City Council - Regular Meeting

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Okay, it is now special open session to hear public comments before close session. Roll call, please. Council member Jimenez, presente. Council member Rob, Vice Mayor Robinson, here. Council member Wilson here. Council member Zepeda here. Mayor Martinez

here. For the record, council members Bana and Brown are absent for roll call. During close session, the council will discuss the following items. Hold on one second. Item C1's conference with legal council existing litigation Dorne versus City of Richmond and Jackson versus City of Richmond. Item C2, conference with labor negotiators, agency representative include Chiron Taylor, Jack Huge, and Lisa Charban. Employee organizations SEIU Local 1021 full-time and part-time unit local 21 midlevel management and executive management units, Richmond Police Officers Association, Richmond Police Management Association, IIAFF Local 188, and Richmond Fire Management Association. Item C3, conference with real property negotiators. The property is located at 1414 Harbor Way South. Agency negotiators Lisa Lena Velasco, Emily Combmes, and David Alshires. He's special counsel. Negotiating parties Orton Entertainment LLC under negotiation are price and terms of payment. We have one request to address the council. Well, two, sorry. If there's anyone joining us online that would like to address the council, please raise your hand at this time. Cordell Hendler and Nate Lonzo.

So, good afternoon, uh, Mayor Martinez. Council, for the record, I am Cordell Hendler and I'm a Richmond resident. So, when you go back into close session, the unions have done a an outstanding job for our city. I've been I have been observing them and I'm like they deserve a raise because everything is expensive these days in California. Gas, food, and other things. So when you go in in that closed session, think about everything that these groups have done to make Richmond a better place to work and play. And with that, I'll yield my time to Nate. Our

next speaker is Nate Lonzo. Good afternoon, mayor and council members. My name is Nate Lonzo, and I'm speaking on behalf of the Richmond Police Officers Association and the officers who serve this city every day. I'm here again to ask the council to support a fair, competitive, and marketable contract for Richmond police officers. In 2015, the Richmond Police Department was recognized as a model for police reform by US Attorney General Loretta Lynch due due to significant drops in violent crime and improved community relations. Um that did not happen overnight obviously. Um, I started my career here in 2005 and in the first five years of my career, there were 204 homicides in this city. Um, I believe uh your attorney, your negotiator, Jack Hughes, was part of the negotiation team that uh negotiated contract in 2008. Um, and I'll go back and say that when I started here, I believe I was like theund 38th member of the RPOA. Um, in 2008, once that contract, uh, which was a very competitive contract was negotiated, the city received hundreds of applications from lateral officers between like the 8 and 15 year range. And they came here. We were able to cherrypick those officers because of our contract which in turn over the next 10 or 11 years led to

the recognition by US Attorney General Lynch. The hard work by people in the city, by people in the department working together and we need you guys to get go back there and really work on getting us a good contract. Thank you. That was our last inerson speaker. We have we have three speakers online. Okay. And the three speakers are Benjamin Tero, Don, and Alexander Kaine. Benjamin, you can go ahead and unmute yourself and begin.

Thank you. Bentio, president of the Richmond Police Officers Association. speaking tonight on behalf of those officers and sergeants. I want to make uh some things extremely clear. We are still demanding the return of Detective Hodgeges to work. The placing him on indefinite leave is a violation of the RPOAU. It is a unilateral change in working conditions for us and especially when the uh officer has been approved to return. Um it's not a minor disagreement. It's not a management style issue. It's a violation of our contract and direct interference with our established working conditions and it needs to stop. the city manager stepped in and just like our two other previous officers unilaterally overrode that decision changed the conditions of employment without bargaining without agreement with without regard to the city's obligation under its own labor contract. Um that kind of stuff just you know obviously destroys trust creates instability and ultimately exposes the city to legal liability. Um the city manager can take all the points of privilege that she wants to. it doesn't really matter. The reality is that is an inappropriate and wrong thing to do. Switching to the contract, our officers have fallen dramatically below our market. It's not an opinion. It's not rhetoric. Um that's the reality that exists. Uh while surrounding agencies move ahead, then we fall behind. When the city delays, minimizes, or mishandles negotiations, then the gap gets worse. I've sent this information to all of you. Um, these cities are the cities that we have always used in our surveys and I've provided that that information is up to date through July

of this year because this is what and it's in prospective because the Thank you. Your time has expired. The next speaker is Don. You can state your full name for the record. You can go ahead and unmute yourself and begin. Hi, Don Nelson with Richmond POA. Can you hear me? Yes. Go ahead.

Yes. I'm here to speak on uh the ongoing RPOA negotiations and the ask for a fair and equitable contract for our members at market value. Uh again, um our officers perform well with professionalism, restraint, and care for the community they serve. We don't want to just accept anybody that applies. We want to have a stringent and strict hiring process to get the best people we have to serve this city. You're in a position as elected leaders of the people to do something about that and ensure that we get great candidates to do this job. It's a difficult job. Um there's a lot of stressors that come along with that. Um there's a lot of difficult decisions that officers have to make which can put them out for on undisclosed leave for an un amount of time that's uh that we're fighting with too cuz Detective Hodgees should be back. So not only are we having to to tell our members to stand by that officer Hodes should be returned to work and we're working to make that happen. We're also trying to fight for a fair market contract which we're not up we're not at the rate of our peers. So, you're going to lose the good officers we have to places like San Francisco, which recruit aggressively and just got a new contract. They were already above us. And um it just we want it's simple. July is when our contract ended and here we are. Please make this happen. I yield.

Thank you. The next speaker is Alexander Kaine. You can go ahead and unmute yourself and begin.

Good evening, council. My name is Alexander Kaine and I'm speaking on behalf of the Richmond Police Officers Association. I'm speaking tonight to say what too many people in this city already know. Enough is enough. Officer Hodgeges, correction, Detective Hodgeges needs to be brought back to work. The continued refusal to do that is not leadership. It is not accountability. It is not public safety. It is bureaucratic arrogance at the expense of a police officer, the police department, and the citizens of Richmond. And while this drags on, the city is also failing to deal honestly and competently with the Richmond Police Officers Association on a fair contract. That failure starts at the top. The city manager continues to show a stunning lack of labor understanding and complete inability to handle basic employer employee relations in a professional way. That is not an insult. That is an observation based on conduct. When you have the city manager who talks contract compliance, working conditions, and labor obligations are optional inconveniences. you have a serious problem. When management acts like it can delay, dodge and disrespect the bargaining process. That is not sophistication. That is inexperience. That is poor judgment. And that is exactly what we are seeing. Let's be honest. A city manager who does not understand labor relations has no business creating chaos with the people who actually keep this city functioning. Police officers are not are not disposable. Contracts are not suggestions and due process is not something management gets to ignore

because it is politically convenient. Richmond residents should be asking how does sidelining officer your time has expired. Thank you. And that was the last speaker. Thank you. With the last speaker, the public comment is now closed and we will retire to close session.

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Huh? Thank you for uh uh giving us uh the opportunity to begin the regular meeting of the Richmond City Council. We will begin with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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.

Roll call, please. Council member Bana. Yes, I'm here. Council member Menace present. Vice Mayor Robinson here. Council member Wilson here. Vice sorry. Council member Zepa. Yes. Yes. And Mayor Martinez

absolutely here. And for the record, council member Brown is absent. Our next item is statement of conflict of interest. Are there any hearing? None. Our next item is agenda review. And item N2A that is the records retention and destruction schedule update will be continued to April 7th. I have a suggestion if I may about the agenda review. I would like to pull N3D. I have a better suggestion in terms of the name and uh I would like to request that item Q2 be after item 01 to make sure it goes through tonight. It's the third time it's coming to the council. I'm sorry. You want a Q2 to do

after the children fund?

Uh how how much time will um uh the the public hearing will be So, I don't think the public hearing will take time, but I'll just note for the record that Q1 also trailed last um meeting. So, Q1 and Q2 or are holdovers. Yeah. But Q1 was postponed once, Q2 was postponed twice, right? No, no, they both been postponed twice. Both of them are same. Okay. Oh, you're right. Yeah. Sorry.

Yeah. Well, uh I do want to say that uh for um for 01 uh we have two parts. We have to receive and to and to provide direction. Tonight we will only receive which means that we will hear from staff report and we will hear from the public and uh deliberations and directions will be given on uh April 7th. Okay.

Very good. I'm sorry. Could we have a recap of the the agenda changes? I've I've seem to miss all of them. Item N2A, that's the records retention or destruction schedule update that's been continued to April 7th. Then we have item N3B and that is stop Iran Iran war resolution that's been removed from the agenda. No, no, that's not the one I wanted to remove. I'm so sorry. I wanted to remove N3D as in

D. Okay. Oh, sorry. N3 D as in David. And that is the change Cert Chavez Day to United Farm Workers Day. Yes, that's been re that was my item. So I want to just check to see. I was going to make an amendment to a wording but I guess we can pull it then we'll have to discuss it. Yes. Okay. Thank you. So that's being removed from the consent calendar but staying on the agenda and 3D. Okay. And it will go at the end of the agenda. We should do it now. I think that's the fix it right now. Okay. So that's 3D like dog

and then item Q. No, we we're not moving item Q2 before Q1. Okay. And that's it. Can I make a point though? If you move that to the end of the agenda, it's quite possible that it won't happen in this meeting and Sar Chavez days will happen before our next meeting. Yeah. So that so I want to just check. So I'm not pulling it. So I want to just make a change to the wording of it if I may without pulling the item unless my colleague but not spoken to me beforehand. Yes. So I only wanted to suggest we name it after Dolores Huerta um I think suggestion

if we can make it in the if you agree to keep it on consent calendar let's do it. I I think there would be discussion on that. Okay. So the my only change uh for that was to remove the word United. So it's not referencing a particular union. It would just say farm workers day to mirror what the state of California is also doing. Uh so we would just remove united and farm workers will be together

and and that will also uh entail discussion because the holiday which was to um honor Cessor Chavez was to honor the movement to honor the farm workers and not just farm workers in general. So, so, uh, I I think the issue is that United Farm Workers is an actual labor organization. And I think we that that council member Zapeda wants to align with the state as farm workers day as opposed to just go aligning with a specific labor union. Yes. Well, I don't think we're followers. We're leaders and we want to honor the union

and this point of order. How do we decide? So, you know, sounds like consent. So, can we just take it off consent right after public hearings just so that we can decide this before? Yeah, let's do that. Okay. Anything else under agenda review? No.

Okay. Our next item is report from the city attorney and final decisions made during close session. No final decisions were made during uh close session this evening. Our next item is a report from the city manager.

Good evening mayor and members of the city council. City manager Shassaurl. KCRT. Can you please put up the slide deck? Next slide. Uh Richmond's National Rosie the Riveter celebration on March 21st um was brought together to honor the 18 million women who transformed the American workforce during World War II. Many of whom contributed right here in Richmond's historic ship yards. Attendees showed their rosy spirit by dressing as Rosie the River and homeront workers while participating in a lively family-friendly event. The day featured interactive activities, live music, and engage in presentations from the National Park Service alongside opportunities to meet Rossy interpreter and connect with local community partners. The celebration highlights Richmond's vital role in the wartime history and reinforces the city's strong sense of community pride and its legacy. Next slide. I'm extremely excited to announce that tomorrow, March 25th, at noon, the Richmond le uh main library will uh have its ground breaking celebration. Um so I just want to thank all uh the city council and public works staff. Uh, and in particular, I would like to thank uh the our library director, Kate, and all of the staff in the library. Um, Lashonda, that is has been coordinating with uh library and public works. And in particular, would like to thank Daniel Travaria and Wendy uh in our public works department that is uh the project manager in in engineering that's helping uh lead this effort. So, this is really exciting that the main Richmond Library is uh undergoing a complete renovation and this will make the uh the site much

more appealing for family and youth in our community. And we're really excited to note that we were able to do that with a um a significant grant from the state of California uh along with uh funds from from the city. So, please join us tomorrow at noon for the library renovation groundbreaking. Next slide. Please join us for a full day of community fun on Saturday, March 28th. Please start your morning from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Nickel Park with the recreation division's spring egg hunt, where children can search for colorful eggs and candy and small toys. Don't forget your baskets. Then continue the celebration in the evening from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Taste of Richmond. Enjoy delicious taste from local eeries, caterers, bakers, and browse unique goods from talented local artisans. It's a perfect way to experience Richmond's vibrant food and creative community. Please bring your friends and family. For more information, please call 5100-620-6512. Next slide. Um, we also want to um invite everyone to the to Nickel Park on April 4th. Um, we are excited to host the welcome the festivals of color. Um, this celebration will take place beginning at 10:00 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. And again, thank you to the recreation staff for all your hard work and all the activities that you um coordinate in com in partnership with our local uh community based organizations. Thank you. Okay, our next item is open forum. And 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.

There are two items that were removed from consent calendar. Item N2A, the records retention and destruction schedule update has been continued to April 7th. Also item N3D, the change Caesar Chavez Day to United Farm Workers Day. Those items have been um that item has been removed and will be discussed following the public hearing. So if you'd like to talk on that item, please um submit a speaker card. Tonight we have nine speakers. Anyone joining us online that would like to address the council under open forum, please raise your hand at this time. We will start with the in-person speakers and then move to the online speaker. When your name is called, please come forward and line up behind the speaker podium closest to the wall. And for your safety, all aisles, including the area behind the speaker's podium and staff presentation area must remain clear. When you're 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. We welcome your comments and request that you present your remarks in a respectful and appropriate manner within the established twominut time limit. The speakers are Cordell Hendler, Don Gazny, Andrea Landon, Mark Wasber, Diego Garcia, Lucy Data Arrowly, Ferman Salazar, and our last inerson speaker will be Caesar Sepeda, Cordell Himler.

That's me. So, good evening, uh, Mayor Martinez, council. For the record, my name is Cordell Henland. I'm a Richmond resident. So, I was watching the the last council meeting and what can I say on a scale of 1 to 10? I give it um 8.5 because I watched it and I'm like our our leaders who in our community they y'all doing a wonderful job. But after what I saw, it was like it wasn't an embarrassment to me because I watched it myself because councils like were like disagreeing, which is that's part of the job. But but you also got to realize you got people out here watching this and they're like, "How come city council is arguing?" And it's like it's it's unfortunate because I'm trying to be a good example because I have a 10-year-old godchild. I'm teaching him like how to respect people. Like the old saying goes to to earn respect, you get respect. So you see this what I have here. See this? We want we want the community to you want the you want the respect of your community, you got to respect them. It's it's very important. So I'll just leave it at that. And then the second thing is um you know that money you got from Chevron, this is what this money should be going towards the youth because what you'll hear later in the agenda. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it. I still got some time left. So I would think about that money. Think about it though. And I do want the record to reflect that it was my idea to have the mayor's conference uh at the golf course. So, thank you the to the mayor's office and I will be coming to that one in September. So, with that, Don Gosny, it's all yours.

Don Gosney. Well, you think he'd run running for office with that one, huh?

You don't need to see me to to hear what I'm going to say. You know, in spite of what we hear out of the White House about how great the economy is doing, that orange guy'shaired guy's house is a long ways from Richmond. People around here need jobs. More importantly, they need careers that come with highpaying jobs with great benefits. And that's what you'll be hearing from about from me from the next month or so. If you want a job, I hear that Mickey De's is hiring at minimum wage with no benefits. On the other hand, the plumbers and steam fitters local 342 is offering spots in the finest training facility in the country. We start apprentices out at about $66,000 per year and after a brief probationary period, they get another $101,000 a year worth of benefits. The apprenticeship lasts 5 years and you get about a 12.5% pay increase for each year for until you turn out as a journeyman. Right now, a journeyman earns about $165,000 per year. We pay for all the books, the training materials and costs. We negotiate top-of-the-line contracts. We find you the jobs. The contractor pays for all the tools. And most importantly, you'll have more than 4,000 brothers and sisters standing behind you to ensure you always get a fair shake. Local 342 is the largest, most powerful, and best organized building trades union west of Chicago. If it has anything to do with pipes, that's us. We're talking HVAC so the building stay hot when they're supposed to and cold the rest of the time. We build hospitals, skyscrapers, pharmaceutical plants, computer chip plants, pipelines, and we are the ones that actually make sure our refineries are built and maintained to operate as efficiently as as cleanly and as green as possible. We have steam fitters, plumbers, the best welders on the planet, and HVAC technicians. Signups to take the entrance test are online the entire month of May. We don't test your ability to put pipes together. We test your ability to learn. We don't care if you're male or female. We don't care what color your skin is. We don't care if you sleep with men or women or pigs or dogs. We care you. Can you show up for every day and do the job? This could be a life-changing career opportunity for you. I'm going to cut off be cut off in a couple of seconds, but I beg you to call me or email me at 510-6852430243243

or donkey comcast.net and give me a chance to help change your life. Andrea Landon Andrea Landon followed by Mark Wasber. Hi, good evening. My name is Andrea. I'm here with various community organizations and all these students who are speaking about item 01. I'm not speaking about that right now, but I would like to ask out of respect for their time and the fact they that they all have to get to school early tomorrow morning if you would consider letting them speak during this first set of public comments or as early as possible instead of waiting until late in the meeting. If you can't grant this request, please be aware that they might be here very late tomorrow and still need to get to school early. If we're able to get to item one as soon as possible or let these young people talk earlier in the meeting, we would very much appreciate that. Thank you,

Mark Wasber. Uhoh. And let's see what Google has to say about illegal immigrants. Let's see here.

What is an illegal immigrant? An illegal immigrant, also known as an undocumented immigrant, is someone born outside a country who enters without proper inspection, uses fraudulent means, or stays beyond their visa's validity. They are living there without legal permission and could face detention or deportation.

Aha, there you go. Federal law 8 USC 11325 1326. You come to United States my to my country illegally without any government authorization, you are a felon. You are a criminal harboring illegal immigrants. Eight, US code 124, harboring illegal immigrants is a is a felony. I think the police chief should know about that, huh? Didn't they teach you that in the police academy? Huh, chief? You see,

excuse me. Um, give me back my time. I appreciate your uh attempts to silence but uh we need to respect each other even if we don't like what they're saying. So please uh allow him the privilege of u saying whatever it is he needs he feels he needs to say.

See we are a nation of law. This is why we have laws to protect us for foreign influence. So we don't have a bunch of immigrants coming over here changing our laws like uh they've been doing. And you can't have the people in our federal government like the RPA passing laws to support criminals and hiding criminals from the law. Even the police chief says, "I support sanctuary cities." I'm not going to deal with the federal government. But it doesn't matter. They already know where they're at. and for the war in Iran. Don't worry, Bana. Trump is going to blow the hell out of Iran. They're gonna teach him a good lesson because they've been a terrorist country for the last 47 years, and we're going to annihilate them.

Diego Garcia, Diego Garcia, followed by Lucy Data.

All right. for some relevant information. As an immigrant that came here from Mexico 45 years ago in Richmond, if Mexico sense their worst, man, can you say this is the worst? Well, as a teacher at Richmond High School, as a president of Richmond Soul, I bring to you guys the new volleyball program that we have that represents Richmond. Girls, stand up. Stand up. Stand up. The girls started first year at 46th place representing out of 60 60 clubs in the Bay Area. Moved up to 27th place then to 11th and just last weekend they played for the first place team and the place. So big round of applause to these young girls. Can you guys imagine with a little bit of heart, with a lot of love and the dedication of these coaches, what we can bring to Richmond and the time and commitment of the parents and the kids, how we can transform Richmond. And all of this happens only because there's a huge need in the city of Richmond. And I just want to let you guys know that you guys continue supporting our programs, our community, and this is the result right here. So, a big applause for everyone right here.

The dedication of these young girls. They came here to a city council meeting and they're going to be running to practice right now. Just to let you guys know. All right. There's really not much I can say because a picture says a million words, but when they're here in person, that's even more powerful. Thank you, ladies. Thank you, city council member, parents, and everyone else. Really, really proud of you guys. Our next speaker is Lucy Data, followed by Arley Hello, my name is Lucy. I'd like to thank you guys for having me here. Um, I am the director of the volleyball club. We just started this club this year, this past year season. And, um, like Diego said before, our premier team is now second out of 60 clubs in the Bay Area. We have gotten so much recognition from other clubs from far away. um not even knowing that Richmond had a volleyball club, but now we do and we have a lot of players wanting to come to Richmond volleyball club from other clubs um already. Um we would like to also invite you guys to um tournaments that they have coming up and games as well. We have only two games left. Our furthest one at the end of uh May is going to be in Reno and uh we're hoping to get first place for that um team. um for that tournament. Um Richmond really needs clubs like this for um you know youth sports and everything and we try to make it as uh affordable as affordable as possible for these players and parents as you know Richmond is not

very fortunate for many things but now that we have this um I think we will benefit it for the players and yeah thank you so much. Would you excuse me? I would uh like to request of the coach um if if she could send a uh schedule to the city council and the mayor's office so that we can start promoting you.

Our next speaker is Arley followed by Ferman Salazor. Hi, my name is Aurelia Alvarado. I was raised in Richmond. I um am part of the U16 team on Richmond Soul. Um along with many of my friends, um Richmond Soul to me is more than a team. It's a family. It allowed me to meet new people. Um, I visited many new places. I've gone to Roseville, Hayward, um, Liverour, many other, uh, cities to play and represent Richmond. Um, this club means a lot to me. I feel if I hadn't been here, I would be off probably not doing what was best for me or the people around me. Um, my coaches push me to bring the better in me and the people that I surround myself with. And I think that a club like this is what a city like ours needs to benefit the youth and the parents and overall just the citizens of our community. So yeah, thank you.

And next speaker is Ferman Salazar. And our last speaker will be Caesar Sepa. Good evening, city council. My name is Ferman Salazar. I'm the treasurer for Richmond Soul. I would like to extend an invitation to the city council and the entire Richmond community to join us for our upcoming award ceremony. It's going to be held on May 12th right across the pond right here at the Civic Center. This event is going to celebrate the hard work and dedication and achievements of the youth, not only in soccer, but in volleyball. We would be honored to have you there to support us. On a side note, as someone who was born and raised in Richmond, uh, and has been involved in Richmond Soul for over for close to 20 years, I promise if you support these programs, they work. This inspired me to make sure I contribute back now as an adult. So, please support the youth programs, and I guarantee it'll pay off for the city of Richmond. Thank you.

Caesar Zap. Good evening fellow colleagues and good evening everyone that's here. There's a lot of people here today. So welcome uh Balahente. Welcome to the city council. Uh just a reminder from the prior comments, we are a sanctuary city and nobody is illegal in Richmond. and remembering that immigrants made and continue making this country and we're going to be voting some more. But the reason I wanted to come up was just to bring a comment in regards to the other item that I have on the council agenda which is the blue envelope program. I hope that others take a look at the agenda. We ended up putting in the consent calendar and hopefully my colleagues will vote on it. Uh but the blue envelope program I believe will be a very useful tool for our community, especially for those individuals that communicate differently with first responders. Uh this program will be coming back to city council in the future once it gets rolled out. Uh and our first responders are more aware of how to communicate with the community. Many individuals communicate differently. either it could be a different language, it could be different body language, or they might not speak at all. So, having this program be active in our community is going to be a very great tool to keeping everyone safe. So, again, we'll bring this information back uh to council and to the community, but take a look at the agenda for the blue envelope program, which is going to help a lot in our community. Thank you so much. That was our last That was our last inerson speaker. Then we'll move to the online speakers. We have 10 speakers.

