How Richmond works: Your guide to local government and city operations

Want to make your voice heard by local officials at a public meeting but don’t know how? Got a concern about something happening in your neighborhood but not sure who to turn to? Have questions about which agencies and elected officials are responsible for what in Richmond, the West Contra Costa Unified School District, or Contra Costa County? 

Richmondside created this guide to make it easier for people in Richmond to understand, navigate and participate in their local government. We’ve included the city’s major departments and agencies, along with some general information about the Contra Costa County board of supervisors and the West Contra Costa Unified School District. 

If there is information you’d like to see that we haven’t included, or if you have ideas or recommendations for how we can improve this guide, let us know and we may include your suggestion in future versions. Email us at: editors@richmondside.org

City of Richmond

Mayor’s office

Richmond mayors can serve up to two, four-year terms. The mayor’s office, according to the Richmond city website, serves both policymaking and executive roles. The mayor also sits on the City Council as a seventh voting member.

Richmond voters elected Mayor Eduardo Martinez in 2023, and his four-year term ends in 2027. 

City council

Richmond’s City Council is composed of six part-time elected officials, each representing one of the city’s six districts, and the mayor, who sits on the council as a seventh voting member. The council’s duties include approving the city’s annual budget, voting to enact city policies and ordinances, and appointing a City Manager to carry out council business. 

Council members serve four-year terms. In 2020, Richmond shifted from at-large elections, where Richmond residents voted for all six members to district-based elections, where residents vote only for their district representative. The six Richmond districts represent roughly equal populations, and redistricting occurs as necessary with each decennial census.

Not sure which Richmond district you live in? Use the district locator to find out. Then find your council member and their contact information on the city website.

How to attend a Richmond City Council meeting

Council meetings are open to the public and are usually held on the first, third and fourth Tuesday evening of each month when the council is in session. The council takes a six-week summer recess in July and the first half of August. Meeting schedules and agendas are posted in advance. Community members can speak directly to the council during the public comments portion of each meeting. 

Members of the public can attend the meetings in-person at City Hall at 440 Civic Center Plaza. You can also watch the meetings over Zoom, on KCRT channel 28 in Richmond, or on KCRT’s YouTube channel. 

Additional details about how to access and participate in council meetings can be found on the city’s website.

City manager

The City Manager’s job is to ensure that essential city services and programs are being delivered effectively to the public. They are in charge of implementing council policies and overseeing city departments and personnel, as detailed in the city’s organizational chart. They also oversee certain budget processes, public information functions, and inter-governmental relations. 

The city manager is not elected. Rather, they are city employees hired by the Richmond City Council, and can be removed by the council.

Public Works Department

This department oversees infrastructure and physical-environment work in the city, including parks and public landscaping projects, road maintenance, traffic calming, and engineering and capital improvement projects, and manages city-owned properties.

Complaints, permits and other city services

Overseen by the city manager, Richmond operates an online, one-stop portal called COR Connect for residents seeking answers and information about a wide variety of city services — from issuing complaints to applying for permits to paying city fees. To use the portal, residents must register first (for free) using an email address. 

The city manager also maintains an FAQ with contact information and instructions for a long list of city services on its website. Some popular services include how to:

• Report illegal dumping, graffiti, or other blight: Contact Code Enforcement at 510-965-4905.
• Report odors or sewer emergencies: Call the Veolia wastewater company’s 24-Hour odor hotline number at 510-412-2001 (they promise 30-minute response times).
• Report potholes: Contact Public Works at 510-231-3011 or visit the Streets Maintenance Division webpage.
• Report a building code violation: Call 510-621-1279 or email the Code Enforcement Division at ce-1@ci.richmond.ca.us. Remember to provide a description of the violation, its location, and your contact info if followup is required. You can also file a report online.
• Get a building permit: Call Building Regulations at 510-620-6868, go in person to 450 Civic Center Plaza, or visit the website.
• Get a business license: Contact the Business License Department at 510-620-6742, go to their window at 450 Civic Center Plaza, or visit the website.
• Pay traffic tickets: Call the Municipal Court at 510-374-3171, go to 100 37th St., or visit the court’s website.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? See the city’s full FAQ and directory of city services.

Richmond Police Department

The RPD’s stated mission is to “prevent crime and maintain order” in the city, in partnership with local residents. At the time of this publication  the department reported employing 177 officers. RPD is currently led by Chief of Police Bisa French.

Community Police Review Commission

This nine-person citizen commission “advises the City Council, City Manager and Chief of Police on all matters pertaining to the administration of the Richmond Police Department,” according to a statement on their website. They hear and investigate claims from residents alleging unnecessary force, harassment, discrimination or other unlawful behaviors by law enforcement officers. 

Office of Neighborhood Safety

Richmond’s Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) aims to reduce fire-arm related assaults, retaliations and fatalities in Richmond. In addition to directing gun-violence awareness and reduction initiatives throughout the city, ONS provides opportunities and resources as alternatives to street violence. 

Richmond Fire Department

The city’s fire department has seven stations and employs 89 sworn personnel, according to its website. The job of RFD is to fight fires and provide life-saving and emergency medical services to the 115,000 people who reside in the city. The department provides information and resources to promote fire prevention practices in Richmond, and also offers a series of programs to ensure neighborhood safety and wellness. These include car seat inspections, a Christmas toy drive, and more. See a full list of their programs. 

Programs overseen by RFD include the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), a federally recognized, free program that trains community members with life-saving and disaster training. Visit the website to learn more about CERT and how to get involved.

In addition to CERT, the fire department manages the city’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), summarized in the section below.

If you are interested in becoming a firefighter in Richmond, you can learn more about the recruitment process.

