docketcity.com
Home › Richmond › Meetings

City Council

January 8, 2025 ·5:00 PM Final ·Rescheduled Special Meeting

Virtual Meeting

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 38 items

  1. 1 Councilmembers Present
  2. 2 Interested persons that wish to provide comments by teleconference/videoconference via Microsoft Teams, must do so prior to 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, by calling the Office of the City Clerk at (804) 646-7955.
  3. 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 (late arrival) The Honorable Ellen Robertson The Honorable Reva Trammell The Honorable Nicole Jones
  4. 3 Call to Order
  5. 4 Electronic Meeting Announcement
  6. 4 Council President Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m., and presided.
  7. 5 Councilmembers Present
  8. 6 Public Speaker Guidelines
  9. 6 City Clerk Candice Reid, announced that the meeting was being held by electronic communications means using the Microsoft Teams meeting application in accordance with section 2.2-3708.2 of the Code of Virginia due to the state of emergency declared by Governor Youngkin on January 3, 2025, and the local state of emergency declared by Mayor Avula on January 5, 2025. City Clerk Reid also stated that notice of the meeting was provided to the public by means of a public information advisory issued on January 7, 2025, and on the city’s website in keeping with usual practice.
  10. 7 Expedited Consideration
  11. 8 January 8, 2025 Introduction Papers List CD.2025.003
  12. 8 Upon the President's request, Deputy City Clerk RJ Warren provided public speaker guidelines.
  13. 1. To consent to the Director of Emergency Management’s declaration that a local emergency exists in the city of Richmond beginning on January 5, 2025, due to the effects of a winter storm. RES. 2025-R002 adopted Pass
  14. 2. To consent to the Mayor’s designation of Sabrina Joy-Hogg as Interim Chief Administrative Officer. RES. 2025-R003 adopted Pass
  15. 3. To designate which Council members shall serve on the Council’s Standing Committees and the various boards, commissions, and other collegial bodies on which Council members serve. RES. 2025-R004 adopted Pass
  16. 11 page break
  17. 12 Adjournment
  18. 12 Councilor Nicole Jones moved to expedite consideration of the following resolution:
  19. 14 The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 8, Breton, Gibson, Jones, Robertson, Trammell, Abubaker, Jordan, Newbille. Noes None. Lynch had not yet arrived.
  20. 15 Stephen Willoughby, Director of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, provided an introduction and additional information regarding the proposed resolution.
  21. 16 Councilor Stephanie Lynch joined the meeting at 5:07 p.m.
  22. 17 Councilor Kenya Gibson stated her appreciation to city employees for their efforts to restore the city's water service. Councilor Gibson also stated once water service is fully restored, that Council should take action necessary to ensure that no such incident involving the city's water supply occurs again.
  23. 18 President Cynthia Newbille stated that Council will work with Mayor Danny Avula to ensure an investigation takes place regarding the city's loss of water service.
  24. 19 There were no further comments or discussions and RES. 2025-R002 was unanimously adopted.
  25. 20 Vice President Katherine Jordan moved to expedite consideration of the following resolution:
  26. 22 The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
  27. 23 Mayor Danny Avula provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed resolution.
  28. 24 Councilor Sarah Abubaker stated that she supported the interim appointment of Sabrina Joy-Hogg as Interim Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), but noted her desire for a nationwide search for a new CAO.
  29. 25 Councilor Kenya Gibson stated that she supported the interim appointment of Sabrina Joy-Hogg as Interim CAO, so long as the city work to appoint a new permanent CAO with no prior involvement with Richmond City government.
  30. 26 Councilor Nicole Jones informed members that she provided feedback to the Robert Bobb Group regarding its search for a new CAO, and she recommended that members schedule interviews with the Robert Bobb Group to provide their own feedback.
  31. 27 President Cynthia Newbille stated her appreciation to Sabrina Joy-Hogg for her work and involvement regarding the mayoral administration transition.
  32. 28 There were no further comments or discussions and RES. 2025-R003 was unanimously adopted.
  33. 29 Councilor Ellen Robertson moved to expedite consideration of the following resolution:
  34. 31 The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
  35. 32 President Cynthia Newbille provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed resolution.
  36. 33 Councilor Reva Trammell confirmed that the resolution would appoint her to the Richmond Ambulance Authority Board of Directors.
  37. 34 There were no further comments or discussions and RES. 2025-R004 was unanimously adopted.
  38. 36 There being no further business before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 5:26 p.m. ___________________________________ CITY CLERK