to speak when Public Comment is being asked for. When called upon, press the unmute button. After the allotted time, you will then be re-muted. ** To comment by phone: you will be prompted to “Raise Your Hand” by pressing “*9” to request to speak when Public Comment is asked for. When called upon, you will be asked to unmuted by pressing *6. After the allotted time, you will then be re-muted. Instructions of how to raise your hand by phone are available at:
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362663 -Joining-a-meeting-by-phone. ** **The mayor will announce the agenda item number and open public comment when appropriate.
Via mail: received by 1:00 p.m. the day of the meeting, sent to 450 Civic Center Plaza, 3rd Floor, Office of the Clerk, Richmond, CA 94804.
2 Via eComments: eComments are available once an agenda is published. Locate the meeting in "upcoming meetings" and click the comment bubble icon. Click on the item you wish to comment on. eComments can be submitted when the agenda is published and until the conclusion of public comments for the agenda item. Email your comment to [email protected] should you have difficulty submitting an eComment during a meeting.
Via email: to [email protected] by 1:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.
Emails MUST contain in the subject line 1) public comments – Open Session prior to Closed Session; 2) public comments – Open Forum; or 3) public comments agenda item #__ [include the agenda item number].
Properly labeled public comments will be considered a public record, put into the official meeting record, available after the meeting as supplemental materials, and will be posted as an attachment to the meeting minutes when the minutes are posted: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/Archive.aspx?AMID=31 The City cannot guarantee that its network and/or the site will be uninterrupted. To ensure that the City Council receives your comments, you are strongly encouraged to submit your comments in writing in advance of the meeting.
Procedures for Removing Items from the Consent Calendar: Members of the public who request to remove an item from the consent calendar must first discuss the item with a staff member by phone or a back-andforth email discussion, and state the name of the staff member when requesting removal of the item from the consent calendar (by 2 p.m. the day of the meeting).
Any member of the City Council who would like to remove an item from the consent calendar must notify the appropriate staff person and the City Clerk’s Office prior to the meeting. Although members of the City Council are encouraged to ask questions and share concerns with staff ahead of the meeting, they are not required to do so.
The Clerk’s Office must be informed of any requests to remove items from the Consent Calendar. Items removed from the Consent Calendar shall be placed at the end of the agenda for consideration.
CONDUCT AT MEETINGS: Richmond City Council meetings are limited public forums during which the City strives to provide an open, safe atmosphere and promote robust public debate. Members of the public, however, must comply with state law, as well as the City’s laws and procedures and may not actually disrupt the orderly conduct of these meetings. The public, for example, may not shout or use amplifying devices, must submit comment cards and speak during their allotted time, may not create a physical disturbance, may not speak on matters unrelated to issues within the jurisdiction of the City Council or the agenda item at hand, and may not cause immediate threats to public safety.
Click here for City Harassment Policy
Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities: Upon request, the City will provide for written agenda materials in appropriate alternative formats, or disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services and sign language interpreters, to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in and provide comments at/related to public meetings. Please submit a request, including your name, phone number and/or email address, and a description of the modification, accommodation, auxiliary aid, service 3 or alternative format requested at least two days before the meeting. Requests should be emailed to [email protected] or submitted by phone at 510-620-6513, ext. 9, or 510-620-6509.
Requests made by mail to City Clerk’s Office, City Council meeting, 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804 must be received at least two days before the meeting. Requests will be granted whenever possible and resolved in favor of accessibility.
Unless otherwise noted in an agenda description, all actions taken by the Council include a determination that CEQA does not apply (i.e., the action is not a project and therefore exempt from CEQA).
Disclaimer: The City Clerk's Office translates agendas to enhance public access. Translated agendas are provided as a courtesy and do not constitute legal notice of the meeting or items to be discussed. In case of discrepancy, the English agenda will prevail.
Pages
4 A. OPEN SESSION TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE CLOSED SESSION 4:30 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
C. CLOSED SESSION
C.1 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION (paragraph (1) of Subdivision [d] of Government Code Section 54956.9) • Alonzo Shelton v. City of Richmond et al.
• Winehaven Legacy LLC v. City of Richmond et al.
• Point Molate Alliance v. City of Richmond
• Guidiville Rancheria of California, et al. v. City of Richmond et al.
C.2 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code Section 54957.6)
• Agency Representatives: Sharrone Taylor and Jack Hughes Employee organizations:
1. SEIU Local 1021 Full Time Unit and Part Time Unit
2. IFPTE Local 21 Mid-Level Management Unit and Executive Management Units
3. Richmond Police Officers Association RPOA
4. Richmond Police Management Association RPMA
5. IAFF Local 188
6. Richmond Fire Management Association RFMA
C.3 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of Subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9)
• One Case
C.4 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of Subdivision (d) [as applicable] of Government Code Section 54956.9) • One case
D. PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE CLOSED SESSION (limited to items on the Closed Session agenda only)
E. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
________________________________________________________ 5 F. REGULAR MEETING OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
6:30 p.m.
G. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
H. ROLL CALL
I. STATEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
J. AGENDA REVIEW
K. REPORT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY OF FINAL DECISIONS MADE DURING
CLOSED SESSION
L. REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER (public comment allowed under Open Forum) M. REPORTS OF OFFICERS: REFERRALS TO STAFF, AND GENERAL REPORTS (INCLUDING AB 1234 REPORTS)(limited to two minutes per Councilmember)(public comments allowed under Open Forum)
N. REPORT FROM THE REIMAGINING TASK FORCE - 3rd Tuesday (public comment allowed under Open Forum)
O. OPEN FORUM FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
(public comment on items that remain on the Consent Calendar or items not on the agenda - limited to 2 minutes unless otherwise specified - Back and forth dialogue with the Council is prohibited)
P. CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
(All items placed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and noncontroversial. These items will be enacted upon together with a motion and second, without discussion, of any member of the City Council, and each item shall be deemed to have received the action recommended.)
P.1 City Attorney's Office
P.1.a First Amendment to the Legal Services Agreement with Jackson Lewis PC
12 APPROVE the First Amendment to the Legal Services Agreement with employment law firm Jackson Lewis PC increasing the compensation by an amount not to exceed $75,000, for a total contract payment limit of $84,990, and extending the term one year to June 30, 2025 – City Attorney’s Office (Alan M. Cohen 510-620- 6709).
P.1.b Legal Services Agreement with Nevers, Palazoo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC.
39 APPROVE a legal services agreement (LSA) with Nevers, Palazoo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC in an amount of $175,000, which is proposed to be funded from the $1.6 million LSA for City Attorney services, with a term from October 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025 – City Attorney’s Office (Dave Aleshire 510-620-6509).
6 P.2 City Clerk's Office
P.2.a City Council Meeting Minutes 63
APPROVE the minutes of the September 12, 2023, regular City Council meeting - City Clerk's Office (Pamela Christian 510-620- 6513).
P.2.b Request for Leave of Absence for Councilmember Claudia Jimenez 76 APPROVE a request by Councilmember Claudia Jimenez for a medical leave of absence from City Council Meetings during the period of October 4, 2023, through December 18, 2023 – City Clerk’s Office (Pamela Christian 510-620-6513).
P.3 City Council
P.3.a Proclaim September 16, 2023, retroactively, as Masha Amini Day 134 Proclamation to proclaim (retroactively) September 16, 2023, as Masha Amini Day - Vice Mayor Gayle McLaughlin (510-620-6636) and Councilmember Soheila Bana (510-620-6743).
P.4 City Manager's Office
P.4.a Public Art Master Plan (PAMP) Review and Approval 137 RECEIVE and APPROVE the Public Art Master Plan (PAMP) – Economic Development Department (Winifred Day 510-620-6952).
P.5 Finance Department
P.5.a Investment and Cash Balance Report for the Month of August 2023 235 RECEIVE the City’s Investment and Cash Balance Report for the month of August 2023 – Finance Department (Andrea Miller 510-620- 6740).
P.5.b Amendment of Authorized Signatures on the Local Agency Investment Fund
247
ADOPT a resolution revising the authorization list on the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) account to reflect the current staff assignments in the Finance Department – Finance Department (Andrea Miller 510-620-6740).
P.5.c Annual Review and Adoption of the Resolutions to approve the Financial Policies (Debt, Investment, and Pension Funding policies) 251
REVIEW the City’s Debt, Pension Funding, and Investment policies; and ADOPT resolutions to approve the updated policies – Finance Department (Andrea Miller 510-620-6790/ Mubeen Qader 510-412- 2077). This item was continued from the October 3, 2023, meeting. 7 P.5.d OMNIA Cooperative Purchase Agreements for Citywide Goods and Services for Fiscal Year 2023-24 to 2026-27
296
ADOPT a resolution approving the use of OMNIA Cooperative Purchasing Agreements with Ari Phoenix, Epic Business, Grainger, HD Supply, Herc Rentals, Kimball Midwest, Ricoh, and The Home Depot in an amount not to exceed $250,000 per year per vendor for Fiscal Years 2023-24 to 2026-27 – Finance Department (Antonio Banuelos 510-620-6741/ Ofelia Alvarez 510-620-6699). This item was continued from the October 3, 2023, meeting.
P.5.e State Auditor’s Recommendations Corrective Action Plan November 2023 Update
3821
RECEIVE a report regarding the City’s Corrective Action Plan update to State Audit No. 2021-806 – Finance Department (Andrea Miller 510-620-6790/Mubeen Qader 510-412-2077).
P.6 Human Resources
P.6.a Resolution Approving Tentative Agreements with Richmond Police Management Association
3825
ADOPT a resolution approving the Tentative Agreements between the City of Richmond and the Richmond Police Management Association to establish a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the term of January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2025; and DIRECT the city manager or her designee to update the publicly available salary schedule with the adopted wage increases during the term of the MOU – Human Resources Department/City Attorney’s Office (Sharrone Taylor/Nickie Mastay/ Dave Aleshire 510-620-6602).
P.6.b Resolution Approving Tentative Agreements with Richmond Fire Management Association
3831
ADOPT a resolution approving the Tentative Agreements between the City of Richmond and the Richmond Fire Management
Association for the establishment of a new Memorandum of Understanding for the term of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2025; and DIRECT the city manager or designee to update the publicly available salary schedule with the adopted wage increases during the term of the MOU – Human Resources Department/City Attorney’s Office (Sharrone Taylor/Nickie Mastay/ Dave Aleshire 510-620-6602).
P.6.c Resolution to Approve Salary Schedules in Accordance with California Code of Regulations 570.5(a) (2 CCR § 570.5) 3844
ADOPT a resolution amending the salary schedules for all unions to comply with California Code of Regulations, Subchapter 1, Employees’ Retirement System Regulations section 570.5 (a) (2 CCR § 570.5) as required by CalPERS – Human Resources
Department (Nickie Mastay/Sharrone Taylor 510-620-6602). 8 P.6.d Amend Staffing (Position Control) and the Salary Schedule, and Appropriate Funds as Required
4104
ADOPT a resolution amending staffing (position control) for the Department of Children and Youth, Grants Division, Engineering, Parks Division, and Police Department; and APPROPRIATE
associated salaries, wages, and benefits as required – Human Resources Department (Nickie Mastay/ Sharrone Taylor 510-620- 6602).
P.7 Library and Community Services
P.7.a Contract with Bay Area Tutoring Association for Homework Help Services
4111
APPROVE a contract with the Bay Area Tutoring Association for homework help services for an amount not to exceed $200,000, for a term beginning October 17, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024 – Community Services Department (Kate Eppler 510-620-
5452/Christopher Larsen 510-620-5524).
P.7.b Lease Agreement Between the City and the YWCA of Contra Costa County for Use of Space at the Richmond Recreation Complex 4143
APPROVE a lease agreement between the City of Richmond and the YWCA of Contra Costa County for the use of space for a day care program at the west wing of the Richmond Recreation Complex at 3230 Macdonald Avenue, with a lease term from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, and a lease rate of $2,700 per month – Community Services Department (LaShonda White 510-620-6828 / Ranjana Maharaj 510-620-6972).
P.7.c Approval to Receive Grant Award from the Chevron Community Engagement Foundation
4167
ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE a grant award from the Chevron Community Engagement Foundation in the amount of $35,000 for the Office of Neighborhood Safety Operation Peacemaker Fellowship program – Community Services Department (LaShonda White 510-620-6828/Sam Vaughn 510-620-6512).
9 P.7.d Resolution to Accept and Appropriate California State Transportation Agency Funds
4171
ADOPT a resolution authorizing the city manager or their designee to enter a master funding agreement with the California State Transportation Agency and fulfill all related grant requirements; ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE $3,117,500 in grant funds awarded by the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program; AUTHORIZE and APPROPRIATE a grant match in the amount of $3,117,500 from the Environmental and Community Investment Agreement (ECIA) transportation budget; and APPROVE a sole-source fourth contract amendment with Nomad Transit, LLC (Via) to increase the contract limit by $6,235,000, for a new total contract limit not to exceed $8,335,731, and extend the term through July 7, 2027 – Community Services Department (LaShonda White 510-620-6828/ Denée Evans 510-621-1718).
P.8 Mayor's Office
P.8.a Appointment to Reimagine Public Safety Community Safety Task Force
4344
APPROVE the appointment of Michael Gliksohn to the Reimagine Public Safety Community Safety Task Force - Mayor's Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez 510-620-6503).
P.8.b November 1st as Extra Mile Day in the City of Richmond 4346 PROCLAMATION recognizing November 1st as Extra Mile Day in the City of Richmond - Mayor’s Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez 510-620- 6503).
P.9 Public Works
P.9.a Sole-Source Contract with The Watershed Project for the Flood Risk Reduction in the Rheem Creek Watershed Project
4349
APPROVE a sole-source professional services contract with The Watershed Project in an amount not to exceed $364,183 to support the City in implementing the tasks for the grant-funded Flood Risk Reduction in the Rheem Creek Watershed Project, for a term beginning August 1, 2023, through November 15, 2026 – Public Works Department (Daniel Chavarria/Wendy Wellbrock 510-307- 8108).
10 P.9.b Contract with Noll & Tam Architects for Architectural Design Services for the Revitalization of the Historic Richmond Main Library Project. 4393
APPROVE a contract in the amount of $2,987,156, and any amendments, if necessary, for up to a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $298,716, with Noll & Tam Architects for architectural design services for the seismic retrofit and Revitalization of the Historic Richmond Main Library located at 325 Civic Center Plaza in Richmond, with a term from October 17, 2023, through June 30, 2027; and ADOPT a resolution awarding a contract to Noll & Tam Architects and authorizing the city manager or designee to execute the contract and any related documents – Public Works
Department/Community Services Department (Daniel Chavarria 510- 620-6639/ LaShonda White 510-620-6828).
Q. BUDGET SESSION
Q.1 State Audit Corrective Action Plan, OPEB Funding Analysis, GovInvest 4442 RECEIVE a presentation from GovInvest on a comprehensive analysis regarding the approved funding policy impact on the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability (UAAL) – Finance Department (Nickie Mastay 510-620-6609/ Mubeen Qader 510-412-2077).
R. NEW BUSINESS
R.1 Presentation from the Bay Area Metro Group on Local Government Services - Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Government.
4445
RECEIVE a presentation from Bay Area Metro Group on Local Governments Services through Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Government (ABAG) - Councilmember Soheila Bana (510-672-3490). This item was continued from the September 19, 2023, meeting.
S. ADJOURNMENT
________________________
11
October 17, 2023
City Attorney's Office
DATE: October 17, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Dave Aleshire, City Attorney
Sharrone Taylor, Interim Director of Human Resources
Subject: First Amendment to the Legal Services Agreement with Jackson Lewis PC
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total expenditure for this legal services amendment is not to exceed $75,000 for a total contract payment limit not to exceed $84,990. Expenditures for Jackson, Lewis
PC will be appropriated from both the Risk Management
Liability Fund [50182316-400554 and Human Resources
Legal Services General Fund 01181016-400206]
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City Council approval is required to increase the contract payment limit for the Jackson Lewis PC legal services
agreement.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPROVE the First Amendment to the Legal Services Agreement with employment law firm Jackson Lewis PC
increasing the compensation by an amount not to exceed
$75,000, for a total contract payment limit of $84,990, and extending the term one year to June 30, 2025 – City Attorney’s Office (Alan M. Cohen 510-620-6709).
AGENDA
REPORT
12
October 17, 2023
DISCUSSION:
Earlier this year, the City entered into a legal services agreement with Jackson Lewis PC (Jackson Lewis) for specialized labor and employment advice and services. The contract term commenced on February 21, 2023, and ends on June 30, 2024. The payment limit was set for an amount not to exceed $9,990.
Jackson Lewis is a law firm that has focused on employment and labor law since 1958.
The firm provides advice and counsel to public sector employers and focuses on identifying practical solutions to help ensure compliance with state and federal law, including advice and counsel about litigation avoidance, employee management issues, implementing disciplinary actions, and collective bargaining issues. The services provided by Jackson Lewis have been highly beneficial to the City and performed very satisfactorily.
The City Attorney’s Office and the Human Resources Department wish to increase the contract payment limit and the term of the agreement to ensure continuity of service.
The proposed first amendment to the legal services agreement with Jackson Lewis would increase the payment limit by $75,000 for a total contract payment limit of $84,990 and would extend the term one year to June 30, 2025.
Rates for Jackson, Lewis are as follows: Partner - $425 per hour, Of Counsel - $400 per hour, Associate - $375 per hour and Paralegal - $250 per hour.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Original Contract
Attachment 2 – [Proposed] First Amendment to the Contract 13 1
LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
THE CITY OF RICHMOND
AND
JACKSON LEWIS P.C.
PREAMBLE
This legal services agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into on this 21 day of February, 2023 (the “Effective Date”) by and between the City of Richmond, California, a chartered California municipal corporation (“City”), with its principal place of business located at 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, California 94804 and JACKSON LEWIS P.C comprised of attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of California (“Special Counsel”) with its principal place of business located at, 50 California Str., 9th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111. Special Counsel may be referred to herein individually as a “Party” or collectively as the “Parties” or the “Parties to this Agreement.”
RECITALS
The following recitals are as follows:
A. City desires to secure professional services more fully described in this Agreement; and, B. Special Counsel represents that it has the professional qualifications, expertise, necessary licenses and desire to provide legal services of the quality and type, which meet objectives, and requirements of City.
AGREEMENT PROVISIONS
The Parties agree as follows:
1. RETENTION OF FIRM.
A. City hereby confirms, retains and authorizes Special Counsel to represent City and provide legal services as may be requested, from time to time, orally or in writing, by authorized representatives of City on an as-needed basis. By this Agreement, City is retaining Special Counsel and not individual members of the Special Counsel. Special Counsel’s client is the City, as a public entity, and not any of its individual members, groups of individuals or any other entity.
B. The Special Counsel shall report to and receive direction from the City Attorney only and not from any other Department Head or City staff.
C. Special Counsel shall perform such legal services for and on behalf of City under the primary direction of the City Attorney. Special Counsel shall undertake, subject to approval of the City Attorney, additional duties as may be authorized by City from time to time under the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 14 2
2. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED.
[See “Scope of Work” in Exhibit A] .
3. TERM OF AGREEMENT.
The services of Special Counsel are to commence upon the Effective Date of this Agreement and shall terminate on JUNE 30, 2024, unless the parties extend the Agreement in writing. The services shall be undertaken and completed in such sequence as to assure their completion as expeditiously as is consistent with professional skill and care.
4. ASSIGNMENT OF DUTIES.
It is contemplated that no other attorney will be assigned from Special Counsel other than Cepideh Roufougar. It is agreed by and between the Parties that should it be desirable for any attorney other than Cepideh Roufougar to work under this Agreement, such attorney may only be added with the express oral consent of the City Attorney. Should any associate in the Special Counsel be assigned any task under this Agreement that exceeds three (3) billable hours per month, City Attorney should approve the assignment of such associate orally.
5. PUBLIC FUNDING.
Special Counsel and City mutually recognize that Special Counsel’s services under this Agreement are being paid for with tax dollars from citizens and taxpayers of the City of Richmond, California, and that, given this fact, a heightened duty of care exists in both Special Counsel and City to ensure that Special Counsel scrupulously adheres to principles of moderation, frugality and cost consciousness in carrying forth the goals of this Agreement. Special Counsel and each of its attorneys pledge themselves to scrupulously observe a duty of reasonableness and cost effective representation in all aspects of this Agreement.
6. PAYMENT FOR SERVICE.
In consideration for Special Counsel’s performance of legal services on behalf of City under the terms of this Agreement, and upon review and approval of Special Counsel’s bill by the City Attorney, Special Counsel shall be compensated at the preapproved hourly rates and for authorized expenses set forth in the “Scope of Work and Schedule of Fees and Charges” set forth in Exhibit A, attached and incorporated by this reference.
Fees for services performed by retained consultants, subcontractors, experts or other personnel may be billed to City only if approved in writing by the City Attorney.
Exhibit A may be amended from time to time by letter agreement duly signed and approved by the City Attorney.
7. BILLING INVOICES.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 15 3
Special Counsel shall, within thirty (30) days after the end of each month in which services are performed under this Agreement, submit to the City an itemized bill describing in detail the specific services performed as set forth in this Agreement. Special Counsel shall adhere to the Protocols and Guidelines set forth in Exhibit B, attached and incorporated by this reference. The bill shall be electronically submitted to [email protected].
8. PROJECT PLAN AND BUDGET AND RESERVES.
Special Counsel shall provide a project plan and budget for any project or case assigned to Special Counsel under this Agreement. Project plans and budgets shall conform to the guidelines set forth in Exhibit C (Project Plan and Budget) and Exhibit D (Mandatory Case Reporting Policy), when the case is reportable to the City’s excess insurance carrier, California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority (CJPRMA). If the case is reportable to CJPRMA, Special Counsel shall provide an initial report notifying them of the claim or lawsuit within 30 days of receipt of the assignment and the estimated exposure. The City Attorney and Risk Manager shall be copied on all correspondence sent to CJPRMA.
9. LITIGATION GUIDELINES.
When litigation is included in the scope of work, litigation guidelines as specified in Exhibit E are to be followed.
10. BILLING.
Special Counsel shall scrupulously examine all bills submitted for services rendered under this Agreement to assure that appropriate billing judgment is employed in billing City for service. Special Counsel shall not bill for hours other than those hours expressly devoted to the tasks approved in advance by the City Attorney. Special Counsel agrees it will not bill for time, which is not specifically devoted to the task(s). Special Counsel shall not use legal professionals for secretarial work and under no circumstances shall Special Counsel have lawyers billing for making copies, scheduling appointments or taking care of matters or work that would otherwise be work performed by a law clerk, assistant or secretary.
11. STATUS REPORTS.
Special Counsel shall, every thirty (30) days, submit via electronic mail a written update setting forth a summary of activities performed on behalf of City during the preceding month, the current status of each pending matter, results obtained or expected to be obtained, a summary of invoices for the preceding month and other information relating to the services rendered as City may reasonably request. The update should be emailed to the City Attorney with a copy to the Risk Manager and CJPRMA, if applicable. Please keep the status reports brief and spend no more than one (1) hour billing for your time.
Please also attach any referenced filings to your status report.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 16 4
12. TERMINATION.
Either Party may terminate this Agreement by providing written notice to the other. Any termination hereunder shall become effective immediately upon receipt of written notice of termination; provided, however, that Special Counsel may exercise its right of termination only to the extent and under terms and conditions consistent with the obligations of Special Counsel under the Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of California; and provided, that in the event of termination, the amount due Special Counsel for services rendered and costs and expenses incurred prior to termination shall remain due and payable. Special Counsel agrees to turn over to any attorney substituted in its place, the entire file and attorney work product regarding any such matter within seven (7) days of any such termination.
13. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
A. No member of the governing body of the City, and no other officer, employee or agent of the City who exercises any discretion, function or responsibility in connection with the carrying out of any project to which this Agreement pertains, shall have any personal interest, direct or indirect, in this Agreement.
B. Special Counsel agrees to secure the informed written consent of the City Attorney before accepting any representation adverse to the City (actual or apparent) during the term of this Agreement, and to forego the representation if the City Attorney, in his or her sole discretion, objects for any reason. This provision is intended to provide rights to the City above and beyond the rights Special Counsel owes to the City under all applicable rules of professional conduct relating to conflict of interest.
14. ASSIGNMENTS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST.
City and Special Counsel bind themselves, their partners, successors, assigns, executors and administrators to the terms of this Agreement. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no interest in this Agreement or any of the work provided for in this Agreement shall be assigned or transferred, either voluntarily or by operation of law, without the prior written approval of the City Attorney.
15. AUDITS, RECORDS, AND DOCUMENTATION.
A. The City and any other federal, State or local governmental agency, and any of their authorized auditors or representatives, including auditors, shall have access to, and the right to audit and reproduce any of Special Counsel's records to the extent the City or such other governmental agency deems necessary to ensure that City is paying only the amounts to which Special Counsel is properly entitled or for other purposes relating to the Agreement. Special Counsel shall assist the City in responding to any requests from the City’s auditors, and Special Counsel shall not DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 17 5
bill the City for any time spent responding to any such audit requests.
B. Special Counsel shall maintain complete and accurate records of the services provided to City and expenses incurred on behalf of City. Special Counsel shall maintain and preserve all such records for at least three (3) years after termination of the Agreement or until an audit has been completed and accepted in writing by City.
Upon written notice by the City, the Special Counsel shall promptly make all such records available to auditors or other representatives of the City or other governmental agencies.
16. NON-DISCRIMINATION.
A. Special Counsel agrees to observe the provisions of Section 2.28.030 of the Municipal Code of the City of Richmond, obligating every contractor or subcontractor under a contract or subcontract with the City of Richmond for services to refrain from discriminatory employment or subcontracting practices on the basis of the race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious creed, national origin or ancestry of any employee, any applicant for employment or any potential subcontractor.
Said Section 2.28.030 is, by this reference, a part of this Agreement.
B. If Special Counsel is found in violation of the nondiscrimination provisions of the State of California Fair Employment Practices Act or similar provisions of federal law or executive order in the performance of this Agreement, it will be in default of this Agreement. Thereupon, City will have the power to cancel or suspend this Agreement, in whole or in part.
17. HOLD HARMLESS/INDEMNIFICATION.
Special Counsel agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, release and defend to the maximum extent permitted by law, and covenants not to sue, the City, its City Council and each member thereof, and its officers, employees, commission members and representatives, from any and all liability, loss, suits, claims, damages, costs, judgments and expenses (including attorney’s fees and costs of litigation) which in whole or in part result from, or arise out of, any negligent acts, errors or omissions (including, without limitation, professional negligence) of Special Counsel, its employees, representatives, subcontractors, or agents in connection with the performance of this Agreement. This Agreement to indemnify, hold harmless, release and defend includes, but is not limited to, personal injury (including death at any time) and property or other damage (including, but without limitation, contract or tort or patent, copyright, trade secret or trademark infringement) sustained by any person or persons (including, but not limited to, companies, or corporations, Special Counsel and its employees or agents, and members of the general public).
18. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.
Special Counsel shall maintain in full force and effect the following insurance policies:
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 18 6
A. Commercial general liability policy (bodily injury and property damage); B. Worker’s compensation/employer’s liability policy;
C. Business automobile liability insurance policy; and, D. Professional liability policy.
Said policies shall be maintained with respect to employees and vehicles assigned to the performance of work under this Agreement with coverage amounts, endorsements, certificates of insurance and coverage verifications as defined in Exhibit G, attached to this Agreement and incorporated by this reference.
19. CONFIDENTIALITY AND MEDIA STATEMENTS.
The data, information and reports acquired or prepared by Special Counsel in connection with matters upon which the City has retained Special Counsel shall not be shown or distributed to any other public or private person or entity except as authorized by the City Attorney and in no event prior to having been first disclosed to the City Attorney. All information, documents, records, reports, data or other materials furnished by City to Special Counsel or other such information, documents, records, data or other materials to which the Special Counsel has access during its performance pursuant to this Agreement are deemed confidential and shall remain the property of City. Special Counsel shall not make oral or written disclosure of such documents or materials, other than as necessary for its performance under this Agreement, without the prior written approval of the City Attorney. Special Counsel shall not provide any written or oral statements to the media without the prior written authorization of the City Attorney.
20. AMENDMENTS.
This Agreement, including any Exhibits attached to it, represents the entire understanding of the Parties as to those matters contained herein. No prior oral or written understanding shall be of any force or effect with respect to those matters covered hereunder. This Agreement may be modified only by a written amendment duly executed by the Parties to this Agreement.
