City Council — Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Regular meeting
It follows the City Council minutes, Mar 24, which control every motion and vote below, checked against the Council agenda, Mar 24 and the KCRT video. Video times are approximate, taken from the automatic captions.
Attendance
- Before closed session: Present: Councilmembers Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Soheila Bana arrived after adjournment to the Closed Session. Councilmember Jamelia Brown was absent for the entire meeting.
- Regular meeting: Present: Councilmembers Bana, Jimenez, Wilson, Zepeda, Vice Mayor Robinson, and Mayor Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Brown was absent for the entire meeting.
Closed session
- C.1 — Conference With Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation.
- C.2 — Conference With Labor Negotiators.
- C.3 — Conference With Real Property Negotiator.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
Agenda Review
- Item N.2.a (Records Retention and Destruction Schedule Update) was continued to the April 7, 2026, City Council meeting.
- Item N.3.d (Change Cesar Chavez Day to United Farm Workers Day) was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion immediately following Item P.1 (2025 California Fire Code with Local Amendments and 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface with Local Amendments).
City Attorney’s report from closed session
- Interim City Attorney Shannon Moore reported that no final decisions were 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
- Motion to approve the consent calendar (with the exceptions above) — moved by Jimenez, seconded by Zepeda. Passed 6–0 (absent: Brown).
Consent items of note ($100,000 and up, or pulled or continued)
- N.1.a — Contract with Bill Whalen and Associates to Conduct Confidential Investigations. Approve a contract with Bill Whalen and Associates to conduct confidential investigations for the Community Police Review Commission in an amount not to exceed $100,000, for the term of February 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026
- N.3.d — Change Cesar Chavez Day to United Farm Workers Day. Adopt a resolution that directs staff to update the City’s holiday schedule to reflect “United Farm Workers Day” instead of Cesar Chavez Day and direct staff to bring a future agenda item to have further discussion around sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and sexual assault and the urgent need to protect and support survivors Motion: Wilson, seconded by Martinez. Passed 6–0 (absent: Brown).
- N.6.a — Construction Agreement with Azul Works Inc. for the Shields-Reid Park and Community Center Projects. Adopt a resolution to approve a second amendment to the construction agreement with Azul Works, Inc. to increase the not-to- exceed amount by $400,000, for a revised not-to-exceed total contract amount of $5,297,064.31, to complete maintenance-related improvements to the Shields-Reid Community Center as part of the Shields-Reid Park and Community Center Project Adopted Resolution No. 38-26
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): N.2.a Records Retention and Destruction Schedule Update; N.2.b City Council Minutes; N.3.a Create and Implement Blue Envelope Program in Richmond; N.3.b Stop Iran War Resolution; N.3.c Establishing a Commitment to Caste Equity and the Prevention of Caste- Based Discrimination; N.4.a Ordinance Rezoning the John Haley Studio at 771 Ocean Avenue; N.5.a Proclamation for American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month; N.5.b Appointment of Kaelen Van Cura to the Arts & Culture Commission; N.5.c Reappointment of Ben Kellman to the Design Review Board; N.5.d Appointment of Asfar Ali to the Economic Development Commission; N.5.e Appointment to Florence Wiley for the Macdonald Avenue Corridor Task Force; N.5.f Appointment of Vivian Gomez to the Recreation and Parks Commission; N.5.g Appointment of Michelle Bailey-Vaughn to the RFCY Oversight Board; N.5.h Appointment Gabriel Saeyang to the Richmond Youth Council; N.5.i APPOINT Diana Benitez to the Planning Commission; N.6.b Accept the 2024 Paving Project – Slurry Seal as Complete; N.6.c Contract with Enterprise Rent-A-Car for Passenger Van Rentals Supporting Recreation Programs.
Budget Session
O.1 — Charter Article 15 Review – Richmond Fund for Children and Youth Review
- As agendized: Receive a presentation on Article 15 of the Charter regarding the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth and provide direction regarding renewal provisions and options.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
Public Hearings
P.1 — 2025 California Fire Code with Local Amendments and 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface with Local Amendments
- As agendized: Hold a public hearing to introduce an ordinance (first reading) amending the Richmond Municipal Code (RMC) Article viii (Fire) Chapter 8.16 (Fire Prevention Code) to adopt the 2025 California Fire Code with local amendments and to adopt the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code with local amendments.
- Motion: To introduce said ordinance for first reading and lay over for two weeks for the second reading. — moved by Bana, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 6–0 (absent: Brown).
- Item begins about video 4:49:03.
Study and Action Session
Q.1 — 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.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
- Item begins about video 5:07:21.
Q.2 — 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, a design of park facilities that include sports courts, senior activity spaces, teen activity areas, and exercise/fitness am….
- Substitute motion: To add Cheese Park to the CIP list formerly and have it start by going through the process of being assessed using the assessment system that the city has; request the parks team to come back to give a report out on the Facilities and Parks Assessment status and next steps; and similarly, review and give an update on the programmatic approach and how it may affect moving the CIP forward. — moved by Robinson, seconded by Wilson. Passed 6–0 (absent: Brown). Result announced about video 7:12:55.
- Item begins about video 6:11:22.
Reports of Officers
- Councilmembers gave reports and referrals; see the minutes.
Adjournment
- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m., to meet again on April 7, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Not yet confirmed
- Nothing flagged. The minutes record a motion or outcome for each item listed.