docketcity.com
Home › Richmond › Meetings

Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee

July 16, 2024 ·3:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 94 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 July 16, 2024, by calling the Office of the City Clerk at (804) 646-7955 and selecting option 3.
  2. 1 Committee Members in Attendance
  3. 2 Call to Order
  4. 2 The Honorable Andreas Addison – Chair The Honorable Ann-Frances Lambert – Committee Member (late arrival) The Honorable Katherine Jordan – Alternate Member
  5. 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
  6. 3 Absent
  7. 4 Public Comment Period
  8. 4 The Honorable Ellen Robertson – Vice Chair
  9. 5 Approval of Minutes
  10. 5 Others in Attendance
  11. 6 June 18, 2024 - Land Use, Housing & Transportation Standing Committee Meeting Minutes CD.2024.228
  12. 6 Bonnie Ashley, Deputy City Attorney Nahdiyah Muhammad, Assistant City Clerk Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst Candice Reid, City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
  13. 7 Presentation(s)
  14. 8 Main Street Station Expansion of Intercity Bus Service
  15. 8 Chair Andreas Addison called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m., and presided.
  16. 9 July 16, 2024 - Main Street Station Expansion of Intercity Bus Service CD.2024.237
  17. 10 Paper(s) for Consideration
  18. 10 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.
  19. 11 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
  20. 11 Member Ann-Frances Lambert arrived at 3:02 p.m., and was seated.
  21. 1. 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 to provide funding for the reconstruction of Jefferson Avenue from 21st Street to 25th Street. (7th District) ORD. 2024-175 recommended for approval
  22. 2. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for an on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute certain transportation project agreements between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Transportation to provide funding for various transportation projects in the city of Richmond. ORD. 2024-189 recommended for approval
  23. 13 Yasmin Mahmood, Owner and Landlord of Gate Oaks Apartments, addressed the committee and stated her concerns regarding the illegal activity occurring within the area around Gate Oaks Apartments and for resident safety.
  24. 14 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
  25. 3. To repeal ch. 14, art. III of the City Code, consisting of §§ 14-147 through 14-155, concerning the City’s erosion and sediment control program; and to amend 14-83, concerning floodplain districts, 14-120, concerning required permits, 14-263, concerning general performance criteria, 14-295, concerning enforcement of ch. 14, art. IV, and 14-322 through 14-333, 14-335, and 14-336, concerning the City’s stormwater management program, and to amend ch. 14, article V, by adding therein new sections numbered 14-323.1, concerning regulated land-disturbing activities, and 14-329.1, concerning erosion and sediment control plan and contents of plans, all for the purpose of aligning the City Code with state law. ORD. 2024-176 recommended for approval
  26. 15 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of June 18, 2024 and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
  27. 16 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
  28. 4. To designate the property known as 1021 East 4th Street as a revitalization area pursuant to Va. Code § 36-55.30:2. (6th District) RES. 2024-R022 recommended for approval
  29. 18 Board Vacancies
  30. 19 July 16, 2024 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Board Vacancy Report CD.2024.233
  31. 19 Dironna Moore Clarke, Department of Public Works (DPW) Deputy Director of the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility, presented to the committee a presentation regarding Main Street Station expansion of intercity bus service.
  32. 20 Discussion Item(s)
  33. 21 August Committee Meeting
  34. 21 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  35. 22 Staff Report
  36. 22 Member Ann-Frances Lambert inquired about the location and shelter availability for intercity bus services at Main Street Station.
  37. 23 July 16, 2024 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee Staff Report CD.2024.246
  38. 23 Ms. Clark stated that most pedestrians that are using the intercity bus services will have transportation arrangements after departing the bus. Ms. Clark also stated that improvements can be made in the future to Main Street Station to add additional shelters for customers waiting for transportation.
  39. 24 Member Lambert inquired about security currently in place at Main Street Station.
  40. 25 Ms. Clark stated that Main Street Station currently has 24/7 security in addition to rover service that monitors Main Street Station every hour. Ms. Clark also stated that she will work with city administration to provide additional security.
  41. 26 Alternate Member Katherine Jordan stated that she is in full support of the transition. Ms. Jordan inquired about licensing fees for Main Street Station and customer safety.
  42. 27 Ms. Clark stated the parking lot of Main Street Station is already included in the security procedures. Ms. Clark also stated security protocols will be reevaluated after the 90-day transition period and will be included in the final licensing agreement.
  43. 28 Ms. Clark provided the committee with additional information regarding the licensing agreement.
