October 6, 2026
Economic Development
DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Aaron Osorio, Fire Chief
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Nannette Beacham, Director of Economic Development
Samantha Carr, Environmental Manager
Subject: Presentation from the Bay Area Air District on the Preliminary Health Risk Assessment of the Richmond
Chevron Refinery
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with receiving this presentation.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
On August 25, 2026, the Bay Area Air District released
the preliminary Health Risk Assessment (HRA) for the
Chevron Richmond Refinery under Rule 11-18 and is
accepting public comments through November 23, 2026.
The Air District is providing information on the preliminary HRA and opportunities for public comment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: RECEIVE a presentation from the Bay Area Air District on the preliminary Health Risk Assessment of the
Richmond Chevron Refinery – Economic Development
Department/Community Development Department
(Samantha Carr 510-620-5407/Lina Velasco 510-620-
6841).
DISCUSSION:
On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the Bay Area Air District released its first preliminary Health Risk Assessment (HRA) of the Richmond Chevron Refinery under Rule 11-18.
The 90-day comment period is open and closes at 5:00 PM on November 23, 2026.
AGENDA
REPORT
2003
October 6, 2026
Once closed, the Air District will make any changes, if appropriate, to the preliminary HRA before it is finalized.
Rule 11-18 requires existing industrial and commercial facilities with high toxic air contaminant (TAC) emissions to measure and reduce health risks to nearby communities. If the health risk levels exceed the established Risk Action Level, the facility must execute a Risk Reduction Plan within five (5) years to lower the health risk below the established threshold.
The Chevron Richmond Refinery was selected as the first facility to undergo a HRA, which was performed in-house by Air District staff. The Air District held a community meeting about the HRA on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Richmond Auditorium in which they presented their preliminary findings and received comments from the public.
The presentation tonight is for informational purposes. The Bay Area Air District will provide information on the Preliminary Health Risk Assessment of the Richmond Chevron Refinery and share the process for submitting public comments on the document which are due by 5:00 PM on Monday, November 23, 2026.
For more information, to submit a comment, or view the preliminary HRA of the Chevron Richmond Refinery visit the Air District’s webpage, Rule 11-18 Risk Reduction Facilities.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 - Presentation on Preliminary Health Risk Assessment 2004
October 6, 2026
Richmond City Council:
Chevron Refinery
Preliminary Health Risk
Assessment (HRA)
Presented by
Ariana Husain, Engineering Manager
Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna, MD, MPH, MS, Health Officer
2005
•
Agenda
October 6, 2026 Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 2
• Regulation 11, Rule 18 (Rule 11-18)
• What is a Health Risk Assessment?
• Chevron Refinery – Preliminary Health Risk Assessment Results • Next Steps
2006
•
Regulation 11, Rule 18
(Rule 11-18)
October 6, 2026 Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 3
2007
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 4
Purpose of Rule 11-18
Adopted in 2017, Rule 11-18 : Reduction of Risk from Air Toxic Emissions at Existing Facilities serves to:
• Identify facilities that pose elevated health risks due to toxic air contaminant emissions
• Assess health risk with a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) • Require facilities with estimated health risk equal to or above the risk action levels to reduce health risks
2008
•
What is a Health Risk
Assessment?
October 6, 2026 Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 5
2009
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 6
Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
An estimate of the increased chance of negative
health impacts for individuals that may be exposed to
toxic air contaminants, based on the best scientific
information available
Air District HRAs follow state procedures as developed
by the Office of Environmental Health and Hazard
Assessment (OEHHA)
Purpose:
- Serve as a screening tool
- Protect public health
- Identify potential concerns
2010
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 7
Terms: Emissions, Exposure, and Risk
Emissions Exposure Health Risks
Amount and
type of
pollutants
emitted
Quantity of
emissions
breathed in*
Potential risk
from breathing
in*
* Exposure and health risk assessment also consider non-inhalation pathways, such as soil ingestion and dermal exposure to contaminated soil. 2011
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 8
HRA Components
Emissions Exposure
Weather
Terrain
Time Toxicity/
Potency
Health
Risks
* Exposure and health risk assessment also consider non-inhalation pathways, such as soil ingestion and dermal exposure to contaminated soil.
2012
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 9
Cancer & Non-Cancer Risk
• Cancer risk is an estimate of the chance that an individual may develop cancer from long-term exposure to toxic air contaminants, known as carcinogens
• Non-cancer risk is an estimate of the potential non-cancer health effects from exposure to toxic air contaminants (TACs)
• Acute: Short-term exposure (1-hr)
• Chronic: Long-term exposure
2013
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 10 Maximum Risk
Maximally Exposed Individual (MEI): The MEI
represents a worst-case scenario used to
evaluate the highest potential health risk from
exposure to routine facility emissions.
