Contract Amendment No. 2 with Just Cities, LLC for completion of the Housing Equity Roadmap as specified in the Housing Element

APPROVE a second contract amendment with Just Cities, LLC to support completion and implementation of the Housing Equity Road Map increasing the payment limit by $49,999, for a total payment limit of $209,994, and extending the term through December 31, 2027– Community Development Department (Lina Velasco 510-620-6841/Jesus Morales 510-620-6649).

This item was continued from the June 16, June 23, and July 7, 2026, meetings.

Financial Impact

The proposed $49,999 contract amendment is included within the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Housing Division’s budget (see Account String: 12031063- 400201). No additional General Fund resources are required.

Previous Council Action

September 12, 2023

Statement Of The Issue

The City contracted with Just Cities, LLC to develop the Housing Equity Roadmap (HER). The HER will serve as an implementation plan for new policies, programs, or investments that can be realized in the short and long- term to ensure Richmond residents have affordable, stable, and dignified housing. The contract amendment is needed to allow Just Cities, LLC to complete the HER and assist the City in the implementation phase of the HER.

Recommended Action

APPROVE a second contract amendment with Just Cities, LLC to support completion and implementation of the Housing Equity Road Map increasing the payment limit by $49,999, for a total payment limit of $209,994, and extending the term through December 31, 2027– Community Development Department (Lina Velasco 510-620- 6841/Jesus Morales 510-620-6649). This item was continued from the June 16, June 23, and July 7, 2026, meetings.

Discussion

In 2022, Just Cities, LLC was a subcontractor to Lisa Wise Consulting, lead consultant, for the 6th Cycle Housing Element update. Specifically, Just Cities, LLC (Just Cities) prepared the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) appendix, with an accompanied list of specific Meaningful Actions included in the Housing Element. The AFFH analysis was a new State requirement for Housing Element Updates beginning in 2021. Just Cities, LLC supported the City in its first ever State required assessment of fair housing issues, contributing factors, and the development of meaningful actions to affirmatively further fair housing.

Given their role in the development of the 6th Cycle Housing Element update and AFFH appendix, Just Cities was well positioned to continue this previous work with the development of the Housing Equity Roadmap (HER). Just Cities has been working with the City in the development of the HER over these past two years. The HER continues the AFFH work by examining and proposing concrete implementation and policy assessment plans for key policies that will address housing issues within Richmond. Specifically, their work will support the city in implementing certain programs identified in the Housing Element Goal 6: Promote fair housing access and opportunities for all persons. The HER will serve as the implementation plan for new policies, programs, or investments that can be realized in short, mid- and long-term actions to ensure Richmond residents have affordable, stable, and dignified housing. The HER will address issues of racial segregation, fair housing, land use compatibility, housing production, housing habitability, equitable development, and include community feedback.

The second contract amendment will allow Just Cities, LLC to complete the HER and assist in the implementation of some of the goals and objectives laid out in the HER.

SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:

The proposed contract amendment to complete the HER supports the implementation of programs identified in City’s adopted Housing Element (2023-2031), specifically the Meaningful Actions in Appendix F: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.

Environmental Review

The approval of second contract amendment with Just Cities, LLC is not a "project" as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 because it involves consulting services to complete and assist in the implementation of the Housing Equity Road Map and does not commit the City to any specific course of action that may result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Any future actions resulting from the Housing Equity Road Map that may constitute a project under CEQA will be evaluated for CEQA compliance at the appropriate time. In the alternative, the action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA

Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that approval of the contract amendment will not have a significant effect on the environment.

Conclusion

Community Development staff recommend that the City Council approve a Contract Amendment No. 2 with Just Cities, LLC to increase the not-to-exceed amount by $49,999 for the completion and implementation assistance for the Housing Equity Roadmap for a term extending through December 31, 2027.

DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:

Attachment 1 – Amendment No. 2 Attachment 2 – Original Contract and Amendment No. 1

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DocID #34720v1 CITY OF RICHMOND CONTRACT AMENDMENT The parties to this Contract Amendment do mutually agree and promise as follows:

• 1. Parties. The parties to this Contract Amendment are the City of Richmond, a public body corporate and politic, and the following named Contractor:

Contractor Name:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:

Contact Person:

Telephone:

Email:

Business License No: A California: corporation, limited liability corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, individual, non-profit corporation, individual dba as [specify:] _________________________________________ other [specify:] ___________________________________________________

• 2. Purpose. This Contract Amendment is being entered into to amend the following Contract between City and Contractor (list terms in effect on the date of initial Contract approval):

City Council Approval Date/City Manager Execution Date: ____________________________ Effective Date: ___________________; Termination Date: ____________________________ Payment Limit: ___________________.

[check box if applicable] The Contract was previously amended, as described in the amendment history attached to this Contract Amendment, and the terms and conditions of any amendments shall be deemed to be a part of the Contract.

• 3. Contract Provisions. The parties hereto agree to continue to abide by those terms and conditions of the Contract, including any amendments thereto, which are unaffected by this Contract Amendment, and which shall remain in full force and effect.

Department:

City Project Manager:

City Project Manager E-mail:

City Project Manager Phone No:

Vendor No:

Contract No:

Description of Services:

Amendment No. ___ modifies the (check all that apply):

Term Payment Limit Service Plan Complete the Amendment History page if this Amendment is the 2nd or subsequent amendment.

Community Development Lina Velasco lina_velasco@ci.richmond.ca.us 510-620-6706 16034 6683 Just Cities, LLC will develop a Housing Equity Roadmap for the implementation of 6th Cycle Housing Element Meaningful Actions as specified in the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) appendix.

2 Just Cities, LLC 2150 Allston Way, Suite 340 Berkeley, CA 94704 Margaretta Lin

• (510) 409-8653 margaretta@justcities.work 4006-4681 September 12, 2023 September 12, 2023 December 31, 2025 150,000

DocID #34720v1 Modified January 14, 2025

• 4. Amendment Provisions. This Contract Amendment is subject to the Amendment Provisions attached hereto, which are incorporated herein by reference, and which control over any conflicting provisions of the Contract.
• 5. City of Richmond Business License Active Status Maintained. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 7.04.030, the Contractor must maintain its City of Richmond business license for this Contract Amendment to be deemed to be in effect.
• 6. Insurance Coverage Updated and Maintained. Pursuant to the Contract, the Contractor shall provide the City with updated insurance certificates, and the Contractor shall maintain insurance coverage, for this Contract Amendment to be deemed to be in effect.
• 7. Authority; Counterparts; Signatures. Each of the signatories hereto represents and warrants that he or she has the authority to execute this Contract Amendment for the Party on whose behalf he or she is executing this Contract Amendment. This Contract Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The Parties may rely on electronic or scanned signatures as originals. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Contract Amendment by electronic format (including pdf) shall be the same as delivery of an original executed signature page.

CITY OF RICHMOND, a municipal corporation By: ________________________________ Title: ______________________________ Date Signed: ________________________ I hereby certify that this Amendment has been approved by the City Council or executed by the City Manager.

By: _______________________________ City Clerk Approved as to form:

By: _______________________________ City Attorney [CONTRACTOR NAME] (*If applicable, the Corporation Chairperson of the Board, President, or Vice-President should sign below.)

By: ____________________________________ Title: __________________________________ Date Signed: ____________________________ (*If applicable, the Corporation Chief Financial Officer or Assistant Treasurer, or Secretary or Assistant Secretary should sign below.)

By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________________ *(NOTE: Pursuant to California Corporations Code Section 313, if C