Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda — 122 items

1. 1 This meeting will be open to in-person participation; however, the public will have the option to provide their comments by teleconference/videoconference via Microsoft Teams. Interested individuals who wish to take advantage of this option, must do so prior to 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday September 17, 2024, by calling the Office of the City Clerk at (804) 646-7955 and selecting option 3.
2. 1 Committee Members in Attandance
3. 2 Call to Order
4. 2 The Honorable Andreas Addison – Chair The Honorable Ellen Robertson – Vice Chair The Honorable Ann-Frances Lambert – Committee Member
5. 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
6. 3 Staff and Others in Attendance
7. 4 Public Comment Period
8. 4 Bonnie Ashley, Deputy City Attorney Nahdiyah Muhammad, Assistant City Clerk Candice Reid, City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
9. 5 Approval of Minutes
10. 6 July 16, 2024 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Meetings CD.2024.264
11. 6 Chair Andreas Addison called the meeting to order at 3:26 p.m., and presided.
12. 7 Presentation(s)
13. 8 There were no presentations.
14. 8 Upon the Chair’s request, 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.
15. 9 Paper(s) for Consideration
16. 9 Electronic Participation
17. 10 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
18. 10 Pursuant to Rule III(D)(4)(b) of Council’s Rules of Procedure, Vice Chair Ellen Robertson made a request to participate in the meeting via Microsoft Teams from home, due to a medical condition of a family member that prevented her physical attendance. The committee members present were required to adopt a motion to approve Vice Chair Robertson'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 members physically assembled to approve Vice Chair Robertson's participation in the meeting by electronic communication means.
19. 1. To erect all-way stop signs at the intersections of Cutshaw Avenue and Roseneath Road, Cutshaw Avenue and Tilden Street, Cutshaw Avenue and Cleveland Street, and Cutshaw Avenue and North Belmont Avenue (1st District) ORD. 2024-205 recommended for approval
20. 11 Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to allow Vice Chair Ellen Robertson to participate in the meeting by electronic communication means. The motion was seconded and approved. Ayes 2, Lambert, Addison. Noes None.
21. 2. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Transportation for the purpose of providing funding for the installation of 300 traffic signal controllers and the modernization of 70 cabinets. ORD. 2024-214 recommended for approval
22. 3. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Central Virginia Transportation Authority for the purpose of funding the Hull Street Phase II project. ORD. 2024-215 recommended for approval
23. 13 There were no public comment speakers.
24. 4. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Central Virginia Transportation Authority to provide funding for the North South BRT project. ORD. 2024-216 recommended for approval
25. 5. To provide for the granting by the City of Richmond to the person, firm or corporation to be ascertained in the manner prescribed by law of a franchise for the management of the Hopkins Road Transfer Station located at 3506 Hopkins Road and the East Richmond Road Convenience Center located at 3800 East Richmond Road in accordance with a certain Franchise Agreement. (8th District/7th District) ORD. 2024-218 recommended for approval
26. 15 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of July 16, 2024 and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
27. 16 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
28. 6. To amend Ch. 2, Art. V of the City Code by adding therein a new div. 22, consisting of §§ 2-1202.9-2-1202.14, for the purpose of establishing the Public Art Commission. ORD. 2024-212 recommended for approval
29. 7. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Mitigation Plan Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Richmond; the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the State Historic Preservation Office of the Commonwealth of Virginia; and Canterbury Development Group LLC, for the purpose of ensuring City compliance with that certain Programmatic Agreement between the City and the Virginia State Historic Preservation Office, dated Jun. 24, 2019, and most recently amended Jun. 18, 2024, through establishment of an agreement to mitigate an adverse effect related to the development of Swansboro Place located at 2008 Hull Street. (8th District) ORD. 2024-213 recommended for approval
30. 19 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
31. 8. To provide for the granting by the City of Richmond to the person, firm or corporation to be ascertained in the manner prescribed by law of an easement upon, over, under, and across certain property located in Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens at 1800 Lakeside Avenue for the construction, maintenance, and operation of improvements and associated appurtenances for the generation, distribution and transmission of electricity in accordance with a certain Right of Way Agreement. ORD. 2024-217 recommended for approval
32. 20 The following ordinance was considered:
33. 21 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
34. 9. To amend Ord. No. 2023-181, adopted Jun. 26, 2023, which authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to submit a PY 2023 / FY 2024 Annual Action Plan to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as an application for the receipt of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds; to accept funds from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the total amount of $9,085,062.00; and to appropriate $9,085,062.00 for various projects, to modify a certain HOME project name and subrecipient. ORD. 2024-219 recommended for approval
35. 22 Chair Andreas Addison provided the committee with an introduction regarding the proposed ordinance.
36. 10. To declare evictions without legal representation as a public crisis and to support right-to-counsel programs and programs increasing access to counsel for residents of the city of Richmond facing eviction as a critical necessity. RES. 2024-R027
37. 23 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided city administration's response and concerns regarding the all-way stop signs request.
38. 24 page break
39. 24 page break
40. 25 Board Vacancies
41. 25 Public Hearing
42. 26 There were no board vacancies.
43. 26 There were no public hearing speakers.
44. 27 Discussion Item(s)
45. 27 Chair Andreas Addison stated that the purpose of the proposed ordinance is to stop oncoming traffic to allow pedestrians to cross safely. Chair Addison also stated that there have been nearby speed tables installed that he believed provided no improvements to pedestrian safety.
46. 28 There were no discussion items.
47. 28 Member Ann-Frances Lambert expressed her support for the proposed ordinance.
48. 29 Staff Report
49. 29 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-205 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
50. 30 September 17, 2024 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Staff Report CD.2024.280
51. 30 The following ordinance was considered:
52. 32 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
53. 33 Public Hearing
54. 34 There were no public hearing speakers.
