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Education and Human Services Standing Committee

September 19, 2024 ·3:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 65 items

  1. 1 Committee and Other Council Members in Attendance
  2. 2 Call to Order
  3. 2 The Honorable Stephanie Lynch - Chair (late arrival) The Honorable Cynthia Newbille - Vice Chair The Honorable Nicole Jones - Member
  4. 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
  5. 3 Staff and Others in Attendance
  6. 4 Public Comment Period
  7. 4 Joyce Davis, Council Policy Analyst Janet Palmer, Assistant City Attorney Kimberly Morris, Assistant City Clerk RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
  8. 5 Presentation(s)
  9. 6 Summer 2024 Youth Program
  10. 6 Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m., and presided.
  11. 7 Summer 2024 Youth Programming CD.2024.279
  12. 8 Discussion Item(s)
  13. 8 Upon the Vice Chair's request, Assistant City Clerk Kimberly Morris 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.
  14. 1. Richmond Public Schools (RPS) and Richmond School Board Updates ~ Dawn Page, Richmond School Board Chair, and Liz Doerr, Richmond School Board Vice Chair
  15. 10 Dominic Barrett, Strategic Projects and Grants Advisor for Human Services, provided the committee with an update regarding National Recovery Month, National Library Card Month, Richmond Inspire, vaccine efforts, and the resource center ribbon cutting and open house event.
  16. 10 Laron Gibson addressed the committee regarding homelessness and asked that the city take action on solutions to help unhoused individuals.
  17. 11 Review of the September 17, 2024, Education and Human Services Special Meeting and Work Session
  18. 11 Chair Stephanie Lynch arrived at 3:02 and was seated.
  19. 12 page break
  20. 12 Rhonda Sneed, Blessing Warriors Executive Director, addressed the committee about the food that is being served to the unhoused community. Ms. Sneed also inquired about the inclement weather shelter and the winter walk up shelter.
  21. 13 Paper(s) for Consideration
  22. 13 Bridgette Whitaker Williams addressed the committee regarding the portfolio of Human Services, non-departmental city policies, and crime in the unhoused community.
  23. 1. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a YMCA of Greater Richmond Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and the Young Men’s Christian Association of Greater Richmond for the purpose of operating after-school childcare programs at six elementary schools administered by the School Board of the City of Richmond during the 2024-2025 school year. ORD. 2024-221 recommended for approval
  24. 14 Chair Stephanie Lynch provided an update and review regarding the September 17, 2024, Education and Human Services Special meeting.
  25. 2. To support the designation of the city of Richmond as an Inclusive Recovery City and to support the Mayor’s commitment to providing resources to persons in recovery from addiction. RES. 2024-R029 recommended for approval
  26. 16 Board Vacancies
  27. 17 None
  28. 17 Eva Colen, Senior Policy Advisor and Manager of the Office of Children and Families, provided the committee with a presentation regarding Summer 2024 programs for youth.
  29. 18 Approval of Minutes
  30. 19 July 11, 2024 - Education & Human Services Standing Committee Meeting Minutes CD.2024.270
  31. 19 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  32. 20 Staff Report
  33. 20 Chair Stephanie Lynch asked what is the total budget for out of school time, and she also suggested a meeting to receive budget information from Eva Colen and Deborah Morton, Deputy Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities.
  34. 21 Ms. Colen stated that budget information would be provided at the upcoming October 7, 2024, Organizational Development Standing Committee meeting.
  35. 22 Chair Lynch inquired if the Positive Youth Development (PYD) Fund is the only vehicle to provide funding for smaller organizations and what is the amount of funds needed to adequately fund a robust network of providers.
  36. 23 Traymanesha Lamy, President and Chief Executive Officer for NextUp RVA, stated the PYD Fund is not the only fund source going into the budget. Ms. Lamy also stated that the goal should be to increase the number of slots in the Out of School Time Space program and not to increase the number of organizations involved.
  37. 24 Chair Lynch inquired if the committee could be informed of the average monthly run rate for organizations, and she stated that the information will be helpful to know in order to adequately fund organizations.
  38. 25 Ms. Lamy stated the backbone level of support comes from capacity building and that organizations need staff and capacity to operate.
  39. 26 Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille inquired what will it take to make services and programs available for youth, how many youths are in need of services, and what is the city's part to help leverage programs.
  40. 27 Ms. Colen stated information is on the way, in partnership with Richmond Public Schools (RPS), to clarify data on how many students are being served compared to how many students are participating in multiple programs.
  41. 28 Chair Lynch inquired about the $44,000,000 allocated to RPS for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, and how it is being audited.
  42. 30 Update from the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Human Services
  43. 32 Dr. Lerone Joseph, Program and Operations Supervisor for the Office of Community Wealth Building, provided the committee with background information regarding the Office of Community Wealth Building Youth Empowerment Council program.
  44. 33 Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille stated her hope is that participating youth will be able to attend committee meetings, Council sessions, and community activities. She also inquired if there is an opportunity for dual enrollment or course credits with J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College, and what is the targeted age group for the program. She further inquired if there is an opportunity to have more than the two allotted applicants per Council district.
  45. 34 Dr. Joseph stated they will select 18 applicants, and an additional two will represent the Office of Community Wealth Building, and that the remaining 59 will be given the opportunity to participate in the Youth Leadership program which is the pipeline for the Youth Empowerment Council. Dr. Joseph also stated the participants will be high school students ages 15 to 19.
  46. 36 The following ordinance was considered:
  47. 38 Eva Colen, Senior Policy Advisor and Manager of the Office of Children and Families, provided the committee with an introduction and background regarding ORD. 2024-221.
  48. 39 Public Hearing
  49. 40 There were no public hearing speakers.
  50. 41 Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille requested clarity on ORD. 2024-221, and asked if it is the same ordinance discussed at the Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee meeting held on September 17, 2024.
  51. 42 Ms. Colen stated the difference is that Ord. No. 2024-221 references elementary school based programming while the other legislation was specific to middle school coordination services for after school programs.
  52. 43 Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille requested to be added as a patron of ORD. 2024-221.
  53. 44 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille moved to forward ORD. 2024-221 to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  54. 45 The following resolution was considered:
  55. 47 Michael Fatula, Policy Advisor for Human Services, Opioid Response Coordination, provided the committee with an introduction and background regarding RES. 2024-R029.
  56. 48 Public Hearing
  57. 49 Bridgette Whitaker Williams stated she supports the proposed legislation, however, she requested the city not create a situation where proper help can not be offered.
  58. 50 Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille inquired if opioid funds will provide additional resources for families in crisis.
  59. 51 Mr. Fatula stated that can be explored as recovery programs grows.
  60. 52 Chair Stephanie Lynch stated there is a significant gap in permanent housing after a crisis and the opioid recovery funding can help to fill the gap.
  61. 53 There were no further comments or discussions and Chair Stephanie Lynch moved to forward RES. 2024-R029 to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  62. 57 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of July 11, 2024, and the committee approved the minutes as presented
  63. 60 Chair Stephanie Lynch stated there will be no staff report, and she requested a future discussion about reports. She also requested a meeting with Joyce Davis, Council Policy Analyst and Dominic Barrett, Strategic Projects and Grants Advisor, Human Services, to discuss the committee's work plan.
  64. 61 Adjournment
  65. 62 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:08 p.m.