• Health risks evaluated include cancer risk
and chronic risk
Point of Maximum Impact (PMI): The PMI is
conventionally used instead of MEI for acute
risk assessments, while retaining the same
meaning.
2014
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 11 Key Assumptions of an HRA
• Representative Year: Based on a single year of facility emissions that has been determined to be representative of typical operations
• Steady-State Emissions: Assumes emissions remain constant over the applicable exposure duration (e.g., 30 years for residential exposure) • Maximum Exposed Individual (MEI) or Point of Maximum Impact (PMI): Results are reported for the location where the highest modeled risk occurs, which may or may not represent the risk experienced by most people • Exposure Scenarios: Risk is evaluated for multiple receptor types, including:
- Residents
- Off-site workers
- Students (schools)
• Single-Facility Assessment: Estimates health risk attributable only to emissions from stationary sources at the facility being evaluated. Does not include emissions from nearby sources or regional background air pollution 2015
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 12 What an HRA Does Not Do
An HRA Does Not:
• Determine in what way a specific individual will be affected by facility emissions
• Include the effects of operational upsets that happen over a short period of time (hours, days)
• Provide an exact measurement of concentrations at any specific location • Estimate cumulative health impacts from emissions from mobile sources or nearby facilities
2016
•
Chevron Refinery
Preliminary HRA
Results
October 6 , 2026 Chevron Refinery - Preliminary HRA 13
2017
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery - Preliminary HRA 14 Preliminary Results
Maximum Health Risk Estimates
Health Risk Preliminary
Results
Risk Action Level
(RAL)
Cancer Risk 37 in a million 10 in a million
Chronic Risk 0.26 1.0
Acute Risk 1.2 1.0
RALs are the health risk thresholds that, if met or exceeded, the facility is required to develop and implement a Risk Reduction Plan. 2018
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery – Preliminary HRA 15 Significant Sources: Cancer Risk
A significant source of cancer risk is a source that contributes a cancer risk greater than or equal to 1.0 in a million at the MEI location • Significant sources are fugitives (leaks), storage tanks, and generators • The significant sources identified account for more than 70% of the total estimated cancer risk.
2019
October 6, 2026
• Chevron Refinery
- Preliminary HRA 16
2020
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery - Preliminary HRA 17 Significant Source: Acute Risk
A significant source of acute risk is a source that contributes an acute risk greater than or equal to 0.20 at the PMI location
• The bio-reactor, part the refinery's wastewater treatment system, contributes more than 80% of the total acute risk at the PMI location. 2021
October 6, 2026
• Chevron Refinery
- Preliminary HRA 18
2022
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery - Preliminary HRA 19 What Does This Mean to Me?
2023
•
Next Steps
October 6, 2026 Chevron Refinery - Preliminary HRA 20
2024
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery - Preliminary HRA 21 Next Steps:
• The public and Chevron Refinery have 90-days to comment on the preliminary HRA. The comment period is from August 25 to November 23, 2026 at 5 p.m.
• The Air District reviews all comments and may make changes to the preliminary HRA based on new information received. These changes may result in a decrease or increase in the preliminary risk results. • If the risk remains at or above the risk action levels in Rule 11-18, Chevron Refinery will be required to create and implement a risk reduction plan 2025
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery - Preliminary HRA 22 How to Submit Comments
Public comment on the preliminary report closes on November 23, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Submit comments by:
Email: [email protected] include the subject line: FID10_hra_[last name/group identifier]
Regulation 11-18 Chevron Preliminary HRA
Public Notice Response
Bay Area Air District – Engineering Division
375 Beale Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94105
Attn: Ariana Husain
Snail Mail:
Public Comment Tool: http://bit.ly/46WGTyC 1
2 3
2026
October 6, 2026 • Chevron Refinery - Preliminary HRA 23 Resources
Visit our Rule 11-18 Facility Risk Reduction page to view:
• The full Preliminary HRA report for Chevron Refinery
• Summary of the Preliminary HRA for Chevron Refinery
• Fact Sheet of the Preliminary HRA for Chevron Refinery • Rule 11-18 Frequently Asked Questions
• Rule 11-18: Understanding Health Risk Assessments fact sheet
• List of facilities subject to Rule 11-18 requirements Chevron Refinery Preliminary HRA
Resources
General 11-18 Resources
2027
•
Questions?
