Tuesday, March 16, 2021

5 items · 23 votes · 11 public comments

What happened

  • Rejected safe parking program for homeless residents using $560,000 funding with 4-3 vote (Jimenez, Martinez, Butt dissenting).
  • Approved stopping disc golf course construction at Hilltop Lake Park pending committee review 6-1 (Butt dissenting).
  • Approved 15 routine items including $42 million Veolia contract for wastewater plant construction and $50 million state loan.
  • Approved 10% salary increase for City Clerk to $12,201 per month and new environmental review guidelines.

Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records

View official: Agenda

Attendance

Demnlus Johnson III(Present)
Claudia Jimenez(Present)
Eduardo Martinez(Present)
Gayle McLaughlin(Present)
Melvin Willis(Present)
Tom Butt(Present)
Nat Bates(Present)
6 substantive items · 15 consent · 1 procedural

Housing(1 item)

Create safe parking program for homeless residents using $560,000 in funding

6-1Housing & Homelessness

In Plain English

The city received $260,000 from the county plus $300,000 from its affordable housing fund to start a program letting homeless people park overnight in designated areas. The Housing Consortium of East Bay would run the program. If approved, the city also creates a committee to plan long-term homeless services.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Suspend the Council Rules of Procedure and Order, and to hear Items I-2, I-3, and I-4 together

Moved by: Councilmember JimenezSeconded by: Councilmember Martinez
Passed

7 to 0

Thomas K. ButtAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye

Extended meeting until 11:30 p.m.

Moved by: Councilmember Jimenez
Passed

6 to 1

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesAye
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye

Approve the item, authorize use of $260,000 County funding and $300,000 City Affordable Housing fund to contract with Housing Consortium of East Bay; authorize creation of emergency ad hoc committee of three City Council members to work with City staff and County Supervisor John Gioia to develop long-term plan; direct ad hoc committee to work with Homeless Task Force and engage community; include option to explore safe parking program in non-residential area

Moved by: Councilmember JimenezSeconded by: Councilmember Willis
Passed

6 to 1

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesAye
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye

Suspend the rules and extend the meeting to discuss item G-5

Moved by: Vice Mayor Johnson IIISeconded by: Councilmember Bates
Failed

3 to 3

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye
Claudia JimenezNay
Eduardo MartinezNay
Melvin WillisAbstain

Infrastructure(1 item)

Stop disc golf course construction at Hilltop Lake Park pending committee review

6-1The Hilltop

In Plain English

The city halted work on a new disc golf course at Hilltop Lake Park. Construction stopped while the Recreation and Parks Committee reviews the project. The committee meets April 7 to decide whether the disc golf program should continue as planned.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Place an emergency item on the agenda regarding a Disc Golf Program at Hilltop Lake Park, to be heard directly after approval of the Consent Calendar

Moved by: Councilmember BatesSeconded by: Councilmember Martinez
Passed

6 to 1

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesAye
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye

Appointments(1 item)

Appoint mayor and councilmembers to regional committees for 2021

Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

The city participates in regional committees that coordinate on issues like transportation, housing, and environmental policy across multiple cities. These appointments determine which elected officials represent Richmond's interests on each committee. The mayor and councilmembers serve as the city's voice in regional decision-making that affects local residents.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Governance(1 item)

Adopt new environmental review guidelines and vehicle miles traveled methodology

CEQA Guidelines

In Plain English

The city uses environmental review guidelines to evaluate how new developments might impact traffic and air quality. Current guidelines from 2003 need updating to match state law changes. The new methodology measures vehicle miles traveled instead of just intersection delays, which better reflects environmental impacts from driving.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Adopted Resolution No. 31-21 and introduced first reading of the ordinance

Moved by: Councilmember WillisSeconded by: Vice Mayor Johnson III
Passed

7 to 0

Thomas K. ButtAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye

Personnel(1 item)

Raise City Clerk salary by 10% to $12,201 per month

City Clerk Salary

In Plain English

The City Clerk currently earns $11,092 per month or about $133,000 per year. If approved, the salary increases to $12,201 per month or about $146,000 annually. The City Clerk manages elections, maintains official records, and handles public information requests.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Approved the salary adjustment

Moved by: Councilmember WillisSeconded by: Vice Mayor Johnson III
Passed

7 to 0

Thomas K. ButtAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye

Miscellaneous(1 item)

Details

In Plain English

This agenda item lacks any description or details about what the council will be discussing. Without more information, residents cannot know what topic or decision this item covers.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Approved as a group without individual discussion.

G-3Meeting minutes approval