21. ENGAGEMENT OF OTHER COUNSEL, SPECIALISTS, OR EXPERTS.
Special Counsel will not engage or otherwise incur an obligation to pay other counsel, specialists, or experts for services in connection with this Agreement without the prior written approval of the City Attorney.
22. NOTICES.
All notices, pleadings, reports or other communication to the Parties shall be properly sent via electronic mail to [email protected] and to Special Counsel at its principal place of business listed on page one of this Agreement.
Either Party may change its address for receipt of notices under this Agreement by notice given in the manner provided herein.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 19 7
23. LAW GOVERNING AGREEMENT.
This Agreement shall be interpreted under the laws of the State of California. All claims or controversies arising out of or related to performance under this Agreement shall be submitted to and resolved in a forum within Contra Costa County.
24. INVALID PROVISIONS.
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in full or in part, then such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make the provision legal, valid and enforceable, and the other provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
25. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS.
Special Counsel shall demonstrate that the attorney(s) who provide legal services to City under this Agreement are licensed to practice law in the State of California and, if not, indicate to the satisfaction of the City Attorney why such license is not required to perform the services required.
26. SANCTUARY CITY CONTRACTING ORDINANCE COMPLIANCE
STATEMENT.
Contractor agrees to comply with the provisions of the Richmond Sanctuary City Contracting Ordinance (SCCO, Ordinance No. 12-18). Contractor must submit the Sanctuary City Compliance Statement included herein as Exhibit F along with the bid or proposal prior to execution of the contract.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 20 8
The Parties acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement as evidenced by the following signatures of their duly authorized representatives. It is the intent of the Parties that this Agreement shall become operative on the Effective Date.
JACKSON LEWIS
By:_______________________________
Title:_____________________________
CITY OF RICHMOND
____________________________
Mayor/ City Manager
Name:______________________
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________
City Attorney
ATTEST:
__________________________
City Clerk
Cepideh Roufougar
Principal
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 James Atencio
Nickie Mastay
21 Exhibit A
9 SCOPE OF WORK AND SCHEDULE OF FEES & CHARGES
Scope of work:
Special Counsel shall provide labor and employment advice and services.
City of Richmond Contact Attorney: Alan M. Cohen, Senior Assistant City Attorney Schedule of Fees & Charges:
Hourly Rates
PARTNER(S) $425.00/hour
OF COUNSEL(S) $400.00/hour
ASSOCIATE(S) $375.00/hour
PARALEGAL(S) $250.00/hour
COMPENSATION
Only those costs and expenses set forth in Section III of Exhibit "B", entitled "Reimbursements" shall be paid to Special Counsel.
Total compensation for legal services and reimbursements shall be charged in accordance with Exhibits "A" and "B" and shall not exceed the sum of Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety Dollars ($9,990) for attorneys’ fees and reimbursements.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 22 Exhibit B
10 BILLING PROTOCOLS/GUIDELINES
The City of Richmond (“City”) has adopted the following protocols for billing, budgeting, and planning for projects involving outside counsel. Special Counsel will be required to comply with this protocol. If you have questions concerning it, please contact the City Attorney for clarification. In the event you wish to negotiate changes due to the internal operation of your firm, please raise them in writing as soon as possible. Any changes to this protocol will need prior, written approval from the City Attorney. In the interest of fairness, all Special Counsel is required to comply with this protocol. This protocol is also to be used in conjunction with any new proposal for services.
These protocols and guidelines are instituted to ensure that Special Counsel conveys the information necessary for the City Attorney to manage outside projects and litigation.
Also, because these guidelines are set out in advance, they are designed to minimize any confusion or misunderstanding. Compliance with these guidelines should enhance the attorney-client relationship. If you have any comments or suggestions that could improve this system, please feel free to contact the City Attorney.
I. BILLING FORMAT
Unless otherwise agreed, the following information must be provided in monthly bills:
a. A detailed description of work, in time increments of .1 hour (one tenth of an hour) for and by each and every individual billing services. b. Identification of the lawyer who is in charge of the matter. c. Reasonably detailed disbursement breakdowns with backup documentation of any individual charge exceeding $100.00.
d. Each billing item must be separately stated on a separate line identifying the individual performing the services, the time spent and the exact nature of the service rendered.
e. When charges are made for research time, the specific issue being researched and the need for the research should be identified.
f. Each item billed should be coded to a specific litigation budget line item, if applicable.
g. The City Attorney reserves the right to request various levels of detail and specific formats (such as columnar comparisons with established budgets).
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 23 Exhibit B
11 II. BILLING GUIDELINES
a. All tasks set forth in Special Counsel’s billing documentation shall be specific and detailed. Overly generalized listings of task descriptions such as “review contract” or “prepare for negotiations” are not acceptable. b. Billings under this Agreement shall not be provided in more than six (6) minute increments and shall represent the devotion of a full six minutes before an increment is billed. Under no circumstances shall Special Counsel use “block billing” procedures, wherein a list or series of activities is done each day with only an aggregate amount of time specified. c. Special Counsel shall keep the City advised of the identity and billing rates of those people working on the project account.
d. All time shall be billed within 30 days of the end of the month in which services were performed.
e. Counsel shall advise City whenever it anticipates the amount of services necessary to properly execute the task will exceed the amount of the contract.
When accrued billings are equal to eighty percent (80%) of the Payment Limit, written notice shall be given to the City as soon as possible, via e-mail, to the City Attorney’s Office, of this fact. In order to satisfy this notification requirement, Counsel shall monitor its accrued billings on a weekly basis and immediately notify the City Attorney if the eighty percent (80%) threshold is met. Special Counsel acknowledges the fiscal constraints on City funding and therefore Special Counsel assumes risk of non-payment for services rendered in the event the amount of services rendered exceeds the amount of the contract unless prior written authorization is received. Authorization to exceed the amount set forth in Exhibit A may be given only by City Attorney in writing.
f. Only those attorneys approved by the City may bill on the case. g. The City expects the attorney assigned to the case to handle all significant matters in the litigation. The City Attorney must approve in advance the assignment of other attorneys to the litigation or project. The City may request that the assigned work be instead handled by the primary attorney. h. Special Counsel shall not charge for more than one attorney at any hearing, deposition, or meeting of any kind without advance approval of the City Attorney.
i. No more than two paraprofessionals may bill on a particular case without the prior approval of the City.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 24 Exhibit B
12 j. The City has retained Special Counsel for its expertise, and therefore expects not to be billed for introductory or background research. City appreciates when Special Counsel has researched an issue previously and uses that research on present cases or projects. Do not charge the City for work Special Counsel has done and billed another client for in the past. k. Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date of this Agreement, Special Counsel shall provide any manuals or policies describing Special Counsel’s billing practices.
l. The City does not allow “double billing” of any sort. If Special Counsel is working on another client’s matter, do not bill City for that time. This applies to travel time or any other matter.
m. Training time is not billable. Law clerks may be used only with prior approval.
n. City will not pay for new attorneys to “get up to speed” on a file unless it has been preapproved.
o. If a matter arises that requires Special Counsel to open a new file, the City Attorney should be informed immediately.
p. City reserves the right to require additional substantiation of any item of claimed expense.
III. REIMBURSEMENTS
a. The City will reimburse Special Counsel for the following expenses, and for no other expenses:
Actual printing costs;
Copying costs at $.12 / page (for legal documents and file materials, but not library materials);
Actual cost of postage (including express mail delivery charges); Facsimile charges at the rate of $0.25 per page;
Computer research support services (e.g., Westlaw, LEXIS or computer time or services) at actual cost, but not to exceed 15% of the total fees for all legal services;
Actual cost of long distance telephone calls;
Transcription and reporter's fees; and
Reasonable travel. The City does not pay for meals unless Attorney is required to be away from office for one full day. All meals and/or travel reimbursements will be subject to approval by the City Attorney. Travel expenses are limited to the lesser of actual expenses or expenses that would be authorized for City employee travel pursuant to City policy.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 25 Exhibit B
13 b. The City Attorney must approve in advance any single reimbursement item in excess of $250.
c. Any expense other than those listed in section “a.” must be approved by the City Attorney in writing and in advance in an approved budget. d. No compensation shall be allowed for administrative overhead or premiums added to the direct cost of research support or other services. e. Court filings shall be prepared in a timely manner so that “rush” or “expedited” messenger fees are not incurred.
f. Messenger and other charges in excess of actual costs are not permitted. City does not allow cost, plus a percentage, for actual outside costs g. City does not pay for secretarial time or secretarial overtime. City does not pay attorneys or paralegals for secretarial tasks or tasks that should not be included in Special Counsel’s overhead. For example, faxing, mailing, arranging for messengers and calendaring are not acceptable charges. h. City does not pay for billing or discussions of bills, including discussions initiated by the City or City’s requests for additional information about a bill. i. The practice of minimum billing charges is prohibited. Please charge for actual time spent. For example, a minimum of .2 for phone calls or .4 for letters is unreasonable unless it is an accurate measure of time spent. j. Do not charge for file opening or file closing. These are not true legal services, tasks or adequate descriptions of legal activities.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 26 Exhibit C
14 PROJECT PLAN AND BUDGET
Project plans and budgets should conform to the following guidelines:
a. The project plan shall include a projection of recommended strategies and actions to be taken in the project and a range of costs for each such strategy or action. b. If the scope of work includes representation of the City in litigation, the project plan shall include the following elements, with explanations:
Anticipated total costs;
The primary issues;
The probability of success; and
A settlement/trial recommendation
The project plan will be modified during the litigation as the need arises. c. The project budget shall include an estimate of the attorneys' hours and fees and disbursements during each phase and/or activity. All anticipated expenses must be listed and costs estimated.
d. In the event of litigation, the project budget shall include, but not be limited to, estimates for:
Pre-commencement (legal and factual research for the complaint or answer); Pleadings;
Preliminary motions;
Initial discovery;
Factual investigation of merits (interviewing clients, employees and third parties);
Review and abstract City's documents;
Expert (non-medical) investigation and reports;
Medical experts and examinations;
Legal research on merits;
More thorough discovery (including the identity of deponents and expected costs of each deposition and preparation);
Settlement negotiations;
Trial preparation; and
Trial.
e. The project budget should include the anticipated cost of each line item, the time allotted to complete it and the professional level of the person handling it. f. The project budget is not a fixed fee agreement and is subject to revision. g. Special Counsel shall provide revisions to the project plan or budget at the request of the City Attorney.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 27 Exhibit C
15 h. Special Counsel understands and agrees that major unjustified deviations from the project budget, or failure to timely submit a project budget or revisions, if requested, may constitute a breach and result in termination of this Agreement.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 28 Exhibit D
16 California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority
Mandatory Case Reporting Policy
Pursuant to Section VII (Conditions) of the Memorandum of Coverage, the following rule is applicable to all cases reported to CJPRMA.
The Authority shall be entitled to complete access to the covered party’s claim file, the defense attorney’s complete file, and all investigation material and reports, including all evaluations and information on negotiations. The covered party shall be responsible to report the progress of the litigation and any significant developments at least quarterly to the Authority, and to provide the Authority with simultaneous copies of all correspondence provided to the covered party by its defense attorneys and/or its agents.
In addition, the CJPRMA Board of Directors has adopted the following mandatory case reporting standards:
1) Defense counsel is expected to provide a written analysis of liability and exposure in any reported claim no later than ninety days following receipt of the file from the member agency. CJPRMA understands that the liability picture may develop as discovery is ongoing, but this does not excuse the responsibility of providing an early, objective analysis of the file, subject to later developments. An early analysis not only permits the JPA member to set an accurate reserve level, but also permits the member entity to decide whether to actively litigate the case, try to settle the case, or limit discovery based upon the exposure.
2) The initial status report should provide, at a minimum, a brief synopsis of the facts giving rise to the lawsuit; the status of the pleadings, including any discussions of demurrers or motions to dismiss, or cross-complaints; a summary and analysis of plaintiff’s injuries, damages and exposures in the case; an initial impression of liability; any requests for additional investigation; a brief outline of the discovery planned; and an evaluation of anticipated litigation costs. The report need not be lengthy, and typically might not exceed three to five pages, but must address the issues directly and in a straightforward manner so that the member entity and CJPRMA can set cost and loss reserves as necessary.
3) Defense counsel is responsible to report, in writing, the setting of a trial date, settlement conference date, hearing date on motion for summary judgment or similar dispositive motion in any litigated case, within one week of the date on which a court establishes such date.
4) Defense counsel is responsible to report, in writing, all settlement demands or offers within one week of the time the offer is made or the demand is received.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 29 Exhibit D
17 5) Defense counsel is responsible to report, in writing, on the substance of all depositions taken in the case. This need not be a multi-page deposition summary, but must, at a minimum, include a concise report of major events occurring at the deposition, and an evaluation of the effect of the deposition testimony on the case. 6) Finally, no later than sixty days before the date set for trial in any case, defense counsel is responsible to report, in writing, on (1) an assessment of liability in the case, (2) the adverse potential exposure if liability is found, (3) a concise summary of injuries sustained and/or claims, (4) an assessment of any other factors (such as local jury tendencies, appearance of important witnesses, etc.) that may affect the liability analysis or exposure assessment, and (5) an opinion on the settlement value of the case. 7) All status reports from defense counsel must be copied to the CJPRMA Board member whose entity is involved in the claim.
This policy is designed to protect the member entity and CJPRMA, so that they can make informed litigation decisions on reported cases. Past experience has shown that defense counsel retained by the member entities of CJPRMA are high-caliber, hard working attorneys who have done very well for their clients, and CJPRMA is grateful for their efforts. Defense counsel are cautioned, however, that case reporting is given a high priority by CJPRMA and its members, and is a major consideration in evaluating counsel’s performance.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 30 Exhibit E
18 LITIGATION GUIDELINES
The following guidelines should be followed when the scope of work includes representing the City in litigation:
a. The Special Counsel shall consult the City Attorney regarding the component parts of litigation handled so that the City Attorney, in consultation with the City Council, if necessary, can determine whether a particular activity is reasonable in light of its costs and benefits.
b. The City Attorney must approve the identity and number of staff assigned to the litigation, and any changes.
c. All pleadings shall be submitted to the City Attorney for review prior to filing. d. Copies of major work product, pleadings, motions, orders, decisions, research memoranda, reports on significant developments, and quarterly status reports shall be submitted to keep the City Attorney advised of any major developments in the lawsuit.
Such copies shall be provided in electronic format compatible with software in the City Attorney’s office.
e. Generally, the City Attorney will rely upon Special Counsel for guidance on litigation strategy. Nonetheless, prior approval from the City Attorney is necessary for demurrers, motions for summary judgment and discovery motions.
f. City expects that Special Counsel will resolve all discovery disputes without court intervention. If this is impossible due to the conduct of others, please inform the City Attorney immediately. City’s intent is to have discovery be fair and open with the money spent on reviewing relevant items that are discovered, not on discovery battles. g. Provide full descriptions of legal tasks performed. This will help the City Attorney follow case development and understand Firm’s strategy. h. Some types of litigation-related expenses require prior approval by the City Attorney, including, but not limited to, experts and investigators. Expenses over a certain dollar amount always require prior approval. See Section III (Reimbursements) of Exhibit B (Billing Protocols and Guidelines) of this Agreement for a list of those expenses that may be reimbursed.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 31 Exhibit F
19 SANCTUARY CITY COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
The undersigned, an authorized agent of (hereafter
"Contractor"), has had an opportunity to review the requirements of City of Richmond Ordinance 12-18 (hereafter "Sanctuary City Contracting Ordinance" or “SCCO”). Contractor understands and agrees that the City may choose with whom it will maintain business relations and may refrain from contracting with any person or entity that provides Data Broker or Extreme Vetting services to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division of the United States Department of Homeland Security (“ICE”).
Contractor understands the meaning of the following terms used in the SCCO:
a. "Data Broker” means either of the following:
i. The collection of information, including personal information about consumers, from a wide variety of sources for the purposes of reselling such information to their customers, which include both private-sector business and government agencies;
ii. The aggregation of data that was collected for another purpose from that for which it is ultimately used.
b. “Extreme Vetting” means data mining, threat modeling, predictive risk analysis, or other similar services."
Contractor understands that it is not eligible to receive or retain a City contract if at the time the Contract is executed, or at any time during the term of the Contract, it provides Data Broker or Extreme Vetting services to ICE.
Contractor further understands and agrees that Contractor's failure to comply with the SCCO shall constitute a material default of the Contract and the City Manager may terminate the Contract and bar Contractor from bidding on future contracts with the City for five (5) years from the effective date of the contract termination.
By executing this Statement, Contractor certifies that it complies with the requirements of the SCCO and that if at any time during the term of the Contract it ceases to comply, Contractor will promptly notify the City Manager in writing.
Based on the foregoing, the undersigned declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed this day of , 20 , at _________ , California.
Printed Name: Title:
Signed: Date:
Business Entity:
Vendor SCCO Compliance Statement (Augt2020)
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 32 Exhibit G
20 City of Richmond - Insurance Requirements - Type 2:
Professional Services
In all instances where CONTRACTOR or its representatives will provide professional services (architects, engineers, construction management, counselors, medical professionals, hospitals, clinics, attorneys, consultants, accountants, etc.) to the City of Richmond (City), the City requires the following MINIMUM insurance requirements and limits.
CONTRACTOR shall procure and maintain for the duration of the contract, agreement, or other order for work, services or supplies, insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damages to property which may arise from or in connection with the performance of the work hereunder and the results of that work by the CONTRACTOR, its agents, representatives, employees or subcontractors. Maintenance of proper insurance coverage is a material element of the contract. Failure to maintain or renew coverage or to provide evidence of renewal may be treated by the City as a material breach of contract.
CONTRACTOR agrees that in the event of loss due to any of the perils for which it has agreed to provide Commercial General Liability insurance, CONTRACTOR shall look solely to its insurance for recovery.
CONTRACTOR hereby grants to CITY, on behalf of any insurer providing Commercial General Liability insurance to either CONTRACTOR or CITY with respect to the services of CONSULTANT herein, a waiver of any right to subrogation which any such insurer of said CONTRACTOR may acquire against the CITY by virtue of the payment of any loss under such insurance.
Original, signed certificates and original, separate policy endorsements, naming the City as an additional insured for general liability coverage, as well as a waiver of subrogation for Workers’ Compensation insurance, shall be received and approved by the City before any work may begin. However, failure to do so shall not operate as a waiver of these insurance requirements.
City reserves the right to modify or require additional coverages for specific risk exposures depending on scope of CONTRACTORS work.
Minimum coverage is detailed below. The policy limits of coverage shall be made available to the full limits of the policy. The minimum limits stated herein shall not serve to reduce the policy limits of coverage of CONTRACTOR.
Minimum Scope of Insurance – the following forms shall be provided and coverage shall be at least as broad as the following:
1. Insurance Services Office Commercial General Liability coverage (ISO Occurrence Form CG 0001), and including coverage for bodily and personal injury, property damage, and products and completed operations (if applicable).
2. Insurance Services Office Automobile Liability coverage (ISO Form CA 0001, Code 1, Any Auto).
3. Original and Separate Additional Insured Endorsement for General Liability (ISO Form CG 20 10 11/85 or its equivalent) with primary and non-contributory language.
4. Workers’ Compensation Insurance as required by the State of California including Employer’s Liability coverage.
5. Original and Separate Waiver of Subrogation for Workers’ Compensation insurance.
6. Professional Liability or Errors & Omissions Liability Insurance appropriate to the CONTRACTOR’s profession (if required.)
Required Coverage Minimum Limits
Workers’ Compensation and
Employers’ Liability
Statutory limits as required by the State of California including $1 million Employers’ Liability per accident, per employee for bodily injury or disease. If CONTRACTOR is self-insured, provide a certificate of Permission to SelfInsure, signed by the California Department of Industrial Relations and SelfInsurance. If contractor is a sole proprietor (has no employees) than contractor must sign “Contractor Release of Liability” found at:
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=61.
General Liability
(primary and excess
limits combined)
$2,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage. If the policy includes a general aggregate, either the general aggregate shall apply separately to this project, service or location or the minimum required aggregate limit shall be twice the per occurrence limit ($4 million aggregate limit).
Policy shall be endorsed to name the City of Richmond as an additional insured per the conditions detailed below.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 33 Exhibit G
21 City of Richmond - Insurance Requirements - Type 2:
Professional Services
Automobile Liability $1,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage.
Professional Liability or Errors &
Omissions Liability –
Required for all professionals
including architects, engineers,
consultants, construction
management, counselors, medical
professionals, hospitals, clinics,
attorneys and accountants, & other
consultants as may be required by
the City.
PROJECT COST
$0 - $1 million
$1 million - $5 million
Over $5 million
REQUIRED LIMIT
$1 million p/o
$2 million p/o
$5 million p/o
Required Policy Conditions
Additional Insured Endorsement Applicable to General Liability coverage.
The City of Richmond, its officers, officials, employees, agents and volunteers are to be named as additional insureds for all liability arising out of the operations by or on behalf of the named insured including bodily injury, deaths and property damage or destruction arising in any respect directly or indirectly in the performance of this contract.
ISO form CG 20 10 (11/85) or its equivalent is required. If the Contractor is supplying their product or providing a service then the endorsement must not exclude products and completed operations coverage. If it does, then CG 20 37 (10/01) is also required.
SAMPLE Endorsements can be found at
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=61.
Primary and Noncontributory The contractor’s insurance coverage must be primary coverage as it pertains to the City, its officers, officials, employees, agents and volunteers. Any insurance or self insurance maintained by the City is wholly separate from the insurance of the contractor and in no way relieves the contractor from its responsibility to provide insurance.
Waiver of Subrogation
Endorsement Form
Contractor’s insurer will provide a Waiver of Subrogation in favor of the City for Workers’ Compensation Insurance during the life of this contract.
SAMPLE Endorsements can be found at
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=61.
Deductibles and Self-Insured
Retentions
Any deductible or self-insured retention must be declared to and approved by the City. At the option of the City either the insurer shall reduce or eliminate such deductibles or self-insured retention as respects the City or the CONTRACTOR shall procure a financial guarantee in an amount equal to the deductible or self-insured retention guaranteeing payment of losses and related investigations, claims administration and defense expenses.
Contractor is responsible for satisfaction of the deductible and/or self-insured retention for each loss.
A. M. Best Rating A:VII or Better. If the A.M. Best Rating falls below the required rating, CONTRACTOR must replace coverage immediately and provide notice to City.
Umbrella/Excess Liability Policies
If an Umbrella or Excess Liability Policy is used to meet the liability limits, coverage shall be as broad as specified for underlying coverage’s and cover those insured in the underlying policies.
DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 34 Exhibit G
22 City of Richmond - Insurance Requirements - Type 2:
Professional Services
Claims-Made Policies
If any insurance policy is written on a claims-made form: 1) the retroactive date must be shown, and must be before the date of the contract or the beginning of contract work. 2) Insurance must be maintained and evidence of insurance must be provided for at least five (5) years after completion of the contract of work. 3) If coverage is canceled or non-renewed, and not replaced with another claimsmade policy form with a retroactive date prior to the contract effective date, the Contractor must purchase an extended period coverage for a minimum of five (5) years after completion of contract work.
Subcontractors
CONTRACTOR shall include all subcontractors as insured under its policies or shall furnish to the City for review and approval, separate certificates and endorsements for each subcontractor. All coverage for subcontractors shall be subject to all of the requirements stated herein.
CONTRACTOR agrees to defend and indemnify the City of Richmond for any damage resulting to it from failure of either CONTRACTOR or any subcontractor to take out or maintain the required insurance policies. The fact that insurance is obtained by CONTRACTOR, and/or CONTRACTOR’s subcontractors, will not be deemed to release or diminish the liability of CONTRACTOR, including, without limitation, liability under the indemnity provisions of this contract. Damages recoverable by CITY from CONTRACTOR or any third party will not be limited by the amount of the required insurance coverage.
Verification of Coverage
All original certificates and endorsements shall be received and approved by the City before work may begin. The City of Richmond reserves the right to require complete, certified copies of all required insurance policies including endorsements affecting the coverage at any time.
Original insurance certificates and required policy endorsements shall be mailed or delivered to the Designated Project Manager for the City of Richmond.
Insurance certificates and endorsements may be faxed to the Designated Project Manager. However, CONTRACTOR must mail the original certificates and endorsements to Designated Project Manager once faxed.
Continuous Coverage
CONTRACTOR shall maintain the required insurance for the life of the contract. Should the CONTRACTOR cease to have insurance as required during this time, all work by the CONTRACTOR pursuant to this agreement shall cease until insurance acceptable to the City is provided. In the event that CONTRACTOR fails to comply with the City’s insurance requirements, the City may take such action as it deems necessary to protect the City’s interests. Such action may include but is not limited to termination of the contract, withholding of payments, or other actions as the City deems appropriate.
If services or the scope of work extend beyond the expiration dates of the required insurance policies initially approved by the City, CONTRACTOR must provide updated certificates and endorsements indicating that the required coverage, terms and conditions are still in place.
Renewal certificates and updated endorsements shall be mailed to the Designated Project Manager.
Cancellation
CONTRACTOR shall ensure that coverage shall not be cancelled, reduced or otherwise materially changed except after thirty (30) days’ prior written notice has been given to the City.
Reporting Requirements
Any failure to comply with reporting or other provisions of the policies including breaches of warranties shall not affect coverage provided to the City, its officers, officials, employees or volunteers.
Consistent with Public Policy
The insuring provisions, insofar as they may be judged to be against public policy shall be void and unenforceable only to the minimum extent necessary so that the remaining terms and provisions herein may be consistent with public policy and thus enforceable DocuSign Envelope ID: E38A8A5D-804B-40AB-BC5D-D18655600BC6 35 First Amendment to Agreement for Legal Services
A-1
FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES
BETWEEN
THE CITY OF RICHMOND
AND
JACKSON LEWIS LLP
This First Amendment to the Agreement for Legal Services between the City of Richmond (“City”) and JACKSON LEWIS LLP (“Special Counsel”) (the "First Amendment") is entered into as of OCTOBER 17, 2023, by and between the City and Special Counsel with reference to the following facts:
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the City and Special Counsel entered into that certain Legal Services Agreement (“Original Agreement”) on February 21, 2023, and terminating on June 30, 2024 for representation of the City and City-related entities; and WHEREAS, the City and Special Counsel Original Agreement was for an amount not to exceed the sum of Nine Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety Dollars ($9,990.00); and
WHEREAS, the City now desires for Special Counsel to continue its representation of the City and increase the compensation and extend the time; and WHEREAS, the City now desires for Special Counsel to continue its representation of the City and to increase the compensation limit by Seventy- Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000); and
WHEREAS, the City now desires for Special Counsel to continue its representation of the City and to extend the term of the agreement to JUNE 30, 2025; and WHEREAS, the City and Special Counsel desire to amend the Original Agreement pursuant to this First Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals hereof, and other mutual covenants and promises contained herein and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the City and Special Counsel agree as follows:
1. Amendment. Exhibit A of the Original Agreement, “Scope of Work and Schedule of Fees & Charges,” is hereby amended to read as shown in Attachment 1 to this First Amendment.
2. Effect of First Amendment. Except as provided in this First Amendment, all other terms of the Original Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. 36 First Amendment to Agreement for Legal Services
A-2
3. Counterparts. This First Amendment may be executed in counterparts each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City and Special Counsel have caused this First Amendment to be effective as of the last date written above.
CITY OF RICHMOND JACKSON LEWIS LLP
________________________ By __________________________
Mayor
Title _________________________
Attest:
By: _____________________
City Clerk
Approved as to form:
By: _____________________
City Attorney
37 First Amendment to Agreement for Legal Services
A-3
Attachment 1
SCOPE OF WORK AND SCHEDULE OF FEES & CHARGES
Scope of work:
Special Counsel shall provide advice to the City on labor and employment matters and related services.
City of Richmond Contact Attorney: Alan Cohen, Senior Assistant City Attorney Schedule of Fees & Charges:
Hourly Rates.
PARTNER(S) $425/hour
OF COUNSEL $400/hour
ASSOCIATE(S) $375/hour
PARALEGAL(S) $250/hour
COMPENSATION
Only those costs and expenses set forth in Section III of Exhibit "B", entitled "Reimbursements" shall be paid to Special Counsel.
Total compensation for legal services and reimbursements shall be charged in accordance with Exhibits "A" and "B" and shall not exceed the sum of EightyFour Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety Dollars ($84,990) for attorneys’ fees and reimbursements.
38
October 17, 2023
City Attorney's Office
DATE: October 17, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Dave Aleshire, City Attorney
Shannon Moore, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Subject: Legal Services Agreement with Nevers, Palazoo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This agreement is funded from the City Attorney’s Office budget in account string 01151014-400206.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City Attorney is requesting that the City Council
approve a legal services agreement with Nevers,
Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC so the
partner who was formerly with Aleshire & Wynder can
continue defending the City in Winehaven Legacy LLC v.
