Organizational Development Standing Committee

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda — 41 items

1. 1 Members Present
2. 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement
3. 2 The Honorable Cynthia Newbille, Chair The Honorable Katherine Jordan, Vice Chair The Honorable Sarah Abubaker, Member The Honorable Andrew Breton, Member The Honorable Reva Trammell, Member
4. 3 Approval of Minutes
5. 3 Absent
6. 4 June 1, 2026 - Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting Minutes CD.2026.190
7. 4 The Honorable Kenya Gibson, Member The Honorable Nicole Jones, Member The Honorable Stephanie Lynch, Member The Honorable Ellen Robertson, Member
8. 5 Reports from City Administration, Council Staff, and Other Parties
9. 5 Others in Attendance
10. 1. Solar Power Purchase Agreement
11. 6 Laura Drewry, City Attorney Kiley Kesecker, Deputy City Clerk Candice Reid, City Clerk Tabrica Rentz, Deputy City Attorney RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
12. 7 Solar Power Purchase Agreement Presentation CD.2026.198
13. 7 Call to Order
14. 2. Transition of Emergency Medical Call Services to Richmond Ambulance Authority Status Update
15. 8 Chair Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m. and presided.
16. 9 Transition of Emergency Medical Call Services to RAA Status Update CD.2026.196
17. 10 Paper(s) for Consideration
18. 10 Upon the Chair's request, Deputy City Clerk Kiley Kesecker provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in the event of an emergency.
19. 11 There were no papers for consideration.
20. 12 Reports of Standing Committees
21. 12 There were no amendments or corrections to the following meeting minutes, which were approved as presented.
22. 13 July 6, 2026 - Organizational Development Staff Report CD.2026.199
23. 14 Discussion Item(s)
24. 15 There were no discussion items.
25. 16 Closed Session
26. 17 Pursuant to 2.2-3711(A)(7) ~ Consultation with legal counsel pertaining to actual litigation
27. 17 Dawn Oleksy, Energy Program Manager for the Office of Sustainability, presented a proposal to use a third party solar power purchase agreement to install solar panels at no upfront cost at 30 city owned sites by leveraging an existing Prince William County contract. She stated that the project aims to reduce rising electricity expenses with more than $12 million in utility cost avoidance projected over a 25 year period.
28. 18 Adjournment
29. 18 Member Andrew Breton stated his support for the proposal but expressed concerns with whether the projected 3% annual energy cost increase is too conservative.
30. 19 Member Sarah Abubaker questioned whether the projected $12 million in energy savings over a 25 year period would be sufficient to offset rising energy costs. She added that other mitigation strategies beyond solar may be needed to reduce overall costs.
31. 20 Member Reva Trammell requested additional information and input from DPU Director Scott Morris.
32. 21 Chair Newbille expressed support for the proposal and asked for a clear commitment to hire local solar trainees and leverage the project for installation training and employment.
33. 24 Chip Decker, Chief Executive Officer of Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA), reported that RAA has analyzed historical medical call volumes, adjusted staffing, and retrained Emergency Medical Dispatch certified call takers. He stated that RAA is prepared to assume emergency medical dispatch in compliance with National Emergency Number Association and International Academies of Emergency Dispatch standards. Mr. Decker noted they had not received any new information regarding when the transfers will begin other than what was included in the original ordinance.
34. 25 Lawson Wijesooriya, Mayor's Chief of Staff, stated a memorandum of understanding between DECPR and RAA is currently under review by the City Attorney, with a target of being introduced on September 14, and potentially adopted on September 28. She committed to providing Council with a written memo and a substantive update aligned with the ordinance’s implementation window by July 27.
35. 26 Member Trammell expressed concern about current 911 response delays and issues, requesting the matter be placed on the next Public Safety Standing Committee agenda. She added that all nine Council Members passed the June 8 ordinance with a 30 day implementation period.
36. 27 Chair Newbille stated that when the ordinance was adopted, she specifically asked for a clear implementation plan and timeline. She requested that a meeting take place or an update be submitted by July 8th.
37. 28 The committee was in agreement and requested a prompt update on a solid, clearly laid out path to transfer calls to RAA.
38. 29 Closed Session
39. 30 Chair Newbille stated that the originally scheduled closed session would no longer take place.
40. 35 Chair Newbille stated that City Council standing committee updates were provided by submitted documentation prepared by Council staff.
41. 39 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:56 p.m.