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Richmond Rising committee hears project updates including $35 million grant, e-bike and trail plans
Summary
Committee coordinator Beatriz Guerrero reported that Richmond Rising received a $35,000,000 grant and provided program updates on Complete Streets, e-bike library maintenance, a wellness trail design, Orchard for All harvests and water-saving installations; youth participants shared event feedback.
At a March 4 meeting in Richmond, committee coordinator Beatriz Guerrero provided a series of project updates for Richmond Rising programs funded through a grant the staff reported as $35,000,000.
Guerrero said staff submitted invoice No. 15, are coordinating with partners to prepare additional grant applications and reimbursement requests to the state, and are working with potential donors and partner agencies to secure further funds. She noted that the committee’s funding was approved in part because of high local pollution levels and that state reviewers were impressed with Richmond’s project metrics.
On transportation and infrastructure, Guerrero updated members on the Complete Streets project along Harbor Way and Ohio Avenue, saying two additional grants have been provided, coordination with Caltrans is underway, and environmental conservation planning will require roughly six months of studies and data collection.
The committee also heard status updates on a range of programs: a community center and park project (reported $107,000 spent to date and a remaining budget figure stated by staff), the Richmond Wellness Trail (reported $418,000 spent to date), a shared e-bike program (reported spending just over $500,000 with $472,000 remaining; staff described vandalism and abandoned bikes and said they have responded to state requests for justification of funds), Resilient Homes (just over $1,000,000 spent so far with subsequent solar installation planning), Basins of Relations water recycling installations (saving over 4,000 gallons), and Orchard for All (427 pounds harvested, maintenance of 34 trees, and four apprentices hired).
Youth participants presented photos and remarks about bike-ride events. One youth, Yura, said the events were enjoyable and that she “would not want the program to end,” reflecting positive participant feedback.
Staff reported procurement activity for an accessible community garden (three bids received) and upcoming community events including a tree-donation event March 7 at Unity Park and an office opening on March 12. Guerrero said staff will circulate draft reports and evaluations provided by U.C. Berkeley for committee review.
Several budget figures in the transcript were presented with inconsistent formatting or ambiguous phrasing (staff quoted remaining budgets with large round numbers); staff committed to sharing the written invoices and draft reports with committee members and posting them on the committee website for clarity.
The meeting concluded after announcements and a short public comment from an attendee who promoted a community event.