As a reminder, just as a reminder, you'll have two minutes to speak and once you hear your name called, please be ready to mute yourself to give your comments. The first group of speakers are Marilyn Langlo, Alexander Kaine Ka Sting, and Michael Pagling. Marilyn Langlo, you'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Good evening, council and mayor. I would like to thank council member BA for item 3B on the consent calendar expressing opposition to and strong condemnation of the US and Israel's unprovoked aggression in Iran and thank the council for adopting this item. By initiating this war on Iran, the US has once again shown itself to be a pariah state guilty of countless crimes against humanity. Crimes that include the cold-blooded murder of 170 Iranian school girls in a double tap bombardment, the illegal kidnapping of the head of a sovereign state of Venezuela, and the shameful strangulation of the peaceloving people of Cuba. The US needs to completely terminate support for Israel and remove all of its military bases from not only West Asia, but also from the rest of the world, including from Guantanamo on land that rightfully belongs to Cuba. I'm glad Richmond is taking on a stand on this crucial issue. Thank you very much.

Thank you. The next speaker is Alexander Kaine. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start. Good evening, council. This is Alexander Kaine and I'm speaking to represent the Richmond Police Officers Association. I'm here I'm here tonight to say what too many people in the city already know. Enough is enough. Detective Hodgees needs to be brought back to work. The continued refusal to do so is not leadership. It is not accountability. It is not public safety. It is bureaucratic arrogance. and at the expense of a police officer, the police department, and the citizens of Richmond. And while this drags on, the city is also failing to deal honestly and competently with the Richmond Police Officers Association on a fair contract. That failure starts at the top. City manager continues to show a stunning lack of labor understanding in his complete in the complete inability to handle basic employer employee relations in a professional way. This is not an insult. This is an observation based on conduct. When you have a city manager who talks like contract compliance, working conditions, and labor obligations are optional inconveniences, you have a serious problem. When management acts like it can delay, dodge and disrespect the bargaining process, that is not sophistication. That is inexperience. That is poor judgment. And that is exactly what we are seeing. Let's be honest. A city manager who does not understand labor relations has no business creating chaos with the people who actually keep the city functioning. Police officers are not disposable. Contracts are not suggestions. And due process is not something that management gets to ignore because it is politically convenient. Richmond residents should not should be asking how does sidelining officers, stalling on contract issues, and provoking labor conflicts make the

city safer. It does not. It damages morale, weakens retention, hurts recruitment, and tells every employee in the city that professionalism will be met with contempt. Bring Officer Hodgees back to work. Stop the delay tactics. Negotiate seriously, and bring a fair. Your time has expired. Thank you. The next speaker is Koa. If you'll please state your full name for the record. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Hi, good evening. My name is Juan Nuen. Uh I'm calling on behalf of the Richmond POA. So moments earlier, I heard the mayor and city council discussing uh the significance and the meaning behind Caesar Chavez day and how this it um the significance of it is towards the labor movement. Well, you speak of uh honoring laborers, but your actions speak differently because when it comes to uh your control and what you can control, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but this item was pulled and is going to be considered separately. Could you call back and comment on that item later in the agenda?

I'm not I'm not talking about the Caesar shop day. I'm talking about uh our labor contract. I'm discussing how how your actions uh don't reflect uh your values because the RPOA is an important segment of the labor uh movement in the city of Richmond. oftentimes uh police officers are the face of the city of Richmond and we've been out of a contract for uh upcoming onto nine months now and we've reached out to the city since uh 2024 because we anticipated there will be a um a long and drawn out uh negotiations and now we're here in 2026 and yet we still do not have a contract. Um, and this is uh hurting our ability to retain and recruit highly qualified police officers into the city of Richmond. And I say that because oftent times police officers uh are tasked with making difficult decisions that could uh make that could c that could u be life or um that could be life or death situations. So we want uh police officers and police sergeants that are capable that are competent to make these decisions. And in order to uh uh recruit those type of employees, we need a fair and equitable contract. And that's what I'm uh uh imploring the imploring the city council and the mayor to direct city staff to do to uh give your city staff the authority and directions to offer the Richmond POA a fair and competitive contract. Thank you.

Thank you. The next speaker is Stalking. If you'll please state your full name for the record, you'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Good evening. My name is Colton Stocking. I'm a member of the Richmond Police Officers Association. First of all, the police department needs a fair contract, but more importantly, the recent incidents of city leaders putting employees on long-term administrative leave without proper due process needs to end. Putting city employees on administrative leave without a single tangible finding of wrongdoing is not morally correct. It's not best practice, and it is dangerous. No other employer, whether it be in the private sector, the fire department, the post office, or any similar organization, would ever think that this is reasonable or smart to put employees on long-term leave without even being able to cite the reason why or notify notify the employees of that reason. Um, discipline is such as long-term forced leave is supposed to be done as a result of evidence of wrongdoing. You're not supposed to put employees on administrative leave prior to that. Um, and I'll end by saying that when a city employee, including a police officer, a firefighter, a public works employee, even the mayor himself, if he is attacked and facing a threat of death, or in other words, someone is trying to stab him, shoot him, kill him, maim him, it is bare minimum that the city leadership doesn't demonize them for defending themselves. Doing as you have been doing sends a message that the city of Richmond's current leaders would rather its employees be stabbed, hurt, possibly killed rather than protect themselves because it's easier for people like the city manager to bury a dead city employee than to deal with upset protesters. And that is the message you're sending to all of your employees. And I yield my time.

Thank you. Next speakers, Michael Paggling. And the following group of speakers after that are Benjamin Terrell, Musa Tariq, a user with the name iPhone, and Nathan Lonzo. Michael Paggling, you'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Good evening, Michael Paggeline. I'm calling on behalf of the Richmond Police Officers Association. I'm calling tonight to ask the city to do two basic things. return Detective Hodgeges to work and come to the table with a serious marketable contract for Richmond police officers. Detective Hodgees should be back at work. The continued delay is unfair, unnecessary, and damaging to both the employee and this department. When the city keeps qualified officers out of work without a clear and defensible reason, it hurts morale across the entire organization. It sends a message to every officer and detective that hard work, loyalty, and service to this community will not be treated with fairness or respect. Richmond residents should be asking why the city continues to drag its feet instead of making responsible decisions that support public safety. At the same time, the city must address the contract in a real and meaningful way. Richmond officers have fallen below the market and everyone knows it. The city cannot expect to recruit and retain qualified police officers while paying below surrounding agencies and ignoring the realities of today's labor market. A non-competitive contract does not just hurt officers, it hurts staffing, response times, investigations, proactive policing, and the overall level of service the public receives. If the city is serious about public safety, then it must be serious about retaining the experienced officers and detectives it already has. That starts with treating employees fairly, bringing Detective Hajes back to work, and negotiating a contract that is competitive, market-based, and respectful of the work Richmond police officers do. Labor laws exist for a reason. They are meant to ensure fairness, accountability, and lawful treatment of employees. The city manager should understand that decisions impacting employees are not supposed to be made arbitrarily or outside of established labor obligations. The

members of this department are asking for fairness, accountability, and a contract that reflects the values of this job. Thank you. Thank you. And the next speaker is Benjamin Tero. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Thank you. Ben Tero, president of the Richmond Police Officers Association. I'm here tonight because Amari members consider to be fed up. Fed up with excuses and delay and fed up of leadership that continues to make bad decisions and act like the consequences somehow fell out of the sky. Detective Hodes needs to be back at work. Period. The continued refusal to correct that is not leadership. It's not caution. It's not accountability. It's not indecision, dysfunction, or mismanagement. And yet it continues to send a message to every officer in this department that the city manager is willing to disregard fairness, morale, and common sense, not to mention labor law, and the RPOA contract. When the manager makes decisions that affect working conditions and labor relations while showing a real lack of understanding of basic labor obligations, that's a serious problem. You do not get to make changes that affect employees and pretend that labor laws don't not matter or don't exist. You do not get to ignore bargaining principles and call it management. And you do not get to create instability in a police department and expect there to be no consequences. And you certainly do not get to pretend to be a victim of your actions. At the same time, the city continues to drag its feet on contract for police officers as we've fallen dramatically below market. I've shared all that with all of you. Um, and that needs to be rectified. Our officers are expected to do one of the hardest jobs in local government. We understand that. That's why we do it. But in respond to violence, crisis, protect the public, hold the city together on its worst days. And when it comes time for the city to do its part, we get delay, excuses, and compensation that no longer reflects the market. That's why recruitment and retention matters and morale matters. So I'm saying it tonight as clearly as I can. Enough. Bring Detective Hodgeges back to work. Follow labor law and come to the table with serious marketable contract that respects the men and women who do this job. Richmond officers are done being treated like they're expendable. We're not going to be quiet about it anymore and this community is going to be put on notice about it and the actions that people do or do not do when they run

this city. Have a good night. Thank you. The next speaker is Musa Tariq. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Musa with CARE, the Council on American Islamic Relations, and we want to thank you sincerely for recognizing Muslim Appreciation Awareness Month this year. This recognition is especially meaningful as Muslim communities have faced an unprecedented and unrelenting wave of Islamophobia, violence, and discrimination in recent years. Muslim residents in Richmond work hard, raise families, and contribute every day to the core cultural fabric of the city. So, we sincerely thank you for this recognition and for continuing to stand with your with your Muslim community. And we also want to support council member Bana's stop Iran war resolution which opposes the US's illegal war in Iran reiterates an arms embargo on Israel who are actively committing horrific genocide in Gaza and bombing and killing children in Iran. And finally, we condemn the hate speech of one of the earlier speakers who year after year clearly has nothing better to do this time. Thank you so much.

Thank you. And the next speaker is a user with the name iPhone. If you could please state your name for the record. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

My name is Nicholas Remick and I'm a member of the Richmond Police Officers Association. I'm speaking to the city council tonight to urge you to take two essential actions in support of public safety in Richmond. Return Detective Brandon Hodges to full duty immediately and direct the city to come to the table with a serious, competitive, and marketable contract for the Richmond police officers. Detective Hodgeges is a highly decorated veteran officer with an outstanding record of service. The continued delay in returning him to work is unfair, unnecessary, and damaging to him, to the department, and to the entire community we serve. When the city keeps qualified, experienced officers and detectives out of the field without a clear and defensible reason, it erodess morale across the department. It sends a troubling message to every member of the force that that work hard, express loyalty, and have daily commitment to protecting Richmond residents. Richmond residents deserve to know why the city continues to drag its feet instead of making responsible decisions that strengthen public safety. At the same time, the city must finally address the expired contract in a meaningful way. Richmond police officers has have fallen significantly below market compensation compared to surrounding agencies and this reality is well known. The city cannot realistically recruit or retain the quality officers this community needs while offer offering non-competitive pay and benefits that ignore today's labor market. A substandard contract doesn't just hurt officers. It leads to chronic understaffing, slower response times, weakened investigations, reduced proactive policing, and an overall decline in the level of service the public receives. If the city council is truly serious about public safety, then you must be serious about retaining the experienced officers and detectives we already have. That begins with treating employees fairly. Bring Detective Hodgeges back to work without further delay and negotiate a contract that is market-based, competitive, and respectful of the dangerous and demanding work our officers perform every day. Labor laws and principles of good governance exist to ensure

fairness, accountability, and lawful treatment. The council has a responsibility to provide o over Thank you. Your time has expired. The next speaker is Nathan Lonzo. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Nathan Lonzo, and I'm speaking on behalf of the Richmond Police Officers Association and the officers who serve this city every day. I'm here for two very simple reasons. First, to again ask the council to support a fair, competitive, and marketable contract for Richmond police officers. Second, to demand accountability from city manager Curl to return Detective Hodgeges to work immediately. Richmond is already in a staffing crisis. Officers are leaving, retirements are acceler accelerating, and recruiting has become increasingly difficult. Every officer in this city is watching how this contract is handled and they are watching now how detective Hodes can be kept off duty indefinitely with no timeline, no resolution and no explanation that meets basic standards of fairness. That is not how functional organizations operate. The failure to bring the detective Hajes back is not only unjust, it creates real legal exposure for the city of Richmond. Prolonged administrative removals without resolution increase liability, undermine due process, and send a chilling message to the remaining workforce. Officers see this and they leave. Potential recruits see this and they never apply. A fair contract and basic accountabil accountability are not radical demands. They are the bare minimum required to maintain public safety and organizational stability. City Manager Curl was hired to manage, to make decisions, to resolve issues, and to lead. Kicking the can down the road while Detective Hodgees sits at home and staffing collapses is not leadership, it's avoidance. Council members, you cannot say you care about public safety while allowing this to continue. support a marketable contract, demand that city manager Curl do her job, and bring Detective Hajes back to

work. Now, the former fivetime officer of the year deserves better from all of you. Good evening. Thank you. And that was the last speaker, mayor. if I may um provide an update um on police staffing if that was of interest to the council or I'm happy to email it. Go ahead.

Okay. So, as of the report that I received today, um we currently have 145 authorized sworn positions in the police department. The city council authorized the fiscal year 2526 fiscal year budget with approximately 9.7% vacancy rate. Currently, there are 126 filled positions in the police department. That includes seven personnel that are currently in the academy. That uh effectively leaves a 14% vacancy rate in the department. And again, the budget was adopted with assuming essentially a 10% vacancy rate. We have 12 officers that are in the field training program and we have seven recruits in the police academy. Uh we currently have eight candidates that are in background and we have four officers awaiting FTO training. So, um I'm not sure if this is an appropriate analogy, but Chief Simmons is doing a phenomenal job and it's a little bit akin to Dion Sanders moving to Colorado and he's like in the NIL portal getting officers from all over the Bay Area that I have seen come across my desk that have been choosing to work in Richmond. So, I want to thank him for his ongoing leadership and for the leadership and support of the city council. Thank you. Thank you. Next item.

Our next Our next item is approval of the consent calendar. And as a reminder, item N2A, the records retention and destruction schedule update, has been continued to April 7th. And item N3D, that's to change Caesar Chavez day to United Farm Workers Day. That has been removed from the consent calendar and will be discussed after the public hearing. Um, so we need approval for the remainder of the consent calendar. We have a motion. I move the consent calendar. I'll second. Council member Bono, yes. Council member Jimenez, yes. Council member Wilson, yes. Vice Mayor Robinson, yes. Council member Zepeda,

yes. And Mayor Martinez, yes.

The motion passes with Council Member Brown absent. Okay, our next item is item is under budget and it is item Q 01 01 that is to receive a presentation on article 15 of the charter regarding the Richmond fund for children and youth and on April 7th the council will come back to provide direction regarding renewal provisions and options. So on the April 7th meeting, the public comment section will be closed. So this item will be for council deliberation and voting. We have a total of one second.

40 40 in-person speakers. If there's anyone joining us online that would like to address the council on this item, please raise your hand at this time. For your safety, we ask that all the aisles, including the area behind the speaker podium and staff presentation area must remain clear. And as I call your name, when when public comment is open, please line up behind the speaker's podium closest to the wall. Thank you. With uh that many speakers, um 40 uh I would entertain a notion to uh restrict them to one minute so that that we can get get through them all. reduce it to one minute.

Second, there's a motion. Your motion. Motion. Okay. And a second. And a second by Bana. Yes. Council member Bana. Yes. Council member Jimenez. No. Council member Zapeda. Yes. Vice Mayor Robinson. Uh, no. Mayor Martinez, yes. And Council Member Wilson, no.

I'm sorry. Hold on one second.

Okay. So, that was a no. So, the motion fails. Yes. Okay. All right. Two minutes. Okay, staff. Uh, KCRT, if you could pull up the slide deck, please. Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor, uh, Vice Mayor Robinson, and city council. My name is Patrick Sals. I'm the administrative chief in the city manager's office and I'm here this evening with my colleague account manager in the finance department Antonio Vanuelos and we're here to discuss item 01 which is article 15 of the Richmond fund for children and youth. Next slide. So the item reads in the agenda is to receive a presentation on article 15 of the charter regarding the enrichment fund for children and youth and provide direction regarding renewal provisions and options. And just as a note, you all should have a hard copy deck in front of you for your reference and use. Uh our presentation outline is going to be as follows. We'll start with background and purpose. We'll consider some of the funding from our first 10-year period at 3%. Consider contributions continuing at that rate. discuss policy options, potential amendments, uh contribution scenario and timeline next steps and address any questions. Next slide. So the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth formally measures ENK were a uh resident and community-led initiative that was adopted in June 15 June 5th of 2018 and it established the Department of Children and Youth. It established a 15 member oversight board as well as distinguishing a portion of the general fund revenue to be set aside to fund youth programs. Next slide. In addition to that, the department serves quite a few roles and functions. The two major ones being the administration of the grant program aligned with former uh the measures ENK now article 15 of the charter as well as being a funer as well as being an evaluator an advocate and an administrator and all of these roles are quite significant and we take them quite

seriously. Next slide. The department's orc structure is as follows. Um you can see a diagram there. Uh but we have approximately 4.5 uh employees. We have uh a senior management analyst, two associates, one management, and we have uh a vacant term position for an administrative assistant at halftime that also supports the ECIA grant. It is also important to note with regards to uh funding allocations per the charter article 15 section 4D the funds have to be expended in this way and this way only 85% have to go out the door as direct grants to nonprofit organizations and community- based organizations and government entities that qualify. 5% is set aside to uh support our thirdparty independent evaluator and the balancing 10% is for the administration of the fund. And that includes all the staff salary and benefits, capacity building and technical assistance, consultants that we bring on to help us support our community needs assessment and strategic investment plan as well as supplies and other task necessary to promote uh the functioning of the department. Next slide. Our oversight board was established and there are currently 15 seats. Um, and the appointment of those seats is unique to uh compared to other uh boards and commissions in that it was outlined in the charter that the mayor shall make three appointments, at least one of those having to be a young person between the ages of 15 and 24. And then the mayor has the prerogative to choose individuals that are also at that age or above 24. The council members each have two appointments. They can appoint one young person between the age of 15 and 24. They shall appoint one person

between the age of 15 and 24 and another person that is over the age of uh 24. We currently have vacancies and staff has reached out to all the council members uh regarding uh trying to provide some support with making appointments and we will continue to reach out and we look forward to working with you all to fill those vacancies as we move forward. Um, currently the oversight board has met 45 times since uh 2020 and so we're averaging approximately seven meetings per year. To do the work of giving out grants,

oh, excuse me. Thank you, Antonio. Next slide. To do the work of giving out grants, it is necessary and per the charter, we need to do two things. We need to conduct a community needs assessment and establish a strategic investment plan every three years. So our most recent uh community needs assessment and strategic investment plan was initiated in 2024. We contacted with a uh a firm called Public Works in December of 23 and we did quite a bit of community engagement um in partnership with local CBOS um and we're very we're very proud of the work that we did as far as it relates to community engagement. In our most recent one, we connected with uh key interest holders and thought leaders in the youth space. We conducted 12 um focus groups and we reached out to priority populations and we leveraged our relationships with those community- based organizations and hosted focus groups for African-American youth, Asian youth, Pacific Islander, justice impacted Latinx, LGBTQ plus, transitional age youth, unhoused youth. Um it really was a great endeavor and a partnership that we fostered with our local organizations. We received over 200 surveys. We hosted a community forum where 70 participants were there and some of you have seen our graphic illustration and that was where that was drawn out. Um and we also did some special outreach to parents and caregivers and teachers to provide additional information. Ultimately in October 15th the city council approved the SIP the strategic investment plan and the oversight board did as well. Next slide. Our initial community needs assessment uh took place in 2020 and it provided a strategic investment plan in 21. Ultimately, we conducted the same steps, but this initial strategic investment plan and community needs assessment shifted virtually because we were in the

midst of COVID. And so, we used we really leveraged our relationships again with our CBOS to get creative around data analysis and interviews um and used interactive online tools to ensure board participation. And at that point, again, city council approved the SIP in December 15th of 2020 as well as the oversight board. Next slide. Just to give you a brief overview of that first funding cycle, 2124. Um we funded 46 organizations and gave out 56 grants um totaling about $9 million. Um we were capable of serving a demographic representation that mirrors the makeup of the community, which we're also extremely proud of. And as you can see there, we focused and the funding was really focused to support those most between ages six and 12. Next slide. Sometimes the conversation shifts with regards to um how do we categorize where this funding is going? And here are just three uh representations. As you can see, um, currently in our new funding cycle 25 to 28, um, we are funding organizations and we awarded $7.9 million. That, uh, 7.9 million is divided as follows. $2.1 million is going to organizations who are providing direct services in West Contraosta Unified School Districts annually. $1 million is been awarded annually to city enrichment programs and that includes our recreation department that includes our LEAP I mean library and leap it includes our employment and training as well as our office of neighborhood safety and the balance of that 7.9 annually is going to uh other organizations who are doing programming perhaps at their sites or other sites. Next slide. The purpose of this item that we're

here, why this matters now is that the funding cycle is uh set up in a 10-year term. And that 10-year term uh is going to expire in the fiscal year, excuse me, in July 1st or June 30th of 2028. So, a decision needs to be made with regards to extending the fund for an additional term. um article 15 section 11 council may extend by a majority vote uh if no action by December 31st of 2027. So if the council does not extend by December 31st of 2027, the mallet the b the measure is placed on the ballot. Um, and so staff is bringing this item now in 2026 because the June 28 election occurs at the end of the current term and it the timing of that can be a little problematic because it falls right in the middle of the calendar year. And so, additionally, because if we decide to renew, we would need to conduct a a needs assessment in the year of 27. And so we need to kind of make a decision now um as far as it relates to some of the things that need to happen. At this point, um I'm going to turn it over to my colleague Antonio Vanuelos and he will walk us forward with relates to some of the revenue processes and then talk to us about spending or contributions from the general fund as well as options. Antonio,

thank you Patrick. Good evening, Mayor Martinez, council members. Again, as Patrick mentioned, I'll go over some of the numbers here. Uh next slide, please. Just as a reminder, a few months after Richmond voters approved measures E and K in June 2018, voters approved measure H in November of that same year. This added a tiered rates to the transfer tax on the sale of properties in Richmond. Uh the higher the sale price, the higher the tax rate for the individual transaction. Fiscal year 201920 was the first full year under this new structure. And this slide shows the documentary transfer tax since the adoption of measure H. Uh re as you can see revenues rose sharply in fiscal year 2122 and 22 and 23 during a strong real estate market and some very significant sales of individual property within that those years. Uh collections then declined as the market cooled with a rebound in fiscal year 25. Although very ve very volatile with sign significant year-to-year swings, measure H remains an important source of general fund revenue supporting community programs such as the Richmond Fund for children and youth. Next slide, please. Uh this slide summarizes the city's investment in the Richmond Fund for children and youth from 2019 uh through 2828. So some are actual numbers, the other ones are projections. In the early years, the fund received fixed dollars dollar amount 250,000 in 2019, 700,000 in 2020 uh uh mainly to build the initial infrastructure of the program. There was no transfer in 2021. Uh starting in 2022, the funding shifted to a percentage of the general fund revenues. It began at 1% increased to 2% in 2023 and reached a full 3% allocation in 2024. By 2728 and the annual contributions are projected to reach just over $9 million per year. Altogether tenure uh total comes to about $ 48.2 million. Next slide please.