City of Richmond and other related matters.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPROVE a legal services agreement (LSA) with Nevers, Palazoo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC in an
amount of $175,000, which is proposed to be funded from the $1.6 million LSA for City Attorney services, with a term from October 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025 – City Attorney’s Office (Dave Aleshire 510-620-6509).
DISCUSSION:
D. Dennis La was a partner with Aleshire & Wynder and the lead attorney defending the City in Winehaven Legacy LLC v. City of Richmond as well as other matters filed by AGENDA
REPORT
39
October 17, 2023
attorney Daniel Butt. Mr. La recently lateralled to Nevers, Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner, PC. The City Attorney is recommending that he stay on as the lead partner at the same rate of $350 per hour. Given his vast knowledge and the expense of getting another attorney up-to-speed, the City Attorney is requesting that Mr.
La associate in as co-defense counsel with Aleshire & Wynder. It would be inefficient in time and uneconomical to switch attorneys at this point.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Nevers, Palazzo, Packard, Wildermuth & Wynner,
PC (LSA)
40 1
LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
THE CITY OF RICHMOND
AND
NEVERS, PALAZZO, PACKARD, WILDERMUTH &
WYNNER, PC
PREAMBLE
This legal services agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into on this 17th day of OCTOBER 18, 2023 (the “Effective Date”) by and between the City of Richmond, California, a chartered California municipal corporation (“City”), with its principal place of business located at 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, California 94804 and NEVERS, PALAZZO, PACKARD, WILDERMUTH & WYNNER, PC comprised of attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of California (“Special Counsel”) with its principal place of business located at, 31248 Oak Crest Drive, Suite 200, Westlake Village, CA 91361. Special Counsel may be referred to herein individually as a “Party” or collectively as the “Parties” or the “Parties to this Agreement.”
RECITALS
The following recitals are as follows:
A. City desires to secure professional services more fully described in this Agreement; and, B. Special Counsel represents that it has the professional qualifications, expertise, necessary licenses and desire to provide legal services of the quality and type, which meet objectives, and requirements of City.
AGREEMENT PROVISIONS
The Parties agree as follows:
1. RETENTION OF FIRM.
A. City hereby confirms, retains and authorizes Special Counsel to represent City and provide legal services as may be requested, from time to time, orally or in writing, by authorized representatives of City on an as-needed basis. By this Agreement, City is retaining Special Counsel and not individual members of the Special Counsel. Special Counsel’s client is the City, as a public entity, and not any of its individual members, groups of individuals or any other entity.
B. The Special Counsel shall report to and receive direction from the City Attorney only and not from any other Department Head or City staff.
C. Special Counsel shall perform such legal services for and on behalf of City under the 41 2
primary direction of the City Attorney. Special Counsel shall undertake, subject to approval of the City Attorney, additional duties as may be authorized by City from time to time under the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED.
These services may include, but are not limited to, associating as co-defense counsel with Aleshire & Wydner, LLP firm to defend the City on the lawsuit captioned Winehaven Legacy LLC v. City of Richmond, et al., and other related matters, and providing advice and counsel on legal matters affecting the City, performing legal research, representing City in judicial proceedings in state and/or federal court or other dispute resolution forums or before administrative agencies, negotiating contracts and drafting contracts, correspondence and other legal documents as may become necessary. These services shall also include the preparation and delivery of status reports to City as specified in paragraph 11 of this Agreement.
3. TERM OF AGREEMENT.
The services of Special Counsel are to commence upon the Effective Date of this Agreement and shall terminate on June 30, 2025, unless the parties extend the Agreement in writing.
The services shall be undertaken and completed in such sequence as to assure their completion as expeditiously as is consistent with professional skill and care.
4. ASSIGNMENT OF DUTIES.
It is contemplated that no other attorney will be assigned from Special Counsel other than Dong-Youl Dennis La. It is agreed by and between the Parties that should it be desirable for any attorney other than Dong-Youl Dennis La to work under this Agreement, such attorney may only be added with the express oral consent of the City Attorney. Should any associate in the Special Counsel be assigned any task under this Agreement that exceeds three (3) billable hours per month, City Attorney should approve the assignment of such associate orally.
5. PUBLIC FUNDING.
Special Counsel and City mutually recognize that Special Counsel’s services under this Agreement are being paid for with tax dollars from citizens and taxpayers of the City of Richmond, California, and that, given this fact, a heightened duty of care exists in both Special Counsel and City to ensure that Special Counsel scrupulously adheres to principles of moderation, frugality and cost consciousness in carrying forth the goals of this Agreement.
Special Counsel and each of its attorneys pledge themselves to scrupulously observe a duty of reasonableness and cost-effective representation in all aspects of this Agreement.
6. PAYMENT FOR SERVICE.
42 3
In consideration for Special Counsel’s performance of legal services on behalf of City under the terms of this Agreement, and upon review and approval of Special Counsel’s bill by the City Attorney, Special Counsel shall be compensated at the preapproved hourly rates and for authorized expenses set forth in the “Scope of Work and Schedule of Fees and Charges” set forth in Exhibit A, attached and incorporated by this reference. Fees for services performed by retained consultants, subcontractors, experts or other personnel may be billed to City only if approved in writing by the City Attorney. Exhibit A may be amended from time to time by letter agreement duly signed and approved by the City Attorney.
7. BILLING INVOICES.
Special Counsel shall, within thirty (30) days after the end of each month in which services are performed under this Agreement, submit to the City an itemized bill describing in detail the specific services performed as set forth in this Agreement. Special Counsel shall adhere to the Protocols and Guidelines set forth in Exhibit B, attached and incorporated by this reference. The bill shall be electronically submitted to [email protected].
8. PROJECT PLAN AND BUDGET AND RESERVES.
Special Counsel shall provide a project plan and budget for any project or case assigned to Special Counsel under this Agreement. Project plans and budgets shall conform to the guidelines set forth in Exhibit C (Project Plan and Budget) and Exhibit D (Mandatory Case Reporting Policy), when the case is reportable to the City’s excess insurance carrier, California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority (CJPRMA). If the case is reportable to CJPRMA, Special Counsel shall provide an initial report notifying them of the claim or lawsuit within 30 days of receipt of the assignment and the estimated exposure. The City Attorney and Risk Manager shall be copied on all correspondence sent to CJPRMA.
9. LITIGATION GUIDELINES.
When litigation is included in the scope of work, litigation guidelines as specified in Exhibit E are to be followed.
10. BILLING.
Special Counsel shall scrupulously examine all bills submitted for services rendered under this Agreement to assure that appropriate billing judgment is employed in billing City for service. Special Counsel shall not bill for hours other than those hours expressly devoted to the tasks approved in advance by the City Attorney. Special Counsel agrees it will not bill for time, which is not specifically devoted to the task(s). Special Counsel shall not use legal professionals for secretarial work and under no circumstances shall Special Counsel have lawyers billing for making copies, scheduling appointments or taking care of matters or work that would otherwise be work performed by a law clerk, assistant or secretary. 43 4
11. STATUS REPORTS.
Special Counsel shall, every thirty (30) days, submit via electronic mail a written update setting forth a summary of activities performed on behalf of City during the preceding month, the current status of each pending matter, results obtained or expected to be obtained, a summary of invoices for the preceding month and other information relating to the services rendered as City may reasonably request. The update should be emailed to the City Attorney with a copy to the Risk Manager and CJPRMA, if applicable. Please keep the status reports brief and spend no more than one (1) hour billing for your time. Please also attach any referenced filings to your status report.
12. TERMINATION.
Either Party may terminate this Agreement by providing written notice to the other. Any termination hereunder shall become effective immediately upon receipt of written notice of termination; provided, however, that Special Counsel may exercise its right of termination only to the extent and under terms and conditions consistent with the obligations of Special Counsel under the Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of California; and provided, that in the event of termination, the amount due Special Counsel for services rendered and costs and expenses incurred prior to termination shall remain due and payable.
Special Counsel agrees to turn over to any attorney substituted in its place, the entire file and attorney work product regarding any such matter within seven (7) days of any such termination.
13. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
A. No member of the governing body of the City, and no other officer, employee or agent of the City who exercises any discretion, function or responsibility in connection with the carrying out of any project to which this Agreement pertains, shall have any personal interest, direct or indirect, in this Agreement.
B. Special Counsel agrees to secure the informed written consent of the City Attorney before accepting any representation adverse to the City (actual or apparent) during the term of this Agreement, and to forego the representation if the City Attorney, in his or her sole discretion, objects for any reason. This provision is intended to provide rights to the City above and beyond the rights Special Counsel owes to the City under all applicable rules of professional conduct relating to conflict of interest.
14. ASSIGNMENTS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST.
City and Special Counsel bind themselves, their partners, successors, assigns, executors and administrators to the terms of this Agreement. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no interest in this Agreement or any of the work provided for in this Agreement shall be assigned or transferred, either voluntarily or by operation of law, without the prior written approval of the City Attorney.
44 5
15. AUDITS, RECORDS, AND DOCUMENTATION.
A. The City and any other federal, State or local governmental agency, and any of their authorized auditors or representatives, including auditors, shall have access to, and the right to audit and reproduce any of Special Counsel's records to the extent the City or such other governmental agency deems necessary to ensure that City is paying only the amounts to which Special Counsel is properly entitled or for other purposes relating to the Agreement. Special Counsel shall assist the City in responding to any requests from the City’s auditors, and Special Counsel shall not bill the City for any time spent responding to any such audit requests.
B. Special Counsel shall maintain complete and accurate records of the services provided to City and expenses incurred on behalf of City. Special Counsel shall maintain and preserve all such records for at least three (3) years after termination of the Agreement or until an audit has been completed and accepted in writing by City. Upon written notice by the City, the Special Counsel shall promptly make all such records available to auditors or other representatives of the City or other governmental agencies.
16. NON-DISCRIMINATION.
A. Special Counsel agrees to observe the provisions of Section 2.28.030 of the Municipal Code of the City of Richmond, obligating every contractor or subcontractor under a contract or subcontract with the City of Richmond for services to refrain from discriminatory employment or subcontracting practices on the basis of the race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious creed, national origin or ancestry of any employee, any applicant for employment or any potential subcontractor.
Said Section 2.28.030 is, by this reference, a part of this Agreement.
B. If Special Counsel is found in violation of the nondiscrimination provisions of the State of California Fair Employment Practices Act or similar provisions of federal law or executive order in the performance of this Agreement, it will be in default of this Agreement. Thereupon, City will have the power to cancel or suspend this Agreement, in whole or in part.
17. HOLD HARMLESS/INDEMNIFICATION.
Special Counsel agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, release and defend to the maximum extent permitted by law, and covenants not to sue, the City, its City Council and each member thereof, and its officers, employees, commission members and representatives, from any and all liability, loss, suits, claims, damages, costs, judgments and expenses (including attorney’s fees and costs of litigation) which in whole or in part result from, or arise out of, any negligent acts, errors or omissions (including, without limitation, professional negligence) of Special Counsel, its employees, representatives, subcontractors, or agents in connection with the performance of this Agreement. This Agreement to indemnify, hold 45 6
harmless, release and defend includes, but is not limited to, personal injury (including death at any time) and property or other damage (including, but without limitation, contract or tort or patent, copyright, trade secret or trademark infringement) sustained by any person or persons (including, but not limited to, companies, or corporations, Special Counsel and its employees or agents, and members of the general public).
18. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.
Special Counsel shall maintain in full force and effect the following insurance policies:
A. Commercial general liability policy (bodily injury and property damage); B. Worker’s compensation/employer’s liability policy;
C. Business automobile liability insurance policy; and, D. Professional liability policy.
Said policies shall be maintained with respect to employees and vehicles assigned to the performance of work under this Agreement with coverage amounts, endorsements, certificates of insurance and coverage verifications as defined in Exhibit G, attached to this Agreement and incorporated by this reference.
19. CONFIDENTIALITY AND MEDIA STATEMENTS.
The data, information and reports acquired or prepared by Special Counsel in connection with matters upon which the City has retained Special Counsel shall not be shown or distributed to any other public or private person or entity except as authorized by the City Attorney and in no event prior to having been first disclosed to the City Attorney. All information, documents, records, reports, data or other materials furnished by City to Special Counsel or other such information, documents, records, data or other materials to which the Special Counsel has access during its performance pursuant to this Agreement are deemed confidential and shall remain the property of City. Special Counsel shall not make oral or written disclosure of such documents or materials, other than as necessary for its performance under this Agreement, without the prior written approval of the City Attorney. Special Counsel shall not provide any written or oral statements to the media without the prior written authorization of the City Attorney.
20. AMENDMENTS.
This Agreement, including any Exhibits attached to it, represents the entire understanding of the Parties as to those matters contained herein. No prior oral or written understanding shall be of any force or effect with respect to those matters covered hereunder. This Agreement may be modified only by a written amendment duly executed by the Parties to this Agreement.
21. ENGAGEMENT OF OTHER COUNSEL, SPECIALISTS, OR EXPERTS. 46 7
Special Counsel will not engage or otherwise incur an obligation to pay other counsel, specialists, or experts for services in connection with this Agreement without the prior written approval of the City Attorney.
22. NOTICES.
All notices, pleadings, reports or other communication to the Parties shall be properly sent via electronic mail to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected], and to Special Counsel at its principal place of business listed on page one of this Agreement.
Either Party may change its address for receipt of notices under this Agreement by notice given in the manner provided herein.
23. LAW GOVERNING AGREEMENT.
This Agreement shall be interpreted under the laws of the State of California. All claims or controversies arising out of or related to performance under this Agreement shall be submitted to and resolved in a forum within Contra Costa County.
24. INVALID PROVISIONS.
If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in full or in part, then such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make the provision legal, valid and enforceable, and the other provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
25. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS.
Special Counsel shall demonstrate that the attorney(s) who provide legal services to City under this Agreement are licensed to practice law in the State of California and, if not, indicate to the satisfaction of the City Attorney why such license is not required to perform the services required.
26. SANCTUARY CITY CONTRACTING ORDINANCE COMPLIANCE
STATEMENT.
Contractor agrees to comply with the provisions of the Richmond Sanctuary City Contracting Ordinance (SCCO, Ordinance No. 12-18). Contractor must submit the Sanctuary City Compliance Statement included herein as Exhibit F along with the bid or proposal prior to execution of the contract.
47 8
The Parties acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement as evidenced by the following signatures of their duly authorized representatives. It is the intent of the Parties that this Agreement shall become operative on the Effective Date.
NEVERS, PALAZZO, PACKARD,
WILDERMUTH & WYNNER, PC
By:_______________________________
Title:_____________________________
CITY OF RICHMOND
____________________________
Mayor/ City Manager
Name:______________________
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________
City Attorney
ATTEST:
__________________________
City Clerk
48 Exhibit A
9 SCOPE OF WORK AND SCHEDULE OF FEES & CHARGES
Scope of work:
Special Counsel shall associate as co-defense counsel with Aleshire & Wydner, LLP firm to defend the City on the lawsuit captioned Winehaven Legacy LLC v. City of Richmond, et al., and other related matters.
City of Richmond Contact Attorney: Shannon Moore, Chief Assistant City Attorney Schedule of Fees & Charges:
Hourly Rates
PARTNER(S) $350/hour
ASSOCIATE(S) $285/hour
COMPENSATION
Only those costs and expenses set forth in Section III of Exhibit "B", entitled "Reimbursements" shall be paid to Special Counsel.
Total compensation for legal services and reimbursements shall be charged in accordance with Exhibits "A" and "B" and shall not exceed the sum of ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($175,000.00) for attorneys’ fees and reimbursements.
49 Exhibit B
10 BILLING PROTOCOLS/GUIDELINES
The City of Richmond (“City”) has adopted the following protocols for billing, budgeting, and planning for projects involving outside counsel. Special Counsel will be required to comply with this protocol. If you have questions concerning it, please contact the City Attorney for clarification. In the event you wish to negotiate changes due to the internal operation of your firm, please raise them in writing as soon as possible. Any changes to this protocol will need prior, written approval from the City Attorney. In the interest of fairness, all Special Counsel is required to comply with this protocol. This protocol is also to be used in conjunction with any new proposal for services.
These protocols and guidelines are instituted to ensure that Special Counsel conveys the information necessary for the City Attorney to manage outside projects and litigation. Also, because these guidelines are set out in advance, they are designed to minimize any confusion or misunderstanding. Compliance with these guidelines should enhance the attorney-client relationship. If you have any comments or suggestions that could improve this system, please feel free to contact the City Attorney.
I. BILLING FORMAT
Unless otherwise agreed, the following information must be provided in monthly bills:
a. A detailed description of work, in time increments of .1 hour (one tenth of an hour) for and by each and every individual billing services. b. Identification of the lawyer who is in charge of the matter. c. Reasonably detailed disbursement breakdowns with backup documentation of any individual charge exceeding $100.00.
d. Each billing item must be separately stated on a separate line identifying the individual performing the services, the time spent and the exact nature of the service rendered.
e. When charges are made for research time, the specific issue being researched and the need for the research should be identified.
f. Each item billed should be coded to a specific litigation budget line item, if applicable.
g. The City Attorney reserves the right to request various levels of detail and specific formats (such as columnar comparisons with established budgets). 50 Exhibit B
11 II. BILLING GUIDELINES
a. All tasks set forth in Special Counsel’s billing documentation shall be specific and detailed. Overly generalized listings of task descriptions such as “review contract” or “prepare for negotiations” are not acceptable. b. Billings under this Agreement shall not be provided in more than six (6) minute increments and shall represent the devotion of a full six minutes before an increment is billed. Under no circumstances shall Special Counsel use “block billing” procedures, wherein a list or series of activities is done each day with only an aggregate amount of time specified.
c. Special Counsel shall keep the City advised of the identity and billing rates of those people working on the project account.
d. All time shall be billed within 30 days of the end of the month in which services were performed.
e. Counsel shall advise City whenever it anticipates the amount of services necessary to properly execute the task will exceed the amount of the contract.
When accrued billings are equal to eighty percent (80%) of the Payment Limit, written notice shall be given to the City as soon as possible, via e-mail, to the City Attorney’s Office, of this fact. In order to satisfy this notification requirement, Counsel shall monitor its accrued billings on a weekly basis and immediately notify the City Attorney if the eighty percent (80%) threshold is met. Special Counsel acknowledges the fiscal constraints on City funding and therefore Special Counsel assumes risk of non-payment for services rendered in the event the amount of services rendered exceeds the amount of the contract unless prior written authorization is received. Authorization to exceed the amount set forth in Exhibit A may be given only by City Attorney in writing. f. Only those attorneys approved by the City may bill on the case. g. The City expects the attorney assigned to the case to handle all significant matters in the litigation. The City Attorney must approve in advance the assignment of other attorneys to the litigation or project. The City may request that the assigned work be instead handled by the primary attorney. h. Special Counsel shall not charge for more than one attorney at any hearing, deposition, or meeting of any kind without advance approval of the City Attorney.
i. No more than two paraprofessionals may bill on a particular case without the prior approval of the City.
51 Exhibit B
12 j. The City has retained Special Counsel for its expertise, and therefore expects not to be billed for introductory or background research. City appreciates when Special Counsel has researched an issue previously and uses that research on present cases or projects. Do not charge the City for work Special Counsel has done and billed another client for in the past.
k. Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date of this Agreement, Special Counsel shall provide any manuals or policies describing Special Counsel’s billing practices.
l. The City does not allow “double billing” of any sort. If Special Counsel is working on another client’s matter, do not bill City for that time. This applies to travel time or any other matter.
m. Training time is not billable. Law clerks may be used only with prior approval. n. City will not pay for new attorneys to “get up to speed” on a file unless it has been preapproved.
o. If a matter arises that requires Special Counsel to open a new file, the City Attorney should be informed immediately.
p. City reserves the right to require additional substantiation of any item of claimed expense.
III. REIMBURSEMENTS
a. The City will reimburse Special Counsel for the following expenses, and for no other expenses:
Actual printing costs;
Copying costs at $.12 / page (for legal documents and file materials, but not library materials);
Actual cost of postage (including express mail delivery charges); Facsimile charges at the rate of $0.25 per page;
Computer research support services (e.g., Westlaw, LEXIS or computer time or services) at actual cost, but not to exceed 15% of the total fees for all legal services;
Actual cost of long distance telephone calls;
Transcription and reporter's fees; and
Reasonable travel. The City does not pay for meals unless Attorney is required to be away from office for one full day. All meals and/or travel reimbursements will be subject to approval by the City Attorney. Travel expenses are limited to the lesser of actual expenses or expenses that would be authorized for City employee travel pursuant to City policy. 52 Exhibit B
13 b. The City Attorney must approve in advance any single reimbursement item in excess of $250.
c. Any expense other than those listed in section “a.” must be approved by the City Attorney in writing and in advance in an approved budget. d. No compensation shall be allowed for administrative overhead or premiums added to the direct cost of research support or other services. e. Court filings shall be prepared in a timely manner so that “rush” or “expedited” messenger fees are not incurred.
f. Messenger and other charges in excess of actual costs are not permitted. City does not allow cost, plus a percentage, for actual outside costs g. City does not pay for secretarial time or secretarial overtime. City does not pay attorneys or paralegals for secretarial tasks or tasks that should not be included in Special Counsel’s overhead. For example, faxing, mailing, arranging for messengers and calendaring are not acceptable charges.
h. City does not pay for billing or discussions of bills, including discussions initiated by the City or City’s requests for additional information about a bill. i. The practice of minimum billing charges is prohibited. Please charge for actual time spent. For example, a minimum of .2 for phone calls or .4 for letters is unreasonable unless it is an accurate measure of time spent. j. Do not charge for file opening or file closing. These are not true legal services, tasks or adequate descriptions of legal activities.
53 Exhibit C
14 PROJECT PLAN AND BUDGET
Project plans and budgets should conform to the following guidelines:
a. The project plan shall include a projection of recommended strategies and actions to be taken in the project and a range of costs for each such strategy or action. b. If the scope of work includes representation of the City in litigation, the project plan shall include the following elements, with explanations:
Anticipated total costs;
The primary issues;
The probability of success; and
A settlement/trial recommendation
The project plan will be modified during the litigation as the need arises. c. The project budget shall include an estimate of the attorneys' hours and fees and disbursements during each phase and/or activity. All anticipated expenses must be listed and costs estimated.
d. In the event of litigation, the project budget shall include, but not be limited to, estimates for:
Pre-commencement (legal and factual research for the complaint or answer); Pleadings;
Preliminary motions;
Initial discovery;
Factual investigation of merits (interviewing clients, employees and third parties);
Review and abstract City's documents;
Expert (non-medical) investigation and reports;
Medical experts and examinations;
Legal research on merits;
More thorough discovery (including the identity of deponents and expected costs of each deposition and preparation);
Settlement negotiations;
Trial preparation; and
Trial.
e. The project budget should include the anticipated cost of each line item, the time allotted to complete it and the professional level of the person handling it. f. The project budget is not a fixed fee agreement and is subject to revision. g. Special Counsel shall provide revisions to the project plan or budget at the request of the City Attorney.
54 Exhibit C
15 h. Special Counsel understands and agrees that major unjustified deviations from the project budget, or failure to timely submit a project budget or revisions, if requested, may constitute a breach and result in termination of this Agreement. 55 Exhibit D
16 California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority
Mandatory Case Reporting Policy
Pursuant to Section VII (Conditions) of the Memorandum of Coverage, the following rule is applicable to all cases reported to CJPRMA.
The Authority shall be entitled to complete access to the covered party’s claim file, the defense attorney’s complete file, and all investigation material and reports, including all evaluations and information on negotiations. The covered party shall be responsible to report the progress of the litigation and any significant developments at least quarterly to the Authority, and to provide the Authority with simultaneous copies of all correspondence provided to the covered party by its defense attorneys and/or its agents.
In addition, the CJPRMA Board of Directors has adopted the following mandatory case reporting standards:
1) Defense counsel is expected to provide a written analysis of liability and exposure in any reported claim no later than ninety days following receipt of the file from the member agency. CJPRMA understands that the liability picture may develop as discovery is ongoing, but this does not excuse the responsibility of providing an early, objective analysis of the file, subject to later developments. An early analysis not only permits the JPA member to set an accurate reserve level, but also permits the member entity to decide whether to actively litigate the case, try to settle the case, or limit discovery based upon the exposure.
2) The initial status report should provide, at a minimum, a brief synopsis of the facts giving rise to the lawsuit; the status of the pleadings, including any discussions of demurrers or motions to dismiss, or cross-complaints; a summary and analysis of plaintiff’s injuries, damages and exposures in the case; an initial impression of liability; any requests for additional investigation; a brief outline of the discovery planned; and an evaluation of anticipated litigation costs. The report need not be lengthy, and typically might not exceed three to five pages, but must address the issues directly and in a straightforward manner so that the member entity and CJPRMA can set cost and loss reserves as necessary. 3) Defense counsel is responsible to report, in writing, the setting of a trial date, settlement conference date, hearing date on motion for summary judgment or similar dispositive motion in any litigated case, within one week of the date on which a court establishes such date.
4) Defense counsel is responsible to report, in writing, all settlement demands or offers within one week of the time the offer is made or the demand is received. 56 Exhibit D
17 5) Defense counsel is responsible to report, in writing, on the substance of all depositions taken in the case. This need not be a multi-page deposition summary, but must, at a minimum, include a concise report of major events occurring at the deposition, and an evaluation of the effect of the deposition testimony on the case. 6) Finally, no later than sixty days before the date set for trial in any case, defense counsel is responsible to report, in writing, on (1) an assessment of liability in the case, (2) the adverse potential exposure if liability is found, (3) a concise summary of injuries sustained and/or claims, (4) an assessment of any other factors (such as local jury tendencies, appearance of important witnesses, etc.) that may affect the liability analysis or exposure assessment, and (5) an opinion on the settlement value of the case. 7) All status reports from defense counsel must be copied to the CJPRMA Board member whose entity is involved in the claim.
This policy is designed to protect the member entity and CJPRMA, so that they can make informed litigation decisions on reported cases. Past experience has shown that defense counsel retained by the member entities of CJPRMA are high-caliber, hard working attorneys who have done very well for their clients, and CJPRMA is grateful for their efforts. Defense counsel are cautioned, however, that case reporting is given a high priority by CJPRMA and its members, and is a major consideration in evaluating counsel’s performance. 57 Exhibit E
18 LITIGATION GUIDELINES
The following guidelines should be followed when the scope of work includes representing the City in litigation:
a. The Special Counsel shall consult the City Attorney regarding the component parts of litigation handled so that the City Attorney, in consultation with the City Council, if necessary, can determine whether a particular activity is reasonable in light of its costs and benefits.
b. The City Attorney must approve the identity and number of staff assigned to the litigation, and any changes.
c. All pleadings shall be submitted to the City Attorney for review prior to filing. d. Copies of major work product, pleadings, motions, orders, decisions, research memoranda, reports on significant developments, and quarterly status reports shall be submitted to keep the City Attorney advised of any major developments in the lawsuit. Such copies shall be provided in electronic format compatible with software in the City Attorney’s office. e. Generally, the City Attorney will rely upon Special Counsel for guidance on litigation strategy. Nonetheless, prior approval from the City Attorney is necessary for demurrers, motions for summary judgment and discovery motions.
f. City expects that Special Counsel will resolve all discovery disputes without court intervention. If this is impossible due to the conduct of others, please inform the City Attorney immediately. City’s intent is to have discovery be fair and open with the money spent on reviewing relevant items that are discovered, not on discovery battles. g. Provide full descriptions of legal tasks performed. This will help the City Attorney follow case development and understand Firm’s strategy.
h. Some types of litigation-related expenses require prior approval by the City Attorney, including, but not limited to, experts and investigators. Expenses over a certain dollar amount always require prior approval. See Section III (Reimbursements) of Exhibit B (Billing Protocols and Guidelines) of this Agreement for a list of those expenses that may be reimbursed.
58 Exhibit F
19 SANCTUARY CITY COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
The undersigned, an authorized agent of (hereafter
"Contractor"), has had an opportunity to review the requirements of City of Richmond Ordinance 12-18 (hereafter "Sanctuary City Contracting Ordinance" or “SCCO”). Contractor understands and agrees that the City may choose with whom it will maintain business relations and may refrain from contracting with any person or entity that provides Data Broker or Extreme Vetting services to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division of the United States Department of Homeland Security (“ICE”). Contractor understands the meaning of the following terms used in the SCCO:
a. "Data Broker” means either of the following:
i. The collection of information, including personal information about consumers, from a wide variety of sources for the purposes of reselling such information to their customers, which include both private-sector business and government agencies;
ii. The aggregation of data that was collected for another purpose from that for which it is ultimately used.
b. “Extreme Vetting” means data mining, threat modeling, predictive risk analysis, or other similar services."
