Tuesday, April 22, 2014
SpecialPresiding: Mayor McLaughlin · Called to order: 6:49 p.m. · 7 items · 12 votes · 15 public comments
What happened
- Rejected request to extend Chevron refinery project comment period 4-2 (Beckles, McLaughlin dissenting).
- Required Chevron to hire full-time safety engineer at Richmond refinery.
- Approved sending letter opposing Assembly Bill 2145 despite split 4-2 vote (Bates, Boozé dissenting).
- Approved rule changes to shorten council meetings 4-1 (Butt dissenting, two abstentions).
- Heard updates on refinery emission offsets, campaign finance rules, and Country Club Vista concerns.
Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records
View official: MinutesAttendance
Governance(6 items)
Send letter to state legislature opposing Assembly Bill 2145
In Plain English
The city council will take a formal position against a state bill currently moving through the legislature. Assembly Bill 2145 apparently conflicts with city interests or policies. If approved, Richmond's opposition letter joins other cities and organizations trying to influence the bill's outcome.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Add an emergency item to provide a letter to the legislature in support of Assembly Bill 2145
5 to 1
Overturn Mayor McLaughlin's ruling to place the item after Item H-2, and place the emergency item at the end of the agenda
2 to 5
Adopt a resolution and send to state legislature in opposition of Assembly Bill 2145
4 to 2
Discuss changing rules to shorten city council meetings
In Plain English
City council meetings regularly run very late into the night, making it difficult to properly handle important city business. Council members will discuss potential rule changes to make meetings shorter and more efficient. If approved, new rules could limit speaking time, change meeting schedules, or restructure how agenda items are handled.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Schedule unfinished items as first regular business after Consent Calendar and Presentations; require anyone pulling Consent Calendar items to discuss with staff and state staff name; limit Councilmember presentations to 30 minutes per half-year (60 for Mayor); limit questions to real questions not statements; limit speaking to 5 minutes per item with vote for additional 5 minutes, and allow two special considerations per meeting for additional 5 minutes
5 to 1
Allow the city clerk, city manager, and city attorney set the agenda in the order items are received
Extend the meeting for 30 minutes
End debate
3 to 4
Include the city clerk on the finalization of the City Council Agenda
4 to 1
Receive update on committee addressing Country Club Vista homeowner concerns
In Plain English
The city formed a committee to work with Country Club Vista residents on neighborhood issues. City staff will report on the committee's progress and current activities. This affects residents of the Country Club Vista area who raised concerns requiring city attention.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Require Chevron to hire full-time safety engineer at Richmond refinery
In Plain English
The city wants to change its industrial safety law to force Chevron to employ a dedicated engineer focused on preventing chemical accidents at its Richmond refinery. Chevron would pay the engineer's salary. This comes after years of safety incidents at the facility that have affected nearby residents.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Extend the meeting to finish this item
5 to 1
Direct staff to amend the Richmond Industrial Safety Ordinance to require a full-time Accidental Release Prevention Engineer at the Chevron Richmond Refinery
6 to 0
Require refineries to offset any emission increases from dirtier feedstocks
In Plain English
Richmond refineries could process heavier crude oil that produces more pollution. The proposed law change requires refineries to cut emissions elsewhere if they switch to dirtier feedstocks. If approved, any emission increase gets canceled out by equal reductions in other refinery operations.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Repeal campaign contribution limits and change election spending rules
In Plain English
Richmond currently limits campaign donations from developers seeking city permits and provides matching public funds for local candidates. City staff says these rules backfired by pushing more money into independent political action committees that face no restrictions. If approved, candidates can again accept developer donations and spending limits change for publicly funded campaigns.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Zoning(1 item)
Hear update on requests to extend Chevron refinery project comment period
In Plain English
Residents and groups have asked the city to extend the public comment period for Chevron's Draft Environmental Impact Report. The current comment period allows people to review and respond to the environmental analysis of Chevron's proposed refinery upgrades. If approved, the city extends the deadline for public input on this major industrial project.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Extend the meeting to hear Item I-4
4 to 2
Extend the comment period by 15 days and schedule a City Council Meeting for August 5, 2014; following the meeting, the City Council would recess for the remainder of August
3 to 2
Deny the extension and proceed with the direction of the city manager
2 to 1
End debate
2 to 4