The Richmond City Council will first meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations with six employee organizations and a real property negotiation at 1324 Canal Boulevard with Mossbridge. In the regular meeting, they will consider a consent calendar including a $300,000 grant agreement with Hope Solutions for the Tiny House Village and Garden project at 175 23rd Street, and authorize a grant application for the Riveter active transportation project. A proclamation honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month will also be presented.
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Transcrito automáticamente del video oficial de la reunión (voz a texto — puede contener errores).
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I would like to ask you.
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bag.
Now we have Sebastia.
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law enforcement has to build it in the middle of the bag.
It's just a bunch of stupid politics.
But the United States will always be in the middle of the
bag.
I'm going to move to the bag.
for the price of the bag.
carrying case loads.
justice delayed, justice delayed, justice delayed, justice
delayed, and in too many cases, justice denied.
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after the bag.
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So thank you, I'm going to go ahead and put it in the
middle of the bag.
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I think there are some others.
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I'm going to go ahead and put it in the middle of the bag.
Yes, thank you.
I'm going to move away from studying the problem.
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I'm going to go ahead and put it in the middle of the bag.
Yeah, that's because everyone's going to go ahead and put
it in the middle of the bag.
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Yeah, thank you.
We are talking about, I'm going to go ahead and put it in
the middle of the bag.
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I'm going to go ahead and put it in the middle of the bag.
I think you put it in the middle of the bag.
I'm going to go ahead and put it in the middle of the bag.
I absolutely think they have that.
And when we start looking at it.
We need, I don't know, we need, I don't know, we need earm
uffs or something.
We need, I don't know, we need, we need, we need, we need,
we need, we need, we need, we need, we need to go ahead and
put it in the middle of the bag.
We need, we need, we need, we need, we need, we need, we
need, we need, we need, we need, we need, we need, we need,
we need, we need, we need, we need, we need, we need, we
need, we need, we need to go ahead and put it in the middle
of the bag.
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need, we need, we need, we need, we need, we need, we need,
we need, we need, we need, we need, we need, we need to go
ahead and put it in the middle of the bag.
We need, we need, we need, we need to go ahead and put it
in the middle of the bag.
And so it might be instructive for the community to have a
sense of, you know, some of the slides that we shared
during the presentations that were done on the overall
budget.
And so if the council is inclined to want to do that, we're
happy to do that.
If the council is not inclined, then we won't.
I'm just trying to figure out if there potentially is a
compromise.
We as staff are happy to move forward as directed by the
council, but just wanted to try to see if there is a way to
compromise.
I would like to make a motion to accept this recommendation
.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Can I have a quick comment, Mr. Mayor?
Very, very quick.
Yes, I get the motion.
On the focus groups, youth, labor, immigrants, blah, blah,
blah, the elderly and aging group is missing.
So if you could add that, that'd be great.
So I believe your motion is to approve and authorize the
city manager and city attorney to negotiate and execute a
contract award with all Berg advisors.
That includes all the feedback tonight, right?
That includes consideration of the feedback tonight.
Is that, that's right.
I just want to make sure that.
That is our intention.
I don't know what council member Bono was referring to when
I'm looking at P1.
It doesn't.
On page eight, it says focus groups.
Oh, page eight.
Okay.
So I would like the seniors and elderly would be considered
as a focus group because they're a large group of the
community and needy.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Just a point for clarification.
The review of the entire city budget was not a scope of the
RFP.
No.
So it will not be a deliverable.
No.
No, we're not including the review of the entire budget.
Also, I might.
But we would, I think what I'm talking about is that there
was a lot of, I think, helpful feedback on different ways
and inclusion in terms of language, small group meetings,
including seniors, things like that.
So working with them to make sure that the community
engagement is robust and gets to all the corners of the
community that we can.
That is reasonable.
Of course, we don't, we can't, you know.
So we'll, we'll work with the clerk's office to look at, to
receive the notes from this discussion.
And that will help inform the next steps with the RFP
negotiations for the scope of work, which will come back to
the council for approval.
With that, I would like to second this item.
Council member Brown.
No.
Council member Bono.
Yes.
Council member Jimenez.
Yes.
Council member Wilson.
Yes.
Vice mayor Robinson.
Yes.
Council members of Pader.
Yes.
And mayor Martinez.
I would love to see the whole budget looked at this way.
No.
The motion passes with council member Brown and mayor
Martinez voting no.
Mayor.
Mayor, I would like to propose that the, I don't, I don't
think we are going to have time to discuss it tonight.
And if we can move it to the next agenda and be the first
one, I would really appreciate that.
Will that be okay?
Yes.
Okay.
Thank you.
So item Q5 is continued to May 5th.
May 5th?
May 5th.
And it will be the first agenda item to discuss.
Thank you.
Okay.
Our next item is item Q4.
And that item.
Hold on one second, please.
Is to direct staff to work with Pullman Neighborhood
Council to explore acquisition of parcel number APN 513-025
-001-1 comprising a vacant lot at South 27th Street and
Florida Avenue to evaluate feasibility, funding
opportunities,
and development pathways to establish and develop a
neighborhood park that serves Pullman families and to
return to the City Council with recommendations and a
proposed timeline within 90 days.
We have five in-person speakers.
If there's anyone joining us online that would like to
address the Council on this item, please raise your hand at
this time.
If I could, Mr. Mayor, can I speak on this item?
Yes.
Got the item from your camp.
Yeah, please.
Great.
So I'm really excited to bring forward this item.
Pullman Neighborhood Council is one of the councils in my
district.
You know, I meet with them regularly, have for a long time,
and one of the issues that their beautification committee
has been dealing with for over 20 years.
Let me say that again.
For over 20 years is wanting a park for the kids that live
in this neighborhood because there is no park.
Not only is there no park for a neighborhood that has 9,000
residents, 25% of them are under the age of 18, but this
neighborhood is bound by three very dangerous roads.
Cutting Boulevard moves very fast.
Carlson Boulevard, one of the most dangerous roads that we
have in Richmond, most fatalities.
And then the BART tracks on their northern side.
And then 37th Street, which is also a pretty fast street.
People drive pretty fast.
So it's locked in.
So if any kid wanted to walk to any of the closest parks,
which would be Borman Park, which is over Carlson and over
the railway tracks, again, where many people get killed on
that railway track, and that park is actually closed right
now because it's being reconstructed, they would have to
venture across very, very dangerous roads to get there.
The other park is nickel park.
The other park is nickel park.
They would have to go all the way down to the overpass at
many, many blocks down.
You know, something that's not super safe for a child or
walk all the way around the BART tracks and up, you know,
up the road, like over a mile to get to a park.
Or across 37th Street again, which is a very fast street,
and it's on the edge of the community.
This has been something that has been a need for a really
long time.
It's one of those things that not having a district
representative and the city council has made it so that no
one was to speak.
No one was here before to speak for this lack of park space
, to speak for the community and advocate for it.
So I feel really honored to be able to bring this forward
and to request tonight that we just look into this.
So this particular parcel, the way I first actually came to
know about this parcel is because I was getting lots of
calls because there are many, many incidents of people who
are unhoused
living in this parcel, around this parcel, parking, having
lots of human waste packed on the sidewalk around this
parcel.
This parcel has been just a sore spot in the community for
a very, very long time.
It's been a hard story.
We've had to work with lots of people to try to find them
other housing at this particular location.
So not only do they not have a park, not only do they have
one of the densest populations of young people, people
under 18, not only are they barred in by very dangerous
roads.
So in order to get to any other park, they have to take
their lives into their own hands.
But the place that they have that's very open, it's
actually two parcels, has been plagued by dumping by all
kinds of other activities that have just really just plag
ued the neighborhood.
And the solution that Miss Naomi has been bringing forward
for over 20 years is we should make it into a park.
So I took some time and I found the parcel and the parcel
numbers and I shared that with the city and came to a point
where in order to look any further into what steps might
even be possible, we need council support in order to do
anything else.
So I want to make it clear tonight that I'm not asking for
the allocation of any funds to make any acquisitions.
I'm not asking for the allocation of any funds to build any
parks.
What I'm asking for is the first step to consider this
location and to examine what it would take to make this a
city park so we can understand what the steps might be and
what staff might recommend in order to move this project
forward over time.
That's what I'm asking for tonight.
Asking for a pathway forward, what that pathway might look
like.
And that in order whether or not we would actually move
forward on that pathway would be a decision of this council
that would happen at a later date.
So I wanted to just say all of that and then move on to
public comment.
Do we have any public speakers?
Yes, we do.
We have five in-person speakers.
Speakers are Cordell Hendler, Clarita Griffin, Mary Stewart
, Jonas Julen, and Naomi Williams.
So good evening, Mayor Martinez, council.
For the record, I am Cordell Hendler and I'm a member of
the Park Plaza neighborhood council.
And thank you, Vice Mayor Robinson, for bringing this item
forward.
It's been over 20 years.
I pass through that parcel on a regular basis and it's like
it needs a park because there are a lot of school children
that would be perfect to go to these parks.
So I would say move this item so we can open up a clear
pathway, as I like to put it, open up a clear pathway.
So with that, I'll yield my time to the next person.
Clarita Griffin.
Thank you.
Good evening, Mayor Martinez and council.
Thank you for moving this agenda item.
Thank you, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson and Claudia Jimenez,
councilperson Claudia Jimenez, in sponsoring this agenda
item.
I'm Clarita Marie Griffin, vice president of the Pullman
Neighborhood Council.
I'll begin with, did you know predominantly white
neighborhoods have 44% more park acreage per person than
neighborhoods of color?
Did you know low income neighborhoods average 42% less park
space per person compared to high income neighborhoods?
And this is why we are here.
Because Pullman neighborhood falls in both categories.
We are grateful to stand by our Pullman Neighborhood
Council president, Ms. Naomi Williams.
Who has been advocating for decades that Pullman
neighborhood needs a park.
We are a diverse community of blue collar, low income, and
essential workers of all ages.
And Doria, you were spot on with the synopsis of the
obstacles that children have faced for decades in being
able to have fair access to the park.
A recent study showed urban parks are essential for public
health, from physical, mindfulness, nature, appreciation,
social, and cultural.
We ask to do the right thing and vote in favor of creating
a park in Pullman neighborhood in the name of fair and
equity for all.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Mary Stewart. Hello, council and mayor. I have been, I'm a
member of the Pullman
Neighborhood Council, former officer, but now not so much.
Since I bought my house 24 years ago,
I have watched the number of children in the street expand
exponentially, and it's many, many,
many more. They're playing ball in the street on my block,
and there's a lot of traffic. Now,
there is the closest park, but as the crow flies, is nickel
, but you have to go up these steep stairs,
you have to walk through these steep stairs, go over the
tracks and down the other side.
It's suboptimal at best, and I saw the lot that we were
talking about before. It seems like that's
more in the heart of where we live, so you don't have to
walk a mile to go to a park. There's way
too many kids out on the street. It's heck, it's heck of
dangerous. Anyway, I think it would be better
for them to have a park that they can walk to that's not so
far away, instead of playing soccer
in the street. Thank you for your time.
Our next speaker is Jonas Julen, and our last in-person
speaker will be Naomi Williams.
Jonas Julen: Hello, counsel. Jonas Julen, Pullman Neighbor
hood Council. It's not a secret. The U.S. has some of the
worst
health outcomes for the amount of money that we spend. Pre
ventable diseases in the U.S. are the worst
they've ever been. Mental health and suicides are crisis
levels. I'm not suggesting that this one park is going to
solve all of our problems,
but we know that human beings need access to the outside.
Even a newborn baby will not develop
certain metabolic functions without exposure to sun and
fresh air. So it's medicine. Kaiser and other
providers are prescribing time for outdoors. Saturday was a
fantastic park prescription day. Who went to that? Anybody?
Anybody go? Sweet. Yeah. It was amazing. And we know it. So
let's help reduce the swiping in Pullman. Let's help reduce
screen time in Pullman.
My niece and nephew call themselves screen-agers. Not
teenagers. Screen-agers. Let's help reduce the screen time
and the de-skilling of our kids.
We don't know what this park is going to be yet. We have no
idea. But let's encourage kids to play catch, kick a ball,
chase butterflies, lay in the grass, have a picnic, watch
the clouds, watch the sunset, look at stars, blow bubbles,
fly a kite, grow veggies, swing on a swing, slide on a
slide, climb a structure, throw a frisbee, play tag, roller
skate, skip, whatever.
Let's help parents reduce the screen time. It's not that
they don't want their kids to be on the screen, but they
don't have options. As we talked about, there's nowhere for
kids to go.
In our neighborhood. Unless they want to risk their life.
There's really only one green space left in the
neighborhood. It's kind of a no brainer.
You could say we need development. What would New York be
without Central Park? What would San Francisco be without
Golden Gate Park? It helps property values and it will make
the neighborhood more livable.
Nickel Parks Awesome, Marina Bay Parks Awesome, Pogo Parks
Awesome. Let's add Pullman Neighborhood Park. Your time has
expired. Medicine Cabinet. Thank you. Our last speaker is
Naomi Williams. Good evening everyone. Can you hear me?
Yeah. Come a little closer. What about
us? Oh, boy. Can you be here? There you go. Okay, that's
good. That's even much better. I can hear it, too. Okay.
The park is very important to us.
As members of the community and the rest of Richmond, it's
a community park, but it's for Pullman. I have been begging
for a park for over 20 years, as Dora said, and I haven't
gotten any help from anyone.
