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December 2, 2024 ·4:00 PM Final ·Special Meeting

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 50 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, December 2, 2024.
  2. 1 Councilmembers Present
  3. 2 The Honorable Kristen Nye, President The Honorable Ann-Frances Lambert, Vice President (late arrival) The Honorable Nicole Jones The Honorable Katherine Jordan The Honorable Stephanie Lynch The Honorable Cynthia Newbille The Honorable Ellen Robertson The Honorable Reva Trammell
  4. 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
  5. 3 Absent
  6. 4 Papers for Consideration
  7. 4 The Honorable Andreas Addison
  8. 1. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond to execute a Cooperation Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of providing grants to small businesses in the city of Richmond. ORD. 2024-284 adopted Pass
  9. 5 Call to Order
  10. 2. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $125,000.00 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services; to amend the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Justice Services called “Help Me Help You Program Special Fund;” and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Justice Services’ Help Me Help You Program Special Fund by $125,000.00, for the purpose of funding the implementation of the Help Me Help You Program. ORD. 2024-299 adopted Pass
  11. 6 Council President Kristen Nye called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. and presided.
  12. 7 Introduction of Legislation
  13. 8 December 2, 2024 Introduction Papers List CD.2024.367
  14. 8 Upon the President’s request, Deputy City Clerk RJ Warren 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.
  15. 1. An ordinance to amend Ord. No. 2023-180, adopted June 26, 2023, which authorized the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on the behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept the second tranche of American Rescue Plan Act funds in the amount of $10,000,000.00 from the United States Department of the Treasury and amended the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 General Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the General Fund Budget for certain agencies by $8,000,000.00 of the $10,000,000.00 of ARPA funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development, to recapture funds in the amount of $500,000.00 from BR2 Owner, LLC, and to amend Ord. 2024-099, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by transferring $500,000.00 from the Department of Housing and Community Development, creating a new line item in the Non-Departmental budget called “ARPA-Housing Families First,” and appropriating such $500,000.00 transferred from the Department of Housing and Community Development to the new Non-Departmental budget line item called “ARPA – Housing Families First,” all for the purpose of expanding affordable housing initiatives. introduced and referred
  16. 2. An ordinance to amend Ord. No. 2024-099, adopted May 13, 2024, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by (i) increasing anticipated revenues from certain funds due to the City from the Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority, in accordance with an Interlocal Agreement dated Feb. 1, 2000, by $1,900,000.00, (ii) creating a new line item in the Non-Departmental agency called “Rings vs. Rent Scholarship Foundation,” and (iii) appropriating such increased estimated revenues to such new line item and other certain line items in the Non-Departmental agency and the Department of Finance, the Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. introduced and referred
  17. 10 The following ordinance was considered:
  18. 11 Adjournment
  19. 12 Pat Foster, Minority Business Development Director, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
  20. 13 Councilor Reva Trammell asked for a list of the businesses that would receive the proposed grant funding and how much funding is available.
  21. 14 Ms. Foster informed Council that the businesses had not yet been selected. Ms. Foster noted that 1.5 million in funding was available and that the grant application process for businesses would begin soon.
  22. 15 Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Lincoln Saunders also provided additional information regarding the grant process.
  23. 16 Councilor Ellen Robertson discussed with Ms. Foster the Economic Development Authority's involvement with the grant awarding process.
  24. 17 Vice President Ann-Frances Lambert arrived at 4:11 p.m., and was seated.
  25. 18 Pursuant to Rule III(D)(4)(b) of Council’s Rules of Procedure, Councilor Stephanie Lynch made a request to participate in the meeting via Microsoft Teams from the Hilton BNA Nashville Airport, due to work travel to Nashville, Tennessee, that prevented her physical attendance. The Council members present were required to adopt a motion to approve Councilor Lynch'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 Lynch's participation in the meeting by electronic communication means.
  26. 19 Councilor Cynthia Newbille moved to allow Councilor Stephanie Lynch to participate in the meeting by electronic communication means. The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 7, Jordan, Jones, Robertson, Trammell, Newbille, Lambert, Nye. Noes None.
  27. 20 Councilor Lynch asked about the maximum amount of grant funding available to each individual business.
