1 00:00:01,010 --> 00:00:15,750 Good evening, everyone. Good evening, everyone. The formal meeting of the Richmond City Council will now come to order. Madam Clerk, if you would invite the Spanish interpretation announcement. 2 00:00:19,270 --> 00:00:30,770 Spanish interpretation is available in the council chamber. Please see a representative at the rear of the room to receive the appropriate equipment. Spanish interpretation is also available through Microsoft Teams for virtual attendees in need of this service. 3 00:00:47,890 --> 00:00:58,610 Thank you, this evening we have Reverend Tyrone Nelson, pastor of Six Mountsign Baptist Church, 4 00:00:58,610 --> 00:01:04,150 and also a member of the Him-Rykel Board of Supervisors who will provide our 5 00:01:04,150 --> 00:01:08,750 invocation and that will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Welcome, Pastor. 6 00:01:11,780 --> 00:01:18,220 Good evening, Madam President and colleagues and friends on the Richmond City 7 00:01:18,220 --> 00:01:23,700 Council. Join me for a word of prayer. Most gracious God. Thank you for allowing 8 00:01:23,700 --> 00:01:30,380 us to gather here today. We thank you, God, for these people who you have 9 00:01:30,380 --> 00:01:36,640 set apart to lead our great city. Now on God as we go about the business of the night, 10 00:01:36,940 --> 00:01:44,260 help us to keep you first and everything that we say and do. Bless us God as we move forward 11 00:01:44,860 --> 00:01:52,100 and trying to lead with wisdom and knowledge and understanding so that we may make this a 12 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:58,040 prosperous city. Most of our God bind us together in the spirit of love where surpasses all things. 13 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,340 It is in your omnipotent name, we pray, amen. 14 00:02:02,500 --> 00:02:02,960 Amen. 15 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:04,020 Thank you, Pastor. 16 00:02:08,190 --> 00:02:14,370 A pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for 17 00:02:14,370 --> 00:02:21,330 which it stands, one nation, and the God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 18 00:02:27,410 --> 00:02:33,370 Mr. Clark, if you would provide us with the emergency evacuation and public speaker guidelines at this time. 19 00:02:34,790 --> 00:02:39,350 Upon activation of the emergency alarm signal, all persons should immediately exit the building. 20 00:02:39,710 --> 00:02:44,390 Please use the exits to the left or right front of the council chamber or the north or south stairwells 21 00:02:44,390 --> 00:02:49,110 outside the rear doors of the chamber. Do not use elevators or escalators. After exiting the 22 00:02:49,110 --> 00:02:53,470 building, security will direct everyone down 9th street to the fenced area located between 23 00:02:53,470 --> 00:02:58,170 clay and Lee streets. Able persons should assist visually and hearing impaired visitors with exiting 24 00:02:58,170 --> 00:03:02,990 the building. Individuals speaking during public hearings and the public comment period are 25 00:03:02,990 --> 00:03:04,710 generally allowed three minutes to speak. 26 00:03:05,230 --> 00:03:09,290 Persons appearing before Council are not allowed to campaign for public office, promote 27 00:03:09,290 --> 00:03:13,230 private business ventures, use language of a personal nature which insults or demeans 28 00:03:13,230 --> 00:03:17,410 at in person, including comments directed at public officials or staff members that are 29 00:03:17,410 --> 00:03:21,570 not related to their official duties, or address or question staff members directly. 30 00:03:22,150 --> 00:03:24,350 All questions are to be directed to the President of Council. 31 00:03:24,950 --> 00:03:28,970 Failure to adhere to the guidelines may result the speakers for fitting any remaining time and 32 00:03:28,970 --> 00:03:32,970 further disciplinary action as necessary, which could include barring from attendance if 33 00:03:32,970 --> 00:03:35,410 the future meetings of City Council for a period of six months. 34 00:03:35,890 --> 00:03:38,650 And Madam President, all members of Council are in attendance this evening. 35 00:03:39,270 --> 00:03:42,650 Also, if there are individuals standing in the rear of the chamber that are not authorized, 36 00:03:42,890 --> 00:03:44,770 they are asked to be seated where seats are available. 37 00:03:45,310 --> 00:03:48,450 Also, a clause is not permitted at any time during tonight's meeting. 38 00:03:48,730 --> 00:03:50,250 Thank you for adhering to those guidelines. 39 00:03:51,070 --> 00:03:55,010 Thank you, Madam Clerk, let's proceed with appointments and or 40 00:03:55,470 --> 00:03:56,750 reappointments for this evening. 41 00:03:57,550 --> 00:03:59,730 Members, you are provided with board appointment and 42 00:03:59,730 --> 00:04:04,210 appointment recommendations from your governmental operations and public safety standing committees. 43 00:04:04,510 --> 00:04:07,130 Is there a motion to approve the appointments as read? 44 00:04:07,470 --> 00:04:07,870 So moved. 45 00:04:08,370 --> 00:04:08,570 Second. 46 00:04:10,350 --> 00:04:11,170 Thank you. 47 00:04:11,530 --> 00:04:14,330 Council is now voting on the appointments as presented. 48 00:04:14,550 --> 00:04:15,290 Mr. Breton. 49 00:04:15,610 --> 00:04:15,750 Hi. 50 00:04:16,150 --> 00:04:16,670 Ms. Gibson. 51 00:04:17,050 --> 00:04:17,390 Yes. 52 00:04:17,890 --> 00:04:18,350 Ms. Jones. 53 00:04:18,690 --> 00:04:18,850 Hi. 54 00:04:19,270 --> 00:04:20,090 Ms. Robertson. 55 00:04:20,330 --> 00:04:20,570 Hi. 56 00:04:21,010 --> 00:04:21,450 Ms. Lynch. 57 00:04:21,830 --> 00:04:22,030 Hi. 58 00:04:22,410 --> 00:04:23,070 Ms. Trammell. 59 00:04:23,270 --> 00:04:23,530 Hi. 60 00:04:23,790 --> 00:04:24,530 Ms. Abelbacher. 61 00:04:24,830 --> 00:04:25,050 Hi. 62 00:04:25,250 --> 00:04:26,150 Vice President Jordan. 63 00:04:26,150 --> 00:04:28,010 and President New Bill. 64 00:04:28,510 --> 00:04:30,050 All right, those appointments have been approved. 65 00:04:30,370 --> 00:04:31,870 Thank you, Madam Clerk, let's proceed 66 00:04:31,870 --> 00:04:34,010 with our public comment period speakers. 67 00:04:34,770 --> 00:04:37,310 The only public comment period speaker for this evening 68 00:04:37,310 --> 00:04:38,990 is Martin Gary. 69 00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:43,860 Welcome, Mr. Gary. 70 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:53,940 My name is Martin Gary, 71 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,220 and I'm here on behalf of the Shaco Arts Culture Corporation. 72 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,620 Good evening, Madam President and Council members. 73 00:05:00,820 --> 00:05:03,020 Mr. Gary, can you pull the mic down a little bit 74 00:05:03,020 --> 00:05:04,120 so we can hear you a bit better? 75 00:05:04,260 --> 00:05:04,540 Thank you. 76 00:05:04,540 --> 00:05:12,880 Thank you for the opportunity to speak today and for Dr. Newville on the mayor's office and establishing the Shaco bottom task force. 77 00:05:13,420 --> 00:05:21,300 This effort reflects a meaningful commitment to preserving and shaping one of Richmond's most historic and culturally significant districts. 78 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:31,500 Over the past several months, Shaco records has been actively convening conversations with neighborhood artists, building owners, media creators, 79 00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:41,560 and key partners including representative from the city's Department of Economic Development, Parks and Recreation, the Metropolitan Business League. 80 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:49,500 Together we've been building alignment around the shared vision to establish Shaco as a recognized arts and culture district. 81 00:05:49,500 --> 00:05:54,980 The second designation is not simply symbolic, it's strategic. 82 00:05:55,660 --> 00:06:02,880 It represents an opportunity to unify existing creative energy, track new investment, and 83 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:07,940 responsibly guide development in a way that honors Shaco's deep historical roots while 84 00:06:07,940 --> 00:06:09,020 supporting its future. 85 00:06:09,900 --> 00:06:16,360 Our purpose is clear, the Shaco Arts and Culture Corporation exists to enhance the history 86 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:22,320 and development of the Shaco District through economic development, marketing, 87 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:28,380 promotion, and curated events. We are in the process of applying for a 501C3 88 00:06:28,380 --> 00:06:33,640 status. We believe that arts and culture are not just amenities. They are engines 89 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:39,520 of economic growth, tools for storytelling, and catalyst for community 90 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:46,540 connection. By investing in this vision, we can empower independent artists, musicians, 91 00:06:47,260 --> 00:06:53,860 media creators, many of whom already call this area home. These individuals are not only 92 00:06:53,860 --> 00:07:00,540 producing culture, they are fostering community development, creating educational opportunities, 93 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:07,700 and contributing to a vibrant local economy. Shaka has always been a place of powerful stories, 94 00:07:07,700 --> 00:07:19,660 stories of resilience, creativity, and transformation. With thoughtful planning and collaboration, we have the opportunity to ensure that its next chapter is just as impactful. 95 00:07:20,300 --> 00:07:28,520 We respectfully ask for your support as we pursue official arts and culture district designation. 96 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:41,420 With your partnership, we can elevate Shaco as a destination that reflects Richmond's unique identity while creating inclusive opportunities for those who shape its cultural landscape. 97 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:48,600 Thank you again for your time, your leadership, and continued commitment to the future of the Shaco District. 98 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:58,740 Thank you, Mr. Gary, and thank you for your participation in the Shaco Public Safety Task Force meetings. 99 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:07,080 As you know, this item is one that's on the list of items for consideration by that group, so more to come. 100 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:07,920 Thank you. 101 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:16,900 Madam, or Mr. Clark, if you would proceed with the amendments for tonight's agenda? 102 00:08:18,380 --> 00:08:25,460 the amendments to tonight's agenda are as follows. Item 5 ordinance 2026093 will be continued 103 00:08:25,460 --> 00:08:33,020 to the Monday, July 27th council meeting. Item 6 ordinance 2026102 and item 13 ordinance 104 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:40,840 2026120 will both be continued to the Monday June 22nd council meeting. Item 15 ordinance 105 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:53,200 Items 2026-122, item 16, ordinance 2026-123, and item 17, ordinance 2026-124, will all be moved from this evening's consent agenda to the regular agenda. 106 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:59,880 Item 19, ordinance 2025-231, and item 22, ordinance 2026-090. 107 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:05,520 9-0. Will both be amended later this evening and then continue to the Monday June 22nd Council meeting. 108 00:09:06,220 --> 00:09:16,740 Item 23, ordinance 2026-092 and item 24, ordinance 2026-096. Will both be continued to the Monday June 22nd Council meeting. 109 00:09:17,220 --> 00:09:19,280 Madam President, those are all the amendments to tonight's agenda. 