Contractor understands that it is not eligible to receive or retain a City contract if at the time the Contract is executed, or at any time during the term of the Contract, it provides Data Broker or Extreme Vetting services to ICE.
Contractor further understands and agrees that Contractor's failure to comply with the SCCO shall constitute a material default of the Contract and the City Manager may terminate the Contract and bar Contractor from bidding on future contracts with the City for five (5) years from the effective date of the contract termination.
By executing this Statement, Contractor certifies that it complies with the requirements of the SCCO and that if at any time during the term of the Contract it ceases to comply, Contractor will promptly notify the City Manager in writing.
Based on the foregoing, the undersigned declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed this day of , 20 , at _________ , California.
Printed Name: Title:
Signed: Date:
Business Entity:
59 Exhibit G
20 City of Richmond - Insurance Requirements - Type 2:
Professional Services
In all instances where CONTRACTOR or its representatives will provide professional services (architects, engineers, construction management, counselors, medical professionals, hospitals, clinics, attorneys, consultants, accountants, etc.) to the City of Richmond (City), the City requires the following MINIMUM insurance requirements and limits.
CONTRACTOR shall procure and maintain for the duration of the contract, agreement, or other order for work, services or supplies, insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damages to property which may arise from or in connection with the performance of the work hereunder and the results of that work by the CONTRACTOR, its agents, representatives, employees or subcontractors. Maintenance of proper insurance coverage is a material element of the contract. Failure to maintain or renew coverage or to provide evidence of renewal may be treated by the City as a material breach of contract.
CONTRACTOR agrees that in the event of loss due to any of the perils for which it has agreed to provide Commercial General Liability insurance, CONTRACTOR shall look solely to its insurance for recovery.
CONTRACTOR hereby grants to CITY, on behalf of any insurer providing Commercial General Liability insurance to either CONTRACTOR or CITY with respect to the services of CONSULTANT herein, a waiver of any right to subrogation which any such insurer of said CONTRACTOR may acquire against the CITY by virtue of the payment of any loss under such insurance.
Original, signed certificates and original, separate policy endorsements, naming the City as an additional insured for general liability coverage, as well as a waiver of subrogation for Workers’ Compensation insurance, shall be received and approved by the City before any work may begin. However, failure to do so shall not operate as a waiver of these insurance requirements.
City reserves the right to modify or require additional coverages for specific risk exposures depending on scope of CONTRACTORS work.
Minimum coverage is detailed below. The policy limits of coverage shall be made available to the full limits of the policy. The minimum limits stated herein shall not serve to reduce the policy limits of coverage of CONTRACTOR.
Minimum Scope of Insurance – the following forms shall be provided and coverage shall be at least as broad as the following:
1. Insurance Services Office Commercial General Liability coverage (ISO Occurrence Form CG 0001), and including coverage for bodily and personal injury, property damage, and products and completed operations (if applicable).
2. Insurance Services Office Automobile Liability coverage (ISO Form CA 0001, Code 1, Any Auto).
3. Original and Separate Additional Insured Endorsement for General Liability (ISO Form CG 20 10 11/85 or its equivalent) with primary and non-contributory language.
4. Workers’ Compensation Insurance as required by the State of California including Employer’s Liability coverage.
5. Original and Separate Waiver of Subrogation for Workers’ Compensation insurance.
6. Professional Liability or Errors & Omissions Liability Insurance appropriate to the CONTRACTOR’s profession (if required.)
Required Coverage Minimum Limits
Workers’ Compensation and
Employers’ Liability
Statutory limits as required by the State of California including $1 million Employers’ Liability per accident, per employee for bodily injury or disease. If CONTRACTOR is self-insured, provide a certificate of Permission to SelfInsure, signed by the California Department of Industrial Relations and SelfInsurance. If contractor is a sole proprietor (has no employees) than contractor must sign “Contractor Release of Liability” found at:
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=61.
General Liability
(primary and excess limits
combined)
$2,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage. If the policy includes a general aggregate, either the general aggregate shall apply separately to this project, service or location or the minimum required aggregate limit shall be twice the per occurrence limit ($4 million aggregate limit).
Policy shall be endorsed to name the City of Richmond as an additional insured per the conditions detailed below.
60 Exhibit G
21 City of Richmond - Insurance Requirements - Type 2:
Professional Services
Automobile Liability $1,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage.
Professional Liability or Errors &
Omissions Liability –
Required for all professionals
including architects, engineers,
consultants, construction
management, counselors, medical
professionals, hospitals, clinics,
attorneys and accountants, & other
consultants as may be required by
the City.
PROJECT COST
$0 - $1 million
$1 million - $5 million
Over $5 million
REQUIRED LIMIT
$1 million p/o
$2 million p/o
$5 million p/o
Required Policy Conditions
Additional Insured Endorsement Applicable to General Liability coverage.
The City of Richmond, its officers, officials, employees, agents and volunteers are to be named as additional insureds for all liability arising out of the operations by or on behalf of the named insured including bodily injury, deaths and property damage or destruction arising in any respect directly or indirectly in the performance of this contract.
ISO form CG 20 10 (11/85) or its equivalent is required. If the Contractor is supplying their product or providing a service then the endorsement must not exclude products and completed operations coverage. If it does, then CG 20 37 (10/01) is also required.
SAMPLE Endorsements can be found at
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=61.
Primary and Noncontributory The contractor’s insurance coverage must be primary coverage as it pertains to the City, its officers, officials, employees, agents and volunteers. Any insurance or self insurance maintained by the City is wholly separate from the insurance of the contractor and in no way relieves the contractor from its responsibility to provide insurance.
Waiver of Subrogation
Endorsement Form
Contractor’s insurer will provide a Waiver of Subrogation in favor of the City for Workers’ Compensation Insurance during the life of this contract.
SAMPLE Endorsements can be found at
http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=61.
Deductibles and Self-Insured
Retentions
Any deductible or self-insured retention must be declared to and approved by the City. At the option of the City either the insurer shall reduce or eliminate such deductibles or self-insured retention as respects the City or the CONTRACTOR shall procure a financial guarantee in an amount equal to the deductible or self-insured retention guaranteeing payment of losses and related investigations, claims administration and defense expenses.
Contractor is responsible for satisfaction of the deductible and/or self-insured retention for each loss.
A. M. Best Rating A:VII or Better. If the A.M. Best Rating falls below the required rating, CONTRACTOR must replace coverage immediately and provide notice to City.
Umbrella/Excess Liability Policies
If an Umbrella or Excess Liability Policy is used to meet the liability limits, coverage shall be as broad as specified for underlying coverage’s and cover those insured in the underlying policies. 61 Exhibit G
22 City of Richmond - Insurance Requirements - Type 2:
Professional Services
Claims-Made Policies
If any insurance policy is written on a claims-made form: 1) the retroactive date must be shown, and must be before the date of the contract or the beginning of contract work. 2) Insurance must be maintained and evidence of insurance must be provided for at least five (5) years after completion of the contract of work. 3) If coverage is canceled or non-renewed, and not replaced with another claimsmade policy form with a retroactive date prior to the contract effective date, the Contractor must purchase an extended period coverage for a minimum of five (5) years after completion of contract work.
Subcontractors
CONTRACTOR shall include all subcontractors as insured under its policies or shall furnish to the City for review and approval, separate certificates and endorsements for each subcontractor. All coverage for subcontractors shall be subject to all of the requirements stated herein.
CONTRACTOR agrees to defend and indemnify the City of Richmond for any damage resulting to it from failure of either CONTRACTOR or any subcontractor to take out or maintain the required insurance policies. The fact that insurance is obtained by CONTRACTOR, and/or CONTRACTOR’s subcontractors, will not be deemed to release or diminish the liability of CONTRACTOR, including, without limitation, liability under the indemnity provisions of this contract. Damages recoverable by CITY from CONTRACTOR or any third party will not be limited by the amount of the required insurance coverage.
Verification of Coverage
All original certificates and endorsements shall be received and approved by the City before work may begin. The City of Richmond reserves the right to require complete, certified copies of all required insurance policies including endorsements affecting the coverage at any time.
Original insurance certificates and required policy endorsements shall be mailed or delivered to the Designated Project Manager for the City of Richmond.
Insurance certificates and endorsements may be faxed to the Designated Project Manager. However, CONTRACTOR must mail the original certificates and endorsements to Designated Project Manager once faxed.
Continuous Coverage
CONTRACTOR shall maintain the required insurance for the life of the contract. Should the CONTRACTOR cease to have insurance as required during this time, all work by the CONTRACTOR pursuant to this agreement shall cease until insurance acceptable to the City is provided. In the event that CONTRACTOR fails to comply with the City’s insurance requirements, the City may take such action as it deems necessary to protect the City’s interests. Such action may include but is not limited to termination of the contract, withholding of payments, or other actions as the City deems appropriate.
If services or the scope of work extend beyond the expiration dates of the required insurance policies initially approved by the City, CONTRACTOR must provide updated certificates and endorsements indicating that the required coverage, terms and conditions are still in place. Renewal certificates and updated endorsements shall be mailed to the Designated Project Manager.
Cancellation
CONTRACTOR shall ensure that coverage shall not be cancelled, reduced or otherwise materially changed except after thirty (30) days’ prior written notice has been given to the City.
Reporting Requirements
Any failure to comply with reporting or other provisions of the policies including breaches of warranties shall not affect coverage provided to the City, its officers, officials, employees or volunteers.
Consistent with Public Policy
The insuring provisions, insofar as they may be judged to be against public policy shall be void and unenforceable only to the minimum extent necessary so that the remaining terms and provisions herein may be consistent with public policy and thus enforceable 62 cc12Sep2023 – sl
RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, September 12, 2023
Community Services Building
440 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804
A. OPEN SESSION TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE CLOSED SESSION The Richmond City Council Evening Open Session was called to order at 4:31 p.m. by Mayor Eduardo Martinez.
B. ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Claudia Jimenez, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Doria Robinson arrived after the roll was called. Councilmember Melvin Willis was absent for the entire Closed Session.
C. CLOSED SESSION
C.1 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code
Section 54957.6)
Agency Representatives: Sharrone Taylor and Jack Hughes Employee organizations:
1. SEIU Local 1021 Full Time Unit and Part Time Unit
2. IFPTE Local 21 Mid-Level Management Unit and
Executive Management Units
3. Richmond Police Officers Association RPOA
4. Richmond Police Management Association RPMA
5. IAFF Local 188
6. Richmond Fire Management Association RFMA
City Designated Representative: Dave Aleshire, City
AttorneyUnrepresented employee: City Manager
C.2 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Government
Code Section 54957)
Title: City Manager
C.3 CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR (Government Code Section 54956.8)
• Property: 425 24th Street, Richmond, CA 94804 (Homekey Program at Motel 6 location)
Agency Negotiators: Nannette Beacham, Lina Velasco, Jesus Morales Negotiating Parties: Novin Development, Corp, Journey Hospitality, Inc.
Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment
• Property: Metro Walk Phase II at Richmond Transit Village Agency Negotiators: Lina Velasco, Nannette Beacham
Negotiating Parties: Pacific West Communities, Inc., San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District
Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment (12th Amendment/Disposition and Development Agreement)
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C.4 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of Subdivision (d) [as applicable] of Government Code Section 54956.9) One Case
C.5 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of Subdivision (d) of Government Code Section 54956.9)
Two Cases
D. PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE CLOSED SESSION (limited to items on the Closed Session agenda only)
Eric Smith gave comments in person and Mike Velazquez gave comments via teleconference, regarding Item C.1.
E. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
The Open Session adjourned to Closed Session at 4:37 p.m. Closed Session adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
F. REGULAR MEETING OF THE RICHMOND HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Regular Meeting of the Richmond Housing Authority Board of Commissioners was called to order at 7:26 p.m. by Chairperson Eduardo Martinez.
G. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
H. ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Soheila Bana, Claudia Jimenez, Doria Robinson, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Chair Gayle McLaughlin, Chair Eduardo Martinez, and Housing Authority Tenant Commissioner Jaycine Scott. Absent: Commissioner Melvin Willis was absent for the entire meeting.
I. STATEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None.
J. REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Interim Richmond Housing Authority Executive Director Gabino Arredondo presented a PowerPoint regarding an update on the Nevin Plaza rehabilitation project.
K. AGENDA REVIEW
None.
L. HOUSING AUTHORITY OPEN FORUM
Sharon Sanders expressed concerns regarding the homelessness crisis and stated that she did not see very many councilmembers in the community. Ms. Sanders urged the council to prioritize housing for the homeless.
Mark Wassberg expressed concerns regarding security at the Hacienda Senior Apartments. Mr. Wassberg reported that he was a victim of theft at the property and urged the council to resolve the security issues.
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M. HOUSING AUTHORITY CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Housing Authority Tenant Commissioner Scott
Seconded by Vice Chair McLaughlin
To approve all items on the Housing Authority Consent Calendar.
Ayes (7): Commissioner Bana, Commissioner Jimenez, Commissioner Robinson, Commissioner Willis, Commissioner Zepeda, Vice Chair McLaughlin, Chair Martinez, and Housing Authority Tenant Commissioner Scott.
Absent (1): Commissioner Willis.
Passed (7 to 1)
M.1 Emergency Contract with Nichols Consulting Engineers, CHTD (NCE) for Part 58 Environmental Review
ADOPT a resolution authorizing an emergency contract with Nichols Consulting Engineers (NCE) for $13,600 plus a 10 percent contingency of $1,360, for a total contract amount not to exceed $14,960, with a term ending August 1, 2024, to complete a Part 58 Environmental Review - Richmond Housing Authority (Gabino Arredondo 510-620-6606).
Adopted Resolution No. 2189
M.2 Housing Authority Meeting Minutes
APPROVE the minutes of the April 18, 2023, Special Meeting; June 6, 2023, Regular Meeting; June 20 and June 27, 2023, Joint Special Meetings of the Richmond Housing Authority - City Clerk's Office (Pamela Christian 510-620- 6513).
M.3 Contract Amendment with Doherty’s Truck & Auto Rental ADOPT a resolution approving a first contract amendment with Doherty’s Truck & Auto Rental increasing the contract amount by $30,858, for a total contract amount not to exceed $40,858, with a term extending through June 30, 2025, for the rental of a truck used for maintenance and unit turnover activities – Richmond Housing Authority (Gabino Arredondo 510-620-6606).
Adopted Resolution No. 2190
N. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
O. REGULAR MEETING OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
The Regular Meeting of the Richmond City Council was called to order at 7:36 p.m. by Mayor Martinez.
P. ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Bana, Jimenez, Robinson, Zepeda, Vice Mayor McLaughlin, and Mayor Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Willis was absent for the entire meeting.
Q. STATEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None.
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R. AGENDA REVIEW
Items Y.4 (Sea Level Rise and Shoreline Development) and Y.5 (Wildfire Prevention Memorandum of Understanding) were continued to the September 19, 2023, City Council meeting.
S. REPORT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY OF FINAL DECISIONS MADE
DURING CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Dave Aleshire gave the following report:
Item C.1 (employee labor negotiations) was not discussed. There was no reportable action taken regarding the unrepresented employee matter.
Item C.2 (City Manager performance evaluation) was completed.
Item C.3 (real property negotiations) the Home Key Program matter was discussed and direction was given for further negotiation. The Metro Walk matter was not discussed.
Items C.4 and C.5 (anticipated litigations) were not discussed.
T. REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER (public comment allowed under Open Forum)
City Manager Shasa Curl presented a PowerPoint that highlighted the following upcoming events: Richmond High School Modernization Community Meeting on September 13, 2023; Movies in the Plaza on September 15, 2023; Community Safety Academy on September 28 through November 18, 2023; and Pajama Storytime at the West Side Branch Library on September 11 and October 16, 2023.
T.1 NEW EMPLOYEE REPORT - 1st Tuesday
None.
U. REPORTS OF OFFICERS: REFERRALS TO STAFF, AND GENERAL REPORTS (INCLUDING AB 1234 REPORTS)(limited to two minutes per
Councilmember)(public comments allowed under Open Forum) Councilmember Bana called for a moment of silence in memory of all victims of the following recent natural disasters: wildfires in Maui, Hawaii; earthquake in Morocco; and flood in Libya. Councilmember Bana reported that she attended the Asian Pacific Islander Leadership Conference in Sacramento, California.
Councilmember Zepeda announced that dinner for the council was provided by Bubaloo Cafe in Richmond and urged the community to support small businesses.
Councilmember Zepeda announced that Mexican Independence Day was upcoming and the Mexican flag was being raised for the first time at the Civic Center Plaza on September 14, 2023.
Vice Mayor McLaughlin announced that the Tiny Youth Village Ground Honoring and a Bench Memorial in honor of long-time Planning Commissioner and environmentalist, Carol Teltchick, were on September 30, 2023. The vice mayor also announced that she was working with staff to bring a farmers market to Marina Bay Park.
Councilmember Jimenez reported that she and Mayor Martinez hosted the California Energy Commission during its tour of the Richmond Port seeking offshore wind power opportunities. Councilmember Jimenez also reported that she attended the North and East Neighborhood Picnic and acknowledged organizations and others for their participation. Councilmember Jimenez announced that the Annual Dimm-Key Neighborhood Watch Party was on September 23, 2023. Councilmember Jimenez also announced that a Traffic-Calming Community Forum with the city's Public Works Department was on September 30, 2023.
66 cc12Sep2023 – sl
Councilmember Robinson announced Thrive Thursdays weekly health and wellness event at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Councilmember Robinson invited the community to join the Urban Forest Advisory Commission to celebrate Arbor Day at Lucas Park on October 21, 2023. Councilmember Robinson reported on the following Recreation and Parks Commission's activities: identified possible locations for soccer fields across Richmond parks; heard from pickleball players requesting more courts in Richmond; working to make sure the city's recreational assets such as scoreboards were functional; and had a discussion regarding the need for more field space in parks. Councilmember Robinson urged the community to attend the city's Recreation and Parks Commission meetings scheduled every first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium (Bermuda Room).
Mayor Martinez announced that the West Contra Costa Community School System Change Collaboration met at Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia's office on September 9, 2023, regarding how to move forward with transitions to community schools. Mayor Martinez acknowledged Point Richmond Music Festival sponsors.
Mayor Martinez also acknowledged councilmembers Bana and Zepeda for attending the Contra Costa Mayor's Conference with him.
V. ABATEMENT REPORT FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR - 1st Tuesday (public comment allowed under Open Forum)
Deputy Director of Public Works Operations and Maintenance Tawfic Halaby presented a PowerPoint that highlighted the following activities from the month of July through August 2023: dumpster days; illegal dumping; encampment abatement; private property cleanup and board ups; total tonnage collected; weed abatement; graffiti removal; abatement staff hours; illegal dumping costs and hot spots; and partnerships. Discussion ensued. The council requested additional data to determine if the dumpster days were making an impact on illegal dumping.
W. OPEN FORUM FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
(public comment on items that remained on the Consent Calendar or items that were not on the agenda – was limited to 2 minutes unless otherwise specified - Back and forth dialogue with the Council was prohibited)
Jamin Pursell acknowledged Councilmember Zepeda for his Banned Book Readings series and Councilmember Robinson for hosting the Thrive Thursdays event. Mr. Pursell acknowledged Mayor Martinez and Vice Mayor McLaughlin for coming out to Crescent Park to address toxic shoreline issues. Mr. Pursell expressed concerns regarding the lack of advertising support provided to neighborhood councils for the city's Dumpster Days program. Mr. Pursell reminded the council of its funding allocation for portable bathrooms at the El Sobrante Stroll and encouraged the community to attend the event on September 17, 2023.
Mark Wassberg gave comments regarding homicides in Richmond and violence in the African-American neighborhoods.
Christine Trujillo and Wesley Alexander urged the council to allocate American Rescue Plan Act funds for increased city staff, community needs, and small business owners to improve economic recovery.
Patricia Perez and Debra Marks gave comments regarding police reforms she and her family were advocating. Ms. Perez invited community members and city officials to a memorial service in honor of Pedie Perez on September 16, 2023. Ms. Marks announced there was a pending city art project to memorialize Pedie Perez. Ms. Marks gave comments in support of new police reforms and the Richmond Police Department's Cultural Sensitivity Training.
67 cc12Sep2023 – sl
Sally Hindman, Adrian Carmago, Stephen Horsley, and Enrique Salas gave comments in support of Item X.3.a. regarding a lease amendment with the Richmond Police Activities League to allow for the Richmond Tiny Home Village, farm, and garden project.
Sherry Padgett gave comments regarding the Richmond Zeneca development site agreement approved by the prior City Council. Ms. Padgett raised a question regarding the fulfillment of legal indemnity requirements.
Naomi Williams invited the council to a Commission on Aging senior event on September 27, 2023. Ms. Williams requested information regarding future plans for Richmond's historic International Hotel destroyed by fire.
X. CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
(All items placed under the Consent Calendar were considered to be routine and noncontroversial. The items were enacted upon together with a motion and second, without discussion, of any member of the City Council, and each item was deemed to have received the action recommended.)
Motion by Councilmember Bana
Seconded by Vice Mayor McLaughlin
To approve all items on the Consent Calendar.
Ayes (6): Councilmember Bana, Councilmember Jimenez, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Zepeda, Vice Mayor McLaughlin, and Mayor Martinez Absent (1): Councilmember Willis
Passed (6 to 1)
X.1 City Attorney's Office
X.1.a Sixth Amendment of the Downey Brand Legal Services Agreement APPROVE the sixth amendment to the legal services agreement with Downey Brand, in the amount of $100,000, to represent the City in pending appeals and any further proceedings in the current Point Molate Alliance, et al. v. City of Richmond litigation involving the Point Molate property and the City’s prior CEQA and land use entitlement process(es), for a total contract amount of $1,225,000 – City Attorney’s Office (Dave Aleshire 510-620-6509).
X.1.b First Amendment to the Legal Services Agreement with Bennett, Gelini, and Gelini
APPROVE a first amendment to the legal services agreement with Bennett, Gelini, and Gelini increasing the compensation by an amount not to exceed $100,000, for a total contract amount of $109,990, with a term ending June 30, 2025 – City Attorney’s Office (Dave Aleshire/Alan Cohen 510-620-6709).
X.2 City Clerk's Office
X.2.a City Council Meeting Minutes
APPROVE the minutes of the April 18, May 23, June 6, June 20, June 27, and July 11, 2023, regular City Council meetings; and the July 19, 2023, special City Council meeting - City Clerk's Office (Pamela Christian 510- 620-6513).
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X.3 City Council
X.3.a Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) lease amendment DIRECT staff to negotiate and finalize the final form of a Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) lease amendment at 175 23rd St. within 14 days to allow for the Richmond Tiny Home Village, Farm, and Garden Project to be built once permits and approvals are obtained - Vice Mayor Gayle McLaughlin (510-620-6636)
X.4 Community Development
X.4.a Encampment Resolution Funding Round 2
ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE a $8,602,587 Encampment Resolution Funding Round 2 award from the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency’s (BCSH) California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) to connect at least 115 unhoused city residents with urgently needed services and pathways to housing to resolve encampments in the City, including those located along Interstates 80 and 580 – Community Development Department (Lina Velasco 510-620- 6841/Jesus Morales 510-620-6649).
Adopted Resolution No. 86-23
X.4.b Sole-Source Contract with Just Cities, LLC
APPROVE a sole-source contract with Just Cities, LLC in the amount of $150,000 for development of a Housing Equity Roadmap that builds upon the recently completed Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Analysis prepared in the 6th Cycle Housing Element, for a term beginning September 12, 2023, and ending December 31, 2025 – Community Development Department (Lina Velasco 510-620-6841/Jesus Morales 510-620-6649).
X.4.c Contract Amendment No. 3 with Hatchuel Tabernik & Associates (HTA) for On-Call Grant Writing and Project Evaluation Services for Awarded Grants
APPROVE contract amendment no. 3 with Hatchuel Tabernik & Associates (HTA) for $100,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $140,000, to provide on-call grant writing for the Housing Division for homelessness services and supports, for a term extending through June 30, 2025 – Community Development Department (Lina Velasco 510-620- 6841/Jesus Morales 510-620-6649).
X.4.d City of Richmond Response to Grand Jury Report No. 2306, Affordable Housing: A Plan Without a Home
APPROVE the City of Richmond response to the 2022-2023 Contra Costa Civil Grand Jury Report No. 2306 entitled “Affordable Housing: A Plan Without a Home” and submittal of the response to the Grand Jury – City Manager’s Office/Community Development Department (Shasa Curl/Lina Velasco 510-620-6841). This item was continued from the July 11, 2023, meeting.
X.4.e Contract Amendment No. 1 with United Site Services for Portable Toilets APPROVE a first amendment to the contract with United Site Services to increase the contract amount by $150,000, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $225,000, with a contract term ending June 30, 2025, with two 69 cc12Sep2023 – sl
one-year options to renew at a combined total of $150,000 for the two option years – Public Works Department/Community Development Department (Daniel Chavarria 510-620-5478/Greg Hardesty 510-620- 6920/Lina Velasco 510-620-6841).
X.4.f Homekey Project Purchase Sale Agreement Amendment and Assignment ADOPT a resolution authorizing the acquisition of property to implement a Homekey Project at 425 24th Street if a grant is awarded – Community Development Department (Lina Velasco 510-620-6841/Jesus Morales 510-620-6649).
Adopted Resolution No. 87-23
X.5 Fire Department
X.5.a Computer Aided Dispatch System Services and Equipment for Fire Department
APPROVE a second amendment to the contract with Mark43, Inc. in the amount of $188,800, for a new total contract not to exceed amount of $2,615,800 to upgrade the Richmond Fire Department’s Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system software and for annual service costs; APPROVE a purchase order with DuraTech USA, Inc. in the amount of $175,000 including a $1,787.21 contingency to purchase related computer hardware and accessories; APPROVE a contract with Stommel, Inc. dba Lehr in the amount of $192,062.50, with a term beginning September 16, 2023, through December 31, 2023, to install the hardware and accessories to Fire Department vehicles; and ADOPT a resolution amending the Fire Department’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget and appropriating $438,862.50 to cover the costs of the upgrade – Fire Department (Chief Angel Montoya 510-307-8041/Deputy Chief Aaron Osorio 510-307-8021).
Adopted Resolution No. 88-23
X.6 Library and Community Services
X.6.a Grant Award from the East Bay Community Foundation ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE a $30,000 grant award from the East Bay Community Foundation for the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) Operation Peacemaker Fellowship program - Community Services Department (Sam Vaughn 510-620-5404).
Adopted Resolution No. 89-23
X.6.b First Contract Amendment with Universal Safety & CPR Solutions to provide training and certifications for RichmondBUILD and YouthBUILD participants
APPROVE a first amendment to the contract with Universal Safety & CPR Solutions increasing the contract by $126,000, for a total not-toexceed contract amount of $157,000, and extending the term from June 30, 2025, to March 30, 2028, to provide various trainings and certifications as outlined in the Environmental Protection Agency 500 grant at the RichmondBUILD facility – Community Services Department (Tamara Walker 510-307-8006/Fred Lucero 510-621-1562).
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X.6.c Standard Contract with Trans Metro, Inc. for On-Call paratransit services and Outreach
APPROVE the standard contract with Trans Metro, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $250,000, from September 12, 2023, through September 30, 2024, to support community outreach and existing paratransit van services for seniors and disabled individuals residing in Richmond and incorporated and unincorporated areas in West County per Measure J guidelines – Community Services Department (LaShonda White 510-620- 6828/ Lori Reese 510-620-6869).
X.6.d Sports Officiating Services for Danny Walker
APPROVE a contract with Danny Walker in an amount not to exceed $70,000, beginning July 1, 2023, and ending on June 30, 2025, to provide sports officiating services – Community Services Department (Ranjana Maharaj 510-620-6972/Tetteh Kisseh 510-620-6919).
X.6.e Memorandum of Understanding with Youth Tennis Advantage for Instructional Programs at Nicholl Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. Tennis Courts
APPROVE the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Richmond and Youth Tennis Advantage, for a term from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2028, to provide tennis instructions at Nicholl Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. tennis courts at no cost to the participants and the City of Richmond – Community Services Department (Ranjana Maharaj 510-620- 6972/ Tetteh Kisseh 510-620-6919).
