Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Presiding: Mayor Gayle McLaughlin · Called to order: 7:09 p.m. · 9 items · 5 votes · 1 public comments

What happened

The council voted down a proposal to support mail-only elections for Richmond by a vote of 2-4-1, with Rogers and Bates opposing and three members abstaining. The Assembly Bill 1654 would have allowed Richmond to conduct elections entirely by mail instead of operating physical polling places.

The council approved establishing a formal process for filling empty council seats by a vote of 5-1-1, with Mayor McLaughlin voting no. Richmond currently has no written rules for what happens when a council member leaves office early, and this new procedure will create clear steps for filling vacant seats.

The council upheld the Planning Commission's denial of yard setback variances for 759 Wilson Avenue. The property owner had requested permission to build closer to the street and property line than city rules allow, but the council confirmed the Planning Commission's rejection.

The council approved a $35,000 contract with Bovo-Tighe LLC for employee training and organizational development over one year. The council also approved $17,000 in funding and free stage use for the Cinco de Mayo celebration scheduled for May 5, 2007.

Auto-summarized from official minutes and vote records

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Attendance

Gayle McLaughlin(Present)
Tom Butt(Present)
John Marquez(Present)
Jim Rogers(Present)
Harpreet Sandhu(Present)
Maria Viramontes(Present)
Nat Bates(Present)
10 items
TopCreate formal process for filling empty City Council seats
Passed 5-11 speakerLabor & City Workers
Support state bill allowing Richmond to conduct mail-only elections
Failed 2-2Police & Community Safety
Uphold Planning Commission denial of yard setback variances for 759 Wilson Avenue
Passed 6-0759 Wilson Avenue Variances
Acknowledge receipt of city's 2006 annual financial report
Passed 6-0Annual Financial Report
Hire consulting firm for employee training and organizational development
Police & Community Safety
Support union transition from SEIU Local 790 to SEIU Local 1021
Labor & City Workers
Approve $17,000 funding and free stage use for Cinco de Mayo celebration
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Approve midyear budget adjustments for fiscal year 2006-07
Midyear Budget Adjustments
Appoint 4 council members to Port Committee
Terminal 1 & the Port
Expand Historic Preservation Committee membership and discuss International Hotel funding
Police & Community Safety
*Meeting minutes approval