110 00:09:19,860 --> 00:09:23,880 Thank you, Mr. Clark-Mind. I have a motion to accept the agenda as amended. 111 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:25,760 that still move. Second. 112 00:09:28,820 --> 00:09:31,780 Council is voting on the seedlings agenda amendments as red. Mr. 113 00:09:31,900 --> 00:09:40,780 Bretton. Aye. Ms. Gibson. Yes. Ms. Jones. Aye. Ms. Robertson. Aye. Ms. Lynch. Aye. Ms. 114 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:41,160 Tramble. 115 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:52,780 Ms. Alba Walker. Aye. Vice President Jordan. And President New Bill. Aye. The amended 116 00:09:52,780 --> 00:09:58,380 agenda is now before you and the seedlings consent agenda consists of the following items. Item 117 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,200 Item 3-0126. 118 00:10:14,060 --> 00:10:17,220 Item 8-0226. 119 00:10:17,220 --> 00:10:42,080 1, 0, 6, item 9, ordinance 2026, 1, 1, 6, item 10, ordinance 2026, 1, 1, 7, item 11, ordinance 2026, 1, 1, 8, item 12, ordinance 2026, 1, 1, 9, item 14, ordinance 2026, 1, 2, 1, and item 18, resolution 2026, R0, 2, 3, those are all the items on tonight's consent agenda. 120 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:44,300 Thank you, Mr. Clerk. 121 00:10:44,500 --> 00:10:50,500 At this time, we'll proceed with a public hearing on the consent agenda items. 122 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:56,460 Are there persons present, desires of speaking in opposition to any item on the consent agenda 123 00:10:56,460 --> 00:10:57,720 if you would come forward? 124 00:11:06,690 --> 00:11:07,630 Welcome, Ms. Oliga. 125 00:11:08,510 --> 00:11:14,290 Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the Commission, Mark Olinger, resident of Oakwood Avenue, here 126 00:11:14,290 --> 00:11:17,690 to talk about agenda item number eight, Mosley South. 127 00:11:18,770 --> 00:11:24,790 I'll be brief. I apologize. There were technical difficulties I could make, not my comments 128 00:11:24,790 --> 00:11:29,950 at the last plan of commission meeting. My comments on the plan is presented for you tonight 129 00:11:29,950 --> 00:11:35,210 are based on three elements. Number one, too many. Number two, too little. Number three, 130 00:11:35,670 --> 00:11:36,370 vague promises. 131 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:45,000 There are, the plan as it presented shows up to 500 units of housing on a 12.7 acre 132 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:54,460 site shows up to 500 plus parking stalls on a 12.7 acre site, and up to 25,000 square feet on 133 00:11:54,460 --> 00:12:00,840 that site. I first found out about this project on December 15th for a public meeting on December, 134 00:12:01,060 --> 00:12:07,980 excuse me, October 15th for a meeting on October 16th. I drafted and sent around a quick email to 135 00:12:07,980 --> 00:12:13,780 members of my neighbor associations email list, which includes people outside. There are a few of us 136 00:12:13,780 --> 00:12:14,900 that were in attendance. 137 00:12:15,860 --> 00:12:22,400 I have had a keen interest in the redevelopment of Creighton Court, excuse me, of Mosby since 138 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:28,360 I moved here in 2011 and was really anticipating something that would carry the momentum started 139 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:36,740 at Armstrong Renaissance, Creighton Court, Highland Grove where we were creating real communities 140 00:12:36,740 --> 00:12:38,580 of value for the people. 141 00:12:39,500 --> 00:12:52,100 But we have here. And in the applicant report, the applicant states that they want to make it a great place for formal and informal gathering and open spaces and opportunities for people to mix. 142 00:12:53,780 --> 00:13:08,380 None of that shows up on the illustrative master plan you're looking at tonight. And in fact, at the meeting in October, there were discussions about community gardens and hiking trails and a number of other things that would be great things. 143 00:13:08,380 --> 00:13:16,780 to have at this project. They don't show up on the illustrator plan. So we either have on this plan 144 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:24,020 something that I would call kind of a test fit which is how many units can we fit on this site 145 00:13:24,980 --> 00:13:29,960 and provide a little bit of green space, provide a lot of parking and provide some other uses 146 00:13:30,820 --> 00:13:35,340 versus everything that they said in the applicants report which I thought sounded pretty well. 147 00:13:35,340 --> 00:13:41,240 pretty good. Two little in the way of I think community outreach. 30 seconds. Too much 148 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:44,460 in two little in the community outreach. Two little in the way of tree 149 00:13:44,460 --> 00:13:49,640 preservation and landscape. Two little in the way of thinking about the site in 150 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:57,500 a much broader context. Lastly, so all of those things matter. And lastly, what is the 151 00:13:57,500 --> 00:14:04,360 affordable housing component of the project? I've seen 120 project-based voucher 152 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:10,400 units mentioned so that's about 25% of the project site as presented but what 153 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:16,960 about the folks at 40% 50% 60% or 80% of county median how is this project 154 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:21,820 going to be thank you mr. Olinger that's your time thank you very much thank 155 00:14:21,820 --> 00:14:30,120 you are there persons present desires of speaking in favor of any of the items on 156 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:32,500 the consent agenda if he would come forward now. 157 00:14:42,340 --> 00:14:44,280 Welcome, Mr. Ness Smith and Ms. Hampton. 158 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:50,400 Good evening, Madam President and Vice President Auguste members of this City Council. 159 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,780 Given the brief time we have, I want to just say a few things and I'm going to turn over 160 00:14:54,780 --> 00:14:59,800 to Mr. Real Hampton. One is that we believe this project is consistent. 161 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:29,860 With the Richmond 300 plan, as voted by the City Council, we want to thank Mayor Seam for supporting on this on this. We want to thank you, President City Council, President Newbell, for working very closely and ensuring a couple of things. One, that the resident tenant association, the resident council of Mosby, all voted unanimously on what? And ensuring that there is a provision called the tenant bill of rights, which says that every 162 00:15:29,860 --> 00:15:34,500 resident who is there will have the right to come back. So I want to thank you for 163 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:38,740 working with us on that. Asked to some of the specifics that were just commented on. 164 00:15:38,820 --> 00:15:41,940 I'll leave for Miss Cherelle to talk about those. Miss Cherelle. 165 00:15:45,260 --> 00:15:50,600 Cheryl Hampton, Senior Vice President for Real Estate and Community Development, R-R-H-A, 166 00:15:50,820 --> 00:15:57,440 Madam President and to the August members of Council. We ask and respectfully ask your 167 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:04,120 approval tonight. As it's mentioned in your ordinance before you, this is a preliminary plan. 168 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:13,700 It is not 500 units. It's a little less 478. We must come back each time and bring it to 169 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:22,240 PDR for their review. I also want to address so keep in mind it is preliminary. The boundaries are 170 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:33,340 there. Mosby Court, 106 units currently will be redeveloped into approximately 478 units. 171 00:16:33,980 --> 00:16:42,060 As we heard the amendments that were proposed at the planning commission, the team has already 172 00:16:42,060 --> 00:16:48,840 designed, the team has already started work to increase green space to look at how we can 173 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:55,360 and add those things which we already had in mind as the opposition speaker so said. 174 00:16:55,840 --> 00:17:02,100 Since 2023, there has been approximately 10 or 12 community meetings. 175 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:09,980 One was a very large charrette, and as you've heard, Mr. Nesterman's speech to our CEO, 176 00:17:10,360 --> 00:17:16,860 there have been five meetings where the tenant bill of rights was created. 177 00:17:16,860 --> 00:17:22,840 The October meeting was not coordinated by RRAJ. 178 00:17:23,020 --> 00:17:26,500 It was done by the Historic Preservation Department, 179 00:17:26,780 --> 00:17:29,560 formerly Miss Kim, Kim Chen. 180 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,620 And I understand there was a problem with mailing, 181 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,700 but we did have neighborhood residents come out 182 00:17:36,700 --> 00:17:38,300 from the broader community. 183 00:17:38,700 --> 00:17:43,560 We will continue that ongoing tenant engagement 184 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:51,040 as well as community engagement with the broader community every 90 days until 185 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:57,580 redevelopment begins. We will have a meeting with the tenants and always invite 186 00:17:57,580 --> 00:18:06,500 the residents from the broader community to attend. So we again ask that you review 187 00:18:06,500 --> 00:18:14,260 this and respectfully approve on the project and it's the preliminary CUP plan. Thank you. 188 00:18:14,380 --> 00:18:20,620 Thank you. I'd like to conclude in comments you just that that again we will also be doing 189 00:18:20,620 --> 00:18:27,780 most more robust these meetings started in 2023. Great, frankly, but we're doing most more robust 190 00:18:28,580 --> 00:18:31,740 outreach to the stakeholders in the community you and I have talked about. 191 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,040 Thank you, Mr. Nussmith and Ms. Hampton. 192 00:18:36,980 --> 00:18:43,800 Are there other persons present, desires of speaking in favor of this paper? 193 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:51,220 I'm sorry, the item, this is the item on the, well, any item on the consent agenda. 194 00:18:51,460 --> 00:18:51,940 I'm sorry. 195 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:57,220 I was going to this particular paper when you stood before I thought it was this one. 196 00:19:03,390 --> 00:19:04,130 Good evening. 197 00:19:04,610 --> 00:19:05,730 My name is Thomas Courtney. 198 00:19:05,730 --> 00:19:10,310 I live in the first district near the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Grove Avenue corridor. 199 00:19:10,950 --> 00:19:21,050 I'm speaking in support of, I believe item three, ordinance 2026-089, the proposed update to the city sidewalk snow and ice removal ordinance. 200 00:19:21,750 --> 00:19:25,050 I support this ordinance both as a resident and as a landlord. 201 00:19:25,490 --> 00:19:33,110 I have previously operated short-term rentals in the city of Richmond when the city changed its laws to regulate that activity I complied. 202 00:19:33,110 --> 00:19:38,730 I also understand that owning or managing property carries basic public facing responsibilities. 203 00:19:39,390 --> 00:19:43,950 When it snows or ISIS, I remove or treat sidewalks at my property, not only for my tenants, 204 00:19:44,210 --> 00:19:48,070 but also for neighbors, pedestrians, delivery worker students, older residents, and animals 205 00:19:48,070 --> 00:19:49,390 using the public sidewalk. 