So now I'm glad that we are at least living on the south
side. You know what that part is. That's where they want to
throw everything they don't want.
And things that they do want to put it on the other side.
North, east, west, but not south. So now, this park is very
important to us.
And so, this is the members of the members of the members
of the Pullman neighborhood. We have meetings once every
other month. We changed the meeting days. So last election
time was in February.
That was our first meeting. That was our first meeting for
the year. And we had an election. And I'm now, no, I was
the only president in Pullman. But now I have a helper.
So we have a co-president, which makes sense, since I'm of
age, to retire. And that's what I think I'll do pretty soon
. Because not only of age, it's just that there's so much
work for us to do.
I hate to cut you off, but your time is expired.
Pardon me?
I hate to cut you off. Your time is expired.
Wait a minute.
I hated to do that.
I don't get to stand up here. But once every month, blue
moon. Now purple moon. But now we have help.
You know what? We will come to Pullman and listen to you.
You won't?
You won't?
I will.
What do you mean? This is business.
Yeah, we can do business there.
Oh, okay. I have help all over. I've been in different
positions. And I've had awards for all of them. But this
one, I don't know what we will do.
How you will do as city council. And we'll be very thankful
.
Mrs. Williams, I can assure you that you have 100% behind
you on this council.
Thank you.
Oh. Not up there, but behind us.
I'm sorry.
Okay. According to the mayor.
That's right.
I made a seven vote count. I need a seven count vote.
Okay.
I have help all over the city. I go all over the city. I
might be the president of the Pullman, but I'm in every,
almost every neighborhood. I have a lot of room to move
around. But now, because of my not so fast walker, I have
to take my time. So.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And I would like to thank some of my family for coming. Did
you, were you going to say something else to interrupt me
on my time?
No, it's past your time.
Oh, okay.
You know what? I'm going to make you stay late so we can do
our selfie.
Pardon me?
I'm going to make you stay late so we can do our selfie.
Wait a minute. Hold it.
I'm going to stay late anyway.
Okay. Well then.
Okay.
I know most of you guys up there on the podium. And you've
been very helpful to us. You have agreed and disagreed with
some of the things we say. But this is for the community.
So therefore, you need to be able to do our community.
You need to take a second vote or the third vote to change
something on that sheet that you guys always agree on and
disagree with each other. Maybe to say, okay, let's do this
for the neighborhood.
Okay.
Okay.
Thank you.
So satisfied.
That was our last speaker. Yes.
Thank you very much. And Naomi, we love you.
He said we love you.
Next speaker.
That's it.
That's it.
That's it. Okay.
I want to say that we have a lot of business to take care
of. And I know that all of us could wax endlessly on how
wonderful Naomi Williams is. And on how much of the
I WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE
OF. AND I KNOW THAT ALL OF US COULD WRAX ENDLESSLY ON HOW W
ONDERFUL NAOMI WILLIAMS IS AND HOW MUCH THIS PULMAN DISTRICT
NEEDS A PART. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE THE ONLY ONE TO THEIR
PULMAN DISTRICT.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. I JUST HAVE A QU
ICK QUESTION. MR. MAYOR IF I MAY. HAS THIS BEEN ITEMED BECAU
SE MS. DORIENSON ROBINSON. VICE MAYOR.
YEAH. VICE MAYOR ROBINSON IS THE LIAISON TO THE PARKS AND R
ECREATION. HAS THIS ITEM BEEN TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION
AND SUGGESTED BY THEM OR NOT? OVERALL I THINK IT'S AN EXC
ELLENT ITEM. WE SHOULD HAVE MORE PROPERTIES PURCHASED BY THE
CITY TURNED INTO PARKS.
OF COURSE. EXCELLENT IDEA. BUT JUST A QUESTION OF TECHNICAL
ITY. I WOULD LOVE TO GET A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PATHWAY
FORWARD FOR THIS PROJECT BEING CONSIDERED BY THE CITY.
AND A PART OF THAT RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE YOU KNOW WHAT'S
THE PATHWAY. WHO WE NEED TO BRING IT TO. WHAT WE'RE ASKING
FOR IS FOR THE CITY STAFF TO RECOMMEND A PATHWAY FORWARD.
AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE WHO WE WOULD NEED TO BRING IT IN FR
ONT OF. WHAT IS WHAT ARE THE STEPS?
AND RECOMMENDATIONS CAN COME FROM EITHER SIDE. THEY CAN
COME FROM THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION OR THEY CAN COME
FROM THE COUNCIL.
YEAH. SURE. I WAS JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT YOU KNOW SHE USUALLY RECOMMENTS.
YEAH. I MAKE A MOTION THAT YOU PASS THE SIDE. I MADE A MOT
ION. I NEED A SECOND.
I'M GOING TO SECOND THE MOTION. OKAY. HAVE A QUESTION? ALL
RIGHT.
THANK YOU. I'LL START OFF. MS. NAOMI, YOU'RE STANDING THERE
STILL. YOU MENTIONED YOU HAVE A SLOW WALKER.
I THINK YOU NEED A FASTER WALKER. SOMEBODY'S GOT TO KEEP UP
WITH YOU.
THERE WE GO. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ON ONE OF THOSE.
THE ELECTRIC GLIDE.
YEAH. BUT I WANT TO THANK THE VICE MAYOR BECAUSE MS. NAOMI,
AS LONG AS I HAVE KNOWN YOU, WE HAVE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT
THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.
AND IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS -- I KNOW YOU HAVE TALK
ED TO EVERY CANDIDATE THAT HAS EVER COME TO PULMAN.
AND IT'S NOT UNTIL WE HAD DISTRICT ELECTIONS THAT WE HEAR
YOU MORE, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE WERE AT LARGE, NOBODY CARED OR
SEEMED TO CARE ENOUGH TO DO SOMETHING.
AND EVERYONE KNOWS -- I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF DISTRICT ELEC
TIONS.
AND, AGAIN, THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE REASON WHY.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO INTO EVERY SINGLE CORNER OF OUR DISTR
ICTS AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE UPLIFTING EVERYONE TO
GETHER.
SO THIS IS A REALLY GREAT PROJECT.
I LOOK TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO WITH THIS
AREA AND OTHER AREAS AROUND PULMAN.
YOU NEED A LOT OF HELP THERE AND A LOT OF RESOURCES.
SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR COMM
UNITY.
EVEN WHEN IT SEEMED TO HAVE GONE TO DEAF EARS, YOU CONTINU
ED.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TON
IGHT AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU.
WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION?
YOU SAID YOU HAD A QUESTION.
AND SHE'S GOING TO GET A SLOW WALKER OR A FAST WALKER.
OH, MY GOD.
E-5, E-5.
OK.
COUNCILMEMBER WILSON.
YES.
SO I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING I ALSO WANT TO HAVE A PARK
IN PULMAN PARK.
AND I THINK BOTH COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON AND THE COMMUNITY
HAVE MADE AN INCREDIBLE PRESENTATION
OF EXACTLY WHY THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AND THEN THAT
THERE'S A NEED.
BUT SORT OF BUILDING ON THE IDEA OF MEETING RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM THE STAFF IN TERMS OF PATHS
IS THAT I DO HAVE A CONCERN THAT THERE MIGHT BE OTHER PARTS
.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARK MASTER PLAN, THERE'S A T
RIANGLE IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY BASICALLY
BEING BETWEEN THE TWO HIGHWAYS THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS
PARK DEFICIENT.
AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW
THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT'S 10 YEARS OLD
AND NOT MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, BUT IT DOES LAY OUT
THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE LOOK AT THIS WHOLE SORT OF CORID
OR
-- IT'S KIND OF THE CENTRAL CORIDOR OF THE CITY, WHICH IS
PARK DEFICIENT -- AND FIND WAYS TO OBTAIN SURPLUS LAND
IN ORDER TO CREATE NEW PARKS.
AND IT TALKS ABOUT DOING AN INVENTORY.
AND SO I'M NOT LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SLOW DOWN THE DEVELOPM
ENT OF A PARK AT PULMAN PARK,
BUT I WOULD SORT OF LIKE TO YES AND THIS AND SAY IS THERE A
WAY THAT WE CAN USE THE ENERGY --
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A BUDGET CONVERSATION, BUT I'D
LIKE TO SORT OF LEAST START IT OFF HERE --
IS THAT, YES, WE SHOULD HAVE A NEW PARK OR WE SHOULD EXPL
ORE WHETHER WE CAN HAVE A NEW PARK IN PULMAN,
BUT CAN WE ALSO START A PROCESS THAT EXPLORES TO SEE IF
THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES?
AND I REALIZE, LIKE FROM THE LITTLE I'VE LEARNED ABOUT IT,
THERE MIGHT NOT BE -- LIKE THERE'S PLACES WHICH NEED PARKS
BUT DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE VACANT LAND.
AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF STAFF ATTEN
TION TOWARDS LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW,
YOU KNOW, THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THAT CENTER OF THE CITY THAT
MIGHT ALSO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY.
SO I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS WITH THAT, LIKE, IS THERE
A WAY FOR ME TO, LIKE, ADDRESS MY CONCERNING BUDGET SEASON?
OR WHAT'S A PATH HERE THAT I CAN FOLLOW?
I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE -- FOR COUNCIL TO BRING
THAT UP.
WE -- WHEN WE PRESENT THE BUDGET, WE ALWAYS ASK THE COUNCIL
, WE ESSENTIALLY DEVELOP A CHECKLIST,
AND THEN WE AGGREGATE THOSE ITEMS OVER THE SERIES OF MEET
INGS, AND THEN WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE THEM
AND FOLD THEM INTO THE BUDGET. AND THERE'S ALSO AN EXISTING
LIST.
AND MAYBE COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON WOULD WANT TO SPEAK TO
THAT.
I THINK THAT OUR PARKS AND LANDSCAPING TEAM, DARCY IN PART
ICULAR, IS VERY INTERESTED IN UPDATING THE PARKS MASTER PLAN
.
AND A PART OF THAT COULD BE, SHOULD BE, IDENTIFYING OPPORT
UNITIES FOR NEW PARKS AND DEFINING WHAT PARKS WOULD BE A P
ART OF OUR SYSTEM OF PARKS.
I THINK THAT WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN GET
THERE, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF STAFFING AND OTHER ISSUES WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT TO DEAL WITH BEFORE WE TAKE ON AN UPDATE OF
THE MASTER PLAN.
BUT AS YOU SAY, IN THE MASTER PLAN IT ALREADY CALLS FOR
WHAT I'M ASKING FOR US TO START EXPLORING TONIGHT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF WE BRING THE PARKS MASTER PLAN FORW
ARD ON THE SCHEDULE THAT WORKS FOR STAFF, AND INCLUDE IN
THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK THAT WE CAN GET
YOUR ANSWER AS WELL.
SO.
COUNCILMEMBER GIMENES?
THANK YOU.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT CO-SPONSORING THIS.
THANK YOU, DORIA.
WHEN SHE CALLED ME AND SAID, WILL YOU CO-SPONSOR?
AND I SAID YES.
I WAS SAYING, BUT ARE WE GOING TO JUMP THE LINE?
AND SHE WAS LIKE, NO, THIS IS A PROCESS.
SO I THINK WHAT I WANT IS THAT PROCESS.
AND I THINK WHAT I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER WILSON
THAT THERE IS -- I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE BRINGING THIS
TONIGHT, BECAUSE IT STARTED TO OPEN THAT CONVERSATION BECAU
SE A LOT OF THIS TRIANGLE IS IN THE CENTRAL AREA,
DISTRICT ONE, DISTRICT THREE, PART OF SOUTH SIDE, DISTRICT
FIVE.
AND SO IT'S ALL THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ALSO DON'T HAVE EN
OUGH GREEN SPACE OR PARKS TO DO THAT.
SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WITH THIS FIRST STEP, I
AM HOPING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I HOPE THAT COUNCILMEMBER ROBINSON CHAMPIONED THAT AS W
ELL WITH -- IN COLLABORATION WITH
COUNCILMEMBER WILSON SO WE CAN HAVE THIS PROCESS SO OTHER
COMMUNITIES LIKE PULLEMAN GET INTO THE
CONDITIONS TO REALLY START HAVING ADEQUATE SPACES FOR RECRE
ATION.
SO THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE?
NO?
WELL, I GUESS I'LL GET INTO THE FLOW OF THINGS.
I WAS REALLY HOPING THAT WE COULD JUST VOTE ON THIS.
I THINK THE IDEAS THAT'S COME UP ARE IDEAS THAT WE NEED TO
CONSIDER.
I JUST -- I'VE BEEN BY THAT MANY TIMES.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN THERE WAS TRASH.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN THERE WERE HOMELESS PEOPLE ENCAMPED IN
THEIR CARS AROUND THE STREET.
I'VE HELPED TO MOVE THOSE CARS AND CLEAN UP THE TRASH.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
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I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
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I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
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I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
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I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
THE REASON I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
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I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
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I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
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I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
AS A RECAP OF THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION,
THE PORT WAS SEEKING APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT
WITH LIFTEC CONSULTANTS FOR PLANNING AND DESIGN SERVICES
FOR THE RELOCATION OF THE RED OAK VICTORY.
