[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[7:15] Test 1, 2, test 1, 2, 3, 4, test 1, 2.
[24:15] Hello everybody. Where's the gavel?
[24:25] So I'm calling to order the City Emergency Council meeting for April 6.
[24:33] We are going to hear do roll call. April 7th. We have roll pop please. Yes.
[24:47] The roll call council member Brown.
[24:51] Councilmember Jimenez.
[24:52] Presenting.
[24:53] Councilmember Wilson.
[24:56] Here.
[24:56] Councilmember Zepeda.
[24:59] Vice Mayor Robinson.
[25:01] Here.
[25:01] For the record, councilmember Bonner.
[25:04] And Mayor Martinez are absent for roll call.
[25:09] Okay.
[25:09] During close session.
[25:12] The council will discuss the following items.
[25:14] Item C1.
[25:15] Public Employee Performance Evaluation.
[25:17] Title City Clerk. I don't see two coffins with real property negotiator. Property is located at 1414 Harborway South.
[25:25] Agency negotiator, Lena Belasco, Emily Combs, and Dave Alshire, negotiating parties,
[25:33] Orton Entertainment, LLC, and on the negotiation are the price in terms of payment.
[25:38] Item C3, Conference with Labor Negotiators. Agency representatives, Jerome Taylor, Jack Hughes,
[25:45] and Lisa Sharber-Nay, for organizations include
[25:48] SCIU Local 1021,
[25:52] IFPTE Local 21 Mid-Level Management,
[25:55] and Executive Management Units,
[25:57] Richmond Police Officers Association,
[25:59] Richmond Police Management Association,
[26:02] IFF Local 188, and Richmond Fire Management Association.
[26:06] For the record, Mayor Martinez is present.
[26:11] We do have two requests to address the council.
[26:15] Court of Handler and Nate Lanzo, you'll have two minutes, please begin.
[26:22] Okay, so good afternoon, Mayor Martinez, Council, for the record, I am Court of Handler,
[26:27] and I have two comments to share with you all today.
[26:30] So number one, I think Pamela Christian has done an outstanding job as a city clerk.
[26:34] So when you go back in there, you've put in all the cheaper than a lot of time to make sure
[26:41] the agenda is prepared and the minutes as type perfectly. So she has staff too, but when you go
[26:48] back in there, think of all the contributions that she has done to make sure that the meetings
[26:53] are running in a timely manner. So that's when you go back there. Now, number two, we are in
[26:59] a staff in short as once again. We want detective Hodges to return because his case load is like
[27:08] this thick. And so I'm thinking of myself, do we want to detect the
[27:12] approaches back? Yes, we do. Because if we, if we want, if we want
[27:16] the, the rich and police department to like to maintain
[27:20] a officers, we need detect the approaches back as soon as
[27:24] possible. So, when you go back in there, think of all
[27:28] things about what I just said. So, and with that, Nate
[27:31] Lanzo. Our next speaker is Nate Lanzo. And if there's anyone
[27:35] join us online that would like to address the council. Please raise your hand at this time.
[27:42] Good afternoon, Mayor and City Council members. My name is Nate Lanzo and I'm speaking on behalf
[27:47] of Richmond Police Office Association and officers who serve this city every day. I'm here for
[27:53] two reasons. First, again, to just to ask this council to support a fair competitive and market
[27:59] will contract for Richmond police officers, second to demand accountability from City Manager
[28:04] to return detective Hodges to work immediately.
[28:13] We cannot probably serve this city from the public safety aspect, the way the citizens deserve,
[28:24] being understood not being able to retain and recruit the best possible officers.
[28:31] I believe y'all were provided with comp surveys from P.O.A. President Terry O. We're in the bottom
[28:38] quarter of that comp survey.
[28:42] When we were in the top half many, many years ago, we used
[28:48] out hundreds of applications from potential candidates, from all over the state, ladder
[28:54] officers, academy graduates,
[28:59] people seeking to get into law enforcement, and we could choose
[29:02] a very best of the best.
[29:05] Now we might have six, maybe 10, and I know this because I used to be part of the personnel
[29:14] and training section.
[29:17] I wasn't part of recruitment, but I was the FTO coordinator.
[29:21] All right, and not be able to recruit the best candidates.
[29:27] We suffer because it used to be the norm when I started, where people would enter the
[29:32] training program, and they'd go through some challenges not much, but now people get extended.
[29:39] That's because we're not getting the best of the best.
[29:42] Thank you.
[29:43] Have a good afternoon.
[29:44] Okay, that was our last and first speaker.
[29:46] We have two online speakers.
[29:48] And those speakers are Bintario and Sam Bintario, please unmute yourself and you may begin.
[30:00] Centennial President and Richmond Police Officers Association. I sent in, provided to all your city email addresses, significant amount of documents and data, you know, that analysis, again, is important to list. There's a solicit a RPOA 30 year historical list, which is our list that we've used for 30 years. In addition to adding San Francisco and BART, I've also used that salary schedule.
[30:30] with the City Council's list and then another one with all those cities combined, both
[30:38] Council and the POA and SF and board. In all of those, all three, the POA is in the bottom
[30:45] third or sorry, bottom quarter of all of those charts. And that's what matters,
[30:56] because the
[30:57] our discrepancy for a mid-career officer with tenure to service that our package essentially
[31:02] lags behind. And further requests I've also provided all since 2015 the PLA's tracking
[31:10] of folks who have departed Richmond and our lateral to other places, which mostly include
[31:16] reasons of pay benefits for Tyre Health and lack of support from inside the Police Department
[31:21] and the city council.
[31:24] Also per requests provide information about retiree medical op-ed for us and what we're looking
[31:29] for on that, and the last, but not least, the RPOA 555 bargaining brief and if you issue
[31:37] on step and long-jabbing.
[31:40] There's a lot of information there, a lot to impact, but there's plenty, I think, to cut
[31:45] through the fog of what has actually been sent to you or what has not been sent to you.
[31:49] And then lastly, again, we asked for detective Hodges to be returned to work.
[31:55] I'm understanding as the city manager has all the information that she has requested.
[31:59] And yet, here we are still with detective Hodges, not returned to work.
[32:04] That's kind of the fire. Thank you. Thank you.
[32:08] The next speaker is Sam. Sam, please unmute yourself. Please state your last name for the record.
[32:13] And you may begin.
[32:14] Yeah, so my name is Sam Lee, I'm you guys probably know me from the liver here at 1123th Street.
[32:23] Yeah, first of all, you know, I was actually tuning in for an entirely different reason, but it does record safety.
[32:30] And I'd like to thank the staff of the Bushman Police Department, you know, the dispatchers and the officers out there that are, you know, really putting in hard work to keep our city safe.
[32:42] And unfortunately, I had to call upon their services for a recent incident where my older father
[32:48] senior citizen would detect by a member of the community and I had to come to his
[32:53] defense and thankfully the vision police were able to come out and respond to the call
[32:58] as well so that the vision provided department to help address some of the other safety issues
[33:03] that were related to this. Ms. Brown, Councilman Brown, I tried reaching out to you by email
[33:10] by phone a couple of times. I even tried to seek you out on Instagram, but I haven't heard anything,
[33:15] but you know, I were in District 1 and I spoke to the neighbors up in the street and we
[33:20] fought a lot of safety issues lately and we've been trying to get a hold of you. If you have some
[33:25] time, please respond to the email or stop by here and visit me at the shop so we can discuss
[33:31] in detail how to make our community safer. But that was mostly why I wanted to get a hold of
[33:38] the City Council here to address some of the safety issues that are going on in District 1.
[33:43] And Miss Brown, if you can't, like I said, get back to me so we can figure out how we can
[33:47] best respond to this. Thank you very much. And thank you, Richard obedience.
[33:51] Thank you, Richard and fire. Thank you, and that was our last speaker.
[33:58] With the last speaker, we close public comment and we will adjourn to close session.
[3:01:30] Okay. Well, thank you, everyone, for putting up with sound difficulties. We will do the best that we can until we get the sound working.
[3:01:43] We will begin the regular city housing authority meeting with the pledge of allegiance.
[3:01:52] pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which
[3:01:59] is stands one nation in the visible with liberty and justice for all.
[3:02:10] Rookal.
[3:02:18] Commissioner Bottle.
[3:02:19] I'm here.
[3:02:21] Commissioner Brown.
[3:02:24] Commissioner Minis.
[3:02:26] Commissioner Wilson.
[3:02:29] Here.
[3:02:32] Here.
[3:02:37] Here.
[3:02:37] Commissioner.
[3:02:37] Commissioner Zapata.
[3:02:38] Here.
[3:02:38] Vice
[3:02:41] Chair Robinson.
[3:02:43] Here.
[3:02:45] Tenic Commissioner Scott.
[3:02:47] Here.
[3:02:48] And Chair Martinez.
[3:02:52] Our next item.
[3:02:54] The statement of conflict of interest.
[3:02:55] Are there any?
[3:02:58] Hearing none.
[3:02:59] Next item is a gender review.
[3:03:01] This is for the Richmond Housing Authority.
[3:03:08] Hearing no changes.
[3:03:09] Our next item is open for the housing authority.
[3:03:12] We have one speaker, cordial handler.
[3:03:31] I am cordial handler and I'm a Richmond resident, so I looked at the March 3rd
[3:03:35] minutes and I think it looks fine, so I'm asking the commission to approve it as
[3:03:40] present.
[3:03:41] That's it.
[3:03:46] We have any problems with our timer.
[3:03:49] Hold on one second.
[3:03:52] Okay, that was our only speaker for the Housing Authority Open Forum.
[3:03:56] Now we'll move to the Housing Authority public hearing and pursuant to a public notice, starting
[3:04:01] to hold a public hearing to adopt a resolution, improving the Richmond Housing Authority
[3:04:07] annual plan in five-year plan in authorized submission, but proposed annual plan in five-year
[3:04:13] plan to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
[3:04:17] Okay, CRT, please bring up the PowerPoint.
[3:04:24] Good evening, Chair, commissioners, and public.
[3:04:26] my name is Antoinette Terrell, Executive Director of Richmond House Authority, this evening
[3:04:30] I would be presenting Richmond House Authority's 2026 annual plan along with updates to
[3:04:35] our five-year plan covering 2026 through 2020-30. Next slide please. As you can see, this is
[3:04:42] our recommended action that the City Clerk just read. Next slide, please.
[3:04:48] The annual plan is required
[3:04:50] by HUD to document and serves as our application for capital funding. It outlines our key activities
[3:04:56] policy updates and progress towards our agency goes.
[3:05:00] For RHA, this plan reflects continued progress under our public housing authority, recovery
[3:05:06] and sustainability agreements, while advancing our asset repositioning estimates.
[3:05:12] Next slide, please.
[3:05:15] While the annual plan focuses on the upcoming year, the five-year plan provides our broader strategic
[3:05:20] roadmap through 2030.
[3:05:21] It defines our mission, goals, and priorities, and guides how we manage housing programs,
[3:05:28] advanced redevelopment, and enhanced residents' services, while aligned in with federal
[3:05:32] requirements and local housing needs.
[3:05:35] Next slide, please.
[3:05:37] These plans set a clear direction for the authority.
[3:05:41] Focus on improving housing quality, maintaining compliance, and learn along terms of sustainability.
[3:05:47] That, by the far as agreement, we're modernizing our portfolio through tools like RAD and
[3:05:53] Section 18 while preserving affordability next slide, please.
[3:05:59] As part of this process, we have already completed our required public participation steps.
[3:06:05] Notice of the public hearing was published on February 2, 2026 and the draft plans were made
[3:06:10] available online in our administrative office.
[3:06:13] So housing advisory commission was unable to take action due to lack of a core.
[3:06:18] Next slide, please.
[3:06:21] And then in Plaza Phase 1, construction is complete.
[3:06:24] It was a 144 units fully renovated, and leasing is underway.
[3:06:29] For Phase 2, we have executed the land lease disposition and development agreement,
[3:06:34] submitted a Senate Bill 35 streamlined application, and initiated environmental review.
[3:06:40] Next slide, please.
[3:06:42] Niestro Village remains our type priority as we move forward with redevelopment while maintaining safe and
[3:06:49] have ability conditions for our residents. Over the past year, we've made strong progress, including a
[3:06:55] rat resident meeting in 2025, selection of our development partner in June, and execution of their
[3:07:02] exclusive rights and negotiating agreement in October. Most recently in March 26th, we received
[3:07:08] the commitment to enter into a housing assistance payment contract, chat, from HUD, and
[3:07:13] execute it to land these disposition and development agreement allowing this project to move forward.
[3:07:20] Looking ahead, we will expand community engagement in April, which is this month, while advancing
[3:07:25] environmental review and section 1.06 consultation. These are our key steps towards construction.
[3:07:31] We are also leveraging external funding, including ARPA funds, to support ongoing efforts.
[3:07:37] Next slide, please.
[3:07:40] This slide highlights how ARPA funding is supporting the Eastern Village redevelopment through
[3:07:45] key pre-development activities and targeted site improvements addressing health and safety
[3:07:49] needs.
[3:07:51] Today, 100 to 76,000 has been expended with an additional 571,000 pending drawdown.
[3:07:58] Tolling about 747,000 or 37% of allocation which is in progress.
[3:08:05] Next slide, please.
[3:08:07] Repositioning of Brisbane Village is underway.
[3:08:10] We are currently in a due diligence phase, including environment to review and physical needs assessments
[3:08:15] to perform our finance and plan, which we anticipate submitting to HUD by September of 2020-26.
[3:08:22] Next slide, please.
[3:08:24] Finally, as part of our FARC requirement, the authority completed the close-up of the Housing
[3:08:28] Trace Vulture Program, the final compliance requirement.
[3:08:32] To 2019, Audit Financial Data Schedule was approved by HUD and September of 2025.
[3:08:38] Without approval, all close-up requirements have been completed, and their president,
[3:08:42] no further action is needed. Next slide, please.
[3:08:46] To close, we are requesting that the Board hold a public hearing,
[3:08:50] And I Dr. Resolution are proven that Richmond House Authorities annual in five-year plan have authorized the mission of proposed annual in five-year plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
[3:09:02] Next slide, please.
[3:09:04] Thank you.
[3:09:08] Thank you.
[3:09:11] It's now time for the public hearings.
[3:09:13] So the public hearings now open.
[3:09:14] Do we have speakers?
[3:09:17] We have one in-person speaker, and if there's anyone joining us online,
[3:09:20] I would like to address the council on the side of police
[3:09:22] raise your hand at this time.
[3:09:28] You want me to call the speakers?
[3:09:30] Okay, cordial handler.
[3:09:33] Thank you.
[3:09:34] Thank you.
[3:09:35] Thank you.
[3:09:35] I am cordial handler.
[3:09:37] I am a Richmond resident.
[3:09:38] Thank you.
[3:09:39] I would like to report as presented.
[3:09:44] So now as it was stated,
[3:09:46] so it's up to the commission to approve the report as presented.
[3:09:49] That's it.
[3:09:55] We have two online speakers.
[3:09:57] And those speakers are Jesse Terran and Andrew Wilk.
[3:10:01] Jesse, please unmute yourself and you may begin.
[3:10:10] Yes.
[3:10:13] Hear me?
[3:10:14] Yes.
[3:10:15] Okay.
[3:10:16] So my name is Jesse Terran.
[3:10:18] I have been an unhoused resident of Richmond for the past five years.
[3:10:22] I am severely disabled.
[3:10:24] I have five herniated discs in my low back.
[3:10:29] In addition to other health issues.
[3:10:32] I have been at the, supposedly, at the very top of the housing priority list for this entire five years.
[3:10:42] I have had at least six housing coordinators for some reason they keep getting fired or reassigned.
[3:10:52] And the whole approach that Richmond takes and has been taking to housing the homeless is so chaotic and confusing that even the coordinates don't know how to get people.
[3:11:06] And the people who are housed keep falling out of housing because they have no ability to pay the rent or the utilities.
[3:11:16] And I cannot stress enough how important it is to get the stuff organized to get everyone on the same page.
[3:11:27] Also you have all these groups, the housing task force, the council on homelessness,
[3:11:34] But none of the groups talk to the city council to each other or and the city council doesn't talk to the county
[3:11:41] So there's all these pockets of money
[3:11:45] That are not being used or not being used correctly and and work that's being
[3:11:52] Done over you know that the same
[3:11:54] things are being done. There's a a
[3:11:58] adjudicated racist who is working for the only
[3:12:05] The only group that tends to the homeless and he's being set campsite where they're vulnerable women and he's being sent out there by himself.
[3:12:18] In addition to that yesterday, my husband and I, which then came to our encampment with guns drawn.
[3:12:28] Okay, put my husband in handcuffs up against the car for nothing.
[3:12:33] We had done nothing.
[3:12:36] Our car was similar to a car that was used in a crime,
[3:12:41] but neither my husband or I had any criminal record
[3:12:44] and yet he was slammed up against the car and put in handcuffs.
[3:12:48] Okay, the way that Richmond is treating the homeless
[3:12:51] not only is inhumane.
[3:12:54] it's not working and it's expensive. You're talking about money from
[3:12:59] HUD. You might want to mention that HUD started to withhold funds from
[3:13:04] Richmond because of mismanagement. Remember that? So may I suggest a
[3:13:13] accountant to oversee this expenditure? Thank you. Thank you and that was our last
[3:13:20] speaker. There are no online speakers?
[3:13:25] That was a no online. Okay. Okay. Thank you. All right.
[3:13:30] Then in that case, the public hearings not closed. So do we have any questions for staff?
[3:13:40] Yes.
[3:13:42] The only thing is that can we get the presentation online because it's not currently online.
[3:13:46] If we can just get it up there. So we can review it again. Thank you.
[3:13:53] Right. So if that's the only question.
[3:13:55] then it's time to vote, but we need a motion.
[3:14:08] I move to pass item.
[3:14:16] I will second the motion.
[3:14:19] We have a motion by Commissioner Bonna.
[3:14:22] Second by Tina Commissioner Scott.
[3:14:24] Commissioner Brown.
[3:14:26] Yes.
[3:14:26] Commissioner Bonna.
[3:14:28] Yes.
[3:14:28] Commissioner Jimenez.
[3:14:33] Commissioner Wilson.
[3:14:34] Yes.
[3:14:35] Commissioner Zapeta.
[3:14:36] Yes.
[3:14:37] Tim, Commissioner Scott?
[3:14:39] Yes.
[3:14:41] Are you going to Vice Chair Robinson?
[3:14:42] Yes.
[3:14:43] And Chair Martinez.
[3:14:45] The vote is unanimous.
[3:14:48] Okay?
[3:14:49] And we need to move backwards in this agenda,
[3:14:53] because we skip the housing authority consent calendar.
[3:14:57] We need a motion to approve.
[3:14:59] I move the item.
[3:15:02] We
[3:15:05] are the motion by Commissioner Vice Chair. No, Chair, sorry, more teetis, and a second by Commissioner
[3:15:15] for his minutes.
[3:15:17] Commissioner Brown?
[3:15:18] Yes.
[3:15:19] Commissioner Bonham?
[3:15:20] Yes.
[3:15:21] Commissioner Minnes?
[3:15:23] Yes.
[3:15:24] Commissioner Wilson?
[3:15:25] Yes.
[3:15:26] Commissioner's opinion?
[3:15:28] Vice Chair Robinson?
[3:15:29] Yes.
[3:15:30] Tenning Commissioner Scott?
[3:15:32] Yes.
[3:15:32] Ten Chair Martinez?
[3:15:34] Yes.
[3:15:35] The vote is unanimous.
[3:15:37] All right.
[3:15:38] With that, the regular BD, the rich was healthy authority, is now adjourned.
[3:15:51] It's time to move on to the regular meeting of the Richard City Council.
[3:15:54] Roll call, please.
[3:15:56] Councilmember Bonham.
[3:16:01] Councilmember Brown.
[3:16:04] Councilmember Jiminis.
[3:16:09] Councilmember Wilson.
[3:16:10] Here.
[3:16:13] Councilmember Zapadam.
[3:16:15] Here.
[3:16:17] Vice Mayor Robinson.
[3:16:19] And Mayor Martinez.
[3:16:20] Here.
[3:16:23] Our next item is statement of conflict.
[3:16:24] to venture, are there any
[3:16:29] hearing none?
[3:16:30] Our next item is a gender review.
[3:16:32] I'll do have a couple of announcements.
[3:16:35] I don't V1A unless it's being continued to April 21st.
[3:16:40] That's the record's retention schedule update.
[3:16:43] I don't V4A, that's the contract,
[3:16:45] with well-danned, financial services.
[3:16:48] That has been removed from the consent calendar
[3:16:50] for discussion.
[3:16:52] The place at the end of the agenda.
[3:16:54] Which items are it?
[3:16:55] The one A has continued to April 21st, has the record's retention schedule update, V4A,
[3:17:10] LASA contract, it's under financial finance, contract we're well done, financial services.
[3:17:17] That has been removed from the consent calendar.
[3:17:19] We'll be placed at the end of the agenda for discussion.
[3:17:27] That's all I had.
[3:17:32] Report from the city attorney.
[3:17:35] Good evening, Mayor and City Council.
[3:17:37] No final actions were taken during tonight's close session.
[3:17:41] Our next item is a report from the City Manager.
[3:17:45] Good evening, Council.
[3:17:46] Good evening, City Council.
[3:17:47] I will now pass the microphone to Toronto Taylor for the new employee report.
[3:18:01] Good evening, Mayor.
[3:18:02] City Council members, Toronto Taylor, Human Resources Director.
[3:18:06] I'm pleased to present you our march hires and our promotions.
[3:18:10] Next slide, please.
[3:18:13] Noah Russell, police officer.
[3:18:17] Russell Lopez, police officer.
[3:18:21] Gayle Payne, Senior Transportation Planner.
[3:18:26] Rose Evangeline Darla, Learner Coordinator.