October 6, 2026 Chevron Refinery - Preliminary HRA 24
2028
October 6, 2026
City Manager's Office
DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Patrick Seals, Administrative Chief
SUBJECT: Presentation from Electronic Frontier Foundation on License Plate Reader Technology
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with receiving the presentation.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
September 22, 2026
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
At its September 22, 2026, meeting, the City Council
considered an item regarding license plate reader
technology and directed the City Manager to coordinate a presentation by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) at a future City Council meeting. The presentation was
subsequently scheduled for October 6, 2026, City
Council meeting
RECOMMENDED ACTION: RECEIVE a presentation from the Electronic Frontier Foundation regarding the effectiveness, limitations, and impacts of license plate reader technology, consistent
with City Council direction provided on September 22,
2026 – City Manager’s Office (Patrick Seals 510-307-
8016).
AGENDA
REPORT
2029
October 6, 2026
DISCUSSION:
On September 22, 2026, the City Council considered Item W.7 regarding license plate reader technology. As part of its action, the City Council directed the City Manager to coordinate a presentation by EFF regarding the effectiveness, limitations, and impacts of the technology.
Following the meeting, City staff coordinated with EFF regarding the presentation and met with EFF representative Sarah Hamid, the Deputy City Manager, and Richmond Police Department staff to discuss the scope and logistics.
The October 6, 2026, presentation is being provided in response to the City Council’s September 22, 2026, direction.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Presentation Electronic Frontier Foundation 2030
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
Sarah T. Hamid
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Assessing the
Effectiveness, Limitations,
and Impacts of Continuous
Vehicle Monitoring
Tuesday, October 6th, 2026 | Richmond, CA
2031
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
15 Years of Research on
Automated License Plate
Readers
Since 2012, EFF has pioneered the
documentation of Automated License Plate
Reader systems through public records
requests, technical analysis, and the Atlas of
Surveillance—a searchable database
documenting over 15,000 police surveillance
technology systems across the United
States.
2032
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
Understanding ALPR System Architecture
5-Step Automated Process:
1. Image Capture: Cameras photograph
license plates as vehicles pass.
2. Image Processing: Software isolates
plates and reads characters (OCR).
3. Data Transmission: Plate data is sent to
central servers.
4. Database Comparison: Plate data is
checked against relevant databases.
5. Storage & Analysis: All info is stored for
future use, reporting, and access
through the user portal.
2033
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
ALPR Deployment Types
Fixed: Mounted for
constant monitoring.
Mobile: On vehicles for
scanning while driving.
Portable: Quick-deploy
units for temporary use.
All use advanced cameras,
often with infrared, to
capture clear images day
or night.
2034
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
Emergence + Growth of ALPR Technology
1970s-1980s: Early Development and First Commercial Contracts The first systems were expensive, bulky, and difficult to use. They required specific lighting and camera angles, limiting their effectiveness and widespread adoption. 1990s: Market Expansion and Cost Reduction
ALPR arrived in the United States in 1998 via U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for border security.
2000s-Present: Industry Consolidation and New Market Entrants As computing power became cheaper and more efficient, the price point of ALPR devices decreased, and ALPRs were marketed for a broader range of use cases, not just policing.
Al-Enhancements Era: Cloud-First and Specialized Solutions The integration of AI paved the way for feature updates like "vehicle fingerprinting," a method of identifying a car using more than just its license plate. 2035
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
Flock
Safety: A
Surveillance
Social
Network
2036
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
Data Sharing Network Layers
2037
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
Pathways to Unauthorized Access
● Formal pathways: Unauthorized agencies can get access through established systems, contracts, or legal process. ● Informal pathways: Unauthorized agencies can rely on
local partners, side-door searches, or unofficial
arrangements.
● Unauthorized pathways: Access can happen through
misconfiguration, compromised accounts, or vendor
actions outside local visibility.
2038
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
Understanding Effectiveness
● Do arrests, recoveries, and case assists overlap?
● How many arrests produced sustained charges or convictions? ● How often was ALPR information indispensable rather than merely available?
● How many scans, searches, and alerts produced no useful result? ● Did clearance or recovery rates improve over a valid pre-ALPR baseline? ● How did Richmond compare with regional crime trends?
● What was the full cost per verified outcome?
2039
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
Structural Limitations of ALPR Leads
An ALPR alert is an investigative lead—not proof, identity, or probable cause by itself.
