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Informal Meeting

July 28, 2025 Β·4:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF πŸ“Ή Watch video Official record β†—

Agenda β€” 27 items

  1. 1 Call to Order
  2. 1 Councilmembers Present
  3. 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Announcement
  4. 2 The Honorable Cynthia Newbille, President The Honorable Katherine Jordan, Vice President The Honorable Sarah Abubaker (early departure) 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 (early departure)
  5. 3 2. Ord. 2025-014 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 3. Ord. 2025-025 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 4. Ord. 2025-046 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025
  6. 3 Staff Present
  7. 4 Docket Review
  8. 4 Lisa Braxton, Council Management Analyst, Principal Tori Cotman, Assistant City Attorney Candice Reid, City Clerk Tabrica Rentz, Deputy City Attorney RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
  9. 5 Prior to the start of the meeting, Councilor Kenya Gibson requested that Ords. 2025-046 and 2025-080 be continued to the September 8, 2025 Council meeting.
  10. 6 Other Discussion Item(s)
  11. 6 Council President Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. and presided.
  12. 7 Updates from Mayor Danny Avula
  13. 8 Closed Session
  14. 8 Upon the President’s request, Council Management Analyst Lisa Braxton provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency.
  15. 9 At 4:47 p.m., Councilor Nicole Jones moved that the City Council go into a closed meeting pursuant to subdivision (A)(7) and (A)(29) of section 2.2-3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to (i) consult with legal counsel concerning probable litigation, because consultation in an open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the City and (ii) discuss the award of a contract or contracts involving the expenditure of public funds relating to state lobbying and legislative services and the terms and scope of such contract or contracts, because discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the City. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Vice President Katherine Jordan motioned to exit closed session. The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 6, Breton, Gibson, Jones, Robertson, Jordan, Newbille. Noes None. Lynch, Trammell and Abubaker had not rejoined the meeting.
  16. 10 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:59 p.m.
  17. 10 Council Management Analyst Lisa Braxton reviewed the following agenda items as indicated: Consent Agenda: 1. Ord. 2024-312 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025
  18. 11 Adjournment
  19. 11 Page Break
  20. 12 Councilor Stephanie Lynch arrived at 4:04 p.m. and was seated.
  21. 15 5. Ord. 2025-079 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 6. Ord. 2025-080 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 7. Ord. 2025-081 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 8. Ord. 2025-113 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 9. Ord. 2025-120 – retained on Consent Agenda 10. Ord. 2025-136 – to be amended and continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 11. Ord. 2025-138 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 After an inquiry regarding Ord. 2025-138, Councilor Sarah Abubaker explained the proposed residency waiver provision. 12. Ord. 2025-144 – retained on Consent Agenda 13. Ord. 2025-145 – retained on Consent Agenda 14. Ord. 2025-146 – retained on Consent Agenda 15. Ord. 2025-147 – retained on Consent Agenda 16. Ord. 2025-148 – retained on Consent Agenda 17. Ord. 2025-149 – retained on Consent Agenda 18. Ord. 2025-150 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 19. Ord. 2025-151 – retained on Consent Agenda
  22. 16 20. Ord. 2025-152 – retained on Consent Agenda 21. Ord. 2025-153 – retained on Consent Agenda 22. Ord. 2025-154 – retained on Consent Agenda 23. Ord. 2025-155 – to be amended and continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 24. Ord. 2025-156 – retained on Consent Agenda 25. Ord. 2025-157 – to be amended and continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 Vice President Katherine Jordan informed her colleagues of her intent to forgo the proposed amendment to Ord. 2025-157 and instead consider the legislation in its current form, later that evening during the Formal Session of Council. Vice President Jordan explained that due to the increasing rate by which vape businesses are being established within the city limits, she preferred the immediate enactment of Ord. 2025-157 and requested the proposed amendment be considered at a later time. 26. Ord. 2025-158 – retained on Consent Agenda 27. Ord. 2025-159 – retained on Consent Agenda 28. Ord. 2025-160 – retained on Consent Agenda 29. Ord. 2025-162 – retained on Consent Agenda 30. Ord. 2025-163 – retained on Consent Agenda 31. Ord. 2025-164 – retained on Consent Agenda 32. Ord. 2025-165 – retained on Consent Agenda 33. Res. 2025-R020 – to be continued to Monday, September 8, 2025 34. Res. 2025-R030 – retained on Consent Agenda 35. Res. 2025-R031 – retained on Consent Agenda 36. Res. 2025-R032 – retained on Consent Agenda Regular Agenda: 37. Ord. 2024-187 – retained on Regular Agenda 38. Ord. 2025-100 – to be continued to Monday, September 22, 2025 39. Ord. 2025-161 – to be continued to Monday, September 22, 2025 There were no further comments or discussions concerning Consent and Regular Agenda items reviewed.
  23. 19 Mayor Danny Avula provided Council with an update regarding his six months in office, which included the following:  Key appointments to his administrative team, especially the hiring of Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald  Assessments and strategies, which included M.A.P. (mayoral action plan) and the (7) seven thriving pillars (City Hall, Neighborhoods, Families, Economy, Inclusive Communities, Sustainable Built Environment and Storytelling)  FY 2026 β€œLook for it, Find it, Fix it” initiatives, such as the p-card program reset, Finance department rebuild, non-departmental redesign process, revamped budget review timeline  Water crisis and public utilities modernization Councilors thanked Mayor Avula and requested additional information regarding the employee survey analysis, water system statistics and future environmental forecast planning.
  24. 22 Councilors reconvened in open session at 5:58 p.m.
  25. 23 Councilor Stephanie Lynch rejoined the meeting.
  26. 24 CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED MEETING July 28, 2025 WHEREAS, the Council has convened in closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and WHEREAS, Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by the Council that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Council hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge (i) only public matters lawfully exempt from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certifying resolution applies; and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Council. WITNESS the following vote of Council members, as recorded by Candice D. Reid, City Clerk: CERTIFYING: DECLINING TO CERTIFY: Cynthia I. Newbille, President Katherine L. Jordan, Vice President Andrew S. Breton Kenya J. Gibson Sarah M.A. Abubaker (early departure) Stephanie A. Lynch Ellen F. Roberton Reva M. Trammell (early departure) Nicole Jones
  27. 27 ___________________________________ CITY CLERK