Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Presiding: Vice Mayor Jael Myrick · Called to order: 7:07 p.m. · 4 items · 12 votes · 10 public comments

What happened

  • Approved racial equity training for 2 staff members 5-2 (Bates, Pimplé dissenting).
  • Heard appeal of Planning Commission's 373-acre development map extension but took no vote.
  • Approved 5% cost increase for retired city employees (Myrick, Pimplé abstaining).
  • Approved 6 routine items including $108,000 for police vehicles and $10,592 Zoll Data contract.
  • Endorsed Valley View Project school demolition unanimously.

Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records

View official: Minutes

Attendance

Jovanka Beckles(Present)
Eduardo Martinez(Present)
Gayle McLaughlin(Present)
Vinay Pimple(Present)
Jael Myrick(Present)
Tom Butt(Absent)
Nat Bates(Present)
5 substantive items · 7 consent · 1 procedural

Personnel(2 items)

Approve 5% cost of living increase for retired city employees

3-3Labor & City Workers

In Plain English

The city provides annual pension increases to help retirees keep up with inflation. Current retirees receive a guaranteed 2% increase each year. This adds another 3% increase for 2024, bringing the total to 5%. The additional cost gets paid from the city's pension fund.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

To base the increase solely in accordance with the current Consumer Price Index (CPI)

Moved by: Vinay PimpléSeconded by: Jael Myrick
Failed

3 to 3

Nathaniel BatesNay
Eduardo MartinezAye
Vinay PimpléAye
Jael MyrickAye
Jovanka BecklesNay
Gayle McLaughlinNay
Tom ButtAbsent

To adopt the resolution as recommended by staff

Moved by: Nathaniel BatesSeconded by: Jovanka Beckles
Passed

4 to 0

Nathaniel BatesAye
Jovanka BecklesAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Vinay PimpléAbstain
Jael MyrickAbstain
Tom ButtAbsent

Require managers to participate in job interviews alongside department heads

City Hiring Process

In Plain English

The city currently allows department heads to conduct job interviews alone when hiring new employees. The proposed change requires relevant managers to join these interviews to help with candidate selection. This affects how the city fills open positions across all departments.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Governance(2 items)

Endorse Phase Two of Valley View Project school campus demolition

Political Statements

In Plain English

The West Contra Costa Unified School District plans to demolish the old Valley View Campus as Phase Two of a larger project. The city wants to formally support this demolition work. If approved, staff sends a letter to the school board encouraging them to move forward immediately.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

To adopt the resolution as presented

Moved by: Jovanka BecklesSeconded by: Eduardo Martinez
Passed

6 to 0

Nathaniel BatesAye
Jovanka BecklesAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Vinay PimpléAye
Jael MyrickAye

Assign 2 staff members to year-long racial equity training program

4-2Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

The Government Alliance on Race and Equity runs monthly training sessions for Bay Area government workers focused on achieving racial equity in city policies and services. The city manager would choose which 2 staff members participate in the year-long program. If approved, Richmond joins other local governments working to identify and address racial disparities in city operations.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

To direct the City Manager to re-evaluate staff availability and return to the City Council in one month with an implementation plan

Moved by: Nathaniel BatesSeconded by: <UNKNOWN>
Failed

To direct the City Manager to assign a minimum of two staff members

Moved by: Gayle McLaughlinSeconded by: Jovanka Beckles
Passed

4 to 2

Nathaniel BatesNay
Jovanka BecklesAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Jael MyrickAye
Vinay PimpléNay
Tom ButtAbsent

Zoning(1 item)

Consider appeal of Planning Commission's approval of 6-year extension for 373-acre development map

Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

The East Bay Regional Parks District owns 373 acres in El Sobrante Valley and received Planning Commission approval to extend their development map until July 2021. Someone appealed that decision to the city council. If the appeal succeeds, the Parks District loses the extension and must restart the approval process.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Approved as a group without individual discussion.

I-8Approval of meeting minutes