THE PORT HAD COMPLETED AN RFP WITH THE FOLLOWING WORK DIREC
TIVE:
COMPLETE AN EXISTING CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT,
COMPLETE COST ANALYSIS AND VALUE ENGINEERING
TO IDENTIFY THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE RELOCATION AND WHARF
CONSTRUCTION OPTION,
COMPLETE A PERMITTING PATHWAY ANALYSIS,
AND COMPLETE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING TO THE 15% DESIGN LE
VEL
TO SUPPORT PREPARATION OF A CEQA COMPLIANCE APPLICATION.
IN CLOSING THE FEBRUARY 3RD PRESENTATION,
MAYOR MARTINEZ HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE SHIP AND OVER SHIPYARD NUM
BER THREE.
THE MAYOR HAD MADE A MOTION THAT WE RETURN WITH NPS
REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THEIR AUTHORITY OVER THE SHIP
AND THE HISTORIC ASSETS
IN SHIPYARD NUMBER THREE.
AND SO THE QUESTIONS WERE HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTH
ORITY DOES NPS HAVE,
AND DO THE PORT AND CITY HAVE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS
ON MOVING THE SHIP FORWARD.
SO OUR PARTNERS HERE FROM NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WILL PRES
ENT INFORMATION
ON THEIR POSITIONING AND THE HISTORY OF THEIR ENGAGEMENT
WITHIN SHIP YARD NUMBER THREE OR
POINT PATRERO MORINE TERMINAL.
I'LL JUST REITERATE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FUNDING IS
NOT ON THE TABLE TO BUILD THIS FACILITY.
WE'RE IN EXPLORATORY STAGE REGARDING WHAT THE COST, THE CO
ST AND CONSIDERATIONS WOULD BE.
THE STUDY BY LIFTEC WILL GIVE A CLEAR PICTURE TO THE PARTI
ES INVOLVED REGARDING THOSE COSTS
AND THE EFFORT NEEDED.
AND ONE FINAL COMMENT BEFORE I HAND IT OVER IS THE PORT EN
TERPRISE,
THIS IS A PORT ENTERPRISE FUND PROJECT.
IT'S NOT A GENERAL FUND PROJECT.
SO AS SOON AS WE GET THE PRESENTATION UP, WE CAN, WE'LL GET
STARTED.
I'M GOING TO GET A LITTLE DIFFICULT.
BOTH OF OUR COMPUTERS ARE NOT BRINGING UP THE POWERFUL.
IT LOOKS LIKE I CAN'T RID UP ANYTHING FROM THESE COMPUTERS
FOR SOME REASON.
I CAN'T BRING UP TWO, TWO.
DOES THIS GO FROM HERE TO THE OTHER PANELS?
THAT LOOKS LIKE IT.
I'M GOING TO GET A LITTLE DIFFICULT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR MARTINEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TONIGHT.
AS MR. GARAGE SAID, I'M ELANE JACKSON ROTONDO, ACTING SUPER
INTENDENT OF ROSIE THE RIVERTER,
WORLD WAR II HOMEFRONT NATIONAL STORIC PARK.
I'M HERE TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND ON OUR PARTNERSHIP, HOW
IT WAS ESTABLISHED, HOW IT WORKS,
AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE TOGETHER.
WITH AN EMPHASIS ON QUESTIONS CURRENTLY BEFORE THE COUNCIL
REGARDING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR HISTORIC SHIPYARD NUMBER THREE AND THE SS REDOAK VICTOR
Y.
ALSO JOINING ME, AS MR. GARAGE SAID, IS ISABELLE ZIEGLER,
OUR LEAD FOR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING.
TONIGHT WE WILL ADDRESS FIVE QUESTIONS THAT CAME FROM CON
VERSATIONS WITH PORT STAFF
AND REFLECT AREAS WHERE SOME CLARITY WOULD BE HELPFUL.
WE'LL COVER HOW THE PARK WAS ESTABLISHED, THE BENEFITS IT
PROVIDES, WHAT THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT
PLAN DIRECTS, NPS'S PREFERENCE REGARDING THE REDOAK VICTORY
'S LOCATION, AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT.
OUR GOAL IS TO GIVE YOU THE FOUNDATION YOU NEED AS YOU CONS
IDER FUTURE DECISIONS ABOUT THE HISTORIC
ASSETS UNDER YOUR STEWARDSHIP.
LET'S GET STARTED WITH HOW WE GOT HERE.
IN 1998, CONGRESS AUTHORIZED A FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT CONCL
UDED RICHMOND'S WORLD WAR II RESOURCES
ARE NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT AND THAT, QUOTE, RICHMOND OFFERS
THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR A CIVILIAN
VERSUS A MILITARY HOMEFRONT SITE IN THE PACIFIC COAST STAT
ES AND MAYBE THE MOST LOGICAL SITE NATIONALLY.
THE STUDY SPECIFICALLY CITED RICHMOND'S CRITICAL MASS OF
INTACT HISTORIC STRUCTURES,
MOST OF WHICH WERE, QUOTE, IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP AND ACCESSI
BLE.
AND THE STUDY EMPHASIZED THAT THE CITY OF RICHMOND IS VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE POTENTIAL DESIGNATION OF A NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE UNIT
AND IS WILLING TO COMMIT TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE.
TWO YEARS LATER, PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED PUBLIC LAW 106-35
2, ESTABLISHING THIS HISTORICAL PARK.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW KEY PROVISIONS OF THE LAW BECAUSE
THEY DEFINE THE NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.
FIRST, THE STATUTE REQUIRES THAT THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PL
AN BE JOINTLY DEVELOPED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY.
THIS IS A SHARED VISION. SECOND, NPS, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
, IS AUTHORIZED TO ENTER INTO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR
INTERPRETATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
THAT IS OUR CORE ROLE. THE LEGISLATION ALSO AUTHORIZES THE
ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN HISTORIC PROPERTIES FROM WILLING S
ELLERS.
BUT, AND THIRDLY, THE STATUTE PROHIBITS NATIONAL PARK SERV
ICE FROM SPENDING APPROPRIATED FUNDS ON THE STATUTE.
THE STATUTE IS NOT IN THE STATUTE. THE STATUTE IS NOT IN
THE STATUTE.
THE STATUTE IS NOT IN THE STATUTE. THE STATUTE IS NOT FEASI
BLE FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO ACQUIRE, MANAGE AND OR
RETAIN THE MASSIVE SHARES.
THE STATUTE IS NOT FEASIBLE FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
TO ACQUIRE, MANAGE AND OR RETAIN THE MASSIVE SHARES.
THE STATUTE IS NOT IN THE STATUTE ITSELF. THE FEASIBILITY
STUDY MADE IT CLEAR THAT, QUOTE, IT IS NOT FEASIBLE FOR THE
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO ACQUIRE, MANAGE AND OR RETAIN THE
MASSIVE STRUCTURES, NOR THE OPEN SPACES, PARKS, TRAILS, AND
MEMORIALS.
THE ENTIRE PARK MODEL REST ON THE PREMISE THAT, QUOTE, A P
ARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND THE CITY OF
RICHMOND AND PRIVATE DEVELOPERS CAN PRESERVE THE AREA TO SU
PPORT THIS DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
BEFORE THE PARK WAS EVEN ESTABLISHED, RICHMOND HAD TAKEN AC
TION.
IN 1997, THIS COUNCIL AUTHORIZED PURSUIT OF NATIONAL REGIS
TER AND CALIFORNIA LANDMARK STATUS FOR SHIPYARD NUMBER THREE
.
BY 2000, SHIPYARD NUMBER THREE WAS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL
REGISTER AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT, WAS DESIGNATED CALIFORNIA
HISTORICAL LANDMARK 1032,
AND INCORPORATED AS A CORE RESOURCE OF THE NEW NATIONAL H
ISTORICAL PARK.
THESE DESIGNATIONS REFLECT RICHMOND'S LEADERSHIP IN ACHIEV
ING HISTORIC PRESERVATION GOALS.
OVER MORE THAN 25 YEARS, THE COUNCIL HAS PASSED A SERIES OF
RESOLUTIONS REINFORCING THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE PARK
AND TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
I WON'T READ ALL OF THESE, BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW.
RESOLUTIONS 46A-00 AND 64-00 DIRECTED THAT SHIPYARD NUMBER
THREE DEVELOPMENT BE COMPATIBLE WITH PRESERVATION AND PUBL
IC ACCESS.
RESOLUTION 100-07 DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO PURSUE ADAP
TIVE REUSE OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THE GMP
AND CITED THE CITY'S OBLIGATION TO PREVENT DEMOLITION BY NE
GLECT UNDER MINUSIPAL CODE 6.02.
AND MOST RECENTLY RESOLUTION 73-19 APPROVED OUR MOST RECENT
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WH
ICH IS DUE FOR RENEWAL.
THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN 2030 GOES EVEN FURTHER.
ELEMENT 15 COMMITS THE CITY TO FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NAT
IONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND DESIGNATES SHIPYARD NUMBER THREE
AS A CATALYTIC PROJECT.
THIS IS A REMARKABLE RECORD OF SUSTAINED COMMITMENT.
SO WHAT HAS THAT COMMITMENT PRODUCED?
NATIONAL PARKS ARE ECONOMIC ENGINES. VISITORS SPEND MONEY
AT LOCAL BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND RETAIL.
OUR MOST RECENT DATA SHOWS $3.3 MILLION IN ECONOMIC OUTPUT
IN THE LOCAL GATEWAY OF COMMUNITY.
THAT'S THE COMBINED DIRECT AND SECONDARY EFFECTS OF PARK
VISITATION.
BY THE NUMBERS, NATIONAL PARK STATUS HELPS MAKE RICHMOND A
DESTINATION.
IT ATTRACTS INVESTMENT, SUPPORTS ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECTS
AND CREATES JOBS IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY.
BUT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT ECONOMICS.
SHIPYARD NUMBER THREE IS THE ONLY SURVIVING KISER SHIPYARD
THAT RETAINS -- THAT REMAINS INTACT.
THE OTHER ONES HERE AND IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON WERE EITH
ER DEMOLISHED, LIQUIDATED, OR CONVERTED TO MODERN INDUSTRIAL
USES.
SO RICHMOND OWNS THE ONLY ONE WHERE YOU CAN STILL SEE THE
BUILDINGS, BASINS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT TELL THE STORY
OF WARTIME SHIP-BUILDING.
IT'S A NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT EMBODYMENT OF AMERICAN INDUST
RIAL ACHIEVEMENT AND THE DIVERSE WORKFORCE THAT MADE IT POS
SIBLE.
AND IT, ALONG WITH OTHER WORLD WAR II-ERA BUILDINGS IN TOWN
, IS WHY THE NATIONAL PARK WAS ESTABLISHED HERE.
FOR RESIDENTS, THIS IS ABOUT IDENTITY, KNOWING THAT OUR C
ITY PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN ONE OF THE DEFINING CHAPTERS IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
ISABELLE WANEL TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN, OUR
SHARED VISION, AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY DIRECTS.
IN 2009, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE -- THE NATIONAL PARK SER
VICE AND THE CITY JOINTLY ADOPTED ALTERNATIVE B OF THE GENER
AL MANAGEMENT PLAN.
THIS COUNCIL CONCURRED THROUGH RESOLUTION 25-09.
ALTERNATIVE B DEFINES SHIPYARD NUMBER 3 AS A HISTORIC ENGAG
EMENT AREA, A PLACE WHERE VISITORS CAN EXPLORE WORLD WAR II
SITES AND STRUCTURES TO EXPERIENCE THE SCALE AND COMPLEXITY
OF THE HOMEFRONT STORY.
THE PLAN DIRECTS THAT HISTORIC STRUCTURES BE MANAGED TO RET
AIN THEIR WORLD WAR II-ERA APPEARANCE.
SOME INTERIORS MAY BE REHABILITATED FOR INTERPRETATION, OTH
ERS CONTINUE CONTEMPORARY USES, BALANCING BOTH PRESERVATION
AND ECONOMIC USE.
THE GMP SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THE RED OAK VICTORY.
ALTERNATIVE B RETAINS THE SHIP AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION AND
HIGHLIGHTS ITS ROLE IN CONVEYING THE SCALE AND SIGNIFICANCE
OF WARTIME SHIP BUILDING.
IMPORTANTLY, THE SHIP IS NOT A STAND-ALONE ARTIFACT.
IT IS PART OF THE HISTORIC ENSEMBLE.
THE VESSEL, THE BUILDINGS, THE BASINS, THE WORLD WAR II SH
IP BUILDING, TOGETHER THEY CONVEY THE AUTHENTIC SETTING OF
WORLD WAR II SHIP BUILDING.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS SITE SO POWERFUL.
SEPARATED FROM CONTEXT, THE SHIP TELLS A SMALLER STORY.
SO WHAT IS THE NATIONAL PARK'S POSITION ON THE SHIP'S LOC
ATION?
NPS HAS AN INTERPRETERTIVE PREFERENCE GROUNDED IN THE GMP
AND THE CITY'S GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SHIP TO REMA
IN AT SHIP YARD NUMBER THREE.
THE RATIONALE IS STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THE CURRENT LOCATION OF THE SHIP PROVIDES AUTHENTIC CONTEXT
.
VISITORS EXPERIENCE A REAL WORLD WAR II SHIP YARD SETTING,
NOT A SHIP IN ISOLATION.
WE REMAIN INTERESTED IN CONTINUED PURSUANT OF GENERAL PLAN
POLICY, NP 1.2, WHICH CALLS FOR EXPANDING TRANSPORTATION OP
TIONS AND PRIORITIZING ACCESS BY TRANSIT, BICYCLING AND WALK
ING.
