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April 1, 2024 ·1:00 PM Final ·Budget Work Session

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 34 items

  1. 1 Councilmembers Present
  2. 2 The Honorable Kristen Nye, President The Honorable Ann-Frances Lambert, Vice President The Honorable Andreas Addison (late arrival) The Honorable Katherine Jordan (late arrival) The Honorable Stephanie Lynch (late arrival) The Honorable Cynthia Newbille The Honorable Ellen Robertson The Honorable Reva Trammell (early departure)
  3. 3 Absent
  4. 4 The Honorable Nicole Jones
  5. 5 April 1, 2024 Budget Work Session - Richmond Children and Youth Fiscal Map Presentation CD.2024.108
  6. 5 Others in Attendance
  7. 6 Adjournment
  8. 6 Myrtle Brown, Council Budget Analyst LaTanja Davenport, Council Budget Analyst Joyce Davis, Council Policy Analyst Laura Drewry, City Attorney LaTesha Holmes, Council Chief of Staff Tamiya Lunsford, Council Budget Analyst Adam Poser, Deputy Council Chief of Staff Candice Reid, City Clerk Tabrica Rentz, Deputy City Attorney Debora Shaw, Council Management Analyst
  9. 7 Call to Order
  10. 8 President Kristen Nye called the meeting to order at 1:12 p.m. and presided.
  11. 9 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement
  12. 10 At the President's request, City Clerk Candice Reid provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in the event of an emergency.
  13. 11 Page Break
  14. 12 Richmond Children and Youth Fiscal Map
  15. 13 Amelia Vaughan, Director of Fiscal Data Infrastructure at Children’s Funding Project, provided a presentation regarding the final version of the Richmond children and youth fiscal map, which included the following: • Associated scope and goals • A demonstration of the online interactive fiscal map tool • Richmond’s fiscal map compared to the maps of other localities and Virginia • Suggested use of data to aid future discussions, advocacy and decision making A copy of the presentation has been filed.
  16. 14 April 1, 2024 Budget Work Session - Richmond Children and Youth Fiscal Map Presentation CD.2024.108
  17. 15 Councilor Stephanie Lynch arrived at 1:22 p.m. and was seated. Councilor Andreas Addison arrived at 1:30 p.m. and was seated.
  18. 16 Councilor Stephanie Lynch suggested that the fiscal map tool be shared with the Richmond delegation of the Virginia General Assembly in preparation for the 2025 General Assembly Session. Councilor Ellen Robertson asked if the tool analyzes the cost of certain essential services and the current funding invested in such services like childcare. Ms. Vaughan responded that the map compares the amount budgeted for a service like childcare in the city with a model of the amount necessary to fully fund childcare, and assesses the delta between the two. Ms. Vaughan answered councilors' additional questions regarding the implications of a delayed adopted state budget, and whether the tool can breakout funding for youth mental and behavioral health services. President Kristen Nye asked if the fiscal map tool will be available on the city’s website. Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders stated that it will be. President Nye requested to make the tool available via the Richmond Public Schools website and that a link to the tool and a user tutorial be provided to Council and Council staff.
  19. 17 Page Break
  20. 18 Electronic Participation
  21. 19 Pursuant to Rule III(D)(4)(b) of Council’s Rules of Procedure, Councilor Katherine Jordan made a request to participate in the meeting via Microsoft Teams from Charlottesville, Virginia, due to ongoing leave for a death in her family, thereby preventing her physical attendance. The Council members present were required to adopt a motion to approve Councilor Jordan’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 those members physically assembled to approve Councilor Jordan's participation in the meeting by electronic communication means.
  22. 20 Councilor Andreas Addison moved to allow Councilor Katherine Jordan to participate in the meeting by electronic communication means. The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 7, Addison, Robertson, Lynch, Trammell, Newbille, Lambert, Nye. Noes None.
  23. 21 Councilor Katherine Jordan joined the meeting via Microsoft Teams at 1:58 p.m.
  24. 22 Richmond Public Schools (RPS) FY25 Approved Budget
  25. 23 Jason Kamras, RPS Superintendent, presented the school district’s FY25 approved budget stating RPS anticipates a $38 million increase in expenditures on academics, talent, wellness, engagement and operations priorities. Superintendent Kamras reported that RPS is 5 to $10 million short of its $38 million request due to unsettled matters with the state, and that the district lost between 10 and $20 million in state funding due to its Local Composite Index (LCI) calculation shifting from 51 to 57 percent. Mr. Kamras highlighted proposed FY25 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) investments totaling $16.2 million, and stated he hopes Senate Bill 14 is signed into law to allow localities to levy a one-percent sales tax for school construction. A copy of the presentation has been filed.
  26. 24 April 1, 2024 Budget Work Session - Richmond Public Schools (RPS) FY25 Approved Budget CD.2024.218
  27. 25 Councilor Andreas Addison asked if any school lighting upgrade projects will require Council-approved special use permits. Mr. Kamras responded that lighting upgrades will not occur next fiscal year as installing fire alarm panels and fixing roof issues will be prioritized. Councilors and Superintendent Kamras discussed the increase of immigrant families, challenges with current state funding formulas, plans to address falling literacy rates, philanthropic opportunities, and poverty levels among families RPS serves.
  28. 26 Councilor Reva Trammell departed the meeting at 2:57 p.m.
  29. 27 Councilor Katherine Jordan requested the number of schools with less than 250 students.
  30. 28 Motion to Suspend the Rules
  31. 29 Councilor Cynthia Newbille moved to suspend Rule Six of Council’s Rules of Procedure for all budget-related ordinances introduced on March 27, 2024, except for any ordinance required to be referred to the City Planning Commission, so that those ordinances are not referred to or reviewed by a standing committee but instead are reviewed during a budget review process developed by the Council and the council chief of staff and heard during the budget public hearing scheduled for Monday, April 22, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
  32. 30 The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 7, Addison, Jordan, Robertson, Lynch, Newbille, Lambert, Nye. Noes None.
  33. 32 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:06 p.m.
  34. 33 ___________________________________ CITY CLERK