City Council — Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Regular meeting
It follows the City Council minutes, May 26, which control every motion and vote below, checked against the Council agenda, May 26 and the KCRT video. Video times are approximate, taken from the automatic captions.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- None.
Agenda Review
Budget Session
F.1 — Budget Study Session on Proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operating Budget and Fiscal Year 2026-31 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan and Department Presentations
- As agendized: Receive the draft Fiscal Year 2026-27 Annual Operating Budget and Fiscal Year 2026-31 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan Budget presentation; receive updates on departmental operations and services from the following departments: City Attorney’s Office, City Clerk’s Office, City Manager’s Office, Fire and Internal Services; and upon completion of departmental presentations provide direction to staff prior to final bu….
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
- Item begins about video 0:18:33.
Adjournment
- The meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m.
Statement of Conflict of Interest
- Vice Mayor Robinson reported a conflict of interest for Item P.5.a (Submit Applications for Bay Area Air Quality Management District Grant Programs) and recused herself from the discussion and vote.
Agenda Review
- Item P.1.a (Contract with Thomson Reuters Enterprise for Legal Research Subscription Services) was continued to the June 16, 2026, meeting.
- Item P.3.a (Honoring the Richmond Emergency Communications (EmComm¹) volunteers for their leadership and service, celebrating the installation of the City Hall emergency antenna, and declaring April 30, 2026, as "Richmond Emergency Communications Volunteer Day) was continued to the June 23, 2026, meeting.
- Items S.3 (Consider Amending Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 11.05 entitled “Fireworks”) and S.4 (Recommend Dedicating a Literacy Space in the Richmond Public Library in Honor of Abigail Sims-Evelyn) were moved to the consent calendar.
City Attorney’s report from closed session
- REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER (public comment allowed under Open Forum) City Manager Shasa Curl provided a report.
Commendations, Presentations, and Proclamations
N.1 — Proclamation Honoring Abigail Sims-Evelyn for Her Service and Contributions to Literacy and Community Uplift in Richmond
- As agendized: Proclamation honoring Abigail Sims-Evelyn for her compassionate leadership, dedicated service, and enduring contributions to literacy, learning, and community uplift in the City of Richmond.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
- Item begins about video 3:40:41.
N.2 — Proclamation Celebrating 30 years of the Richmond United Soccer Club
- As agendized: Proclamation recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Richmond United Soccer Club, the oldest soccer organization in Richmond, and its multigenerational impact and role in crime reduction, pathways to career and educational opportunities, immigrant rights to support Richmond youth and families by providing access to safe, structured extracurricular activities that have been shown to support positive youth outcomes, in….
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
N.3 — May is National Bike Month
- As agendized: Proclamation recognizing May as National Bike Month and encouraging residents to participate in biking events.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
- Item begins about video 4:08:23.
N.4 — Proclamation Declaring May 2026 as Affordable Housing Month
- As agendized: Proclamation to declare the month of May 2026, as Affordable Housing Month in the City of Richmond to draw attention to the ongoing housing affordability crisis in our region and to renew the City of Richmond’s commitment to ensuring that all community members have safe, stable, and affordable places to call home.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
- Item begins about video 4:16:16.
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)
- P.1.a — Contract with Thomson Reuters Enterprise for Legal Research Subscription Services. Approve a contract with Thomson Reuters for legal research subscription services for Westlaw and CoCounsel Legal in an amount not to exceed $110,000 for the term of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, subject to non-substantive revisions approved by the City Attorney’s Office; and authorize the city manager or their designee to execute the contract
- P.4.a — Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Richmond Fund for Children and Youth Participatory Grantmaking Grant Awardee Recommendation. Adopt a resolution approving a recommendation from the Richmond for Children and Youth (rfcy) Oversight Board to award fourteen (14) rfcy grants to youth-serving public and nonprofit organizations for a total amount not to exceed $497,000 for Fiscal Year 2026-27; and authorize the city manager, or their designee to negotiate and execute Grant Service Agreements with the approved grantees Adopted Resolution No. 73-26
- P.5.a — Submit Applications for Bay Area Air Quality Management District Grant Programs. Adopt a resolution to authorize the submission of multiple applications for Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Reinvesting Penalties for Air Improvement and Resilience (repair) Program grants and authorize the city manager or their designee to adjust project budgets, scopes, and allocations as needed for application completeness and, if awarded, to execute agreements with BAAQMD and co-applicants to im… Motion: Martinez, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 6–0 (recused: Robinson).