206 00:19:50,270 --> 00:19:54,570 That is why I was discouraged by what I observed during the January storm. 207 00:19:55,410 --> 00:20:00,090 In the blocks surrounding the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, certain sidewalks associated 208 00:20:00,090 --> 00:20:04,730 with the Commonwealth and VMFA facilities, including near the studio school, were cleared or treated. 209 00:20:05,230 --> 00:20:10,530 But other sidewalks associated with VMFA foundation properties, including properties along 210 00:20:10,530 --> 00:20:15,190 Grove Avenue, North Boulevard, North Colonial Avenue, were not cleared or treated sufficiently 211 00:20:15,190 --> 00:20:22,830 until I reported them through RVA-311. I raised this issue respectfully. The VMFA foundation and 212 00:20:22,830 --> 00:20:29,270 related entities are not ordinary individual homeowners. They own or control residential property, 213 00:20:29,270 --> 00:20:32,110 short-term rental property, long-term rental property, 214 00:20:32,370 --> 00:20:34,750 and institutional property around the museum area. 215 00:20:35,410 --> 00:20:39,570 When an extremely wealthy, institutional actor can support 216 00:20:39,570 --> 00:20:43,130 major capital projects, including a multi-million dollar warehouse, 217 00:20:43,970 --> 00:20:47,210 it should also be able to meet the basic neighborly duty of 218 00:20:47,210 --> 00:20:49,970 clearing and treating sidewalks that affect public safety. 219 00:20:50,750 --> 00:20:53,750 This ordinance is reasonable and necessary clarification. 220 00:20:54,290 --> 00:20:56,610 It recognizes that ICE is a sidewalk hazard, 221 00:20:56,610 --> 00:21:02,310 It clarifies responsibility and moves enforcement towards a civil process rather than a criminal 222 00:21:02,310 --> 00:21:02,590 one. 223 00:21:03,210 --> 00:21:09,070 I would also encourage Council and the administration to actively engage large institutional 224 00:21:09,070 --> 00:21:15,610 landowners, including the MFA and its nonprofit property owning entities, so that compliance 225 00:21:15,610 --> 00:21:20,130 is proactive rather than dependent on neighbors filing reports during dangerous weather. 226 00:21:20,890 --> 00:21:26,350 The goal should be clear responsibility, safer sidewalks and equal expectations for residents 227 00:21:26,350 --> 00:21:35,050 landlords, non-profits, and institutions like. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any other 228 00:21:35,050 --> 00:21:40,890 persons' desires to speak in favor of any item on the consent agenda if you would come for it now? 229 00:21:41,770 --> 00:21:46,510 Welcome. Good evening, Madam President, City Council members. My name is Al Hutchinson, 230 00:21:47,050 --> 00:21:55,930 and I'm here today to ask for your support for audience 2026 slash 087 to rename the 2300 block of 231 00:21:55,930 --> 00:21:58,310 Rosewood Avenue for James Jimmy Lee Bracey. 232 00:21:59,110 --> 00:22:00,610 I was one of the track runners, 233 00:22:00,610 --> 00:22:03,730 a thousand of folks who came through Mr. Bracey's tulitch. 234 00:22:04,490 --> 00:22:07,090 Mr. Bracey was looking down upon us at night, 235 00:22:07,390 --> 00:22:10,730 probably laughing because I was the worst track runner 236 00:22:10,730 --> 00:22:11,950 he ever coached. 237 00:22:12,470 --> 00:22:15,270 But I'm in front of you because this is a feel good moment 238 00:22:15,270 --> 00:22:18,110 for Richmond, a feel good moment for the council. 239 00:22:18,690 --> 00:22:21,750 Mr. Bracey helped a lot of folks become doctors, 240 00:22:21,750 --> 00:22:30,750 lawyers, teachers, other coaches, community leaders. And he was one who poured into us. Did I make one 241 00:22:30,750 --> 00:22:37,070 dime to do this? He did it for his love of the young people like me at the time who came through the 242 00:22:37,070 --> 00:22:44,410 West End of Richmond, all over Richmond, quite frankly. But he did it for the love. And I will ask you 243 00:22:44,410 --> 00:22:49,890 tonight to really support this effort because Mr. Bracey, in my opinion, was a father figure to many. 244 00:22:49,890 --> 00:23:02,510 He was a cop tonight to many. He was a teacher to many. But most importantly, he loved us regardless of our last name, regardless of how much money we made, regardless of we came from a single 245 00:23:02,510 --> 00:23:18,250 Parenthouse. So he loved all of us. And so he represents the best of Richmond. So I would ask you tonight as the council to honor him, uplift him. And also I want to use this moment as a thanks for councilwoman Lynch for her support councilwoman 246 00:23:18,250 --> 00:23:19,610 and Robertson for her support, 247 00:23:20,030 --> 00:23:22,570 and really the West End Committee of the James, 248 00:23:22,730 --> 00:23:24,510 Jimmy Lee Bracey folks are here tonight 249 00:23:25,030 --> 00:23:27,090 to honor this, thank them for their vision 250 00:23:27,090 --> 00:23:28,190 and their leadership. 251 00:23:28,870 --> 00:23:31,330 And most importantly, I wanna thank his daughter, 252 00:23:31,830 --> 00:23:35,010 Adrian Bracey, and last but not least, 253 00:23:35,730 --> 00:23:38,110 the lady who was a mother to all of us, 254 00:23:38,550 --> 00:23:41,150 who's here tonight, and that's Miss Teresa Bracey. 255 00:23:41,770 --> 00:23:46,170 These folks not only love Bracey, but they love Richmond. 256 00:23:47,670 --> 00:23:52,230 So, Council, a lot of times you don't have an opportunity to do a feel-good story. 257 00:23:52,750 --> 00:23:55,830 And that's what tonight's about, and I just want to say thank you. 258 00:23:56,210 --> 00:23:56,890 Thank you. 259 00:23:57,030 --> 00:24:01,690 And I would invite those who are here in support of the paper and related if you could 260 00:24:01,690 --> 00:24:06,350 just stand so we could see you and welcome you and thank you for your support. 261 00:24:06,690 --> 00:24:08,270 Thank you so much for coming. 262 00:24:08,710 --> 00:24:14,270 And thank you for certainly all of your support of Mr. Beraci and all of his efforts with 263 00:24:14,270 --> 00:24:17,690 all of the young people as clearly reflected here. Thank you. 264 00:24:20,620 --> 00:24:22,240 I think that there was someone 265 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:24,740 else in, Disarras is speaking in favor. 266 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,200 If everyone else who is, Disarras is speaking 267 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:34,800 in favor of any item on the consent agenda, if you would line up, please. Thank you. 268 00:24:37,380 --> 00:24:41,400 Good evening, Councilor Madam President. My name is Charlene Hentonak, 269 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:48,180 to him here in support of ordinance 2026 087 designating the 2300 block of Roosevelt Avenue 270 00:24:48,180 --> 00:24:53,040 in honor of James Bracey. Thank you for making my job really really easy. I don't need to say 271 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:56,840 anything else. I'm going to do everything that was just said, but I am representing the Westman 272 00:24:56,840 --> 00:25:02,540 Richmond Striders, which was established by Bracey in 1967. We are still going strong. I too ran 273 00:25:02,540 --> 00:25:09,360 for him as a middle school athlete and with his guidance, it took me all the way through collegiate 274 00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:15,940 That's let assembly on. So I am appreciative of you all bring this forward and act that you would please support it. Thank you. Thank you. 275 00:25:16,180 --> 00:25:17,120 Next speaker. 276 00:25:21,780 --> 00:25:22,060 Hey. 277 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:24,820 Good evening, Madam President. 278 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:26,880 Council members, fellow citizens. 279 00:25:27,540 --> 00:25:36,240 My name is Warren Goldsboro and I had the privilege of serving as assistant track coach of the Western strieters throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. 280 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:40,620 During those years, James Lee Bracy was far more than a coach to me. 281 00:25:40,620 --> 00:25:47,540 He was a mentor, a role model, and a friend whose influence extended far beyond track. 282 00:25:48,220 --> 00:25:53,760 I am honored to speak in strong support of dedicating a streak for Coach Bracy. 283 00:25:54,980 --> 00:26:01,700 When people think of successful athletic programs, they often measure success in championships, 284 00:26:02,220 --> 00:26:03,380 records, and trophies. 285 00:26:04,220 --> 00:26:10,460 Coach Bracy certainly helped young athletes achieve those accomplishments, but that was 286 00:26:10,460 --> 00:26:18,020 not his primary goal. His greatest achievement was building young people of character. For 287 00:26:18,020 --> 00:26:22,640 more than 50 years, Coach Gracie established a foundation rooted in values that remained 288 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:29,200 just as important today as they were when he first began coaching. He taught sportsmanship, 289 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:41,120 showing young athletes how to win and how to handle victory with humility and defeat indignity. 290 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:46,580 He taught that team success was more important than individual recognition. 291 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:54,340 And perhaps more importantly, he taught that education mattered more than in trophy, medal, or record. 292 00:26:55,320 --> 00:27:01,640 The true measure of his legacy is not found in record books, it's found in the generations 293 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:09,640 of students, athletes, educators, business leaders, parents, and community members whose 294 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:11,920 lives were shaped by his example. 295 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:17,880 Many of us who stood here tonight are better people because of the time he spent under his 296 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:18,240 guidance. 297 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:30,100 It's a permanent reminder of a man who devoted his life to serving others and investing 298 00:27:30,100 --> 00:27:31,660 in the future of our community. 299 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:42,200 It ensures that future generations will ask who was James Lee Bracey and learn about 300 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:51,520 a man who impact reach far beyond athletics. I respectfully ask for your support and honor and 301 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:57,740 coach Bracey with this street dedication and recognizing the legacy of faith, sportsmanship, 302 00:27:58,300 --> 00:28:04,820 education, and service that continues to inspire the community today. Thank you. Thank you. 303 00:28:07,990 --> 00:28:13,490 I believe, Madam President, Vice President, my name is Diane Copman, and I'm a resident 304 00:28:13,490 --> 00:28:14,670 of Hiranko County. 305 00:28:15,950 --> 00:28:18,630 I'm brand new greetings for the West End Committee. 306 00:28:21,310 --> 00:28:26,350 There are people who come into our lives and leave lasting impact. 307 00:28:27,590 --> 00:28:33,390 And for me, one of those people was my child who was a track coach, Mr. Jane Bracy. 308 00:28:34,110 --> 00:28:39,150 When I was 11 years old, I was sitting on the front porch in the neighborhood with 309 00:28:39,150 --> 00:28:46,590 my friends out of nowhere, a tall, dark, handsome man with a commanding voice walked up to us 310 00:28:46,590 --> 00:28:53,410 and asked a simple question, would you like to run track for the Western strutters? At that time, 311 00:28:53,850 --> 00:29:01,050 I had never ran on a track in a day in my life. The only running I had ever done was around my 312 00:29:01,050 --> 00:29:09,130 neighborhood. Mr. Bracer took us to the park and allowed us to run around the park to see who was 313 00:29:09,130 --> 00:29:16,450 the fastest. Before then, then he talked to my parents and asked my parents if I could 314 00:29:16,450 --> 00:29:25,450 run track. Looking back now, I realized that simple moment changed my entire life forever. 