BUT WE WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT OUR AUTHORITY.
NPS CAN EXPRESS A PREFERENCE.
WE CANNOT, HOWEVER, DIRECT PHYSICAL MANAGEMENT OR RELOC
ATION.
THAT AUTHORITY REST WITH THE CITY AND THE RICHMOND MUSEUM
ASSOCIATION AS OWNERS.
THANK YOU.
WHICH BRINGS US TO THE CORE QUESTION THAT ELANE WILL ANSWER
.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT?
THANKS, ISABELLE.
HERE'S THE DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE CITY AND PORT OWN SHIP YARD NUMBER THREE ASSETS.
THAT MEANS PRIMARY STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITY REST WITH YOU
.
INCLUDING THE OBLIGATION UNDER MUNICIPAL CODE 6.02 TO PREV
ENT DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT.
ENSURING DEVELOPMENT IS COMPATIBLE WITH HISTORIC PRESERV
ATION, MAINTAINING PUBLIC ACCESS,
AND IMPLEMENTING THE GMP COMMITMENTS MADE THROUGH COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS.
NPS PROVIDES INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSIST
ANCE ON PRESERVATION,
JOINT PLANNING WITHIN THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FRAMEWORK,
AND COLLABORATION ON GMP IMPLEMENTATION.
WE ARE ALSO A CONSULTING PARTY WHEN FEDERAL UNDERTAKINGS A
FFECT THE SITE.
AND AGAIN, NPS MAY NOT SPEND APPROPRIATED FUNDS TO OPERATE,
MAINTAIN,
OR PRESERVE THE RET OF VICTORY.
THAT IS STATUTORY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT SEC
TION 106 OF THE NATIONAL STORIC PRESERVATION ACT,
AND IN GENERAL, WE REFER YOU TO CITY STAFF WITH EXPERTISE
AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA,
INCLUDING LEGAL COUNCIL, AS THEY WILL BE BEST SUITED TO HEL
P YOU NAVIGATE THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITIES
AND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS WHEN SECTION 106 IS INVOLVED.
BUT FOR A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW, I WILL SAY THAT SECTION 106
APPLIES WHEN THERE IS A FEDERAL UNDERTAKING,
SOMETHING FEDERALLY FUNDED, PERMITTED, LICENSED, OR NEEDS
APPROVAL.
WHEN IT APPLIES, THE FEDERAL AGENCY MUST IDENTIFY HISTORIC
PROPERTIES, ASSESS EFFECTS,
AND CONSULT WITH STAKEHOLDERS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE NAT
IONAL PARK SERVICE.
BUT SECTION 106 DOES NOT GIVE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE REGUL
ATORY AUTHORITY OVER CITY OWNED ASSETS.
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE CITY TO SEEK NPS APPROVAL FOR NON-F
EDERAL ACTIONS.
LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS.
FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY, THE CITY OF RICHMOND AND
THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAVE BEEN PARTNERS IN
PRESERVING THIS NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPE AND ENSUR
ING THE PUBLIC CAN EXPERIENCE THE WORLD WAR II HOMEFRONT ST
ORY.
THAT PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN BUILT ON SHARED COMMITMENTS, COMM
ITMENTS MADE BY PRIOR COUNCILS AND HONORED BY SUBSEQUENT ON
ES.
PART OF THE CURRENT TASK IS TO EVALUATE FUTURE ACTIONS IN
LIGHT OF THE PLANS AND AGREEMENTS WE'VE DEVELOPED IN THE F
EDERAL ACTIONS.
WE'VE DEVELOPED TOGETHER.
WE WELCOME ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTN
ERSHIP, INCLUDING EXECUTING A NEW COOPERTIVE MANAGEMENT AGRE
EMENT.
THANK YOU.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THERE'S JUST A COUPLE ADDITIONAL SLIDES THAT I'LL COVER AS
PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
JUST TO RECAP SOME OF THE QUESTIONS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, CAN THE PORT MOVE THE SHIP WITHOUT
THE RICHMOND MUSEUM ASSOCIATION'S CONSENT?
YES, THE ANSWER IS THE PORT CAN DECIDE TO MOVE THE SHIP.
AND TO RECAP IN THE CONTEXT OF THAT QUESTION, THERE'S THE P
ORT THAT IS LOOKING AFTER THIS.
THERE'S THE RICHMOND MUSEUM ASSOCIATION, WHO IS THE OWNER
OF THE SHIP.
AND WE'RE JOINED BY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
BUT THAT WAS A QUESTION RELATED TO THE RICHMOND MUSEUM ASSO
CIATION.
THERE WAS ANOTHER QUESTION.
"RMA WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS STUDY, BUT THEY WERE NOT SUPPOR
TIVE OF MOVING THE SHIP."
THAT WAS A QUESTION.
AND IN DISCUSSION WITH RMA, SIMILAR TO THE PORT, THEY WANT
TO UNDERSTAND THE COST AND EFFORT REQUIRED,
PERMITS AND THE PERMITTING PATHWAY, AND HOW THE SITE WOULD
BE DEVELOPED BEFORE MAKING
THAT DECISION.
SO I WOULDN'T SAY THAT RMA IS NOT SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING THE
SHIP.
THEY JUST HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION OR DETERMINATION.
WHAT WOULD THE TIME FRAME LOOK LIKE TO MOVE THE SHIP?
YOU KNOW, AT A HIGH LEVEL, WE ESTIMATE FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S NOT FIVE YEARS FROM TODAY.
THAT WOULD BE FIVE YEARS AFTER THE ANALYSIS DONE AND THE CO
ST ESTIMENT IS DONE.
AND THERE'S A DECISION, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY COLLECTIVELY,
ABOUT THE MOVE OF THE SHIP.
ONCE THOSE MILESTONES ARE MET, THEN IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A
FIVE-PLUS YEAR PROJECT.
THERE WAS ALSO A QUESTION JUST ABOUT THE COST-BENEFIT ANALY
SIS.
SO ONE COMMENT IS THE STUDY THAT WE WOULD UNDERTAKE WOULD
REALLY GIVE US THE COST SIDE OF THE ANALYSIS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
THE RED OAK VICTORY CREW, WHO IS A SUBSET OF THE RICHMOND M
USEUM ASSOCIATION, AND THE VOLUNTEERS THAT LOOK AFTER THE SH
IP, PROVIDED THIS ESTIMATE.
SO IN A NUTSHELL, THE CURRENT LOCATION, THROUGH THEIR REVEN
UE GENERATING ACTIVITIES, THEY'RE GETTING ABOUT $150,000 A
YEAR.
THEIR FORECAST, IF THE SHIP WAS IN THE FORD POINT LOCATION,
THEY WOULD GET UPWARDS OF CLOSE TO $1 MILLION A YEAR OR A
MILLION OR MORE.
AND THEN JUST AS REMINDER, THE COUNCIL REQUEST WAS TO APPRO
VE A CONTRACT WITH LIFTEC CONSULTANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $299,
797 FOR PLANNING AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF THE RELOCATION OF
THE RED OAK FOR A TERM ENDING JUNE 30, 2027.
I'LL PAUSE THERE.
DO WE HAVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS?
WE HAVE 12.
WE HAVE 12 IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ONLINE SPEAKERS.
OKAY.
SO WITH 12 SPEAKERS, THEY HAVE ONE MINUTE, BUT IF WE --
TWO MINUTES.
OH, TWO MINUTES.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
SPEAKERS ARE ROBERT BALL, GREG BLASQUEZ, MARK EPPERSON, MUR
PHY CAR, FRED CLINK, TOM LYONS, CHARLIE MORAN, ASEEL MALONEY
, MARK WASPER, CLIDIA CITRON, KIM ABBOTT, AND ALAN BURNS.
PLEASE LIGHT UP BEHIND THE SPEAKER'S PODIUM.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
ROBERT BALL.
PRESS THE BUTTON.
THERE YOU GO.
SPEAKER THE MIKE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMAN.
MY NAME IS ROBERT BALL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SAN RAFEL.
I'VE BEEN A CREW MEMBER ON THE RED OAK VICTORY FOR 24 YEARS
.
I WORK IN THE ENGINE ROOM DOING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WORK
.
THE ARGUMENT FOR KEEPING THE RED OAK WHERE IT IS IS SOMEWH
AT COMPELLING BUT IRRELEVANT.
IN A FEW YEARS THE RED OAK WILL NOT BE IN THE CURRENT LOC
ATION.
IT WILL EITHER BE MOVED TO A PLACE WHERE IT HAS GREATER PU
BLIC ACCESS, GREATER REVENUE,
AND MORE OPPORTUNITY TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS, OR IT WILL BE H
ALLED TO THE SCRAP YARD.
RIGHT NOW IN OUR CURRENT LOCATION, WITH OUR FUNDING AND PER
SONNEL, WE'RE ON A TRAJECTORY TO FAILURE.
PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS STUDY.
THANK YOU.
GREG BELASKES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS GREG BELASKES.
I'M THE CHIEF ENGINEER ON THE RED OAK VICTORY.
THIS IS MY 19TH YEAR ON THE SHIP.
AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THE SHIP IS IN PRETTY GOOD
SHAPE.
BUT WE'RE NOT GETTING THE EXPOSURE THAT WE SHOULD BE GETT
ING AT THE PRESENT DOC.
AND IT'S A FINANCIAL SITUATION, BASICALLY.
I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW THAT.
THAT WE DO MOVE THE SHIP TO ANOTHER LOCATION.
WE HAVE EXPOSURE TO THE PUBLIC.
AND WE WANT TO OPERATE OUR VESSEL IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY.
SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD VOTE YES ON THIS SUR
VEY SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST GET STARTED.
BECAUSE THIS IS THE VERY FIRST BEGINNING TO MOVE THE SHIP.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
THANKS FOR YOURSELF.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARK EPPERSON, FOLLOWED BY MURPHY CAR.
GOOD EVENING.
MAYOR MARTINEZ, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M MARK EPPERSON, THE DIRECTOR OF THE RED OAK VICTORY.
AND I'M HERE FOR ASKING YOUR SUPPORT TO FUND THE FEASIBIL
ITY STUDY, THE LIFT DEC,
SUBMITTED BY PORT DIRECTOR CHARLES DERRARD.
THE MOVE AND THE FEASIBILITY STUDY HAS SOME BROAD COMMUNITY
SUPPORT, SUPPORTED BY
CONGRESSMAN GARAMANDE, MAYOR MARTINEZ, AND CHARLES DERRARD,
PUTTING FORWARD THE STUDY TO SEE THE
FEASIBILITY COST OF MOVING THE RED OAK VICTORY FOR A NUMBER
OF GOOD REASONS.
THE RED OAK VICTORY HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED ITS VALUE AS A
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURIST
ASSET, GENERATING PRESS COVERAGE FROM OUTLETS INCLUDING THE
LOS ANGELES TIMES ON THE FRONT PAGE,
CBS NEWS FOR THE AMERICA'S 250TH ANNAVERSARY, THE BBC WORLD
NEWS, AND A PIECE SOON AIRING ON PBS
DURING THIS RECENT REVIVAL EFFORTS THAT WE DID LAST YEAR.
THIS LEVEL OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL ATTENTION POSITIONS
RICHMOND NOT ONLY AS A LOCAL DESTINATION,
BUT AS A GLOBALLY RELEVANT WORLD WAR II HERRITED SITE, ANCH
ORED BY THE LAST SURVIVING SHIP BUILT IN A HISTORIC
KISER SHIPYARDS. THIS SHIP PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN ATTRACT
ING CULTURAL TOURISM AND LINKING MULTIPLE HISTORIC
ASSETS ACROSS THE REGION. CONTINUED VISIBILITY AND INVESTM
ENT IN THE VESSEL DIRECTLY SUPPORTS LONG-TERM TOURISM GROWTH
,
WATER FRONT ACTIVATION AND HERITAGE PRESERVATION. WE NEED
TO CAPITALIZE
ON THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF BASICALLY GREAT PRESS THAT WE'VE H
AD, THE MEDIA COVERAGE.
PRESERVING AND STRENGTHENING THE RED OAK'S VICTORY ASSESS
AND PRESENCE IN RICHMOND ALIGNS WITH BOTH ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND THE CITY'S IDENTITY AS A CENTER OF AM
ERICAN HOMEFRONT HISTORY. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MURPHY CARR. HE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY FRED
CLINK.
I'M MURPHY CARR AND MARGIN, I HAVE THE STUFF. WHAT HE SAID
IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FRED CLINK. HE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY
TOM LYONS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M NOT HERE REPRES
ENTING MY
MYSELF. I'M HERE REPRESENTING 60 CREW MEMBERS WHO SIGNED A
PETITION OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF DAYS AND YOU ALL RECEIVED A COPY OF THAT, A DIGITAL COPY
OF THAT EARLIER TODAY.
