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Governmental Operations Standing Committee

April 24, 2024 ·1:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 82 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 Wednesday, April 24, 2024, by calling the Office of the City Clerk at (804) 646-7955 and selecting option 3.
  2. 2 Committee and Other Council Members in Attendance
  3. 2 The Honorable Katherine Jordan - Chair The Honorable Ann-Frances Lambert - Vice Chair The Honorable Stephanie Lynch - Member (late arrival)
  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 Susan McKenney, Senior Assistant City Attorney Nahdiyah Muhammad , Assistant City Clerk Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst Candice Reid, City Clerk RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
  8. 5 Approval of Minutes
  9. 5 Call to Order
  10. 6 March 27, 2024 - Governmental Operations Meeting Minutes CD.2024.124
  11. 6 Chair Katherine Jordan called the meeting to order at 1:02 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. 1. To amend City Code § 11-36, concerning exemptions to sound control, for the purpose of modifying the hours during which [the City’s] refuse collection and sanitation services shall be exempted from the requirements of the City’s sound control provisions. (As Amended) ORD. 2024-094 recommended for continuance
  17. 10 There were no public comment speakers.
  18. 2. To amend ch. 9, art. III, of the City Code by adding therein a new section 9-58.1, concerning polling place licenses. ORD. 2024-115 recommended for approval
  19. 3. To approve the text of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Richmond, Virginia, and International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 995 in accordance with City Code section 2-1301.13. ORD. 2024-121 recommended for approval
  20. 12 There were no corrections or amendments to the meeting minutes of Wednesday, March 27, 2024, and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
  21. 4. To approve the text of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Richmond, Virginia, and Richmond Coalition of Police in accordance with City Code section 2-1301.13. ORD. 2024-122 recommended for approval
  22. 5. To approve the text of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Richmond, Virginia, and Service Employees International Union, Virginia 512 in accordance with City Code section 2-1301.13. ORD. 2024-123 recommended for approval
  23. 15 Board Vacancies
  24. 16 Governmental Operations Board Vacancy Report CD.2024.123
  25. 17 Discussion Item
  26. 17 The following ordinance was considered:
  27. 18 Next steps for the review of the City Charter
  28. 19 Staff Report
  29. 19 Bobby Vincent, Department of Public Works (DPW) Director, Torrence Robinson, DPW Deputy Director, and Tarron Richardson, DPW Porgram and Operations Manager, provided the committee with city administration's response to the proposed ordinance. Mr. Richardson addressed the city's concerns that the limiting of refuse collection hours would impact the safety of DPW employees and cause issues for city traffic.
  30. 20 Gov Ops Staff Report CD.2024.139
  31. 20 Public Hearing
  32. 21 Dan Ciesla, Republic Services, spoke in opposition, and he stated his concerns that the proposed changes would increase traffic and put collection workers and residents in danger.
  33. 22 Robert Clendenin, Waste Management, Inc. Public Sector Manager, spoke in opposition and stated he was unaware of any noise complaints from city residents. Mr. Clendenin also stated that changes would increase traffic, costs and public endangerment.
  34. 23 Sarah Kelley, GFL Environment, Inc. Facility Manager, spoke in opposition and stated that waste and recycling collection was already a dangerous job due to traffic accidents. Ms. Kelley also stated the changes to the time of collection would only increase the amount of danger for collection workers and residents.
  35. 24 Brandon McCloud, Republic Services General Manager, spoke in opposition and stated the proposed changes would only increase the potential of accidents involving collection workers and city residents. Mr. McCloud also stated that Republic Services is able to avoid traffic by collecting prior to 7:00 a.m.
  36. 25 Warren Christian, former city employee and current city contractor, spoke in opposition and informed the committee that he collects refuse in the city's downtown area. Mr. Christian also stated collection was a very dangerous job, and that the proposed changes would only increase the amount of dangerous situations city employees would encounter.
  37. 26 Charles Johnson, DPW Refuse Truck Operator, spoke in opposition and stated that beginning collection at 6:00 a.m. allows city employees to complete refuse pick up more efficiently and safely.
  38. 27 Milton Jackson, DPW Maintenance and Operations Superintendent, spoke in opposition and stated he was very concerned about employee safety during refuse pick up.
  39. 28 Alvin Allen, DPW Refuse Truck Operator Supervisor, spoke in opposition to the proposed changes due to his concerns about city employee safety.
  40. 29 Teryl Bell, DPW Maintenance and Operations Crew Supervisor, spoke in opposition of the proposed changes and stated the city needed the additional time to conduct refuse pick ups due to the limited number of refuse trucks available.
  41. 30 Robert Roberts, DPW Maintenance and Operations Crew Chief, spoke in opposition due to his concerns about employee safety and increased traffic during the morning commute.
  42. 31 Kim Hynes, Central Virginia Waste Management Authority Executive Director, spoke in opposition and stated the city benefits from refuse collection occurring in areas such as Carytown prior to 7:00 a.m.
