Public Safety Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor – City Hall
Agenda — 53 items
- 1 Call to Order
- 1 Committee Members in Attendance
- 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
- 2 The Honorable Reva Trammell – Chair The Honorable Sarah Abubaker – Member
- 3 Public Comment Period
- 3 Absent
- 4 Approval of Minutes
- 4 The Honorable Stephanie Lynch – Vice Chair
- 5 May 28, 2026 - Public Safety Standing Committee Meeting Minutes
- 5 Staff and Others in Attendance
- 6 Presentation(s)
- 6 Greg Lukanuski, Deputy City Attorney Kiley Kesecker, Deputy City Clerk Nahdiyah Muhammad, Assistant City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst
- 7 Hurricane Season Preparations
- 8 2026 Hurricane Season Preparations Presentation
- 8 The meeting was called to order at 1:03 p.m.
- 9 Illegal Dumping and Graffiti
- 10 Illegal Dumping and Graffiti Presentation
- 10 Assistant City Clerk Nahdiyah Muhammad provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency along with public speaker guidelines.
- 11 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 12 There were no papers for consideration.
- 12 There were no public comment speakers.
- 13 page break
- 14 Board Vacancies
- 14 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of May 28, 2026, and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
- 15 There were no board vacancies.
- 16 Discussion Item(s)
- 17 There were no discussion items.
- 18 Staff Report
- 18 Edward Porner, Deputy Director of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response (DECPR), presented an overview of DECPR preparations for the 2026 hurricane season. Mr. Porner stated that, although a below normal hurricane season is forecast, residents should remain prepared. He emphasized that flooding is the leading cause of hurricane related fatalities, encouraged residents to obtain flood insurance, and outlined the city's emergency preparedness efforts, including emergency planning, training, shelter operations, and public outreach. Mr. Porner also encouraged residents to sign up for the Richmond Ready emergency notification system to receive timely emergency alerts.
- 19 June 23, 2026 - Public Safety Staff Report
- 20 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 21 Member Sarah Abubaker asked about infrastructure improvements to reduce flood risk. She requested a more detailed review of flood mitigation plans.
- 22 Mr. Porner stated that each department is developing a continuity of operations plan that identifies critical assets, operational vulnerabilities, and alternate locations for maintaining essential services. He noted that the plans also assess potential impacts to facilities and equipment to help ensure continuity of city operations.
- 23 Member Abubaker asked about public awareness regarding flood insurance and recent updates to the flood maps.
- 24 Mr. Porner stated that residents should review the updated Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps, and emphasized the importance of flood insurance to protect against significant financial losses.
- 25 Member Abubaker noted that updated floodplain maps now include homes within the 50 and 100 year floodplains that were not previously designated as such. She asked whether any state or federal programs are available to assist long-term homeowners with the additional cost of flood insurance resulting from these changes.
- 26 Mr. Porner stated that federal hazard mitigation grant programs can help fund projects to reduce flood risks and improve community resilience. He added that, through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), damaged homes may be rebuilt and elevated to better meet flood standards. Mr. Porner noted that most hazard mitigation funding is directed toward strengthening public infrastructure rather than individual properties.
- 27 Chair Reva Trammell asked whether the city offers assistance for homeowners who are unable to obtain or afford flood insurance after being designated within a flood zone. She expressed concerns regarding elderly residents receiving notices and information about flood insurance and flood zone requirements.
- 28 Mr. Porner stated that the NFIP serves as an insurer and provides flood insurance coverage when private options are unavailable. He noted that residents are encouraged to sign up for Richmond Ready Alerts and can complete a paper application if they have concerns with accessing technology.
- 30 John Walsh, Programs and Operations Manager, Department of Public Works (DPW), provided an overview of efforts to address illegal dumping and graffiti. Mr. Walsh stated that complaints are investigated by the Community Enhancement Team, with coordination among departments for enforcement and abatement. He highlighted ongoing challenges with repeat dumping locations, costs, and discussed a proposed camera pilot program to deter illegal activity and assist with enforcement.
- 32 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 33 Member Abubaker asked whether illegal dumping is unique to the city or a broader regional issue, and whether there is a collective approach to addressing the problem.
- 34 Mr. Walsh stated that illegal dumping is not unique to Richmond but is more commonly associated with urban areas that have alleys and vacant spaces. He noted that many individuals caught illegally dumping are from surrounding counties rather than city residents.
- 35 Member Abubaker expressed support for the camera program and asked about potential legal limitations, including camera placement and the use of footage for legal proceedings. She also asked how many cameras are currently deployed throughout the city to monitor illegal dumping.
- 36 Mr. Walsh stated that legal considerations primarily involve data storage and maintaining a proper chain of custody for evidence. He noted that the Richmond Police Department currently has several larger pole mounted cameras, while DPW has acquired about 7–10 cameras for its pilot program. He stated that deployment is expected to begin within the next few weeks after finalizing internal procedures.
- 37 Chair Trammell expressed concerns regarding ongoing issues in the 8th and 9th Districts, including illegal dumping, vacant properties, public safety concerns, and quality of life issues. She stated that residents and business owners have been reporting these issues and requested additional support from the city.
- 38 Mr. Walsh acknowledged the committee's concerns and stated that many of the issues raised require coordination among multiple departments. Mr. Walsh stated that DPW continues to address illegal dumping and repeat locations but emphasized the need for preventative measures, and enforcement to reduce recurring issues.
- 39 page break
- 47 Council staff provided the committee with the June Public Safety staff report, and the proposed committee schedule for September 2026 through February 2027.
- 49 Proposed Presentation Schedule
- 50 Copies of the materials provided have been filed.
- 51 Adjournment
- 52 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:26 p.m.