On the agenda: $2 million for Motel 6 project, Chevron funds for nonprofits, Venezuela resolution

The Richmond City Council will meet on Tuesday to consider a $2 million funding increase for the Motel 6 housing project, $1.2 million in youth grants to eight nonprofits, and a resolution opposing U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, along with legal services contracts, fleet vehicle purchases, and sister city funding.

All items are slated for the consent calendar, meaning they could be approved without discussion unless a councilmember or a member of the public requests otherwise.

Exterior view of the former Motel 6 in Richmond under construction for a homeless housing conversion project — Richmond City Council is considering an additional $2 million in funding for the 425 24th Street housing project.

Water damage soaks Richmond's motel-to-housing project with $2 million in extra costs

Richmond's City Council will vote on increasing funding for a homeless housing project by $2 million after construction crews discovered extensive water damage and structural issues at a former motel site.

The city is converting the old Motel 6 at 425 24th Street into a 49-unit permanent supportive housing complex for chronically homeless residents. The project, funded in part by the state's Homekey program, has already received $8.3 million from the city.

Demolition work this past summer revealed widespread problems, including deteriorated facade framing, major plumbing failures, mold, and potential asbestos requiring remediation.

The additional loan would bring Richmond's total contribution to $10.3 million. The city will draw from its housing fund and expects repayment through residual receipts from the development partnership, 425 Civic Center LP.

The state awarded $14.5 million in Homekey funds for the project in July 2024, and construction began after the city acquired and ground-leased the property in April 2025.

Chevron settlement triggers $1.2 million in youth grants for eight Richmond nonprofits

The Richmond City Council is poised to approve $1.2 million in annual grants to eight youth-serving organizations over the next two years, funded by the city's multimillion-dollar settlement with Chevron.

The funding comes from Richmond's first $50 million payment from a $550 million settlement with Chevron, received in approximately July 2025. Under the city charter, three percent of unrestricted general-purpose revenues must be allocated to the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth, equaling $1.5 million from the Chevron payment.

Rather than launching a new grant cycle, the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth's Oversight Board recommended awarding grants to the next highest-scoring applicants from a previous competition. The eight selected nonprofits had not previously received city youth funding but achieved strong evaluation scores in the 2024 grant round.

Recommended Grant Awards (Annual)

Organization	Award Amount
Seneca Family of Agencies	$200,000
West County Salesian Youth Club	$200,000
Hope Solutions	$200,000
Richmond Community Foundation	$195,915
Rosie the Riveter Trust	$167,976
Aspire Education	$90,000
West County Mandarin School	$83,270
Oakland Technology & Education Center	$80,000
TOTAL	$1,217,161

The Richmond Department of Children and Youth currently manages 37 active grants with 36 organizations through 2027. Those three-year grants were awarded at the end of 2024 for the 2025-2028 period.

Resolution opposes Venezuela intervention as Monroe Doctrine redux

The Richmond City Council is set to approve a resolution opposing U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, with city officials arguing the conflict diverts public resources from working-class communities to overseas operations. The measure, sponsored by Mayor Eduardo Martinez and Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, condemns a January 3 military operation that the resolution says resulted in at least 100 deaths and the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.

The resolution accuses the federal government of conducting airstrikes and special operations without congressional authorization, violating the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. According to the measure, the president stated the United States would "run Venezuela" indefinitely and control governance and oil resources, which the resolution characterizes as unlawful control of a sovereign state.

City officials argue that millions spent on what they describe as unlawful actions were diverted from domestic needs, calling this a "clear betrayal" of promises to end foreign wars and prioritize U.S. communities like Richmond. The resolution states U.S. policies, including military deployment and economic control over oil resources, have destabilized Venezuela, exacerbated humanitarian conditions, and caused avoidable civilian harm.

Legal services expansion

The council will consider two amendments to legal services agreements. One increases payment to Bennett, Gelini, and Gelini by $300,000 for litigation representation, bringing the total contract to $1,159,990 through December 2027. Another adds $100,000 for Stoel Rives for land use and environmental law matters related to pending litigation.

Financial advisory and reporting

Financial items include a $70,000 contract with SCI Consulting Group for advisory services for projects including Advanced Life Support in the Fire Department and evaluation of the Craneway Pavilion. The council will also receive monthly financial reports for December 2025.

Fire department training system

The Fire Department seeks approval for a $30,494 three-year contract with Vector Solutions for web-based training and compliance management.

Community services contracts

The Community Services Department has three contracts on the agenda: $20,000 for American Job Centers coordinator services through June 2027; a $56,520 increase for Epic Limousine to transport youth in the Youth Outdoors Richmond Program; and contracts totaling up to $300,000 annually with four library materials vendors.

Fleet vehicle purchases

The council will consider purchasing 20 fleet vehicles for fire, police, and abatement operations at a cost not to exceed $1.125 million from Dublin Chevrolet. This purchase includes eleven Chevrolet Tahoes, three Chevrolet Colorados, two Chevrolet Equinox EVs, two Chevrolet Trax small SUVs, a Chevrolet Suburban, and a 2024 Chevrolet landscape dump truck.

Committee and board changes

Mayor's office items include amending committee appointments to include the Community Crisis Response Program Advisory Board and its liaison, Councilmember Claudia Jimenez. It also swaps the position of the Mayor and Councilmember Zepeda on the MCE Clean Energy Regional Body.

The mayor is also reappointing two-year Richmond resident Brian Carter to the Design Review Board and appointing San Francisco State University student Shahzaib Shahid to the Planning Commission.

Sister city anniversary

The council will also consider directing staff to identify up to $23,000 to host an official delegation from Richmond's sister city, Shimada, Japan, to mark the 65th anniversary of the relationship.

Housing Authority meeting

The Richmond Housing Authority will meet separately at 5:55 p.m. to consider a $20,304 contract amendment with SWCA Environmental Consultants for radon testing at the Richmond Village property.

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