What happened
The council approved restrictions on city investment policy to avoid funding companies that support violence and war, passing with 6 votes in favor and Cesar Zepeda abstaining. The decision drew 60 public comments, with residents advocating for divestment from companies involved in apartheid, genocide, and surveillance technology while expressing Palestinian solidarity and addressing concerns about antisemitism.
The council unanimously approved putting instant runoff voting on the November ballot for future city elections. All 5 speakers supported the change, saying it would reduce polarization and ensure winners have majority support rather than just the most votes.
The council unanimously supported the Richmond San Rafael Bridge Trail for bikers and walkers. The trail opened in 2019 and has already seen over 375,000 trips as part of the larger Bay Trail network.
Several items received no vote during the meeting. These included a $24,000 budget increase for three city festivals, proclamations for Jewish American Heritage Month and Cinco de Mayo, and hiring finance and maintenance managers for the Port of Richmond. The Jewish Heritage Month proclamation drew criticism for being scheduled on the last night of Passover, with speakers saying this prevented Jewish community participation.
Auto-summarized from official minutes and vote records
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