- P.6.a — Contract Amendment No. 5 with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. for Architectural and Structural Consulting Services at Winehaven and Shipyard No. 3. Adopt a resolution to approve fifth contract amendment with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) for architectural and structural consulting services for buildings at Winehaven and Shipyard No. 3, increasing the payment limit by $62,280, total payment limit of $822,280, and extending the contract term to December 31, 2027 Adopted Resolution No. 76-26
- P.8.a — Contracts for On-call Fire Prevention Services Plan Review and Related Inspection Services. Adopt a resolution to approve on-call Fire Prevention Services Plan Review and Related Inspection Services contracts with: (1) 4Leaf, Inc.; (2) BPR Consulting Group; (3) CSG Consultants, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $600,000 per firm, for a three-year contract term with two one- year extension options not to exceed an additional $200,000 per year, per firm Adopted Resolution No. 77-26
- P.11.a — Contract with OCLC, Inc., for Library Cataloging and Metadata Subscription Services. Approve a sole-source contract with oclc, Inc., for library cataloging and metadata subscription services, for a 3-year term beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2029, for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $150,000
- P.11.b — Accept the CalTrans Clean California Grant Funds for the Stronger Together Richmond Cleanup and Leadership Program. Adopt a resolution to accept and appropriate grant funds in the amount of $255,000 from the State of California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) Clean California Community Clean Up and Employment Program Grant Fund; and authorize the city manager or their designee to execute the agreement Adopted Resolution No. 79-26
- P.13.a — Contract with SoundThinking, Inc. for ShotSpotter Flex System Infrastructure. Approve a sole source contract with SoundThinking, Inc. (formerly ShotSpotter, Inc.) for the maintenance, service, and support of the Police Department’s ShotSpotter Flex gunshot detection system, in an amount of $1,242,196 for the five-year period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031
- P.14.a — Contract with AAA Backflow Prevention, Inc. for On-Call Backflow Inspection, Testing, and Repair Services. Adopt a resolution to approve a contract with AAA Backflow Prevention, Inc. for on-call backflow inspection, testing, and repair services with a not-to-exceed amount of $150,000, for an initial three-year term with two one-year extension options, for a total payment limit of $250,000
- P.14.b — Contract with Myers & Sons Construction, LLC for the Bridge Preventive Maintenance Project. Accept and appropriate updated Bridge Preventive Maintenance Program (bpmp) grant funds in an amount not to exceed $3,246,395; adopt a resolution awarding a construction contract to Myers & Sons Construction, LLC., as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, for the Bridge Preventive Maintenance Project in an amount not to exceed $3,035,583.70, including a base bid of $2,639,638.00 and a 15 percent (15%) conting… Adopted Resolution No. 81-26
- Also on consent (routine, under $100,000 or no dollar figure): P.5.a (Submit Applications for Bay Area Air Quality Management District Grant Programs). Ayes (7): Councilmembers Soheila Bana, Jamelia Brown, Claudia Jimenez, Sue Wilson,; P.2.a Meeting Minutes; P.3.a Honoring the Richmond Emergency Communications (EmComm¹) volunteers for their leadership and service, celebrating the installation of the City Hall emergency antenna, and declaring April 30, 2026, as; P.5.b Contracts for On-Call Transcription Services for Public Meetings; P.7.a Setting Tax Rate for the Pension Tax Override Fund for Fiscal Year 2026- 27; P.8.b Standing Purchase Order with Municipal Emergency Services for Firefighting Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment, and Self- Contained Breathing Apparatus; P.9.a Side Letter with the Richmond Fire Management Association Regarding Special Compensation Practices; P.10.a Contract Amendment No. 2 with Anita L. Tucci-Smith for Transcription Services; P.12.a Appointment of Javier Cabra to the Library Commission; P.12.b Reappointment of Kiran Agarwal to the Commission On Aging; P.12.c Appointment of Jay Krohnengold to the Richmond Arts & Culture Commission; P.12.d Boards and Commissions Vacancies Report; P.12.e Proclamation Recognizing Juneteenth and the Contributions of African Americans to Richmond; P.12.f Proclamation recognizing June 2026 as Pride Month in the City of Richmond; P.13.b Purchase of Ballistic Armor Torso Plates from TYR Tactical; P.13.c Purchase of Ballistic Vests from Crye Precision; P.14.c April 2026 Abatement Report; P.14.d Contract Amendment No. 2 with SCI Consulting Group to Prepare the Hilltop Assessment Districts Annual Engineer’s Report; P.14.e Ordinance Amending Sidewalk Vendor Regulations (RMC Chapter 7.42).
Budget Session
Q.1 — Engineer’s Report for Fiscal Year 2026-27 for the Marina Bay Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District (MBLLMD)
- As agendized: Adopt a resolution approving the Engineer’s Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026- 27 for the Marina Bay Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District (mbllmd), declaring the City Council’s intention to increase the annual assessment in the mbllmd, and setting a public hearing about the proposed increased assessment on June 23, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers at 440 Civic Center Plaza in the City of Richmond.
