Latest News from Richmond City Hall
Catch up on hot items from the last Richmond City Council meeting below. If you're interested in making public comments as a member of RPA or getting involved, contact us. Meetings are primarily held on the first, third, and fourth Tuesday of each month at 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804.
Watch The Latest Council Meeting Here
Keller Beach Moratorium Continues
Robert Armijo, Deputy Director of Public Works, offered an update on an ordinance to extend the Keller Beach Sanitary Sewer Moratorium. Constructed in 1959, the aging sewer line poses severe environmental risks if not upgraded.
What's Next
Armijo discussed why the moratorium remains necessary and what solutions the City is working towards. "The San Francisco Bay is one of our region's most important natural resources, and so it deserves to be protected," he stated, describing how a failure in the system could potentially lead to untreated sewage leaking into the bay.
Mary Phelps, Water Resource Division Manager, shared that the City is working on 3 goals during the extended 45-day moratorium period—consultant selection, alternative solutions, and a final engineered solution presentation to the City. During that time the City will engage in open and transparent communication with residents and other Bay Area stakeholders.
Norman Hanchey, a frequent Keller Beach Swimmer, stressed the importance of addressing aging sewer infrastructure. He described studying a City-published sewer system map—discovering that up to 60 houses are connected to the Keller Beach Sewer.
Rod Satre, another Richmond resident, shared that he provided extensive comments on the City's work plan. He suggested two alternative routings at Marine and at Bishop—unloading 20% of the water currently going to Keller Beach Sewer.
Following public comments, Councilmember Claudia Jimenez stressed the importance of timely follow-up. She noted that a previous contractor, Coastland Civil Engineering, took over two years to withdraw from the project—leaving behind an unfinished technical analysis and no plan for community engagement. "[It has been] two years having a consultant trying to put together a plan that now we don't have," she added.
Ultimately, the Council approved a temporary 45-day moratorium—directing staff to explore potential solutions in the period before considering another extension.