Gayle's Richmond City Council (RCC)
Votes, Actions, and Comments

Voted in favor of:
(Gayle did not vote in favor of any motion.)

Voted against:
A 30-day agreement extension with Stevedoring Services of America. (Gayle felt that this extension was unwarranted because of questions surrounding the financially status of the company.) Motion passed.

Resolution declaring a state of emergency in high violent-crime census tracts in Richmond; consider and approve the Firearm Violence Action Plan, and approve an operational budget in the amount of $1,998,600 was presented. Mayor Anderson stated that item would be bifurcated in order to discuss the resolution that deals with the State of Emergency, and the second portion that deals with the financing; immediately followed by the agenda item regarding Measure Q funds. Mayor Anderson gave comments on the matter, stating her fundamental disagreement with the State of Emergency being used except in extreme cases. Everett Jenkins, Interim City Attorney, read California Government Code Section 8558 which sets forth the terms for ‘State of Emergency’ A motion was made by Councilmember Viramontes, seconded by Councilmember Marquez, to call for a State of Local Emergency for the City of Richmond on the basis of an epidemic of violence and homicide and recent events of the City of Richmond. (Gayle voted against this resolution, stating that Richmond is in a “ state of deprivation” NOT a state of emergency. She also stated that we cannot expect to end our chronic violence until we address the roots of the violence by bringing the needed jobs, education, and programs to our residents. ) Motion failed

Summary of the Budget for Fiscal Year 2005/2006 and requests for Measure Q Funds. Allocation of funds beginning July 1, 2005 thru December 2005 for First Milestone. Councilmember McLaughlin commented that the allocation of funds under Milestone 1 is unbalanced in comparison to the needed services requested from the public. The matter will be included when the 2005/2006 Fiscal Year Budget is proposed for adoption on June 28, 2005.

Total Police Department: $1,937,600
Total Fire Department: $1,300,000
Total Recreation: $952,000
Total Library: $342,485
Total Public Art: $70,000

(Gayle voted against this distribution because she feels strongly that the voters approved Measure Q in 2004 because they wanted community centers opened and library hours expanded fully. This allocation of Measure Q funds gives nearly 75% of the funding to police and fire, leaving our community centers still gasping for life and our main library hours still sparse with branches still closed.) Motion passed

For Gayle's votes, actions, and comments at other Richmond City Council meetings, go to the previous RCC meeting, the next RCC meeting, or other RCC meetings.