City Council - Regular Meeting

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We have quorum. So if we're ready to  begin begin the special open session   to hear public comments before  close session. Roll call, please. Council member Bana. I'm here. Council member  Brown here. Council member Jimenez present.   Vice Mayor Robinson here. Council member  Wilson here. And council member Zepeda here.   Mayor Martinez here. During close session, the  council will discuss the following items. Okay.   Item C1, conference with legal council, existing  litigation, Washington versus City of Richmond,   Golinko versus City of Richmond at all. Item  C2, conference with labor negotiators. Agency   representatives Chiron Taylor, Jack Huge, and  Lisa Sharon. Item employees organizations include   SEIU Local 11021 full-time and part-time  units, if Local 21 midlevel management   and executive management units, Richmond Police  Officers Association, Richmond Police Management   Association, IAFF Local 188, and Richmond Fire  Management Association. We have one request to   address the council under public comment. You'll  have two minutes to address the council on items   on the close session agenda. Cordell Hendler.  Thank you. So, good afternoon, Mayor Martinez.   Council Cordell Hendler. I'm a Richmond resident.  So, I'll get right to the point. The unions have   done a lot of good for Richmond. So, when you go  back in there, think about all the way that they   have contributed to make Richmond a work and play.  So, think about that. And I'll just leave it at  

that. Thank you. Is there anyone online that would  like to address the council under open forum? Okay, there are no additional  speakers. All right. In that case,   uh public uh uh comment session is closed  and we will now adjourn to close session.

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Hey, hey, hey. to start the regular meeting of  the Richmond City Council. So,   if you can take your seats, we will begin. Uh  we will begin with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United  States of America and to the republic   for which it stands. One nation under God,  indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Ready.

Our next item is roll call. Council  member Brown here. Council member   Himenez. Presente. Council member  Wilson here. Vice Mayor Robinson here. Council member Zepa here. Mayor Martinez here.   Council member Bana is here but  she is absent from roll call. Our next item statement of  conflict of interest. Are there any hearing? None. Our next item is agenda  review and I do not have any requests. Yes.   Um I would like to uh rearrange the study  and action session. I would like to have   uh P5 heard first. I would like P3 and four  to be combined and heard secondly. I would   like P2 to be third and P1 to be last. That  was item P5 is first. Correct. Item P3 and   P4 combined. Combined. And then can you please  remember? And then P2 is third and P1 is last. And for the record, Council  Member Bana is present. Thank you. Our next item is a report from the city attorney  of final decisions made during close session.   Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh there were  three items discussed during close session,   two litigation matters, um Washington and Golinka,  as well as um labor negotiations, uh but no final,  

um actions were taken. Thank you. Our next  item is a report from the city manager. KCRT,   please display the presentation. Good evening,  Mayor Martinez, City Council, Shasa Curl,   Richmond City Manager. As a reminder, all  of these items can be found in the city   manager's weekly report or by calling the city  manager's office at 510-620-6512. Next slide,   please. Next slide. On Monday, January 19th,  we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.   Volunteers came together for a day of service  focused on improving neighborhood spaces.   Activities included trimming vegetation,  spreading mulch, cleaning up trash, and   illegal dumping from nearby streets, and  completing community painting projects.   The day concluded with a concert celebration,  local musicians highlighting community talent,   and reinforcing Dr. King's message of service,  unity, and collective pride. The slide you are   viewing right now are of the activities that took  place at Parkchester Park on MLK Day. Next slide. And here are some additional images of the great  activities that took place on at Unity Park.   um that included a number of our local  community based organization partners including   um Urban Tilt and many others. We'd like  to thank um all the staff that came out to   participate in volunteering and tableabling  and for all of the um community support to   always make MLA Day of Service um an event that  everyone in our community can be proud of. So,   thank you everyone who participated and all  the residents and all the city staff that   that helped prepare as well as the community  based organizations. Next slide, please. Um,   applications for the black resiliency projects  community advisory committee committee are now   open. The community advisory committee will  help guide the development of the state of  

black Richmond report and inform the design of  the black resiliency fund. For more information,   you can scan this QR code on the screen or contact  management analyst Jana Williamson at 510-6206574. Next slide. The Richmond Environmental Community  Investment Agreement Competitive Grant   Program for fiscal year 2627 is now officially  open and we encourage Richmond residents,   community based community servant organizations  to apply. To support applicants, the city will   host a virtual information session on February  4th at 2:30 PM where staff will will review   both the general grant program and u mini  grants. In addition, please note that the   Richmond Department of Children and Youth Grant  Program will open this Friday, January 30th,   providing another funding opportunity for  organizations serving Richmond youth and families.   For additional information or support, applicants  may contact Patrick Seals at 5103078016. Next slide. I have been sending lots of text messages  to members at the DIAS. And so I thought it   would be important to um try to aggregate them to  show uh some of the great work that's happening   in our community. Uh, in particular, I'd like to  acknowledge the public works department, both uh,   staff here at city hall and those staff that are  in the operations and maintenance division and all   the city departments that work collaboratively  uh, in internal services to support uh,   our public works department. The city is uh,  excited to share construction is underway at   three new multi-use sports fields designed to  expand play opportunities, improve field quality   across Richmond. These fields will be striped  for multi-purpose sports, including soccer, and   designed as 12 and under size fields. At Shields  Reed Park, their synthetic turf construction is   30% complete. Projected construction completion is  late spring um early summer 2026. Um and so that  

is the park that you see at the the very top.  Uh in the middle is Wendle Park. That's natural   turf. Construction is 5% complete. Construction  preparation and groundbreaking is scheduled.   Um and then construction completion is expected  in spring early summer 2026. And Borman Park is   natural turf construction is 20% complete and the  project completion is expected in 2026. There's   also um we have a new term of art for Shields Reed  and BTA. We're calling it the Richmond Community   Services HGTV Richmond edition. And so at those  parks where we haven't where we've been able to   redo substantially part of of the area, we're  doing our best with our public works operations   and maintenance staff to also u pave adjacent to  the sites to paint the buildings and to upgrade   them as much as possible um to ensure that when  communities return to these spaces that they look   uh vibrant and ready for young people and  all members of our community to enjoy. So,   just want to thank the city council for  your ongoing support and and illustrate   that we're making substantial progress in  uh in our built environment. Thank you. Our next item under commendations, presentations,  and proclamations is a proclamation recognizing   the 2025 Richmond Women of the Year. We have three  speakers in person. If there's anyone joining us   online that would like to address the council on  this item, please raise your hand at this time. Yeah, I was trying to wait for the mayor to say  speakers first or speakers later. All right. Okay.

I think if we can get uh the following honores to  join us up here as we read the proclamation. Um,   Anna Duran, Cheryl Kier, Lkesha Mitchell Keith,  Miriam Wong, Naomi Williams, Regina Whitney,   Sarah Wallally, Tiffany Harris, Trina Jackson,  was Miss Trina. All right. Uh, I bet Williams   Bar. All right. And more more applauses and woos  in a minute. So, we're going to start off with   uh reading here. Uh, City of Richmond Proclamation  honoring the city of Richmond's 2025 woman of the   year. I know we're timely, but uh whereas  Women's History Month serves as a national   observance recognizing and uplifting the countless  contributions of women whose leadership, courage,   and service have strengthened our communities,  advanced equity, and shaped the cultural, civic,   and historical fabric of our nation. And do  you want to read on that? Where did you go?   Uh just read the first one. Okay. Whereas on  October 1st, 2025, Congressman John Geramedi   recognized 55 extraordinary women in the  California 8th Congressional District as women   of the year for their leadership, service, and  dedication to improving the lives of others and   strengthening community well-being. And whereas  whereas Richmond is honored to acknowledge 10   of these distinguished honores who represent  Richmond organization organizations and whose   work reflects the city's values of resilience,  unity, compassion, and community empowerment. And

whereas the Richmond honores  Anna Duran, Cheriel Kolier,   Lkesha Michelle Keith, Miriam Wong, Naomi  Williams, Regina Whitney, Sarah Wallally,   Tiffany Harris, Trina Jackson, Lincoln, Iet  Williams, Bar have demonstrated outstanding   dedication into service and leadership that  enriches Richmond and the broader region and I don't have my wait here. Whereas their combined efforts reflect the  highest ideals of civic stewardship and inspire   future generations of women leaders throughout  Richmond and Contraosta County. And whereas these   honories had made significant contributions  across nonprofit leadership, civ engagement,   cultural preservation, community organizing, youth  development, public health advocacy and social   services initiatives, strengthening neighborhoods  and improving quality of life. And oh, the last Whereas their leadership has provided  meaningful opportunities for residents,   supported vulnerable populations,  and uplifted the social and community   fabric that defines Richmond as  a strong and inclusive community. Now, therefore, thank you. Now therefore,  be it resolved that the mayor and members  

of the Richmond City Council hereby honor and com  commend that the 10 Richmond honores recognized by   Congressman John Girameni as the 2025 women of the  year and extend heartfelt appreciation for their   exemplary leadership, service, and dedication to  the Richmond community. Be it further resolved   that the city of Richmond celebrates these  extraordinary women for their achievements and   contributions and recognizes them as an ongoing  source of pride and inspiration for all residents. I don't know why they put me first. Maybe  because I'm sitting down so the rest of   us should get chairs. No, I just want to first  before anything else happen, I want to introduce   my family which is sitting at the second  row. Will they still please stand up please? They have been behind me since day one.  Although they don't be at the meetings   and all those other things that I do, I  love them and I try to spend as much time

as I can with them. So, I'm here and they came  to with me. So, thank you guys. Thank you. I just want to say thank you so much. That's  another to be I love Richmond and I believe   that Richmond can change and it has been changing.  uh for the people who don't have hope for Richmond   I believe and this is the representation of the  ladies and also for the gentlemen that we work   for a city and Richmond is my city and thank you  so much for trusting me thank you for Richmond   police department to my supervisor Michelle and  that's an honor to serve my community thank you first giving honor to God because he is the head  of my life. I just want to say that it's an honor   and it's a blessing to be of use and to help  um our community and it literally when it came   to down to Steve Elementary School, it took the  community. And so this is an an amazing example   of not just what we can do individually, but  what we can do when we come together. And so   I just hope that we continue to move forward  together recognizing that those who may not   seem to have voices that there are individuals  who will speak for them and that we'll empower   them to use their voice because we all deserve  to have the best life that we possibly can. Good afternoon everyone. Yay. I  want a big cheer. Good afternoon.

I am superly proud to be here today.  I'm looking over at my son. You guys,   would you just stand up cuz everybody already  know him, but they don't know I'm his mother. I am his mother. I brought him this far and he's  standing tall. So I want to say thank you to all   of you. Glad to meet all these wonderful faces.  You know when time come that people are there with   you, it means something and I'm so happy to know  about something. So anyway, I won't hold you long   because I had a a long day today. But uh we're  going to stand together throughout the rest of   our lives doing the best that we can do for all  people. Okay. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you. Honored to be here. Honored to be  with these women and everybody in the room.   Thrilled to be a part of Richmond, to contribute,   to continue to put forth the efforts that  we do for our community, our residents,   how we listen, and how we come together  to celebrate them and uplift the city. Good evening, everyone. Um, I'm honored to be a  recipient of this award. I'm a Richmond native   and have worked for the city of Richmond  for decades now. So, I I love being able   to give back to my community, the community  that held and embraces me. So, thank you. Good evening. I am also honored to be a  recipient of this award. I am honored to   be honored by this city council. I am honored  to serve the residents of Richmond. I too am a  

native Richmond resident. I moved here when  I was one years old. Been here many years,   many decades. I also worked for the city of  Richmond. I'm a proud public servant and I am   just honored to stand amongst this group of  distinguished women who can say that we have   poured out into this city and will continue to  serve in the best capacity possible to uplift and   to help just further the uh values of this city  that as people roll into the city of Richmond,   all they will see is pride and purpose and that  we will just um know that there is nothing but   love here in in the city of Richmond. We have a  community that bands together no matter what. We   weather every storm and we will continue to do  this as time goes on. So, thank you very much. Hi, I'm Tiffany Harris and again um thanks sincere  thanks for doing this. I was just on a Bible study   group before this and one of the questions when  God puts us in places and we've just feel like   we're undeserving and and Lord, why are you having  me here? Cuz I I'm amongst some really really   great women in Richmond and I'm just like what is  my purpose? And so it and it just shows me like   um so I run the Bay Area Girls Club. Last week  I was honored to see one of my girls receive the   Katracasta Human Hum humanitarian award. Um So  just things like that. Seeing my fellow Richmond   natives here. I'm born and raised here. I have  my Rotary folks. Richmond Rotary folks raise your   hand. Hi Jan. My Kowanas folks. Richmond. Your  son is in Kowanas with me. And then of course my   sisters in solidarity are here. And then my best  friend from my sister. She's my sister for over   35 years came and to see me being honored. And so  it's just so wonderful. And I just thank you all.  

Love you, city council, and thank you, city of  Richmond. Thank you. So, thank you all for for   honoring us. Your work is does not go unseen.  Uh you guys uplift our community. You guys help   create and make it even better. Uh there was a  little bit of challenge putting this proclamation   together because the people the person that  usually helps us, she was receiving one. So,   we had to get somebody else to help us out. So,  thank you so much. And I also want to acknowledge   two other individuals that might not live within  the city of Richmond, but they're close enough,   but we want to also acknowledge them. Uh Marie  Coryani and Tanya Jacobs of the unincorporated   side of Richmond and Elsa Bronte, but they also  got acknowledged by the congressman. So, we want   to acknowledge them as well for a job great  done. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you.   And uh I just want to say thanks to all of you.  It feels great to be in the presence of so many   extraordinary women. And uh Trina, I can't thank  you enough for supporting the council the way that   you do. And uh Naomi, you have you were the first  one to gave me to give me my my marching papers.   So, so, uh, I remember coming to the city of  Richmond and running for for council and she   was the first one that says, "Hey, come here.  I got some information that you need." And so,   since then, we have uh done a uh selfie every  time we get together, so I have to do that now.

group photos. All right, everybody will squeeze  that and then somebody will take a photo. All right. You ready? One, two, three. Oh yeah. We have three speakers. We have three  speakers for this item. We have three   speakers. Can we uh turn the noise  down so we can hear the speakers? Cordell Hendler, Antoine  Claude, and Harpri Sandu. Okay. Me.

I will. I was wait I was waiting for the uh Okay.  Dang. So, um So, good evening, Mayor Martinez.   Uh council uh audience, can you uh please  quieten it down so we can hear the speakers? Uh please take your conversations outside of the  council chambers so we can hear the speakers. Okay. Okay. So, good evening again, Mayor Martinez,  uh, council. For the record, Cordell Hendler,   I'm a proud Richmond resident. So, I do want to  thank Council Member Sepa for this proclamation.   So, what could I say about these extraordinary  women? They have done a lot for Richmond. So   congratulations I Trina Naomi Anna and um who  Sarah and um what could I say about my dear   friend Naomi Williams she this woman has done  a lot for Richmond as you pointed out Mayor   Martinez she was the first one to like you know  say come here give me come here and I'm like   this woman is extraordinary she has she was the  vice chair of the commission on aging president   of her neighborhood council and I consider  her my dear friend Naomi you have done a lot   for Richard. So you better keep on keeping  on. So I with that Antoine, it's all yours. Antoine Clark, Antoine Court, Richmond  resident. I I I always share that I'm   a product of strong women. And uh 20  years ago when I came to this council,   it was my mother Naomi that sat me down and told  me how to act because I was rough. Y'all don't  

know. I was rough when I came up in here.  I was kind of hard on y'all. And uh but she   taught me some things. But not just teaching  me things, but teaching me how to be a leader,   teaching me how to be present in our community  whereas where sometime people are not present,   right? You you don't you know y'all give  proclamations on paper but the paper don't mean   nothing but it's what they do from their heart  for the people that mean the people that show up   and the sacrifices that we make from our family.  So I thank y'all family for sharing y'all mother   with me sis know you know I I I y'all shared y'all  mother with me you know what I mean? And so you   know sister Trina in this boy before y'all even  got here sister Trina holding it down but you just   couldn't walk up in that office thinking you was  going to get a meeting with anybody. So Trina put   should treat put you in check before you  the door. Hey, did you did you send an email sister here? She went to the council. There  a lot of these women that I know that I work   with. But you got to understand that we know  that what our community suffers from and lack   of and we try to fill those gaps with our heart.  It's not the titles that we carry. It's the heart   for our community. I am a Richmond resident.  I ain't from the south side. I ain't from   the north side. I ain't from central. I'm from  Richmond. I touch every part of this town. So,   and and and and so, you know, Miss Naomi  with Junth is is her is her stuff. That's   where she really pours out to the community to  try to educate our community about our history   enrichment as black communities. And I just  thank her for being a pillar. I'm telling y'all,   a pillar of this community for so  long. Thank you for letting me share our priest and do our priest and do um city Richmond. Uh good  evening mayor, city council and honor guest  

and most important our honores. I bring warm  greetings on behalf of congressman John Gar mendy   um who regrets that he could not be here in  person uh but asked me to convey his deepest   congratulations and appreciation. Tonight, the  city of Richmond honors 10 extraordinary women   as the 2025 women of the year. What makes this  moment especially meaningful is that these very   same women were also recognized by Congressman Gar  Mendy as the congressional women of the year for   the California 8th congressional district. And  that recognition will be kept in the Library of   Congress for perpetuity. That share recognition  speaks volume not only about the individual's   achievement but about the profound impact  that they have made across our community,   our district and beyond. And one of our  previous uh women of the year of course was   Betty Reed Saskan just two years ago. These women  represent the very best of Richmond. Leadership   rooted in strength, grounded in compassion,  a vision guided by commitment to justice,   equality, and opportunity. Whether in education,  public service, healthcare, business, advocacy,   or community organization, each one of you helped  lift others. Quite often, without expectation and   or recognition, Congressman Garandi firmly  believes that when women lead, communities   thrive. Your work strengthens families, empowers  neighborhoods, and inspires the next generation   of women and men to believe that their voices  matter and their dreams are within reach. So   on behalf of Congressman Garandi, thank you for  your dedication, your rel sorry, your unwavering   commitment and making Richmond a stronger, more  inclusive city. Congratulation on a well-deserved   honor and thank you and continue the good work. As  we say, women with pride and purpose. Thank you.

That was our last speaker. Our next item is open forum. An open forum is an opportunity to address the  council on items that remain on the consent   calendar or items that are not on the agenda.  During open forum, dialogue between the council   and the speakers prohibited. Tonight, we have five  in-person speakers. Anyone joining us online that   wishes to address the council, please raise your  hand. At this time, we'll start with the in-person   speakers and then move to the online speakers.  When your name is called, please come forward   and line up behind the speaker podium. When  you are called to address the council, state   your name and your city of residence is optional.  Please terminate your address to the council when   your time expires. Each speaker shall be allowed  up to two minutes to address the council. City   of Richmond welcomes your comments and requests  that you present your remarks in a respectful   and appropriate manner within the established  two-minute time limit. Our speakers are Don Gazny,   Cordell Hendler, Antoine Claude, Mark Wasber, and  our last inerson speaker will be Fesa Ayad. Don   Gazny. Good evening. This is one of those times  when we have to remove our rosecolored glasses   and admit to ourselves that we live in the real  world. For several many years, we've seen members   of our city council and even the council as a  whole take action that have divided the community   and pro prompted uh numerous negative articles  and segments in newspapers and news sites around   the world. Right now, we see reprehensible actions  by our president and his bootlooking ditto heads   that make the United States look bad all over  the world. And even though this is the result   of actions by a very small number of megaloman  maniacal mentally dysfunctional crackpots, the   rest of us are saddled with the blame for allowing  these actions to take place. Same goes for the   people who live in Richmond when our elected  and community leaders go off the reservation.  

