WHEREAS, the City of Richmond sits atop the Hayward Fault and faces significant risk from a major earthquake, with potential for consequential damage, injury, and heightened wildfire threats; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Emergency Services (OES) recognizes that professional first responders will be overwhelmed in a large -scale disaster and requires trained volunteer resources to augment response and recovery; and
WHEREAS, reliable, rapid communication is essential during and after a major disaster to report incidents, coordinate response, and protect lives and property; and
WHEREAS, collectively a team of citizen radio operators, led by David Swanson, advocated for an antenna on City Hall to enable rapid emergency communication between Richmond neighborhoods and the Richmond Emergency Operations Center (EOC); and
WHEREAS, the recent installation of the antenna atop City Hall and the placement of a portable radio station in the City Hall basement is the culmination of these sustained advocacy, training, and coordination efforts; and
WHEREAS, after a major earthquake the antenna and EOC radio station will enable rapid reporting of neighborhood emergencies such as fires, freeway and road blockages, downed buildings, life-threatening injuries, and other incidents requiring first responder support; and
WHEREAS, for many years these citizen radio operators have built a network of organized auxiliary communicators, leading radio communication practice sessions, exercises, and drills in Richmond and with other jurisdictions in Contra Costa County as well as statewide to maintain readiness and interoperability; and
WHEREAS, these community leaders are active in clubs and organizations including the Contra Costa County Communications Club (4Cs), KARO -ECHO (Kensington -El Cerrito), the East Bay Amateur Radio Club (EBARC), and others, providing training, mentorship, and leadership to neighbors, CERT participants, and local jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the City acknowledges and celebrates the operational testing of the City Hall antenna and EOC radio station during the BEACON Coastal exercise (Building Emergency Area Communications Operations & Networks) held on Saturday, April 30, 2026; and
HONORING THE LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, & THE INSTALLATION
OF THE CITY HALL EMERGENCY ANTENNA FOR THE
RICHMOND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to recognize the extraordinary voluntary service, leadership, and public-spirited dedication of individual Richmond radio operators who have contributed in unique and sustained ways:
• DAVID SWANSON (East Richmond): For the past 20 years, David has focused on establishing a communications structure between neighborhood “Incident Command Posts” and the Richmond EOC. Since 2018, he has hosted monthly tests of the emergency radios at the Richmond Police Department Commu nications Center, teaches radio classes for the CERT Academy, and led the advocacy for the City Hall antenna.
• XIA HOROWITZ (Carriage Hills): Following wildfire-related PSPS outages in 2020, Xia became a vital radio operator and leader. She hosts 6–10 radio nets each month, facilitates the “First Thursday” tests from the temporary EOC, organized biweekly neighborhood radio drills in Carriage Hi lls and Castro Heights, and mentors neighbors in GMRS systems.
• ROB JOHNSON (El Sobrante / 94803): Recognizing communication challenges across Wildcat Ridge, Rob started the First Saturday 94803 Emergency Preparedness GMRS Net. He actively participates in Simulated Emergency Tests and provides critical training to neighbors on GMRS message protocols to strengthen the El Sobrante Valley network. • CHRIS HARWOOD (El Sobrante): Chris assists Contra Costa County EMCOMM nets as periodic HF and VHF net control. He has been instrumental in improving the Richmond EOC community radio station, implementing Winlink, and ensuring El Sobrante remains connected with stations west of the Berkeley Hills.
• DAVE ROTH (Point Richmond): An original member of the antenna advocacy group, Dave is a vetted Richmond Police Department operator for the EOC auxiliary radios. He co-led radio emergency training classes at the Richmond Senior Center and focuses on the vital task of differentiating what neighborhood incidents require EOC reporting.
• DAVID NAISULER (North & East): An original advocate for the City Hall antenna and a vetted EOC operator, David has participated in Richmond CERT since 2015. As Logistics Officer, he manages the security of the neighborhood equipment cache in the Burg Park container, which serves as the CERT ICP for the North & East neighborhood.
• ALVIN TODD (North & East): A vetted operator for the EOC emergency radios, Alvin is highly skilled in digital radio communications. He has successfully run the Bay Shores Emergency First Saturday CERT radio net for many years, bridging communications for radio operators throughout the 94803 area.
• KEVIN MULLALLEY (East Richmond Heights): A vetted EOC radio operator, Kevin serves as a scribe during EOC radio tests and drills. He volunteers for traffic control during local evacuation drills and supports CERT Fire Training at the Richmond Fire Training Center, bringing vital wildfire-danger awareness to his efforts.
• DIANE RICHWINE (East Richmond): An original antenna advocacy group member, Diane has authored instructional materials and serves as Net Control Operator for various radio nets. She creates and leads exercises for the East Richmond Ready- 2-React group and successfully integrates CERT graduates with their local neighborhood teams.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Eduardo Martinez, hereby formally recognizes and commends these Richmond Emergency Communications volunteers for their leadership, skill, and sustained commitment to public safety and disaster resilience, and hereby declares April 30th, 2026, as "Richmond Emergency Communications Volunteer Day" in the City of Richmond.
______________________________ _____________________________ Mayor Eduardo Martinez Councilmember Soheila Bana At Large District 4