315 00:29:26,210 --> 00:29:34,570 Because of Mr. Bracer, Mr. Bracer took an interest in me and gave me the opportunity to discover 316 00:29:34,570 --> 00:29:43,250 my abilities, I never knew I had. His encouragement, guidance, and belief in me help shape me into the 317 00:29:43,250 --> 00:29:50,370 successful athlete throughout middle school, high school, and even in college. Why earn a full 318 00:29:50,370 --> 00:29:59,890 scholarship to Hampton University. Now of that, now of that, none of that would happen if Mr. 319 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:29,380 Grace it had not walked, walked up to the group of kids on the porch and asked them a changing question. Do you want to run track? I wouldn't forever be grateful to his love, support, and willingness to invest in a young person. He saw something in me that I didn't see in myself. His belief gave me confidence, purpose and opportunity to change my future forever. 320 00:30:29,380 --> 00:30:36,820 However, Mr. Bracer touched the lives of countless people, both big ways and small ways. 321 00:30:37,260 --> 00:30:38,920 He was more than a coach. 322 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:43,880 He was a mentor, a role model, 30 seconds, and a source of inspiration. 323 00:30:44,380 --> 00:30:47,060 His impact reached far beyond track. 324 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:53,040 He taught young people to believe in themselves, work hard, and strive to become the very best 325 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:53,900 you could be. 326 00:30:54,500 --> 00:30:56,880 To me, Mr. Bracer meant the world. 327 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:09,220 I want his legacy to live on forever so I ask you all to support us in doing this. Thank you. Thank you so much. 328 00:31:17,770 --> 00:31:18,270 Welcome. 329 00:31:20,940 --> 00:31:29,000 Good evening to the City of Richmond Council and to the West End Community on behalf of Bracey, Mr. James Bracey. 330 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,620 My name is Mary Richardson, better known as Mary Terry. 331 00:31:33,220 --> 00:31:34,780 I live in him right home, Virginia. 332 00:31:35,540 --> 00:31:38,140 Thank you for this opportunity to come 333 00:31:38,140 --> 00:31:41,820 and just share a few words of Mr. James Bracy. 334 00:31:43,100 --> 00:31:46,420 In the Bible, it says in the New Testament, 335 00:31:47,140 --> 00:31:48,940 Jesus gave two new commandments, 336 00:31:49,660 --> 00:31:52,300 love the Lord that God, with all your heart, 337 00:31:52,540 --> 00:31:54,260 your mind, your soul, and your body, 338 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:56,600 and the second is liken unto that. 339 00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:06,320 it says, love your neighbor as you love yourself. The word neighbor is defined as the person that is 340 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:14,940 nearby. Mr. James Bracey, Miss Bracey, Theresa Bracey, and Adrian Bracey. This is what they 341 00:32:14,940 --> 00:32:24,640 lived by. These two commandments. Mr. Bracey was a person of great love, great influence, and I stand 342 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:31,760 here today before you. I didn't seek myself going to college. I saw myself going to the army. 343 00:32:32,420 --> 00:32:37,120 Mr. Bracey asked. He said, you play that basketball pretty good. I said, somewhere, 344 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:42,620 you say, have you ever thought about college? No, not really, because my parents couldn't afford it. 345 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:50,580 It was six of us. So I said, no, Mr. Bracey said, let's give it a try. I said, well, I haven't had any 346 00:32:50,580 --> 00:32:56,360 Scouts come looking at me, and he said, don't worry about that. I got connection. Sure. 347 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:06,560 As the time went on, I met my senior year, Mr. Bracy, being the person that he is out of L-O-V-E-L-E-L-A. 348 00:33:06,860 --> 00:33:16,160 He tells me, Meritur, I got a recruiter that's come to see you. Sure, right. No, the man from 349 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:18,400 I'm saying, I guess things college basketball team, 350 00:33:18,580 --> 00:33:20,540 wouldn't be basketball teams coming to see you. 351 00:33:21,060 --> 00:33:25,100 I said, okay, he said, take this $2, go buy a Coke, 352 00:33:25,700 --> 00:33:27,940 a Pepsi, and have some ice water. 353 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:30,620 That's the type of person you wait. 354 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:32,200 So when you offer him some imagery, 355 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:34,120 ask him to do one, Coke or Pepsi. 356 00:33:34,860 --> 00:33:37,060 Of course, he'd been a man from North Carolina. 357 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:38,560 He asked for Coke. 358 00:33:39,300 --> 00:33:41,480 So Mr. Bracer was on point with that. 359 00:33:41,940 --> 00:33:44,280 But I said all this to say that 360 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:54,840 because of Mr. Bracey, act of love, I was the first in my family to go to St. Augustine's College on a full basketball scholarship. 361 00:33:55,300 --> 00:34:09,460 And I would say to you, the committee, on behalf of the West End community, I ask that you all please make the street after Mr. Bracey. 362 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:10,140 Thank you. 363 00:34:10,140 --> 00:34:18,900 thank you. The public hearing now is closed, bring it back to the body, come to one 364 00:34:18,900 --> 00:34:25,940 of the lunch. I see you lit up over there. I just wanted to thank all of the members 365 00:34:25,940 --> 00:34:30,500 of the Jimmy Lee Bracey Honor A Street Renaming Committee, the West End Striters and all the 366 00:34:30,500 --> 00:34:38,320 family members who came today. It is truly an honor to get to do this for you all and I know 367 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:44,180 all my colleagues feel similarly and it is. It's one of the bright shining moments that we get 368 00:34:44,180 --> 00:34:53,620 to celebrate someone's legacy who left such an impact on everybody and you can tell. I think 369 00:34:55,180 --> 00:35:00,420 this is one of the largest crowds we ever had for in support of a street name. That's very telling 370 00:35:00,420 --> 00:35:04,880 it to the Hueley was. I appreciate all my colleagues support and I appreciate you all for the work 371 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:08,240 you put in to get us here. Thank you. 372 00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:12,980 Councilwoman Robertson, you were on this, didn't know 373 00:35:12,980 --> 00:35:18,380 if you had any quick comment before I went. I want to thank Ms. Lynch and I want to thank the 374 00:35:18,380 --> 00:35:24,680 fail. I want to thank the community. Thanks for hearing your stories. What a wonderful 375 00:35:26,140 --> 00:35:36,820 experience to realize the investment that has been made and the change in your lives and 376 00:35:36,820 --> 00:35:42,040 the change that you're making in other people's lives as well. So the legacy continued to 377 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:47,800 live. I just want to thank all of you for this really as Miss Lynch said is an honor and 378 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:54,060 a privilege to be able to do something small just to remember the great contribution that 379 00:35:54,060 --> 00:36:00,400 just keeps right on giving and giving. Some of my best friends lived in your 380 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:05,380 neighborhood and they too have shared their experiences with me so I'm honored 381 00:36:05,380 --> 00:36:11,600 to be a part of patron on this paper. Thank you so much. Thank you. I would like 382 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:18,540 to thank everyone who came out. I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Mr. 383 00:36:18,540 --> 00:36:25,640 but I feel like I have some sense of this person in the extraordinary soul that he was and 384 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:32,760 thank you for your stories. I would be honored to add my name to this paper to honor Mr. 385 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:40,300 Bracey. Vice President Jordan. Yeah so I'd like to add my name as well and thank you to everyone who 386 00:36:40,300 --> 00:36:47,500 came out to share their stories and I hope all the coaches out in the community somehow heard this 387 00:36:47,500 --> 00:36:52,860 because their work is important and it does have impact. Thank you. Thank you. Council 388 00:36:52,860 --> 00:36:57,520 I'm in Tramble. Madam President, I'd like to add my name to it too and also thank all 389 00:36:57,520 --> 00:37:02,600 of you that came here because you all had some very, very inspiring stories that you told 390 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:09,680 about Mr. Bracey and I think if we had more of him, maybe our city would be better off because 391 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:14,940 it looked like he loved our city and he loved all of you and he's a role model for so many. 392 00:37:14,940 --> 00:37:27,360 So again, I want to add my name and then after that, I'd like to ask a question about ordinance 2026-089. 393 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:33,200 Okay, thank you. 394 00:37:33,660 --> 00:37:38,960 With that, we'll have now any conversation about other papers on the consent agenda. 395 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:40,160 I have a comment. 396 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:40,580 Yes. 397 00:37:41,820 --> 00:37:48,800 I'm kind of upset that the mayor would put this forward when we had a horrible, horrible 398 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:49,540 ice storm. 399 00:37:50,300 --> 00:37:55,920 And I know that it wasn't just my district, it was probably the whole city of Richmond 400 00:37:55,920 --> 00:37:57,840 was affected by the ice. 401 00:37:58,380 --> 00:38:05,960 And I know that there was a, I guess, a city of emergency that was declared and you're going 402 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:12,160 expect my seniors, people with disabilities, and not just my seniors all over the city. 403 00:38:12,900 --> 00:38:17,220 I don't, you know, some people think you're 50 years old, you're a senior, some people 404 00:38:17,220 --> 00:38:23,500 think that 65 years senior or people with disabilities, and you're expecting them to go out 405 00:38:23,500 --> 00:38:27,600 there and shovel the ice, you're expecting them to shovel the snow. 406 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:35,900 I know that by the grace of God, I did have somebody on that on Facebook that said 407 00:38:35,900 --> 00:38:41,160 that he would give a discount to seniors in my district and other districts so that they 408 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:49,160 could have their sidewalk shovel. And this person came out there and we paid him to 409 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:54,740 do mine and some others because I felt so sorry for them and they were calling me crime 410 00:38:54,740 --> 00:38:59,320 because they couldn't even get in their car to go to Dallas so go to doctor's appointments. 