Council Split on $6.3M Traffic Safety Plan as $29M Budget Gap Looms

Richmond's City Council wrestled with how to spend scarce dollars on "dangerous" streets, took a stand against a proposed carbon capture pipeline across the Carquinez Strait, and got its first look at a budget gap that will force hard choices before summer — all in a marathon session that stretched past midnight.

• $6.3M complete streets plan approved 5-2 after three council members broke ranks, arguing neighborhood traffic safety complaints have been ignored for years while $2M was steered to Richmond Parkway

• Resolution opposing Montezuma CO2 pipeline passes 5-0-2 with overwhelming public comment from environmental groups; two members abstain, wanting to hear from the project proponent

• Police union refuses to participate in state-mandated staffing hearing, alleging the city failed to produce required vacancy data and ignored a year-old bargaining request

• $29M in unfunded department requests revealed during budget presentations, with three public safety union contracts still unresolved ahead of a June 23 adoption deadline

• Community group demands Humphrey Playlot rebuild as six residents describe sinking, flood-prone park where volunteers have logged 225+ hours of cleanup

• Ten faith centers unite as council unanimously adopts urgency resolution after San Diego mosque shooting

The sharpest divide of the night came over how to allocate $6.27 million in complete streets improvement funds — and exposed a deeper fault line over whether the city has a coherent plan for neighborhood traffic safety at all.