A great many people around the world have taken  notice of actions by our Richmond leaders and   look at us with disgust, revulsion, and even fear.  Because we live in the real world, we know that it   doesn't matter what the truth is. What reality  is is what the people's believes to be the truth   and reality. In the world we live in, perception  becomes reality. Read your history books about the   Nazi party's actions when they first took power  and made wild accusations against the Jews. They   told the lie often enough that in the minds of  the people, it was the truth. Perception became   reality. Is this thea the case we're seeing  here in Richmond? Last week, this council   voted to implement programs and actions to try to  convince everyone that they are not anti-Semitic.   The problem is that after their statements and  actions these past couple of years, why would   anyone believe a word they say? Why would anyone  believe that they are sincere? That they and they   try to tell us that we should ignore everything  they've said and done these past couple of years   and believe the PR they're trying to tell us now.  It reminds me so much of that birth mother of mine   that routinely beat me, telling me how sorry she  was and she'll never do it again until she got   close to her boards and sticks she used to beat me  with. And with that, the same old story repeating   itself. Please don't waste your time insulting us  into thinking that your anti-semitism revisionism   is sincere. If it walks like a duck and quacks  like a duck, maybe it's a duck. Cordial Hindler,   how do I top that? So, good evening again, Mayor  Martinez, Council Cordell Hendler, and I am a very   upset resident. So, I was watching the video last  Tuesday, and I was appalled because I was looking   at it and I'm thinking like people do feel the  support for Mayor Martinez because you have done   a lot of good things for Richmond. So, I do want  to put that on record. So, that's one. Then the   second thing is like I had to go back to the video  of June 2024 and if you remember when Raphelis  

presented to us about the workforce analysis, one  of the things that kind of stood out is that we   need more police because they keep our streets  safe. In order to do that, we have to figure out   how are we going to pay our officers because they  work a lot of overtime. So, we need to figure out   how we can like strategically um plan on how we  going to keep our officers because if you look at   other cities around us, they pay their officers  a $10,000 bonus just to become an officer. We   need to do better than that. So, that's two.  And then the final thing is um for a future   agenda is um I had spoken with the principal  at Celisian College Preparatory and it would be   great if they would be acknowledged because if  you remember when I had submitted a an article   from the Richmond Standard these young people  have done a service day in the spring and so I   am requesting that this needs to be agendaized  in late February. That's it. Antoine Clark at one court Richmond resident. You know,  I've been I've been sitting down for about   two months putting everything together in  this city and where we was and where we at   and where we trying to go. And when you look at  our fire department and our police department,   we are 10 years behind in quality equipment,  quality. I ain't just talking about the the   machines. I'm talking about quality people,  training, uh resources. Our fire department   is the lowest to me. When you look at San Pablo's  fire department, Elserto's fire department, and   then you look at our training center, it look like  a garbage can. But everybody uses that training   center. Everybody from Conair and all them other  regions use that training center. But if you go  

up in there, you be ready to run up out of there.  If you really look at how old it is, how behind   times it is and San Pablo have a state-of-the-art  corner fire department there. Why don't we have a   state-of-the-art a state-of-the-art not behind the  scenes but in front of the scenes fire department   training center? Have y'all been to that training  center lately? This for real for real. For real.   I don't think you have. On the south side. On the  south side. Excuse me. Excuse me, mother. But I'm   saying this to say if we're going to represent  our community, let us represent our community   with quality so we know what the future looks like  and know can't count on somebody else to fix us.   We have to better our own sales by knowing what  it's going to take for us to have a better future   and a safe community and a safe environment.  Thank you for letting me share Mark Wasber. You got two people are dead. One people lost his  finger. She lost her finger. One person lost his   eye. You got several people that's going to be in  federal prison for the next four or five years,   losing everything they have. Now you  have Tom Holman going to uh Minnesota to   uh give the governor an offer he can't refuse.  And he's talking all nice to President Trump cuz   Trump told him, "Look, if you keep on doing what  you're doing, we're going to end it once and for   all." And I don't see how you people could be  so stupid to go out there and support a bunch   of criminals who don't even care about nobody  else. Now you got the city council. You got the  

Richmond PD. The police chief stood there and  said, "We sponsor sanctuary cities. We aiding   embedding criminals from the law." I mean, you  really people that stupid. You think you're   going to fight the federal government? It's  not going to happen. Starting February 1st,   Trump's cutting off the money to all sanctuary  cities, and you people are going to be hurting.   Don't blame Trump. You blame yourselves. You think  it's funny, Trump's gonna lower down the hammer.   I said, Minnesota's gonna try to do the same  thing that George Wallace did when he called   out the National Guard to stop the black people  from going to school. So Eisenhower federalized   the National Guard. Then he sent the 101st  Airborne in and took care of it. And he's   going to do the exact same thing to Minnesota.  Now they're moving over to Maine. I mean,   you people, I mean, you're just being stupid.  You think you're going to stop the feds from   enforcing constitutional law? And this clown's  over here. He's thinks it's all a joke. Wait   till I really comes down here to Richmond.  He ain't going to be laughing. Fesa Ayad. Salam alalayikum everyone. My name is Faiza. I  live in Alaro. I just want to thank thank you   uh Mr. Martinez for all your support and all your  effort and standing up and say the right um stand  

stand up and be strong against all the odds um  around you. And I know for some people they they   don't like to see the the flag of Palestine  standing up on in Richmond. Maybe they want   to see something else. God knows. But thank you  for doing that. And also I want to um thank you   all of you for uh doing a good job in Richmond. I  know a lot of people they don't like you can't fix   everything and people need to unit it together  and work together. this division and I say it   before is gonna get worse and if we don't know if  we don't pay attention to what's going on in the   world it's again it's going to get worse we need  to work together and I say it before you guys we   need to work together and that's the only solution  division is a disaster And if you look around you   in the Middle East all over the world, that's what  they did and that's what they want. And you need   to look at yourself. You need to look at your  history. And we need to learn from our history. People, they don't read and they don't know  what's going on. They think it's it's okay to   do all these things, all these divisions.  Time is expired. Thank you. That was our  

last inerson speaker. I I'm actually going  to speak. Pardon me. I'm speaking. Okay. Somewhere here. It doesn't matter. I'll I'll do it from Well, um I'm going to get down to the business  part of it first. Um, we have had a snowball   scholarship fund for many, many years. It started  in 1952 and it continues thanks to the hurlbutts   who keep it going. This year, they need more funds  to make sure that it continues. I have donated   $1,000 to this fund and I'm asking everyone  who can afford to to do the same. So if you   can't then do what you can. Uh there is there  should be uh uh a copy of the poster which is   uh um showing it has a place you can send the  check to. It has a a website address and it has   a QR QRL code that that you can use to send money  um uh by by by phone. So, um, we do have many,  

many heroes in our city. Many of them work quietly  without fanfare, lifting up our communities year   after year. Marin Hurlbut is one of these heroes  who has carried on the snowball scholarship fund   year after year. Since its inception in 1952, the  city of Richmond community services department   has sponsored an annual snowball event to  bring together high school students from   the West Clutch Unified School District to  celebrate a formal prom. Since n since 2020,   the ball portion has not been able to continue.  However, they still do the scholarship. So,   um I hope that we can make sure that this  continues. It's a very very important uh feature   that the hurlbuts uh give to the city of Richmond.  So, let's make sure that that we give from our   hearts uh to the best of our abilities. Um uh I  hope I hope that that you can match me. Thank you. That was our last in-person speaker and  now we'll move to the online speakers. We   have two speakers and those speakers are  Janice Hogan and Benjamin Tero. Janice,   please unmute yourself and you may begin. Janice, good evening. Uh, good evening, mayor and  city council members. I'm Janice Hogan, a Richmond   resident. I'm a member of local and state groups  working to stop the use of illegal fireworks. I   have a couple of ideas for moving away from the  illegal fireworks culture here. The city app has   a background photo of fireworks. It's seen every  time a resident opens it and it's been there for a   while. The annual legal fireworks show, which many  residents love and the city staff works hard to  

organize and I appreciate that. Um, it only lasts  for 20 minutes out of the entire year. So, why   not change the photo to um a different one that  re represents Richmond year round? There could   be a Richmond Pride photo contest, which would be  fun and get local photographers involved. Another   idea is for the council to make a proclamation  that the city has zero tolerance for illegal   fireworks. I'd be happy to help with either of  these projects. Thank you so much for listening.   Good night. Thank you. The next speaker is  Bentio. Please unmute yourself and you may begin. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes. Good evening. Good  evening, city council. Bentio, president of the   Richmond Police Officers Association. I'm speaking  tonight to address the issue again about the leave   status of the administrative leave status status  of officers Remick and Stocking. I've spoken to   some of you privately on this issue. Um but I am  asking now to formally take some type of action.   Um the POA is going to send a demand letter  in the coming days and then you're going to   see us do more things outright in person and  uh on Zoom. But the city manager's continual   insistence that we wait for the district attorney  or the California Department of Justice before   returning officers reminto duty is not only  unjustified but is an outlier practice that no   other city in Contraosta County or the state  of California follows. There is no statute,   regulation, post requirement, or case law that  conditions an employer's personnel decisions   on the completion of a DA or DOJ review, which  often take over a year. None. This is a policy   invented in Richmond to avoid accountability.  Across California, officers routinely return  

to duty with modified or administrative  assignments while external reviews proceed.   Cities do not do this because they understand  the law. Prosecutors decide criminal liability,   not employment status. The city manager's approach  improperly conflates prosecution discretion with   employer authority and treats outside agencies as  de facto supervisors, something the law does not   permit. And the DO and DOJ have no employment  jurisdiction, no disciplinary authority,   and no role in determining whether an offsome  work. Being a practice that no peer agency uses,   the city is exposing itself to significant legal  liability. Indefinite removal from duty without   cause, timelines, or objective standards violates  the fundamental principles of due process,   something that unions care a lot about. And just  fair employment in California law. Return them   to work immediately. Thank you. Your time  has expired. And that was our last speaker. Okay. Our next item is approval  of the consent calendar. Do I have a motion to move? I move the item. I second it. Council  member Brown, yes. Council member Ba,   yes. Council member Jimenez, yes. Council  member Wilson, yes. Council member Zapeda,   yes. Vice Mayor Robinson, yes. And Mayor  Martinez, yes. The vote is unanimous. Our next item is item P5 under  study and action session. Hold one second. Mayor and members of the council  while staff is coming forward. I want to just   um in particular thank Chief Osario and members of  his leadership team as well as director Combmes,   our director of finance and uh associated  personnel and finance that assisted with the  

preparation of this report. Um the information um  you have a PowerPoint there uh at the dis for you   to refer to in a hard copy. Um and a great deal  of time and preparation u was put into preparing   this report and I hope that you all find it  useful. Let me read the item into the record.   is to receive an update on the advanced  life support, first responder services,   fire station upgrades and replacements,  and associated 5-year financial forecast,   and direct the city manager to develop revenue  enhancement and financing recommendations for   the city council consideration. We have one  inerson speaker. If there's anyone joining us   online that would like to address the council on  this item, please raise your hand at this time. Sorry about that. Good evening, Mayor  Martinez and members of the council. Uh,   for the record, Aaron Osorio, fire chief  for the Richmond Fire Department. Uh,   tonight I'm joined by Emily Combmes, the  director of finance. Um, Mubin Carter,   sorry, Mubin, I don't know your total title. the  right hand of of the director of finance and my   deputy fire chief uh Rico Rinkcon. Uh so all of  us contributed to uh this presentation tonight in   different forms. This really was a team effort to  come together uh because there's so many facets to   this program as I shared the first time we  reviewed this. It's a very complex program   um and it touches so many different aspects of  of the city and so many different departments. Uh   tonight uh what we will be reviewing is providing  a six-month update uh to the original plan that   was approved uh as requested by the council. Uh we  also will be um discussing fire station upgrades  

and replacements that are uh linked to the ALS  program and uh reviewing a 5-year financial   forecast uh related to the program and other  city needs that are uh impacting this program.   Uh at the end of this action, at the end of  this presentation, the recommended action   is going to be to direct city manager  Curl to develop a revenue enhancement   and financing recommendations for the city  council to consider at a later meeting. A brief overview of what we're going to cover. Um  I will go over what the uh action the council has   already taken at the previous meeting. We'll  review what this deployment model was that   was recommended at that meeting. uh give you a  summary of the accomplishments we've achieved   already. Um and then we will go over some of  the financial estimates in 5-year financial   forecasting uh including station improvements,  station replacements, apparatus purchases, and   uh costs directly related to the ALS program,  which includes staffing. We also will review   the recruitment timeline and what our next steps  we're going to be taking in the next six months   hopefully. and then answer questions. We did we  do want to remind uh the council that this program   uh there are some synergistic policies that  align with this program and with the wishes and   direction of the council. Uh first would be um the  health and all policies. Uh in 2014 the council   adopted health and all policies. The goal was  to uh reduce the health disparities and improve   health outcomes for the our community. Uh most of  these um the policy relates to living, working,   playing and educational um environments within  the city, but there is intervention area six which   directly relates to the quality and accessible  health and home services. So, this program does  

align well with that um goal and policy that was  adopted by the council, especially since in West   County, we only have access to one emergency room  in the county. This is is Kaiser Richmond. Kaiser   Richmond is the only authorized receiving  facility for an ambulance in West Contraosta   County. Uh clinics are not allowed to receive 911  ambulance transports. So, that leaves us with one   option in West County. And uh if that is full or  uh unavailable that pushes everybody into Alama   County or into Central County to go to John Mir or  Kaiser Walnut Creek. So it's an important aspect   to the health of our community. Secondarily aligns  with the goals and priorities that the council   adopted in fall of 2023. Uh that the council  adopted the strategic goals and priorities.   Um and these were supposed to be measurable  uh citywide goals with measurable outcomes   specifically strategic goal number area four  refers to improving public safety. Uh 4.3 refers   to the adding and improving emergency response and  preparedness. So this program aligns with that and   goal area five 5.1 ensuring that there's the right  staffing level and experience to meet the service   goals of each department. So, I just wanted to  make sure that, you know, we keep that in the   forefront that this program is um in alignment  with the direction and the wishes of the organiz   of the city council. As a reminder, on May 27th,  we presented the ALS proposal or implementation   program. We reviewed the feasibility study that  was uh produced by the Matrix uh consulting group.   Um on that at that meeting the council received  a report and directed staff to pursue next steps   for implementing the recommended service model.  At that same meeting you requested a six-month  

um update as far as uh what we had accomplished.  It was slightly beyond 6 months. Um the goal was   to do this before the closure but we didn't get to  that goal. So we're coming now. As a review of the   deployment model, uh I presented three different  models. Um and the recommended model was we we   called the hybrid model and it was a model where  we would initially in three years time deploy   three single role paramedic squads with the goal  of rolling them out or going live in during the   fiscal year 2728. And then over the following  two years through uh hiring and onboarding   of existing uh firefighters at the par at a  paramedic school, we would implement or phase in   uh ALS engine companies and truck companies so  that by the fiscal year of 2930, we would have all   eight fire companies that we currently have in the  city would become an ALS provider for the city.   We recommended and the consultant recommended this  model uh for a few reasons. Um one of them would   be that it is a more real realistic expectation  of implementing such a technical and and a complex   program. Um and so if we b if we divided it  into two more attainable um goals, it it was   just more realistic for for our our staffing and  what the capacity we had. Uh it also would allow   us to better manage recruitment and onboarding  challenges. There is a a very difficult time   right now in recruiting paramedics and paramedic  firefighters. There is an onboarding period.   uh and to stagger this allows us to to spread that  out over a few years where it becomes uh much more   manageable for both the fire department for the  training aspects uh and for HR to handle the   onboarding um and to get through the accreditation  and process we have to do at the paramedic level.  

It also allows us to uh shorten the implementation  period for our first step which will allow us to   provide paramedic service sooner to the community.  uh allow us to do it in three years ideally versus   having to wait five years to try to get every  company in the city um to a paramedic level. Some of the things that we've been able to  accomplish in the last 6 months, I'll break them   down here and give just a brief summary of what  they are uh in a chronological order uh starting   from right after the council gave direction. So  um in June on June 14th of 25 uh we presented   uh this model and the um program presentation  to the Contracasta County uh executive fire   chiefs association. Um they are in full support  of us moving forward in this direction. It will   streamline and um allow us all to provide the same  services across the county. This is very important   to the executive chiefs because we have a very  robust auto aid agreement within our county.   We are regularly in other jurisdictions providing  service and they are regularly in our jurisdiction   assisting us with service and they are staffed  with paramedics. This will make sure that we are   providing equal services no matter what side of  the border or city limits we are in. They offered   us assistance with accreditation and training.  Some of these organizations provide uh ambulance   transport service which will allow them to be able  to assist us in accrediting our paramedics once   they have finished the schooling and have to go  through a county accreditation where they have to   complete so many hours in contacts with patients.  Um they also the comire requested us to consider   uh moving uh over to dispatch centers  just to streamline the ALS services.   Uh this is a whole another topic that we'll have  to come back to council about. There's a lot of  

different considerations, but the benefit related  to the ALS program is now if we were to go there,   all paramedic and ALS services, ambulance dispatch  and fire dispatch would fall under one center. Um   which could decrease ambulance response times into  the city. So it's something we need to look into   more deeply. There was no commitment made. It was  just a request to consider it by Chief Brashard.   Uh I in June we also held discussions with uh  AMR and Confire what's called the alliance.   They are the uh ambulance provider for the  county uh contraosta county for every area in   the county other than San Ramon and Maragarinda.  Um they are in full support of the program. Also   uh they also offered us assistance with  accreditation and training and more   importantly part of their contractual agreement  as the uh ambulance provider for the county when   they were awarded that bid. They have to have a  pass through purchasing program for fire agencies   in the county to purchase medical equipment for  paramedic service at a reduced rate or at their   rate since they purchase in such large amounts  because they are part of a nationwide company   GMR. And so we have the ability to purchase  some of this equipment we need for our program   through them. So they wanted to make sure I was  aware of that process and when we were ready to   go down the road of purchasing that we will have  more discussions with them. On July 7th of 2025,   we h held our initial discussion meeting and  presentation to the Contraosta County Health   EMS agency. Uh this meeting uh consisted of  the medical director for the county EMS agency,   Marshall Bennett, and members of his staff, along  with members of my command staff. Uh we made the   full presentation that we made to the council  to them. Um they are in support of us going ALS.  

They've always wanted us to go ALS. Um, it will  make it easier to deploy resources and manage   resources throughout the county and make policy  that is countywide versus special policy they   have to currently make in the city of Richmond  because we have a different service level. Uh we   reviewed uh California code of regulations title  22 which outlines all the main uh parts of a als California and that's basically going to be the  benchmarks we have to hit and be audited against   when uh we say we are ready we uh notify the  MS agency and they will validate that we meet   all the state requirements uh all throughout this  period. We have completed initial classific drafts   of classification specifications for the personnel  uh particularly for the positions of EMS division   chief, EMS clinical care manager, single paramedic  and firefighter paramedic. Uh these um class   classification specifications or job descriptions  basically um like I said these are initial drafts.   They are being reviewed by human resources  currently. We anticipate there's going to be   multiple versions of this and edits before they're  ready uh to be shared. Um but those at least those   are are are done. Um on October 9th of 2025, I  presented the program to the medical director for   the Contracasta County Fire Agencies, Dr. Malcolm  Johnson. Um Dr. Johnson provides clinical and EMS   support and um advice for all fire agencies in  the in in Contraosta County. Uh we were able   to discuss uh some recruitment recommendations for  our clinical care manager and uh discuss different   aspects uh recommendations he had for developing  the program. Um it's very important Dr. Johnson.  

He intended it tonight just to be in support of  this program because uh he believes strongly in us   having paramedic service here in in Richmond. Uh  lastly, we held a scoping meeting with a potential   consultant firm. Uh because this is such a big  lift and pretty complex and I'm down a chief   officer right now. Uh we felt that we might want  to see whether or not this is something we need   to have the assistance of a consultant firm with.  Um right now we're just in the stage of seeing if   they actually can meet the scope of what we  need. No decision has been made about that.   Um but we are simultaneously also meeting with  other organizations who have recently implemented   paramedic programs and may be able to get some  of the same insights and assistance from those   organizations. Uh most recently we spoke with  the city of Loi Fire Department who implemented   a paramedic program a year ago and uh shared a lot  of what they did and their documentation with us.   I'm going to turn it over. The next slide is  going to be uh presented by Emily. Thank you. So,   this slide summarizes the projected costs  for implementing the ALS program over the   next five years. So, these figures include  staffing costs, which you can see there in red   um for new positions and equipment costs  such as vehicles, supplies, and training,   which are in black. So, these are the operational  costs. Um so that these do not include facility   upgrade and replacement costs um as the chief  will go over those in a couple of slides. Um the   five-year total for the ALS program implementation  is approximately 20.46 million. Um personnel being   the largest component totaling about 14.34  million over 5 years. So this includes salary   and benefits for 19 single royal paramedics  starting in 2728. an EMS division chief and   clinical care manager the fault in 2627 and an  associate administrative analyst in 2627. And  

I do want to say that these are estimates based  on current assumptions and may be refined as we   finalize um job specifications, negotiate  agreements and confirm equipment pricing. Well, besides besides just the program, there's  obviously uh infrastructure and and uh support we   need for the program. It's not just simply hiring  paramedics and hiring and and purchasing medical   equipment. One of the most um is it we've broken  down the facility upgrades into two different or   um facility needs into two different categories.  This slide is discussing the upgrades we would   need to implement a squad program. Um these  locations are based on the locations that   the consultant uh recommended. They're based on a  number of factors just to remind you. One is call   volume. One is a geographical location in the  city trying to spread these services initially   out so they can access all parts of the city. Um  and also based on um population density. So, the   uh first site is Fire Station 62. This is our  North Richmond station at uh the corner of   7th and Hensley, 1065 7th Street. The station uh  would need some improvements made to the dorm to   be able to handle additional personnel sleeping  and living in the quarters. We'd have to have   upgrades for vehicle storage at that facility.  uh and also have uh more storage uh you know   u installed in some fashion at the station to  handle uh enhanced amount of medical equipment   and medical supplies. Um there was a high and low.  This was done a walkthrough with a consultant.   Uh this is just a a rough order of magnitude  what it would they estimated would cost to do   these upgrades. Uh we're looking somewhere  between 330 and 440,000 for that station.   Second station was the Hilltop station at 2904  Hilltop, corner of Robert H. Miller and Hilltop  

Drive. That one also needed the dorm to be  um remodeled so that it can handle uh two   more personnel in the sleeping quarters. Uh  that one needed a little bit more substantial   uh vehicle storage uh upgrade so that we  can store another apparatus there because   we're at capacity at that firehouse. And that uh  estimate was somewhere between 440 and 550,000.   The training center tight site was actually not  the original location the consultant picked. They   picked fire station 64 in Crescent Park. Problem  is that fire station 64 is at capacity. It houses   two crews and a chief officer, a hazmat, a truck,  a rescue, and spare apparatus. We are bursting at   the seams at station 64 and there's no way  to fit another apparatus. when we went and   looked at other possible locations that are in  close proximity. The training te tower site is   in the actual response zone of station 64.  So, we're keeping it basically in the same   geographical area the consultant recommended, but  we would have to look at putting in a temporary   fire station there. Um, which is not uncommon for  departments to do when you're building a new fire   station. You may have to relocate to a temporary  one. It's usually a modular style fire station.   Um but there comes with assoc there's  associated costs with that because of utilities,   communications, all the things that make a  firehouse function have to be present even   though it's temporary. Uh and the estimate for  that is same somewhere between 1.9 and 2.4 for   a temporary firehouse. So that's the breakdown of  the upgrades needed to put the squads in service.   The other facet of this is the long-term five  years out. We have some stations that are in   dire need of replacement um and have implications  into the paramedic program because they are also  

at a capacity and have to have upgrades to be  able to house equipment and and apparatus um and   potentially an additional person uh firefighter.  Um these all these these three stations were also   included on the CIP 5-year CIP. Um they're not  it's not going to be the first time you probably   seen these because uh we did presentations at that  time about them. But fire station 63 is the one   in on Valley View. Uh that one has significant  foundation issues, repairs that are needed. Um   these are rough order magnitude numbers uh that  were done by a consultant after a walkthrough   and assessment of the properties. Um we have fire  station 66 41st in Clinton. Uh oldest fire station   in the city early 1940s has been a fire station  ever since. Does not serve appropriately serve   the needs of the department so that we can provide  services the way we should. Uh does not reflect   uh modern-day workforce and how it's built. Um,  so replacement for that estimated at $30 million.   And the fire station 67 is the one on 11th and on  1131 cutting. That's also a full replacement. That   was a temporary firehouse built in approximately  1947. It was meant to be uh shut down after the   shipyard and the war was over, but nobody left and  it stayed open as a firehouse. And so we continue   to work out of the temporary firehouse that's  located there on cutting. Um and so that station   also we've gotten to the point with both 66 and 67  that the cost to keep them functioning uh I think   is in out of balance with what it would take long  term to uh replace them. So that totals that all   the facility replacement needs or major projects  would total uh 90 98 million or 98.4 4 million.

