City Council — Tuesday, 21 April 2026
Regular meeting
It follows the City Council minutes, Apr 21, which control every motion and vote below, checked against the Council agenda, Apr 21 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, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: None. Councilmember Cesar Zepeda joined the entire meeting via Zoom due to illness.
- Regular meeting: Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Cesar Zepeda, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: None. Councilmember Cesar Zepeda joined the entire meeting via Zoom due to illness.
Closed session
- C.1 — Public Employee Performance Evaluation.
- C.2 — Conference With Labor Negotiators.
- C.3 — Conference With Real Property Negotiator: Negotiating Parties: Orton Entertainment, LLC; Under Negotiation: Price, Terms of Payment.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
Agenda Review
Commendations, Presentations, and Proclamations
M.1 — American Public Works Association (APWA) NorCal Best Project Award
- As agendized: Receive the American Public Works Association (apwa) Northern California Chapter Best Project Award in the Transportation Category (Projects Under $5 Million) for the Ferry to Bridge to Greenway (F2B2G) Project.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
- Item begins about video 2:59:15.
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 Robinson. Passed 7–0.
Consent items of note ($100,000 and up, or pulled or continued)
- O.5.a — Contract with West Contra Costa Public Education Fund for Free Youth Achieve Summer Camp Program. Approve a contract with West Contra Costa Public Education Fund to offer the Achieve Summer Camp Program, providing free programs to youth through an 8-week summer camp in partnership with Community Services–Recreation, for the term of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $600,000
- O.7.a — Accept the 7th Street Bike Lane Improvement Project as Complete. Adopt a resolution to accept the 7th Street Bike Lane Improvement Project as complete, amend the construction contract with Rapid Grading increasing the payment limit in the amount of $121,202.70 for an amount not to exceed $420,038.73, direct the city clerk to record the Notice of Completion, and authorize the city engineer to release applicable bonds and retention Adopted Resolution No. 54-26.
- O.7.b — Purchase of K-Rails and Natural Stone Boulders from First Vanguard Rentals & Sales, Inc. and Blue Angel International, LLC. Adopt a resolution to approve the purchase of K-rails and natural stone boulders for City-wide encampment mitigation, right-of-way protection, and site hardening efforts from First Vanguard Rentals & Sales, Inc. and Blue Angel International LLC, each for a three-year term in an amount not to exceed $450,000, with the option to extend for two additional one-year terms in an amount not to exceed $150,000 per year, subj… Adopted Resolution No. 55-26.
- O.7.d — Contract with Larry Walker & Associates for Wastewater and Stormwater Regulatory Compliance Support. Adopt a resolution to approve a sole-source contract with Larry Walker & Associates, Inc., to provide wastewater and stormwater regulatory compliance support services, in an amount not to exceed $900,000 ($806,400 in anticipated costs plus an 11.6% contingency for unanticipated regulatory responses) for a three-year term from April 22, 2026, through April 21, 2029, and authorize the city manager to execute the contra… Adopted Resolution No. 56-26.
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): O.1.a Establishing a Commitment to Caste Equity and the Prevention of Caste- Based Discrimination; O.1.b Amending Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 regarding Use of City Resources for Civil Immigration Enforcement; O.2.a Records Retention and Destruction Schedule Update; O.3.a Letter to Governor Gavin Newsom to Stop the Illicit Importation of Illegal Fireworks from Nevada; O.3.b Support for 2026 Mother’s Day event at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium; O.3.c Support for Senate Bill 959 Regarding Local Fire Agency Authority and School Safety Measures During Wildfire Emergencies; O.4.a Potential Moratorium on Data Centers; O.5.b California State Library – Lunch at the Library Grant; O.6.a Update on the Sanctuary City Contracting and Investment Policy Ordinance; O.7.c March 2026 Abatement Report.
New Business
P.1 — Revenue Enhancement and Financing Recommendations for Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Services and Fire Station Upgrades
- As agendized: Receive a report on revenue enhancement and financing options to support Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Responder Services and fire station upgrades and replacements, and provide direction to the city manager on preferred revenue and financing pathways, including whether to proceed with preparation for a potential November 2026 funding measure.
- A motion was made as follows to direct the city manager to proceed with polling the public on preferred revenue and financing pathways for ALS and capital needs. — moved by Martinez, seconded by Brown. Passed 7–0.
- Item begins about video 4:08:24.
P.2 — Approval of the Donation Agreement for Leasehold Interests and Joint Escrow Instructions for Craneway Property.
- As agendized: Adopt a resolution approving a Donation Agreement between the City of Richmond and Orton Entertainment, LLC for the donation of said leasehold interests and related personal property located at 1414–1422 Harbor Way South, and authorizing the Mayor or designee to execute the agreement and all necessary documents, including escrow instructions, and to take all actions necessary to complete the transaction.
- A motion was made as follows to deny the donation agreement between the City of Richmond and Orton Entertainment, LLC for the donation of said leasehold interests and related personal property located at 1414–1422 Harbor Way South — moved by Bana, seconded by Brown. Failed 3–3 (noes: Jimenez, Wilson, Martinez; abstained: Robinson). Result announced about video 7:19:20.
- A motion was made as follows to accept the donation agreement between the City of Richmond and Orton Entertainment, LLC for the donation of said leasehold interests and related personal property located at 1414–1422 Harbor Way South, and authorizing the mayor or designee to execute the agreement and all necessary documents, including escrow instructions, and to take all actions necessary to complete the transaction — moved by Wilson, seconded by Jimenez. Failed 3–4 (noes: Bana, Brown, Zepeda, Robinson). Result announced about video 7:21:37.
- Item begins about video 5:26:34.
Reports of Officers
- Councilmembers gave reports and referrals; see the minutes.
Adjournment
- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:38, to meet again on April 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Not yet confirmed
- Nothing flagged. The minutes record a motion or outcome for each item listed.