City Council

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda — 27 items

1. 1 Call to Order
2. 1 Council Members Present
3. 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement
4. 2 The Honorable Cynthia Newbille, President The Honorable Katherine Jordan, Vice President The Honorable Sarah Abubaker (late arrival) The Honorable Andrew Breton The Honorable Kenya Gibson The Honorable Nicole Jones The Honorable Stephanie Lynch (late arrival) The Honorable Ellen Robertson The Honorable Reva Trammell
5. 3 Council Amendment Considerations
6. 3 Others in Attendance
7. 4 FY 2027 Proposed City Council Budget Amendments CD.2026.111
8. 4 Laura Drewry, City Attorney Kiley Kesecker, Deputy City Clerk Tabrica Rentz, Deputy City Attorney RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
9. 5 Adjournment
10. 6 Council President Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 1:08 p.m. and presided.
11. 8 Upon the President's request, Deputy City Clerk Kiley Kesecker provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency.
12. 11 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
13. 12 RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff, provided an overview of the budget amendment work session agenda and procedures. He stated that each Council member would have ten minutes to present their proposed amendments, not including any time spent answering questions from colleagues.
14. 13 Councilor Andrew Breton outlined proposed FY27 budget amendments as follows: • Financing Sports Backers land purchase with debt instead of contingency funds • 311 and customer service integration • Additional Planning and Development Review staff • Creating an energy coordinator position in the Office of Sustainability • Legal support for City Assessor • Field lights at Thomas Jefferson High School • CIP funding for People's Budget in FY28
15. 14 Vice President Katherine Jordan outlined proposed FY27 budget amendments as follows: • Additional Planning Department staff to support Richmond 300 implementation • Reallocation of additional gas works CIP funding to support affordability initiatives
16. 15 Councilor Kenya Gibson outlined proposed FY27 budget amendments as follows: • Cuts from long vacant positions in Economic Development and Strategic Communications • Continued funding for Richmond Virtual Academy • Additional staff positions within Department of Social Services • Wage increases for contracted custodial staff • Funding for expanded interpretation and translation services • Funding a study of transitioning to city owned utilities
17. 16 Councilor Gibson also proposed text amendments regarding the following items: • Senior executive severance payment provisions • Affordable Housing Trust Fund text alignment with ordinance • Richmond Public Schools audit provisions and proactive audit services at City Hall
18. 17 Councilor Stephanie Lynch arrived at 1:33 p.m. and was seated.
19. 18 Councilor Ellen Robertson outlined proposed FY27 budget amendments as follows: • Funding for a replicable model neighborhood inclusion plan • Coordination of homelessness services • Establishment of special fund for rental inspection • Funding for Central Business District development and land acquisition • Text amendment ensuring required funding for Affordable Housing Trust Fund
20. 19 Councilor Stephanie Lynch outlined proposed FY27 budget amendments as follows: • Funding for Randolph Community Center recreational equipment • Dedicated mailing and postage line item forOlder Adults & Persons with Disabilities Office • Encumbrance of remaining Fonticello Park CIP funds • Funding to design housing development at Clark Springs Elementary site • Increased funding for Family Crisis Fund
21. 20 Councilor Sarah Abubaker arrived at 1:54 p.m. and was seated.
22. 21 Councilor Reva Trammell outlined proposed FY27 budget amendments as follows: • Funding for Richmond Ambulance Authority ambulance purchases and leases • Funding a recurring 1.5% COLA for all city retirees • Continued funding for Richmond Virtual Academy
23. 22 Councilor Sarah Abubaker outlined proposed FY27 budget amendments as follows: • Text amendment to strike senior executive severance language • 3.25% raise for all city employees • Funding for Forest Hill and Westover Hills corridor traffic and design study • Funding to reconfigure Westover Hills Elementary drop-off lane and parking
24. 23 Councilor Nicole Jones outlined proposed FY27 budget amendments as follows: • Funding prior year request for splash pad at Broad Rock Sports Complex • Funding for Southside Community Center programming
25. 24 President Cynthia Newbille outlined proposed FY27 budget amendments as follows: • Funding for RPS after-school transportation and security • Restoring customer service position in City Assessor's Office • Repurposing East End Teen Center funds to childcare • Funding a 1.5% COLA for all city retirees • Funding for Richmond Ambulance Authority ambulance purchases and leases
26. 26 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.
27. 27 ___________________________________ CITY CLERK