AND THAT PETITION ASKED YOU TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT WITH LI
FTEC TO LOOK AT A PRELIMINARY
DESIGN FOR RELOCATION OF THE RED OAK VICTORY. THE REASON
THE RELOCATION IS SO IMPORTANT TO
ALL OF US WHO WORK ON THE SHIP AND UNDERSTAND THE DAILY O
PERATION OF THE SHIP IS PRIMARILY
FINANCIAL. AS PORT DIRECTOR GERARD MENTIONED, WE'RE LOOKING
AT ABOUT $150,000 INCOME IN OUR
PRESENT LOCATION IN SHIPYARD NUMBER 3. WE FEEL VERY CONFID
ENT THAT WE CAN DO CLOSE TO A
MILLION DOLLARS IN INCOME IF WE WERE TO MOVE TO THE NEW LOC
ATION AT FORT POINT. THE FORT POINT
LOCATION GIVES US MUCH BETTER PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY, MUCH
BETTER PUBLIC VISIBILITY AS FAR AS THE
ROSIE THE RIVER PARK, THE FERRY PASSENGERS, THE CRANEWAY P
APILION, THE FORT PLANT BUILDING, AND SO ON.
IT'S ALSO AN AREA WHICH IS SERVED BY AC TRANSIT WHICH OUR C
URRENT LOCATION IS NOT. THE NEW PIER AND THE
ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT PIER WILL
BE A MUCH MORE INVITING AND VISITOR-FRIENDLY
LOCATION THAN THE CURRENT SHIPYARD NUMBER 3 IS. AND SO I
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE
CREW MEMBERS WHO SIGNED THIS PETITION. AND I WANT TO CLOSE
BY SAYING THAT THESE CREW MEMBERS PUT IN LAST
YEAR ALONE, 2025 ALONE, 15,000 HOURS ALL DONATED, NO PAID
STAFF AT THE ROADOAK VICTORY, 15,000 HOURS.
YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.
TO MAKE THE SHIP A VIABLE ATTRACTION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TOM LYONS, FOLLOWED BY CHAR
LIE MORAN.
GOOD EVENING. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
TOM LYONS. I'M A RESIDENT, SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TONIGHT, A BOARD MEM
BER OF THE RICHMOND MUSEUM ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN VOT
ING YES ON THE FEASIBILITY STUDY TO
RELOCATE THE SS RED OAK VICTORY. THE SHIP IS NOT JUST A REL
IC OF THE PAST. IT IS THE LAST
REMAINING VESSEL BUILT RIGHT HERE IN RICHMOND DURING WORLD
WAR II. IT STANDS AS A POWERFUL SYMBOL OF OUR
CITY'S HISTORY, RESILIENCE, AND COLLECTIVE SPIRIT THAT PUT
RICHMOND ON THE MAP DURING THE DEFINING
MOMENT IN THE NATION'S HISTORY. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE
RES -- THE SS RED OAK
VICTORY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT HISTORY, IT IS ABOUT COMMUNITY.
EVERY YEAR THE SHIP SERVES AS A GATHERING
PLACE FOR RESIDENTS, FAMILIES, VETERANS, AND VISITORS. IT H
OST EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH,
OFFERING HANDS ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT BRINGS HISTORY
TO LIFE IN A WAY NO TEXTBOOK CAN. IT INSPIRES
CURIOUSITY, PRIDE, AND CONNECTION, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEO
PLE WHO DESERVE TO SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF A
LARGER STORY. LOCATION IS CRITICAL TO THE SHIP'S LONG-TERM
SUCCESS. THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL HELP DETERMINE THE
IMPACT OF RELOCATING THE RED OAK TO A HIGHER TRAFFIC AREA,
NEAR THE FERRY TERMINAL AND WITHIN STEPS OF THE
ROSIE THE RIVETER WORLD WAR II HOMEFRONT NATIONAL HISTORIC
PARK. THAT PROXIMITY WOULD BE A MEANINGFUL
UPGRADE PLACING THE SHIP ALONGSIDE ONE OF RICHMOND'S MOST
VISITED DESTINATIONS AND INCREASING ACCESS,
VISIBILITY, AND COMMUNITY USE. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS
THAT THESE FUNDS COULD BE USED MORE DIRECTLY TO
ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEEDS. THAT CONCERN IS VALID. BUT THIS IN
VESTMENT IS NOT IN OPPOSITION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS AN INVESTMENT INTO IT. THIS STUDY IS ABOUT ENSURING
THAT WE STRENGTHEN A RESOURCE THAT
ALREADY GIVES BACK TO RICHMOND IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. BY SUPP
ORTING THIS EVENT -- THIS EFFORT --
YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. PLEASE ZOE, YES.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARLIE MORAN. FOLLOWED BY ASIL -- ASIL MAL
ONEY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY N
AME IS CHARLIE MORAN. I'M A VOLUNTEER ON THE RED OAK VICTORY
.
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE RELOC
ATION OF THE SS RED OAK VICTORY AND ITS
CURRENT ISOLATED POSITION AT BASIN V TO A NEW HOME DIRECTLY
ADJACENT TO ROSIE THE RIVITER'S
WORLD WAR II HOME FRONT NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK. THE RED O
AK VICTORY IS NOT JUST A BOAT.
IT'S A MONUMENT TO RICHMOND'S LEGACY. BUILT RIGHT HERE AT
THE KISER SHIPYARD, IT IS ONE OF
ONLY THREE VICTORY SHIPS LEFT IN THE WORLD AND THE ONLY ONE
THAT SURVIVED OF THE 747 BUILT IN RICHMOND.
HOWEVER, TUCKED AWAY AT THE END OF CANAL BOULEVARD, THIS T
REASURE IS OFTEN MISSED BY THE VERY PEOPLE
COMING TO CELEBRATE THE CITY'S HISTORY. RELOCATING THE SHIP
TO THE ROSIE THE RIVITER MUSEUM
CREATES A HOME FRONT CAMPUS THAT MAKES SENSE FOR FOUR KEY
REASONS. FIRST, ECONOMIC GROWTH.
BY PLACING THE SHIP WHERE THE TOURISTS ALREADY ARE, WE SEE
A MASSIVE INCREASE IN FOOT TRAFFIC
FOR BOTH MUSEUMS. WHEN THE MUSEUMS THRIVE TOGETHER, THEY
PROFIT TOGETHER, ENSURING THE LONG-TERM STABILITY
OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS. SECOND, PRESERVATION. AS ONE OF
THE LAST THREE OF ITS KIND, THE SHIP
IS A FRAGILE PIECE OF GLOBAL HISTORY. BRINGING IT TO A HIGH
VISIBILITY, HIGH TRAFFIC AREA
ENSUES THAT MORE PEOPLE VALUES ITS EXISTENCE, MAKING IT EAS
IER TO SECURE THE GRANTS AND DONATIONS
NEEDED FOR ITS UPKEY. THIRD, CIVIC PRIDE. THE REDWOKE VIC
TORY BELONGS NEXT TO THE MUSEUM
THAT TELLS THE STORY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO BUILT HER,
WHO COMPLETED THE NARRATIVE OF THE
HOME FRONT WAY. ANYWAY, MOVING A VICTORY SHIP WILL BE A WIN
FOR RICHMOND'S HISTORY, A WIN
FOR RICHMOND'S TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND A WIN FOR THE CITY'S B
OTTOM LINE. THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS OSIL MALONEY, FOLLOWED BY MARK WASZBERG
. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS OSIL MALONEY. I'VE BEEN WITH THE SHIP FOR 13 YE
ARS. I'VE BEEN IN THE ENGINE
ROOM FOR 11. THANKS TO CHIEF ENGINEER GREG BLASKES AND
ROBERT BALL AND CHARLIE. I TRAINED WITH
THEM. IT TOOK ME FIVE YEARS TO GET MY FIREMEN AND WATER T
ENDER AND OILER ENDORSEMENTS. IF THE VESSEL
WAS A RUNNING VESSEL, IT WOULD HAVE ONLY TAKEN ME SIX MONTH
S. SO I'M PROUD TO TELL YOU I'M THE ONLY
WOMAN THAT HAS A MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL AND A FIREMEN
AND WATER TENDER AND OILER ENDORSEMENT.
AND SO WE NEED TO GET THE SHIP RUNNING TO HAVE THE TRAINED
MARINERS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A SUCCESSION PLAN TO
THEM. I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THESE VESSELS RUNNING.
RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE THE JEREMIA O'BRYAN LIBERTY SHIP
got the ship running for the first time in 50 years up at V
allejo.
Robert Ball and myself, we were in tears when we saw the
chief engineer
light off that port boiler for the first time and get it
certified.
This is so important for so many reasons that have already
been identified.
And thank you so much for your support.
And we appreciate if you could please come for a visit and
come to our pancake breakfast.
And we would just be thrilled to serve you a mimosa,
Charlie and I.
Thank you.
Mark Waspert.
Allaby, Claudia Citroen.
If it wasn't for these ships, we'd be speaking Japanese and
German.
It shows you the power of the American might and the
military that we defeated the Japs and the Germans.
I said, my father sailed those ships from 1941 to 1947.
We went to all the major campaigns, the Philippines and in
Europe.
I said, this is American treasure.
I said, when I look at that Liberty ship, I see the power
of one of the most strongest militaries in the world.
We'll defeat anybody.
Now we're defeating Iran.
We're defeating terrorism and hate.
And this city council should do everything to support this
ship.
This ship should be a place where people can see from
generations to come.
And it's a great thing that this ship was built here in
Richmond.
Actually, the fastest Liberty ship was built here in
Richmond.
It only took four days to build it.
I think it was four days and about 24 hours.
What they did was they took one part here, one part there,
one part here, and they put it all together.
Within four days, it was out, sail on out in the Pacific or
wherever it needed to go.
And if you want to be a real true American, you will
support this ship.
So I want you guys to go over there and look at it.
I want you guys to walk through it.
Maybe you might think, well, this is a good thing to do.
But just remember something.
That ship saved America.
All right?
So just think about how many service people died protecting
this country.
And how many merchant seamen died when they were torpedoed
by the Nazis.
I used to watch all these war movies.
I still watch them.
I mean, these Nazis were just picking them off one by one.
I mean, they almost lost the fleet.
So if you're a true American, I think you support the Red
Oak.
Our next speaker is Claudia Citrin, followed by Kim Abbott.
And our last speaker will be Alan Burns.
So let me start off with it.
I find it extremely egregious and deceptive from the port
to say, well, let's discuss about
buying a car, but let's not discuss the price tag.
You know it's 100 million to 200 million plus price overrun
.
Why would you do a feasibility study without actually
including the price tag?
You know the price tag.
And to assume that it will be a million dollar income.
We know how pickleball worked on the Cranway Pavilion.
So this is speculative.
I agree with the mayor saying earlier, any spending needs
to be put in the context of the entire budget.
But the entire budget means knowing that the port building
is 100 million to 200 million at least.
Plus the second, that feasibility study is a nice pitch of
the park service trying to get funding so they can pay
their employees and they can hire their employees.
It's all about this.
It's simple.
It's simple.
And it's a hard truth.
I'm all for the red oak victory.
I'm all for supporting it.
But the whole idea of you to supporting a feasibility study
is to move this darn thing.
But if you want to move it, there is a budget attached to
it.
And to exclude the price tag of this when you decide is, I
don't even know all the English words for it.
I'll let you fill them in.
And I yield my time.
Thank you.
Kim Abbott.
Is that Kim Abbott?
Yes.
Okay.
Alan Burns.
Good evening, everyone.
I'm Alan Burns, and I'm the chief docent on the red oak
victory.
I've been on this ship for 12 years, and I give a lot of
tours to both adults and to a lot of kids.
Tomorrow, for example, we're getting 30 kids coming from
the John.
I forgot the name all of a sudden.
Anyway, they're coming from a Sacramento high school.
It's going to be fantastic.
Last year, they brought 60 kids.
What I want to talk about, though, quickly is accessibility
and visibility and children.
You know where you're located.
You know where the National Park Service is located.
I'd say about half of the people that come on the ship are
referred to us by the National Park Service at the Rosie
Center.
But a lot of those people don't make it to the ship because
they have to have a car, and they're willing to drive for
15 minutes and go the four and a half miles to get to our
ship.
If our ship is located at Ford Point, close to where the
Park Service, the Rosie Center is, it would be very easy
for these kids to walk four and a half minutes to get to
our ship instead of being bussed from that four and a half
mile drive.
When this other stool came in last year with 60 kids, there
was a lot of driving because we have to take half of the
kids, take them to the Rosie Center, drive the other half
to our ship.
They have a tour on the ship, and there are programs at the
visitor center.
Then the buses have to drive one group over to the other
side and the other side to the other venue.
So it would be a lot better for the kids as well as better
for us if we were moved.
Last year, I think in 2025, the Rosie Center had 38,000
visitors.
We had, that's 100 a day.
We had about 30 a day.
So if we were over there and we could get 23% of the people
would come out.
Your time has expired.
We'd double our revenue.
Thank you.
That was our last speaker.
Okay.
So there are no online speakers?
No online speakers.
All right.
In that case, I would like to start this conversation off
because moving the red oak victory ship was an idea that
came to me during the Bloomberg leadership training for our
city staff.
And we focused on revitalizing the port.
So in order to revitalize the port, we need that space.
So the red oak victory ship must move for us to make use of
the port the way the port should be used.
So the question is, do we send it to the scrapyard or do we
help find a home?
I wanted to help find a home.
So I came up with the idea of moving it over next to the
ferry building, next to the Rosie the River Museum so that
they could increase their patronage and increase the amount
of money that they made.
Now, I know that right now they're basically getting the
space for free.
And if they moved, that would probably be the same thing.
But they would be making more money and able to begin
paying the rent.
Another idea that I had, we had officials from South Korea
come to the city of Richmond.
They wanted to buy the red oak victory ship.