  28. 21 Ms. Foster stated the maximum funding permitted would be $100,000, but that she believed the average amount awarded would be between $10,000 and $50,000. Ms. Foster also provided details about how the grant funds can be used.
  29. 22 CAO Saunders provided additional information regarding the grant funding and permitted uses.
  30. 23 There were no further comments or discussions and ORD. 2024-284 was adopted: Ayes 8, Jordan, Jones, Robertson, Lynch, Trammell, Newbille, Lambert, Nye. Noes None.
  31. 24 page break
  32. 25 The following ordinance was considered:
  33. 27 Rhonda Gilmer, Justice Services Deputy Director, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance. Ms. Gilmer informed Council that the $125,000 in funding for the "Help Me Help You Program Special Fund" was grant funding that the city received from the General Assembly of Virginia.
  34. 28 Councilor Reva Trammell asked about the process of the city accepting the grant funds from the General Assembly of Virginia and the operations of the Help Me Help You Foundation.
  35. 29 Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Lincoln Saunders informed Council that the state prefers to avoid directly funding non-profits, and instead will use the locality to act as the provider of the state funds.
  36. 30 Public Hearing
  37. 31 Bridgette Whitaker spoke in opposition of ORD. 2024-299, and she stated her concerns about how the Help Me Help You Foundation was selected as a grant recipient.
  38. 32 Michelle Mosby, Help Me Help You Foundation Executive Director, spoke in support of ORD. 2024-299, and she provided additional information regarding the grant award and planned use of the grant funding.
  39. 33 Anthony Merrick, Help Me Help You Foundation member, spoke in support of ORD. 2024-299, and he addressed the services provided by the foundation.
  40. 34 Shaquille Ali spoke support for ORD. 2024-299, and he informed Council about the assistance he received from the Help Me Help You Foundation.
  41. 35 Councilor Trammell requested additional information regarding the foundation's funding, location and services provided.
  42. 36 Ms. Mosby provided Councilor Trammell with information regarding the foundation.
  43. 37 Councilor Cynthia Newbille discussed her experiences with the Help Me Help You Foundation's facilities and staff.
  44. 38 Councilor Ellen Robertson stated that it was the General Assembly of Virginia that decided to provide funding to the Help Me Help You Foundation, and that she hoped the state did a comprehensive review before awarding the funding grant. Councilor Robertson informed members that she supported the proposed ordinance.
  45. 39 Vice President Ann-Frances Lambert stated that the city would benefit from more organizations like the Help Me Help You Foundation.
  46. 40 There were no further comments or discussions and ORD. 2024-299 was adopted: Ayes 7, Jordan, Jones, Robertson, Lynch, Newbille, Lambert, Nye. Noes None. Abstentions 1, Trammell.
  47. 43 City Council will hold a public hearing on the following ordinances on Monday, December 9, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.:
  48. 3. To amend Ord. No. 2023-180, adopted June 26, 2023, which authorized the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on the behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept the second tranche of American Rescue Plan Act funds in the amount of $10,000,000.00 from the United States Department of the Treasury and amended the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 General Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the General Fund Budget for certain agencies by $8,000,000.00 of the $10,000,000.00 of ARPA funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development, to recapture funds in the amount of $500,000.00 from BR2 Owner, LLC, and to amend Ord. 2024-099, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by transferring $500,000.00 from the Department of Housing and Community Development, creating a new line item in the Non-Departmental budget called “ARPA-Housing Families First,” and appropriating such $500,000.00 transferred from the Department of Housing and Community Development to the new Non-Departmental budget line item called “ARPA - Housing Families First,” all for the purpose of expanding affordable housing initiatives. ORD. 2024-315 introduced and referred
  49. 4. To amend Ord. No. 2024-099, adopted May 13, 2024, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by (i) increasing anticipated revenues from certain funds due to the City from the Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority, in accordance with an Interlocal Agreement dated Feb. 1, 2000, by $1,900,000.00, (ii) creating a new line item in the Non-Departmental agency called “Rings vs. Rent Scholarship Foundation,” and (iii) appropriating such increased estimated revenues to such new line item and other certain line items in the Non-Departmental agency and the Department of Finance, the Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. ORD. 2024-316 introduced and referred
  50. 47 There being no further business before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. ___________________________________ CITY CLERK