  43. 32 Rodney Mitchell, DPW Equipment Operator Principal, spoke in opposition due to his concerns about safety and traffic. Mr. Mitchell also stated that starting refuse collection after 7:00 a.m. would be difficult due to cars parking and blocking alley access.
  44. 33 Mark LaFinley, Waste Management Richmond Hauling Senior Route Manager, spoke in opposition and stated that his employees are concerned about their safety if collection is not permitted prior to 7:00 a.m.
  45. 34 Vice Chair Ann-Frances Lambert inquired if there was a solution to address noise concerns while not impacting the safety of refuse collection employees.
  46. 35 Director Bobby Vincent stated that the city was working with refuse collection partners to avoid residential areas during early hours, and to primarily focus on industrial or business locations prior to 7:00 a.m. Director Vincent also stated the city was looking at ways to decrease noise, but noted that it would be diffucult in certain mixed use areas.
  47. 36 Chair Katherine Jordan stated her appreciation for DPW refuse collection workers, and she noted that the intent of the ordinance was not to put refuse collection employees in danger.
  48. 37 Deputy Director Torrence Robinson informed the committee that the prior regulation allowed for refuse collection pick up during the extended day time hours of 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
  49. 38 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ann-Frances Lambert moved continue ORD. 2024-094 to the May 22, 2024 Governmental Operations Standing Committee meeting, which was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Lambert, Jordan. Noes None.
  50. 39 page break
  51. 40 The following ordinance was considered:
  52. 42 Adam Hohl, Senior Policy Advisor for the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations, provided background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
  53. 43 Vice Chair Ann-Frances Lambert stated her preference that City Registrar Keith Balmer be present to address the committee's questions, and she suggested possible continuance of the legislation.
  54. 44 Chair Katherine Jordan stated the committee would review the remaining papers for consideration to provide Mr. Balmer time to join the meeting.
  55. 45 The following ordinances were considered:
  56. 49 Tyrome Alexander, Director of Human Resources, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinances.
  57. 50 Vice Chair Ann-Frances Lambert discussed the fiscal impact of the three proposed collective bargaining agreements, and she inquired about remaining collective bargaining units yet to have an agreement with city administration.
  58. 51 Director Alexander informed the committee that collective bargaining with the two reminaing units did not proceed due to procedural deadlines that were not met, and he stated that negotiations would resume after the start of the city's next fiscal year on July 1, 2024.
  59. 52 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-121, ORD. 2024-122 and ORD. 2024-123 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Lambert, Jordan. Noes None.
  60. 53 Joyce Davis, Council Policy Analyst, stated that City Registrar Keith Balmer would not be able to join the meeting, and she provided additional information he provided regarding ORD. 2024-115.
  61. 54 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-115 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Lambert, Jordan. Noes None.
  62. 56 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board vacancies for the committee’s consideration.
  63. 58 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  64. 59 Vice Chair Ann-Frances Lambert moved to continue consideration of the application for the Sister Cities Commission to the July, 24, 2024 Governmental Operations Standing Committee meeting, and to forward the following board appointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve:
  65. 60 Central Virginia Waste Management Authority: Joshua Lee Mathews-Ailsworth
  66. 61 Clean City: Steve Marzolf Alexis Sulentic Andrew Kilius Duffy Christine Banks
  67. 62 The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Lambert, Jordan. Noes None.
  68. 63 Vice Chair Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward the following board appointment application to Council with a recommendation to approve:
  69. 64 Sustainability and Resilience Commission: Harrison Wallace
  70. 65 The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Lambert, Jordan. Noes None.
  71. 66 Vice Chair Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward the following board appointment and reappointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve:
  72. 67 Clean City Commission: Jameson Babb (reappointment) Carter Anderson Ashley Coles
  73. 68 The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Lambert, Jordan. Noes None.
  74. 71 Joyce Davis, Council Policy Analyst, provided the committee with options for moving forward with review of the City's Charter.
  75. 72 Member Stephanie Lynch arrived at 2:05 p.m. and was seated.
  76. 73 Chair Katherine Jordan stated Council would need to discuss the desire of Council, city administration and the Virginia General Assembly Richmond Delegation regarding moving forward on amending the City Charter.
  77. 74 Vice Chair Ann-Frances Lambert stated that discussions with the Virginia General Assembly Richmond Delegation can take place at an upcoming joint meeting between the Delegation and Council.
  78. 75 Member Stephanie Lynch stated that the joint meeting might have other issues that need to be addressed, and she suggested a separate meeting with Delegation members, Richmond City Charter Review Commission members, and Council to address next steps.
  79. 77 Council staff provided the committee with the April Governmental Operations Standing Committee staff report.
  80. 78 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  81. 80 Adjournment
  82. 81 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:14 p.m.