They wanted to buy it so that they could fix it up for
their historic museum because a victory ship actually
helped them during the Korean War.
And they wanted to salute that, to celebrate that.
So my idea when they came was to share the ship.
They were willing to tow the ship to South Korea, fix it up
into mint condition, and share it six months in South Korea
, six months in Richmond.
So if we did that, it would free up that landing for other
ships to use.
And we could collect rent from other ships during those six
months.
We also could create two special days in the city of
Richmond.
When the ship came, when the ship leaves, we would have a
ship leaving celebration.
When the ship came back, we would have another homecoming
celebration.
This would be extravaganzas celebrating the victory ship
and what the victory ship means to the city of Richmond.
I toured the victory ship.
I saw what a wonderful ship it is and how important it is.
And I also saw the opportunity for training youth on these
trips to South Korea, back from South Korea.
We could use that as training grounds for our new maritime
populations.
We need young people to invest themselves in the maritime
industry.
And this would be a good way to do it.
So those are the reasons why I support this 100%.
So other speakers?
Okay.
Councilmember Bono.
Thank you, the presenters.
And thank you very much, everyone, for talking about your
experience.
I'm very touched, very impressive, the amount of work you
have put into the ship and the passion you have for it.
I really care a lot about the history.
I had been to San Francisco to see the submarine there.
I never knew about Red Oak Victory until I became a city
council member.
And then I was invited, and my husband, and I have been
there for pancake breakfast a couple of times and been
there.
Just wanted to let you know, a friend of mine went to
Europe and sent a picture of them in a very expensive hotel
that used to be a --
it's a historic building, used to be a prison.
And I'm thinking if they moved the ship, it can be a nice
hotel, you know, at least some rooms of it.
And people would be interested.
It's a nice location.
And I urge some of you to please stay and listen to the
next item.
It could also be a community resiliency center.
The current one that we have costs $30 million and is still
more money.
But it's there.
Excuse me.
I want to interrupt you just for a tidbit.
When I was there, I learned that the Red Oak Victory Ship
has a radio that is usable.
So in an emergency, that would be a perfect place for a
resiliency center.
I just wanted to highlight that.
Awesome.
Thank you for the affirmation.
So, yeah.
I think it's an interesting idea.
Actually, before I was hesitant and I was thinking, you
know, why we could spend the money on other things.
But I don't have any question.
I'm just excited about it.
And, yeah, especially thinking it also could be a community
resiliency center.
All that money that instead of going to building one, a
portion of it could be into maybe fixing it.
Thank you, everyone.
Council Member Jimenez.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Thank you for the presentation.
Thank you for residents coming and advocate for that.
I just have a couple of questions.
We are going to pay for this report.
And the report, one of the things is the goal is to move
the ship, right?
And I agree that it will be better if we put it in a
location that more people can access to.
And I agree that it will be better if we put it in a
location that more people can access to.
How much money will cost to move it?
Because last time what I heard it was that to build the
deck will cost over $20 million.
Is that correct?
Yeah.
So in the last presentation in early February, we talked
about the $20 million.
And I think that's the point that we're going to be able to
build the deck.
And I think that's the point that we're going to be able to
build the deck.
And I think that's the point that we're going to be able to
build the deck.
And I think that's the point that we're going to be able to
build the deck.
And I think that's the point that we're going to build the
deck.
And I think that's the point that we're going to build the
deck.
And I think that's the point that we're going to build the
deck.
And I think that's the point that we're going to build the
deck.
So, we're going to build the deck.
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And we're going to build the deck.
And we're going to build the deck.
And we're going to build the deck.
And I think Representative Gary Mendee is advocating for
that.
I see one of his staff here advocating for that.
I think like he should be advocating for getting us the $20
million of the total cost.
Because I feel like the city is -- it will be in a
difficult situation.
I don't think like we can commit to move that and to put
all the money.
And particularly, we were discussing the Craneway Pavilion
to bring it back.
And many people were talking about why we wanted to get it
back when it was costing us so much money.
And now we want to move this without thinking about the
cost of that.
So I just want to make sure that this council is aware of
the cost of moving this.
And that the commitment is for, I hope, Gary Mendee's
office to bring significant resources for that to be able
to happen a reality.
Because if they are counting that we are going to put all
the money -- I don't know if this council will vote for it.
Since we already -- like they already voted not to bring
the Craneway back to the city.
Because it was too costly.
So I just want to make sure that what we are committing is
realistic and that it happened.
Because at the end of the day, what we want is that the
ship move.
And the investment that needs to happen is there.
And I think it's clear that we cannot undertake all that
responsibility.
No, I understand.
And two quick comments.
So Congressman Gary Mendee is very supportive of the port
overall and in general.
As you may know, he recently was releasing or seeking
applications for community project funding.
That funding could be used for infrastructure and other
projects.
It could not be used in support of nonprofit groups.
But the port submitted an application to use that funding
for some wharf repair at birth five and six.
Adjacent to the Red Oak building.
Our application has advanced within Congressman Gary Mendee
's office.
So it hasn't been finalized.
But the Congressman and his staff are very supportive of
the project we submitted and helping to fund that.
Is that project -- is this project like -- are we going to
build with that project the --
No, no, no, no.
The project funding available today would be used for
infrastructure.
We would use it for the wharf remediation at birth five.
The reason I mention this is just to highlight Congressman
Gary Mendee's support of the port and his interest in --
Yeah, no, no.
I agree.
And I think it's great.
But one thing is upgrading the port infrastructure that we
need and how these competing resources are going to be
between the port and other things like building a new
infrastructure to -- for -- for the ship.
Right.
I understood.
So --
And then my -- the second comment I would make is with --
with a better understanding of the cost and the timeframe
and the parameters.
Again, I'm not -- I'm not stating who -- who would pay for
it.
But, you know, we would work collaboratively with our
friends at the Richmond Museum Association.
We would probably lean on them to be the -- the party
leading the initiative to determine the funding.
Yeah, because I think like what we are approving here is an
study.
Correct.
And we had been funding a lot of studies and then nothing
happened.
So what I am pushing for is just to have a clear and real
plan that comes to us with the money and who is going to
pay.
And what I am -- I -- I am talking is that potentially we
cannot afford to pay for all of these.
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I do need the slide though.
I do need the slide though.
I do need the slide though.
KCRT, can you put that slide?
I had to find it.
The those stats came from the visitorship.
We can't we can't get a real number from Rosie the Riveter.
But it came from anywhere from 70 to 100,000.
Is that about right?
On since since the pandemic.
I mean before the pandemic and slowing the visitors.
Because we took I took I took 20,000 visitors.
I mean if down the Rosie the Riveter is free.
All right.
Half of those people that we get from there come over to
the Red Oak victory.
And so interpolating we're going to get probably 20,000 for
that the first year.
If 50 60 or even less 48 50,000 people go we're probably
going to get half of those visitors.
So that's 400,000.
The ships stores.
Wait, I'm going to before you move on to the stories.
But I'm going to challenge something about your assumption.
I think what you said is true is the Rosie the Riveter
Museum a person can go there for free.
That's right.
And I think it's I I would not assume that such a large
percentage of the people who visit a free museum would then
spend $20 to visit.
The the associated ship and I guess I
Well, they come over to the Red Oak victory and pay the
money to get in.
And so we're so this this is actually I think this is kind
of in the ballpark.
We're going to be making 400 to 600 maybe a million because
store sales are usually 25% of a museums.
So you put those together then we have events and then we
have fundraising as Charles said it's going to take five
years and that fundraising is going to start as soon as we
We get some approval that we're going to move forward.
Okay, so thank you.
Thank you for answering the questions and I guess maybe
this is a question for the port director.
Is this normally the way to like I appreciate that that he
's making the best estimates he can and I appreciate you.
Well, I have a little I have a little background in this. I
was the CEO of the USS Hornet. All right, we get annually
40,000 45 because of our location.
If we were over in San Francisco, the Hornets revenue is
about three and a half to 4 million a year.
If we were in San Francisco, we'd be over 50 million.
Location makes a difference.
Okay. All right.
Does the port sign off on these? Like do you agree with the
analysis here?
Yeah, no, I don't have the all the detailed analysis. We
didn't undertake the study. We asked for that input from
the Red Oak victory.
Okay.
And at the last council meeting when we moved this forward,
I advocated a demographic study just to come and see
exactly what the ballpark figure would be.
Okay. Okay. So thank you. So I agree with and actually my
questions for you are done. So you can return to you.
My questions for you are done. So you go back to your seat.
Thank you. So I share the concern with some with one of the
public commenters today that I don't see a path.
Oh, let me back up. Last time that this came to council, I
remember saying that I though I think the ship is really
cool and I actually am very touched by the passion and the
dedication that the volunteers, you know, many of whom have
been doing this for decades, clearly,
have before I'm ready to say let's spend $300,000 on a
study for moving it. I wanted to be told at least a
possible funding path that would allow the port to pay for
the creation of the new war, which as you said, would be to
between 16 and 16 million and 20 million. And although I, I
guess I don't have enough information to know what I'm
going to do.
information to know whether it is realistic that moving the
ship will result in one million
dollars a year in revenue. If I remember correctly, the
largest amount that Congressman
Giramendi mentioned, and it wasn't a commitment, it was
just a number that was floated in
conversation, was less than five million. Is that correct?
That's correct.
And so that leaving, you know, what I'm seeing is a $15
million gap in the construction of
the wharf and then the ongoing costs of maintaining and
operating that ship, you know, maybe that
would be covered, maybe that would be covered by the, what
was coming in. And I hear what
you're saying, that you want us to sign off on the study so
that we can go out and find
out if someone will fund this, but I feel like what I was
hoping to have in this presentation
was a list of here are some organizations or individuals or
, you know, federal funds that
go towards this sort of project. And in the absence of that
, I don't have a lot of confidence
that, I think we're going to end up spending $300,000 for,
to reach a conclusion that I'm sort of
reaching tonight, is that we, people love this ship, but
nobody's coming forward to pay for it.
And I don't think it's the Port of Richmond that should
close that gap on paying.
So I know it's not a popular decision in this room, but I'm
not comfortable putting forth the $300,000 for the study
tonight.
Sure.
I understand. I think the, and I understand your request,
and we did discuss that in February.
I think before someone puts their name on potential funding
, they need, the group collectively has
to do some homework and some framework about what they
would be investing in, how much it would cost,
what the path forward or what that journey would look like.
So that, that, that's the way I look at it. But I, I do
understand your, your question and comment.
Councilmember Cepeda.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Thank you for the presentation. I have been to the ship
many, many, many years, even prior to being elected.
I love going in and getting in line and having a little
ticket to get the breakfast and then listening to the music
and then just getting lost in the ship.
Because there's so many different great places to go and
explore and then you see all the pictures and the history.
And as I was waiting my turn, I went to go look up a little
bit more of the ship's history.
And on, on the, on the website, and I have a question here
in a minute, but I just want to share this here.
And the, it was, the ship was decommissioned in the 19, in
1946.
And then that was brought back on, uh, in 1947, uh,
carrying emergency grain shipments to Pakistan and India.
And then it was brought back, uh, again in the 1950s for
the Korean conflict.
And that's just telling me this ship has always been there
for our various communities.
Ready to go, ready to help.
And I think the least that we can do is try to pay that
back to this ship.
Who was there in our community and for all of our
communities year after year.
And it was there whenever we called upon it.
Um, for the port director in the presentation, it lists
adequate parking.
I want to make sure that I understand parking because in
that area we have parking in different locations.
We have what we call the WIDA parking, right, for the, for
the ferry.
And then we've got other parking.
Can you explain when we're discussing adequate parking,
where is that located?
Um, yes.
So, uh, the, the first thing I'll say is the predominance
of, uh, of visitors are probably on the weekend.
And there's plenty of, uh, parking in that area on the
weekend.
We certainly have received the question and comment about
parking in the area.
And, and again, this is a, this is of the projects we're
working on.
Um, this is a longer term, uh, journey project.
So, we have to evaluate the Monday to Friday parking, uh,
both for the, uh, the ship's crew that volunteers and comes
during the weekdays and the visitors that come on the, on
the weekday.
Um, yeah.
So, I don't have an immediate answer for that.
But we know it's one of the elements that needs to be
studied, uh, under this, under this program.
Thank you.
I think that will be very, very important as we are all
trying to, we just had the conversation about the crane way
, trying to also figure out parking for that.
So, everyone's trying to use and there's only so much space
.
So, that's going to be a big component of this here as well
.
But I know that we've got lots of time.
The first step is to study or not to study.
Um, the, my next question here, um, the lease, can you
remind me how long is the lease at birth five, left four?
How many more years do we have on it?
Uh, where, where they are now is in basin, um, five.
Uh, it's a, there's, there are three five-year, um, renew
als on that lease.
Um, so the next renewal is in 2028.
Um, they can, they can renew for five years.
So, that would take them to 2033.
Uh, and that's the term end of the current lease, 2033.
Perfect.
Thank you.
And then after that, we, they, I don't know, as I mentioned
, but they may not have a home anymore.
If we decide to not lease it anymore.
Like, we, yeah, we would have to cross that bridge, um, in,
in, in the coming years.
Yes.
Thank you.
And then, um, can you, about how much money is the
Congressman's Office, uh, providing for the community
funding?
Uh, I requested five million.
Uh, I understand I will not get that much.
Um, so we'll have to see.
I think he has, um, uh, 13 million, but other constituents
and organizations that are competing for that funding.