Uh this slide shows the same basic information, same funding information as the previous slide but in a bar chart form. Uh you can see the small fixed amounts in the earlier years that jump when the fund moved to a percentage of the general fund revenues and the steady growth once the full 3% took effect. Next slide please. This slide shows the projected contributions from 2029 through 2038 if the city keeps the funding level at 3% of the general fund revenues. Under the kids first ordinance, the city council can extend the next 10-year term without any changes, which would keep the 3% contribution in place. Over the next 10 years, maintaining the 3% contribution would generate uh about $99 million for this fund. Next slide, please. This chart uh shows again shows the projected funding for 2029. Again, this is in the same information as the previous slide, but in a bar chart. And again, totaling $99 million over over the next 10 10 years if the 3% allocation is maintained. Next slide, please. Uh this slide covers the decisions the city council needs to make. The uh the current 10-year fund ends in 2728 and the council must decide whether to extend it for another 10 years. If the council doesn't act by December 31, 2027, the question has to go to on the 2028 ballot. Staff is bringing this forward now because waiting until 2028 would create planning and implementation problems. We'll also be presenting policy options for renewal and staff will host community meetings in April, gather input before bringing back final recommendations. Next slide, please. So for option one

basically keep as is uh where the city council reauthorizes the article without amendment again the city council can reauthorize article 15 with a simple majority vote by June 2026. This would extend the fund for another 10 years from 2029 through fiscal year 2038 without any changes and it would not uh require voter approval. All existing provisions would stay the same. Next slide, please. Option two. Here is is option two for the city council not to reauthorize article 15. In that case, the measure would automatically go on the November 2026 ballots and voters would decide whether to renew the fund for another 10 years. This option makes no change to the article. Everything stays the same, but the voters decide instead of city council. Next slide, please. Option three is for the council to propose amendments to article 15. In this case, the council would not reauthorize the articles as is, but would put one or more changes on the November 2026 ballot. Any amendments would require voter approval. Next slide, please. Uh, this slide shows examples of possible amendments the council could consider. These include adjusting the general fund cont contribution, expanding or prioritizing certain program areas, and changing the administrative or evaluation cost limits to better cover expenses. Any amendments to article 15 would again require voter approval. The council cannot implement these changes on its own. Next slide, please. This table compares projected funding over the next 10 years under three scenarios. keeping the contribution the same at 3% reducing it to 2% or 1%. At 3% the total is $99 million over the next 10 years. Reducing it to 2% drops

the total for that same period to 66 million and at 1% it would be 33 million. These figures illustrate the impact of any potential amendment council might consider. Next slide. Slide please. Again, same information as the previous uh slide, but in a a bar chart format. Again, the project projected funding at 3% in blue, 2% in red, and 1% in green. You can see how the amounts decrease as the percentage drops. Next slide, please. Uh this slide shows the key steps and deadlines of voter action is required. It outlines when fiscal analysis needs to be completed, when community listening sessions would occur, and when study sessions would be held. The final step would be council adopting a resolution by June 13th to place the measure on the 2026 ballot. Again, this is if voter action is required. These milestones align with legal and election deadlines to keep the process on track. Next slide, please. And with that, I'll hand it back to Patrick.

Thank you. Um, thank you. This slide here identifies what next steps would be if no voter action is required. Ultimately, if the city council were to reauthorize um the charter language uh without amendment, these would be the milestones and tentative dates. What we would want to seek to do is draft a uh RFP for community needs assessment and strategic investment plan consultant uh towards October. We would then want to contract with the consultant that would be finally selected in December. And then we would initiate the community needs assessment and strategic investment plan from January to June, approximately 6 months. And that would include some of the steps that we've highlighted in our previous needs assessments as well as holding study sessions that allow for the oversight board to weigh in as well as study sessions for the city council to provide feedback and recommendations as well. Ultimately that we would then uh draft and finalize grant guidelines which set parameters and funding amounts etc. We would seek also to hold study sessions with the oversight board and come to the city council and seek feedback as well in June and ultimately release the grant guidelines and applications in July of 27 to initiate award and grant funding in January of 28. Next slide. And just want to uh reiterate some additional next steps. Again, we are uh one of the things that we hope we can do is again work with you all to uh finalize uh filling vacancies on our board. And so we'll be reaching out to support you in that effort. And uh we also are working uh as we previously come in February and January when we brought our evaluation staff is strengthening the annual evaluation framework to improve accountability and transparency. We want people to feel confident as it relates to where the dollars go and how the funds are being used and that the young people that are being served are Richmond residents. And

how we're doing that is we're implementing an unduplicated participant count by organization. Uh we're developing organization metrics and performance profiles for every organization. So they'll see tailored metrics for every organization as well as some of those global metrics that we brought up and spoke to last time. We'll be also conducting financial audits and we're in conversations with our finance department to bring on a consultant to do that as well establishing data accuracy and verification protocols. Our evaluators have developing a protocol for us um given that we want to move to that direction to make sure that the young people are verified as Richmond residents and finally released the request for proposal to procure consultants to support the needs assessment strategic investment plan and ultimately release an award of grant funds. Next slide. So tonight again uh the action on the agenda reads to receive a presentation on article 15 of the charter regarding the Richmond fund for children and youth and provide direction regarding renewal provisions and options. Next slide. We want to thank you for the your time as well as the community and residents for their presence and staff is available to address any questions given that that's a that's an opportunity.

Thank you so much for the presentation. Now the uh open the forum is open for public comment. Okay. The first 10 speakers. So call your name. Please come forward. Line up behind the speakers podium closest to the wall. And please keep the aisles clear. Cordell Hendler, Andrea Landon, Oscar Rodriguez, Roxanne Garza, Darcy Wheeler, Elijah Jimenez, Miranda Torres, Ashley Calderon, and Kimberly Achieves, and Esmeralda Hernandez, Cordell Hendler.

That's me. So, good evening, uh, Mayor Martinez, Council. For the record, I am Cordell Henland. I'm a member of the Park Plaza Neighborhood Council. So, I do want to thank staff for this presentation. So, as I stated in my open forum, invest in the youth. That money from Chevron should be going to them because they deserve it a little bit, too. So, I'm thinking to myself, Article 15, we need to wait on that. So, as far as like the listening sessions and all that, I'm all for it. But, you also got to include the youth because they can provide so much context of this. It's not even be funny. So, I am suggesting to um go with the staff's recommendation. You heard the presentation. So, now I'll wait till April 7th so for y'all to deliberate. So, with that, I'm yielding my time to the next speaker, Andrea Landon.

Our next speaker is Andrea Landon, followed by Oscar Rodriguez.

Rodriguez. Hi, good evening again. My name is Andrea. I'm a Richmond resident and parent. I'm gonna keep this brief because someone has to go to bed. Um I am also the program director at Eastpace Center and I'm just encouraging everyone tonight to listen to our young people. This funding um provides tons of free arts instruction at East Bay Center for thousands of kids every year. It's not just East Bay Center. We have amazing organizations here with Rise and Yes. and Richmond High. And all of these organizations are keeping our city safer. They're engaging our young people. And um again, just as a parent, I feel better knowing that these organizations are out here, that my child will have a place to go. So, I'm going to hand it over to our young people, but thank you for your time and thank you for listening to them. Oscar Rodriguez.

Hello. Uh, good evening. My name is Oscar Rodriguez. I am a student at Richmond High and I would like to discuss or like ask for the the reauthorization of the of the grants that have been given. I personally feel like these kind of programs are the things this community needs, especially when this is such a culturally diverse place and the arts are something that hold a lot of value to this place. And I feel like by via v via these grants, I and many others have been given the opportunity to do a bunch of wonderful things by following our passions. Like um recently we got managed to get a trip to Disneyland and we got to record music for a movie or like two movie scenes. If you told me that two years ago, I would never believe that. I wouldn't believe because they've told us that it was possible but that we didn't have the money. And now we have the money and I would be internally grateful to be for the future generations including me in a few years to be able to continue to have programs like these so we can all share our passion and support and grow this community showing yeah showing who we are as a whole. Thank you. Have a good night.

Roxanne Garza, Roxanne Garza, followed by Darcy Wheeler.

Good evening. My name is Roxan Korea Garca with Healthy Contracasta and I'm here tonight to underscore that when Richmond Kids First passed in 2018, it was a partnership between city the city and its staff, the network of many community-based partners and the community. It was this active partnership that reached out to voters, developed agreements with the city, and ultimately was affirmed by the highest margin of voters of any measure. Many of us saw it as legacy work to not just serve our youth but to make bold decisions to change their lives. DCY and the oversight board provides an opportunity to hear the voices of parents, students, and community leaders in order to ensure resources are intentionally allocated. And I particularly like that North Richmond is part of this. Um, I was hoping it would be and it was. Given the current chaos and trauma our community is faced with, it is even more important to sustain our intentional fund to ensure that youth continue to be supported, inspired, and given the services they deserve in even this more oppressive climate. And in in order to sustain the legacy that the city and community worked on over the last 10 years and stand firm on your commitment to working for equity for our youth, I ask the council to reauthorize the kids first without delay. Option one, uphold the role of the oversight board and department of children and youth in setting and refining priorities. The presentation options we just heard about to reduce from 3% to two or 1% should not even be considered. Please advance this decision at your April 7th meeting so we can move this effort forward. Thank you.

Darcy Wheeler.

Good evening. My name is Darcy Wheeler. I'm a fourth generation Richmond resident. and this summer will be my third summer at Eastpace Center for the Performing Arts as a diploma student. The fact that East Bay Center programs are free for youth in the community is so key and has provided opportunities to countless students. East Bay Center provides a place like no other to let people try so many different things. I've taken theater, dance, and music classes there. I've been able to meet some of my closest friends at East Bay Center, and we've been able to bond through our shared love of the arts. I went to a very small elementary and middle school and my first summer at Eastbay Center provided me with a place to finally interact with my peers and now I look forward to all my different classes there. Any kid with an interest in the performing arts deserves a chance to access the many classes East Bay Center offers which is why we need the Richmond Fund for children and youth so more people can continue to thrive there. Thank you Elijah Jimenez. Elijah Jimenez, followed by Miranda Torres. I got to set this up. Good evening, council. My name is Elijah Himenez and I am a student at Eastbay Center of the for the performing arts and I have directly benefited from the East Bay Center of Performing Arts because it's been a place I'll almost call my haven since I was 9 years old specifically and it was a place where I go every day after school and I could connect with other people with similar backgrounds and similar similar interests in the arts just like how I have a passion for the arts. And in my time at the center, I've taken various classes, whether it is capoera, choir, everything you could think of, African dance, everything. And it has expanded my hor horizons and showed me all the things I'm capable of as a mixedent black male. And I believe every everybody else should have a chance to have the same opportunity. And furthermore, as a senior, they also provided me with a mentor who helped me with my college applications. And

hopefully I do get into some good schools this week. We'll see. And we also had scholarship workshops where they showed me different funding and different opportunities so I can make sure it was affordable wherever I went so I wouldn't have to worry about being in student debt. Hopefully I don't get that either. But anyway, so please reauthorize Richmond fund for children and youth so that families will continue to have this opportunity to have free a free resource in this community. Thank you.

Miranda Torres Hello, good evening city council members and fellow community. My name is Miranda Torres. I am a current high school senior and a student at the Eastpace Center for the Performing Arts diploma program. It is unfortunate that we have have to come to this point where we need to advocate for students rights to creative expressions and many other activities. As I am about to graduate the next couple months, I fear for the students who use music as a safe space in their lives. Growing up, I wasn't the kid who loved sports or anything near that. I struggled to find myself in any activity, but music was the only thing that called my name. My time at the Sednner opened up many opportunities and tested my creative limits and has connected me with so many students, teachers, and mentors. The center has not only helped me out creatively, but academically, helping out with college applications, as mentioned before, and financial aid. As a kid, I would have never thought that I could get to where I am today. I am now admitted. I am now an admitted student at UCLA and many other universities. And this wouldn't have happened if it weren't for the center. I hope this funding is crucial for students who were once in my shoes. And I hope you can take mine and everyone else's experience into consideration while making this decision. Thank you. free Charles.

Our next speakers are Ashley Calderon, followed by Kimberly Asz and Esmeralda Hernandez. Ashley,

good afternoon. My name is Ashley. I am a youth member at the Rice Center. I feel like sometimes the youth is overlooked and not recognized for the power our voices have. This funding has affected me in schools and programs. There's been times when programs have participated and have barely made the cut. These initiatives are really important so we can spread awareness on certain issues. This should not go back to the ballot because young people cannot afford to lose these resources. I've also experienced issues with this at school and we have lost many classes and teachers. At the end of the school year last year, we lost many teachers. And in the new school year, we came back to many classes being taken away from our school, leaving us to not having many more options and having a limited amount, keeping us away from learning new skills. Our demand is to reauthorize Richmond Kids First today.

Yeah.

All right. Uh, good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Kimberly Avigas, and for the past 25 years, I've had the honor of working alongside young people in this community as the executive director and co-founder of the Rise Center. Um, I'm also one of the original architects of the Richmond Kids First legislation, so I'm pretty familiar with what this is about. For decades, I've watched young people in the city fight to be seen, valued, and prioritized. The fact that we're even looking at reducing this from 3% to 1% is really disturbing. Uh Richmond Kids First was a historical turning point in this community. A commitment that this city and the voters made to its youth, one they organized for, one they led and one that they won and they won the resources to pay for it. Right? So they went above and beyond. I want to be clear that the legislation was intentionally designed to balance community voice, accountability, and partnership with the city. It is a living structure built to evolve over time. The pathway for reauthorization is very clear, and the important question being raised about priorities, evaluations, outcomes, and funding amounts. They do not need to be resolved before reauthorization. Those decisions are designed to happen in the structures the oversight board, the department of children and youth through community informed planning, ongoing evaluation. The oversight board is connected to the city council. That is what they are here to ask. That is why I'm here to ask. I believe reauthorization needs to happen.

Your time is possible. Thank you.

Our next speaker is Esmeralda Hernandez. And will the following individuals please come forward? line up behind the speakers podium closest to the wall so that we can move the meeting forward. Angela Hernandez, Lavender Stewart, Nulani Stewart, Eric Aome, Nielle Carmona, Darren Allen, Elise Abalas, Larry Caldwell, Jamaica Henderson, and Cecia Behavis. Your turn. Um, good evening members of the city council. My name is Esmeald Arnandez and I am a young person from Richmond, a rise member, and a current high school senior. I'm here today because Richmond Kids First is not just an initiative, but it's something that has directly impacted my life and the lives of so many young teenagers in the city. Through RISE and organizations like it, I've been given opportunities I never thought I would have. I've been able to particip participate in internships that have helped me grow, not just professionally, but personally. These experiences have helped me figure out who I want to be and what I want to do in the future. The support doesn't just stop there. Through my internships, I've received stipens that have helped me get the resources I need, such as food, school supplies, and even to help my parents with their bills. Programs funded by Richmond create safe spaces, mentorships, and real opportunities for youth, especially for those who are most impacted by inequality. These investments show that our city values young people. If Richmond truly values its youth, it must continue to invest in us. Thank you,

Angela Hernandez. Angela Hernandez, followed by Lavender Stewart.

Hello, my name is Angela Rebecca Hernandez Lebron. I'm here as a youth advocate to give our youth a voice to what they fought for to get uh Richmond kids first pass to make sure it stays today and not be sent to the ballot because I see so many young youth coming to rise center every day for all the resources we provide for our members and a safe space for them to be in they depend and can't afford to lose or pause these essential resources you centers like rice center provides all their needs of foods education job research sports just to name a few that they may not be able to get at home. I've had members come to me say Rise is like a second home to them. Parents come to us to have their youth have a space for them to get resources, opportunities, and place for young people to have a voice. I've done focus groups with youth. They love being heard and included in decisions that impact them. They say they need more youth centers and they love rise. Thank you. Lavender Stewart followed by Nulani Stewart.

Hello, my name is Lavender and I am a young person from Richmond and a Rice member. Today I'll be speaking on how grants have already like affected me from being cut. My school John F. Kenny High School is one of the schools that have been affected already from program funding cuts. Some of the after school program funding cuts were taken away are cooking class, driver's ed, mock trial, debate club, and more importantly other clubs um that are helpful and needed. So my point today is that these funds are truly needed to help support young people for a successful future. So why take what what we need? When you invest in youth, you do not lose money, but instead you build a future. Thank you. Nulani Stewart followed by Eric a home.

Hi, my name is Nolani and I'm a young person from Richmond and a Rise member where a city puts its resources shows what it truly values. If Richmond values young people, then it must invest in us. Our demand is to reauthorize Richmond kids first today and do not send it back to the ballot. Young people cannot afford to lose or pause these essential resources. Programs funded through Richmond Kids First gives us safe spaces, mentorship, education, and opportunities that shape our futures. Investing in young people is not a risk. It's a responsibility. When you invest in us, you invest in safer communities, stronger schools, and a better enrichment for everyone. Thank you. Following Erica Holm, Niel Cam Cremona. Eric,

good evening. Uh, Mayor Martinez and council members. My name is Eric Aholm and I'm a Richmond resident in district 5 for the past 14 years and I've had the honor of working as the executive director of Yes Nature Neighborhoods for the nearly past 20 years and as one of the several nonprofit leaders who worked diligently to create the Richmond Kids First initiative back in 2016, including go going doortodoor to get signatures and garner support in my Richmond Annex neighborhood. I'm here tonight to urge you to reauthorize Richmond Kids First without amendment. As others have shared, we work in partnership alongside the city, its leadership, and the unions to intentionally design an initiative that balance community voice, accountability, and city partnership. It is not a static policy, but rather a living structure built over time to evolve with the needs of our children and youth. Most importantly, the legislation provides a clear pathway for reauthorization by the council and includes elements that we rely on as strong leaders to ensure accountability. This is built into the DNA of the measure itself and includes having the following in place as you've heard the community informed needs assessment, the strate uh strategic investment planning cycles, the oversight board, and ongoing evaluation and learning. To be clear, sending this back to voters risks the stability young people urgently need and that we as community partners provide. What they need now is a follow through on the commitments that we've already made to them. Richmond Kids First is one of the city's most important commitments to our youth. And for this reason, I urge you to reauthorize Richmond Kids First as it stands with the 3% allocation without delay. Uphold the role of the oversight board and Department of Children and Youth. Use existing structures to strengthen evaluation and impact. This is the moment to stand firm in the vision that Richmond voters supported back in 2018 and that young people depend on. Thank you for your continued commitment to our Richmond children and youth.

Michelle Kimona and followed by Darren Allen.

Hi. Hello.

Um, my name is Nishelle. N E Y S H E L L. I am a proud Mexican 17-year-old. 17-year-old high school student who is also a member at RISE. I am a representative as a youth and have lived in Richmond for almost my entire life. We're all at some point have experienced lack of funding in our community. As once a youth yourself, wouldn't you want to have the same opportunity, the same right to be able to self- advocate for not only yourself, but for your peers, families, adults? Sometimes adults make irrational irrational um decisions. And I would really like to address the fact that our education, not only does that involve funding for our schools, programs or any other type of opportunities for the youth, it matters so much because at the end of the day, we are our future and we need this. Thank you.

Maybe a good idea. I'll tell you'll figure out Allen followed by Elise. Yeah. Um, hello. My name is Excuse me. We're having interference.

Mayor, we we need to direct those inquiries to KCRT. Uh Nikki Maste, deputy city manager and Sue Hartman, it can you please confer with KCRT? Thank you. Go on. Okay. Hi. Uh

so basically I think it is very important for money to go to youth um and youth organizations because the youth is very impressionable and what the youth is exposed to right now is what I believe number one priority in any society because it is important for the young to grow up knowing what is right and places like rise or institutions in stool school school stuff like that can really teach them right from wrong and if they grow up not knowing that or they grow up in a in a wrong environment and there could have been funding to help them grow up in a right environment to really make important decisions or like think in a positive light instead of negatively or something that may um negatively impact their community. I think that it is very important for the money to goes to stuff like that. And I don't think it's right to cut funding for things that would help the youth. I don't even know how like how that even came up. I don't I'm not understanding, man. Cuz it doesn't make any sense to me not to say that like, you know, like I'm just saying. I'm all I'm trying to say is and get the point across is that it is very important that the youth have funding for the things that they may want to pursue. It may keep them off the streets. You know, I know a lot of people who may go down the wrong path. I know a lot of people could have gone down the wrong path and institutions and places and youth centers like Rise have helped them and they've grown as people for the better. And I have never in my four or five years of attending RISE or other places that help youth grow, it's never really gone bad. So I think it would be an excellent idea for you guys not to cut funding whatsoever because that could only go bad. I don't see how that's improving anything. Thank you for your time,

Elias Avalos. Um, hi. Elias.

Oh, good evening, council. My name is Ilas Avalos and I've been an intern for at RISE for more than a year now and I'm here to advocate for the reauthorization of Richmond Kids First. So my internship is centered around youth needs based in Richmond community, our community. Um, and through my research at RISE, I've learned the extent of what a Richmond youth um, what they have to go through, whether that is the pollution of our our refinery or fighting for basic necessities or in um, my case is battling the school district um, to give our schools, you know, what they need, the necessities. Richmond Kids, what Richmond Kids does is it puts youth at the center. Um and youth we are the people who are who have the potential and are changing the world. Um the rise center for example is one of the most impactful places for youth enrichment because of the way it just it's it's interactive with youth. It empowers you. It makes you feel like you belong in this community. And what it's done for me is that it's empowered me to become a leader in my school to fight and advocate for my people, for my friends, for my families because I realized that as a youth, we've been t so much has been taken from us as a as a minority in the world. So much has been taken from us. And it's our job, right, to stand up and fight for what we believe in. What needs to go is investment youth because you claim to be the city of pride and purpose. So pride yourself in investing in our youth. The purpose of life is to live. So let our youth live with without the uh without the stress of figuring how they're going to play pay for college, how they're going to move up in the world. Invest in youth and a youth will invest in you. Thank you.

Our next speakers are Larry Caldwell, Jamaica Henderson, and Cecia Behavas. Good job.

Um, hello. Uh, nice to meet you guys. Uh, um, hi, my name is Larry. I'm also a RISE intern. Um, and also fellow Richmond youth. Uh, Rise to me is not just a place. Uh, it's a second home. Rise being enrichment is to me is a pillar of peace. Um I've come from a neighborhood where gang violence was common and I've also encountered situations where I had nowhere to go and Rise was the only place open with hugs and arms. Um yeah um youth are not only the future but we are still the present. Um Rise and other youth places keeps kids off the streets and gives amazing pivots to where kids are able to go to college like me, Sacramento State, my friends UCLA and other schools. Um, youth cannot afford to lose education. Youth cannot afford to lose a pillar of peace and positivity. Voting to reauthorize Richmond Kids First is like saying like NFL saying, um, if you bet on anything, bet on me. And I think you guys should bet on the youth because if you bet on us, hey man, we going to bring it all the way back to Richmond for us. So,

yeah. So, yeah, just bet on us, man, and we'll bring it back home. So, that's all I got to say. Thank you guys. our next speaker is Jamaica Henderson. Uhuh. Y'all.

