Ethics Commission Ballot Measure Fails as Council Advances $120M Fire Bond

Richmond's City Council covered enormous ground July 21 — advancing a generational fire station bond to the ballot, reshaping police equipment policy, and exposing a sharp philosophical divide over whether the city needs an independent ethics watchdog. A heated 3-4 vote killed the proposed ethics commission, while aging fire stations and wildfire risk dominated much of the evening.

• Independent ethics commission ballot measure fails 3-4 after opponents argue existing agencies already investigate misconduct and question $1M+ annual cost
• $120M fire station bond advances unanimously toward November 2026 ballot; second reading set for July 28
• Police equipment approved 7-0 with key amendments: Bearcat armored vehicle to be replaced with less intimidating SUV; drone and rifle policies to get civilian review
• Public lands labor policy tabled 6-1 after city staff discloses it hasn't signed off on the version presented by building trades
• Wildfire defensible-space enforcement directed forward on a 6-1 vote as 950-acre fire burns in nearby Pleasanton
• ADU ordinance update introduced unanimously to comply with new state housing laws

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Ethics Commission Ballot Measure Goes Down in Contentious 3-4 Vote

Councilmember Cesar Zepeda brought forward the Richmond GATE Act (Government Accountability, Transparency and Ethics), proposing a seven-member independent ethics commission with a full-time investigator, subpoena power, and a guaranteed $1M budget in its first year — indexed to 0.5–1% of the general fund thereafter. The commission would cover elected officials, city leadership, commissioners, candidates, lobbyists, and contractors.

Why it matters: Richmond has no independent body with enforcement authority over ethics complaints against city officials. Proponents pointed to a history of Housing Authority corruption and an HR director who used city resources for personal business as evidence of a systemic gap.

Where things stand: The debate exposed one of the deepest rifts on the current council. Councilmember Zepeda framed the proposal as a natural extension of existing civilian oversight: "We already hold one group of public servants, our public police officers, to independent civilian oversight through the CPRC. The GATE Act simply asks the city leadership, including those of us on this dais, to meet the same standards."

Councilmember Sue Wilson mounted the most detailed opposition, challenging the agenda report's claim that Richmond is "one of the few Bay Area cities" without such a commission. Wilson's research found only the largest California cities — Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, San Diego — operate independent ethics commissions. "There is one way that you can look at California and say, oh, this is where it's normal to have an ethics committee. And that's for the 10 largest cities," she said, arguing existing agencies — the FPPC, the district attorney, the DOJ, and the IRS — already investigate municipal misconduct.

Vice Mayor Doria Robinson went further, calling the proposal "an effort by folks in a particular political persuasion to create their own means to undermine the electoral process."

The other side: Councilmember Jamelia Brown pushed back forcefully, arguing the council regularly funds priorities when it wants to and should let voters decide: "We can't say that the majority of Richmond doesn't want this because I don't see the majority of Richmond here. But the majority of Richmond will be at the polls come November 3rd and they should have that opportunity to make that decision on their own."

Multiple public commenters supported the measure. Jose Luis of SEIU 1021 noted the ethics commission was never proposed when Chevron held a council majority, and welcomed extending independent civilian oversight with subpoena powers. Jamie Purcells argued the current system routes complaints to offices with inherent conflicts of interest.

Decisions: The motion to direct the city attorney to prepare ballot measure documents failed 3-4. Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Soheila Bana, and Councilmember Zepeda voted yes. Councilmember Jimenez, Councilmember Wilson, Vice Mayor Robinson, and Mayor Eduardo Martinez voted no. Proponents would need to secure a fourth vote or pursue a citizen-initiated ballot measure to revive the effort.

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Council Unanimously Advances $120M Fire Station Bond

A Crumbling Foundation

Fire Chief Aaron Osorio delivered a stark presentation on conditions across Richmond's fire stations — facilities so old and deteriorated that fire engine sizes are dictated by their tiny garages rather than operational needs.

Station 66, built in 1942, has one interior bathroom, a portable bathroom trailer that has been in use for 13 years, asbestos tile, and apparatus bays too small for modern engines. Station 63, built in 1991, has significant foundation settling with cracked walls and floors and sits in a very high fire severity zone. Station 67, built in 1943, is historically protected as part of Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park, does not meet seismic standards, and forces the city to custom-build fire engines to fit its garage. The training center dates to 1917.

Why it matters: The $120M bond addresses just 10% of Richmond's $1.1 billion unfunded capital backlog. Chief Osorio framed the stakes bluntly: "When there's earthquake, a disaster of some kind, a flood, a wildfire, those types of services have to be seamless. There has to be continuity of service and that requires a facility that houses equipment and personnel that can withstand and be resilient in those circumstances."

Deal Math

Bond counsel Juan Galvan and municipal advisor Wing C. Fox walked the council through the mechanics: a general obligation bond requiring two-thirds voter approval, repaid solely from property taxes — not the general fund — at an average annual rate of $22.15 per $100,000 of assessed value.

Councilmember Wilson pressed on whether grants could offset the bond amount; staff clarified the city is not obligated to issue the full $120M. Councilmember Zepeda advocated for urgency, noting the same Station 66 project estimated at $9–12M in 2009 would now cost $30–35M. "I joke, but didn't joke because one of the fire stations that I also visited, they mentioned the last thing we need our fire stations to do is to call 911 to help them get out," he said.

