February 24, 2026
City Council
DATE: February 24, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Jamelia Brown
Subject:
Establishment of a Safe Walk Zone Along the 23rd Street Corridor and Identification of Child-Sensitive Areas
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Implementation may include signage, mapping, and public communication along the 23rd Street corridor. Any associated costs will be managed within existing
departmental staffing resource.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Residents along the 23rd Street corridor have raised
significant concerns for many years regarding pedestrian safety and children’s exposure to disruptive and unsafe conduct in public spaces near schools, parks, and other youth-serving facilities. Currently, the City does not have a designated Safe Walk Zone along this corridor to
prioritize safe passage for children, youth, and families.
At the same time, recent changes in state law require
cities to ensure enforcement efforts are strictly behavior- based and compliant with Senate Bill 357 and other state laws.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
DIRECT the city manager and city attorney to study and
bring an ordinance back to City Council that establishes a Safe Walk Zone along the 23rd Street corridor, with
identification of child-sensitive areas surrounding
schools, parks, libraries, and other youth-serving facilities – Councilmember Jamelia Brown (510-412-2050).
AGENDA
REPORT
February 24, 2026
DISCUSSION:
There is a need for a Safe Walk Zone along the 23rd Street corridor to prioritize pedestrian safety and ensure children and families can safely travel to and from schools, parks, libraries, and youth-serving facilities. Surrounding this corridor, child- sensitive areas can be identified where enforcement of existing state laws is prioritized due to the presence of minors and the City’s compelling interest in protecting child safety.
In 2023, California enacted Senate Bill (SB) 357, which repealed the offense of loitering with intent to commit prostitution. While SB 357 limits enforcement actions based on suspected intent or appearance, it does not prohibit enforcement of existing, behavior- based public safety laws. A tailored ordinance may be created to comply with SB 357 by focusing solely on observable conduct and existing state law violations.
Within a Safe Walk Zone and identified child-sensitive areas, the Richmond Police Department can prioritize enforcement of existing state laws based on observable conduct, including but not limited to:
Penal Code § 314 (Indecent Exposure)
Penal Code § 647(a) (Lewd or Dissolute Conduct in Public) Penal Code § 415 (Disturbing the Peace)
Penal Code § 647(c) (Obstruction of a Public Way)
Penal Code § 647(f) (Public Intoxication when safety is impacted)
The creation of an ordinance does not create new penalties and will prohibit enforcement based on appearance, clothing, reputation, presence, or suspected intent.
Any enforcement action within the Safe Walk Zone or child-sensitive areas would require conduct-based documentation.
However, creating an ordinance also encourages coordination with outreach and support services when appropriate, reflecting a balanced approach that prioritizes public safety, child protection, and compliance with state law.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
None.