30 Jan Consultant to Lead Community Engagement for $550M Chevron Settlement; Richmond to Consider ‘ICE-Free’ Zones

(Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

Richmond residents will get a chance to have a say in how the city will use the $550 million Chevron settlement, but who will be leading that process and the diversity of voices heard were points of contention for City Council members at Tuesday’s meeting.

Council members voted 5-1 to hire a consultant who will gather input on how the funds should be invested. Council members Soheila Bana abstained and Jamelia Brown voted no. The consultant could cost up to $300,000, but is estimated to cost $150,000, according to an agenda report from Mayor Eduardo Martinez, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson and council member Claudia Jimenez.

It was one of two proposals that officials had to decide between on how to conduct the engagement with residents. The other, authored by council member Cesar Zepeda, would have put city staff in charge of the process. City staff, however, said it would have been more overwhelmed than it already is.

“What we’re advocating for through this item is to bring in that non-biased facilitator to help facilitate a conversation with community members in every district and go through this landscape of opportunities,” said Robinson.

The city came to an agreement with Chevron in 2024, after a proposed tax measure pushed by environmental advocates was taken off the ballot that same year. Under that measure, up to $90 million annually would have been generated for the city from a tax on the company.

Last year, one proposed use of the $550 million settlement funds was to use the money to pay off its pension debt.

Martinez, Robinson and Jimenez say that central to the principles of the settlement is a “just transition” away from the city’s dependence on fossil fuels and Chevron, according to their report.

Emma Ishii, local policy coordinator with the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, told council members that the item is a “thoughtful framework” that outlines spending matching community needs.

“I know that the community has a clear vision of Richmond’s future, with clean air, spaces for celebration, supports for small businesses, job training for youth and affordable housing,” said Ishii. “It’s really up to the city to keep gathering that feedback and figuring out how to make those visions a reality.”

Ishii was one of several community members — both affiliated and unaffiliated with the environmental groups involved in the initial tax measure — who backed the proposal.

While commenters speak about a “just transition,” Brown said that isn’t what she’s hearing in the community.

“They speak about safety, they speak about clean streets, options for youth,” said Brown, who also unsuccessfully tried to drop the amount that would be spent on the consultant.

Council members in the fall shot down a Bana-authored proposal that would have also brought a consultant in for $100,000 to engage community members on how to spend the Chevron settlement.

Officials to consider ‘ICE-free zone’

At the Feb. 3 meeting, the Richmond City Council will consider asking city staff to bring back an “ICE-free zone” ordinance that would ban the use of city-owned and -operated property for federal immigration enforcement.

Proposed by Vice Mayor Doria Robinson and council member Claudia Jimenez, the idea would make Richmond the latest Bay Area city to consider the zones in response to an increase in immigration activities under the Trump administration.

“While the Richmond Municipal Code already includes limitations on the use of City resources and property to assist with federal immigration efforts and the City has already established an encounter protocol, additional clarity, preparedness, and operational guidance are needed to ensure City facilities, staff, and residents are protected and informed,” the report states.

Robinson and Jimenez state in the report that staff would also explore the readiness of community spaces like libraries to serve as shelters during protests and other emergencies.

Most recently, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee on Thursday signed two executive orders to establish ICE-free zones in her city and protect people from immigration enforcement activities. Two days before, Alameda County approved an ICE-free zone ordinance. The cities of San Jose and Pinole, Santa Clara County and the West Contra Costa Unified School District have also passed their own. Contra Costa does not have a countywide ICE-free zone ordinance, but has an ICE non-cooperation in the pipeline that has been stalled over whether to allow cooperation in certain cases.

Council members will consider directing staff at the Feb. 3 meeting to report back March 5 about efforts related to immigration enforcement and to have staff bring back an ordinance within 45 days.