Richmond council approves $250,100 dredging permitting contract with requirement for community sampling meeting

The Richmond City Council on a unanimous vote approved a $250,100 contract with Haley & Aldrich Inc. to begin sampling and to pursue permits needed for maintenance dredging at Terminal 2, the Point Potrero Marine Terminal (Berths 7 and 8), the Marina Bay Yacht Harbor and other port areas, and approved a $150,350 interproject transfer in the port budget to cover the work.

The council added language directing port staff and Haley & Aldrich to hold a community meeting during development of the sampling and analysis plan so residents can offer input on where sampling should occur and which contaminants to test for. Charles Gerard, director of the Port of Richmond, told the council the contractor is agreeable and that the meeting would happen during the planning process before permits are submitted: “We can build into the plan a community meeting that will take place during the planning process, before any permits are submitted, for the dredging and the sampling.”

Why it matt…