[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6592775,"mediaKeyId","2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193","parentId",2777144,"title","West Contra Costa interim superintendent warns enrollment decline, absenteeism threaten district budget and staffing","audioSeconds",8905,"startMs",1487000,"endMs",10392000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193&start=1487&end=10392","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193/thumbnail_1487000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6592775/Richmond/Contra-Costa-County/California/West-Contra-Costa-interim-superintendent-warns-enrollment-decline-absenteeism-threaten-district-budget-and-staffing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6592775-34e75357b8168748a2d430ecc419fb24/orig.mp4?Expires=1775101548&Signature=NGarmFhvyfxc58Fru53HHlqfsl2FWKxakfHFjvVZQiZVqi8HYfhjvbJ3Wgpv-~jLfG2P9CHLRM5TPY96qYAFYanyoS9eH0jyD2LLDofdxcwinuu3rwWrXsF2E70QjbJdyuC1oHvDzo5nw~9jx17qrB1Ae7sT~mh1KYXmsSeRGynelEqWyC-Dni1EeiZtqyQcqhjMcgptkYGw8eY3t92iI1zCZdR9W6aN~nJkh~3H1DlfXfTa65GHxtQls62LFLjc7j6R0U0NPXTWN01C6YfFQO7VgHg7-BCpDKfIYq-DtFBxT-lqbEV316x6JdXQ-j-pJ4c7OxMAP~RqTi8OfOhEVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-26T16:32:55.173Z","article","Interim West Contra Costa Unified School District Superintendent Kim Moses told the Richmond City Council on Monday that the district’s enrollment and attendance declines have produced a structural budget shortfall that will require further reductions unless revenues or enrollment recover.

Moses said the district has declined about 9.5% in enrollment since 2018–19 and that Richmond accounts for roughly 43% of the district’s students. “We are focused on preserving the quality of service for students and retaining quality staff,” Moses said. She told council members that the district’s chronic absenteeism and average daily attendance figures directly affect state funding.

The nut graf: West Contra Costa USD receives most of its funding on a per‑pupil, average‑daily‑attendance basis. Moses said the district is using one‑time restricted pandemic and federal grants to maintain many programs, but those sources will not cover recurring operating costs, creating a persistent gap in the district’s unrestricted general fund.

Moses outlined dollar figures during a 45‑minute presentation and subsequent public comment. She said the district’s unrestricted reserve requirement is roughly $16.6 million for 2024–25 (the 3% state reserve), and that Fund 17 internal reserves held about $37.6 million in the most recent unaudited actuals. Restricted balances—grants and one‑time funds—totaled about $101 million at year end, she said. Moses also told the council the district receives roughly $30 million annually in federal grants and that special‑education costs require substantial contributions from the general fund.

United Teachers of Richmond Executive Director Mark Mitchell told the council that classroom vacancies and a shortage of credentialed staff are already affecting instruction. “Richmond schools are currently unstaffable,” Mitchell said during public comment. Teacher and parent speakers described long‑term vacancies, substitutes filling core courses and students lacking science or physical‑education teachers at some campuses.

Moses said the district has identified about $7 million in reductions for 2025–26 and expects to need an additional roughly $6 million the following year if enrollment and state funding do not improve. She and her staff emphasized strategies to increase attendance, including the RISE Center coordination, SARB meetings, attendance campaigns and expanded community partnerships to address transportation and family needs.

Council members asked for more detail about which Richmond schools face the largest staffing gaps and called for a city–district collaborative to address attendance, safety at dismissal, transportation and teacher housing. Moses said she would work with the board and district staff to provide more granular school‑level vacancy and attendance data and welcomed joint city‑district meetings.

Public reaction at the meeting included teachers, parents and community advocates who urged greater investment in staff pay and housing to improve recruitment and retention. Francisco Ortiz, a Ford Elementary teacher and president of United Teachers of Richmond, told the council the district has under‑projected revenue and faces “a structural deficit” that requires transparent planning.

Moses closed by listing recent school achievements—robotics wins, a Columbia University scholarship recipient and two California recognitions—and provided links to the district’s unaudited actuals, FCMAT reviews and CAASPP data for council members and the public to review.

