Richmond Council Weighs Wastewater Contract and $8.2 Million in Reserves

City officials recommend competitive bidding for new private wastewater operator, while council also considers Flock Safety camera contract and budget allocations.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 12:36am

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Richmond City Council is set to take up several key decisions at its upcoming meeting, including whether to rebid the city's wastewater and stormwater services contract, whether to restore the full Flock Safety automated license plate reader system, and how to allocate $8.2 million in budget reserves. The council will also receive updates on efforts to protect immigrant residents, improvements to Cheese Park, and a new Blue Envelope program for residents with autism.

Why it matters

The wastewater contract decision could significantly impact the city's budget, while the Flock Safety vote reflects ongoing community debates over surveillance technology and public safety. The allocation of budget reserves also highlights Richmond's fiscal challenges and priorities.

The details

For the wastewater and stormwater services, city staff and consultants are recommending a competitive bidding process to find a new private operator before the current Veolia contract expires in 2027. This follows an analysis that found taking operations fully in-house or transferring to another public agency would not be feasible within the available timeframe. A new contract could cost between $15 million and $25 million annually, up from the current $13.6 million. On the Flock Safety contract, the council will choose between restoring the full automated license plate reader system or keeping only the CCTV and drone programs. Police Chief Timothy Simmons is recommending the full system, citing a 33% rise in vehicle thefts since the cameras were shut down in 2025. Regarding the $8.2 million in budget reserves, staff is proposing to allocate $6.32 million to Complete Streets improvements, $250,000 for environmental monitoring at Point Molate, and the remainder to pension and retiree health trusts.

  • The current Veolia wastewater and stormwater contract expires in May 2027.
  • The Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras were shut down in October 2025.
  • The council will receive the fiscal year 2025-26 mid-year budget review covering July 1 through December 31, 2025.

The players

Shasa Curl

Richmond City Manager.

Shannon Moore

Richmond City Attorney.

Timothy Simmons

Richmond Police Chief.

Veolia Water North America

The current private operator of Richmond's wastewater and stormwater systems.

Flock Safety

The company that provides automated license plate reader cameras and other surveillance technology to the Richmond Police Department.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The judge in the Flock Safety case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.