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Public Safety Standing Committee

January 23, 2024 ·1:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor – City Hall

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 61 items

  1. 1 Committee Members and other Councilmembers in Attendance
  2. 2 Call to Order
  3. 2 The Honorable Reva Trammell – Chair The Honorable Nicole Jones – Vice Chair The Honorable Kristen Nye – Member The Honorable Ann-Frances Lambert – Council Vice President (early departure)
  4. 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Announcement and Citizen Speaker Guidelines
  5. 3 Others in Attendance
  6. 4 Public Comment Period
  7. 4 LaTanja Davenport, Council Budget Analyst Candice Reid, City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk Caitlin Weston, Assistant City Attorney
  8. 5 Approval of Minutes
  9. 6 November 28, 2023 Public Safety Standing Committee Meeting Minutes
  10. 6 Chair Reva Trammell called the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m., and presided.
  11. 7 Presentation(s)
  12. 8 There were no presentations.
  13. 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 citizen speaker guidelines.
  14. 9 Paper(s) for Consideration
  15. 1. To reduce the speed limit on Brookland Parkway between Hermitage Road and Brook Road from 35 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. recommended for approval
  16. 10 Glenwood Burley addressed the committee and stated his concerns regarding a project to build new stables that could be used by the Richmond Police Department's Mounted Patrol horses. Mr. Burley informed the committee about his concerns that the project received funding and support, but that no construction had started.
  17. 11 Board Vacancies
  18. 11 Chair Reva Trammell stated her appreciation for Mr. Burley's comments, and she informed him that she would address the situation with city administration.
  19. 12 There were no board vacancies.
  20. 12 Police Chief Rick Edwards provided the committee with additional information regarding the city's Mounted Police unit and the current stables in use.
  21. 13 Discussion Item(s)
  22. 13 Dwayne Johnson, Teamsters Local 322 Recording Secretary and Director of Organizing, addressed the committee and stated his concerns regarding the ticketing of city vehicles by parking enforcement. Mr. Johnson stated it puts an extra burden on the city's building and code enforcement employees that work outside of city hall, and that they are then required to pay for parking themselves.
  23. 14 Virginia Board of Local and Regional Jails Report
  24. 14 Bob Steidel, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Operations, addressed the committee and stated that he was unaware about any ticketing of city vehicles. He also stated city employees have the ability to park where needed, and that he would inquire about the concerns raised.
  25. 15 Virginia Board of Local and Regional Jails Report Handout CD.2024.031
  26. 15 Vice President Ann-Frances Lambert informed the committee about her experience receiving a parking ticket, even though she had her city credentials displayed in her vehicle.
  27. 16 Staff Report
  28. 16 Police Chief Rick Edwards informed the committee that Richmond Police rarely issue parking tickets, and that the concerns raised were regarding actions taken by the city's parking enforcement agencies.
  29. 17 Public Safety January Staff Report CD.2024.025
  30. 17 Assistant City Attorney Caitlin Weston stated that city administration regulations permitted the ticketing of city vehicles.
  31. 18 Member Kristen Nye stated that she would inquire about possible legislation required to address the issue of ticketing city vehicles.
  32. 19 Chair Trammell stated she wanted additional information regarding the number of city employees that received tickets, and that she wanted to ensure that no out-of-pocket money was used to satisfy parking fees.
  33. 21 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of November 28, 2024 and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
  34. 26 The following ordinance was considered:
  35. 28 Vice President Ann-Frances Lambert provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
  36. 29 Chair Reva Trammell stated her concerns about enforcement of the speed reduction referenced in the proposed ordinance.
  37. 30 Andy Boenau, Department of Pubic Works Transportation Engineering Program Manager, provided the committee with additional information regarding ORD. 2023-356, and he noted that the city had observed that 50 percent of vehicles adhered to the 35 miles per hour (MPH) speed limit, and that the city had not received any information regarding vehicle or pedestrian accidents on Brookland Parkway. Mr. Boenau also stated that if the speed limit is lowered too much, that many drivers would simply ignore the posted limit. Mr. Boenau further stated that city administration does not support lowering the speed limit to 25 MPH, but would support a lowering to 30 MPH with additional speeding measures taken.
  38. 31 Public Hearing
  39. 32 David Maier spoke in support of ORD. 2023-356, and provided the committee with more information regarding the area referenced in the proposed ordinance. Mr. Maier stated that dangerous speeding was a great concern in the area. Mr. Maier also stated that he was aware enforcement might be difficult, but that he believed the posted 25 MPH signs would help slow some traffic.
  40. 33 Donna Hughes spoke in support of ORD. 2023-356, and she provided the committee with a petition from the surrounding neighborhood indicating support for the lowering of the posted speed limit on Brookland Parkway. Ms. Hughes stated that several residents on Brookland Parkway have their vehicles damaged by speeding vehicles.
  41. 34 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  42. 35 Tara Fitzpatrick spoke in support of ORD. 2023-356, and stated that the Vision Zero Action Plan supported the proposed lowering of the speed limit to increase safety in the city.
  43. 36 Regan Pickett, Sherwood Park Civic Association Secretary, spoke in support of ORD. 2023-356, and stated the proposed ordinance would help lower speeding on Brookland Parkway and increase traffic safety.
  44. 37 Chair Tammell stated that she did not believe lowering the speed limit to 30 MPH would help reduce the current speeding on Brookland Parkway.
  45. 38 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided additional information regarding the results of the city's speeding study of Brookland Parkway. M. Khara stated that the study recommends 30 MPH, but that the city would take any action approved by Council. M. Khara also stated that he believed enforcement was the only way to address speeding on Brookland Parkway.
  46. 39 Vice President Ann-Frances Lambert stated that residents want to feel safe, and she requested that the committee recommend approval of ORD. 2023-356.
  47. 40 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Kristen Nye moved to forward ORD. 2023-356 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
  48. 44 Virginia Board of Local and Regional Jails Report
  49. 45 Sheriff Antionette V. Irving stated that she was present to address any questions the committee may have regarding the Virginia Board of Local Regional Jails Report.
  50. 46 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
  51. 48 Vice President Ann-Frances Lambert stated that she had requested Sheriff Irving be present to address any concerns the Public Safety Standing Committee may have regarding the report. Vice President Lambert also stated her concerns about the amount of Sheriff's Office vacancies, and she inquired what steps were being taken to address staffing. Vice President Lambert also requested a copy of the corrective action plan to review.
  52. 49 Sheriff Irving responded that the Sheriff's Office was taking action in response to concerns raised in the report, and she provided further details regarding how the department planned to increase staffing.
  53. 50 Chair Reva Trammell had additional discussion with Sheriff Irving regarding the Sheriff's Office procedures, policies, staffing, jail safety and the involvement of sheriff's deputies enforcing court ordered evictions.
  54. 51 Sheriff Irving had additional discussion with the committee regarding polices and procedures.
  55. 52 Chair Reva Trammell inquired about police officers responsible for speed enforcement.
  56. 53 Police Chief Rick Edwards provided information regarding speed enforcement staffing, and he stated that the department has enough equipment, but needed more officers.
  57. 54 Vice President Ann-Frances Lambert left the meeting at 2:17 p.m.
  58. 55 Chair Trammell stated her concerns about the requirement that Richmond Police officers remain with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis at medical facilities, and its impact on Richmond Police Department (RPD) staffing.
  59. 57 Council staff provided the committee with the January staff report.
  60. 59 Adjournment
  61. 60 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:22 p.m.