City Council — Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Regular meeting
It follows the City Council minutes, Feb 24, which control every motion and vote below, checked against the Council agenda, Feb 24 and the KCRT video. Video times are approximate, taken from the automatic captions.
Attendance
- Before closed session: Present: Councilmembers Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Soheila Bana and Vice Mayor Doria Robinson arrived after the Council adjourned to Closed Session.
- Regular meeting: Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: None.
Closed session
- C.1 — Conference With Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: Two Cases.
- C.2 — Conference With Labor Negotiators.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
Agenda Review
- Item P.2 (Tobacco Retailer License Amendments) was moved up to be heard as the first item under Public Hearings.
City Attorney’s report from closed session
- Interim City Attorney Shannon Moore reported that Item C.1 (conference with legal counsel - anticipated litigation) and Item C.2 (conference with labor negotiators) were discussed. No reportable action was taken. REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER (public comment allowed under Open Forum) City Manager Shasa Curl provided a report.
Commendations, Presentations, and Proclamations
M.1 — Proclamation Honoring the Richmond Steelers Dance Team “Rich Girlz” as JAMZ National Champions
- As agendized: Proclamation honoring the Richmond Steelers Rich Girlz for their national championship achievement and recognizing their excellence, leadership, and positive representation of the City of Richmond.
- 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 Brown. Passed 7–0.
Consent items of note ($100,000 and up, or pulled or continued)
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): O.1.a City Council Minutes; O.2.a Amendments to the Position Control List; O.3.a Proclamation Recognizing March 2026 as Red Cross Month in Richmond; O.4.a January 2026 Abatement Report; O.4.b Contract with ChargePoint, Inc. for Electric Vehicle Charging Network Services.
Public Hearings
P.1 — Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance Adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code
- As agendized: Hold a public hearing to introduce an ordinance (first reading) amending Richmond Municipal Code (RMC) Article VI, Building Regulations, Chapter 6.02 by adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code with noted local amendments.
- Motion: To approve the recommended action. — moved by Martinez, seconded by Bana. Passed 6–0 (absent: Robinson).
P.2 — Tobacco Retailer License Amendments
- As agendized: Hold a public hearing to introduce an ordinance (first reading) amending Chapter 7.106 entitled “Tobacco Retailer License” and repealing Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 7.107 to comply with updates to State law relating to the sale of flavored tobacco products, establish a cap of 50 licenses that can be issued at any one time to protect against overconcentration, and to add operational prerequisites and enhanced regu….
- Motion: To approve the recommended with an amendment that staff consider recommendations from the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and LGBTQ Minus Tobacco organizations. — moved by Wilson, seconded by Brown. Passed 6–0 (absent: Robinson). Result announced about video 6:05:50.
- Item begins about video 3:14:07.
Study and Action Session
Q.1 — Establishment of a Safe Walk Zone Along the 23rd Street Corridor and Identification of Child-Sensitive Areas
- As agendized: Direct the city manager and city attorney to study and bring an ordinance back to City Council that establishes a Safe Walk Zone along the 23rd Street corridor, with identification of child-sensitive areas surrounding schools, parks, libraries, and other youth-serving facilities.
- Motion: To accept the item as is, and include the following additional direction: to work with public works department staff on creative engineering solutions; to work with community-based organizations that are already working on the issue of local prostitution; to have public annual reporting on enforcement outcomes; and to direct staff to study enforcement towards the men who procure women, who are managing them, or who are the clients. — moved by Zepeda, seconded by Brown. Passed 6–0 (absent: Robinson). Result announced about video 7:08:32.
- Item begins about video 6:05:55.
Reports of Officers
- Councilmembers gave reports and referrals; see the minutes.
Adjournment
- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:54 p.m. to meet again on March 3, 2026.
Not yet confirmed
- Nothing flagged. The minutes record a motion or outcome for each item listed.