Public Safety Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor – City Hall
Agenda — 47 items
- 1 Committee Members and other Councilmembers in Attendance
- 2 Call to Order
- 2 The Honorable Reva Trammell – Chair The Honorable Nicole Jones – Vice Chair The Honorable Kristen Nye – Member
- 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
- 3 Others in Attendance
- 4 Public Comment Period
- 4 LaTanja Davenport, Council Budget Analyst Greg Lukanuski, Deputy City Attorney Candice Reid, City Clerk RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
- 5 April 23, 2023 Public Safety Handouts
- 6 Approval of Minutes
- 6 Chair Reva Trammell called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m., and presided.
- 7 March 26, 2024 - Public Safety Meeting Minutes
- 8 Presentation(s)
- 8 City Clerk Candice Reid 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.
- 9 There were no presentations.
- 10 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 10 Sarah Ramsey addressed the committee and stated her concerns regarding the Richmond Police Department (RPD) not addressing what she believed were instances of embezzlement as a criminal offence.
- 11 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Lease Agreement between the City of Richmond, as landlord, and the Greater Richmond Transit Co., as tenant, for the purpose of allowing the Greater Richmond Transit Co. to maintain and operate radio communications equipment on and within City Hall located at 900 East Broad Street. (6th District)
- 11 Ann Wortham addressed the committee and stated her concerns about pedistrian safety near her home. Ms. Wortham also stated that the sidewalk is often blocked by trash, recycling containers and other items that force pedestrians to walk in the street.
- 12 Board Vacancies
- 12 Bobby Vicent, Department of Public Works Director, informed the committee that he would discuss the matter with Ms. Wortham and try to resolve the issue.
- 13 April 23, 2024 - Public Safety Board Vacancy Report
- 13 A copy of material provided has been filed.
- 14 Discussion Item(s)
- 15 Ticketing of City-Owned Employee Vehicles
- 16 Staff Report
- 16 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of March 26, 2024 and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
- 17 April 23, 2024 Public Safety Staff Report
- 21 The following ordinance was considered:
- 23 Jonathan Fetterman, Budget and Management Analyst, Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, provided the committee with additional background information regarding ORD. 2024-120.
- 24 There were no comments or discussions and Member Kristen Nye moved to forward ORD. 2024-120 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 26 Council Management Analyst Pamela Nichols reviewed board applications for consideration by the committee.
- 28 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 29 Member Kristen Nye moved to forward the following appointment and reappointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved:
- 30 Advisory Board for the Assessment of Towing Fees and the Storage of Vehicles: Johnny McRoy, II
- 31 Community Criminal Justice Board: Marilynn Goss (reappointment)
- 34 Lynne Lancaster, Department of Public Works (DPW) Deputy Director, and Steven Bergin, DPW Program and Operations Manager, discussed with the committee the ticketing of city-owned vehicles. Ms. Lancaster stated that properly tagged city vehicles would only receive tickets for parking in a safety zone.
- 35 Member Kristen Nye noted that city employees have informed the committee about receiving tickets, and she inquired why the city employees were receiving tickets.
- 36 Ms. Lancaster stated that the employees were likely parked in a safety zone. Ms. Lancaster also stated that a private parking enforcement company called "City Parking" tickets vehicles parked on the private property that City Parking is contracted to monitor.
- 37 Richmond Police Department (RPD) Deputy Chief Sydney Collier provided the committee with an update regarding RPD's recent efforts to address gun violence and homicides in the city. Deputy Chief Collier also provided a statistical update on RPD's response to crime in the city.
- 38 Chair Reva Trammell stated that Councilmembers are responsive to the impact of crime on residents in their districts, and she noted her support for the efforts of the mayor, Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, and the RPD to address the situation.
- 39 Vice Chair Nicole Jones inquired about the Richmond Police Athletic League (PAL).
- 40 Deputy Chief Collier stated that the PAL program would not be occurring in the summer of 2024. Deputy Chief Collier also stated that RPD would be directing other programming similar to PAL to provide activities for the city's youth.
- 41 It was the consensus of the committee to allow an additional speaker to provide public comment.
- 42 Charles Willis, United Communities Against Crime Executive Director, stated that it was important that the Richmond Police Department is supported by the city's upcoming budget.
- 44 LaTanja Davenport, Council Budget Analyst, provided the committee with a review of the staff report.
- 46 Adjournment
- 47 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.