Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Presiding: Mayor Gayle McLaughlin · Called to order: 5:09 p.m. · 9 items · 13 votes · 1 public comments
What happened
- Approved $257,600 contract for Point Molate beach park maintenance 6-3 (McLaughlin, Thurmond, Viramontes dissenting).
- Authorized Fire Chief to interview displaced Vallejo firefighters 5-2 (Butt, McLaughlin dissenting).
- Changed Planning Commission rules for member terms and meeting quorum 7-2 (Butt, McLaughlin dissenting).
- Set police staffing standard of 3 officers per 1,000 residents in high-crime areas 7-2 (Butt, McLaughlin dissenting).
- Approved $67 million in bonds to finance Crescent Park Apartments project.
Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records
View official: MinutesAttendance
Contracts(2 items)
Approve $257,600 contract for Point Molate beach park maintenance
In Plain English
The city needs ongoing maintenance for facilities and beach areas at Point Molate park. Forster & Kroeger would handle landscaping, cleaning, and upkeep through June 2008. If approved, the city pays $257,600 for these maintenance services.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve the contract for facility and beach park maintenance services at Point Molate with Forster & Kroeger
6 to 3
Increase legal contract by $200,000 to defend Barra lawsuit
In Plain English
The city hired Shute Mihaly & Weinberger law firm to defend against a lawsuit filed by someone named Barra. The original contract was $75,000 but legal costs have grown. If approved, total spending on this case reaches $275,000.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve the contract amendment with Shute Mihaly & Weinberger LLP
8 to 1
Personnel(1 item)
Authorize Fire Chief to interview displaced Vallejo firefighters
In Plain English
State law AB 1929 lets cities hire firefighters from other departments that have laid off staff. Vallejo recently displaced some firefighters due to budget cuts. If approved, Richmond's Fire Chief can interview these experienced firefighters if they apply for jobs here.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Give Chief Banks the right to interview the Vallejo displaced Firefighters
Amendment to not have any interviews for any other candidates except for the eight until those eight have passed background checks and it is clear they will be hired or not, and moving forward beyond those eight, the hiring panel will be the Chief and two captains
Hold the item over for staff and individual parties to discuss and decide what would be an acceptable solution and report to the City Council
Turn the item over to the city manager to work with the Fire Chief, Human Resources Director, and association representatives to come up with frame work for how the City's authority under AB 1929 could be best implemented and report to the City Council for adoption
4 to 1
Appropriate AB 1929 accept the resolution with the process that the city manager follow up with the fire chief and the two unions
5 to 2
Public Safety(1 item)
Set police staffing standard of 3 officers per 1,000 residents in high-crime areas
In Plain English
The city currently lacks formal police staffing standards for different neighborhoods. High-crime areas house about 25,000 residents but receive inconsistent patrol coverage. If approved, the city adds 37 new police positions over 2 years to meet the new standard.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve the item
Authorize the city manager and staff to study all ramifications and bring back recommendations to the Council as soon as possible
3 to 6
Approve raising the service standards to 3.0 officers per 1,000 residents for high crime areas and direct the staff to come back with the financial analysis for how to proceed
7 to 2
Governance(2 items)
Change Planning Commission rules for member terms and meeting quorum
In Plain English
Planning commissioners currently must leave office on set dates even if replacements haven't been found. The new rules let commissioners stay until successors are appointed. Meetings can proceed with 3 members instead of requiring a majority of all 7 positions.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Give first reading to the ordinance
7 to 2
Revise design review process and create 2-member council committee
In Plain English
The city's current design review process for new buildings and developments needs updating. Staff will draft new rules and create guidelines for how projects get reviewed. A 2-member council committee will review the proposed changes before they return to the full council by October 30th.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve the item and appoint three City Councilmembers to the Ad Hoc Committee
6 to 0
Appointments(1 item)
Appoint 3 residents to city boards and commissions
In Plain English
The city fills vacant volunteer positions on 3 advisory groups. Glen Lezama joins the Revolving Loan Fund board, which helps local businesses access city loans. Michael Husser joins the Arts and Culture Commission, which advises on public art and cultural programs. Garland Harper joins the Human Relations/Human Rights Commission, which addresses discrimination complaints and promotes community dialogue.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve the appointments
7 to 0
Housing(1 item)
Issue $67 million in bonds to finance Crescent Park Apartments project
In Plain English
The city plans to issue tax-exempt and taxable bonds totaling up to $67 million to fund construction of a new multifamily rental housing project called Crescent Park Apartments. The bonds allow the city to provide low-cost financing to developers while transferring construction and financial risks away from taxpayers. If approved, the developer receives the loan proceeds and becomes responsible for repaying bondholders directly.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopt the resolution authorizing multifamily housing revenue bonds for Crescent Park Apartments Project
8 to 0
Budget(1 item)
Roll over unspent 2006-07 taxi safety funds to next fiscal year
In Plain English
The city has leftover money from the 2006-07 budget that was designated for taxi safety improvements. City policy requires council approval to carry unspent funds forward instead of returning them to the general fund. If approved, this money remains available for taxi safety projects in the new fiscal year.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve the roll over of unspent 06-07 funding for taxi safety
9 to 0
Infrastructure(1 item)
Consider relocating Point Richmond library to vacant business district space
In Plain English
The city currently operates a branch library in Point Richmond that needs renovation. A neighborhood group proposes moving the library to empty retail space in the Point Richmond business district instead of fixing the current building. The council will decide whether to pursue this relocation idea or stick with renovating the existing library.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Reaffirm the city manager's recommendation to restore the branch at the current location and set the expenditure to a maximum of $100,000
9 to 0