Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Presiding: Mayor Gayle McLaughlin · Called to order: 6:30 p.m. · 4 items · 18 votes · 20 public comments
What happened
- Denied North Richmond waste mitigation fee spending plan 5-2 (only Myrick, Rogers supporting).
- Denied terminating Mortgage Resolution Partners advisory agreement 4-3 (Beckles, Butt, McLaughlin, Myrick dissenting).
- Approved $5.96 million deficit budget for 2014-15 with Boozé dissenting.
- Approved $57 million tax-exempt bonds for Westridge at Hilltop affordable housing.
- Approved 7 routine items including $2.5 million increase for Chevron lawsuit legal costs.
Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records
View official: MinutesAttendance
Budget(2 items)
Approve $5.96 million deficit budget for fiscal year 2014-15
In Plain English
The city faces a $5.96 million budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year. The city has $12.25 million in cash reserves to cover the deficit. If approved, the city spends more than it collects in taxes and fees but avoids immediate service cuts.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Preliminarily approve the budget, subject to formal meet and confer with the unions and with the inclusion of $150,000 for the YouthWorks STOP Program, and also with the inclusion of not to exceed $10,000 for a stop sign on 35th Street
6 to 1
End debate
6 to 1
Approve spending plan for North Richmond waste mitigation fees collected in 2014-2015
In Plain English
The city collects special fees from waste and recovery operations in North Richmond to fund community programs and improvements. This plan details how the city spent those fees between July 2014 and June 2015. The plan specifies which activities received funding and how much revenue supported each program.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Suspend the rules end debate, and vote on the current item
Suspend the rules, allow Councilmembers to give comments and extend the meeting
2 to 5
Contracts(1 item)
Terminate advisory agreement with Mortgage Resolution Partners after 1 year
In Plain English
The city hired Mortgage Resolution Partners last year to provide advisory services. The agreement included a natural end point after the first year. The city chooses not to renew the contract when it expires.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Terminate the contract
3 to 4
Housing(1 item)
Hold public hearing on $57 million tax-exempt bonds for Westridge at Hilltop affordable housing
In Plain English
The California Municipal Finance Authority wants to issue $57 million in tax-exempt bonds to help finance improvements at Westridge at Hilltop affordable housing complex. Richmond must hold this public hearing because the project is within city limits, even though the city is not issuing the bonds itself. Federal law requires cities to allow public comment before tax-exempt bonds can be issued for projects in their jurisdiction.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Close the public hearing
Adopt Resolution No. 60-14
7 to 0
Approved as a group without individual discussion.