● A correct plate read does not establish who was driving. ● Vehicles may be shared, rented, borrowed, recently sold, or using altered plates.
● Alerts may reflect camera misreads, stale source lists, or incorrect manual entries.
● More alerts do not produce more safety without verification, staffing, and follow-up.
● An unverified mismatch can turn a database error into an armed police stop. 2040
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
The Impact Begins at Collection
● ALPRs investigate everyone first: the system records vehicles because they pass a camera, not because their occupants are suspected of wrongdoing.
● Repeated observations can reveal homes, workplaces, healthcare visits, religious practice, political activity, and personal relationships. ● Historical search converts routine movement into information available for later investigation.
● Errors and misuse carry greater consequences for communities already subject to disproportionate police contact.
2041
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
2042
DRAFT ONLY — SUBJECT TO REVISION
“Given how pervasive,
sprawling, and
ungovernable ALPR
sharing networks have
become, the only feature
update we can truly rely
on to protect people's
rights and safety is no
network at all.”
2043
October 6, 2026
City Council
DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Vice Mayor Doria Robinson
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
Subject: Create a Financial Report to The Council
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
Budget presentations
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Council needs a clear and consistent understanding of
the City of Richmond’s current financial position to make informed decisions regarding the City’s fiscal health and future direction.
Staff is requested to complete the attached financial
template showing revenue, one-time/short-term revenue,
expenses, surplus/deficit, allocated surplus, and reserves for FY2023-24 through FY2026-27, including budget,
revised budget, year-end, actual, and audited financial data where available.
This information will provide Council with a
comprehensive view of the City’s financial position and help identify any potential structural deficit requiring immediate attention.
AGENDA
REPORT
2044
October 6, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
DIRECT the city manager or designee to present, at the
10/20/26 Council meeting, information on the financial
status of the City from FY 2023 - 2024 - FY 2026-2027
using the provided template. As indicated in the template, this information should include: revenue—including shortterm, one-time sources and interest earnings—expenses, surplus or deficit, allocated surplus, and reserves. It should also provide clear information on the funds
received thus far from the Chevron settlement, including any allocations, what the balance is, current interest
earned and total settlement balance as of 9/30/26 by
fiscal year. Using the template provided this report should present financial data by 1)the prior-year budget
projection, 2) Council-approved budget, 3) midyear
budget revision, 4) budget at close, 5) actuals at close, and 6) the audited financial statements. The city manager or designee should add any addition criteria or financial categories deemed necessary to offer a complete and
accurate summary of City finances to the City Council
and the public; and DIRECT the city manager or their
designee to engage a qualified municipal advisor to
independently review the financial information for
accuracy and consistency - Councilmember Doria
Robinson (510-620-6568)/Councilmember Claudia
Jimenez (510-620-6565).
DISCUSSION:
A clear understanding of the City’s financial position is essential for the Council to make informed decisions about the City’s current and future priorities. Recent Council discussions have highlighted the need for a consistent, comprehensive view of revenues, expenditures, reserves, and the use of one-time funding.
The requested financial information will allow Council to compare projected budgets, adopted budgets, budget revisions, year-end results, actuals, and audited financials for FY2023-24 through FY2026-27. Presenting this information in one standardized format 2045
October 6, 2026
will help Council identify financial trends, understand the City’s use of one-time resources, and determine whether there are ongoing structural budget challenges that require attention.
Having this information available at the next Council meeting will provide Council with a shared factual foundation for evaluating the City’s financial condition and determining appropriate next steps.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 — Excel template to fill the information
2046
Financial Summary FY23-24 - FY26-27
City of Richmond
Updated 9/16/26
*Please add whatever is currenty available
PREVIOUS
YEAR
BUDGET
PROJECTION
COUNCIL
APPROVED
BUDGET
MID TERM
BUDGET
REVISION
BUDGET at
CLOSE
ACTUALS at
CLOSE
AUDITED
FINANCIALS
Revenue
Short term / one
time revenue
Expenses
Surplus / Deficit
Allocated
Surplus
Reserves
FY2023-24
2047
PREVIOUS
YEAR
BUDGET
PROJECTION
COUNCIL
APPROVED
BUDGET
MID TERM
BUDGET
REVISION
BUDGET at
CLOSE
ACTUALS at
CLOSE
AUDITED
FINANCIALS
PREVIOUS
YEAR
BUDGET
PROJECTION
FY2024-25
2048
COUNCIL
APPROVED
BUDGET
MID TERM
BUDGET
REVISION
BUDGET at
CLOSE
ACTUALS at
CLOSE
AUDITED
FINANCIALS
PREVIOUS
YEAR
BUDGET
PROJECTION
COUNCIL
APPROVED
BUDGET
FY2025-26 FY202
2049
MID TERM
BUDGET
REVISION
BUDGET at
CLOSE
ACTUALS at
CLOSE
AUDITED
FINANCIALS
FY2026-27
2050
October 6, 2026
City Council
DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Councilmember Jamelia Brown
Subject: Evaluate and Advance Immediate Safety Measures Along the 23rd Street Corridor
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact is unknown at this time and will depend on the improvements identified through staff and
engineering review. If an appropriation is needed, a
corresponding offset or decrease to the budget will be
required. Any additional appropriation or budget
adjustment requiring Council approval will return to the City Council for consideration.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
July 19, 2022: City Council adopted the Local
Roadway Safety Plan, identifying 23rd Street as a
priority corridor for traffic and pedestrian-safety
improvements.