411 00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:04,280 And I know that many, many streets, not just in my eighth district, the mayor didn't go 412 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:12,980 out there and send any trucks out there to even have salt, sand, or, I mean, to me, this 413 00:39:12,980 --> 00:39:19,860 is, I mean, how could you, how could you have a heart or soul or conscience to say this? 414 00:39:20,280 --> 00:39:24,760 Then you're going to find them. Do you understand how much our utilities are going up next 415 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:28,160 month and how they've already been, how they've already went up? Do you understand how much 416 00:39:28,160 --> 00:39:33,780 There are tax rate is $1,2,400 to highest than surrounding counties. 417 00:39:34,240 --> 00:39:38,180 And now you're going to put another burden on people with disabilities, people that are 418 00:39:38,180 --> 00:39:39,580 elderly seniors. 419 00:39:40,640 --> 00:39:41,980 This is not fair. 420 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:48,560 I just wish we would have had more of a discussion with this president, you know, everything 421 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:49,900 else was going on during the formal. 422 00:39:50,500 --> 00:39:52,860 And I'm not going to vote for this. 423 00:39:53,100 --> 00:39:53,420 I don't care. 424 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:54,120 $100. 425 00:39:54,240 --> 00:39:55,440 Some people, that's $100. 426 00:39:55,500 --> 00:39:56,820 Go buy the damn medicine. 427 00:39:56,820 --> 00:39:58,140 But anyway, I'm not. 428 00:39:58,160 --> 00:39:58,660 Thank you. 429 00:39:59,080 --> 00:40:03,680 I'm going to ask Vice President Jordan to speak to this paper 430 00:40:03,680 --> 00:40:06,900 as she's one of the, or one of the key patrons. 431 00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:09,760 OK, that's OK. 432 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:11,120 Thank you, President Newville. 433 00:40:11,780 --> 00:40:14,420 Appreciate you always looking out for constituents 434 00:40:14,900 --> 00:40:17,740 just to clarify the origin of this paper. 435 00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:20,460 We had constituents who were not 436 00:40:20,460 --> 00:40:22,040 able to get out of their building who 437 00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:26,000 did have mobility and other issues because their landlords 438 00:40:26,000 --> 00:40:28,080 or it's refused to clear the sidewalks. 439 00:40:28,660 --> 00:40:30,940 So that's sort of got us looking into this 440 00:40:30,940 --> 00:40:33,720 because as it is written now, 441 00:40:34,040 --> 00:40:35,600 first of all, it's a criminal penalty 442 00:40:36,100 --> 00:40:37,780 if you do not clear your sidewalk 443 00:40:38,180 --> 00:40:40,140 with an up to $250 fine. 444 00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:43,420 And the onus is 100% on the resident. 445 00:40:43,900 --> 00:40:46,040 So what we worked with the administration 446 00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:50,580 to try and understand one, is that necessary. 447 00:40:50,900 --> 00:40:52,900 So some of the changes we're making 448 00:40:52,900 --> 00:40:59,000 is not going to be a criminal. It's going to be a civil penalty instead $250. It could be 100. 449 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:05,880 No, that'll matter if it's an emergency. State of emergency has been declared as it was in the 450 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:12,740 ice storm. And I think as you know, we're really a complaint driven city. So this would be for situations 451 00:41:12,740 --> 00:41:18,900 where someone is really struggling to get out of out of their home or down their sidewalk. 452 00:41:18,900 --> 00:41:28,360 This would give administration and our DPW team better tools to encourage the sidewalks being cleared. 453 00:41:29,380 --> 00:41:36,400 And there is leeway for the CEO to have leniency, depending on what's happening. 454 00:41:36,960 --> 00:41:43,400 But we thought it was important that people understood ICE is just as even trickier to navigate a snow. 455 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:46,500 So I'm happy to talk to you more about it. 456 00:41:46,580 --> 00:41:50,200 I'm sorry if this came as a surprise, 457 00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:53,520 but I think it wasn't just the mayor's office. 458 00:41:53,740 --> 00:41:55,340 I worked on this based on feedback 459 00:41:55,340 --> 00:41:56,500 with the government constituents. 460 00:41:56,960 --> 00:41:58,040 Can I, there is flexibility, 461 00:41:58,740 --> 00:42:00,640 we're not, we're not trying to go after anybody. 462 00:42:01,180 --> 00:42:02,800 I can I just ask you one question? 463 00:42:02,940 --> 00:42:05,400 Yes, we said landlords that own like the park 464 00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:06,800 and buildings and things like that. 465 00:42:07,260 --> 00:42:12,000 Well, suppose we were not able to get to those apartments 466 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:17,320 because I know that I had some landlords call me and reference to it because they could not get out there. 467 00:42:18,100 --> 00:42:22,980 The fix elevator, not in my district, but in another one because it was the ice was horrible. 468 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:29,860 And then it was ice after ice after ice. So they and I mean our city trucks could even go down 469 00:42:29,860 --> 00:42:35,600 to go down our streets and handle it. So does that is going to go by like case by case per se? 470 00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:40,580 Yeah, this has built in flexibility. And again, we're in a state emergency where no one can get out. 471 00:42:40,580 --> 00:42:42,240 We're not going to be finding people. 472 00:42:42,820 --> 00:42:45,480 And DPW is not going to be going around looking for who's doing this. 473 00:42:45,580 --> 00:42:47,060 This is like a complaint driven thing. 474 00:42:47,420 --> 00:42:54,960 If it's reasonable that the tenant or the landowner or the property owner are not taking care of the situation, 475 00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:57,720 then we can apply this civil penalty. 476 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:01,620 And there are carve outs for seniors in those with disabilities. 477 00:43:02,580 --> 00:43:07,460 And if Director Vincent is here, I welcome him at anything that may be I missed. 478 00:43:07,620 --> 00:43:09,820 But those are the high points I wanted to clarify. 479 00:43:09,820 --> 00:43:12,960 And you said the penalty went from 250 to 100. 480 00:43:13,460 --> 00:43:13,880 Yes, ma'am. 481 00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:14,340 All right. 482 00:43:14,520 --> 00:43:14,920 Thank you. 483 00:43:14,960 --> 00:43:15,060 Yep. 484 00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:16,640 Thank you. 485 00:43:17,300 --> 00:43:18,240 Councilman Gibson. 486 00:43:19,540 --> 00:43:20,480 Thank you, Madam President. 487 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:30,700 I wanted to make a comment and a question regarding ordinance 2026-106, which is regarding 488 00:43:30,700 --> 00:43:34,700 the most be court, south redevelopment preliminary community unit plan. 489 00:43:34,700 --> 00:43:38,960 And I appreciate that this has come to the body. 490 00:43:39,160 --> 00:43:45,360 And I appreciated the comments from Mr. Olinger who spoke on this from the public. 491 00:43:46,640 --> 00:43:53,200 This is obviously, you know, in our district, we're thinking in the third a lot about public 492 00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:53,640 housing. 493 00:43:53,640 --> 00:43:56,400 There have been conversations about Gilpin Court. 494 00:43:56,400 --> 00:44:06,480 and in reviewing the master plan that was submitted for Guilpen Court, we identified 495 00:44:07,340 --> 00:44:16,700 a number of discrepancies between the housing authorities, a preliminary plan, 496 00:44:16,700 --> 00:44:22,860 and the Jacksonmore Community Plan as it stands today. 497 00:44:24,220 --> 00:44:30,540 And many of the deviations were similar 498 00:44:30,540 --> 00:44:33,560 to what Mr. Olinger brought up in his comment, 499 00:44:34,140 --> 00:44:37,020 including public, you know, green space 500 00:44:37,450 --> 00:44:39,360 and those types of things. 501 00:44:39,580 --> 00:44:44,220 And so I was wondering if I have two questions. 502 00:44:44,220 --> 00:44:50,300 One is given that this is a preliminary plan, but it is an ordinance. 503 00:44:50,700 --> 00:44:58,720 So I'm wondering, will this come to the body again as it's finalized for final vote? 504 00:44:58,720 --> 00:44:59,840 But what does- 505 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:29,980 Authorizing at this preliminary stage, you know, what does that allow the housing authority to be able to proceed? And has the administration confirmed that this redevelopment preliminary plan aligns with the city's adopted master plan? So I'm going to go, yes and yes, but I'm going to ask because it's a long course. 506 00:45:29,980 --> 00:45:34,240 or Miss Ebert, whichever of you would like to speak to this. 507 00:45:34,760 --> 00:45:37,020 Many of the items that were raised, 508 00:45:37,220 --> 00:45:38,940 this is not a final plan. 509 00:45:39,520 --> 00:45:44,100 And as you know, as working through with Jackson Ward, 510 00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:48,600 we have many more phases and discussions 511 00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:51,200 to go through with the tenants, 512 00:45:51,820 --> 00:45:55,620 with residents in general and with stakeholders, 513 00:45:55,620 --> 00:45:58,620 but I'm going to talk to Mr. 514 00:45:58,960 --> 00:46:01,080 Falk in terms of response. 515 00:46:01,660 --> 00:46:02,940 Sure. Thank you, Kim J. 516 00:46:03,020 --> 00:46:05,140 Vonk, Director of Planning and Development Review. 517 00:46:05,840 --> 00:46:11,380 So to answer Council Member Gibson's questions in terms of process. 518 00:46:11,400 --> 00:46:12,920 This is a community unit plan. 519 00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:18,200 This is a preliminary plan which goes through a process of staff review. 520 00:46:18,360 --> 00:46:19,940 And when I say staff, it's not just PDR, 521 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:23,120 but it's other agencies, public works, utilities, fire, 522 00:46:23,120 --> 00:46:30,400 just everyone looks at it in terms of does it comply with the master plan? And in the master plan, 523 00:46:31,140 --> 00:46:35,680 we amended it a few years ago to add priority neighborhoods. So in the master plan, 524 00:46:35,820 --> 00:46:43,300 pages 7071 talks about most be court. So we don't have a more detailed plan like Jackson Ward, 525 00:46:43,440 --> 00:46:48,760 and so we refer to the master plan to ensure compliance in terms of goals objectives that are in there 526 00:46:48,760 --> 00:46:53,520 to make a recommendation. This preliminary plan, again, 527 00:46:53,700 --> 00:46:57,620 staff makes recommendation to planning commission. Planning commission then makes a recommendation 528 00:46:57,620 --> 00:47:03,060 to this body city council. City council approves the preliminary plan. The preliminary plan 529 00:47:03,060 --> 00:47:11,200 is a framework for final plans. And I say plans because it could all come at one or as I believe 530 00:47:12,000 --> 00:47:18,600 as RHA has proposed, it will likely come in phases. Those final plans go to planning commission 531 00:47:18,600 --> 00:47:26,180 for approval. And what you're doing by the preliminary plan is, I say, framework. It's setting out, 532 00:47:26,180 --> 00:47:33,880 you know, the infrastructure, the streets, the layout, and it sets the bar in terms of how many 533 00:47:33,880 --> 00:47:41,020 units could possibly be there in terms of density. So the applicant could come back in with something 534 00:47:41,020 --> 00:47:46,120 lower, but they can't come back in with something higher. They can't propose more units. They can't 535 00:47:46,120 --> 00:47:55,940 proposed taller buildings if they wanted to do that they would have to amend this preliminary plan to reestablish the framework and a preliminary plan amendment would come back to this body. 536 00:47:56,900 --> 00:48:14,020 And so what you're approving today again sets that framework for future final plans that would come through a process of again staff reviewing and making recommendation but those approvals would be done by our planning commission based on what you're adopting today. 