[3:18:31] Crystal Barton, Learner Coordinator.
[3:18:33] Derek Treyah, Park's Supervisor, Sophia Montanacro, Edminestrade of Analyst, Tenaia Payton,
[3:18:45] Lerner, Courtneyator, Pedro Gonzalez-Guiza, maintenance A2, Christian Cabralias, Ruiz, maintenance
[3:18:57] A2, Malon Ashley, Administrative Student Intern, and we have two promotions, Carolyn Connery,
[3:19:08] Deputy Fire Marshal, and Fred Tran, Executive Director of Rent Program.
[3:19:16] Thank you for your support.
[3:19:25] Okay, our next item is open for,
[3:19:32] and open for is an opportunity to address the council on items
[3:19:36] that remain on the consent calendar,
[3:19:38] or items that are not on the agenda.
[3:19:40] Tonight we have two items that will remove
[3:19:42] from the consent calendar.
[3:19:45] See item V1A, and that will continue to April 21st.
[3:19:49] Item V4A, his contract will be well done,
[3:19:53] and that will be discussed at the agenda.
[3:19:56] During open $4 dialog with the council,
[3:19:58] and the speaker is prohibited.
[3:20:00] Tonight we have 50 in-person speakers.
[3:20:02] We have five in auditorium and if you're joining us online and would like to address a council under open form, please raise your hand at this time.
[3:20:15] So far we have two speakers online.
[3:20:19] We'll start with the auditorium speakers that then will move to the in person speakers.
[3:20:27] When your name is called, please come forward and light up behind the speakers podium.
[3:20:32] when you're called for in person and you need to line up closest to the wall and for your safety
[3:20:39] all the hours including the area behind the speaker's podium as the presentation area must
[3:20:44] remain clear. When you're called to address the council, state your name and your city residents
[3:20:50] is optional. Please turn it into address to the council when your time expires. Each speaker
[3:20:56] will be allowed up to, is it too many still?
[3:21:01] Two minutes.
[3:21:01] One minute.
[3:21:02] Our council rules reflect one minute.
[3:21:04] Okay.
[3:21:06] One minute to address the council.
[3:21:08] The city of Richmond welcomes your comments.
[3:21:10] I request that you present your remarks and respect for an appropriate manner with an established one minute time limit.
[3:21:18] Just more please call the speakers in the auditorium.
[3:21:20] Thank you.
[3:21:25] Okay.
[3:21:26] Just where we can't hear you.
[3:21:34] Okay, is this better?
[3:21:40] I'm sorry.
[3:21:41] She's yelling from up there.
[3:21:47] KCRT, can't we help the chess world with the volume?
[3:21:51] Check, check, check, check.
[3:22:06] I don't know if this mic is better.
[3:22:08] Sounds a little better.
[3:22:10] Okay, so we have five speakers.
[3:22:12] If you guys will stand up in line up behind me,
[3:22:14] there's Caesar Cortez,
[3:22:16] Manila Batch Red Sharia Jesus Perez Ryan Cazin and Daphidil Albani and just as a reminder
[3:22:24] you'll have one minute to speak once your time concludes please step off from the
[3:22:29] Mike and let the next person speak. See you there.
[3:22:35] Just start up. Well, hello everyone. My name is Caesar Cortez. I am a resident of Richmond for about
[3:22:41] 10 years or so now I'm currently on a house resident but before this I was studying in college since I was
[3:22:48] about 15 over a middle college high school.
[3:22:51] Before I came into my circumstance right now,
[3:22:53] I was a financial officer for a real estate company.
[3:22:56] I want to explain to you guys and plead with you, please.
[3:22:58] Everyone here at the City Council,
[3:23:00] please stop interacting with cartel associates
[3:23:02] and anyone involved in organized crime in any way shape
[3:23:05] performed.
[3:23:06] As an investigative reporter,
[3:23:07] here living on the streets and figuring out
[3:23:09] more about the operation I've been attacked with a machete
[3:23:12] by someone by the name of Markle Lundeverde.
[3:23:14] During the police report that I filed
[3:23:16] where I was running the investigation across Richard and P.D. in multiple areas of the Bay Area
[3:23:21] and seeing how they're connected and linked up to these different cartel factions, including
[3:23:25] Indian factions for long confactions for human trafficking and also just the drug networks
[3:23:30] that are operating and I know that there is some compliance between multiple agencies, police agencies,
[3:23:36] politicians here inside of the state, I'm pleading with you to not work with them. Thank you.
[3:23:47] Hi, my name is Manil Baudoucharia and I've been working with the city as consultant
[3:23:52] for the last 20 years I close to and I'm here to thank the council, the mayor's office
[3:24:00] in the city of Richmond for the proclamation, recognizing the Nepalini U.R.
[3:24:10] I am from Nepal
[3:24:11] and I've been in the Bay Area for the last 25 years.
[3:24:15] So I really wanted to come up here and thank the council, the mayor, the council, and
[3:24:22] in the city for putting this parking machine on the city council agenda.
[3:24:27] Thank you.
[3:24:34] Hello, very many of you. This is Jesus Perez,
[3:24:39] with the first stand right in front of a valence and flaneteric.
[3:24:44] I just want to ask you guys please to give me some more space or gaps, more products for the neighborhood.
[3:24:53] Some of them do and you know it's bringing fresh fruit for everybody, you know, and I love the people support.
[3:24:59] It's a little more space, so I can bring a lot of more stuff, you know, my premier is just a little from one table, so I need more space, I can bring more stuff like that, and I want to ask you guys please in some more space, and another favor, I don't know who but I keep sending the city over to me, it is a ring one thing, it's another, I got all my premieres, you know, I'm to not comply with all the premieres.
[3:25:29] and trying to do everything right, but I don't know somebody just sending a series of people showing up all the time.
[3:25:42] Just please.
[3:25:49] Hi there, Ryan Kason.
[3:25:52] So I swear this has nothing to do with a specific agenda item.
[3:25:55] This is a general comment.
[3:25:57] But I did want to speak to the council and anyone in a leadership position
[3:26:03] that a demographic of people that I think don't get enough credit or that isn't
[3:26:10] talking about and their disenfranchisement is the youth. And I think if you're
[3:26:16] in a position of leadership and you have a bunch of young kids coming out and
[3:26:24] speaking out against something, I think it's the job of those of us in power to
[3:26:29] back and to listen. So though I urge you, regardless of anything discussed tonight, but also
[3:26:36] going forward to listen to the youth voice, because you have the power to give them more.
[3:26:44] Thank you.
[3:26:52] Hello, my name is Daphat Al-Al-Tan. I'm a journalist by training, but tonight I'm here as a parent.
[3:27:00] I'm here to express my unwavering support for the diploma program at the Beespace Center for the
[3:27:05] performing arts where our two children take a variety of classes and where our daughter is completing
[3:27:10] her second year as a diploma student. My husband and I are the children of Latino immigrants
[3:27:15] and we're raising our children on the border of Sam Pablo and Richmond. We've worked hard for
[3:27:20] our education and careers, however the earning personnel families, however that hard work does not
[3:27:27] necessarily translate to immediate generational wealth and affordability for this sophisticated
[3:27:32] adopted top tier musical and artistic training our daughter receives as a diplomas student
[3:27:36] at the e-space center.
[3:27:38] The scholarship reach she receives as a diplomas student, which includes a five-week
[3:27:43] summer intensive, which is eight hours a day, classes year-round and private classes
[3:27:48] would add up to about $10,000 a year, something we cannot afford at this moment.
[3:27:55] Okay, I just want to say that this is an incredible program that supports community on all
[3:28:01] levels for so many children. Thank you.
[3:28:11] And now number two, the Zoom speakers.
[3:28:13] We have five Zoom speakers online, Jesse Terran, Andrew Wilk,
[3:28:17] Benjamin Terio, Nathan Lanzo and Marcus.
[3:28:22] Jesse, please unmute yourself and you may begin.
[3:28:26] Hi, I'm Jesse Terran. Again, I am, I've been unhoused in Richmond for the past
[3:28:32] And I just wanted to point out that the city of Richmond has received millions of dollars.
[3:28:41] Okay, there's the measure expens.
[3:28:44] There's some measure you funds.
[3:28:47] There's a, you know, there's grant money.
[3:28:51] There's the Chevron money.
[3:28:54] And yet, homeless people are seeing as not doing anything or for the economy.
[3:28:59] But you receive so much money for our benefit.
[3:29:02] What we need is a safe parking area
[3:29:05] and or a tiny home community.
[3:29:08] It would cost a fraction of what you're spending now
[3:29:12] on putting us in permanent housing
[3:29:14] and it would be safe and it would be cheap
[3:29:18] and it would be fast.
[3:29:20] A basically a trailer part.
[3:29:22] That's how they housed survivors of the earthquake.
[3:29:24] That's how they housed World War II veterans
[3:29:27] where they came home from the war.
[3:29:28] Thank you, and that your time is expired.
[3:29:32] Next speaker is Andre.
[3:29:33] Well, Andre, excuse me, Andre.
[3:29:35] Well, please unmute yourself, and you may begin.
[3:29:38] Yeah, hey.
[3:29:39] This is a Andrew Woke director of the Richmond High School Music Department,
[3:29:44] also Richmond resident, like great-great-grandparents,
[3:29:47] immigrated here from the A-saurus and Portugal,
[3:29:50] but never forever.
[3:29:51] I just wanted to shout out our music students and our
[3:29:54] for a recent representing Richmond High School in front of hundreds of thousands of people.
[3:30:00] On television at the Chinese New York Parade in San Francisco. And then two days later driving down to Anne-Aheim to represent our city and community at Disneyland marching and doing some workshops down there.
[3:30:13] I just want to thank you guys, your deep investments in our youth clearly are paying off. That shows in our crime rates decreasing.
[3:30:20] I know as a person who went to Penal and grew up in Penal myself, even though my family has lived in
[3:30:24] Richmond forever, a narrative is slowly starting to change where our school, which from
[3:30:28] high school, is becoming a school with very high-performing programs that's desirable and
[3:30:33] attractive to our community. I'm sorry, I just want to thank this city for supporting us and
[3:30:38] allowing us to represent you. Have a good evening. Thank you. And the next speaker is Benjamin
[3:30:42] Terrio. Please unmute yourself and you may begin.
[3:30:49] I mean, Councilman Terry President of Richmond Police Officer Association, the Vice President
[3:30:55] of Residents deserve a city government that takes public service to seriously, and respects
[3:31:00] its workforce, and understands that you can't keep cutting corners when it comes to policing,
[3:31:05] staffing, and labor stability.
[3:31:07] Our officers continue to show up, do the job, affect the city and their difficult conditions.
[3:31:12] And what they need is a return as a straightforward, fair treatment, competitive pay, lawful
[3:31:17] decision making from city management and leadership, that understands the value of returning
[3:31:22] experience officers instead of pushing them away.
[3:31:25] When this city delays, this requires working conditions and the M.M.B.A. and other lawful
[3:31:31] labor laws and fails to keep up with the market to result as predictable, lower morale, staffing
[3:31:37] issues, and greater risk to the community.
[3:31:39] This is not complicated.
[3:31:41] It's great to want to say for city.
[3:31:42] It's got to support the people who do the work.
[3:31:44] That means respecting labor law, bargaining in good faith, and making
[3:31:47] public safety real priority not just the talk is point free detective
[3:31:51] Hodges bring them back thank you your time is expired and that appears to be our
[3:31:56] last speaker I don't see any other hands raised at this time now we move to the
[3:32:01] and first speakers we have 52 speakers rock call your name please line up
[3:32:07] the hottest speakers podium closest to the wall the groups of 10 40
[3:32:11] Henler, Dan Gazi, Rune Simmons, Bahema Zayman, Maria Fikanto,
[3:32:22] Aliyah, Alizani,
[3:32:42] Aliyah
[3:32:42] Martinez, council, but the record I am putterl and l and I have some hits for you all.
[3:32:48] So number one, as Benjamin Tertos pointed out, we are in a staff and shortage, because I
[3:32:55] was just talking to our neighbors in El Surito, and from what the state auditor told them,
[3:32:59] they had done a class in top studies, and so to align how they pay their employees.
[3:33:05] And so it got me thinking, it's like if I had five or six million dollars, I would allocate
[3:33:10] to hire two consultants to do just that organizational assessment and building certain positions
[3:33:17] that that's one.
[3:33:18] And the other picture is, I thought about you, customers, to pay that for your love and
[3:33:22] animals.
[3:33:22] And so, I was thinking that in the future that we need to acknowledge the leading college
[3:33:27] perpetuating high school for their service day that they did in March.
[3:33:32] So, it just got me thinking it's like, they need to be acknowledged.
[3:33:35] So, I'm putting it as a request to have it agendaized for next month because they have
[3:33:40] graduation three days after that. So with that, it's all in there.
[3:33:44] John Gosman
[3:33:52] came here tonight with a prepared speech to try to offer to our the good
[3:33:57] people, Richmond career opportunities, the extremely high pay, great benefits, and what feels
[3:34:03] good having a career. But cutting me off with only one minute, I can't say, give a justice,
[3:34:10] I apologize for that. But please, take a look at the numbers here. Call me 510685-2403.
[3:34:16] 5.0, 6.85, 2.4, 0.03, Dawn Gosney, a Comcast.net, and I can help change your life.
[3:34:26] We're on Simmons.
[3:34:30] Hello.
[3:34:31] My name is Rune.
[3:34:32] I grew up in Richmond.
[3:34:33] I'm here for the Richmond Espace Center for the Performing Arts.
[3:34:37] I'm an alumni of the diploma program.
[3:34:39] I just wanted to say that this program is an incredible thing.
[3:34:44] I came in and had my eyes open to a lot of music and people and this is kind of shaped
[3:34:56] the way that I interact with the world now.
[3:34:58] It's given me the tools to look within, it's given me the courage to be seen and I see
[3:35:07] and my peers, I see in the kids that I work with now, a sort of unfolding, a learning, I see
[3:35:15] something that is really unique. And I'm doing my best to be a specific as I can in this time,
[3:35:25] but I just want to say through my own personal experience, this is a work of many lifetime
[3:35:31] I'm sad it's going to carry forward, all right. Thank you.
[3:35:35] Hi,
[3:35:47] my name is Fihima and I'm the Health Justice Program Manager at Rise. I've been working with my interns in our how many times we got to say internship for the past two years as part of our listening campaign 2.0
[3:35:58] That's really sought to understand what youth have been experiencing in Richmond and Contra Costa County.
[3:36:04] What has become clear is that youth are tired of feeling unheard,
[3:36:08] and tired of adjusting themselves to fit the needs of adults,
[3:36:12] and yet it feels like that is their only choice.
[3:36:15] Case in point.
[3:36:16] Today, my interns were planning to host a community convening.
[3:36:20] That was a celebration and culmination of their findings.
[3:36:23] Something that they had been prepping for for months.
[3:36:27] However, when the need for them to be here,
[3:36:29] instead of to talk with you all arose, they chose to pivot.
[3:36:32] Within two weeks, they organized this room of young people to help present their listening campaign to point out and I truly hope that you will take time to listen to what they have to say today
[3:36:44] Because how many more times do they have to say it till you all listen
[3:36:54] Maria
[3:36:55] The same though.
[3:37:02] I don't see Council.
[3:37:03] My name is Maria, and I'm a proud member of Rise, and I'm most importantly the youth
[3:37:07] community of Richmond.
[3:37:09] Rise launched this listening campaign to 0.0 in 2024 in partnership with series policy.
[3:37:15] This is part of Rise's legacy of listening, learning, and leading.
[3:37:18] We started an internship program called How Many Times We Got to Say it.
[3:37:22] Center around the over-serving and over-inttaking of young people during COVID and the racial
[3:37:28] this internship was born from young people telling us they are tired of being
[3:37:32] surveyed and asked what they need and how they feel wanted to be ignored
[3:37:35] neglectic and blamed. Through this initiative, us health justice in terms
[3:37:40] explored key challenges facing youth in contra-costal county, including issues
[3:37:44] with the schools, women of community and auto spaces, and a lack of accessible
[3:37:49] resources. Thank you.
[3:37:56] Alayah, Alazani.
[3:37:59] Good evening, city council.
[3:38:00] My name is Alia.
[3:38:02] And I'm also an intern at Hamil times without a say in.
[3:38:06] And interns connected with peers and adults identifying areas where young people have not been included and listened to it.
[3:38:14] Interns presented their research to public sectors, academic professionals on homelessness and housing injustice.
[3:38:20] food insecurity at school and a lack of resources and historical
[3:38:25] investment. The listening campaign to point out engage with over
[3:38:29] 150 young people ages 14 to 20 across rise local schools and community
[3:38:36] centers. We use surveys, interviews, focus groups, a method called
[3:38:41] photo voice to hear from multiple use. Through their voices, we gain
[3:38:45] deeper insight into their struggles and the struggle they face, their
[3:38:50] are treated by adults and what it's truly feeling like to grow up in the Bay Area today.
[3:38:55] As a part of listening campaign to point out, we conducted a lot of research that we want
[3:38:59] to ask to take into consideration. Thank you.
[3:39:04] Elias, the ballers.
[3:39:10] Good evening, word
[3:39:11] my name is Elias Avalos, and I'm also, I'm also an intern at how many times we have to say it.
[3:39:17] So for the last month we've been working on a community convening to present our findings to
[3:39:21] in our community, however, what we realize is that there are some adults in this room that
[3:39:26] would really benefit from hearing us from us today, so just like how so many youth have
[3:39:30] talked about in our research, we are adjusting ourselves to meet once again the needs of the
[3:39:34] adults.
[3:39:35] We are a heater day instead of the convening, we were so heart-planned to present the findings
[3:39:39] from our listening campaign to point out.
[3:39:41] Well, you've gathered a room full of young people today to talk to you about what young people
[3:39:45] have been saying they want, need, and deserve.
[3:39:47] We hope you remain mindful and open to came from them because one thing is clear
[3:39:51] We are tired of asking adults to listen to us and being met with empty promises that they are losing campaign 2.0 findings
[3:40:00] Fund recommendations are aren't offering asking assistance for adults and systems to collectively consider and cultivate
[3:40:06] What it will take to show up for young and with young people. Thank you
[3:40:14] Darin
[3:40:17] down.
[3:40:22] Hello
[3:40:24] The first theme that becomes clear in our research is that young people, young people's
[3:40:29] spaces are neglected and under-resourced, a main problem that this stems from is that youth
[3:40:35] are not considered as much in society as they deserve to be.
[3:40:38] One stated, one of the biggest things that gets in the way of young people getting support
[3:40:43] is not being taken seriously.
[3:40:45] The belief that children should be seen and not heard has negatively affected young people
[3:40:50] of every generation and that's continued to do so in this city.
[3:40:54] Others know how transportation is not always accessible or safe.
[3:40:59] A barrier that keeps them from schools, jobs, or support programs.
[3:41:03] Our library is always locked.
[3:41:05] One participant noted how even basic resources can be out of reach.
[3:41:10] We get blame for falling behind in school, but we do not even have access to basic resources
[3:41:15] that would help us succeed.
[3:41:16] Another youth noted, these areas are not developed. There's no spaces to hang out.
[3:41:22] Youth are getting pushed away from their own...
[3:41:25] Your time is expired.
[3:41:27] Huh?
[3:41:28] Oh, sorry.
[3:41:30] I tried to reach that.
[3:41:38] Our next speaker is Ronald Savantes.
[3:41:41] He'll be followed by a Naya Jones.
[3:41:43] We're the following individuals, please.
[3:41:45] Line up behind the Speaks floating in closest to the wall.
[3:41:48] Calvin Crock.
[3:41:49] Sage Hollins.
[3:41:50] Semi-Fandy, Daya,
[3:41:55] Angelico,
[3:42:02] Tayana, Talis,
[3:42:13] and I was wondering what that might be.
[3:42:16] Could someone explain it?
[3:42:23] It's a listening campaign.
[3:42:36] Hello Council.
[3:42:37] Some of you remember over 10 years ago, listening campaign 1.0, where we talked over 500 young people
[3:42:43] about their experiences with trauma violence, coping and healing.
[3:42:46] So this is the next iteration, which young people brought to us saying was sick and tired of you surveying us over and over again
[3:42:52] and you're not doing anything, but we are still going to have hope in you, and we're going to do this again and bring to you what we need with solid recommendations and the hopes and expectations that you all listen.
[3:43:03] So the 2.0 builds off of 1.0.
[3:43:06] And so we actually invite you to our share-out session next Wednesday at Rise from 9.30 to 1.
[3:43:10] We'll have breakfast food, it's going to be a good time, time to reflect, to really reckon with what it takes to really get us to move,
[3:43:17] so come on through and you're welcome for these young folks organizing to be here and preach.
[3:43:27] Okay, I think I believe I call to Naya, a lease, coal, hayley,
[3:43:37] an app to home.
[3:43:41] The next thing I've seen a show up amongst you is that you are exhausted and feel ignored and abandoned by adults and systems that are meant to support us.
[3:43:49] You stated that we get told to ask for help but helping is always there.
[3:43:54] Even if you use Dury Child, if you don't want to do this seriously, this disconnect creates a cycle where you stop asking altogether,
[3:44:00] not because they need to disappear, but because the effort doesn't see work to dismissal.
[3:44:04] But it may look like this engagement from the outside is actually exhausting.
[3:44:07] After getting shut down again and again, like today, to undermine.
[3:44:11] As we know, us, you can show up to City Council advocate for what we want to see happen or change for our city, and so be fast over.
[3:44:18] The phrase Burnout is actually a trauma response. How did it differ? What's that stake?
[3:44:22] We burn up for everything once. One youth said Burnley, and there's no break. Burnout isn't just a job set for Burnie youth.
[3:44:29] It's a response to closely in the history, stress, pressure, and lack of support.
[3:44:32] Thank you.
