On the agenda: fewer meetings, police reforms, and local hiring push

At its meeting on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the Richmond City Council is set to consider an agenda that includes a proposal to reduce its regular meeting schedule from three times a month to two, new police accountability measures, a policy aimed at boosting local construction employment, multiple community recognitions, appointments to city boards and commissions, and funding approvals for public safety, infrastructure, and city operations.

An unfinished conversation on accountability

Councilmembers Claudia Jimenez and Sue Wilson are proposing changes to how Richmond handles officer-involved incidents, following a previous council meeting that ran out of time when members lacked enough votes to extend the meeting. The proposal calls for the city manager to develop new communication protocols that would shift responsibility for public statements from the police department to the city manager's office, while also establishing counseling services for families and witnesses affected by police shootings or in-custody deaths.

The proposed reforms would require the city manager to issue press releases within 24 hours of critical incidents, clearly outline investigation processes involving multiple agencies, including the Community Police Review Commission, and ensure strict compliance with state laws governing the release of body camera footage.

However, the proposal faced pushback from multiple council members at the previous meeting. Councilmember Doria Robinson expressed support for most of the proposal but shared concerns about changing who delivers information.

"I really heard Chief French when you said that you have two decades plus of experience, you're the expert in the subject matter, and could present the information,” Robinson said. “It does not feel quite right to have it go somewhere else. I feel like adding content so that people have information, adding a schedule, so that they can rely on getting information on a regular cadence rather than shifting responsibility away from police leadership.”

Councilmember Jamelia Brown was even more direct in her criticism of the proposal.

"The most insulting thing that I've heard tonight during this item in particular was wanting the city manager to be the face, because many of you can't stand the sight of law enforcement officers,” Brown said. “I think that's not our problem, and those who do have that problem should check their own biases."

The council will pick up where it left off from the previous meeting's unfinished business, addressing what the sponsoring councilmembers describe as necessary steps to maintain public trust.

Richmond council aims for a lighter calendar

The Richmond City Council will consider a proposal to reduce the number of regular council meetings from three per month to two.

If approved, the new schedule would move Richmond in line with most California cities — a survey of 60 cities found that 93 percent meet only twice per month, including nearby Oakland, Berkeley, El Cerrito, and San Pablo.

Under the proposal, regular meetings would be held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with closed session starting at 3:30 p.m. and public session at 5 p.m. Meetings would be required to adjourn by 9 p.m., with a one-time option to extend until 10 p.m. if approved by a two-thirds vote of the council. No extensions beyond 10 p.m. would be allowed.

City staff say the proposed change is designed to reduce overtime expenses, improve staff morale, and allow employees to spend more time implementing council policies rather than preparing for frequent meetings. The staff report also suggests that fewer meetings and earlier adjournment times could improve public participation and encourage more efficient council discussions.

The idea of reducing meetings first surfaced late last year, when city staff began reviewing Richmond’s council rules. A December 2024 report also recommended:

Moving the council’s summer recess to July and August to align with local school schedules and allow staff to take vacations without disrupting city operations.

Changing agenda deadlines, requiring councilmembers to submit items earlier, by noon two Fridays before publication, to give staff adequate time for administrative and legal review.

Avoiding meetings during city holiday weeks, such as Thanksgiving, to allow both councilmembers and staff to attend community events and celebrations.

If the council votes in favor on September 23, the new meeting schedule would take effect beginning October 7, 2025.

The discussion comes just months after the council voted in January to increase council salaries by 80 percent, raising councilmembers’ monthly pay from $1,402.50 to $2,524.50 and the mayor’s salary from $3,875 to $6,975.

At that time, supporters said the increase would make serving on the council more accessible to working-class residents, while critics questioned whether the higher pay was justified.

Richmond considers construction jobs policy to boost local employment

The Richmond City Council will hear a presentation from the Contra Costa County Building Trades Council on September 23 regarding a proposed Public Lands Policy aimed at expanding construction job opportunities for local residents. The policy would establish workforce and hiring standards for construction projects on city-owned land, prioritizing Richmond residents, high school graduates, veterans, and individuals reentering the workforce.

Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda is recommending the council direct staff to develop the policy, which would require contractors working on city property to provide family-sustaining wages, state-approved apprenticeships, and increased local hiring opportunities. The building trades council argues that construction work offers a pathway to middle-class careers for people without advanced degrees, helping to uplift community members while supporting broader economic development in the area.

