Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Presiding: Mayor Irma L. Anderson · Called to order: 7:49 p.m. · 17 items · 27 votes · 6 public comments
What happened
- Denied $10,000 carryover for Summer Youth Employment Program and failed to create Knox Freeway development buffer zone.
- Approved city council spending rule changes 5-4 (Marquez, Viramontes, Bates, Thurmond dissenting) to comply with state law.
- Approved $100 sewer rebate program for District One seniors 5-4 (Marquez, Viramontes, Bates, Thurmond dissenting).
- Approved resuming automatic fire aid with county 5-4 (McLaughlin, Anderson, Rogers, Butt dissenting).
- Approved 11 routine items including $621,000 for 24 police cars and $50,000 charter review contract.
Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records
View official: MinutesAttendance
Governance(6 items)
Revise City Council spending rules to comply with state law AB 1234
In Plain English
State law AB 1234 requires cities to follow specific rules about how council members can spend public money. The city's current spending policy doesn't meet these requirements. If approved, the updated policy ensures Richmond follows state law for council expenses like travel and meals.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approved the revisions
5 to 4
Raise wastewater fees by 8% for Richmond Municipal Sewer District No. 1
In Plain English
The city operates a sewer district that treats wastewater from homes and businesses. Current fees cover the cost of maintaining pipes, treatment plants, and meeting environmental regulations. If approved, your monthly sewer bill increases by 8% to fund ongoing operations.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopt Ordinance No. 23-06, NS
5 to 1
Update transportation impact fees for new development projects
In Plain English
The city charges developers fees when they build new projects to help pay for road improvements needed to handle extra traffic. This law updates the fee structure for the West Contra Costa region. If approved, the city can immediately start collecting fees under the new rules.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Said ordinance received first and second reading and Ordinance No. 24-06, NS was adopted
6 to 0
Update transportation impact fees for new development projects
In Plain English
The city collects fees from developers to fund road improvements that offset traffic from new buildings. The current fee structure needs updating to reflect new projects and costs. If approved, developers pay revised amounts when building homes, offices, or retail spaces.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Said ordinance received first and second reading and Ordinance No. 25-06, NS was adopted
6 to 0
Place $29,340 in unpaid code violation fines on property tax bills
In Plain English
Some property owners have ignored city fines for code violations like overgrown weeds or illegal dumping. The city can add these unpaid fines to property tax bills as special assessments. If approved, $29,340 in outstanding fines gets collected through the county tax system.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approved the special assessments
6 to 0
Charge property owners $14,032 for unpaid cleanup and board-up costs
In Plain English
The city cleaned up trash or boarded up dangerous buildings on certain properties after owners ignored violation notices. Property owners never paid the city back for this work. If approved, the city adds these $14,032 costs to property tax bills so it gets repaid.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Close the public hearing
Approve all of the Assessments, with the exception of the property located at 1924 Dana Avenue and offer Rick Perry one final opportunity to appeal the assessment placed associated with his property
6 to 0
Contracts(3 items)
Authorize mayor to sign agreement for managing Gilman Street Sports Facility
In Plain English
Five neighboring cities jointly own and operate this sports facility through a shared partnership. The implementing agreement spells out day-to-day management details like maintenance schedules and cost sharing. If approved, Richmond's mayor can sign the operational agreement without returning to city council for approval.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Authorized execution of the agreement
9 to 0
Resume automatic aid agreement with county fire district
In Plain English
Richmond Fire Department and Contra Costa County fire crews currently do not automatically help each other during emergencies. This agreement lets the closest fire truck respond to calls regardless of which agency owns it. If approved, residents get faster emergency response when their local station is busy with another call.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Richmond assumes all responsibility for fire protection, including staffing, for San Pablo and unincorporated West Contra Costa County, including El Sobrante, North Richmond, Montalvin Manor, East Richmond Heights and Rollingwood. Contra Costa passes through all tax revenue for fire service currently provided to West contra Costa Consolidated fire district and all future taxes generated through that tax base. Richmond maintains equal level of service which is two Paramedic Engine Companies. Provide first opportunity to any West Contra Costa Consolidated Fire District employees, currently assigned to Stations 69 and 70, should they wish to work for Richmond fire. Form a fire Advisory Committee comprised of five citizens, 3 appointed by District 1 Supervisor and two appointed by Mayor of San Pablo. Advisory Committee will provide oversight of fire protection in consolidated area and report periodically to Cities of Richmond, San Pablo and Contra Costa County. A Council Committee comprised of Tom Butt, Nat Bates, and John Marquez is appointed by the City Council to negotiate with the County for the City of Richmond to provide fire protection for West Contra Costa Consolidated District. The Committee may hire expert(s) during negotiations. The City of Richmond should adopt the Contra Costa fire district's dispatch system as presently used by Stations 69 and 70 and the City of Pinole.
