Public Safety Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor – City Hall
Agenda — 50 items
- 1 Call to Order
- 1 Committee Members in Attendance
- 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
- 2 The Honorable Reva Trammell – Chair The Honorable Sarah Abubaker – Member (early departure) The Honorable Stephanie Lynch – Vice Chair (late arrival)
- 3 Public Comment Period
- 3 Staff and Others in Attendance
- 4 Approval of Minutes
- 4 Greg Lukanuski, Deputy City Attorney Kiley Kesecker, Deputy City Clerk Nahdiyah Muhammad, Assistant City Clerk Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst Candice Reid, City Clerk Steve Taylor, Council Policy Analyst
- 5 July 28, 2026 - Public Safety Standing Committee Meeting Minutes
- 6 Presentation(s)
- 6 The meeting was called to order at 1:03 p.m.
- 7 Commonwealth's Attorney's Office Annual Update ~ Collette McEachin, Commonwealth's Attorney
- 8 September 22, 2026 - Commonwealth's Attorney's Office Annual Update
- 8 Assistant City Clerk Nahdiyah Muhammad provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency along with public speaker guidelines.
- 9 Emergency Dispatch Calls for Fire and Police ~ Tory Maye, Deputy Director of Operations, Kenya Washington, Professional Standards & Development Manager, and Jackie Crotts, Deputy Director of Technology for the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response (DECPR)
- 10 September 22, 2026 - DECPR Emergency Dispatch Calls for Fire and Police
- 10 Jennifer Peels addressed the committee regarding alleged delays in investigations, unresolved complaints, and difficulties obtaining responses from Richmond Police Department and Animal Control. Ms. Peels questioned the lack of accountability and emphasized the need for reported incidents to be taken seriously.
- 11 page break
- 11 Richard Watkins addressed the committee regarding ongoing safety concerns at his organization’s dojo in the Hull Street Road. Mr. Watkins expressed concern for the safety of the children who attend the dojo and requested assistance addressing these issues.
- 12 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 12 Ed Davis addressed the committee regarding safety issues at the Plaza View Shopping Center. He expressed concern for the safety of children and residents and requested a thorough review of the situation, noting they were considering relocating.
- 1. To adopt the City of Richmond’s Emergency Operations Plan in accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Services and Disaster Law of 2000.
- 13 Keith Andes, President of the Richmond Fire Fighters Association Local IAFF 995, announced that firefighter staffing levels were restored to 118 effective October 12. He thanked city leadership and taxpayers for their support, encouraged Council members to visit the 9-11 dispatch center to better understand dispatchers’ responsibilities and emotional challenges.
- 2. To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $50,000.00 from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and to amend the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response called the “FY27 GIS Data Enhancement Project Special Fund,” and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response’s “FY27 GIS Data Enhancement Project Special Fund” by $50,000.00 for the purpose of developing and integrating interactive indoor GIS maps within the City’s CAD system at five pilot sites and within the City’s Next Generation 9-1-1 dataset.
- 14 The committee addressed the concerns raised by the public comment speakers and requested additional information to determine how further assistance could be provided.
- 15 Board Vacancies
- 16 There were no board vacancies.
- 16 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of July 28, 2026, and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
- 17 Discussion Item(s)
- 18 There were no discussion items.
- 19 Staff Report
- 19 The following resolution was considered:
- 20 September 22, 2026 - Public Safety Staff Report
- 21 Edward Porner, Deputy Director, Senior for the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response, provided the committee with a presentation regarding the proposed legislation. He explained that the plan clarifies departmental responsibilities, communication protocols, and resource coordination during major incidents. He stated that the update addresses changing risks, meets state review requirements, and improves coordination among city departments and external partners.
- 23 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 24 Public Hearing
- 25 There were no public hearing speakers.
- 32 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Sarah Abubaker moved to forward RES. 2026-R031 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Trammell, Abubaker. Noes None.
- 33 The following ordinance was considered:
- 36 Public Hearing
- 37 There were no public hearing speakers.
- 46 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Sarah Abubaker moved to forward ORD. 2026-211 to Council with the recommendation to approve, which was seconded and approved: Ayes 2, Trammell, Abubaker. Noes None.
- 47 Vice Chair Stephanie Lynch arrived at 1:48 p.m., and was seated.
- 52 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 69 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 89 Member Sarah Abubaker departed the meeting at 2:00 p.m.
- 95 Council staff provided the committee with the September Public Safety staff report.
- 97 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 98 Adjournment
- 99 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:22 p.m.
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