Tuesday, April 19, 2011
JointPresiding: Mayor McLaughlin · Called to order: 6:39 p.m. · 15 items · 3 votes · 10 public comments
What happened
- Approved police chief's plan to redirect Southside anti-crime funds from planned substation 6-1 (Rogers dissenting).
- Approved 8 routine items including $12 million Via Verdi street restoration and $174,000 gang prevention contract.
- Approved vacating dead-end portion of South 4th Street 6-1 (Boozé dissenting).
- Approved pausing mural painting until new public art policy is created.
- Received graffiti enforcement update along Union Pacific railroad tracks without voting.
Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records
View official: MinutesAttendance
Public Safety(2 items)
Receive update on graffiti enforcement along Union Pacific railroad tracks
In Plain English
City staff will report on efforts to address graffiti on railroad property near I-580 and Carlson Boulevard. The railroad company owns this land, which limits the city's enforcement options. Staff will explain current strategies for working with Union Pacific to remove graffiti and prevent new tagging.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Direct police to spend Southside anti-crime funds on Chief's priorities instead of planned substation
In Plain English
The city allocated money to fight crime in the Southside neighborhood. The original plan called for building a police substation there. Chief Magnus now recommends spending the funds differently, though the specific alternative uses are not detailed in available documents.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Staff disregard planned police substation and spend Southside funds in another anti-crime manner
3 to 1
Zoning(2 items)
Vacate dead-end portion of South 4th Street north of Cutting Boulevard
In Plain English
The city plans to officially close a cul-de-sac section of South 4th Street that connects to Cutting Boulevard. Street vacation means the city stops maintaining this piece of road and removes it from public ownership. If approved, the former street becomes private property that can be sold or developed.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Close public hearing
Adopt Order of Vacation No. 907
6 to 1
Expand South Richmond development zone to qualify for transit planning grant
In Plain English
The city wants to enlarge its South Richmond Planned Development Area boundaries. This expansion helps Richmond qualify for a Metropolitan Transportation Commission grant for station area planning. The grant would fund studies on how to develop areas around transit stations.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopt Resolution No. 31-11 expanding South Richmond Planned Development Area
Contracts(7 items)
Contract with Brookside Health Community for job training health screenings
In Plain English
RichmondBUILD Green Careers Academy trains residents for construction and green energy jobs. The program requires health screenings to ensure participants can safely perform physical work. Brookside Health Community provides these medical evaluations for trainees entering the workforce development program.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve contract with Brookside Health Community Health Center, Inc.
Amend Bay Cities Paving contract for Via Verde sinkhole repairs
In Plain English
A sinkhole opened on Via Verde requiring emergency road repairs. The city hired Bay Cities Paving for temporary fixes to keep the road passable. This amendment expands their work to include additional channel improvements around the damaged area.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve Contract Amendment No. 1 with Bay Cities Paving and Grading, Inc. increasing contract value by $676,067.19
Amend contract with Nichols Consulting Engineers for Via Verdi project work
In Plain English
The city hired Nichols Consulting Engineers for the Via Verdi Restoration Project. The project now needs additional engineering work to complete its final phase. If approved, the contract expands to cover this extra consulting work.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve amendment to contract with Nichols Consulting Engineers, increasing contract value by $865,000
Approve 2-year contract for fencing services at vacant properties
In Plain English
The city needs contractors available to quickly install fencing around vacant buildings and lots when property owners fail to secure them. Code enforcement officers encounter unsecured vacant properties that pose safety risks or attract illegal activity. If approved, the city can call this contractor as needed over the next 2 years rather than bidding each job separately.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve two-year contract with Just Fencing, Inc. for as-needed fencing services
Hire engineering firm to study sewer overflow problems
In Plain English
The city experiences sewer overflows when wastewater exceeds system capacity during heavy rains. West Yost & Associates will analyze flow patterns to identify problem areas and recommend solutions. The study helps the city plan infrastructure improvements to prevent sewage spills.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Approve lease with National Park Service for historic vessel storage
In Plain English
The city operates Graving Dock No. 3, a large dry dock facility used for ship repairs and storage. The National Park Service wants to lease space to store the Wapama, a historic steam schooner. If approved, the city earns rental income from an otherwise unused dock space.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Hire unarmed security guards for recreation facilities
In Plain English
The city plans to contract with DP Security Services to provide unarmed security at parks and recreation centers. Security guards would monitor facilities to prevent vandalism and ensure visitor safety. The contract amount was not disclosed in the agenda materials.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Governance(3 items)
Pause painting over murals until new public art policy is created
In Plain English
The city currently allows property owners to paint over existing murals on their buildings. This moratorium stops that practice temporarily while the city develops a community-based policy for public art. The pause protects murals from being removed until residents have input on how the city should handle public art in the future.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Approve moratorium on painting over existing murals and provide up to $1,000 for paint costs for Gompers students mural
Eliminate health department permit requirement for keeping bees
In Plain English
The city currently requires residents to get a health department permit before keeping bees on their property. If approved, beekeepers no longer need city permission to start or maintain hives. This removes regulatory barriers for backyard beekeeping while keeping other safety rules in place.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Introduce ordinance for first reading and lay over for second reading
Oppose policy requiring retreat from areas threatened by sea level rise
In Plain English
Some climate policies call for relocating residents away from waterfront neighborhoods as sea levels rise. This formal decision states the city's opposition to such retreat policies. The resolution supports protecting existing communities rather than abandoning them to rising waters.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Adopt Resolution No. 32-11 opposing policy of retreat from urban areas due to climate change
Housing(1 item)
Hold public hearing on federal housing and community development spending plan
In Plain English
The city receives federal grants each year to fund affordable housing projects and community development programs. Federal law requires a public hearing before the city can submit its spending plan to the government. The plan details how Richmond will use Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds in 2011-2012.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Close public hearing
Adopt Redevelopment Agency Resolution No. 11-8 and City Council Resolution No. 29-11
Budget(1 item)
Amend federal housing grant spending plan for 2010-2011
In Plain English
The city receives federal grants each year to fund affordable housing and community development projects. The current plan guides how Richmond spends these Community Development Block Grant, HOME, and Neighborhood Stabilization Program dollars. If approved, the amendments change which specific projects receive funding this year.
Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.
Votes
Close public hearing
Adopt Redevelopment Agency Resolution No. 11-9 and City Council Resolution No. 30-11
Approved as a group without individual discussion.