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Informal Meeting

November 12, 2024 ·4:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 21 items

  1. 1 Call to Order
  2. 1 Councilmembers Present
  3. 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Announcement
  4. 2 The Honorable Kristen Nye, President The Honorable Ann-Frances Lambert, Vice President (electronic participation) The Honorable Nicole Jones The Honorable Katherine Jordan The Honorable Stephanie Lynch The Honorable Cynthia Newbille The Honorable Ellen Robertson The Honorable Reva Trammell
  5. 3 Teams from the Courtyard by Marriott, 102 East Cass Street, Tampa, FL 33602, as she was attending the National League of Cities Conference. Councilor Katherine Jordan moved to allow Councilor Lambert to participate in the meeting by electronic communication means. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Councilor Lambert joined the meeting via Microsoft Teams.
  6. 3 Absent
  7. 4 Docket Review
  8. 4 The Honorable Andreas Addison
  9. 5 There being no further, the meeting adjourned at 5:34 p.m.
  10. 5 Staff Present
  11. 6 Closed Session
  12. 6 Lisa Braxton, Council Management Analyst, Principal Laura Drewry, City Attorney Candice Reid, City Clerk Tabrica Rentz, Deputy City Attorney RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
  13. 7 At 4:50 p.m., Councilor Cynthia Newbille moved that the Council go into a closed meeting pursuant to (i) subdivision (A)(8) of section 2.2-3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to consult with legal counsel employed by the public body regarding collective bargaining requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel and (ii) subdivision (A)(19) of section 2.2-3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to discuss plans to protect the public safety related to the security of City Hall and the safety of persons using City Hall. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Councilor Cynthia Newbille motioned to exit closed session. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Councilors reconvened in open session at 5:32 p.m. CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED MEETING November 12, 2024 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 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.
  14. 8 2. 2.2-3711(A)(19) ~ Discussion of Plans to Protect the Public Safety of City Hall
  15. 8 Council President Kristen Nye called the meeting to order at 4:07 p.m. and presided.
  16. 9 Adjournment
  17. 10 Upon the President’s request, Council Management Analyst Lisa Braxton provided information on the appropriate manner in which the Council Chamber is to be evacuated in the event of an emergency. President Nye announced that, pursuant to Rule III (D)(4)(b) of Council’s Rules of Procedure, Vice President Ann-Frances Lambert requested to participate in the meeting via Microsoft
  18. 13 Council Management Analyst Lisa Braxton reviewed the following agenda items as indicated: Consent Agenda: 1. Ord. 2024-198 – retained on the Consent Agenda 2. Ord. 2024-244 – retained on the Consent Agenda 3. Ord. 2024-256 – retained on the Consent Agenda 4. Ord. 2024-257 – to be continued to Monday, December 9, 2024 5. Ord. 2024-258 – retained on the Consent Agenda 6. Ord. 2024-259 – retained on the Consent Agenda 7. Ord. 2024-260 – retained on the Consent Agenda 8. Ord. 2024-261 – retained on the Consent Agenda 9. Ord. 2024-264 – retained on the Consent Agenda 10. Ord. 2024-265 – retained on the Consent Agenda 11. Ord. 2024-267 – retained on the Consent Agenda 12. Ord. 2024-268 – retained on the Consent Agenda 13. Ord. 2024-269 – retained on the Consent Agenda 14. Ord. 2024-270 – retained on the Consent Agenda 15. Ord. 2024-271 – retained on the Consent Agenda 16. Ord. 2024-278 – retained on the Consent Agenda
