City Council — Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Regular meeting
It follows the City Council minutes, Feb 17, which control every motion and vote below, checked against the Council agenda, Feb 17 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 (Via Zoom pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449), Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: None.
- Regular meeting: Present: Commissioners Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson (Via Zoom pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449), Cesar Zepeda, Vice Chairperson Doria Robinson, and Chairperson Eduardo Martinez. Absent: Tenant Commissioner Jaycine Scott.
Closed session
- C.1 — Conference With Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: Two Cases.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
Report from the Executive Director
Agenda Review
Housing Authority Open Forum
- Public comment was taken. Speakers are listed in the minutes; the Monitor does not name members of the public.
Housing Authority Consent Calendar
- Motion to approve the consent calendar (with the exceptions above) — moved by Zepeda, seconded by Brown. Passed 7–0 (absent: Scott).
Consent items of note ($100,000 and up, or pulled or continued)
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): M.1 Contract Amendment No. 1 with SWCA Environmental Consultants for Testing and Environmental Review of Richmond Village; M.2 Meeting Minutes.
Adjournment
- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:18 p.m.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
Agenda Review
City Attorney’s report from closed session
- Interim City Attorney Shannon Moore reported that no reportable action was taken on Item C.1 (conference with legal counsel - anticipated litigation). REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER (public comment allowed under Open Forum) Deputy City Manager Nickie Mastay provided a report.
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
Consent items of note ($100,000 and up, or pulled or continued)
- V.1.a — Legal Services Agreement Amendment No. 5 with Bennett, Gelini and Gelini, APC, for Litigation Matters. Approve a fifth amendment with Bennett, Gelini and Gelini, APC, to increase the payment limit by $300,000 for a total amount not to exceed $1,159,990 with a term ending December 31, 2027, for litigation representation
- V.1.b — Legal Services Agreement Amendment No. 3 with Stoel Rives, LLP for Land Use Matters. Approve a third amendment to the legal services agreement with Stoel Rives, LLP, to maintain adequate representation in future and pending land use and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) related litigation (Guidiville/Land Use), in the amount of $100,000 for a total amount not to exceed $175,000 with term ending December 31, 2026
- V.3.a — Additional Loan for Capital Cost related to the Civic Center Apartments (Homekey) Project. Adopt a resolution increasing the City loan amount from $8.3 million to up to $10.3 million to 425 Civic Center LP for the Civic Center Apartments project, which will convert an existing motel into a 49-unit permanent supportive housing development for the chronically homeless Motion: Bana, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 7–0.
- V.6.a — Richmond Fund for Children and Youth Calendar Year 2026 - 2027 Grants. Adopt a resolution approving grant award recommendations from the Richmond Fund for Children & Youth (rfcy) Oversight Board for Calendar Years 2026-2027 to eight (8) youth-serving nonprofit organizations in a total amount not to exceed $1,217,161 annually and authorize the city manager, or their designee, to negotiate and execute grant service agreements with approved grantees Motion: Jimenez, seconded by Bana. Passed 7–0.
- V.6.d — Contracts with Libraria, Ingram Content Group, Mackin Book Company, and Midwest Tape LLC, for Library Materials Services. Adopt a resolution to approve contracts, upon approval by the City Attorney’s Office, with Children’s Plus DBA Libraria, Ingram Content Group, Mackin Book Company, and Midwest Tape LLC, for library materials and preprocessing services, each in an amount not to exceed $300,000 per year, for a term of three years from February 2026 through January 2029, with two optional one-year extensions, and authorize the city mana… Adopted Resolution No. 17-26
- V.7.d — Opposing the Unlawful United States Military Intervention Against Venezuela. Adopt a resolution opposing unauthorized United States military intervention in Venezuela, affirming the City of Richmond’s commitment to peace, human rights, constitutional governance, and the prioritization of public resources for local community needs Motion: Robinson, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 6–0 (abstained: Brown).
- V.8.a — Purchase of Twenty (20) Fleet Vehicles for Fire, Police, and Abatement Operations from Dublin Chevrolet. Adopt a resolution to approve the purchase of twenty (20) fleet vehicles from California Automotive Retailing Group, Inc. DBA Dublin Chevrolet, utilizing Alameda County Master Contract No. 901979, in a not-to-exceed amount of $1,125,000, for use by the Fire Department, Police Department, and Abatement operations Adopted Resolution No. 19-26
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): V.7.d (Opposing the Unlawful United States Military Intervention Against Venezuela). Ayes (7): Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson,; V.2.a City Council Minutes; V.4.a Contract with SCI Consulting Group for On-Call Consulting Services; V.4.b Investment and Cash Balance Report, Monthly Overtime Reports, Documentary Transfer Tax Report, and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) and Pension Report for the Month of December 2025; V.5.a Contract with TargetSolutions Learning, LLC dba Vector Solutions to Provide a Web-based Fire Industry Training and Compliance Management System; V.6.b Contract with Cheryl Maier for American Job Centers of California (AJCC) One-Stop Operator Services; V.6.c Contract Amendment No. 3 with Epic Limousine for Youth Outdoors Richmond Transportation; V.7.a Amend the 2025 Appointments to Committees and Liaison Positions; V.7.b Re-appoint Brian Carter to the Design Review Board; V.7.c Direct the City Manager to identify funding for the Shimada Sister City Delegation Visit in Recognition of the 65th Anniversary of the Richmond– Shimada Sister City Relationship; V.7.e Appointment of Shahzaib Shahid to the Planning Commission.
Reports of Officers
- Councilmembers gave reports and referrals; see the minutes.
Adjournment
- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m. in memory of Jesse Jackson and Norma Jean La Bat, to meet again on February 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Not yet confirmed
- Nothing flagged. The minutes record a motion or outcome for each item listed.