Richmond: Governance - Boards, Commissions, Committees
Webiste:  Boards and Commissions | Richmond, CA - Official Website

City of Manager - Shasa Curl

Responsible for carrying out the policies of the City Council and managing the City's departments and program activities.
  • providing daily leadership in policy development and implementation.
  • ensure the efficient and equitable delivery of essential city services
  • oversee budgetary processes,
  • manage inter-governmental relations and public information functions.
  • takes charge of initiating and developing both short and long-term special projects, as well as directing significant economic development initiatives.

Contra Costa County - Board of of Supervisors

​https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9970/Board-of-Supervisors

What Makes Them Important?

  1. Appoint most County department heads, except elected officials, and providing for the appointment of all other County employees
  2. Provide for the compensation of all County officials and employees
  3. Create officers, boards and commissions as needed, appointing members and fixing the terms of office
  4. Award all contracts except those that are within the authority delegated to the County Purchasing Agent
  5. Adopt an annual budget
  6. Sponsor an annual audit made of all County accounts, books, and records
  7. Supervise the operations of departments and exercising executive and administrative authority through the County government and County Administrator
  8. Serve as the appellate body for Planning and Zoning issues
  9. Serve as the County Board of Equalization

When & Where Supervisors Meet?

Regular meetings held on Tuesdays beginning at 9:00am at:
  • County Administration Building
  • 1025 Escobar Street,
  • Martinez, CA 

Calendar of CCC Meetings & Agenda 

All meetings are open to the public, whether:​https://contra-costa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Boards and Commissions For Contra Costa County

County governance also includes a variety of:
  • citizen commissions,
  • committees and
  • other entities
formed to advise the Board of Supervisors and County staff on issues and policy. The County welcomes the participation of our residents.  
# of CCC Commissions:  131

Richmond's Supervisor:  John Gioia 

Call-to-Action: 
  • Get To Know Our District 1 Supervisor 
  • Request a meeting.
Location: 
  • 11784 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530

California State Legislature

Consist of:
  1. the California Assembly
  2. the California Senate
California Assembly
  • Composition:
    • Has 80 members.
    • Each member represents a district with roughly equal population.
    • Members serve two-year terms.
      • i.e. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
  • Roles and Powers:
    • Legislation: Assembly members propose, debate, and vote on bills. A bill must pass both the Assembly and the Senate before becoming law.
    • Budget: The Assembly plays a key role in crafting and approving the state budget.
    • Oversight: The Assembly monitors and reviews the actions of the executive branch and state agencies.
California Senate
  • Composition:
    • Has 40 members.
    • Each member represents a district, typically larger than those of the Assembly due to the smaller number of districts.
    • Senators serve four-year terms, with staggered elections to ensure continuity.
  • Roles and Powers:
    • Legislation: Also propose, debate, and vote on bills. As with the Assembly, bills must pass both chambers and be signed by the Governor to become law.
    • Confirmation: The Senate confirms certain appointments made by the Governor, including judges and other key positions.
    • Oversight: The Senate provides oversight of state agencies and executive branch activities.
The Legislative Process
  1. Bill Introduction: Bills can be introduced by any member of the Assembly or Senate. They can also be introduced by the Governor or through ballot initiatives.
  2. Committee Review: Bills are assigned to relevant committees in their respective chambers for detailed examination, debate, and potential amendments.
  3. Floor Debate: If a bill clears the committee stage, it is debated and voted on by the full chamber where it was introduced.
  4. Consideration by the Other Chamber: If a bill passes one chamber, it moves to the other chamber, where it undergoes a similar process of committee review, debate, and voting.
  5. Reconciliation: If the second chamber makes amendments, the bill returns to the first chamber for consideration of those changes. Both chambers must agree on the final text.
  6. Governor’s Action: Once both chambers pass the bill in the same form, it is sent to the Governor, who can sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature.
  7. Veto Override: If the Governor vetoes a bill, the Legislature can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.
Key Differences Between the Chambers
  • Term Length: Assembly members serve two-year terms, while Senators serve four-year terms.
  • District Size: Assembly districts are smaller, representing more specific local constituencies, whereas Senate districts are larger, covering broader regions.