  44. 29 Ms. Jordan inquired about additional locations for intercity bus services and the location of the bus depot. Ms. Jordan also inquired about parking for individuals that drive to the station to get on the bus.
  45. 30 Ms. Clark stated that Main Street Station will only be a drop-off and pick-up location and will not be used as a bus depot. Ms. Clark also stated that travelers will be allowed to park their car in the parking lot of Main Street Station.
  46. 31 Chair Andreas Addison inquired about how the buses will arrive and depart the station, and the effect they will have on local traffic patterns. Chair Addison requested additional information regarding traffic patterns for the buses.
  47. 32 Ms. Clark stated all of the buses will be traveling in one direction in order to access the highway. Ms. Clark also stated that most of the buses will be traveling late at night or early in the day. Ms. Clark further stated that she will reach out to Greyhound for additional information.
  48. 34 The following ordinance was considered:
  49. 36 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
  50. 37 Chair Andreas Addison inquired about current renderings or plans of the project.
  51. 38 M Khara stated that Councilmembers were able to walk through the site. M Khara also stated that he will provide Council with additional information.
  52. 39 Public Hearing
  53. 40 There were no public hearing speakers.
  54. 41 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-175 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  55. 42 The following ordinance was considered:
  56. 44 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
  57. 45 Chair Andreas Addison inquired about the amount of funding that is accessible from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Chair Addison requested a list of current projects.
  58. 46 M Khara stated the Department of Public Works requested $10 million in FY23-24 in funding from VDOT and received $900,000, and in FY 25-26 received $5.8 million in funding for 8 projects. M Khara also stated he will provide the committee with additional information regarding a list of current projects.
  59. 47 Public Hearing
  60. 48 There were no public hearing speakers.
  61. 49 There were no further comments or discussions and Alternate Member Katherine Jordan moved to forward ORD. 2024-189 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  62. 50 The following ordinance was considered:
  63. 52 Robert Steidel, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Operations, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
  64. 53 Chair Andreas Addison inquired if the requested changes were made to align city code with state law.
  65. 54 DCAO Steidel stated that a majority of the city code was changed to align with state law.
  66. 55 Alternate Member Katherine Jordan inquired if the alignment with the new state code will decrease the oversight of current city code.
  67. 56 DCAO Steidel stated that all the policies are strict but they do align with state code. DCAO Steidel also stated that the city must follow state law concerning the storm water management program.
  68. 57 Public Hearing
  69. 58 There were no public hearing speakers.
  70. 59 Chair Andreas Addison inquired about enforcement of fines for violations and if it will be implemented city-wide or only for the Chesapeake Bay flood plain area.
  71. 60 DCAO Steidel stated that there are many factors of enforcement depending on the area and the same enforcement will be applied.
  72. 61 DCAO Steidel had further discussion with the committee regarding the proposed ordinance.
  73. 62 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-176 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  74. 63 The following resolution was considered:
  75. 65 Michelle Brown Peters, Deputy Director for Housing and Community Development, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed resolution.
  76. 66 Public Hearing
  77. 67 There were no public hearing speakers.
  78. 68 Chair Andreas Addison inquired if there is a performance grant agreement or other incentives for the development.
  79. 69 Ms. Peters stated that there will be a performance grant agreement scheduled to be introduced at the September 9, 2024 Formal Council meeting.
  80. 70 Chair Addison stated that the current area median income (AMI) does not match the current liveable wage for city residents, and he encouraged city administration to think more openly about the potential affordability of future projects.
  81. 71 Ms. Peters had continued discussion with the committee regarding the proposed resolution.
  82. 72 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward RES. 2024-R022 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  83. 74 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board vacancies for the committee’s consideration.
  84. 76 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  85. 77 Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward the following appointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve, and to continue consideration of the History and Culture Commission Board applications to the October 22, 2024, Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee meeting:
  86. 78 Affordable Housing Trust Fund Supervisory Board: Stephen Wade
  87. 79 Commission of Architectural Review: John Grier
  88. 80 Community Transportation Advisory Committee (MPO): Alexander Paul Brackman
  89. 81 The motion was seconded and approved. Ayes 2, Lambert, Addison. Noes None. Alternate Member Katherine Jordan was excused.
  90. 84 It was the consensus of the committee to cancel the August Land use, Housing and Transportation standing committee meeting.
  91. 86 Council staff provided the committee with the July Land Use, Housing and Transportation staff report.
  92. 88 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  93. 89 Adjournment
  94. 90 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:54 p.m.