Council approves $2 million to close funding gap for Point Milady coastal stabilization and Bay Trail link, requires public meeting before final design

The Richmond City Council voted unanimously to appropriate $2 million from the General Capital Fund to fill a funding gap for a shoreline stabilization project at Point Milady that the city says is necessary to preserve public access and allow construction of the citysegment of the Bay Trail.

Deputy Public Works Director and City Engineer Robert Armijo and consultants from NCE presented the project as a narrowly sited stabilization and revetment plan to protect roughly 300 linear feet of shoreline where wave action has undermined the bluff and threatened paved trail segments, storm drains and culturally sensitive bluff areas. Armijo said the stabilization is required to allow the Bay Trail work to proceed; East Bay Regional Park District is preparing the companion segment to the south and has bid the overall 2.5-mile trail project but cannot award a contract that would leave an unprotected gap in Richmondcity property.

The staff report and consultant memo said alternatives such as large-scale marsh restoration and some bioengineered measures were considered but found infeasible for this site given steep slopes, rocky substrate, wave energy and the proximity of cultural resources. The state Coastal Commission and regional agencies provided comments recommending limited biological enhancements where feasible (for example, rock weed plantings) but agreed that this site is a high-energy rocky shoreline where certain nature-based approaches are not practical, according to staff.

During public comment, speakers including longtime advocates and park volunteers urged the council to approve the funding quickly to avoid further erosion and the loss of trees and cultural resources; others asked for more detailed studies assessing how revetment might affect adjacent beaches and whether less intrusive alternatives are possible. Consultants from the project team were available online to discuss prior analyses and permitting work.

Councilmembers discussed timing and information needs. Several asked staff to publish more detailed technical materials for public review and to hold a dedicated public meeting before final permit sign-off and final design. Councilmember Wilson moved and a colleague seconded an amendment to the staff resolution requiring a public meeting; the council approved that amendment and then adopted the resolution.

The roll-call vote was unanimous: Council Members Brown, Bonna, Jimenez, Wilson, Robinson, Vice Mayor Zepeda and Mayor Martinez all voted yes.

The appropriation covers the funding gap needed to move the stabilization project into final permitting and bid-ready design and to keep the cityportion of the Bay Trail viable under existing external grant deadlines, staff said. Armijo and the consultants said permit applications are already in process with multiple regulatory agencies (the regional water board, BCDC and others) and that the detailed design, environmental work and agency coordination will continue; the councildirected staff to hold a public meeting before completing permits, design or bidding.

Ending: With the appropriation approved, staff will continue permit coordination, advance design work, post materials for public review and schedule the public meeting the council required before finalizing design and issuing competitive bids.