Reso. No. _____
RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,
CALIFORNIA PROVIDING EQUITABLE ALLOCATION OF FUNDING AND
MAILING SERVICES FOR ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond was awarded a $750,000 grant from the State of California, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, for Local Government: Connecting Neighbor to Neighbors (Neighbor-to-Neighbor). The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the impact and value of strong, local networks in uplifting community resilience and pr otecting our most vulnerable populations from the impacts of crisis; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the impact and value of strong, local networks in uplifting community resilience and protecting our most vulnerable populations from the impacts of crisis. Cut off from brick-and-mortar institutions and the services they provided during this time, individuals and families relied more heavily on their local networks, especially neighbors; research from past disasters and emergencies shows that neighborhoods with strong ties can overcome these challenges more effectively; and
WHEREAS, to increase the strength and prevalence of social ties after the pandemic, California Volunteers committed to supporting local neighborhood initiatives that promote resilience and reinforce social connection through the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program; and
WHEREAS, Neighbor-to-Neighbor aims to mitigate community isolation, increase volunteer participation, and improve social connectedness in neighborhoods. The City of Richmond provided neighborhoods with a Neighborhood Council of $15,000 to support community-building activities.
Neighborhoods without a Neighborhood Council or that are a part of a Homeowner’s Association were not able to receive this funding; and
WHEREAS, Richmond has a total 41 neighborhoods and only 20 of them have a Neighborhood Council. Through the grant program, the City of Richmond will partner with the Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council to engage 20 neighborhood councils to do the following :
Neighborhood surveys, workshops to set priorities and plan projects within the grant scope, host a kickoff in each neighborhood and complete over 80 projects and events; and
WHEREAS, recently, a resident organized a community gathering to strengthen their neighborhood but had to raise $1,500 through GoFundMe to cover expenses, including the printing and door-to-door distribution of flyers. This specific neighborhood does not have a Neighborhood Council so they were not able to benefit from the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program offering financial support for community-building activities; and
WHEREAS, to ensure that all neighborhoods have equal access to city support, the following is proposed:
1 Funding for All Neighborhoods: Establish a fund accessible to all neighborhoods, regardless of organizational structure, for community -building ev ents, beautification efforts, safety improvements, and other neighborhood enhancement initiatives. 2 Mailing Services for Flyers: Extend City-supported flyer mailing services to all neighborhoods, similar to the existing service for NCs, to ensure outreach and communication about neighborhood events.
3 Approval-Based Fund Distribution: Direct staff to design a process where community advocates in each neighborhood can apply for funds by collecting 10 signatures from neighbors approving the event and the associated expenses. 4 Transparency and Accountability: Implement a reporting mechanism for event organizers to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of City-provided funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that all neighborhoods in Richmond, whether they have a Neighborhood Council, Home owner’s Association, or neither, receive equitable access to City resources that support community building and improvement efforts , including funding and mailing services to foster inclusivity and ensure that all residents benefit from the City's services.
Reso. No. _____
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***THE CLERK’S OFFICE WILL COMPLETE THE INFORMATION BELOW****
I certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting thereof held on November 26, 2024, by the following vote:
AYES: AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
CLERK OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
(SEAL)
Approved:
Mayor
Approved as to form:
City Attorney
State of California }
County of Contra Costa : ss.
City of Richmond }
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Resolution No. _____, finally passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting held on Mmmm dd, yyyy.
_______________________________________
Pamela Christian, Clerk of the City of Richmond