Uh this map is uh just to help you understand  the locations of the fire stations. I know not   everybody knows what the numbers station numbers  are. Uh the bolded circles are the proposed   locations for the first paramedic squads. Uh so 68  62 and the training center on cutting. Um, we've   also inlaid the districts, the council districts  in here. Um, we're trying to show you that,   uh, even though it's phase one, we are trying to  do our best to provide services across all corners   of the city until we can get all the companies  up into a paramedic level of service. And um,   then every red circle you see on this  map will become paramedic. Next slide.   Uh this map just kind of shows geographically  they are pretty well um balanced as far as   distance from each other. Um there is density  you know issues differences between all the sites   but for the most part they're pretty equally  distributed across the city in order to try   to equitably cover the city initially until we  can get all our ALS companies up and running.   Uh the one of the biggest changes was the  apparatus costing estimates from when the   consultant did it. Um as I shared with  you before the cost of fire apparatus has   um increased tremendously over the last 5 years.  Um and so what was initially a $800,000 estimate   on apparatus for squads has risen to anywhere  from a 1.5 to 1.8 for those same exact squads.   Um, originally we were looking at about 200,000  per vehicle and it's gone up to about 450,000   per vehicle. They also the original consultant  didn't include a staff or or command vehicle for   the division chief position uh which is needed for  that role to be able to respond around the city.  

They will be a chief officer that will be will be  responding to incidents just like any other member   of my command staff uh has to have the ability  to do. And then the uh EMS equipment storage,   there isn't a figure there um because we're not  really sure what that upgrade looks like, but just   to summarize what that means is every fire station  or fire engine we currently have in the fleet and   every fire apparatus actually we currently have  in the fleet that has the potential to need EMS   equipment related to the paramedic program must  have a certain level of storage, a certain level   of security um and a lock box for controlled  substances. There has to be uh a securing of   medications. Uh and there has to be a proper  device on each apparatus to dispose of wasted   controlled substances so they're not diverted  inappropriately in any fashion. These are all   regulated and are all mandated by the California  Code of Regulations for paramedic providers. Um,   and so we we're not sure exactly what this will  cost because there are multiple components that   would meet that requirement. Uh, we have to  see what fits best in our apparatus. But,   um, that's kind of an open-ended item right now  where we weren't able to furnish an estimate on   what that would cost, but there will be an  assumption of a few thousand per apparatus   in the fleet. And that's 15 apparatus potentially  that have to have upgrades to be able to hold all   the equipment and the controlled substances  and the medications that we have to carry. So this scenario, excuse me, this scenario  reflects our updated general fund forecast   assuming no interest earnings from the settlement  funds or limited term revenue which we'll see on   the on the next slide or the next scenario. It  incorporates the costs of our negotiated as well  

as estimated costs forus that are currently under  negotiation. So under this baseline scenario,   the general fund absorbs the full impact of  rising personnel and operational costs including   ALS implementation. So this scenario demonstrates  our structural challenge. Um without additional   revenue streams, the city faces increase increased  pressure on the general fund. Um, this is a   conservative outlook and highlights the importance  of identifying sustainable funding strategies.   It's also important to note that these  forecasts, both this scenario and the one   I'm going to present on the following slide,  do include on that lower third of the table,   um estimated costs related to our CIP  shortfall, our unfunded CIP needs,   the MLK community center and park, which we  do expect um to need a a bond measure for and   fire station upgrades for ALS implementation um  that we were just talking about earlier. However,   they do not include any assumptions related to  Point Matti or Queen Ray Pavilion as those costs   remain uncertain at this time. So, I just want  to draw attention to um the net deficit that you   see in that um in 2930 um because this will change  on the following slide. You it's about55 million. Moving on to scenario two. Um this does assume  interest earnings on the settlement funds at   approximately 4%. So you can see up there on  the revenues there's a second line there and   that's where you wrote where you can see those  um interest earnings. Um and you can see that it   provides a significant offset to our rising costs.  Um these earnings will help fund incre incremental   costs associated with ALS implementation  as well as some of our other obligations.   So while this scenario improves our  position compared to scenario one,  

it still requires care careful planning to manage  um long-term financial sustainability. So interest   earnings as we all know are not guaranteed and  they are largely dependent on market conditions.   So this scenario um could be viewed as optimistic  but plausible. So this comparison with scenario   one illustrates how leveraging those interest  earnings on the settlement funds strategically   can help bridge the gap as we implement ALS  and um meet our other financial commitments. I just wanted to review the uh recruitment  timeline for the personnel that we need.   Um we are and this is actually in the order that  we anticipate onboarding and recruiting. Um so   the one EMS division chief uh we are that's the  job specification we're trying to get done uh the   soonest. Uh we would like to open recruitment for  that position um at late in this fiscal year with   the hopes of onboarding that person in the 2627  fiscal year. uh that in that whoever fills that   role uh the goal is to have the clinical care  manager job spec uh finalized and approved so   that that person can assist in the recruitment and  the hiring of the clinical care manager because   uh they will be working closely together. The  clinical care manager is the person that will be   administering all the training and administering  our quality continuous quality improvement   program, reviewing medical care, reviewing the  um um adherence to uh field treatment guidelines   and county health policies. Uh the administrative  asso associate administrative analyst uh that one   position that needs to support the division. We're  looking to recruit that late in the 2627 fiscal  

year. And then um the 19 single roll paramedics  would be in fiscal year 2728. And just so that you   understand the the number the total the 19 comes  from if we had two paramedic squads per shift.   We have three shifts. Uh that's 18 personnel  total. Um and then we only accounted for one   what we would call a floater. Uh if somebody's  on leave, somebody's on injured, someone's sick.   uh we need to have some cushion there and one is  not going to be enough probably but we feel that   that along with uh maybe that along with  um uh some other creative program imple   uh program aspects that we look to we want to look  into will be able to cover all our staffing needs. Uh there's some of the key items left that re  human resources will need to assist us with.   Um there is the personnel board process once the  uh also I just want to point out that these are   in no specific order. So they're just a list of  items and some are going to come before others   most likely. But uh the the we have to still  go to the personnel board with for the new job   classifications. Um there needs to be review  of the duties and the working conditions of   each of these positions. update all the job  specifications. Um, we have to determine pay   and benefits for these new positions. There's  a meet and confer aspect with all the impacted   bargaining units. Um, we have to go through a unit  determination for each of the new positions which   is the single world paramedics, the division chief  and the clinical care manager, excuse me. And then   there's going to be uh you know uh some meetings  that have to happen with uh human resources and  

and uh LCW Liber Cassidy with more on umou updates  after meeting and conferring with the unions. Uh this is actually the same exact timeline I  shared with you in the first presentation. finish.   I wanted to uh remind you of um kind of the  timeline we're looking at and trying to keep. So   far, we are still on this timeline. Uh I think it  es and flows. We make a lot of progress and then   we kind of stall out a little bit just because  we're waiting for some things here and there,   but for the most part, we are still on track  on this timeline. The next steps that uh need   to happen uh will be the meet and confer with  the impacted bargaining units. uh we are going   to come to a determination whether or not we do  need want to seek assistance from a consultant. Uh   we'll finalize the job classifications and uh unit  designations and seek approval by the personnel   board for those positions. Uh we will need to  look at uh placing an order for our apparatus,   our squads uh soon because of extended delivery  times. It will most likely take a minimum of   one year to take delivery of these vehicles  to have them built from the time we actually   sign and agree to get into contract. And then  we will begin the recruitment and onboarding   of the division chief and then the recruiting  and onboarding of the clinical care manager. Just as a reminder, what we're looking for  tonight as far as recommended action is that   uh direct the city manager to develop revenue  enhancement and financing recommendations for   the city council to consider at a  later meeting. That concludes my   presentation. I'm more than happy to answer some  questions. Thank you. Um do we have speakers?  

We have one in-person speaker. If there's anyone  joining us online that would like to address the   council on this item, raise your hand at  this time. Our speaker is Antoine Clord. Antoine Clard. Press the button. Press the button, please.  this one. Okay. Uh, can y'all hear me? Y'all   know I ain't never met a mic I didn't like,  but um, as I was sharing with you, I didn't   even know the chief was even presenting this. And  so when I saw it, I had to give you some further   synopsis of that fire station. And the reason why  I play such an integral part if you ever sit down   and just watch the training that goes on in that  facility the strategic and ethical practices that   they repetitiously do that you don't know how a  brain work when firefighters go out to a scene and   a wall fence fall how they frame a wall up real  quick right before that building won't fall down.   You know what I mean? So it's certain training  that these firefighters got to continuously do.   We had a youth academy that that's that's here.  Our future looks bright, but our buildings ain't   right. Oh, I said I said I'm good. Our future is  bright, but our buildings ain't right. And I say   that because if you going to move forward, you got  to have quality equipment. The age of AI is real.   And everything can't get trained as a firefighter  on AI because it's physical work. It's very   physical work. go out there and try to carry one  of them fire hoses the way they do it. Just try   it. Then you give them their money. That's just  really how simple it is. Cuz if you want them,   you know, and another thing that the chief say  that the training that they need need to be more  

elevated to really saving lives in our fire  department because we don't have a hospital.   Ladies and gentlemen, if something really  goes down with you, city council members,   I don't care where you live at, you ain't going  to make it to no damn hospital cuz cars get only   have nine beds for emergency. If you don't get  a helicopter to land in front of your house, you   can kiss the baby. And that's the statistic. Just  look at the statistics. How many people die from   here to getting past 80 Martinez? Depends on how  the freeway is. You may not never even make it.   So, let's be realistic. We need to put money in  our firefighters training to make sure that people   can stay alive until they can get to the hospital.  Thank you for letting me share. Okay, we do have   an online speaker, one online speaker. And that  speaker is Kevin Tisdale. Please unmute yourself   and you may begin, Kevin. Thank you. Uh Kevin  Tisdale, president SEIU. Um just want to thank the   chief and and his pres for his presentation. Want  to bring light to I think one critical area that's   missed in the presentation um the underfunding  or or the lack of resources in the maintenance um   divisions and department. So, if we're adding, you  know, sufficient number of units, I think either   19 units, we also need to look at the staffing  and upkeep of the maintenance shop and and the   employees there because they're already, you  know, overworked. Um, services go longer to get   done. So, adding new equipment now is nice, but  again, keeping the equipment up and maintaining   the equipment is the goal. And so, again, we just  want to put light in into that as well. Thank Thank you. And I believe that was our  last speaker. Thank you. Uh comments,   questions from the council,

uh vice mayor. So, um first off, I just wanted to say thank you.  This is a ton of work and will be a ton of work   for the next five years. Um I had just a couple of  questions about um just clarifying question first.   The first three uh ALS sites that are proposed  are the upgrade locations. Is that correct?   That's where you would be able to um have people  at. Yes. Those were put on that list because they   would house those initial three squads, which  means two more personnel every single day and   another vehicle that's currently not there. Right.  And then the next question I had was, you know,   these these the numbers are always intense when  you take on an undertaking like this. And I I   just wondered if there are any kind of state or  federal grants. I know federal is hard right now,   but are there grant opportunities for this kind  of an upgrade or no? So, um I mentioned that I   we just had a meeting yesterday actually with  Loai Fire, the fire chief and their EMS chief.   Um and you know, they were fortunate when they  started this in 2021. Uh there's called AFG,   assistance for fire grants, and um this was a  grant area that they were willing to fund back   then. Um I will say that the grant opportunities  related to ALS have almost all gone away. Um it's   really focusing on cyber security. Um they they  tend to move focuses depending on what's the   newest thing in the fire service or in the public  safety sector. Um I have not seen any that will   fund a implementation of a new paramedic program.  Um definitely I'm looking for them. But I have not  

come across any uh at this time as there's been  some staffing grants, but they're not related.   They would just be related to whatever your normal  staffing uh recruitment is, not a enhancement or   improvement of your services such as this. And  then I had another question. you know, when I   when I did the tour of the fire stations and found  out the crazy condition that some of them are in,   you know, how desperately we really do need to  address this with or without the ALS program. Um,   we looked at the training center and did I am I  remembering correctly that there is a historic   fire station at that site that's not operable  right now. It's got all kinds of problems. So,   um, there is a a fire station that's part of that  site. It's um it's a portion of the building that   the youth academy currently uses. Uh half of  the building they use. The other half actually   they can't use because it's in such poor condition  right now. Um but it has a form of a certain level   of historical status. Um not the type that will  prohibit us from doing a project on that site.   It does require us though to restore the exterior  to what the original structure looked like when   it was a functioning firehouse. Um but everything  else around it um it's just a very small portion,   one small section of the building. Um  but everything else can be um added on,   renovated, remodeled, replaced. Yeah. When when  I was there, we talked a little bit about how   there may be maybe there's still um some other  jurisdictions that might be interested in um kind   of contributing to an effort to to improve upgrade  the training center site. Is that something that's   being considered as a part of this or we're  just thinking about short-term mobile only? No,   I mean that was more about a that uh vision  was for a regional training facility. Um,  

and one of the key uh, partners was going to be  the Berkeley Fire Department. Um, we were not in a   position to move forward with that project the way  we envisioned and they needed to move forward with   uh, a training site for themselves. It's my  understanding that they have located a site   somewhere in Berkeley, I think near Gilman. So, I  would anticipate, even though I haven't talked to   Chief Sprag about it lately, I would anticipate  that um they probably are not willing to partner   in the same fashion they were before. That did  not include any sort of station aspect. It was   strictly training facility that we would share.  Um, I do know that city of El Certo, Confire,   all of them that function in the county would  still like to have a role in that if we could   ever get that off the ground, but it wouldn't  include um a firehouse. Right. Right. That was   that just feels like a a huge opportunity. Um,  you know, that that site is really underused and   there could be something really great there.  Um and then finally I I see here um in the   budgets it seems like there's a assumption  that the settlement funds will be used to to   uh pay for these things and I wonder if there's a  way forward without depending upon the settlement   funds. Um maybe I'm misunderstanding what's in  the what's in the financial projections but can   you address that? Certainly. So the reason we um  the both of the scenarios are just meant to be   illustrative um representations of you know the  the fiscal impact and some of the assumptions.   Um the recommended action uh is requesting that  the city council um essentially authorize and   direct me to uh work on developing a financing  uh plan and uh revenue enhancements for the city  

council's consideration. Um I think in order to  be successful uh in developing and implementing   this program, we need to really uh sort of put all  the cards on the table in terms of looking at what   is the complete landscape um that the council uh  community stakeholders uh labor, how how can we   work together to put together something that the  council may be amendable to moving forward with?   Um because it's a significant lift. And so what  we're suggesting is is that we can either try to   work within the confines of the existing revenue  streams that have been identified. Um that isn't   enough. And so we are suggesting that um the city  council authorize me and and staff to to sharpen   our pencils and and come back with a a list of  recommendations uh in collaboration um with key   stakeholders for the city council's consideration.  Um, and so that could include a myriad of options   and and just want to make it clear that um,  for something of this magnitude, I think it's   important that the the council explicitly um,  make that direction to the city manager um,   to ensure that the council is is behind coming  up with uh, revenue enhancements. So, one final   question and it has to do with that. Would it be  possible if we if there's will to move this uh,   that recommendation tonight? Could we make sure  that the recommendations include something that   does not assume the settlement funds so that we  can leave that as there's a whole anyway is that   possible have a version a point of clarification  uh the settlement the settlement funds are part   of the general funds and to think of them as  separate uh would be looking at them as separate  

as as special funds. Uh so if we're going to refer  to the settlement funds then uh before you get my   vote I need to hear funds equal to the settlement  funds. Okay, which is not the same general funds   equal to the settlement funds which is not  the same as the settlement funds. Okay. So,   could we have a a version that has a proposal that  offers a way forward that includes funds that are   equal to the settlement funds? Is that possible?  And and I'd also like to say that that it is   actually up to us to decide uh how much Well, I  just actually want to know from the perspective   of the person who's going to be trying to figure  out how to move a pretty substantial lift in terms   of financial lift if she believes there may  be a way forward without depending upon that   pot. That's what I'm trying to ask the question  without without using the sum equal without using   general funds equal to Yes. Um I think staff  can definitely develop options. I also think   it depends on um the uh stakeholder support right  so usually when we look at revenue enhancements   um it's dependent upon having stakeholder support  um and seeing what the appetite is for that um so   I try to uh meet quarterly with our uh bargaining  units and um I think if this is something that and   other key stakeholders whether that's the chamber  of commerce or I I have essentially I have an open   door policy, right? Anyone who wants to meet with  me, I try to do my best to make myself available.   So, um I think if the city council is interested  in um having us develop revenue enhancements,   we can do that uh pretty broadly. And then I would  suggest that um we come back uh within 60 days  

with um a myriad of different recommendations.  And that could certainly include options that uh   do not include the the settlement funds. And then  it and then if um and we can provide an update on   if it appears as though there's an appetite  for uh folks to work collectively on revenue   enhancements. I can see that it's very problematic  to not say settlement funds, which you just did.   I'm sorry, mayor. Well, I was trying to I'm trying  to thread the needle here. So, it's it's a little   tough. We're I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank  you everybody for your work on this. Just it   really is important. we don't have a hospital and  this can save lots of lives. So, thank you. Yeah,   I mean from a staff perspective, um I I hope that  the council can see that we've everyone has worked   really hard on this presentation and it's it's  really important and everyone here, you know, even   Darren from public works who's in charge of fleet  is here. like everyone knows that this is really   important for our community and and we definitely  want to if the city council uh continues to   provide an affirmative direction forward, we  definitely uh are up for the challenge. Um I   do want to note that there will be significant  impacts, right? That uh all departments, HR,   finance, public works, um city attorney's office,  uh many departments will be involved with this   lift. Um, and but I think that we can certainly  we're up for getting the getting it done. Council   member Jimenez. Yeah, thank you for all the work  that has been put in this and I think like uh   it's great because as council member Robinson say  this will save a lot of lives and it's important.   Um the the issue here is that the that if this  is a a big undertaking in terms of the financing  

and we need to be clear about that. Um so I glad  that uh we are looking into different scenarios   for how we will fund that because and and I have  a question because in the forecast uh this program   uh in the five year will be and and let me know if  I am reading it correctly but after is implemented   uh from then from from 2930 to future is going  to be 8.5 approximately $8.5 million on top of   uh the current like or the budget like it's $  8.5 million that this program will cost year   after year. Um um and and I am not saying that  we should not do it or but but I just want to   make sure that the community knows that when we  are talking about uh project programs like these   that are really key and important it will cost  some money. Um so I would like also to to have   um kind of like various ways of how this is going  to be implemented. I think let's let's be honest   uh there is um a lot of competing interest around  the settlement funds that around around around   the settlement funds that we have the settlement  fund and this around the around the around the   settlement fund that we got the additional  funds that we got in the general fund from   the May polluters pay that is what it is. It's  It's not It's no different. And And it's in the   general fund. And I'm not saying that it's not  in the general fund, but this didn't come from  

the the out of air. It came because there was a  settlement agreement that we did. So it went to   the general fund uh and it's it's in the general  fund but like people like they are some a lot of   uh what what also we are talking and we will be  talking in in the other item that we are putting   here is that we have this tremendous opportunity  with this additional money in the general fund in   these 10 years to have a transformation in this  city and move us the dependency that we have in   the fossil fuel industry to a green economy and  this is part of that right but we will need to   look at as a whole as well. So we we know where  are the competing interest of what we want to   see in the city happening during these 10 years  with this additional fund and the general fund   that we have. Right? So I applaud that this is  coming to the vision. Um and I applaud that we   are putting a lot of effort and we need to  really make like sharp the pencils and the   calculators and all like all the financial  um opportunities to do that. Also to make   sure that like we are in still in negotiations  with some of the uh bargaining units to see that   um we are not only thinking about giving good  races to those staff personnel but also to see  

a an overall um improvement in the services  and in in programs like this in our community   because at the end of the day a program like this  will save lives. So it will be interesting to see   um you mentioned like here that um uh that it  will be a bond. I would like to know more about   what that entails. How much is the interest rate?  Because at the beginning was like bonds right now   with interest rate s so high will be that smart  how much money we will have to pay. So and what   is the benefit cost benefit of getting the ban  and paying what we need to pay in the interest   rate. So there is a lot of these things that are  are coming up but I would like to see these in   the overall plan that we want so that we move in  these 10 years the city in the direction of not   being that dependent on the fossil fuel industry  and be more sustainable as a city. Thank you   council member Wilson. So thank thank you for the  presentation. And I'll start off by saying I agree   with my my colleagues that I do support the city  investing in an advanced life support program,   you know, through our fire department. But I do  want to focus my questions on slides 19 and 20,   which are the scenario and scenario scenario  one and scenario two budget. So I think it's   probably mostly uh city manager curl that I  have questions for. So one of the things I   don't understand about looking at slide 19 under  expenditures. So we can just start with year   uh budget year 25 26. You listed um expenditures  at 258 million and some odd and then you have 1 2  