Looking ahead, Moses and the council agreed to schedule follow‑up briefings that drill down to school‑level vacancies, substitutes and the district’s multi‑year fiscal plan so city and district leaders can identify possible joint interventions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City Council 3/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Interim West Contra Costa Unified School District Superintendent Kim Moses told the Richmond City Council on Monday that the district’s enrollment and attendance declines have produced a structural budget shortfall that will require further reductions unless revenues or enrollment recover.","taxTitle","Richmond, Contra Costa County, California","taxId",4317,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6592755,"Richmond council honors police officers after arrest in child‑sex assault case; community voices gratitude and critique",927,5187000,6114000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193&start=5187&end=6114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193/thumbnail_5187000.jpg","/articles/6592755/Richmond/Contra-Costa-County/California/Richmond-council-honors-police-officers-after-arrest-in-childsex-assault-case-community-voices-gratitude-and-critique","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6592755-8571190660eb130ab544da39d71e14c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775101548&Signature=lFNf9I6l18Mo5X7HkdhnKGuJluuDIvWETF~hFL61B11tnDzClJRfl2pluQaY-LQF~5jYSOPqg1~OPx-Bo4urgdkJlJrIFJ~ogtMp3HH3ZGFRbPZYAU27qFSShlUTcnrwhq~6LSQftlUpOILa6WlZ0jIRZUCjuG7mMaMsOfcHQeuihsZTk8F1bVLeJxNeVrZUpUV2IAzbq1kJhYpYPcHmgmL8Cfsue~BREwX-YJMQyAoltGrx71AadzWghymeQTosy-0WN6ECi72bchB35JAm8FDUQNyu6xtlm8V8S0pxBpsT4CFvQySdLMPoBj6gXolVQQa9Um9~vYgEfMQiixJhMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richmond City Council on Monday issued a proclamation honoring Richmond Police Department personnel for their response to an investigation and arrest in an alleged sexual assault of a child. The proclamation listed multiple officers, detectives and crime‑scene staff by name and described expedited evidence processing that led to an arrest and a high bail amount, according to the proclamation read by Mayor Eduardo Martinez.

The nut graf: The proclamation was ceremonial recognition of officers’ actions in a specific criminal case; it prompted public praise from some community members and criticism from others who raised broader concerns about policing policy and past department practices.

Mayor Martinez described the incident and the department’s coordinated investigation. The proclamation praised a sergeant who had taken a juvenile’s report seriously and noted the role of detectives and crime scene specialists in obtaining DNA evidence.

Public comment split the room. Several residents, including Cordell Handler and online commenter Michelle Milam, thanked officers for protecting a child and called the response lifesaving. In contrast, in‑person speaker Mark Waspberg criticized past council decisions to alter or reduce police resources and linked the recognition to broader policy disputes. Ben Theriault, president of the Richmond Police Officers Association, told the council the public recognition is important and that continuous support for officers matters.

Councilmembers who spoke emphasized gratitude for the specific investigative work, while some council members and community members reminded officials of ongoing community concerns about policing, use of force and department funding.

No formal policy change was proposed; the proclamation recognized line officers and investigators and did not alter department budgets or policy.

Council and community leaders asked for continued community‑police collaboration and for the city to maintain transparency about policing policy and funding going forward.","The council adopted a proclamation recognizing Richmond Police Department officers, detectives and crime‑scene staff for their response to a sexual assault case involving a child. Officers and community members accepted the recognition; public commenters both praised the police and raised broader policing concerns.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6592760,"Richmond proclaims April as National Second Chance Month, honors local reentry groups",4294,726000,5020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193&start=726&end=5020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193/thumbnail_726000.jpg","/articles/6592760/Richmond/Contra-Costa-County/California/Richmond-proclaims-April-as-National-Second-Chance-Month-honors-local-reentry-groups","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6592760-c92b52186ccf056e3cbc20dbefe4aab5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775101548&Signature=e86-KHltD8amRP6HPWrrdPcBd6RCSWqtAsPkGN9exIiBhgGNG897Fa~4vTqyfAARv2o5KOtFZy6f1ouw5PQ5tzLDq2W8bJrsTegdYDd5h7ZCqfQMqqaLivyqOAHZiBzCQXNYHEynLhG7nDq1Lrzt3Oql~TQ8QPdrG08SVnw9GkvG3Thqd61~F-PMxEIAj~2fjvYG6N1Nnd6rVmBnSqJLmOqSFvIHujOii601dj5hZmMNhX4gqIsA6CkloRE6IyjQIIbQp~tHI~31G9aixLgjE5VD-2S9ULQ4rmxvrmZ3VrSLs7-rrijrwCPwwMB1p1uG2gOSQhsEWmDs~BGXcPI3Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richmond City Council on Monday proclaimed April 2025 as National Second Chance Month and recognized a coalition of local reentry organizations for their work supporting people returning from incarceration.

Mayor Eduardo Martinez read a proclamation recognizing local groups including the Reentry Success Center, Rubicon Programs, Safe Return Project, 100 Years Enterprise, Men and Women of Valor and A Place to Call Home. Members of those organizations accepted certificates and told the council about services ranging from employment support and housing navigation to mentoring and fair‑chance hiring.