February 7, 2023: City Council adopted the Bicycle
and Pedestrian Action Plan, identifying
improvements along 23rd Street including
enhanced crossings, RRFBs, refuge islands, curbramp upgrades, and signal improvements. The City has also conducted 23rd Street
Streetscape and Complete Streets planning for
longer-term corridor improvements.
AGENDA
REPORT
2051
October 6, 2026
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Traffic safety along the 23rd Street corridor continues to be a concern for residents, pedestrians, motorists, and families traveling through the area.
The City has previously identified safety improvements
along 23rd Street; however, comprehensive corridor
improvements require significant planning, engineering, funding, and construction.
There is an opportunity to advance practical and visible near-term safety measures while continuing to pursue
and implement the larger, long-term improvements
needed along the corridor.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: DIRECT the city manager to evaluate and advance immediate safety measures along the 23rd Street
corridor, including:
Enhanced pedestrian crossings with high-visibility
crosswalks, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
(RRFBs), signage, and pavement markings, where
appropriate; and
Portable and/or permanent speed-feedback signs at
strategic locations.
Through prioritizing locations based on existing safety plans, collision and speed data, pedestrian activity, and engineering review; identify available funding AND return to City Council within 30 days with priority locations, costs, funding sources, and implementation timelines -
Councilmember Jamelia Brown (510-412-
2050)/Councilmember Cesar Zepeda (510-620-6593).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond has identified 23rd Street as a corridor requiring pedestrian and roadway safety improvements. The Local Roadway Safety Plan includes corridor-level recommendations for 23rd Street, while the Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan identifies multiple crossing improvements along the corridor.
This item proposes a coordinated near-term and long-term approach.
Near-term improvements would focus on measures that may be implemented more quickly and provide visible safety benefits while larger capital improvements move through planning, design, funding, and construction.
2052
October 6, 2026
One priority is the development of enhanced pedestrian crossings. At locations determined appropriate through engineering review, high-visibility crosswalks could be combined with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), warning signage, pavement markings, and other pedestrian-safety treatments. Richmond’s adopted Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan already recommends enhanced crossings and RRFB treatments at several locations along 23rd Street.
A second priority is the deployment of speed-feedback signs at strategic locations to provide motorists with an immediate visual indication of their travel speed and reinforce safer driving behavior. These near-term measures are not intended to replace comprehensive improvements to 23rd Street.
The City should simultaneously continue advancing longer-term corridor improvements through its adopted safety plans, capital improvement process, and available transportation funding opportunities. Richmond’s Local Roadway Safety Plan identifies larger 23rd Street corridor improvements, including pedestrian crossing enhancements and broader roadway changes.
The City’s FY 2026–27 budget planning also includes a Neighborhood Safety and Access Program addressing crashes, high-injury corridors, speed, safer crossings, and quick-build improvements. Staff should determine whether any existing or legally eligible resources within this or other transportation programs can support near-term improvements along 23rd Street.This two-track approach allows the City to take practical action now while continuing to develop comprehensive, long-term safety improvements for the 23rd Street corridor.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
None.
2053
October 6, 2026
City Council
DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Councilmember Soheila Bana (sponsor)
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez (co-sponsor)
Subject: Establishing a Disaster Preparedness Commission for the City of Richmond
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Staff time to support Commission meetings, prepare agendas, and coordinate with member organizations.
