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April 21, 2025 ·6:00 PM Final ·Special Meeting

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 63 items

  1. 1 Persons requesting to provide comments virtually during the public hearings 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 Monday, April 21, 2025.
  2. 1 Councilmembers Present
  3. 2 Call to Order
  4. 2 The Honorable Cynthia Newbille, President The Honorable Katherine Jordan, Vice President The Honorable Sarah Abubaker The Honorable Andrew Breton The Honorable Kenya Gibson The Honorable Stephanie Lynch The Honorable Ellen Robertson The Honorable Reva Trammell The Honorable Nicole Jones
  5. 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
  6. 4 Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the FY 2026 Budget
  7. 4 Council President Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., and presided.
  8. 5 April 21, 2025 Budget Public Hearing Handouts CD.2025.151
  9. 5 Spanish Interpretation Announcements
  10. 6 Discussion of Proposed Budget Amendments
  11. 6 City Clerk Candice Reid stated that Spanish interpretation service was available in the Council Chamber and that attendees should speak with a representative to receive the appropriate equipment. City Clerk Reid also stated that Spanish interpretation service was available virtually through Microsoft Teams.
  12. 7 Adjournment
  13. 7 Roxana Talavera-Denson, Language Access Coordinator, Office of Immigrant and Refugee Engagement, then provided Spanish interpretation of City Clerk Reid's announcement
  14. 9 Upon the President'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. 10 page break
  16. 11 Electronic Participation
  17. 12 Pursuant to Rule III(D)(4)(b) of Council’s Rules of Procedure, Councilor 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 Council members present were required to adopt a motion to approve Councilor 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 Councilor Abubaker's participation in the meeting by electronic communication means.
  18. 13 Councilor Nicole Jones moved to allow Councilor Sarah Abubaker to participate in the meeting by electronic communication means. The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 7, Breton, Gibson, Jones, Robertson, Trammell, Jordan, Newbille. Noes None. Lynch was excused. Abubaker was awaiting approval to participate through electronic communication means.
  19. 15 It was that consensus of Council that all speakers be provided two minutes to provide comments.
  20. 16 Thomas Fitzpatrick, Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia Executive Director, requested that the city maintain prior funding levels for HOME of Virginia.
  21. 17 Edward Jewett, Richmond Circuit Court Clerk, spoke in support of an amendment that would provide a salary supplement to Circuit Court Clerk's Office staff.
  22. 18 Charles Willis, United Communities Against Crime Executive Director, spoke in support of financially supporting the city's public safety agencies.
  23. 19 Joe Brancoli spoke in support of an amendment to not provide employees with salaries that exceed $150,000 with a 3.25 percent salary increase.
  24. 20 Anne Forrester, Richmond Education Association (REA) President, spoke in support of amendments that provided more funding for Richmond Public Schools (RPS) and allocate funding an audit on RPS budget management.
  25. 21 Paige Ellwanger, REA member, spoke in support of an amendment that provided additional funding for RPS.
  26. 22 Johnny Fuller spoke in support of an amendment that would fund Rental Inspection District staffing and an amendment that would provide additional funding for the Family Crisis Fund.
  27. 23 Inga Bell, REA Board member, spoke in support of an amendment that would provide additional funding for RPS.
  28. 24 Bill Lawman spoke in support of an amendment that would fund Rental Inspection District staffing and an amendment that would provide additional funding for the Family Crisis Fund.
  29. 25 Warren Campbell, New Virginia Majority Community Organizer, spoke in support of an amendment that would fund Rental Inspection District staffing, an amendment that would provide additional funding for the Family Crisis Fund, and an amendment to provide more funding for the Eviction Diversion program.
  30. 26 Casey Miller requested additional funding for the Family Crisis Fund.
  31. 27 Erin Trimmer spoke in support of an amendment that would fund Rental Inspection District staffing.
  32. 28 Queen Bailey, UBU 100 Chief of Staff, requested additional funding for the UBU 100 program.
  33. 29 Tanya Jackson, Kidz at Work Founder, requested additional funding for the UBU 100 program.
  34. 30 Serita Harris requested additional funding for the UBU 100 program.
  35. 31 Priscilla Peebles, 32BJ SEIU member and city contracted employee, spoke in support of an amendment that would provide funding to increase contracted employee salaries to $20.00 an hour.
