Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall
Agenda — 82 items
- 1 CommitteebMembers in Attendance
- 2 Call to Order
- 2 The Honorable Andreas Addison – Chair The Honorable Ellen Robertson – Vice Chair The Honorable Ann-Frances Lambert – Committee Member (late arrival)
- 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Announcement and Citizen Speaker Guidelines
- 3 Others in Attendance
- 4 Public Comment Period
- 4 Andrew Gore, Assistant City Attorney Tamiya Lunsford, Council Budget Analyst Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst Candice Reid, City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst RJ Warren, Deputy City Clerk
- 5 Approval of Minutes
- 6 November 21, 2023 Land Use, Housing and Transportation Meeting Minutes
- 6 Chair Andreas Addison called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m., and presided.
- 7 Presentation(s)
- 8 There were no presentations.
- 8 Deputy City Clerk RJ Warren 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.
- 9 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 10 The following ordinances were considered:
- 10 There were no public comment speakers.
- 1. To designate the 2900 block of Seminary Avenue in honor of the late Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr. (3rd District)
- 2. To designate the 2400 block of Hawthorne Avenue in honor of the late James E. “Duke” Stewart, II. (3rd District)
- 12 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of November 21, 2023, and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
- 3. To designate the 2900 block of Brook Road in honor of James E. “Duke” Stewart, III. (3rd District)
- 4. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Central Virginia Transportation Authority for the purpose of providing funding for the Manchester Connection to James River project consisting of a ten-foot shared use path with two-foot shoulders and a new pedestrian bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks.
- 5. To provide for the granting by the City of Richmond to the person, firm or corporation to be ascertained in the manner prescribed by law of the franchise, right, and privilege, to use the streets, alleys, and public places of the City, and to acquire, erect, install, maintain, and use, and if now constructed, to maintain and use, poles, towers, wires, cables, conduits, ductways, manholes, handholes, meters, and appliances in, over, along, on, and under the streets, alleys, and public places of the City, for the purpose of distributing, transmitting, and selling electric current for light, heat, and power at any point within the corporate limits of the city of Richmond as the same now exist or may hereafter be extended or altered, in accordance with a certain Franchise Agreement.
- 6. To designate the 2100 block of Venable Street in honor of Bishop Melvin Williams, Jr. (7th District)
- 17 The following ordinance was considered:
- 7. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a City of Richmond Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay in the amount of $137,126.00 for the purpose of implementing green infrastructure practices to increase stormwater detention as part of the Greening Greater Fulton project.
- 19 Bill Boston, Department of Public Utilities Capital Projects Manager, Senior, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding ORD. 2024-007.
- 20 The following ordinance was considered:
- 8. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept a donation of a Jeep Wrangler Sport valued at approximately $40,711.74 from the Friends of The James River Park for use in the City’s James River Park System and other City parks.
- 9. To support the designation of the City of Richmond as an affiliate of Bee City USA for the purpose of supporting the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities commitment to enhancing and increasing pollinator habitats in the city of Richmond.
- 22 Member Ann-Frances Lambert arrived at 3:04 p.m., and was seated.
- 23 Board Vacancies
- 23 Member Ann-Frances Lambert provided an introduction of the proposed ordinances, and she stated her support for the honorary street designations.
- 24 January 16, 2024 - Land Use, Housing and Transportation Board Vacancy Report
- 24 Public Hearing
- 25 Discussion Item(s)
- 25 Michelle Brown Harris, Battery Park Civic Association President, spoke in support ORD. 2023-354, and she stated that the Battery Park Civic Association supported the proposed street designation of the 2400 block of Hawthorne Avenue in honor of the late James E. “Duke” Stewart, II.
- 26 There were no discussion items.
- 26 Member Lambert stated that more individuals will be present at the January 22, 2024, Formal Council meeting to speak in support of the proposed street designations.
