From: Cordell Hindler
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments-Open Forum
Date: Friday, December 15, 2023 2:47:46 PM
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Hello Mayor Martinez, Council Members and Staff,
I AM submitting the Following Comments into the Record:
1. For a Future Agenda, The Council Should Invite Danny Wan to Present on the Port of Oakland
2. Also to Direct Staff to Work with Chancellor Christ's Office to Schedule a Joint Meeting with UC Berkeley in Spring of 2024
3. Also to Reinstate the Standing Committees to Address the Financial Impact Sincerely
Cordell
From: Carolina Vieira de Barros
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Support for Item AB.3.B
Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 12:53:12 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Hello,
I would like to express my support for Agenda Item AB.3.B in tonight's city Council Meeting.
The City has hired Coastland to undertake the feasibility of a project that by Coastland's own estimates will cost over $200 million. If undertaking this project, which would move the Keller Beach Sewer line inland, is the only feasible option to prevent an environmental disaster, so be it, but the City owns it to its residents and taxpayers to assess the feasibility of all possible options before coming to that conclusion. The City should assess the feasibility of repairing and replacing the Keller Beach sewer line where it currently runs, along the coast.
This project will not just impact the residents that live in Point Richmond but the entire city, given the cost and risk of litigation that it entails. Please vote to explore all alternatives and support Agenda item AB.3.B.
Thank you!
Carolina de Barros
534 Grandview Ct.
From: Douglas E Williams
To: City Clerk Dept User
Cc: Lulu Williams; [email protected]
Subject: Public comments agenda item AB.3.b Re: Keller Beach Sewer Project Date: Monday, December 18, 2023 10:46:21 AM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Please pass this resolution to ensure that ongoing work on the Keller Beach Sewer Project proceeds in a more rational and realistic manner.
The Public Information Meeting for the Keller Beach Sanitary Sewer Relocation Feasibility (KBSS) Study that took place April 3, 2023 established that the project suffered from inadequate guidance and an insufficiently experienced vendor. Conclusions from that meeting are clearly reflected in Council member Zepeda's resolution in this agenda item, so this is an important next step.
The KBSS study results reported in that meeting presented two recommended options:
1. Repair the existing beach pipeline, or
2. Replace the beach pipeline with a new pipeline above the waterline, e.g., along Western and Ocean Avenues.
These are not practical alternatives, but superficial, simplistic conclusions that do not take into consideration a number of critical issues such as:
The majority of the pipeline has no known leaks and is adequately accessible for improvements such as the CIPP lining suggested in the report.
Other areas of the pipeline that were not accessible and/or that are problematic for improvements can and should be explicitly delineated and addressed separately.
The Recommended Option 2 has enormous hidden litigation, construction and maintenance costs that were not clearly identified or quantified.
Option 2 assumes that (~72) individual homeowners must build and maintain sewer sumps and pumping facilities when the sewer is the city's responsibility.
A cost analysis of the more feasible hybrid solution is not possible based on the existing Report because it does not identify a hybrid solution.
Hiring another firm to clarify practical alternatives, as stated in the resolution, is the necessary next step. Please pass this resolution.
Respectfully,
Doug & Louise Williams
Douglas E. Williams
721 Ocean Ave., Richmond, CA 94801
510.235.9353
[email protected]
Business: weldengineers.com
Personal: DouglasEWilliams.com
From: [email protected]
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comment -Agenda Item AB.3.b
Date: Sunday, December 17, 2023 4:42:00 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
I'm writing in support of Councilperson Zepeda's request regarding the Keller Beach Sanitary Sewerage System.
We residents have heard nothing about the proposed rebuilding of the system since the public meeting was held in Point Richmond in 4/3/2023. The original flyer circulated amongst us said that there would be three public meetings. When will the next meetings be held? Or, does the City feel that we don't deserve to be kept informed?
We would like to know what, if anything, City Staff propose as next steps in any potential replacement or upgrade of the existing system. So far we haven't heard anything in eight months.
We would like to know when the Coastland Report will be completed. Is it proposed that the report will be reviewed by an independent expert prior to any acceptance thereof? Given the extremely low quality of the initial version of the report, and its poorly thought out conclusions and recommendations, this must be a mandatory requirement.
Has Coastland been paid for their report?
A list of questions raised by residents regarding the sewerage system has been sent to the City and we have not been graced with a response. When can we expect one?
This lack of communication, and possibly action, by City Staff has dragged on for far too long.
We demand and expect an update by City Staff early in the new year.
