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Education and Human Services Standing Committee

May 8, 2025 ·2:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 54 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 Thursday, May 8, 2025.
  2. 1 Committee and Other Council Members in Attendance
  3. 2 Call to Order
  4. 2 The Honorable Stephanie Lynch - Chair (late arrival) The Honorable Andrew Breton - Vice Chair The Honorable Nicole Jones - Member
  5. 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
  6. 3 Staff in Attendance
  7. 4 Public Comment Period
  8. 4 Maria Garnett, Council Policy Analyst Kimberly Morris, Assistant City Clerk Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst Janet Palmer, Deputy City Attorney Will Perkins, Senior Council Legislative Services Manager Candice Reid, City Clerk RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
  9. 5 Presentation(s)
  10. 6 Update on Office of Aging and Disability Services Needs Assessment
  11. 6 Vice Chair Andrew Breton called the meeting to order at 2:01 p.m., and presided.
  12. 7 Needs Assessment for Older Adults Update CD.2025.163
  13. 8 Discussion Item(s)
  14. 8 Upon the Vice Chair's request, Assistant City Clerk Kimberly Morris provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency along with public speaker guidelines.
  15. 9 Introduction of Amy Popovich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Human Services
  16. 10 Paper(s) for Consideration
  17. 10 There were no public comment speakers.
  18. 1. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute an International Rescue Committee Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and the International Rescue Committee, Inc. for the purpose of funding a youth development program for newcomer high school students enrolled in the school division administered by the School Board of the City of Richmond. ORD. 2025-089 recommended for approval
  19. 12 Board Vacancies
  20. 13 Boards Vacancy Report- Education and Human Services CD.2025.157
  21. 13 Sabrina Joy-Hogg, Interim Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), gave an introduction of Amy Popovich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Human Services.
  22. 14 Approval of Minutes
  23. 15 March 13, 2025 - Education & Human Services Standing Committee Meeting Minutes CD.2025.159
  24. 16 Staff Report
  25. 16 Natasha Houpe, Human Services Manager, Office of Aging and Disability Services, provided the committee with a presentation regarding an update on the Office of Aging and Disability Services needs assessment.
  26. 17 Councilmember Questions for RPS
  27. 17 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  28. 18 Councilmember Questions for RPS CD.2025.168
  29. 19 Member Nicole Jones stated there is a high population of seniors in the 9th District. She also stated the discussion was a great start to highlight aging adults in the city.
  30. 20 Chair Stephanie Lynch arrived at 2:19 p.m., and was seated.
  31. 21 Chair Stephanie Lynch stated her district had seen the work that the Office of Aging and Disability Services did, and that the work was critical. She also asked about the status of direct mail for seniors.
  32. 22 Ms. Houpe stated she would follow-up about direct mail for seniors.
  33. 23 Vice Chair Andrew Breton asked what the successful Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities activities for the elderly were. He also asked what the city environment changes the elderly requested were, and whether newly built homes would be elderly accessible.
  34. 24 Ms. Houpe stated community events were not elderly specific, however the Senior Day event that is hosted every year was successful. She also stated residents would like sidewalks repaired and that 90 percent of adults would like to age in place, however, home repairs remain a challenge.
  35. 25 Vice Chair Breton asked whether the city had funding for home repairs for the elderly.
  36. 26 Ms. Houpe stated Healthy Homes, Project Homes and Habitat for Humanity offer funding for the elderly in conjunction with the city.
  37. 27 page break
  38. 29 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board applications for consideration by the committee.
  39. 31 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  40. 32 Chair Stephanie Lynch moved to forward the following board appointment and reappointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  41. 33 Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks: Anne Brooks Rich (reappointment) Thomas Briggs Jr. Aging and Disabilities Advisory Board: Jodi Winship Charles Barker Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People, Inc: Sam Parker (reappointment) Community Policy and Management Team: Charlotte Talley J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Board: Brenda Drew (reappointment) Joseph Chaudhari Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Inc.: Alan Davis (reappointment) Madeline Mayhood Richmond Behavioral Health Authority: Kristi Babenko (reappointment) Dennis Cohen, Jr. (reappointment) Scott Cannady (reappointment) Noreen O'Brien Social Services Advisory Board Caleb Fulford
  42. 34 page break
  43. 36 The following ordinance was considered:
  44. 38 Eva Colen, Manager of the Office of Children and Families, provided the committee with an introduction of ORD. 2025-089.
  45. 39 Public Hearing
  46. 40 There were no public hearing speakers.
  47. 41 There were no comments or discussions, and Chair Stephanie Lynch moved to forward ORD. 2025-089 to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  48. 43 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of March 13, 2025, and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
  49. 45 Discussion
  50. 47 Chair Stephanie Lynch provided the committee with information regarding Councilmember questions prepared for Richmond Public Schools (RPS).
  51. 49 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  52. 51 Will Perkins, Senior Council Legislative Services Manager, provided an update and information regarding the June 12, 2025, Education and Human Services Standing Committee meeting, which will consist of presentations from regional partners related to case management services for the unhoused, and gun violence prevention efforts with the Richmond Henrico Health District and the Richmond Police Department.
  53. 52 Adjournment
  54. 53 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:47 p.m.