On the agenda: 23rd Street fixes vs. a citywide safety plan, a two-year data center ban and $99.7 million in Chevron money

Two pedestrian deaths near 23rd Street have produced two council proposals, and one author is asking whether the second is "coincidence or calculated politics." The council will also consider extending Richmond's data center ban to 2028 and hear a financial update that leaves out September's deficit numbers.

Quick fixes for 23rd Street

Rafael Delgado, 81, was killed in a hit-and-run at 23rd Street and Hellings Avenue in August. In September, Douglas Vargas, 65, was struck and killed crossing Maricopa Avenue near 23rd Street.

Councilmembers Jamelia Brown and Cesar Zepeda want the city to install high-visibility crosswalks, flashing beacons, signs and speed-feedback signs along 23rd Street. They want staff to return within 30 days with proposed locations, costs and funding sources. The item was continued from October 6.

A citywide plan instead

Councilmember Claudia Jiménez, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson and Councilmember Sue Wilson want a citywide plan. Their proposal asks staff to return in November with locations, the criteria used to choose them, proposed fixes, costs, and funding beyond the General Fund.

"While it is very important to plan safety improvements along 23rd Street and Carlson Boulevard, it is equally important to address safety concerns on other residential streets and intersections where residents have been waiting for solutions," their report says. "The goal should be to move from a reactive approach to a proactive, systematic, and sustained investment in safer streets for everyone."

They also want the council to set aside money for traffic calming each year and publish a ranked list of projects.

"Coincidence or calculated politics?"

In a Facebook post, Brown criticized her colleagues for advancing a separate proposal.

"The biggest difference? Our proposal prioritizes immediate action on 23rd Street, while theirs focuses on long-term citywide planning. Both have value, and our policy mentions working on long-term solutions, but why should urgent safety improvements wait when we could be working together to accomplish both? Our item was already in motion. So why not collaborate, strengthen the proposal, and get results?" Brown wrote. "Is this about public safety, political competition, or an unwillingness to collaborate? Richmond residents deserve action, not political games or competition over who gets the credit!"

Data center ban could last until 2028

The council adopted a 45-day moratorium on new data centers last month. Staff recommends extending it to 2028, the longest extension state law allows. Like the original moratorium, the extension requires six of the council's seven members to approve it.

The deficit numbers are missing

In September, Finance Director Emily Combs told the council day-to-day operations ran $9.8 million over budget, and that a reported surplus existed only because of $50 million in Chevron settlement money. Robinson asked for an outside review.

Tuesday's update covers three audited fiscal years and says the outside review is still underway. It gives neither the $9.8 million operating shortfall reported in September nor an estimate of this year's deficit.

The city has received $100 million of its $550 million Chevron settlement. After the Kids First share, plus interest, about $99.7 million remains unspent. A contract with Dalberg Advisors to gather public input on spending it returns November 10.

Armored vehicles for police

Councilmember Soheila Bana wants the city manager to seek grants for two armored vehicles. Her report cites the September Key Boulevard shooting, where an officer was wounded, and police had to borrow armored vehicles from other agencies.

Do license plate readers work?

Police want $20,000 for Police Strategies to study whether license plate readers lead to arrests and convictions, using police and District Attorney data. Jiménez, Wilson and Robinson asked for the study. On October 6, the council approved the Axon camera and drone contract but pulled the license plate readers and sent them back for negotiation. The study was pulled from that meeting's consent calendar and was still pending when the meeting ended. Police have credited license plate readers and video surveillance with identifying the suspect in Delgado's death.

Veterans housing on Carlson Boulevard

The Veterans Resource Program will present plans for housing, shops and a job center at 338 Carlson Boulevard. The packet lists three different unit counts: 268 in the staff report, 226 in its breakdown, and 254 in the developer's slides. The slides call it a "Veterans Luxury Residential Community" and put the cost at $157.97 million.

Keller Beach sewer

Public Works will present options to fix the 1959 sewer line along the beach in Point Richmond. New hookups in the area have been banned since 2022. Options range from an $800,000 temporary diversion to a $20.9 million new beach line. Moving it to the street would require private pumps at nearly every waterfront home.

A disaster commission

Bana and Jiménez want staff to draft rules within 90 days for a Disaster Preparedness Commission that would bring together emergency services, police, fire, CERT volunteers and ham radio operators.

Blue curbs get rules

Public Works will present a draft program for on-street disabled parking. The council could set application fees of $50 to $90. The city gets about 21 requests a year.

On the consent calendar

The council is expected to approve up to $55 million in tax-exempt bonds for Metrowalk at Richmond Station, a 150-unit affordable building at Nevin Avenue and 19th Street. The city takes on no debt. Half the units are set aside for households earning 30 percent of area median income, and construction could start this year.

The city would pay PG&E $76,786 to cancel two electric vehicle charging projects at 3230 Macdonald Avenue and 2500 Barrett Avenue. Staff say finishing them would cost several hundred thousand dollars the city doesn't have.

The city would add $475,000 to its contract with labor law firm Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, bringing the total to $2.44 million. A $118,938 contract with Restoration Family Counseling Center would continue mental health support for firefighters. The library would pay BiblioCommons $76,500 for a new online catalog. Public Works is seeking equipment rental agreements with four companies worth up to $2 million combined over five years.

Crescent Diamond would join the Community Police Review Commission. Michelle Hayes would be reappointed to the Commission on Aging and James Davis to the Historic Preservation Commission. Aubrey McDonald-Tate would join the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth Oversight Board, Abigail Yarng would be reappointed to the Richmond Youth Council, and Matheus Lemes Da Costa would join it.  

Before the council meeting, the Housing Authority board will consider more than doubling a sidewalk contract at Nystrom Village to $635,559 and doubling an electrician contract with Net Electric to $200,000.