Council, 3 February 2026 — The Richmond Monitor

City Council — Tuesday, 3 February 2026

Regular meeting

It follows the City Council minutes, Feb 3, which control every motion and vote below, checked against the Council agenda, Feb 3 and the KCRT video. Video times are approximate, taken from the automatic captions.

Before closed session: Present: Councilmembers Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda (Via Zoom pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449), Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Jamelia Brown arrived after the roll was called. Councilmember Soheila Bana arrived after the Council adjourned to Closed Session.
Regular meeting: Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda (Via Zoom pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449), Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: None.

Item N.2.a (Authorize the City Manager to Develop Recommendations Pertaining to the Cannabis Sector for City Council Discussion in approximately 60 days.) was pulled from the consent calendar for discussion.

Public comment was taken. Speakers are listed in the minutes; the Monitor does not name members of the public.

Motion to approve the consent calendar (with the exceptions above) — moved by Brown, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 7–0.

N.2.a — Authorize the City Manager to Develop Recommendations Pertaining to the Cannabis Sector for City Council Discussion in approximately 60 days.. Authorize the city manager to develop recommendations pertaining to the cannabis sector and return to the City Council within 60 days for initial discussion Motion: Wilson, seconded by Bana. Passed 6–0 (absent: Zepeda).
Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): N.1.a Meeting Minutes; N.3.a Economic Development Commission Appointment – Jamin Pursell; N.3.b Richmond Arts and Culture Commission Appointment – Cata Aviña; N.3.c Macdonald Avenue Corridor Task Force Appointment – Ruthie Dineen; N.3.d Macdonald Avenue Corridor Task Force Appointment – Bryan Alvarez; N.3.e Recognition of Longstanding Black Community Leaders and Neighborhood Council Contributors in Celebration of Black History Month; N.4.a December 2025 Abatement Report.

As agendized: Approve a contract with Liftech Consultants Inc. in the amount of $299,797 for planning and preliminary design of the relocation of the Red Oak for a term ending June 30, 2027.
Motion: To bring the item back in two months. — moved by Martinez, seconded by Bana. Passed 5–1 (noes: Jimenez; abstained: Brown).

As agendized: Direct the city manager and city attorney to report to the City Council on March 3, 2026, regarding the City’s ongoing and planned efforts related to federal civil immigration enforcement actions, including ICE raids, and to return within 45 days with a proposed ICE-Free Zone Ordinance: The proposed ordinance shall restrict the use of City-owned or City-controlled property, facilities, personnel, and resources for fe….
Motion: To direct the city manager and city attorney to report to the City Council on March 3, 2026, regarding the City’s ongoing and planned efforts related to safeguard residents from federal civil immigration enforcement actions, including ICE raids, and to return within 45 days with a proposed ICE-Free Zone Ordinance. The proposed ordinance shall restrict the use of City-owned or City- controlled property, facilities, personnel, and resources for federal civil immigration enforcement; including staging areas, processing or detention locations and operation bases; and establish non-cooperat — moved by Jimenez, seconded by Robinson. Passed 6–0 (abstained: Brown).

As agendized: Receive a presentation by the Sustainable Economies Law Center regarding corporate land grabs and direct the City Attorney’s Office to evaluate the legal risks associated with enacting legislation to ban corporate land grab practices in Richmond.
Motion: To receive the presentation by the Sustainable Economies Law Center regarding corporate land grabs and direct the city attorney's office to collaborate with the Sustainable Economies Law Center to evaluate the legal risks associated with enacting legislation to ban corporate land grab practices in Richmond. — moved by Bana, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 6–0 (absent: Zepeda).

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:43 p.m., in recognition of Elena Velasquez and her achievement in receiving the Contra Costa County Youth Humanitarian Award, to meet again on February 17, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.