Organizational Development Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall
Agenda — 65 items
- 1 Call to Order
- 1 Members Present
- 2 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
- 2 The Honorable Cynthia Newbille, Chair The Honorable Katherine Jordan, Vice Chair The Honorable Sarah Abubaker, Member (late arrival) The Honorable Andrew Breton, Member (electronic participant) The Honorable Kenya Gibson, Member The Honorable Nicole Jones, Member The Honorable Stephanie Lynch, Member (late arrival) The Honorable Reva Trammell, Member
- 3 Approval of Minutes
- 3 Absent
- 4 July 6, 2026 - Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting Minutes
- 4 The Honorable Ellen Robertson, Member
- 5 Reports from City Administration, Council Staff, and Other Parties
- 5 Others in Attendance
- 1. Richmond 300 Annual Report
- 6 Laura Drewry, City Attorney Kiley Kesecker, Deputy City Clerk Candice Reid, City Clerk Tabrica Rentz, Deputy City Attorney RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
- 7 Richmond 300 Annual Report
- 2. Code Refresh Draft #3 Overview
- 8 Chair Cynthia Newbille called the meeting to order at 4:07 p.m. and presided.
- 9 Code Refresh Draft 3 Presentation
- 10 Consideration of Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Similar Entities
- 10 Upon the Chair's request, Deputy City Clerk Kiley Kesecker provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in the event of an emergency.
- 11 Organizational Development Board Vacancy Report - September 8, 2026
- 11 Electronic Participation
- 12 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 12 Chair Newbille made the following statement:
- 1. To establish the Affordable Dwelling Unit Advisory Committee for the purpose of advising the Council and the Mayor on the development of an affordable housing dwelling unit program.
- 13 Pursuant to Rule III (D)(4)(b) of Council's Rules of Procedure, Member Andrew Breton has requested to participate in this meeting via Microsoft Teams due to a personal matter: His return flight to Richmond was canceled due to weather, thereby preventing his physical attendance today. He will be participating from the location at 225 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139. The Committee Members present must adopt a motion to approve Member Breton’s participation in this meeting by electronic communication means if it appears to the body that his request complies with Council’s adopted policy on electronic participation. Pursuant to Rule III(D)(4)(d) of Council’s Rules, is there a motion from the members physically assembled approving his participation in this meeting by electronic communication means?
- 2. To adopt the City of Richmond’s Emergency Operations Plan in accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Services and Disaster Law of 2000.
- 14 Vice Chair Jordan moved to allow Member Andrew Breton to participate in the meeting by electronic communication means. The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 5, Gibson, Jones, Trammell, Jordan, Newbille. Noes 0. Abubaker and Lynch had yet to arrive.
- 15 Reports of Standing Committees
- 16 Council Chief of Staff Report
- 16 There were no amendments or corrections to the following meeting minutes, which were approved as presented.
- 17 Discussion Item(s)
- 18 There were no discussion items.
- 18 Agenda Amendment
- 19 Adjournment
- 19 Chair Newbille moved that the resolution entitled:
- 21 be continued to the October 5, 2026 Organizational Development Standing Committee meeting. The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 6, Breton, Gibson, Jones, Trammell, Jordan, Newbille. Noes 0. Abubaker and Lynch had yet to arrive.
- 25 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 26 Member Sarah Abubaker arrived at 4:18 p.m. and was seated.
- 27 Marianne Pitts, Senior Deputy Director of Planning and Development Review, presented the Richmond 300 Annual Report. She noted that the plan’s 2025 metrics remain unavailable because American Community Survey one year estimates have not been released, though 2024 data may be provided before the end of 2026.
- 28 Committee discussion was focused on the following areas:
- 29 • five year comprehensive plan review • school enrollment and development growth • public safety • infrastructure capacity • housing vacancies • public access to the development mapper tool
- 30 Member Stephanie Lynch arrived at 4:35 p.m. and was seated.
- 33 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 34 Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst, reviewed board vacancies and applications for consideration by the committee.
- 35 Chair Cynthia Newbille moved to forward the following board reappointment application to Council with the recommendation to approve:
- 36 Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority: Dyanne Broidy (reappointment)
- 37 The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 6, Breton, Jones, Trammell, Abubaker, Jordan, Newbille. Noes 1, Lynch. Abstentions 1, Gibson.
- 38 Reports from City Administration, Council Staff, and Other Parties
- 41 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 42 Kevin J. Vonck, Director of Planning and Development Review, presented draft three of Code Refresh. Key changes from draft two include:
- 43 • one primary dwelling unit plus one accessory dwelling unit under 1,200 square feet • a five adult household limit • minimum vegetation requirements • special use permits for high traffic uses outside industrial districts • revised zoning for places of worship • adjusted residential unit limits • new campus zoning
- 44 Members requested clearer visual examples, draft-to-draft redlines, infrastructure and public safety review, and an analysis of potential assessment effects from accessory dwelling units.
- 45 Director Vonck added that city administration is aiming for possible introduction around October 13, subject to completing the ordinance and review.
- 46 Members reiterated the need for continued public engagement and careful vetting.
- 48 The following ordinance was considered:
- 50 Member Andrew Breton introduced his proposal to create a temporary advisory committee to recommend how the city could use new state authorized affordable housing incentives, which would be available starting July 2027. He added that the committee would also assess potential policies and engage stakeholders.
- 51 Public Hearing
- 52 Annika Schunn, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, spoke in support of the proposed committee, but recommended renaming the group the Inclusionary Housing Committee and adding community and housing expertise to its membership.
- 53 Members discussed the authority of the proposed committee, referral procedures, staffing, funding, relationship to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and whether six months after the adoption of the updated zoning ordinance is sufficient time to deliver a report on recommendations and findings to Council.
- 54 Committee members raised questions about the proposed committee’s membership and appointment process, and why the ordinance was referred to the Organizational Development Standing Committee rather than the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee. Discussion also focused on how the work of the proposed committee would connect with existing affordable housing efforts and the proposed timeline.
- 55 Discussion concluded with Mr. Breton indicating his openness to an amendment proposed by Chair Newbille that would make the tenth committee member a City Council member, rather than allowing the seat to be filled by either a Council member or a Planning Commission member.
- 56 Vice Chair Jordan moved to continue Ordinance No. 2026-190 to the next Organizational Development Standing Committee meeting. The motion was seconded and approved: Ayes 8, Breton, Gibson, Jones, Lynch, Trammell, Abubaker, Jordan, Newbille. Noes 0.
- 59 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 60 Chair Newbille stated that City Council standing committee updates were provided by submitted documentation prepared by the Council Chief of Staff.
- 64 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
- 65 ___________________________________ CITY CLERK
Watch Richmond
This is one agenda. Richmond publishes another every few weeks, and the thing you care about is rarely on the one you happened to find. Name it and we will email you when it appears.
Free for 14 days, no card — and nothing charges itself: at day 14 the emails simply stop unless you choose to subscribe ($19 a month). One email when something matches, and nothing else. Unsubscribe from any of them. Searching stays free — it is public record.