Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall
Agenda — 76 items
- 1 Call to Order
- 1 Committee Members in Attendance
- 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
- 2 The Honorable Nicole Jones – Chair (early departure) The Honorable Ellen Robertson – Vice Chair The Honorable Andrew Breton – Member
- 3 Public Comment Period
- 3 Staff and Others in Attendance
- 4 Approval of Minutes
- 4 Bonnie Ashley, Deputy City Attorney Laura Drewry, City Attorney Maria Garnett, Council Policy Analyst Nahdiyah Muhammad, Assistant City Clerk Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst Will Perkins, Senior Council Legislative Services Manager Candice Reid, City Clerk RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
- 5 March 18, 2025 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Meeting Minutes
- 6 Presentation(s)
- 6 Chair Nicole Jones called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m., and presided.
- 7 Shockoe Heritage Center
- 8 April 22, 2025 - Shockoe Heritage Center Presentation
- 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.
- 9 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 10 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
- 10 Rachel Hefner, Richmond Chapter of Virginia Organizing member, provided the committee with comments on behalf of Marquetta Fisher, Richmond Chapter of Virginia Organizing member. Ms. Fisher's comments expressed her support of the establishment of a rental inspection program, and highlighted challenges the program may face after its inception.
- 1. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Transportation to provide funding for the design and construction of a Walmsley Boulevard over Grindall Creek culvert replacement project.
- 11 Bennie Gates III addressed the committee regarding a proposed rental inspection program. Mr. Gates stated that the rental inspection program would provide city residents the opportunity to have safe housing. Mr. Gates also stated that the rental inspection program could be supported by the Family Crisis Fund to provide residents with further assistance.
- 2. 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)
- 12 Dream Boyd, member of Virginia Organizing, addressed the committee regarding a proposed rental inspection program. Ms. Boyd stated that tenant organizations could provide assistance to implement the rental inspection program.
- 13 page break
- 14 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
- 14 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of March 18, 2025 and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
- 3. To direct the City Planning Commission, as a part of its required review of the Master Plan in 2025, to prepare, submit to public hearing, and consider an amendment to the Master Plan updating the Vision and Primary Next Steps for the Six Points Neighborhood Node and to request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause the Department of Planning and Development Review, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Housing and Community Development to collectively work with the City Planning Commission to prepare such amendment to the Master Plan.
- 16 Board Vacancies
- 17 April 22, 2025 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Board Vacancy Report
- 17 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board vacancies and applications for consideration by the committee.
- 18 Discussion Item(s)
- 19 There were no discussion items.
- 19 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 20 Staff Report
- 20 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward the following board appointment and reappointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved:
- 21 April 22, 2025 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Staff Report
- 21 Board of Building Code Appeals: Richard Newman, Jr. Samuel Stocks Victor Torres
- 22 City Planning Commission: Rebecca Rowe (reappointment)
- 23 Community Transportation Advisory Committee (MPO): Mathew Clemons, Jr.
- 24 Maggie L. Walker Community Land Trust - Citizens' Advisory Panel: Marilynn McAteer (reappointment) Darren Crenshaw
- 25 Urban Design Committee: Conor O' Donnell
- 27 The following ordinance was considered:
- 29 There were no comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2025-069 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 30 The following resolution was considered:
- 32 Major Ronnie Armstead, Richmond Police Department (RPD), addressed the committee concerning the proposed resolution. Major Armstead stated his concerns about the staffing necessary to provide additional speed monitoring.
- 33 Member Andrew Breton asked about the total cost to provide staff to monitor the speed cameras already installed at school zones. Member Breton also asked if the speed cameras placed in school zones are generating enough revenue for the city to cover staffing costs.
- 34 Major Armstead stated that RPD is currently not receiving revenue from the current speed monitoring cameras. Major Armstead also stated that an account to collect the revenue generated from the speed cameras would soon be in effect. Major Armstead further stated $400,000 is projected to cover the salaries of officers validating citations.
- 35 Member Breton asked if speed camera tickets at school zones would generate enough revenue to cover the salaries of the officers monitoring the cameras.
- 36 Major Armstead stated that tickets from speed cameras installed near school zones generate more than the cost of officer salaries, but do not currently pay for the salaries of officers monitoring the cameras.
- 37 Member Breton asked if state law requirements are different concerning what happens to the revenue generated from speed cameras placed in non-school and construction work zones.
- 38 Major Armstead stated that the money generated from speed cameras placed outside of school and construction zones and placed in high injury networks, do not have the same requirements according to state law.
- 39 Member Breton asked about the qualifications required of persons staffing the speed monitoring cameras. Member Breton also asked how many staff hours would be required to operate the additional speed cameras.
- 40 Major Armstead stated that sworn officers are required to validate tickets generated by the speed cameras, and he provided the committee with a brief description of the validation process. Major Armstead also stated three or four additional sworn officers would be needed to operate additional speed cameras.
- 41 Member Breton asked if the revenue generated from the speed cameras would go back to a state transportation safety fund and how much of the funding would benefit the city.
- 42 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided the committee with the requested information regarding the proposed resolution.
- 43 Member Breton asked if there is a limit to the amount of speed monitoring cameras that can be installed in each category identified in the data provided.
- 44 M Khara stated that there is no state limit on the amount of speed cameras that can be installed in school and work zones, and he also stated that the study DPW conducted was on areas identified as high-risk intersections with speed cameras already installed.
- 45 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson requested information about providing RPD with more support to monitor additional speed cameras.
- 46 M Khara stated that automated enforcement is a necessary component in speed monitoring and the funding is needed to keep the cameras operational for 24 hours a day. M Khara provided the committee with additional information regarding speed camera installation and enforcement.
- 47 Vice Chair Robertson requested additional information regarding the proposed resolution, a staff recommendation and budget based on the study previously conducted by city administration.
- 48 M Khara stated that city administration would need to work with the procurement department to procure the required speed cameras and calculate the total cost. He also stated October would be a better opportunity to include the cost in preparations for the next budget year.
- 49 Chair Robertson asked when city administration would be able to provide the committee with a proposal on next steps.
- 50 M Khara stated that RPD would need to procure the total cost of the speed cameras.
- 51 Mike Sawyer, Department of Public Works City Transportation Engineer, provided the committee with additional information regarding the proposed resolution.
- 52 City administration continued its discussion of the proposed resolution with the committee.
- 53 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to continue RES. 2024-R041, to the May 20, 2025, Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee meeting, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 54 The following resolution was considered:
- 56 There were no comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward RES. 2025-R015 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 57 Chair Nicole Jones departed the meeting at 3:50 p.m.
- 60 Sharon Ebert, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Planning and Economic Development, presented the committee with a Shockoe Heritage Center presentation.
- 62 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 63 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson requested to meet with DCAO Ebert to answer questions regarding the Shockoe Heritage Center.
- 64 DCAO Ebert stated she would meet with Vice Chair Ellen Robertson to address her questions.
- 68 Council staff provided the committee with the April Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee staff report.
- 70 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 71 Will Perkins, Senior Council Legislative Services Manager, introduced Maria Garnett, Council Policy Analyst, to the committee.
- 72 Adjournment
- 73 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.