The nut graf: The proclamation is ceremonial but intended to elevate community reentry providers and call attention to barriers faced by people with criminal records. Council members and community leaders said the month is an opportunity to coordinate city support and encourage local employers to remove barriers to hiring.

Speakers from honored groups described their work. Pedro, a credible messenger organizer with Safe Return Project, said: “Reentry is about more than just returning from home. It's about rebuilding lives, restoring dignity, and creating opportunities for success.” John Cunningham Jr., site manager for Rubicon Programs in Richmond, highlighted Rubicon’s local hiring and wraparound services. Representatives from 100 Years Enterprise spoke about mentoring and employment support for long‑term incarcerated persons returning to Richmond.

Council members applauded the organizations and invited honorees to the dais for photos and brief remarks. Several attendees urged the council to continue funding and supporting community‑based reentry services.

There was no council vote required for this ceremonial proclamation; the council and the groups marked the occasion with brief remarks and public recognition.","The Richmond City Council proclaimed April 2025 as National Second Chance Month and recognized local reentry organizations during a ceremony that brought representatives from Rubicon Programs, the Reentry Success Center, Safe Return Project, 100 Years Enterprise and others to the dais.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6592765,"Parkchester residents press Richmond council for accelerated flood, road and sidewalk repairs",246,4345000,4591000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193&start=4345&end=4591","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193/thumbnail_4345000.jpg","/articles/6592765/Richmond/Contra-Costa-County/California/Parkchester-residents-press-Richmond-council-for-accelerated-flood-road-and-sidewalk-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6592765-9eeb144674c71e7174256ee5914f092d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775101548&Signature=P-HOT~vvfmlVeo-0WapDHrx2EQ4l-n4eG-QQKitcdQKM-pUd6IkPo9LBVGdUF-LzFXo6-NSTlDanGk1qr9WLAOekwWauNJ1MfQ-NvQrzFnGrtw~-9LGslBe~8KiZnPjACotCHoCnOoooKM2IWW-sVS-urr1ZHvOuHFCe~h0oe6Bfg2N3OC6~DP-0aSxn92YbLWiQVQFrtSwv3khV-Fdrf-bqHGB70Y-ecN9koCQO6McCIf1zyCYKB6PLTO1AuRaJvTxd4hREDFroJU7RlgqkWBT-PnWi77-ZJvhnmD0Jllj0dTsTvvTcB3eQj1oE1vpcMtRljGxJeTsIj80s~OEH3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents of Parkchester Village told the Richmond City Council on Monday that recurring flooding, potholes and missing sidewalks pose safety and health risks and urged faster repairs and coordinated funding.

Several speakers — including longtime Parkchester residents Sandy Jackson, Lori Hart, Alvin Cook and others — described streets and community center flooding, repeated stormwater backups on Collins and Williams streets, standing water at Giant Road and narrow sidewalks that force residents, children and seniors into traffic. “We have unsafe, hazardous, dangerous conditions in my community,” Alvin Cook said during public comment.

The nut graf: Parkchester residents said the neighborhood has experienced chronic drainage and road problems for years and noted adjacent development and deferred maintenance have worsened conditions. Council members acknowledged the complaints, thanked residents for organizing and referenced a recently approved $500,000 allocation intended to support design, emergency repairs or initial cleaning of blocked drains.

Speakers asked the city to pursue a multi‑pronged approach: a near‑term clearing of drainage inlets, targeted paving at flood‑prone intersections, ADA curb ramps at bus stops and a longer‑term engineering study to identify a durable fix. Several speakers requested the city attorney enforce Richmond Municipal Code nuisances and improve consistent enforcement of noise and blight issues.

Council and staff responses: Councilmember Doria Robinson, Councilmember Sue Wilson and Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda were among those who said they had visited Parkchester and will pursue follow‑ups. Council staff said the $500,000 set aside by council will be used for initial work and that staff will explore coordination with neighboring developers who have sidewalk obligations on Giant Road.

What residents want: an urgent cleanup of blocked grates and storm drains at Jenkins and Williams; a timeline and contractor for Giant Road pavement repairs; ADA curb ramps and seating at bus stops; and better scheduling and enforcement for problem properties cited as sources of chronic loud music and illegal activity.