And I also understand it's somewhat tied to whoever sits at
the presidency.
So, if that was changed, we would potentially get a couple
more bucks.
Um, yeah, potentially, uh, the environment would be
different.
I'll say that the, um, the community project funding is
coming from the same bucket of funds that we're receiving.
The, the PDIP, the Port Infrastructure Development.
Some of the funds and the 480 million allocated under MARAD
and Department of Transportation,
uh, is, uh, is allocated across all congressional members.
So, they have some discretionary spending on where they, uh
, where they spend that money.
And my understanding, uh, is I think the Congressman has
about 13 million.
So, I think that's a big part of the budget.
Perfect. Thank you for that.
And I, I was also questioning sort of the numbers that was
in the presentation, telling us how much it potentially
could make.
So, I went and I looked into the other ships.
And this is a really good business.
The other ship is making 1.28 million dollars.
And the majority of it is just in people coming in.
And it is about location, location.
Because who wants to drive all the way around to the other
side, right?
I know it's district two, but it's on the, all the way on
the other side.
What, what ship is that?
This is the, uh, Liberty ship.
The, I'm sorry, the S is, well, it's Liberty ship.
The S is Jeremiah.
According to their, uh, annual reports in 2024, they made 1
.28 million dollars.
Um, the, uh, the victory ship, uh, ours, made according to
this person, this here, uh,
a little bit over half a million dollars.
Um, the U.S. Hornet made 2.5.
Granted, the U.S. Hornet is in San Francisco, so they see a
lot more people.
But I think, or actually, it's not on me, thank you, thank
you.
The other one is in San Francisco, thank you.
So, I think giving it the opportunity to be seen by more
people, I could see how those numbers could
increase.
Because you're going to see a lot more eyes, a lot more
accessibility.
Uh, and then there's more routes.
Uh, AC Transit mentioned earlier that they might be cutting
some routes.
So, I doubt we're going to have a new route going to that
other side.
Um, but I think that I'm, I'm, I've been in support of this
and I will continue being in support of it.
Especially hearing the volunteers when every time I go into
the ship and I had the opportunity to get a tour.
And again, I mentioned this last time as well, that the
ship cannot be turned on because of the
sut that it could be releasing and damaging the new cars.
And from what I understand from the volunteers, nobody's
really volunteering to fix a ship that
can never be turned on.
So, we want to move it to a place that it can be turned on
and then it could go on to the water and
we can rent it out or do other stuff.
That's where the, um, some of the other ships make a lot of
their money.
The Jeremiah, uh, during a fleet week, it makes $150,000
just that weekend alone
because of the tours and people coming into it.
So, I think there's the opportunity there.
Thank you.
Councilmember Brown.
Yes, thank you for the presentation and thank you for
answering those questions because those were the
questions that I had from last time of, um, not having the
consensus from the board, um,
not being totally committed, you know, just saying that
they're in support.
And so, I was like, well, why should we spend this amount
of money on a study if you're not in support?
But it seems like you all, um, created a more comprehensive
, uh, outline here in tonight's
presentation as well as more supporters and just a broader
understanding of the significance of this
report.
It's not just like a typical report, but it's a report that
's going to lead to, um,
potentially garnering more funding.
And I just think from just hearing everything that happened
today, um, this evening and as well as
everything that council members of pay to mention that this
is historical.
So, it goes beyond just being an ordinary ship.
Um, it has so much significance.
And so, I don't doubt for a second that you all will be
able to obtain the funding, uh, to support your
efforts.
And I think there's a lot of time too on the clock in order
to do so.
Um, and so, what I have to ask about the funding.
So, I know you mentioned that it's port funding.
So, it's not like it's a hit to the general fund.
Is this something that will negatively impact the port
funding in a, in any type of way?
Uh, no.
No, it, it will not.
And, and, and a few months ago, we also presented the port,
um, enterprise, uh, fund financial plan.
Mm-hmm.
And, um, I think you, you understood from that plan that,
uh, the, the, the, the port's in
healthy financial, um, uh, condition.
Uh, I, I think it's, uh, well managed and there's a little
bit more of a spotlight on it now than
there has been in, in years past, uh, which is good.
And I, and I often mention, um, the number of projects that
we're working on.
You know, some are near term, medium term, and long term.
Right.
Uh, this, this project we're discussing tonight's a near
term project, but really it's, uh, you
know, potentially play, parlays into a longer term project,
um, that's in alignment with the,
with the mayor's comment about transforming the port and
utilizing the port, uh, down the
road for other purposes and more, uh, productive and
revenue generating purposes.
Right.
Thank you so much.
And also it's just, you know, it's very disheartening to
hear the mayor say that if we don't move this
ship, then it's, it's going to go somewhere.
And so for it to be a couple with other in a historical way
where, you know, it could be
further utilized and more exposure.
And of course, I believe that the, uh, numbers will
definitely increase if you don't have to
take that long drive.
Cause it is discouraging once you finally leave Rosie the
river, it's like, oh, okay.
So I'm definitely in support, um, of supporting moving this
study forward.
So you all can get to work in, um, on what really matters.
Thank you.
Sure.
Thank you.
I would, I would just add one related comment.
And, and one of the speakers alluded to the fact that with
the more visibility,
it's not just more visitors, but more participants and
volunteers, um, will see and, and, and can get an
interest in the ship.
Yeah, absolutely.
Nothing's guaranteed, but just, I mean, the level of
commitment of the volunteers and staff
folks here today that's committed 15, 20 years into, um,
into the ship is, is commendable within
itself.
So thank you.
Uh, council member.
Wilson.
Oh, okay.
Yes.
Okay.
A quick question.
Um, I just want to make sure that I'm understanding
correctly that the money
that would be used to do the study is port funds is not
general funds.
Correct.
It's, it will be coming from the port enterprise fund.
So it wouldn't be available to use for any of the myriad of
things that we need in the city.
No, no.
Yeah.
The port enterprise fund, um, remains distinct from the
general fund and, uh, the port enterprise
fund is, uh, um, funded by our activities, um, at the port
or leasing and, uh, terminal operating
agreements.
Uh, and it can only be used for port related, uh, projects.
Mm.
Mm.
And I guess as the proper director, you're bringing this
forward and you personally think
that from your vantage point, that is something that's good
for the port to investigate.
Is that correct?
Yes, I do.
Okay.
Thank you.
Council member Jimenez.
Yes.
Yeah.
I have a couple of questions.
I, I think I am in support of studying it, but I want to
make sure that when you bring back this,
you have a clear path, how this is going to be funded.
And a clear path that like is, it's also not competing with
resources.
I don't, I think like you say that is not competing, but if
you are going to ask for grants or for money
to reinforce or do something in the port, will that be
competing with like, if you need the money
for building a, the space to get the relocation. And then
we need money for the port to reinforce
the port to do other things. Will that be a competition in
resources?
Um, I'm not a hundred percent clear on the question, but
let me, let me comment, um, uh,
on the first, on one item that came to mind as you were
speaking. This project to study is sort of
separate and distinct from actually having, uh, a funding
plan. So this study we're going to undertake
isn't going to define or make a commitment around the
funding plan. It's going to give us a, again, a road
map, uh, preliminary design, a cost estimate of moving the
ship and creating the infrastructure to
hold the ship. The, the, uh, the initiative by the
interested parties to pursue funding to make that move
is separate and distinct from this, from this project. So I
want to be clear that this, this project is not
going to outline, uh, who is funding, uh, and how much they
're committing to the fund.
Okay. So it's an study and then we, it will eventually have
the money or not. So it, right. So it's, uh,
uh, council member Wilson. Well, I can tell from public
comment, I'm in the minority here,
but I just want to make sure that the record correct is
correctly reflecting a couple of things. Um,
council members have paid out listed some very large
numbers that other ships and other cities make,
but as revenue, but I want to just sort of say what we've,
what's been reported to us is the number 1.2
million in this presentation. And, and, and not those large
numbers. And even those numbers are
questionable. I also want to clarify that, um, uh,
Congressman here, Mendy has lots of money that he
allocates, but he has not made a commitment to allocate any
money to this project. Correct. Thank you.
Okay. Can I make a motion to pass item? Yes, you may. I'll
second.
Okay. So the motion is to approve a contract with life tech
consultants incorporated in the amount of
299,797 for planning and preliminary design of the reloc
ation of the red Oak for a term ending June 30th,
20, 20, 27. Can I do a quick question on the date for
clarification point of order? I know that this
was continued, uh, since February is June 30th, 20, 27,
still a good end date or do we need to push that?
Are they going to, are they making up the time? No, no. Yes
. We, we, it's, uh, we, we chose the end of the
financial year, um, in the previous part of this process to
give us some cushion and we still have cushion to complete
this project.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Council member Brown
. Yes. Council member Bonner. Yes. Council member Jimenez.
Yes. Council member Wilson. No. Vice mayor Robinson. Yes.
Council member Zepeda. Yes. And mayor Martinez. Yes. The
motion passes with council member Wilson voting. No. Thank
you.
Council member. Our next item is item Q six. To receive a
presentation from leading experts. The UC Berkeley seism
ology lab, Berkeley center for smart infrastructure,
community emergency response team.
and West Contra Costa, the UC Berkeley. How many speakers.
We have one in-person speaker. If there's anyone joining us
online that would like to address a council on this item,
please raise your hand at this time.
Council member Zepeda. Thank you. May I ask the presenters
to be here and may I ask KCRT to please, um, make sure
those who are presenting on zoom have access to mic.
the presenters to be here, and may I ask KCRT to please
make sure those who are
presenting on Zoom have access to mic. And start the slides
, please. Thank you. So I
would like to start by saying that Rocky, David, and Diane,
you may want to take your
seats. Yes, other presenters will be on Zoom. A couple of
weeks ago, two council
members and myself, along with the fire marshal, his deputy
, our library director,
someone from the Public Works had a visit to Harbor Hall
Community Resiliency
Center that has been established by Pogo Park. Community
Resiliency Center is
where after an earthquake the community may go to receive
food, shelter, access to
power and everything. So I would like to continue that
discussion after the
presentation to see why it's so important. It's not just a
phobia that some people
have from a possible earthquake. It's absolute science. I
've been in touch with
some UC Berkeley researchers and scientists for months
preparing for this
presentation. So may I ask Suresh Raman and Sierra Boy to
please start your presentation.
KCRT, could you please start the slides? Thank you.
KCRT, could you please start the slides? Thank you.
Thank you everyone. Thanks for having me. My name is Suresh
. I'm with the Berkeley
seismology lab along with with Sierra, my colleague.
And yes, California is all that it is cracked up to be. We
're going to talk about the earthquake
hazard on the Hayward fault in particular. Next slide
please.
So we have myself and Sierra. Sierra is the seismologist
with the lab. She's been there for a long time,
so she can answer really tough questions about seismology.
I am an engineering lead for the MySheikh
earthquake early warning application. Next slide please.
These are some quick facts. You will most likely note this.
These are the major earthquakes that people are aware of in
California.
The biggest one is 1906, 7.9. Luma Prieta is the famous one
, but the most expensive one was 6.7. The smaller one of
those, but it was the most expensive earthquake in the US.
And there have been seven such similar earthquakes, similar
to the Northridge earthquake, or bigger than that in the
last 30 years.
So you can imagine an earthquake like that happens maybe
every four years, somewhere in California. Next slide
please.
So this is the next set of slides simply going to introduce
some terminology when we talk about earthquakes.
There are two major things we say when we talk about
earthquakes.
The shaking intensity, this is what people feel, and this
is what will cause the damage to buildings.
And then there is the magnitude, which is a measure of the
absolute power of the earthquake.
So, next slide please.
The shaking intensity scale, right, also called the
modified Mercalli intensity or the MMI scale for short.
Again, describes the shaking or the damage.
So, this is a scale from 1 to 10.
It's described here.
I will bring your attention to basically the larger numbers
, 8, 9, and 10, right?
So, starting from 8, you have considerable damage to
buildings.
9 is worse, and 10 is, of course, complete destruction.
So, I will point out the scenario under which we can expect
to see MMI 8 or above for Richmond.
I will do that later.
So, next slide please.
The other measure of the earthquake is the absolute power
of the earthquake.
This is the energy released by an earthquake.
So, this is like a bomb that goes off, the amount of energy
that's released.
So, that is what we call as the moment magnitude scale.
We are used to calling that as a Richter scale, but it's
technically not true anymore.
It's a different scale.
And go ahead and advance the slide to maybe reveal only the
final part of this.
Maybe we can go back one, please.
Can you go back one?
Okay.
Okay.
It got, okay.
Never mind.
Go back to the slide.
Thank you.
Okay.
Just stay here.
I'm sorry.
It's kind of, the animation got a little bit jumbled here.
So, but just to make it short, the magnitude represents the
energy release of the earthquake.
And that is a physical property, which is, you know, you
can think of it basically if I,
if the fault is like this where two plates are trying to
move, when you, when you try to move them apart,
you will feel a little deformation happening in your, in
your, in your palm.
And that is the rigidity measure that is, that is mentioned
in the equation.
And then when it finally does slip a little bit, area of
contact, which is the area of the palm,
that's a second measure.
And the amount by which it slipped, that is a third measure
.
So, putting those together, you get the magnitude of the
earthquake.
The rest of the numbers here are basically to make it align
with the original Richter scale,
which everybody is aware of.
So, that's basically a FYI about how the earthquake magn
itudes measure.
Next slide, please.
