Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Presiding: Mayor Gayle McLaughlin · Called to order: 7:59 p.m. · 5 items · 5 votes · 5 public comments
What happened
- Approved committee appointments 6-2 with McLaughlin and Rogers dissenting.
- Approved 9 routine items including $350,000 Honda lawsuit defense and new high-density zoning.
- Approved funding support for West Contra Costa schools to prevent Richmond closures.
- Approved sending letter supporting state Bay Trail funding near Chevron.
- Approved exploring sports complex feasibility and renaming MLK gym for McKelvey and Banks.
Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records
View official: MinutesAttendance
Appointments(1 item)
Appoint 3 councilmembers to Richmond Community Fund Advisory Committee
In Plain English
The Richmond Community Benefits Agreement requires city councilmembers to serve on this committee that oversees Chevron's community funding commitments. The committee advises how Chevron distributes money for local programs and projects. This appointment fills required seats with Bates, Lopez, and Ritterman as members plus Rogers as backup.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Draw by lottery of Councilmembers and Councilmember Elect Ritterman for a three-year term
Approve the appointments with the amendment of changing the term effective date to January 13, 2009 through January 13, 2013
5 to 2
Governance(4 items)
Discuss funding West Contra Costa schools to prevent closures in Richmond
In Plain English
The West Contra Costa Unified School District wants to close several schools in Richmond. The city council will decide whether to provide funding to help keep these neighborhood schools open. The mayor would also write to state and federal officials asking them to forgive the district's outstanding loans.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Authorize the city manager's recommendation to talk with the WCCUSD to identify short-term funding for $3,000,000 gap requested for two years; talk about 10 elementary schools located in the City of Richmond; and to start thinking about what the service agreement would look like, including a letter, legislation, funding, and service agreement, with amendment to direct the city manager to come back to the City Council with a source of funding
7 to 0
Send letter supporting state funding plan for Bay Trail segment near Chevron
In Plain English
The State Lands Commission is developing a funding plan to build a missing piece of the Bay Trail as part of Chevron's new 30-year lease negotiations. The city wants to formally support this effort. If approved, the mayor sends a letter backing state efforts to secure construction funding for this trail segment.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve the item
7 to 0
Explore renaming MLK Community Center gymnasium for Eural McKelvey and JD Banks
In Plain English
The city council will discuss whether to rename the gymnasium at the Martin Luther King Community Center. The proposed new name would honor Eural McKelvey and JD Banks as a memorial. Staff would research the feasibility and requirements for making this change.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve the item and direct staff to move forward with the implementation
Research feasibility of privately-financed sports complex in Richmond
In Plain English
The city council will decide whether to have staff study if a private sports complex could work in Richmond. No public money would be used for construction since private investors would pay all costs. Staff would research potential locations, what sports facilities residents want, and whether private companies show interest in building here.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Direct staff to research and come back in six months with recommendations
Contracts(1 item)
Hire Fox Design Group to design directional signs for Hilltop area
In Plain English
The city wants to add directional signs in the Hilltop neighborhood to help drivers navigate the area. Fox Design Group will create engineering plans and design specifications for these signs. If approved, the contract costs up to $110,410 for the design work only.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Include signage that is neat, uniform and that is not cluttered be part of the design that is adopted with this Fox Design Group
Approved as a group without individual discussion.