September 22, 2026
City Manager's Office
DATE: September 22, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Shasa Curl, City Attorney
SUBJECT: City Manager Accomplishments, Major Milestones, and Organizational Progress
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact associated with receiving this presentation.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City Manager has prepared a presentation
summarizing key accomplishments and major milestones
from her tenure as City Manager from 2021 through
2026, as well as significant initiatives and projects
advanced during her broader service to the City. The
presentation also serves as a transition resource for the incoming City Manager by documenting organizational
progress, major investments, and ongoing work.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: RECEIVE a presentation from City Manager Shasa Curl regarding key accomplishments, major milestones, and
organizational progress during her service to the City of Richmond – City Manager’s Office (Shasa Curl 510-620-
6512).
DISCUSSION:
This presentation provides both a retrospective on City Manager Shasa Curl’s service to the City and a transition resource for the incoming City Manager. It is organized in two parts: key accomplishments during her tenure as City Manager from 2021 through AGENDA
REPORT
September 22, 2026
2026, followed by significant milestones from her broader service to the City from 2004 through 2021.
The 2021 through 2026 section highlights progress in fiscal health, organizational capacity, community investment, infrastructure, housing, and public safety. During this period, the City was removed from the California State Auditor’s high-risk list, adopted balanced budgets for four consecutive years, increased its required reserve from 15 percent to 21 percent, and received credit rating upgrades from Moody’s to A3 and S&P Global Ratings to AA-. The City also added a net 92 positions, supported 132 employee promotions, reduced Fire Department management vacancies from 28.3 percent to 3.3 percent, and secured approximately $330 million through more than 150 multi-year grants, including a $35 million Transformative Climate Communities grant.
Major capital and community investments include renovations of Shields-Reid, Boorman, and Wendell parks; the reopening of the Booker T. Anderson Community Center; and the $34.2 million modernization of the Main Library, which is currently underway. Housing and community safety accomplishments include the creation of 48 permanent supportive housing units at Civic Center Apartments through the Homekey program, completion of Nevin Plaza Phase I, a decline in the point-in-time homelessness count from 487 individuals in 2023 to 257 in 2026, the lowest number of homicides recorded in decades in 2025, and a 17 percent decrease in reported crime that same year.
The second section highlights earlier milestones from City Manager Curl’s service to the City, including the 2019 launch of ferry service at the Richmond Ferry Terminal; establishment of the Richmond Rent Program and Richmond Promise, which now serves more than 4,600 scholars; implementation of the Richmond Housing Authority recovery strategy and the $75 million rehabilitation of Hacienda Heights; adoption of the 2014 Health in All Policies Strategy and Ordinance; development of partnerships with the University of California, Berkeley and Y-PLAN; expansion of City-wide Dumpster Days; redevelopment of the Civic Center campus; and adoption of the 2016 Climate Action Plan.
Taken together, the presentation documents significant organizational, financial, and community progress while identifying major investments, programs, and initiatives that will continue into the next City Manager’s tenure. It also provides context for ongoing work, including approximately $330 million in grant-funded investments supporting programs, services, and infrastructure throughout Richmond.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Presentation