537 00:48:15,260 --> 00:48:16,200 Thank you. 538 00:48:17,920 --> 00:48:18,620 Yes. 539 00:48:19,060 --> 00:48:19,300 Yes. 540 00:48:20,520 --> 00:48:25,340 So regarding the points made regarding green space. 541 00:48:25,660 --> 00:48:33,900 Does the department, the planning department feel confident that what is being proposed aligns with the master plan? 542 00:48:34,880 --> 00:48:40,280 I do and I will be the first to admit it's probably over parked with that. 543 00:48:40,280 --> 00:48:45,420 I think what we worked hard on and again I understand in terms of putting a package together 544 00:48:46,380 --> 00:48:50,860 while the city doesn't have any minimum parking requirements a lot of financing agencies do 545 00:48:51,540 --> 00:48:56,240 and so what we did is try and work and all right like let's put the parking in the best places 546 00:48:56,240 --> 00:49:02,240 possible so that we can one reestablish the historic street grid in the area and two not cut off 547 00:49:02,240 --> 00:49:06,700 future development opportunities so that is we're putting these structures can at least arrange 548 00:49:06,700 --> 00:49:09,660 the parking areas and ways that in the future, 549 00:49:09,660 --> 00:49:12,760 those could potentially be either converted in development 550 00:49:12,760 --> 00:49:14,640 or converted into green space. 551 00:49:15,240 --> 00:49:18,460 I think as final plans come through, when we do that, 552 00:49:18,580 --> 00:49:21,940 we also, you know, check with what are the regulations on the books, 553 00:49:22,480 --> 00:49:26,320 you know, from our zoning ordinance. 554 00:49:26,500 --> 00:49:29,560 And so when we also talk about things like in the future, 555 00:49:29,560 --> 00:49:31,800 right, we've talked about in the new code tree canopy requirements. 556 00:49:32,940 --> 00:49:35,780 Also, as, you know, we work and plans get fed 557 00:49:35,780 --> 00:49:41,340 by public works in terms of what are the street trees going to look like, so in terms of 558 00:49:42,440 --> 00:49:48,520 what could happen in the future, I do think we left ourselves room to have improved green space 559 00:49:48,520 --> 00:49:53,820 in that area as those specific plans come through. It's maybe not all detailed here, but those, 560 00:49:54,100 --> 00:50:01,620 again, get elaborated in future final plans. Yes, I'm sorry, I just had one follow up. So you said 561 00:50:01,620 --> 00:50:06,920 It wasn't outlined here, but why would it not be established here? 562 00:50:07,640 --> 00:50:07,760 Sure. 563 00:50:09,200 --> 00:50:16,880 It's something that if I would say the body feels as appropriate to establish certain stipulations 564 00:50:16,880 --> 00:50:23,160 or conversations in terms of right, like a minimum tree canopy or other things, those 565 00:50:23,160 --> 00:50:25,900 could be conditions that are incorporated in part of the ordinance. 566 00:50:27,300 --> 00:50:31,180 As you have worked through this with planning commission, there were some amendments that 567 00:50:31,180 --> 00:50:36,820 needed to be made. An amendment that came forward that planning commission was the prohibition 568 00:50:36,820 --> 00:50:42,020 of vinyl as a material. The applicant agreed to that, and so that's part of the reason 569 00:50:42,020 --> 00:50:46,840 why it was amended. So, you know, it's up to this body, and I would ask the applicant how 570 00:50:46,840 --> 00:50:51,920 they feel about additional conditions, but that is something that this body could, they felt 571 00:50:51,920 --> 00:50:57,380 appropriate, put in there. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Gibson and Ms. Ivank. I just want to say, 572 00:50:57,380 --> 00:51:02,880 I have certainly, and Ms. Gibson been on meetings where the community has talked about additional 573 00:51:02,880 --> 00:51:03,660 green space. 574 00:51:03,900 --> 00:51:06,620 And so this is conditional use, this is not final. 575 00:51:07,060 --> 00:51:12,960 And so there will be discussions about additional green space, tree canopy, these recreational 576 00:51:12,960 --> 00:51:16,020 spaces as a part of the initiative. 577 00:51:16,420 --> 00:51:20,760 So that's ongoing conversations and meetings that will occur. 578 00:51:21,380 --> 00:51:27,460 And I'm looking because they're more than, and as you know, same thing is with Gilpin. 579 00:51:28,020 --> 00:51:29,820 They're one and done is not it. 580 00:51:30,740 --> 00:51:41,240 And there are our community residents, our tenants, our partners have really valuable input. 581 00:51:41,440 --> 00:51:43,620 And these are some of the areas that have been raised. 582 00:51:43,620 --> 00:51:45,520 And so I know it will come forward. 583 00:51:45,980 --> 00:51:48,060 Certainly, they're important items for me. 584 00:51:48,060 --> 00:52:02,040 and working with and talking with Mr. Nestoneth and Ms. Hampton, I mean, if they want to have any additional comment, but these are important components that have already been raised in terms of most people. 585 00:52:02,540 --> 00:52:11,000 So not sure if you have anything additional, but this is not the final plan and more to come. 586 00:52:11,000 --> 00:52:20,620 And there'll be other changes as well, based on feedback we get from the subsequent meetings that will be that are being scheduled. 587 00:52:21,220 --> 00:52:24,520 So Councilwoman Barbison. 588 00:52:25,720 --> 00:52:26,880 Thank you. 589 00:52:26,880 --> 00:52:27,720 Thank you, Madam Chair. 590 00:52:28,800 --> 00:52:35,760 And I want to thank Mr. Altville, his summary of the plan that is before us. 591 00:52:35,940 --> 00:52:39,700 And this development is in the seventh district. 592 00:52:39,700 --> 00:52:46,540 but across the street, I think midway street, we are six district and seven district and so 593 00:52:46,540 --> 00:52:53,100 I've been involved a lot in the meetings that have been had, the discussions and the 594 00:52:53,780 --> 00:52:56,340 communication with the residents and so forth. 595 00:52:59,200 --> 00:53:01,800 Redevelopment of our public housing communities 596 00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:07,360 these takes extremely a long, long, long period of time. 597 00:53:08,440 --> 00:53:13,800 And we have, we've spent lots of time 598 00:53:13,800 --> 00:53:18,020 as Mr. Dr. Newgill has said with community residents 599 00:53:18,520 --> 00:53:22,280 surrounding stakeholders in the community conversation 600 00:53:22,280 --> 00:53:27,060 with the MLK, middle school, and preschool, 601 00:53:27,360 --> 00:53:29,320 this right across the street from this development. 602 00:53:31,800 --> 00:53:55,340 The level of housing opportunities at price points within the development has been taken into consideration tremendously, and so it does provide opportunities for people to grow in their economically grow and still be able to live within that same community, which I think is a real plus to this development. 603 00:53:56,440 --> 00:54:04,420 So, if I met 30% area median income and I move up to 50% area median income, I will 604 00:54:04,420 --> 00:54:13,260 still be able to rent an apartment right in my same community, and get what I'm going 605 00:54:13,260 --> 00:54:16,660 to get for that increased rent or apartment opportunity. 606 00:54:17,640 --> 00:54:23,760 That is not the opportunity that provides itself in the current housing communities that 607 00:54:23,760 --> 00:54:24,900 that we're living in right now. 608 00:54:26,220 --> 00:54:30,000 And at some point, I think that the labor, 609 00:54:30,880 --> 00:54:33,020 three years, three years in the making 610 00:54:33,020 --> 00:54:34,560 of coming to where we are today. 611 00:54:35,620 --> 00:54:38,120 Lots of investment of time, money, 612 00:54:39,840 --> 00:54:43,220 revisiting, meetings, revisions and so forth 613 00:54:43,220 --> 00:54:45,280 to get us to the place that we are. 614 00:54:46,040 --> 00:54:47,940 The community is in support of this. 615 00:54:48,720 --> 00:54:49,920 There's no one from the community 616 00:54:49,920 --> 00:54:51,800 speaking in our position to this. 617 00:54:51,800 --> 00:54:58,660 There's no one in the community that spoke in that housing community, okay? 618 00:54:58,980 --> 00:55:00,460 Not talking to the surrounding community. 619 00:55:00,760 --> 00:55:06,840 I respect the fact that we have a person who's speaking in opposition that does not live in public housing. 620 00:55:07,060 --> 00:55:08,480 It's never lived in public housing. 621 00:55:10,740 --> 00:55:17,920 And at some point, I think that it's important that we recognize that this is not a last-see. 622 00:55:19,060 --> 00:55:26,880 that we entrust the integrity of the staff as well as the community when they have not spoken in opposition that they are. 623 00:55:27,980 --> 00:55:35,720 Madam Clerk, I'd like to have my name added to the paper and I would encourage my colleagues to support moving this paper forward. Thank you. 624 00:55:36,200 --> 00:55:37,880 Thank you, Councilwoman Robertson. 625 00:55:38,960 --> 00:55:43,420 Again, I thank you Councilmember Gibson for raising the question. 626 00:55:43,420 --> 00:55:50,080 and you, I mean, I've looked at the MOU and we will have the same as you have for GILP 627 00:55:50,080 --> 00:55:52,080 and it will delineate clearly. 628 00:55:52,980 --> 00:55:58,620 Well, you know, all the various components, that commitment is there, certainly myself 629 00:55:58,620 --> 00:56:06,400 and certainly with the leadership of RRAJ and the community resident, they're all in. 630 00:56:06,400 --> 00:56:12,920 and so I will ask for support of this paper. 631 00:56:13,300 --> 00:56:18,080 I'd like to be added Mr. Clerk or Madam Clerk 632 00:56:18,080 --> 00:56:22,080 and like I said much more to come. 633 00:56:24,630 --> 00:56:27,590 Would that any other items on the agenda 634 00:56:27,590 --> 00:56:32,010 that members would like to discuss at this time on the consent agenda? 635 00:56:32,010 --> 00:56:33,050 say 636 00:56:35,670 --> 00:56:40,550 none. Madam and or Mr. Clerk please call the question. 637 00:56:42,860 --> 00:56:48,720 Council is now voting on the consent agenda as presented. Mr. Bretton. Aye. Ms. Gibson. Yes. 638 00:56:49,120 --> 00:56:52,220 Ms. Jones. Aye. Mr. Robertson. Aye. 639 00:56:52,700 --> 00:56:54,060 Ms. Lynch. Aye. 640 00:56:54,580 --> 00:56:55,220 Ms. Tramall. 641 00:56:55,700 --> 00:57:00,340 I'm going to vote on I on 2026-089. 642 00:57:00,340 --> 00:57:07,580 because my colleague did explain it better and I'm probably sure she'll make sure that we follow these 643 00:57:07,580 --> 00:57:12,900 rules and also the president. So I'm going to vote aye on the consent agenda. Thank you. 644 00:57:14,400 --> 00:57:16,380 Mr. Abu Bakr. Aye. 645 00:57:16,760 --> 00:57:18,340 Vice President Jordan. Aye. 646 00:57:18,740 --> 00:57:20,240 In President Newville. Aye. 647 00:57:20,860 --> 00:57:22,020 Those papers have all been adopted. 648 00:57:22,800 --> 00:57:27,520 Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Let's proceed now with the 649 00:57:30,140 --> 00:57:35,600 We've completed. We'll proceed with the regular agenda for this evening items 15 through 17. 