City Council — Tuesday, 28 April 2026
Regular meeting
It follows the City Council minutes, Apr 28, which control every motion and vote below, checked against the Council agenda, Apr 28 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, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Cesar Zepeda was absent for the entire meeting.
- Regular meeting: Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Cesar Zepeda was absent for the entire meeting.
Closed session
- C.1 — Conference With Labor Negotiators.
- C.2 — Conference With Real Property Negotiator.
- City Attorney’s report: C.2: There were no reportable actions taken in Closed Session.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
Agenda Review
- Item O.4.c - Contract Amendment No. 3 with Charleston Mobility for Electric Bikeshare Operations was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion at the end of the agenda.
- Item Q.4 - Creating a Park and Playground in the Pullman Neighborhood to begin to correct decades of systemic underinvestment in the underserved neighborhood was moved to be heard as Item Q.1.
- Item Q-3 - Contract with Liftech Consultants, Inc. for planning and design services for the relocation of the SS Red Oak Victory was moved to be heard as Item Q.2.
- Item Q.6 - Presentation by UC Berkeley Scientists and Community Partners on Earthquake Preparedness was moved to be heard as Item Q.3.
- Item Q.1 - Presentation from San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) Director Barnali Ghosh for 2026 was moved to be heard as Item Q.4.
- Item Q.2 - Introduce ordinance amending Sidewalk Vendor Regulations (RMC Chapter 7.42) was moved to be heard as Item Q.5.
- Item Q.5 - Opposition to proposed CO2 waste dumping projects & CO2 Pipelines in Richmond, Contra Costa, and Solano Counties was moved to be heard as Item Q.6.
Commendations, Presentations, and Proclamations
M.1 — Proclamation Honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and Recognizing The AAPI Community Celebration
- As agendized: Proclamation declaring May 2026 as Asian American and Pacific Islander (aapi) Heritage Month in the City of Richmond and recognizing the aapi Community Celebration at the Richmond Auditorium.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
- Item begins about video 1:22:24.
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)
- O.4.c — - Contract amendment No. 3 with Charleston Mobility for Electric Bikeshare Operations. Motion: Martinez, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 6–0 (absent: Zepeda).
- O.2.a — Grant Agreement with Contra Costa Interfaith Transitional Housing, Inc. (dba Hope Solutions). Approve a grant agreement in an amount not to exceed $300,000 with Contra Costa Interfaith Transitional Housing, Inc. (dba Hope Solutions) to provide capital and supportive services funding for the Tiny House Village and Garden Project at 175 23rd Street for a term expiring December 31, 2027– Community Development Department.
- O.3.b — Contract with John C. Martin Associates, LLC for the Port Economic Impact Study. Approve a contract with John C. Martin Associates, LLC to provide an economic impact study of Port of Richmond activity, in an amount not to exceed $112,900, with a term ending June 30, 2027
- O.4.c — Contract Amendment No. 3 with Charleston Mobility for Electric Bikeshare Operations. Approve a third contract amendment with Charleston Mobility in an amount not to exceed $390,000 for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $3,540,341, to support the continued operation of the citywide electric bikeshare program till the end of the fiscal year to allow time to determine the future of the program during the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget process; and appropriate $390,000 from the Environmental and Commu… Item was continued to the May 5, 2026, city council meeting.
- O.4.e — Contract Amendment No. 4 with Pogo Park for the Harbour-8 Park Expansion Project and Operating and Management. Approve a fourth contract amendment with Pogo Park to complete the Harbour-8 Park Expansion Project increasing the payment limit by $3,275,000, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $12,430,725, and authorize the city manager or their designee to negotiate and execute an Operations and Management Agreement with Pogo Park, with approval as to form by the City Attorney’s Office, for the programming and maintenance of par…
- O.6.a — Contract with The Halleman Group, LLC for Owner’s Advisor Services for Wastewater and Stormwater Operator Procurement. Adopt a resolution to approve a contract with The Halleman Group, LLC to provide Owner’s Advisor services for procurement of an operator for the wastewater treatment plant, wastewater collection system, and stormwater collection system, in an amount not to exceed $250,000, for a term from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2028; and authorize the city manager or their designee to execute all necessary documents Adopted Resolution No. 61-26.
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): O.1.a Meeting Minutes; O.2.b Authorize AHSC Grant Application for Riveter Project and Associated Active Transportation Improvements; O.3.a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority (RecycleMore) for Implementation of California Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383); O.4.a Contract Amendment No. 2 with LCP Tracker for Labor Compliance Monitoring and Reporting Services; O.4.b Contract with Unity Courier Services, Inc. for Delivery of Interlibrary Loan Materials; O.4.d Accept and Appropriate California Tahoe Conservancy -Tahoe for All Grant Funds; O.5.a Proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Alcohol Awareness Month; O.5.b Proclamation declaring April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month; O.5.c Proclamation recognizing May 3-9, 2026, as National Small Business Week; O.5.d Establish the Richmond-Sebastia Sister City Commission; O.5.e Appointment of Ric Ambrose to the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission; O.5.f Appointment of Bryan M. Harris to the Contra Costa County Advisory; O.5.g Appointment of Eva Hernandez to the Workforce Development Board.
