Tuesday, November 16, 2021

9 items · 20 votes · 23 public comments

What happened

  • Approved labor contract with IFPTE Local 21 management employees 5-2 (Bates, Butt dissenting).
  • Approved salary changes for unrepresented management employees 5-2 (Bates, Butt dissenting).
  • Made property owners liable for illegal fireworks on their property 5-2 (Martinez, Willis dissenting).
  • Approved 14 routine items including $1,050,000 from permit holders to remove Terminal 4 Wharf.

Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records

View official: Agenda

Attendance

Demnlus Johnson III(Present)
Claudia Jimenez(Present)
Eduardo Martinez(Present)
Gayle McLaughlin(Present)
Melvin Willis(Present)
Tom Butt(Present)
Nat Bates(Absent)
9 substantive items · 14 consent

Governance(2 items)

Introduce law establishing citywide master fee schedule

2-4Master Fee Schedule

In Plain English

The city currently has fees scattered across different departments and documents. This proposed law would create one central list of all city fees for permits, inspections, and services. If approved after a second vote, residents would find fee information in one place instead of searching multiple sources.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Reduce rental fees by half for short-term use up to six months of all City of Richmond facilities including sports fields, library rooms, and community centers by Richmond-based nonprofit and volunteer organizations for activities that served the local community and retain the $12.50 per hour rental fee for the Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room

Moved by: Councilmember JimenezSeconded by: Councilmember McLaughlin
Failed

2 to 4

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesNay
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezNay
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAbstain
Demnlus Johnson IIINay

Increase the rental fee for the Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room to $15.00 per hour

Moved by: Councilmember Martinez
Failed

Direct staff to take the comments from this item and do a financial analysis on Councilmembers Jimenez and McLaughlin's ideas for how city facilities were used and come back with an analysis based on their recommendations, staff's recommendations, and an option three if applicable

Moved by: Councilmember WillisSeconded by: Councilmember Martinez
Passed

7 to 0

Thomas K. ButtAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye

Make property owners liable for illegal fireworks on their property

4-2Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

Richmond currently struggles to catch people setting off illegal fireworks during holidays and events. This law makes property owners responsible for any fireworks used on their land, even if someone else lit them. Police and fire departments lack staff to enforce fireworks laws effectively.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Receive the first reading of said ordinance as recommended

Moved by: Councilmember BatesSeconded by: Mayor Butt
Failed

Direct staff to: (1) monitor for the next year the frequency of the illegal fireworks to see if it was a temporary situation due to the pandemic and also over the course of the year, see how other cities with similar ordinances actually made a difference or not; (2) in the meantime, review the policies that the City of Los Angeles had in effect such as going after social media platforms that promoted the illegal sales online; (3) consider a buy-back program for fireworks that the City of Los Angeles was doing; (4) educate the community through social media and other avenues that make it clear that fireworks were illegal and there were substantial state fines associated with them; and (5) set up incentives and rewards for callers to report illegal sales of the illegal products

Moved by: Councilmember McLaughlinSeconded by: Councilmember Jimenez
Passed

4 to 2

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesNay
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAbstain

Extend the meeting to complete the discussion for Item L-1

Moved by: Councilmember BatesSeconded by: Vice Mayor Johnson III
Passed

5 to 2

Thomas K. ButtAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezNay
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisNay
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye

Personnel(5 items)

Approve 5% cost of living increase for General Pension Fund retirees

Labor & City Workers

In Plain English

City retirees in the General Pension Fund currently receive a 2% annual cost of living increase. If approved, they receive an additional 3% increase for a total of 5% this year. This helps retirees keep up with inflation but increases the city's pension costs.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Approve labor contract with IFPTE Local 21 management employees

5-2Labor & City Workers

In Plain English

The city negotiated a new contract with management employees represented by IFPTE Local 21 union. The agreement includes wage increases that will be posted on the public salary schedule. If approved, the contract sets pay and working conditions for these exempt management positions.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Adopt Resolution No. 134-21

Moved by: Councilmember WillisSeconded by: Vice Mayor Johnson III
Passed

5 to 2

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesNay
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye

Approve salary and benefit changes for unrepresented management employees

5-2Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

The city employs both union and non-union management staff. Union managers recently received updated pay and benefits through contract negotiations. This proposal gives the same salary and benefit changes to non-union managers to maintain consistent compensation across management levels.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Adopt Resolution No. 135-21

Moved by: Councilmember WillisSeconded by: Councilmember Martinez
Passed

5 to 2

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesNay
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye

Approve updated list of city jobs and salary changes for department reorganization

City Reorganization

In Plain English

The city manager is restructuring some departments and needs council approval for the new job positions and pay scales. This formal list shows all city employee positions for the 2021-22 budget year. The reorganization affects which departments handle certain city services, but the total number of city workers stays roughly the same.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Approve 3-month employment agreement for interim city manager

City Manager Contract

In Plain English

The city needs temporary leadership while searching for a permanent city manager. Shasa Curl would serve as interim city manager from December 2021 through February 2022. If approved, she receives $21,250 per month plus benefits during this transition period.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Housing(1 item)

Create regulation to credit rent board fees for small landlords

Rent Board & Tenants

In Plain English

Small landlords with 4 or fewer rental units currently pay the same rent board fees as large property owners. The city wants to create a new rule under Measure U that would give these small landlords credits or reduced fees. If approved, staff will draft the specific regulation and bring it back to council for a final vote.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Miscellaneous(1 item)

Details

In Plain English

This agenda item lacks any description or details about what the council will be discussing or voting on. Without additional information, residents cannot know what specific matter the council plans to address during this portion of the meeting.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Approved as a group without individual discussion.