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 lines below where you broke  out below that. Are those also expenditures? Yes. So that's why at the bottom the the blue  line says total expenditures. Okay. So my first   question is why did you set these expenditures  separate from the expenditures from why why are   these broken out? because we're currently inou  negotiations and we wanted to make sure it's   clear that we are anticipating increases in costs  during the current bargaining period right but I   mean we we're anticipating increases in cost and  everything like if you look at the expenditures   line in the first year of the budget it's 258  million the next year it's 290 million the next   year so so separate from these staffing cost  increases is everything we're paying for is   going up over these five years, but labor makes  up most of our costs for our budget. I mean,   looking just again looking at this very quickly,  the jump in expenditures. Yeah, this isn't   the total cost. This is just an incremental  increase. So, so under the expenditures line,   you have from 25 26 to 26 27, it's going up about  32 million. And then if I'm eyeballing these staff   things like what is this? two, three, four, five.  Let's just say that's about 10 million more. So,   so I just want to sort of like call attention to  the fact that um if we're doing a presentation on   scenarios about the cost of fire advanced life  support, to me it makes sense to have a line   calling out like doing this new program is going  to create these additional expenses, but I don't   appreciate having the cost of our staffing raises  in units that have nothing to do with firefighting  

being sort of teased out here. Because to me what  it is is this inviting scrutiny sort of saying oh   are we overpaying local 21 and why did 1021 get  this raised um by the way things that have already   been decided and agreed upon. Um and so you know  if you're not going to also tease apart sort of   like why did the budget go up for computers or  paper or you know everything else that it went   up for I just don't think this is the place to  sort of single out labor as as something that we   need to like double down our concern over. Um, so  again, framing things like that for me is really   important is to not, you know, I'm glad that that  our our staff members across the board are getting   raises and I think we have to sort of then, you  know, figure out how to make the rest of the   budget work. Second thing, um, looking at the Can  I respond to that? Yeah, please go ahead. Yeah. So   the uh and during my tenure here in Richmond,  the way that we've been able to accomplish   a lot of things is with having positive working  relationships with our bargaining units. And what   we want to show, right, is that um some have been  approved, some are still in negotiation. and if   there are going to be revenue enhancements, right?  We want there to be a willingness to consider   if these are things that they're interested in  because we all have a vested interest in the um   of continuing to provide high level service to the  community. So, it wasn't meant to be disparaging   in any way or to be divisive in any way. We  really want to be in collaboration with both   community based organizations and labor to move  Richmond forward. So that wasn't the I just want   to clarify in terms of intention. Yeah. And and  and but your points are well taken. Okay. Thank   you. Yeah. Yeah. That that again if I'm getting a  presentation on the advanced life support that's   sort of what I want to see what that approving  that project what does it add? Um and and I I   can see that there but then I get all this other  information that just makes my hackles go up.  

And um looking at this like basically looking  at scenario one and scenario two that according   to the and again like I'm sure we'll have more  time for me to to understand like why is it that   you project that the revenues are only going up a  little bit but the expenditures even separate from   the labor expenditures are going up much faster  than the pro the revenue. So again, I'm sure we'll   have a future time where where you can give your  evidence for why why you're anticipating that.   But what but but what you're modeling here for  just for folks who might not have this in front   of them, what what staff is modeling here is in  the next five years, every single year we will be   uh under bud or overbudget running a deficit  between 6.2 and $55 million per year. Um,   so it's it's not like what you're projecting here  is not just that we can't afford advanced life   support. We can't afford lots of things, you know,  that under under what I think I'm understanding   to be this modeling. And that's totally separate  from what you're modeling for the capital I won't   even get into the capital projects because that's  hundreds of millions of dollars more that you're   modeling in deficits. And so my question is is  like if I'm understanding it right, I'm supposed   to just sort of take a breath and relax and then  authorize staff to go look at some revenue in   revenue enhancements and that's when we get down  to the real deal of can we afford to have an ALS   program? Is that I'm sort of like I'm sort of  okay. Okay. So then yeah and in years past right   this this council has really had the privilege of  being the exception right but historically right   every budget season we would start with a huge  deficit and what we've been doing every year is   we provide a balanced budget to the city council  but I think if everyone had everything that  

everyone wanted right we unfortunately would have  a deficit so what we're saying is is that we can   go back and sharpen our pencils but we are going  to have to modify the current trajectory if this   is something the city council wants to do and that  has to include revenue enhancements. Okay. And I   appreciate that. And one thing I want to sort  of call out is one of the reasons why this is   um frankly alarming me so much is that in my short  tenure year I've been impressed and also in the   paying attention years past of what a great job  the council and staff have done in delivering uh   not just a balanced budget but one that tends to  have some surpluses in the midyear. So, so I want   to acknowledge that it's it's we're all doing a  great job and I'm hoping that this is not some   prediction that we've gone off the rails in some  way. I I'll stop there. Council member Bunner, thank you for the presentation. I'm very happy  it's coming actually um into utilization in   three years rather than five years. I have some  very primitive questions. Um it's about details,   not the big picture. So I wonder AMR is a private  company, right? Correct. And what is the role   of the county currently? AM when it comes to  ambulance service. Mhm. It's called the alliance   and what it is is a partnership with a private  company and a public agency. Confire is a public   agency in the equation. If you want to provide  ambulance service in Contraosta County and almost   every other county in California, if you hadn't  been doing it already before, and I don't know the   exact year, but there's rights that are associated  if you let's just hypothetically if you were   providing ambulance transport service before 1990,  you have rights that you exercised and you get  

to keep everybody after that date. If you want to  provide ambulance service in the county, you must   competitively bid that service in order to provide  that service. And the county health department EMS   agency is the one that awards that contract.  So every 5 years, wherever the cycle is, AMR,   when they used to be the provider by themselves,  would bid it against other companies such as Faulk   or Paramedics Plus. There's a number of ambulance  companies that provide 911 ALS service. AMR has   been awarded the contract numerous times. uh  Confire and AMR decided to bid it together as   a joint agency, as an alliance, which allowed them  as a public agency to access some funding sources   that are only available to public agencies and the  infrastructure and the his institutional knowledge   and historic ability of doing the service comes  from AMR. So jointly they were able to basically   what they felt was have a provide a better level  of service potentially um provide a a a model that   allows for um more revenue or funds to stream into  the ambulance services that are provided. Uh it   just has to do with how they access money. It's  a modeled Confire and AMR in Contraosta County,   one of the first agencies to get into that  alliance agreement, but that it's being modeled in   Sonoma County currently with medic ambulance. And  there's a number of models in Southern California   that are following it because um if it works  the way it's supposed to, um it can it can keep   us from having to get a new company every 5 years  that provides new ambulance service has to figure  

out how to do it, how to work in the county, build  relationships with fire agencies. It provides more   consistency. Thank you. And where is their budget  coming from and uh what is the role of the city of   Richmond in providing that service to residents  currently? the budget for for the ambulance   service. Uh well that's all controlled through the  board of supervisors and then like I said there is   funds through different um healthcare acts that  help conire offset the costs to that. Um there's   billing that happens by a private ambulance  company for certain services that are provided.   Um I mean there's a number of places that they  get their funding from. Um I have never dived   deep into their budget because I have enough to  worry about with my budget. So that that's exactly   why I'm asking. So if we're going to have our own  ambulance and we're not having our own ambulance.   This is a non-transport ALS system. Okay. We are  not getting into the ambulance business. Um we   are getting into or enhancing our level of EMS  care that we provide on scene because right now   you can get a Richmond fire engine to your fire  to your house when you call 911 typically around   4 minutes. Mhm. If you live on the outskirts,  maybe it's somewhere between 4 and 6 minutes.   Contractually, the ambulance company will be  meeting their contractual obligation if they get   to 90% of their calls in 9 minutes or or or under.  We have regularly encountered instances where we   wait for ambulances over 10 minutes. Um, there  are times we wait for ambulances to come from   Martinez, to come from John Mir Walner Creek. It's  not I'm not going to say that it's all the time,   but it happens. And the advanced level of care  that our community members needs in certain   instances such as CPR, a stroke, a severe  trauma incident are delayed because we can't  

give those services because we are not an ALS fire  department. we can provide that advanced care when   we get there, which is that 4-minute average.  We will get life-saving care there sooner,   and that's the benefit of this program. We will  still be turning over this patient to the same   ambulance company we currently do, but the goal is  that by the time the ambulance gets there, they're   ready to go and load them up and get them to the  hospital where they can get definitive care in the   ED. And they're still alive, which is great. But  my question is probably we reduce the number of   uh calls they receive. So do we get any budget  from the county? We will not reduce the number of   calls they receive because we are still responding  to the same call. We are not in lie of them. We   are improving what we do on scene. They still  contractually are obligated to transport patients   within the county. We are not being allowed  to transport patients. So, this program has   no bearing on whether or not AMR gets more calls  or less calls. They still have to respond to the   same calls regardless. We just get to provide  a higher level of care to our residents. So,   we'll be on our own. No billing, insuranceances  or nothing. It's just a service we provide. Well,   that is direction that will need to come from  this council. It is very common to charge for   certain services. There are uh fire fees that  some organizations do such as San Jose Fire,   Napa City, Valo. Uh there are numerous agencies  who have different models to try to recoup some   costs. Some only bill insurance companies but  will not bill uh actual individual. Um so there   there's no one funding or billing um model that  will recoup and cover the cost of this program.   All of those uh models just offset what it costs  to provide this service. And those decisions  

ultimately will be brought, I'm I'm assuming, to  the council to make a decision on which type of   funding um which type of cost recouping measures  you feel comfortable in in in directing us to   implement. Thank you. My second question is about  paramedics. Are they going to be always separate   from firefighters or eventually firefighters will  be paramedics too? The goal is that eventually we   will just have all firefighter paramedics um you  know phase them in. Um and you know we are in the   beginning phases of figuring this out. uh the more  we learn, the more we meet with agencies, the more   we, you know, come up with we we adjust this model  that we want to use to deploy. Ultimately the goal   is that the current fire department that you have  now the only difference will be that they have a   higher level of training but we will bas reset to  what we have now or what we need based on any sort   of population increase we have but that we will  eventually all have ALS fire engines and truck   companies and the firefighters like you see them  now show up to your house will be the same number   of firefighters on the same fire engine. They will  just be trained to a paramedic level. That's the   ultimate goal at the full implementation.  We don't want to have rely on a squad model   indefinitely. So, what happens to the vehicle  you purchase now for paramedics? We always use   vehicles. These are just these are squads. They  are a a Ford F550 chassis with a buildup on it.   We can repurpose those for rescue vehicles, for  towing a boat, for a marine program, for our   rescue. We have a numerous trailers that we use  for rescue, shoring, structural collapse. These  

vehicles will be repurposed. We don't have enough  vehicles currently, so we would not have a problem   repurposing these vehicles for a legitimate  use. Thank you. And last question is about the   role of EMS division chief and cl um clinical  care manager. Are they firefighters or just   clinical or who will they be? So the EMS division  chief will be a chief officer. Um it will be the   uh I think what's a comparable position that you  can look at is the fire marshal. Fire marshall is   a sworn chief officer of my command staff. This  will be a division. He runs a division. Chief   Wy runs a division. He runs a fire prevention  division. We just call him the fire marshal.   But a division chief was assigned to oversee an  entire division of the fire department. And so   this chief officer would oversee strictly  the EMS function of the fire department.   That duty currently is uh covered by the training  chief who has to double duty and do training and   oversee EMS training and also infection control  which is related to EMS. So we will be able to   separate those two because that it's not feasible  to run an ALS program with one chief officer   that also oversees fire suppression training and  special operations training such as extrication,   structural collapse, rope rescue, confined space.  There's so many aspects in training. EMS has to   be its own. It's highly specialized and it's also  highly regulated and there's a lot at risk because   of field treatment guidelines and policies and  the contract that we have with the county health   department. We get reimbursed a small amount  of money every year, but we have to abide by   a number of reporting and performance thresholds  that has to be monitored and there has to be a   continuous quality improvement program in place  that has to be managed by someone that focuses  

solely on EMS. The clinical care manager will  fall into that system because the chief officer   will run the overall EMS division. But there has  to be someone specialized in training EMS skills,   refreshing skills, addressing performance issues  when it comes to field treatment and outcomes   of patients and um be able to train for any new  scope of practice that we um is rolled out to us   by the calendar that we choose to to implement.  Imagine a lot of times this position is filled   by someone that's an experienced paramedic from  an ambulance and in some organ or organizations   that's an actually a nurse role. They're  specifically trained in or specifically   qualified to train EMS related um skills and and  curriculum. Thank you very much. If I may, I have   one post last question for you. So when ambulance  people come uh they're usually in communication   with the hospital where they're going to transfer  the patient. When ASL comes, are they in touch   with the hospital too or the ambulance? Uh there  will be certain treatments that require in the   field. What dictates who calls the hospital is  the treatment being administered in the field.   Often times there are certain protocols that are  standing protocols and there are certain protocols   that before you can do a certain procedure or  administer a certain medication require what's   called base contact which means they will have  to contact John Mir uh hospital the ED to get   authorization to do certain treatments um that's  separate from the ambulance that will call ahead   if they are uh calling their receiving facility  where the patient is being transported to. So yes,   there will be times our firefighters will  want to administer certain treatments in  

the field and it may require base contact to do  that. Thank you very much for thorough answers.   I have a much clearer picture now. I really  appreciate it. Council member Spain. Thank you,   Mr. Mayor. Thank you for the presentation. Great  followup to the first presentation we had on this.   think a year ago, two years ago, forget the timing  now, but great. Six months. Six months. Oh Jesus.   Feels like it was forever. But I'm glad that we're  moving forward in the conversation. This has a lot   more content and I like all the numbers. I do have  a couple of questions. Uh the temporary uh fire   station on slide 14 that we discussing on there.  What we what does temporary mean in this instance?   So, a temporary fire station um they're more  commonly used when you um are rebuilding a fire   station and you have to temporarily relocate a  fire station so that you can demolish on the c on   the site you have uh because you don't have a new  site. So, um often times a fire department will   uh purchase or lease a temporary firehouse  which is typically a a modular structure.   If you envision like the modular classrooms  you see at a lot of schools, same building,   just the internal uh layout of it is made  to resemble a firehouse, sleeping quarters,   kitchen, day room, you know, all of those types  of things. Um, and it's meant to be temporary,   but you have to bring in all the utilities. you  have to bring in the communications uh which   allows for communication from the dispatch center  for dispatching purposes. Um, everything you would   have in a functioning firehouse has to be there  just in a temporary fashion. And when you're done   with it, you typically either sell it or like  I said, it's a lease and the company will come  

back and remove it off the grounds that you put  it on. And then, so I was trying to follow what   you were saying earlier. So the the because we're  looking at station 62 and 68 to potentially be   the ones that would be have some kind of upgrades  and that temporary fire station will be for those   two. No. So what the slide 14 is trying to show  is that fire station 62 and 68 for the most part   could with minor modifications could accommodate  additional personnel and apparatus. The consultant   based on po population density, call volume, and  geographical location recommended fire station 64   at Bay and Carlson to be at the third site for a  squad, but that's not feasible due to the number   of personnel we already have at that fire station.  We can't fit anybody else in there. So, so sorry.   So, because you mentioned that, I I want to make  sure that I'm getting so that way you don't repeat   what you just said. So what is the temporary fire  station going to be for? For which station that   we're It would be in place of having something at  station 64. We would put a temporary firehouse to   house the squad at the training center which  is also in station 64's first due district.   The other option would be to put a temporary  firehouse in the back parking lot of station 64,   but that is there's a lot of equipment stored  back there currently and conx boxes and it's   the the consultant that did the walkthrough  on the facilities didn't recommend that as a   first choice. They felt that the uh site at the  training center would provide for a very similar   geographical location but would be much easier  to put in a temporary firehouse because we have   already installed modular classrooms to teach CERT  and EMS u maybe about 10 years ago. So it's it was  

a much easier project to bring the utilities over.  So that's kind of while we're doing something on   station 64. No, this would be um well, this would  be contingent upon us transitioning to ALS engine   companies so that the engine company at 64 would  eventually be staffed with paramedic firefighters   and you wouldn't have to have the squad at the  tower anymore. Yeah, chief, if I may. So, I think   it would be helpful just for clarification. So, is  in terms of clarifying that the squad right would   be at the training center site. And the other  thing that this I mean this is such a complex   thing but the other aspect of why the consultant  for the stations recommended this is that there   is the potential that station 67 or N66 need to  be rebuilt. Station 66 is an example of a station   that there is no other place to put station 66  temporarily and still serve the north and east   um other than going moving them to a temporary  station that might be at the training tower.   So the idea is that you could potentially invest  this, you know, 1.9 to 2.5 million for a temporary   firehouse. Initially, you could use it to house  a squad until you transition to ALS engines.   And then you could also house station 66's crew  there temporarily while we rebuild station 66.   So you actually get dual use out of that initial  investment instead of just using it for a squad.   And then we don't know how this is going  to work with station 67's replacement,   but there is the potential to have to move 67  out of their quarters to a temporary firehouse   to rebuild that fire station. You might be able  to use that for for that purpose also and get a   third use. Although that's not ideal because it's  on the other side of the train tracks, which could   pose delays to responses into the southside.  But it just gives us options to repurpose that  

station and lease it for longer. So that the  initial investment isn't just for a squad,   but it's for station rebuilds also. Because that  is a factor into all station rebuilds is where   does the current crew go while you rebuild this  firehouse. And how do you move them and have the   least amount of impact on response times and  operations? Perfect. Thank you. And maybe in   the future we'll I will have to see what it will  cost to instead of a temporary do an act a new one   there uh because we're only building more housing  around the area. So we're going to need another   fire station anyway. So we might as well look to  see if we invest. So but that will be the future.   So thank you. Uh next question. Um station let me  see my notes here. Station. So uh uh slide 15 if   you can. So it says station 66 and 67. For station  replacement is about station 67 is 30 million.   For station 63 it's also 30 million but it looks  like we're not replacing. We're just fixing the   foundation. Trying to figure out why the cost is  the same to replace than to do some fixes. That   that is a um worst case scenario estimate about  that. It is uh going to require more uh analysis.   That fire station has a a foundation issue that  may be linked to grading they suspect and it could   be as minor as fixing the foundation and doing  um piles under the foundation or it could be as   severe as having to demolish that fire station and  rebuild it. We don't know yet. So, the consultant   gave this number as more of a worst case scenario  estimate if you had to do a significant tear down   and rebuild that firehouse. Um, but we don't know  what that's going to cost yet. This is just a best   guess right now based on a a consultant. Got it.  Thank you. Because that note there says foundation  

repair and grading. So, it's foundation repair  and grading all the way to repair. And the number   could be anywhere between 30 million to less than  right is what supposedly what it got supposedly.   All right. Uh thank you. And then the um on slide  19 and 20. So the the positions and this might be   a question for the city manager. So, I see that  the positions I want to make sure that I'm seeing   this correctly and it might be because of the  budget uh as we are as we're potentially having   uh expenditures that are higher than revenues, but  the total afforded positions are going down. So,   both of these budgets have positions going  down between uh 92 to 127 positions. Is that   am I reading that correctly? Um yes, you are  reading that correctly. So the idea is if so   what you see the total afforded positions on the  bottom there. So, as our deficit increases, we're   saying that the amount of positions, allocated  positions, current allocated positions, which is,   I believe, is it 800? 800. Um, we're saying  that if we had to close that gap of, you know,   in the in fiscal year 2930 of 55.3 million, we  could only afford 563 positions. So, it's again,   it's illustrative. Okay. Thank you. I just want  to make sure because I'm seeing it go lower. So,   we have to plan for that as well. All right. Uh,  no other questions for now. Thank you so much,   Council Member Brown. Yes. Thank you so  much for the update and the presentation.   I appreciate it. I just wanted to know  um so on the CIP list, we have a lot of   uh fire stations listed concerning upgrades and  uh repairs. Um, but since the first three stations  