Decisions: The council unanimously adopted the resolution of necessity and introduced the bond ordinance for first reading. Second reading is scheduled for July 28. If approved, the measure would go before voters in November 2026.

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Police Equipment Approved With Bearcat Replacement, Civilian Policy Review

The council unanimously approved the Richmond Police Department's 2025 annual military equipment use report under AB 481 — the state law requiring annual council review of police military-grade equipment — but attached two significant amendments.

Where things stand: Councilmember Wilson led extensive questioning of Police Chief Simmons on ammunition purchases, patrol rifle increases, and less-lethal launcher expansion. The chief confirmed ammunition purchases replace training rounds rather than increase the stockpile, and that patrol rifle increases equip newly hired officers. The Bearcat armored vehicle became the flashpoint: Wilson proposed the department acquire a less intimidating armored SUV instead and return to council with vehicle options. Vice Mayor Robinson offered a friendly amendment broadening the language to direct the department to present a range of options.

Wilson's second amendment directed the police chief to work with the Community Police Review Commission to review and update drone and patrol rifle policies — the two equipment categories that gave her the most pause. "I do want the department leadership to work with the CPRC to review the policies on the rifles and the drones, which are the two things that give me the most pause," she said.

Mayor Martinez questioned the Bearcat's cost-benefit, calling it "scary" and "too much for any city." The police chief acknowledged the concerns but noted the vehicle was used in a 2024 incident where a suspect fired approximately 100 rounds: "We actually had to use the Bearcat to get up there and rescue people that were in a hot zone. And he was actually shooting the Bearcat."

Decisions: The motion passed 7-0 with both amendments. Richmond residents will see a less militarized armored vehicle replace the Bearcat, and drone and patrol rifle use policies will be shaped with civilian input for the first time.

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Public Lands Labor Policy Tabled After Staff Objects

Nine months of negotiations between building trades unions and city staff hit a wall when the city attorney intervened to tell the council that staff had not signed off on the version before them.

The basics: The proposed policy, sponsored by Councilmember Zepeda, would apply to projects on city-owned land exceeding $5M in value. It set tiered requirements: projects with 10 or fewer residential units would be exempt; 11–49 units would require prevailing wage; 50–69 units would add apprenticeship and healthcare; 70 or more units would require a full project stabilization agreement.

EJ Sire of Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 presented the policy, which had been developed following unanimous council direction in October 2025. But Deputy City Manager LaShonda White presented staff concerns about implementation clarity, definitions, port-specific impacts, and effects on small and minority contractors. Staff had also received a legal memo from nonprofit housing organizations that same day.

Councilmember Zepeda objected to further delays, arguing staff had missed multiple deadlines over nine months and that the staff redline had removed healthcare benefits and union hiring hall requirements.

Vice Mayor Robinson seconded the motion to table, urging caution: "This is such a huge change that we need to do that with a proper process where we're considering everything. We're not rushing and making mistakes like so often."

Decisions: The motion to table passed 6-1, with Councilmember Zepeda casting the lone no vote. Staff and building trades will continue negotiations before the item returns.

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Council Orders Wildfire Enforcement Plan as Fire Burns Nearby

With a 950-acre fire burning in Pleasanton the same evening, the council voted 6-1 to direct the city attorney to return in 90 days with a framework for enforcing defensible space requirements in very high fire severity zones.

Councilmember Bana presented recommendations from the wildfire preparedness ad hoc committee: streamlining the defensible space appeals process, establishing an on-call vegetation management contractor, and creating a resident assistance program modeled on Berkeley's $2,500-per-parcel program for seniors, disabled, and low-income residents.

"The fire season, which peaks in October and November is upon us. So I'm asking us to pass this item and have the staff work on it and bring a revised ordinance that hopefully we can pass," she said.

Fire Chief Osorio cautioned that deploying an on-call contractor requires procurement, insurance, administrative warrants, and lien processes, with realistic deployment no earlier than January 2027. Councilmember Wilson recommended focusing first on the legal and regulatory framework and deferring funding to budget season. The motion was modified accordingly.

Mayor Martinez cast the lone no vote, saying staff is already addressing fire safety.

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ADU Rules Updated to Match State Law

The council unanimously introduced an ordinance updating Richmond's 2020 ADU and JADU regulations to comply with new state laws (SB 477, SB 543) and an October 2024 review by the state Department of Housing and Community Development. Key changes include allowing JADUs in attached garages, eliminating replacement parking requirements for garage conversions, and mandating 30-day processing for pre-approved plans. Senior Planner Michelle Morris presented the amendments. The California Housing Defense Fund flagged a gap in the draft — failure to exempt state-limited ADUs from objective design standards — and staff incorporated the fix. No members of the public spoke on the item.

What's next: Second reading at a future meeting.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar approved 7-0, covering routine contracts and administrative items. Item N5A (ad hoc committee on council rules of procedure) was pulled by Councilmember Bana but was not heard before the meeting adjourned.
• Housing Equity Roadmap contract with Just City extended by $49,999 (new total: $209,994) through December 2027 to complete community engagement and update the Fair Chance Housing ordinance. Approved 7-0.
• 23rd Street Ciclovia pilot — a proposed car-free event tied to the Fiestas Patrias parade, estimated at $79,000–$145,000 — was presented by Senior Transportation Planner Gail Payne but the meeting adjourned at 11 p.m. before the council could act. Staff flagged capacity concerns against 55 existing council directives.