On the agenda: tobacco and sewer moratoriums, street sweeping, and healthy retail

The Richmond City Council will hold two public hearings at Tuesday’s meeting: extending the city’s moratorium on new tobacco retailers for another year and prohibiting new sewer connections to the aging Keller Beach Sanitary Sewer for nearly two more years. The council will also consider allocating over $560,000 for street sweeping sign installation, advancing a healthy retail ordinance, and integrating tree well expansion into sidewalk projects.

Richmond to extend moratorium on tobacco retailers

The Richmond City Council is set to extend its moratorium on new tobacco retailers for another year, citing concerns over unlicensed sales, underage employees, and illegal products. The urgency ordinance, first enacted in April 2024, was initially extended until April 15, 2025. City officials now propose pushing the moratorium to April 15, 2026, to allow further study and regulation development.

City inspections revealed that of Richmond’s 83 known tobacco retailers, 51 operate without a license. Officials also discovered illegal cannabis sales, flavored tobacco violations, and underage employees at several locations. The extension will provide time for stronger licensing enforcement and compliance with new state laws banning flavored tobacco products.

The council will hold a public hearing before voting on the ordinance. If approved, existing tobacco retailers can continue operations, but no new licenses will be issued until stricter regulations are in place.

Extending Keller Beach sewer moratorium

The council will hold a public hearing to extend the moratorium on new sewer connections to the Keller Beach Sanitary Sewer (KBSS) for 22 months and 15 days. The decision follows concerns over the aging pipeline’s risk of failure, which could result in sewage spills into the San Francisco Bay.

The KBSS, built in 1959, has deteriorated significantly, with corrosion, sagging, and limited access for repairs. Environmental group Baykeeper, which reached a 2005 settlement with the city over sewer issues, has pushed for urgent action. Upgrading the KBSS is expected to take at least seven years.

The moratorium prevents new developments from connecting to the system while the city designs interim solutions. Officials warn that failing to act could lead to major environmental damage and steep regulatory fines.

$564,131 for street sweeping sign installation, data collection

The Public Works Department is asking the council to approve a resolution allocating $564,131 for citywide street sweeping sign installation and data collection on streetlight and traffic signal poles.

On March 19, 2020, the council directed staff to temporarily cease enforcing street sweeping parking restrictions during the early days of the pandemic.

Last year, the council directed staff to enforce street sweeping parking restrictions in an equitable manner throughout all neighborhoods in the city. The first step was to install street sweeping signs in fifteen areas that did not have signage.

These include Bristlecone, Canyon Oaks, Carriage Hills South, Country Club, Greenridge, Hasford Heights, Hilltop Bayview, Hilltop Green, Lenora, Marina Bay, Metro Richmore Village, Panhandle Annex, Quail Hill, Richmond Annex and Via Verdi.

The Richmond Police Department began issuing “mock” parking tickets in March 2025. According to the report, parking enforcement will start on April 15, 2025.

Staff also recommends gathering additional data on the 500 miles of city sidewalks and other assets maintained by the city, beginning with a comprehensive inventory and condition assessment of all roadway signs, streetlights, and traffic signal poles within the city. This assessment would then be used to create a budget for replacing deteriorated, faded, or non-compliant roadway signs, as well as streetlight and traffic signal poles. Finally, a replacement schedule for all roadway signs, streetlights, and traffic signal poles would be developed and incorporated into the annual Capital Improvement Plan budget.

Healthy options at point-of-sale ordinance

The Richmond City Council will review a proposed ordinance that would make it slightly less convenient to buy a candy bar at a large store. The ordinance would require large retailers to offer healthier food options at checkout aisles, a move aimed at curbing the prevalence of junk food in low-income communities. Known as the Healthy Options at Point-of-Sale (HOPS)

Tree well expansion for sidewalk projects

In a push to expand urban tree canopies, the council directed staff to incorporate tree wells in all upcoming Capital Improvement Program (CIP) sidewalk projects where feasible. A sidewalk tree well is a cutout or recessed area in a sidewalk designed to provide space for a tree to grow while allowing pedestrian access.The motion also calls for partnerships with nonprofits and residents to plant and maintain trees, aligning with the city’s sustainability goals.

All items placed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and noncontroversial.

In Community Development, the city is considering a $650,000 contract amendment with Civica Law Group, APC, to extend legal services for code enforcement through 2027. The city is also looking to expand its partnership with Contra Costa County Health, increasing funding by $2.87 million to enhance services for the Encampment Resolution Funding program through mid-2026.

The contract amendment with Contra Costa County's Health, Housing, and Human Services Department will increase the total contract value to $4.3 million, drawing from an $8.6 million state grant for encampment resolution and housing stabilization. The additional funding would support enhanced services, including dedicated project management, an expanded outreach team, prioritized shelter access, and financial assistance programs aimed at securing permanent housing solutions.

This proposal follows the unexpected termination of the city's previous contract with nonprofit Way2Love, which had been managing key homelessness initiatives. With Richmond facing persistent challenges around affordable housing availability and economic barriers for unhoused residents, the county partnership is seen as a way to strengthen service delivery and resource coordination.

The City Attorney’s Office seeks approval of two legal services agreements. One agreement with Boucher Law P.C. for up to $125,000 through 2025 will support confidential personnel investigations. Another amendment will add $110,000 to an existing contract with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, extending legal representation for municipal law matters through 2026.

The Library and Community Services Department seeks to submit applications for the Richmond Workforce Development Board to be designated as a service provider for adult and dislocated workers and to secure recertification for 2025-2027.

The Mayor’s Office is recommending the reappointment of Tomasa Espinoza to the Richmond Rent Board and Elena Velazquez to the Richmond Youth Council. Additionally, an ordinance amendment is proposed to require the Arts and Culture Division Manager to deliver biannual reports to the City Council. The mayor is also set to declare April 2025 as Alcohol Awareness Month.

The Public Works Department is requesting approval to accept $1.67 million in grant funding for the Bayview to BART Improvement Project, alongside a $565,116 contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates for engineering design. Funds from Measure J would be allocated to develop a blue curb parking policy, and an annual engineer’s report for Marina Bay’s landscape and lighting maintenance is also on the agenda.

AB 481 military equipment report postponed again

The 2024 Annual Military Equipment Report, which assesses the Police Department’s compliance with state law and local policy has been postponed again. The report, initially deferred from the March 25 meeting, will now be revisited on April 22, 2025.

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