Tuesday, November 23, 2021

7 items · 24 votes · 12 public comments

What happened

  • Approved censuring Mayor Tom Butt for releasing confidential information 5-2 (Bates, Butt dissenting).
  • Received presentation on cannabis equity assessment with draft manual but took no vote.
  • Approved hiring Shasa Curl as interim city manager for 3 months.
  • Approved 19 routine items including $1.8 million emergency repair of North Richmond Pump Station.

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(Present)
7 substantive items · 19 consent

Governance(2 items)

Receive presentation on cannabis equity assessment and review draft equity manual

Cannabis

In Plain English

The city studied how to make cannabis business licenses more accessible to communities harmed by past marijuana laws. Staff will present their findings and seek feedback on a new manual that would guide the city's cannabis equity program. The manual outlines how Richmond would help qualified residents start cannabis businesses.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Censure Mayor Tom Butt for releasing confidential information

5-2Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

The council accuses Mayor Butt of publicly sharing confidential attorney-client information and details from private council meetings. Censure is a formal reprimand with no legal penalties. If approved, the city attorney refers the matter to the Grand Jury and district attorney for potential investigation.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Adopt Resolution No. 144-21 censuring Mayor Tom Butt

Moved by: Vice Mayor Johnson IIISeconded by: Councilmember Martinez
Passed

5 to 2

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

Personnel(2 items)

Hire Shasa Curl as interim city manager for 3 months

City Manager Hiring

In Plain English

The city needs temporary leadership while searching for a permanent city manager. Curl would serve from December 2021 through March 2022 at $21,250 per month. Her salary could increase based on performance reviews during this interim period.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Approve employment agreement with Shasa Curl as interim Richmond city manager

Moved by: Vice Mayor Johnson IIISeconded by: Councilmember Willis
Passed

7 to 0

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

Approve salary schedule changes for city manager's department reorganization

City Manager Reorganization

In Plain English

The city manager is reorganizing some city departments and needs to update employee job titles and pay scales. The changes affect the official list of city positions and their salary ranges. If approved, affected employees receive new job classifications with updated pay structures.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Approve the positions proposed by Ms. Curl and the positions of Rent Board general counsel and chief assistant city attorney

Moved by: Councilmember JimenezSeconded by: Councilmember Willis
Passed

7 to 0

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

Housing(1 item)

Create rent board fee credit for landlords with 4 or fewer rental units

Rent Board & Tenants

In Plain English

Small landlords currently pay the same rent board fees as large property owners. The city wants to create a regulation giving fee credits to landlords who own 4 or fewer rental units. If approved, these smaller landlords pay reduced fees to the rent board that handles tenant disputes and rent control enforcement.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Approve direction to staff to draw up a Measure U regulation to provide for the crediting of the rent board fees paid by small landlords with four rental units or less

Moved by: Councilmember WillisSeconded by: Councilmember Martinez
Passed

7 to 0

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

Contracts(1 item)

Hire 3 firms to set up special financing districts for Point Molate development

Point Molate

In Plain English

The city needs specialized financial and legal help to create land-secured financing districts at Point Molate. These districts let developers pay for public improvements like roads and utilities through special property taxes. The 3 firms will advise on bond sales, calculate tax rates, and handle legal requirements for the financing structure.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Table this matter

Moved by: Councilmember MartinezSeconded by: <UNKNOWN>
Failed

Approve the item and when the matter returned to the council with a process for CFD formation, direct staff to include various costs scenarios and mitigations

Moved by: Councilmember McLaughlinSeconded by: Councilmember Jimenez
Passed

7 to 0

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

Miscellaneous(1 item)

Details

In Plain English

This agenda item lacks any description or details about what the council will discuss. Without more information, it's impossible to explain what action the council might take or how it could affect residents.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Approved as a group without individual discussion.