Tuesday, July 19, 2016

The council placed the Richmond Fair Rent Initiative on the November 2016 ballot, despite split opposition. The measure would create rent limits and require just cause for evictions. It passed 5-2, with Martinez and Beckles voting no.

The council approved $600,000 in environmental grants to 14 local organizations funded by Chevron refinery payments. The grants will support various environmental and community projects across Richmond. The funding comes from the city's Environment & Community Investment Agreement.

A proposal requiring private developers to spend 1% of construction costs on public art was voted down. The measure would have created either direct art installations or payments into a city art fund. The council directed staff to draft the law, but it ultimately failed.

The council hired a dedicated prosecutor from the county district attorney's office for $200,000. The Community Based Prosecutor will work exclusively on Richmond cases and focus on local crimes. The position was approved unanimously.

The council approved 26 routine items on consent, including granting Internet Archive a 99-year exclusive use of 4 city fiber cables and hiring a law firm for specialized tax advice for $15,000."}