  36. 32 Jules Sydnor, RPS student and UBU 100 member, stated his appreciation for the UBU 100 program.
  37. 33 Kamar King, RPS student and UBU 100 member, stated his appreciation for the UBU 100 program.
  38. 34 Michael Higgs, RPS student and UBU 100 member, stated his appreciation for the UBU 100 program.
  39. 35 Demarcus King, RPS student and UBU 100 member, stated his appreciation for the UBU 100 program.
  40. 36 Sincere Cheatham, RPS student and UBU 100 member, stated his appreciation for the UBU 100 program.
  41. 37 Ayesha King requested additional funding for the UBU 100 program.
  42. 38 Bria Taylor requested additional funding for the UBU 100 program.
  43. 39 Marcus Cheatham requested additional funding for the UBU 100 program.
  44. 40 Ronald Jackson, RPS student and UBU 100 member, stated his appreciation for the UBU 100 program.
  45. 41 Kayly, RPS student and UBU 100 member, stated her appreciation for the UBU 100 program.
  46. 42 Michael Bailey, My Life Coach Academy/UBU 100 Founder and Chief Executive Officer, requested additional funding for the UBU 100 program.
  47. 43 Charles Todd, Department of Information Technology Director, spoke in opposition to an amendment that would not provide employees, with salaries that exceed $150,000, with a 3.25 percent salary increase.
  48. 44 Shunda Giles, Department of Social Services Director and Interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services, spoke in opposition to an amendment that would not provide employees, with salaries that exceed $150,000, with a 3.25 percent salary increase.
  49. 45 Stephen Willoughby, Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response Director, spoke in opposition to an amendment that would not provide employees, with salaries that exceed $150,000, with a 3.25 percent salary increase.
  50. 46 Gail Johnson, Department of General Services Director, spoke in opposition to an amendment that would not provide employees, with salaries that exceed $150,000, with a 3.25 percent salary increase.
  51. 47 Scott Morris, Department of Public Utilities Director, spoke in opposition to an amendment that would not provide employees, with salaries that exceed $150,000, with a 3.25 percent salary increase.
  52. 48 Doug Gernat, Department of Information Technology Deputy Director, Senior, spoke in opposition to an amendment that would not provide employees, with salaries that exceed $150,000, with a 3.25 percent salary increase.
  53. 49 Tina Monroe requested additional funding for RPS.
  54. 50 John Henry Williams, Sunrise Movement Organizer, spoke in opposition to funding the Richmond Gas Works New Business stipend. Mr. Williams also spoke in support of amendments that would fund Rental Inspection District staffing, RVAGreen 2050 initiatives, additional Office of Sustainability staffing, and provide funding for a circular economy.
  55. 51 Michael Sparks, Underground Kitchen Community First Director, requested additional funding for Underground Kitchen Community First.
  56. 52 Sybil El-Amin, Police Deputy Chief of Operations, spoke in opposition to an amendment that would not provide employees, with salaries that exceed $150,000, with a 3.25 percent salary increase.
  57. 53 A copy of all material provided has been filed.
  58. 56 Councilor Ellen Robertson stated her appreciation to individuals that provided comment, and she confirmed her support for the proposed 3.25 percent salary increase for all city employees. Councilor Robertson also stated her support for funding Life Coach Academy/UBU 100 because of its positive impact on the city's youth.
  59. 57 President Cynthia Newbille stated her appreciation to the RPS youth that provided comments in support of UBU 100. President Newbille also addressed proposed compensation for city employees and contracted employees.
  60. 58 Councilor Kenya Gibson stated that change was hard, and she addressed her proposed enhancements and reductions to the proposed FY 2026 Budget. Councilor Gibson also stated her concerns about approving salary increases for employees, with salaries that exceed $150,000.
  61. 59 Councilor Reva Trammell stated her support for city employees, and she noted her support for approving a 3.25 percent salary increase for all employees.
  62. 60 President Newbille discussed with members possible scheduling options for Council to continue its review of the mayor's proposed FY 2026 Budget. President Newbille confirmed with members that an additional Council Budget work session would occur on Monday, April 28, 2025, and that an additional Special meeting, to act on possible FY 2026 Budget amendments, would occur on Monday, May 5, 2025.
  63. 62 There being no further business before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m. ___________________________________ CITY CLERK