Now, go ahead and reveal, reveal everything.
I got to, I got to try to make up the time.
Oh, did you, can you, can you go back?
Did it reveal the whole slide?
Okay.
It's supposed to reveal the other part as well.
So, so then nevermind this, we'll, we'll move on.
Okay.
Next slide, please.
The, so I talked about the MMI, the shaking intensity, and
then I talked about the magnitude.
Now, ignore all this equation stuff here.
Just look at the table that's presented.
For an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher.
For an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher, we can expect
an MMI shaking of 8 or higher.
Okay.
Okay.
So, that's, that's kind of the main message from this slide
.
So, we can relate the, the earthquake magnitude to the
maximum shaking intensity we can expect.
And, and let's move on.
Next slide, please.
Next slide, please.
Next slide, please.
Now, we talk about the Hayward fault.
So, the Hayward fault, this is outlining the major history
of the fault.
The last notable earthquake was a 5.8, which was probably a
late aftershock of the previous magnitude 7 earthquake that
happened in 1868.
It was a pretty long time ago.
It, according to the, you know, the, the data that we have,
we have, we have information about the last six major
earthquakes on this fault.
It happened, you know, in a pretty broad span of interval
between 95 and 183 years, an average of 150 years.
Now, we're currently at 157 years.
So, are we, are we due?
Yeah, it certainly appears so.
Next slide, please.
This is a committee that, that, you know, came together to
create various scientific fault rupture models
for all falls throughout California.
I'll, I'll, I'll just cut to the chase here.
So, next slide, please.
And one more.
So, yeah.
So, all the scientific minds that, that, you know, took
into, took into facts, the existing falls, the slip rates,
and so on,
I've predicted a probability of 32% for a rupture at the
Hayward Rogers Creek fault together.
So, either of the, if either of those faults rupture, we
could have big shaking in, in Richmond.
And the prediction for that, the probability is 32% for a
magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake before the year 2044.
So, this is hard science.
Okay.
So, remember that, remember that number.
Let's move on.
So, we talked about, so the, the previous slide was showing
you the probability of a big earthquake that could affect
Richmond.
And then there's another committee that came together and
did a composite of probabilities of any earthquake that
could occur, that could affect Richmond.
And, next slide, please.
According to their assessment, which focused primarily on
shaking, right?
So, they, they, you could go to the website I listed
earlier in the, in the, in the earlier slide and do this
yourself.
The, the, the shaking hazard for Richmond is, is, is what
you see on, on screen over here.
It's, it's eight or nine, MMI eight or MMI nine.
So, considerable damage or substantial damage.
So, this is their prediction for what Richmond could
experience as a shaking hazard in the next, within, within
a, within a long time frame.
But, you never know when it's going to happen.
So, that is the problem with earthquake predictions.
Next slide, please.
Richmond also had a liquefaction susceptibility.
Liquefaction is when the soil cannot hold the weight of any
building.
So, the building would essentially sink into the soil like
quicksand.
So, the liquefaction susceptibility for parts of Richmond,
it is very high as well.
So, next slide, please.
I'll come to the end.
And now, I think there are other presentations.
So, we could, I don't know, you know, if we're going to do
them all, if, if we're going to cut for questions now.
So.
Thank you very much.
Let's move on and then have all the questions at the end,
if you may.
I would like to invite Professor Kenichi Soga of Berkeley
Center for Smart Infrastructure to please join us.
So, Hila, thank you very much.
I'm Kenichi Soga.
I'm a professor of civil and environmental engineering at
UC Berkeley.
And first of all, thank you very much for having me at this
council meeting.
Is there a slide that you can show?
Shall I show my slide?
Oh, there you go.
Yes.
Oh, excellent.
Thank you very much.
I'm the director of Berkeley Center for Smart Infrast
ructure, which you see in the middle as a logo.
And the reason why I'm very excited to present here is that
actually our center is situated in Richmond Field Station,
which is in the city of Richmond.
So, we do large scale experiments and then test variety of
things under large deformation during earthquake or after
earthquake.
And we really want you to come over and see the experiments
that we do.
Our center is really a partnership between infrastructure
owners, academia, industry, regulators, and local
governments to address our most pressing challenges, such
as aging infrastructure, climate change, water supply and
natural resources, and emergency and community preparedness
.
We work closely with East Bay Mudd, where your water comes
from, PG&E, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Caltrans, and
other agencies we would like to work with, Port of Richmond
.
So, that would be great to work with.
But what I really want to say is what we also do, not only
physical testing of our infrastructure, but we also do many
simulations.
And Suresh kindly sort of introduced what the Hayward
earthquake, well, Hayward fault earthquake will happen.
What you see on the left is a road network of the Bay Area.
There are 7.5 million people living in the Bay Area.
Every there, there's a 15 million trips.
We can model every 15 million trip, move the cars around
every day, and see if the Richmond Bridge sort of become
not functional after an earthquake.
What's going to happen to the traffic?
What's going to happen to the traffic?
And how can we recover?
And what are the things that we have?
We work with Caltrans.
What other bridges are important?
Ensure that a community has access to hospitals or a fire
station or police station immediately after an earthquake.
What you see on the right is a water network.
It's an East Bay Mudd water network.
The city of Richmond is getting water from East Bay Mudd.
We simulate pipeline damage when the earthquake happens on
the Hayward fault.
What's going to happen to the pipeline systems?
And then we do a simulation of how many people will not get
water.
And then what are we going to do?
And these are things that we look at immediately after an
earthquake.
What may happen?
And make sure that we have a mitigation or reinforcement of
our infrastructure to cope with such a large earthquake
that may potentially happen, as Suresh mentioned earlier.
The issue is that many organizations will look at their own
systems, but local government like Richmond really need to
look at what is system of systems, how the systems come
together, and then how we recover together.
So if you go to the next slide, this is not Richmond, but
this is Alameda Island case.
What we do is that we look at if an Hayward earthquake
happens, what will going to happen to the building?
So you can see on the right top, the shaking of the
building, the bottom shows ground shaking, and what kind of
sole liquefaction we'll have in terms of ground movements,
and what kind of damage that buildings in Alameda Island
will have.
At the same time, road will get blocked or road will be
damaged, and then water network will be damaged as well.
So the question is, how do we recover to what we call
functional recovery?
How long it will take?
What are the supply and demand in terms of goods or people
to make the Alameda Island back to what we call functional
before the earthquake happens?
So if you go to the next slide, what we do is we simulate,
for example, what you see on the top is some sort of damage
state over each building.
From the census, we know what kind of building we have on
Alameda Island.
If there are certain shaking, what are the damage of each
building?
On the left bottom, we can see how much pipeline is going
to break and leak.
And then on the right bottom, we see what kind of
transportation infrastructure, like bridges and tunnels and
roads, will get blocked due to the damage.
And then we look at supply and demand of how goods and then
labor and a full workforce will come back to recover the Al
ameda Island.
So if you look at the top, you can see what kind of
transportation infrastructure, you can see what are the
issues that may come up.
So if you look at the top on the recovery stage, you see a
waiting, rapid infection, financing, contractor mobil
ization, site preparation, all the things that we need to do
to bring it back to the green, which is a functional.
You can see that after 150 days, perhaps the pipeline and
then the bridges and tunnel may be recovering, as you can
see, but we can see the simulation.
But the point here is by looking at different systems
together, we can see what are the bottlenecks when we want
to have a functional recovery.
And these are things that we do at Center for Smart Infrast
ructure.
Thank you for listening.
Thank you very much, Professor Soba.
KCRT, could you please advance?
May I ask our CERT and emergency communication experts here
?
Diane Richman and David Swanson, continue the presentation,
please.
Okay, thank you.
I'm David Swanson and this is my wife, Diane, and this is
Rocky Sanders from Brickyard Cove.
We're long-term residents of Richmond and we've been
working at disaster preparedness for more than 20 years
since the beginning of this CERT development.
I just want to instill some sense of urgency among the
members here and of all the people in Richmond of what's
coming.
You've got a general idea from the seismologists.
There's the people that know what's coming.
They've measured everything and they've timed everything
and they have a really good idea of what's going to happen.
And it's going to be very serious.
People can't get enough effort behind them to do this
because they underestimate what's going to happen.
It's a huge, devastating, once-in-a-lifetime event that's
going to be critical for the city of Richmond and other
cities.
But we're going to focus on Richmond because we have unique
problems here.
The amount of devastation we're going to face, especially
financial, the ruination of the city, how we're going to
recover, how long it will take, how much money it will take
.
The more we're prepared now, the more work we do now, the
less it will cost for recovery and the sooner the recovery
will happen.
And hopefully the fewer injuries will happen.
As you can see on this slide here, this is an earthquake
that happened here.
And it did happen when it happened was 1989.
And when our earthquake will happen on the earthquake, Hay
ward Fault, we can all say very soon.
That's all we can say.
And we will all know when it happens.
It will be a shocking thing.
All these lights are going to go out.
We're going to be devastated for weeks.
But the initial process, next slide, is the recovery
process.
After all this damage, how long it will take to save lives,
how we're going to train people.
And the more we train now, the less it will cost in the
recovery and the more lives will be saved.
Next slide.
As you can see by another earthquake that happened in 1906,
all these people are standing around watching our city
being destroyed.
We don't want to be in that situation.
We want our city to recover as fast as possible.
So we need to organize now and a plan now and put some
money into the effort ahead of time.
There's always been a lot of work done already.
But these people, as you see, standing around in this city
are watching our city being destroyed because they don't
have any training.
They don't have any communication skills.
And they don't know what to do.
So they just lost their city.
Next slide.
We train in the city of Richmond for emergency
communications.
That's one of the first things that falls apart and will
fall apart right after the earthquake.
The cell phone won't work.
Your internet's not going to work.
You've got to talk to somebody.
You've got to have instruction on how to use handheld rad
ios.
And we train exclusively for communication for two-way
communications.
Next slide.
We also, the CERT classes are really, if anyone can take C
ERT in their neighborhood, I suggest it.
It's a process that's really worthwhile.
And these people standing behind me, sitting behind me,
have made a volunteer effort,
paid all the work that they do for themselves.
It's all volunteer.
And they made the effort to be trained.
You get training in search and rescue, medical, search
communications, and shelter and special needs.
All these things you need to help to recover the earthquake
immediately after the disaster.
Because you'll be alone after the disaster.
The help won't be coming from the city services, fire,
police.
It'll be days before you see people come to help you.
Because it's going to be so widespread.
Like they say, from Santa Rosa to San Jose, everybody's in
the same boat.
Here at the same moment.
So we're going to have to retain.
We're planning on surviving on our own in our own
neighborhoods.
That's what CERT is about.
To teach people to survive on their own in their own
neighborhoods.
And get teams formed together.
Next slide.
The, this is an example of a location called an incident
command post in neighborhoods.
All neighborhoods should have a meeting place to go to
right after the earthquake.
You should all decide this on your own in your own personal
neighborhoods.
Where that's going to be.
So that you can group up and function in your neighborhood
to take care of each other.
And take care of anyone that's injured.
Help to put out fires.
And do the search and rescue yourselves.
There needs to be more training for this.
This is an example of an incident command post on the left.
With a ham radio operator in it.
That can communicate with the emergency operations center
in downtown Richmond.
There's a map on the right of the, some of the established
incident command post throughout the city of Richmond we
have now.
We're woefully behind in this.
We need ten times as more neighborhoods to be set up and
ready to go.
Next slide.
This is an example of the flow chart for the communications
flow chart from the neighborhoods.
You see these teams on the bottom will be the teams going
out from the incident command post.
Which is your neighborhood area location that you've
decided ahead of time to operate from.
And those teams, the search and rescue, the medical teams
will call back on what are called FRS radios with the
information to get into the incident command post.
If the incident command post decides that there's a fire we
can't put it out in the neighborhood we're going to have to
call for help from the city.
We'll use the ham radios to call to the emergency
operations center in downtown Richmond.
And thanks for the help of a lot of people in Richmond
including our great mayor Martinez.
We volunteered to help to get the antenna installed on the
city hall.
We have now operating radio at the EOC and we have an
antenna on top of the city hall building.
So we can communicate directly with all the neighborhoods
throughout Richmond that have ham radios in their incident
command post.
And that's where all the information, the damage reports,
all the status reports can come into the fire department
immediately after the earthquake.
As soon as people can staff their neighborhoods.
And that way the fire department will know where the
biggest disaster is, where the worst problems are within a
short period of time.
Because the city is quite widespread and the fire
department is woefully understaffed.
And compared to a huge event like this they'll be very,
they'll be going to the worst areas first.
Most of the neighborhoods will not see firemen for days.
So the sooner we get a hold of the firemen, let them know
what the situation is in our neighborhoods, the better.
Next slide.
This is sort of the flow of command for communications that
they've established throughout the state.
It starts at the instant command post level on your left.
This is the field teams reporting to their instant command
post all the problems and taking care of themselves in
their neighborhoods.
This is the key to survival for Richmond.
This is the command post and the neighborhood organizations
.
So everyone in their neighborhood should be responsible for
themselves in this aspect.
The next level is up to the city hall.
What will, what's actually the emergency operations center
is the basement of city hall.
And that's where the communication goes back and forth by
hand radio to them.
Further on the city will take care of transport, trying to
get communications to the county.
And the county, if they can't handle the situation, if they
need more help, they'll call out to our outside region and
further on to the state for help.
Next slide.
This is the most important thing to help reduce the.