listed in the presentation are now the priority  locations, I'm wondering is that reflected   uh also as a priority on the CIP list or is  that included in the CIP shortfall that's   on the projections? There does need to be there  was a specific methodology that the city council   approved for prioritizing projects. And so I  would say that um at midyear we need to what   we frequently refer to as we need to have a true  up. So there needs to be an alignment of the we'll   have more refined numbers from public works on  what they anticipate the facility upgrades will   to cost as well as the new stations and then we  will need to work with the city council to align   the council priorities around the methodology  for the CIP projects to bring these things   uh into alignment. So that that needs to be done.  Uh staff have begun to work on it. Yes. Um but we   uh will have that uh information for midyear.  Okay, fantastic. Also, um I just want to be   realistic because my hopes are getting like up  up and so like with our expectations and then   like with the potential three-year roll out  like would we be able to actually implement   this ALS program without the usage of the  additional funds awarded in the general fund? I um I think that um we will need to think about  revenue enhancements and what is the the city   council comfortable with and what are stakeholders  comfortable with uh proceeding with. Um and so I I   think um it's possible but it depends on you  know what ultimately what the city council's   policy direction is. And so you know we're  trying to balance these things. Yeah. Yeah,   I mean the numbers are astronomical. So, I'm  just like wanting to be realistic like with  

ourselves and with the public. Like, is this a a  lift that we could do without depending on that,   especially since this is um a program that's going  to impact the city of Richmond and not any one in   particular or any district in particular, but um  so can't wait to hear that part. Um, also lastly,   I just wanted to ask about the um improved  emergency response times and preparedness.   So, um, how would staff be able to identify or  ensure I know ensure is probably like a reach, but   um that ALS services improvements are equitable  across the districts because of the limited   um station usage or that will be staffed with  ALS. Are we talking at three years or five years?   That's good. Uh, either. I just want to make sure  that we um that's something that really spells out   like what that looks like. So, I mean that was the  the point in in sharing the maps with you is that   um district 17 I don't know if somebody KCRT, can  you put up slide 17? My eyes are bad. So maybe   somebody could point it out to me but I didn't see  Oh no, not that one. I think this one. Yeah. So we   apologize. I I think slide 16 your point is well  taken. We apologize that there was a an a there's   a they're trying to leave us out. Yeah, that's  why I want to make sure that it's equitable. So,   uh public works uh Mark uh will will work with  him on on on these slides. Thank you so much.   But but for the purposes of the initial roll out,  which is slide 17, um which is the next slide,   this is sort of the initial uh strategy. And  I think um chief do you want to talk about the  

uh the deployment strategy here and and why this  is your recommendation? Yes. Um, so this is one   of the reasons why the consultant recommended  squads in the beginning because squad's not   the only answer, right? We could do three ALS  engine companies, but then we are saying, okay,   well, where do we put them? Mhm. If we follow  the um consultants model, um, yeah, they're   spread out throughout the city, but you got to  remember our fire fire engines, our companies,   each station has a a district it responds in.  It's considered like its primary response area. We   call it the first do area. And so, but squad can  mimic like an ambulance does where it we we are   basically breaking up the city into three sections  that the squad can roam anywhere in that third   of the city. It respond to a call. The fire what  you currently get, let's just use an example as a   medical incident. you currently get a fire engine  or a fire truck and an ambulance responds to your   house when you call 911. The only thing that would  change is the squad would respond in addition to   that so that they would get ALS service there. Um  I will say that if it was in ALS engines it would   be and I only had to do three of them initially  that would be a much easier lift but I would   struggle being able to equitably provide that  service around the city. it would be limited to   their district and if they're not busy we might  be able to add them to a neighboring district but   now we're creating coverage gaps in their primary  district and so that was the reason why the squad   is recommended because everybody in the community  gets to initially benefit if we have a additional   roaming medical unit that can provide ALS versus a  fire engine with firefighter medics that stays in   a predetermined district. So, you know, if these  were fire engines, only Hilltop would get medic  

service and only North Richmond and only uh, you  know, Crescent Park area annex would get paramedic   service. And we can't promise that that would be  able to those engines would be able to respond   outside their first due district. They currently  only do that for things such as structure fires or   vehicle accidents that require multiple units in  their response. So, this was an attempt to try to   be equitable in this service improvement until we  can get to a full 5-year where every fire engine   and every fire station in your neighborhood  has a paramedic on there. Um, it would be   much easier though if I just implemented three  fire engines at a time until I got to eight. Um,   but I don't want to get into like which Well,  how did you pick them over us over here? I No,   I got it. Thank you so much for for that and and  thank you all for all that you do. Appreciate you.   Council member Bono, quick question about that.  The slide 17. How long is going to be like that?   I don't complain. You know, why there is nothing  in district 4. I understand you did your best and   uh for practical purposes, but how temporary  is this situation? Two years, one year? Well,   that's part of the five-year plan. The goal  is that between year three and year five,   we will be implementing ALS engine companies.  So eventually station 63 on value will be an   ALS engine company. So it's maximum two years  that we'll have this situation. That's the goal.   The goal is that everybody within the two years  following the initial squad implementation will   be ALS. there will as we decide who which stations  be get implemented first. There's a lot of things   we're gonna have to consider such as call volume  in your district. We are looking at uh distance   away from other paramedic resources. We don't have  a methodology for that yet. We also need to see  

what our staffing looks like and how many medics  we on board and what rank they are. There's a lot   of factors that go into it. So, we're going  to try to come up with when we get down into   the weeds of the plan for implementation, have a  hierarchy of which stations first, second, third,   all the way through, most likely the truck company  would be the last station, last crew to get a   paramedic since their primary duties are hazmat  and structure fire response. So we have to figure   that out and that's something that we will figure  out you know internally in the fire department   based on a number of factors. Thank you. So I hope  you do consider some priority for district 4 for   being so far away from them. Thanks five year.  You're right. So are there any other questions?   If not, um I would like to make a motion to  um receive the this update on the advanced   life support uh uh first responder services  uh fire station upgrades and replacements and   associated 5-year financial forecast and direct  the city manager to develop revenue enhancement   and financing recommendations for the city  council consideration. also to consider   uh how we think of the general fund  in order to ensure that um uh that the   um that the general funds which uh were  expanded because of the settlement fund   uh can be looked at in a totality with uh  with the needs of the city. Speaking second.

Second. Second. Yes. Council member Brown. Yes. Council member  Vana. Very excited. Yes. Thank you. Council   member Jimenez. Yes. Council member  Wilson. Yes. Council member Zapeda.   Yes. Vice Mayor Robinson. Yes. and Mayor  Martinez. Yes. The vote is unanimous. Thank you. Thank you. Our next item is to combine item P3 and P4. P3 is to direct the city manager  to engage a consultant to collaborate with city   staff and city council and community stakeholders  to conduct community engagement and gather input   on a framework for the expenditure of new  general fund revenues generated by the   polluters pay settlement with the consultant  reporting back to the city council by May 26   of 2026. Item P4 is to direct the city manager or  their designate to schedule and lead a minimum of   six community meetings each year all around the  city in each district to gather input from the   community on how to spend the community money  Chevron settlement funds prior to the annual   budget meeting. We have a total of 17 in-person  speakers. And if there's anyone joining us online   that would like to address the council on item  P3 and P4, please raise your hand at this time. Okay. Um, so do we have u do Claudia? Yeah,  thank you. So I am I think like I'm going to  

present with council member Robinson P3. Um we  had been in collaboration with many community   organization and with staff um to have like these  needs for getting input from the community around   uh what we can do uh and what the community vision  is um around these new monies in the general fund   from uh this um settlement agreement that we  have um and that many community organizations   make it happen among uh city council. Um so  in that sense the idea is to uh we know that   a capacity in the staff is limited. So we want  to make sure that we add capacity. This is why   uh we are um recommending that a consultant could  be part of of that um capacity adding so that we   can have a robust uh community engagement. Um the  idea is that we had this tremendous opportunity   as I said before in these 10 years uh with $550  million adding to the general fund every year   uh the first year $50 million and then after  that $60 million to um do some a smart investment   that can allow us to move the needle in that  dependency that uh we have from Chevron. Um,  

as is it says in one of the articles in in the  newspaper, we have a uh 20% of our general fund   revenue comes from one industry and if we and  an industry that as we are seeing is shutting   operations even in in this in this in this  county like Venicia, Marathon and others here.   So I think what we need is to be prepared to start  um diversifying that revenue. And these are really   um key question like how much can we decrease  that uh dependency in these 10 years and what a   kind of investment but also recognizing that this  community hasn't have uh an investment that there   is a lot of defer maintenance that there is a lot  of things that the community would like to see   to improve the quality of life. Um so recognizing  that there is a framework that we are uh proposing   that maybe I will leave uh council member Robinson  to present but it's also uh around so it's is two   things is one is the financial strategies that we  can have to make sure that maybe this money makes   more money and is extended the period of time that  we uh will have these these extra funds. that we   are seeing today. Um, so what is the smart thing  to say? We brought an island uh several months ago   about is is smart to pay the unfunded liability  uh and uh the UA the uh unfunded accur liability  

that we had due to pension obligation. Is that the  smart thing to do or maybe not? Or what are the   the things that we can do to really make sure that  um we extend the life of these uh these um funds?   What are the investments that we have in terms of  a economic development and just transition that   brings job but it brings a new source of revenue  that also start filling uh or or diversifying the   the and adding more a new revenue. So we are being  prepared. Um, so I I think we had been thinking   a lot. We had been working a lot in terms of not  only just said to the community what do you want   to see with these extra funds but also provide  a framework so our conversations are beyond just   uh desires but also be a strategic about where and  what to put the money on. So, with that, I will   pass it to Council Member Robinson to um add more.  Vice Mayor. Oh, Vice Mayor. Yes. Okay. Vice Mayor.   Funny. Um Okay. So, just want to add a couple  of things that I think are really important.   Um, one of those things is that this is a  really huge opportunity for the city to have   this scale of additional general funds coming  into the city for only this period of time   that we know about. I think we're at a moment  where we can make some really bad decisions.  

we could, you know, move forward and and and spend  it all every year and not really know when we look   back on it, what happened? What did we spend it  on again? Where did it go? I think that this is   a moment where we need to really think about what  is our strategy. Is there a way to extend these   funds through investments so that it lasts longer  than 10 years? Also, we need to ask ourselves,   are we under certain conditions now that we need  to address? I think Council Member uh Himenez   mentioned our unfunded liabilities. Is that  something that we need to address in this moment   with this, you know, kind of once in a generation  opportunity? I'm not sure. But it's something   that definitely with over $300 million in unfunded  liabilities, something that we might want to think   about. We might want to consider also thinking  about the examples of Benicia and the and the   um refinery closing there and creating an enormous  impact on that city. They were not ready for it.   They did not have the plans in place. They did not  have any revenue uh alternative revenue sources   and now they are hurting and they are trying to  figure out how they're going to keep their city   alive. Does Richmond want to be in that position?  Even we know there are massive changes happening   in the petroleum industry that are market changes.  Changes that are beyond our control. Changes that   happened to the coal industry and devastated  coal country when those when those changes came   down and coal mines shut down um devastated those  cities and towns. We can look at Detroit. Changes  

in the auto industry. It was market changes  devastated Detroit. It was literally a ghost town.   like for for decades they're still trying to  build themselves back up because they had no   plan for these massive market uh changes and their  overdependence for their general fund from one   sector from one industry. We're in a moment where  we can see that clearly. Richmond is overdependent   for our general fund on one industry. we have  an opportunity in this moment to actually use   this short-term you know funds to attract other  industries to invest in our economy and build up   um some other revenue streams right so so I  feel like we're in this moment where we have   this opportunity and we could go on a spending  spree you know getting all the things that we've   wanted for all these times um or we could do  something different. We could do a combination   of the two. And I think that it really needs to  be a conversation that we have well with community   facilitated by a nonpartial uh facilitator, a  facilitator that doesn't have a dog in the race   and and can actually help people sus through  these ideas and weigh in on what they believe.   What what I am what we're advocating through this  this uh this item is to bring in that non-biased   facilitator to help facilitate a conversation  with community members in every district   um and actually go through this landscape of  opportunities. Talk about what is the strategy   that we want to use as this money is entering into  our general fund. Do we want to do some kind of an  

investment strategy? Do we want to do some kind  of, you know, prioritize spending? Um, but have   the community weigh in on it before we make the  decisions for everyone behind closed doors. It   definitely won't happen behind closed doors. So,  I'm still talking and I'm finishing up here. Long   pause. Yeah. And and so I think that what I've  heard over and over and over again when I'm out   in community at neighborhood council meetings,  out talking to people, people want an opportunity   to chime in. They don't want it to happen without  their voices being heard. Um, for what it's worth,   they know ultimately the decision will be with  council and and and other folks, but I think that   it is it behooves us and it is good public policy  to actually have a a non uh biased um consultant   come in and conduct this community process so we  can have that information and the community can be   fully informed um and then we we know where they  stand and we can move forward accordingly. Thank   you. And um I'm in total agreement with what  was said by the vice mayor and the uh council   member Jimenez. Um and and to frame this, um the  city council before we received the extra income   from Chevron, uh passed goals and objectives.  And those goals and objectives had many many   uh uh interest in greening the economy here in the  city of Richmond. And so and so the uh whether or   not we had gotten that money from Chevron, the  city of Richmond still would have spent money on   on greening the economy because that was our goals  and objectives which we uh decided upon. Uh but  

um now that we have extra funds in in our  general funds um uh we need to think about how   we want to spend them. uh not not just the the 50  million but the entire general fund you know it's   uh we we need to decide as a community how that  money best addresses the needs of the city so   um uh I would I would suggest that we not just  consider the 50 million but we consider the   entire general fund in our uh explorations of  how to move the city forward. Now, uh we can in   part of our mind keep that 50 million separate. Uh  but um you know, I I think I think I think we're   capable of seeing how that 50 million needs to be  coordinated with the rest of the general funds. Cesar, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for  combining these two because they're they're   think the intent of everyone here is to figure out  how do we better communicate and get gather the   feedback from the community. Uh I have been  trying to work with different organizations   to try to get that feedback. It took a long time  as many of you know. I started doing my strategy   meetings in my district since I was first elected  and there I always ask and this is before the the   50 million or the Chevron money or whatever. uh  always asking my community, what do we do? What   is what is it that you need when you open the  front door? What do you need? Because you know   exactly your needs when you open that front door.  I know districtwide. I know different issues. We   all know citywide, but I wanted to hear from  those members when they opened the front door,   what was their issues? Then late last year, after  trying to work with different individuals to help  

potentially put these meetings together that we  promised that we would do back in 2024, we sat   here. I know it was a slightly different council,  but we still promised that we would go out and get   that feedback from the community. things happened,  we got busy, whatever it might be, but I wanted   to make sure and even though we we heard from  various community groups come out and say, "Hey,   you told us you were going to do this and you  haven't done it and you told us you were going   to do this and meeting after meeting we would hear  it." And I felt bad, so I reached out and I said,   "Okay, we said we were going to do this.  Let's do this together." People got busy,   whatever it might be. Then I took the initiative  to try to go out and try to gather that feedback.   So that's how I kind of ended with trying to do  these uh together and I was opening them up for   everyone. The first one that I did was in district  one. It just happened to be one is the first   number. There was no particular order. Then that  was just going to go down the list and then try to   figure out what community centers were available.  Um, my item doesn't go with a consultant because   I believe that our staff is more than capable  of being able to do this on our behalf. Uh,   the staff already goes out there and does some  of the financing uh uh meetings right before   our budget. They've been doing this for years. We  can add this and give it a little more structure.   I appreciate the structure that my colleagues  put in in on their item in item P3. That's   a great structure, right? I didn't put any  structure because we want to make sure that   this is collaborative, but the goal should be  to get the in the input from the community. Now,   something that the city council has that regular  individuals and residents in Richmond might not   have is we get close session information, right?  that sometimes will help us shape where we need to  

put the money and we might not always be able to  share it uh in public until we finish whatever is   in in in close session. We might know of other  projects coming or leaving or whatever might   be so we know sort of high level what's going  on in the city. But asking the community again   is really important so that we can try to balance  that because we're never going to know what every   corner of our community needs unless we ask them.  That's why in my item I was saying to at least do   six because we have six districts but making sure  that we touch as many corners and in what what I   would love to see as well is that we don't just  do them on one particular day at one particular   time but that we do them throughout the weekdays,  weekends, mornings, evenings because our people,   our residents of Richmond work. Some of them have  two, three jobs. So, how do we make sure that they   have the ability to make it to these meetings? So,  we want to make sure that we keep that in equity   as well. Making sure that we meet them at the time  and place that they can make it. Some individuals   Sundays might not work. Let's make sure we have  some on Saturdays. Let's make sure we have some   on Sundays for those that can't make Saturdays,  etc. So, making sure that we're equitable there.   And then I go and and I will have to ask the  the city manager right as we if we were to   move forward with any of these items that staff  would have the potential capacity because also   looking at the cost of having another consultant,  right? It's $300,000. The item that we just heard,   $300,000 can get us the dorm capacity at  fire fire station 62. Fire station 68 can   get us the the new chiefs that we need. Right?  Their first year budget is about 300,000. The  

EMS manager 135,000. Division chief 261,000.  So, as we're looking to spend money, right,   because it's asking the community, how do we spend  it? We also want to make sure that we are aware of   where can we put the money to last us a little  bit longer. And then also going and letting the   community know that if we save some of it, we can  use some of that money for long term. Where do we   invest it? How do we invest it? but both investing  in in the bank potentially but investing in our   community because our community of Richmond for  a very very very very long time has not had the   services that they deserve. How many potholes? How  many lights are out? How many services have they   been lacking in the past couple of years? We've  been investing more in parks. We've been investing   more in our infrastructure. So, we definitely have  been turning around, but let's continue asking for   those services. District 4 doesn't have bathrooms  in the in the parks up there, right? So, the   services are going to be different. Parkchester is  flooding. I've been there for the past couple of   weeks and the infrastructure is so broken. We have  so much more investing to do. So, let's make sure   that we're asking the community. We're leading  always with what the community is looking for   us to do for them. So, city manager to back to  my question, would staff even have the capacity if uh through the mayor as a chair, I think it  might be helpful for finance staff to assist   in answering this question because they I  want to be thoughtful uh around what they   what their capacity is. Um staff who work on  budget if they want to come forward because

Good evening. This is Mubin, the deputy director  of finance, Chief Ozario. Uh uh so uh the answer   to your question about the capacity uh I  just want to be honest with you guys like   this with the council and the mayor that the  timeline that's been given and the task that   is being discussed right now uh is going to be  literally core uh budget department's task and   uh uh budget department budget division  actually is uh overwhelmed and going to   be further overwhelmed for next several  months starting tomorrow as we kick off   the fiscal year 26 27-year budget development  process which is already a very comprehensive   and engaged process given the fact that the city  of Richmond is a quite large city and requires   uh a lot of effort to develop its budget uh  thoroughly and comprehensively. So the depart   the staff will be extremely busy and really  stretched through June basically and I'm really   being honest with the perfect just want to make  sure that as we move forward that we don't give   you direction to add additional work if you're not  able to do that additional work then a consultant   is what then you're saying even work working with  consultant is a task u with the major uh we can't   just leave a consultant out they're uh working on  their own. So bringing a consultant on board is   quite a major lift. We have to be very equitable  and fair throughout the process which requires   a lot of attention to detail and continuous  monitoring given that we are the stewards of   the community fund. So we have to make sure that  you know we are bringing that accountability and   we're fair and equitable and transparent which  is a task of its own and it does not take away   uh the fact that it does demand hard work and a  lot of attention on top of the budget development  

which is really a major lift. So the timeline  doesn't work. So is it the timeline or the time   commitment? So we give you more time. Could staff  do it or do we still need the consultant? At the   end of the day like we are really reporting to the  city manager and the council and we are supposed   to follow the direction. It's uh so the the task  is there if that's what the council is going to   decide. So the time will be the ask that you know  we can ask right now. We can request right now.   So there's more time that you need than I'm just  trying to get what do you have a specific request   pertaining to time and 45 to 60 additional days.  Okay, perfect. So with that plus the consultant   or definitely consultant because we have to be  scientific. It's not just like you know collecting   uh asking questions and collecting information.  it at I I believe the council wanted to be like   a proper comprehensive scientific survey survey  not just run-of-the-mill like just because Mubine   thought so survey well it's whatever mubine  says we have we have to I believe it needs to   be a scientific uh qualitative and quantitative  survey which there are social scientists who are   there to do the job Okay, perfect. Thank you,  Miss Curl. Anything else? No, I appreciate uh   staff being willing to be transparent because I  know sometimes these conversations are hard and   and so I just want to thank them for all being  here this evening and for for assisting and   providing support. Thank you. And then I want to  make sure you said additional 45 days and I think   both of our proposals have a slightly different  day. So instead of 45 days, which month? Uh that  

would be July sometime I would say. Okay. So in  July mid July or late July. Okay. So in July to   start the process or to be done with the process.  I would say like uh it would be really ideal if we   start the process at the time but then again at  the same time like the council uh council really   makes that decision. Uh yeah because that will be  after the budget. So, we're trying to see if we   can start figuring out how do we incorporate the  community's thoughts and ideas before the budget. Maybe what would be helpful is is that the  city council can continue to provide input   this evening and staff can return with an updated  and a draft timeline for consideration by the   council in 45 to 60 days because then that'll  provide an opportunity for the staff to to look   at what's being requested. Thank you. Thank you.  And I would also like to bring to attention that   the the consultant when we bring them on will  have their own timeline. we can't really impose   a timeline that we think the speed that they will  be working on. So there's only limited amount of   factors that we can control as staff. I' I'd  also like to say that this that this timeline   uh isn't accounting for the work that  you already have to do. Uh, you know,   I I I think I think you're already overburdened  and to heap more work upon you would be doing   the city a disservice. Uh, uh, I know that, uh,  when I have to do more work than I'm capable of,   all the work turns out shoddy. So, uh,  with that, uh, Council Member Brown,   are we doing comments now or are we going  to public or, uh, sorry, just want to No,  