[3:44:35] Finally,
[3:44:44] the third theme that continues to be evident is that a lot of youth are creating their own coping.
[3:44:47] mechanisms, learning how to take care of themselves in their own ways, especially when support
[3:44:52] is always there. People who find comfort and things like skating, nature and music.
[3:44:57] others turn to their face saying sitting on my
[3:45:13] A lot of you have to figure out things on their own. While some coping methods are healthy, not everyone has access to the sake of positive options. And sometimes the ways people quote aren't always the best for them.
[3:45:30] It highlights how important it is to have more support, so young people don't have to carry everything by themselves.
[3:45:35] You are asking for more coping methods like access to therapy, counseling, and networks.
[3:45:40] It access to safe outdoor spaces, et cetera.
[3:45:43] But instead of being heard, adult plays even greater barriers in place to the public.
[3:45:47] Thank you.
[3:45:53] Calvary.
[3:45:58] So now what?
[3:46:00] You know the issues, what are the solutions?
[3:46:02] You'll be hearing about six recommendations that you'd have in order for adults to serve as better.
[3:46:07] The first recommendation, adults working with you to focus on building relationships and grounded trust.
[3:46:13] Consistency and care, youth are not asking for perfection, they are asking for presence.
[3:46:18] What they are asking is for action and intention.
[3:46:23] The action to do what is right for the future generation.
[3:46:26] The intent to not let these kinds of cycles stay.
[3:46:29] These are, they are asking for consistent, invested, invested adults, we show up, even when it's uncomfortable or inconvenient because that should never get in the way of the well-being of you.
[3:46:48] Sage to the sage.
[3:46:50] Hi, my name is Sage Holland.
[3:46:52] I'm part of the B.O.P. membership at Rise and I've been resident in Richmond for three years.
[3:46:57] They don't just need anybody doing the work, one participant said.
[3:47:00] Make sure people are really committed to young people.
[3:47:02] Look, L, L, C, 2.0 reveals that well-language around youth management has evolved.
[3:47:09] They continue to encounter adults who cycle in and out of programs, and service providers who speak more than they listen.
[3:47:15] One youth put it plainly.
[3:47:17] It's hard to talk to adults who look like they're not listening.
[3:47:20] That was unfortunately been the reality for a lot of people because they don't,
[3:47:24] because many don't even have someone they can comfortably and safely confide in.
[3:47:28] Invest in free, safe, third spaces for youth.
[3:47:30] and LC2.0 young people didn't describe their neighborhoods as sites for possibility but rather
[3:47:34] faces defined by absence. These areas are not developed. There is no spaces to hang out
[3:47:38] and yet, those spaces, when those spaces exist they matter. Another one said,
[3:47:42] I'm going to say, fight right, because it's cool! It's the chance to meet next people.
[3:47:46] So, the sense of safety goes beyond security. Thank you.
[3:47:57] You're asking for third spaces, no home, no school, but somewhere else entirely. This isn't that,
[3:48:04] places where they can decompress, create and be in community. But not just any space, one that reflects
[3:48:10] our identities, interests and rhythms. That means music, tech, food, comfy sitting, and room to
[3:48:16] be allowed or silent. These spaces matter because they form identity and foster belonging.
[3:48:23] Investing in these door spaces means investing in the future for everyone. Thank you.
[3:48:30] Daya. Youth are asking for support. We're asking for schools to become places that actually prepares
[3:48:37] for a future while also supplying her well-being.
[3:48:40] School should be a healing center in future buildings, not just places where it's expected
[3:48:44] to go through.
[3:48:45] In a plain session, youth said they're actually excited, optimistic, and they want to run
[3:48:49] it up in the energetic.
[3:48:51] Coer, earning their own money being independence through Canadian internships or guaranteed
[3:48:56] job programs.
[3:48:57] The energy is there, but this is similar on this, just aren't needing it.
[3:49:01] Thank you.
[3:49:08] As one participant summed up clearly, I need financial aid, housing and opportunities to
[3:49:14] help me succeed.
[3:49:15] That's what we are asking for.
[3:49:17] Not unrealistic changes, but real practical support.
[3:49:20] We need schools that combine emotional safety with resources.
[3:49:24] That means access to mental health support and also college counseling, housing guidance,
[3:49:30] career pathways and paid work opportunities.
[3:49:32] Without these, students aren't moving forward, we're just trying to get by.
[3:49:37] If we actually invest in our youth in this way, we won't just be surviving school.
[3:49:41] We'll be building futures with purpose.
[3:49:44] Recommendation for, embed youth's voice in governance and budgeting.
[3:49:49] Youth voices need to be genuinely heard from school districts.
[3:49:52] We're tired of being asked questions with no action to follow.
[3:49:55] To often youth speak up, organize and even rally to perchange,
[3:49:59] and still get ignored or swept under the rug.
[3:50:01] The reality is that we are going to schools that are under-resourced and under-staff.
[3:50:05] Teachers are underpaid and counselors are responsible for entire school,
[3:50:09] which means that students aren't getting the support that they potentially inspired.
[3:50:13] Thank you.
[3:50:13] Thank you.
[3:50:17] Tamaya?
[3:50:24] What's possible when youth voices are being heard?
[3:50:30] Moments where young people are listened to and taking seriously show us what real success
[3:50:37] can look like.
[3:50:38] Thank you.
[3:50:41] Are you comfortable?
[3:50:43] A lease?
[3:50:46] Uthne, the youth needs community, and the support they receive, even though the youth in
[3:50:52] L.C. to 0.0 didn't directly talk about system coordination.
[3:50:56] Their experiences made it very clear.
[3:50:58] Many spoke about the exhaustions of staffing to repeat their trauma over and over in the
[3:51:02] lack of consistent and consistent support, and the feeling that even when someone tries to
[3:51:08] it doesn't fully stick because everything feels disconnected. This isn't about one
[3:51:12] personal organization failing. It's about a bigger issue with how systems are
[3:51:17] set up. Support is often temporary and depends too much on an individual. Instead
[3:51:21] of a strong connected system because this young people aren't getting the
[3:51:25] steady reliable support that they need. We need care. Navigators where adults
[3:51:30] carry the burden of connecting us to the various supports that we need at
[3:51:34] We have seen how helpful it is when a current adult helps us in navigating to a
[3:51:39] serious, challenging systems versus forcing us to figure out by ourselves.
[3:51:48] We
[3:52:00] recommend this station sticks. Power help by adults needs to be fundamentally
[3:52:05] restricted to allow true youth voice. A big issue is that adults still hold most of the
[3:52:10] power and it needs to actually change if youth voices are going to matter. A lot of young
[3:52:16] or saying they don't just want to be more advice or advice, they want adults to hand over
[3:52:23] more control and actually reflect youth needs and empower with real decision-making.
[3:52:28] Right now, it still feels like you are only being included on a surface.
[3:52:33] Like someone said, youth voices are still heard only in spaces adults on it.
[3:52:38] Even when we're not really the ones that come to an end,
[3:52:43] and our idea is going to always turn it to real change.
[3:52:46] Thank you.
[3:52:51] Our next few speakers are Haley and after all,
[3:52:55] and we'll the next speaker, please line up.
[3:52:59] Abdullah, Hassan, Larry, Eden, Michael,
[3:53:08] Jaila,
[3:53:10] Jenny, Jean,
[3:53:14] York, Nora,
[3:53:20] please go forward and line up please.
[3:53:23] Hey.
[3:53:24] Good morning, Senator Council.
[3:53:25] My name is here.
[3:53:26] We see I'm being a resident in Contra Costa for a little over a year now.
[3:53:30] You have heard what young people have been asking for in order to go from surviving here
[3:53:35] to being able to thrive in our community.
[3:53:37] Yet sometimes, unfortunately, our words are not enough.
[3:53:40] We also are here to show our lived experience as well.
[3:53:43] The following youth will be sharing images that represent our current realities along with reflection, so you can truly understand what it is like to be a young person growing up here.
[3:53:53] The following will be excerpts from our video voice or photo voice project.
[3:53:58] Success to me is having a community that can support and have shared similar experiences to you.
[3:54:04] and I've seen you grow through throughout the period of time sharing the same struggles
[3:54:10] are being there as you struggle and being able to see as reaching the goal if you have
[3:54:13] set up for ourselves. This time of support let me to flourish with the person. I grew to become a
[3:54:17] leader and understand now that I'm going to continue back growing across the country, not one,
[3:54:22] but two full rides, school fully paid to Washington University in St. Louis.
[3:54:28] Thank you.
[3:54:31] That's all.
[3:54:36] Hello everyone. My name is Altal and I'll be reading
[3:54:39] a comment by a previous film.
[3:54:42] So this is a photo of their cousin taking his feeling
[3:54:45] in music during a big function.
[3:54:47] Do you guys know what gets in the way
[3:54:48] of young people receiving the support we need?
[3:54:50] It is a system that was never built
[3:54:52] for us in the first place.
[3:54:53] Whether it's home counselors who are too
[3:54:55] overwrote the check-in, or adults who only focus on
[3:54:58] our mistakes set of our struggles.
[3:55:01] Young people, especially those who are
[3:55:03] in your good and low income communities,
[3:55:05] are constantly overlooked or misunderstood.
[3:55:07] In Richmond, I've seen how budget cuts
[3:55:09] Underfunded schools and racial bias all contribute to youth being left behind.
[3:55:13] Instead of care, we all can get disappointed.
[3:55:15] Instead of opportunities, we also get silence.
[3:55:18] As I used internet paper and someone who's working with groups like Safe Return project
[3:55:22] and CVE, I've seen firsthand how much potential young people have.
[3:55:25] If only we were given the chance, many of us once lead once to speak once to heal
[3:55:29] but we can't do that if our basic needs aren't met.
[3:55:33] We need space where we're trusted supported in CNS partners, not problems.
[3:55:37] Thank you.
[3:55:48] Good evening. Good evening. How do members?
[3:55:51] My name is Abdullah and if I had the power to introduce one thing, one new thing to my community, it would be right.
[3:55:57] Rise is an incredible space where young people can access valuable resources,
[3:56:01] like laptop, art supplies, and music studio and more.
[3:56:05] It's more than just a resource center.
[3:56:07] I feel like a safe and supportive environment.
[3:56:09] Thanks to staff and members who are always there to help.
[3:56:12] For use, we need someone to talk to rise off of an access to medical and mental health professionals.
[3:56:18] If someone is going to tell you that home or just need a break, there are a relaxing place
[3:56:22] that they can unwind.
[3:56:24] Rise also helps young people build their future by offering internship opportunities throughout the year,
[3:56:29] in spring, summer, fall and winter.
[3:56:31] These internship focuses on areas like discipline health,
[3:56:34] who justice and community organizations.
[3:56:37] It's a place where youth are not only welcomed by a power to grow.
[3:56:53] I believe this community needs is a third place, a safe park could be one, but the
[3:56:58] problem is that these parts are mostly used and enjoyed by young kids and teenagers need
[3:57:02] a place to hang out to. Part should be a big place to have a lot of great open spaces
[3:57:07] where the community can enjoy. When activities are creating a roof, creating a place that
[3:57:11] can easily serve as a third place. Richmond residents need a space where they can simply
[3:57:16] enjoy being without having to spend money. The limited parks here in Richmond are usually
[3:57:21] very small. This image is from Open Park and Berkeley. And a bigger park with a walking
[3:57:27] trail with help people relax and ease their minds. There could be an electrical, bicycle or
[3:57:33] scooter station nearby so teenagers can have fun along with skateboard and roller skating area.
[3:57:39] I would love a roller skating, a roller skating drink because going to one is too expensive
[3:57:43] And I don't want to have to pay every time.
[3:57:47] In the Bay Area or far from Richmond,
[3:57:49] so we need somewhere nearby and say thank you.
[3:57:56] How's that?
[3:57:57] What's this answer?
[3:58:00] Larry?
[3:58:03] Hello?
[3:58:04] Right, here we are.
[3:58:06] All right.
[3:58:07] Hey, city council.
[3:58:08] Hi, Larry.
[3:58:09] I'm going to be talking about success.
[3:58:12] So we would need access to quality education,
[3:58:14] education, tutoring, and player guidance, and career,
[3:58:18] mental health support, and more community programs that help young people
[3:58:22] prepare for the real world, and mentorships, and job trainings, and
[3:58:26] also accessible scholarships that will help a lot.
[3:58:29] When a community invests and creates a path for all of us to thrive, not
[3:58:32] just to survive.
[3:58:33] With the right support, we gain better access to real opportunities, and
[3:58:37] this is a picture of what I can trust.
[3:58:39] We look like it's not all of the community together, setting up this in our school.
[3:58:42] When you all love to see that, so yeah, also it's a stable and fulfilling.
[3:58:48] It also means having my dream draw job, career, and doing something that I love that also allows
[3:58:53] to support myself and family. I see success as being able to afford basic necessities like housing
[3:59:00] food and health care while still providing my family with good education and opportunities.
[3:59:05] So yeah, that's all. Thank you.
[3:59:11] Eden,
[3:59:18] Eden.
[3:59:23] My name is Eden.
[3:59:25] One thing that really helps me calm down is being in the presence of nature.
[3:59:29] A clean green place that is sit and rest.
[3:59:32] It doesn't have to be to sleep, but a place to just sit and look up at the leaves and scar.
[3:59:37] To think, to dream, to meditate or even just breathe if everything is too much.
[3:59:43] A dedicated sanctuary with flowers and berries to pick out and nibble on.
[3:59:47] I think also, to have a big tree with a wide log, that would be great to have because we could
[3:59:54] sit by the booths and be grounded with them.
[3:59:56] This would also be helpful because it could have a community garden.
[4:00:00] Which could distract people's minds and take people's minds off stress. And you can relax and guard it.
[4:00:07] It can also teach the community to become clean up, because if everyone agrees that this little
[4:00:11] patch in nature is calling for them, then they will want to keep it clean. Thank you.
[4:00:18] My
[4:00:21] name is Michael.
[4:00:26] My name is Michael. I didn't grow for a training being bad.
[4:00:29] support. So, success to me looks like graduating high school moving on to college and wanting
[4:00:37] to keep growing learning and making my family proud.
[4:00:40] Rich and I will be staying focused during my best in school and not giving up when things
[4:00:47] get hard to resist. I need support for my community. People who push me towards
[4:00:55] greatness and believe in me whether it's teachers, mentors, friends, programs like the
[4:01:01] swimming photo or and having the encouragement to help me stay motivated and on track.
[4:01:06] Thank
[4:01:10] you. Jayla.
[4:01:16] Good evening, sitting down to the numbers.
[4:01:18] Right, excuse me. Some of the council members are complaining that the cats see the photo,
[4:01:23] so if you could move the photo over to this side, so it's visible to everyone.
[4:01:32] Okay, my apologies, it wasn't a complaint, it was a suggestion, and that's the power of language, you know, so we need to be
[4:01:44] circles like Louise Langwich and I apologize.
[4:01:50] Good evening, my name is Sheila, what I've been stressed are having a rough day, I usually listen to music,
[4:01:55] take time alone or talk to somewhere I trust, it helps me calm down a bit more in control, I found some ways to deal with stress,
[4:02:01] but I don't always have everything that I need.
[4:02:04] That's why spaces like rise are so important.
[4:02:06] They give people a safe place to relax,
[4:02:08] talk, and try new things.
[4:02:10] Rise creates a sense of community and belong
[4:02:12] with that a lot of people are missing.
[4:02:14] It is a place where you don't have to hide
[4:02:15] where you're going through.
[4:02:17] More places like that will help people feel
[4:02:19] seen, supported, and less alone.
[4:02:21] Everyone deserves a space where they can be themselves.
[4:02:23] It can really change someone's lives for the better.
[4:02:26] Not everyone has a strong support system at home
[4:02:28] and having a space like rise
[4:02:29] give people a second chance to find that support.
[4:02:32] It's not just about the activities, it's about being around people who care and want to see
[4:02:36] you grow.
[4:02:37] That kind of environment makes it easier to keep going even on your hardest days.
[4:02:43] Thank you all for joining us.
[4:02:52] Good evening.
[4:02:52] Good evening, Mayor Martinez, the City Council members.
[4:02:55] My name is Jenny Mahal and beers and I am a co-founder and on the Planning and Facilitation
[4:02:59] team of the Richmond Actors Coalition and that work of organizations providing nature-based
[4:03:03] programing for youth enrichment. I'm here today to share a bit about the impact that we have seen
[4:03:09] these programs have on youth enrichment. Each year, more than 1,400 children, youth and families
[4:03:14] from TK through 12th grade take part in our programs with each participant spending an average of
[4:03:21] 34 hours outdoors engaging in five unique experiences. These experiences include gardening,
[4:03:27] regarding outdoor science inquiry and field trips to locations near and far, including the
[4:03:32] snow and Tahoe and Angel Island. These programs are led by our 10 incredible program programs.
[4:03:38] Our data shows that the Richmond outdoors pollution programs have measureably improved
[4:03:42] academic engagement, social and emotional growth, mental and physical wellness, quality of
[4:03:47] social bonds and connections to the outdoors, access and belonging to the outdoors and community.
[4:03:52] Thank you for your time.
[4:03:56] Okay, our next two speakers are Jean and then Nora and then we'll be following in the visual
[4:04:02] speech line up Alejandro Andrea coacco Juliana Claudia Lovis Anna
[4:04:27] I'm good evening Mayor Martinez and city council members. My name is Jean Kinsher and I'm a teacher at
[4:04:33] Brewery Elementary. My community receives programs so the Richmond Alcohol Coalition including
[4:04:38] Snow Trip led by Headwater Science Institute, classroom instruction and build trips led by
[4:04:43] Bades, kids for the Bay, playground activities and family camp led by yes nature to neighborhoods.
[4:04:49] I am here today to share the impact that I have witnessed on the youth that I work with.
[4:04:54] They're excitement and they're wonder to learn about the creek and the environment.
[4:04:58] That magical moment when it starts to snow and they've never experienced snow before.
[4:05:01] The excitement and the fun that shock students and families that they can have,
[4:05:05] camping and being unplugged.
[4:05:07] And the joy and truth trying to fill in that need dance provides my students.
[4:05:11] My students deserve these experiences and many more.
[4:05:14] Thank you.
[4:05:18] No.
[4:05:28] Good evening.
[4:05:29] Mayor Martinez and City Council members.
[4:05:32] My name is Nora Isala Castinger.
[4:05:33] I'm a student at Richmond High School.
[4:05:36] And I received programs through Richmond Outdoors.
[4:05:42] Coaching.
[4:05:43] Including an overnight field trip in Lake Tahoe.
[4:05:47] Led by the Headwater Science Industry.
[4:05:51] This trip was important because the opportunity for students to learn new things
[4:05:56] And to be inspired what they learned and to spread the information to other students,
[4:06:07] to use this opportunity.
[4:06:09] Thank you for listening to me.
[4:06:17] Alejandro.
[4:06:22] Good evening, Mayor Martinez and City Council.
[4:06:26] My name is Alejandro Casin.
[4:06:27] in sixth grade at Verde, RBC programs through the regimen of Goop.
[4:06:34] That's a course.
[4:06:37] Convolution like an overnight filter to the snow
[4:06:41] in Lake Tahoe with head water sign,
[4:06:46] in Institute and Clashroom sessions,
[4:06:50] And it built to to the part with the water, the water, the water, the ocean, the
[4:07:06] ocean.
[4:07:09] These are experience are important to me because we spend less time off our phones, we have fun and we learn about science in the snow.
[4:07:20] It helps our community to pick up more trash than you.
[4:07:34] Andrea.
[4:07:37] Hi, good evening.
[4:07:38] My name is Andrea.
[4:07:40] I'm a district for Richmond Resident, a parent, a professional musician and a proud East
[4:07:44] Space Center staff member.
[4:07:45] I have one of our youngest East Space Center.
[4:07:55] We did want to say how much of an impact it makes.
[4:08:00] Knowing every day that the city is investing in our work, investing in myself, my family,
[4:08:04] Our students and I think it makes a difference for our students knowing that every day the city is supporting what they're doing
[4:08:10] It makes them want to stay enrichment. It makes them want to get back and so many of our students are giving back
[4:08:15] So thank you so much for your support. I'm pleased continue to invest in you
[4:08:28] Hello good evening. My name is Mark Umen
[4:08:32] I work with the eaves and the performing arts as a West African music and dance specialist and I call direct the West African music and dance
[4:08:42] completed. I've been working since 2012 with the center. The center is unique in a
[4:08:49] way area for its deep commitment to providing tissue free, high quality and diverse
[4:08:56] arts education to understand young children in our community. It teaches traditional
[4:09:02] arts forms, especially Valley West Africa. Currently we have about 90 students from
[4:09:08] 3 to 18 years old in the West African part with.
[4:09:13] We also have 53 students waiting to get into the program.
[4:09:17] The center is so important because it serves as a second home.
[4:09:21] And it is based for your children to express themselves through the arts.
[4:09:27] Students come to the center to learn more about other approaches or discover more of their own culture.
[4:09:34] My kids are in the program too.
[4:09:36] Thank you.
[4:09:42] Good
[4:09:47] evening council. My name is Juliana Espinoza. I'm 20 years old. I reside within
[4:09:53] Partchester Village, a part of District 2 in the Northwestern sector of Richmond. It's
[4:09:58] a small community of working-class people surrounded by industrial buildings, railroad tracks,
[4:10:04] and the Richmond Parkway. It can get quite no easy at times. But there's a place where I can
[4:10:08] find solace, a place where I can call my home away from home, the East
[4:10:13] Space Center for the Performing Arts, located in the heart of this very
[4:10:17] special city, it has cemented itself within my heart as well. The arts has
[4:10:22] taken me on a journey of opportunity and self-discovery. Along this path, I've
[4:10:26] met a cast of diverse people who have shaped my reality. That although we are all
[4:10:31] different, there are things that succeed in uniting us all. Without the services, the
[4:10:38] believe that we would be lost or at the very least I know I would be. So I ask all of you
[4:10:43] here tonight do not take this from us when you have the power to stop it. When we're all being
[4:10:48] taken advantage of by a corrupt system, it's a part of this fire. Thank you.