Budget Session
P.1 — Update on Community Engagement on Limited-Term Revenue and Authorization to Negotiate and Execute a Contract with Dalberg Advisors
- As agendized: Receive an update on community engagement efforts related to limited-term revenues, approve and authorize the city manager and city attorney to negotiate and execute a contract award with Dalberg Advisors, subject to approval as to form by the city attorney.
- Motion — moved by Jimenez, seconded by Robinson. Passed 4–2 (noes: Brown, Martinez; absent: Zepeda). Result announced about video 4:32:20.
- Item begins about video 1:59:06.
Study and Action Session
Q.1 — Presentation from San Francisco Bay Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) Director Barnali Ghosh for 2026
- As agendized: Receive a presentation from the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) Director regarding BART’s recent service improvements and the transit fiscal crisis due to Work From Home.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
- Item begins about video 5:11:48.
Q.2 — Introduce Ordinance Amending Sidewalk Vendor Regulations (RMC Chapter 7.42)
- As agendized: Introduce an ordinance (first reading) amending Chapter 7.42 of the Richmond Municipal Code (Sidewalk Vendor Ordinance) to update administrative procedures, waiver provisions, and enforcement mechanisms.
- No motion or outcome is recorded in the minutes for this item.
- Item begins about video 5:39:59.
Q.3 — Contract with Liftech Consultants, Inc. for Planning and Design Services for the Relocation of the SS Red Oak Victory
- As agendized: Receive a presentation from Rosie the Riveter / wwii Home Front National Historical Park and approve a contract with Liftech Consultants Inc. in the amount of $299,797 for planning and preliminary design of the relocation of the Red Oak for a term ending June 30, 2027.
- The City Council requested a funding plan and a cost estimate to move the Red Oak Victory Ship.
- A motion was made to approve a contract with Liftech Consultants Inc. in the amount of $299,797 for planning and preliminary design of the relocation of the Red Oak for a term ending June 30, 2027. — moved by Bana, seconded by Brown. Passed 6–0 (absent: Zepeda).
Q.4 — Creating a Park and Playground in Pullman Neighborhood to begin to Correct Decades of Systemic Underinvestment in this Underserved Neighborhood
- As agendized: Direct staff to work with the Pullman Neighborhood Council to explore acquisition of Parcel # (APN): 513-025-001-1 comprising the vacant lot at South 27th Street and Florida Avenue to evaluate feasibility, funding opportunities, and development pathways to establish and develop a neighborhood park that serves Pullman families and to return to the City Council with recommendations and a proposed timeline within 90 day….
- The City Council requested that a process to explore other areas in the city that also need parks, was provided during the presentation of the budget.
- A motion was made to direct staff to work with the Pullman Neighborhood Council to explore acquisition of Parcel # (APN): 513-025-001-1 comprising the vacant lot at South 27th Street and Florida Avenue to evaluate feasibility, funding opportunities, and development pathways to establish and develop a neighborhood park that serves Pullman families and to return to the City Council with recommendations and a proposed timeline within 90 days. — moved by Martinez, seconded by Robinson. Passed 6–0 (absent: Zepeda).
Q.5 — Opposition to Proposed CO2 Waste Dumping Projects & CO2 Pipelines in Richmond, Contra Costa, and Solano Counties
- As agendized: Receive a presentation on proposed Montezuma CO2 Hub, a carbon waste dumping project, that would require a massive build out of pipelines through Richmond, risking the health and safety of Richmond residents and adopt a resolution that opposes the proposed Montezuma Carbon Sequestration Hub's CO2 pipeline waste dumping projects and CO2 pipelines in Richmond, Contra Costa, and Solano Counties.
- Item was continued to the May 5, 2026, City Council meeting.
Q.6 — Presentation by UC Berkeley Scientists and Community Partners on Earthquake Preparedness
- As agendized: Receive a presentation from leading experts—the UC Berkeley Seismology Lab, Berkeley Center for Smart Infrastructure, Community Emergency Response Team (cert), Emergency Communication (Em Comm), and West Contra Costa Fire Safe Council (wccfsc)—regarding local earthquake probabilities, regional vulnerabilities.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
Reports of Officers
- Councilmembers gave reports and referrals; see the minutes.
Adjournment
- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:56 p.m., to meet again on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Not yet confirmed
- Q.2 Introduce Ordinance Amending Sidewalk Vendor Regulations (RMC Chapter 7.42): no motion or outcome recorded in the minutes.