because I I wasn't giving my comment comment.  I was just opening up for my Yes. Okay. All   right. Then then we'll go to public comment and  then and then we'll we'll return to to comments. I'm sorry that we're not doing questions yet. Okay, we have 17 inerson speakers. And if  you're joining us online and would like to   address the council on items P2 and P3 and P4,  please raise your hand at this time. Speakers   are Cordel Hendler, Zeneda Gomez, Soma Mindy,  Alma Gutierrez, Danielle Maniti, Melvin Willis,   Alejandro, Zavala, Iet Blandon, Emma I, Hansen A,  Marilyn M., Abdullah A, Michelle Chan, Ryan Kasen,   Antoine Claude, Mark Wasber, and Jamon Percell  will be our last speaker. Cordell Hendler. Thank   you. So, good evening, Mayor Martinez, Council.  Um, Cordell Hendler. I'm a Richmond resident. So,   I do want to thank the sponsors for  this item. So, I do have my own vision   uh to see the of Chevron's money. So, picture  this, a lively downtown Richmond, vibrant,   and what's missing is retail. Because I was in  a zoom call recently and if you look at cities   like Walnut Creek, San Jose and Penol, all of  them have retail and economic development. So   I'm thinking like if those cities can like have  revenue, so can Richmond. That's one vision. But   also picture this staffing. Because as  I stated during my open forum comment,   if you remember what Rafella said regarding the  workforce analysis, we need more staffing because  

they're the ones that drive economic development.  So, especially regarding the port. So, let me say   that again. The port also generates money. So  I'm thinking like having a consultant on board   is ideal because we want to get input from the  community which is that's me and the rest of   us. So I think having a consultant on board would  be very beneficial. And as far as like, you know,   hosting the community meetings and all that  stuff, I think they need to have they need to   also include like the the older adults because if  they can't make it to a meeting in the evening,   let them you come to them because hear from what  they have hear what they have to say. Look at our   streets. That's what I have been advocating  for for a long time. better streets because   if you come down like coming to Richmond, look at  our streets. Streets have seen better days. So,   we need to improve that. So, I guarantee you  hear from the community whether it's streets or   anything. I just want to see these streets to be  paved because I'm tired of seeing look at looking   at our streets because I live in Richmond and I  want to see Time is expired. Oh, Senator Gomez. Okay. Good evening. My name is Naida  Gomez and I'm a member of ACE   and I here to support the item P3.  Um, excuse me. Well, we have um,  

uh, dual translation on the screen. So,  Okay. So, it's not really necessary. Okay. Uh actually uh uh please translate. I was  just informed that that this is not available   at home. So people listening at home will need  the translation. Okay. Can we start over? Okay.   Okay. Can we start over? Yeah, let's start over  with reset the clock. Well, that means that mean 50 million settlement with Chevron is  huge opportunity for Richmond to meet   people everyday needs and plan ahead for the  closure and transition of Chevron refinery. Seas Hospital

Best. Okay. With these uh new resources, region can find  essential services and infrastructure like say   um walking streets, uh bikes for lines,  public hospitals and neighborhood parks.   We can invest in our local economy,  reduce our dependence from Chevron and   plan for just transition including  family support local union jobs. And um we can we have the chance to  build Richmond of future. A city with   our children and grandchildren deserve. A  city where anyone can breathe clean air,  

live in a safe, affordable homes, and have access  to good jobs and resources needed to thrive. Yeah. Joy is okay. In my 24 years living here in Richmond,  I can tell you the bad experience that I have   living in our clean air and the children  like my children suffering from asthma. Gracias. Thank you. Our next speaker is Zenetta Gomez. Zeneda. Okay. I'm sorry, Elma Guter. Good evening. Uh uh my name is Alma  Gutierrez. Yeah. and I am a member of ACE3.

I'm here to support P3. This is uh the $550 million Chevron represents  the grand opportunity for Richmond to uh cover   the daily um necessities of the uh people and make  uh plans for the transition to close this Chevron. hospital. So with this the resources region can fund   essential services and infrastructure  like save wackle streets, bike lines,   public of hospitals and neighborhoods parks.  We can invest for our local economy. Okay. We have the opportunity to have uh in  the future a city in Richmond where our   children and grandchildren deserve in a city  where everyone can breathe clean air. Um, excuse me. Uh, uh, before she begins,  uh, I I just heard from from tech that,  

uh, that the translation gets confused when  it switches back from English to Spanish,   English to Spanish, and they would  like to see if the translations   can improve if they just hear it  in Spanish. Okay. Thank you. for um this is Asma combined. Okay, it's working now. Yeah, the translations  did improve. Yep. Danielle Merity. Danielle, can you guys hear me? Yes. Speak right in  mic. Go ahead. Okay. This settlement exists   because Richmond residents live for decades with  pollution, health impacts, and economic harm. This   is repair money and should be directly benefit  our families, youth, neighbors, and public safety  

where the money goes. 22% should go to work  workforce pathways which include building a   Chevron independent local economy which includes  port and logistics workforce non-oil city-owned   energy and utilities career housing production  and construction trades small manufacturing   circular economy arts media culinary and creative  economic economy programs career pipelines which   include trades green jobs healthcare and p public  service and 25% should go to affordable housing   anti-displacement keeping Enrichments, housed and  save, affordable housing, development prof and   preservation, tenant protections and emergency  and rental assistance, home repairs and grants   for safety and city- owned apartments and family  housing which can create revenue. 18% should go to   small businesses and local wealth. Keeping money  circulating locally, grants and zero interest   loans, protection for legacy businesses and  commercial corridor and storefront improvements.   Health and clean air and neighborhood improvement  which would be 13% repairing long-term health harm   asthma and chronic disease provision home  and school air filtration parks lighting   and safer neighborhoods. 14% to go to Richmond  police department and the fire Richmond fire   department safe staffing faster response stronger  accountability hiring officers to improve response   time and 7% to go to city stability which is the  pension debt reduction 1% should go to community   oversight and voice and true public safety  mean housing opportunity and health and well   staff accountability and working together  and that's all I can send this in an email Melvin Willis. Hi. Uh, good evening, mayor, members of the  council. Melvin Willis here with the Richmond  

Progressive Alliance and also ACE encouraging you  to support these items unanimously. Uh a lot of   community groups who have been even before  the polluters pay settlement came forward   have been talking to frontline community members  about what they need. What is their experience   living in a refinery town? Especially for those  that are living close to the fence line in our   Iron Triangle, North Richmond, Parkchester  Village, everybody who that's downwind from   the refinery. And yeah, it's been said multiple  times today and even before we reach this day,   there's a lot of community concerns about the  city's over reliance on the revenue that comes   from Chevron in general and the fact that  we're in a climate crisis and we need to be   figuring out what kind of other opportunities  are out there and framework opportunities are   out there that can make Richmond more dependent,  more independent as opposed to being dependent   on one industry. We're also in a climate crisis.  Like I said, a lot of folks have been having those   conversations about sea level rise and how are we  as a region getting ready for that. And you know,   we don't want to be like Benish and those other  cities where, you know, all of a sudden refinery   left and you have a bunch of workers that are out  of work now in a big mess that needs to be cleaned   up. So having a framework and a plan on how this  money can actually build investment for the city's   long-term longevity on top of coming up with a  potential cleanup plan because refineries are not   going to be forever. It's a finite thing that's  going to take time. But eventually we are going to   have to start living in a world where fossil fuels  are just obsolete and we're going to have to clean   up the contamination that we already have rather  than be stuck with contamination like some of our   areas in Marina Bay have been dealing with for  years. So, please support this item. It's a good   first step and let's actually get some benefits  out there for Richmond residents. Thanks so much, Alejandro Zavala.

Say one more time. Alejandro  Zavala followed by Iet Blandon. Fore! Foreign! Foreign! Fore blend. Sorry. Yeah. Okay.  Emma I So I guess this person Good evening, Mayor Martinez and city council  members. My name is Emma Isi and I'm a local   policy coordinator at Apen or Asian Pacific  Environmental Network here in Richmond. And I'm   here today to support the item brought by Council  Member Jimenez Robinson and Mayor Martinez.   Why does this matter? For generations,  the Richmond community has been impacted   by the Chevron refinery in their day-to-day  lives. As many people were saying before,   battling asthma attacks at home and having to  risk the a repeated 2012 disaster always in the  

back of their minds. alongside our members,  a few of whom you'll hear from today. Um,   we support this proposal because the additional  and hard $550 million is a chance for Richmond to   both fully fund the crucial improvements in their  neighborhoods and help build that just economy   independent of the fossil fuel industry. What  we see in item P3 is a thoughtful framework that   outlines categories of spending that match needs  of our community and um really uh specifically   outlines a clear path for the city to gather that  accessible community input, prioritizing voices   often left out of planning conversations. Um,  from my conversations with our membership and   from talking to people at tableabling events like  at Unity Park um, for MLK Day, um, I know that the   community has a clear vision of Richmond's future  with clean air, with spaces for celebration,   supports for small businesses, job training for  youth, and affordable housing. Um, and it's really   up to the city to keep gathering that feedback and  figuring out how to make those visions a reality.   I urge the council to get started on the work  so the city can begin funding the community's   immediate needs and move towards diversifying  our economy. Together we can create this shared   vision with community health. Just time  is expired. Okay. Thank you. Hassan A. Hello city council. My name is Hassan and I'm  in ninth grade. I go to school in Richmond and   I'm a youth leader with AsianPacific Environmental  Network. As I grow older, I realize how important   it is that Richmond plans ahead for a closure or  transition away from the Chevron Refinery. This  

$550 million settlement gives Richmond a great  opportunity to meet every day of our residents.   As a young person, I've been part of the after  school programs where there wasn't enough staff   or activities. This has negatively impacted  my opportunity to grow my interest or skills.   I've also noticed my library being underfunded  and they've struggled with getting things like   books and enough copies. Um, if we take the  time to invest in the wellbeing of our youth   and overall community, I believe we deserve  better. I would like to see Richmond, where we   invest in our local economy and plan for a just  transition, including jobs, including jobs that   support families and programs that spaces that  benefit youth and the cleanup of toxic polluted   sites. City council, I urge you to please vote yes  today night on P uh three. Thank you. Marilyn M. Marilyn M. Oh, okay. Great. Go ahead. Hi, my name is Marilyn  and I'm a youth leader with the AsianPacific   Environmental Network. I'm in 10th grade and I'm a  student at Danza High School. When I walk outside   of my door every day, I have a clear view of  the Chevron Refinery. My family came here to   Richmond as immigrants and refugees, while other  working families have been here for generations.   I believe that the $550 million settlement with  Chevron is a huge opportunity for Richmond to   meet people's day-to-day needs while planning  ahead for what comes next if the refinery were   to close or transition. With these additional  resources, Richmond can invest in critical   services and infrastructure such as safe walkable  streets, bike lanes, public public hospitals,   and neighborhood parks while strengthening  the economy, reducing reliance on Chevron,   and planning for a just transition that  includes good union jobs and the cleanup  

of contaminated sites. These funds must be  reinvested to the community to reflect the   needs and priorities of Richmond residents.  I support item P3 tonight and I encourage   you to vote yes. It is time for the Richmond  community to voice how we want these funds to   be spent. Thank you. Okay, our next speaker  is Abdullah A followed by Michelle Chan. Abdullah. Good evening, council members. My name is  Abdullah. I am a youth leader with Asian Pacific   Pacific Environmental Network. I'm an eighth  grader and I go to school at Making Waves Academy.   Just like my friends and my friends and neighbors,  I come up from a family of hardworking immigrants   who call Richmond home. We have all been affected  by Chevron's pollution and deserve a voice in   deciding how these $550 million settlement funds  should be spent. With these new resources, I   would like to see this money go towards essential  services and infrastructure such as more community   events, youth programs, and even a hospital.  I would I would also like to see it go towards   immediate needs such as safer roads and less  potholes in the ground. It's very important to   me that these funds get invest invested back into  the community to benefit the people of Richmond. I support item P3 tonight and urge you  to vote yes. Thank you, Michelle Chan. Good evening. Um, you know, things are pretty  rough out here in our world and in our country   and it's hard sometimes to even read the news. But  there is a bright spot for me personally and that  

is here in Richmond. both for the amazing youth  that we have as well as the settlement money which   is generational historic and pro can provide  a down payment towards a just transition to a   fossil-free future towards a clean environment  thriving where everybody is a part of it and   where we have a healthy community where people  are secure and this is the city we deserve. So,   thank you so much um Mayor uh Martinez and Council  Member Jimenez and Robinson for bringing forward   P3. Um and let's not forget how we got to this  point to this opportunity, right? It was that it   was a grassroots coalition of residents that went  doortodoor and were able to under the polluters   pay initiative bring Chevron to the table. And so  I think it's only fitting that the community also   should be deeply involved in how this money should  be spent. And so I strongly support the framework   that has been sketched out in P3. Um there's  an incredible idea for a mechanism to provide   residents with some kind of way to propose ideas  that they have for how Richmond can create jobs   for how we can produce income and um revenue, how  we can enhance the city, how we can become more   resilient to the climate chaos. And I also really  appreciate how the framework makes room for big   picture really visionary economic development, big  things maybe like port improvements as um imagined   through the um green blue new deal or maybe  even helping to bring a hospital to Richmond to   not only save lives but to serve as an anchor um  economic institution. So I think this framework um   provides a great balance and we should get to work  with engaging the community to really come up with   a smart strategy for us now and for the future.  Thank you. Ryan Kaen followed by Antoine Cl. Ryan,  

hi there council. Uh hello there everybody else.  Uh, so I've come here wearing many hats tonight,   of course. Wow, I'm very Okay, there we go. Uh, I  come here wearing many hats tonight. I am an RPA   member. I am a member of ACE and as well as uh the  Democratic Socialists of America. And I live and   work here in Richmond. Uh, I work with uh youth  in particular through my organization uh teaching   communication skills uh with the goal of advancing  equity and uplifting marginalized voices.   And so this settlement fund provides I think  a very important opportunity. Uh I think it   absolutely makes sense that we should  invest this money so that we can build   independence from Chevron. But also when we  talk about the people that this could benefit,   I haven't really heard mention of at least not  directly our unhoused community. I spend um a   fair amount of my spare time um hanging out and  helping the unhoused community in my neighborhood.   I live in the Iron Triangle. Um and the thing is  is these people, even if we had these district   meetings as are being proposed, they would not  be at the table because that's just not their   reality. And so I hope that when this consultant  comes that they go to the encampments, that they   talk to the unhoused people in our communities.  the majority of whom who I speak to are elders,   black elders. We have abandoned this community.  And the thing is is you say that this is a   um once in a generation opportunity, Vice Mayor  Robinson, and I agree. That means we need to   pass once in a generation policies, guaranteed  basic income, social housing, things that go   beyond just creating jobs, things that no matter  who or what part of a working family you are,  

if you fall on hard times, you have a safety net  that is guaranteed. Thank you. Antoine Claude,   followed by Mark Wasber. And our last speaker will  be Jamie Pcel, in person speaker. All I got to say   is my name Mantoan. I'm a long time Mr. resident.  Y'all missed everything they talking. That's why   them two guys sitting be how this city is going  to get somebody to come here to regulate this   money. They say they can't do it. And the dude  they going to get can't do it because he ain't   from Richmond. If you don't know the history  of this town, you can't tell us how to get out.   You can't tell me me somebody come to tell me from  Berkeley how we get down in Richmond for the last   50 years and how it affected my community living  around a refinery right you know why I know I'm   on an inhaler right now not yesterday right now  I keep it in my pocket goodie for you right now   I got bronchitis I got bronchitis asthma and I got  CPOD right now you can't tell me that people going   to tell you how to spend that money the people  who live here. Look at our education system. We   got the lowest education system in history in  this town when we had the highest rate in the   60s and 70s and 80s. Had the most professional  athletes come out of Richmond you ever seen. Now   our whole educational system didn't crash and  burn because this council never supported these   kids when Johnny Holmes was asking you for money  to take them track stars that he come out of his   track team to different places when the Richmond  Steelers coming in and begged you for money and   you gave them crumbs. But you'll bust your neck  to put up a damn uh soccer field, but you won't   support the community as a whole. Richmond is a  diverse community. We have a whole Hindu Indian   community don't even talk about that's here that  do all the businesses here. I mean, I'm just   keeping it 100. So, when this dude come here, this  consulting person, you going to give $300,000 to  

walk in my community, he ain't going to go to the  hood. Oh, he ain't coming to St. John's. He ain't   going to Crescent Park. He ain't going to to the  TE's. He ain't going to the He ain't going to the   mana where the black folks who've been here all  their lives and get their input because you going   to want him to come somewhere they can't go border  lines in Richmond you can't cross so Mark Wasber Jamon Pcel uh you left your phone up One of your three phones almost going to be harder to follow than if it  was Mark. Um, all I would I think actually a lot   of the community has really spoken about what  the things that they're really interested in,   but I think that we need to make sure that we  are going to hear all of the act all and I mean   all all of the community. We have done many many  surveys. We've done many many uh bits of outreach.   We usually end up with our surveys having what  about 350 responses unfortunately and it's just   because we are not going and meeting them where  they're at. I do think that we need to take our   time. I think we need to give the time for them to  do a a a really detailed analysis of if we spend   all this money or if we how we can best invest  it to make sure that we can become financially   independent of Chevron. Um the Norway Sovereignty  Fund is very similar to it started very similar to   this. It was taking oil money and investing it.  Now they waited like 40 years and but they cover   their entire budget in just the funds from that.  Now I'm not saying that we should do that but I am  

saying that there is a way to be able to try and  have as a backup when we have the es and flows of   economy come in to be able to have a safety net  for the city because if we offer only services we   will have to pull those services when the money  runs out. If we offer only uh infrastructure,   we're not going to address the needs of  the people that are are are hurting and   it's probably going to be hurting more and with  at least within the next couple of years. So,   I do have I have no problem with and I know I'm  speaking from a place of privilege. I really do   have no problem with trying to make sure we  get it right. So that way then we don't feel   like we're hurt because we have uh spent too too  freely and and and we end up with nothing. Can't   kill the golden goose. We got to get those eggs  under the nest and try to make more geese. That   was our last inerson speaker. Now we'll move  to the online speakers. We have seven speakers.   And those seven speakers are Francisco  Ortiz followed by Sean Stalbum, Bana Sitney,   Kevin Tiddale, Marisel Cantu, Erica Seial, and  Arto Runila will be our last speaker. Francisco,   please unmute yourself. You'll have  two minutes, and you may begin. Good evening, mayor and council members. My  name is Francisco Ortiz. I'm president of   United Teachers of Richmond, representing over  1500 educators across West Contraosta Unified   School District. I'm a graduate of Richmond  public schools and a parent of a TK student   attending schools here in Richmond. UTR was proud  to actively support the polluters pay initiative   and tonight we stand in solidarity with APEN  communities for a better environment and ACE and   the many community groups who organized for years  to bring this historic victory to Richmond. The   $550 million settlement with Chevron is a once in  a generation opportunity as highlighted by other  

community members and um uh Council Member  Robinson. It's a chance to repair harm, meet   people's everyday needs, and plan responsibility  for our future beyond refinary dependence. For   our students and families, this means investing in  the conditions that allow young people to thrive.   safe routes to school, clean air, neighborhood  parks, health services, and stable family   supporting union jobs. I want to speak directly  to the opportunity in front of us around community   schools. Most of the community schools in West  Contraosta are located right here in Richmond.   These schools are hubs providing mental health  supports, family engagement, food access, and   wraparound services that address the real barriers  students face outside the classroom. Our neighbors   in San Pablo support every community school within  its boundaries and Richmond can and should play   a stronger role as well. With these funds, the  city has the opportunity to partner more deeply   with schools to expand services, stabilize  programs, and improve outcomes for students   and families who have borne the greatest impacts  of pollution and disinvestment. Most importantly,   the families, workers, youth, and elders most  impacted by Chevron's pollution must have a real   voice in how these funds are spent. I strongly  support P3 and urge a yes vote tonight. Let's   ensure that the resources are invested back into  the community. Thank you. Your time is expired.   The next speaker is Sean Stalbomb. Please unmute  yourself. You'll be you may begin. Good evening,   city council members. Sean Stalbomb with IFPTE  local 21 representing more than 160 mid managers   and executives of the city of Richmond. Workers  in Richmond stand in solidarity with CBE, ACE,   Apen, and so many other community organizations  who worked to get the polluters pay initiative  

uh to the ballot. And we are in support of the  plan submitted by council members Jimenez and   Robinson and Mayor Martinez for consultant  engagement and community input regarding the   polluters pay settlement funds. Specifically, we  stand in support of item P3, but in opposition to   item P4. We support item P3 because it calls for  collaboration with city staff whom we represent   as well as the city council and community  stakeholders to conduct the needed community   engagement. Additionally, the P3 plan contemplates  a necessary framework for the expenditure of these   new general fund revenues to include many areas of  need throughout the city, including city staffing,   a just transition, and healing harmed  communities. It's a fair, comprehensive   app approach that includes the city workers who  deliver city services. P4 on the other hand is   narrowly focused only on community meetings and  it's redundant in that P3 includes conducting   community engagement already. Also P4 lacks  context for these discussions with the community   treating the polluters pay settlement funds as a  freeforall pot of money which they are not. P3 is   the more comprehensive approach that involves all  stakeholders including city staff and community   groups. We strongly recommend the framework in  P3 as the better, more comprehensive approach.   Thank you. Thank you. The next speaker is Briana  Sitney. Please unmute yourself and you may begin. Good evening. I am Bana Sitney, director of the  Richmond Our Power Coalition and Cooperation   Richmond. This $550 million settlement with  Chevron is a huge opportunity for Richmond to   meet their residents needs. The community has to  live with the effects of living in a refinery city   and these funds came from these from the hard work  of these same residents. They must be included in  

this conversation about how these funds will be  spent. Allow the people to be heard. I strongly   support item P3 and I urge our council members  to vote yes. Thank you. The next speaker is Kevin   Tisdale. Please unmute yourself and you may begin.  Thank you. Uh Kevin Tisdale representing SEIU. Um   we stand in solidarity with the various community  groups and P3. Um we need an equitable solution,   one that intentionally reviews the many viewpoints  of a diverse community from their diverse   meth from their diverse viewpoints and diverse  methods to truly come with an unbiased approach.   This is not about spending money recklessly. It's  about investing it wisely. When we discussing the   stewardship of over $550 million plus interest,  allotting up to $300,000 for proper leverage and   to protect those funds. So again, it is  uh so it's not excessively wasted. It's   responsible. Um I call for equity for the real  Richmond. that includes input from community   members across various districts, community  representatives, nonprofits, business districts,   and the city service members who live, work, and  play here. Um the deputy director of finance said   it very clearly, many staff, many departments  are already overwhelmed and understaffed. Um   without adequate staffing, we can't provide the  service that the city so desperately needs in the   various departments throughout finance, building,  code, nonswarm, and ma maintenance divisions.   um which we so desperately need to do. Um on  a personal note, you know, living in Richmond,   growing up near Ethan Pen and Partchester, um  this is really a once in a-lifetime opportunity.   And again, we should take the time, apply the  energy necessary to engage a proper consultant   to vet the community's historical needs,  current realities, and future priorities.  

Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Mayor  Santanu. Please unmute yourself and you may begin. Hey, can you hear me? Yes. Oh, there we  go. Hi, I'm Marisu, District 6 um resident,   third generation district 6 president and also  a member of Richmond Progressive Alliance. RPA   stands in solidarity with CBE, APEN, ACE, and so  many others um to vote yes on P3 and not on P4. Um   looking at the RFP, there's things that um I want  to highlight in particular that the timeline is   quite outdated now because we're already at the  end of February. So updating that um to reflect   we're already at the end of January to reflect um  a consultant coming in in February. Also, the RFP   was missing language accessibility. It didn't  mention surveys, but there's a lot of languages   that are not written in Richmond, um, including  different dialects in the AAPI community,   indigenous language, languages like mum, and the  RFP is lacking in that. Also, it doesn't mention   anything about hybrid opportunities for both um  working-class people to join. And I didn't see   a communications or outreach plan that was really  thorough um that would be co-developed with CB uh   with CBOS. And I think that we're really missing  the mark if we don't send mailers out to all of   our community members to um encourage them to  attend these uh community sessions to help inform   this process. I also think that um an outreach  and community engagement plan for the unhoused   residents, formerly incarcerated residents, and  undocumented residents um needs to be included  

in this. And I would love to see our displaced  um residents or that have been gentrified out   be included so they have a right to return. Thank  you so much. Thank you. The next speaker is Erica   Se. Please unmute yourself and you may begin.  Hi everyone. My name is Erica and I'm here   representing Communities for a Better Environment  or CBE. Um, I would like to urge you all to vote   yes on these items as they will further a decadesl  long effort to ma move the city away from fossil   fuels. These items that are start to putting  our money where our mouth is, directing the   hard-earned money from Chevron towards building  a clean and equitable Richmond for all. A vote   for these items is a vote for public process and  community participation and a vote for a vision of   Richmond that's designed by and for residents.  It's a vote towards shaping the future of our   city. And I know that CBE members are are excited  and ready for this future. If today's comments say   anything, it's that Richmond residents are also  ready for this new future. Now, I understand that   the city has limited staff time to dedicate to  this process, but I urge you all to move as fast   as possible on this so that residents can actually  see the benefits of the money that they fought so   hard for and start to ameliate the devastating  effects of a refinery that's been here for over   a century. I would also like to echo some of the  comments by previous speakers to make a point to   reach residents whose voices otherwise would  not be heard, including the unhoused community   um and our black elders. Thank you. Thank you.  And our last speaker will be Artu Rentila. Please   unmute yourself and you may begin. Good evening,  Mayor and City Council. My name is Ardo Retila.   I'm calling from the Fair Hilltop Neighborhood  Council or the Fair Hilltop Neighborhood Area.   Um, I'd like to remind uh the city council and  the mayor that uh the city of Richmond is 52  

square miles. Uh, it's got 33 neighborhoods. Um,  and 120 over 120,000 residents. I would hope that   uh the neighborhood councils and uh other  community stakeholders are involved in the   conversations. While I lean towards P3 and agree  with all the uh speakers before me, I urge you to   be fiscally responsible. Uh knowing that this is  a sanctuary city and that sanctuary city could uh   city funding could be pulled. Uh I ask that you're  smart and methodical in spending your money. Uh we   we really need you to be uh smart because uh you  are elected officials and you're held to a higher   standard. uh and you're uh fiscally responsible  for taxpayers money and uh you should be held   uh to that regard. I appreciate the time. Thank  you. Thank you. And that was our last speaker. Thank you. Uh public um comments  are closed and now we'll go to   questions and and comments by the council. Uh  council member Brown had her hand up first. Thank you, Mayor Martinez. Um, so I've like my  short time on council, I just recognize that   most reports that we've come across um have not  been implemented. Like we get these extensive   reports and they're just that reports that sits  in our database. If someone chooses to read them,   they do. but I haven't seen them actually um work.  So, I'm concerned that this would be just another   report. Um, this item seems and sounds like  to me from what I've heard from um, residents,  

callers, and um, the agenda item that it seems  to be set up to be spent on a just transition,   which I'm not opposed to, but it's not  what the community uh, speaks about. Um,   especially where I serve district serving the city  of Richmond, but in particularly in my district,   district one being one of the most impacted  communities, no one speaks too much about   like if you go up and say what are like the  top three concerns that you have. Air quality   is not going to come out of most of the uh  residents mouth. They speak about safety. They   speak about clean streets, options for youth,  etc. Um, so I really want us to get real about   our relationship with Chevron. It's like um a  person that we say we don't want to be with,   but we're constantly accepting gifts and  money from. So it's like on one hand,   it's like we want this just transition.  we want to move so far away from Chevron,   but we're constantly in tango with Chevron  time and time again just um from being a   fourth generation Richmond resident. Also, it has  been said that uh we want a non-biased consultant,   but the agenda report explicitly states that  the consultant would would work particularly   with community-based organizations that are  a part of the make polluters pay campaign.   So while those groups are amazing stakeholders, I  see many of you here, um they are not the entirety   of Richmond and community engagement, that process  to me should not be centered on one coalition, but   um one coalition or advocacy uh campaign, but  Richmond overall. And so my question is how can  

staff ensure that the prioritization of one  coalition doesn't speak for the entire city because it's stated that the co that the  consultant would be working with the polluters   pay coalition. Okay, maybe they'll answer that  later. Um, also I want to acknowledge that little   over a year ago, Council Member BA proposed a  $100,000 um for a consultant uh for community   input just similar to what we're discussing  tonight and it was overly criticized giving   um its intent. So now we're here asking to  approve up to $300,000 for essentially the   same functions. So I was kind of confused about  that. Um, and I just want to ask probably staff,   can community, since P3 talks about that they'll  have community engagement and gathering input.   So can community engagement and gathering the  input be accomplished through staff overtime   which would be significantly uh a lower cost  than an actual consultant who would require   staff support anyways. The matter goes beyond this  the overtime or the staff timing. It's the matter   of like designing the survey also as you raised a  very valid question like how do you make sure that   every segment of the community is incorporated  in a survey. So like uh for some reason that   that goes beyond the capacity or the skills of the  the finance department staff were not trained to   design a qualitative uh surveys. Okay, which would  you know uh uh identify it and assure that it's a   fair and comprehensive and valid surf scientific  survey which represents the society the community  

that we're dealing with. Okay. So that is one  reason why we're uh leaning towards having a   third party expert involved. Throughout all of our  departments, there's no qualified staff to conduct   such engagement in I don't believe if there is a a  job des I'm not aware of the job description that   would exist that would require one to have like uh  a skill set to design qualitative surveys. Okay,   you're you're making a good point. We it  would be helpful and this is something that   I have discussed with uh with human resources um  around having more support around data analytics   um and quantitative analysis for you know looking  at short-term and longitudinal data um that is   something that uh we do need to to work towards.  Um I I think the opportunity here is it depends on   what level of engagement the council wants, right?  Like if um if the council wants a scientific   survey um then it would be helpful for us to have  a consultant. That's what we normally do right   now for our longitudinal data that asks residents  around how you know they perceive the community,   how do they perceive services, things of that  nature. If the council wants to have it to be more   specific and more of a defined process that um has  potential uh that is not a scientific study um or   in asking uh questions in a manner that would be  easy to replicate um for in the future to measure   progress. Um that's that's different. So it it's  really up to the city council in terms of what   uh so that's why I was suggesting based on the  feedback this evening right whatever the council   policy direction is that staff have a moment to  go back regroup give 45 to 60 days to then come  

up with a plan based on the feedback that's given  this evening because I think it's it's pretty hard   um at this hour for everyone to think through  um what would be required and to put something   together that we feel like would be responsive  to the council's policy direction. Okay. And just   also wanting to know cuz I mean up to $300,000 to  me seems like crazy. Um especially when they're   being told that they have to work with certain  groups. Um so it already seems skewed to me. So   I'm wondering if we can implement a cap on the  consultant amount. Well, what if I may, what   I would what I generally suggest to to council  is that um if there's a that we develop an RFP,   we issue the RFP and then we come back with the R  with the respondents um and then with a proposed   contract and a dollar amount that we don't say  in the RFP up to X or up to Y because you know it   could be 150,000, it could be 350. we don't know  where the market is at for this type of work, you   know, right? But I'm asking, can we hold the line  as a council saying, but maybe you want to do that   once you have the rankings, right? Like maybe I'm  making this up, right? Maybe three firms respond,   maybe seven firms respond, right? And you and then  the council, we would staff would evaluate them,   right? And we would prevent you with the  information. So then you could see sort   of what the scopes were for the different firms  and then receive a staff recommendation on why   they're s suggesting X versus Y firm, right? And  so then you would have that context to inform the   decision-m because it could be higher or it could  be much lower. We don't know. Okay. Thank you for   now. Yeah, Council Member Bana. Thank you.  I would like to start by saying that I agree  

with everything that was said uh by everyone who  brought up the item. Um I believe the intentions   are great but the language and methodology  is not there. It's lacking. For example,   council member Himenez talks about new investment,  diversify revenue, financial strategy to invest   this money to generate more money and extend  the life of funds. But then the item reads,   "Direct the city manager to engage a consultant  to collaborate with the city staff, city council,   and community stakeholders to conduct community  engagement. And this is the heart of it, gather   input on a framework for the expenditure of new  general fund revenues generated by the polluter   space settlement. Do we just want to gather input?  To me the heart should be the framework for the   expenditure. We need an economic expert to tell us  for example how much of it should go into um items   that could save us money like infrastructure  upgrade or paying um unfunded liabilities.   How much of it should go into investment to  generate revenue? Uh what if there is a recession?   What would be the impact? Um should we spend money  on cleaning contaminations and affordable housing,   the homeless? Um I mean economic development would  be one component of it and then next to it will   have quality of life issues that would require  the input from the community. Do the community  

uh want to give us advice on how to invest for the  future? Is that what we want to do? I mean it's   just a big pot of ideas that's stirred together  and doesn't make much sense to me. We need an econ   an expert who come and tell us for example 70% of  the money should go into generating investment and   should be very subtle about it. For example, some  quality of life investments will increase property   taxes which is a sort of bringing more revenue to  the city. But how much is it? Is it minimal? Is it   large? Or improving parks and things like that.  So, I'm proposing to clean the language. I hope   the city manager understands what the heart of the  issue is and bring the RFP back in a way that is   clear about what the expectation is. Because  to me if um what we are asking for is a very   high level vision to see how much of it should go  into generating revenue investment for the future   and cost reduction versus quality of life issues  where we can get input from the community and the   community should not be misled on If we decide  that to win from fuel industry, we can only spend   5% of the money on what the community wants.  We shouldn't lie to them. We shouldn't start   getting input uh with their assumption of $550  million over 10 years. That is not true. We may   not be able to afford spending zero dollars on  quality of life issues that the community wants.  

So first there should be a very high level study  about how much can we generate with this? How   long can it go? How can we save on the expenses?  For example, if you upgrade the infrastructure,   it's going to save us a lot of money if we pay  unfunded liabilities or this or that. Um and   then what it takes um over the 10 years the very  general big picture outline and then a little   more specific maybe for the uh first two three  years. I don't think having said all of that I   don't think we should make a decision for a city  council like three terms after us. But we should   have a very good start, study what needs to be  done and move on from there. So my suggestion is   to either reward this, eliminate the community  engagement and input at this point because we   don't want to give any false promises to anyone.  uh we want to win from the fuel industry and even   $550 million may not be sufficient. We don't  know uh what the economic capability of this   investment is. So let's be honest with ourselves  and with the community not deceive anyone. Let's   have a very high level study of what the outline  of our approach should be and take it from there. Thank you. Um I think it's time to um  extend the meeting. It's almost 10 o'clock.

We can extend it now or we can wait until 10.  Well, uh I think we'll be here longer than than   six minutes. Okay. So, what are we is there  a motion? And then what items do we want to   right consider? Okay. Can I can I ask a question  on P1? Are we going to that was pulled? Is the   person still around that pulled it so they  can tell us why they pulled it? I was going   to propose that we just um approve P1 and P2. I  don't know if we can jump in the middle of this   item and do that. I think these were pulled last  time. I don't think the person who pulled they   were initially on the consent calendar. I was  happy with to approve them on consent and I   don't think the person who pulled them is here.  So if unless there's someone here on on council   who wants to have a discussion of P1 and P2,  I would recommend that maybe I don't know if   we can pause item P3 and P4 and vote on these.  We Okay. Well, then what I'm going to suggest   is that after between 10 and 11, P1 and P2 are on  the agenda. And I'm going to instantly yell out,   I'm making a motion to approve these two items.  All right. Thank you. Well, well, we still need   a motion to extend. Okay. I'll make a motion to  extend till 11 until the items are finished. I   second. To which one? We finish this current item  and then vote on P1 and P2. Okay. Yeah. Which is   as late as 11. Hopefully not really till right.  Council member Brown. Yes. Council member Bana.   Yes. Council member Jimenez. Yes. Council member  Wilson. Yes. Council member Zepan. Yes. Vice Mayor   Robinson. Yes. And Mayor Martinez. Yes. The vote  is unanimous. All right. Back to uh P3 and P3 P4.  

and it is uh Vice Mayor Robinson. Okay. So, um I  was sitting here listening to uh uh Council Member   BA and there's many things that I really agree on  what you what you just said. There's things that   we need to know and we need to understand um about  how exactly to spend the money and and what what   we would need to actually move the needle in the  directions that we're all talking about, right?   We don't really have those answers today, but I  do think that what I've been hearing over and over   again from people is that they want to play a role  in these choices. And so even at the broad level,   we even having a process with a consultant that  asks the broad question, do we want to spend   this money as it comes in or do we want to invest  some of the money? you know, do we want it is is   our goal with the money to make it last longer?  Um, is our goal with the money to to reduce our   dependency upon fossil fuels? Even having that set  of questions that we ask to all different kinds of   community groups, you know, f folks in district  one, folks in the projects, folks, you know,   in in the hills, folks whatever and actually get  their feedback on these large questions so that   we have some so we can we have some feel about  what community has pallet for, what they have   buy in for because I honestly believe that we do  actually need to make decisions that will impact   councils in the future. Because the biggest thing  about getting this amount of money, this you know   50 million a year is that the most impact you  make is if you invest it and that takes time. So if we don't think about it now, we lose  that time. And the time is the thing that  

actually gives us the opportunity to make  it more than a half billion dollars. It's   time is the factor that would make it more  than five billion than than half a billion   dollars. And so if we don't take the courage  now to get some help to help us frame these   questions so we understand what kind of  buyin we have so we make deep investments. Then then we're just going to be going like on  a on a spending spree and maybe some things will   have some long impact, maybe not. Maybe we'll  build build things that we won't even have the   like municip we won't have the general fund  infrastructure to support, you know, maybe   we'll build things that we can't even maintain  because we didn't think about building a general   fund that's more robust that could take care of  all the parks that we're building. I feel like we   are at in that moment. We're in that moment where  we actually do have to be as careful and as as as   thoughtful as we can to make decisions for the  future for future people who are coming after   us. And that's why I think we need a consultant.  That's why I think we need to have the community   along with us so that everyone said that we bought  into this. People said that's what they wanted.   You know, we're on this train together. You know,  maybe we're building we're building this future   ALS system or maybe we're, you know, whatever. But  we need to actually be bought in on it because we   are at that moment where we're making a a huge  we're making a huge just a huge turning point   for our city if we do it right. Or we could do  it like you know people who win the lottery,   go out and buy a bunch of fancy things and then  be broke in 10 years. So, I I really would like to   um figure out how to move this item where  we're taking the boast the the the kind of   um a thoughtful way of moving these things  forward. I think that there was a lot of  

thought put into the kind of categories we had.  I'm I I in P3, but I also hear this this desire   to make sure that it's nonbiased. I I'm a deep  believer in that. Um I'm I think that um what   I'd like to pass tonight is something where  we create a community process facilitated by   uh a consultant who can help us move this  forward and get community feedback and   ultimately community buy in on a long-term  uh direction for the expenditure of these   general fund funs. funds so that it actually  has a transformative impact in our city. I second that. Um, uh, there's been two council  members who haven't spoken yet. And, uh, I don't   want this to become a debate where where council  members uh, square off and and do one point and   then a counterpoint and a counterpoint to that  counterpoint. I I I think we need to stay focused   uh, so so that we can advance u uh, cohesion and  togetherness. So, Council Member Wilson. Okay. No   pressure. Okay. In the spirit of cohesion and  togetherness, um I think that I guess my main   thing is there's a phrase like don't let per like  perfect can be the enemy of the good. And I just   want to acknowledge that like tonight this c the  item in front of us is not for this council to   decide how we want the money to be spent. It's for  us to decide whether we're willing to invest in a  

process to solicit more input from the community  on how the money should be spent. That those are   different things. And I hear council me what  council member Bonn's concerns. I hear I hear   uh council member Brown's concerns too. And one  of the things I I what I'm thinking about sort   of as a way of addressing those which I'm going  to I'm I'm going to propose is that we we take   um P3 but we modify the RFP so that we ask the  whoever is chosen as the consultant to come   back and present their plan before they go out and  implement it. If I understand the way it's written   now, we basically send them out into the world  and we say come back in May with your results.   And what I'm hearing, you know, from both from  people on the on the dis and from the community   is that there's real concerns like will they, you  know, will they have a process that includes the   unhoused? Will they be able to reach people  who who communicate in the hong language? Um,   elderly people, working people, incarcerated  people, uh, etc., etc., etc. Um, I don't think   tonight we're going to craft language for this RFP  that reassures us that all of those bases will be   covered, but I would like to get an RFP out in  the world and then ask that whoever gets chosen   to come back and present a plan before before they  schedule the meetings, before they invite people,   before they start marketing. Um, one thing I also,  um, I was surprised when council member Brown said   that the language is, uh, says to focus, um,  particularly on the community groups who are   part of the making polluters pay coalition, but  she's correct in in the the RFP does not contain   that language. If you read the RFP, it's very  careful that we're reaching out to individual  

people and all community groups, but it's true in  the um agenda summary, it does say in particers pay. And I would actually say if we I I don't  know if we can change the agenda report as a   council action, but I would like to change it to  strike that because I agree with you that there   all all all individuals and all community groups  should be equally treated regardless of whether   they you know played a role in putting in because  because we're getting input like we're here to get   input and I want to hear from everybody. So, so  just to sort of like I'm trying also to kind of   bring together like I think there was a debate  about whether it should be a consultant or the   staff member or the staff doing the work. I'm  hearing consistently that the staff does not   have the expertise to do this particular sort  of work nor do they have the capacity. So for   me that's a decider that we we do need to  hire a consultant. Even though I accept I   I appreciate that people are suspicious of hiring  more consultants and spending more money on that.   I just don't see a way to avoid that given that  we don't have staff members who can do this kind   of quantitative or qualitative study and they  don't have time to do it anyways because they   have other jobs. So for me I think that is it  it reaches my criteria of what we spend money on   consultants for. So I would encourage us to stick  with the consultant. Um one of the uh things that   was a debate is whether that we should give extra  time. I think we should put out the RFP with the   expectation that we have something in our hands  by May 26 because then it'll actually be in time   for us to possibly influence our larger budget  conversations which maybe what gets discovered   has no impact on our other budget talks but I  would still like to keep that door open. So,   so I know it's an ambitious timeline and it's  totally possible that staff will come back to us   and say nobody agreed to that timeline and then  we'll revisit it. But I'd like to just try. Um,  