[4:10:54] Thank
[4:10:57] you.
[4:11:03] Hello. Hello. My name is Eden. I'm a senior at Richmond High School and I'm here in support
[4:11:09] of the rise in the sink-and-haves, and at times when school gets over stimulating with loud
[4:11:16] rallies and increasingly high active-end expectations, I've often taken the time to
[4:11:22] relax out into parts surrounded by greenery and passing rivers. However, considering the lack
[4:11:27] of maintenance for outdoor areas, another helpful alternative is when the support I felt in the
[4:11:32] rise. Rises provided me with the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals in
[4:11:38] age group, who are also offering mental health services by qualified adults.
[4:11:43] Rise has changed mind and the lives of many other youth and that cannot be over
[4:11:47] yet.
[4:11:48] Remember that the youth are future adults.
[4:11:51] Thank you.
[4:11:56] Chariol?
[4:12:01] good night, my name is Claudio Vega, I have four years working on a
[4:12:07] licoicenter, as a master, as a specialist, and I have seen more than
[4:12:13] 500 children at the age of 14 years, and I have seen the change that has
[4:12:18] the music in the art in the Richmond, in the licoicenter.
[4:12:24] We have a licoicenter in the forest on the coast.
[4:12:27] Music for children is within a sense of a sense of happiness in the streets.
[4:12:35] We have the music of the whole world.
[4:12:37] We have this in this place.
[4:12:41] There is no music in other places that the Disney Center does not have.
[4:12:48] We are a free organization,
[4:13:03] I have been working at the East Space Center for the Performing Arts. I am a staff, faculty, and alumni, and it has been my second home for 30 years.
[4:13:15] Actually,
[4:14:03] that was an excellent way to extend your time beyond one minute. Anna?
[4:14:08] Anna? Anna?
[4:14:14] Good evening, my name is Kira Burbej, and I am a student at Eastbury Center for Performing Arts.
[4:14:21] The Eastbury Center has so many different kinds of art forms.
[4:14:25] I would have not learned if I didn't, if my dad didn't get the job at the program.
[4:14:32] And it introduced me to so many different things.
[4:14:37] One experience involved in at least percentage pathway.
[4:14:42] And I would not have known it.
[4:14:45] I wouldn't have heard of it.
[4:14:47] If I didn't see it, I wanted to form it.
[4:14:49] At East Bay Center where my sister would be performing
[4:14:53] in something else.
[4:14:55] And so I saw it and I immediately fell in love with it.
[4:14:58] I mean...
[4:15:00] Doing it since a couple summers ago, and it has become part of my identity. I am also in the West
[4:15:08] Advocate Jazz Program, there, and I'm also in so many sort of kind of art forms, and in some places
[4:15:15] have those things separately, but they don't have them all in one place, especially for free.
[4:15:27] Anna?
[4:15:34] Anna?
[4:15:34] in here, Ianna, Horlana, so first I should clarify that as my mother, I'm coming up for her.
[4:15:43] She signed me up and never changed the name.
[4:15:46] So, I apologize for that confusion.
[4:15:49] I'm wishing I, Franklin.
[4:15:55] Okay,
[4:15:58] good evening, city council members, my name is Franklin.
[4:16:01] I'm a student at Richmond High School.
[4:16:04] I received field trips and school in school activities
[4:16:10] with head water science institution, the water set project, and yes. I want to share why I think
[4:16:22] these programs are important. To me these programs are important for two main reasons. One
[4:16:29] being helped. You go outside and that's helping. I think that's a given answer. It's a fact
[4:16:35] The second thing is they give the opportunity for other people to eat and go outside.
[4:16:41] For me, I'm fortunate enough that you can go and to all these different nature areas around the bay.
[4:16:47] Other people, I'm aware, don't have that.
[4:16:51] I can't think of the word, but they don't have that.
[4:16:55] Really?
[4:16:55] Time's up.
[4:16:56] I can't believe it.
[4:16:58] Sorry.
[4:17:05] Okay.
[4:17:06] Our next speaker is Ian.
[4:17:08] Ian?
[4:17:08] And we're the following individuals please come forward, Ruthie, Denny, Praxan, Claudia
[4:17:18] Sitchman, Cindy Hayne, Angela, Lucia, Mark Westford, Juliaera, Misha, and Delilah,
[4:17:37] Thank you for taking the time to listen to us today.
[4:17:41] My name is Ian Vervage.
[4:17:42] I am the proud parent of two children.
[4:17:45] I just wanted to thank you for your
[4:17:49] the city's investment in this program.
[4:17:52] The fact that it is through your investment is
[4:17:54] helped to make it a free program to everybody.
[4:17:57] It's a whole game changer.
[4:17:59] It's a parent raising a family here in the East Bay.
[4:18:02] I don't need to tell anybody that's a very expensive area to live in, and one of the first things that we all want to invest in our children, but one of the first things to probably go is investment in their actual curricular activities.
[4:18:15] But what I've learned is these are not extra curricular activities.
[4:18:18] very centralized to these two forming them into the people that they can be. They get some
[4:18:25] meat people from all around the area from different walks of life. They will not meet in their
[4:18:33] silo experiences at school or at the different programs that we might have outside of
[4:18:44] them.
[4:18:44] Good
[4:18:49] evening. My name is Ruthie Dineen. I'm the Executive Director of East Bay Center.
[4:18:54] Yeah, I want to remind us of the importance of children in youth tonight.
[4:19:02] You have so many coming up and speaking to you about the gems and rich men.
[4:19:06] These are really important safe spaces, activities, but I'm a licensed clinical social worker.
[4:19:11] It doesn't take a license to understand the importance of safe places for our youth.
[4:19:17] I also ask you as our leaders to look them in their eyes, to smile at them, to show them
[4:19:21] your heart, they're coming up and they're evening to be here tonight to speak to you as
[4:19:26] their leaders. I want to remind us too that it's a difficult funding landscape, places like
[4:19:32] East Bay Center, only received 10 to 15 percent of government funding. Oftentimes parents
[4:19:37] ask me how we make it happen. I don't know what to say to them. It's a hustle, right?
[4:19:43] It's a mad hustle to make all this happen. And I know it takes all of us to just want to
[4:19:48] Thank you all tonight.
[4:19:53] What's her name?
[4:19:58] Good evening, City Council.
[4:20:00] What a night.
[4:20:01] What a night.
[4:20:02] You got to hear about the listening campaign 2.0.
[4:20:06] I can't wait to collaborate with some of the youth that spoke tonight and said what they had learned from their peers and what impact it has.
[4:20:16] This discussion about investing in youth couldn't be more important, more consequential.
[4:20:22] our district is facing a huge deficit, has already put in notices for folks to be laid off
[4:20:29] critical positions and it's more important than ever for these investments
[4:20:34] for youth to continue and grow in our city. So I just want you, I know this is a
[4:20:40] lot of folks coming out and it messed up your flow and I want to say what a
[4:20:47] wonderful ecosystem we have built in this city and I want you to celebrate with
[4:20:52] use and really treasure what each one of them said. Thank
[4:21:01] you.
[4:21:02] Claudia, sit room. Claudia, sit room.
[4:21:15] So there are a lot of young speakers here today and I know you have a
[4:21:18] decision to coming up. I just hope that you really
[4:21:23] reconsider who gets the funding that the funding stays in
[4:21:26] the city so it really gets these kids. I know there's another topic coming
[4:21:32] tonight with the undocumented residents. We really need to consider DACA students. I haven't heard that tonight.
[4:21:43] I really want this to be part of the conversation and we also need to consider the homelessness kids.
[4:21:49] You said that they have difficulties paying their bills. I know the finest department wants to raise more fees and other shen of fees.
[4:21:58] And as you go into the budget session, take what is can't say and consider how you generate
[4:22:06] revenues and how you burn families with fees and garbage fees and fees, so that's
[4:22:15] all I have to say.
[4:22:16] Thank you.
[4:22:22] My
[4:22:27] name is Cindy Hayden and I'm a Richmond resident.
[4:22:31] I'm here to ask that when Brandon Hodges is cleared, you bring him back ASAP and not
[4:22:40] keep him out the unprecedented amount of time you've kept out officers that were left out
[4:22:49] before.
[4:22:51] Nicholas Remic and Colton Stock, they were kept out in an ordinary matter to have them, and I don't think Brandon Hodges should be kept out that long.
[4:23:02] Our police officers are, it's not really a job for them, it's more like a calling.
[4:23:09] They need all want to serve, they all want to help people, it's not what they are, it's
[4:23:18] who they are at their core, they want to make their communities better.
[4:23:25] So I ask, again, that you bring detective colleges back ASAP to me, please, so he can
[4:23:31] be who he is.
[4:23:34] Thank you.
[4:23:35] Thank you.
[4:23:38] Angela, Angela, sorry.
[4:23:48] Hi.
[4:23:56] Oh, my name is Angela Rebecca Hernandez-Lobran.
[4:23:59] I'm a former, I have many times we got to stay in turn.
[4:24:02] I'm currently a coachable there in turn at RIC Center.
[4:24:07] I'm obsessed to me.
[4:24:08] Looks like where people can safely and free me across themselves as they are.
[4:24:13] And to know that, they can be supported by people of their own.
[4:24:16] And of different communities as well as being safe when doing so.
[4:24:21] I think to achieve that there should be centered in specific collecting programs for different communities.
[4:24:29] This picture of me repute in a rap in a trans-slide show.
[4:24:34] This is why this way, because not only can I react to expressing my true authentic self, but also feel safe enough to express myself that way.
[4:24:47] I was at a private event, but that also shows how it goes to my point where we are
[4:24:53] safe enough to have events like that. Having safe thank us for my
[4:24:58] no-one's communities is a great way to show that it can be.
[4:25:17] Hello, good evening, Mayor Martinez, good evening.
[4:25:20] So, my name is Lucia Conno, and I'm a parent at 38k8. I'm here to share the deep impact
[4:25:26] Richmond Outdoors Coalition have had on my family and our school community.
[4:25:32] Our family recently attended a camp through the coalition, and it was a very truly special experience,
[4:25:40] provided us rare quality time and nature together that strengthened our family bond
[4:25:46] and in a way that our daily life rarely allows. These experiences,
[4:25:52] trips to regional parks, hands-on science, and overnight camp being would simply not be
[4:25:58] used possible for our kids without this coalition.
[4:26:01] For students at VEDAVED, these programs are vital bridge to nature,
[4:26:07] they allow our children
[4:26:08] to build confidence, learn outside the classroom, and develop a sense of belonging in their
[4:26:13] own community.
[4:26:14] I urge you to continue prioritizing these partnerships that bring such joy and opportunity
[4:26:19] to Richmond's youth.
[4:26:20] Thank you.
[4:26:24] Mark Westman.
[4:26:27] Mark Westman.
[4:26:38] Forced to law. So there are a lot of people that have been harmed.
[4:26:45] But people that have been harmed by trendy, aragua gang members who should not be in this country in the first place.
[4:26:53] Which just be clear?
[4:26:57] I will let folks at ICE respond to your accusation.
[4:27:00] Well, the first thing I'll say is that I think the governor's words really stand on their own.
[4:27:03] The men and women of IIS are working every single day to protect the communities working with state and local officials
[4:27:09] to do our very best to protect the communities after the violent administration open our borders.
[4:27:15] Allow people to come into this country that should never came into this country.
[4:27:22] All right.
[4:27:23] All right.
[4:27:24] It harms way of the daily basis.
[4:27:25] The men and women of IIS have been asked to do.
[4:27:28] No, no, no.
[4:27:29] I don't need to do anything else.
[4:27:31] It will do.
[4:27:32] Could you please copy your stuff.
[4:27:34] every single day that the President has given us.
[4:27:42] Come out of the bag.
[4:27:45] You are a criminal.
[4:27:48] You are a criminal.
[4:27:53] Julia?
[4:28:03] Good evening.
[4:28:04] My name is Julieta Muñoz.
[4:28:05] I am a mom and Richmond resident.
[4:28:07] When I move home.
[4:28:10] Hello.
[4:28:18] Good evening.
[4:28:18] My name is Julieta Muñoz.
[4:28:20] I am a mom and Richmond resident.
[4:28:22] When I move here in 2021 I was looking for a place for my daughters
[4:28:26] to go with the community, learning and growing individuals.
[4:28:29] This is what we found at the ESP Center.
[4:28:32] If we came here from away from home,
[4:28:34] the Center provides significant support for my daughters,
[4:28:37] especially with college.
[4:28:39] My younger daughter, Minnell Lee, was able to receive the ESP Center's scholarship
[4:28:42] to support her with college expenses.
[4:28:44] My older daughters could sell it, receive significant support
[4:28:47] and mentorship in her application for university.
[4:28:50] She is now used to work her graduate,
[4:28:52] and we're going to use her to get her master this fall.
[4:28:55] This is due to the immense support
[4:28:57] from the Eastways Center and staff and programs.
[4:29:00] The Center helped share their futures.
[4:29:02] Gave them a sense of the land
[4:29:04] and surround them with a community.
[4:29:06] That continues to inflate them for that.
[4:29:09] I am forever grateful.
[4:29:11] Thank you.
[4:29:20] We have two last speakers, Misha, Renori.
[4:29:25] You followed by Dali.
[4:29:31] Hello, my name is Misha.
[4:29:33] And I'm a member of Rice.
[4:29:34] If I had the power to introduce one new thing,
[4:29:36] it might mean to be to help people deal
[4:29:38] with stress and tough times, but be encouraged
[4:29:41] more people to go biking especially in nature.
[4:29:43] Biking helps you get fresh air, clear your mind,
[4:29:45] and stay active, which are all important
[4:29:48] when you're feeling overwhelmed.
[4:29:50] When you're riding, you can focus on the movement,
[4:29:52] the wind and the road ahead.
[4:29:53] It becomes easier to let go of whatever's been bothering you.
[4:29:57] It's not just an exercise.
[4:29:58] It's a way to reset.
[4:30:00] One of the best parts about biking is abuse can find, writing near the water at the sunset is like a puddle, it's peaceful and calming.
[4:30:07] It gives you a break from screen, school and whatever else might be stressing you out that day.
[4:30:12] I think more people in our community should have access to bikes and safe trails to explore.
[4:30:17] It's a simple way to take care of your mental health and enjoy the world around you.
[4:30:21] Whether you're with friends or running alone, biking is a great way to feel better and reconnect with yourself.
[4:30:45] Hello, my name is Delilah, um, I just like to say that whenever I'm having a stressful day I really like to find some time in my day to go to the gym.
[4:30:52] When I go to the gym I'm able to channel my stress into the thin weights, taking me as sensitive control.
[4:30:56] I feel like going to the wakeroom is very therapeutic. It keeps my mental and physical health in check, doing a workout when I'm stressed makes me feel grounded and reminds me that I'm capable of pushing through challenges throughout my day.
[4:31:06] This photo that I have shared here is the wait room that I have at my school, a space that
[4:31:11] I'm extremely grateful to have every single day.
[4:31:13] This space is not just for athletes, but for everybody who wants to be from the better version
[4:31:16] of themselves and be more fit and capable.
[4:31:18] This place is something I use every single day.
[4:31:20] I think that this is essential in managing stress.
[4:31:23] Currently, I feel that I have a great space to help cope with tough days and other stressful moments
[4:31:27] in my life.
[4:31:27] I also understand that mental health should not be dealt with alone.
[4:31:30] I think that it would be great to have more support in the gym and have a support group
[4:31:34] where all students can connect in the gym.
[4:31:35] Thank you for your time.
[4:31:43] That was our last speaker.
[4:31:45] Actually, before we go on to the next item,
[4:31:48] I want to ask all of you to listen to everyone,
[4:31:53] even if you disagree with them,
[4:31:55] even if you think what they're saying is rubbish.
[4:31:59] You should still listen.
[4:32:01] We need to respect each other,
[4:32:03] and I have to listen to a lot of stuff that I disagree with.
[4:32:09] But I sit here and I listen to it tentatively, I listen respectfully and I would plead for all of you to do the same.
[4:32:20] So I appreciate all of you. You did a fantastic job in speaking out and I appreciate that and I heard you. I listen to you.
[4:32:28] And only one person mentioned the kids first item and which is amazing considering that that's why you're all here.
[4:32:42] I listen.
[4:32:49] Our next item is approval of the consent calendar and as a reminder, there are two items that will not be included in this vote.
[4:32:56] Item B1A, that's the record's retention schedule update that has been continued.
[4:33:01] Jay for 21st. Item B4A contract with Welding, we're will then, financial services has been removed from the consent calendar for discussion at the end of the agenda.
[4:33:13] We need a motion to approve.
[4:33:18] Do you lose the item and then cloud your seconds?
[4:33:26] Okay, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Bonna, Councilmember Jiminis, Councilmember Wilson,
[4:33:34] Vice Mayor Robinson, Councilmember Zapata, Mayor Martinez.
[4:33:39] Yes.
[4:33:39] The vote is unanimous.
[4:33:43] our
[4:33:49] next item item
[4:33:55] under budget session is item W1 that is to receive a
[4:34:00] presentation on Article 15 of the charter regarding the Richmond Fund
[4:34:04] Pachio Junior Youth that provide direction regarding the new provisions and
[4:34:08] options this item was presented at the March 24th meeting the public
[4:34:15] comments was heard and tonight the item is for council deliberation and vote
[4:34:21] Thank you, so this is a time for questions and commentary and I'd like to start to clarify the conversation that's around the
[4:34:35] this item. Discussion about the Richmond Fund for children and youth naturally involved strong emotions in our community because both residents and
[4:34:45] elected officials deeply care about the well-being of our youth and our children.
[4:34:51] It's important to emphasize that this conversation is not about questioning the value
[4:34:56] or impact of the organizations providing their sexual services.
[4:35:01] Rather, our focus is on the fiduciary responsibility we carry as elected leaders
[4:35:07] to provide proper oversight of voter approved funds.
[4:35:11] We are entrusted with upholding the will of the people by ensuring that the measure they supported is implemented as intended and continues to serve its original purpose.
[4:35:22] These responsibilities are not always popular, but they are fundamental to public service.
[4:35:28] We must take the necessary time to ensure that oversight aligns fully with the language approved by our residents.
[4:35:35] The ballot measure clearly outlines nine designated categories for children's first funding.
[4:35:41] And it is our duty to ensure that these categories are reflected in both oversight and budgeting decisions.
[4:35:49] At the same time, the measure also specifies certain excluded services.
[4:35:55] However, in 2021 and 2023, the Richmond funds for children in youth awarded funds to two organizations that fall within those explicitly prohibited categories.
[4:36:10] Our current effort is to, our part of our due diligence to ensure accountability and to uphold the will of the voters.
[4:36:19] So this is not, I don't think we're going to be, I think the conversation is going to be around the oversight of how these funds are spent.
[4:36:33] Are there other people who have comments?
[4:36:35] I'm not great, I'm
[4:36:42] good.
[4:36:42] Council Member Bonner wanted me to elaborate on the two organizations that fell within the explicitly prohibited categories.
[4:36:55] And that is part of the problem.
[4:36:57] The language is a bit murky and needs to be better defined.
[4:37:09] So, I have to find the language here, but actually, I don't think it's better.
[4:37:29] I don't want to call out any organizations at this point.
[4:37:34] I think it's better to discuss the language of, oh,
[4:37:51] let's see.
[4:37:54] The organizations that are excluded are, excuse
[4:38:04] me, do you know what page is on?
[4:38:19] You want me to read,
[4:38:25] so I'm also on aware of the services, but I can read 5B, which says
[4:38:34] Services provided by the WestConship Cross of the Unified School District, which
[4:38:38] has been a library's Office of Neighborhood Safety, Richmond Promise Scholarship Program,
[4:38:43] Richmond Housing Authority and Youth Works, except for collaborations.
[4:38:48] between the above mentioned entities and community-based organizations and programs that meet the goals and
[4:38:56] eligible uses of the fund.
[4:39:04] So, so the question is
[4:39:08] what defines collaboration and and actually you know what there are several
[4:39:14] versions of this of yours is an amendment. Correct? I'm sorry. The question, what you
[4:39:24] just read is an amendment to the original? Well the original was amended by the voters in
[4:39:32] June of 2018 and what I'm reading is was codified by the City Council and then sent to
[4:39:40] the codifiers via our municipal code.
[4:39:42] And what I've printed is the municipal code
[4:39:45] and it's on the city's webpage within the unique code.
[4:39:49] And I'm prepared to answer any questions.
[4:39:51] So if you have questions about accept four collaborations,
[4:39:55] I'm prepared to answer that.
[4:39:56] Or if there are other questions, I'm prepared to answer that.
[4:40:02] So I wonder what the desired language is
[4:40:06] and whether we can approve it and instead of sending
[4:40:09] the whole thing to the voters approval have an amendment and put that on the ballot.
[4:40:18] So what is it that we would like to add to it to make it better?
[4:40:24] I'm unsure of the question.
[4:40:26] What question are you asking?
[4:40:28] So the mayor said there are some categories that are excluded and apparently some people want
[4:40:35] them to be included.
[4:40:36] Is that my understanding of what the problem is?
[4:40:39] So, am
[4:40:44] I correct in my understanding?
[4:40:45] I'm not sure.
[4:40:47] So, if you have a question for me.
[4:40:50] So, am I correct in my understanding?
[4:40:52] Please explain.
[4:40:54] Well, what the problem is?
[4:41:00] Okay.
[4:41:03] In 2021, Richmond promised received funding from education support
[4:41:07] and employment training support.
[4:41:10] In 2023, the Richmond Public Library received funds from education support in the women trading support.
