Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Presiding: Mayor Thomas K. Butt · Called to order: 6:57 p.m. · 8 items · 29 votes · 8 public comments
What happened
- Approved Point Molate development timeline and $150,000 financial advisor 5-2 (Martinez, Beckles dissenting).
- Approved 19 routine items including $224,000 for police vehicles and $150,000 grant to East Bay Center for Performing Arts.
- Approved ban on menthol and flavored tobacco products citywide.
- Approved modified rules for collecting residential rental housing fees 6-1 (Butt dissenting).
- Heard public hearing on Macdonald Avenue development agreement without voting.
Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records
View official: MinutesAttendance
Contracts(2 items)
Approve agreement for police patrols at Shops at Hilltop mall
In Plain English
The city provides extra police patrols at the Hilltop shopping center through overtime shifts. LBG Hilltop pays the city back for these overtime costs. If approved, this arrangement continues for one year with an option to extend for another year.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approved said agreement
7 to 0
Approve Point Molate development timeline and hire $150,000 financial advisor
In Plain English
The city owns 270 acres at Point Molate, a former Navy fuel depot site overlooking San Francisco Bay. This approves a development schedule and hires Kosmont Companies to provide financial advice as the city seeks a master developer. If approved, the city begins the formal process to select a developer for housing and mixed-use construction on the waterfront property.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopt staff's recommendation with two conditions: (1) incorporate the subject matter that Councilmember Martinez presented on this item at the City Council meeting on July 10, 2018; and (2) delete the provision in the proposed RFQ that would prohibit responders from contacting or lobbying councilmembers and staff regarding the RFQ
Approve the RFQ and postpone approval of the contract
7 to 0
Approve the tentative schedule as recommended by staff
4 to 2
Governance(3 items)
Ban sale of menthol and other flavored tobacco products
In Plain English
Richmond currently allows stores to sell menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco like fruit-flavored cigars. This law prohibits all flavored tobacco sales including menthol cigarettes. New tobacco stores must also meet location requirements, and small cigars must be sold in larger pack sizes.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopted Ordinance No. 20-18 N.S.
6 to 0
Modify rules for collecting residential rental housing fees
In Plain English
The city currently collects fees from landlords who rent out residential properties. This change lets the Rent Board create its own collection rules and late payment penalties instead of the city handling these details. If approved, the Rent Board gains more control over how it collects money from rental property owners.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopted Ordinance No. 21-18 N.S.
6 to 1
Create payment plan option for parking tickets based on income
In Plain English
Richmond currently requires full upfront payment of parking tickets. The new law creates a payment plan option for residents who qualify based on low income. If approved, eligible residents can pay parking fines in installments instead of all at once.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Said ordinance received first reading
7 to 0
Personnel(1 item)
Revise employee disciplinary hearing rules to prevent conflicts of interest
In Plain English
Skelly hearings let city employees challenge disciplinary actions before they take effect. Current rules allow department heads to oversee hearings for their own staff, creating potential bias. The new rules require neutral hearing officers from outside the employee's department. The city also cannot hire outside lawyers unless the employee has their own attorney.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Accept the first part of the main motion but not the second part regarding legal representation
Direct staff to begin the meet and confer process with the appropriate bargaining units with the intention of revising the Skelly process as recommended unless the employee who is the subject of the Skelly meeting requested their department head to serve as hearing officer
6 to 1
Environment(1 item)
Support state law requiring low-carbon materials in construction projects
In Plain English
The Buy Clean California Act requires state projects to use construction materials with lower carbon emissions, like concrete and steel made with cleaner processes. Richmond would formally support this statewide policy and explore adopting similar rules for city construction projects. If approved, staff reports back in September on how Richmond could implement carbon limits for materials in city buildings and infrastructure.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopted Resolution No. 68-18
7 to 0
Infrastructure(1 item)
Install stop signs at 4 intersections citywide
In Plain English
The city plans to add 4-way stops at Barrett Avenue/Key Boulevard and Macdonald Avenue/Key Boulevard. Two additional 2-way stops go in at Roosevelt Avenue/Key Boulevard and Nevin Avenue/36th Street. These changes aim to improve traffic safety at intersections that currently lack stop controls.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopted Resolution No. 62-18
7 to 0
Zoning(1 item)
Hold public hearing on development agreement for Macdonald Avenue property
In Plain English
The city owns vacant land on Macdonald Avenue between 11th and 13th Streets. SAA-EVI Richmond Partners wants to develop housing on this property. The public hearing lets residents comment before the council decides whether to approve the development deal.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Approved as a group without individual discussion.