City Council

Council Deadlocks on Craneway Pavilion; $12M Liability Kills Both Motions

Neither a motion to accept nor deny Orton Entertainment's donation of the historic Craneway Pavilion lease secured enough votes, leaving the building's future in limbo.

Why it matters: The city invested $20 million in the Ford-era building that now carries $12 million in deferred maintenance; with no action, Orton will likely transfer the lease to a marine nonprofit, potentially ending its use as a community event center for years.

Council Unanimously Greenlights Polling for Paramedic and Fire Station Ballot Measure

Council directed staff to begin polling residents on a potential November 2026 parcel tax to fund engine-based paramedic services and fire station replacements estimated at over $100 million.

Why it matters: Richmond is the last agency in Contra Costa County without paramedics on fire engines; over 8,000 annual EMS calls go without the highest-level emergency care, and three fire stations face structural deficiencies requiring replacement.

Police Staffing at Historic Low of 147 Officers

RPOA President Terrio reported only 112 officers available for street duty out of 147 total, well below the 170-180 recommended by three independent reports.

Marina Bay Residents Blast Council Member Over Silence on Development Impacts

Multiple Marina Bay residents accused their council member of ignoring constituent requests while cumulative development projects pile on without infrastructure improvements.

Why it matters: Three major projects — TransMontaigne expansion, Marina Point housing, and OpenAI's facility — are advancing with cumulative traffic, safety and environmental impacts while longstanding requests for quiet zones and pedestrian safety remain unaddressed.

Residents Report No Response After Year of Speed-Bump Requests

A resident described submitting speed bump requests for Grant Avenue since March 2025 with zero response, while a youth council member urged the city to install accessible push buttons at crosswalks.

Why it matters: Repaved streets are attracting dangerous speeding near schools, and Richmond lacks auditory/motor pedestrian signals found in every neighboring city, creating safety gaps for disabled residents.

Richmond Wins Regional Award for 2.25-Mile Protected Bikeway Project

Public Works received the APWA NorCal Best Project award for the Ferry to Bridge to Greenway protected bikeway, with the project advancing to national consideration.

Why it matters: The Class 4 protected bikeway fills a critical gap in the San Francisco Bay Trail where it detours inland around the port, improving regional multimodal connectivity.

City Manager Curl Announces She Will Retire After Park Projects Finish

Shasa Curl told the council she will retire from Richmond after three park renovation projects are completed, prompting emotional reactions from multiple speakers.

Why it matters: Curl's departure after four years will trigger a leadership transition during a period of complex labor negotiations, billion-dollar deferred capital needs, and a potential ballot measure campaign.

RPOA Says Officers Leaving as Contract Stalls Since July 2025

Police union leaders warned the council that officers are leaving Richmond due to stalled contract talks and staffing has dropped to 147, the lowest in over 30 years.

Why it matters: With only 112 officers available for street duty versus an ideal of 170-180, the staffing crisis threatens public safety services including traffic enforcement and emergency response.