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Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee

May 20, 2025 ·3:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 92 items

  1. 1 Persons requesting to provide comments virtually during the public hearings or public comment period held at this meeting, must call the Office of the City Clerk at (804) 646-7955, option 3, by no later than 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
  2. 1 Committee Members in Attendance
  3. 2 Call to Order
  4. 2 The Honorable Nicole Jones – Chair The Honorable Ellen Robertson – Vice Chair (early departure) The Honorable Andrew Breton – Member
  5. 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
  6. 3 Staff and Others in Attendance
  7. 4 Public Comment Period
  8. 4 Bonnie Ashley, Deputy City Attorney Nahdiyah Muhammad, Assistant City Clerk Candice Reid, City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst
  9. 5 Approval of Minutes
  10. 6 April 22, 2025 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Meeting Minutes CD.2025.164
  11. 6 Chair Nicole Jones called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m., and presided.
  12. 7 Presentation(s)
  13. 8 Traffic Calming
  14. 8 Upon the Chair’s request, Assistant City Clerk Nahdiyah Muhammad provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency along with public speaker guidelines.
  15. 9 May 20, 2025 - Traffic Calming CD.2025.173
  16. 10 Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities
  17. 10 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of April 22, 2025, and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
  18. 11 May 20, 2025 - Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities CD.2025.171
  19. 12 Tree Canopy and Neighborhood Cooling with Sustainability
  20. 12 page break
  21. 13 May 20, 2025 - Tree Canopy and Neighborhood Cooling with Sustainability CD.2025.172
  22. 14 Paper(s) for Consideration
  23. 14 Paul Fleisher addressed the committee regarding a proposed rental inspection program. Mr. Fletcher stated that there are concerns regarding the language used in the proposed legislation.
  24. 15 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITES
  25. 15 Erin Trimmer addressed the committee regarding a proposed rental inspection program. Ms. Trimmer stated that the use of the term "blighted" should be reconsidered in the legislation due to the term being broad. Ms. Trimmer also stated that she believes it would be a missed opportunity to forego the collection of rental inspection fees.
  26. 1. To repeal City Code §§ 14-57, concerning the establishment of floodplain districts, 14-58, concerning district boundaries and the official floodplain map, and 14-121, concerning modification to requirements of the building code and to amend §§ 14-19, 14-21-14-23, 14-25, 14-55, 14-56, 14-59-14-62, 14-83-14-88, 14-120, 14-122, and 14-123, concerning floodplain management, for the purpose of aligning the City Code with the Letter of Final Determination from the Federal Emergency Management Agency dated Jan. 8, 2025, regarding the City’s revised flood insurance rate map. ORD. 2025-104 recommended for approval
  27. 16 Caroline Toby, Student Support Coach for United Methodist Family Services (UMFS), addressed the committee regarding the lack of seating and shelter at bus stops. Ms. Toby stated that city and state laws were passed to ensure that all bus stops have available seating and shelter.
  28. 17 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
  29. 17 Julie O'Brien, Project Coordinator for Marijuana Justice, addressed the committee regarding the placement of heavy regulations on cannabis stores, zoning options, and being a public partner with the city. Ms. O'Brien also stated that regulations should be placed to require businesses selling marijuana not be in close proximity to spaces meant for children and families.
  30. 2. To designate the 300 block of North 32nd Street in honor of Reverend Dr. Edward Daniel McCreary, Jr. ORD. 2025-105 recommended for approval
  31. 18 Amoree Speed, New Virginia Majority Community Organizer, provided the committee with comments on behalf of Bennie Gates III. Mr. Gates expressed his support for the establishment of a rental inspection program. Mr. Gates also expressed how Virginia Organizing and members of the Richmond Housing Justice Collective canvassed neighborhoods across multiple districts to gain signatures of support for the rental inspection program.
  32. 3. To designate the 2100 block of Edwards Avenue in honor of Harold Thomas. ORD. 2025-106 recommended for approval
  33. 19 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  34. 4. To express support for the study and installation of photo speed monitoring devices in high-risk intersection segments[, including the 600 and 700 blocks of South Belvidere Street and certain other locations,] pursuant to Va. Code § 46.2-882.1 and [through the City of Richmond’s Department of Police “Safety Camera Program” and] to request that the Chief Administrative Officer consider identifying additional locations for the installation of photo speed monitoring devices and increasing the number of photo speed monitoring devices deployed by the City. (As Amended) (5th District) RES. 2024-R041 recommended to be stricken
  35. 5. To support the application for an allocation of $10,000,000 through the Virginia Department of Transportation Revenue Sharing Program to provide maintenance and construction assistance to certain transportation projects. RES. 2025-R018 recommended for approval
  36. 21 The following ordinance was considered:
  37. 22 Board Vacancies
  38. 23 There were no board vacancies.
  39. 23 Jonet Prevost White, Department of Public Utilities, Program and Operations Manager, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
  40. 24 Discussion Item(s)
  41. 24 There were no comments or discussions, and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2025-104 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  42. 25 There were no discussion items.
