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Organizational Development Standing Committee

June 1, 2026 ·4:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 57 items

  1. 1 Call to Order
  2. 1 Members Present
  3. 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
  4. 2 The Honorable Cynthia Newbille, Chair The Honorable Sarah Abubaker, Member The Honorable Andrew Breton, Member (remote participant) The Honorable Kenya Gibson, Member The Honorable Nicole Jones, Member (early departure) The Honorable Stephanie Lynch, Member (late arrival, early departure) The Honorable Ellen Robertson, Member (early departure) The Honorable Reva Trammell, Member (early departure)
  5. 3 Approval of Minutes
  6. 3 Absent
  7. 4 March 2, 2026 - Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting Minutes CD.2026.120
  8. 4 The Honorable Katherine Jordan, Vice Chair
  9. 5 Reports from City Administration, Council Staff, and Other Parties
  10. 5 Others in Attendance
  11. 1. Reynolds Community College Annual Update
  12. 6 Kiley Kesecker, Deputy City Clerk Candice Reid, City Clerk Tabrica Rentz, Deputy City Attorney RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
  13. 7 Reynolds Community College Report CD.2026.161
  14. 2. The National Community Survey for Richmond, Virginia
  15. 8 Chair Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m. and presided.
  16. 9 NCS Presentation Richmond, VA 2026 CD.2026.157
  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 along with public speaker guidelines.
  19. 1. To establish the Code Refresh Review Commission for the purpose of developing optimal recommendations for a forthcoming rewrite of the City’s zoning ordinance, based upon best practices and expert and community input. ORD. 2026-092 forwarded with no recommendation
  20. 11 page break
  21. 2. To establish the Resident Planning Review Commission for the purpose of advising the Council concerning the City’s implementation of the Master Plan. ORD. 2026-096 forwarded with no recommendation
  22. 12 Electronic Participation
  23. 13 Reports of Standing Committees
  24. 13 Pursuant to Rule III(D)(4)(b) of Council’s Rules of Procedure, Member Andrew Breton made a request to participate in the meeting via Microsoft Teams from his home in Richmond, Virginia, as he was providing care for a sick child, thereby preventing his physical attendance. The committee members present were required to adopt a motion to approve Mr. Breton's participation in the meeting by electronic communication means, if it appeared to the body that his request complied with Rule III(D) of Council’s Rules of Procedure. A motion was solicited from those members physically assembled to approve Mr. Breton's participation in the meeting by electronic communication means.
  25. 14 Discussion Item(s)
  26. 14 Member Nicole Jones moved to allow Member Andrew Breton to participate in the meeting by electronic communication means. The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 6, Gibson, Jones, Robertson, Trammell, Abubaker, Newbille. Noes 0. Lynch had yet to arrive.
  27. 15 There were no discussion items.
  28. 16 Adjournment
  29. 16 There were no amendments or corrections to the following meeting minutes, which were approved as presented.
  30. 19 The following ordinances were considered:
  31. 22 Member Stephanie Lynch arrived at 4:11 p.m. and was seated.
  32. 23 Member Kenya Gibson provided an introduction and background information on ORD. 2026-096, noting the goals of the legislation and the composition of the proposed commission.
  33. 24 Member Reva Trammell provided a brief overview of ORD. 2026-092, including the reasoning behind the legislation, background information, and the intended composition of the commission.
  34. 25 Public Hearing
  35. 26 Annika Schunn, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, expressed opposition to both ordinances, stating that they would not improve outreach to renters or lower income residents and would only duplicate existing advisory bodies.
  36. 27 Woody Rogers, Policy Director, Partnership for Housing Affordability, spoke in opposition to the creation of either of the proposed commissions, noting that they would be duplicative and would take too long to establish, while housing needs in the city should be treated with urgency.
  37. 28 Ted Leffler, spoke in opposition to both ordinances, stating that extensive engagement has already been conducted through the Zoning Advisory Committee, planning staff, public meetings, and online tools.
  38. 29 Patty Merrill, Westhampton Citizens Association President, spoke in support of ORD. 2026-092, which would promote better data transparency and public trust while conducting an independent review of code refresh.
  39. 30 Susan Rebillot spoke in support of the establishment of both commissions, citing research and data from other localities showing advisory bodies reduce polarization and improve public understanding of zoning reform.
  40. 31 Robin Levy, Byrd Park Civic Association, spoke in support of the proposed ordinances, stating that an independent conflict free advisory group would strengthen transparency and confidence in Council’s decision making.
  41. 32 Erin Trimmer, Richmond for All, spoke in support of ORD. 2026-096, stating that it would improve accountability in tracking the goals of the Richmond 300 master plan.
  42. 33 Member Nicole Jones asked how either commission would ensure broader engagement among uninformed residents and who would fund and staff the proposed commissions.
  43. 34 Member Kenya Gibson stated that the required public meetings in various parts of the city would increase visibility and engagement.
  44. 35 Member Ellen Robertson questioned the need for new commissions before even reviewing the two years of consultant work and technical analysis that was already completed.
  45. 36 Member Nicole Jones left the meeting at 4:44 p.m.
  46. 37 Kevin Vonck, Director of Planning and Development Review, provided an overview of the ongoing engagement and outreach efforts over the past two years.
  47. 38 Member Sarah Abubaker moved to forward ORD. 2026-092 and ORD. 2026-096 to Council with no recommendation, which was seconded.
  48. 39 Member Andrew Breton stated that he supported the need for comprehensive data on infrastructure capacity, schools, safety, and comparisons to other cities before decisions are made, noting that he requested such information from the mayor's office.
  49. 40 The motion was approved: Ayes 6, Breton, Gibson, Lynch, Trammell, Abubaker, Newbille. Noes 0. Robertson was away; Jones had departed the meeting.
  50. 44 Member Reva Trammell left the meeting at 5:06 p.m.
  51. 45 Dr. Paula Pando, Reynolds Community College President, presented informational updates on enhanced campus facilities, record fundraising and grants, workforce programs expansion, and student enrollment growth.
  52. 46 Member Stephanie Lynch left the meeting at 5:25 p.m., and there was no longer a physical quorum of members present in the Council Chamber.
  53. 47 Member Ellen Robertson left the meeting at 5:31 p.m.
  54. 50 City Auditor Riad Ali provided a brief overview of the National Community Survey and introduced Sonya Wytinck, Polco Executive Vice President of Data and Insights, who presented a deeper dive into the survey results.
  55. 51 Ms. Wytinck noted that the highest ratings were in areas related to education, arts, culture, parks, and natural environment, while the lowest rated areas were utilities, economy, and safety. She also provided information on the survey response rate and stated that most ratings were similar to the results of the 2021 community survey.
  56. 53 Chair Newbille stated that City Council standing committee updates were provided by submitted documentation prepared by Council staff.
  57. 57 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:54 p.m.