X.6.f Clean Mobility Options Electric Shuttle Calstart Funding Agreement Amendment 1
APPROVE a first amendment to the funding agreement between the City of Richmond and the State of California Air Resources Board (CARB) Clean Mobility Options Project Voucher Pilot Program to increase the funding agreement by $500,000, for a total agreement amount not to exceed $1,500,000, in support of the expansion of the Richmond Moves shuttle program; ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE $500,000 from CARB; and APPROVE a third contract amendment with Nomad Transit, LLC (dba Via Transportation, Inc.) adding an amount of $450,000, for a total amount not to exceed $2,100,731, to expand the Richmond Moves shuttle operations through July 7, 2024 – Community Services Department (LaShonda White 510-620-6828/Denée Evans 510-621-1718).
X.6.g California State Library English as a Second Language Services Project Grant Award
ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE into the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget a California State Library grant, in the amount of $69,602, to support English as a Second Language educational services offered at the Library’s literacy services program, Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) – Community Services Department (Kate Eppler 510-620- 5452/Abigail Sims-Evelyn 510-307-8082).
Adopted Resolution No. 90-23
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X.6.h Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Title II (WIOA II) Grant Award for $65,296
ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and appropriate the WIOA II grant award of $65,296, to support educational programs offered at the library’s literacy services program, Literacy for Every Adult Program – Community Services Department (Kate Eppler 510-620-5452/Abigail Sims-Evelyn 510-307-8082).
Adopted Resolution No. 91-23
X.7 Mayor's Office
X.7.a Urban Forest Advisory Committee
APPOINT Janet Flint to the Urban Forest Advisory Committee with a term that expires on November 17, 2026 – Mayor’s Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez 510-620-6503).
X.7.b Human Rights and Human Relations Committee
REAPPOINT Victoria Sawicki to the Human Rights and Human Relations Committee, Seat 3, Term Expires March, 30, 2026 - Mayor’s Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez 510-620-6503).
X.7.c Economic Development Commission Appointment
APPOINT Crashelle Jackson to the Richmond Economic Development Commission, term expires, March 30, 2025 – Mayor’s Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez 510-620-6503).
X.7.d Richmond Youth Council Appointment
APPOINT Jocelyn Nichole Hernandez Trueba to the Richmond Youth Council, term expires, October 1, 2024 – Mayor’s Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez 510-620-6503).
X.7.e International Travel Approval to Zhoushan, China to ratify the 2024-2026 Mutual Agreement and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sister City relationship.
AUTHORIZE travel for Mayor Eduardo Martinez, Councilmember Cesar Zepeda, and the Mayor’s Chief of Staff Shiva Mishek to Zhoushan, Republic of China, to celebrate the Sister Cities 30th Friendship Anniversary; attend the fifth annual International Island Tourism Conference; and update the Mutual Agreement between Sister Cities Richmond and Zhoushan— Mayor's Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez 510-620-6502) and Councilmember Cesar Zepeda (510-620-6593).
X.8 Police Department
X.8.a First Contract Amendment with Bay Area Marine Services, LLC.
APPROVE a first contract amendment with Bay Area Marine Services, LLC. to continue providing repair and maintenance services to Richmond Police Department’s Marine Unit, increasing the contract by $30,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $80,000, with a term beginning August 1, 2022, and ending July 31, 2025 – Police Department (Chief Bisa French 510-621-1802).
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X.8.b Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office for 2022 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE $80,619 in funding from the 2022 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program for the purchase of police safety equipment; and AUTHORIZE the city manager to execute and accept the Memorandum of Understanding with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office – Police Department (Chief Bisa French 510-621-1802).
Adopted Resolution No. 92-23
X.9 Public Works
X.9.a Agreement Execution Authority for Certain Agreements with the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans)
ADOPT a resolution that grants the authority to the Director of Public Works and the City Engineer to execute Master Agreements, Program Supplemental Agreements, Fund Exchange Agreements, Fund Transfer Agreements, and any amendments thereto with the California Department of Transportation for transportation projects funded by Federal and/or State sources – Public Works Department (Daniel Chavarria 510-620- 5478/ Robert Armijo 510-620-5477).
Adopted Resolution No. 93-23
Y. NEW BUSINESS
Y.1 Community Crisis Response Program Update
RECEIVE a draft report and presentation from Urban Strategies Council regarding Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP) model options; and PROVIDE DIRECTION to City staff – Community Services Department (LaShonda White 510-620-6828/ Patrick Seals 510-307-8016). This item was continued from the July 11, 2023, meeting.
Deputy City Manager Community Services LaShonda White introduced the matter and presented a PowerPoint that highlighted the CCRP background, timelines, and current status. David Harris and Anne Janks of Urban Strategies Council presented community engagement; development process; community response elements; common dispatched calls; potential pilot implementation structural options; and budget assumptions. The proposed options were as follows: (1) non-profit, (2) existing city office, (3) new city department, (4) nonprofit hybrid model, and (5) partnership with the county). Mrs. White advised that the budget salary projections were low and did not include potential salary changes or cost pool. Mrs. White outlined ongoing stakeholder and community engagement including recommendations for a community advisory board. Project Manager Patrick Seals presented the next steps. Discussion ensued. The council expressed concerns regarding costs, liability, training, and safety of the program staff. The council requested the following: legal review regarding liability concerns; data from other cities that implemented similar programs; grant funding; refined budget estimates; interns from Contra Costa College; electric vehicles; different phone number from 911; status of job descriptions; percentages of calls that could be diverted to the program; and additional information regarding the proposed Community Advisory Board. The following individuals gave comments in person: Jamin Pursell, Don Gosney, Mark Wassberg, Andrew Melendez, Jocelyn Hernandez, Karina Salmeron, Angela Aranda, Yaymi Perez, 73 cc12Sep2023 – sl
and Carole Johnson. The following individuals gave comments via teleconference: Ben Therriault, Marisol Cantu, Petronila Fernandes, Sahai Burrowes, Leisa Johnson, and Sara Cantor. Further discussion ensued. The council requested future discussions regarding neighborhood councils and block captains.
Motion by Councilmember Jimenez
Seconded by Vice Mayor McLaughlin
To direct staff in partnership with Urban Strategies Council to move forward with Option 2 (institute the Community Crisis Response Program within an existing city department), specifically within the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS); bring the ONS director to the table to propose new community crisis response program division structural options by November 2023 presenting a proposal for the program design implementation plan and timelines for launch by August 2024; and draft job descriptions to ensure they are approved and posted publicly by December 15, 2023.
A friendly amendment made by Vice Mayor McLaughlin to have staff work with the Reimagining Public Safety Community Task Force to develop the proposal for the structure of the Community Advisory Board including purpose, powers, and composition was accepted.
Ayes (5): Councilmember Jimenez, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Zepeda, Vice Mayor McLaughlin, and Mayor Martinez
Noes (1): Councilmember Bana
Absent (1): Councilmember Willis
Passed (5 to 2)
Further discussion ensued. The council suggested that the program could be combined or worked as a sister-organization with ONS and the first step could be to hire a program manager. The council requested continued coordination with the county's programs. The council acknowledged that a meet and confer with the city's labor bargaining units regarding job descriptions was part of the implementation process.
(At 10:50 p.m. - a motion by Vice Mayor McLaughlin, seconded by Councilmember Jimenez, to extend the meeting until 11:30 p.m., passed by the unanimous vote of the City Council).
Y.2 Emergency Services Data Analysis Report by Matrix Consultants RECEIVE a report from Matrix Consulting Group regarding their emergency services data analysis – City Manager’s Office/Human Resources Department (Shasa Curl/Nickie Mastay/Sharrone Taylor 510-620-6803). This item was continued from the July 11, 2023, meeting.
Deputy City Manager Internal Services Nickie Mastay introduced the matter.
Richard Brady of Matrix Consulting Group presented a PowerPoint that highlighted the following: scope of work and approach; police analysis; patrol principles and proactivity levels; alternative response; investigations; other opportunities; fire service performance; overtime issue; emergency operations and communications; fire service opportunities; and overall conclusions. Discussion ensued. The council requested the following information: hiring data for additional dispatchers; information regarding emergency services turnout time; and the budget for proposed additional emergency services. (At 11:30 p.m., a motion made by Vice Mayor McLaughlin, seconded by Councilmember 74 cc12Sep2023 – sl
Jimenez, to suspend the rules and extend the meeting to hear public comment for Item Y.2, passed by the unanimous vote of the City Council). Jamin Pursell and Ben Therriault gave comments in person. The following speakers gave comments via teleconference: Steve Bischoff, Marisol Cantu, Eli Moore, Emily Ross, and Leisa Johnson.
Y.3 Fiscal Year 2022-2023 City-Wide Accomplishments
RECEIVE a presentation from the city manager on the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 City-wide accomplishments – City Manager’s Office (Shasa Curl 510-620-6512).
This item was continued from the July 11, 2023, meeting.
Continued to the September 19, 2023, City Council meeting.
Y.4 Sea Level Rise and Shoreline Development
RECEIVE a presentation from Jessica Fain, Director of Planning, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, on sea level rise preparation, shoreline development, and BCDC regulations - Councilmember Bana (510-620- 6743)
Continued to the September 19, 2023, City Council meeting.
Y.5 Wildfire Prevention Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) RECEIVE a presentation; and ADOPT a resolution authorizing the City of Richmond to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among jurisdictions in the East Bay Hills to form a wildfire coordinating group to improve regionwide collaboration on wildfire mitigation activities and reduce wildfire risk throughout the East Bay Hills – Vice Mayor McLaughlin (510-620- 6636).
Continued to the September 19, 2023, City Council meeting.
Z. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:46 p.m., to meet again on September 19, 2023, at 6:30 p.m.
Clerk of the City of Richmond Mayor
75
October 17, 2023
City Clerk's Office
DATE: October 17, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Pamela Christian, City Clerk
Subject: Request for Leave of Absence for Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Councilmember Jimenez is requesting to be excused
from Council meetings for the period of October 4, 2023, through December 18, 2023.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPROVE a request by Councilmember Claudia Jimenez for a medical leave of absence from City Council Meetings during the period of October 4, 2023, through
December 18, 2023 – City Clerk’s Office (Pamela
Christian 510-620-6513).
DISCUSSION:
Due to medical reasons, Councilmember Claudia Jimenez will not be able to attend City Council meetings until December 19, 2023. As such, Councilmember Jimenez has AGENDA
REPORT
76
October 17, 2023
requested to be excused from all City Council meetings, from the period of October 4, 2023, through December 18, 2023.
Article III, Section 10 of the City of Richmond Charter states that, “a vacancy shall be deemed to exist if a Councilmember, without the permission of the Council, absents himself from all regular City Council meetings for 60 days consecutively from the last regular meeting he attended.” Therefore, the Richmond City Council must approve or deny the leave of absence requested by Councilmember Jimenez.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – City of Richmond Charter
77 CHARTER
OF THE
City of Richmond, California
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
NO. 11
Adopted in Assembly, February 17, 1909
Adopted in Senate, February 25, 1909
CHAPTER 18, STATUES OF 1909
Assembly concurrent Resolution No. 11, approving the Charter of the City of Richmond, State of California, voted for and ratified by the qualified voters of said City at a special municipal election held therein for that purpose on the 9th day of February, 1909.
Whereas, the City of Richmond, a municipal corporation of the County of Contra Costa, State of California, now is and was at all times herein referred to a City containing a population of more than three thousand five hundred (3,500) but less than ten thousand (10,000) inhabitants; and
Whereas, at a special election duly held in said City on the 12th day of October, 1908, under and in accordance with law and the provisions of Section 8 of Article XI of the Constitution of the State of California, a board of fifteen freeholders, duly qualified, was elected in and by said City and by the qualified electors thereof to prepare and propose a charter for the government of said City; and
Whereas, said board of freeholders did, within ninety (90) days after said election, prepare and propose a charter for the government of said City of Richmond; and Whereas, said charter was on the 23rd day of December, 1908, signed in duplicate by the members of said board of freeholders and was thereupon duly returned and filed, one copy with the president of the board of trustees of said City of Richmond, and the other copy with the county recorder of said County of Contra Costa and filed in the office of said county recorder; and
Whereas, said proposed charter was thereafter published in the “Richmond Record,” being a daily newspaper of general circulation, printed and published in said City of Richmond, and the said charter being published as aforesaid for a period of more than twenty (20) days, the first publication thereof being made within twenty (20) days after the completion of said charter; and
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Whereas, said proposed charter was within thirty (30) days after the completion of said publication submitted by the board of trustees of the City of Richmond to the qualified electors of said City of Richmond at a special election, previously duly called and therein held on the 9th day of February, 1909; and
Whereas, at said last mentioned special election a majority of said qualified electors of said City of Richmond voting at said special election, voted in favor of and duly ratified said charter as proposed as a whole; and
Whereas, said board of trustees after canvassing said returns, duly found and declared that the majority of said qualified electors voting at said special election had voted for and ratified said charter as above specified; and
Whereas, the same is now submitted to the legislature of the State of California for its approval or rejection as a whole without power of alteration or amendment, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of Article XI of the Constitution of the State of California; and
Whereas, said charter so ratified is in the words and figures following, to wit:
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CHARTER
of the
CITY OF RICHMOND
Prepared and proposed by the board of freeholders, elected October 12, 1908, in pursuance of the provisions of Section 8, Article XI of the constitution of the State of California.
CONTENTS
Article I - Boundaries
Article II - Powers
Article III - The Council
Article IIIA - The Mayor
Article IV - Duties of Officers
Article V - Elections
Article VI - (Repealed by election, May 9, 1961, and by election, June 4, 1968)
Article VII - (Repealed by election May 9, 1961)
Article VIII - The Recall, Initiative and Referendum
Article IX - Miscellaneous
Article X - Charter to take effect, certificate
Article XI - Police and Firemen’s Pension Fund (Added
by election November 3, 1936)
Article XII - General Pension Fund (added by election,
November 8, 1938)
Article XIII - Personnel Administration (added at
election, November 7, 1950, and amended at
election, April 17, 1973)
Article XIV - (Repealed by election, June 4, 1968)
ARTICLE I
Boundaries of the City of Richmond
Sec. 1. The municipal corporation now existing and organized under the general laws of the State of California as a municipal corporation of the sixth class and known as the City of Richmond, shall continue to be a body corporate and politic under the name of the City of Richmond, and shall be a continuation of said City of Richmond, and continue to hold and enjoy all the rights, privileges and property now vested in said City, and all ordinances of said City not in conflict with this charter shall be continued in force until amended or repealed; and all proceedings providing for any public improvement pending and incompleted shall be continued in accordance with the law under which such proceedings were commenced.
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Sec. 2. The territory of the City of Richmond shall be all that which is embraced within the following boundaries, to wit:
Beginning at the point where the westerly boundary of said Contra Costa County intersects the line between Townships One (1) and Two (2) North, Mount Diablo Base; and thence running east to the southeast corner of Lot Twenty-eight (28) of Section Thirty-five (35) of Township Two (2) North, Range Five (5) West; M.D.B. & M.; thence south parallel with the west line of Section Two (2) of Township One (1) North of Range Five (5) West, M.D.B. & M. to a point due west of the southwest corner of Lot Eightyfive (85) of the San Pablo Rancho as shown on the map accompanying the final Decree of Partition of said Rancho; thence east to a point One Hundred and Seventy (170) feet east of the center line of Road Fourteen (14) as shown on said map; thence south to the southerly boundary of said Contra Costa County; thence following the boundary line of said Contra Costa County westerly and northerly to the place of beginning.
Sec. 3. The boundaries above described may be altered and the territory embraced therein may be added to or diminished in accordance with the laws of the State of California governing the annexation and exclusion of territory by municipalities.
ARTICLE II
Powers
Sec. 1. The City of Richmond shall have and exercise the following powers:
1. To have perpetual succession.
2. To have and use a corporate seal and alter it at pleasure.
3. To sue and be sued in all courts and places, and in all actions and proceedings whatsoever.
4. To purchase, receive, have, take, hold, lease, use and enjoy property of every kind and description, both within and without the limits of said City, proper for municipal purposes, and to control and dispose of the same for the public benefit.
5. To receive bequests, devises and donations of property of every kind, either absolutely or in trust for any purpose, and to acts necessary to carry out the purposes of such bequests, devises and donations, and to manage, control, sell or otherwise dispose of such property in accordance with the terms of such bequests, devises or donations.
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6. To exercise police powers and make all necessary police and sanitary regulations, and to adopt ordinances and
prescribe penalties for the violation thereof.
7. To levy and collect taxes and assessments, impose license fees for revenue or regulation, and provide all means for raising the revenue necessary for the City.
8. To borrow money, incur municipal indebtedness and
provide for the issuance of bonds or other evidences of such indebtedness for any purpose authorized by the
electors voting on the proposition to incur such
indebtedness; to invest the proceeds arising from the
sale of bonds in street improvement bonds issued under
any act of the legislature.
9. To construct, maintain and operate all necessary works for the supplying of the City and its inhabitants with
water, light, heat and power, and to dispose of
commodities with such works outside of the boundaries
of said City.
10. To control the bays, inlets and channels flowing through the City or adjoining the same, to widen, straighten and deepen the same where such work is necessary for the purposes of
sanitation, drainage or removal of sewage; to fill the same when they are obstructions to proposed streets or roads; to control and improve the water front of the City and to
maintain embankments and other works necessary to protect the City from overflow; to construct and maintain wharves, chutes, piers, and breakwaters within the limits of the City.
11. To establish and change the grade and lay out, open, extend, widen, change, vacate, pave, repave or otherwise improve all public streets and highways and public places, construct sewers, drains, bridges, conduits, culverts and subways thereon or thereunder, to plant trees, construct parking, and to remove weeds; to levy special assessments to defray the whole or any part of the cost of such works or improvements.
Also to provide for the repair, cleaning and sprinkling of such streets and public places.
12. To construct and maintain all works necessary for the disposition of the sewage, garbage and waste within the City, and to define and abate nuisances.
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13. To establish and maintain hospitals, indigent homes and all other charitable institutions.
14. To acquire and maintain parks, playgrounds and places for recreation.
15. To acquire and maintain markets, baths and public halls.
16. To establish and maintain schools, libraries, museums, gymnasiums, and to do all things to promote the education of the people.
17. To equip and maintain a fire department and to make all necessary regulations for the prevention of fires.
18. To acquire, construct and maintain all buildings necessary for the transaction of public business.
19. To exercise the right of eminent domain for the purpose of acquiring real and personal property of every kind for any public use.
20. To grant franchises to use the streets or public property, and impose conditions in connection therewith.
21. To exercise any power conferred upon municipalities by the constitution and laws of the state to fix and establish rates to be charged by any corporation for any public
service and to regulate the quality of such service.
22. To exercise such other powers as may be hereafter granted by the legislature to municipalities within the state.
23. To exercise all other needful powers for the efficient administration of the municipal government, whether such powers are herein expressly enumerated or not.
24. Lastly, this grant of power is to be liberally construed for the purpose of securing the well being of the municipality and its inhabitants.
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ARTICLE III
The Council
Sec. 1. All powers herein granted to and vested in the City of Richmond shall, except as herein otherwise provided, be exercised by a Council to be designated the Council of the City of Richmond; and said Council shall, except as herein otherwise provided, have the power to fix and establish the method and manner in which such powers shall be exercised.
Sec. 2. (Amended at election May 14, 1963 and November 2, 2004) Said Council shall be composed of nine members, each of whom shall have been an elector of the City of Richmond for at least one year preceding said member’s election. Effective with the 2008 election, the Council shall be composed of seven members, each of whom shall have been an elector of the City of Richmond for at least one year preceding said member’s election.
The members of said Council shall be known as Councilmembers, and their terms of office shall be four years commencing on the second Tuesday in January following their election.
(Added at election November 2, 2004) On the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2004, an election shall be held to reduce the number of Councilmembers from nine to seven beginning with the election scheduled in November 2008. At the election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2008, the electorate shall vote for three Councilmembers.
Sec. 3. On the second Monday of May, 1909, an election shall be held within said City for the purpose of electing nine members of said Council. The nine members elected at such election, shall, at the first regular meeting in July, 1909, so classify themselves by lot that three of said members shall hold office for the term of two years, thee for the term of four years, and three for a term of six years. (As amended at election June 8, 1976) On the second Tuesday in May, 1977, an election shall be held for the election of three Councilmembers to succeed the three members of the City Council whose terms expire. The two Councilmembers elected at such election who received the highest and next to the highest number of votes shall serve for a term of six years and the other Councilmember elected at such election shall serve for a term of four years, commencing on the second Monday after their election. Thereafter, on the second Tuesday in May of each oddnumbered year, an election shall be held for the election of Councilmembers to succeed the members of the City Council whose terms expire and each Councilmember elected shall serve for a term of four years. Also, at each of the elections required by this paragraph, a Councilmember shall be elected for any unexpired term that may exist.
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The electors, in form and manner prescribed in section two of Article VIII, may by ordinance provide for the division of the City into districts or wards and require that one Councilmember to be elected at each election shall be a resident of each ward at the time of his election; provided that all Councilmembers shall be voted for at large.
(Amended at election May 13, 1969 and November 4, 1986) The City Council may, by resolution, change the date of any general election for the Mayor and City Councilmembers to another date in order to consolidate said election with an election of any other public agency which is held within one month of the dates set forth in this Charter for municipal elections. A notice of the change in the date of a general election shall be published for five days not earlier than the 120th day nor later than the 100th day prior to the date fixed for the election. (Added at election November 4, 1986) On the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November, 1987, an election shall be held for the election of Councilmembers to succeed the members of the City Council whose terms expire.
Thereafter on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year, an election shall be held for the election of Councilmembers to succeed the members of the City Council whose terms expire. The terms of the office of City Councilmembers shall commence on the second Monday following his or her election. City Councilmembers whose terms expire in May, 1987, shall remain in office and their terms shall not expire until after the November 1987 election for Councilmembers and their successors have taken office. City Councilmembers whose terms expire in May 1989 shall remain in office and their terms shall not expire until after the November 1989 election for Councilmembers and their successors have taken office.
(Added at election November 5, 2002) On the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2002, an election shall be held for the election of Councilmembers to succeed the members of the City Council whose terms expire.
Thereafter, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year, an election shall be held for the election of Councilmembers to succeed the members of the City Council whose terms expire. The terms of office of City Councilmembers shall commence on the second Monday following his or her election. Councilmembers whose terms expire in November, 2003, shall remain in office and their terms shall not expire until after the November, 2004, election for Councilmembers. Councilmembers whose terms expire in November, 2005, shall remain in office and their terms shall not expire until after the November, 2006, election for Councilmembers.
(Added at election November 5, 2002) Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the terms of office of City Councilmembers shall commence on the second Tuesday in January following their election. City Councilmembers whose terms would expire on the second Monday following an election shall remain in 8 85
office and their terms shall not expire until the second Tuesday in January after the election.
(Added at election November 2, 2004) On the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2004, an election shall be held to reduce the number of Councilmembers from nine to seven beginning with the election scheduled in November 2008. At the election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2008, the electorate shall vote for three Councilmembers.
Sec. 4. The Councilmembers shall each receive the sum of five dollars for each day while sitting as a Board of Equalization; but no other compensation shall be paid unless the electors by ordinance proposed and adopted in accordance with Section Two of Article VIII, shall otherwise provide.
Sec. 5. Said Council shall fix the time and place for its regular meetings and adopt rules to govern its proceedings.
Sec. 6. (Amended at election November 2, 2004) Five members of the Council shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; but a less number may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members, and impose such fines as it may deem proper upon members refusing or neglecting to attend such meetings.
(Added at election November 2, 2004) Effective with the November 2008 election, four members of the Council shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; but a less number may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members, and impose such fines as it may deem proper upon members refusing or neglecting to attend such meetings.
Sec. 7. (Amended at election May 11, 1965; November 6, 1984; and November 2, 2004) No ordinance shall be passed, no officer appointed or removed, no contract shall be awarded and no obligation incurred by the City in excess of one thousand dollars without the affirmative vote of at least five members of the Council provided that, the Council may by ordinance authorize the City Manager to enter into contracts and incur obligations on behalf of the City not in excess of ten thousand dollars.
(Added at the election November 2, 2004) Effective with the November 2008 election, no ordinance shall be passed, no officer appointed or removed, no contract shall be awarded and no obligation incurred by the City in excess of one thousand dollars without the affirmative vote of at least four members of the Council provided that, the Council may by ordinance authorize the City Manager to enter into contracts and incur obligations on behalf of the City not in excess of ten thousand dollars.
Sec. 8. (Repealed at election November 4, 1980)
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Sec. 9. (Amended at election April 14, 1953 and November 2, 2004) The Council shall appoint or provide for the appointment of a Clerk, Attorney and City Manager.
(a) After obtaining and considering the recommendations of the City Manager, the Council shall provide by ordinance or resolution, not inconsistent with this Charter, for the powers and duties of all officers and employees of the City.
Where positions are not incompatible, the Council may separate or it may combine in one person the powers and duties of two (2) or more officers except the office of the Police Chief and the office of Fire Chief. No office provided herein to be filled by appointment by the City Manager may be combined with an office provided herein to be filled by appointment of the Council.
(b) The officers of the City of Richmond shall consist of a City Manager, City Attorney, Clerk and their deputies. The City Manager, Clerk and Attorney shall be appointed by and may be removed by the affirmative votes of five (5) members of the Council.
(Added at the election November 2, 2004) Effective with the November 2008 election, the officers of the City of Richmond shall consist of a City Manager, City Attorney, Clerk and their deputies. The City Manager, Clerk and Attorney shall be appointed by and may be removed by the affirmative votes of four (4) members of the Council.
(c) Subject to other provisions of this Charter amendment, all persons holding permanent appointments as department heads at the time of the enactment hereof are hereby appointed to fill such positions.
(d) The Council shall provide for an annual audit of all accounts and books of all the departments of the City by an independent certified public accountant who is in no way connected with the City by a contract for a period not to exceed three (3) years. Such contract shall be in accordance with specifications recommended and submitted to the Council by the City Manager.
Sec. 10. (Amended at election May 14, 1963, June 4, 1968, and November 3, 1981) A vacancy in the Council shall be filled by a majority of the remaining Councilmembers; provided, that if such vacancy is not filled by appointment within sixty (60) days after the vacancy occurs, then a special election shall immediately be called by the Council to elect a Councilmember to serve for the unexpired term of the former incumbent; provided further, that if a special election is required to be held, the Council may, by resolution, consolidate it with an election of the City or of any other public agency if the next election of this City or of any other public agency is to be held within 365 days from the date of the vacancy. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold 10 87
office until the next regular election in which Councilmembers are to be elected, at which time a person shall be selected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. For purposes of this section a vacancy shall be deemed to exist if a Councilmember, without the permission of the Council, absents himself from all regular City Council meetings for 60 days consecutively from the last regular meeting he attended.
Sec. 11. (As amended at election April 8, 1918) the Council shall, by ordinance, provide for the assessment, levy and collection of taxes, and shall act as a Board of Equalization in equalizing the value of property listed under the assessment roll. During the month of September in each year, it shall levy such tax as may be necessary to raise revenue for the maintenance of the City and the several departments during the fiscal year.
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ARTICLE III-A
(added at election November 4, 1980)
The Mayor
Sec. 1. Elected Mayor. There shall be a Mayor of the City of Richmond who shall have the powers and duties and shall be elected by the voters in the manner set forth herein.
Sec. 2. Powers and Duties of the Mayor. The Mayor shall be a member of the City Council and shall have all of the powers and duties of a member of the Council unless otherwise specified herein. In addition, the Mayor shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) Political Position. The Mayor shall be the chief elected officer and ceremonial head of the City, responsible for providing civic leadership and taking issues to the people, and marshalling public interest in and support for municipal activity. The Mayor shall be concerned with the general development of the community and the general level of City services and activity programs and may develop and inform City residents of policies and programs which he or she believes are necessary for the welfare of the City.
(b) Policy, Program and Budget. The Mayor may make recommendations to the City Council on matters of policy and program which require Council decision and may propose ordinances and resolutions for Council consideration. The Mayor shall work with the City Manager in preparing an annual budget for submission to the City Council. The Mayor shall make an annual report to the City Council as to the conditions and affairs of the City.
(c) (As amended at election November 6, 1984 and November 2, 2004) Appointments and Removals. The Mayor shall have the authority at any regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to make appointments to or removals from all City boards, commissions and committees with the concurrence of at least four (4) other members of the City Council.
(Added at the election November 2, 2004) Effective with the November 2008 election, the Mayor shall have the authority at any regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to make appointments to or removals from all City boards, commissions and committees with the concurrence of at least three (3) other members of the City Council.