  43. 25 The following ordinances were considered:
  44. 26 Staff Report
  45. 27 May 20, 2025 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Staff Report CD.2025.174
  46. 28 There were no comments or discussions, and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2025-105 and ORD. 2025-106 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  47. 29 The following resolution was considered:
  48. 31 Major Ronnie Armstead, Richmond Police Department (RPD), provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed resolution.
  49. 32 Member Andrew Breton asked for the yearly cost estimate regarding the installation of speed cameras at six additional public schools. Member Breton also asked if the six additional schools have been determined.
  50. 33 Major Armstead stated that an additional contract will have to be procured prior to installing additional speed cameras. Major Armstead also stated that the cost for the new contract is only an estimate. Major Armstead further stated that the six additional schools have not been identified.
  51. 34 Member Breton asked about the additional speed cameras not being self-funded.
  52. 35 Major Armstead stated that there are no systems in place to recoup the revenue generated from the speed cameras and that a process is being developed to obtain the revenue from the speed cameras. Major Armstead also stated that about $2 million is being held by the vendor.
  53. 36 Member Breton asked why the vendor is holding the revenue from the speed cameras. Member Breton also asked if there was a system in place to collect the revenue, would there be less of a funding burden.
  54. 37 Major Armstead stated that the vendor currently holds the revenue due to there not being a proper system in place to obtain the funds. Major Armstead also stated that the current $5 million dollar contract has 26 cameras, and there are currently 26 cameras operating under that contract.
  55. 38 Chair Nicole Jones stated that city administration has fulfilled the committee's request regarding a cost analysis of installation for additional speed cameras. Chair Jones also stated the committee has received all requested information to make an informed decision regarding the proposed resolution.
  56. 39 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided the committee with the additional information regarding the proposed resolution.
  57. 40 Member Breton asked if the speed cameras can operate during rush hour.
  58. 41 M Khara stated that state code allows for the speed cameras to operate for 24 hours per day.
  59. 42 City administration continued its discussion of the proposed resolution with the committee.
  60. 43 There were no further comments or discussions, and Member Andrew Breton moved to strike RES. 2024-R041, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  61. 44 The following resolution was considered:
  62. 46 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed resolution.
  63. 47 There were no comments or discussions, and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward RES. 2025-R018 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  64. 50 Merrick Malone, Director of Department of Housing and Community Development, presented the committee with an affordable home ownership opportunities presentation.
  65. 52 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  66. 53 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson stated that it is important for reports to show the total investments made by the city along with federal funding. Vice Chair Robertson also stated that these reports should amplify the total units the city has developed with city and federal funding to keep the public informed on how tax dollars are being spent.
  67. 54 Member Andrew Breton stated that he agrees with the importance of showing the total investments made by the city to supply affordable housing.
  68. 55 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson departed the meeting at 4:01 p.m.
  69. 56 Director Malone stated that he can provide the committee with additional data regarding city funding that has been leveraged for affordable housing.
  70. 57 Chair Nicole Jones asked how eligibility is determined for preservation grants.
  71. 58 Director Malone stated there is an application process that follows Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines.
  72. 59 Chair Jones asked how the public is made aware of the application process.
  73. 60 Director Malone stated that the application is available online through the department's website and flyers are distributed, and applications should be sent to Don Grivetti. Director Malone also stated that the department has partnered with Project Homes.
  74. 61 Chair Jones asked if preservation funds have been allocated.
  75. 62 Director Malone stated that the city partners with Project Homes to provide the services to the city for preservation, and Housing and Community Development (HCD) allocates funding to Project Homes for each approved preservation project. Director Malone also stated that HCD directly provides services through the Healthy Homes program.
  76. 63 Director Malone continued to discuss affordable home ownership opportunities with the committee.
  77. 65 Bobby Vincent, Director of Department of Public Works, presented the committee with a traffic calming presentation.
  78. 67 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  79. 68 Chair Nicole Jones stated this report gives the committee clear insight into the traffic conditions in the city and provides Council with detailed information to collaborate with city administration to address pedestrian safety.
  80. 69 Director Vincent stated that city administration has provided the committee with responses to several questions posed by Member Andrew Breton.
  81. 70 Member Andrew Breton asked for additional data regarding side walk quality and the number of pedestrians that are walking, to understand what the greatest needs are for pedestrian safety and to know where the most dangerous places are for individuals that are walking.
  82. 71 Director Vincent continued to discuss traffic calming with the committee.
  83. 73 Laura Thomas, Director of Department of Sustainability, provided the committee with an introduction of the tree canopy presentation.
  84. 74 Tara Worden, Sustainability Manager, Department of Sustainability, presented the committee with a tree canopy presentation.
  85. 76 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  86. 77 Member Andrew Breton asked for additional information regarding the neighborhoods that the tree canopies will cover.
  87. 78 Ms. Worden stated that requirements can be placed on all new developments within the state percentage requirements. Ms. Worden also stated that developers can receive a better return on investment (ROI) if they contribute to a tree canopy fund. Ms. Worden further stated the policy allows for the city to use tree canopy funding or disperse funds to non-profits that focus on providing tree canopies.
  88. 84 Council staff provided the committee with the May Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee staff report.
  89. 86 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  90. 87 page break
  91. 88 Adjournment
  92. 89 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:41 p.m.