650 00:57:36,780 --> 00:57:41,660 The first three regular agenda items are as follows and will be taken together as a block. 651 00:57:42,220 --> 00:57:46,900 Item 15 ordinance number 2026-122 to accept a quick claim deed 652 00:57:46,900 --> 00:57:50,420 from the school board conveying a portion of 1461 Commerce Road 653 00:57:50,420 --> 00:57:54,680 and to authorize the CAO to act on behalf of the city in executing such deed. 654 00:57:54,680 --> 00:58:04,700 Item 16, ordinance number 2026-123 to declare surplus and direct the sale of a portion of the city-owned real estate at 1461 Commerce Road to 655 00:58:04,700 --> 00:58:12,840 the city's central LLC or its affiliate for $4.7 million or such lesser amount as may be provided for it herein for the purpose of 656 00:58:12,840 --> 00:58:24,120 facilitating the construction of a mixed-use development and finally item 17, ordinance number 2026-124 to declare surplus and direct the sale of a portion of the city-owned real estate 657 00:58:24,120 --> 00:58:31,020 at $14.51 commerce road to city central LLC or its affiliate for $2.6 million or such 658 00:58:31,020 --> 00:58:36,260 lesser amount as may people provide it for here in for the purpose of facilitating the 659 00:58:36,260 --> 00:58:41,240 construction of a mixed use development all three papers up or four council thank you at this 660 00:58:41,240 --> 00:58:48,400 time I invite the patron and or their designee and I think that is probably Ms. Rogers welcome 661 00:58:51,250 --> 00:58:51,790 Welcome, Ms. Rogers. 662 00:58:55,920 --> 00:58:57,720 Good evening, Angie Rogers, 663 00:58:58,220 --> 00:59:00,840 Director for the Department of Economic Development. 664 00:59:01,480 --> 00:59:05,480 I have been on behalf of the city, 665 00:59:06,040 --> 00:59:08,560 working with a school board 666 00:59:09,480 --> 00:59:12,660 and their facility staff probably for the better part 667 00:59:12,660 --> 00:59:17,400 of about the past six months on this issue. 668 00:59:17,680 --> 00:59:21,520 I think as Councilmember Robertson alluded to earlier, 669 00:59:21,520 --> 00:59:30,360 the proposed development that would take place on these parcels and the surrounding parcels 670 00:59:30,680 --> 00:59:38,440 have been contemplated for a number of years. One of the more recent hurdles that we needed to 671 00:59:38,440 --> 00:59:48,880 get over was that the city-owned parcels have two existing uses on them. One is a use by 672 00:59:48,880 --> 00:59:56,620 I wish my Richmond public schools the other is a use by the police department. The school situation presented. 673 01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:25,280 A particular hurdle because the schools have, according to the city attorney, what's referred to as beneficial title in state law. And so we needed to work with schools to have them surplus the parcel that's in use by them to the city before we could have the city council take up this matter. 674 01:00:25,280 --> 01:00:36,680 We work with them as I said over probably the better part of six months working first with their facility staff and then in February. 675 01:00:37,980 --> 01:00:53,520 I appeared before their facilities committee for the first time really trying to get an understanding of what it is that they needed in order to fill comfortable surplusing this property. 676 01:00:53,520 --> 01:01:03,280 They laid that out as really a desire to have papers on both ends, both their resolution 677 01:01:03,280 --> 01:01:14,020 and the city's resolution are the city's paper guarantee that they would get a relocation 678 01:01:14,020 --> 01:01:24,960 option that was satisfactory to them in order to do their surplus resolution. And so we 679 01:01:24,960 --> 01:01:29,180 worked with them over a number of months. I ended up going to their facilities committee 680 01:01:29,180 --> 01:01:38,500 both in February and in March. Mr. Donald presented before the entire school board in April 681 01:01:38,500 --> 01:01:42,100 and then they officially took up the matter in May. 682 01:01:43,260 --> 01:01:47,840 So this is a little bit of a special situation 683 01:01:47,840 --> 01:01:53,620 because of the assurances that we needed to give the school board, 684 01:01:54,140 --> 01:01:59,660 that they were indeed going to get to a relocation option 685 01:01:59,660 --> 01:02:02,160 that works for them. 686 01:02:02,160 --> 01:02:15,780 the development that is going to take place in this area, I think is one of the largest 687 01:02:15,780 --> 01:02:21,740 redevelopment efforts to happen on the south side of the city for a long time. 688 01:02:22,760 --> 01:02:29,660 And so that was our particular interest in pushing this forward and working with the 689 01:02:29,660 --> 01:02:32,220 school board toward resolution. 690 01:02:33,320 --> 01:02:37,300 The ultimate development will have thousands of units, 691 01:02:37,300 --> 01:02:40,420 over 3,000 units of multi-family rental housing, 692 01:02:40,780 --> 01:02:46,600 almost 1,000 units of four-sale multi-family housing, 693 01:02:47,250 --> 01:02:49,680 those including affordable units, 694 01:02:50,100 --> 01:02:54,000 it will have grocer and civic amenities. 695 01:02:54,640 --> 01:02:57,320 So this is a major redevelopment board 696 01:02:57,320 --> 01:03:06,220 the outside of the city. I will say to Councilmember Gibson's particular question earlier, 697 01:03:07,140 --> 01:03:15,900 our understanding is based on existing code. We are allowed to do a surplus and direct 698 01:03:15,900 --> 01:03:23,900 that conveyance in the same paper. I think some of the confusion maybe has come about is because 699 01:03:23,900 --> 01:03:33,220 the existing code allows more than one way to do this and as most of you know, I think 700 01:03:33,220 --> 01:03:39,400 all of you know because we've been having meetings and talking about a new inventory 701 01:03:39,400 --> 01:03:45,580 surplus and disposition process that will start to clean up some of that confusion that's 702 01:03:45,580 --> 01:03:48,520 caused by having more than one way to do this. 703 01:03:48,520 --> 01:04:12,800 And so we are obviously anticipating to come back before you all later this year with that but our understanding is that the existing code does allow us to proceed in the way that we're proceeding with this and because we have had this lengthy conversation with the school board to move this along. 704 01:04:13,440 --> 01:04:17,100 We are presenting it in this way and in hope you'll look upon it favorably. 705 01:04:17,100 --> 01:04:18,680 Thank you, Ms. Rogers. 706 01:04:19,600 --> 01:04:26,640 With that comment, we will now have a public hearing on the papers, and I would invite 707 01:04:26,640 --> 01:04:32,340 all of those present desires of speaking in opposition to the paper if you would come 708 01:04:32,340 --> 01:04:32,800 forward. 709 01:04:37,010 --> 01:04:42,950 Seeing none, all present desires of speaking in favor of the paper if you would come forward. 710 01:04:47,150 --> 01:04:49,510 Seeing none, the public hearing is now closed. 711 01:04:49,510 --> 01:04:53,230 bring it back to council for discussion councilman Gibson. 712 01:04:55,620 --> 01:04:57,940 Thank you Madam President thank you 713 01:04:57,940 --> 01:05:11,940 Ms. Rogers for the comments. So I want to be clear about our existing city law that defines the 714 01:05:11,940 --> 01:05:20,840 rules for surplus. It is section 860 and says no offer bid or proposal for the purchase of city 715 01:05:20,840 --> 01:05:27,060 own real estate shall be sought by solicitation whether by invitation for bids or request for 716 01:05:27,060 --> 01:05:33,660 proposals or auction unless and until the council shall first have adopted a resolution declaring 717 01:05:33,660 --> 01:05:43,920 such real estate to be surplus. So I think that the city code is quite clear and essentially what 718 01:05:43,920 --> 01:05:50,620 the body can do which it has done on multiple occasion is to say we want to ignore this law 719 01:05:50,620 --> 01:05:53,380 right now we're going to go ahead and do it this way this time. 720 01:05:55,340 --> 01:06:03,640 And so as these items have come to the body during my tenure, I have not voted in support 721 01:06:03,640 --> 01:06:10,160 of that because this law exists for a reason which is to ensure that we are doing our due diligence 722 01:06:10,160 --> 01:06:16,760 to ensure that we are being competitive in how we sell public land. 723 01:06:16,760 --> 01:06:29,620 Now, it is a sensitive item having been on the school board for me, because when land 724 01:06:29,620 --> 01:06:36,020 is owned by the schools, and I believe that the ownership is unique in this, so understanding 725 01:06:36,020 --> 01:06:45,440 that this is unique, but I think that we just have a history of proceeding with these types 726 01:06:45,440 --> 01:06:53,360 of deals in a way that I don't believe serves our students best and which is again why 727 01:06:53,360 --> 01:06:56,020 I believe we have that law in the first place. 728 01:06:56,720 --> 01:07:07,720 So I remember in 2013 the West Hampton School was surplus and and that sale again should 729 01:07:07,720 --> 01:07:13,320 have gone back to the school district instead of selling instead of gaining the money of 730 01:07:13,320 --> 01:07:22,040 a true sale, the city leased the property to bonds accords for $5,000 a year for 60 years. 731 01:07:23,660 --> 01:07:27,600 And that type of agreement certainly didn't do a service to our students. 732 01:07:30,320 --> 01:07:34,580 Recently, the same thing happened with the real school property when it was sold to, 733 01:07:34,960 --> 01:07:38,720 or to Planned Parenthood for $10 I believe. 734 01:07:39,940 --> 01:07:44,660 during my tenure on the board, I learned that the Arthur Ashe building was being 735 01:07:44,660 --> 01:07:50,760 marketed for development. I learned about this in the paper. The city was asserting 736 01:07:50,760 --> 01:07:55,900 that despite the fact that the facility was owned and managed by the school district 737 01:07:55,900 --> 01:08:00,860 that the city had full authority to transfer the property for the development 738 01:08:00,860 --> 01:08:05,640 without the agreement of the schools. So there was a majority on the board who 739 01:08:05,640 --> 01:08:12,080 push back on that and our legal counsel at the time with recuse themselves 740 01:08:12,080 --> 01:08:19,000 essentially we had to find pro bono legal representation and thankfully the 741 01:08:19,000 --> 01:08:26,420 schools were able to ensure that the $5.3 million that you know went back 742 01:08:26,420 --> 01:08:31,560 into the schools. It wasn't easy and so there's a history of the schools getting a 743 01:08:31,560 --> 01:08:45,220 short end of the stick by default. In this case, I just think that we have to be very careful 744 01:08:45,220 --> 01:08:53,480 with this repeated practice of surplusing property without having gone through to ensure 745 01:08:53,480 --> 01:09:03,920 that we're getting the best deal and so I also want to ensure that for future 746 01:09:03,920 --> 01:09:11,200 properties that are outright owned by the schools that we don't follow the 747 01:09:11,200 --> 01:09:17,540 same path of not giving ensuring the schools get what they need by default. 748 01:09:22,700 --> 01:09:23,460 The 749 01:09:23,460 --> 01:09:27,860 I plan to vote against this particular item. 750 01:09:28,340 --> 01:09:32,480 I appreciate the interest in development. 751 01:09:32,880 --> 01:09:33,860 Don't get me wrong. 752 01:09:34,120 --> 01:09:37,960 But I also believe that we have a responsibility 753 01:09:37,960 --> 01:09:44,860 to holding the laws that we have in place off topic. 