(d) Relationship with City Council. The Mayor shall be a voting member of and preside over meetings of the City Council. The Mayor shall annually appoint standing committees of the City Council; provided that the Mayor shall not be a member of such committees. Reports of the standing committees shall be made at regular City Council meetings or whenever the Mayor shall so require. 12 89
(e) (As amended at election November 2, 2004) Continuance Authority. The Mayor shall have the authority to continue any item being considered by the City Council at a Council meeting for up to two weeks. The Council may override an action taken by the Mayor to continue an item by the affirmative vote of five (5) members of the Council.
(Added at the election November 2, 2004) Effective with the November 2008 election, the Mayor shall have the authority to continue any item being considered by the City Council at a Council meeting for up to two weeks. The Council may override an action taken by the Mayor to continue an item by the affirmative vote of four members of the Council.
(f) Administrative Responsibility. The Mayor shall sign all contracts on behalf of the City which are acted upon and approved by the City Council unless otherwise delegated by the City Council to a City official or employee, and shall exercise such other powers and duties as provided in this charter and ordinances and resolutions of the City.
Sec. 3. Election of Mayor; Term of Office; Nomination.
(a) At the election scheduled to be held in this City in 1981 for the election of persons to fill four offices of City Councilmember to succeed the four members of the City Council whose terms expire, one of those offices shall be designated as the office of Mayor to be filled at such election and to be so filled at future elections every 4 years thereafter. The term of office of the Mayor shall be 4 years and shall commence on the second Monday following his or election. No person may serve as Mayor for more than two full terms.
(b) The procedure for nomination of candidates for the office of Mayor shall be the same as for the nomination of candidates for the office of City Councilmember as set forth in the City Charter. A person shall be eligible to hold the office of Mayor if the person is an elector of this City and is a registered voter of this City at the time of the filing of the petition for nomination of the person as a candidate for the office of Mayor.
If during a Mayor’s term of office such person moves his or her of residence outside of the limits of this City or ceases to be an elector of this City, such person’s office shall immediately become vacant.
(c) A person may not, in connection with the same election, be a candidate for both the office of City Councilmember and the office of Mayor, and in any instance where a person happens to be nominated as a candidate for both of such offices concerning the same election, each nominating petition shall be null and void unless the candidate shall designate on a form provided by the City Clerk which office he shall be a candidate for and, upon making such designation, his or her name shall appear on the ballot as a candidate for the designated office if such form is filed with the City Clerk 13 90
within the period set forth in this charter for the filing of a nominating petition for the office designated.
(d) The ballot at an election where the office of Mayor is to be filled shall designate the office, and the candidates therefore, separate and apart from the candidates for the office of City Councilmember.
(e) (Added at election November 4, 1986 and amended at election November 5, 2002) On the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November, 2006, an election shall be held for the election of a Mayor to succeed the Mayor whose term expires. Thereafter, the election of a Mayor to succeed the Mayor whose term expires shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in every other even-numbered year. The Mayor whose term expires in November, 2005, shall remain in office and his term shall not expire until after the November, 2006, election for Mayor. The term of office of the Mayor shall commence on the second Tuesday in January following his or her election.
Sec. 4. Vice Mayor. The City Council shall elect from among its members a Vice Mayor. In the absence or disability of the Mayor, the Vice Mayor shall serve as the Mayor. The Vice Mayor shall also represent the Mayor upon his or her request. The Vice Mayor shall serve for a term of one year.
Sec. 5. Filling Vacancy in the Office of Mayor. If there is a vacancy in the office of Mayor, the Vice Mayor shall serve as the Mayor until a new Mayor is elected and takes office. A special election shall be called by the City Council and held to elect a new Mayor, to serve for the unexpired term of the former Mayor, within a period of 180 days from the date of the vacancy unless a regular election is scheduled to be held to elect a Mayor with 365 days from the date of the vacancy. If such special election is required to be held, the City Council may, by resolution, consolidate it with an election of this City or of any other public agency if the next election of this City or of the other public agency is to be held with 365 days from the date of the vacancy. Such special election shall be held in accordance with applicable general laws of the State of California governing elections within municipalities unless otherwise provided by ordinance adopted by the City Council. For purposes of this section, a vacancy shall be deemed to exist if the Mayor, without the permission of the Council, absents himself from all regular City Council meetings for 30 days consecutively from the last regular meeting he attended.
Sec. 6 (As amended at election November 2, 2004) Compensation. The Mayor shall be paid a salary of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) per month. Said compensation may be increased by ordinance adopted by the affirmative vote of five (5) members of the City Council, not counting the Mayor. Such ordinance shall be subject to referendum. In addition, the Mayor shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of his powers and duties. The Mayor shall not receive the salary payable to City Councilmembers.
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(Added at the election November 2, 2004) Effective with the November 2008 election, the Mayor shall be paid a salary of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) per month. Said compensation may be increased by ordinance adopted by the affirmative vote of four (4) members of the City Council, not counting the Mayor.
Such ordinance shall be subject to referendum. In addition, the Mayor shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of his powers and duties. The Mayor shall not receive the salary payable to City Councilmembers.
Sec. 7. The provisions of this Article III-A shall prevail over any other provision or provisions of this Charter which may be inconsistent with the provisions of this Article III-A.
ARTICLE IV
Duties of Officers
Sec. 1. (Amended at election April 14, 1953) City Manager. (a) The City Manager shall be chosen by the Council solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications with special reference to his actual experience in, or his knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of his office as hereinafter set forth. At the time of his appointment, he need not be a resident of the City or State, but during his tenure of office he shall reside within the City. (b) The City Manager shall be the chief executive officer and the head of the administrative branch of the City Government. He shall be responsible to the Council for the proper administration of all affairs of the City and to that end, subject to the personnel provisions of this Charter, he shall have power and shall be required to:
(1) Appoint and, when necessary for the good of the service, remove all department heads and employees of the City except as otherwise provided by the provisions pertaining to Personnel Administration of this Charter and except as he may authorize the head of a department to appoint and remove subordinates in such department;
(2) Prepare the budget annually and submit it to the Council and be responsible for its administration after adoption;
(3) Prepare and submit to the Council as of the end of the fiscal year a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the City for the preceding year;
(4) Keep the Council advised of the financial condition and future needs of the City and make such recommendations as may seem to him desirable; (5) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or required of him by the Council, not inconsistent with this Charter. 15 92
(c) To perform his duties during his temporary absence or disability, subject to the approval of the Council, the Manager may designate, by letter filed with the City Clerk, a qualified administrative officer of the City. In the event of failure of the Manager to make such designations, the Council may, by resolution, appoint a department head of the City to perform the duties of the Manager until he shall return or his disability shall cease.
Sec. 2. Clerk. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep a true record of the proceedings of the Council and record the same in proper books kept for that purpose.
He shall have power to administer oaths in connection with all matters relating to the municipality.
Sec. 3. Attorney. The Attorney shall act as the legal adviser of the Council and any officer of the City who requests his advice. He shall prepare all ordinances and contracts whenever required so to do by the Council. He shall prosecute all violators of the City ordinances and shall represent the City in all actions.
Sec. 4. The Council may require any or all of the above officers to give official bonds in such sums as it may deem proper, and the City shall pay all premiums upon surety bonds when such bonds are given. It may provide for the appointment of such deputies and assistants as may be required, and shall fix the compensation of all officers and such deputies and assistants. All of the above officers shall perform such other services as the Council may require and serve during its pleasure.
ARTICLE V
Elections
Sec. 1. (Amended at election June 4, 1968) All elections for Councilmembers shall be held in accordance with the general laws of the state governing elections within municipalities unless otherwise provided by this Charter or by ordinance of the Council.
Sec. 2. (Amended at election June 3, 1980) Petitions shall be filed in the office of the City Clerk for the nominations of Councilmembers asking that the person named therein be a candidate for the office of Councilmember and giving the residence of said person within the City of Richmond. A filing fee in the amount of two percent (2%) of the annual salary of the office to which nomination is sought shall be paid to the Clerk at the time of filing the petition for nomination.
(Former Section 2, Sections 4, 5 and 6, repealed at election November 4, 1980.) (Art. VI, School Department, Secs. 5, 6 and 7 repealed at election May 9, 1961, Secs. 1-4 repealed at election June 4, 1968).
(Art. VII, Police Court, repealed at election May 9, 1961). 16 93
ARTICLE VIII
The Recall, Initiative and Referendum
Sec. 1. (Amended at election June 4, 1968) The powers of recall, initiative and referendum shall be exercised in accordance with the constitution and general laws of the State of California.
(Secs. 2 and 3 repealed at election June 4, 1968.)
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
Sec. 1. The ordaining clause of all ordinances adopted by the Council shall be:
“The Council of the City of Richmond do ordain as follows:” Sec. 2. The electors may, in form and manner prescribed in Section 2 of Article VIII, provide the manner in which any municipal power may be exercised and restrict the power of the Council in respect thereto.
Sec. 3. No officer of the City shall be interested in any contract entered into by the City, and the general laws of the State forbidding City officials to be so interested are hereby made a part of this Charter.
Sec. 4. No member of the Council shall hold any other municipal office, or hold any other office, or employment, the compensation of which is paid out of the municipal monies; or be elected or appointed to any office created or the compensation of which is increased by the Council while he was a member thereof, until one year after the expiration of the term for which he was elected.
Sec. 5. No person, firm or corporation shall ever exercise any franchise, license, permit, easement, privilege or other use, except insofar as he or it may be entitled to do so by direct authority of the Constitution of the State of California, or of the constitution or laws of the United States, in, upon, over, under or along any street, highway or public place in the City unless he or it shall have first obtained a grant therefore in accordance with the provisions of this Charter.
Sec. 6. (Amended at election May 11, 1965) The Council shall publish once annually a financial report of the City in a newspaper of general circulation in the City.
Sec. 7. Liens for taxes levied and to be levied shall attach to the property charged therewith on the first Monday in March at 12 o’clock Midnight. 17 94
Sec. 8. (Amended at election November 7, 1972, and November 3, 1981) No general obligation bonded indebtedness which is by its terms repayable from ad valorem taxes on all property in the City subject to taxation by the City shall be incurred unless the same shall be first authorized by a vote of two-thirds of the voters voting at an election held for the purpose of voting on the proposition to incur such indebtedness; and no such general obligation bonded indebtedness shall be incurred for the purpose of improving the waterfront the aggregate outstanding principal amount of which shall at any time exceed six percent of the assessed value of the property within the City subject to taxation for the payment of such indebtedness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter, the Council may issue revenue bonds for any lawful purpose, in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as it may fix and establish by the provisions of a procedural ordinance. Such bonds shall be payable only out of revenues by the Council and shall not constitute an indebtedness of the City. This Section shall be deemed to provide a complete, additional and alternative method for doing the things authorized hereby, and shall be regarded as supplemental and additional to the powers conferred by other laws.
Sec. 9. (Amended at election April 14, 1953) If any article, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or description contained in this Charter and any amendments hereto shall for any reasons be held invalid or unconstitutional, such holding shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this Charter and amendments hereto.
Sec. 10. (Added at election May 14, 1963) The City of Richmond shall have the right and power to make and enforce all laws and regulations in respect to municipal affairs, subject only to the restrictions and limitations provided in this Charter; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to prevent or restrict the City from exercising or consenting to, and the City is hereby authorized to exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges heretofore or hereafter granted or prescribed by general laws of the State.
ARTICLE X
This charter shall take effect at noon on July 1, 1909; provided that all provisions relative to elections, and the nomination of candidates for public office shall be operative upon the approval of this charter by the legislature, and the Board of Trustees of the City of Richmond is hereby directed to provide for all elections to be held prior to the first day of July, 1909, and to issue certificates of election to the persons elected the office of Councilmember.
All of the officials of the City of Richmond in office at the time this charter takes effect shall continue to perform the duties now required of them until their successors are appointed and qualified as in this Charter provided.
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ARTICLE XI
(Added by election November 3, 1936)
Police and Firemen’s Pension Fund
Sec 1. (Amended at election May 11, 1965; May 10, 1977; and November 2, 2004)
(a) There is hereby created a Pension Fund for the benefit of the officers and members of the police and fire departments of the City of Richmond, who were employed prior to October 16, 1964, to be established, maintained and administered as hereinafter provided.
(b) There is hereby created a Pension Board which shall consist of seven members, namely, the Mayor, City Manager, Director of Finance, two members appointed by the Mayor, with the concurrence of five (5) members of the City Council, each of whom shall be and remain a resident of this City in order to be a member of said Board and serve a term of five years, one representative of the Police Department and one representative of the Fire Department. (Added at the election November 2, 2004) Effective with the November 2008 election, there is hereby created a Pension Board which shall consist of seven members, namely, the Mayor, City Manager, Director of Finance, two members appointed by the Mayor, with the concurrence of four (4) members of the City Council, each of whom shall be and remain a resident of this City in order to be a member of said Board and serve a term of five years, one representative of the Police Department and one representative of the Fire Department. (c) Said Board shall be constituted as of the first of the month after the effective date of this amendment.
(d) The representative of the Police Department and of the Fire Department shall serve a term of five (5) years.
(e) Separation from employment with the City of Richmond on the part of either of such department representatives shall result in a vacancy on said Board, and any such vacancy so caused or arising in any other manner shall be filled for the unexpired term of the particular representative who leaves said Board through the following election procedure, except that retirement pursuant to this Article XI by a representative who is on said Board shall not result in a vacancy on said Board. (f) A new representative for the particular department shall be elected by secret ballot vote of the active members in the Police and Firemen’s Pension Fund System of the department and of the retired members of such department, who are receiving pensions pursuant to this Article XI. Such election procedure shall also apply to the election of a representative of the Police Department and a 19 96
representative of the Fire Department upon the expiration of the terms of such representative. A procedure for conducting such elections shall be established by the City Clerk. Either an active member of the Police and Firemen’s Pension Fund System in the department for whom a representative is to be elected or a retired member of such department who is receiving a pension under this Article XI may be elected to said Board to represent the particular department. (g) Four (4) members of said Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All action of the Board shall be concurred in by four (4) members.
(h) The City Attorney and the City Clerk shall be ex-officio members of the Board without vote in the proceedings. The City Clerk shall be ex-officio Clerk of said Board and shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Board in the manner provided for keeping a record of the proceedings of the City Council. Said Board shall meet at least once each month.
(i) Said Board shall have exclusive control of the administration and investment of said Pension Fund, except as herein provided for action by the City Council, and shall transmit to the Director of Finance monthly an itemized list of, and showing the authority for, all payments to be made from said Fund for pensions currently payable and all expenses of the Board, and the Director of Finance shall pay all warrants therefore against said fund only when so authorized, and when signed by the Director of Finance and countersigned by the Clerk of the Board. (j) Said Board shall render annually, on or before the 5th day of July, a report to the City Council for the previous fiscal year, showing all receipts and disbursements, the names of all persons on the pension roll, the amount paid each, and the balance remaining in said fund.
(k) On or after the effective date of this amendment, the City, after hearing the recommendation of the Board, shall employ, on a permanent or retainer basis, an actuary who is a member of the American Society of Actuaries experienced in public employee pension plans or any other competent actuary who is experienced in public employees’ pension plans. It shall be the actuary’s duty to review at least once every three years, in January of that year, the status of the Fund and to make necessary recommendations to the City and the Board.
Sec. 2. (Amended at election May 11, 1965, and amended at election November 3, 1970)
(a) The term “salary,” for the purposes of this Article, shall be defined as the basic rate of pay as set forth in the salary ordinance adopted by the City and does not include overtime, acting or extra-hazardous duty pay, or other salary differential. 20 97
(b) Any member of the police or fire departments who shall have served in either such department for a minimum period of twenty-five (25) years in the aggregate in any capacity or rank whatsoever shall, on his petition as hereinafter prescribed, or by order of the Pension Board if it be deemed for the good of the department, be retired from further service in such department, and shall thereafter, during his lifetime, be paid in equal monthly installments from said fund, a yearly pension equal to one-half (1/2) of the annual salary attached to the rank or position held by him in such department one (1) year prior to the date of such petition, or such order of said Board; provided, that in case of any change in salary at any time after such retirement for such rank or position, the pension shall after each and every such change be one-half (1/2) of such salary as changed. No involuntary removal of a member from the department shall deprive him of the benefits of this section after said twenty-five (25) years’ service except such removal be for habitual drunkenness, notorious insubordination, conviction of a felony, or crime involving moral turpitude, and then only if the Pension Board shall in its discretion order that such removal operate to deprive such member of said benefits. (c) In addition to the full retirement allowance hereinabove provided, any member retiring for full service retirement as provided in Paragraph (b) hereof, after the effective date of this section, shall receive an additional bonus allowance at the rate of one and two-thirds percent (1-2/3%) of said compensation for each year of service rendered after the effective date of this section and qualifying for full service retirement as provided in Paragraph (b) hereof, such additional bonus allowance not to exceed ten (10) years’ service, provided that if he, after 25 years of credited service is then under 52 years of age, he continued in service at least 5 more years; if between 52 and 54 he continued in service at least 4 more years; and between 54 and 56 he continued in service for at least 3 more years; if between 56 and 58 he continued in service for at least 2 more years; and if 58 or over he continued in service for at least 1 more year.
Should a member, after 25 years of service and after the effective date of this section, and after having earned a bonus allowance of 1 or more years, become incapacitated for the performance of duty, service or non-service connected, and is thereafter retired from service, he shall not in such event forfeit any bonus allowance that he may then have conditionally credited to him.
The bonus allowance provided for herein shall not be transferable to or utilized in the computation of the amount of pension benefit provided for dependents of eligible employees as provided in Section 9 of this Article. All bonus allowances granted herein shall be on a fixed and not on a fluctuating basis; said bonus allowance shall be based on one-half (1/2) of the annual salary attached to the rank or position held by him in such department (1) year prior to the date of his retirement. (d) Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Article, retirement under subsection 2(b) shall be compulsory upon such member reaching age of sixty-six (66) years.
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(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2 to the contrary, at any time after a member of the Police or Fire Departments becomes eligible for a full service retirement as provided in Paragraph (b) hereof, he shall have the option to file with the Director of Finance of the City of Richmond a written affidavit, on a form provided by said Director, which declares that rather than receive any bonus allowance whatsoever to which he may be entitled otherwise under Paragraph (c) of this Section 2, he thereby chooses to have the City no longer deduct from his salary the amount which would otherwise be deducted therefrom for pension purposes pursuant to Article XI of this Charter as such Article XI is now or hereafter worded. (Added at election May 13, 1975) (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article XI to the contrary, if a member of the Police or Fire Department continues in service after having accumulated the maximum additional bonus allowance provided for in paragraph (c) of this Section 2, there shall no longer be any deduction made from such member’s salary by the City for pension purposes under Article XI of this Charter nor any contribution by the City for pension purposes under said Article XI, as such article is now or hereafter worded, in relation to such member’s salary during the remainder of such member’s employment with the City of Richmond as a member of the Police or Fire Department.
Following the receipt of such affidavit by said Director of Finance, he shall stamp the date of its receipt thereon and such action shall be deemed to constitute the filing of such affidavit with said Director. After the filing of such affidavit, there shall no longer be any deduction made from such member’s salary by the City for pension purposes under Article XI of this Charter nor any contribution by the City for pension purposes under said Article XI as such Article is now or hereafter worded, in relation to such member’s salary during the remainder of such member’s employment with the City of Richmond as a member of the Police or Fire Department. The exercise of such option through the filing of such affidavit with said Director of Finance shall be irrevocable, and such member shall be deemed to have thereby permanently waived each and every right to any bonus allowance to which he may have been entitled otherwise under Paragraph (c) of this Section 2.
Sec. 3. (Amended at election May 14, 1945 and June 4, 1968) In determining the period of service necessary to render any member eligible for a pension under the provisions hereof, aggregate service only shall be considered dating from the date when the member commenced employment as a member of either the Police or Fire Departments and including any time served by such member in a probationary status in either of said departments. Such service need not be continuous and may be as a member of either said departments, and any rights acquired by service shall not be lost by reason of resignation or withdrawal from either said departments, except as otherwise expressly provided.
All time served by any member of either said departments, who leaves the service of either department to enter the armed forces of the United States, while the United States is engaged in war, or immediately prior thereto, as well as after the termination of 22 99
hostilities of all wars in which the United States is engaged, shall be included in the aggregate service of such member; provided that such member must apply for employment in either said departments within ninety (90) days after discharge under honorable conditions. This shall apply to all wars involving the United States, past, present and future.
Sec. 4. The pension herein provided for shall be payable in equal monthly installments from the date of retirement during the life of the pensioner, unless such pension shall be terminated by the Pension Board as hereinafter provided.
Sec. 5. (a) (Amended at election May 11, 1965 and May 13, 1975) Should any member of the Police or Fire Departments, by reason of bodily injury received in, or sickness resulting from the discharge of his duties in his department, become so physically disabled as to render necessary his retirement from active service, the Pension Board shall order and direct that such person so retired be thereafter paid during his lifetime, unless cancelled and terminated by the Pension Board as hereinafter provided, a yearly pension equal to one-half (1/2) the amount of the salary attached to the rank or position held by him in such department at the date of such retirement; provided, that in case of any change of salary at any time after the date of such retirement for such rank or position, the pension shall after each and every such change be one-half (1/2) of such salary as changed.
In granting a disability pension, pursuant to the paragraph directly above, the Board shall require, as a condition to his receiving said pension, the pensioner to submit his claim to the Workmen’s Compensation Appeals Board of the State of California, and in the event that said Workmen’s Compensation Appeals Board makes a finding that the disability was non-service connected, then the Board shall review the matter to determine whether or not the said disability pension shall be revoked. The City Council, after the aforesaid finding and the review by the Board, shall also have the right to review the matter and may, on its own motion, grant or revoke said disability pension. (Amended at election May 13, 1975) Should any such employee after twelve (12) years of service become totally permanently disabled by reason of injury or sickness not received in or resulting from the discharge of his duties as such employee, the Pension Board shall order and direct that such person so disabled be retired and thereafter paid during his lifetime, unless cancelled and terminated by the Pension Board, as hereinafter provided, a yearly pension equal to such proportionate share of one-half (1/2) of the amount of annual salary attached to the position held by him during the three (3) years prior to the date of such retirement as the number of years actually served bears to twenty-five (25) years.
(b) (Amended at election May 14, 1945) After twenty (20) years’ service, any member of the Police or Fire Departments may apply to said Pension Board for retirement, or may, by the Pension Board on its own motion, be retired on a limited annual pension equal to such proportionate share of one-half (1/2) of the annual salary attached to the rank or position held by such applicant one (1) year prior to the filing of 23 100
such application, as the number of years actually served bears to twenty-five (25) years.
For example, if said service has been for twenty-two (22) years, said pension shall be twenty-two twenty-fifths (22/25ths) of said one-half (1/2) of said annual salary; provided, that in the event of a subsequent change of the salary of such rank or position, said pension provided for in this Section 5(b), shall be said fractional portion of the salary as changed from time to time.
Upon the receipt of such application, it shall be the duty of the Pension Board to investigate the same and in its discretion to grant or deny such application; provided, that any denial of such application shall be without prejudice to the rights of such applicant.
Provided further, that no removal of a member from the department after twenty (20) years’ service shall operate to deprive him of the benefits of this section except when such removal be for habitual drunkenness, notorious insubordination, conviction of a felony, or crime involving moral turpitude, and then only in the event the Pension Board in its discretion orders that such removal operate to deprive such member of the benefits hereof.
(c) Any pension granted to any member of the Police or Fire Departments for disability as provided for in this section shall cease when the disability ceases and such person shall, subject to department rules and the provisions of the Charter governing the employment of City employees, be restored to active service in the department of which he was a member at the time of retirement, and the time he is not in active service shall be computed in calculating his aggregate service for all purposes under the provisions hereof.
Sec. 6. Any person retired for disability hereunder may be summoned before the Pension Board at any time and shall submit himself for examination as to fitness for duty, and shall abide by the decision and order of said Board with reference thereto. In case of great public emergency, any person retired hereunder may be assigned to and shall perform such duties as the Chief of his department shall direct. No pensioner shall be compelled to work in any department other than the one from which he has been retired.
All members of the Police and Fire Departments who shall be retired hereunder shall report to the chiefs of the respective departments in person, or in writing, at such time as may be fixed and designated by resolution of the Pension Board.
Sec. 7. (Amended at election May 11, 1965) Any member of either the Police or Fire departments who desires to be retired on a pension shall file with the Pension Board a verified petition which shall contain the name and age of the petitioner, the rank or position held by him on the date of filing the petition, the salary of said rank or position, the rank held and the salary received by said petitioner one (1) year prior to the date of filing said petition, the date of entry into the service, and the aggregate service of said petitioner. If said petitioner desires to be retired on a pension on account of disability, said petition shall also set forth the nature and extent of the disability, when and how received, and there shall be attached to said petition a report of the physical condition of said petitioner by a legally licensed physician, which report shall be subscribed and 24 101
sworn to by said physician. Such petition may be filed by the legally appointed guardian of any person entitled to a pension hereunder. Upon the filing of such petition, the Board shall fix a date for the hearing thereof and shall notify the petitioner of the date of such hearing.
Sec. 8. (Amended at election May 11, 1965 and November 6, 1984) No persons shall be retired from disability hereunder or receive any pension therefore unless there shall be filed with the Pension Board certificates of disability subscribed and sworn to by three (3) legally licensed practicing physicians, one to be selected by the petitioner whose certificate of disability shall be attached to the petition as herein above provided, one of whom shall be the City Physician, and one of whom shall be selected by the Pension Board; provided that, the Pension Board may grant a disability retirement where less than three (3) certificates of disability are submitted if there is sufficient medical evidence of disability. The Board may require other and additional evidence of disability before ordering such retirement, but only on satisfactory evidence of disability and of the right to be retired as provided herein, said Pension Board shall retire such person. The decision of the Pension Board shall be final and conclusive. 25 102
Sec. 9. Whenever any member of the Police or Fire Departments shall die, either:
(a) As a result of any injury received in the discharge of his duty as a member of such department;
(b) From sickness resulting from the discharge of his duty as a member of such department;
(c) After the retirement of such member on a pension; or (d) While such member is eligible for retirement as a matter of right as herein provided, an annual pension in an amount equal to one-half (1/2) of the salary attached to the rank or position held by such deceased member at the time of his death or retirement in the cases provided for in subdivisions (a) to (d) of this Section 9, or in an amount equal to the pension provided for by Section 5 (b) hereof, or in case of any change of such salary at any time after the date of said death, then in an amount equal to either said one-half (1/2), or other fractional part of such salary, as provided in said Section 5 (b), and as changed from time to time, shall be paid as follows:
(1) If such member shall leave surviving him a widow, such pension shall be payable in equal monthly installments to her during her lifetime, or until she shall remarry. If such widow shall die or remarry and there shall be living a child or children of such deceased member under the age of eighteen years, such pension shall after her death or remarriage be payable to such child or children under the age of eighteen years for its or their exclusive use and benefit, in the manner and subject to the conditions contained in the next paragraph regarding pension payments to child or children. (2) If there shall be no surviving widow but shall be a child or children of such deceased member under the age of eighteen years, such pension shall be payable to such child or children, or to their legal guardian, in the discretion of the Pension Board, for the sole use and benefit of such children, in equal shares; provided, that such pension shall terminate as to each child upon the death of such child, or when such child reaches the age of eighteen years, or upon the marriage of such child prior to the age of eighteen years, and the portion thereof payable to such child shall be payable, share and share alike, to the remaining unmarried children under the age of eighteen years. (3) If such member shall leave surviving him no widow and no child or children under the age of eighteen years, but shall leave a dependent parent or parents, then the Pension Board shall have power upon ascertaining the fact of such dependency, to allow such pension or such part thereof as said Board may fix to be paid to such parent or parents while such dependency shall continue, or until the further order of said Board. any such order may be modified by said Board from time to time; provided that such pension so allowed shall not exceed the said one-half (1/2) of the salary as hereinbefore specified; and provided further, that any pension granted either before or after death, on the grounds provided in said Section 5 (b), shall not be a matter of right in any event but shall be at the discretion of said Board.
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(4) In the event that a member of the police or fire departments who has been pensioned shall have married after being placed on the pension list, upon the death of such member his widow, or any child or children of the issue of said marriage, shall not be entitled to any pension under the terms hereof.
The term “widow” as used in this Section shall not mean or include the wife of any member who is, without cause, living separate or apart from her husband at the time of his death, or who, if divorced, has not by the terms of any interlocutory or final decree of divorce been allowed any amount for her support and maintenance. The Pension Board is empowered to hear and consider the application of such wife and determine in its judgment whether such separation was justifiable on the part of such wife, and said Board may in its discretion allow or disallow to such wife the pension herein provided for, and its decision shall be final and conclusive.