Hi, my name is Jamaica Henderson. I am a Richmond resident born and raised and I'm also a youth advocacy of the last 15 years at the Rice Youth Center. I'm here to speak in support of reauthorizing Richmond Kids First, also known as the Richmond Funds for Children and Youth because our young people deserve consistency, opportunities, and real investment in our future. Sorry. Reauthorizing Kids First means continuing to invest in prevention instead of reaction. It means choosing community over crisis. It means believing that every young person in Richmond deserves support, guidance, and a chance to thrive. When we fund our youth, we strengthen our entire community. The impact doesn't just stay with them. It ripples into family, neighborhoods, and future generations. So today, I urge you, I ask you to stand with Richmond youth, reauthorize Richmond Kids First, and let's continue building a safer, stronger, and more supportive community together. Thank you. Okay, our next our next speaker is Cecia. And will the following individuals please come forward and line up behind the speakers podium?

Um, good afternoon. Second, Sak Sham Pendy, Alise Bale, and an Angelica R. Andrew Wiltz, Fernicia Halman, Khloe Zapanta, Christine Kito, Oliver Rodriguez, Helma O'Neal, and Lola Garcia. Okay, Cece.

Good afternoon. My name is Cesia Benavz and I am a young person from Richmond and a RISE member. For the past two years, I have been a youth advocate for RISE. I have gotten so many opportunities and resources thanks to the fund. I have been able to get free therapy and financial aid. I have been one of the many people that has been fortunate enough to get these resources and help and hope that it can continue to stay to help many more youth. Youth are not only the future, but we are the present. We know what our communities need. Investments like Richmond Kids First creates real opportunities, safety, and support for youth, especially those impacted by inequities. This fund is shaping the future of medicine, engineering, and more. Thank you. Zack Sham Pandy.

Zach Champ. No.

Okay. Elise Bale. Um, my my name is Elise and the reason I'm here today is because it's come to the youth's attention that you guys are considering not reauthorizing the Richmond Kids First funding. I'm here and most of us are here to advocate for RISE. We feel that you guys should continue funding the kids first fund because it's extremely helpful and it helps fund some of the people's co programs and internships which teaches them things that are very helpful in life. Um um I'm sorry I'm sorry. Okay. It's important that the youth what the youth has fought for um and stuff that is made for the youth by the youth continues to thrive in Richmond and continue to thrive for the young people of Richmond and to show that it is help it has helped because if it wasn't for all of these things like rise and the things that the Richmond Kids First Fund have helped I don't think most of these kids or people here today would have been here. Um, and also another reason why you guys should continue funding it is because when I first got to Rise, I didn't really I didn't really want to speak. Like I didn't I was not the type of person that would speak. And I feel like Rise has helped me and other people like in life and help them and teach them things that most people or schools wouldn't have. And that's why I think you guys should reauthorize these things for Rise to continue to make Richmond feel like a safe and an educational place for the youth. Thank you.

Angelica R. Angelica R. Angelica.

Hello. Hello, city council. My name is Angelica. I've been a a Richmond resident for two years now and I currently work with the youth. Um I'm here to encourage you city council to vote yes on re reauthorizing the Richmond Kids Act. Um the youth already have fought hard enough for this act to pass in the first place. Uh please do not set the youth back another 10 years. Um not passing this tonight will truly be a disservice to our youth. Um, and they don't need to spend any more time fighting for their rights or for the resources that affect their future. Um, the youth need more funding for job opportunities and programs that support building real life skills. And I hope your decision reflects how you how much you value the Richmond future. Um, and please vote yes. Thank you. All right.

Andrew Wilts. Andrew Wilts. Followed by Fishia Halman. Uh,

good evening everybody. My name is Andy Wilkkey. Um, I direct the music department at Richmond High School. This is my 12th year there. It's an alumni right there. Um, currently raising uh our fourth generation in Richmond in uh over in May Valley there. My wife was just up here with him a little bit ago from East Space Center. Um, so I've been there for 12 years at Richmond High School, um, as many of you know, um, and played a part in helping with and that time we went I I I got to that school and there was no music program and we've been building and building and building and it's kind of become quite out of control to be honest in terms of my ambition and what actually ended up happening. Um, at this point we now have marching band, jazz band, wind ensemble, symphonic band, two orchestras. Um and this past year we were blessed with getting this RFCY grant. Um so as I built this program in our continually flailing district um we are now a competitive group with that do very ambitious things um with school districts primarily from the Tri Valley area or Central Valley where band is a very large supported thing. I'm trying to keep this short. Um so since we've got this funding um suddenly we are able to have coaches come in like any other high functioning high school program. were able to go on trips without all of the fundraising falling on the backs of essentially people sitting right here right begging for nothing. Um we have been able to go on so many trips we've been able to support hiring a new teacher. Um so the program went from about 150 to about 250. Um we're now the only performing art at Richmond High School. Um as our district continues to slash. Our district just cut half of the music teachers in this district. Every elementary school music teacher just lost their job. We're trying to navigate all this the best we can. I just want to say that this this money has had such an impact. It's changed um the way my job functions, the amount of people I'm able to provide our our um services to, and it it's just it's just I can't I honestly can't even express to you how

deep the benefits are of this money. And I hope you continue to invest in our youth um because they they do need it really time. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you,

Fishia Hallman. Hi, good evening. My name's Fernishia Hullman. I'm a Richmond native, a Richmond resident, as well as a small business owner here in Richmond. Um, oh, and most importantly, a parent at the East Bay Center of Performing Arts. The funding provided by the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth is pertinent to keeping programs like the Eastbay Center for Performing Arts free for families like mine and uh others in the community. And uh as a family of four, extracurricular activities on top of tutoring and rising cost of living can become overwhelming and even impossible for some. And without programs like those offered at the East Bay Center for Performing Arts, uh my children and many others would not have access to the kind of in-depth and culturally rich um arts education that East Bay Presenter provides. Uh my 14-year-old daughter, Cayone Huey, has been part of the diploma program there for uh three years now, and I've witnessed so much growth since she's be this program as far as her confidence increasing social and leadership skills. and she's developed um and she's uh I mean I'm sorry leadership skills have developed and she's exposed to cultures, languages and art forms from all around the world that she's even brought learn that learn that I'm sorry she's been exposed to cultures languages and art forms from all around the world and she's even brought that learning home teaching me and the rest of the family about instruments and traditions that I haven't been exposed to myself. Uh this is something that she looks forward to at the end of her school day. And um as I previously stated, I grew up here in Richmond, attended school here from preschool to 11th grade. And I've seen firsthand what happens when young people don't have access to safe and enriching after

school programs, especially kids whose parents are um working to make a living and can't be home. And there's nothing more to get um involved in other than the wrong extracurricular activities. So, please continue to support the youth here and um invest in their future. Thank you. Chloe Zapan, followed by Christine Hikuru Ko.

Hello, my name is Khloe Zapont and I am a member of the Rise Youth Center here in Richmond. Um, we the youth can potentially pave the way to an even better Richmond, but to do so, our resources need the proper funding. And I think I can speak for everyone when I say budget cuts can negatively affect anything. So, please maintain our funding for Richmond youth.

Christina Hiko. Hello, mayor and council members. My name is Christine Hikido and I work at RISE. I'm here in strong support of reauthorizing the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth. This fund reflects a belief that one of the most valuable assets of the Richmond community possesses is its young people. At RISE, RFCY has helped us reach hundreds of youth in Richmond. We started a new college prep cohort this year, centering young people who will be first in their families to go to college. Over 50 youth created resumes in the past few months. And funding has also helped us reach youth who are most marginalized from our systems, including youth who are navigating homelessness, housing instability, violence, and the deep traumas of family deportation. Through our community assessments and incredible youthled research, young people are repeatedly telling us that they feel neglected by our systems and that they want us to work together to better create an ecosystem of services and caring adults. The challenges and urgencies of these times make RFCY more critical than ever. I know these kinds of programs are truly life-changing and transformational because an afterchool program like RISE changed the trajectory of my own life. I urge you to reauthorize the Richmond Children Richmond Fund for Children and Youth and to invest in safety, opportunity, and the future of young people and the future of Richmond. Thank you.

Okay, our next speaker is Oliver Rodriguez, followed by Halama O'Neal.

Hi, my name is Kuya Oliver Rodriguez as well. Um, I'm not here to speak for myself. I'm here speaking on behalf of a young person that couldn't be here. Her name is Maria. She is a part of an internship called the listening campaign at Rise, which specifically speaks to listening to young people um and the needs in this in in the community. So, I'm going to speak on her behalf. Um so, I just want to say greetings to the council and the mayor. Um, dear Richmond council, city council, for almost two years, I've had the opportunity to speak with youth about their experiences as a young person in Richmond. What I've heard consistently is this, that people, young people don't feel supported and they don't feel heard. Many shared many shared that they lack access to safe spaces, mentorship, mental health resources o and opportunities that help them build a future. Some like thei some feel like the system only notices them when something goes wrong. Not only uh not when they need support to succeed. These um these are not madeup issues. These are daily realities that we have been that have been present since current adults have been young as well. the youth uh don't have access to resources to support uh to support and it just doesn't affect them individually but affects our schools, our neighborhoods, and our long-term health for our entire community. The encouraging part is that young people are not asking for handouts. They are asking for opportunities. They want programs to give them guidance, skills, and the sense of belonging. If we are truly if we want to be truly safer and a stronger community, we have to start by listening and investing in our youth. and we need you to vote yes and reauthorize. Thank you.

Halamma O'Neal followed by Lola Garcia. Okay. Lois Garcia. Okay. Will the next individuals please come forward? Ben Enos, Evelyn Nunees, Ruthie Denan, Claudia Bega, Jenny Mahalan, Byron Alvarez, Robert Bunts, Kawar, and Ryan Kazin will be the last speaker. What's your name?

Ben Henos.

Okay. Okay. All right. Uh, good evening, mayor and members of the city council. My name is Ben Enos, and I'm the director of communications at Richmond Promise. As we shared with you last year, Richmond Promise was established by the city of Richmond 10 years ago. The city leaders sought to establish a college graduating culture in our city. To date, we are proud to say that we have provided scholarships and critical wraparound support to over 4,600 Richmond and North Richmond students. And just last week, we closed a new application cycle in which 482 high school seniors applied to join our program. Scholarship numbers alone don't capture our impact. And whether it is helping Rich and Promise scholars find the food pantry on campus, learn what classes they need to take to transfer from a two-year to a four-year school, or find an internship that provides valuable career training, Richmond Promise works to help students in our community develop the skills they need to start a career and contribute to our local workforce. As is noted in the agenda report for tonight's item, when article 15 was drafted, it excluded Richmond Promise from eligibility due to our initial funding source coming through the city's ECIA process. That ECIA funding sunseted in 2024, and as a result, we are actively pursuing all possible avenues for fund sustainability in order to continue providing Richmond students with the resources needed to earn a degree and identify meaningful career pathways. As we continue to work with the city on any and all opportunities for funding, option three presented tonight allows Richmond Promise to be part of this discussion. We are excited to continue our work on behalf of Richmond students and to continue our city's investment in building the future workforce of our community. Thank you,

Evelyn Nunees. Hi.

Good evening. My name is Evelyn Nunes. I'm a student at Richmond High and a student at Eastpace Center Performing Arts. In 2025, the Richmond High School Music Department received a grant from Richmond fund for children and youth for the first time. This funding has led to ex exp of our program in many so many ways to provide it. students. It has countless new opportunities and experiences. The funding that RFCY provides is critical in making for East Bay Center programs and to make it free for our community. I directly directly benefit from East Bay Center's program in Richmond High because I never thought music would be such a passion for me. It it really made me explore who I am and what am I capable of doing, especially with East Bay, putting myself out there a little bit more than what I'm already used to. It helped me a lot to get in my get out of my comfort zone and explore new things in Richmond High especially helped me enjoy to experience of what I could do and how I could pursue music for a career for a career. Our last trip was Disney and I would never thought I would get have to have the chance to record a like a background sound for a movie. I never if you could have told me that like I would have never thought that was possible me for me to do. We actually have the money to so we can have those experiences and I want our future generation to have the same experiences that I have with Eastpace Center in Richmond High. Thank you. Ruthie Denon. Should I wait? Go. Okay. Hi, my name is Ruthie Denine. I'm here tonight in strong support of the reauthorization of Richmond Children and Youth Fund. I'm

the executive director at Eastpace Center and I've seen the amazing impact this fund has had. This is a total win for our community. For East Space Center, it means that we're able to stay tuition free. It means that we can fund our young artist diploma program students year in and year out. It means that we can support our local high school music programs. Richmond needs this program. Youth need this program. We have up to 400 students on our weight list at our main site. And we're in 15 schools in Richmond. And we have another 15 wanting our programs. We cannot meet the demand. Our budget is $5 million. Recently, all federal and state funding have been cut. This funding is critical now, especially as we face a deficit in our budget. We do not want to cut programs when there are already really long wait lists. This is excruciating. Reauthorize this program as is with a 38% allocation. And don't hesitate. If changes need to be made, please use what we have already set out in the charter. What's already written, what's already established. The charter calls for the strategic investment plan to be updated every 3 years, including a community needs assessment. The oversight committee leads this process with the support of department staff. Collectively, we can make several adjustments to how programs are funded, which programs are funded, and further refine it. Do not send it back for a city-wide vote. Do not send us back. This would be devastating for us, for Eastpace Center, and for our community and many other amazing organizations in Richmond. East Center and our students were here 10 years ago now fighting for this win alongside all of our partner organizations. Do not take it away. And also, do not risk taking it away. Do not risk taking it away, please.

Thank you for listening to our youth tonight, to our community. This is really important. Our next speaker is Claudio Vega followed by Jenny Mahalland Bears. Claudia Jenny Mahalland.

Good evening, Mayor Martinez and city council members. My name is Jenny Mahaland Beers and I am a co-founder and on the planning and facilitation team of the Richmond Outdoors Coalition, a collaborative of eight nonprofit partners dedicated to expanding equitable access to nature for Richmond's youth and families. The Richmond Outdoors Coalition is honored to receive funding from the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth. RFCY funds have contributed to youth engagement for over 1,400 youth who receive on average over 34 hours of nature-based programming and learning and social emotional development. It supports their physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being, strengthens their social bonds among peers, families, and school communities, and fosters socially reinforcing and inclusive experiences. In 2016, our community fought hard to collect the signatures needed to put this measure on the ballot. The voters of Richmond spoke clearly. They wanted a stable, dedicated fund for our children. Eight years later, the fund is working exactly as intended. It is empowering local grassroots organizations and creating a legacy of support. Because this program is already proven and communitybacked, we see no reason to delay its future or risk its stability. I strongly urge the council to select option one. Reauthorize the article without amendment. Let's keep this momentum going, honor the original intent of the voters, and ensure our youth serving organization can stay focused on the kids, not on the ballot box. Thank you for your time and for your commitment to Richmond youth.

Right on. We have four more in-person speakers and we have six online speakers. Next speaker is Brian Alvarez, followed by Robert Bunts. Hello, city council. I'm Brian Alvarez, director of school partnerships at Eastpace Center for the Performing Arts and also a low brass coach at Richmond High School. Um, I am urging you to reauthorize this funding and not risk losing for support for our youth. Uh I just want to give you a tiny sliver of the impact this funding has had uh just at the three organizations I'm most familiar with. Richmond High, Eastpace Center, and also RISE. Um and this is the full data points. The bullet points that I wrote down took me seven minutes to read. I'm going to read just a couple. Okay. So um just this funding right now is serving just within those three orgs, 600 students plus annually. Um it provides over 2,000 hours of annual training in music, dance, theater, college and career readiness, and mental health support. Um it's providing we're producing over 30 public uh performances annually and probably a lot more than that. Um we're providing comprehensive wraparound services which we definitely need in the city including violence prevention, mentoring, restorative justice. Um Richmond High also now one of our instrumental coaches from Eastpace Center is doing instrument repair for Richmond High students in case the district cuts that funding we can still maintain their instruments because no one else can. And then the most important thing is all of these all of this programming is free. It's free for every student from age three through 25. And the reason it's free is because we have Richmond Fund for Children Youth. So without that funding, there's no guarantee we can provide free uh programming for our students across the board. So we reauthorize we we urge you to reauthorize this uh um this amendment in April 7th and uh not risk losing support for our next generation of leaders. Thank you.

Robert Bunts, next speaker. Good evening, council. My name is Robert Bunts. I'm the executive director of the West Contraosta Public Education Fund. Among the many things we do to support the school district is we manage the philanthropic partnerships uh for our schools and provide technical assistance to over 60 individuals and nonprofits working in our schools through fiscal sponsorship. From our vantage point, we get to see the impact of investments in our schools. RFCY has helped to transform the quality and quantity of schools of programs serving our kids and our schools. But these programs and our kids are in jeopardy. Deep cuts to the school district and a shrinking philanthropic pool of partners funding enrichment are eroding the safety net for our kids and our community. But RFCY helps mitigate these cuts. The district eliminated their social workers and RSC stepped in and helped fill that gap. WCCUSD slashed arts and music across the district. RFC helped step in and fill that gap. The district cut access to expanded learning and summer programs and RFC stepped in and filled those gaps. I could go on and on, but the Richmond Fund for Children Youth is an essential funding source for our community. They said, you know, engagement is the number one uh indicator of success for students and RCY programs do just that. They ignite the fire of our kids' imagination. They create connection in the face of growing isolation. And I can't understate enough how important these funds are to our community, to our partners, and to our kids. And I just want to acknowledge all the different executive directors that

are here tonight. Each one of them, I've been here 15 years. Each one of them has been here as long or longer than I have. And all of us stand united to support this program. So I implore you to come Paul. Come war Paul.

Okay. Good evening, mayor, council, and community. Comar Paul Dalywall here, associate director and co-founder of Rise. Option one is I mean it's the only option. You have to reauthorize. It is simply offensive that young people have to come here to protect what already belongs to them. To the young folks here all over this city, I'm sorry. This has to be another thing you have to fight for, struggle with, and endure. It ain't right. I'm sorry. For real. Mayor and council, young people passed three ballot initiatives to make this happen. The highest approval ever. And adults, some of you know, fought them the whole way. With that, with all those numbers you saw, they only got 3%. The rest we all get. I need you to remember that they brought in funds for us. They get 3% and now we are considering decreasing that. That is some vulgar you know what option one is the only option. You know the young people the adult partners who led the fight for this fund. We did it not just for our own organizations. We did it to create plentiness, to put away the pettiness, to cultivate partnerships, collectiveness. We did it together. And now we're hearing it might be dismantled because you don't have enough information. We have the information. So you need to reauthorize. Those of us who run programs and organizations with young people know that when we plan something, we make room to reflect, assess, and adapt. We don't stop the work while we evaluate it

and evolve it. We keep it moving. Keep it moving. Reauthorized. Thank you.

Our last inerson speaker is Ryan Cousin. Hi there, council. Um, my name is Ryan Kasin. Uh, I work at an organization that's located here in the heart of the Iron Triangle called the practice space. And, uh, yeah, thank you. So, yeah, I have a lot of our partners in here tonight, which is just it's incredible. Um, but I I can't well, I am here to represent the organization. I can't speak for everyone, but personally, I think that option one is the only option. Uh I think to speak to the kind of work that we have been able to do at the practice space. Um our mission is to provide leaders leadership skills and public speaking skills uh to youth particularly those who are marginalized. Although on uh the subject of teaching public speaking skills we might soon be out of a job considering all the people who spoke today. Appreciate you guys. Um but yeah, I mean we because of the RFCY funding, we are able to provide free services. Uh we have a program at Washington, we have a program at Kennedy, we serve K through 8, we serve high school. And uh we also host our own in-house programs at our office uh right next to the East Bay Performing Arts Center. And uh we're only able to do that uh because we have this funding uh and we teach public speaking, speech and debate and uh advocacy skills which you've seen on full display tonight uh by several of our uh youthful community members. Um but it is really important that we continue to um it it because this is a to be clear we are a DEI organization. Uh I'm a volunteer on behalf of the federal government working for them and I have been personally affected by this administration. I worked 40 days without pay. And the thing is is we if we didn't have RFCY,

if we don't have RFCY, we cannot say in our mission statement that we are working to elevate systemically marginalized voices. So please continue to fund our work. Thank you. Now we'll move to the online speakers. The six speakers, please call the speakers. Thank you. And those six speakers are Katherine Benjamin Tero, Lisa Johnson, Sharda Peruli, Deborah, and Guadalupe Atlanta. Catherine, you'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Good evening, city council. My name is Katherine Lee. I'm a Richmond resident and a youth organizer at AsianPacific Environmental Network. As someone who grew up in Richmond, I can't stress enough how important these funds have been to the development of our young people. I was a senior in high school when the first round of petitions for Richmond Kids First was being circulated. I worked alongside Rice Center staff and their incredible youth members, gathering signatures outside of local grocery stores and parks. We dealt with constant rejection, long hours under the sun, and store security guards turning us away. But this is how we chose to spend our weekends and free time because this this initiative truly meant a lot to us. We knew the positive impact it would have for youth and future generations. I did this work as a 17-year-old because I wanted other young people like me in Richmond to have more funding for programs. This was one of my first experiences of seeing what change can look like at a local level. It also played a significant role in shaping my own path to becoming a youth organizer, which I now have been for seven years. It's clear from the brilliant youth who have spoken tonight that there's still a need to uphold this funding for things like arts programs, job experience, and safe third spaces where youth can truly be themselves and thrive. I'm proud to be from Richmond, especially knowing that measures ENK exist and have already benefited hundreds of local youth. I also want to commend Richmond Fund for Children Youth Staff for their dedication ensuring these funds are distributed thoughtfully and equitably. I urge the city council to vote for option one. Thank you.

Thank you. The next speaker is Benjamin Tero. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start. Um it's interesting to see after 10 years of E Major Eden K. Um when I used to live in Richmond, it I was actually one of the um signitories or proponents on the ballot measure and I remember going to the old rise building um for it and it's just fascinating to see how it's come from such a small thing to to what it is now. And youth do need um opportunities to do a great many things. And I think that it also makes that folks don't, you know, come in contact with law enforcement because they have things to do. I definitely believe in that. Um, at the same time though, I I think it's very important and I don't really know to any certainty, but I I did hear in the presentation about accountability pieces for ensuring that it's meant for and utilized by Richmond youth. And I think whatever needs to be done to ensure that that's important. If that hasn't been occurring, then that needs to be dealt with. But it's really meant for youth enrichment and I hope that's what it's being used for and not used for any other purposes because that was the point. It was supposed to be for the youth here in this city. Um, and I hope there's accountability on that. Thank you.

