Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Presiding: Mayor Thomas K. Butt · Called to order: 6:36 p.m. · 6 items · 13 votes · 12 public comments
What happened
- Approved new fees for residential rental properties 5-1 (Butt dissenting).
- Approved $513,000 in grants to 21 local organizations 4-1-1 (Myrick dissenting, Martinez abstaining).
- Approved 8 routine items including $50,000 for electric parking enforcement vehicles and tiny house homeless housing.
- Received presentation on housing crisis fellowship program with no action taken.
Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records
View official: MinutesAttendance
Budget(1 item)
Approve $513,000 in grants to 21 local organizations
In Plain English
The city's grant committee reviewed applications and recommends funding 21 community organizations this fiscal year. The total amount cannot exceed $513,000. Organizations can now receive up to 50% of their grant money upfront instead of the current 25%.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve $40,000 to 990 and 99N organizations awarded over $50,000 and divide $80,000 among organizations that were disqualified, and come back to the City Council for input on new clear criteria
Provide an equal percentage of money to all 990 organizations that scored 100 and over
Approve the committee recommendations, add category three ($50,000) money to the 990 Ns, and direct staff to provide a list of all organizations that received FY 2017-2018 grant awards when the ECIA grant process was presented for the FY 2018-2019, approve increasing the amount of advanced payment allowable from 25% to up to 50%, authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute Grant Service Agreements with approved grantees
4 to 1
Housing(2 items)
Adopt new fees for residential rental properties
In Plain English
The city proposes charging landlords $47 per rental unit in 2016-17 and $98 per unit in 2017-18. These new fees would be added to the city's official fee schedule. If approved, landlords who pay late face penalties and the city can place liens on properties for unpaid fees.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopt Ordinance No. 16-17 N.S.
5 to 1
Receive presentation on Staying Power fellowship exploring housing crisis impacts
In Plain English
Richmond residents will present findings from a fellowship program that studied how the housing crisis affects the community. The Staying Power fellowship brought together locals to research and document housing challenges facing residents. The presentation shares their discoveries about displacement, affordability, and other housing issues in Richmond.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Governance(2 items)
Support state bill banning employers from asking about criminal history on job applications
In Plain English
AB 1008 would prohibit California employers from asking job applicants about their criminal history on initial application forms. This 'Ban the Box' policy removes the checkbox that asks about past convictions. If approved, Richmond formally endorses this state legislation aimed at reducing employment barriers for people with criminal records.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopt Resolution No. 101-17
6 to 0
Announce council seat vacancy and set candidate filing deadline
In Plain English
A city council member's seat became vacant on July 18, 2017. The city must follow specific legal procedures to fill the empty position. If approved, candidates have until a set deadline to submit their applications, and the council schedules a public meeting to interview candidates and select a replacement.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Establish Tuesday, August 15, 2017, as the deadline to file candidates' statements in the City Clerk's Office, and set Tuesday, September 12, 2017, at the scheduled City Council meeting, as the date for the public meeting to fill the vacancy
5 to 1
Miscellaneous(1 item)
Consider joining partnership to improve neighborhoods around Lovonya DeJean Middle School
In Plain English
The California Emerging Technology Fund will present a report about a multi-agency partnership focused on the area around Lovonya DeJean Middle School. The partnership aims to coordinate services and improvements across multiple government agencies. The city council will decide whether Richmond should join this collaborative effort to address neighborhood needs.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Receive the report and direct staff to take steps to join the multi-agency partnership to improve the lives of residents in the neighborhoods surrounding Lovonya DeJean Middle School in Richmond
6 to 0
Approved as a group without individual discussion.