Sincerely,
Graham Perrett
From: Philip Rosenthal
To: Soheila Bana; Claudia Jimenez; Eduardo Martinez; Gayle McLaughlin; Doria Robinson; Melvin Willis; Cesar Zepeda; City Clerk Dept User; City Attorney"s Office
Subject: Public Comment Agenda Item AB.3.B
Date: Monday, December 18, 2023 9:40:17 AM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Please wholeheartedly support AB.3,B and review the insufficient (perhaps fraudulent) actions of Coastland in their half-million dollar contact, which I understand was "no-bid,"
Coastland has OBVIOUSLY only explored the options that are financially beneficial to them, and certified experts have identified that Coastland is not the most, or even in the ballpark, qualified company to assess this situation.
In addition to the need to have the best solution in place if the system fails, so we don't spend tens or hundreds of millions foolishly on the only ridiculous solution proposed.
Further, the solutions Coastland is suggesting would eliminate the escape route in case of emergency in a HIGH FIRE zone.
Don't know how we got here, but let's remember:
"When you've dug yourself into a hole, stop digging"
Thanks and KRGDS,
Philip Rosenthal
--
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From: Philip Rosenthal
To: Soheila Bana; Claudia Jimenez; Eduardo Martinez; Gayle McLaughlin; Doria Robinson; Melvin Willis; Cesar Zepeda; City Clerk Dept User; Dave Aleshire; Shasa Curl; City Attorney"s Office Cc: Leisa Johnson; Peter Thelin; margi sullivan; Charmain Tyler; Rod Satre; [email protected]; Graham Perrett; Carolina Vieira de Barros; Eric Napracca
Subject: Re: AGENDA ITEM AB.3.B , Neighborhood Council Comments ATTACHMENT Date: Sunday, December 17, 2023 7:51:59 PM
Attachments: Keller Beach Letter for 121923 Council Meeting Agenda Item AB.3.B.docx Keller Beach Letter for 121923 Council Meeting Agenda Item AB.3.B.docx This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
I have added the attachment referenced in the previous email.
Dear City Clerk, Staf, City Attorney, and Councilmembers:
Attached please find a letter on behalf of the Point Richmond Neighborhood Council.
Please confirm receipt.
Safe and happy holidays to all and a wish for a peaceful 2024. --
On Sun, Dec 17, 2023 at 6:04 PM Philip Rosenthal <[email protected] > wrote:
Dear City Clerk, Staf, City Attorney, and Councilmembers:
Attached please find a letter on behalf of the Point Richmond Neighborhood Council.
Please confirm receipt.
Safe and happy holidays to all and a wish for a peaceful 2024. --
Philip Rosenthal
PRNC President
[email protected]
(510)593-9017
--
Philip Rosenthal
PRNC President
[email protected]
(510)593-9017
1 of 2
December 17, 2023
City of Richmond
Shasa Curl, City Manager
Pamela Christian, City Clerk
Council Members
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond CA
RE: Agenda Item Agenda Item AB.3.B, Keller Beach Sewer Project
Dear City Staff and Council:
This letter comes from the PRNC board on behalf of the community of approximately 4,000 taxpayers and residents.
We stand in support of Agenda Item AB.3.B and implore the council to instruct staff to use every available option provided by the Baykeeper Settlement Agreement. We urge the City to provide a second opinion on the work of Coastland, a company with limited expertise in assessing the options, and review Coastland’s actions.
The community’s understanding is that the nearly half-million-dollar contract was handed to Coastland with no competitive bidding, despite the availability of competitive companies that are well more qualified to look at the project.
These competitive companies could provide better environmentally sound and way- more financially viable options.
Should the system fail, the City needs to be ready with the BEST options to address this project (not the only option explored) as the project will cost taxpayers tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.
2 of 2
Sincerely,
Philip Rosenthal
Philip Rosenthal, PRNC President
(510) 593-9017
[email protected]
pointrichmond.org
From: Richard Johnson
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Keller Beach Sanitary Sewer Relocation Project (Agenda Item AB.3.b) Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 12:58:01 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
All,
I write regarding agenda item AB.3.b, which relates to the Keller Beach Sewer Project. Since learning about this project, the community has had great concern about the lack of a plan to consider all options, including repairing or replacing the existing line. We have also been deeply concerned about how the City did not solicit bids for the existing contract, which resulted in one company receiving a large contract. This company admitted to having basically no experience repairing or replacing sewer lines along a coastline. So when this company tells the community that the only feasible option is to relocate the line, that is a seemingly (and perhaps, admittedly) uninformed opinion.
At the end of the day, the City should do what is best for the community, which includes doing what is best for the environment. That might be relocation. But right now, the City has yet to implement a process to gather the necessary information to make an informed choice.
Best,
Richard
From: Vivien Feyer
To: City Clerk Dept User
Cc: Vivien Feyer; Jeff Ritterman
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT: AGENDA ITEM AB.3.b
Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 12:59:01 PM
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
Thank you, Richmond City Council Members, for providing guidance to Staff as suggested regarding the Keller Beach Sewer Line.
