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RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, March 11, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
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 3:35 p.m. by Mayor Eduardo Martinez.
B. ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Doria Robinson, Sue Wilson, and Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda. Absent: Mayor Eduardo Martinez arrived after the roll was called.
C. CLOSED SESSION
C.1 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code
Section 54957.6)
Agency Representatives: Sharrone Taylor, Jack Hughes, Lisa Charbonneau
Employee organizations:
1. SEIU Local 1021 Full Time Unit and Part Time Unit
2. IFPTE Local 21 Mid-Level Management Unit and Executive Management Unit
3. Richmond Police Officers Association RPOA
4. Richmond Police Management Association RPMA
5. IAFF Local 188
6. Richmond Fire Management Association RFMA
C.2 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION (paragraph (1) of Subdivision [d] of Government Code Section 54956.9) Winehaven Legacy LLC v. City of Richmond
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
D. PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE CLOSED SESSION (limited to items on the Closed Session agenda only)
Cordell Hindler gave comments in person.
E. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
The Open Session adjourned to Closed Session at 3:38 p.m. Closed Session adjourned 5:02 p.m.
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F. REGULAR MEETING OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
The Regular Meeting of the Richmond City Council was called to order at 5:06 p.m. by Mayor Eduardo Martinez.
G. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
H. ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Doria Robinson, Sue Wilson, Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent:
None.
I. STATEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None.
J. AGENDA REVIEW
Item Q.1 (Adopt Sanctuary City Ordinance) was moved up to be heard after item O.1 (Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Audited Unspent Funds).
K. REPORT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY OF FINAL DECISIONS MADE
DURING CLOSED SESSION
C.1 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code Section 54957.6)
• Agency Representatives: Sharrone Taylor, Jack Hughes, Lisa Charbonneau 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
Not Discussed.
C.2 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION (paragraph (1) of Subdivision [d] of Government Code Section 54956.9) • Winehaven Legacy LLC v. City of Richmond
Discussed.
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
Report given. No reportable action taken.
L. REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER (public comment allowed under Open Forum)
City Manager Shasa Curl provided a report. Link to view report: City Manager's Report
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M. 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)
The following individuals gave comments in person:
Cordell Hindler suggested that a Port strategic plan be put in place and thanked councilmembers that attended the International Women's Day celebration. Mr Hindler expressed concerns about the use of racial slurs during City Council meetings and suggested the City Council bring an item forward regarding mental health.
Councilmember Soheila Bana invited the community to the City of Richmond's Nowruz festival to be held on March 22, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Councilmember Bana also gave comments on the meaning and traditions of Nowruz.
Don Gosney gave comments regarding the conduct of councilmembers during Council meetings.
Mark Wassberg gave comments regarding women in society.
Elsa Stevens gave comments regarding item N.1.a (Amendments to the City Council Rules and Procedures).
N. 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.)
Prior to approval of the Consent Calendar, Vice Mayor Zepeda requested that City Attorney Dave Aleshire give an update on item N.1.a (Amendments to the City Council Rules and Procedures). Mr. Aleshire provided background and an update on the item.
Motion by Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda
Seconded by Councilmember Doria Robinson
To approve all items on the Consent Calendar.
Ayes (7): Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Doria Robinson, Sue Wilson, Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez.
Passed
N.1 City Attorney's Office
N.1.a Amendments to the City Council Rules and Procedures APPROVE amendments to Section II (Meetings) of the City Council Rules and Procedures to 1) formally change the start time of Open Session to 3:30 p.m. and Regular Session to 5:00 p.m. on a six-months trial basis; and 2) to end all Richmond City Council meetings no later than 11:00 p.m. without the option of extending the meeting - City Attorney’s Office/City Manager’s Office/City Clerk’s Office (Dave Aleshire 510-620-6509/Shasa Curl 510-620-6512/Pamela Christian 510-620-6513).
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N.1.b Fifth Amendment to the Legal Services Agreement (“LSA”) with Orbach Huff & Henderson, LLP (“Orbach”)
APPROVE a fifth amendment to the Orbach Huff & Henderson, LLP Legal Services Agreement in the amount of $200,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $770,000, with a term ending on June 30, 2027, to continue representing the City in police and tort cases – City Attorney’s Office (Kimberly Chin 510-620-6709/Shannon Moore 510-620-6509).
