cc09June2026 – sl/prc
RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, June 9, 2026
Community Services Building
440 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804
_____________________________________________________________________
A. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL The Special Meeting of the Richmond City Council was called to order at 3:31 p.m. by Mayor Eduardo Martinez.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Martinez led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
C. ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Robinson, and Mayor Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Jamelia Brown arrived at 3:33 p.m.
D. STATEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Vice Mayor Robinson stated a conflict of interest regarding a portion of Item F.1 related to the E-Bike Lending Library, Richmond Wellness Trail, and the Transformative Climate Communities grant.
E. AGENDA REVIEW
None.
F. BUDGET SESSION
F.1 Budget Study Session on Proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operating Budget and Fiscal Year 2026-31 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan RECEIVE an overview of the balanced draft Fiscal Year 2026-27 Annual Operating Budget and Fiscal Year 2026-31 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan Budget; PROVIDE DIRECTION to staff prior to final budget adoption; and RECEIVE input on City Council key initiatives and demands for built environment improvements as well as opportunities to improve organizational efficiency – City Manager’s Office/Finance Department (Shasa Curl/Emily Combs/Mubeen Qader 510-412-2077).
City Manager Shasa Curl introduced the matter. Director of Finance Emily Combs, Deputy City Manager Community Services LaShonda White, Administrative Chief Patrick Seals, and various other staff presented a PowerPoint. Link to view Moving Richmond Forward
The following individuals gave comments in person: Claudia Citroen, Bruce Beyaert, Andrew Melendez, Sonia Decker, Salma Berumen, Sean Flood, and David Touwsma. The following individuals gave comments via teleconference:
Erin Pang, Amaya Williams-Segovia, and Isabella.
Discussion ensued. Vice Mayor Robinson recused herself from the segments of the discussion related to the E-Bike Lending Library, Richmond Wellness Trail, and the Transformative Climate Communities grant.
cc09June2026 – sl/prc
The council requested and/or suggested the following: information to understand how the city was planning and resourcing revenue, potential revenue increases, practices and programs, and staff needed; list of particular staffing positions that were strategic in helping to increase revenue and efficiency (including by way of retirements); report on the full costs of the Point Molate project and the allocations to date from the various funding streams; pursue cost-sharing discussions with East Bay Parks to minimize the Point Molate annual maintenance cost; funding considerations for a train underpass in Parchester Village and other crossings per discussions in 2024; list of projects for the council's decision to sunset or not, including projects funded by the Environmental and Community Investment Agreement; project prioritization listed by year; consider movie nights all over the city and farmers markets in Hilltop and North Richmond; traffic circles in sideshow hotspots; discussion regarding part-time Arts and Culture Manager position; additional funding for the Wildfire Preparedness Ad-Hoc Committee and assessment; streamline the building permitting process; investing in city resources that generate revenue such as the city's auditorium sound system; additional information regarding California Proposition 4 grants; fire prevention staffing resources; discussion regarding staffing levels; allow the Finance team to find other ways to close the $2.6 million budget gap; make the four unfunded projects the top priority for funding at the mid-year budget review; a response to how could staffing and financial resources be redirected to improve service delivery and project implementation if council meetings were reduced from three to two per month; a response to how long would it take to complete existing backlog of council directives if there were no new directives; estimated cost savings and service impacts for city-funded services that were also provided by agencies or organizations that could be utilized; more details regarding the mitigation of E-Bike Lending Library potential returns and storage issues; correct the category for the Community-Led Bus Stop Bench Program listed under Council Priority Goal #6; cost evaluation for the recurring flooding issue at the Humphrey Park playlot; provide personnel to departments in need; budget projections for potential earnings from the Chevron settlement funds; timeline for the Parks Master Plan; update on the funding for an emergency fire exit in Hilltop Green; budget costs to upgrade the sound system in the city's auditorium and potential revenue; list together all the Capital Improvement Plan park projects and other projects of like-kind; group council initiative projects by department with a capacity limit and create a queue according to staff hours assignment; and invest more in revenue generation.
A motion was made by Councilmember Robinson, seconded by Mayor Martinez, to approve Option 1 (adopt the proposed balanced budget with no changes and maintain service levels). The city attorney stated that a vote was not necessary and no further action was taken.
G. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m., to meet again on June 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Pamela Christian, Clerk of the City of
Richmond
Eduardo Martinez, Mayor