[4:41:20] So I don't know how that collaboration worked.
[4:41:29] So the Richmond Public Library is providing services in collaboration with a local, with a nonprofit, to provide tutoring hours.
[4:41:39] And so that is they fulfill the language in the charter that says that these organizations or entities are excluded except in the cases that they work in collaboration with an nonprofit.
[4:41:56] And both of these organizations did do work in collaboration with nonprofits.
[4:42:02] So, although on their own, they are excluded from an application, if they are working with
[4:42:10] a nonprofit to provide services, they need the exception, and then are eligible to apply
[4:42:16] to understand ultimately eligible to receive funding, and in this particular case is
[4:42:21] they did.
[4:42:22] So the name of the organization is Education Support and Employment?
[4:42:27] I'm not sure of the question.
[4:42:28] Well, it says the Richmond Public Library received funds from education support and employment and training support that it doesn't mention the nonprofit that it worked with.
[4:42:41] So I'm not sure where you're reading from.
[4:42:45] Okay, well, let me pose it as a question.
[4:42:48] What nonprofit did the Richmond Public Library work with when they received the funds?
[4:42:53] So, we could definitely get back to you on that we have this information and when we met with and so, for clearing.
[4:43:06] When we met with some of the anchor organizations that were central to the establishment of the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth, this question of collaboration was raised.
[4:43:20] And there are different ways of defining an operationalizing this.
[4:43:26] And so when we met with those organizations,
[4:43:29] they wanted at the very least that for the organizations
[4:43:34] to have been in communication, in meeting with local nonprofits
[4:43:39] to support around design, and implementation, and operationalizing
[4:43:45] the work that they did.
[4:43:47] And so that's how they were defining collaboration.
[4:43:49] and that's how we move forward.
[4:43:52] Some organizations not only do work, which is in collaboration and support with local nonprofits,
[4:44:01] they also are partnering with those local nonprofits to actually provide those direct services.
[4:44:08] So if there are some questions regarding which particular nonprofits for Richmond Promise,
[4:44:14] and the excuse me, the Richmond Public Library we would be happy to send an email to you all
[4:44:21] with that information. So it would be fantastic. The other issue is the oversight committee. Yes.
[4:44:30] And there are supposed to be, there
[4:44:39] are supposed to be, in the time of the page here.
[4:44:46] Yeah, the total,
[4:44:51] the total, the right.
[4:44:53] Okay, so, so the question, what, what number...
[4:45:01] So that's a very good question. And so the, when we establish the board, we establish bylaws, which is in front of the purview of the oversight board. And those bylaws are posted on the webpage. And so what we have is we have what is considered and is actually standard practice for many other board is what we have a rolling quorum. And so that means that quorum is established based on the number of seated individuals on that board.
[4:45:28] So, in a situation where hypothetically, you can have up to 50 members, let's say you have
[4:45:34] a situation where you only have 7, right?
[4:45:38] So, forum in that particular situation would be 4, and that, as a practice, is something
[4:45:44] that many other boarded commissions that the city oversees, operationalizes, so that boards
[4:45:51] don't find themselves in positions where they can no longer function, because there are historic
[4:45:56] examples that you all may be familiar with where other boards or commissions have found themselves
[4:46:02] strapped because they've established a static quorum based not on those who are seated but on
[4:46:09] the number of seats that exist as they hold. So to avoid that problem because the fund and the
[4:46:16] oversight board have such a responsibility to give out dollars and there are date and time restrictions
[4:46:23] on how facilitate and operationalize the dispensation of those dollars.
[4:46:29] We had to be quite creative and establish a work not inconsistent with how other boards
[4:46:35] and commissions within the city and your purview also function.
[4:46:40] Yes, and I agree with you, I think all the other commissions should run the same way,
[4:46:47] which I have been an advocate for.
[4:46:53] Now, the other question is the number of meetings.
[4:46:57] It says the oversight board shall be the minimum of six times per year.
[4:47:01] Yes, sir.
[4:47:02] That has not happened in 2025.
[4:47:05] There's only a listing of three meetings.
[4:47:10] In 2026, there's only a listing of three meetings.
[4:47:12] So, how can we, as a city council, ensure that the oversight board has the number of
[4:47:23] meetings that are required by the, by the statute?
[4:47:28] I think there may be a misunderstanding.
[4:47:32] So, currently we're in 2026, so we've met three times this year thus far.
[4:47:42] So we have until the end of the year to
[4:47:46] understood. Okay. So what about 2025?
[4:47:49] So I think there is also a misunderstanding there because
[4:47:53] according to our records we didn't. We met seven times
[4:47:57] on average every year since the board was established.
[4:48:03] Well it's not listed or I couldn't find it.
[4:48:06] And there's, we would be happy to share it.
[4:48:09] Okay. That information.
[4:48:09] All right, so these are kind of questions that need to be available to anyone who is curious.
[4:48:17] No, no, no, I appreciate the questions.
[4:48:20] We want to provide adequate responses to the council member's questions.
[4:48:26] We want to make sure that folks feel confident that we are doing what we need to do.
[4:48:32] And then the other thing is we need a better mechanism to let city council members know when they need to appoint someone.
[4:48:48] I know I need to appoint one youths, you know, but in the minutes that I found there's been nine members out of a total of 15.
[4:49:03] So, you know, council members need to know when they need to appoint someone.
[4:49:14] So, so if we can find some way to clean that up, so that we have efficient and functional oversight board, it would be fantastic.
[4:49:25] we appreciate that. Can you other comments?
[4:49:36] No.
[4:49:48] No, I don't have a, okay, a council member
[4:49:54] by the asked me if if I had issues with passing this item and I said no, my issue is with
[4:50:04] making sure that we can make amendments to make this item run more, what's worth a lot.
[4:50:16] Yeah, thank you.
[4:50:22] So first off, I wanted to say just thank you to every single youth who came tonight
[4:50:30] and tried to get your voices heard for a minute.
[4:50:34] I can never speak within a minute.
[4:50:37] You guys did a really good job, really good job.
[4:50:41] You're really heard and I am going to be there this is coming Wednesday, let's do the
[4:50:46] whole session and I would really love to actually have y'all come and present to City Council
[4:50:52] as well so everyone in the city who watches it online can also see what you want to share.
[4:50:58] That said, I also wanted to say thank you so much to the staff who have been in
[4:51:04] this program. It is quite clear. It is quite clear. The positive impact that this program
[4:51:11] has been making. And I am here to just really advocate for Opposition 1 to reauthorize
[4:51:19] the program as a plan.
[4:51:23] And I do want to just have a couple of clarifying questions for
[4:51:30] to the attorney, just so that everyone is on the same page, if we wanted, if anyone wanted
[4:51:38] to make an amendment to this legislation to this ordinance, they would need to go to the
[4:51:45] voter, is that correct? That's correct. Right. And, you know, this is a real concern for me,
[4:51:53] especially in this moment in time, if we were to take, I believe, if we were to take this item
[4:52:00] and bring it out to the voters at this moment in time,
[4:52:03] because it's asking for a reauthorization
[4:52:05] for the considerable amount of funds.
[4:52:07] I think it would have a good, it may fail,
[4:52:11] considering the environment that we're in
[4:52:13] and all the demands on people's money,
[4:52:15] the sales tax that's gonna be coming up,
[4:52:17] and I wanna protect this work,
[4:52:19] and I wanna protect the impact.
[4:52:23] So, I believe there are mechanisms
[4:52:26] within the design of the program,
[4:52:29] like the advisory board where, you know, you can adjust focuses and things like that.
[4:52:35] But one of the questions that I had is that if at a later date, if we were to, if we were to vote for option one tonight and at a later date, we wanted to make minor adjustments to the scope or something like that with the help of the community advisory committee do we have to reauthorize the whole program?
[4:52:55] could we take a small scope to the voters that doesn't ask whether or not to have the program,
[4:53:01] but rather ask can we adjust this element? Yeah, I think it depends on how you want to craft the
[4:53:06] initiative language, but yes, I think you can have minor amendments to the charter
[4:53:11] language without asking the question up or down on the program itself. So I think you can
[4:53:17] you can do the minor scope adjustments without. For the first thing we need to do is
[4:53:24] authorized program because it's time limit on that. Is that correct? Yes, the reauthorization needs
[4:53:30] to take place before what's the specific date Patrick?
[4:53:33] December 31st, 27 is the deadline. That's not what we're proposing as an internal deadline.
[4:53:42] But according to the charter, December 31st, 27 is the hard stop.
[4:53:46] Yeah, so I'm probably writing out of time here, but I just wanted to say there are always ways
[4:53:52] that you can make program better.
[4:53:54] You can make programs stronger.
[4:53:55] I think that we can do that while securing the program today.
[4:53:59] And I'd like to move to that we approve option one
[4:54:02] and reauthorize this program.
[4:54:08] And I say conduct and I say conduct and then it's my turn.
[4:54:15] OK, thank you.
[4:54:18] So there is a motion and a second, but still we are discussing.
[4:54:22] I just wanted to say thank you to all the young
[4:54:26] talks here, at the council, I really enjoy all the comments.
[4:54:32] Even though I am a little worried because we have the eyes
[4:54:35] reason that we need to pass as well, but I think like this is also
[4:54:39] important. And also I want to thank all of those who make
[4:54:45] time. Yes, they to me with me and share your dreams about what
[4:54:51] could be really invest in young folks in the community.
[4:54:56] You were there, yeah?
[4:55:00] I want to acknowledge, and I have one question, and then I will say a little thing.
[4:55:07] But my question is that one of the things that the Bala Initiative called for
[4:55:13] is the creation of the children and youth department.
[4:55:18] But under the auspices of the city manager, right?
[4:55:21] So we have that. Yes. How many, how many established we have?
[4:55:26] So I'm grateful that you asked this question because I would like to acknowledge some of my
[4:55:31] staff who are here currently. And I also want to thank Vice Mayor Robinson for acknowledging
[4:55:36] the staff. We work really hard to do the work.
[4:55:47] And not only I'm serving the city of Richmond,
[4:55:52] I was born here. My mother was born here in my grandmother was born here. My father was a neighborhood
[4:56:00] council president and he was also on the RCC. I came to council chambers when it was in HR in my
[4:56:09] pajamas as a child. I was a part of Richmond programming as a child. I was a part of our pal for ten
[4:56:17] years. And I knew how whole, personally, who's
[4:56:22] that building is on that gym, size L, spent a decade of my life
[4:56:26] with him, CA Robertson, whom some of you may not know
[4:56:29] at all, who was very instrumental in the Palo Program.
[4:56:33] And so my staff here, I would like to recognize
[4:56:36] Jura Atincia Washington,
[4:56:41] Aluke Morales, Alexis Grace,
[4:56:46] And also, I have staff online, Nicholas Delgado, and also Caitlin Burnham.
[4:56:53] We work really hard and informed, I think, very positive relationships.
[4:56:58] And so the work that we do, although it is
[4:57:05] impactful, we take it quite personally because
[4:57:08] of the impact that it has in our community, because we're from Richmond, too.
[4:57:12] Thank you.
[4:57:13] Thank you.
[4:57:17] the members full-time? Yes. Okay, thank you. And I just ask that because one of the things that
[4:57:26] is we really want to expand the services and improve the services within the city, we will
[4:57:36] also a bigger department. I think that children and youth has to be a bigger
[4:57:42] department and combine all their things that we are doing. So thank you. I just
[4:57:49] wanted to say that I want to recognize the progress that it has made,
[4:57:53] allocating more funds than before to support the young residents. That is important to
[4:58:00] but I recognize that is still no enough.
[4:58:04] Right now, the program, the first kids,
[4:58:08] allocate 3% of the funds,
[4:58:12] while there are many other departments getting many,
[4:58:16] many more.
[4:58:17] And I believe that we must commit to invest more resources
[4:58:23] to support the youth to improve
[4:58:29] services that we provide to have more or us on the swimming pools, to have the dreams for
[4:58:35] use that, some of you were talking to me yesterday, and to have more quality spaces where
[4:58:41] people can go and feel safe. I think we have rice center, but we also need to have the public
[4:58:50] spaces to be as good as the right-centred place to be able to serve as everybody in the city.
[4:59:02] So this has to be the commitment because as always say the budget represents our values and
[4:59:10] if we value young people in our community, we need to make sure that the city as a whole is also
[4:59:18] doing their best to uplift all the young folks in our community.
[4:59:24] So I think the partnership with the non-profits is great and also there is a lot of work
[4:59:31] in our side to improve and to provide more quality, recreational services so we have all of you here
[4:59:44] coming after and said, the dream that I have is become a reality.
[4:59:49] So thank you so much.
[4:59:57] I am so glad that you're all here.
[5:00:00] I'm asking all of you to put in the application to be on the oversight board because we're low on
[5:00:08] youth and you are the kind of people we need. So sign up.
[5:00:17] Yes. And not only that, people forgot to mention yes, who also provides youth services.
[5:00:28] So,
[5:00:32] as an elementary school teacher, I appreciated East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
[5:00:39] who came to Down Real Elementary and provided services for all the grades there.
[5:00:44] It was invaluable and we need to continue doing that.
[5:00:47] In fact, we need to expand that.
[5:00:52] Thank
[5:00:56] you so much and I echo everything.
[5:00:58] all the sentiments that I'm excited to see the young folks here on this evening.
[5:01:04] Malcolm X said education is the passport to the future for tomorrow the lungs to those who prepare for it today.
[5:01:11] And so today I feel honored for the opportunity to vote in favor of continuing support and to our young people.
[5:01:21] Support the organizations that do as well.
[5:01:24] I do have one question regarding the learning needs category.
[5:01:28] Yes. And so I just want to I would like to know to what extent are current grantees under the learning needs of category required to partner directly with school sites.
[5:01:41] I'm asking that question because of the test scores. The standardized test scores in our district. Some of the lowest performing schools, unfortunately, are located enrichment.
[5:01:52] And so I want to make sure that the learning needs category is shifted in a way or going in a direction to where's we are tackling literacy and math improvements and having measurable outcomes.
[5:02:09] So the learning needs category I believe is probably one of our largest funding blocks.
[5:02:15] I'm not sure if you recall the presentation we provided, but we are awarding conservatively
[5:02:22] well over $2 million and it might be near $2.7 million to organizations who are providing
[5:02:30] work directly in schools. There is no requirement that those that apply under the learning needs category
[5:02:38] have to do so in collaboration with the school district
[5:02:41] calendar.
[5:02:43] And so what we find, though, are those that are committed
[5:02:47] to providing learning the overwhelming majority of them
[5:02:51] are providing services in schools.
[5:02:52] But to answer your question, there's no, there's no
[5:02:55] requirement in our guideline that they do so in direct
[5:02:59] collaboration with school district.
[5:03:00] Okay, and if that was to become a requirement, it would
[5:03:03] have to go back to the voters, or is that something
[5:03:05] Hi, deferred.
[5:03:05] We can't do this.
[5:03:06] This is your starting office.
[5:03:08] I think generally around the amendments, I deferred this to your turn's office.
[5:03:17] All right.
[5:03:18] Can you, can you repeat a question?
[5:03:19] So I'm asking about prioritizing the grantees, or I'm asking about the learning needs category,
[5:03:29] and I know that there's no requirement for grantees to be in partnership with school, but
[5:03:36] I was saying, according to the, you know, West control cost of school districts, test scores
[5:03:41] that it would seem, you know, the best route, it would seem more beneficial for grantees
[5:03:48] to partner with schools, in particular, helping with literacy and math outcomes, improving
[5:03:56] those outcomes. So I thought the coordination was schools, you had to be, the school district
[5:04:02] had to be in collaboration with a non-profit.
[5:04:05] That's, if, so, Councilmember Brown, I think to your point, that is true.
[5:04:12] So if the school district were going to apply, they would need to apply in collaboration
[5:04:16] with the nonprofit.
[5:04:17] But I think what you're saying at the other area around, one of the things that could be done
[5:04:22] is we could incentivize that type of participation within our grant guidelines.
[5:04:28] So it could be an opportunity for us to identify via our need assessment, strategic investment
[5:04:33] plan and opportunity this is, hey, our need assessment, which will include you all, right?
[5:04:40] When we initiate our need assessment this year, you all are considered key interest holders.
[5:04:45] So our consultants are going to, we'll reach out to you and leverage the city council office
[5:04:50] to say, hey, meet with all the council members so they can provide input, will host focus groups
[5:04:54] so they can provide input, will host community forms to conduct surveys so they cannot provide
[5:04:58] input.
[5:04:59] And out of that needs assessment process, what might come out of that needs assessment process and strategic investment plan from your input as well as community is, hey, we want learning to prioritize collaboration with the school district and that is something that we could, we could write into the grant guidelines as a prioritization and we could figure out a way to incentivize that type of, that type of partnership.
[5:05:29] I would appreciate that just because it's spelled out in our strategic plan that we are
[5:05:36] wanting to deepen our partnerships in connection with the schools.
[5:05:39] So I think that that would just be a great incentive for organizations to partner with schools,
[5:05:46] especially improving those test, to help improve those test scores.
[5:05:50] Absolutely. Okay. Thank you.
[5:05:56] So, it works. Yeah, it thinks so. So before I talk I have a question and that is, do I get my t-shirts before I speak?
[5:06:12] Thank you. So thank you everyone for coming. Very exciting. I'm glad for you too.
[5:06:17] I wasn't there.
[5:06:23] Larger extra large.
[5:06:27] Practice your public speaking skills, but honestly, I'm still confused.
[5:06:32] When we had to delay it until now, we could have voted and should have voted last time.
[5:06:39] Having said that, I'm glad you're here.
[5:06:41] We're making a decision tonight.
[5:06:43] I worked with yes students.
[5:06:51] I'm very proud of all the dedication that goes into these organizations and all these students that benefit from them.
[5:07:02] So, you may know I'm from Iran. I was 16 when the revolution happened. We were very energetic and rebellious.
[5:07:10] And it was very empowering.
[5:07:15] We broke all the rules of the society,
[5:07:18] tradition, everything made the revolution.
[5:07:20] But it was very dangerous too,
[5:07:22] because there were no other channels to put our energy into.
[5:07:25] There were studies that said, because of the large population
[5:07:29] of youth participating in the revolution,
[5:07:32] it led into instability, tension, and ultimately political violence,
[5:07:37] more political violence in the society.
[5:07:39] So, guiding all that energy of the youth, which is very empowering into the right channels,
[5:07:49] into learning skills, creativity, community-building, peaceful thing is our duty.
[5:07:55] And I'm very glad we're doing it.
[5:07:58] I love just because it's wonderful.
[5:08:00] And I just wanted to say a special thanks to Patrick.
[5:08:06] I've seen his dedication. I bought him, I think, more than any other city council member.
[5:08:12] What do you mean touch with people who reach out to me and ask for grants?
[5:08:16] He gives us his personal self on number, connects with each one of them and it's been
[5:08:21] time to make sure they learn. So, thank you so much for whatever you and your office are doing for
[5:08:27] the community. I appreciate it and my vote is yes. Thank you everyone.
[5:08:38] Thank you, and I am small, so I'll take that.
[5:08:43] Patrick, first, thank you for the emails you have sent us to remind us that we have to appoint.
[5:08:51] I know that I replied back to one of those emails.
[5:08:53] You did.
[5:08:54] And I wanted to make sure that, as see, we had any updates for the website.
[5:08:58] I know this is for later, but I want to make sure that the website reflects each council member district.
[5:09:03] so we know kind of where they're from.
[5:09:05] We think you have my email, so I'm not going to go that.
[5:09:07] My comment was more for thanking you for the emails you sent us and I know probably
[5:09:12] we've all lost them and all the emails we get.
[5:09:14] We'll send them again.
[5:09:15] I want to acknowledge that piece there though.
[5:09:18] Now with that, I do have a couple of questions and I'm just trying to follow through and I want
[5:09:21] to see if any of these questions may or may not be needed to amend, so as we're talking about,
[5:09:29] so I agree with Vice Mayor Robinson that if we were to put this at the ballot,
[5:09:33] most likely will not pass there's going to be a lot of other measures being put up both in
[5:09:38] June and November and I think people are going to get very tired of checking things up and
[5:09:41] giving money so things important to move over with it but it's also important that we try to
[5:09:47] make any fixes if possible or any amendments and here I'm trying to follow some of the wording
[5:09:55] So the original verbage and then versus the amendments.
[5:10:01] So in the original verbage for example,
[5:10:04] it says that and I'm trying to find my own notes.
[5:10:07] But more or less it says public agencies are not eligible
[5:10:10] or qualified to apply for funds.
[5:10:14] In the amendments, we then scratch start off and say public agencies
[5:10:18] are allowed to apply for funds.
[5:10:21] So, with that there, West County Unified School District is a public agency.
[5:10:30] So in one era, we are saying they are not eligible to apply, but in the amendments
[5:10:35] we are now saying public agencies are able to apply.
[5:10:39] Even though we didn't scratch West County Unified School District out of the original
[5:10:45] We did a men to say public agencies can apply, so I just want to make sure, because there was prior conversation saying that potentially they weren't able to apply, but it sounds like they can.
[5:10:58] Yes, if they apply, so, for clarity, again, to your question, certain public agencies are restricted from applying,
[5:11:14] only if, right, and there is an exception that they are eligible to apply, only if they apply in collaboration with nonprofits, so these public agencies cannot apply in and of themselves alone.
[5:11:27] So actually just they can according to the amendments and I'm going to read this here again
[5:11:31] And this is great, and I'm not I don't want to debate you. I just want to make sure there's opportunities to try to clear out the language
[5:11:37] Sure, so in page five of the amendments. Yeah, it says entities eligible to receive funding shall be
[5:11:45] Public agencies with section are you reading?
[5:11:52] page
[5:11:53] So I'm in page five of the PDF there in the section
[5:11:56] C. Okay, set.
[5:12:00] Section, Section 5.