  19. 14 17. Ord. 2024-279 – retained on the Consent Agenda 18. Ord. 2024-280 – retained on the Consent Agenda 19. Ord. 2024-281 – retained on the Consent Agenda 20. Ord. 2024-282 – to be continued to Monday, December 9, 2024 21. Ord. 2024-283 – retained on the Consent Agenda Regular Agenda: 22. Ord. 2024-187 – to be continued to Monday, December 9, 2024 23. Ord. 2024-217 – retained on the Regular Agenda 24. Ord. 2024-222 – retained on the Regular Agenda 25. Ord. 2024-223 – retained on the Regular Agenda 26. Ord. 2024-251 – retained on the Regular Agenda 27. Ord. 2024-252 – retained on the Regular Agenda Christie Peters, Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) director, provided an introduction of Ords. 2024-251 and 2024-252, which would allow for the expansion of RACC’s operation at an additional site in the city. Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders was also available to answer questions regarding Ords. 2024-251 and 2024-252. Councilor Cynthia Newbille inquired regarding the cost for acquiring, retrofitting and annual operations of the proposed RACC adoption center, as well as the cost to expand the current RACC facility. Ms. Peters informed Council that due to space constraints, it is not possible to expand at the current RACC location. Councilor Stephanie Lynch clarified that she was in opposition to Ords. 2024-251 and 2024-252 prior to introduction, and she had requested that city administration bring forth a proposal that combatted alternate needs within the 5th district, especially the sheltering of homeless individuals. Councilor Lynch commented that the proposed RACC adoption center project did not follow the normal capital improvement project (CIP) process. M. S. Khara, Public Works deputy director, explained that funds from a prior allocated Public Works project (Commerce Road Improvement project) was no longer needed due to the city receiving federal and state funding, which will now allow it to be reallocated to the proposed RACC adoption center. Councilor Ellen Robertson expressed concern regarding the prioritizing of the proposed RACC project over other budgeted CIP projects, and she stated that city administration needs to be consistent with its allocation of funding and requested a list of current CIP projects awaiting appropriation. Due to the inconsistency, Councilor Robertson further stated that she cannot support Ords. 2024-251 and 2024-252. Councilor Nicole Jones inquired about other city-owned properties that could potentially be utilized for the proposed RACC adoption center. Councilor Newbille mentioned the need for additional space after visiting the current RACC facility, however, she echoed her colleagues’ sentiments regarding the consideration of a list of priorities. Ms. Peters advised that the city would expend more in the future for a facility if Ords. 2024-251 and 2024-252 were not adopted, and the current proposal is cost-effective and would solve a problem of need space for the next ten to twenty years. President Kristen Nye, spoke in support of Ords. 2024-251 and 2024-252 and stated that she would be disappointed if Ords. 2024-251 and 2024-252 were not adopted later that evening during the Formal Session of Council, given the outstanding need for the potential facility. CAO Saunders informed Council that the use of a prior CIP allocation that involved the failed casino proposal could not be utilized for the RACC adoption center since it does not meet the Southside economic development mission. 28. Ord. 2024-266 – retained on the Regular Agenda 29. Ord. 2024-272 – retained on the Regular Agenda 30. Ord. 2024-273 – retained on the Regular Agenda 31. Ord. 2024-274 – retained on the Regular Agenda 32. Ord. 2024-275 – retained on the Regular Agenda 33. Ord. 2024-276 – retained on the Regular Agenda 34. Ord. 2024-277 – retained on the Regular Agenda Prior to the motion to enter a close meeting, President Nye explained the order the Regular Agenda items would be called for consideration later that evening during the Formal Session of Council. In anticipation of a significant number of individuals participation in the public hearings later that evening during the Formal Session of Council, Councilor Stephanie Lynch requested the time limit be reduced to accommodate all discussion. There were no further comments or discussions concerning Consent and Regular Agenda items reviewed.
  20. 17 WITNESS the following vote of Council members, as recorded by Candice D. Reid, City Clerk: CERTIFYING: DECLINING TO CERTIFY: Kristen Nye, President Ann-Frances Lambert, Vice President Andreas D. Addison (absent) Katherine Jordan Nicole Jones Cynthia I. Newbille Stephanie A. Lynch Ellen F. Robertson Reva M. Trammell
  21. 20 ___________________________________ CITY CLERK