City Council — Tuesday, 3 March 2026
Regular meeting
It follows the City Council minutes, Mar 3, which control every motion and vote below, checked against the Council agenda, Mar 3 and the KCRT video. Video times are approximate, taken from the automatic captions.
Attendance
- Before closed session: Present: Councilmembers Claudia Jimenez, Jamelia Brown, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Soheila Bana arrived at 5:01 p.m. after the roll was called.
- Regular meeting: Present: Commissioners Claudia Jimenez, Jamelia Brown, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Chairperson Doria Robinson, Chairperson Eduardo Martinez, and Housing Authority Tenant Commissioner Jaycine Scott. Absent: Commissioner Soheila Bana arrived at 6:09 p.m. after the roll was called.
Closed session
- C.2 — and reported that the city had received a letter from Brian Hofer of Secure Justice regarding Item W.1.
- C.1 — Public Employee Performance Evaluation.
- C.2 — Conference With Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: Two Cases.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
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 Brown, seconded by Scott. Passed 7–0 (absent: Bana).
Consent items of note ($100,000 and up, or pulled or continued)
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): L.1 Contract with Desert Parks Landscaping (dba Pacific Site Management) for Landscaping Services.
Adjournment
- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:11 p.m.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
Agenda Review
- Item U.2.b (Tobacco Retailer License Amendments) was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
- This item was subsequently placed back on the Consent Calendar for approval.
- Item W.3 (Cheese Park [La Moine Park] Improvements) was moved for discussion immediately following Item W.1 (Flock Safety Contract Extension).
- Motion: To approve the addition of said emergency item to the agenda. — moved by Martinez, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 5–0 (abstained: Zepeda).
- Motion: To approve under the Consent Calendar the transmittal of a letter to the United States Congress expressing the City Council's support of the Massie-Khanna War Powers Resolution and opposing any offensive or unauthorized military action against Iran undertaken without prior congressional authorization. Each member of the City Council was hereby individually and collectively authorized to sign said letter as individuals and on behalf of the City Council. City staff was hereby directed to f — moved by Martinez, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 5–0 (abstained: Zepeda).
City Attorney’s report from closed session
- Interim City Attorney Shannon Moore reported there were no final decisions made during Closed Session. REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER (public comment allowed under Open Forum) City Manager Shasa Curl presented a PowerPoint.
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
- These items were enacted upon together with a motion and second, without discussion, of any member of the City Council, and each item was deemed to have received the action recommended.) Emergency Item Added APPROVE the transmittal of a letter to the United States Congress expressing the City Council's support of the Massie-Khanna War Powers Resolution and opposing any offensive or unauthorized military action against Iran undertaken without prior congressional authorization.
- 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)
- U.1.a — Legal Services Agreement Amendment No. 5 with Ellis Investigations. Approve the fifth amendment to the legal services agreement with Ellis Investigations to increase the payment limit by $50,000, for a total amount not to exceed $250,000, for confidential personnel investigation services
- U.3.b — Appropriate Grant Funds from the California State Library for Literacy Education. Adopt a resolution to accept and appropriate the California State Library grant award of $137,058 for adult learner and family literacy services; and authorize the city manager or their designee to execute the grant agreement and certify related grant reports Adopted Resolution No. 21-26
- U.4.a — Contract with Gordon Huether & Partners and Sonnikson Inc. for a Public Art Sculpture Project. Approve a contract with Gordon Huether & Partners in an amount not to exceed $175,000 for sculpture design and fabrication, and approve a contract with Sonnikson Inc. in an amount not to exceed $50,000 for sculpture installation, both for a term beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026
- U.4.b — Agreement with STAX Engineering for Deployment of a CARB-Approved Emissions Control Solution Barge. Adopt a resolution appropriating $750,000 annually for three fiscal years (Fiscal Year (FY) 2026–2027, FY 2027–2028, and FY 2028–2029), for a total appropriation of $2,250,000; approve and authorize the city manager or their designee to negotiate and execute an agreement with stax Engineering, pursuant to a previously issued Request for Proposals, for the deployment and operation of a California Air Resources Board (… Adopted Resolution No. 22-26
- U.6.a — Contract Amendment No. 1 with Intuitive Municipal Solutions (iMS) for the Enterprise Community Development and Land Management (ERP) System. Approve the First Amendment to the agreement with Intuitive Municipal Solutions (iMS), LLC, for the City’s Enterprise Community Development and Land Management (ERP) System, to provide additional configuration, application support, and training services, increasing the contract amount by $249,610, for a total amount not to exceed $2,008,206
- U.9.a — Purchase Irrigation Supplies, Tools, and Parts from Heritage Landscape Supply Group and Blue Angel International LLC. Adopt a resolution to approve the purchase of irrigation supplies, tools, and parts from Heritage Landscape Supply Group and Blue Angel International LLC, on an as-needed basis, for a three-year term, with the option to extend for up to two additional one-year terms, in an amount not to exceed $150,000, consistent with the approved budget Adopted Resolution No. 25-26
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): U.2.a Ordinance Adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code; U.2.b Tobacco Retailer License Amendments; U.3.a Contract Amendment No. 1 with Commercial Titan Wrap for Van Wrapping Services; U.5.a Special Assessment for Unpaid Garbage Liens; U.5.b Amendment of Authorized Signatures on the Local Agency Investment Fund; U.7.a Proclamation Declaring March 09, 2026, as Tibetan National Uprising Day; U.7.b Proclamation Honoring Nicolas Traylor for Distinguished Service as Executive Director of the Richmond Rent Program; U.7.c Reappointment of Ode Kunthar to the Richmond Youth Council; U.8.a Purchase Carahsoft Technology Corp GrayKey Device for Forensic Evidence Extraction; U.8.b Purchase of Expandable Batons from Peacekeeper Products International.