Thank you. The next speaker is Lisa Johnson. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Uh, good evening, Mayor and Council. I voted yes on measure Z and K and strongly support Kids First. My concerns are about fiscal accountability, transparency, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds, especially as the city eyes a 2028 renewal. Since 2021, staff reports over 13.2 million in contributions. Yet only 9.1 million was previously reported to be distributed to 46 organizations. What happened to the other 4.1 million? At the last meeting, staff indicated they'd implement better audit controls for 2025 funds going forward. But what was glaringly absent was how will the 9.1 million from 2021 to 2024 be properly audited. You can't ask taxpayers to continue allocating roughly 10 million per year without first demonstrating how every prior dollar was spent. That's not on taxpayers to fix. It's the council's fiduciary duty to do so. The council must ensure programs were effective based on objective, measurable, and auditable outcomes, tracking unique Richmond youth served per program. Taxpayers deserve to know their money is being spent effectively, and importantly, families deserve programs that demonstrabably work for our youth. I also want to raise a serious governance concern. Council member Robinson's organization, Urban Health, has received significant kids first funding. It's a direct conflict of interest if she does not recuse herself from audit deliberations and votes on funds her organization received and from any future funds where Urban Health seeks additional funding. I'd ask the city attorney to review prior votes as well. Kids deserve strong investment. taxpayers want to support it and that demands rigorous accountability or you risk losing both voter trust and any chance of renewing this needed ballot measure for Richmond's youth and the

future of Richmond. Thank you. Thank you. The next speaker is Sharda Perajuli. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Chara Parazuli and I'm a parent of this community. I'm here today because the Richmond fund for children and youth is not just an option. It is really essential. My family has directly benefited from this program. Uh my 12 years old girl go to the East Bay Center for Performing Arts. though through this program my child has had access to arts education that we otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford and I wouldn't know what I would do with that uh more than just learning music and performance they have gained confidence discipline and a strong sense of belonging in the safe and supporting environment without this funding many families will lose access to this life-changing opportunity and remember that when we can't provide this opport opportunity to our kids, they will be on the street and that's the reality and the community has seen that this is really painful to see as a parent, as a community member and as an advocate without uh I strongly urge you to reauthorize the Richmond fund for children and youth. Our children future depends on us and we need to make that investment now. We do spend a lot of time, we do spend a lot of um budget or a lot of um resources into when this is too late when kids are already out there. That's not the way it should be done right now before they even get in there. Thank you so much. And um I hope the um the city council members will realize how important this is for our kids. Thank you.

Thank you. The next speaker is Deborah. you'll please state your full name for the record. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Yes. Hello. My name is Deborah Small. I'm a Richmond resident, former chair of the Richmond Reimagining Public Safety Task Force, and I'm super glad to be part of this conversation today. I find it, you know, one of the things that that we were able to do with the task force with the support of the city council was to increase funding for youth employment and increase funding for youth programs. Young people are the future of our city and our country. The idea that we should reduce the amount of support that we provide them is ridiculous. I also find and we also increased funding for the office of neighborhood safety and we've been able to see the results of that increased funding not only in the success of the young people that we saw demonstrated here tonight but in the fact that the city has experienced the lowest level of homicides that we've had in our recorded history. And that's because we decided that we were going to put our money addressing the root causes of crime as opposed to just law enforcement. I have to say that I also find it rich that people who resist any calls for accountability for the almost 49% of the budget that we spend on police and fire are calling for accountability for the less than 3% of the money that we invest in young people. But aside from that, I also want to speak as a parent. I have a 14-year-old that I'm raising here. I he came to me when he was seven after his father died. The first program I took him to in Richmond was the Eastbay Center for the Performing Arts. He's been going there for the last seven years. In that time, he's taken capua, guitar, um, performing, hiphop, dancing, all kinds of different classes. He finally settled on steel pan, which he's been studying for four years. He's now part

of the young artist diploma program. None of that would be possible if we did not continue to support our young. Thank you. Your time has expired. The next speaker is Guadalupe Atlanta and Lana. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start. Hello. Can you hear me? Yes. Go ahead.

Okay. Good evening. My name is Guadalupana. I am the WCCUSD presidenta. Today I am here as the previous chair for the children and youth oversight board and a community member. As a proud member of the oversight board for the RFCY since the inception, I stand before you today to urge this council to support the renewal of the critical fund. From day one, we have been intentional. We have worked tirelessly with heart and commitment to ensure that these resources reach those who are truly on the ground, the organizations, the mentors, the leaders who show up for our youth every single day. This is about accountability. This is about transparency. This is about impact. We didn't just invest. We built systems of oversight. We use data to guide the decisions. We aligned our work with the pillars we adopted so that every dollar reflects the values and meets the real needs of our children and youth. This is just not about funding. This is about opportunity. This is safety. This is prevention. This is healing. This is making sure that our young people have a future filled with possibilities, not barriers. We know what happens when you invest in our youth. They rise. We know what happens when we support community- based organizations. They deliver. And we know what happens when you don't. Renewing this fund is not optional. It is essential. It is a commitment to equity. It is a commitment to justice. And it is a commitment to the future of our city. Our young people are watching. Our community is counting on us. I urge you to stand with our youth. Stand with our community and support the renewal of the RFCY fund because it truly takes a village. Thank you.

Thank you. And that was the last speaker. Thank you. Uh I want to thank the public for sharing your comments with us and I want to thank staff for the uh presentation on the on the uh YFCY. Um we I was referred to in public comment with some pretty uh intense allegations. Can I have a minute just to speak to it? Sure. Go ahead.

So, a caller called in and gave explicitly false information. I am the executive director of Urban Tilt, very proudly executive director of Urban Health, but we have not received any grants from the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth since I've been elected to city council. In fact, we have not applied for any city grants and that has actually been a hardship on Urban Health, but we feel like it's important and we've stood by it and we have not done that. So that is false information. It's incorrect. And I think that because I actually have firsthand knowledge of this program, I'm actually in a better place to understand its impact and a better place to help make the decisions tonight. Thank you.

Thank you. So um uh tonight we received the presentation. We uh heard comments from the public and we will take both in consideration. uh for uh discussion and providing direction on April 7th. So thank you. Uh so I I don't understand why we cannot take a vote because it seems like option A is the only option. But if if you are to provide direction,

can I suggest that we ask uh the staff to put option A on consent calendar for April 7th? Um we need to deliberate. Oh, okay. Okay. I thought that was the only option. Let's deliberate. Uh we will do it on April 7th. So next item

our next item is a public hearing item P1 and is to introduce an ordinance first reading amending the Richmond Municipal Code Article 8 Fire Chapter 816 Fire Prevention Code to adopt the 2025 California Fire Code and local amendments. And to adopt the 2025 California Wildland Yes. Urban interface code with local amendments. If we have anyone joining us online that would like to address the council on this item, please raise your hand at this time.

Everyone was here for that item. It looks like Guess the fire code's not as interesting. you know, people.

Good evening, Mayor Martinez and members of the council. Uh, Aron Osorio, Richmond Fire Chief, I'm accompanied by, uh, Fire Marshal Dante Wy from the Richmond Fire Department. Uh, tonight, uh, we will be conducting the public hearing item P1. Uh this will be to uh go over the 2025 fire code, California fire code, and the 2025 California wildland urban interface code. Uh KCRT. Oh, there we go. Okay, next slide, please. So, a slight correction uh on the recommended action. There's a um typo in the uh presentation, but what we're doing tonight is we're holding a public hearing to introduce the ordinance. This will be the first reading amending the Richmond Municipal Code, Article 8, Chapter 8.16 to adopt the 2025 California Fire Code with local amendments and to adopt the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Co, excuse me, code with local amendments. Next slide, please. Just brief overview of what we're going to be covering. We will be uh covering uh what is the California Fire Code and its purpose. We'll be discussing the new California Wildland Urban Interface Code and what purpose that serves. And then we will review local amendments and next steps. Next slide, please. Uh good evening, Mayor Martinez. Uh council members, thank you very much for allowing me the time uh to give this presentation. Once again, my name is Dante Wy. I'm the fire marshal for the city of Richmond fire department. Um we are going over the two uh 2025 California fire code. Uh technically part 9 of title 24, the California

building standards code based on international fire code. It's updated every 3 years and it is effective as of J. It has been effective as of January 1st, 2026. Now, currently that means it was adopted. Um, but we are unable to enforce any of our local amendments until the city adopts it legally. Uh, next slide, please. Uh, purpose of the California Fire Code, uh, safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare, fire and life safety standards, safety standards for existing and new buildings, and reduce risk and improves emergency uh, response. Uh these the CFC sets or excuse me the California fire code sets uh minimum standards for fire and life safety uh but is not uh take into account local hazards and risk profiles. Next slide please. All right. Uh new and exciting information here in the in the state of California. The California Wildland Urban Interface Code, otherwise known as the Sewi Code, is part seven of title 24, the California Building Standards Code, based on the International Wildland Urban Interface Code, and the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code is effective as of January 1st, 2026. Uh this is the first edition of the California Wildland Urban Interface Code uh in the history of the state. Uh previously, it was chapter 49 of the 2022 California Fire Code. Um, it is now because of uh everything that we have going on in our state, it is now officially a standalone code on its own. Uh, next slide, please. Uh, the purpose of the California WOOI uh California wildland urban interface code is protects lives and property by reducing wildfire risk, construction and development standards and resist wild resist wildfire impacts in high-risisk fire areas. Uh an example of the construction development standards would be uh the building standard 7A uh which

for an example would be uh non-combustible decking and fencing and things like that. Uh next slide please. Finding and determination uh climactic uh climactic zone 3 is currently where Richmond uh where Richmond is. Uh approximately 23 ines of rain November through April and a dry period of roughly 6 months. uh geologic uh the seismic risk risk zone 4 uh the Hayward fault with proximity to the San Andreas and Calaveris faults all falls active within the past 100 years and lastly topographical proximity of the San Francisco of the San Francisco Bay hillside neighborhoods and dense residential development narrow and winding roadway with limited access route. Um next next slide please. Uh this is just a review of some of the local amendments. Uh section 105 required permits. Uh added emergency radio communication systems as required or operational permits if and when installed. Uh section 202 definitions added operational definitions uh relating to fire hazard severity zones and wildland and urban interface. Uh section 325 exterior fire hazard control added to address fire risk and the spread of subsurface fires. Uh section 503, fire apparatus access road, amended the required dimensions of fire apparatus access roads for certain buildings and facilities. Added exceptions for certain single family dwellings and section 506 key boxes uh added to enforce the Knox system upgrade requirements by December 31st, 2028. Uh we currently are in a process of seeking out a grant. Uh here in Richmond, we have over 4,000 Knox boxes and or devices uh that need to be upgraded um to the E key or the ECORE, which is a new key. And obviously, we're not going to pass that on uh to the residents or occupants or users, excuse me. So, uh we have a grant uh that we're should be hearing from by the end of the month to

see if we qualify to get all those swapped out. Next slide, please. Uh section 903 automatic fire sprinkler system and amended to be more restrictive regarding automatic sprinklers and floor control valve requirements for certain occupancies added exceptions for buildings used for the storage of non-combustible materials included provisions addressing non-permissible water supplies for automatic sprinkler systems. Uh section 4104 open flame cooking devices amended to expand exceptions not limited to single family residential. Section 5601, explosives and fireworks, added responsible party definitions and liability. Uh lastly, section 5706 above ground storage tanks added exceptions to allow above ground storage tanks for the purpose of emergency power generation. Next slide, please. Uh some local amendments that pertain to the California Wildland Urban Interface Code. Uh section 1.1.2. uh purpose added added high fire severity hazard severity zone uh to the scope uh section 101.1 title amended to formally adopt the seaweed code as wildland urban interface code of the city of Richmond uh section 101.3.1 uh application amended the definition to specify applicability to very high fire severity zone high fire severity severity zone and wildfire wildland urban interface base areas adopted by the city of Richmond and to remove additions and remodels of buildings originally constructed prior to July 1st of 2008 as an exemption to the seaw code. Next slide, please. Uh lastly, just a short list of definitions. Uh section 101.5 additions or alterations that have been expanded uh for the California WOI uh code enforcement to capture significant

tenant improvements. Uh section 202 just slight alterations to the definitions of substantial addition and substantial alteration. And then lastly, section 505, non-combustible fences, uh added regulations and exceptions to special building construction. Next slide, please. Uh the next steps that we will need are after the city council adopts the ordinance, staff will file the ordinance with the California Building Standards Commission and the Office of the State Fire Marshall. The ordinance will become effective approximately 30 days after its passage. Uh, next slide, please. Uh, to hold a public hearing to introduce an ordinance uh, first reading amending the Richmond Municipal Code, article 8, chapter 8.6 fire prevention code to adopt the 2025 fire uh, fire code and local amendments and also to adopt the 2025 California wildland urban interface code with local amendments. Uh, myself and last slide please. Uh that concludes the uh presentation. I know it was um somewhat tedious, but uh thank you very much for your time and any questions.

Actually, excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Uh I had a quick comment about uh a couple of items. Just for the knowledge of the council, the local amendments uh is actually something that all the fire marshals in the county meet on and agree upon that they're going to add them when they is every jurisdiction has to adopt the code the same way we are so that there's continuity throughout the county far as far as fire protection and standards. Uh all the fire marshals could get together and they agree on these local amendments so that there's consistency across jurisdictional lines. uh that is actually more significant uh of more importance to uh the city of Richmond because of how our autoate agreement works and how we have this patchwork of county, city of San Pablo, all these areas that are intermixed and fire protection and response is also uh pretty seamless in West County. So you have now we have consistent uh rules and and fire codes to try to have the same type of safety measures across all the jurisdictional lines.

Okay. Thank you. Um the public hearing is now open. Do we have any speakers? We do not have any speakers. All right. Then in that case public hearing is closed and it is now time for questions or comments from count uh from from the council. Yes. Council member Ba. Thank you for presentation. Uh, and um, quick question. Why do we have to adopt something that California already approved? I thought as a city we're under California. Uh, so that all the local amendments will we'll be able to enforce them. We're unable to enforce the local amendments without adopting the code.

Oh, but they are the same amendments. We didn't make our own amendments. We have uh we have changed some of the amendments. As Chief Osario said, this was a process we started on a county level about 8 months ago. Uh in May of 2025, all the fire marshals throughout Contraostasa County sat down for approximately 4 months, once every two weeks to get on the same uh to get on the same page. And there were some issues uh just because of jurisdictional lines that uh we could not see eye to eye on. Um, but as far as echoing the words of Chief Osario, once again, uh, we tried to get as close as we could to make sure that what happens in Confire happens here in Richmond in San Ramon and vice versa, so everybody's on the same page.

Also, also, it's similar to how the high severity zone maps are. The state put them out, but each jurisdiction still has responsibility for the governing board or body to adopt them so that we can enforce them. And these local amendments also allow us to create

other uh changes or new ordinances in our own municipal code which we will be coming back to this board for um in a probably in the next 30 to 60 days to add a a coastal fire zone along the coast of Richmond uh where there will be certain measures of the ordinance applied to those properties too. So, we couldn't do any of that or increase the the the fire safety without doing this adoption with local amendments.

Thank you. I appreciate the educational process. Um, so did we make any of them more lax or more strict? Could you provide some examples? Uh, how the county's code is different from the state?

Uh, definitely more uh restrictive. um we wanted to use that's why we adopted or changed the section where it has uh utilizes non-combustible fencing. I believe it's section 508. Um also we changed uh an example also is for the substantial substantial addition and alteration uh that was dropped from 5,000 ft² to 3600 square ft uh within our jurisdiction or throughout the county. Excuse me.

I'm sorry. Repeat the last part again. So, and when we changed the uh definition of a substantial addition within the city of Richmond, it previously was 5,000 square ft. Uh we've dropped it to 3600 ft² across the county. Thank you. What's NOX system?

A Knox system is a key box. Well, it's a key box or it's a gate device. The fire department is only people within the city that has access to it. And essentially if you have a commercial building or a residential property um we you are required by ordinance to have that box on site. So if we have to come for a structure fire or an emergency instead of having to break into you know cut up a rollup door or bust through the door, we can have access to your car to the uh master key and whatever keys are in there and also have property uh information for the property manager and things like that. So if we have to call somebody at 3:00 in the morning, we can have a responsible there as soon as possible.

Excellent. I'm happy it's resolved. I I remember somebody was complaining or talking about a fire at Hercules refinery and the fire engines couldn't open the gate. So this resolves that issue that nobody needs to be present at the premises. Excellent. And um talking about section 503 fire apparatus access roads. Do we have any roads in Richmond where the fire engines don't fit in? Can you repeat your question?

Um, are there any roads currently in the city of Berkeley that the fire apparatus access um enrichment? Do we have any? I I assume point Richmond maybe actually. Uh, I think as of now, I mean, none come to mind. And we part of why we transitioned to our the current type of ladder truck, our tractor drawn aerial was to eliminate the streets that our ladder trucks couldn't get up. But the fire engines um we don't have any areas that we can't gain access to. We don't have that issue.

No. No. But you got to remember that these codes also are for uh new construction, new streets. These are not to go back and I see it. force compliance to existing. This is for new construction projects, renovations, new housing developments, things of that nature. It's code 7A, which is code 7 now. Um, an explosive and fireworks. Can you tell us what it is about?

Mainly to have a responsible party um on the record for the uh for the fireworks display. So mainly this would come um for us during the July 3rd uh celebration when usually typically we have a vendor who comes from out of state. Uh he comes in, we do the inspection over in San Francisco and then obviously the display is out here uh in San Francisco or excuse me in the bay in Richmond. So it's just for us to have better information on title. Nothing related to illegal fireworks I assume. No, that is correct. Nothing for illegal fireworks.

Okay. Thank you. And um my last question is about enforcement. I know it's not related to the fire department, but um may I ask the city manager who enforces this code in the city? And do we have actually the means to enforce the code? Keith,

when someone submits a plan, a plans to build a new building, to do a renovation, to remodel more than a certain amount of square footage, to add space, there's the plans are reviewed by the building department. I see.

The city does have enforcement because the city reviews those plans based on this code. There are certain se certain types of plans that also go through another review by the fire department if they have certain features in them. So, um you know the these for new construction, there's multiple city departments that have eyes on these plans that verify that they're in compliance with the most current code. There's a technical advisory committee that meets and when an applicant submits uh for a project. It's it's called entitlement review, right? And project review and then the plans are circulated on the second floor. It has each of the departments that are involved in those processes and then the documents are routed to the appropriate proc through the appropriate processes. And one of the great things now that happened during COVID is is that people can do that electronically. So it doesn't have it used to be like when I first started with the city, people would come in with these big reams of paper and you would come in with your hard copy plans and now it can all be done electronically.

Okay. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Any other questions, comments? Well, um, thank you. I, uh, thank you for asking those questions. You asked some of the questions that I had, so I don't have to ask them now. Um uh we need a motion to I move that we pass this item. I second it. Okay. Council member VA. Yes. Council member Jimenez. Yes. Vice Mayor Robinson. Yes. Council member Wilson. Yes. Council member Zapeda. Yes. And Mayor Martinez? Yes.

The vote is unanimous. Thank you again. Thank you. Thank you. Our next item under study and action session is item Q1 and is to receive an initial report regarding the city's ongoing and planned efforts related to the safeguarding residents from federal civil immigration enforcement actions including US customs and immigration enforcement ICE raids. Actually, we uh put N3D. Oh, I'm sorry. You're right. 3D 3 N3D.

Yeah, we move it up. Item N3D is to adopt a resolution that directs staff to update the city's holiday schedule to reflect United Farm Workers Day instead of Caesar Chavez Day and direct staff to bring a future agenda item to have further discussion around sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and sexual assault and the urgent need to protect and support survivors. If there's anyone joining us online that would like to address the council on this item, please raise your hand. We have one inperson speaker and I don't think he's here anymore. Mark Wsburg. Oh, no. All right, then. May I introduce

Yes, please.

All right. Uh, thank you. This item uh thank you for uh the city staff for working with me and putting this together very promptly. Uh things were happening very quickly. Uh last week we found out these uh unfortunate uh news and we I wanted to make sure that was in the agenda before we moved into the this particular holiday that we uh all celebrate and I believe it was important that we renamed it or at least had this conversation um because of these uh recent sexual abuse allegations against Caesar Chavez. So, what I had done, we met with the the mayor's staff and our our city attorney, our city manager, and our city clerk and try to figure out how to put this agenda item on as quickly as possible. And then also what we should try to rename it uh in the light of a lot of other agencies uh looking to rename the day. uh some of the options that were out there was uh dozera day uh was uh farm workers day. So there was a combination of a lot of different things. Uh ultimately from the meeting that we had I decided to just move forward with the uh United Farm Workers Day or just more Farm Workers Day uh because it was more encompassing of what was happening versus one singular person. The movement, the farmers workers movement has always been more than just one person. Even though one person has been the one that has been highlighted the most, but through conversations and news that's been happening, I think people start realizing that the movement started with the Filipino community and Caesar Chavez got involved later on. Dolores Wora came along as well. So the movement is more

than one person to celebrate just one. I think it's a disservice to the actual goal that was trying to be achieved at the time. Uh so that's why farmers workers day seem to fit more. Uh and then we received some public comment uh of individuals saying do we want to use the word unite, excuse me, the word united before farm workers day? uh because that references just one particular union when again it's just a much bigger movement and yes the union was a big the union was created because of this movement. So that was the conversation. So, uh, now I put it in front of my colleagues to try to figure out, uh, what we want to learn this day here in Richmond, knowing that other agencies, uh, around have looked to just honor or not, I shouldn't say just to honor, but, uh, have moved to honor all farm workers on this particular day because it's about uplifting them and their voices and again, not particular person or not one particular cause, but raising all of them together. Uh so with that there I'll take a pause and take questions and comments.

Are there any public speakers? Oh you already said and we have one online speaker. Okay let's hear online speaker is Deborah. Deborah you'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Yes. Thank you. This is Deborah Small again. So I just want to first of all commend you for taking this action. Um, I grew up in New York and my parents are immigrants from the Dominican Republic and I remember so strongly as a child how much we boycotted in solidarity with the workers here in California. We didn't eat grapes boycott. It's like part of my understanding about how to be in solidarity came out of that. And my hope is that in addition to renaming um today after the farm workers that we actually think about how can we do some public education for the next generation about the importance of trade unions about the importance of organized workers about the role that they've played in creating what what was the American uh middle class because I see within our culture and particularly ly with the advent of AI, a move to denigrate the role of workers to make it seem like the what we provide isn't as important in the overall prosperity of the country. And so I hope in addition to using this as an occasion to address issues of sexual harassment etc that we also talk about the power of organizing the importance of worker organizing and the role that it's played as a democratizing force in America.

Okay. Thank you. Public comments closed. Uh Council Member Wilson.

Thank you. Um, so thank you, uh, Council Member Zapeda for putting this on the agenda so quickly. I I'm glad we're handling this now. Um, I'm not going to speak for a long time. I just wanted to make, uh, see if there if I can make a motion to amend it. Listening to your comments, but previously to the mayor's comments, I would like to suggest that we change it to farm workers movement day. And I like that for two reasons. One is I agree with what the mayor said earlier that it's not just about honoring farm workers though it is it's about honoring the fact that they organize themselves into a movement. So, I like including the word movement, but I also like removing the word United Farm Workers because that is just one particular organization. That's the name of one union that was obviously hugely important. But I think um there were other organizations that were part of the farm the farm workers movement. And so I would rather instead of um focusing our day just on one union, I would like to call out the movement in general. So that is I'm making a motion to amend it to farm workers movement day.

I second that.

