Council Deadlocks on Craneway Pavilion as $12M Liability Splits Vote

Richmond's City Council unanimously launched the path toward a paramedic ballot measure but couldn't find consensus on the fate of a historic waterfront event venue — a split that may cost the city control of the Craneway Pavilion for years. The marathon seven-hour session also surfaced escalating tensions between the police union and city management, and a retirement announcement that will reshape city leadership.

• Council unanimously advances polling for a November 2026 ballot measure to fund engine-based paramedics and $100M in fire station replacements

• Craneway Pavilion donation deadlocked — both a motion to deny and a motion to approve failed, likely sending the historic Ford-era building to a marine nonprofit

• Police union publicly demands 360-degree review of city manager, citing micromanagement and staffing at a 30-year low of 147 officers

• City Manager Shasa Curl announces she will retire after three park renovation projects are completed

• Marina Bay residents deliver coordinated complaints about cumulative development impacts and an unresponsive council member

• Richmond wins APWA NorCal Best Project award for its 2.25-mile Ferry to Bridge to Greenway protected bikeway

The longest and most contentious item of the night ended without resolution — and the consequences could take years to untangle.