Enter into the Automatic Aid Agreement immediately, sunset the agreement in one year and place on the next agenda, July 11, 2006, the recommendations made by Councilmember Marquez on the next conceivable agenda of the City Council for discussion and consideration of a permanent solution
5 to 4
Execute agreement for transportation fee program coordination with other cities
In Plain English
The 2006 Sub-Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program collects fees from new developments to fund regional transportation improvements. This master agreement coordinates how participating cities work together on the program. If approved, the city manager can sign agreements without returning to council for each one.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopted Resolution No. 49-06
6 to 0
Budget(2 items)
Create $100 sewer rebate program for senior homeowners in District One
In Plain English
Senior homeowners in District One pay higher sewer fees after a 2006 rate increase. The city wants to create a rebate program giving these residents $100 back on their annual sewer bills. If approved, eligible seniors receive the rebate to help offset the extra costs they have paid for nearly 2 decades.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve the program
Made a substitute motion to also include any low income homeowners that can demonstrate the need
5 to 4
Carry over up to $10,000 in unspent funds for 2006 Summer Youth Employment Program
In Plain English
The city runs a summer jobs program for young people each year. Staff needs to find up to $10,000 from this year's leftover budget money to fund next summer's program. If approved, the money gets moved from the 2005-2006 budget into the 2006-2007 budget specifically for youth employment.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Directed the City Manager and Finance director to identify up to $10,000 in unspent funds from a specific General Fund line item(s) to be carried over to Fiscal Year 2006/2007 to be used for the 2006 Summer Youth Employment Program
Zoning(2 items)
Formalize 2006 approval of Westshore Marina condo development project
In Plain English
The city council approved this residential condo project at Westshore Marina in May 2006, including its environmental review and development plans. This resolution creates the formal paperwork to document that approval. The action addresses an administrative gap where the original approval was made but never properly recorded in city documents.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopted Resolution No. 48-06
7 to 2
Create buffer zone along Knox Freeway to limit development near highway
In Plain English
The city adopted a specific plan for the Knox Freeway and Cutting Boulevard area that includes a designated buffer zone. This formal decision confirms that buffer zone exists and requires city staff to update zoning laws to match the plan. If approved, the buffer zone limits what types of buildings can be constructed close to the freeway.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopt the resolution
Personnel(2 items)
Repeal city council cell phone and fax allowances to comply with state law
In Plain English
The city currently pays monthly allowances to council members for cell phones and fax machines under two existing laws passed in 2004 and 2021. State law AB 1234 now requires changes to these compensation rules. If approved, council members lose these monthly technology allowances.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Said ordinance received first reading and was laid over two weeks for second reading
5 to 1
Set wages for new Property Maintenance and Housing Inspector position
In Plain English
The city created a new job classification to inspect rental properties and enforce housing codes. This law establishes the salary range for these inspectors. If approved, the city can begin hiring inspectors to check that landlords maintain safe and habitable rental units.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
To apply this new classification to the Code Enforcement Department said ordinance received first reading and was laid over two weeks for second reading
6 to 0
Public Safety(1 item)
Join county program providing safety shields and cameras for 30 Richmond taxi cabs
In Plain English
The West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee started a program to improve taxi driver safety. Richmond would join this county effort as a pilot program. If approved, 30 licensed Richmond taxi drivers can get safety shields and cameras installed in their vehicles.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
The Council agreed that the matter should be part of the budget process and placed on the Checklist
Housing(1 item)
Amend law to stop citing homeless people for camping when no shelter beds exist
In Plain English
The city currently tickets homeless people for sleeping in public places like parks or sidewalks. This change prevents police from issuing camping citations when the city has no available shelter beds. If approved, homeless individuals can only be cited for camping when shelter space is actually available.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Said ordinance received first reading and was laid over two weeks for second reading
6 to 0
Miscellaneous(1 item)
Approve agreement with Richmond Museum Association for museum relocation
In Plain English
The Richmond Museum of History plans to move to a new location. The city needs a formal agreement with the Richmond Museum Association to coordinate this relocation. The agreement establishes how the city and museum will work together during the move process.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve the Memorandum of Understanding and include it as part of the Phase II Civic Center planning
7 to 0
Approved as a group without individual discussion.