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Governmental Operations Standing Committee

April 23, 2025 ·1:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 108 items

  1. 1 Committee and Other Council Members in Attendance
  2. 2 Call to Order
  3. 2 The Honorable Katherine Jordan - Chair The Honorable Kenya Gibson - Committee Member
  4. 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
  5. 3 Absent
  6. 4 Public Comment Period
  7. 4 The Honorable Sarah Abubaker - Vice Chair
  8. 5 Approval of Minutes
  9. 5 Staff in Attendance
  10. 6 None
  11. 6 Laura Drewry, City Attorney Susan McKenney, Senior Assistant City Attorney Kimberly Morris, Assistant City Clerk Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst William Perkins, Council Senior Legislative Services Manager Candice Reid, City Clerk RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
  12. 7 Presentation(s)
  13. 8 Lead Service Line Replacement Program
  14. 8 Chair Katherine Jordan called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m., and presided.
  15. 9 Department of Public Utilities Meeting Documents CD.2025.142
  16. 10 Enterprise Systems
  17. 10 Upon the Chair’s request, Assistant City Clerk Kimberly Morris provided information on the appropriate manner in which the Council Chamber is to be evacuated in the event of an emergency along with public speaker guidelines.
  18. 11 Enterprise Systems Overview CD.2025.139
  19. 11 page break
  20. 12 page break
  21. 12 Electronic Participation
  22. 13 Human Resources Open Audit Recommendations
  23. 13 Pursuant to Rule III(D)(4)(b) of Council’s Rules of Procedure, Vice Chair Sarah Abubaker made a request to participate in the meeting via Microsoft Teams from her home, due to a medical condition that prevented her physical attendance. The committee members present were required to adopt a motion to approve Vice Chair Abubaker's participation in the meeting by electronic communication means if it appeared to the body that her request complied with Rule III(D) of Council’s Rules of Procedure. A motion was solicited from those members physically assembled to approve Vice Chair Abubaker's participation in the meeting by electronic communication means.
  24. 14 Audit Update - Department of Human Resources CD.2025.140
  25. 14 Vice Chair Katherine Jordan moved to allow Vice Chair Sarah Abubaker to participate in the meeting by electronic communication means. The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Jordan, Gibson. Noes None.
  26. 15 Required Reports to Council
  27. 15 Vice Chair Sarah Abubaker did not attend the meeting.
  28. 16 Required Reports to Council Governmental Operations Committee 4.23.25 CD.2025.133
  29. 17 Discussion Item(s)
  30. 17 There were no public comment speakers.
  31. 18 Attendance Policies for Boards and Commissions Meetings
  32. 19 Paper(s) for Consideration
  33. 19 There were no minutes to be approved.
  34. 1. To approve the text of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Richmond, Virginia, and Teamsters Local 322 for the Labor & Trades Bargaining Unit in accordance with City Code section 2-1301.13. ORD. 2025-070 recommended for approval
  35. 2. To approve the text of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Richmond, Virginia, and Service Employees International Union, Virginia 512 for the Professional Bargaining Unit in accordance with City Code section 2-1301.13. ORD. 2025-071 recommended for approval
  36. 21 The following ordinances was considered:
  37. 3. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a First Amendment to Right of Entry agreement between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of General Services for the purpose of permitting the City access to and use of the parking garage located at 311 North 7th Street to make certain repairs to the City owned property located at 730 East Broad Street. ORD. 2025-072 recommended for approval
  38. 4. To express the Council’s support for establishing a policy for reviewing and approving honorary street sign designations. RES. 2025-R016 recommended for approval
  39. 24 Board Vacancies
  40. 24 Tyrome Alexander, Director of Human Resources, provided an introduction and background information regarding the proposed ordinances.
  41. 25 Governmental Operations Standing Committee Boards & Commissions Vacancy Report Wednesday, April 23, 2025 CD.2025.138
  42. 25 Public Hearing
  43. 26 Staff Report
  44. 26 There were no public hearing speakers.
  45. 27 Governmental Operations Standing Committee April 23, 2025 Staff Prep Document for Councilmembers CD.2025.143
  46. 27 There were no comments or discussions and Member Kenya Gibson moved to forward ORD. 2025-070 and ORD. 2025-071 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  47. 28 The following ordinance was considered:
  48. 30 Gail Johnson, Director for the Department of General Services, provided an introduction and background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
  49. 31 Public Hearing
  50. 32 There were no public hearing speakers.
  51. 33 There were no comments or discussions and Member Kenya Gibson moved to forward ORD. 2025-072 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  52. 34 page break
  53. 35 The following resolution was considered:
  54. 37 Will Perkins, Council Senior Legislative Services Manager, provided an introduction and background information regarding the proposed resolution.
  55. 38 Public Hearing
  56. 39 There were no public hearing speakers.
  57. 40 Member Kenya Gibson stated she appreciated the time spent to create a system to ensure a manageable process. She also stated it would be helpful to know the dates of considered meetings, deadlines to submit requests, and the structure of the process.
  58. 41 Chair Katherine Jordan asked if the resolution should be amended to include the budget, dates, goals to spread recognition across the city, and other updates.