- Motion: To approve the item. — moved by Martinez, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 6–0 (abstained: Zepeda). Result announced about video 6:14:02.
- Item begins about video 5:02:56.
Q.2 — Preliminary Engineer’s Report and Intent to Levy Assessments for Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District (HLMD) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27
- As agendized: Adopt a resolution approving the preliminary Engineer’s Report for Fiscal Year 2026-27 for the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District (hlmd); declare the City Council’s intention to increase and collect the annual assessments; and SET a public hearing about the proposed increased assessment on June 23, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers at 440 Civic Center Plaza in the City of Richmond.
- Motion: To approve the item. — moved by Jimenez, seconded by Martinez. Passed 6–1 (noes: Zepeda). Result announced about video 7:08:53.
- Item begins about video 6:14:54.
Public Hearings
R.1 — General Plan and Zoning Text Amendments Related to 6th Cycle Housing Element Program Implementation
- As agendized: Hold a public hearing; introduce (first reading) an ordinance, as recommended by Richmond’s Planning Commission, amending Articles 15.04.104, 15.04.201, 15.04.202, 15.04.203, 15.04.602, 15.04.607; Sections 15.04.610.180, 15.04.610.360, 15.04.805.040 and 15.04.806.040 of the Richmond Municipal Code (RMC); and adopt a resolution, as recommended by Richmond’s Planning Commission, amending the General Plan 2030 Land Use ….
- Motion: To approve the item. — moved by Martinez, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 7–0.
- Item begins about video 7:24:00.
R.2 — Levy of Special Assessments for Unpaid Administrative Citation and Nuisance Abatement Costs
- As agendized: Hold a public hearing; and adopt a resolution authorizing the levy of special assessments against certain properties with unpaid invoices related to administrative citation fees, and nuisance abatement costs pursuant to Richmond Municipal Code Chapters 2.62, 6.38, 9.22, and 11.76.
- Motion — moved by Bana, seconded by Wilson. Passed 7–0.
R.3 — Master Fee Schedule Update
- As agendized: Hold a public hearing; and introduce an ordinance (first reading) establishing certain fees for the proposed Master Fee Schedule.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
R.4 — Annual Public Hearing on Vacancies
- As agendized: Hold a public hearing and receive a presentation on the status of vacancies and the City’s recruitment and retention efforts in 2025.
- Presentation or report received; the minutes record no vote.
Study and Action Session
S.1 — Grant Award from Chevron Community Engagement Foundation
- As agendized: Adopt a resolution to accept and appropriate a $35,000 grant award from the Chevron Community Engagement Foundation for the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) to Enhance Street Outreach/Mobile Crises Response.
- Motion: To approve the item. — moved by Jimenez, seconded by Wilson. Passed 7–0.
S.2 — Presentation from Richmond Promise: Helping to build a stronger Richmond by deeply supporting Richmond students to access and successfully complete post-secondary education (not only 4 year college)
- As agendized: Receive a presentation from Richmond Promise on the organization’s current scope of services, how it supports youth before, during, and after post-secondary education, and the impact it has achieved to date and to highlight the program’s current needs as it continues to serve Richmond students; and direct staff to explore funding to support scholarships for Richmond youth.
- Motion: To approve the item. — moved by Bana, seconded by Jimenez. Passed 7–0.
S.3 — Consider Amending Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 11.05 entitled “Fireworks”
- As agendized: Request the city attorney and the city manager to make recommendations and propose amendments to Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 11.05 of the Fireworks Ordinance that extends liability to hosts and increases administrative penalties and return to City Council for proposed recommendations within 90 days.
- No motion or outcome is recorded in the minutes for this item.
S.4 — Recommend Dedicating a Literacy Space in the Richmond Public Library in Honor of Abigail Sims-Evelyn
- As agendized: Request the city manager or her designee evaluate and return to the City Council within 120 days with recommendations for dedicating a literacy area, department, center, or other appropriate space within the remodeled Richmond Public Library in honor of Abigail Sims-Evelyn and her more than 40 years of dedicated service to Richmond’s Literacy for Every Adult Program (leap), including potential naming options such as ….
- 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 10:54 p.m., to meet again on June 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Not yet confirmed
- S.3 Consider Amending Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 11.05 entitled “Fireworks”: no motion or outcome recorded in the minutes.
- S.4 Recommend Dedicating a Literacy Space in the Richmond Public Library in Honor of Abigail Sims-Evelyn: no motion or outcome recorded in the minutes.