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Informal Meeting

April 14, 2025 ·4:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 25 items

  1. 1 Call to Order
  2. 1 Councilmembers Present
  3. 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Announcement
  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 Nicole Jones The Honorable Ellen Robertson The Honorable Reva Trammell
  5. 3 Upon the President’s request, Council Management Analyst Lisa Braxton provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency.
  6. 3 Absent
  7. 4 Docket Review
  8. 4 The Honorable Stephanie Lynch
  9. 5 Consent Agenda: 1. Ord. 2024-312 – to be continued to Monday, May 12, 2025 2. Ord. 2025-025 – to be continued to Monday, April 28, 2025 3. Ord. 2025-044 – to be continued to Monday, May 12, 2025; referred back to the Planning Commission 4. Ord. 2025-045 – to be continued to Monday, May 12, 2025; referred back to the Planning Commission Per Councilor Sarah Abubaker’s request, it was the consensus of Council to continue Ords. 2025-044 and 2025-045 to the May 12, 2025 Council meeting and refer the proposed legislation to the May 6, 2025 Planning Commission meeting for further deliberation. 5. Ord. 2025-046 – to be continued to Monday, April 28, 2025 6. Ord. 2025-047 – retained on Consent Agenda 7. Ord. 2025-048 – to be continued to Monday, April 28, 2025 8. Ord. 2025-049 – retained on Consent Agenda 9. Ord. 2025-050 – retained on Consent Agenda 10. Ord. 2025-051 – retained on Consent Agenda Regular Agenda: There were no Regular Agenda items. Budget-Related Papers: 11. Ord. 2025-057 – to be continued to Monday, April 28, 2025 12. Ord. 2025-058 – to be continued to Monday, April 28, 2025 13. Ord. 2025-059 – to be continued to Monday, April 28, 2025 14. Ord. 2025-060 – to be continued to Monday, April 28, 2025 15. Ord. 2025-061 – to be continued to Monday, April 28, 2025 16. Ord. 2025-062 – to be continued to Monday, April 28, 2025 17. Ord. 2025-063 – to be continued to Monday, April 28, 2025 There were no further comments or discussions concerning Consent and Budget-Related Agenda items reviewed.
  10. 5 Staff Present
  11. 6 Other Discussion Item(s)
  12. 6 Lisa Braxton, Council Management Analyst, Principal Laura Drewry, City Attorney Candice Reid, City Clerk Tabrica Rentz, Deputy City Attorney Matthew Slaats, Interim Council Chief of Staff RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
  13. 7 Richmond Region Tourism (RRT) Annual Update
  14. 8 Richmond Region Tourism Annual Update Presentation CD.2025.194
  15. 8 Council President Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. and presided.
  16. 9 Closed Session
  17. 10 WHEREAS, Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by the Council that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Council hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge (i) only public matters lawfully exempt from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certifying resolution applies; and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Council. WITNESS the following vote of Council members, as recorded by Candice D. Reid, City Clerk: CERTIFYING: DECLINING TO CERTIFY: Cynthia I. Newbille, President Katherine L. Jordan, Vice President Andrew S. Breton Kenya J. Gibson Sarah M.A. Abubaker Stephanie A. Lynch (absent) Ellen F. Roberton Reva M. Trammell Nicole Jones
  18. 11 Adjournment
  19. 12 Council Management Analyst Lisa Braxton reviewed the following agenda items as indicated:
  20. 13 Page Break
  21. 17 Katherine O’Donnell and Danielle Fitz-Hugh, RRT, president/chief executive officer and vice president of community relations, presented the organization’s annual update, which included information regarding visitors’ demographics and spending, and RRT’s social media outreach, community engagement, partnerships, tourism sectors, master plan, advertisement campaign and foundation. A copy of the presentation provided has been filed.
  22. 19 Councilor Andrew Breton inquired regarding the capacity of a headquarter hotel for the proposed City Center development. Sharon Ebert, deputy chief administrative officer, Planning and Economic Development, was available to answer questions regarding the City Center development proposal. Councilor Ellen Robertson thanked Ms. O’Donnell and Ms. Fitz-Hugh for RRT’s dedication and commitment to the community.
  23. 21 At 4:29 p.m., Councilor Andrew Breton moved that the City Council go into a closed meeting pursuant to subdivision (A)(1) of section 2.2-3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to discuss and consider prospective candidates for employment as the Council Chief of Staff. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Councilor Kenya Gibson motioned to exit closed session. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Councilors reconvened in open session at 5:09 p.m. CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED MEETING April 14, 2025 WHEREAS, the Council has convened in closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and
  24. 24 In anticipation of a significant number of individuals participating in the budget public hearing later that evening during the Formal Session of Council, President Cynthia Newbille requested the time limit be reduced to two minutes for all public speakers. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:13 p.m.
  25. 25 ___________________________________ CITY CLERK