I have a substitute motion. Um we women usually don't have a face in history and I'd like to use this opportunity to name this day after Dolores Huerta who has stood shouldertosh shouldertosh shoulder with chaveis. She was not only a co-founder of the United Farm Workers, but a strategist, an organizer, and a lifelong advocate for workers, women, and civil rights. Uh, she also endured and survived harm in a movement that like many others does not did not always protect women. Renaming this day as Dolores Huerta Day would do more than honor one individual. It would affirm the leadership of women in labor movements, recognize resilience in the face of injustice and send a clear message about the values we want reflected in our public commemorations. The loris is well known as a symbol of farm workers movement. Uh that's why I'm making this suggestion.

I I have uh issues. Is there a second? Is there a second? I'm sorry to the Do I have a second? Bonus motion. Yeah, that was a motion. Dolores has no supporter here. No second dies from the lack of second.

May I speak? Yeah, I wanted to say that um I have difficulties deifying individuals when it should be the movement the unions that we uh promote. uh because we glorify individuals. Uh we have statues, we have parks, we have schools named after uh people who some would consider traitors because they were confederates who who uh uh separated from the Union. And so and so but but they're still honored. Um, and I I think that uh if we switched it from honoring those individuals and honored what they stood for, which was separation of the union, would we still honor them? So, so um I I think it's the idea the uh organization of movements that should be glorified as opposed to individuals. Shall we take a vote now?

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, so the the name is very important and I'd love Dolores. Uh, she along with Cesar Chavez and many others uh helped my dad my dad was a farm worker and he was a farm worker at the time that they were trying to create all this. So that is very important. Uh but when we talk about just one person again just a quick Google search a couple of articles from many years ago and they kind of gotten forgotten but there's individuals like Dolores we have Maria Moreno recognized as the first Mexican-American farm worker hired as a union organizer uh Jesse Dela Cruz Helen Favlla Chavez uh there's Vanica Ramirez and a lot of other individuals who contributed these are just the Latino side and we also have the Filipino side. So just again I go back to if we just name one I think it would be now that we have this opportunity to pause and really take in what has happened and with the movement. So I think there's a couple things happening. There's a recognizing the movement that happened many years ago. So we have that opportunity to pause and make sure that we're recognizing accordingly. I think that's what the conversation we're having. So we make sure that we uplift as many voices as possible. And then as we're having the conversation about what to name it because what's there in the name, let's not forget the reason we're even here and it's because of the hineas stuff that Caesar Chavez is accused of and has been confirmed which is the sexual assault allegations. And it's important to recognize that no matter when you did it and no matter how powerful you may be or how influential you may be, whether you're an elected official, whether you are an individual that is uplifting a movement, that is very important that you are held to

accountability and that this is inappropriate regardless of who you may be. And there should be no one out there that should suffer from being a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault from anybody. Doesn't matter who that person may be. And we had the you the me too movement several years ago. And I'm surprised this wasn't brought up again with more force at that time. Dolores Werta mentioned in some of the interviews that I've seen, she was more focused on the movement that she didn't speak up because she also thought it was only for ju just her. So, let's take this opportunity to make sure that individuals, anyone out there that has been a victim of sexual assault or sexual harassment, take this opportunity to uplift them and give them the opportunity to come forward and to speak up and provide them a safe space in Richmond, in California, and within all of our communities. So, let's not forget that as we're trying to figure out what we're calling this holiday coming up. So, I want to just start with that. Um, and I appreciate the suggestion for Farm Workers Movement Day. I think that speaks volumes to what we're trying to do. Um, and there might not always be a perfect name for such a great movement that uplifted so many. And as the caller mentioned, all the way from New York City, they were participating. And I think this show, this movement showed that when we're all come together, we can really uplift and touch, not physically, but touch in the way that you're creating a life for people out there uh to help uplift them

because this helped my dad, which helped me be here today as well. So, thank you, Council Member Jimenez.

Yeah, thank you. And thank you, Council Member Sepeda, for bringing this. I think this shows the integrity of people in this city and the leadership uh that um something like this horrific happened. We are taking actions and I wish we had we can do that at the federal level because we had the steam files and nobody had been um prosecuted or we are no saying anything about that. But I uh this is how we show that uh leadership and I hope that uh steam files uh start being a center in at the the national level to really prosecute these uh people who did horrific things and nobody is above the law the law even if they are billionaires. Um so thank you and I agree that um and I thank you that you mention all other women's because yeah I love Dolores Wuerta. I think like is really um terrific what happened and that she comes out uh right now and I think like it shows um how women's has been just quiet because they are afraid. Um, but I understand um the the significance of doing this to tonight uh for the city of Richmond and I agree that is a name that we want to do to uh uplift everybody who was part of that movement. um to uh uplift all the women's there and that um we don't

just put one ahead because when that head gets out then the whole movement gets um impact. So um yeah so I just I will vote yes on this and thank you. Okay, we have a a motion and a second. We have a motion by Council Member Wilson, seconded by Mayor Martinez, to change the name to Farm Workers Movement Day. Council member Bono, yes. Council member Jimenez, C. Council member Wilson,

yes. Vice Mayor Robinson, yes. Council member Zepa and Mayor Martinez. The motion passes with council member Brown absent.

Okay. Now we move to item sorry under study and action session item Q1 to receive an initial report regarding the city's ongoing and planned efforts related to safeguarding residents from federal civil immigration enforcement actions including US customs and immigration forcement raids. There's anyone joining us online that would like to address the council on this item, please raise your hand at this time. KCRT and please put the PowerPoint presentation.

Uh, good evening, Bonano. Um, my name is Gavin Ardondo, project manager for the city of Richmond. And we also have our chief of police, Tim Simmons, and Kimchin, city attorney's office. Uh, today we're going to provide next slide, please. Next slide, please. Uh today as part of the motion that was passed on February 3rd, uh we were uh the first part of the motion was that we will report back to the city council regarding the city's ongoing and planned efforts related to safeguard residents from f federal immigration enforcement activities and ICE rates. So we will first begin uh by talking about what we already have on the books already our landscape analysis within the city of what we have been working on and then we will be talking about uh the implementation plan and the development of update of the ordinance. But first of all I just wanted to thank all the immigrant legal service providers. It's been amazing uh to see them in action and um as city staff this has been a new topic at least for myself and being able to see how they organize and coordinate and try to support our community has been inspiring. I think that pushes us internally to to move ahead and we're also grateful that the city council has also provided leadership and funding for uh these efforts. So our next slide please. Um, so I'm going to give an overview of uh our ongoing efforts. I'm Kimberly Chin, senior assistant city attorney from the city attorney's office.

If I may, we we need we just lost forum. We need to I think that we're back. Thank you. Okay, you continue.

All right. So the city has a long established history of fostering an atmosphere of trust and cooperation with its residents, including the immigrant community that started in 1990. The city council passed ordinance 2990NS, which adopted a policy regarding responding to oral and written requests for information from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE. This ordinance provided the city manager or the chief of police with the authority to decide whether the information requested shall be given or whether cooperation or assistance shall be provided. The city manager and the chief of police were directed to to quote consider the possible disruption and inconvenience that may be experienced by the immigrant and refugee community in the city of Richmond and any requirements of any federal, state or local law or court decision. Then in 2018, the city council passed ordinance 1218NS, which prohibited the city from entering into a contract or agreement with any person or entity that provided ICE with any data broker or extreme vetting ser extreme vetting services unless there was a specific determination that no reasonable alternative exists. It also prohibited the city from investing in any investment vehicle issued by any provider of data broker or extreme vetting services to ICE. Then last year in 2025, the city council passed ordinance 8-25NS, which added chapter 2.30 to the Richmond Municipal Code. Specifically, it added section 2.30.030, 030, which specifically states that no city resources, including city personnel and city property, shall be utilized to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law, among other things, unless required by federal or state statute, regulation, or a court decision. This ordinance built upon the city's prior legislation by providing clear limitations on the usage of city resources, including city property, to assist with federal immigration efforts, and sought to maintain the relationship

of trust between the city of Richmond and all of its residents, including its immigrant community, protect the safety, well-being, and constitutional rights of Richmond residents, ensure effective policing, and direct the city's limited resources to matters of greatest concern. and then I'll hand it over to Chief.

Uh, good evening, council. So, in compliance with California Senate Bill 54, the Richmond Police Department has a long-standing immigration policy that comports with California law, being a California sanctuary state. Uh, in the last year or so, we've gone through the process of making our policy more compliant, more strict from beyond just the state law and and compliant with our sanctuary city policies. And a lot of the areas that used to have uh shell um um discretionary lines, we moved those into areas where they're shall not. And I just want to highlight what some of those are that are some of the differences from our policy uh compliant with a sanctuary city policy compared to just SP54 uh uh Richmond Police Department policy section 414 uh 2.1. It's titled under immigration sweeps and special enforcement. This is another shall. This is a shall not. Richmond Police Department does not or shall not conduct any immigration sweep or engage in any concentrated effort to identify or detain suspected undocumented individuals. And this is some of the stuff we're seeing in some other states and jurisdictions where immigration enforcement is coming in and they're conducting these type of sweeps and you're seeing at times what looks like local law enforcement having participation in some way, shape or form. We have a shell not in that area. It is not a discretionary area in our policy. 414.2.2. Uh it's ICE request for assistance. U if the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests assistance from this department for support services such as traffic control or keep the peace or perimeters, things like that, efforts, authorization shall not be granted. In other words, there's no discretion for a watch commander or any other law enforcement personnel with Richmond PD to decide they're going to participate. It is a shall not. Uh,

another area that's a shall not uh is 414.2.4 notification of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is the policy of the city of Richmond and the Richmond Police Department that the department shall not comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold requests or ICE detainers. I do want to make a distinguishing difference here. We have a shall not in our policy as it relates to those types of things. When an individual that might be in our custody is booked into a county jail, I am unsure as to what the policy of the sheriff is as it relates to how those holds in detainers are honored or not honored. I can tell you we do not honor them, but I can't sit here and speak for another jurisdiction as to how they honor. I know I've heard times that they do and there's times that they don't and I'm not sure as to what the distinguishing differences are when they do and when they don't. Um 414.4 immigration inquiries are prohibited. Uh this section is officers shall not inquire into an individual's immigration status for immigration enforcement purposes. Those are questions that our personnel are not even allowed to ask. and if found out that they're asked any of those types of things for immigration purposes, that's a violation of our policy and um our personnel would be subject to discipline. Uh those are the primary areas of the shall nots that I really wanted to highlight as it relates to our policy. Our policy is eight pages long. I encourage members of the public to find it um on uh the city of Richmond's website. It's under our transparency portal. You'll see my beautiful picture pop up on the right hand side. Can't miss it. Um on the left hand side you'll see a transparency drop-own menu where the entire policy uh is available for the public and for the council for that matter. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh next slide. We can't see the slides up up here this whole screen

but if uh you're on on slide five. Okay great. ongoing efforts and moving forward. Uh additional uh policies and procedures we have internally. Uh even uh when the federal government you started seeing more public information, immigration enforcement activities, there was a lot of fear and questions uh from our staff internally about what would happen if ICE would show up to city facilities. So through the leadership of our human resources department, uh limited assistance protocol was developed um and city staff were trained uh related to how to contact our city attorney's office. We have a a 24-hour line uh if um ICE would show up to a city facility, more clear signage, and this uh limit assistance protocol is something that we have as an internal city staff department on how we communicate with uh with each other and also with uh the city attorney's office. In addition to that, human resources has also provided counseling uh services for staff impacted uh during these situations or these heightened uh immigration enforcement activities that happen throughout the nation. Uh so we've actually had uh services available for staff. Um and also because you know city staff also have families that are from uh mixed status families also and we serve mixed status families. Other resources we have in in this area is the municipal ID program. Um and also uh the current uh outreach and legal services funding that we have that is uh used for residents uh which the uh some of the outreach is mainly focused on uh know your rights education and defensive and affirmative legal services. Next slide. So the first three months of the program we have gotten some initial data uh

related to the three organizations working on the programs and we have some initial deliverables that they have sent to us related to uh the work. Uh we're also working internally with the department of children and youth to also get better m metrics and be able to communicate this to the community and to the council on the funding uh every quarter on how our immigrant legal services and public awareness campaign providers are doing. Next slide. So the limit assistance protocol, we will be continuing training and implementing that internally as we get uh we're also getting as we get new staff um and also outreach to across the city. Next slide. Another main component to the motion was to create a implementation strategy. So the motion requires the development of a coordinated implementation strategy including interdimenal interdep departmental protocols staff training which we have some of it addressed through the protocol and a community facing preparedness and communications plan. Next slide. The community facing preparness and communications plan. We have gotten a lot of feedback uh related to what should it entail. This will entail uh communications of how we will communicate between city staff. How will we communicate with the rapid response networks and community based organizations and then after that how will we communicate to the public and through what mechanisms you know text websites alert systems existing or if new new ones need to be created. So currently city staff have been evaluating different messaging platforms and also existing also researching existing uh um networks that are currently provided by the rapid response networks. Next slide.

Uh as part of our uh communication and preparedness uh part of the direction from the from the motion is encouraging the development of neighborhood safety plans. Community based organizations have already developed plans of what to do with families to prepare ahead of time if there's any separations at school districts and also businesses are also doing the same on how they should prepare in case there's increased immigration enforcement activities impacting their businesses or their workers. Uh community based organizations have developed these templates. So we're also reviewing them on how we should incorporate into our uh publicly facing strategy. Next slide. So from the two comm community the two community engagement meetings that we had uh we had about 70 participant about uh 70 participants. We had an inperson meeting here at uh uh the city council chambers and also through zoom. So some of the main community input uh areas was the use of multiple social media platforms and also gearing the social media platforms to different age ranges. Different age ranges use different social media platforms. uh making the resource available in multiple language beyond English and Spanish. Uh mobile trainings and services in the community. The issue related to how we're going to outreach to the unhoused uh related to our strategy and services came up. We also had suggestions related to improvements in the municipal ID program in its outreach um uh in its outreach to also the unhoused community. Um uh we also got comments related that to that the plan should also have a section related to our communication to the school district, our community college system and cities and neighborhoods around here uh in this Bay Area because we're not just alone in Richmond when there's enforcement activities. Uh we should be clear on how we will be communicating between all these systems.

And next slide will provide an update on the development of the ordinance. Um, so as I already stated, we currently have Richmond Municipal Code section 2.30.030 that already states, "No city resources, including but not limited to city personnel and city property, shall be utilized to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law unless required by federal or state law. The city attorney's office is currently working on amendments to this chapter that would clarify what the existing limitation on the use of city-owned property encompasses, including preventing the use of city property as a staging area processing location or operational base for civil immigration enforcement. We're also looking at amendments to clarify what the existing limitation on the use of city resources means. Um the amendments may also delineate departmental responsibilities to implement and train employees on the limited assistance protocol that we previously discussed. It will also memorialize the development of the external communications plan that Gimpino just spoke about and establish reporting requirements um regarding the implementation of RMC chapter 2.30. We anticipate that the proposed amendments will be ready in April to ensure thorough review before they are presented for the city council's final approval.

Next slide. So our next steps would be that you the revised ordinance will come here to the city council for discussion and approval. Uh we will continue uh with our community input meetings and engagements. We have already received three requests from different community based organizations to give more input after the community uh meetings. Um and also city staff are researching existing service providers that could also support community engage in activities and communication related to this plan. And also if the city council thinks it's important to give feedback at a faster pace, we also have uh put a consideration if there would be an interest to have an ad hoc related to this um topic. And last slide. Thank you. And that's it for our presentation today. And it was today was to receive a report on our ongoing and planned efforts.

Mayor, if I may, I would just like to thank um all of the speakers this evening and also to acknowledge all the city staff across the organization that have been involved in this effort. has been a significant undertaking and it's um been an opportunity for us to ensure that we're trying to meet residents where they are and improve service delivery. Um and it's also just a testament to the values of our staff and their commitment to serving residents and that um and acknowledging that this has been a really difficult time for a lot of our community and and the city of Richmond is is doing our best to adapt to the changing environment at the federal level. Thank you. Thank you. Much agreed. Uh, do we have public speakers?

We have one online speaker. Okay. Shall we hear? Okay. The speaker is Deborah. Deborah, you'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Thank you. I'm here with the city council survivor game. Uh, so I want to just say that I think this is wonderful and I hope that Richmond will take advantage of this opportunity to do some real public education around the history of the sanctuary movement in America. The way the media reports on it, it's as if it was done in response to Donald Trump. And the fact is is that we've had sanctuary cities in America for more than 40 years in response to our policies in Central and Latin America. And a lot of that history has been lost. I think it's a real opportunity for us to talk about that, to talk about the way in which the movement sprung up in our faith communities for people who believe that it was important for them inside of their faith um tradition to support those people who through no fault to their of their own found themselves in need of sanctuary. I also think it's important for us to educate the public about the relationship between migration patterns and the level of US involvement and intervention in Central and Latin America. There's such a disconnect between what's happening and what we've done. Richmond has been is and continues to be a city that has been a leader in California in innovations in ways that many people would describe as progressive I describe as being common sense. I think it's common sense in inside of developing these sanctuary policies to explain to the public where they originate from, why we have them, why we need them, and why they're important for the maintenance of American democracy. So, kudos. Thank you. Educate the public.

Thank you. And that was the last speaker. Public comment is closed. Uh, Council Member Jimenez.

Yeah. Thank you so much for the information. I think it's great to see how what what we have and what we are doing and how the money that we are putting towards supporting our immigrant community is doing their work. Um I want to ask city attorney when is the first reading of the ordinance coming back to council? The goal is April 7th for first reading and then second reading would be April 21st and then 30 days to go into effect. So 30 days thereafter. Awesome. Thank you so much. I know that. I thank thank my colleague Kimberly Chen who's doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

Thank you Kimberly. Yeah, we we had met with you and is it's refreshing to know how um the staff all the staff here is is really committed to support and protect our immigrant community. I have a question because we just saw uh in the news what happened in San Francisco um airport

and one of the things that we were talking about protocols is to know how um our police department and all our staff is going to react in cases like that or in cases where um if the National Guard or I is coming here and if people start protect protesting um and marching how what is the the role of the staff to protect the life of every resident here. So what we saw in San Francisco was that the San Francisco PD created a circle around ice and some of the leaders and attorneys are saying that that is in violation of their sanctuary policy. So my question to the chief is in cases like that come happening to Richmond, what is the plan and how RPD will react to that?

Yeah. No, that's a that's a great question. In regards to what happened in San Francisco, um I don't know the details to to that particular situation other than what I've also read as well. But I I'll tell you that we've had one request um by Department of Homeland Security to provide a perimeter for them, which was emphatically denied. We will not participate. We will not uh I mean it was a flatout no and that was the end of that. Um, we would not protect ICE to do their job uh in any way, shape or form. Our main priority is going to be how to protect first amendment rights of our residents, how to protect our residents properties, how to protect our residents lives, things of that nature, people that live here in this community. Um, not how to make way for the federal immigration enforcement to do their jobs. And the best example I can give is the one denial we've already given them when they asked for that support and we said no.

Yeah. Thank you so much. And I think like uh I really trust that that is happening and this is what but also it's important to have it in writing and the protocols. This is what like people are calling about what is the protocols how we can make sure that this is uh the mandate that is not just one person but it's the mandate of everybody. So thank you for that. And then my last question is how do you plan to to coordinate with the school district to protect families? Because as we know

um some of the like the district has also can reach out to many uh community members really fast. And we want to make sure that the communication they are sending is the right one. But also just in case I is here uh if they are in the schools what is that coordination? Yes. So that issue came up in the community meetings. Originally when staff was creating our draft implementation strategy we were mainly f we we didn't have a section on the school district. So you know that's one thing we're adding. Um and also it's due diligence for myself as a staff member and our team uh to talk about the protocols that the school district have and see how they could link. Um I haven't formally worked with the school district like you know in eight or 10 years. So you know connecting with our new uh leadership there I think it's going to be important to include how we could both support each other. But I know informally there's communication that happens between um you know police, city manager's office or any community services when school district uh contacts us. But I think that's a section that needs to be uh stronger related to how we communicate with the school district and our partners.

Yeah. Uh can can I add one thing to that? Yeah. So on Saturday, um I had a meeting with uh 24 leaders in the Latina Center, and there were a couple of the leaders in that group that talked about having um walk uh programs where they will walk kids to school um that might be either a at risk or fearful of being at risk of some type of um immigration enforcement or activity. And one of the things that we offered to them uh to help resource them was through our crime prevention unit training them in awareness um h how to be aware how uh making sure they have like ready kits you know with phone numbers and if something were to happen how they can have like a rapid preparedness who to call here's the phone number for Catholic Charities let's put it in your cell phone now like a variety of different things how we can support um the folks in the Latina center I'm speaking specifically about them because that's who I was with on Saturday, but we would offer this to really any group that wanted to do something similar. Now, this is not a direct link to the school district. So, it's not a direct answer to your question, but it is vicariously in that we know that there are families that have kids that have to walk to school that are young and because their parents are leaving for work early or they're coming home late and they have to walk home. and trying to help provide buddies um that are community leaders and connect them so they have safe passage to and from school um as they're walking. So, we're working on some of those types of things, too.

Yeah. Thank you. And again, thank you everybody um for the work that you are doing. Um I just wanted to say there is a um rapid response with over 600 residents in a in a list. Um it's a group where um people are ready like it's volunteers residents who are ready to support any family in need. So and I think like you had been in conversation with some of the leaders in that group. So thank you so much and yeah looking forward for the ordinance and the work uh to protect our community in these times that are really hard. Thank you.

I'd uh like some clarification. If ICE agents were in the city of Richmond and you saw them violating someone's first amendment rights, how would you protect them from that violation?

So, I think it's important that we recognize that that ICE agents are another law enforcement agency, right? and our policy, state law and our policy explicitly restricts our ability of interceding and and interrupting any other law enforcement's actions. Now, if somebody's life was at risk, like like there is a duty to intercede, if there's use of force that is um not reasonable, but we would have to have the facts. We would have to know what's going on. But but state law and our policy is very explicit about interceding. Like we can't prohibit or intercede and we cannot allow and protect and like we have to maintain the sort of neutral ground if they're engaged in some sort of enforcement action.

But if their first first amendment rights are being violated, you would have to ignore that.

Well, how would I know if their first amendment rights are being violated? like if there's a like I would have to conduct an investigation to find out do you have a judicial warrant? Let me see this warrant. Like that's engaging and that's interfering with their their activities. Um and I I would actually defer a question like this even to the the the city attorney because there's certain like we would put the city in a potentially a liabus situation if we violate our own policies and our own state laws to that point. I mean, I think you're saying, you know, you're drawing a legal conclusion with like violating the First Amendment. So, I think it's pretty fact specific. I think you would have to case by case basis. You'd have to make a determination. So, I don't think there it's it's, you know, I don't think it's I think it's fact specific. I don't know if Kimberly has more to add on this, but

yeah, I mean, I agree. I think um any constitutional violation is considered within the totality of the circumstances. And so um there as the chief said there is a fine line between and we know this that the federal government is prosecuting officials that they see to be interfering with federal immigration efforts. So while and I think we had this in our presentation. While we are doing everything we can to ensure that we are not assisting with federal immigration effort, there is a fine line between assisting and then interfering. And we do know of examples where the federal government has chosen to prosecute um local officials for their interference. So, you know, we are doing everything we can following our own state law, our own uh policies and law, but we are also mindful of the fact that we do not want to put city staff or any of you in a position where the federal government could view your actions as interfering. We will not assist them, but we will not interfere with their immigration efforts.

