Tuesday, September 13, 2022

27 items · 2 votes · 8 public comments

What happened

The council approved a controversial plan for Point Molate maintenance and security by a narrow 4-3 vote, with Jimenez, Martinez, and McLaughlin voting no. Residents raised concerns during public comment about property maintenance costs, development agreement terms, and commercial storage lease revenue at the waterfront site. Eight people spoke on this item, making it the most discussed topic of the meeting.

The council unanimously approved adding $125,000 to a contract with McNamara law firm to defend the city in 4 police misconduct lawsuits. This brings the total contract value to over $400,000 since the firm was hired in March 2021.

The council approved 24 routine items on consent, including $71,759 in grants to 9 local artists for neighborhood public art projects and a $15,000 contract for signs at 'Ookwe Park. Several major financial items received no recorded votes, including a $2.5 million state gas tax funding list for road repairs and a $300,000 contract with Radman Electric for a Unity Park trash enclosure.

Multiple commission appointments were processed without recorded votes, including reappointments to the Commission on Aging, Design Review Board, and Planning Commission. The council also considered adding $40,000 to a law firm contract for the ongoing Point Molate development lawsuit but no vote was recorded.

Auto-summarized from official minutes and vote records

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Attendance

Claudia Jimenez(Present)
Demnlus Johnson III(Present)
Gayle McLaughlin(Present)
Melvin Willis(Present)
Eduardo Martinez(Present)
Tom Butt(Present)
Nat Bates(Present)
27 items
TopCreate plan for effective maintenance and security at Point Molate
Passed 4-38 speakersPoint Molate
Review 3 liability claims against the city in closed session
Liability Claims
Add $125,000 to law firm contract defending police lawsuits
Passed 7-0Police & Community Safety
Add $40,000 to law firm contract for Point Molate development lawsuit
Point Molate
Approve project list to receive $2.5 million in state gas tax for road repairs
Road Maintenance Funding
Approve $300,000 contract to build Unity Park trash enclosure
Unity Park
Honor Mr. Yasuhiko Aoki for 30+ years serving Richmond-Shimada sister city commission
Police & Community Safety
Approve $15,000 contract for signs and markers at 'Ookwe Park
Ookwe Park
Award $71,759 to 9 local artists for neighborhood public art projects
Art Mini-Grants
Receive June 2022 investment balances and overtime spending reports
Labor & City Workers
Receive monthly financial reports on cash balances and overtime spending
Labor & City Workers
Expand HR consulting contract to recruit police officers and firefighters
Police & Community Safety
Award $100,000 in grants to 6 local nonprofits using Chevron settlement funds
Environmental Justice
Reappoint 2 members to Commission on Aging for 4-year terms
Commission on Aging
Reappoint Brian Carter to Design Review Board for 2-year term
Design Review Board
Reappoint 2 members to ECIA Grant Review Ad Hoc Committee
Chevron & the Refinery
Reappoint 2 members to Economic Development Commission
Economic Development Commission
Reappoint 2 members to Historic Preservation Commission for 4-year terms
Historic Preservation Commission
Reappoint Paula Urtecho to Urban Forest Advisory Committee
Urban Forest Committee
Appoint Sofia Victoria Lopez to Human Rights and Relations Commission
Police & Community Safety
Appoint Thomas Harrison Jr. to Library Commission
Library Commission
Appoint 3 new members to Urban Forest Advisory Committee
Urban Forest Committee
Declare August 31, 2022 as Overdose Awareness Day in Richmond
Overdose Awareness Day
Reappoint Jen Loy to Planning Commission for 2-year term
Planning Commission
Approve $9,200 travel for 4 officials to visit sister city in Japan
Shimada Sister City
Buy $250,000 in police car computers over 5 years
Police & Community Safety
Accept $235,000 state grant for traffic safety enforcement program
Police & Community Safety
W.2.aCity Council Meeting Minutes