Additional fiscal impacts, if any (e.g., stipends, materials, training costs), would be identified in the staff report required under this resolution.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Given Richmond's compounded hazard profile —
seismic, industrial, wildfire, and coastal — the City would benefit from a permanent, formalized structure for
interagency and community coordination, rather than
relying on ad hoc collaboration. A standing commission
would improve information-sharing among first
responders, volunteer organizations, and residents;
strengthen the City's eligibility and readiness for state and federal disaster preparedness grants; and provide
the City Council with a consistent advisory body on an
issue directly affecting public safety.
Currently, disaster preparedness coordination in
Richmond is distributed across multiple entities, including the City's Office of Emergency Services (OES),
AGENDA
REPORT
2054
October 6, 2026
Richmond Police and Fire Departments, Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers,
Emergency Communications (EmComm) amateur radio
operators, and local Fire Safe Councils, among others.
While each of these groups performs valuable work, no
standing body currently exists to formally coordinate
across them, ensure consistent communication with the
City Council, or provide ongoing public accountability and strategic oversight of citywide disaster preparedness
efforts.
A Disaster Preparedness Commission would fill this gap
by creating a formal, standing body charged with
coordinating across these groups, identifying
preparedness gaps, and advising the City Council on
policy and resource needs
RECOMMENDED ACTION: DIRECT the city attorney and city manager to draft an ordinance (or resolution) to establish a Disaster
Preparedness Commission for the City and to return with proposed bylaws, membership structure, and any
necessary municipal code amendments within 90 days -
Councilmember Soheila Bana (510-672-
3490)/Councilmember Claudia Jimenez (510-620-6565).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond faces a uniquely concentrated set of hazards that few California cities face simultaneously:
Seismic risk: Richmond sits near the Hayward Fault, one of the most urbanized and closely monitored active faults in the United States, with a high probability of a major earthquake in coming decades.
Industrial/hazmat risk: The City is home to a major petroleum refinery and an extensive underground network of gas and hazardous materials pipelines running beneath residential and commercial areas.
Wildfire risk: Portions of the City and adjacent unincorporated areas fall within Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zones with documented wildfire hazard, as reflected in the City's ongoing vegetation management and evacuation route concerns.
Coastal/tsunami risk: Richmond's extensive shoreline along San Francisco Bay carries exposure to tsunami and sea-level-related hazards.
Currently, disaster preparedness coordination in Richmond is distributed across multiple entities, including the City's Office of Emergency Services (OES), Richmond Police and 2055
October 6, 2026
Fire Departments, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers, Emergency Communications (EmComm) amateur radio operators, and local Fire Safe Councils, among others. While each of these groups performs valuable work, no standing body currently exists to formally coordinate across them, ensure consistent communication with the City Council, or provide ongoing public accountability and strategic oversight of citywide disaster preparedness efforts.
Directing staff to draft an ordinance (or resolution) to establish a Disaster Preparedness Commission for the City and to return with proposed bylaws, membership structure, and any necessary municipal code amendments within 90 days, would assist in filling this gap, by creating a formal, standing body charged with coordinating across these groups, identifying preparedness gaps, and advising the City Council on policy and resource needs.
PROPOSED COMMISSION STRUCTURE
Staff should consider the following elements in developing final bylaws and structure:
1. Membership: Representation from OES, Richmond Police Department, Richmond Fire Department, CERT, EmComm, local Fire Safe Councils, and atlarge community members, potentially including representatives from Contra Costa County agencies given the cross-jurisdictional nature of these hazards.
2. Duties: Advise the City Council on disaster preparedness policy, raising public awareness, and strengthening neighbor-to-neighbor collaboration; coordinate joint training and exercises among member organizations; review and recommend updates to the City's emergency operations plans; identify and advise the community about funding and grant opportunities for preparedness and disaster recovery projects; and serve as a public forum for disaster preparedness issues.
3. Meeting cadence: Regular public meetings (e.g., quarterly or bimonthly), consistent with the Ralph M. Brown Act.
4. Reporting: Semi-annual report to City Council on citywide preparedness status and recommendations.
Given Richmond's compounded hazard profile — seismic, industrial, wildfire, and coastal — the City would benefit from a permanent, formalized structure for interagency and community coordination, rather than relying on ad hoc collaboration. A standing commission would improve information-sharing among first responders, volunteer organizations, and residents; strengthen the City's eligibility and readiness for state and federal disaster preparedness grants; and provide the City Council with a consistent advisory body on an issue directly affecting public safety. 2056
October 6, 2026
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
None.
2057
October 6, 2026
City Council
DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Councilmember Soheila Bana
Subject: Apply for Grant Funding to Acquire an Armored Rescue Vehicle and a Rapid Response Armored Vehicle for the
Richmond Police Department
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this item.