Yes, we know that ICE agents like to shoot people that interfere. Okay. Uh the other thing is uh concerning DACA students, uh if there are council members who are interested in being part of a ad hoc committee to uh uh help staff um move this forward. Um I'd be interested in knowing who you are and I would hope that you would include DACA students in that. So interested. Okay. Okay. So there's also have a question.

Yes. Go ahead. Uh thank you. Thank you for the presentation and and the update. Um first thing uh the presentation can we get the latest presentation uploaded to the site? There's a two variations. So just one one thought there. I think the main difference was the date if I'm not mistaken or there's a couple differences in the slides. The community input. Yeah. Yeah. Just a little bit. But I was trying to follow along and I was I got lost there. So, thank you. Uh, for the ILSPAC, that's the your acronym for the ILS PAC. Uh, it says low income. How are we defining low income?

Um, I believe they use uh I actually don't don't know. So, if we can maybe figure that out because if ISIS is coming, they're going to be coming after everybody. And if they're coming after the breadwinners, you're going to figure out income might not be the the right thing to look at. I think it might just be looking at those that need the assistance. If they come for the for the again the main bread winner, you're going to leave other individuals that maybe their income is higher because the um we don't have income uh restrictions to provide this the service to rich. It was on one of the slides that said it says provide free or lowcost legal consultations.

So one of the slides said uh that's good. I it won't I won't be able to match the slide that you have.

But I could I could confirm um but from my understanding we don't have income restrictions for you to receive the service. So continue to implement awareness of illspac provides free or lowincome legal consultations, case screenings, and full scope representation for eligible lowincome residents. So that's one of the slides. Uh this one that I'm looking at is slide 11. Oh, and this is slide 10. So it's in there. We can just kind of either figure out how to get rid of it because I think everyone's going to need Yeah, it's it's also the service providers get a multitude of strings of money and some may be tied to low income because they when they see the family, they don't just just don't say you're in the Richmond program. They try to see which services might fit uh for the family to try to come up with a package to support that family. So, I'll clarify. Thank you. Thank you. Um and the next question is goes along with the the the word interference and I want to see if I can get a little more definition. Could RPD help alert us or the community when we're aware that ICE is somewhere around enrichment?

Yeah, absolutely. And I think we do our best to do that now when we become aware that there's something I' I know I've sent emails to the council. There's been communications uh I've communicated with uh the text line that even Councilwoman uh Himemenz has mentioned um trying to get information out when I'm aware of what is going on. Normally we're finding out about like it's either happening at this moment or they're leaving and we found out what occurred and we're trying to get information out to let people know what we know.

Could we say they are at the corner of A and B as an example? Was that I'm trying to figure out the the the the interference part. So we're not interfering, but can we let community know we saw a nice vehicle at the corner of A and B corner? that would be

what has been happening is that information um has been provided to the mayor's office and um the mayor's office has been assisting with posting that information um and that has been uh an effective strategy and it also provides um a buffer right because I think some information we want to be thoughtful about how it's conveyed and from whom it is conveyed And so this um allows there to be uh an internal sort of screening and factchecking and verification process. And um and if I I may I I do want to commend Tony for for uh and the mayor's office for working collaboratively with city staff um in this effort because it it is it has been really dynamic, right? like every it's like we're we're constantly sort of pivoting and adjusting to whatever the new normal that's really deplorable that is happening, right? And so it it has been important and helpful that city staff that have resources and skill sets that they've been willing to be a part of this interdep departmental team to support Richmond residents and so want to thank the mayor's office for for their involvement.

Thank you. And then I'm going somewhere with this here questioning as well. So there's an app called Koki. Now, I don't know if we're using it or not. COQUI uh is an app that I would it was brought to my attention through other uh immigrant communities where you can post not just for immigration purposes, but other stuff that's going around in communities. Um it's not very active in Richmond, but maybe it's something that we can help activate uh and use it more in Richmond. Um last week we voted on flock cameras. They help track the license plate readers. If we know that ICE is running around, could we help by figuring out where they're going using our technology?

We would be able to verify like who the car is registered to. Okay. And so here here's what here's the thing with the federal government. They're not they're not driving around. My experience is they're not driving around in federal government cars. They're they're renting cars. Okay?

So that creates a challenge. But it will let us know that if hey, this is a rental car and that that's a clue, right? If it's a rental car, okay, that allows us to go down at least one more step to figure out, okay, who's renting this car? But it's it's uh to the city manager's point, it's a lot of trying to fact check and get to the bottom of um you know, I I I will say um uh that the the team that that uh Councilwoman Menace mentioned um has been really instrumental in helping to get real information out there, even taking pictures and sending pictures and do we recognize this group, this patch, this car, those types of things. Um that's been one expeditious way of trying to debunk false information.

Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. I mean if we can use the technology that we have uh would be great as a tool for for our community positive tool for our community. Um and that's it for now. Thank you so much. Council member uh Vice Mayor Robinson.

Yeah. So, I I have maybe just a line of questions that have come up from being in community meetings that have to do with whether or not we if the the the kind of protocols that we're talking about today will deal with things like um kind of after something happens um in investigation. So, I'm thinking specifically of this odd position that local authorities in um Minnesota. Yes. Um were put into when they have, you know, a homicide and they have to decide whether or not they're going to investigate and if they're able to investigate together. And I I wonder will our policy address what whether or not we will or will not investigate um what may be crimes committed by federal agents while they're in our jurisdiction. um you know, not interfere with them, but you know, if if we determine, you know, after their their thing is done that there may have been a crime committed, will we investigate?

So, that's a that's also a great question. So, um any officer involved shooting that occurs in the city of Richmond that does not involve a Richmond employee, we would be the host investigating agency in that case. So we would investigate it in its totality along with the protocol with the Contraosta County Sheriff's Office. So

there would be a sh uh uh we would be doing a criminal investigation to answer your question. Yes, we would be and so would the county leafy law enforcement involved fatal incident protocol. They would be also doing an investigation. They would be called in as well. So uh there would be that same dual investigation would be taking place. What about smaller not smaller but yeah maybe smaller crimes. Some of the things that you see on television in other other jurisdictions are things like you know people who are car windows are being broken and they're being dragged out even then and they're telling the the federal agent you know I'm a US citizen you know and they get maybe dragged off and then dropped off in some random location. Um,

so yeah. No. So, so if we had a resident in Richmond that wanted to anybody for any reason that wanted to file a criminal complaint, we would investigate that criminal complaint and present it to the district attorney's office. The way we would investigate anybody in our community that believes they were victimized um by a crime, regardless of who it is, we would investigate that. Thank you, Council Member Jimenez. Yeah, I have um just kind of like a question about the ad hoc. You you are recommending at at a hawk. What is like I'm sorry if I missed more of the information.

Well, depending on how the city council thinks things are going, right? Sometimes it's a dynamic evolving situation and the council wants to continue to have rapid input into the policy uh matter before we come back to the city council. And then other times you feel like the information that's presented to you is sufficient and you think staff is moving along collectively in the manner that you anticipated. So I think this situation is very dynamic. um it it has a significant impact on our our residents and so we want to make sure that if the council has a desire to continue to be engaged that you you we're we want to facilitate that. Uh if the council's interested in having an ad hoc, it seems like this is a a pressing matter for the community and there's a lot of uh you know interest in uh what's emerging. So that was why it was included in the staff report.

Yeah. I I just I want to make sure like that by doing the ad hoc won't delay the policy. That is my my concern about an ad hoc that we start having these meetings but nothing is coming to the city council for approval of the whole city council.

Yeah. I mean it wouldn't be my intention but I mean I think we should stick to the April 7th deadline. I just wasn't sure. But there's also in addition to the ordinance, right? There's these these three ent there's currently three entities that the city is funding, right? And um since there seems to be a lot of inquiry on like what are they doing and so on and so forth just in the spirit of being adaptive and transparent want to make sure that um that we're able to to meet the desired outcomes of the government. So it's beyond also the ordinance. Okay. So I will recommend or I don't know like city attorney do you

No, I was just saying that as drafted and we don't we don't have final draft yet uh for you know first reading on the seventh but it gives some flexibility and some latitude for the the modifications to the implementation plan such that you you could modify it administratively um and so because things were changing so you don't go back to amend the ordinance every time and so I think in that respect the ad hoc could be you know beneficial to kind of weigh in on some modific potential modifications, you know, down the road to the implementation plan if if necessary.

Okay. Thank you. I I I think like I will be interested in being in this ad hub and I think I will recommend that Doria and I will be in this ad hop with the mayor since we had been the ones leading and bringing these items to the city council um to to be able to be in this ad hoc. Thank you.

Okay. that that was a recommendation. Uh how um I believe Cesar Anoi volunteered to be on the ATO. We also have a very strong um indivisible movement in our community and it's important to be a part of this. So sir I volunteer because I there was nobody else but I can just wait to for the to come back. Okay. I think having good representation across the area was good. Well, um, so we have Yes.

I just would like to say that, you know, my district has a very large population of people who would be directly impacted and are directly impacted. I think that I would be um happy to continue this effort. I brought it forward. This not the first one that I co-sponsored and I I just think that it's really um there's a lot of a lot of people in in in my district who are vulnerable.

Okay. Well, um I I hope you're not offended if if I um have Doria, Vice Mayor uh Robinson, uh Council Member Jimenez, who has been working with the Latino community and myself being be being continuing the work that we're doing. Wow. I would say I hope you're not offended if I'll be working with Claudia and Doria because we're directly in touch with our communities. I understand you're the mayor, but districts have their own needs, right? But but my office

you're the boss, you're the mayor, you decide Well, that's not the point. The point is that my office has been doing a lot of the work already. Okay, fine. All right. So then um it will be council member Jimenez, Vice Mayor, and myself. All right. Thank you for the uh presentation. So, do we need a motion to make that official? No. No. The mayor does. We need a motion to extend a meeting if we're going to extend it. Yeah. I make a motion to extend the meeting. Uh I second it.

Extend the meeting to to discuss the item the cheese park item item Q2.

So that was a motion by council member Jimenez, second by council member Bana. Okay. Council member Bana, yes. Council member Jimenez, yes. Vice Mayor Robinson, yes. Council member Wilson, yes. Council member Zepeda, yes. And Mayor Martinez, yes.

The vote is unanimous. Okay, we're moving to item Q2. And that item is to adopt a resolution to direct city staff to prepare a comprehensive work plan for improve improvements at Cheese Park, including permanent restrooms, a drinking water fountain, playground restoration, safety fencing around the toddler area, completion of repainting started by volunteers. a design of park facilities that include sports courts, senior activity spaces, teen activity areas, and exercise fitness amenities in consultation with the community and improving the drainage for the area adjacent to the park that has historically been used as a soccer field to restore its usability for soccer and other activi active recreation and identify feasible funding sources. Fiscal year 2627 capital improvement program and operating budget process. We have three person speakers. If there's anyone joining us online that would like to address the council on this item, please raise your hand at this time.

Mr. Mayor, may I we have a present? Yes, please.

I would like to start by thanking um the council, my fellow council member and Mr. mayor for extending the time for this item. Thank you very much. I also would like to thank uh public works and the city manager for helping to put this item the wording together and also um may I ask KCRT to please share this slide about parks. Um so the 2010 Richmond master parks plan says that all parks should have certain amenities. are all community parks and Le Moine Park which is in the community known as Cheese Park because of the look of its structure is one of the community parks listed there. And if you pay attention after the first paragraph, it says, "A community park must, and it's capitalized, have certain amenities, um, including restrooms, um, sports fields, um, and, uh, amenities for senior activities and everything. Um, thank you, KCRT. I appreciate it." Um, Le Moine Park or Cheese Park does not have any of these um, amenities. What it has is a grass field, no bathroom. Um, there's a toddler area without a fence around it. Interestingly, public works has put a sign saying mountain lions and there's no fence around the toddler area to keep children from running into a street or into the bushes where the mountain lion may be. Uh so it's a matter of public safety issue too. Um and lack of restroom is not just an inconvenience is an equity issue. Public works has kindly put a por but that's not addressed. Many people don't use it. It's not ideible. Children hate it. Um,

parks are for everyone and they should have amenities for everyone. For the youth, for children, toddlers and seniors. So, let's make them for everyone. Um, again, it's a matter of dignity, accessibility, and public health. Parks are a place for community gatherings, and this community does not have any such place. I mean, if you need to use the restroom, you have to go home. You cannot use a park and there's not much to do in the park. Uh no fitness center, no playfield. Interestingly, it's right by Valley View Elementary School. If you visit Valley View Elementary School, you see portable buildings, all portable buildings on an asphalt pad, not even trees. There's only one single tree. I attended an event once and the sun was burning. This is right next to that with no amenities. There's also Morphy's elementary school nearby. Um, there is Yanza High School. There's Sheldon School. So, there are many children in the district that could use it. And we need to align our actions with our plan and develop this park. Um, I would also like to thank the residents who were here, Terry, for the past three meetings to make a public comment. Many of them didn't last so long. So um again and I would like to thank um council member Claudia Jimenez for co-sponsoring this item. Would you like

to ask?

Yeah, thank you. I think uh for me it's about how we start really putting in on the CIP plan all the parks and all the the all not only the park but everything that we need to be be putting money towards um to make the whole Richmond much better and look better. So, I appreciate the advocacy that council member Bana um had done around this park. And one of the things that I I really like about it is that we are looking for uh other places to see where um soccer fields or other fields uh multi-use fields can be put. And I feel like this is as the plan said is a community part that can have that. So, I want to make sure that um it's not just one council that is telling the staff, okay, go and look at this, but is a city council direction where um they can look at this, let us know how much money is, put it in the CIP and start having a process of when uh we can start having done in investments in in the park. Um so yeah, thank you.

Thank you. Um yeah, I would like to sorry I would like to add that there's a grass field there that I used to take my children for soccer games. Again, lack of bathrooms was a problem, but still they could play soccer if they could hold it and that's not usable anymore. So it'd be wonderful to develop that playing field into the soccer field that is very much needed for the community. Um yeah, so all the capital improvement project funds had been allocated before district 4 had a voice and I came to the council. So I'm asking uh my fellow council members please to consider equity for district 4. They pay taxes too and they really need it um for the mental health of the seniors, for community gatherings, for for everything, all the activities. We do need a functional, practical community park. Thank you.

Do we have public speakers? We have three inperson speakers. The speakers are Don Gazny, Terry Ed Linger, and Jamon Percel. And we have one online speaker, Don Gazley.

Good evening. How many times have we all felt the need and simply cannot find a sanitary facility close by? When you get a little older or have kids, the need becomes more immediate. How can any of us argue against putting in sanitary units at every park or in our business community? But then we see an initiative like we're seeing tonight where arguments will be will be made pushing for one sanitary unit in a specific park to the exclusion of every other park in Richmond. Why are we being excluded? Exactly what is so special about this park and the people that use it that make it so special? Why should this be park be so blessed when all the parks all around town in our neighborhoods have nothing better than a a thinly hidden bush? Most of us know that there are certain rules and protocols in place that our community and elected leaders are supposed to follow to get community amenities. Were those protocols followed for this sanitary unit? Was the proper city department given an opportunity to weigh in? Were the parks and recck people seated at the table to give advice and weigh in? I'm asking, inquiring minds want to know. And then we remember that this is Richmond where everything becomes political as we've seen tonight time and time again. We have an election coming up in just five weeks and we're seeing efforts being made that come across by a lot of people as an effort to just buy votes. We're seeing political alliances that being made pushing for things where it looks like nothing is being done for the people just the people in a given district where the kind of candidates are currying favor even if it means that the rest of Richmond is left out. We've certainly seen this time and time again here in Richmond and sadly this effort makes smacks of campaigning. Maybe 60 Minutes should come back into town and air a story on how political and corrupt Richmond has become. I'd buy tickets to watch that show. We're seeing political alliances being made by elected leaders that could barely stand each other, but now our partners because they each wants to leech off of what the other can provide, especially with pork barrel items like this. Come back with a proposal to take care of all of Richmond

and not just the people in one small corner of the city. Take advantage of the established procedures and protocols before asking for something like this. Our next speaker is Terry Hedinger. Um, my name is Terry Edinger. Um, I would like to say for my community, I've lived in my close to Cheese Park, Le Moy Park since 1985. And I've watched the community change over the years. And there's many more families and people really looking to find things to do. And in our neighborhood, there's not that many things to do, especially outdoor fun activities. And that park has been neglected for many, many years. And um we we've tried to get funds for it. I'm on the committee to help paint it. Um there's just families that are always talking about they wish they had somewhere a community gathering space and there's nowhere like that in our community and I feel like that part of Richmond actually gets gets neglected over um some other places and um I would really like to see this park be made into a jewel of the neighborhood and and be of value to the future generations to come. Thank you, Jamie Pursc. Good evening. I want to start by saying Cheese Park deserves investment. Families in that neighborhood deserve in my neighborhood deserve safe place places, working restrooms, basic amenities. It's not a luxury. That is equity. But equity also means consistency. And that's where I have concerns. Right now, we have parks across Richmond that are aging, undermaintained, and waiting for improvements. We have a number of them within District 4. What we don't have is

a clear citywide plan that tells residents how projects are prioritized, how funding is secured, and when improvements will actually happen. This item directs staff to create a plan, but it doesn't provide funding. It doesn't set a timeline, and it doesn't explain how this project fits into the broader needs of our entire parks system. And that matters because when it bring when we bring forward items like this, we are not just starting a process. We are creating expectations in the community. We shouldn't be just creating an opportunity for political ambition. Residents hear that improvements are coming. It gives them hope. But without funding and without a clear path forward, these improvements may not materialize for years, if at all. That's false hope. That's more empty promises for a short-term political gain. We should not be in a position we are where we are highlighting one park at a time without a system to deliver for all of them. That is how we fall into political posturing instead of real results. If we are serious about equity, then we need a transparent citywide strategy with priorities, timelines, and funding attached. Not plans, not political promises, but actual delivery like the other parks that have been promised.

I will move to the online speaker. We have one online speaker. And that speaker is Arto Rentilla. You'll have two minutes to speak. You can go ahead and start.

Good afternoon or good good evening, mayor and city council. My name is Arto Retila. calling from the Fairmy Hilltop Neighborhood Council. I live in District 4. I've been here since 1965. We used to go to Cheese Park as a kid. Um, and I could tell you with 100% certainty it was never a soccer field. Um, this smacks of uh campaigning. Um, obviously, uh, Claudia Jimenez is running for mayor and, uh, and So Labana is running for city council. Um, so Hale has had four years to come up with this project, but all of a sudden, now that we're in an election season, uh, she's got had this epiphany. And by the way, I don't know if you, uh, realize this, but Matt Bates, Gary Bell, and John Marquez all came from your area uh, before you, so that's important to understand. But this does not uh, speak to equity and fairness. Uh we are a lower inome neighborhood and we deserve the same, but we're constantly overlooked by our district 4 uh representative. Um I'd like to yield my time. Thank you.

Thank you. That's it. Public comment is closed. U vice mayor.

So I want to start off by saying that I definitely support all the ambitions that are in the parks master plan. There's a lot of things that are in there that are really good. Um, I'd also say that there's a lot of things that are in there that we don't have today. Like it recommends that we have 20 soccer fields and we have one. Um, it recommends that all community parks have bathrooms and we have community parks today besides Cheese Park that do not have functioning bathrooms. They don't. Um, and so I I

I feel like it's really important for us to recognize the responsibilities that we have across our parks. I am the liaison to the parks and recreation commission. So I actually hear all of the projects that are moving forward, all of the workload that's on on the plate from CIP projects to recreation projects, just regular maintenance. And I think there is a cue of projects that are moving forward. And for me, the thing that I don't like about this is that it's trying to jump the queue. And I feel like that is inherently unfair. I feel like it it should be included on the list so that we can include it in the recommendations so it can go through all of the processes so it can start its way through that queue. I think that that should definitely happen. Um, but we spent a ton of time, multiple council sessions, work from the public works department to develop a system to give a rating to capital improvement projects where equity and other things were part of that rating. And I think we should use that system. We should use it. Why go through the the the trouble of creating a system to rank things and to put things in line um and then say, you know, that we're going to have our staff use that system and come forward with recommendations with what's going to be included in the capital improvement plan, but then not use it when it when when it doesn't get the result that we want. That to me feels disingenuous and and and not I can't support that. Um, I can support putting it on the list. I totally understand it. It should have all the things. Every park should have all the things. But I I would rather use the system that we created and have our parks department who is trying to have a programmatic approach and trying to also address maintenance issues um across things. So there's an init there's an initiative right now that we funded to actually do repairs to bathrooms and and and and you know lights and and other

things because they're not trying to wait to do massive overhauls but trying to figure out what else they could do um in on a smaller scale to improve the value of our parks overall. So, I feel like there's a lot of things that have been moving um and sometimes we got to get out of the way um and put our project on the list so it can move through the process. That's what I would like to see tonight. I don't want to ignore this need. I know it's a need. I've heard it. I I have I have actually heard So, you bring this up for the full three years. It's not a new thing. Um but I think that what we're missing is it needs to get on the list. It needs to go through the process and and then it will its number will come up.

Thank you. Um may I Yes.

We're not talking about parks. We're talking about community parks. This is the only community park as far as I know that does not have a restroom, does not have any amenities. And if there are other community parks that don't have restrooms, they should have them, too. We should add them. that that that's essential, that's important, and those amenities. And it just so happened that after having uh been talking to the city manager and public works, I finally found a copy of the master, thanks to public works who shared it with me, master parks plan uh that says every park must have it. District 4 has been neglected for a long time. CIB project have been funded for a decade without any representative from district 4 and I don't expect my political opponent to uh support this even though he lives in the district and I don't expect Vice Mayor Robinson who has endorsed my political opponent to be supporting this. But in good conscience, I'm asking city council members consider this for residents of district 4 who pay taxes like all other residents and what benefits do they get? What CIP project I'm asking um city manager in the past decade? What CIP project have you received in district for? None. Nothing. Number one complaint when I was canvasing three years ago was they pay high taxes, receive no services. I'm canvasing again and same problem continues. For the past three years I've been asking for restrooms in Cheese Park and now I've been accused of bringing it up again for being the voice of my community. Shame instead of listening to

residents on what they want. So I'm asking everyone please to consider the issue of equity. Yes, district 4 is on the other side of the freeway is usually not visible. It's usually ignored in many maps is not included. But there are people with children and seniors and needs and the urge to go to the restroom when they use the park. And the con only community center in district 4 is an old fire station across the street without any pedestrian safety lights without air conditioner without nothing. And then we've been living like that for many years. Again, it's a matter of equity. It's a matter of representation now that they have a voice on the city council. I've been accused for being a voice of my community. I don't understand. I'm seriously confused. So, um I would like to verify actually how many community parks do not have any amenities or restrooms. I wonder if the city manager or someone from public works has that information.

We would be happy to um look into that inquiry and provide a written response to the council. Oh.

Yeah. could they're outlined in respectfully that when um when these items are on from the from the council, right, we we try to provide a high level of of comment, right? And and we provided uh under hopefully under an hour of staff time to help uh with this inquiry and then we leave it to the council to have the discussion. And what after you have your discussion and there's a motion then we would engage staff further depending on the direction of the council.