- 27 Staff Report
- 27 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2023-353, ORD. 2023-354, ORD. 2023-355 and ORD. 2024-010 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 28 January LUHT Staff Report
- 28 The following ordinance was considered:
- 30 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 31 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson stated her appreciation that M. Kara addressed her questions prior to the committee meeting, and she informed members that she shared the information with civic leaders in the community.
- 32 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2023-358 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 33 It was the consensus of the committee to allow an individual to provide public comment regarding ORD. 2023-353.
- 34 Public Hearing
- 35 Rita Henderson spoke in support of ORD. 2023-353, and she stated that she was the daughter of Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr., and that she was also speaking on behalf of her family. Ms. Henderson provided historical context regarding the impact of Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr. on the Richmond community.
- 36 The following ordinance was considered:
- 38 M Khara, Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer, provided an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 39 Chair Andreas Addison inquired if the city had the ability to renegotiate terms during the twenty-year franchise agreement referenced in ORD. 2024-009.
- 40 M. Khara stated that the city has the ability to amend the franchise agreement, but that it may require Council to consider new legislation to initiate any amendments.
- 41 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2024-009 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 45 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward ORD. 2024-007 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 48 Chris Frelke, Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Director, provided the committee with an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed ordinance.
- 49 Public Hearing
- 50 Josh Stutz, Friends of the James River Park President, spoke in support of ORD. 2024-008, and stated that the gifted Jeep Wrangler will benefit the city's park system and the impact of park rangers.
- 51 Member Ann-Frances Lambert inquired about the purpose of the gifted Jeep Wrangler.
- 52 Director Frelke stated the vehicle will be used by the city's park rangers that provide services in the city's parks.
- 53 There were no further comments or discussions and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward ORD. 2024-008 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 54 The following resolution was considered:
- 56 Chris Frelke, Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Director, provided the committee with an introduction and additional background information regarding the proposed resolution.
- 57 page break
- 58 Public Hearing
- 59 Anna Aquino, Bee City USA Richmond Co-Chair, spoke in support of RES. 2023-R061, and stated the proposed resolution would help improve the city's impact on the essential pollination provided by the city's insect population.
- 60 Member Ann-Frances Lambert, Chair Andreas Addison and Vice Chair Ellen Robertson, requested to added as co-patrons of RES. 2023-R061.
- 61 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Ann-Frances Lambert moved to forward RES. 2023-R061 to Council with recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 63 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board applications for consideration by the committee.
- 65 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson inquired about the mayoral appointment vacancies on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Supervisory Board.
- 66 Ms. Nichols provided the committee with additional information regarding prior mayoral appointments, and she noted she would continue to discuss the pending vacancies with the Mayor's Office.
- 67 Vice Chair Robertson stated she would also discuss the vacancies with the Mayor's Office due to the need to ensure quorum at future meetings of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Supervisory Board.
- 68 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson moved to forward the following board appointment and reappointment applications to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 69 Capital Region Airport Commission: Brian Keith "BK" Fulton (reappointment) Grant Heston (reappointment)
- 70 Commission of Architectural Review: Gina Marie Hill
- 71 PlanRVA (Richmond Regional Planning District Commission): Cameron George
- 72 Board of Commissioners of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority: William Johnson (reappointment) Gregory Lewis (reappointment)
- 73 Safe and Healthy Streets Commission: Erik Bootsma (reappointment) Christopher Woody, Sr. (reappointment)
- 76 Member Ann-Frances Lambert requested that a Chamberlayne Avenue Road Safety Assessment presentation be provided by city administration at the next Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee meeting.
- 77 Vice Chair Ellen Robertson informed members that the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Supervisory Board would be having a meeting on January 17, 2024, and she provided information regarding items to be addressed by the board. Vice Chair Robertson also stated the board may provide the committee with a future presentation regarding the city's use of $10,000,000 in bonds to develop more affordable housing units in the city.
- 79 Council staff provided the committee with the January staff report.
- 81 Adjournment
- 82 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m.