The consent calendar, which is generally passed with one vote, includes a broad range of actions across multiple city departments.

Picture This, the Richmond City Council is issuing a proclamation to community advocate Cordell Hindler for his work connecting residents to city services and promoting equity.

Other proclamations will mark October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, honoring local survivor Farrah Green and the K Stewart Foundation; recognize September as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, honoring the Richmond Fire Department’s Peer Support Team; and celebrate Latino Heritage Month, while recognizing organizers of the 2025 Fiestas Patrias Parade.

The council will honor Bishop Tom H. Watson and Mother Hazel Watson of Gloryland Apostolic Cathedral for over 50 years of ministry and community service in Richmond.

From Human Resources, the council will consider a third amendment to the city’s contract with Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., adding $50,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $150,000. The extended agreement runs through June 30, 2026, and is intended to support employment outreach and recruitment, a key need as the city continues efforts to fill critical staffing vacancies.

In Library and Community Services, the council will review two items to strengthen the Community Crisis Response Program. The first is the purchase of six encrypted hand radios and two mobile radios from Motorola Solutions for $43,406.21, which will help improve secure communications for crisis response teams. The second item is a $41,500 contract with Jumpstart Mastery to provide on-site, three-day training sessions focused on de-escalation and crisis intervention, running from October 2025 through October 2026.

Several appointments and reappointments to city boards and commissions are on the Richmond City Council’s agenda. Andre Jackson is being reappointed to the Community Police Review Commission, with his new term set to run through November 1, 2026. Orrian Willis will continue serving on the Economic Development Commission, where his reappointment extends his term to March 30, 2028.

In addition, two appointments involve the Community Crisis Response Program Advisory Board. Sahai Burrowes is being reappointed for a term ending December 31, 2027, while Sonia Decker is being newly appointed to the board with a term that expires on December 31, 2028.

The council will also vote to appoint Jennifer Koscielniak to the Recreation and Parks Commission, with her term set to expire on October 26, 2026. Finally, Jason Lindsey is being reappointed to the Workforce Development Board, where he will continue to serve through March 1, 2029.

The council will also take steps to form a new Macdonald Avenue Corridor Task Force, the taskforce will bring together Mayor Eduardo Martinez, Councilmember Doria Robinson, city staff, and stakeholders. The task force will focus on improvements and strategies for the busy corridor.

In the Police Department, two funding-related items are up for approval. The first would adopt a resolution to approve an interagency agreement with Contra Costa County to support services connected to the Human Trafficking Operational Support Fund. The second item would allow the city to accept $171,222.58 in grant funding from the California Highway Patrol’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program. The funds will be used to purchase two DUI enforcement vehicles aimed at reducing impaired driving in the community.

Several Public Works actions are also on the agenda. The council will consider vacating a portion of South 27th Street between Maine Avenue and Boorman Park to support future park improvements and other uses. Another item would authorize the purchase of Green Seal-certified cleaning products, trash bags, hand soap, and paper products from Universal Building Services & Supply Co. and Nelson’s Building Maintenance, Inc. This agreement would run for three years, with two optional one-year extensions, for a total cost of up to $450,000 over five years.

Additionally, Public Works is seeking approval to purchase three new fleet vehicles from National Auto Fleet Group: one Freightliner lowboy tractor and two Freightliner dump trucks, for a combined total not to exceed $735,690. Another resolution would authorize the city manager to sign a cooperative agreement with Caltrans, committing $50,000 toward pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements at the Central Avenue I-80 undercrossing.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM - SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Grandview Independent needs your financial support to continue delivering the news that matters to our community. Quality journalism costs money, and we can't do it without readers like you.

SUBSCRIBE NOW and get:
• Unlimited access to all articles
• Newsletters with exclusive content
• The satisfaction of backing independent local news that serves your community

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE - Starting at just $10/month

FOLLOW US FOR BREAKING NEWS:
• Twitter: @GrandviewIndy
• Instagram: @GrandviewIndependent
• Facebook: @Grandview Independent

An unfinished conversation on accountability

Richmond council aims for a lighter calendar

Richmond considers construction jobs policy to boost local employment

On the consent calendar: honoring local leaders, approving community investments