[5:12:02] So capital, Section 5, not lower case, section, because that's another thing that we need to figure out different verbages.
[5:12:09] So it's S, E, C, which stands for section.
[5:12:12] So S, E, C, 5 under section 4.
[5:12:16] Okay.
[5:12:17] So we're going to use the section 5 under section 4.
[5:12:21] Area C as in C, sir.
[5:12:24] entities eligible to receive funding shall be public agencies and nonprofit community-based
[5:12:31] organizations, including organizations with a nonprofit fiscal agent, and we scratched
[5:12:37] out the portion that says and public agencies and partnership with a nonprofit organization.
[5:12:43] So we scratched that part out, so now it says, so public agencies dot dot dot, that served
[5:12:49] children, youth, and disconnected transitional age young adults.
[5:12:55] So by how I am reading this then, the West County Unified School District
[5:12:59] would be eligible because they are a public agency that is serving youth
[5:13:06] because there is school district.
[5:13:08] No.
[5:13:10] So I think it provides larger parameters.
[5:13:14] This language speaks to the broader parameters
[5:13:17] and that there are circumstances because we have a section five excluded, I mean excuse me,
[5:13:25] section five excluded services, right? So that section see that your reading speaks to what
[5:13:32] are the boundaries of the types of organization that could receive funding. And it includes non-profits
[5:13:40] and public agencies. Section 5 C says the conditions under which a public agency can then access those files.
[5:13:53] So you're confusing me there because this says Section 4 says eligible uses.
[5:14:00] Yes. And then under eligible uses it does say entities eligible to receive a funding shall be public agencies that serve children youth and disconnected transition or young adults.
[5:14:11] Correct.
[5:14:14] So how does the West County, you know, if I school district not a public agency or how are they not serving children and you they very well are
[5:14:23] Council member of the paid up, but if you continue to read in section five
[5:14:32] It's as services provided by a public agency, an example of which is the West Conference
[5:14:38] across the public unify school district, Richmond Libraries, the Office of the Neighborhood
[5:14:43] Safety, these are all public agencies.
[5:14:46] Can apply in collaboration?
[5:14:50] And that's where my question is that I think needs a little bit of a clarifying because
[5:14:54] it may be true.
[5:14:55] And the original document says something, right, is what you're reading, you're reading
[5:14:58] from the original.
[5:15:00] Sir, I'm reading from what's on the webpage in the charter.
[5:15:03] Okay. Well, I'm reading from the from the verbage that was presented to us in the attachments, which I'm assuming was more or less the ballot measure that was presented to the voters.
[5:15:13] And then I know that we then take that, and then we put it into our charter.
[5:15:16] Correct. Right. And we might clear it up a little bit. But I believe that the original documents are the main intent.
[5:15:22] So that not how it's trying to read.
[5:15:26] So now I'm trying to read three documents, right?
[5:15:28] And I haven't read what you're reading there.
[5:15:30] So then they all kind of say kind of different things.
[5:15:32] So we got to figure out the original plus the amendments,
[5:15:35] plus whoever wrote the amendments to the amendments.
[5:15:39] Now I think you need to just for reference.
[5:15:41] I think you need to be reading from the newest,
[5:15:44] the latest version that included the 2018 amendments.
[5:15:49] So that's where I'm reading from.
[5:15:50] That's the attachments, right?
[5:15:52] Right, so I so do you have article 15 in front of you the most recent article 15 that's included within the city of Richmond, charter so I went to the attachments on the agenda says revisions to Richmond kids first initiative. I can go look.
[5:16:07] Okay, let me pull it up here.
[5:16:09] I'm just reading from that attachment there.
[5:16:12] So I and I don't want to belabor this, but I just feel like there's an opportunity to just clarify one way or the other whichever way it goes.
[5:16:18] Just to clarify, because if this is the document, we are supposed to be reading and asking questions from the death room.
[5:16:27] So I think the focus, and I think the focus should be on Section 5, excluded services, Section B.
[5:16:36] Section 5, capital SCC section 5, because when I'm read section 5 in the amendment, yeah, I
[5:16:44] sent clear what you're referencing. I can't hold my mic and look at my computer. So, one moment.
[5:16:49] I'll come over, or you can come over, man. But again, I'm reading from the attachments.
[5:16:53] Sure, I'm going to come over.
[5:17:01] So, Patrick, I want to apologize if I, if I seem like I was attacking you, I was basically just
[5:17:09] trying to clarify. So apologies if I came up that way, I don't end any of this first.
[5:17:14] I think this conversation between you and SSR points to the fact that we do need to review
[5:17:22] and clean up the language of this. So anyway, I do appreciate all the work that you do.
[5:17:29] I want you to know that. Thank you.
[5:17:34] So attachment one that's included on the in the agenda item is so what is this revision to Richmond kid's first
[5:17:46] I assume I don't he's he's looking at it and I
[5:17:50] Is an attachment to the adjourn to kid's first initiative. I assume this is the 2018
[5:17:58] Charter amendment
[5:17:59] So what that is so what they did is they attached the legislative history the attachment one
[5:18:06] One is the document that's enforced right now that includes all the amendments.
[5:18:14] So look at attachment one for reference.
[5:18:17] So in the amendment, we remove public agencies then?
[5:18:21] I haven't completely yet had your commute.
[5:18:30] So may I suggest that we take a boat because it doesn't have anything to do with the boat
[5:18:35] and then get it resolved later and then bring it back to the council.
[5:18:39] need it. So can I just clarify one thing? So just to clarify and going back to
[5:18:47] Vice Mayor Robinson's question around scope is that Patrick and can you
[5:18:52] elaborate here and kind of the role of the oversight board and in the role of
[5:19:00] the strategic investment plan and kind of just going over what that includes
[5:19:05] and entails and also, you know, community input. Can you talk about, I know we spoke briefly
[5:19:12] about it in our, in our, in our, in our, today, but can you, can you, can you, please share.
[5:19:18] Sure. So the power of this measure is that it is iterative. The, the, the, the, the item
[5:19:26] has in it a three year cycle of funding. And then what it does is it says, every three years you need
[5:19:33] do a need assessment as strategic investment plan so that you can be responsive to the context
[5:19:39] of the day when we initially started this work. We were in the midst of COVID as a consequence
[5:19:45] of that there was so much desire and demand from the research that the primary data collection
[5:19:51] that we as the department collected for mental health services because kids felt isolated.
[5:19:56] They were alone and as a consequence of that what we did was we elevated mental health services
[5:20:03] Today, we are initiating a new community needs assessment process, not today, technically.
[5:20:11] But this year, we're going to bring on a consultant and we're going to initiate that process.
[5:20:16] You all will be a part of that needs assessment process throughout the entirety of that process,
[5:20:22] to weigh in and provide input and give us your perspective based on the fact that you engage with residents
[5:20:28] to the extent that you do.
[5:20:30] not only will you do that, the residents as well will do that, the young people will do that,
[5:20:35] service providers will do that. And guess what will happen as a context of what we are experiencing
[5:20:40] at this time, we will be able to uplift what the needs are to support residents based on your
[5:20:47] experience and based on resident experiences. And that will include a list of things, not only the
[5:20:52] interviews with you as well as executive directors and others who are anchors in our organization
[5:20:57] providing services to young people, we host focus groups with a myriad of priority populations
[5:21:03] which are identified with an our young people. We will also do interviews and then we will
[5:21:09] draft the guideline and we will be happy to bring those to you and say hey here's how we're
[5:21:13] thinking about allocating funds and this is what our oversight board is considering. How does that
[5:21:20] sit with what you're hearing and where you feel the needs are? There's going to be a lot of
[5:21:25] throughout this process to provide input and give your perspective, because we know that you
[5:21:31] are hearing about these pressing needs from your constituents, and so I want you to feel
[5:21:35] confident that there's going to be a lot of opportunities for you to provide your input based
[5:21:40] on where you are hearing and is reflected to you that need exists. Thank you. I don't know that
[5:21:46] that was a question of this. All right, thank you. So I'm going to move away from that
[5:21:51] of the sector stuff because it sounds like the other document is the one that we should
[5:21:55] be reading.
[5:21:56] So from that one, from that document then, the forum, and what is, and this is going to be
[5:22:02] for our city attorney, what is the definition of a regular member?
[5:22:18] You asked the question and that was that,
[5:22:24] you asked for a point of order because you were
[5:22:29] asking for a process and the mayor just respond to it.
[5:22:36] So right now I'm still in the middle of my questioning.
[5:22:40] So city attorney.
[5:22:45] No, when I'm already trying to figure out a process.
[5:22:47] Exactly.
[5:22:54] So your question is what constitutes a regular member?
[5:22:58] If you look at the charter initiative,
[5:23:00] and there's no definition section that defines regular member.
[5:23:04] Okay.
[5:23:05] But I would,
[5:23:06] I would based on context clues, it would be a member of the oversight board as opposed to there's no I don't think there's any special members of such board.
[5:23:17] There are not okay just because you have mentioned the role in forum and it just says a majority of the regular members so maybe is the same again just another piece that we want to make sure that we clarify if needed in there.
[5:23:30] And we could back to get clarified in the, the, the bylaws, okay, they are, they are in the bylaws.
[5:23:38] They are in the bylaws.
[5:23:39] They are in the bylaws that are, that were created.
[5:23:42] Okay, and just wasn't sure what the voters approved, if that takes precedence over the bylaws,
[5:23:48] because the bylaws should not correct what the voters or change what the voters approved.
[5:23:53] So I just want to make sure that we have clarification of what regular members means on there.
[5:23:59] We have a lot of questions on the language.
[5:24:04] I don't think this is a time in place to go over it.
[5:24:08] I think what we need to do is to compile our questions,
[5:24:15] send them to you.
[5:24:16] Please, so that you can begin to get an understanding of the issues
[5:24:22] that the Council has with the language of the document.
[5:24:27] So if you don't mind, it would be better for the process to save the questions and send them to Patrick, as I will be doing.
[5:24:36] Bring them back to the item for any of us.
[5:24:41] That could be part of the well.
[5:24:46] We would have to make an agenda item for that, and we can do that.
[5:24:51] But okay, what I think we need to do is to clean up the language.
[5:25:05] I, excuse me, Mayor.
[5:25:08] I believe this item wasn't so much to clean up the language,
[5:25:12] but the item was to whether or not to reauthorize like that is the agenda item.
[5:25:19] I think we have to bring in a different agenda item to consider the other one I would say.
[5:25:28] So, but one other thing.
[5:25:37] Yeah,
[5:25:42] so I think the motion on the floor is to approve option one,
[5:25:46] which is the city council reauthorizes the article without amendment keypasses if that's my
[5:25:53] understanding of vice mayor's motion right so yeah we can write something up that comes back now
[5:26:08] What one other thing, in terms of the appointments,
[5:26:15] we need more youth, and we need people.
[5:26:20] We need people in District 2, which is the greatest district in people in Councilmember, I mean Vice Mayor Robinson's district.
[5:26:28] So, and then people in bondage districts are youth.
[5:26:38] So, I'm sure Patrick's in doubt notices
[5:26:42] of who needs to apply for people.
[5:26:47] So, it's time.
[5:26:56] Hi.
[5:26:57] Well, so yeah, I'm going to vote yes on this, but I
[5:27:08] do, but I am convinced that the
[5:27:11] couple of things concerns that I have are things that we can address administratively
[5:27:15] after the vote.
[5:27:17] But I'm going to say I'm out loud, just so that they're on a record, on record.
[5:27:22] I'm one in Patrick, you've been extremely helpful with this, as I do have a concern
[5:27:26] that the services provided have a good geographic distribution around the city, and I know
[5:27:31] some great programs, you know, up on McDonald's, but I want to make sure that, you know,
[5:27:36] because transportation is an issue for some people, I do want to make sure that when we
[5:27:40] improve funding for organizations to do work, that we're taking a look at a map of where we have
[5:27:45] kids in the greatest need and making sure there's neighborhood-based programs for them as well.
[5:27:50] So that's number one. And the second, is this going to sound petty? Yeah. This is my time to sign.
[5:27:56] This goes out a little petty, but I'm going to say it, is that I would like to see, since this is public money and it's taxpayer dollars, I would like to see some kind of requirement that organizations that take this money have to sort of put a little, not a disclaimer exactly, but acknowledge that it's, you know, your taxpayer dollars that work.
[5:28:17] And I realized from talking to folks that when, when, when, when, when, when, land the press
[5:28:21] give money, they don't want the credit, but when the city gives money, we do want the credit.
[5:28:25] So if that can kind of be built into it, because truly, like, I didn't know that the city
[5:28:30] help pay for some of these great programs, and so I started sitting up here, and, and so that
[5:28:34] might just have been my ignorance, but anyways, I want to,
[5:28:42] no, the taxpayer, no, well, taxpayer
[5:28:44] money that comes to the city, and then what we're doing here is redistributing it, so at any
[5:28:49] I think we're in agreement, so, no, okay, I didn't hear it, so those are the things that I feel
[5:28:57] like we can have these conversations with the various governing boards and city staff, so thank you.
[5:29:05] That's it, I think I'll just call the question.
[5:29:08] We don't have to call the question this time for a vote.
[5:29:16] Councilmember Brown.
[5:29:18] Councilmember Bonna.
[5:29:19] Yeah.
[5:29:19] Councilmember Hernandez.
[5:29:21] Yeah.
[5:29:21] Councilmember Wilson.
[5:29:25] Vice Mayor Roddison, Council members of the Pader, Mayor Martinez.
[5:29:31] What he is, yes!
[5:30:04] The vote is unanimous. We are going to discuss the ice-free son and I will allow for you to stay for a little longer.
[5:30:19] Next slide.
[5:30:26] All right.
[5:30:27] Not sure if you guys heard it, but the vote is unanimous. On that item.
[5:31:35] It should I start on the next item? Can you hear me? Can you hear me?
[5:31:46] Should we move to the next item?
[5:31:48] Yeah.
[5:31:49] Okay.
[5:31:53] I'm ready.
[5:31:57] Item X1 underneath this.
[5:32:09] One is to introduce an ordnance for first reading of
[5:32:13] Mending Richmond Municipal Call chapter 2.3-0 to clarify the
[5:32:17] detentions on the use of senior faculty and personnel and
[5:32:21] resources for civil integration enforcement and develop
[5:32:25] implementation procedures including communication plans and reporting requirements.
[5:32:31] We have two in-person speakers. There's anyone joining us online that
[5:32:34] would like to address a council on the side of the region and at this time please.
[5:32:40] Okay, I'd like to come in, anyone here, me?
[5:32:43] Okay, great.
[5:32:45] This is in response to council direction to strengthen our municipal code section or chapter 2.30.
[5:32:55] Here tonight I have Kimberly Chen, my colleague who has spent a lot of hours in time working with
[5:33:02] with Gabina Aradando and others on the city staff to create what we believe to be a strong
[5:33:09] ordinance and that provides protections to the immigrant community. So if we can, I'm going to
[5:33:17] turn it now to Ms. Chen to go over the presentation. KCRC. Thank you. KCRC, can you put up the
[5:33:27] PowerPoint, please?
[5:33:33] Good evening, Mayor. Council members. My name is Kimberly Chen. I'm the senior
[5:33:36] Assistant City Attorney, and with me is...
[5:33:39] I don't know.
[5:33:40] I don't know.
[5:33:41] Project Manager.
[5:33:43] And so, as Shen and said, we are here to present to introduce an ordinance, the first
[5:33:49] reading amending the Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 to clarify limitations on the use of
[5:33:55] city property, personnel, and resources for civil immigration enforcement, and to develop
[5:34:00] implementation procedures including communications plan, and reporting requirements.
[5:34:05] next slide please.
[5:34:10] So we're first going to go over the council direction and then we'll go through the proposed amendments to RMC chapter 2.30
[5:34:18] and then Gabino will go through the draft implementation and communication plans and then we will also talk about next steps. Next slide please.
[5:34:26] So, as you may recall, at the February 3rd, 2026 meeting, there was direction to the city manager
[5:34:34] and the city attorney to return with a proposed ice-free zone ordinance, and that proposed
[5:34:41] ordinance shall restrict the use of city owned or city controlled property facilities personnel
[5:34:46] and resources for federal civil immigration enforcement, including staging areas, processing or detention
[5:34:52] locations in operation basis, and established non-corporation and resource and now policies
[5:34:57] consistent with applicable law and required the development of a coordinated implementation
[5:35:02] strategy, including interdepartmental protocols, staff training, and the community facing
[5:35:08] preparedness and communications plan.
[5:35:10] Next slide.
[5:35:13] So, as you know, last year in 2025, the City Council passed Ordinance 8-25NS, which added
[5:35:20] Chapter 2.30 to the Richmond and municipal code that ordinances specifically added section 2.303O which specifically stated that no city resources including city personnel and city property shall be utilized so assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law among other things unless required by federal or state statute regulation or court decision.
[5:35:46] And so now we're bringing you proposed amendments to Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 2.3O.
[5:35:55] And those include clarifying the scope of limitations on the use of city property,
[5:36:03] including explicitly prohibiting the use as a staging area,
[5:36:06] processing location or operational base for civil immigration enforcement activities,
[5:36:11] Further, defining and clarifying what constitutes, quote, the use of city resources for
[5:36:16] purposes of enforcement restrictions, establishes departmental responsibilities for implementation,
[5:36:23] including training employees on the provisions of RMC Chapter 2.30 and associated administrative
[5:36:29] procedures, formalizing the development and implementation of a community facing communications
[5:36:35] and preparedness plan and establishing reporting requirements to monitor and document implementation
[5:36:42] of RMC chapter 2.3O. So now I'm going to quickly go through those changes with you. So
[5:36:48] next slide please. So they propose amendments, amend certain portions of chapter 2.3O.
[5:36:56] We amended section 2.30.010 to add additional findings and declarations and to amend one finding and declaration to provide more support for the amendments that we are introducing.
[5:37:13] We also added additional definitions in section 2.30.020.
[5:37:18] Specifically, we added a definition for a city personnel, city property, non-public areas of city property and staging areas.
[5:37:27] Those are to support the further restrictions and clarifications that we've included,
[5:37:33] and then specifically in Section 2.30.0.0, which is the limitations on the use of city resources.
[5:37:41] is we amended one section and added two sections to provide further examples of how the use
[5:37:48] of city property and city resources is limited for immigration enforcement actions.
[5:37:53] And so now specifically, that section will say that among the limitations is that city property
[5:38:02] cannot be used as a staging area, processing location, or operational base for immigration
[5:38:08] enforcement.
[5:38:09] And it also clarifies that the city is not allowed to provide city personnel, funds, equipment
[5:38:16] storage, communication systems, data systems, office space, parking access or other resources
[5:38:22] for immigration enforcement.
[5:38:24] So that further clarifies what city, the limitations on city resources.
[5:38:30] And then we have also added section 2.30.070 relating to communications.
[5:38:37] Next slide please.
[5:38:41] This section adds the establishment of the creation of the communications plan, that the city council
[5:38:47] directed, and that would provide information to the public in the events of a verified
[5:38:52] immigration enforcement action within the city of Richmond.
[5:38:55] And then we also added section 2.30.080, which relates to implementation and reporting.
[5:39:02] So in this section, it establishes the development of procedures to implement the chapter, including the communications plan and requires training related to those procedures.
[5:39:14] It memorializes the designation of non-public areas of city property and signage and requires that city personnel promptly report immigration enforcement activities.
[5:39:24] These are all things that we are already doing, but now it's codified in the municipal code.
[5:39:28] And then lastly, it establishes an annual reporting to the City Council on the implementation,
[5:39:36] which you will receive by May 1st of every year, starting with May 1st of 2027.
[5:39:45] So next slide.
[5:39:48] And to give more details related to the implementation and communications plan, here are the
[5:39:53] current draft sections that we will have a physical written implementation plan.
[5:39:59] the sections that are derived are both from the council direction and also from the community meetings.
[5:40:05] We've had two community meetings related to input related to this updated other ordinance.
[5:40:11] And also I've met with one group individually who also asked for to give more input.
[5:40:17] So currently our draft plan sections for a coordinated implementation a community
[5:40:23] implementation strategy would be one section on background in history, one section on the existing
[5:40:30] policies and procedures which we present here in the last meeting. We will have a section
[5:40:36] in turn to what the city of Richmond is doing, so that's more related to the limited assistance
[5:40:42] protocol, how city staff members are trained, the frequency, also the actual signage we will
[5:40:48] using on city properties, there's different counties and different cities
[5:40:54] and implementations similar ordinances that have to
[5:40:56] get different methods, so we'll actually have samples there.
[5:41:00] The next section will include citywide communication
[5:41:02] related to immigration enforcement activities,
[5:41:06] so calling out the existing rapid response networks,
[5:41:09] what exactly they're focusing on, one feedback that I learned about
[5:41:13] is even though it says rapid response network or phone number,
[5:41:17] they focus on different things, so some focus more on when there's deportation incidents,
[5:41:23] some of the rapid response networks, more focus on debunking myths or doing background
[5:41:31] to see if immigration and ethnic activities are actually happening.
[5:41:36] And then also internally, we currently have an internal informal way that we're also trying
[5:41:42] to verify incidents, so actually have it written
[5:41:45] and how we're doing that currently.
[5:41:48] Another section in the next slide, additional sections
[5:41:52] and he's also come from the community input
[5:41:55] is to include all the regional and local resources
[5:41:59] related to immigration and also include
[5:42:03] how families and neighborhoods could create
[5:42:06] immigration safety plans.
[5:42:08] So there are different methods.
[5:42:10] There are different already immigration safety plans at different immigrant rights organizations have created,
[5:42:15] but we could also link to that and also see if there's any additions that we need to do in the Richmond context.
[5:42:22] Also have all these implementation and communication plans strategy translated and multiple manners,
[5:42:30] and also explicitly talk about how we're going to collaborate with other systems from the school district,
[5:42:35] the, you know, Controcosic College and Avery cities.