Staff time will be required to research funding
opportunities, evaluate vehicle options and costs, and
prepare a report to the City Council, and this work will be completed within existing departmental workloads. If
grant funding is awarded, any required City matching
funds or ongoing costs, such as maintenance, training, or storage, will be identified and brought back to the City Council for consideration.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Currently, the Richmond Police Department does not
own armored rescue and repaid response vehicles and
must rely on outside agencies to provide one when
needed, which department leadership has noted can take
hours to arrive on scene.
On September 3, 2026, a Richmond police officer was
shot and injured while accompanying Contra Costa
County's A3 crisis response team on a mental health
welfare check in the 2200 block of Key Boulevard.
AGENDA
REPORT
2058
October 6, 2026
A second officer inside a patrol vehicle that was struck by gunfire was not injured. The incident required a largescale tactical response, including rescue and rapid response armored vehicles and specialized resources
from allied law enforcement agencies, and prompted a
shelter-in-place order for residents near the Richmond
and El Cerrito border.
Acquiring armored rapid response and rescue vehicles
would directly address this gap, improving both officer safety and the Department's capacity to protect residents during the most dangerous incidents it may face.
Pursuing grant funding, rather than General Fund dollars, would allow the City to address this need without
competing with other budget priorities.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: DIRECT the city manager to identify and apply for available federal, state, or other grant funding to acquire an “armored rescue” vehicle and a “armored rapid
response” vehicle for the Richmond Police Department,
and to report back within 30 days to the City Council on available funding sources, estimated costs, and a
proposed acquisition timeline - Councilmember Soheila
Bana (510-672-3490).
DISCUSSION:
On September 3, 2026, a Richmond police officer was shot and injured while accompanying Contra Costa County's A3 crisis response team on a mental health welfare check in the 2200 block of Key Boulevard. According to Richmond Police Chief Timothy Simmons, the suspect fired more than 30 rounds from inside the residence using a rifle, striking neighboring homes, vehicles, and a patrol car. Officer Justin Church, a 25-year law enforcement veteran, was hospitalized and later released. A second officer inside a patrol vehicle that was struck by gunfire was not injured. The incident required a large-scale tactical response, including rescue and rapid response armored vehicles and specialized resources from allied law enforcement agencies, and prompted a shelter-in-place order for residents near the Richmond and El Cerrito border.
2059
October 6, 2026
Chief Simmons noted that the incident echoes a similar 2024 shooting in Montalvin Manor, in which a resident fired at officers from inside a home. In that incident, Chief Simmons stated that the Department had no capacity to safely approach the area to evacuate neighboring residents, and that patrol vehicles were struck by rifle rounds that penetrated the vehicles.
Currently, the Richmond Police Department does not own armored rescue and repaid response vehicles and must rely on outside agencies to provide one when needed, which department leadership has noted can take hours to arrive on scene. In a July 2026 discussion with the City Council, department leadership indicated it was exploring grant funding to acquire such a vehicle.
An armored rescue vehicle plus a rapid response armored vehicle would allow the Department to safely approach active-shooter or barricaded-subject situations, evacuate residents from immediate danger, and protect officers and residents alike during high-risk incidents, without the delay of waiting for mutual aid from other agencies.
The September 3, 2026, shooting, together with the 2024 Montalvin Manor incident, demonstrates a recurring and serious public safety gap: the Department's current inability to safely and promptly approach an active gunfire situation to protect officers and evacuate residents. Acquiring armored rapid response and rescue vehicles would directly address this gap, improving both officer safety and the Department's capacity to protect residents during the most dangerous incidents it may face. Pursuing grant funding, rather than General Fund dollars, would allow the City to address this need without competing with other budget priorities.
Staff is directed to:
1. Identify available federal, state, or regional grant programs for which an armored rescue vehicle and an armored rapid response vehicle acquisition would qualify;
2. Evaluate vehicle specifications, estimated costs (including any ongoing maintenance and training costs), and vendor options;
3. Apply for identified grant funding opportunities; and
4. Report back to the City Council within 30 days with findings, a recommended funding source, and a proposed acquisition and implementation timeline.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
None
2060
October 6, 2026
City Council
DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Councilmember Soheila Bana
Subject: Identify Potential Venues for Cultural Education and Practice by Richmond's Minority Cultural Groups
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this item.