Budget Session
V.1 — Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Audited Unspent Funds
- As agendized: Discuss and adopt resolutions to appropriate Fiscal Year 2024-25 audited unspent funds in the amount of $8,213,680.
- Motion: To approve the recommended action with a minimum allocation of $50,000 to ensure that emergency funds were available to provide services for the unhoused that did not fall within the purview of the existing grants, so people in encampments were not just moved from one street to the next, but actually had a place to offer them to go. The $50,000 allocation could be taken from wherever it was available (including unspent funds) or staff could choose the best funding source, or it could be taken from the available $259,000 in unhoused intervention funds, if those funds could be used to se — moved by Robinson, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 6–1 (noes: Brown). Result announced about video 3:12:26.
- Item begins about video 2:10:54.
V.2 — City of Richmond Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025
- As agendized: Receive a report on the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (acfr) for Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2025.
- Motion: To receive said report as presented. — moved by Zepeda, seconded by Wilson. Passed 7–0.
New Business
W.1 — Flock Safety Contract Extension
- As agendized: Receive a presentation, approve a transitional contract amendment, and provide direction to staff regarding the Flock cctv system, Flock Drone as a First Responder (DFR) Program, and Flock Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) System.
- Item W.1 was continued to the March 17, 2026, City Council meeting.
- Item begins about video 3:44:38.
W.2 — Update Regarding the City’s Ongoing and Planned Efforts Related to Immigration Enforcement Actions
- As agendized: Receive an initial report regarding the City’s ongoing and planned efforts related to safeguarding residents from federal civil immigration enforcement actions, including U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) raids.
- Item W.2 was continued to the March 17, 2026, City Council meeting.
W.3 — Cheese Park (La Moine Park) Improvements—Permanent Restrooms, Drinking Fountain, Playground Safety, Toddler-Area Fencing, Children’s Bike Garden, and Completion of Volunteer-Led Repainting
- As agendized: Adopt a resolution to direct City staff to prepare a comprehensive work plan for improvements at Cheese Park (La Moine Park), including permanent restrooms, a drinking water fountain, playground restoration, safety fencing around the toddler area, completion of repainting started by volunteers, and the design of a children’s bike garden in collaboration with community partners such as Bike East Bay; and identify feas….
- Item W.3 was continued to the March 17, 2026, City Council meeting.
W.4 — Create and Implement Blue Envelope Program in Richmond
- As agendized: Direct the city manager or their designee to create and implement a Blue Envelope Program for residents, including a promotional campaign to inform police officers, first responders, and of the new program and how to participate, and aim to roll out the program in April for Autism Awareness Month.
- Item W.4 was continued to the March 17, 2026, City Council meeting.
W.5 — Co-Sponsorship and Venue Reservation for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community Celebration
- As agendized: Approve an official City of Richmond community event and co-sponsorship of the Asian American Pacific Islander (aapi) Community Celebration and authorize the reservation of the Richmond Auditorium for Saturday, May 2, 2026.
- Item W.5 was continued to the March 17, 2026, City Council meeting.
- Item begins about video 4:40:48.
Reports of Officers
- Councilmembers gave reports and referrals; see the minutes.
Adjournment
- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:59 p.m., to meet again on March 17, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Not yet confirmed
- Nothing flagged. The minutes record a motion or outcome for each item listed.