Planning Staff and City Attorney Live in Alternate Universe
As the design for the PG&E site at Brickyard Cove works its way through the entitlement process, an attorney who is a neighbor of the proposed project took a deep dive into legal issues that City staff, including the incompetent and corrupt city attorney are...
Another Proposed Development Project Breaks Bad
According to former Design Review Board Chair Jonathan Livingston, the proposed housing project at the site of the former PG&E gasholder tank at Brickyard Cove has taken a turn for the worse with the full complicity of City staff. Regarding the design, Livingston...
New CEO for CivicWell (formerly Local Government Commission)
View this email in your browser Meet CivicWell's New CEO! We are excited to introduce Bernadette Austin as the new CEO of CivicWell. Bernadette was selected after an extensive search with Azzani Search Consultants following the departure of Kate Wright in March 2022....
City Manager’s Weekly Report for the Week Ending 02/10/2023
You can view the current City Manager's Weekly Report here: City Manager's Weekly Report 02/10/2023
City Council Finally Sees the Light at Terminal 1
On Tuesday, February 7, after prolonged discussion that went on until midnight, including a 40-minute monologue by the city attorney, the Richmond City Council finally did what they should have done a year ago, just say no to what became a horrible design for a...
Pro-housing advocates are suing these Bay Area cities to force planning for more homes
Richmond is one of the eleven cities being sued by pro-housing groups for failing to meet a January 31, 2023, deadline to submit the Housing Element of the General Plan to the California Department of Housing and Community Development. This is good news for...
The Sad Plight of the Historic Shipyard 3 General Warehouse
Figure 1 - The iconic Moderne style General Warehouse at historic Shipyard 3 Figure 2 - Deteriorated entry to General Warehouse The General Warehouse is the most iconic of the extant historical buildings from the historic WWII Shipyard 3. For almost a decade, the City...
Richmond and Brickyard Cove Alliance Responsible Development (BCARD) Not Happy with Terminal 1 Proposal
The following was sent to me by Brian Lewis of BCARD: The City of Richmond and Brickyard Cove Alliance Responsible Development (BCARD) is asking for information about the upcoming Hearing on Terminal One is sent to the Community and the Richmond Yacht Club. Tuesday,...
Contra Costa Health Opens Online Survey About Emergency Ambulance Service
For Release: Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 Contact: CCH Media Line, 925-608-5463 or doc.pio@cchealth.org Contra Costa Health Opens Online Survey About Emergency Ambulance Service Contra Costa Health (CCH) seeks public participation in an online survey this month to help gather...
The Mysterious Mr. Wu
My legal challenge to the sale of Terminal 1 was served this week on both the City of Richmond and Terminal One Development LLC (See Court Order Sought to Invalidate Sale of Terminal 1, January 20, 2023). We’ll see what happens. There is another component of this...
Saunas in Richmond?
https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/waterside-saunas-bay-area-17762581.php I found four wood saunas on the Richmond waterfront with unreal Bay Area views Silas Valentino, SFGATE Feb. 4, 2023Updated: Feb. 4, 2023 9:22 a.m. Sauna No. 2 is nicknamed the "picture...
Native Plant Extravaganza Sat. Feb. 11, selecting native plants, and more!
From Kathy Kramer: Dear Friend of the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase, Now is a great time to plant California natives! To help you along, the first Native Plant Extravaganza of the year takes place next week-end, on Saturday,...
City Manager’s Weekly Report for the Week Ending 02/03/2023
You can view the current City Manager's Weekly Report here: City Manager's Weekly Report 02/03/2023
Richmond Misses Deadline on General Plan Housing Element Approval
Like many other cities, Richmond has missed the deadline for adopting its General Plan Housing Element. Penalties can include fines up to $100,000, withholding of grant funds, and imposition of the "builder's remedy," which means that Richmond would be forced to...
What is Retirement Like?
With a little over three weeks since my forced retirement from politics, I am enjoying life. No more evening meetings, no emails or phone calls from irate residents, no suits and ties, and best of all, no City Council meetings. Although I am retired from politics, I...
City Drops Ball on Measure U Business Tax
Businesses all over town are concerned and complaining that there is apparently no way to renew businesses licenses for 2023 under the ill-conceived Measure U. No invoices are being mailed out to businesses. Those businesses that want to be proactive go to the...
The Plight of and Opportunity for the Historic Shipyard 3 Cafeteria Building
Figure 1 - Historic Cafeteria Building The historic Cafeteria Building located on Canal Boulevard is one of only six remaining intact buildings in historic Shipyard 3. It was completed in September 1943, and although substantially altered in the interior, the exterior...
Wastewater Treatment Plant Breakdown Causes Hydrogen Sulfide Spikes in Point Richmond
A failed primary clarifier that has been out of service since Monday at the City’s wastewater treatment plant on Canal Boulevard is responsible for multiple spikes in H2S, (also known as sewer gas, swamp gas, stink damp, and sour damp) a colorless gas known for its...
Howard Jarvis Loses Tax Fight over San Francisco Bridge Tolls
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday ended a fight about a voter-approved initiative that increased tolls on the seven state-run bridges over San Francisco Bay by $3.00 in part to support climate change projects. Regional Measure 3 (RM3) was planned and passed in...
City Manager’s Weekly Report for the Week Ending 1/20/2023
You can view the current City Manager's Weekly Report here: City Manager's Weekly Report 01/20/2023