Public Safety Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor – City Hall
Agenda — 64 items
- 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 Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
- 1 Committee Members and other Councilmembers in Attendance
- 2 Call to Order
- 2 The Honorable Reva Trammell – Chair The Honorable Sarah Abubaker – Member The Honorable Katherine Jordan – Council Vice President (late arrival)
- 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
- 3 Absent
- 4 Public Comment Period
- 4 The Honorable Stephanie Lynch – Vice Chair
- 5 Approval of Minutes
- 5 Staff and Others in Attendance
- 6 October 22, 2024 - Public Safety Standing Committee Meeting Minutes
- 6 LaTanja Davenport, Council Budget Analyst Greg Lukanuski, Deputy City Attorney Nahdiyah Muhammad, Assistant City Clerk Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst Candice Reid, City Clerk RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
- 7 Presentation(s)
- 8 2024 Year End Crime Stats
- 8 Chair Reva Trammell called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m., and presided.
- 9 January 28, 2025 - 2024 Year End Crime Stats Presentation
- 10 Water Emergency Incident Response Assessment and Post Disaster Recovery Plan
- 10 Assistant City Clerk Nahdiyah Muhammad 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.
- 11 January 28, 2025 - Water Emergency Incident Response Assessment and Post Disaster Recovery Plan Presentation
- 12 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 12 Mario Brandon addressed the committee about his concerns regarding speeding on Semmes Avenue. Mr. Brandon shared his experiences with vehicles speeding on Semmes Avenue and stated that he was almost hit by a speeding vehicle. Mr. Brandon provided the committee with a petition signed by concerned residents.
- 1. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Lease Agreement between the City of Richmond, as landlord, and the United States National Parks Service, a division of the Department of the Interior, as tenant, to maintain and operate radio communications equipment on and within City Hall located at 900 East Broad Street. (6th District)
- 13 After Item - January 28, 2025 Public Comment Handout
- 14 Board Vacancies
- 14 A copy of the handout provided has been filed.
- 15 January 28, 2025 - Public Safety Standing Committee Board Vacancy Report
- 15 Council Vice President Katherine Jordan arrived at 1:11 p.m., and was seated.
- 16 Discussion Item(s)
- 17 There were no discussion items.
- 17 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of October 22, 2024 and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
- 18 Staff Report
- 19 January 28, 2025 - Public Safety Standing Committee Staff Report
- 19 Chair Reva Trammell addressed Mr. Brandon regarding his concerns about speeding on Semmes Avenue. Chair Trammell stated her appreciation for presenting the committee with a sign petition from concerns residents.
- 21 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board applications for consideration by the committee.
- 23 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 24 Member Sarah Abubaker moved to forward the following board reappointment and appointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and approved: Ayes, 2, Abubaker, Trammell. Noes. None.
- 25 Advisory Board for the Assessment of Towing Fees and the Storage of Vehicles: Johnny McRoy, II (reappointment) Abin Thomas
- 27 The following ordinance was considered:
- 29 Jackie Crotts, Deputy Director for the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response (DCPR), provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 30 Public Hearing
- 31 There were no public hearing speakers.
- 32 There were no comments or discussions and Chair Reva Trammell moved to forward ORD. 2024-306 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Abubaker, Trammell. Noes None.
- 35 Chief of Police Rick Edwards, presented the committee with 2024 year end crime stats.
- 37 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 38 Chair Reva Trammell asked how many more police officers are needed at the 2nd Precinct. Chair Trammell also asked how many detectives are currently staffed.
- 39 Chief Edwards stated the 1st and 4th Precincts are the city's largest precincts, and that both are authorized to have the most police officers staffed. Chief Edwards also stated the 2nd Precinct is authorized to have 97 police officers staffed, with a current staff of 68 police officers. Chief Edwards further stated that when a new academy class graduates, a bid is offered for police officers to transfer precincts, and additional analysis is conducted to determine the best staffing. Chief Edwards also stated that the Major Crimes Unit has not been reduced compared to other departments.
- 40 Member Sarah Abubaker asked if further analysis will be conducted to determine the relocation or removal of speed cameras based on the number of tickets issued. Member Abubaker asked about the number of speeding tickets that were issued, and how to reduce speeding on Forest Hill Avenue.
- 41 Chief Edwards stated that he will meet with the Department of Public Works (DPW), and review the high injury network once more data is collected and analyzed. Chief Edwards also stated that the longer the speed cameras are in place the less tickets are issued, and that the speed cameras are meeting the goal of reducing speeding in identified areas. Chief Edwards further stated two motorcycle officers were recently hired to monitor speeding within the high injury network.
- 42 Chair Reva Trammell asked about how to address speeding on Walmsley Boulevard.
- 43 Chief Edwards stated that he will provide the committee with additional data regarding speeding on Walmsley Boulevard. Chief Edwards also stated that he has spoken with the commander over the 2nd Precinct and Bobby Vincent, Director of DPW, to address speeding on Walmsley Boulevard.
- 45 Stephen Willoughby, Director of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, presented the committee with the water emergency incident response assessment and post disaster recovery plan.
- 46 Aymar Marino-Maza, Senior Managing Associate for Hagerty Consulting, provided the committee with additional information regarding Hagerty Consulting's roll in reviewing the water emergency incident response assessment and post disaster recovery plan.
- 48 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 49 Chair Reva Trammell asked Director Willoughby about his direct involvement and response regarding the January 2025 water emergency.
- 50 Director Willoughby provided the committee with additional information regarding the response of the Department of Emergency Communications, Prepardeness and Responce (DCPR).
- 51 Chair Trammell asked Director Willoughby about the events that occurred leading up to the water emergency and the declaration of a local emergency being enacted.
- 52 Director Willoughby provided the committee with additional information regarding the events that occurred at the water treatment plant prior to the state of emergency taking effect.
- 53 Chair Trammell stated her concerns regarding how city administration responded to the water emergency. Chair Trammell expressed her concerns regarding Council Members not being contacted to provide additional support for city residents.
- 54 Director Willoughby had continue discussion with the committee regarding water emergency incident response assessment and post disaster recovery plan.
- 55 Discussion Item(s)
- 58 Council staff provided the committee with the January Public Safety staff report.
- 60 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 61 Adjournment
- 62 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.