July 21, 2026
Community Development
DATE: July 21, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
SUBJECT:
Contract with Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions,
Inc. to Support Annual Compliance Report Monitoring
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $263,400 expenditure will be funded by applicant fees collected by the Planning Division to cover the City’s costs associated with compliance monitoring
required by the Conditional Use Permit. There is no
impact on the General Fund.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
July 29, 2014
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
A conditional use permit was approved by the City of
Richmond for Chevron’s Richmond Refinery
Modernization Project. The EIR analyzed a no-net
increase (NNI) in criteria air pollutants (CAPs) and health risks from toxic air contaminants (TACs), and no project increase (NPI) in GHG emissions. The City is required to monitor the Project’s compliance annually, including its operational emissions. Community Development staff is
requesting approval of a sole source contract with
Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc. to continue to support Planning staff in its annual review of the
Chevron Richmond Refinery’s Modernization Project
compliance report
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a contract with Ramboll Americas
Engineering Solutions, Inc. for an amount not-to-exceed $263,400, to support the Planning Division’s annual
review of the Chevron Richmond Refinery Modernization
Project conditional use permit compliance monitoring, for AGENDA
REPORT
July 21, 2026
a term ending June 30, 2031 – Community Development
(Lina Velasco/Avery Stark 510-620-6841).
DISCUSSION:
On July 29, 2014, the City of Richmond approved Conditional Use Permit and Design Review Permit No. PLN11-089 (CUP) authorizing construction and operation of the Modernization Project, which included the construction of a new hydrogen plant, improvements to the sulfur recovery units (SRUs), and related infrastructure and tie-ins.
On February 11, 2015, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (District) reissued Authority to Construct (ATC) No. 12842 authorizing the same.
The City prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project and it was certified by the City on July 29, 2014, and includes the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, which was adopted by the City to mitigate Project-related impacts to less than significant. The EIR analyzed a no-net increase (NNI) in criteria air pollutants (CAPs) and health risks from toxic air contaminants (TACs), and no project increase (NPI) in GHG emissions. The CUP and ATC require the Project to achieve the NNI and NPI requirements. Chevron commenced construction on the Modernization Project in June 2016, and the Project began operating in 2019. Project construction was largely completed in 2024.
The CUP requires Chevron to submit an Annual Compliance Report each year. The Planning Commission holds annual hearings to review Chevron’s compliance with the CUP. Because Project construction is mostly complete, the City proposed that, in 2025, the Planning Commission hold hearings once every three years instead of every year, unless staff otherwise determines that such a meeting is warranted in an unscheduled year. Chevron will still be required to submit its compliance report to the City for its review annually. The City-reviewed report will also be posted online annually.
City staff is requesting a sole-source contract with Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc. for an amount not-to-exceed $263,400, to continue to support the Planning Division in its annual review of their compliance report, for a term ending June 30, 2031. As part of the scope of work, Ramboll will support the City in its annual review of Chevron’s compliance report for the Modernization Project CUP No. PLN11- 089 for the next five years. Each year, Ramboll will review Chevron's Annual Compliance Report, assess construction and operational emissions, and conduct an independent evaluation of Chevron's compliance with the conditions in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. Ramboll will prepare a summary report on Chevron's compliance for online publication.
Ramboll is uniquely qualified for this continued work as Ramboll has a deep understanding of CEQA, Bay Area Air District regulations, and the Modernization Project. This knowledge of the project and regulations are necessary to ensure Chevron achieves its NNI in criteria air pollutants (CAPs) and health risks from toxic air contaminants (TACs), and no project increase (NPI) in GHG emissions (Attachment 2).
July 21, 2026
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
CUP monitoring can be tied to General Plan goals related to Public Safety goals — ensuring approved uses operate safely and comply with conditions and Community Health and Wellness goals — particularly where uses may affect surrounding neighborhoods are operating in compliance with conditions. Having qualified consultants to support staff is necessary to ensure the analysis is thorough and completed timely.
CONCLUSION:
City staff recommend the City Council approve the sole-source contract with Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions Inc. to continue supporting the annual review of the Chevron Richmond Refinery's Modernization Project CUP Compliance Report.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Contract
Attachment 2 – Sole-Source Justification