Residents are concerned about the ongoing maintenance, inspection and repair of the line, and the prevention of any outflow of sewage into the bay.
We are aware that there are many possibilities for repairing the existing pipes and / or reconstructing them in place - and are eager to learn about options that will allow for thoughtful approaches to maintenance, in lieu of a tremendously expensive and questionable project that may only begin many years in the future.
With much appreciation,
Vivien Feyer,
Richmond resident
AB.3.b Provide Guidance to Staff Regarding the Keller Beach Sewer Project
99 DIRECT staff to (1) use every available option provided by the Baykeeper Settlement Agreement, including replacing or repairing existing sewer pipes, with the last option to move up into the street level; and (2) hire a new contractor to provide a second opinion/peer review on work performed by Coastland and to assess all options provided by the Baykeeper Settlement Agreement – Councilmember Cesar Zepeda (510-620-6593).
--
Vivien Feyer, EdM, CAS
PPE For All - Founder / Project Manager
[email protected]
From: Katrinka Ruk
To: Eduardo Martinez; Gayle McLaughlin; Melvin Willis; Cesar Zepeda; Doria Robinson; Soheila Bana; Claudia Jimenez; City Clerk Dept User
Cc: Shasa Curl; Dave Aleshire; Barbara O"Neill; Scott Sexton; Fred Glueck; Melissa Macho; Scott Sexton; Aaron Winer; Hakim Johnson; Julie Abate; Barbara O"Neill; Aimee Henry; Aimee Henry; Fred Glueck; Desiree Heveroh; David Schoenthal; Rauly Butler; Fred Glueck; Bob Connolly; Stan Teaderman; Jill Rodby; Bielle Moore; James Lee; [email protected]
Subject: Public Comments [12/19/23 Council Meeting]: AD.2 Ordinance Creating New Business Activity Classification, Class P – Wholesale, and the corresponding rates.
Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 11:38:01 AM
Attachments: 12.19.23 Bus Lic Tax, Wholesale Class added.docx This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
COUNCIL OF INDUSTRIES
P.O. BOX 70088, PT. RICHMOND, CA 94807
(510)215-9325
501(C)(6) FED ID# 94-0672760
December 19, 2023
To:
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
City Clerk
Re: Agenda Item AD.2 Ordinance Creating New Business Activity Classification, Class P – Wholesale, and the corresponding rates. [12/19/23 Council Meeting] I am submitting this letter on behalf of the Council of Business and Industries. We appreciate the City acknowledging that a separate classification for wholesale businesses should be established and that placing them under retail was not appropriate. However, we have concerns about the proposed changes to the business license tax ordinance, as outlined in the recent agenda. My apprehensions stem from the lack of transparency in communication and potential implications for businesses, particularly those engaged in wholesale activities.
Firstly, I subscribed to receive email notifications regarding proposed changes to the ordinance, but regrettably, I have not received any notices thus far. Discovering the proposed changes only through the agenda posting raises concerns about the transparency of the process and the consideration given to businesses affected by these amendments.
Secondly, the introduction of a new classification without prior notice to voters is a significant change that warrants clarification. I would appreciate confirmation on whether this alteration requires voter approval. Given the impact on businesses engaged in wholesale activities, understanding the legal implications is crucial.
Thirdly, regarding administrative changes to the ordinance – the City is 1) not in
compliance with the requirements for issuing administrative decisions; and 2) has not property delegated authority for any of the administrative decisions already made.
Fourthly, I am curious to know if the city has considered the implications for businesses that operate both retail and wholesale on-site within Richmond.
Understanding how the proposed changes will affect businesses with diverse operations is essential for comprehensive decision-making.
Fifthly, is this tax retroactive? If a business has been reclassified and their tax is lowered, how will the city
implement refunds for the businesses that have since
overpaid their business license taxes?
I am perplexed as to why the city did not engage in discussions with businesses beforehand to understand potential impacts and provide an opportunity for input. This lack of proactive communication is counterproductive to supporting and attracting businesses to our city.
In light of these concerns, I respectfully request that the proposed item be temporarily withdrawn from consideration. I propose that meetings be scheduled with the local business community to facilitate open discussions, allowing businesses to express their concerns and provide valuable input. In addition, I request that the city attorney review and comment on the compliance issues regarding making administrative changes.
I believe that such collaborative efforts will contribute to a more informed decision- making process and ensure that the interests of the business community are adequately considered.
Thank you for your consideration to these matters. I look forward to hearing from you and participating in a constructive dialogue on this important issue.
With regards,
Katrinka Ruk, Executive Director
Cc: COI Board, Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Katrinka Ruk
Executive Director
Council of Business & Industries
510)260-4820 cell
Office Hours: Monday/Tuesday/Thursday
http://www.councilofindustries.com
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