July 28, 2026
Department
DATE: July 28, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Shasa Curl, City Manager
Aaron Osorio, Fire Chief
Emily Combs, Director of Finance
Subject:
Ordinance Ordering the Submission of a General
Obligation Bond Measure for Fire Station Improvements
and Adoption of a Resolution Placing the Measure on the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election Ballot
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Adoption of the proposed ordinance and resolution does not authorize the issuance of debt or result in an
immediate fiscal impact. If approved by at least two-thirds of the voters at the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election, the City would be authorized to issue up to $120 million in general obligation bonds to finance eligible fire station capital improvements. Debt service on the bonds would be repaid from a voter-approved ad valorem
property tax, not from the City's General Fund.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
May 27, 2025
January 27, 2026
April 21, 2026
June 16, 2026
June 23, 2026
July 21, 2026
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City Council is being asked to adopt the ordinance
on second reading ordering the submission of a General
Obligation Bond Measure to the qualified voters of the
City at the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election and to adopt a resolution placing the measure on the
November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election ballot,
requesting consolidation with the statewide general
election, and setting procedural details necessary to
conduct the election.
AGENDA
REPORT
July 28, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT an ordinance (second reading) ordering the
submission of a proposition authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds to the qualified voters of the City of Richmond at the November 3, 2026, General
Municipal Election; and ADOPT a resolution placing a
measure to authorize the City of Richmond to issue
general obligation bonds at the General Municipal
Election to be held on November 3, 2026, requesting
consolidation with the statewide general election, and
setting procedural details – Fire Department/Finance
Department/City Manager's Office (Chief Aaron Osorio
510-307-8021/Emily Combs 510-890-5534/Shasa Curl
510-620-6512).
DISCUSSION:
On July 21, 2026, the City Council adopted a Resolution Determining Necessity finding that the public interest and necessity require the acquisition, construction, and improvement of fire station facilities and introduced an ordinance ordering the submission of a General Obligation Bond Measure to the qualified voters of the City.
These actions initiated the statutory process required to place the proposed bond measure before the voters.
The ordinance returns for second reading and adoption, as required by law, to formally submit the proposed General Obligation Bond Measure to the voters at the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election.
The proposed resolution places the measure on the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election ballot, requests consolidation with the statewide general election, requests election services from the Contra Costa County Elections Division, establishes deadlines and procedures for the impartial analysis, ballot arguments, and rebuttal arguments, and authorizes City officials to complete and submit the required election documents.
If approved by at least two-thirds of the voters, the measure would authorize the City to issue up to $120 million in general obligation bonds to finance eligible fire station capital improvements, including the repair, reconstruction, modernization, and seismic improvement of fire stations and related public safety facilities. Bond proceeds may only be used for voter-approved capital improvements and related eligible costs. Debt service on the bonds would be repaid through a voter-approved ad valorem property tax and would not be paid from the City's General Fund.
NEXT STEPS:
July 28, 2026
If the ordinance and resolution are adopted, City staff will submit the required election materials to the Contra Costa County Elections Division in accordance with the statutory election calendar. The General Obligation Bond Measure will appear on the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election ballot for voter consideration. If approved by at least two-thirds of the voters, the City would be authorized to issue general obligation bonds to finance the approved fire station capital improvements.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Ordinance Ordering Submission of a General Obligation Bond Measure Attachment 2 – Resolution Placing a Measure for General Municipal Election Attachment 3 – Tax Rate Statement