Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Presiding: Mayor Gayle McLaughlin · Called to order: 5:33 p.m. · 4 items · 18 votes · 11 public comments

What happened

  • Approved new procedures for Planning Commission appointments 6-2 (McLaughlin, Butt dissenting).
  • Approved 15 routine items including $1.1 million police radio maintenance and $221,347 BMW motorcycle lease.
  • Approved contract with Neighborhood House for gang prevention services.
  • Approved changes to industrial buffer zone rules in Knox Freeway corridor.
  • Endorsed East Bay Regional Park District bond measure for November ballot.

Auto-generated summary from agenda items and vote records

View official: Minutes

Attendance

Gayle McLaughlin(Present)
John Marquez(Present)
Tom Butt(Present)
Ludmyrna Lopez(Present)
Mindell Penn(Present)
Jim Rogers(Absent)
Corky Boozé(Absent)
Harpreet Sandhu(Present)
Nat Bates(Present)
5 substantive items · 15 consent · 1 procedural

Appointments(1 item)

Discuss procedures for appointing members to Planning Commission and Design Review Board

7-1Planning Commission

In Plain English

The city council will review how it selects residents to serve on two volunteer boards that shape development. The Planning Commission reviews major building projects and zoning changes. The Design Review Board evaluates the appearance of new construction and renovations.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Direct staff to draft an ordinance and come back to the City Council on July 15, 2008

Moved by: Councilmember ButtSeconded by: <UNKNOWN>
Failed

Bring back to the City Council a Planning Commission and Design Review Board Ordinance that will authorize reduction of the quorum at a special meeting on July 8, 2008

Moved by: Councilmember ViramontesSeconded by: Councilmember Rogers
Passed

7 to 1

Nathaniel BatesAye
Tom ButtAye
Jim RogersAye
Corky BoozeAye
Ludmyrna LopezAye
John MarquezAye
Gayle McLaughlinNay
Harpreet Singh SandhuAye

Open the public hearing on the Chevron Project on July 15, 2008, for discussion, and allow public comments on July 22, 2008

Moved by: Councilmember RogersSeconded by: Councilmember Butt
Failed

Hold the public hearing and public comments on July 15, 2008, and close the public hearing and hold staff discussion and decision on July 16, 2008

Moved by: Councilmember RogersSeconded by: Councilmember Lopez
Failed

Hold the public hearing on July 15, 2008, and allow staff, experts, appellant, applicants, and public comments; close the public hearing and continue to July 16, 2008

Moved by: Councilmember BatesSeconded by: Councilmember Thurmond
Passed

6 to 2

Nathaniel BatesAye
Tom ButtNay
Jim RogersAye
Corky BoozeAye
Ludmyrna LopezAye
John MarquezAye
Gayle McLaughlinNay
Harpreet Singh SandhuAye

Zoning(1 item)

Amend industrial buffer zone rules in Knox Freeway corridor plan

Police & Community Safety

In Plain English

The city created a specific plan for the Knox Freeway and Cutting Boulevard area that includes an industrial buffer zone between factories and neighborhoods. City council will discuss changing some rules about what can be built in this buffer area. The buffer zone protects residents from industrial noise, pollution, and truck traffic.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Direct staff to come back to the City Council in two weeks with the simplest possible wording that amends either the existing zoning ordinance and/or the Knox Freeway/Cutting Boulevard specific plan as they legally see fit to prohibit residential uses in the Buffer Zone including live work and prohibit day care centers or school for young children in that area, with first reading of the ordinance held on July 22, 2008, and the second reading held on July 29, 2008

Moved by: Councilmember ButtSeconded by: Councilmember Bates
Passed

Contracts(1 item)

Contract with Neighborhood House for gang prevention housing and outreach services

Housing & Homelessness

In Plain English

The city received a state gang prevention grant that requires partnering with local organizations. Neighborhood House of North Richmond would provide temporary housing for at-risk youth and conduct outreach at schools and on streets. If approved, the 2-year contract costs $194,000 from state funding.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Approve the contract

Moved by: Vice Mayor MarquezSeconded by: Councilmember Viramontes
Passed

Infrastructure(1 item)

Accept engineering report for Hilltop neighborhood landscape maintenance fees

The Hilltop

In Plain English

The city must hold a public hearing before collecting annual fees from Hilltop property owners to maintain landscaping in their neighborhood. The engineering report calculates how much each property pays based on lot size and benefits received. If approved, the city can proceed with billing property owners for landscape maintenance in fiscal year 2008-2009.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Close the public hearing

Moved by: Councilmember ViramontesSeconded by: Vice Mayor Marquez
Passed

Accept the Engineer's Report

Moved by: Councilmember ButtSeconded by: Councilmember Thurmond
Passed

Governance(1 item)

Endorse East Bay Regional Park District bond measure for November 2008 ballot

Regional Parks Bond

In Plain English

The East Bay Regional Park District wants to extend its bond program that funds open space, wildlife areas, and shoreline parks. The district is asking Richmond to formally support this ballot measure before voters decide in November. If approved by voters, the bond would continue funding regional parks and open space preservation throughout the East Bay.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Adopt the resolution and add clarification as a letter that by supporting this resolution, the City of Richmond does not endorse acquisition of terminal four or Point Molate by the East Bay Regional Park District

Moved by: Councilmember ButtSeconded by: Councilmember Thurmond
Passed

Approved as a group without individual discussion.

F-20Minutes approval