RESOLUTION NO. ___ -26
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,
CALIFORNIA, DETERMINING THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND
NECESSITY DEMAND THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION AND
IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND
THEIR FINANCING THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS
WHEREAS, rapid response to fires, medical emergencies, and other disasters depends on a fire department infrastructure that is safe, reliable, and operational when needed, and much of the City’s fire station infrastructure has aged well beyond its intended useful life and no longer reliably meets that need; and
WHEREAS, deferred maintenance and the physical deterioration of the City’s aging fire stations, if left unaddressed, will continue to increase over time, resulting in higher repair costs, greater risk of facility failure, and increa sed risk to firefighters, paramedics, and the public they serve; and
WHEREAS, t he City of Richmond, California (the “City”) , like many California communities, faces heightened exposure to earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural disasters, and it is essential that public safety infrastructure be capable of remaining operational and supporting emergency response efforts during and after such events; and
WHEREAS, modern fire protection and emergency medical services require facilities and working conditions that meet current health, safety, and operational standards, and the City has an ongoing responsibility to maintain its public safety infrastructure accordingly; and
WHEREAS, the City is authorized to issue general obligation bonds to finance municipal improvements pursuant to certain provisions of the California Government Code, including Article 1, commencing with Section 43600, of Chapter 4 of Division 4 of Title 4 and/or Article 4.5, commencing with Section 53506, of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 (collectively, the “Bond Law”); and
WHEREAS, under Section 18 of Article XVI and Section 1(b) of Article XIII A of the California Constitution, the City may issue general obligation bonds under and pursuant to the Bond Law, and levy ad valorem taxes to repay them, only with the assent of two -thirds of the voters voting on the proposition; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to issue the Bonds under and pursuant to the Bond Law to finance the cost of the acquisition, construction and improvement of certain property to be used for municipal purposes (the “Improvements”), consisting generally of: the repair, reconstruction, and seismic retrofit of aging and seismically unsafe fire stations; the renovation of firefighter living quarters, including abatement and removal of mold and asbestos ; the repair and replacement of deteriorating electrical, roofing, and plu mbing systems; and other improvements to fire stations and related facilities necessary to support rapid 911 emergency medical and fire response, all as more particularly described in the ballot measure to be submitted to the voters; and WHEREAS, existing funds and funding sources are inadequate to finance the Improvements; and
WHEREAS, the issuance of general obligation bonds is the most cost -effective means available to the City to finance the Improvements, as general obligation bonds typically bear lower interest rates than other forms of financing due to the security provided by the City ’s ad valorem tax pledge, thereby minimizing the overall cost to taxpayers of funding these necessary public safety improvements; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City and necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety to issue general obligation bonds to finance the acquisition, construction, and improvement of fire stations and related facilities, as more particularly described
Reso. No. _____
in the Improvements, in order to protect the public and ensure the continued delivery of essential fire and emergency medical services; and
WHEREAS, in order to initiate proceedings under the Bond Law to provide for the issuance of general obligation bonds, the City Council of the City (the “City Council”) must make certain findings and determinations; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Richmond as follows:
Section 1. Declaration of Necessity to Issue Bonds . The public interest and necessity demand, and it is the intention of the City Council to require, the acquisition, construction and improvement of the Improvements, and to issue general obligation bonds (the “Bonds”) to finance the cost thereof, subject to completion of the proceedings required by the Bond Law.
Section 2. Findings. The City Council hereby finds and determines that the estimated costs of the Improvements will require an expenditure by the City greater than the amount allowed for it by the annual tax le vy of the City. The principal amount of the Bonds will not exceed the estimated cost of the Improvements.
Section 3. Issuance of the Bonds. This Resolution is adopted, and the Bonds, if approved by two-thirds of all voters voting on the proposition, are to be issued pursuant to the Bond Law.
Section 4. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect upon its adoption by two - thirds of all members of the City Council.
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Reso. No. _____
I certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting thereof held on July 21, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
CLERK OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
(SEAL)
Approved:
Mayor
Approved as to form:
Interim City Attorney
State of California }
County of Contra Costa : ss.
City of Richmond }
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Resolution No. _____, finally passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting held on July 21, 2026.
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Pamela Christian, Clerk of the City of Richmond