Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Presiding: Mayor McLaughlin · Called to order: 6:51 p.m. · 6 items · 25 votes · 17 public comments
What happened
- Approved new rules to regulate development near creeks 5-2 (Bates, Boozé dissenting).
- Approved $200,000 increase for Riggers Loft electrical work 6-1 (Boozé dissenting).
- Approved new meeting rules to handle disruptions and ban campaigning 5-1 (Boozé dissenting, Bates abstaining).
- Heard update on $15 million plan to support Doctors Medical Center.
- Approved 15 routine items including $1.43 million fuel contract and $341,000 library accessibility improvements.
Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records
View official: MinutesAttendance
Governance(3 items)
Adopt rules to regulate development near creeks
In Plain English
The city currently lacks specific rules for building near creeks and waterways. New regulations would control how developers can build on properties that contain creeks. If approved, property owners must follow stricter guidelines when constructing homes or businesses near water features.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopt Resolution No. 91-14 to regulate development of parcels with creeks
5 to 2
Amend council meeting rules to handle disruptions and ban campaigning
In Plain English
The city council wants to update its meeting rules to better manage disruptive behavior during public meetings. The changes also formally ban political campaigning at council meetings. If approved, the new rules give the mayor clearer authority to maintain order and remove people who interrupt proceedings.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Extend the meeting for 30 minutes
5 to 2
Approve staff's amendments to City Council Rules and Procedures and the Posted Agenda Form
5 to 1
Update wastewater discharge rules to match federal environmental standards
In Plain English
The city's current rules for what businesses can discharge into the sewer system don't match updated federal environmental regulations. The new law brings Richmond's wastewater rules into compliance with federal standards. This affects businesses that discharge industrial waste into the city's sewer system.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Close the public hearing
7 to 0
Ordinance receive first reading and was laid over four weeks for second reading
7 to 0
Contracts(1 item)
Approve $200,000 increase for Riggers Loft construction project electrical work
In Plain English
The city is building a new operations and security center at the port called Riggers Loft. Alten Construction needs an additional $200,000 for electrical work and tenant improvements beyond the original contract. If approved, the total project cost rises from $4.75 million to $4.95 million.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve a Fifth Amendment to the Construction Agreement for Alten Construction (Alten) to finalize additional electrical work and tenant improvements on the Riggers Loft/Operations and Security Center Project
6 to 1
Infrastructure(1 item)
Adopt formal decision to build community trails outlined in General Plan 2030
In Plain English
The city's General Plan 2030 includes specific plans for new community trails throughout Richmond. This formal decision directs city staff to begin implementing those trail projects. If approved, the city starts working toward connecting neighborhoods with walking and biking paths as promised in the long-term planning document.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopt Resolution No. 92-14 to implement provisions of the General Plan 2030 relative to community trails
7 to 0
Housing(1 item)
Expand rental inspection program to cover all rental properties in Richmond
In Plain English
Richmond currently inspects only some rental properties for safety and maintenance issues. The city wants to expand its inspection program to cover all rental housing in Richmond. If approved, landlords of all rental properties must allow city inspections to ensure basic safety standards.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Miscellaneous(1 item)
Receive update on plan to allocate $15 million to support Doctors Medical Center
In Plain English
The city committed $15 million from a Chevron environmental agreement to help keep Doctors Medical Center operating as a full-service hospital. Staff will report on their progress developing a multi-year spending plan. The city is also exploring additional funding sources beyond the Chevron money.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Allow Heather Klup, who failed to file a pink speaker's card with the City Clerk prior to the City Council's consideration of the item, an opportunity to address the City Council
7 to 0
Allow everyone that failed to file a pink speaker's card with the City Clerk prior to the City Council's consideration of the item an opportunity to speak
Direct the City of Richmond to immediately loan $4 million to Doctors Hospital and direct the city manager to meet with Casino San Pablo to request that it frontload the $4 million
Direct staff to continue moving forward with its current plan, begin discussions with stakeholders, explore all possibilities to support DMC as a full-service, acute-care hospital with an emergency room, and also begin conversations with financial advisors regarding possibly adding DMC to the Trans Revenue Bonds in order to immediately provide $4 million to DMC to survive throughout the month of December 2014
7 to 0
Approved as a group without individual discussion.