N.2 City Council
N.2.a Request for Funding to Support Community Outreach by the Human Rights and Human Relations Commission
APPROVE $1,500 to pay for printed materials that the Human Rights and Human Relations Commissioners will use to increase public outreach and attendance for an immigrant rights meeting - Councilmember Sue Wilson (510-602-6636).
N.3 Community Development
N.3.a Accept and Award Miraflores Interpretative Signage Bids and Authorize Change
APPROPRIATE a $97,500 National Park Service Japanese American Confinements Site (JACS) program grant to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget and ADOPT a resolution granting the city manager the authority to accept bids and award a contract for the Miraflores Interpretative Signage project to avoid potential loss of grant funds that expire on April 30, 2025 – Community Development Department (Lina Velasco 510-620-6841).
Adopted Resolution No. 19-25
N.4 Finance Department
N.4.a Special Assessment for Unpaid Garbage Liens
ADOPT a resolution authorizing placement of liens and special assessments for unpaid garbage collection service fees on Contra Costa County’s property tax records – Finance Department (Andrea Miller/Mubeen Qader 510-620-6740/Antonio Banuelos 510-620-6741).
Adopted Resolution No. 20-25
N.5 Library and Community Services
N.5.a Grant Award from the Chevron Community Engagement Foundation ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE a grant award from the Chevron Community Engagement Foundation for the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) to Enhance Street Outreach/Mobile Crises Response – Community Services Department (Sam Vaughn 510-620- 5404)
Adopted Resolution No. 21-25
N.6 Public Works
N.6.a Approval of OBAG3 Grant Appropriation and Contract Award for McBryde Avenue Improvement Project
ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE One Bay Area Grant 3 (OBAG3) Grant funds in the amount of $1,028,000 for the
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McBryde Avenue Improvement Project; AUTHORIZE the city manager or designee to execute a contract with BKF Engineers for engineering design services for the McBryde Avenue Improvement Project in a not-to-exceed amount of $539,200, with a contract term from February 25, 2025, through December 31, 2026; and AUTHORIZE the public works director to approve a contingency amount of up to $20,800 to facilitate project completion – Public Works Department (Hillal Hamdan 510-621- 1612/Robert Armijo 510-620-5477/Daniel Chavarria 510-620-5478).
Adopted Resolution No. 22-25
O. BUDGET SESSION
O.1 Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Audited Unspent Funds
DISCUSS and ADOPT resolutions to APPROPRIATE Fiscal Year 2023-24 audited unspent funds in the amount of $5,571,504 and COMMITTING an additional $1,400,000 to the Homekey Project loan, for total unspent funds of $6,971,504 – Finance Department (Andrea Miller 510-620-6790/Mubeen Qader 510-412-2077/Jerry Gurule 510-620-6591).
City Manager Shasa Curl and Finance Director Andrea Miller introduced the item.
Ms. Miller, Community Development Director Lina Velasco, and Assistant Deputy Director of Public Works Josef Munoz presented a PowerPoint. Link to view presentation: Fiscal Year 2023-24 Audited Unspent Funds Cordell Hindler and Elsa Stevens gave comments in person. Discussion ensued.
The Council requested the following: more information on the funding sources for unspent funds; removal of the bars on the windows of the Booker T. Anderson Community Center and the addition of different glass; and prioritization of project studies in the next budget cycle. Discussion ensued.
Councilmember Robinson made a motion to accept the recommended action with the following edit: to allocate $500,000 to begin to address Parchester Village flooding issues, using money from the Booker T. Anderson Community Center Phase III funds allocated for Fiscal Year 26-27, and to replace those funds in the next Fiscal Year. In addition, to direct staff to return to Council before the Fiscal Year 25-26 budget cycle ends, with a plan to address the Parchester Village flooding issues. Vice Mayor Zepeda seconded the motion.
Councilmember Brown proposed a friendly amendment to consider the Harbour 8 project in the motion for additional funding to complete construction. The maker of the motion did not accept the friendly amendment.
Councilmember Bana made a friendly amendment to change the amount held from the Booker T. Anderson Community Center Phase III funds to $600,000, allocating $300,000 towards studies for Fire Station 63 and $300,000 towards studies for Parchester Village. The maker of the motion did not accept the friendly amendment.