  59. 42 Mr. Perkins stated he will inquire with the City Attorney and the City Clerk whether RES. 2025-R016 should be amended. He also stated the current policy did not specify a number of designations per member intentionally, to incorporate flexibility so scheduling could be changed based on need.
  60. 43 Chair Jordan stated there would be two opportunities to be considered for the approval of signs. She also stated that the Department of Public Works would incur the sign cost of $700.00.
  61. 44 Mr. Perkins stated he was working with the Office of Budget and Strategic Planning to ensure the funds were accurately included and appropriated.
  62. 45 Member Gibson stated language could be included to emphasize that designations should be placed throughout the city and that she favored deadlines.
  63. 46 Chair Jordan asked was there flexibility to amend the rules to adjust dates as needed.
  64. 47 Mr. Perkins stated decisions could be less formal since the policy was being established by resolution.
  65. 48 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Kenya Gibson moved to forward RES. 2025-R016 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  66. 49 page break
  67. 51 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board vacancies and applications for the committee's consideration.
  68. 53 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  69. 54 Member Kenya Gibson moved to forward the following applications for appointment and reappointment to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved:
  70. 55 City Personnel Board: Patrice Carpenter (reappointment)
  71. 56 Sister Cities Commission: Nannette Bailey Jack Ketterlinus Eric Tomlin
  72. 57 Sustainability and Resilience Commission: David Evans (reappointment)
  73. 60 Laura Bendernagel, Department of Public Utilities Deputy Director, provided the committee with an update regarding the Lead Service Line Replacement program.
  74. 62 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  75. 63 Chair Katherine Jordan asked what was the status of applicants who applied for the Customer Initiated Grant program.
  76. 64 Ms. Bendernagel stated if an application had been accepted into the program, services would be executed. She also stated if an application had not been accepted, it did not meet the criteria of the Build America Buy America (BABA) Act to receive additional funding.
  77. 65 Member Kenya Gibson stated it would be helpful for citizens if instructions were highlighted on how to obtain materials for pipe lead testing.
  78. 66 Ms. Bendernagel stated the instructions were posted on the Department of Public Utilities website, and that additional copies could be distributed electronically.
  79. 67 Member Gibson asked what were the objectives to ensure all residents know about the Inventory Plumber program. She also asked how were the plumbers or businesses selected to participate in the program.
  80. 68 Ms. Bendernagel stated they were reaching out through the website, civic association meetings and knocking on doors. She also stated there was no formal process to be selected, just an ask for plumbers to participate in the training.
  81. 69 Chair Jordan asked was there an ability to have a financing system for customers to spread out upfront costs for repairs.
  82. 70 Ms. Bendernagel stated she would confer with the Department of Public Utilities team for an answer.
  83. 71 Scott Morris, Director of Public Utilities, provided a presentation regarding audit updates.
  84. 72 Chair Katherine Jordan asked what were the amount of collections received and what was outstanding.
  85. 73 Mr. Morris stated he did not have that information, however, he would provide it.
  86. 74 Member Kenya Gibson asked how were the items that required action tracked pertaining to the water treatment plant, and would they be added to the audits.
  87. 75 Mr. Morris stated a water compliance manager was hired, and that person was tracking all information and addressing priority items, and items that needed to be addressed could be added to the audit list.
  88. 77 Charles Todd, Director of Information Technology, provided the committee an update regarding enterprise systems.
  89. 79 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  90. 80 Member Kenya Gibson asked what was the process for capturing input from residents navigating City Hall software, and if everything could be placed in a centralized hub. She also asked what was the feedback from residents using city website tools, and could more information be included to make the budget process more transparent.
  91. 81 Mr. Todd stated city employees were his customers and he relies on feedback from them. He also stated he was willing to be more involved with technology needs regarding budget processes.
  92. 82 Member Gibson asked were there any opportunities to streamline city processes to enhance overall productivity.
  93. 83 Mr. Todd stated it had been a struggle to keep duplicate departmental requests from occurring.
  94. 85 Tyrome Alexander, Director of Human Resources (HR), provided the committee an update regarding HR open audit recommendations.
  95. 87 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  96. 89 Will Perkins, Council Senior Legislative Services Manager, provided the committee an update regarding required reports that are submitted to Council.
  97. 91 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  98. 92 Chair Katherine Jordan stated administration could also provide input about the reports.
  99. 93 Member Kenya Gibson asked was there a way to capture the reason why the reports were required and how they could assist with transparency.
  100. 96 Chair Katherine Jordan asked were there any recommendations for consideration or any other information pertaining to boards and commissions.
  101. 97 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, provided the committee additional background on the attendance policies for boards and commissions.
  102. 98 Chair Katherine Jordan asked was the current practice of removing absentee members by asking for resignations successful.
  103. 99 Ms. Nichols stated that the practice had been successful.
  104. 100 Member Gibson asked was there a method for a set time for when commissions meet. She also asked could there be language documented to ensure a commission's work would proceed in times of crises.
  105. 102 Will Perkins, Council Senior Legislative Services Manager, stated the report distributed to members focused on preparation's for speakers and presentation's for the committee meeting.
  106. 104 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  107. 105 Adjournment
  108. 106 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:56 p.m.