[5:42:38] So, our goes to have a draft implementation
[5:42:41] and a communication plans two weeks after approval.
[5:42:45] And then we could share it with the community,
[5:42:47] have another community meeting,
[5:42:49] and also share it with the ad hoc
[5:42:50] to get more feedback to be ready
[5:42:52] for when the ordinance is actually in effect,
[5:42:56] which is believe 30 days after its second reading.
[5:42:59] Next slide.
[5:43:02] So, for the next steps, if this ordinance is,
[5:43:04] there's no significant changes today,
[5:43:06] will come back on April 28th for second reading, and then the ordinance would take an effect
[5:43:11] 30 days or after on May 28th, draft implementation plan two weeks after the second reading,
[5:43:18] and then we will have continued community input meetings and engagement.
[5:43:23] Next slide,
[5:43:26] that's our update.
[5:43:28] Yep, and now we as our reminder, the attachment to the staff report we did include a red line
[5:43:34] that shows the changes to the ordinance and then there's also a clean version that
[5:43:38] shows you what the RNC Chapter 2.30 would look like if the ordinance is adopted.
[5:43:46] And with that if you have any questions, we're happy to answer.
[5:43:54] Public, do we have public comments?
[5:43:56] Yes, we have two person
[5:44:01] speakers, two person speakers, two person speakers are
[5:44:04] Court of Handler and Mark Walshberg.
[5:44:23] So good evening Mayor Martinez, council, for the record, I am Court of Handler, I have looked
[5:44:27] that the clean version that staff presented.
[5:44:30] I don't have no problem with the red line word,
[5:44:34] but I do like the clean version of it,
[5:44:37] so Mayor Martinez approved the clean version
[5:44:41] as presented, and that's it.
[5:44:44] Mark Wosfer.
[5:45:01] You are not going to stop the federal government from doing anything. I say, they are kidnapping dictators and over throw in governments.
[5:45:10] The Brisbane PD is going to detain ICE and National Guard to give the information, so they can press charges against ICE.
[5:45:18] This is what the police chief said. Now, you think you have some type of powers over the federal government, you're wrong.
[5:45:26] Now, I don't know where you get the stupid idea from this ordinance that you're going to stop
[5:45:31] to feel the government from doing anything, because you're not going to do it.
[5:45:36] As you take the risk of being stupid up to detain, I say National Guard, you get the information,
[5:45:42] you don't chief out there, there's any many criminals from the law, this house stupidly is.
[5:45:47] He knows the law, but he's just playing stupid politics, that's all he's doing.
[5:45:53] It's unbelievable how stupid you people are.
[5:45:56] You like this.
[5:45:57] If you stood up for criminals, you're 80-minute criminals, and you're laughing, what's going to happen
[5:46:02] when ice comes in anyway?
[5:46:04] What are you going to tell the people?
[5:46:06] Because they're going to come in your homes, they're going to come in the churches, the
[5:46:09] come in the schools, you ain't going to stop nobody from doing anything.
[5:46:13] See, this is how stupid you are, lady.
[5:46:15] And you think that stupid chief over there is going to have his men go after ice.
[5:46:20] And you think the district attorney is going to file charges because that's the other way she's going to do it.
[5:46:26] The only way she's going to get information if the risk being P.D. detains these people get the information,
[5:46:32] then they got to give it to the district attorney.
[5:46:36] And as she filed charges, I guarantee Trump's going to give her a new asshole when he gets down with her.
[5:46:42] Because you think it's funny, you wait to the Fed's come here a full force.
[5:46:46] You won't be allowed to much longer.
[5:46:47] I guarantee that and it's just amazing how stupid the worst in PD is they think they're
[5:46:54] going to go ahead and tackle ice.
[5:46:58] If you want to start a fight with the federal government, go ahead as I'll guarantee it.
[5:47:01] You're going to leave and you're leaving.
[5:47:03] You're talking to them as it's
[5:47:08] okay.
[5:47:08] We have six online speakers, please call the speakers.
[5:47:12] Those speakers are crescent, followed by Chris Tafe, Angie Melinda's Noel Canchew, Sonia
[5:47:18] and Carlos will be the last speaker.
[5:47:21] Crescent, please unmute yourself.
[5:47:23] State your last thing for the record, and you may begin.
[5:47:26] Hi, my name is Crescent Diamond,
[5:47:29] and I am a Richmond resident district one.
[5:47:32] I'm a member of Reimagined Richmond.
[5:47:34] I want to applaud you all, the City Council,
[5:47:36] for passing the ordinance, because I know our community is strongest
[5:47:41] when we protect the most vulnerable among us.
[5:47:44] I love my immigrant friends, family, and neighbors.
[5:47:48] I think you would agree with me that immigrants make this city the awesome place that it is and I want to do anything in my power to protect them.
[5:47:57] I am a descendant of Holocaust survivors and I grew up with the phrase never again.
[5:48:04] The recent events in Minnesota, Chicago and LA have demonstrated that we're all facing real danger and that Richmond needs to prepare as if it's an impending natural disaster.
[5:48:14] This ordinance strengthens community safety and protects our constitutional rights.
[5:48:19] Protecting immigrants is also about protecting community stability and economic stability.
[5:48:25] Protecting immigrants is protecting all of us.
[5:48:28] My fear is whether the city will be prepared if there is a large scale operation in Richmond before June 1st.
[5:48:36] It's my understanding that staff cannot get started until 30 days after the second reading is approved.
[5:48:41] So, thank you in advance for approving the draft so that the staff can get started on implementation and really please make sure that the second reading on April 28 is not delayed because if it's delayed another week or two weeks or three weeks, then that's, you know, pushing it out however long, you know, another three weeks so I think everyone knows this is super urgent and I really thank you for doing this work.
[5:49:09] Thank you. The next speaker is Chris Tate. Please unmute yourself and you may begin.
[5:49:15] Hi, my name is Chris Tath. I'm a preschool teacher in Richmond and I work with reimagined Richmond.
[5:49:21] I support these amendments to chapter 2.30. I thank you for your support for this ordinance in the past.
[5:49:31] I'm concerned for my students, I'm concerned for the children and families in Richmond.
[5:49:38] As a trained ice lookout, I circle home depot four hours a week.
[5:49:43] I see the faces of the day laborers who must balance fear
[5:49:49] with the necessity to go to work and support their families.
[5:49:53] It's moving, it's humbling.
[5:49:56] So, tomorrow morning when I bike around Home Depot, I want by City Council to have affirmed
[5:50:02] these preparations to protect everyone in our community, not just undocumented people.
[5:50:09] These amendments do pair in a non-cooperation with emergency planning, communications,
[5:50:15] and neighborhood-based preparedness, crucially, they include spaces that the city leases as
[5:50:23] as controls directly. Please do adopt this adorable ordinance as amended. Keep being a beacon city
[5:50:30] for the whole nation. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker is Andrew Melinda's. Please let yourself
[5:50:36] and you may begin.
[5:50:40] Amazing. Thank you so much. Good evening Mayor and city council. My name is
[5:50:44] Andrew Melinda's. I'm a lifelong rich and resident. And I'm speaking in proud and strong support
[5:50:49] of this ordinance. I'm really grateful to this council for approving the initial draft for this
[5:50:54] back in March, and I'm really excited that we're taking another step to protect our immigrant
[5:51:00] communities here. These protections, as we all know, are really needed, especially in a time
[5:51:05] where there continues to be so much fear and panic within our immigrant communities. We've seen
[5:51:11] in our deep outreach to immigrant communities across Richmond, like our daily neighbors, families,
[5:51:18] our youth, and business owners, and more who are looking for support from our local government
[5:51:23] to keep us safe. And I think by ensuring that we're using the powers given to us by state
[5:51:29] law to restrict immigration activity, we can send a really strong message to our Richmond
[5:51:33] immigrants that we continue to send with them. The language that's been presented looks
[5:51:38] really strong and I really love the inclusion of protections not just for city-owned property,
[5:51:45] but also city-least and city-controlled properties too. And I'm really looking forward to hearing
[5:51:50] more from the city about the citywide communication protocol, all this is going to help
[5:51:54] ensure that Richmond remains protected and that we remain ready if I serve the National
[5:51:58] Guard where to mobilize in our communities and so again, she really thank you so much to
[5:52:03] Council.
[5:52:04] I hope that you will vote in favor of this ordinance and thank you very much.
[5:52:08] Thank you.
[5:52:09] The next speaker is Noel Cantu, please unmute yourself if you may begin.
[5:52:14] Thank you, my name is Norma Dysolk and so I am a third generation veteran resident and I want
[5:52:20] to just take a moment to thank you to the City Attorney's Office and incredible work on
[5:52:27] this ordinance and to return to more, I read through the bedline version, the clean version
[5:52:35] and I am so excited that this is the strongest prediction that we can give our immigrant
[5:52:41] community to the point where cities across, across, across the, across South Bay are reaching
[5:52:48] out to learn more about how Richmond is creating and strengthening these type of ordinances.
[5:52:55] Every week we have gotten some videos reaching out because we're in the news and we are setting
[5:53:01] a precedent for our entire Bay area for the larger California as well. And so thank you for honoring
[5:53:10] this commitment and thank you for the council for protecting our inner
[5:53:14] communities. I am proud to be your written recipe. Thank you. Thank you.
[5:53:20] The next week or a song, Your Decker, please unmute yourself and you may
[5:53:23] begin. Hello, my name is Sonia Decker and I'm a Richmond resident and
[5:53:29] I grew up in Richmond and I live here now. I live in District 6 and I'm also
[5:53:34] member of Reimagined Richmond and I want to speak in strong support of this
[5:53:39] and improving this draft. Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to put this together.
[5:53:44] I'm really grateful that you've taken the time together community feedback and impact from folks that are actually impacted.
[5:53:52] And thank you to Council for your support. This ordinance really clarifies and strengthens the existing policies and builds on them to create a plan that can is really in line with our values and can really support our immigrant communities.
[5:54:08] And honestly, all of us, when any one group is targeted, all of our constitutional rights are in danger.
[5:54:16] I'm a rapid response, I do rapid response in the community, and I really see in here the fear that immigrants are experiencing right now and it's very real day-to-day.
[5:54:27] And also a therapist, and I really see this as a public health issue. This is a cute trauma that folks are dealing with and the stress of this is very intense.
[5:54:37] and by putting through this ordinance, you're helping to decrease fear and help people feel empowered,
[5:54:44] help build trust and clarity and strong leadership so that we can feel in this together.
[5:54:51] City spaceships should be a place of support and safety, not used to inflict harm on our communities.
[5:54:58] So I really appreciate the infrastructure, the planning, and also uplifting and supporting the organizing that's happening,
[5:55:06] as well as the education. I think all of the pieces of this are really strong and thank you so much
[5:55:12] for moving this forward hopefully today. Thank you. And the next speaker is Carlos. Carlos
[5:55:19] piece that you're last name for the record and you may begin. Yeah, good evening Mayor and council members.
[5:55:25] My name is Carlos Juarez and I'm a member of Reimagined Richmond. Thank you for moving forward with the
[5:55:35] To the importance of getting the language right, we've already taken an important step by voting to strengthen the ordinance
[5:55:43] Well, how it's written with the term in whether it truly protects our community or leads gaps that can be exploited
[5:55:49] This policy must be clear and enforceable. That means no loop holes that allows federal immigration
[5:55:55] enforcement and use city spaces whether directly or indirectly
[5:55:59] City facilities should never become staging grounds for detention or enforcement
[5:56:03] especially non-public spaces where residents expect safety and privacy.
[5:56:09] Language matters because implementation matters without strong definitions, accountability,
[5:56:17] and clear limits policies like this can fall short in practice.
[5:56:21] I also want to uplift what this ordinance represents.
[5:56:24] For many families in Richmond, fear of enforcement is real.
[5:56:28] It affects whether people seek services, show up to school, or engage with their own city.
[5:56:33] When people don't feel safe, accessing public resources, our entire community is impacted.
[5:56:40] This is about making sure our libraries, community centers, and city buildings remains,
[5:56:45] remains spaces of care and not fear.
[5:56:48] Our urge you to adopt the strongest possible language.
[5:56:51] Language that is clear, accountable, and truly protective.
[5:56:54] So this ordinance lives up to its intent.
[5:56:57] Richmond has to opportunity to lead here.
[5:56:59] Let's make sure we do it right.
[5:57:01] Thank you.
[5:57:01] Thank you, and that was our last speaker.
[5:57:10] So public comment is closed and it is time for questions, comments from the Council.
[5:57:19] One point of clarification.
[5:57:24] The second reading would be April 21st, not the 28th, so it would be a sooner than the timeline outlined in the PowerPoint.
[5:57:33] So going into effect May 21st.
[5:57:36] Thank you.
[5:57:39] Thank you so much and Kimberly and Gabi, you know, for working on these, I know you had been putting a lot of work.
[5:57:47] I have a couple of questions. One of the questions is that in session 2, 3, 0, 0, 7, 0 communication in the paragraph.
[5:57:57] The last paragraph said nothing in this section should be constructed at Mandatory 2, 2, 3. What does it mean?
[5:58:04] Yeah, so there's a government code for provision that allows the city to be sued for quote unquote mandatory duties and we didn't want to create liability for the city by implementing this ordinance.
[5:58:16] So while it has strong language, we wanted to make sure that it was very clear that we weren't imposing a mandatory duty that would give rise to liability against the city if there was any failure to do something in here.
[5:58:28] What we understand that we want the strongest language we're not also interested in opening
[5:58:32] the city up to liability so that's why that language is there.
[5:58:36] Thank you.
[5:58:38] How can police enforce these ordinance?
[5:58:45] Can you repeat the question again?
[5:58:47] How can the police department enforce these ordinance?
[5:58:54] From a very, thank you for the question council amendment.
[5:58:58] It's from a very practical standpoint if there were federal officers that were staging in any of our locations.
[5:59:05] For example, we would tell them they need to leave.
[5:59:08] Perfect.
[5:59:10] Pretty, pretty plain and simply.
[5:59:12] Okay.
[5:59:12] So you had the mandate and you will just follow.
[5:59:15] Thank you so much.
[5:59:17] My last question is Gabino, you are putting the protocols.
[5:59:21] Thank you so much.
[5:59:22] He looks really great and I saw the events.
[5:59:28] We created Councilmember Robinson, Major, Eduardo Martinez and I are part of a task for
[5:59:39] how you see the word that you are doing with related to us giving input or how do
[5:59:48] you see that us working together to finalize the protocol?
[5:59:52] Yes, I was, I envision it was that the first meeting of us would be the draft implementation plan a committee.
[6:00:00] Public comment, motion, second, notification, plan, that we could get direct feedback from. So one city staff, that we have a sooner, that we could convene the group to get feedback. But then we would also have it available in the public, for, you know, on our website and also, maybe hold one more community meeting to bring back the people that have been part of the other two communities to give their feedback and see if they have any more questions. But I think that would be the first meeting of the group.
[6:00:25] Okay, thank you. I just wanted to say thank you so much, and this is important to send
[6:00:31] a clear message to your community, and especially the immediate community that is under attack right now
[6:00:36] with this administration to say that we are doing as much as we can to protect them.
[6:00:44] As you know, and this is really important for us the protocols and to have this certainty that
[6:00:51] police department and the officers are knowing collaboration with us what happened in San Francisco
[6:00:57] Airport was that at TSA employee shared the data of of the mom and the girl that got
[6:01:07] reported. They are from Richmond. They were from Richmond because now they got reported. So I just
[6:01:16] to convey these because we may think that nothing is happening, things are happening and this
[6:01:26] is a good way to strengthen our power of what we can do to protect our community. Thank you.
[6:01:42] I also wanted to say thank you for all your work on this. I know it's a lot, especially right now
[6:01:46] with all of the things happening in the world. I had one area that I wanted to ask some questions about
[6:01:52] just to make sure that I understand it clearly.
[6:01:54] And that is in this version, we've identified
[6:02:01] some non-public public space.
[6:02:04] And I would really like to understand better
[6:02:06] what's the function of that, how would that be used?
[6:02:10] Have an idea, but I just want to make sure I'm understanding it
[6:02:12] correctly.
[6:02:13] Can you help me understand how that would function if, say,
[6:02:17] or immigration officials were going to come and want to access a non-public city space.
[6:02:26] Sure.
[6:02:27] So one of the definitions that we did at or clarify was non-public areas of city property
[6:02:33] and we've defined that as city property that is not generally open and accessible to the public
[6:02:39] and we've given some examples of that and I think a good example would be if you go to city hall right now.
[6:02:44] There are areas within the city where there is already signage that says, this is not open to the public and in those areas in order for federal immigration officials to enter those areas.
[6:02:57] They would need a judicial warrant to enter. So there are certain areas already in city hall and around different city properties where they've been designated to be.
[6:03:06] They are city property, but they're not open and accessible to the public.
[6:03:11] And so in those areas, if federal immigration officials were to visit city property,
[6:03:17] those areas, they would need a judicial warrant in order to enter those areas.
[6:03:23] So are we going to be designating non-public areas in all of our public spaces?
[6:03:31] because I think what we're trying to get is that we informally know that there's staff areas
[6:03:36] or what, but they're not always labeled. And if they're not labeled, then I believe currently
[6:03:42] they would be considered a part of the public access, right?
[6:03:47] I don't know about the last part that you just mentioned, but currently we have labeling like
[6:03:50] on 450 and 440 and then we're going through all the community centers, but most of the spaces
[6:03:55] that are in this category, our city, staff, work spaces,
[6:04:00] and like the corporation, yours, the public
[6:04:03] can't just go in there.
[6:04:04] There are certain sections that they can.
[6:04:06] And so those are the areas where we have the signage
[6:04:09] that you cannot pass this area without a warrant
[6:04:15] or other permissions.
[6:04:18] I'm just thinking of an example where there
[6:04:23] somebody who was delivering, they were a Uber driver and they were delivering a package to
[6:04:29] somebody's house, it wasn't their house.
[6:04:34] And the immigration officials were chasing them,
[6:04:38] and they ran into the house, it wasn't their house, but it would be, they ran into private property,
[6:04:45] right? And so, at that point, they would need a warrant to come in.
[6:04:52] It would depend, so under your hypothetical scenario, the person ran to someone else's private
[6:04:59] home.
[6:05:00] The person who has the privacy right there is the home owner, not the person who ran in,
[6:05:05] so the issue would be whether the home owner grants federal immigration officials into
[6:05:12] the house, access on their own if they did not, then they would have to come back with a warrant.
[6:05:18] So in that scenario, it depends on, so in a similar scenario, something similar happened with the city property where somebody came into a non public space, who would be the person to determine whether or not those other people the immigration officials can follow.
[6:05:40] I think that's a difficult question because some of the non-Public City is already, they are not open to the public.
[6:05:50] So there are certain places in City Hall that are behind a badge that even members of the public would not be able to run into.
[6:05:58] There are some areas where they could be open to the public and have access to non-public areas.
[6:06:06] It would still be the same.
[6:06:08] We have designated those places as areas where ice cannot enter without and we hold in that scenario.
[6:06:15] The city would hold the privacy right.
[6:06:17] We have the right to allow people to enter and we would say that area is not a place where officials could enter.
[6:06:23] But again, if they went back and got a warrant, then and it was a vacuum warrant, and of course we would never want to aid in a bed, right?
[6:06:31] Like this would not be something where city staff would be like, come, it's expelter.
[6:06:37] But if someone happened to be back there, then the city would have the right to say whether or not that this was private space and that they need to seek a warrant.
[6:06:45] Correct. And that was one of the additions in the findings that we did articulate, we did say that the purpose of the chapter was to ensure
[6:06:53] effective policing to protect the safety well-being, constitutional rights, but it was not
[6:06:57] intended to impede or interfere with lawful federal authority.
[6:07:01] Thank you.
[6:07:03] And if that would occur if people would go into city property, then that triggers that, hopefully,
[6:07:08] you know, the training we have for city staff, would call the city attorney, the hotline,
[6:07:12] so the city attorney's office, and all the internal staff would be, you know, present to be able to
[6:07:18] to attend to the situation, we recommend
[6:07:20] staff to video record and all those different things
[6:07:24] that we haven't had.
[6:07:29] Thank you so much for the presentation.
[6:07:32] I really answered a lot of my questions.
[6:07:35] And for the amendments that really spelled out things,
[6:07:38] because I think that we were, I don't know,
[6:07:41] I don't mean we were, but it was giving a false presence.
[6:07:46] Like, I mentioned that we are saying,
[6:07:48] OK, come over here and seek shelter into a void
[6:07:53] any type of federal agents who do have warmth.
[6:07:58] So thanks for clarifying that.
[6:08:00] I do also have a question regarding the ordinance.
[6:08:02] It says that the city manager will develop a community
[6:08:05] plan with input from the public to inform residents
[6:08:10] in the event of a verified enforcement.
[6:08:16] And so is that accurate?
[6:08:18] is she going to create the community plan, the community cases plan?
[6:08:24] You could start in the middle.
[6:08:25] Yeah, so that is codifying what is already occurring.
[6:08:29] So the two community meetings and you can talk about this a little bit more.
[6:08:32] The two community meetings that were held prior to the,
[6:08:35] when we gave our reports, I can't remember two weeks ago,
[6:08:40] and now this, that was already the start of the city manager's office
[6:08:45] or his or her designate, that's what the ordinance says to develop that communication plan.
[6:08:50] So this is now codifying the process that was already in place and so that is the communications
[6:08:59] plan that we kind of previewed at our last city council meeting and that's the same communications
[6:09:05] plan that give you know was talking about today in terms of next step. Like we've actually started
[6:09:10] that process, knowing that the ordinance was coming and so we've already started
[6:09:15] doing and having those community meetings and developing that communications plan and
[6:09:19] because we already started doing that before the ordinance was introduced, we can now
[6:09:24] wrap up that up in the next like 30 to 45 days. Okay, and so thank you because I know he said
[6:09:33] he answered that two weeks after the approval then we'll have the time.