Motion by Councilmember Doria Robinson
Seconded by Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda
To accept the staff recommendation to adopt resolutions to appropriate Fiscal Year 2023-24 audited unspent funds in the amount of $5,571,504 and committing an additional $1,400,000 to the Homekey Project loan, for total unspent funds of $6,971,504 with the following edits: to allocate $500,000 to begin to address Parchester Village flooding issues, using money from the Booker T. Anderson Community Center Phase III funds allocated for Fiscal Year 26-27, and to replace
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those funds in the next Fiscal Year. In addition, to direct staff to return to Council before the Fiscal Year 25-26 budget cycle ends, with a plan to address the Parchester Village flooding issues
Ayes (7): Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Doria Robinson, Sue Wilson, Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez.
Passed
Adopted Resolution No. 23-25 and Resolution No. 24-25
P. PUBLIC HEARINGS - NOT BEFORE 6:30 P.M.
P.1 Extension of Interim Urgency Ordinance for a Moratorium on Parklets within City Limits
ADOPT an interim urgency ordinance regarding parklets, establishing a 10-month and 15-day moratorium on the establishment of new parklets, expansion of existing parklets, or the extension of the term of existing parklets within City limits to allow for the City’s review and adoption of permanent zoning regulations for such uses to ensure public health, safety, and welfare - City Attorney's Office (Dave Aleshire 510-620-6509).
City Attorney Dave Aleshire introduced the item. Mr. Aleshire gave background on the item.
Mayor Martinez opened the public hearing. Cordell Hindler gave comments in person. Sara Cantor gave comments via teleconference: Mayor Martinez closed the public hearing. Discussion ensued.
Motion by Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda
Seconded by Councilmember Soheila Bana
To approve the item.
Ayes (7): Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Doria Robinson, Sue Wilson, Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez.
Passed
Adopted Ordinance No. 07-25 N.S.
Q. NEW BUSINESS
Q.1 Adopt Sanctuary City Ordinance.
INTRODUCE an ordinance (first reading) adding Chapter 2.30 entitled “Limitations on Use of City Resources for Federal Immigration Enforcement” to the Richmond Municipal Code – City Attorney’s Office (Dave Aleshire/Shannon L. Moore/ Kimberly Y . Chin/Chris Dykzeul 510-620-6509).
Senior Assistant City Attorney Kimberly Chin introduced the item. Ms. Chin gave background on the item.
Cordell Hindler, Mark Wassberg, Elsa Stevens, Pedro Bernal, Sonia Decker, Davja Tillis. Crescent Diamond, Andrew Melendez, Rosario Tejeda, Raymond Wendell, Rosie, Joselyn, Sara Gurdian, Hope Dixon, Ernestina Arteaga, Lorayne, and Kathleen Sullivan gave comments in person. Yenny Garcia, Brian Hofer, Marisol Cantu, Leticia Chavez, Encian Pastel, an unnamed caller, Carmen Martinez, Tomasa Espinoza, Abigail Esquivias, Sara Cantor, Emily Ross, Matias Eusterbrock, Ruth Kidane, and Francisco Ortiz gave comments via teleconference. Discussion ensued.
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Motion by Mayor Eduardo Martinez
Seconded by Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
To accept the recommended action with the addendum that the City Attorney's office review data protection items sent to some councilmembers and the City Attorney's Office, to be considered for incorporation into the ordinance in the future. In addition, to direct City staff to come back with an item to establish safe spots.
Ayes (7): Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Doria Robinson, Sue Wilson, Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez.
Passed
R. 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 Jimenez thanked the Little League for the work they are doing and the Recreation division for their collaboration in helping to provide space in Nicholl Park for the Little League. Councilmember Jimenez reported attendance to the Annual Sisters in Solidarity event and thanked the steering committee for the event.
Vice Mayor Zepeda reported attendance to the following: Annual Sisters in Solidarity event, Free Vaccination and Microchip Clinic, Swearing-in ceremony for California State Senator Jesse Arreguín, and the Hillcrest Baptist Church ceremony welcoming the new pastor.
Councilmember Brown thanked City staff for the Employee Appreciation event recently held. Councilmember Brown reported attendance to the Annual Sisters in Solidarity event and the Swearing-in ceremony for California State Senator Jesse Arreguín.
Councilmember Brown announced a Community Strategy Meeting regarding the revitalization of Downtown would be held on March 12, 2025, at 1600 Nevin Plaza at 5:00 p.m.
Councilmember Bana reported attendance to a Race Forward training and thanked City staff that participated. Councilmember Bana announced she would be attending a CivicWell conference the upcoming weekend.
Mayor Martinez reported attendance to a Water Education for Latino Leaders conference in Garden Grove, CA.
S. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m., to meet again on March 25, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Clerk of the City of Richmond Mayor