So I wonder if um there was a definition of a community park in the sheet that KCRT could show again please. There it is. Community. We have no screens on this side. Oh, okay. KCRT, could you scroll up so I can read it?

Thank you. Community park characteristics. A community park serves the widest range and greatest number of users. It includes active and passive recreation, gathering areas, and organized sports. Large special destination parks serving the entire community such as the Central Richmond Greenway or Point Mulate Beach Park may also be considered a community park. A community park is typically over 10 acres in size and serves areas greater than half a mile. Existing community parks in Richmond are Robert T. Anderson Park, Central Richmond Greenway, Hilltop Lake Park, Le Moine Park or this cheese park, Marina Bay Park, Marina Bay Trails, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Nicole Park, Point Mulate Beach Park. As far as I know, they all have restrooms. Le Moine Park is the only park without restroom, without any amenities.

Not open. So, it deserves to have them. Not open. Booger. A good question. Yes. Well, okay. Um, Council Member Wilson. Hi. Thanks. Um, so I I have the same question. Uh, I I do I'm curious of the the So the part So that was the parks master plan for 2010. So my first question is is that our most current parks guiding document is the master plan of 2010. Yes.

Okay. And um so same question is that it would help inform my thinking about this to know of the um community parks listed on there which of them have bathrooms and which of them don't. And I see our public works Oh no, I thought our public works director was approaching with that information. But um whatever we need to do as a council to to get that information, I would like us to do tonight because I I do think it's it's worth looking at that. And um I share uh Vice Mayor uh Robinson's concerns that that I don't think that this project or other projects should have any ability to jump the line. Um but I do I guess I'm surprised that it's not already on a CIP list somewhere. And I'm curious uh as to whether it really is an outlier in terms of a community park. Is it is it in fact our only community park without a bathroom? And if that is the case, then not only do I think it should be on the CIP list, but I think I'm hoping there's some way in the scoring that I like I don't I know we spent a long time on the scoring, but I don't remember it, but but I think part of the scoring is whether we are, you know, whether there's a plan for this and whether we've achieved the plan. Um, so yeah. So, like I again like I I don't think we're gonna I don't think I'm in a position tonight to say like let's, you know, do a work plan or set a budget for this, but I would like to authorize staff to come back with a little bit more information. And particularly for me, it's what is the bathroom status of the community parks as of today? And um also, what is the process for putting something on the CIP list? I mean, again, I know we had a whole meeting about this, but I'm still it's still a little bit opaque to me. like does it take a council action like we're doing to put Cheese Park on the on the CIP list or are there other pathways to the CIP list? How did this stay off the CIP

list for so long? Um, etc. So, that's all I have to say tonight. Uh, Council Member Sepa,

thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I'm going to agree this the need in the community is it's very great and we need more money or uh we got to do something. Uh but to answer some of the questions, Point Matti and Hilltop Lake, both of those are in district 2. Neither one of them have uh restrooms. Uh neither one of them, Hilltop Lake has issues even trying to get into the park itself. Um so there's issues just all there. Uh, in the last budget though, we did vote to have a uh and maybe the city manager can remind me if I'm incorrect here, but we voted for a bathroom uh list prioritation. I believe um it was on that the last budget. So, I think we're checking off some of the stuff. Is that am I correct there? Well, the way that uh the last item that was before you uh came forward, the uh appropriation of the utility user tax uh additional funding there, there was 1.4 million and then we uh allocated 3.4 million I mean excuse me 300 uh 47,000 um and we put it under the oposes of parks colon uh bathroom and parks assessment. So we we put that category because this item had been uh pending, right? And so to provide some flexibility uh with that appropriation pending the outcome of this conversation.

Thank you. Mr. Chvy, you're going to add something to that. Yeah. And so I I I I think what would be prudent is given the hour if if the council would like us to return with a written report uh to answer the questions that were outlined, we can certainly do that. or if the council wants to extend the time and make sure that you hear from staff and then continue your discussion, whatever you prefer. Any other comments, Mr. Chvidia, since you're there? I just want to clarify out of time.

The the cheese park location shares or the school district shares that area. They they they own the majority of that area. the cheese park as a whole because it's a small area. It's a neighborhood park, but when you add the rest of the area, the open space, it is considered a community park. However, the city doesn't own that property is the school district. So, we we add there a layer of negotiations, anou or anything depending on the plans that the city council or the community wants for that part. So just want to make that distinction and poi park doesn't have a a restroom has a poor porta party.

Thank you. Um so I'm still don't not 100% sure how we're defining the parks community park versus not is it the size? Is it the whatiter? Yeah, it's there's criteria outlined in the um the parks master plan. Yeah. No, I see that theory, but it's it's it's kind of leaning more how I read it was a community park should have this stuff. So, if it doesn't have it, is it a community park or are we aiming for it to be like Cheese Park, right? We want to call it a community park, but if it doesn't have all the stuff or is it more on the size? It's based on the need too, I assume.

So, the bigger the park, then that's the community size. And from what I when I Googled, it says it also has to have access to parking. Um, so I don't know if that's a requirement still or not, but that was that's according to Google, it should have accessible parking. So I don't know that any of our parks, especi especially up there, have that accessible to parking. There is plenty of street parking there. So

I I don't have that answer for you at this moment, but I can tell you that again what the city owns, the size of the property that the city owns is considered a neighborhood park, not a community park. in the in the 2010 parks master plan, what he says is is it's potentially a community park if you add both properties. But again, to do that, we we would have to have an an MOU with the school district. It's a process that the school district has to be in agreement with. The investment has to be uh shared. I mean, different things have to happen, a lot of negotiations and that doesn't happen quickly. Right.

Thank you. So then this is not then by definition it's not a community park. It's it's just a regular park there. Okay. Thank you. There is a community center across the street and there are restrooms there. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. So, because it's almost 10:30, can I make a motion that we ask the city manager

to come back at the next meeting with answers to the questions and please include um a good explanation of the process of the CIP projects and how District 4 has always been excluded from them because the decision was made before we had a representation. It would it would be helpful given the volume of items that are currently in the queue for the 7th. I think right now, last time I checked with Darren, I think he said he had nine items. So, if we could make this on the 21st, not all of the nine items currently in the queue for public works might make it for the 7th. So, if we could have until the 21st, that would be helpful. I want to make sure that if it passes hopefully then there is time for you to identify feasible funding sources

in fiscal year 2016. I indicated uh earlier how we had planned pending council direction. Okay. But let's make it April 21st. You said yeah.

I'm sorry. Can you repeat that motion? The motion is to um allow the city staff to work on this project to come up with answers to all the questions asked tonight about parks and restrooms and how CIP budget has been allocated in the past. um and district 4 has been neglected or the history of CI what whatever just answer all the questions about this meeting so the council can make a decision on April 21st. Yeah, I second on the and I still had the floor. I was still asking questions. Council, I would like to comment. One minute.

So then I know from a couple years ago we met when we were talking about parks and then we prioritized the areas of our city as a citywide conversation. District 2 and district 4 have the most access to green space and parks, regardless if you're calling it a community park or a park or whatever it may be. the comm the parks that are more in the core of Richmond or actually not the parks but the communities in the core of Richmond are the ones that have the least amount of green space and green space access. So when we had this conversation, I believe it was about three years ago, we were looking to prioritize and I even said, don't come into district two, go over into district one and district three where the greatest needs are. If we're going to pick up our community, we got to start out with those needs. Then picking helping out the communities that don't have what others already have. I want district 2 parks to be great as well. I have a lot of parks there that I none of my parks have bathrooms. None of my parks have a lot of the amenities, but I am lucky enough to have parks in district 2. So, do we start where we are already at the top and continue fixing or do we start where we have very little and try to bring them up a little bit out of time to try to meet us everywhere else? So, that's for me for district two. Again, I would love to see if we are going to have a conversation about how we incorporate other needs, then I think it's only fair that we get all the other parks as well and we do a whole list, but also prioritizing the areas that don't even get to have a conversation about improving their parks because they don't even have a park to begin with. So, that should be part of the conversation. Um and then um yeah,

just looking at the green space, figuring out what it is that we're going to be doing with that. How do we budget? Bathrooms are really important. So maybe how we prioritize whatever it is that we're trying to do within that. Also prioritizing other sections. I brought up last time as well when we were talking about the bathrooms. A resident was mentioning that on the greenway there are also no bathrooms and people were defecating on the bushes and hoping that the cars passing by will not see them. So that's an issue and it's an issue in a lot of different places. So maybe we figure out and we put bathrooms in a lot of the bathroom in a lot of the parks we already have. Maybe that's the lowhanging fruit because I know that there's some uh a quick restroom that we can potentially put in that look nice and maybe that's what we tackle first and then we figure out all the other pieces that would create a park and that it creates that equity that we all talk about. Uh I mean just within District 4 as well. I would love to learn to see how Chiefs Park was selected over some of the other parks. You've got Hilltop Green Park, Hilltop Park. I'm looking at the uh parks assessment uh plan as well. So just the other parks around there. How do we prioritize is the question and maybe staff could help us try to move forward with a direction bring in again equity and needs and then also realizing yes that some districts are going to have had less but also some communities have had a lot less. So with those questions there hopefully they can come back. Thank you.

So, I haven't had a chance to speak. Um um when we talk about parks and neighborhoods, uh there are some neighborhoods that have parks, you know. Uh well, the the Richmond Annex has two parkletits. Not any real parks. Oh, no. I'm sorry. We have Central Park, and Central Park does have portaotties, but uh but there's two parkletits. Uh but on the other side of the freeway we have Southwest's Addex and they have Monterey Park which is in horrible disarray. They they have a a baseball field uh that no one uses because it's not upkept. They have no bathrooms. Uh the uh the toys the the the the playground is is uh uh in in uh bad repair. And you know the cats like to use a space for for their bathroom. So um it's not used much. It's not used much because it's not a usable space although it is a park and it could be. Um so there are and then Lucas Park I don't know if does Lucas Park have restrooms?

Yes. techally has a building, but no one has access to Lucas Park has a building that technically has a restroom, but nobody has access to it, so it doesn't matter. You go there, you can't use it, right? And then and then uh the the greenway does have restrooms, but it's in the center. And if you have walked the greenway, you could be in the greenway and not have access to the bathroom in a timely manner. And the greenway restrooms are broken. So there's that, too.

Right. So, so there's there's a lot of need and uh we have a process. Um and what I don't like about this item is that is is that we're ignoring the budgetary process that we've set up to meet the needs of particular neighborhoods. uh because uh some some council members have a big voice and and and and they're trying to jump jump the queue. Uh I I think we need to be respectful of the decisions that we make as a council and stick to it instead of trying to uh uh do uh uh budgeting uh on on on the slide on on the side which which we seem to do constantly on various items. Um, and uh, I think most council members have been guilty of of using that process to get what they want. And I think we need to start thinking more as a team and more as as as a a group of of electeds that follow process that respect the budget that we have set up.

Can I Yeah.

Yeah. Thank you. So I supported this and I co-sponsored this in a way of having um the park to be in the CIP and I and I think like what we are hearing here is that we like it's it's really convoluted how we can put um a projects in the CIP. It's not like oh we want I I don't think like the intention is to jump the like or my intention is not to jump the process but at least to know if we have the information about how much it will cost uh to create this as a good park like the tiller park. I would love also to have the CI in the CIP the tiller park which is another park that is is is being used in the community the community is is cleaning up u but is is is really um we don't I know that we work on uh prioritation based on different things and I I agree we should respect that but the fact that there is no also a process for where these projects and the CIP come out then I feel like is our duty to advocate for our communities to at least put the the the parts or the improvements in the CIP so that is there and the community knows like for instance if the community knows is there it's not going to be in a year or two year but is there and is is is going into the line then we can have this conversation with the community

which has been really helpful when we met with like and I am putting uh district six because it's where I I I represent. So we we have this conversation with the community because they want also some improvements and a staff in public work has been really helpful uh to explain uh how this is going and then they say well your uh park is not going to be in the top because all the scoring and the equity but is going to be there. So I I I think what I want is to really understand if we has some needs. Each of us has some needs in our community and this is what like is great to have districts because now we can advocate for the the the district needs. Um and if we understand how we can at least put things in the CIP then we are getting uh at least seeing the projects on that list and that we can make some progress on that. Um I don't think that that is clear and one of the things and one of the ideas that we were talking about was well it seems that there is a lot of interest in improving the parks. Should we have a different like CIP for the parks that is clear and is all the parks listed there so we don't have to put these items to advocate because I I feel like the frustration that council

member Bana is having is that she has been kind of like a broken record for many years trying to get some some momentum in that part and it hasn't happened. Um so if we can have a like see the list of all the park and and and have this saying for this is the money that we need and then we can make decision about how we are going based on the scoring that will be a good way and maybe some of the thing is well we don't have all this money for all of this thing but we can make some progress. on cleaning or whatever it is. So the community and each of the districts is seeing the progress um of of of what we are putting here and what they want to see. So that was my intentions about bringing this item. I think like this is a great conversation and I think what we need to have is is a real lease and a like knowing how we can like how projects appear in the CIP how we as city council can advocate because I don't like each of us had the right and we had been elected to represent our or each district. So if we are not advocating for for what in our community are are asking for then what are we here for? So I I I feel like in the way of um time um if we can have the questions I I really want to see maybe a plan for how we can just really have a CIP plan for

the parks and how that like how we can move some of this work because we had been putting money in many other parks and I am really proud and I continue to support but like how we can put all of the parks and give an information to our community where that list is when could happen the improvement that they are asking for. Thank you. when when I was on the uh parks and wreck wreck and parks uh commission uh we uh had each commissioner uh choose parks that we would be champions for. So that all the parks had a uh commissioner be the champion and we would come and share our our reports on the parks that we were champions for so that we could you know compare contrast and and state whatever needs uh needed to happen to them. So if they are still doing that, I I would recommend that that we uh have them do a presentation to us so that so that we would hear from the commissioners themselves what state uh their parks were were in. And um um I I also think that we need to be systematic in our in our in our planning instead of uh doing it, you know, with with uh strong advocacy for some parks and none for others. Uh because there's some parks, like I said, Monterey Park, uh that has had no one to advocate for it. And um and you know it it needs it needs

attention. Uh Vice Mayor, I'm gonna try to be brief. Um sir, mayor, I was in line, too. She was in line before you. Okay. So, I'm going to I'm going to try to rebrief. I think that

one I would encourage everybody to go to a parks and rec commission meeting because yes, the commissioners are assigned to parks and they report back each meeting on what they're finding and what they're seeing at each park. Um, and there's a lot that's moving there and there's a regular report from public works on everything that they're doing, all of the regular maintenance as well as any park improvement projects. And so you get to see everything that's moving. That's why I know that there's parks that flood regularly and we haven't figured out how to deal with that. And those those communities have been complaining about that for some time because they k their kids try to go to the park and it's underwater. Um, there's parks that have safety issues. There's parks that have there's there's so many park issues. And so it's the it's it's unnerving to me when I hear about one park over another because I know that there's a bigger plan that where we're trying to figure out how to address all of these things. And I feel like again, this is where I feel like we're as council members, we get in the way. We get in the way of things moving forward because now we're going to have to take time away from moving and and getting addressing the issues that are in motion to now go and spend some time on this one. So those things are going to stop and then we're going to go over here and then we're going to go over there and we're going to we're like ADD kids running around like not not not knowing you know ADHD not knowing like not finishing anything you know and so I wanted to also bring forward that one of the things that we did was this um facilities and park assessment right facil facilities and park assessment we added parks to that that was one of the things that I advocated for not just facilities but let's add parks too so that we can get a compreh comprehensive view of the needs across all of the all of the owned assets of the city and then have an a capital improvements list that included all of these things and and not just the big maintenance you know big renovations that we need but also the regular large maintenance that we need to do and the regular maintenance that

we need to do so we can have a better comprehensive plan and then Mr. Travaria came up with this even greater idea of the programmatic approach so that you would have a program that is parks and you would move that parks program to address this comprehensive you know needs all these comprehensive needs and you would you would move them together um so that we wouldn't be put you know only the people with the strongest advocates get something you know and so I feel like we have these great processes in place we have the process to assess and give um a ranking to parks so they can move through move through the queue. We we've put these things in place but we're not using the tools that we put in place and then we get in the way and we redirect and they can't folks can't finish the work that they're doing and I feel like that's a real problem. You know, we can't make progress. We can't give our staff an opportunity to make progress when we do this. Um, and I I just wanted to say also that, you know, before there was a district three, nobody was advocating for district three either. We didn't have capital improvement projects. Very few, you know, and when when I came into office, I started saying MLK Park, MLK community center, because by the way, District 3 has no community centers. By the way, no community centers in district 3. None. and MLK Center was our community center. And so I know about a lot of the things that are happening. I know because I was out on the greenway before I became a city council person picking up human feces, knowing that we permanently closed the bathroom on Fifth Street because it was set on fire and there's all kinds of things that were happening. You know, I I I have an intimate knowledge of these things and so I just really want to encourage us to yes, put it on the list. put all the parks on the

list. Let's put the whole assessment on the list and let's use the programmatic approach so that we can address these things. Let's use our ranking so we can address these things and let's get out of the way of progress. Thank you.

I I just want to say one thing quickly. Um, I I want to thank staff and uh because a lot of things weren't being done because we didn't have the quality staff that we have now. So, I want to thank uh uh Daniel Chawaria and uh city manager for uh making uh great decisions in terms of uh getting things done in the city of Richmond. So, uh

thank you, mayor. It it definitely is a a collaborative effort and I want to acknowledge all of the the public works staff. They've really been doing a remarkable transformation and we really appreciate the council's support.

Um yeah, so Mr. Mayor, you and Vice Mayor Doria Robinson are on every single ad hoc committee and uh you know it all and you're doing the best. And when I want to advocate for my community, I'm a problem and I'm an obstacle and should get out of the way. For your information, I joined the parks and recreation committee years ago and I was a member for three, four years just to advocate for restrooms in district 4. And each time I was told by Greg, it cost $200,000 and we don't have the money. I didn't get anywhere. So what did I do? I came to city council. Do I get it now? No. I have to follow Miss Doria Robinson who knows it all is very wise and by the way has endorsed my political opponent and make sure nothing gets done especially because it's election time no respect for the efforts for the past 7 10 years and voices of district 4 to get a bathroom and Mr. Mayor, each time I asked you for a CIP project for my district or budget or something, your response was that area should have never been annexed to Richmond. And this is what I get when I advocate for my community that I'm an obstacle. I don't respect Excuse me. Everything's turning.

I want to interrupt you because you just told a lie. I have never said that. You You repeated it twice. I have never said that. Okay, you can take it back. You can take it back and you can show what I have community that you're a mayor to them too. What I have said is that uh Elsa Bronte needs to be next to the city of Richmond. That's what I've said.

Anyway, I would like to ask the city manager and public works to have a table. I believe there is such a table of all the community parks and amenities and approximate costs to them so we can decide about our priorities. I also would like to have a table of all the CIP projects in the past five years and listed for the next decade based on the district. I've asked for it repeatedly. I never received an answer. Don't divide this. Don't divide that. And for the first time after three years being on the council, I've reached across the aisle. It has not been easy to get a co-sponsor from the other side of the dis uh for an item for district 4. And I'm being accused of doing this instead of encouraging the city council to work as a team for the betterment of the city and all the districts. I'm being accused and targeted. I can't believe this. Seriously, what's going on tonight in this city council? It's so frustrating. Three years on parks and recreation, I couldn't get a restroom. And now I'm at the city council. I've been advised by Miss Doria Robinson to go to the parks and commission. And the mayor supports that. We shouldn't be so divided. We should we are one community in Richmond. I even advocate for unitedness between Richmond and encoura my community saying people are people. We are one community for the betterment of our community. We should work together. I really don't know what to say. I'm asking um I'm making a motion for the council to direct the city of staff to bring all those answers. the table of amenities, approximate cost so

we can make decisions and CIP projects in the past five years, next 10 years based on the district and the values. Thank you.

Can I make an alternative motion? Is it Yeah. I'd like to make an alternative motion to add Cheese Park to the CIP list formally and to have it start by going through the process of being assessed um using the assessment system that we have. And then I would like to ask for the parks team to come back to give a report out on the parks uh assessment the facilities and parks assessment where it is where it's going what's the next steps and um similarly review give an update on the program approach and how that might affect how we would move the CIP forward. That's my motion. I would like to make a substitute motion that we evaluate all parks and place them in the order of need.

Mr. Mayor, sorry. Point of order. Well, we have like four motions. They some of them haven't been second, so we got to No, we don't have four motions. Yeah, there was an original motion that was second.

Uh to clarify Doria Robinson's motion. I wonder what it means to get on the CIP list. City manager, could you explain? The city council, as staff has indicated previously, most of the projects that are currently on the CIP list are from grants that were submitted and that we were responding to those grants. So, we're what would be helpful the the breadth of what's being requested is has significantly increased. So, as you add items, we're going to need additional time. It it seems like this is going to run into the next fiscal year budgeting cycle. So, this also could be something that in in one of those study sessions we we talk about because based on what you're asking for, that won't be for the 21st. That would be for the 28th. And then on the 5th, we start fiscally the next fiscal year budget.

I want to second Doria's motion. Okay. And then I'm making a substitute motion that we evaluate all parks and make a list of the parks uh based on their on their needs. That's the motion I made. Basically, I asked for a table of all the parks and amenities that they have, what they need, and approximate cost. That's that that's your emotion was was was more like a vent and I couldn't tell exactly what what you were saying because you went on and on.

Is there a second to your motion mayor? Well, I I I don't make a motion and maybe you were not listening carefully. So, please listen carefully and you may want substitute motion have a second. Edardo made a substitute motion. Does it have a second? And I'm sorry, but the two motions are separate. They're not exclusive. So, we can't have both motions and pass them both. There's only We need a substit Mayor Martinez motion to evaluate all parks and make a list of their needs. We need We need a a second to that. And I'm trying to say he could make a second to my motion. It's the same thing. I'm confused.

Okay. And what's on the floor right now is the mayor's motion. If it doesn't have a second, then we got to move on to the next motion that's on the floor. Oh, okay. Can you restate your motion? My motion was for the staff to bring a table of all the community parks, amenities that they have and missing, and approximate cost so we can move forward. And and can I amend that to include all parks? No community parks because some districts have more than one park. Every little park led is a park. But community parks I feel like we're asking people to do the work that's in the assessment.

I don't understand. Like we invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to get back and to be able to use it for these purposes, right? I'd like to see what Doria's assessment and also I want to get your park on the CIP list minimally tonight. So we have 45 seconds if we wanted to vote that. Let's take a vote. So it seems that like I I just I'm sorry. I just want to because I feel like we are we are talking to the same thing. So the park assessment is the lease of all the parks, right? Okay. We have one minute. So the mayor's motion dies for lack of a second. Yes.

Okay. So then we move to the substitute motion. That was a motion by council vice mayor Robinson and seconded by council member Wilson to add cheese park to CIP blah blah blah. Council member Bana. Yes. Council member Jimenez. Yes. Vice Mayor Robinson. Yes. Council member Wilson. Yes. Council member Zapeda. Yes. And Mayor Martinez. Yes. We motion passes. We are now adjourned. Something. Thank you.