Education and Human Services Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall
Agenda — 79 items
- 1 Committee and Other Council Members in Attendance
- 2 Call to Order
- 2 The Honorable Cynthia Newbille - Vice Chair The Honorable Nicole Jones - Member
- 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
- 3 Absent
- 4 Public Comment Period
- 4 The Honorable Stephanie Lynch - Chair
- 5 Presentation(s)
- 5 Staff and Others in Attendance
- 6 There were no presentations.
- 6 Joyce Davis, Council Policy Analyst Kimberly Morris, Assistant City Clerk Janet Palmer, Deputy City Attorney Candice Reid, City Clerk RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
- 7 Discussion Item(s)
- 8 Update on Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority Eviction Mitigation Plan and Next Steps
- 8 Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m., and presided.
- 9 Richmond Public Schools (RPS) and Richmond School Board Updates
- 10 Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) Community Health Assessment
- 10 Upon the 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.
- 11 Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Community Health Assessment Presentation
- 12 DCAO for Human Services Update
- 12 There were no public comment speakers.
- 13 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 13 page break
- 1. To amend City Code § 2-1176, concerning the administration of the Human Rights Commission, for the purpose of modifying the frequency of the Commission’s meetings.
- 2. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a First Amendment to Help Me Help You Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and the Help Me Help You Foundation, for the purpose of facilitating the implementation of a guaranteed income pilot program for returning residents.
- 15 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of May 9, 2024, and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
- 3. To amend Ord. No. 2023-071, adopted May 8, 2023, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, to (i) create certain new line items in the Non-Departmental agency, (ii) transfer $199,200.00 from the Non-Departmental agency Reserve for Heart of Richmond Awards, and (iii) appropriate such $199,200.00 to the new line items in the Non-Departmental agency, all for the purpose of providing Heart of Richmond Awards grant funds to certain entities.
- 17 Board Vacancies
- 18 There were no board vacancies.
- 19 Approval of Minutes
- 20 May 9, 2024 Education and Human Services Standing Committee
- 20 The following ordinance was considered:
- 21 Staff Report
- 22 EHS Staff Report June 2024
- 22 JD Ratliff, Policy Advisor, Office of Human Services, and Staff Liaison for the Human Rights Commission, provided information regarding the proposed ordinance, and he stated that the total number of meetings made it difficult for members of the commission to attend and maintain a quorum. Mr. Ratliff also stated that to address the issue, members of the commission voted to change the meeting cadence from once a month to once every two months.
- 23 Public Hearing
- 24 There were no public hearing speakers.
- 25 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Nicole Jones moved to forward ORD. 2024-142 to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 26 page break
- 27 The following ordinance was considered:
- 29 Caprichia Smith-Spellman, Director of Office of Community Wealth Building, provided information regarding the proposed ordinance, and stated the Guaranteed Income Program for returning citizens is currently in place and is able to cover thirty individuals for $250.00 a month, and the program would like to add additional funding so participants can receive $500.00 a month.
- 30 Public Hearing
- 31 There were no public hearing speakers.
- 32 Member Nicole Jones commented she attended a film screening related to the program and she was excited about the diversity of the program.
- 33 Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille stated assisting returning citizens is critical and she appreciated the program's equity.
- 34 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Nicole Jones moved to forward ORD. 2024-158 to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 35 The following ordinance was considered:
- 37 Dominic Barrett, Grant Coordinator for Human Services, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 38 Public Hearing
- 39 Jameson Babb, Gallery 5 Board of Directors member, expressed his gratitude that Gallery 5 was a potential recipient of the Heart of Richmond Award.
- 40 Vice Chair Newbille inquired if the Heart of Richmond organizations are working to leverage city funds to obtain additional funding opportunities.
- 41 Mr. Barrett stated future outreach will be done to provide information to entities that may be interested in opportunities to obtain additional funds.
- 42 Member Jones stated the grant is a great way to leverage funds for all organizations and it showcases what all entities are doing.
- 43 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Nicole Jones moved to forward ORD. 2024-159 to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 46 Joyce Davis, Council Policy Analyst, provided information in the absence of Mr. Kamras and Ms. Rizzi.
- 49 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 50 Traci DeShazor, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Human Services, introduced Tamera Jones, Population Health Manager, and Jasmine Carmichael, Community Health Assessment Coordinator, who provided the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) Community Health Assessment presentation.
- 51 Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille inquired what are the plans for outreach in reference to the assessment.
- 52 Ms. Carmichael stated she plans to attend events and distribute flyers around the city.
- 53 Vice Chair Newbille inquired if census tract data will be available and if there is any coordination with hospitals.
- 54 Ms. Carmichael stated they are working with a data team to capture data as specific as possible, and that Bon Secours and VCU are part of the steering committee where information is shared to ensure information is aligned.
- 55 Member Nicole Jones inquired if there is any information on the assessment being distributed to any non-profits or community centers.
- 56 Ms. Carmichael stated information is distributed to some non-profits, and she will leave flyers for anyone who would like to distribute in specific areas.
- 57 Vice Chair Newbille stated having QR codes and surveys in Capital Area Health Network and Daily Planet will be helpful.
- 59 Traci DeShazor, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services (DCAO), provided the committee with an update regarding the Human Services portfolio.
- 60 Member Nicole Jones commended Humans Services for the great job that it has done in the community.
- 61 Vice Chair Cynthia Newbille inquired if cooling stations will be in the East End and Northside of Richmond.
- 62 DCAO DeShazor stated there are some gaps in the locations, however, the hope is the gaps will be filled by places of worship.
- 63 Chair Newbille inquired if all of the assignments for the Mayor's Youth Academy were made.
- 64 DCAO DeShazor stated sixty-two assignments are available for the Mayor's Youth Academy.
- 65 Vice Chair Newbille inquired will the resource center also function as a day center.
- 66 DCAO DeShazor stated the resource center will operate as an inclement weather shelter and provide some day services, and it will also provide workshops and programs.
- 67 Vice Chair Newbille inquired if NARCAN vending machine locations will be across the city's footprint and if there will be training to administer NARCAN.
- 68 DCAO DeShazor stated NARCAN vending machine sites have been considered pending approval with partners, and her team is working on a comprehensive proposal for NARCAN training.
- 69 page break
- 71 Vice Chair Newbille stated she will be in communication with Human Services staff for assistance with the Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority's Last Chance Payment Agreement Program, and there is a projected meeting with Council and RRHA Board of Commissioners for discussions regarding evictions.
- 75 Joyce Davis, Council Policy Analyst, provided the committee with the Education and Human Services Standing Committee staff report.
- 76 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 78 Adjournment
- 79 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:58 p.m.