Staff time will be required to conduct the venue review and coordinate with WCCUSD and other partners, and
this work will be completed within existing departmental workloads. No facility costs, rental fee waivers, or capital expenditures are being requested or approved at this
time.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City Council has received requests from several
minority cultural groups in Richmond, including Aztec,
Arab, Hispanic, Cambodian, and Nepalese community
members, seeking support in identifying a consistent,
safe space where they can teach their children and
families cultural traditions such as language, music, and dance, and hold practice sessions for cultural
performances.
Access to a safe, consistent space for cultural education and practice supports the wellbeing of Richmond's
diverse communities, helps children and youth build a
AGENDA
REPORT
2061
October 6, 2026
strong sense of cultural identity and belonging, and
strengthens intergenerational connection within families.
These are recognized protective factors for youth
development and are consistent with the City's broader
commitment to equity and support for its diverse
population.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: DIRECT the city manager to identify potential City-owned or City-affiliated venues, as well as explore opportunities with the West Contra Costa Unified School District
(WCCUSD) and other potential partners for possible use
of facilities suitable for Richmond Cultural Groups for (1) cultural education and teaching, and (2) performance
rehearsal, and to report back to the City Council within 120 days with findings and recommendations, including
options for partnerships, potential funding sources, and secure storage of instruments, regalia, and educational materials, as applicable and consistent with City policies and procurement requirements - Councilmember Soheila
Bana (510-672-3490).
DISCUSSION:
The City Council has received requests from several minority cultural groups in Richmond, including Aztec, Arab, Hispanic, Cambodian, and Nepalese community members, seeking support in identifying a consistent, safe space where they can teach their children and families cultural traditions such as language, music, and dance, and hold practice sessions for cultural performances.
Most recently, the Council received a letter from Huitzilin Aztec Dance, a community dance group whose name means "hummingbird." The group describes Aztec dance as a cultural practice that brings together multiple generations of families and helps children, youth, and adults connect with traditions rooted in discipline, identity, community, and ancestral culture. The group has supported numerous community events by sharing this tradition with local organizations, schools, and families, but reports that its biggest ongoing challenge is finding a consistent and safe place to practice, as the group does not generate sufficient income to cover regular facility fees or insurance costs.
2062
October 6, 2026
This need reflects a broader pattern among Richmond's cultural community organizations: groups that provide meaningful cultural education and intergenerational connection for local families, but lack access to a stable, affordable venue with basic accommodations such as secure storage for instruments, books, and other cultural materials.
Staff is directed to research and report back on the following, organized into two categories of use:
1. Cultural Education and Teaching (language, music, dance instruction) Identify existing City-owned or City-affiliated facilities (community centers, recreation facilities, underutilized buildings) suitable for regular use by cultural groups for teaching children and families
Identify which candidate venues could provide secure, lockable storage (rooms or closets) for instruments, books, regalia, and other cultural/educational materials
Assess scheduling availability and any existing reservation/permit systems and associated fees
2. Performance Rehearsal (dance and music practice)
Identify existing City-owned or City-affiliated facilities with adequate space for group dance and music rehearsal (sufficient floor space and appropriate flooring) Assess scheduling availability, particularly for evening and weekend use, and associated fees
WCCUSD Negotiation
Staff shall initiate discussions with the West Contra Costa Unified School District regarding possible weekend use of school district facilities (e.g., multi-purpose rooms, gymnasiums) for both cultural education/teaching and performance rehearsal purposes, consistent with the existing Joint Use Agreement framework between the City and WCCUSD
Report back on availability, applicable fees, insurance requirements, and any scheduling or facility-use terms
Access, Fees, and Funding
Evaluate options for reduced-cost or fee-waived access for community cultural groups that lack sufficient funds for regular facility rental and insurance costs Identify potential funding sources to offset facility costs or improvements, including grant opportunities and any applicable existing City programs Access to a safe, consistent space for cultural education and practice supports the wellbeing of Richmond's diverse communities, helps children and youth build a strong sense of cultural identity and belonging, and strengthens intergenerational connection 2063
October 6, 2026
within families. These are recognized protective factors for youth development and are consistent with the City's broader commitment to equity and support for its diverse population.
Directing the City Manager to identify potential City-owned or City-affiliated venues, as well as explore opportunities with the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) and other potential partners for possible use of facilities suitable for Richmond Cultural Groups for (1) cultural education and teaching, and (2) performance rehearsal, and to report back to the City Council within 120 days with findings and recommendations, including options for partnerships, potential funding sources, and secure storage of instruments, regalia, and educational materials, as applicable and consistent with City policies and procurement requirements DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Letter from Huitzilin Aztec Dance, received September 23, 2026 2064
2065