City Council — Tuesday, 5 May 2026
Regular meeting
It follows the City Council minutes, May 5, which control every motion and vote below, checked against the Council agenda, May 5 and the KCRT video. Video times are approximate, taken from the automatic captions.
Attendance
- Before closed session: Present: Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson, Vice Mayor Robinson, and Mayor Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Jamelia Brown arrived at 3:32 p.m. after the roll was called. Councilmember Cesar Zepeda was absent for the entire meeting.
- Regular meeting: Present: Councilmembers Bana, Brown, Jimenez, Wilson, Vice Mayor Robinson, and Mayor Martinez. Absent: Councilmember Zepeda was absent for the entire meeting.
Closed session
- C.1 — Liability Claims.
- C.2 — Public Employee Performance Evaluation.
- C.3 — Conference With Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation.
- C.4 — Conference With Labor Negotiators.
- C.5 — Conference With Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: Two Cases.
- C.6 — Public Employee Appointment/Employment.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
Agenda Review
- Item N.5.d (Agreement with Contra Costa County Animal Services Department for Ongoing Animal Control Services) was removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion at the end of the agenda.
- Item Q.2 (Introduce Ordinance Amending Sidewalk Vendor Regulations) was moved as the first New Business item for discussion before Item Q.1.
City Attorney’s report from closed session
- Interim City Attorney Shannon Moore reported that no final actions were taken. 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 Bana, seconded by Brown. Passed 6–0 (absent: Zepeda).
Consent items of note ($100,000 and up, or pulled or continued)
- N.1.a — Legal Services Agreement with Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC for General Litigation and Municipal Advice. Approve a legal services agreement with Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC, for general litigation and municipal advice in an amount not to exceed $100,000, for a term of May 5, 2026, through December 31, 2027
- N.1.b — Legal Services Agreement with Bennett, Gelini and Gelini, APC (BGG) for Representation and Liability Claim. Approve a new legal services agreement with Bennett, Gelini and Gelini, APC, for litigation representation and liability claims in an amount not to exceed $500,000 with a term of May 5, 2026, through June 30, 2028
- N.1.c — Legal Service Agreement Amendment No. 5 with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP (Burke) for Municipal Litigation Matters. Approve a fifth amendment to the Legal Services Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, in the amount of $150,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $400,000, and extend the term to December 31, 2027, to continue representing the City in municipal law matters, including personnel matters and litigation
- N.3.a — Purchase of Portable and Mobile Radios from Motorola Solutions, Inc.. Approve a standing purchase order with Motorola Solutions, Inc. to purchase portable and mobile radios in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 for a term ending May 6, 2029, with the possibility of two one-year extension options in a not to exceed $250,000
- N.5.a — Contract with Enterprise Holdings Incorporated for Rental Car Services. Authorize and approve a three-year contract with Enterprise Holdings Incorporated for the Richmond Police Department to rent unmarked police vehicles for an amount not to exceed $540,000 for the period of May 6, 2026, through May 5, 2029, with two one-year, mutually agreed upon annual extensions for an additional total of $360,000 — Police Department.
- N.5.d — Agreement with Contra Costa County Animal Services Department for Ongoing Animal Control Services. Approve and authorize a contract with Contra Costa County Animal Services Department in an amount not to exceed $7,200,000 for the continuation of Animal Control Services for Fiscal Year 2026–2027, with an additional three-year term for Fiscal Years 2027–2028, 2028– 2029, and 2029–2030, for a total contract term of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2030
- N.5.f — Contract with Public Safety Family Counseling Group for Mental Health Counseling and Consultant Services. Approve a sole-source contract with Public Safety Family Counseling Group, Inc. for mental health counseling and consultant services in an amount not to exceed $525,000, for a three-year term from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with two optional one-year extensions, for an annual amount not to exceed $175,000
- N.5.g — Agreement with Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office to Continue the Community-based Prosecution Program. Approve a five-year agreement with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office for the dedicated services of a deputy district attorney who would be specifically assigned as Richmond's Community-based Prosecutor, in an amount not to exceed $300,000, for the term commencing July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2029
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): N.1.d Establishing a Commitment to Caste Equity and the Prevention of Caste- Based Discrimination; N.2.a Investment and Cash Balance Report, Monthly Overtime Reports, Documentary Transfer Tax Report, and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) and Pension Report for the month of March 2026.; N.2.b Appropriate Funding for Sister Cities Commission Partner City Delegations; N.4.a Proclamation Recognizing May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month; N.4.b Appointment of Courtney Sanders to the ECIA Transportation Board; N.5.b Monthly Crime Report for February 2026; N.5.c March 2026 Crime Report; N.5.e Contract with T Jung Investigations and Steve Blanc Investigations for Pre-Employment Background Investigators; N.6.a Contract with Schaaf & Wheeler Consulting Civil Engineers for the Ferry Point Pump Station Project.
Budget Session
O.1 — Draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Annual Operating Budget and FY 2026-31 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan
- As agendized: Acknowledge receipt of the draft Fiscal Year 2026-27 Annual Operating Budget and Fiscal Year 2026-31 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan; review the budget adoption schedule; and receive an update on departmental operations, with discussions upon completion of all departmental presentations.
- Motion: To receive said draft operating budget, Capital Improvement Plan, and update on departmental operations. — moved by Jimenez, seconded by Brown. Passed 6–0 (absent: Zepeda).
Public Hearings
P.1 — Appeal of Planning Commission Conditional Approval of Marina Point Residential Project
- As agendized: Hold a public hearing to consider two appeals of the Planning Commission’s conditional approval of the Marina Point Residential Project (PLN23-117) and adopt a resolution Modifying the Conditions in response to the appeals and otherwise affirming the Planning Commission’s conditional approval.
- Motion: To adopt said resolution with the additional Condition of Approval No. 69: "Prior to issuance of any Building Permit, the applicant shall revise all project plans, including but not limited to the site plan, circulation plan, and civil drawings, to remove any proposed guest parking spaces located along Marina Way South, including any perpendicular or on-street parking configurations." — moved by Brown, seconded by Wilson. Passed 5–0 (abstained: Bana; absent: Zepeda).
New Business
Q.1 — 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.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
- Item begins about video 7:33:33.
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.
Q.3 — Contract Amendment No. 3 with Charleston Mobility for Electric Bikeshare Operations
- As agendized: 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….
- No motion or outcome is recorded in the minutes for this item.
Reports of Officers
- Councilmembers gave reports and referrals; see the minutes.
Adjournment
- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:02 p.m., in memory of Abigail Sims-Evelyn, to meet again on May 19, 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.
- Q.3 Contract Amendment No. 3 with Charleston Mobility for Electric Bikeshare Operations: no motion or outcome recorded in the minutes.