Next steps: Councilmembers encouraged residents to submit site‑specific photos and coordinate with staff. Council staff said they would provide updates and explore combining city funds with adjacent developer obligations for sidewalk and drainage work.","Multiple Parkchester Village residents appealed to the City Council during public comment, describing persistent flooding, hazardous roads and missing sidewalks. Councilmembers promised followups and budget attention; the council has set aside $500,000 toward initial infrastructure work for the neighborhood.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6592770,"Richmond council asks staff to study using new Chevron revenue to reduce pension and OPEB liabilities",373,13915000,14288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193&start=13915&end=14288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2777144-cd9bfc9841c019ebba2c71058e2f8193/thumbnail_13915000.jpg","/articles/6592770/Richmond/Contra-Costa-County/California/Richmond-council-asks-staff-to-study-using-new-Chevron-revenue-to-reduce-pension-and-OPEB-liabilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6592770-c940d0cd5acd05eb806195b6cba88555/orig.mp4?Expires=1775101548&Signature=G0W~gqpkyVQT~kixOq4rd9O8ey9zU14k7y2FhupvhtnJis3DpMHXi82NN~Paungm4wAp2S5hCJ7dCCTDCU1n2BkNG3Axwk~Hhj9ABsGsdyWewXjnhpTo9TUTQVE2oyolPraIcD0Rtq5cwTF~Lom87lc543aO4KriMbtS88MDPckc3maA2Wu61Pz2PNFfIb2-PeaiW3s9eGIZ~qLpKYRBpKjgiqQKtqcsXi4Y56DYvTpPJWU5sE1UT6AYFqCVG1E7bFBfjcPMdxCjbwQ91OumyYqCJRsElRj-6YO5IHv7wRcE1-f1BH0yfv9pkx7aRddlMKCABxkegiLAYr8tUQmvyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richmond City Council on Monday voted to direct city staff to work with a researcher from IFPTE Local 21 and the council sponsors to study whether recently secured Chevron‑related general fund revenue could be used to reduce the city’s long‑term pension (CalPERS) and other retiree liabilities.

The council action instructs staff to return with an update on potential early amortization of the city’s two CalPERS plans and its OPEB obligations, and to evaluate whether bond financing or other approaches could increase interest savings. Councilmember Claudia Jimenez brought the motion; Councilmember Doria Robinson seconded. The vote was unanimous among present councilmembers (Brown, Jimenez, Wilson, Robinson, Zepeda and Mayor Martinez); one member was absent for roll call.

Why it matters: researcher Kristin Schumacher of IFPTE Local 21 presented a preliminary analysis showing that Richmond’s reported CalPERS unfunded liabilities (the most recent actuarial snapshot) could be materially reduced by accelerating payments. Schumacher said material interest savings would result from a 10‑year payoff rather than the currently reported 20‑year schedule and that the Chevron‑related payments arriving over the next decade about match the amount needed to retire the existing unfunded liability on an accelerated timetable. “If you were to do that, you would save about a hundred and $17,000,000 in in interest,” Schumacher told the council.

The nut graf: Using one‑time or time‑limited streams to address long‑term liabilities is a commonly considered municipal strategy: it can lower future annual pension contributions and free recurring payroll dollars, but it also requires careful actuarial, bond and legal analysis and public transparency about the tradeoffs.

Council discussion and next steps: Council members asked for more detail on timing, whether the full $550 million settlement figure cited publicly is net of program commitments, and how any payment plan would affect the city’s credit rating and available cash for capital projects. Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda and others stressed that an update—not a final decision—should return to the council; staff indicated they would provide a status report within 45 days but later said further work will be required to complete a full analysis. The council also directed staff to coordinate with CalPERS actuaries and include labor and community stakeholders in the follow‑up process.

Public comment included both support and caution. Ben Theriault, president of the Richmond Police Officers Association, said the union supports paying down OPEB obligations and suggested the unions be included in further talks. Community groups including the local Asian Pacific Environmental Network urged that any analysis be transparent and grounded in the city’s adopted principles for use of Chevron revenues.

Formal action: The council’s motion instructs staff to work with the IFPTE researcher and the item sponsors to bring back an analysis and status update on early amortization options, bond financing and the budgeting consequences within 45 days.

What’s next: staff will coordinate with CalPERS, financial advisers and labor representatives. Any recommendation to accelerate amortization, issue bonds or otherwise commit general‑fund revenues will return to council for a public vote.","The City Council voted to direct staff and an outside researcher to analyze options for early amortization of CalPERS and retiree‑medical (OPEB) liabilities using the new Chevron‑related general‑fund revenue, possible use of bonds, and fiscal impacts. The motion passed unanimously with a 45‑day status update requested.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

West Contra Costa interim superintendent warns enrollment decline, absenteeism threaten district budget and staffing

Richmond council honors police officers after arrest in child‑sex assault case; community voices gratitude and critique

Richmond proclaims April as National Second Chance Month, honors local reentry groups

Parkchester residents press Richmond council for accelerated flood, road and sidewalk repairs

Richmond council asks staff to study using new Chevron revenue to reduce pension and OPEB liabilities