Sec. 10. Whenever any person who shall receive any pension hereunder shall fail to report himself as herein required, or shall willfully disobey the requirements and orders of the Pension Board, or shall be convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude, become dissipated, or become a non-resident of this State, except by the permission of the Board, then said Board may, after notice to the pensioner, order that the pension payments to him shall immediately cease and terminate, and the Pension Board, in its discretion, may order the pension to be paid to the dependents of said pensioner, if there be any, in the order of succession set forth in Section 9. The mailing of said notice by registered mail to the last-known address of said pensioner, as shown on the book of said Board, shall constitute service of the notice herein required to be given.
Sec. 11. In the event of refusal by a widow receiving a pension hereunder to provide for a dependent child or children of a deceased member of the Police or Fire Department, the Pension Board upon satisfactory proof thereof shall have the power to divide the pension as it may deem proper.
Sec. 12. (Amended at election, May 11, 1965) The Pension Board shall in addition to other powers granted herein, have power:
(a) To compel witnesses to attend and testify before it upon all matters connected with its duties hereunder, in the same manner as is or may be provided by law for the taking of testimony before notaries public, and the president of (or) any member of said Board may administer oaths to such witnesses;
(b) To make all needful rules and regulations for its organization and functioning in conformity with the provisions hereof;
(c) To provide for the payment from said Fund of all its necessary expenses; provided, that no compensation or emolument shall be paid to any member of said Board for any duty required or performed hereunder. 27 104
Sec. 13. (Amended at election, May 11, 1965) There shall be paid into said fund all rewards or donations of money given to said departments or members thereof for meritorious work or accomplishments in the performance of duty, as well as all other gifts or donations to said Fund from any source.
Sec. 14. (Repealed at election May 11, 1965).
Sec. 15. (Amended at election May 11, 1965) Commencing on the effective date of this amendment, the City shall make contributions annually in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total annual salary of the members of said departments, and said members of said departments shall make annual contributions in the amount of ten (10%) of the said total annual salary to the Fund herein created.
Whenever the actuary, as provided in Section 1, shall report that the Fund is fiscally sound, taking into account such factors as the interest which shall be earned on the contributions, the compensation experience of the members, the probabilities of separation from service for all causes, death after retirement, and any other pertinent factors, then the Pension Board shall decrease equally the percentages to be contributed by both the City and the members of said departments; provided, however, that whenever the annual report of said actuary reflects or anticipates a deficit, then the Pension Board shall recommend to the City Council that appropriate increases be made equally in the contributions of both the City and the members of said departments; and the City Council may make appropriate increases in the contributions of both the City and the members of said departments; provided, further, that in no event shall the said demands for contributions provided herein to be made by the members of said departments exceed ten percent (10%) of the total annual salary of the members of said departments.
Sec. 16. (Amended at election November 8, 1966) All moneys for said Fund shall be paid into the City treasury and kept by the Director of Finance in banks as are other public funds, in accordance with the laws of the State of California and the Charter of the City of Richmond. Said Fund shall be kept inviolate and no portion thereof shall ever be transferred to any other fund or used for any other purposes than those specified herein.
Reserves in said Fund not needed in any fiscal year for current payments of pensions ordered by the Pension Board and expenses of the Board may, as directed by resolution of the Pension Board, be invested for the benefit of said Fund as hereinafter provided:
(a) In investments which are authorized by General law for savings banks.
(b) In investments other than those specified in subdivision (a) hereof, including, but not limited to, corporate bonds and securities, common stocks, preferred stocks, investments in real estate and investment trusts, provided that the total amount invested pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total amount of funds invested pursuant to this section, and provided further that the following conditions are met:
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(1) Any stocks or other corporate securities in which funds are invested, except stocks of banks, insurance companies or mutual funds, shall be registered on a national securities exchange as provided by the Federal Securities Exchange Act.
(2) The total amount invested in common and preferred stocks shall not exceed at cost at the time of purchase twenty-five percent of the total amount invested pursuant to this section.
(3) The total amount invested in the common and preferred stocks of any one company shall not exceed at cost of the time of purchase two percent of the total amount invested pursuant to this section and shall not exceed five percent of the outstanding preferred or common stock of that company.
(4) No funds shall be invested in the common stocks of any company unless it has paid cash dividends on such stocks in eight of the ten years immediately preceding its purchase by the Board.
(5) No funds shall be invested in the stocks or other securities of any company other than a bank or insurance company unless it has assets of at least one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), or in the stocks or other securities of a bank or insurance company unless it has assets of at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000). (6) The total amount invested in real estate and other than real estate owned by or leased to the City of Richmond, which amount may include land, buildings, land and buildings or real estate loans, shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total amount invested pursuant to this section and such investments shall be restricted to first trust deeds which are insured by the Federal Housing Administration or which are guaranteed by the Veterans Administration.
(c) The Board may, when making investments pursuant to subdivision (b) hereof, employ the services of competent investment counsel.
Sec. 17. Every person who is granted a pension hereunder for causes included within the purview of the Workmen’s Compensation Insurance and Safety Act of 1917, of the State of California, and amendments thereto heretofore and hereafter adopted, and who shall receive compensation under and pursuant to the provisions of said Act, shall be entitled to only such monthly amount hereunder as will when added to the amount allowed and received and to be received monthly under said Act, equal the total monthly pension herein provided for.
Sec. 18. (Amended at election May 11, 1965) If any member of the Police or Fire Departments shall become separated from the service, either voluntarily or involuntarily, then and in that event one-half (1/2) of all moneys, exclusive of interest, paid into said Fund by such member shall be returned to him.
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If any member of either said Police or Fire Departments shall die under circumstances not mentioned in Section 9, without having served in either said departments for a minimum period of twenty (20) years in the aggregate in any capacity or rank whatsoever, then and in that event all moneys, exclusive of interest, paid into said fund by such member, shall be returned to his estate; or, if he shall die under such circumstances after having served twenty (20) years, and shall leave surviving him a widow or other dependents mentioned in Section 9, the Pension Board shall grant a limited pension upon such deal equal to such proportionate share of one-half (1/2) of the annual salary attached to the rank or position held by the decedent one (1) year prior to his death, as the number of years actually served bear to twenty-five (25) years, to be paid to such dependents in order of succession set forth in Section 9; provided, that in the event of a subsequent change of the salary of such rank or position, said pension provided for in this Section 18 shall be said fractional portion of the salary as changed from time to time.
Sec. 19 (Repealed at election June 4, 1968).
Sec. 20. (Amended at election May 11, 1965) Said Fund shall not benefit any persons whose employment by the City of Richmond commenced on or after October 16, 1964, and none of the provisions of this Article shall apply to, obligate or benefit any such persons since all members of the Police and Fire Departments of the City of Richmond hired or to be hired, or reinstated or to be reinstated, on or after October 16, 1964, are or will be members of the State Employees’ Retirement System.
Sec. 21. (added by election May 12, 1959) Wherever in this Article XI the words City Treasurer, Treasurer, City Auditor or Auditor appear, such words shall be stricken and there shall be substituted in lieu thereof the words Director of Finance.
Whenever in this Article XI the words widow or surviving widow appear there shall be substituted in lieu thereof the words spouse or surviving spouse, and wherever the words wife or husband appear the word spouse shall be substituted in lieu thereof, and wherever the masculine pronoun is used there shall be added thereto the appropriate feminine pronoun.
It is the purpose and intent of this section to make all of the provisions of this Article XI inure to the benefit of and apply to female members of the Police and Fire Departments.
Sec. 22. (added at election May 11, 1965) The City Council shall by ordinance adopted prior to December 31, 1965, authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute on behalf of the City, and the Mayor and City Clerk shall execute on behalf of the City pursuant to the provisions of the State Employees’ Retirement Law of the State of California, an amendment to the contract between the City Council of the City of Richmond and the Board of Administration of the California State Employees’ Retirement System whereby any person who was an employee prior to October 16, 1964, and is not eligible for retirement under this Article as of January 1, 1966, and who is a fireman or policeman within the meaning of said Law and elects to waive his rights under 30 107
this Article, shall become a local safety member of said System and be entitled to all benefits, rights and obligations thereof in accordance with said Retirement Law and said contract. The effective date of said amendment shall be January 1, 1966. The City Council shall by resolution designate the dates on or before which such election may be made by said persons. In addition to payments made by the City into said Fund pursuant to Section 15 of this Article, the Director of Finance, before January 1, 1966, shall pay out of the Treasury of the City into said fund amounts of money equal to all sums which have been paid into said Fund by all persons who become local members of said System, and which under appropriate provisions of said Retirement Law are required to be transferred to said System, and the City Council shall make provisions therefore in its budget. Amounts so paid into the Fund shall not be subject to Section 16 of this Article and shall be transferred by the Board to said System. The City council shall have the power to do all acts and things necessary and appropriate to perform such contract with said System and to comply with the provisions of said Retirement Law, and to execute such amendments to said contracts as may be permitted from time to time under said Retirement Law at the discretion of the City Council. None of the provisions of this Article other than this section shall apply to, obligate, or benefit any person who has elected to waive all his rights under this Article and has become a member of said System pursuant to the amendment to the contract, or who enters or, since October 15, 1964, has entered employment of the City and is or becomes a member of the State Employees’ Retirement system pursuant to the amendment to said contract effective on October 16, 1964.
ARTICLE XII
(Added by election November 8, 1938)
General Pension Fund
Sec. 1. (Amended at election May 12, 1959, May 11, 1965, and May 10, 1977) There is hereby created a General Pension Fund for the benefit of all regular employees of all departments of the City of Richmond not covered by Article XI, said fund to be established, maintained, and administered as hereinafter provided. The word “employee” and “employees” as used in this Article XII shall mean all the regular employees of the City including the regular employees of the public library not covered by Article X, but shall not mean seasonal employees, and such seasonal employees shall not be subject to the provisions hereof or entitled to any benefits hereunder.
There is here created a General Pension Board which shall consist of seven members, namely, the Mayor, City Manager, Director of Finance, two members appointed by the Mayor, with the concurrence of five members of the City Council, each of whom shall be and remain a resident of this City in order to be a member of said Board and serve a term of five years, and two members to be elected by secret ballot vote of the rank and file of such employees and of such employees who have retired and are receiving pensions pursuant to this Article XII every five (5) years under a procedure for conducting such elections established by the City Clerk provided that separation from the service on the 31 108
part of either of such elected members, except separation from the service by retirement pursuant to this Article XII, shall result in a vacancy on said Board, and such vacancy so caused or arising in any manner shall be filled by election as aforesaid for the unexpired term. Either an individual who is in the rank and file of such employees or any of such employees who have retired and are receiving pensions pursuant to this Article XII may be so elected to said Board. Four (4) members of said Board shall be concurred in by four (4) members. The City Attorney and City Clerk shall be ex-officio members of the Board without vote in the proceedings. The City Clerk shall be ex-officio Clerk of said Board and shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Board in the manner provided for keeping a record of the proceedings of the City Council. Said Board shall meet at least once each month after the effective date of this amendment. The amendment of this paragraph by virtue of the special Municipal Charter Amendment election held in this City on May 10, 1977, shall not preclude any members who have been previously appointed or elected to said Board from completing their terms of office.
Said Board shall have exclusive control of the administration and investment of said Pension Fund, and shall transmit to the Director of Finance monthly an itemized list of, and showing the authority for, all payments to be made from said Fund for pensions currently payable and all expenses of the Board, and the Director of Finance shall pay all warrants thereof against said Fund only when so authorized, and when signed by the Director of Finance and countersigned by the Clerk of the Board.
Said Board shall render annually, on or before the 5th day of July, a report to the City Council for the previous fiscal year, showing all receipts and disbursements, the names of all persons on the pension roll, the amounts paid each, and the balance remaining in said Fund.
Sec. 2. (Amended at election May 11, 1965) Any such employee who shall have served in the employ of the City of Richmond for thirty (30) years, or who is sixty (60) years of age with a minimum service of twenty-five (25) years in the aggregate in any capacity whatsoever shall, on his petition as hereinafter prescribed, or by order of the Pension Board if it be deemed for the good of the service, be retired from further service and shall thereafter, during his lifetime, be paid in equal monthly installments from said Fund, yearly pension equal to one-half (1/2) of the average annual salary attached to the position held by him during three (3) years prior to the date of such petition or such order of said Board. No involuntary removal of any such employee from the service shall deprive him of the benefits of this section after said thirty (30) years’ service, or after said twenty-five (25) years’ service, he having reached the age of sixty (60) years.
Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Article, retirement under this Section shall be compulsory upon such employee reaching the age of seventy (70) years, if such employee is eligible for retirement pursuant to this Article.
Sec. 3. (Amended at election June 4, 1968 and May 10, 1977) In determining the period of service necessary to render any such employee eligible for a pension under the provisions hereof, aggregate service only shall be considered, dating from the date which 32 109
such employee commenced employment with the City of Richmond, including time served by such employee in a probationary status, subject to the exception stated in the last sentence of this section. Such service need not be continuous and may be in any capacity or capacities, and any rights acquired by service shall not be lost by reasons of resignations or withdrawal from the service except as otherwise expressly provided. For the purpose of determining aggregate service in the employ of said City under Section 2 of this Article XII, where an employee served as an employee of the Housing Authority of the City of Richmond, California, prior to commencing employment with said City, the aggregate amount of time such employee served as an employee with said Housing Authority shall be deemed to be service in the employ of said City and, accordingly to be part of the employee’s aggregate service in the employ of said City if such employee contributes to the General Pension Fund of the City such percentage of the total gross salary which the employee earned during the period of employment with said Housing Authority as the employee would have had to contribute had the employee earned such total gross salary as a City employee and been a member of the City’s General Pension Fund System during said period, which contribution shall be as determined by the Finance Director of this City.
Sect. 4. The pension herein provided for shall be payable in equal monthly installments from the date of retirement during the life of the pensioner, unless such pension shall be terminated by the Pension Board as hereinafter in Section 10 provided.
Sect. 5. (As amended at election May 10, 1955)
(a) Should any such employee, by reason of bodily injury received in, or sickness resulting from, the discharge of his duties, become so physically disabled so as to render necessary his retirement from active service, the Pension Board shall order and direct that such person so retired be thereafter paid during his lifetime, unless cancelled and terminated by the Pension Board as hereinafter provided, a yearly pension equal to one-half (1/2) the amount of the average annual salary attached to the position held by him during three (3) years prior to the date of such retirement.
Should any such employee after fifteen (15) years of service become totally permanently disabled by reason of injury or sickness not received in or resulting from the discharge of his duties as such employee, the Pension Board shall order and direct that such person so disabled be retired and thereafter paid during his lifetime, unless cancelled and terminated by the Pension Board, as hereinafter provided, a yearly pension equal to such proportionate share of one-half (1/2) of the amount of annual salary attached to the position held by him during the three (3) years prior to date of such retirement as the number of years actually served bears to thirty (30) years. (b) After twenty (20) years’ service, any such employee may apply to said Pension Board for retirement, or may be the Pension Board on its own motion be retired on a limited annual pension equal to such proportionate share of one-half (1/2) of the average annual salary attached to the position held by such applicant during three (3) years prior to the filing of such application, as the number of years actually served bears 33 110
to thirty years. For example, if said service has been for twenty-two (22) years, said pension shall be twenty-two thirtieths (22/30ths) of said one-half (1/2) of said average annual salary.
Upon the receipt of such application, it shall be the duty of the Pension Board to investigate the same and in its discretion to grant or deny such application provided that any denial of such application shall be without prejudice to the rights of such applicant.
Provided further that no removal of any such employee from the service after twenty (20) years’ service shall operate to deprive him of the benefits of this section except when such removal be for habitual drunkenness, notorious insubordination, conviction of a felony, or crime involving moral turpitude, and then only in the event the Pension Board in its discretion orders that such removal operate to deprive such employee of the benefits hereof.
(c) Any pension granted to any such employee for disability as provided for in this section shall cease when the disability ceases, and such person shall, subject to then existing rules and the provisions of the governing the employment of city employees, be restored to active service in the position in which he was serving at the time of retirement, and the time he is not in active service, while receiving a pension hereunder, shall be computed in calculating his aggregate service for all purposes under the provisions hereof.
Sec. 6. Any person retired for disability hereunder may be summoned before the Pension Board at any time and shall submit himself for examination as to fitness for duty, and shall abide by the decision and order of said Board with reference thereto.
In case of great public emergency, any person retired hereunder may be assigned to and shall perform such duties as the head of his department shall direct. No pensioner shall be compelled to work in any department other than the one from which he has been retired.
All such employees who shall be retired hereunder shall report to the heads of their respective departments in person, or in writing, at such times as may be fixed and designated by resolution of the Pension Board.
Sect. 7. Any such employee who desires to be retired on a pension shall file with the Pension Board a verified petition which shall contain the name and age of the petitioner, the position held by him on the date of filing the petition, the salary of said position, the position held and the salary received by said petition during three (3) years prior the date of filing said petition, the date of entry into the service, and the aggregate service of said petitioner. If said petitioner desires to be retired on a pension on account of disability, said petition shall also set forth the nature and extent of the disability, when and how received, and there shall be attached to said petition a report of the physical condition of said petitioner by a legally licensed physician of the City of Richmond, which report shall be subscribed and sworn to by said physician. Such petition may be filed by the legally appointed guardian of any person entitled to a pension hereunder. 34 111
Upon the filing of such petition, the Board shall fix a date for the hearing thereof and shall notify the petitioner of the date of such hearing.
Sec. 8. (As amended at election November 6, 1984) No person shall be retired for disability hereunder or receive any pension therefore unless there shall be filed with the Pension Board certificates of disability subscribed and sworn to by three (3) legally licensed practicing physicians, one to be selected by the petitioner, whose certificate of disability shall be attached to the petition as hereinabove provided, one of whom shall be the City Physician, and one of whom shall be selected by the Pension Board; provided that the Pension Board may grant a disability pension where less than three (3) certificates of disability are submitted if there is sufficient medical evidence of disability.
The board may require other and additional evidence of disability before ordering such retirement, but only on satisfactory evidence of disability and of the right to be retired as provided herein, said Pension board shall retire such person. The decision of the Pension Board shall be final and conclusive.
Sec. 9. (As amended at election May 10, 1955) Whenever any such employee shall die, either:
(a) As a result of any injury received in the discharge of his duty as such employee;
(b) From sickness resulting from the discharge of his duty as such employee; (c) After the retirement of such employee on a pension following not less than twenty (20) years of actual service; or
(d) While such employee is eligible for retirement as a matter of right as herein provided, an annual pension in an amount equal to one-half (1/2) of the average annual salary attached to the position held by such deceased employee during three (3) years prior to the time of his death or retirement in the cases provided for in subdivisions (a) to (d) of this Section 9, or in an amount equal to the pension provide by Section 5 (b) hereof, shall be paid as follows:
(1) If such employee shall leave surviving him a widow, such pension shall be payable in equal monthly installments to her during her lifetime, or until she shall remarry. If such widow shall die or remarry and there shall be a living child or children of such deceased employee under the age of eighteen years, such pension shall after death or remarriage be payable to such child or children under the age of eighteen years for its or their exclusive use and benefit, in the manner and subject to the conditions contained in the next paragraph regarding pension payments to child or children. (2) If there shall be no surviving widow but shall be a child or children of such deceased employee under the age of eighteen years, such pension shall be payable to such child or children, or to their legal guardian, in the discretion of the Pension Board, for the sole use and benefit of such children in equal shares; provided that 35 112
such pension shall terminate as to each child upon the death of such child, or when such child reaches the age of eighteen years or upon the marriage of such child prior to the age of eighteen years, and the portion thereof theretofore payable to such child shall be payable, share and share alike to the remaining unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.
(3) If such employee shall leave surviving him no widow and no child or children under the age of eighteen years, but shall leave a dependent parent or parents, then the Pension Board shall have power, upon ascertaining the fact of such dependency, to allow such pension or such part thereof as said board may fix to be paid to such parent or parents while such dependency shall continue or until further order of said Board. Any such order may be modified by said Board from time to time; provided that such pension so allowed shall not exceed the said one-half (1/2) or lesser fractional part of the salary as in the beginning of this Section 9 specified; and provided further than any pension granted either before or after death, on the grounds provided in Section 5 (b), shall not be a matter of right in that event but shall be at the discretion of said Board. (4) In the event that any such employee who has been pensioned shall have married after being placed on the pension list, upon the death of such employee his widow, or any child or children of the issue of said marriage, shall not be entitled to any pension under the terms hereof.
The word “widow” as used in this section shall not mean or include the wife of any employee who is, without cause, living separate or apart from her husband at the time of his death, or who, if divorced, has not by the terms of any interlocutory or final decree of divorce been allowed any amount for her support and maintenance. The Pension Board is empowered to hear and consider the application of such wife and determine, in its judgment whether such separation was justifiable on the part of such wife, and said Board may in its discretion allow or disallow to such wife the pension here provided for, and its decision shall be final and conclusive.
If an employee or retired employee who has served more than fourteen (14) years but less than twenty (20) years shall die from sickness or injury not received in or resulting from the discharge of his duties as such employee, to the widow, child, children, dependent parent, or dependent parents, of such employee shall be paid a proportionate part of the pension benefits provided by this Section 9 as the number of years actually served by such employee bears to thirty (30) years.
Sec. 10. Whenever any person who shall receive any pension hereunder shall fail to report himself as herein required, or shall willfully disobey the requirements and orders of the Pension Board, or shall be convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude, become dissipated, or become a non-resident of this State except by permission of the Board, then said Board may, after notice to the pensioner, order that the pension payments to him shall immediately cease and terminate, and the Pension Board, in its discretion, may order the pension to be paid to the dependents of said pensioner, if there be any, in the order of succession set forth in Section 9. The mailing of said notice by 36 113
registered mail to the last-known address of said pensioner, as shown on the books of said Board, shall constitute service of the notice herein required to be given.
Sec. 11. In the event of refusal by a widow receiving a pension hereunder to provide for a dependent child or children of a deceased employee, the Pension Board upon satisfactory proof thereof shall have the power to divide the pension as it may deem proper.
Sect. 12. The Pension Board shall in addition to other powers granted here, have power:
(a) To compel witnesses to attend and testify before it upon all matters connected with its duties hereunder, in the same manner as is or may be provided by law for the taking of testimony before notaries public, and the president of (or) any member of said Board may administer oaths to such witnesses;
(b) To make all needful rules and regulations for its organization and functioning in conformity with the provisions hereof;
(c) To provide for the payment from said Fund of all its necessary expenses; provided, that no compensation or emolument shall be paid to any member of said Board for any duty required or performed hereunder;
(d) To employ an actuary who shall render a report of the cost of maintaining upon a reserve basis the pension system as herein provided, for the information of said board.
Sec. 13. For the purpose of establishing and maintaining said Pension Fund on a reserve basis, the City Council shall make provisions in its budget each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year 1939-40, and continuing throughout the future, for the payment by the Finance Director semi-monthly into said fund for an amount equal to the semi-monthly contributions of all such employees, as the City’s contribution; and the Finance Director shall deduct three (3) percent from the semi-monthly salary of each such employees beginning July 15, 1939, and continuing throughout the future, and pay the amounts thereof into said Fund, as such employees contribution; provided that for the period of ten (10) years ending June 30, 1949, said contributions by the City and by such employees shall remain intact in said Fund, or be invested for the benefit of said Fund during said period as hereinafter provided. There shall also be paid into said Fund all gifts or donations to said Fund from any source.
Sec. 14. For the purpose of meeting all current demands during said ten (10) year period, for the payment of pensions ordered by the Pension Board and the necessary expenses of the Board, the City Council shall make further special provisions in its budget each fiscal year during said ten (10) year period, for payment by the Finance Director into said Fund, as required, such amounts as shall be sufficient to meet all said current demands.
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Sec. 15. (a) After the completion of said ten (10) year period, and until June 30, 1953, the City Council shall not further make the special provisions in its annual budgets, as prescribed in the preceding section to bear solely the cost of pension payments ordered by the Pension Board and the expenses of the Board, but the same shall thereafter be paid out of said Fund as herein otherwise provided to be established and maintained; provided that after the completion of said ten (10) year period, and until June 30, 1953, whenever said Fund shall be insufficient to meet said costs, the Pension Board shall have the power to make demands upon the City Council, and equally upon all such employees for additional payments into said fund of amounts sufficient to meet the same, and the City Council shall accordingly make provision in its budget each fiscal year for its half of the amount of such demands which shall be paid into said Fund by the Finance Director, and the Finance Director shall deduct and pay into said fund from the salary of each of such employees his pro rata part of the other half of the amount of such demands, but in no event shall said demands for additional payments to be made by the City exceed ten (10) percent of the total annual payroll of such employees of said departments, and in no event shall said demands for additional payments to be made by such employees exceed ten (10) percent of the total annual payroll of such employees. (b) (Amended at election May 11, 1965) Commencing on the effective date of this amendment, the Director of Finance, the Pension Board and the City Council shall be empowered and required to do the following:
(1) (Amended at election May 11, 1965) The Director of
Finance shall deduct from the salary of each such employees benefited by the Fund ten percent (10%) of his total annual salary and the Director of Finance shall pay the same into said Fund.
(2) The City Council shall make provision in its budget for each fiscal year for an amount equal to the payments made into said fund pursuant to subdivision (1) above, and the Director of Finance shall pay said equal amount of the Treasury of the City into said Fund.
(3) The City Council shall make provisions in its budgets for each fiscal year commencing in fiscal year 1953-54 for such amount which, in addition to the payments made into said Fund pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section and the money on hand in said Fund pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section and the money on hand in said fund shall be sufficient to amortize over such period of years as is from time to time determined by the City Council but not extending beyond 1993, the actuarial value of all of the benefits provided by this Article to be paid out of said Fund to the persons entitled thereto. The Director of Finance shall pay such additional amounts annually out of the Treasury of the City into said Fund. the amounts so to be paid pursuant to this subsection shall be computed on the basis of reports to be obtained by the City Council at intervals of not longer than five years from competent actuaries to be selected by the City Council.
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(As added at election May 11, 1965) Whenever the actuary shall report that the Fund is fiscally sound, taking into account such factors as the interest which shall be earned on the contributions, the compensation experience of the employees, the probabilities of separation from service for all causes, death after retirement, and any other pertinent factors, then the Pension Board shall decrease equally the percentages to be contributed by both the City and the employees; provided, however, that whenever the report of said actuary reflects or anticipates a deficit, then the Pension Board shall recommend to the City Council that appropriate increases be made equally in the contributions of both the City and the employees; and the City Council may make appropriate increases in the contributions of both the City and the employees; provided, further, that in no event shall the said demands for contributions provided herein to be made by said employees exceed ten percent (10%) of the total annual salary of the said employees.
Sec. 16. (Amended at election November 8, 1966) All moneys for said Fund shall be paid into the City treasury and kept by the Director of Finance in banks as are other public funds, in accordance with the laws of the State of California and the Charter of the City of Richmond. Said Fund shall be kept inviolate and no portion thereof shall ever be transferred to any other fund or used for any other purposes than those specified herein.
Reserves in said Fund not needed in any fiscal year for current payments of pensions ordered by the Pension Board and expenses of the Board may, as directed by resolution of the Pension Board, be invested for the benefit of said fund as hereinafter provided:
(a) In investments which are authorized by General Law for savings banks.
(b) In investments other than those specified in subdivision (a) hereof, including, but not limited to, corporate bonds and securities, common stocks, preferred stocks, investments in real estate and investment trusts, provided that the total amount invested pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total amount of funds invested pursuant to this section, and provided further that the following conditions are met:
(1) Any stocks or other corporate securities in which funds are invested, except stocks or banks, insurance companies or mutual funds, shall be registered on a national securities exchange as provided by the Federal Securities Exchange Act.
(2) The total amount invested in common and preferred stocks shall not exceed at cost at the time of purchase twenty-five percent of the total amount invested pursuant to this section.
(3) The total amount invested in the common and preferred stocks of any one company shall not exceed at cost of the time of purchased two percent of the total amount invested pursuant to this section and shall not exceed five percent of the outstanding preferred or common stock of that company. 39 116
(4) No funds shall be invested in the common stocks of any company unless it has paid cash dividends on such stocks in eight of the ten years immediately preceding its purchase by the Board.
