City Council — Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Regular meeting
It follows the City Council minutes, Jan 27, which control every motion and vote below, checked against the Council agenda, Jan 27 and the KCRT video. Video times are approximate, taken from the automatic captions.
Attendance
- Before closed session: Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: None.
- Regular meeting: Present: Councilmembers Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Soheila Bana arrived after the roll was called.
Closed session
- C.1 — Conference With Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation.
- C.2 — Conference With Labor Negotiators.
- City Attorney’s report: C.1: The item was discussed. C.2: The item was discussed.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
Agenda Review
- Study and Action Session was rearranged as follows: Item P.5 - Update on Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Services, Fire Station upgrades and replacements, associated, five-year financial forecast, and develop revenue enhancement recommendations was moved up to be heard first;
- Item P.3 - Consultant engagement for community input on Polluters Pay Settlement Funds and Item P.4 - Community meetings to gather community input on how to spend the community money, Chevron Community Funds were combined and moved to be heard second;
- Item P.2 - Contract amendment for the Fiscal Yar 2024-25 Grade 5 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project was moved to be heard third; and Item P.1 - Modification of City Council Liaison appointment cycle for Boards and Commissions was moved to be heard last.
Commendations, Presentations, and Proclamations
M.1 — Proclamation Honoring the 2025 Richmond Women of the Year
- As agendized: Proclamation recognizing the 2025 Richmond Women of the Year.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
Open Forum for Public Comment
- Public comment was taken. Speakers are listed in the minutes; the Monitor does not name members of the public.
City Council Consent Calendar
- Motion to approve the consent calendar (with the exceptions above) — moved by Jimenez, seconded by Bana. Passed 7–0.
Consent items of note ($100,000 and up, or pulled or continued)
- O.7.b — Bicycle Circulation Modifications near West Cutting Boulevard and South Garrard Boulevard. Adopt a resolution to appropriate $125,000 from the General Capital Fund (Fund 2001) for circulation modifications at West Cutting Boulevard and South Garrard Boulevard in Point Richmond to improve operational concerns affecting cyclists, pedestrians, and motor vehicles Adopted Resolution No. 12-26.
- O.7.c — Purchase with Jesse Mack Company and Sterling May Equipment Company for Three (3) Fuel-Reduction Mowing Units. Adopt a resolution to approve a purchase with Jesse Mack Company and Sterling May Equipment Company for the acquisition of one (1) Green Climber LV600 remote mower and two (2) Raymo Torpedo electric slope mowers (including accessories and one spare battery) in an amount not to exceed $269,747.62 Adopted Resolution No. 13-26,
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): O.1.a Resolution in Solidarity with the People of Iran in Their Struggle for Human Rights, Economic Justice, and Democratic Freedoms; O.1.b Proclamation Honoring the Legacy of Douglas Ellison and Inez Watson and Recognizing the Work of the Watson Ellison Foundation in Alzheimer's and Dementia Awareness; O.2.a Fiscal Year 2025-26 Quarter 1 Budget Report; O.3.a Approve Salary Schedules in Accordance with California Code of Regulations 570.5(a) (2 CCR § 570.5); O.3.b Amend Salary Schedule; O.3.c Approve Salaries and Benefits of Unrepresented Executive Management Classifications; O.4.a Contract Amendment No. 1 with Nor-Cal Moving Services for Additional Moving and Storage Services; O.5.a Proclamation recognizing January 27, 2026, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.; O.5.b Proclamation recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month in Richmond; O.5.c Appointment of Lorene Ransbottom to the Commission on Aging; O.5.d Appointment of Beverly A. Dynes to the Commission on Aging; O.5.e Appointment of Regina Whitney to the Commission on Aging; O.5.f Appointment of Linda Whitmore to the Richmond Zhoushan Friendship Commission.; O.5.g Appointment of Free Brown to the Workforce Development Board; O.5.h Appointment of Ana Tellez Witrago to the Community Police Review Commission; O.6.a Richmond Police Department Monthly Crime Report for December 2025; O.7.a Reimbursement Agreement with Union Pacific Railroad for the Barrett Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project.
Study and Action Session
P.1 — Modification of City Council Liaison Appointment Cycle for Boards and Commissions
- As agendized: Direct the city clerk to work with the Mayor’s Office to implement a two-year council liaison appointment cycle for boards and commissions, aligned with the council election cycle, while maintaining the Mayor’s authority to appoint or remove liaisons at their discretion, and direct that the current liaisons remain in effect through December 31, 2026, with new appointments to be made in the first quarter of 2027 follo….
- Motion — moved by Wilson, seconded by Martinez. Passed 6–0 (absent: Robinson).
- Item begins about video 5:48:50.
P.2 — Contract Amendment for the Fiscal Year 2024–25 Grade 5 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project
- As agendized: Adopt a resolution and approve the issuance of Task Authorizations to Veolia Water, on behalf of the City, to manage subcontracts with APB General Engineering, VW Housen, and Questa Engineers for additional sanitary sewer line replacement and rehabilitation work, with a contract amendment amount of $4,030,385, thereby increasing the total payment limit to $6,554,348, including applicable markups.
- Adopted Resolution No. 14-26.
- Motion — moved by Wilson, seconded by Martinez. Passed 6–0 (absent: Robinson). Result announced about video 5:51:29.
- Item begins about video 5:49:33.
P.3 — Consultant Engagement for Community Input on Polluters Pay Settlement Funds
- As agendized: Direct the city manager to engage a consultant to collaborate with City staff, City Council, and community stakeholders to conduct community engagement and gather input on a framework for the expenditure of new General Fund revenues generated by the Polluters Pay Settlement, with the consultant reporting back to the City Council by May 26, 2026.
- The original motion with amendments — moved by Jimenez, seconded by Robinson. Passed 5–1 (noes: Brown; abstained: Bana).
P.4 — Community Meetings to Gather Community Input on How to Spend the Community Money; Chevron Settlement Funds
- As agendized: Direct the city manager, or their designee, to schedule and lead a minimum of six community meetings each year, all around the City in each district, to gather input from the community on how to spend The Community Money: Chevron settlement funds, prior to the annual budget meeting.
- No motion or outcome is recorded in the minutes for this item.
P.5 — Update on Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Services, Fire Station Upgrades and Replacements, Associated Five-Year Financial Forecast, and Develop Revenue Enhancement Recommendations
- As agendized: Receive an update on the Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Services, Fire Station Upgrades and Replacements, and associated Five-Year Financial Forecast; and direct the city manager to develop revenue enhancement and financing recommendations for City Council consideration.
- The city council requested that staff identify funds equal to the settlement funds that were in the amount it would cost to fund Advanced Life Support services, develop revenue enhancement ideas, and come back within 60 days with options that do not include the use of the settlement funds.
- A motion was made as follows to receive the update as presented and identify how general funds were considered to ensure that the general funds and settlement funds can be looked at in totality of the needs of the city. — moved by Martinez, seconded by Brown. Passed 7–0.
Reports of Officers
- Councilmembers gave reports and referrals; see the minutes.
Adjournment
- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:39 p.m., in memory of all those recently killed in Iran, to meet again on February 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Not yet confirmed
- P.4 Community Meetings to Gather Community Input on How to Spend the Community Money; Chevron Settlement Funds: no motion or outcome recorded in the minutes.