and then the third thing that was sort of  debated is like, you know, whether these   processes are inclusive enough. And like I said,  I don't think we're going to I the one amendment   I would make to P3 is that we ask the consultant  to come back and present their plan before they   actually go out and execute it. And that'll give  an opportunity for us to all raise our substantial   things of like why doesn't this reach a particular  community or why doesn't ask a particular question   um before it actually happens. So that would be I  don't know if I may if I may. So just uh council   member Wilson to your your point about the RFP. So  the um procurement process would necessitate that   um the council would approve the final form of the  scope of work in the contract. So you would have   that opportunity to see it before you approved uh  a contract. Okay. Uh, and I would defer to staff   pertaining to the to the timeline. I don't I don't  know procedurally if it if if I may add a couple   of sentences. So, I do hear a lot of feedback from  all the council members and mayor regarding what   the the the RFP should contain and what the plan  should contain and the timeline and all that. Uh,   I'm wondering and also the concern regarding the  timeline is very compact and we agree with that   especially. So how about like you know we do  go uh towards a route you know where the staff   comes back in 45 days having you know a proposed  language and proposed timeline on the RFQ sort   of like you know getting the uh uh feedback  on that which is inclusive of the feedback   from the council members like to as a first  step if I I don't know if it's still my turn,   but if we waited 45 days to for the RFP,  there's I don't think there's any way we  

would have any answers by May 26. I'm just I I  know it's rushed, but I would rather have the   RFP work done very quickly so that we can get the  the consultant on board more quickly than that. Um, can I ask a question? I'm sorry, it's council  member Jen's. She hasn't spoken yet. Mayor,   if I may, through you as a chair. So, what I  would suggest is um we can we can work towards   that. As you've heard from finance staff, they're  stretched thin. So, I would need to potentially   reassign other staff to support this. So, once we  have a conversation tomorrow, then I will have to   we'll have to rep prioritize other things to to  make this the number one sort of organizational   priority and that may impact some timelines for  other things. So, it's like we're putting we'll   we'll add this to the front of the queue and  I'll get I'll get back to the council on what   does that mean for things that are currently in  the queue. Council member Jimenez. Yeah. Well,   with that said, I move the item um to direct  the city manager to engage a consultant to   collaborate with city staff and council and  community stakeholders to conduct community   engagement and gather input on a framework um of  the expenditures of new general funds revenues   generated by polluted space settlement uh with the  consultant reporting back to the city by May 26,   2026. Can I offer a friendly amendment  to that? And that is that I think that we should have the consultant look at not only  what we're spending money on, but the strategy of   holding and releasing funds. Sure. What strategies  are possible? Sure. And I have a point of order  

because we're not done debating yet. So, Right.  But we can continue debate after motion is made.   Then we'll only be debating on the motion. Sorry,  we'll only be debating on the motion and on the   item. So unless we're closing debate for the  full item, there needs to be a second before   conversation. So did I second it? You seconded and  so I'll second it. I have a question. But my point   of order is still there. So if we if we do it that  way then we could only debate on the motion that   was given and we can no longer debate on the full  item that's in front of us. So if we want to end   that then we have to call the question to end  debate for everything else and then we can only   focus on that. I think we have two more questions.  I think council member Bana had a question and I   had a question and then we can move on to the  motion. Um my my first question is about this   item is what is the urgency of May 26? Is it going  to affect the spending of the budget proposed for   the next fiscal year? How is it connected to  that? But it's a separate pool of money, isn't   it? It's general fund. It's general fund. General  funds. General funds. Yes. But we haven't agreed   on the amount. So, um, it's an obscure amount of  general fund. Well, it's general fund. Uh, for me,   it's general fund period. I do agree that it's $50  million of general fund or it's more or less. I I   think it needs to be uh counted in totality, you  know. I mean you can keep the 50 million in your   head and and you know uh speak to that or you can  speak to the entire budget but I think the budget  

needs to work as a whole. I mean you can't just  Thank you. So my second question shall we specify   for the RFP RFQ whatever that the main goal is  to increase city's revenue from nonfuel industry   sources. Is that the main goal or not? This is  one of the goals in the RFP. If you read the RSP,   one one of the goal is that. Okay. That that's  the main goal. Yeah. Okay. And um Okay. I'm not   going to argue on that. So that question was to  the motion, but question will not be my question.   Yeah. So my question is more to the city manager.  So you mentioned about a staff member that we need   anyways to help us out with future things like  this quantifying qualifying things data analytics   and and um other things of of that nature. Is that  something that we have in the queue for sometime   later? HR has a has a queue of positions  that we need to upgrade and and modify. Um,   but they're also concurrently working through  day-to-day operational matters that come up,ou   negotiations as well as other meet and confer  items. And the reason I'm asking is because again,   we're potentially spending couple hundreds of  thousands of dollars on this here. Do we shift   it to potentially a staff member that we can use  for more than just this? We can use them for years   and years to come, costing us for the first year  roughly about the same amount. But then we have   them forever and they're a staff member versus  a consultant. So that's one question there. Yeah, I think ultimately based on the council  discussion today, it's it's going to be a  

combination of things, right? So, I think um I'm  I I want to be thoughtful and defer to staff that   um that they that this is a extremely heavy  lift and that in terms of when we're having   community meetings that sometimes, especially  on conversations like this, that can be highly   charged, right? That sometimes it's good for  there to be a third party to help facilitate   the conversation. It doesn't mean that staff  won't review all of the information and help   prepare. Kind of like what you saw this evening  with Chief Osario, right? like he started with a   consultant that did a report and now we're working  interdep departmentally to operationalize it is is   what I would say. So that's that might be a good  example of how these things could it will be both   staff and potentially a third party. And also I  I think in the past I I do want to flag for the   council we'll absolutely endeavor to meet your  timeline and request in terms of the deliverable   but sometimes when we put out these aggressive  timelines right that may mean we will get fewer   respondents right because we don't know what like  the experts in this arena what is their current   workload like usually if people are really highly  skilled they have a backlog of work or they have   projects they're working on so we might need to  get in the queue and so that's why I was saying   Oh, we want to come back to council and give you  an update so that you can understand what the   market is telling us in terms of availability.  So, I I I we're happy to move forward and we'll   continue to update the council as we move forward  um on what we're finding because there's a lot of   unknowns. And was going to say something. Um,  I just want to point out that if an RFP is put   out not very thoughtfully and if it's not, you  know, described in a a thoughtful manner, uh, we  

you get like really bad response or little to no  response or the the the the bidder may not just be   qualified and just maybe fishing for contract. So  it's very important for RFP to be very thoughtful   and very um accurate reflecting uh the scope and  the work that is being done out in the market if   we try to reinvent the wheel and the wheel may not  be fully round and we may not get a proper driver   for that. And then remind me earlier you said by  June you can have something. Uh um I was saying   like you know by May it's very compact and very  uh aggressive. I was saying like about 45 to 60   days beyond that we may but then again it's also  dependent upon the the contractor's own timeline   which we don't know which is unknown. they might  have their own workflow and workload and speed   and time that they may require. So Julyish June  Julyish based on my very uh want to make sure   because we're we're what I'm hearing is staff is  very busy so you can't do it. So we want to get a   contractor but then you're going to have to hurry  up and do something because we need the contractor   and you need to do it fast even though you have no  time. So, so I'm just trying to make sure that as   as we're if we do end up giving you the tool of a  contractor that it also becomes a tool you can use   and not one that just going to be shoved and then  you're still not going to be able to do the right   work. It's it's yeah so dependent on depending on  the quality of the RFP and then appropriate time   for bidding being it open and then appropriate  time to basically evaluate all those bids   interviewing those vendor those biders and then  bring in that you know uh contract to the council  

for approval and evaluate uh review the scope  of work and the process of the vendor uh discuss   being discussed at the council chambers And the  agenda report also takes time. RLO takes 20 days.   So, you know, all that time, you know, adds to  the weeks and number of days and months. And   then May 26, it's going to be really u I want to  say like, for the lack of better term, halfcooked,   if it's even cooked, we definitely don't want raw  stuff like that. Absolutely. And then unless it's   sushi. Well, unless it's sushi. June, July, then  sushi made with old fish though. Gross. So June,   July, June, July, we get some really good sushi.  May chances are better. You run to the bathroom.   Odds are better, okay, if we delay. But again,  that's not exact time given that there is unknown.   We don't know what the the the contractor's  workload and time frame and their process would   be. We can't say what that would be. And if we  rush them to produce something in a hurry, again,   bad sushi. Okay. So then June, Julyish is just  to get us the the the the best contractor that we   can get based on very rough estimates this moment.  Yes. Not necessarily community feedback just yet.   This is just the contractor and then from there  we have to go out and get community feedback. So   when we're saying that we wanted it by May because  we want the information for the budget, we're it's   that means you're going to have a contractor next  week so they can start working in the community   meetings to be on time for May. If if I may, there  there's always even like so we're we're happy   to proceed. I want to reiterate that, right?  But there the council always we do quarterly   updates for the budget, right? You can always make  adjustments to the budget. it it's it's not like   uh the fiscal year budget is something that we do  and we always talk about how it's an envelope and  

it's estimates. So we can make this sync up for  fiscal year 2627. Um I think we have to figure out   how best to do that but we can do that. Council  can always adjust the budget even during a fiscal   year. So like that's always there. So there's no  necessarily rush for the May time frame. I don't   believe so because in the by May we only still  have $50 million in the bank. The next 50 doesn't   come till the next till July. That's council  member Sepa. You keep asking the same question   over and over and over. No, that was a different  question. But I'm not It was the same question   just stated differently. Anyway, we we have a  motion. Yeah. Uh do we have a second? I want to   make an adjustment to the motion. Another friendly  amendment and that is this. Um, I'm actually not   exactly sure how we're holding the first $50  million. Can you clarify that really quickly? Yes, we can send an email to city council.  You've adopted policies, you know,   investment policies and it's in line with what  the investment policies are for the city council.   So I would be and I think we would be amendable  to adding to my motion that we use an appropriate   timeline that gives us the right amount of time  to have a good RFP and a good process. But I would   like to make that in on the condition that the  additional funds that are getting contributed from   this short-time source goes into an investment  fund and is not and is not uh added to the total   general fund budget until we complete the process  so that we can actually that's what's happening.   Yeah. So we can earn some interest. Yes. earn  some more money on this money while we're going   through this good process and not just having  it, you know, not do work for us. Yes, it is   currently earning interest. Okay. If if it's like  that, I will accept the uh friendly amendment. I  

will second that. Call to vote. I'm sorry. Could  someone tell what uh what we're voting on now?   The final. Yeah. I had a motion by council member  Jimenez and a second by council member vice mayor   Robinson. So we are what does it say? So can you  you make two amendments right? So can you do that?   My my two amendments were this. It was it  was um uh council member Himenez motion um   to move forward with the RFP um community process  comprehensive um uh more open and inclusive. The   amends amendments that I added were that a part  of what they what the consultants would work with   would get feedback on from community is not only  what types of things would the money like what   we'd like to spend the money on, but what strategy  for holding and releasing the money we'd like to   use because that's two different things, right? Um  you there's there's different strategies you can   use. You can spend it all every year. You can put  it in savings and only spend the the the interest.   You can pay off un un you know uh un unovered uh  unfunded liabilities. There's strategies and I   think we need feedback from community on which  strategy they feel strongly about. And second   level is what are the kinds of things they would  like to see money spent on. That's two different   levels of of decision-making. That was the first  amendment is to add that strategies conversation   to it so that we know we have buyin on what we're  doing. And then the second amendment was one I   just made just now to say that if we're going to  take the time that we need to do to do this right,   I would like to make sure that this influx of  short-term funds um into the general fund are  

put into an investment account so that it is  making money for us, making us more money while   we go through this good process. So we have  more money to work with at the end instead of   less instead of the same amount or less. Um, and  so that was my my proposal is that the year one   and year two money because we won't make that year  two deadline go into an investment account and it   we use it to make more money while we're going  through this process. So but but I would like   to have a a a timeline because uh we are saying  May 26. So what I am hearing is by July to have   the results of to start the process and I think  like by that it's just too much to too long to   wait to start the community process. So I just  would like to I would say we can share the the   recommendation or today's approved uh council  action with the contractor see like if they   whatever and whenever they are selected we will be  happy to share the today's action like about the   timeline with them and it will really be you know  up to them like if they can meet that and produce   results by that time or not and uh I I think what  would be helpful is at the May 24th I mean excuse   me at the March 24th city council meeting which  is essentially in in two months um that that we   provide an update at that time um because at the  more that I'm thinking about this I think that   this is um there's a lot of moving parts right  so we had the item that you all just approved so   that's sort that's one sort of bucket then we have  um we already have right our financial adviserss   right we also would have potentially bond counsel  and then there would also be a facilitator   I'm not sure, right? And we this is what we  need to think about is is there one firm that   does all of these things? Probably not, right? So,  I think there will need to be an opportunity for  

us as staff to think through like how do we align  these things and then like what are the different   um thought partners, right, and different  consultants that we would work with to develop   a full strategy. And I think those might be  respectfully um people that have different skill   sets, right? Okay. So, what about a question to  council? Uh, we made a motion. We had a second and   uh if we want to change that motion, we have to  do a uh we have to do an uh alternate motion,   right? We can't we can't change the motion  once it's I am just going to add to I am going   to friendly amendment to have the timeline  because I don't want to get these forever.   So what I am going to add is that by March this  staff will come back with an out day where he also   had the timeline for how this uh community process  is going to roll out. Will that be yes and I think   concurrently right we should be able to articulate  for example if we the other consultants that would   need to be part of this process. So, I think there  was a motion. There was a motion and a second,   right? And I'd like to make a substitute  motion. Okay. She can make a motion,   a second, and three friendly amendments. Okay.  Yeah. So considering what the city manager is   saying about the complexity of the motion the  way it is, my motion is to hire a consultant to   provide a highlevel vision of different strategy  options for spending the money. And after that's   done then we can do the based on the result of  that we can do the community input gathering  

and everything. So for the first step let's  just hire a consultant to discuss to provide   different strategy options in terms of um economic  development uh reading from fuel industry etc. No. Do we have a second? Is that without  the community input? It dies. Without the   community input, I think it's our responsibility  to provide information to the community before   asking them for a strategy. Why do we Excuse  me. Let me finish. I may get a second. Um,   you made a motion and now you're I'm I'm  completing uh the meaning of the motion.   I think it's very irresponsible. We have a  fiducial responsibility, fiscal responsibility   to the community. It is irresponsible to ask  the community members without much economic   knowledge for a strategy options on how to  spend $550 million. First we need to provide   the information to them what the options are, what  the consequences are, then go to them and get the   community input. So my motion is to first hire  get RFP for a consultant to provide investment   and strategy options and then at the second step  do the com the community input gathering. Do we   have a second? I think that's the motion on the  floor. No, it's not. The motion on the floor says   um do this plus um getting community input on a  strategy. So the consultant will ask the community  

for a strategy options. That's incorrect in  my view. Mayor some time and energy and very   confusing. Okay. Um we're we're having a bit  of confusion here. You made a motion and then   you spoke to the motion and then you made  another motion. No, I No, I made I made the   most substitute motion. Okay. Okay. And uh I asked  for a second. I have I have not heard one. So the   motion dies from lack of a second. Okay. Mayor,  point of clarification. I I want to reiterate that   that that the funds are currently invested. It  so Okay. I just want to make sure that that's And   we had we had decided that uh uh earlier. Yeah.  Yes. The council had decided that earlier. So So   uh so we have a motion and a second on the floor.  Did you want to make an a substitute motion or I   wanted to ask if I can make a friendly amendment  to the motion that's on the floor. Okay. Oh, well,   no, you can't because there's a second. Oh,  okay. There is. She can make a Yes, she can   make a then they have to both accept it. Okay,  thank you. I just wanted to um ask if we could   lower the maximum amount for the consultant, the  fee for the consultant, like not up to 300,000,   but to lower it. I think that 300,000 to me  is very uh astronomical for a consultant,   especially if we're going to have the support  of the staff and a lot of community involvement.   I think that the consultant is just going to  really do the summarization and not a lot. So,   uh no because I think what we are hearing from  city manager is that potentially it's not just  

one but it's just few of them. So I want to have  them to have the capacity to to have this up to   it's not like we are going to spend it hopefully  not but that they don't need to come back to ask   for more money in March we can like I think  like what what we are trying to do here is   this is a really complicating thing and this is  why we are in all these conversations together.   Um so in March uh with the outdate we can see  how much potentially is going to be needed.   Uh but I I just want to make sure that we have  they the there is enough money so it doesn't   constrain the the ability for the staff to think  about maybe it's not just one consultant because   up to 300,000 is that for multiple consultants  because it says one consultant generally um if I   may through the mayor as a chair uh our preference  for as staff is to not put a dollar amount. So,   so then when when we when we come back and and  they're ranked, then the council would see like   who were the respondents and how much did each of  them essentially bid for the work and so and then   at that time we would ask for an appropriations.  Okay. So you mentioned just a part of this one you   mentioned that we may potentially meet need  multiple consultants and so if we're saying   up to 300,000 for one consultant that means that  this could possibly exceed the 300,000 if we need   multiple consultants. um if we for example one of  the things that I think we need to think about is   um a bond measure right it's a and so that is  going to be a different procurement process and   cost so I think the 300,000 is a good starting  point and then when we come back in March we'll  

we'll list out like for the different pathways  forward for example right like we have our we   have a financial consultant we have bond adviserss  we have you know community engagement and we'll   put together a presentation that outlines all  of that. Okay. So, we'll have So, basically   back when we come back for the update, we have  an opportunity to accept that or to decline it   at that moment. Okay. Exactly. Thank you. So,  can we have the final version of what we're   voting on? Okay. So is uh is d your mic should  d the city manager to engage with consultants   to collaborate with city staff, city council and  community stakeholders to con conduct community   engagement and get input uh into an strategy  for holding or releasing the funds. And what and uh get input and get in and get input on  our framework for the expenditure of the new   general fund revenues generated  by the polluters pay settlement   um and come back with an outdate on the plan  and timeline in March what dayth March 24th It   says and then while while this process is going  on including the community um process that will   hold the funds in an investment account so they  can be earning more money. That is the motion. Ready. Council member Brown. No. Council member B.

Council, I'm still confused about it.  Can Can I quickly ask that? Right. So,   what is your vote? He's asking for  clarification. I'm confused about the   item. I abstain. Abstension. Council member  Jimenez. Yes. Council member Wilson. Yes.   Council member Zapeda, yes. Vice Mayor Robinson,  yes. And Mayor Martinez, yes. The motion passes   with Council Member Brown voting no. Council  member Ber um ex abstain abstaining. Sorry. Now I would like to make a motion  that we combine P1. Can't Yeah.   hasn't open. She hasn't opened the item yet. Okay. And we're moving to items P1 and P2. Yeah.  Okay. So, I need to ask if there's anyone online   that would like to speak on these items to raise  their hand. We don't have any in-person speakers,   but item P1 is to direct the city clerk to  work with the mayor's office to implement   a two-year council liaison appointment cycle  for boards and commissions aligned with the   council election cycle while maintaining  the mayor's authority to appoint or remove   liaison at their discretion and direct that  the current liaison remain in effect through   December 31st of 2026 with new appointments to  be made in the first quarter of 2027 following   Following installation of the new city council,  item P2 is to adopt a resolution and approve the   issuance of task authorizations to Viola Water  on behalf of the city to manage subcontractors  

with APB General Engineering VW Housing  Questa Engineers for additional sanitary   sewer line replacement and rehabilitation work  with a contract amendment amount of $4,30,385, thereby increasing the total  payment limit to $6,554,348 including ACL aco markups and we do not have any  speakers. No speakers. Okay. Can I make a We have   one speaker online. Oh, okay. Just raised his  hand. Point of order then because then now the   speaker is the speaker speaking for one or two  because we just read both of them in there. So   he'll have one bite at the apple. Well, there's  two items. I I don't think the process allows just   one bite. I think it's going to be two byes and  you got to speak on which item. Call the speaker,   please. Kevin Till, please unmute yourself and  you may begin. Thank you. Just very briefly,   P1 um supporting the additional  time. I think there given the   number of boards and commissions having  an additional time may draw additional   um uh participants to those boards. Thank  you. Thank you. And that was the last speaker. Can I make a motion to approve item  P1 and P2? I second. I second that   motion. Council member Brown, yes. Council  member Bana, yes. Council member Jimenez,   yes. Council member Wilson, yes. Council member  Zapeda, yes. Vice Mayor Robinson is absent,   and Mayor Martinez, yes. The motion  passes. Count Vice Mayor Robinson absent. Are we voting for the second item or is that  

good enough for both? We we  voted on both of them. Okay. That's it. Okay. Oh, so it's um uh time for  adjournment. Um do we have Oh, no. It's a AB   No. Okay. Well, well, we still we still need to  adjourn. I mean, we can't just leave   without adjournment. Sorry, I thought  you were going to adjourn. Yes. Oh,   I would like to join this meeting in  the memory of thousands of people who   were killed during protests and demonstrations  in Iran brutally. Most of them young people.   All they asked was better living  condition and a better tomorrow. Okay. In in honor of those people, we adjourn  this meeting. The meeting is adjourned.