Office of Emergency Services

Managed by the fire department, OES oversees the city’s emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery efforts. It provides city emergency plans and guides, emergency notifications, training, a community warning system, and preparedness information.

Planning commission

This seven-member commission advises the city council on development issues and is responsible for overseeing the city’s General Plan, which is a blueprint for the long-term growth of Richmond. They make decisions on proposals, permits and applications for land-use in the city, which can then be upheld, overruled or amended by the City Council. Commissioners serve two-year terms with a maximum of four consecutive terms. 

Richmond Housing Authority

The purpose of the Richmond Housing Authority (RHA) is to help connect low-income residents in the city with safe, sanitary and affordable housing opportunities. It does this by making available a list of resources for people needing help with a variety of housing issues, and through two public housing developments owned and operated by the city: Nevin Plaza, a 142-unit building for seniors and disabled people; and Nystrom Village, a 102-unit development catering to families. Each development has its own waitlist.

RHA no longer manages Section 8 housing vouchers and waitlists for people in the city; That job was transferred to the Housing Authority of Contra Costa County in 2019. 

Although RHA operates within the city’s office of Economic Development, it is federally funded and adheres to guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

All RHA policies are set by the Richmond City Council, which serves a dual-function as the RHA Board of Commissioners. The board receives recommendations from the Housing Advisory Commission (HAC), which can have up to seven members, each serving two-year terms. 

Richmond rent program

This program was established after local voters approved the Richmond Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, and Homeowner Protection Ordinance in 2016. It seeks to keep local rental housing stable and affordable for local tenants, by regulating how matters relating to rent and evictions are handled between landlords and tenants. 

Among other services, the Rent Program can assist tenants and landlords with the following issues and needs:

• Filing for a rent increase or decrease
• Property enrollment and tenancy registration
• Options for rental assistance
• Annual allowed rent increases
• Eviction notices
• Paying rental housing fees

The program is governed by a Rent Board, comprised of five members who serve two-year terms.

Grant opportunities

Richmond residents and local nonprofit organizations can apply for funding from the city of Richmond. Grants can range from $500 to $100,000 and fall into the following categories:

Small Business Support: These grants can help local business owners grow and sustain their small business, and range from $5,000 to $10,000.

Community Service Mini-Grants: Local organizations with a focus on community, youths and youth sports can apply for this funding opportunity. 

Cannabis Equity: Since 2021, the city of Richmond has administered these grants to lower the barrier of entry for cannabis entrepreneurs from communities most impacted by the federal War on Drugs and decades of strict cannabis laws.

ECIA Community Grant Program: This fund is the result of a 2014 community investment agreement between Chevron and the city of Richmond, bringing $90 million over 10 years (beginning in 2016-17) to support a variety of community initiatives and organizations. 

Neighborhood Public Art: These grants exist to support emerging artists and foster public arts and culture projects in Richmond across multiple disciplines. 

Richmond Fund for Children & Youth: This is the main city funding source for organizations serving youths in Richmond and North Richmond. 

Love Your Block: Thai mini-grant program supports community volunteers who want to clean up and beautify their Richmond neighborhoods.

Arts and culture

Richmond’s Arts and Culture Department oversees programs and commissions dedicated to fostering and sustaining Richmond’s historically rich and diverse art scene. Its main body is the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission (RACC), which advocates on behalf of local communities on city spending, policies and ordinances having to do with local arts and culture. 

The department’s annual budget is available online.

Richmond Public Library

Richmond’s libraries offer more than just a quiet place to read and check out books. They also offer wifi hotspots and computer access, host free community events and educational workshops (including the city’s adult literacy program) and provide a host of online resources. 

Access to most library resources requires a library card. The cards are free, but you must provide proof of identity and a mailing address. If you don’t have that information, you can still apply for a temporary card. You can apply for a card in person at any branch, or do so online.

Library card holders can also browse the Richmond Public Library’s entire online catalog and collection of e-books.

More information about Richmond Public Library resources, services and events can be found on its website. You can also email the librarians at rpl_reference@ci.richmond.ca.us with questions about upcoming events, books to borrow, donations and anything else regarding the libraries. 

Contra Costa County

West Contra Costa Unified School District

WCCUSD serves more than 25,000 students across 56 schools in Richmond, El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo, and six unincorporated areas: North Richmond, East Richmond Heights, Bayview-Montalvin Manor, El Sobrante, Kensington and Tara Hills. 

WCCUSD is led by a superintendent and governed by a Board of Education, which is comprised of five elected members, each representing a different area, plus the district superintendent. The board is responsible for making budget and policy decisions for the district. Board members can serve up to two, four-year terms. The board also includes two non-voting student trustees, who serve one-year terms.

Richmond schools are located in Areas 2 and 3. Find your school’s trustee area and school board member.

Attend a school board meeting

The board usually meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at Lovonya DeJean Middle School’s multipurpose room on 3400 Macdonald Ave. You can also join remotely. See the meeting calendar and minutes from past meetings.

How and where to register to vote

Voter registration is required to participate in all elections: city, county, state and federal. 

Richmond residents and others in Contra Costa County can get more information, check their eligibility or registration status, and register to vote online through the California Secretary of State office. You can also call the office toll-free at 800-345-VOTE to request a registration form be mailed to you.

Paper registration forms should also be available at local public libraries, DMV and U.S. Post Office locations, as well as at Richmond City Hall at 440 Civic Center Plaza.

Elections are held every two years in Richmond, on even years, and take place in November. Primary elections, which can decide what candidates will appear on ballots in the general election, are typically held in June, and the general election takes place in November.

The city of Richmond’s next election will be held in conjunction with the June 2, 2026 primary. The next general election is Nov. 3, 2026.