​State Assembly Person: Buffy Wicks

Contact Her office if you want to:
  • Express an Opinion
  • Propose a New Law
  • Ask for Copies, Summaries, and Information on Bills
  • Get Involved in the Legislative Process
  • Find Information on How a Bill Becomes a Law
  • Be Notified of Legislative Hearings
  • Report Agency Misconduct
​Her office can provide you information on:
  • Consumer Protection
  • The State Budget
  • Reports Issued by the Legislature and State Agencies
  • State Agency Phone Numbers
  • State Capitol Tours
  • Government Forms and Publications
Her staff can assist you with state-related matters, such as:
  • Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Foreclosure Prevention Programs
  • Consumer Complaints
  • Veterans’ Benefits
  • Unemployment and Disability Insurance
  • State Taxes
  • Professional Conduct or Licensing Complaints
  • Medi-Cal and Covered California

​Senate & House Representatives

Your Members | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
https://www.congress.gov/members/map 

The United States Congress is made up of two chambers:
  1. the Senate,
  2. the House of Representatives.
The Senate
  • Composition: The Senate has 100 members, with each state having two Senators regardless of its population size.
    • Senators serve six-year terms.
      • i.e. - CA - Senator Butler & Senator Padilla
  • Roles and Powers:
    • Legislation: debate and vote on proposed laws (bills). A bill must be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and be signed by the President to become law.
    • Confirmation Powers: The Senate confirms presidential appointments to: 
      • the executive branch,
      • federal judges,
      • ambassadors.
    • Treaties: The Senate must ratify international treaties negotiated by the President.
    • Impeachment: The Senate holds the trial for impeachment cases. The House of Representatives can impeach federal officials, but the Senate conducts the trial and votes on whether to remove the official from office.
The House of Representatives
  • Composition:
    • The House has 435 members. 
    • # (number) of Representatives from each state based on its population.
    • Representatives serve two-year terms.
  • Roles and Powers:
    • Legislation: Like the Senate, Representatives debate and vote on bills. A bill must pass both chambers and be signed by the President to become law.
    • Revenue Bills: All bills related to taxation and revenue must originate in the House, though the Senate can amend them.
    • Impeachment: The House has the sole power to impeach federal officials, essentially charging them with misconduct. If the House approves articles of impeachment, the case is sent to the Senate for trial.
The Legislative Process
  1. Introduction: A bill can be introduced by a member of either the House or the Senate.
  2. Committee Review: The bill is referred to a committee, where it is examined, debated, and can be amended.
  3. Floor Debate: If approved by the committee, the bill goes to the floor of the chamber where it was introduced for further debate and voting.
  4. Consideration by the Other Chamber: If the bill passes one chamber, it is sent to the other chamber, where the process is repeated.
  5. Reconciliation: If both chambers pass different versions of the bill, a conference committee may be formed to reconcile the differences.
  6. Final Approval: The final version of the bill is sent back to both chambers for approval.
  7. Presidential Action: If both chambers approve the bill, it is sent to the President, who can sign it into law or veto it. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

​​West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education Committees 

WCCUSD Board

  • Elected by voters in the community for a term of four years.
  • Elections:
    • take place in November every other year.
  • The board elects its president and clerk each year in December.
School Board Meetings

  • except closed sessions, are open to the public.
  • held in the Lovonya DeJean Middle School Multipurpose Room, 3400 Macdonald Ave., Richmond.
  • Public session begins at 6:30 p.m.
  • Superintendent's Office, 1108 Bissell Avenue, Richmond, CA 94801 (510) 231-1101.
Agenda For School Board Meetings

  • published three working days prior to the meeting.
  • Complete board meeting packets are available for review at:
    • the administration building,
    • the district's six high schools,
    • public libraries throughout West County.

Committees & Advisory Committee at WCCUSD

WCCUSD Seeks Applicants for the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC)

The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) is recruiting applicants to serve on the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC).  
To be considered to become a member of the Citizens Oversight Committee for Parcel Taxes, you must be recommended to the Board of Education by one of the following groups:
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