Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Presiding: Mayor Tom Butt · Called to order: 7:13 p.m. · 8 items · 37 votes · 24 public comments
What happened
- Approved placing Richmond Fair Rent Initiative on November 2016 ballot 5-2 (Martinez, Beckles dissenting).
- Approved studying litter tax or fee for businesses 6-1 (Bates dissenting).
- Approved $600,000 in environmental grants to 14 local organizations.
- Approved hiring dedicated prosecutor from county district attorney's office.
- Approved 26 routine items including 99-year fiber cable deal with Internet Archive.
Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records
View official: MinutesAttendance
Housing(1 item)
Place Richmond Fair Rent Initiative on November 2016 ballot
In Plain English
Petition organizers collected enough valid signatures to qualify a rent control measure for the November election. The initiative would create rent limits, require just cause for evictions, and add homeowner protections. If approved by voters, the law takes effect immediately.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
adopt Resolution No. 75-16
5 to 2
direct staff to provide a full financial analysis of the costs of the implementation of the ballot measure
4 to 2
Environment(1 item)
Put litter tax on ballot or study creating litter fee for businesses
In Plain English
The city wants to charge businesses a litter tax or fee based on their annual sales. Council must choose between asking voters to approve a tax or hiring a consultant to study creating a fee instead. Businesses that generate more litter would pay more to help fund cleanup efforts.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
direct staff to prepare a Litter Fee ordinance and conduct a cost of service study
6 to 1
Governance(3 items)
Add unpaid city fines to property tax bills as special assessments
In Plain English
The city issues citations for code violations like overgrown weeds, abandoned cars, and unsafe buildings. When property owners don't pay these fines, the city currently has limited collection options. If approved, unpaid fines get added directly to property tax bills, making them easier to collect.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
adopt Resolution No. 72-16
7 to 0
Support state bill expanding citizen-funded election programs to all cities
In Plain English
Senate Bill 1107 would allow all California cities to create public campaign financing programs. Currently only charter cities can offer these programs, where candidates receive public money instead of relying on private donations. If the bill passes, Richmond could establish its own system to publicly fund local election campaigns.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
adopt Resolution No. 74-16
7 to 0
Direct staff to draft law requiring 1% of private project costs fund public art
In Plain English
The city wants developers of private projects to spend 1% of construction costs on public art or pay into an art fund. Staff will work with art committees to create this requirement. If approved, new developments would contribute to public art throughout Richmond.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
approve the item
7 to 0
schedule a study session for further discussion prior to directing staff to prepare an ordinance
Contracts(2 items)
Hire dedicated prosecutor from county district attorney's office
In Plain English
The city wants to pay the county $200,000 for a deputy district attorney to work exclusively on Richmond cases. This Community Based Prosecutor would focus on local crimes and work directly with Richmond police. The agreement runs from July 2016 through June 2017.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
approve the agreement
7 to 0
Award $600,000 in environmental grants to 14 local organizations
In Plain English
The city's Environment & Community Investment Agreement creates a grant program funded by Chevron refinery payments. A review committee selected 14 organizations to receive grants totaling $600,000 for environmental and community projects. If approved, the city manager can finalize contracts with each grant recipient.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
approve the item, and set aside $50,000 to $100,000 from the $600,000 mitigation fund for cycle 2, which can be used at the discretion of the City Council and Mayor to review and determine which organizations that were denied funding should receive it
6 to 0
Budget(1 item)
Set sewer service charges for fiscal year 2016-17
In Plain English
The city must formally approve sewer rates each year before adding them to property tax bills. This resolution sets the amounts residents pay for wastewater treatment and stormwater management. If approved, these fees appear on your annual property tax statement starting in 2016-17.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
adopt Resolution No. 71-16
7 to 0
Zoning(1 item)
Issue permit for marijuana manufacturing business at JOINN Innovation Park
In Plain English
Indigo Therapeutics wants to operate a marijuana manufacturing facility at 2600 Hilltop Drive inside JOINN Innovation Park. The business would process cannabis into products like edibles and concentrates. If approved, this becomes the city's first licensed marijuana manufacturing operation in that location.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
adopt Resolution No. 73-16
7 to 0
Approved as a group without individual discussion.