City Council
DATE: October 21, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda
Subject:
Presentation from the Contra Costa County Building
Trades Council to expand opportunities in Richmond
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact on receiving this item.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The construction industry provides a path to middle-class careers for individuals without advanced degrees or
facing barriers to quality employment. It is a crucial
component towards building economic opportunities for
local residents, local high school graduates, veterans, and re-entry populations. Hiring and training local
residents helps to uplift community members and
provides support to surrounding economic development.
The Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades aims
to work in close collaboration with the City of Richmond so that Richmond residents are trained and hired to build construction taking place on City-owned land.
Establishing a Public Lands Policy, an agreement
between the City of Richmond and the Contra Costa
County Building Trades Council, would provide additional workforce/hiring standards for construction on City-
owned land and opportunities to increase local hiring,
AGENDA
REPORT
provide family-sustaining wages, and State-approved
apprenticeships.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a presentation from the Contra Costa County
Building Trades Council to expand opportunities in
Richmond by way of a Public Lands Policy; and DIRECT
staff to establish a Public Lands Policy to close
loopholes, raise job standards, ensure enforceability, and provide more opportunities for career pathways - Vice
Mayor Cesar Zepeda (510-620-6593). This item was
continued from the September 23, 2025, meeting.
DISCUSSION:
The construction industry provides a path to middle-class careers for individuals without advanced degrees or facing barriers to quality employment. It is a crucial component towards building economic opportunities for local residents, local high school graduates, veterans and re-entry populations. Hiring and training local residents helps to uplift community members and provides support to surrounding economic development.
The Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades aims to work in close collaboration with the City of Richmond so that Richmond residents are trained and hired to build any construction on City-owned land. Establishing a Public Lands Policy, an agreement between the City of Richmond and the Contra Costa County Building Trades Council would provide additional workforce/hiring standards for construction on City-owned land and opportunities to increase local hiring, provide family-sustaining wages, and State- approved apprenticeships.
The Contra Costa County Building Trades Council wishes to provide this presentation to the City Council regarding a potential Public Lands Policy that seeks to expand construction job opportunities in the City of Richmond.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Presentation from the Contra Costa County Building Trades Council to expand opportunities in Richmond
Attachment 2 – Letter of support from WCCUSD