May 19, 2026
Public Works
DATE: May 19, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, PE, Director of Public Works
Josef Munoz, Assistant Deputy Director of Public Work
Subject:
Complete Streets Improvement Elements Project Funding
Allocation Plan
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $6,270,944 expenditure was previously appropriated by the City Council on March 3, 2026,
through Resolution No. 26-26 and is included within the approved fiscal year 2025-2026 General Capital Fund –
Complete Streets Improvements project budget.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
March 3, 2026
May 5, 2026
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
On March 3, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution
No. 26-26, which appropriated $6,270,944 in audited
unspent funds from Fiscal Year 2024-2025 toward the
Complete Streets Improvements project. During that
meeting, the City Council requested additional clarity on the distribution of these funds. In response, the
Department of Public Works has developed a funding
allocation plan identifying traffic safety, pavement
management, and streetscape projects to be funded by
this existing appropriation.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the Complete Streets Improvements
(Pavement Management, Streetscape Improvements,
etc.) funding allocation plan – Public Works Department (Josef Munoz 510-620-6671/Daniel Chavarria 510-620-
5478).
AGENDA
REPORT
May 19, 2026
DISCUSSION:
Background
On March 3, 2026, City staff presented the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Audited Unspent Funds report (Attachment 1). During this meeting, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-26 which appropriated $6,270,944 to address critical infrastructure shortfalls within the Complete Streets Improvements (Pavement Management, Streetscape Improvements, etc.) project (Attachment 2). While the initial report established the high- priority need for these funds, City Council members requested that City staff clarify how and where the funds would be distributed. To support this request, the Public Works Department provided a City-wide "Moving Forward" data briefing on May 5, 2026, and included the recommended allocation plan as an attachment under item O.1 of the Draft FY 2026-27 Annual Operating Budget and FY 2026-31 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan.
Analysis of Funding Allocation
In response to the City Council’s request, the Department of Public Works developed a detailed Complete Streets Improvement Elements Funding Allocation Plan and summary to integrate Complete Streets elements across various programs (Attachment 3 and 4). This plan addresses safety, Pavement Condition Index (PCI) ratings, and alignment with the City Council Strategic Goals and Priorities—specifically those promoting multimodal safety, equity, and community connectivity. These resources will support existing project needs and fulfill critical program requirements within the Public Works Capital Improvement Program.
The allocation plan distributes $6,270,944 across key infrastructure categories. In alignment with the project scope defined in Resolution No. 26-26, the funds are distributed as follows:
Pavement Management ($3,670,000): Guided by the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and the sequencing of existing capital improvement projects, funds are directed toward City-wide paving near Boorman, Wendell, and Shields-Reid Parks ($1,670,000), and localized pavement, striping and signage improvements along Richmond Parkway ($2,000,000).
Curb Ramps for the 2025 Rubberized Cape Seal Project ($600,000): The in- construction 2025 Rubberized Cape Seal Project requires upgrades to curb ramps by federal law. There is a shortfall to complete these curb ramps for $600,000. Under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II, the City is legally mandated to install or upgrade curb ramps concurrently with "alterations" such as the City's existing Rubberized Cape Seal project.
Streetscape Improvements ($1,000,000): Dedicated to median and public realm enhancements to improve multimodal accessibility. These funds will continue the median work already initiated along the Macdonald Avenue corridor
May 19, 2026
and address critical median needs within the existing Carlson Crosstown Phase II project.
Traffic Safety and Other Improvements ($1,000,944): Per the "etc." provision in Resolution No. 26-26, this includes safety improvements at 41st Street and Bissell Avenue ($600,000) to complete a traffic analysis conducted in 2025, neighborhood traffic calming ($250,000), and speed feedback signage ($60,000).
This also includes the mandatory 1.50 percent ($90,944) Public Art Fund allocation required by Richmond Municipal Code Section 6.50.
Impact and Next Steps
By providing the specific expenditure framework requested by the City Council on March 3, 2026, the Public Works Department ensures that the previously appropriated $6,270,944 is distributed across high-priority pavement, streetscape, and safety needs in a transparent and data-driven manner.
Upon receiving direction from the City Council, the Public Works Department will proceed to complete the necessary design and construction activities related to the infrastructure categories outlined in the allocation plan.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
The Complete Streets Improvement Elements funding allocation plan aligns with the City of Richmond’s City Council Goals & Priorities and ordinances. These frameworks ensure that the proposed expenditures for safety, paving, and streetscapes are consistent with the City's broader mission.
1. City Council Strategic Goals and Priorities
The allocation plan directly supports several core goal areas established by the City Council:
Strategic Goal No. 3: Improve the Quality of Life and Community Health/Improve Social Determinants of Health – By investing in the roads and medians, staff is improving the built environment for all users.
Strategic Goal No. 4: Promote Sustainable and Livable Communities – By investing in multimodal road design, staff is improving the safety and accessibility of the public realm for all users.
2. Richmond Municipal Code (RMC) Ordinances
RMC 6.50: Public Art Program – The allocation plan includes a mandatory 1.50% ($90,000) set-aside for the Public Art Program, which is required for all capital improvement projects involving the construction or renovation of public places.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – March 3, 2026 City Council Staff Report on Audited Unspent Funds
May 19, 2026
Attachment 2 – Resolution No. 26-26 FY2024-25 Unspent Funds Attachment 3 – Funding Allocation Plan
Attachment 4 – Complete Streets Improvement Elements Project Summary