[6:09:38] So will that be brought back to the council for any sort of adjustment or amendments at that point
[6:09:44] you can't make adjustments. I think we're allowed to make adjustments internally according to the
[6:09:49] ordinance at times. So we will have a draft and get feedback. That's why we've tried to be a
[6:09:54] little broader on the ordinance. So we wanted to do any individual changes. Like say we have a
[6:09:59] section on verification, like how currently we do it, you know, rapid resource networks outreach
[6:10:06] to the city to help with verification, and we have staff internally talk to public safety and
[6:10:11] different departments if it's true, and we go back and then communicate it out to the
[6:10:18] mayor's office that's been our current practice. So say that, say something different like
[6:10:23] another group shows up that we need to add to this rapid response and that we're doing the
[6:10:28] whole year. It allows us to make some changes administrative versus having to come back here
[6:10:33] a time to make changes as a situation's change. Okay, because that's what my concern is. So I
[6:10:38] love the fact that we strengthened the ordinance, but my major concern is that we're sending out
[6:10:44] any type of alarming messages, citywide messages, because it didn't clearly define who confirms
[6:10:50] like what an actual verified enforcement would be like, is there a chain of command? Who drafts
[6:10:57] the message? Who signs off on the release before we sit out something like that?
[6:11:08] And
[6:11:08] I just want us to handle these situations because they're so sensitive.
[6:11:13] I just want us to handle them in the best way possible, so we're not, you know, putting
[6:11:20] fear out there or sending out mixed messaging and things like that.
[6:11:24] So I just want to kind of understand the chain of command.
[6:11:26] That is exactly what we'll be putting in the communication plan, the chain of command, and
[6:11:30] now we will project the messaging for single incidents versus the community meetings, people
[6:11:38] I've concerned for these masses and incidents like Minnesota.
[6:11:41] So what's the trigger when it actually disrupts the whole city
[6:11:45] then maybe that's the activation of our EOC, right?
[6:11:49] So what are the individual incidents versus larger incidents?
[6:11:52] We'll have that in the plan on how we are going to be doing that internally.
[6:11:56] So we'll see at the next readings like a step-by-step of the implementation on how that's
[6:12:05] Thank you.
[6:12:06] Thank you.
[6:12:06] Thank you.
[6:12:07] Thank you.
[6:12:08] Thank you.
[6:12:10] Mr. Mayor, may I go?
[6:12:11] My next.
[6:12:12] Thank you.
[6:12:13] Thank you for bringing this and working on this and being in the various community meetings as
[6:12:19] well as thank you for all your work on this.
[6:12:21] A couple of questions in the definitions I'll start off with the city property.
[6:12:29] We don't list.
[6:12:29] I don't know if it's a looted too, but we don't list sidewalks and streets as an example.
[6:12:36] Roadways, anything in Richmond, are those all excluded?
[6:12:40] Those are public, so they're public right of way, so we can't.
[6:12:43] Those are not things that we exclusively control, they're open to the public, all the time we can't
[6:12:49] not let certain people use the road.
[6:12:52] So there's a reason why city property is defined in the way it is, and we've given some examples
[6:12:58] of what it is, but typically roadways and streetways are public right of ways.
[6:13:04] Thank you.
[6:13:05] And then what would happen if in this might be a question for the chief, if there are
[6:13:14] some ice people, maybe they're parking on the sidewalk, because we have some really large
[6:13:21] sidewalks, or they just decided to double park on the street, because we're not giving
[6:13:26] in access to our city property, which is our buildings,
[6:13:32] our parking lots, our garages.
[6:13:35] So what stops in from just double parking?
[6:13:37] Yeah, if we got called to the scene,
[6:13:39] if something like that, we would ask them to move their vehicles
[6:13:41] the same way we would ask any resident
[6:13:43] that's in violation of the vehicle code,
[6:13:46] just because you're conducting some type of operation,
[6:13:50] does not give you the right away to just violate vehicle codes
[6:13:55] and block public roadways and block public walkways.
[6:14:00] Thank you.
[6:14:00] And then from there, how are we then enforcing that?
[6:14:05] So they're blocking somebody's front sidewalk and the street
[6:14:11] because they're double parked and you come in and they say,
[6:14:14] well, whatever we're doing something.
[6:14:15] We would document it in a police report
[6:14:17] and probably try routing it through city turning office
[6:14:20] or things of that nature like what we're not going to do
[6:14:23] get into a confrontation with another law enforcement agency that's operating in some sort
[6:14:30] of legal capacity. We would document it. But that's also how we would handle it with a resident,
[6:14:35] as well. Thank you. Thank you. I just want to, because I didn't see streets inside of what's on
[6:14:41] there. So I did this somewhat of a clue, but this gets a good explanation. Thank you for that.
[6:14:44] And then what I also saw under the definition of city personnel, it excludes volunteers and contractors.
[6:14:52] and I wanted to see why are we excluding I somewhat get volunteers but legally independent
[6:15:00] Contractors and volunteers are not considered personnel. They're not considered employees of the city.
[6:15:07] And also, the reason why is a practical reason, because the way a city personnel is used here.
[6:15:12] We're talking about what city people who are employed with the city can and should do.
[6:15:19] So for example, like the one of the section calls for the training of city personnel.
[6:15:27] That's easy to train personnel who work here.
[6:15:30] It's not easy to always train volunteers.
[6:15:32] Nor could we require independent contractors to come and be trained.
[6:15:37] So from a legal perspective, independent contracts and volunteers are typically not considered
[6:15:42] public employees.
[6:15:44] And so that's why the definition is for city and personnel.
[6:15:47] Now, would it warrant maybe having another section because I believe the intent is so a city personnel
[6:15:54] to not open the door, for example, for someone to walk in and arrest somebody else.
[6:16:01] But then that means that a contractor could potentially open it. There's somebody doing some work,
[6:16:08] a track system somewhere?
[6:16:12] I guess like hypothetical.
[6:16:13] It's a hypothetical thing.
[6:16:14] It's a hypothetical thing.
[6:16:15] It's a hypothetical thing.
[6:16:16] Again, there are the protocol.
[6:16:19] The response protocol places on a city.
[6:16:22] So like for example, let's say the city attorney's office is a non-public area.
[6:16:28] There's designated and let's say a contractor was working on our door.
[6:16:35] We would not let the officer in, the contractor might, but we would not, that would activate
[6:16:42] the city protocol, the limited access protocol, and city employees would then stop the federal
[6:16:50] infrastructure for money.
[6:16:50] I don't think it's going to work.
[6:16:51] Now you got to get them out.
[6:16:53] Versus telling that you can't come in if the door is closed.
[6:16:57] I mean, I think this is a little bit.
[6:16:59] I mean, maybe there's some wording that we can say if contractors come into the city of Richmond,
[6:17:04] It's hard to enforce.
[6:17:06] It's hard to enforce.
[6:17:07] It's hard to enforce.
[6:17:09] We also have the mandatory duty.
[6:17:13] So we can place responsibilities on city employees.
[6:17:19] But once we start to control independent contractors,
[6:17:22] there are no longer independent contractors
[6:17:24] and that exposes the city to liability.
[6:17:27] So we want to have independent contractors,
[6:17:30] stay independent contractors.
[6:17:31] We also want volunteers to stay volunteers.
[6:17:33] So, they don't give rise to liability against the city for the actions that they do.
[6:17:38] All right. Thank you. Thank you.
[6:17:42] So, pretty much the non-populate signage that we're going to be putting in is pretty much
[6:17:46] it's only protecting employees.
[6:17:48] So, we're not creating as this vice mayor was somewhat alluding to.
[6:17:52] We're not creating a sanctuary area where people can just run in there and say,
[6:17:57] you can't get me in. So, it's more of our employees within our buildings only.
[6:18:01] The signage serves two purposes.
[6:18:06] One is to identify for anybody, really.
[6:18:11] The areas of the city that are not generally open to the public,
[6:18:15] and especially for federal immigration officials,
[6:18:20] where they cannot access without a judicial warrant.
[6:18:23] Second, is to identify the city property
[6:18:26] that cannot be used for non-city reasons.
[6:18:31] So like parking lots or if we had parking garages,
[6:18:36] things like that, we could mark all of those spaces
[6:18:39] as city property and say, you cannot use them
[6:18:43] for non-city purposes.
[6:18:45] That can expand to more than just immigration enforcement.
[6:18:48] It can expand to a lot of things.
[6:18:50] And it's protecting our property, protecting our resources.
[6:18:54] So the signage serves two purposes.
[6:18:56] It's one to, you know, it is on some level to provide safety for our employees, but it is also to inform the public, anybody really, including federal immigration officials of where there is city property, where the public has access to it and doesn't, and when there will need to have judicial warrants to be able to access the property.
[6:19:22] Okay. Thank you.
[6:19:28] My other question. I think I'm going to thank you so much.
[6:19:33] Thank you. Are we ready for, oh, we have another speaker?
[6:19:39] I just wanted to thank you for doing it quickly. I really appreciate the hard work you put into it.
[6:19:45] Thank you.
[6:19:50] I'm a day, I don't.
[6:19:58] Councilmember Braille?
[6:20:02] Yes. Councilmember Bana? Yes.
[6:20:03] House member Hamilis?
[6:20:05] Yes.
[6:20:06] House member Wilson?
[6:20:07] Yes.
[6:20:08] Vice Mayor Robbins?
[6:20:09] Yes.
[6:20:11] Councilmember Zepain?
[6:20:12] Yes.
[6:20:13] And Mayor Martinez?
[6:20:14] The vote is unanimous.
[6:20:18] Please take this to the last item?
[6:20:21] I don't.
[6:20:22] I don't.
[6:20:23] Go before A.
[6:20:25] There was one item that was removed from the same calendar.
[6:20:31] And the person that removed his no longer in the chambers.
[6:20:38] And if there's anyone that would like to address the council on this item, join us online, please raise your hand at this time.
[6:20:48] We
[6:20:54] have one speaker online.
[6:20:57] Let me call him.
[6:21:02] Sabrina, please call him.
[6:21:04] That speaker has the initial seat.
[6:21:06] Please state your first on last thing for the record.
[6:21:08] And be yourself and you may begin.
[6:21:11] I was Claudia Citron, you guys thought you'd get off the hook early tonight, so I pulled this item
[6:21:19] because I just think it's really important that you give more direction to the finest department
[6:21:26] as they reach out to get a consultant to come up with the next five year plan on raising 4% all the fees
[6:21:35] and come up with new fees and so forth. You need to discuss this in the public. You can't
[6:21:42] just do this quietly and then the last minute say, well, here is the findings. There's a
[6:21:49] serious transparency concerns and chronic violation, you know, we always say that because
[6:21:56] you limit public participation in deciding how these feet are being calculated, especially
[6:22:04] nowadays where families are really squeezed and how much more can you squeeze.
[6:22:13] Ms. Robbins is already earlier mentioned, how much more money can you ask constituents to
[6:22:19] bring in. So any finance reformated increases without legitimate legitimate cost of service
[6:22:29] analysis and a much overdue social economic impact study of low income household exposures
[6:22:38] is just a risk and it's just not, it's just, you know, I spare my words, you know, what
[6:22:47] mean do better because you can't upload yourself to supporting the youth and then turning around
[6:22:54] and making running a business even more difficult here. In most of the community, get the
[6:23:01] youth in, have them help you figure out what fees that you could charge. You know, get creative,
[6:23:07] don't hire consultants. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you. And that was the last speaker.
[6:23:14] All
[6:23:17] right, are there any questions on this item?
[6:23:21] Thank you.
[6:23:21] Just a little presentation.
[6:23:23] Sure.
[6:23:24] Okay, CRT, please bring up the presentation.
[6:23:38] Is it on?
[6:23:42] Okay.
[6:23:43] I don't see it.
[6:23:45] Oh, thank you so much, Shannon.
[6:23:47] I appreciate it.
[6:23:49] That's all.
[6:23:50] That's all.
[6:23:51] I didn't only need that much.
[6:23:53] Thank you so much.
[6:23:54] This is Mubin called the deputy director of finance and when it's April 7th today.
[6:23:59] Next slide please.
[6:24:01] This is the quick agenda of the presentation and I would move on to the next slide please.
[6:24:06] The recommended action is to approve a contract with the will then financial services
[6:24:11] for preparation of the traffic impact fee study and comprehensive user fee study
[6:24:17] an amount not to exceed 59,230 dollars for the period of April 1, 226 through June 3228.
[6:24:29] Next slide, please.
[6:24:31] The purpose of the contract is to ask a consumer approval contract with this financial
[6:24:40] services.
[6:24:41] And the scope is to conduct a traffic impact for the city and comprehensive user study.
[6:24:46] and the amount we mentioned earlier, and so did we determine the term of the contract and why do we need these studies.
[6:24:53] This is a studies needed to update the fee structure to reflect the true cost of the city services, just so we're not charging more or less than what we should be.
[6:25:06] And it is consistent with the state law, basically, so it's a compliance issue as well.
[6:25:10] And also, it is to connect the impact fee steady with the development impact that is potentially need to happen due to the development in the city.
[6:25:21] So there is a nexus between the developments happening in the key which hardship them, and this particular city is primarily about the traffic impact.
[6:25:30] So, and also it does support the Office of the City's Masterpiece casual, just so we are charging
[6:25:38] transparently and realistically, and, what's it also?
[6:25:43] Sorry, I shouldn't try it, I'm trying to go to the next slide, please.
[6:25:46] Oh, please.
[6:25:47] Next slide.
[6:25:51] Thank you, Antonio.
[6:25:52] Antonio's online, by the way.
[6:25:55] Totally.
[6:25:56] No, at hand.
[6:25:58] Yeah, so, and, you know, to some degree, it does, you know, reduce it.
[6:26:02] lines on the general fund, because wherever we can recover whatever cost we can,
[6:26:08] fairly and acutably, we try to do that.
[6:26:13] And the next slide,
[6:26:17] this is just a summary of the RFP process in evaluation, 1,266 vendors
[6:26:25] were notified when the RFP was published, and 16 vendors downloaded and received 3 proposals
[6:26:33] of from DTA, Matrix, and Vilden, and the qualification criteria was 40% of age experience and performance,
[6:26:44] 25% of references, 10% and fees casual, 25% and will then ranked highest overall based on qualifications and scope alignment.
[6:26:53] I recommend it action. Next slide please.
[6:27:00] Next slide please. This is duplicate one.
[6:27:03] Recommended action is again a reminder. Approved contract with the then financial services for
[6:27:07] preparation of the traffic impact fee study and comprehensive user fee study in an amount not
[6:27:14] to exceed 59,230 dollars for the period of April 1,226 through June 32,28. Any questions and thank you so much.
[6:27:25] Oh, there's question.
[6:27:28] I will be item.
[6:27:31] I said, content, but I have a question.
[6:27:34] Oh, sure.
[6:27:35] Well, it's time for discussion, OK.
[6:27:38] My question is who pays for these fees, right?
[6:27:44] Normally, is every investment in the city of Richmond
[6:27:46] or developers like who pays it?
[6:27:50] Absolutely.
[6:27:50] The traffic impact fee will be the developers.
[6:27:54] The Master Feast study is basically review of all the fees that we have in the city providing services.
[6:28:04] So it's whoever the users of those fees are they would be paying.
[6:28:10] How are the fees determined based on the cost?
[6:28:15] the cost of a master fee yes that is based on the cost of the service and about the traffic
[6:28:22] impact fee that is basically potential developments that are happening and there is a
[6:28:28] nexus of those huge developments and it's it's far more complex you know math above my
[6:28:34] pay scale definitely so that's why we're having the consultant right yeah that makes sense
[6:28:40] But it is the nexus of the amount of traffic
[6:28:45] that the development brings.
[6:28:48] That seems like a very good question,
[6:28:50] but for the vendor, who will be doing the study?
[6:28:54] Like when they are done with the analysis,
[6:28:56] we can definitely have them explain
[6:28:59] how is the fee and is determined.
[6:29:03] What were the criteria's in qualification?
[6:29:06] Yeah.
[6:29:07] All right, if there's no other comments
[6:29:08] This is time to go for the vote.
[6:29:12] Okay, we have a motion by Council Member Wilson.
[6:29:14] Second by Council Member Jimenez to approve the item.
[6:29:18] Council Member Biden.
[6:29:24] Council Member Jimenez.
[6:29:25] Yes.
[6:29:26] Council Member Wilson.
[6:29:27] Yes.
[6:29:28] Vice Mayor Robinson.
[6:29:30] Council Member Zapater.
[6:29:32] And Mayor Martinez.
[6:29:33] Yes.
[6:29:34] The vote is unanimous.
[6:29:36] Thank you.
[6:29:36] Our last item is the reports of officers,
[6:29:41] we first to staff and general reports including AB1234 reports,
[6:29:45] limited to two minutes per council member.
[6:29:51] All right.
[6:29:53] I'll start since I had a lot of things to do.
[6:29:57] I went to a readathon.
[6:29:59] It was the elementary.
[6:30:00] On the 26th, it was a fantastic event. I mean, it was amazing. There was a Shemalesa inara,
[6:30:11] dinner, and that was on the 27th with
[6:30:29] The 31st went to a progressive Jewish Sator, which was a fantastic experience in the 28th,
[6:30:38] there was a taste of Richmond.
[6:30:47] So this Saturday from 10 to 1, I'll be having my fourth annual District 2 strategy meeting.
[6:30:56] This time around will be in the Point Richmond area.
[6:31:00] So we'll be at the Point Richmond Community Center.
[6:31:02] everyone is welcome to come out. We'll be having a conversation about things that are going on in the district and around the city.
[6:31:09] So hopefully everyone is able to join.
[6:31:11] And then I wanted to give a quick update or I attended.
[6:31:17] I went up to the Capitol.
[6:31:21] And there I spoke in regards to one of the bills that is up to try to go after individuals that are
[6:31:31] team to steal our copper wire and this time around they're going to be looking to put more
[6:31:36] enforcement into the individuals that are buying the copper wire. So right now we have a lot
[6:31:42] of laws that are already that's already illegal to steal it. But there were some gray areas around
[6:31:49] the laws. So I went out there for AB 1941 and I testified in front of the committee and then
[6:31:58] pass the committee and now will be making its way over and hopefully the governor will sign.
[6:32:04] But I believe that is a new tool that hopefully will be able to use to go after these
[6:32:08] individuals that are continuing to steal our copper wire.
[6:32:12] So that is it for now.
[6:32:13] Thank you.
[6:32:20] So quickly, I just wanted to say I also went to Taste of Richmond and really wanted to give
[6:32:28] Props and gratitude to the Chamber of Commerce,
[6:32:31] and all of the folks on the Economic Development Commission
[6:32:36] who helped to make that happen.
[6:32:37] It was a really successful event.
[6:32:40] Really full, lots of different Richmond restaurants
[6:32:43] and artisans there, and it was just really, really great event.
[6:32:48] I also wanted to say, speaking of copper wire.
[6:32:52] Many of many folks have noticed that Carlson Boulevard now
[6:32:56] as new lights, folks in my district have asked if the northern part of Carlson, they're going
[6:33:04] to receive more than three lights.
[6:33:06] And I was one to say that I got the answer, the answer is yes, there are more callites coming.
[6:33:12] So stay tuned.
[6:33:13] I think that we should be seeing eight or so additional lights added to that section of Carlson.
[6:33:20] And those, that's actually never had them before.
[6:33:24] So this is an addition to address a long, long time problem
[6:33:28] along that stretch.
[6:33:30] I also, I was spent time with the Pullman Neighborhood Council
[6:33:34] of Subcommittee for beautification,
[6:33:36] walking around the neighborhood with them
[6:33:37] and identifying some issues that have been again,
[6:33:40] long-standing issues.
[6:33:42] One of which is going to be fixed soon,
[6:33:44] which is the broken fence along with Carlson Meadow
[6:33:47] and just better maintenance over there.
[6:33:49] So, really good time out in the community.
[6:33:54] And, yeah, thanks.
[6:33:57] Oh, I won't.
[6:33:59] Sorry.
[6:34:00] One more thing, in the time, since the last time
[6:34:03] we had to opportunity to do this section of the agenda,
[6:34:08] I was actually appointed as Representative
[6:34:10] for Richmond on the executive board
[6:34:12] for the G-E-Z for the Green Empowerment Zone.
[6:34:15] So I just wanted to make sure that people know that Richmond
[6:34:18] will be playing that role along with the two other refineries
[6:34:21] cities, helping to set the agendas and to respond and kind of proactively move the green
[6:34:27] empowerment zone forward.
[6:34:35] Well, if there's no one else, then, oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, I just wanted to
[6:34:46] quickly report that I represent City of Richmond at the East Bay Walled Park Coilation.
[6:34:52] And we found a consulting group to spend with budget of $50,000 to educate the public and raise public awareness about welfare safety.
[6:35:07] Hopefully that will be effective also as a woman elected official in the city of Richmond.
[6:35:16] And I teamed up with 13 other elected women officials across America, one at the Congress,
[6:35:26] some different Senate, different mayor city council members, and issued a statement against the war of aggression on Iran,
[6:35:34] because usually these wars are in the name of liberation of women, and we just said no to war and stop and I'm glad there is this stop hopefully it will last forever.
[6:35:45] However, and the last thing is, I'm also a member of the Hazmat Commission, because there
[6:35:53] is no liaison, the meetings are not as effective as they used to be.
[6:35:59] One of the issues I hope will be discussed, there are batteries, it wasn't the news that the
[6:36:03] battery caught fire and somebody died, they'll bring an item to the City Council to
[6:36:09] and non-certified batteries in the city's sale of them, and that's it.
[6:36:18] And without this meeting is adjourned.