(5) No funds shall be invested in the stocks or other securities of any company other than a bank of insurance company unless it has assets of at least one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), or in the stocks or other securities of a bank or insurance company unless it has assets of at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000). (6) The total amount invested in real estate other than real estate owned by or leased to the City of Richmond, which amount may include land, buildings, land and buildings or real estate loans, shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total amount invested pursuant to this section and such investments shall be restricted to first trust deeds which are insured by the Federal Housing Administration or which are guaranteed by the Veterans Administration.
(c) The Board may, when making investments pursuant to subdivision (b) hereof, employ the services of competent investment counsel.
Sec. 17. Every person who is granted a pension hereunder for causes included within the purview of the Workmen’s Compensation Insurance and Safety Act of 1917, of the State of California, and amendments thereto heretofore and hereafter adopted, and who shall receive compensation under and pursuant to the provisions of said Act, shall be entitled to only such monthly amount hereunder as will when added to the amount allowed and received and to be received monthly under said Act, equal the total monthly pension herein provided for.
Sec. 18. If any employee shall become separated from the service, either voluntarily or involuntarily, then and in that event all moneys, exclusive of interest, paid into said fund by such employee shall be returned to him; and in the event that he shall thereafter re-enter the service as such employee in any capacity, he shall repay into said fund, upon such re-entry, an amount equal to the sum returned to him at the time of his separation from the service, and neither he nor members of his family shall be entitled to any benefits hereunder until said amount has been repaid into said fund.
If any such employee shall die under circumstances not mentioned in Section 9, then and in that event all moneys, exclusive of interest, paid into said Fund by such employee shall be returned to his estate; or, if he shall die under circumstances after having served twenty (20) years and without having made application for a pension under Section 5 (b), and shall leave surviving him a widow or other dependents mentioned in Section 9, the Pension board on its own motion may, in its discretion, grant a limited pension after death on the grounds provided in Section 5 (b) to be paid to such dependents in the order of succession set forth in Section 9.
Sec. 19. (Repealed at election June 4, 1968)
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Sec. 20. (Added at election May 12, 1953) Said fund shall not benefit any person whose employment by the City of Richmond commenced on or after July 1, 1953, and none of the provisions of Sections 1 through 11, or Section 13 through 19 of this Article shall apply to, obligate or benefit any such person.
Sect 21. (Added at election May 12, 1953) The City Council shall by resolution adopted prior to December 31, 1953, authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute on behalf of the City and the Mayor and the City Clerk shall execute on behalf of the City, a contract pursuant to the provisions of the State Employees’ Retirement Law of the State of California with the Board of Administration of the State Employees’ Retirement system whereby any person who was an employee prior to July 1, 1953, and who elects to waive all his rights under the said fund, and all employees whose employment commences on or after July 1, 1953, shall become local members of said System and be entitled to all benefits, rights and obligations thereof, in accordance with said Retirement Law. The City Council shall resolution designates the dates on or before which such election may be made by persons who were employees prior to July 1, 1953. Any such person shall not be required to make any contributions to said system except the normal contributions provided by said Retirement Law. In addition to the payments made by the City into said fund pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 15 of this Article, the Director of Finance shall pay out of the Treasury of the City into said fund amounts of money equal to all sums which pursuant to Sections 20522 and 20525 of said Retirement law are required to be transferred to said System by reason of such election by any person who was an employee prior to July 1, 1953, and the City Council shall make provisions therefore in its budgets. The City Council shall have the power to do all acts and things necessary and appropriate to perform such contract with the System and to comply with the provisions of said Retirement Law.
Sec. 22. (Added by election of May 12, 1959) Wherever in this Article XII the words City Treasurer, Treasurer, City Auditor or Auditor appear such words shall be stricken and there shall be substituted in lieu thereof the words Director of Finance.
Wherever in this Article XII the words widow or surviving widow appear there shall be substituted in lieu thereof the words spouse or surviving spouse, and wherever the words wife or husband appear the work spouse shall be substituted in lieu thereof, and whenever the masculine pronoun is used there shall be added thereto the appropriate feminine pronoun.
It is the purpose and intent of this section to make all of the provisions of this Article XII inure to the benefit of and apply to female members of the General Pension Fund.
Sec.23. (Amended at election May 13, 1975, May 10, 1977, and November 6, 1984) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article to the contrary, the minimum pension for employees or their dependents presently retired on the date of the adoption of this section, or placed on retirement after the date of the adoption of this section, shall, commencing January 1, 1985, be Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per month. 41 118
Sec. 24. (Added at election May 12, 1981; deleted at election November 6, 1984) Sec. 25. (Added at election November 6, 1984) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the pensions of retired employees or their eligible dependents shall be increased annually by two percent (2%) on January of each year commencing January 1, 1985. In addition to said automatic two percent (2%) increase, the City Council may increase annually said pensions by an additional amount of up to three percent (3%) on January 1 of each year commencing January 1, 1985. In no event shall the total increases in said pensions exceed five percent (5%) in any year.
ARTICLE XIII
Personnel Administration
(Added by election November 7, 1950)
Sec. 1. Purpose and basic requirements of this Article: it is the purpose of this Article to provide a modern system of personnel administration for the City of Richmond, whereby effectiveness in the personal services rendered to the City, and fairness and equity to the employees and the taxpayer, alike, may be promoted. To accomplish this end, the provisions of this Article shall be liberally construed. The following principles and policies shall be adhered to.
(Amended at election April 17, 1973) All appointment to and promotions within the classified service of the City of Richmond shall be based upon efficiency and fitness which shall be ascertained by means of recognized personnel selection techniques such as written tests, aptitude tests, personal interview, performance tests, records of daily work performances, work samples, professional achievement, or any combination of these.
Fair and equitable rates of pay shall be provided with due consideration both of the employees and the taxpayer, and with due observance of the principles of like pay for like work, and suitable differences in pay for differences in kind of work.
Full consideration shall be given to the interests and desires of the employees insofar as it is consistent with the interests of the City and of the public they serve. The establishment and maintenance of working conditions and morale shall be such that the City service is attractive as a career, and that each employee is encouraged to render his best service in compliance with the provisions of this Article.
Sec. 2. Personnel Rules to Provide for Giving Effect to the Purposes and Requirements of this Article:
To give effect to the purposes and requirements in the preceding section, the personnel rules hereinafter required to be adopted, shall provide, among others, for the following things with reference to the classified services as defined in this Article. 42 119
(a) For a systematic classification plan providing for the classification of all positions on the basis of their duties and responsibilities, the qualifications required and the salary to be paid; for definitions of the classes in the classification plan; for the allocation and reallocation of the classes in the classification plan; and for amendment and continuous administration of the classification plan. (b) (Repealed at election April 17, 1973)
(c) For determining efficiency and fitness for original appointment to and promotion within the classified service by means of competitive examinations held after adequate public notice. The selection techniques used in such examinations shall be practical in character, and designed fairly to measure the ability or potentiality of the candidates for positions in the various classes. The rules shall provide for allowance of veterans’ preference to any person honorably discharged from the Armed Forces by the United States Government.
(d) For certification of eligibles and appointment and promotion to positions in the classified service on the basis of such tests. (e) For filling vacancies in higher competitive positions through promotional examinations, except when vacancies are filled, in the interests of the City service, by transfer, reinstatement, re-employment or demotion. the Personnel Director, subject to review by the Personnel Board, shall have the authority, except with respect to the Police and Fire Services, to determine whether or not it is practicable to fill a given vacancy by promotional examination.
(f) For tenure of employment in positions in the classified service during efficient and fit service, except in cases of temporary appointment. Provision shall be made for a systematic and equitable plan for layoff in the event of lack of funds by the City or the cessation of need for a given class or classes of work, or other valid reasons; provided, further, however, in the event the Council shall determine it is necessary to bring about a reduction of personnel of all employees in the classified service, the Council for such purposes shall adhere to the seniority list maintained by the Personnel Director for the employees of such department in effecting reduction of personnel. The names of employees so laid off shall be placed on an appropriate list or lists. Persons on these lists shall be re-employed at the earliest opportunity.
Reinstatement, transfer, and resignation shall be provided for. (g) For emergency, temporary, or provisional appointments without examination, to positions in the classified service for a period not to exceed 180 days.
All intermittent employees and those seasonal employees who are employed for a period less than 120 days in any one calendar year shall not be required to qualify through examination.
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(h) For the optional use of service ratings in each of the various City departments, and for the administration of such service ratings plans, subject to the approval of the City Manager.
(i) (Repealed at election April 17, 1973)
(j) For the development of an employee training program to the end that the general level of efficiency of the classified service shall be high and that the employees shall be encouraged and aided in improving their status. (k) (Repealed at election April 17, 1973)
(l) (Repealed at election April 17, 1973)
(m) (Amended at election May 13, 1969) For removals, demotions, decreases in pay, suspensions without pay and other forms of discipline of employees whose services are not satisfactory or who violate the provisions of this Article or the rules adopted to carry out the intent of this Article. Employees so discharged or disciplined shall have the right of appeal at outlined in this Article, and under the procedure outlined in the Personnel Rules.
(n) (Repealed at election April 17, 1973)
(o) (Amended at election April 17, 1973) For prompt reports by department heads of changes in positions authorized and of the incumbents therein, and of new positions and of attendance and absence which upon the approval of the City Manager shall form basis for audit and approval of payrolls by the Director of Finance or to compliance with this Article and the ordinances and rules thereunder. (p) For the implementation, administration, enforcement, and disciplinary actions for the violation of this Article and ordinances and rules established thereunder.
Sec. 3 (Amended at election April 14, 1953) Definition of Classified Service:
The service of the City shall be divided into the Classified and Exempt Service. (a) The Exempt Service shall comprise the following officers and positions:
1. All officers elected by the people.
2. All members of the several boards.
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3. The City Manager and one position in the office of the City Manager whose salary and qualifications shall be set in the same manner as classified positions.
4. The Clerk.
5. The City Attorney and his legal assistants.
6. All Municipal Judges.
7. Persons employed to render professional, scientific, technical or expert service of an occasional and exceptional character.
(b) The Classified Service shall comprise all positions not specifically included in the Exempt Service.
(c) (Amended at election April 17, 1973) The employees of independent agencies, authorities, boards and commissions set up by the City Council may participate in the municipal personnel system upon application in writing of the government board. Upon receipt of written application to be admitted to the system, the Personnel Board shall direct the Personnel Director to draw up an appropriate personnel classification plan according to the terms of this Article and the rules of the Personnel Board. Upon adoption of the personnel classification plan by the applying Board, such employees shall become City employees and be subject to the same rules, regulations and privileges as the other municipal employees subject to the approval of the City Council.
Sec. 4. (Amended at election November 6, 1984) Additions to or Revisions in the Classified and Exempt Services:
All new positions which hereafter are created and which are not specifically included in the Exempt Service shall be part of the Classified Service unless the City Manager and the Personnel Board recommend, and the Council approves by resolution, that the new position be made a part of the Exempt Service.
The Council may, upon the recommendation of the City Manager and the Personnel Board, approve by resolution the changing of a position from the Exempt Service to the Classified Service or from the Classified Service to the Exempt Service.
Any officer in the Exempt Service who is removed by the appointing authority shall be restored to the grade in the Classified Service which he held previously unless removal is for fraud, criminal behavior, etc., in which case charges shall be filed before the Personnel Board according to the normal procedure therefore. 45 122
Sec. 5. (Amended at election April 17, 1973) The Council shall by ordinance provide:
(a) For the adoption of a comprehensive compensation plan, for the financing of rates of pay of all employees in the classified service, and amendments thereto. In the adoption of such a compensation plan, the Council may consider the recommendation of the City Manager. In arriving at recommendations relating to salaries and wages within the compensation plan, consideration shall be given to salaries and wages paid in comparable types of work in both public service and private industry within the area, the movement in recognized cost of living indices, the financial condition of the City and conditions of the labor market.
(b) For appropriations for personnel and facilities adequate to provide for the effective administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Article and the ordinances and rules adopted thereunder.
(Amended at election May 12, 1959 and June 4, 1968)
Sec. 6. Creation of a Personnel Board:
The Personnel Board shall consist of five members who shall be appointed by the Council in the following manner: one of the board members shall be appointed from a panel of three persons designated by a committee from the Police and Fire Department.
One of the board members shall be appointed from a panel of three persons designated by a committee representing the general employees, and the remaining three board members shall be appointed by the City Council as hereinafter provided. Designation of said panels shall be in writing and signed by duly authorized committee members.
The first Board to be appointed shall at its first meeting choose on of its members as Chairman, who shall serve for one year and until a successor is elected. The Secretary to the Board shall be the Personnel Director. The members shall so classify themselves by lot that one of them shall serve for a term that shall expire July 1, 1952, one shall serve for a term that shall expire July 1, 1954, one shall serve for a term that shall expire July 1, 1955, and one shall serve for a term that shall expire July 1, 1956. Effective July 1, 1959, the member whose term expires on July 1, 1959, shall remain in office and his term shall expire on December 31, 1959; the member whose term expires on July 1, 1960, shall remain in office and his term shall expire on December 31, 1960; the member whose term expires on July 1, 1961, shall remain in office and his term shall expire on December 31, 1961; the member whose term expires on July 1, 1962, shall remain in office and his term shall expire on December 31, 1962; the member whose term expires on July 1, 1963, shall remain in office and his term shall expire on December 31, 1963.
Thereafter, the term of office of each member shall be five years. All members shall serve after the expiration of their term until their successor has been appointed and qualified.
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Every other (alternate) appointment shall be made from a panel of three names submitted by city employees. Said panel shall be selected through an election to be conducted by the City Clerk in accordance with rules established by the Personnel Board.
Members appointed to this Board shall be subject to removal from said Board for a just cause by a six-ninths vote of the Council prior to the expiration of the term of which they were appointed.
Vacancies on the Personnel Board, caused by a member not completing his term, shall be filled by the Council. If the member vacating his office was appointed from a panel submitted by a committee representing all city employees, then said vacancy shall be filled from such a panel; if the member vacating his office was appointed directly by the Council, then said vacancy shall be filled by direct appointment by the Council.
Members of the Board shall have been qualified electors of the City of Richmond for at least three years and shall be persons sympathetic to the principles of modern personnel administration. No person shall be appointed to said Board who holds any salaried public office or employment in the service of the City of Richmond, nor is a retired city employee, nor shall any member, while a member of the board or for a period of one year after he has ceased to be a member of the board, for any reason, be eligible for appointment to any salaried office or employment in the service of the city, or for appointment to any elective office in the City.
The members of this board shall serve without pay, and shall hold regular meetings monthly at such time and place as designated by the chairman of the Board.
The Board, in addition, may hold such special meetings as the affairs of the Board may require. Such special meetings shall be held upon the call of the chairman or any two members of the Board. Three members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, provided that all members of the Board shall have been officially notified under the rules established by said Board for such notification. (Added at election May 13, 1975, and amended at election November 6, 1984) The unexcused absence of any member of the Personnel Board from more than three regularly scheduled meetings of the Board within any twelve-consecutive-months period shall constitute an automatic resignation from the Board. Such a resignation shall not, however, disqualify an individual from subsequently being appointed to the same or any other City board or commission. The provisions of this paragraph shall operate prospectively so as to apply only to absences which occur after the effective date of this paragraph. Any and all absences of any member occurring prior to that date which did not result in removal of the member from the Board by the City Council are hereby excused. A member may request the Board to excuse an absence. Such request must be in writing and be submitted to the Board within thirty (30) days from the date of such absence. The granting of such a request shall require an affirmative vote from at least three (3) of the members of the Board. In the event of any such automatic resignation, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term of the resigned member through the same procedure that was used for the appointment of the resigned member to the Board.
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Sec. 7. The Personnel Board shall have power, and it shall be its duty:
(a) (Amended at election May 13, 1969) To hear any employee in the Classified Service, upon his request, who has been demoted, suspended, dismissed, or reduced in pay as follows: No person placed under the Personnel System established by this Article shall be demoted, suspended if for more than thirty days in any one calendar year, dismissed, or reduced in pay except by order of the Personnel Director made upon written charges by the Council, the City Manager or the head of the department in which such person is employed, and served upon such person. Whereupon the person so charged shall have an opportunity of filing a written answer or explanation of the charges. Any person demoted, dismissed, suspended, or reduced in pay may within ten days from the date of his notification of the same file with the board a written demand for an investigation and public hearing within a period not to exceed thirty (30) days in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the Board. After such investigation, the Board may recommend to the City Manager, suspension, modification or revocation of any order previously made by its suspending, demoting, or reducing in pay such person. The City Manager must act on the recommendation with fifteen (15) days. In cases of contrary action by the City Manager, the Board may submit its recommendation to the Council. Recommendations of the Board submitted to the Council may be overridden only a 2/3 vote of the Council. (This is not to contravene the employee’s right, if dissatisfied with any order or ruling of the Board, and/or Council, to appeal to the Superior Court.)
(b) To make such inquiries and investigations as it may deem to be warranted regarding the administration and effect of the provisions of this Article and rules adopted in accordance therewith, and to make such recommendations to the City Manager or to the Council as in its judgment may be indicated by the circumstances. (c) To advise the City Manager on all matters of policy regarding the administration of the personnel system which the City Manager may present to it, or which, in its judgment, may be indicated by the circumstances. (d) To review, together with duly authorized employee representation and in a public hearing, all changes, additions or eliminations in the personnel rules, which are proposed for presentation to the Council for approval, and to recommend for or against their adoption.
(e) To transmit to the Council with such additions and comments as it may desire to make, annual and special reports.
(f) (Amended at election April 17, 1973, and November 6, 1984) To entertain appeals on any matter arising under this Article by any aggrieved employee, or by the City, and make appropriate recommendations to the City Manager. Neither the Personnel Board nor any of its members shall have power to take any action in these appeals except by majority vote of the entire Board.
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(g) Such rules and ordinances, or changes thereto, which are submitted by the City Manager to the Personnel Board for review and recommendations, and which are approved by the Personnel Board, together with duly authorized employee representation, shall require only a simple majority vote of the Council for adoption.
These proposed rules or ordinances or changes thereto, which do not carry the recommendation of the Personnel Board, shall require an affirmative vote of six (6) Councilmembers in order to be adopted.
(h) (Added at election November 6, 1984) To subpoena witnesses to testify concerning any matter before the Board.
Sec. 8. (Amended at election November 6, 1984) The City Manager shall appoint a qualified Director of Personnel. The Director of Personnel shall be responsible for the proper administration of the personnel system and its operation. He shall have the power, and it shall be his duty:
(a) To serve as a Secretary to the Personnel Board, to see to the keeping of its minutes and records, to conduct investigations and prepare reports for the Personnel Board in matters under its consideration, and in all other proper ways to facilitate its actions and proceedings.
(b) To appoint his assistants in the operation of the personnel system, and to direct and control their work, and under the customary financial procedures of the City, to control the expenditures from appropriations for the administration of the personnel system.
(c) To establish and maintain a roster of all city employees. (d) To prepare, together with duly authorized employee representation, and to recommend for consideration by the Personnel Board, and the Council, personnel rules including a classification plan, and drafts of ordinances for recommendation to the Personnel Board and Council, including such changes as are deemed desirable from time to time in such rules and ordinances.
(e) To allocate each position in the Classified Service to its proper class in the Classification Plan adopted under the provisions of this Article, and reallocate positions as the facts warrant.
(f) To develop and maintain class specifications, and to amend them from time to time as changing conditions warrant.
(g) (Amended at election April 17, 1973) To recruit candidates for employment, to pass upon qualifications of applicants, to conduct promotional and entrance examinations, to establish eligible lists which are to be in effect for such time as is prescribed in the City Personnel Rules but for not more than two years for certification 49 126
of eligibles and for appointments to positions in the classified service on the basis of such tests, subject to a work test period of probation of not more than six months or longer if prescribed by rule in initial appointments; eligibility lists are to be made a matter of public record at all times.
(h) To receive, record, transmit and to discuss with the employee concerned, written reasons for rejection during probation. (i) To make such investigations as he may deem desirable with respect to the enforcement and effect of the provisions of this Article, and the personnel rules and related ordinances.
(j) To pass upon, for compliance with the provisions of this Article, the personnel rules and related ordinances, and to approve or disapprove as to compliance therewith, all appointments, demotions, transfers, promotions, service ratings, rejections, leaves of absence, changes in rates of pay, suspensions, separations and other employment transactions affecting the status of employees. (k) To make annual reports to the Personnel Board for its approval and transmission to the Council on the administration and effect of this Article, with such recommendations as he may deem desirable, and to render such special reports as the Personnel Board may request. Such reports shall be public record. (l) (Repealed at election April 17, 1973)
(m) To do all other things necessary or proper for making effective the provisions of this Article, the personnel rules and ordinances adopted in pursuant thereof. (n) (Repealed at election April 17, 1973)
Sec. 9. Every person who, when this Article take effect, is legally occupying, by proper appointment thereto, a position placed in the Classified Service by this Article, shall continue to occupy such position without examination, and shall become subject to the provisions of this Article, as though he had been appointed to the position occupied, under the provisions of this Article. The provisions of this section shall also apply to all persons who, on the date of acquisition of any public utility, hereafter acquired by the City, are regularly employed by such utility.
Sec. 10. No person occupying a position in the Classified Service or seeking admission thereto, shall be employed, discharged or in any way favored or discriminated against because of race, or religious belief or political opinions or affiliations, or because of membership in or affiliation with a labor organization. For the purpose of collective bargaining and employee-management cooperation, employees shall have the right to organize and designate representatives of their own choosing. 50 127
No employee and no one seeking employment shall require as a condition of employment, transfer, promotion, or retention in service to join or to refrain from joining any organization or association of employees.
There shall be no discrimination against representatives of employees nor shall employees suffer discrimination because of membership or nonmembership in any organization or association of employees. The majority of the employees as a whole, may determine the organization, person or persons, who shall represent the employees as a whole. However, any professional group or craft or other appropriate unit shall have the right to authorize the organization, person or persons who shall represent them.
Sec. 11. There shall be no improper political activity as defined in the personnel rules to be hereinafter adopted, on the part of any employee in the Classified Service. City employees may not engage in political activities or services of any nature during the hours in which they are employed by the city; nor shall City funds, supplies, property, or equipment be utilized in performing any services of a political nature.
No officer or employee under the government of the City and no candidate for any City office, shall directly or indirectly solicit or receive, or be in any manner concerned in soliciting or receiving any assessment, subscription or contribution, whether voluntary or involuntary, for any political purpose whatever, from anyone on any eligible list or holding any position under the provisions of this Article.
Sec. 12. (Repealed at election April 17, 1973)
Sec. 13. Any person who violates willfully or through culpable negligence violates or conspires to violate any provision of this Article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The conviction of any employee or officer of such offense shall operate automatically to terminate his service and to vacate his position.
Sec. 14. If any part of this Article is held by competent authority to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the remaining portions of this Article, or if any provision herein held to be in excess of that permitted by the constitution of the laws of the State, then such provision shall be construed to operate only to the extent permitted.
Sec. 15. All present and future ranks required for the best interests of the City in each of the City departments, shall be recognized in the rules, classifications, and compensation plans.
(Art. 14, Off-Street Vehicular Parking, repealed at election June 4, 1968) 51 128
CERTIFICATE
Whereas, the City of Richmond a city containing a population of more than three thousand five hundred and less than ten thousand inhabitants on the twelfth day of October, 1908, at a special election held under and in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of Article XI of the constitution of the State of California, did elect F.E.
Adams, C.L. Abbot, C.R. Blake, L. Boswell, L.D. Dimm, E.A. Gowe, E.J. Garrard, G.A.
Follett, L.S. Higgins, I.E. Marshall, I.M. Perrin, E.M. Tilden, H.H. Turley, H.E. Wyatt, and John Roth a Board of Freeholders to prepare and propose a charter for said city; Be It Known, That pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution and within a period of ninety days aftersaid election, said Board of Freeholders has prepared and does propose the foregoing as and for the charter for the City of Richmond.
In Witness Whereof, We have hereunto set our hands this 23rd day of December 1908.
H.E. WYATT
President of the Board of Freeholders
C.L. ABBOTT, E.A. GOWE,
F.E. ADAMS, I.E. MARSHALL,
L. BOSWELL, JOHN ROTH,
L.D. DIMM, H.H. TURLEY
G.A. FOLLETT, E.M. TILDEN
E.J. GARRARAD, CHAS. R. BLAKE,
L.S. HIGGINS
Attest:
J.S. CHANDLER
Secretary Board of Freeholders
Filed this 28th day of December, 1908, at 12:30 p.m.
J.B. WILLIS
President of the
Board of Trustees of the
City of Richmond, California
52 129
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
County of Contra Costa, ss.
City of Richmond
I, H.H. Turley, City Clerk in and for the City of Richmond, hereby certify that the Board of Trustees of said City, did by Resolution No. 158, order the foregoing charter published in the manner and form required by law.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the corporate seal of the City of Richmond, this 29th day of December, 1908.
H.H. TURLEY
(SEAL) City Clerk
53 130
MEMORANDUM
The first publication of the foregoing charter was made on Tuesday, December 29, 1908, in accordance with a resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees of the City of Richmond, in the “Richmond Record,” a daily newspaper of general circulation, printed, published and circulated in said city.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
County of Contra Costa, ss.
City of Richmond
I, J.B. Willis, President of the Board of Trustees of the City of Richmond, State of California, and I, H.H. Turley, Clerk of said Board, do hereby certify that the Board of Freeholders, whose names appear signed to the foregoing proposed charter, were on the 12th day of October, 1908, at a special municipal election held in said City of Richmond on said day duly elected by the qualified electors of said city to prepare and propose a charter for said city; that each of said freeholders had been a qualified elector in said city for more than five (5) years previous to said election; that the foregoing is a true copy of said charter prepared and returned to the president of said Board of Trustees within ninety (90) days after said election, as required by Section 8 of Article XI of the constitution of this State; that said proposed charter was then published in the “Richmond Record,” which then was a daily newspaper of general circulation, printed and published in said city, and that publication was made for more than twenty (20) days, and that the first publication of said proposed charter was made within twenty (20) days after the completion of said charter; that within thirty (30) days after the publication of said charter, as required in said section 8, to wit, on the 9th day of February, 1909, said charter was submitted at a special election duly called and held therein for the purpose of ratifying or rejecting said proposed charter; that by a majority of the votes of the qualified electors voting at said election said proposed charter was ratified as a whole; that the returns of said election were duly canvassed by the Board of Trustees of said City of Richmond on the 9th day of February 1909, and the result thereof declared as above set forth; and that in all matters and things pertaining to said proposed charter, all provisions of said section of the Constitution and the laws of the State of California pertaining to the adoption of the charter have been fully complied with in every particular.
In Witness Whereof, We have hereunto set our hands and caused the corporate seal of said City of Richmond to be affixed this 9th day of February, 1909. (SEAL) J.B. WILLIS,
President of the Board of Trustees
of the City of Richmond
54 131
H.H. TURLEY,
Clerk of said Board of Trustees and
said City of Richmond
And, Whereas, said proposed charter, so ratified, has been duly presented and submitted to the Legislature of the State of California for approval or rejection, without power of alteration, or amendment, in accordance with section 8 of the Article XI of the Constitution of the State of California;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Assembly of the State of California the Senate thereof concurring (a majority of all the members elected to each house voting for the adoption of this resolution and concurring therein) that said charter of the City of Richmond, as presented to, adopted and ratified by the qualified electors of said city, be, and the same is hereby approved as a whole as and for the charter of said City of Richmond.
P.A. STANTON,
Speaker of the Assembly.
W.R. PORTER,
President of the Senate.
Attest:
C.F. CURRY,
Secretary of State.
Filed in the office of the Secretary of State the 4th day of March, A.D. 1909, at 10:50 o’clock A.M.
C.F. CURRY, Secretary of State
By J. HOSCH, Deputy
55 132
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
County of Contra Costa, ss.
City of Richmond
I, J.B. Willis, President of the Board of Trustees of the City of Richmond and chief executive officer of said city, do hereby certify that the foregoing charter was submitted to the qualified electors of said city at a special election duly called and held therein for the purpose of ratifying or rejecting same on the 9th day of February, 1909, and that by a majority of votes of qualified electors, voting at said election, said charter was ratified as a whole; that the returns of said election were duly canvassed by the Board of Trustees of the City of Richmond on the 9th day of February 1909, and the results thereof declared as above set forth; that in all matters and things pertaining to said proposed charter, all provisions of section 8 of Article XI of the Constitution of the State of California, pertaining to the adoption of the charter, have been fully complied with in every particular.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the corporate seal of the City of Richmond to be affixed this 24th day of March, 1909. (SEAL) J.B. WILLIS,
President of the Board of Trustees
and Chief Executive Officer of the
City of Richmond.
Attest:
H.H. TURLEY
City Clerk of said City of Richmond
56 133