September 23, 2025
City Attorney's Office
City Clerk’s Office
City Manager’s Office
DATE: September 23, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Dave Aleshire, City Attorney
Shannon Moore, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Pamela Christian, City Clerk
Shasa Curl, City Manager
Subject:
Amend the Council Rules of Procedures and Order
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This item will lead to a reduction in overtime and allow City staff more time to implement City Council policy
direction.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
June 18, 2013, April 22, 2014, October 21, 2014
July 27, 2021, November 23, 2021, January 18, 2022,
March 11, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City Council would like to amend/update the City
Council Rules of Procedures and Order to incorporate
suggested changes that are in line with surrounding
jurisdictions.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to amend the Council Rules of
Procedures and Order including:
(1)Reduce the number of meetings from three to two
per month; (2) Regular meetings of the City Council
shall be held on the first and third Tuesday of each
month provided that, if any Tuesday falls on a legal
holiday, the meeting shall be held on the following
Tuesday at the same hour; (3) Closed Session shall
begin at 3:30 p.m. and Open Session shall begin at
5:00 p.m.; (4) Meetings shall adjourn by 9:00 p.m. with one option to extend the meeting to 10:00 p.m. by a 2/3 AGENDA
REPORT
September 23, 2025
vote (5 votes);and (5) Meetings shall adjourn by 10:00
p.m. with no additional options to extend the meeting – City Attorney's Office/City Clerk's Office/City Manager's Office (Dave Aleshire 510-620-6509/Pamela Christian
510-620-6513/Shasa Curl 510-620-6512).
DISCUSSION:
The rules concerning the conduct of public meetings are set forth in Government Code § 54954(d), which states “Each legislative body of a local agency . . . shall provide by ordinance, resolution, bylaw or whatever other rule is required for the conduct of business by that body, the time and place for holding regular meetings.” (“Brown Act”).
For the Richmond City Council, these rules of procedure are set forth in the City Council Rules of Procedure and Order, adopted and amended from time to time by resolution.
This is compliant with the Brown Act.
One recommendation is to reduce City Council meetings from three to two per month.
Of 60 California cities surveyed, 93 percent of those cities have two city council meetings per month, with only four cities meeting more often than twice a month. A survey is provided for reference (Attachment 1). The cities of Oakland, Berkeley, El Cerrito, and San Pablo are among the cities meeting twice per month.
City staff members believe that fewer meetings, coupled with earlier start and adjournment times, will have several significant benefits. Those benefits include, but are not limited to, encouraging more efficient meetings, improved staff morale, increased public awareness and participation, and reducing city expenditure on overtime pay for City employees. In addition, City staff time will be reallocated to focus on implementing City Council policy direction to improve service delivery across all departments.
Upon approval of this item, the Richmond City Council will amend its Council Rules of Procedures and Order effective September 23, 2025, with changes to begin Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Survey of number of council meetings per month by jurisdictions – as of 12-9-24
Attachment 2 – Resolution Amending Council Rules of Procedure and Order (Exhibit A – Redline of proposed changes and Exhibit B – Clean version)