City of Richmond
Swearing-In Ceremony
When: Tuesday, January 14, 2025; 5:00 p.m.
Where: Richmond City Council Chambers
440 Civic Center Plaza
For
Newly-elected and Re-elected Councilmembers
Jamelia Brown – District 1
Sue Wilson – District 5
Claudia Jimenez – District 6
How to watch the ceremony from home:
KCRT – Comcast Channel 28 or AT&T Uverse Channel 99
Livestream online at http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/3178/KCRT-Live KCRT’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/KCRTTV Via Zoom by video conference – email or in person public comment only https://zoom.us/j/99312205643?pwd=MDdqNnRmS2k4ZkRTOWhlUldQOUF1Zz09 Passcode: ccmeeting
EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENT TO: [email protected] – Subject: Swearing-In
BRIEF HISTORY OF
THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
The following information was taken from minutes of the Board of Trustees and the Council of the City of Richmond dated August 14, 1905, and July 6, 1909, respectively.
On August 14, 1905, the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the City of Richmond was called to order at 8:25 p.m. in the main office of the Critchett Building located at 224 Richmond Avenue. Trustees present were: Critchett, Babcock, Kenny, Garrard, and Curry. Trustee Garrard nominated Trustee Curry to be President of the City Board.
The nomination was seconded by Trustee Kenny, and “Mr. Curry was declared elected and took the chair.”
A special election was held on February 9, 1909, and the qualified voters of the City voted in favor of and duly ratified the City Charter as proposed by the Board of Trustees. Section 1 of Article III of the Charter states that “All powers herein granted to and vested in the City of Richmond, except as herein otherwise provided, be exercised by a Council to be designated the Council of the City of Richmond . . .” As a result of the voters’ approval of the City Charter, the Board of Trustees became the Council of the City of Richmond. Section 3 of Article III of the Charter states that the Council shall be composed of nine members (At the November 2, 2004, Election and effective with the 2008 Election, the composition of the City Council was changed from nine to seven members).
An election was held on May 10, 1909, and the first Councilmen were elected. At the July 6, 1909, meeting of the Council, the City Clerk read Certificates of Election for the following Councilmen: Edward J.
Garrard, John N. Hartnett, James C. Owens, E dward McDuff, Otto R.
Ludewig, Homer Eugene Wyatt, John Joseph Dooling, Joseph Benjamin Willis, and Gerry Alton Follet. During the July 6, 1909, meeting the Council, by secret ballot, elected Councilman Joseph Benjamin Willis as the Presiding Officer of the Council to be known as Mayor of the City of Richmond.
PROGRAM
A. Welcome and Introductions: Mayor Eduardo Martinez
B. Roll Call: City Clerk Pamela Christian
C. Invocation: Pastor Eric Morris, Pilgram Rest Baptist Church D. Best Wishes to Departing Councilmembers: Mayor Eduardo Martinez, Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Doria Robinson, and Cesar Zepeda.
E. A cknowledgement of Service Awards/Proclamations to leaving Councilmembers: Mayor Eduardo Martinez
F. C omments: Councilmembers Gayle McLaughlin and Melvin Willis G. Public Comment – (Limited to one minute to address newly and re-elected councilmembers only)
H. A dministration of Oath of Office and Presentation of Certificates of Election: City Clerk Pamela Christian
Newly and re-elected Councilmembers Jamelia Brown, Sue
Wilson, and Claudia Jimenez
I. Comments and Expressions of Appreciation: Newly and re- elected Councilmembers Jamelia Brown, Sue Wilson, and
Claudia Jimenez
J. Roll Call: City Clerk Pamela Christian
K. Welcome to Newly and Re-elected Councilmembers: Mayor Eduardo Martinez, Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Doria
Robinson, and Cesar Zepeda
L. Closing Remarks and Adjournment: Mayor Eduardo Martinez
Reception will be held in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium following the swearing-in ceremony
403 Civic Center Plaza
NEW COUNCIL
Mayor
Eduardo Martinez
Councilmembers
Cesar Zepeda Doria Robinson Soheila Bana District 2 District 3 District 4 Newly/Re-Elected Councilmembers
Jamelia Brown Sue Wilson Claudia Jimenez
District 1 District 5 District 6
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Pastor Eric Morris, Pilgram Rest Baptist Church; Offices of the Mayor, City Clerk, City Manager, City Council, IT/KCRT/Copy Center, Public Works, and Recreation