55. 35 Chair Andreas Addison inquired if the modernization of the cabinets will include condensing the size of the cabinets to meet the changing landscapes of the city.
56. 36 M Khara stated that he will provide more information to the committee at a later date.
57. 37 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2024-214 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
58. 38 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson inquired about how to conduct an analysis of the traffic patterns in the city to assist in traffic calming measures. Vice Chair Robertson also inquired about installation of traffic signals for a fire station located at 1st Avenue in Highland Park.
59. 39 The following ordinance was considered:
60. 41 Dironna Moore Clarke, Department of Public Works (DPW) Deputy Director of the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
61. 42 Public Hearing
62. 43 There were no public hearing speakers.
63. 44 There were no comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2024-215 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
64. 45 The following ordinance was considered:
65. 47 Dironna Moore Clarke, Department of Public Works (DPW) Deputy Director of the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
66. 48 page break
67. 49 Public Hearing
68. 50 There were no public hearing speakers.
69. 51 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson inquired about the different phases of the project.
70. 52 Dironna Moore Clarke stated that the city is currently in the planning and development phase of the North South BRT project within the city's limits, and that the project will cost about $143.5 million dollars. Ms. Clarke also stated that the additional $8 million will be used to help the city leverage more federal funding grants.
71. 53 Member Ann-Frances Lambert inquired about the estimated cost of the Chamberlayne Avenue assessment, and if that assessment is included in the cost of the North South BRT project.
72. 54 Ms. Clarke stated that she will provide additional information regarding the assessment costs.
73. 55 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-216 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
74. 56 The following ordinance was considered:
75. 58 Adam Hohl, Senior Policy Advisor for the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
76. 59 Public Hearing
77. 60 There were no public hearing speakers.
78. 61 There were no comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2024-218 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
79. 62 The following ordinance was considered:
80. 64 Monica Kinsey, Planner and Secretary of the Public Art Commission, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
81. 65 Public Hearing
82. 66 There were no public hearing speakers.
83. 67 Member Ann-Frances Lambert inquired if the Public Art Commission is already established.
84. 68 Kevin Vonck, Department of Planning and Development Review Director, stated that the proposed ordinance will codify the Public Art Commission into City Code. Mr. Vonck also stated that once the proposed ordinance is adopted, the Planning Commission will introduce a resolution that will dissolve the current Public Art Commission.
85. 69 Member Lambert inquired about the City Clerk's Office involvement with the new Public Art Commission. Member Lambert also inquired about the composition of members to serve on the commission.
86. 70 Mr. Vonck stated that the City Clerk's Office will have involvement with the new commission. Mr. Vonck also stated that the current number of members will remain the same.
87. 71 Monica Kinsey provided the committee with an overview of the mayoral and Council district representation of the commission.
88. 72 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson inquired if the funding for the commission will still remain funded by the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget. She also inquired about the authority the new commission will have regarding contributions to the commission.
89. 73 Mr. Vonck stated that the new commission will remain funded by the CIP budget. Mr. Vonck also stated that according to the State Charter, currently the Planning Commission is typically responsible for contributions and that the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) has to accept gifts valued at over $25,000.
90. 74 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-212 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
91. 75 The following ordinance was considered:
92. 77 Kimberly Chen, Senior Manager, Department of Planning and Development Review, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
93. 78 Chair Andreas Addison inquired about additional information regarding the negotiations outlined in the proposed ordinance.
94. 79 Kimberly Chen provided the committee with information regarding mitigation plans between the city and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
95. 80 Public Hearing
96. 81 There were no public hearing speakers.
97. 82 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson inquired if the mitigation plan will stop developments from going forward.
98. 83 Ms. Chen stated that once the agreement is signed development projects can proceed.
99. 84 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2024-213 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
100. 85 The following ordinance was considered:
101. 87 Deborah Morton, Deputy Director for Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
102. 88 Public Hearing
103. 89 There were no public hearing speakers.
104. 90 There were no comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-217 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and which was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Lambert, Addison. Noes None. Robertson was excused.
105. 91 The following ordinance was considered:
106. 93 Michelle Brown Peters, Deputy Director for Housing and Community Development, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
107. 94 Public Hearing
108. 95 There were no public hearing speakers.
109. 96 There were no comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-219 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
110. 97 The following resolution was considered:
111. 10. To declare evictions without legal representation as a public crisis and to support right-to-counsel programs and programs increasing access to counsel for residents of the city of Richmond facing eviction as a critical necessity. RES. 2024-R027 recommended for approval
112. 99 Chair Andreas Addison provided the committee with an introduction regarding the proposed resolution.
113. 100 Public Hearing
114. 101 Annika Schunn, Eviction Prevention Advocate for the Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) spoke in support of the proposed resolution, and she stated that the right-to-counsel can be used to help combat the eviction crisis in Richmond.
115. 102 Chair Andreas Addison provided the committee with further information regarding the proposed resolution. Chair Addison stated that the resolution will help provide additional legal support to individuals facing eviction. Chair Addison also stated that more work needs to be done in workforce development to provide more career opportunities and housing stability.
116. 103 Member Ann-Frances Lambert expressed her support for the proposed resolution and requested to be added as a co-patron.
117. 104 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson stated that the absence of affordable housing in the city and residents lacking the proper resources to maintain housing, is leading to a housing crisis in the city. Vice Chair Robertson expressed her support for the proposed resolution and requested to be added as a co-patron.
118. 105 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward RES. 2024-R027 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
119. 111 Council staff provided the committee with the September Land Use, Housing and Transportation staff report.
120. 113 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
121. 114 Adjournment
122. 115 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:34 p.m.