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Informal Meeting

October 13, 2026 ·4:00 PM Final

Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall

Agenda PDF Official record ↗

Agenda — 24 items

  1. 1 Call to Order
  2. 1 Council Members Present
  3. 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Announcement
  4. 2 The Honorable Cynthia Newbille, President The Honorable Katherine Jordan, Vice President The Honorable Sarah Abubaker The Honorable Andrew Breton (late arrival) The Honorable Kenya Gibson The Honorable Nicole Jones The Honorable Stephanie Lynch (late arrival) The Honorable Ellen Robertson
  5. 3 effort rather than focusing solely on OCWB. Mayor Avula reviewed the long-standing poverty reduction goals established in 2015 and highlighted significant declines in overall and child poverty over the last decade, noting Richmond’s improvements outpacing state and national averages. The presentation acknowledged both progress and persistent racial disparities, as well as the influence of economic factors, rising costs of living, and demographic shifts.
  6. 3 Absent
  7. 4 Docket Review
  8. 4 The Honorable Reva Trammell
  9. 5 Councilor Andrew Breton arrived at 4:05 p.m. and was seated Councilor Stephanie Lynch arrived at 4:06 p.m. and was seated
  10. 5 Staff Present
  11. 6 Other Discussion Item(s)
  12. 6 Lisa Braxton, Council Management Analyst, Principal Laura Drewry, City Attorney Kiley Kesecker, Deputy City Clerk Candice Reid, City Clerk Tabrica Rentz, Deputy City Attorney RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
  13. 7 Office of Community Wealth Building (OCWB) Annual Poverty Reduction Status Report
  14. 8 OCWB Annual Impact Report Presentation CD.2026.278
  15. 8 Council President Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. and presided.
  16. 9 Adjournment
  17. 10 Upon the President’s request, Council Management Analyst Lisa Braxton provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency.
  18. 12 Mayor Danny Avula provided a presentation regarding the Office of Community Wealth Building’s FY 2026 annual impact report, which emphasized a broader, integrated citywide
  19. 15 Key drivers of poverty reduction cited included increased employment, higher educational attainment, strengthened wages, and strategic city policies. Mayor Avula also discussed challenges, including housing affordability and the potential for displacement. Policy, program, and partnership initiatives undertaken in the past year were summarized, including expanded youth programs, crisis assistance, investments in public housing transformation, and cross departmental collaboration through the Joint Economic Mobility Squad. A copy of the presentation and report provided have been filed.
  20. 17 Councilor Ellen Robertson stated that clearer metrics are needed to determine whether individuals living in poverty are experiencing measurable improvement; emphasized the continued significance of racial disparities; and requested a detailed meeting between the Advisory Board and the administration to review program outcomes and associated metrics. Councilor Kenya Gibson requested analyses to determine the extent to which observed poverty reductions may be attributable to displacement; asked for studies examining displacement patterns, RRHA vacancy rates, and impacts of new construction; and further requested an assessment of potential displacement effects related to the zoning code refresh. Councilor Stephanie Lynch requested more detailed program specific data from OCWB; asked that the administration clearly distinguish between citywide poverty trends and the direct impact of OCWB programs; and suggested that the Advisory Board review and, if necessary, reframe the City's existing poverty reduction goals. Councilor Nicole Jones requested clearer explanations of program outcomes associated with the City’s economic mobility priorities, including programs involving Richmond Public Schools; and asked for quantifiable impact data to enable evaluation of program effectiveness, identification of duplication, and assessment of community benefit. Caprichia Spellman, OCWB director, was also available to answer questions regarding OCWB’s annual impact report.
  21. 19 Council Management Analyst Lisa Braxton reviewed the following agenda items as indicated: Consent Agenda: 1. Ord. 2026-155 – retained on Consent Agenda 2. Ord. 2026-181 – to be continued to Monday, November 9, 2026 At the request of Councilor Kenya Gibson, it was the consensus of Council to continue Ord. 2026-181 to the November 9th Formal Session of Council. 3. Ord. 2026-197 – to be continued to Monday, November 9, 2026 4. Ord. 2026-198 – retained on Consent Agenda 5. Ord. 2026-199 – retained on Consent Agenda 6. Ord. 2026-200 – retained on Consent Agenda 7. Ord. 2026-201 – retained on Consent Agenda 8. Ord. 2026-207 – retained on Consent Agenda 9. Ord. 2026-254 – retained on Consent Agenda 10. Ord. 2026-255 – retained on Consent Agenda 11. Ord. 2026-257 – retained on Consent Agenda 12. Ord. 2026-258 – retained on Consent Agenda 13. Ord. 2026-259 – retained on Consent Agenda 14. Ord. 2026-260 – retained on Consent Agenda 15. Ord. 2026-261 – retained on Consent Agenda 16. Ord. 2026-262 – retained on Consent Agenda 17. Ord. 2026-263 – retained on Consent Agenda 18. Ord. 2026-264 – retained on Consent Agenda
  22. 20 19. Ord. 2026-265 – retained on Consent Agenda 20. Ord. 2026-266 – retained on Consent Agenda 21. Ord. 2026-267 – retained on Consent Agenda 22. Ord. 2026-268 – to be continued to Monday, November 9, 2026 At the request of Councilor Andrew Breton, it was the consensus of Council to continue Ord. 2026-268 to the November 9th Formal Session of Council. 23. Ord. 2026-269 – retained on Consent Agenda 24. Ord. 2026-270 – retained on Consent Agenda 25. Ord. 2026-271 – retained on Consent Agenda 26. Ord. 2026-272 – retained on Consent Agenda 27. Ord. 2026-273 – retained on Consent Agenda 28. Ord. 2026-274 – retained on Consent Agenda 29. Ord. 2026-275 – retained on Consent Agenda 30. Ord. 2026-282 – retained on Consent Agenda 31. Ord. 2026-283 – retained on Consent Agenda 32. Ord. 2026-284 – retained on Consent Agenda 33. Ord. 2026-285 – retained on Consent Agenda 34. Ord. 2026-286 – retained on Consent Agenda 35. Ord. 2026-287 – retained on Consent Agenda 36. Ord. 2026-288 – retained on Consent Agenda 37. Ord. 2026-289 – retained on Consent Agenda 38. Ord. 2026-290 – retained on Consent Agenda 39. Ord. 2026-296 – retained on Consent Agenda 40. Res. 2026-R040 – retained on Consent Agenda Regular Agenda: 41. Ord. 2026-081 – retained on Regular Agenda 42. Ord. 2026-120 – retained on Regular Agenda 43. Ord. 2026-196 – to be continued to Monday, November 9, 2026 44. Res. 2026-R019 – retained on Regular Agenda 45. Res. 2026-R029 – to be continued to Monday, November 9, 2026 Motions: 46. Ord. 2026-256 – to be amended and continued to Monday, November 9, 2026 47. Res. 2026-R038 – to be amended and considered 48. Res. 2026-R039 – to be amended and considered There were no further comments or discussions concerning Consent and Regular Agenda items reviewed.
  23. 22 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:59 p.m.
  24. 23 ___________________________________ CITY CLERK

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