Tuesday, May 5, 2015

The council approved 15 routine items on consent, including a $314,832 contract with Environmental Science Associates to create Richmond's Climate Action Plan. Other major expenditures included $600,000 contracts with six engineering firms and $106,937 for leasing 77 automatic defibrillators over four years.

The council unanimously approved new zoning rules to allow more homeless shelters and transitional housing in the city. State laws SB 2 and SB 745 required Richmond to update its zoning code to match new requirements for emergency housing.

A new tourism marketing district was approved unanimously to replace the existing business improvement district. The new district will collect fees from hotels to fund marketing with updated rules and better oversight.

The council also adopted a 5-year housing plan for 2015-2020 that shows how Richmond will spend federal housing grants. The plan covers affordable housing programs and homeless services funded by annual federal money.

Discussion of expanding the street paving program using Measure U funds was continued to a future meeting. Councilmember Nathaniel Bates was absent from the meeting.