754 01:09:45,080 --> 01:09:48,720 There have been questions about that media 755 01:09:48,720 --> 01:09:55,980 have brought up regarding the the buyer on this and without digging too deep into that. I do 756 01:09:55,980 --> 01:10:01,520 think it we want to ensure that the city has done its complete due diligence and how the land is 757 01:10:01,520 --> 01:10:11,220 going to be used. But my hesitation here is in the repeated practice of ignoring or essentially 758 01:10:11,220 --> 01:10:17,920 suspending our laws regarding the procurement and sale of existing city property. Thank you. 759 01:10:17,920 --> 01:10:19,000 Thank you, Councilwoman Gibson. 760 01:10:19,500 --> 01:10:22,980 Any other discussion relative to the paper? 761 01:10:23,740 --> 01:10:26,120 Seeing none, it missed Madam Clerk 762 01:10:26,120 --> 01:10:27,860 or Mr. Clerk, if you would call the question. 763 01:10:28,680 --> 01:10:30,880 Council is now voting on all three ordinances, 764 01:10:31,060 --> 01:10:35,260 ordinance number 2026-122, 2026-123, 765 01:10:35,440 --> 01:10:39,240 and 2026-124, as read, Mr. Breton. 766 01:10:39,600 --> 01:10:40,160 Aye. 767 01:10:40,540 --> 01:10:41,200 Ms. Gibson? 768 01:10:41,720 --> 01:10:42,020 No. 769 01:10:42,460 --> 01:10:42,900 Ms. Jones? 770 01:10:43,320 --> 01:10:43,500 Aye. 771 01:10:43,960 --> 01:10:44,700 Ms. Robertson? 772 01:10:45,040 --> 01:10:45,280 Aye. 773 01:10:45,740 --> 01:10:46,140 Ms. Lynch? 774 01:10:46,480 --> 01:10:46,660 Aye. 775 01:10:46,660 --> 01:10:55,500 Ms. Trammell, Ms. Abu Bakr, Vice President Jordan, and President Nubil, those papers have been adopted. 776 01:10:55,780 --> 01:11:02,660 Thank you. Let's proceed to item 20 and yes, if you would read that paper. 777 01:11:03,000 --> 01:11:11,400 The next regular agenda item is item 20, ordinance number 2025-282 to amend city code by adding there in a new section, concerning a deferral program. 778 01:11:11,400 --> 01:11:19,440 For certain real estate taxes pursuant to it in accordance with Code of Virginia Section 58.1-3219, that paper is before council. 779 01:11:20,020 --> 01:11:20,340 Thank you. 780 01:11:20,460 --> 01:11:28,440 I would invite the patron if you would like to provide comment prior to our beginning public hearing, patron or patrons. 781 01:11:28,960 --> 01:11:32,300 I think that Chief Patron Councilwoman Albavacker. 782 01:11:32,860 --> 01:11:37,580 Sure. I will keep it short and sweet because I think this probably could have been on the consent agenda. 783 01:11:37,580 --> 01:11:50,520 This is in response to what will be coming, which is a real estate tax assessment, unfreeze 784 01:11:50,520 --> 01:12:01,560 in two years and an absolute need and desire for us to be responsive to residents and taxpayers 785 01:12:01,560 --> 01:12:17,240 of the city. This has been about seven months in the making with some amendments and I am pleased to see many of my colleagues join me in coming up with some sort of tool. 786 01:12:17,660 --> 01:12:29,500 I don't think this is the last tool in the toolkit, but it is certainly a piece of it as we think about, you know, we're claiming that this week is anti displacement week. 787 01:12:29,500 --> 01:12:40,000 And so I think it is important that we are creating anti-displacement legislation that runs the full spectrum of the the socioeconomic economic spectrum in the city. 788 01:12:40,540 --> 01:12:42,560 So I am pleased that we are passing this. 789 01:12:43,260 --> 01:12:48,740 Thank you, councilmember Apobocker. With that, we'll proceed with the public hearing. 790 01:12:49,360 --> 01:12:55,620 Do we have persons present, desires of speaking in opposition to this paper if you would come forward? 791 01:12:55,620 --> 01:13:04,180 Seeing none, do we have person's present desires of speaking in favor of the paper if you would come forward? 792 01:13:07,460 --> 01:13:11,820 Seeing none, the public hearing is closed, bring it back to the body. 793 01:13:12,540 --> 01:13:17,160 Madam Clerk or Mr. Clerk, I'd like to be added as a patron on this paper. 794 01:13:18,560 --> 01:13:21,460 And any other comment discussion? 795 01:13:24,100 --> 01:13:26,120 Seeing none, we will call the question. 796 01:13:27,780 --> 01:13:33,740 Council is now aboding on ordinance number 2025-282S presented Mr. Brighton. 797 01:13:33,880 --> 01:13:34,180 Aye. 798 01:13:34,540 --> 01:13:35,140 Ms. Gibson. 799 01:13:37,170 --> 01:13:37,770 Yes. 800 01:13:38,170 --> 01:13:39,050 Ms. Jones. 801 01:13:39,430 --> 01:13:39,570 Aye. 802 01:13:40,130 --> 01:13:41,070 Ms. Robertson. 803 01:13:41,230 --> 01:13:41,370 Aye. 804 01:13:42,110 --> 01:13:42,530 Ms. Lynch. 805 01:13:42,910 --> 01:13:43,170 Aye. 806 01:13:43,690 --> 01:13:44,490 Ms. Trammell. 807 01:13:44,610 --> 01:13:44,790 Aye. 808 01:13:45,410 --> 01:13:46,110 Ms. Abu Bakr. 809 01:13:46,470 --> 01:13:46,750 Aye. 810 01:13:47,190 --> 01:13:48,030 Vice President Jordan. 811 01:13:48,490 --> 01:13:48,690 Aye. 812 01:13:49,070 --> 01:13:50,090 And President New Bill. 813 01:13:51,290 --> 01:13:51,890 Aye. 814 01:13:52,370 --> 01:13:53,590 That paper has been adopted. 815 01:13:54,030 --> 01:13:54,470 Thank you. 816 01:13:54,470 --> 01:13:58,310 We will proceed with item 20. 817 01:13:59,250 --> 01:14:01,130 One, if you would read that paper. 818 01:14:01,490 --> 01:14:04,630 The last regular agenda item for this evening is item number 21, 819 01:14:04,850 --> 01:14:07,190 ordinance number 2026-059, 820 01:14:07,590 --> 01:14:08,410 to amend City Code, 821 01:14:08,510 --> 01:14:10,610 concerning the Department of Emergency Communications, 822 01:14:10,870 --> 01:14:11,830 preparedness and response, 823 01:14:12,510 --> 01:14:15,710 to require the Department to route E911 calls 824 01:14:15,710 --> 01:14:18,990 for emergency medical services to the Richmond Ambulance Authority. 825 01:14:18,990 --> 01:14:20,490 That paper is a four council. 826 01:14:21,250 --> 01:14:21,830 Thank you. 827 01:14:21,830 --> 01:14:32,750 to Madam Clark and I'll defer to Lee Patron to start, but I will also invite the administration 828 01:14:32,750 --> 01:14:38,690 as well as other persons present, so I'll start with you, Ms. Trammell. 829 01:14:41,350 --> 01:14:43,810 I know if you wanted them to go for us, but I'll go for us. 830 01:14:44,010 --> 01:14:45,830 I think your preference, let me know. 831 01:14:47,110 --> 01:14:48,550 You can let me know your preference. 832 01:14:48,550 --> 01:14:54,430 I just think that we have been talking about this over year and a half at our Public Safety 833 01:14:54,430 --> 01:14:54,770 to meet. 834 01:14:55,130 --> 01:14:59,770 Back and forth, the CEO. 835 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:29,180 Chief Decker of the Richmond ambulance authority has been there over and over, laid out all this stuff. I have all the papers right here. They're back up what I'm saying. And to me, I mean, we have done decide by a side comparison. We've done this. We've done that. Everything that we've been asked for. And that's why I'm asking my colleagues. This past is paper tonight. And so we can move forward. I think it's a, it is something that's definitely needed. Thank you, Councilwoman Trammel. 836 01:15:29,180 --> 01:15:32,400 I see Mr. Donald moving forward with 837 01:15:37,940 --> 01:15:41,140 comment relative to this from administration. 838 01:15:42,080 --> 01:15:42,900 Welcome, Mr. Donald. 839 01:15:47,490 --> 01:15:48,390 Good evening, Council. 840 01:15:49,870 --> 01:15:55,550 Listen, I would just start with a quick thank you for you continuing to have robust conversation 841 01:15:55,550 --> 01:15:56,210 about this. 842 01:15:56,310 --> 01:16:01,070 I think I heard Councilmember Tram will mention that we've been talking about this for a while. 843 01:16:01,570 --> 01:16:07,670 I think that's important because I think you recognize the importance and the impact that 844 01:16:07,670 --> 01:16:10,270 it will have on residence if we don't get it right. 845 01:16:10,590 --> 01:16:13,430 And so I think we have looked at it. 846 01:16:13,430 --> 01:16:15,330 I think the council has pretty much 847 01:16:16,350 --> 01:16:18,530 signaled the position and the direction 848 01:16:18,530 --> 01:16:19,670 that you would like to go. 849 01:16:19,750 --> 01:16:21,670 And I think from our conversations earlier, 850 01:16:22,230 --> 01:16:24,070 just what I would add is just making sure 851 01:16:24,070 --> 01:16:26,450 we have an appropriate implementation plan 852 01:16:26,450 --> 01:16:28,670 so that we can get it correct. 853 01:16:28,930 --> 01:16:30,750 I think that's the only thing that I have to add. 854 01:16:30,910 --> 01:16:34,330 I think we are excited in your focus on good government 855 01:16:34,330 --> 01:16:37,010 and getting this correct, getting it right 856 01:16:37,010 --> 01:16:43,570 and making sure that if we're going to make an adjustment we do so in a way that makes sure 857 01:16:43,570 --> 01:16:51,490 that we do have that implementation period. I know that what I will close with is that we've 858 01:16:51,490 --> 01:16:57,490 also talked about what co-location looks like. I think the Robert Bob report said that those cost 859 01:16:57,490 --> 01:17:04,590 would save the city upwards of about $3 million. I think in reading what our partners at RAA provided 860 01:17:04,590 --> 01:17:09,830 it, it was around a little under $2 million. So either way, some significant cost savings. 861 01:17:10,430 --> 01:17:15,070 And so as we go through implementation and we look at it generally, there's just opportunity 862 01:17:15,070 --> 01:17:19,370 to make sure we get it right. And so I know that you have all been committed to that and 863 01:17:19,370 --> 01:17:23,890 we want to make sure to be as supportive as possible of those activities. So if you have 864 01:17:23,890 --> 01:17:28,350 any questions I'll take them, but otherwise I'll think that would highlight our position. 865 01:17:29,550 --> 01:17:34,110 Thank you, Mr. Donald. You're going to be here just in case there are questions 866 01:17:34,110 --> 01:17:37,270 questions once we conclude the public hearing. 867 01:17:37,750 --> 01:17:38,410 Oh, yes, ma'am. 868 01:17:38,530 --> 01:17:41,350 I can stand right in the back if you seek a little low for me. 869 01:17:41,590 --> 01:17:41,730 Right. 870 01:17:41,850 --> 01:17:43,030 I can see you there. 871 01:17:43,150 --> 01:17:43,250 Yeah. 872 01:17:43,430 --> 01:17:43,650 Okay. 873 01:17:45,470 --> 01:17:49,790 At this point, we will proceed with the public hearing. 874 01:17:50,150 --> 01:17:56,210 Are there persons present, desires of speaking in opposition to this paper if you would come 875 01:17:56,210 --> 01:17:56,570 forward? 876 01:18:00,520 --> 01:18:05,920 Seeing none, are there persons present, desires of speaking in favor of this paper if you 877 01:18:05,920 --> 01:18:06,720 will come for it. 878 01:18:17,260 --> 01:18:19,600 Afternoon, even in members of Council. 879 01:18:20,120 --> 01:18:21,020 My name is Chip Decker. 880 01:18:21,160 --> 01:18:22,680 I'm the CEO of Rich for Namaste Authority. 881 01:18:24,100 --> 01:18:28,600 I wanted to make a couple of points about this paper. 882 01:18:28,780 --> 01:18:36,600 I want to reiterate and make it clear that when I think, when somebody dials 911, they're 883 01:18:36,600 --> 01:18:41,860 looking for the right resource and the right place and the right amount of time. 884 01:18:43,320 --> 01:18:51,460 And they're national and international standards for determining if you're being successful at this or not. 885 01:18:52,220 --> 01:18:59,720 And they're used by dispatch centers across the country, including the Richmond Ames Authority and the Department of Emergency Communications. 886 01:19:01,240 --> 01:19:07,580 So anything outside of those standards should be considered, you know, subjective opinion based. 887 01:19:07,580 --> 01:19:18,660 and the data that is accompanying this paper is it apples to apples comparison 888 01:19:18,660 --> 01:19:23,880 it is not up for interpretation emergency medical dispatch was performed at a 889 01:19:23,880 --> 01:19:29,720 higher level under Richmond Amos authority than it is today according to the 890 01:19:29,720 --> 01:19:33,320 accepted standards. That's not my 891 01:19:33,320 --> 01:19:35,900 opinion, it's just what the data 892 01:19:35,900 --> 01:19:40,780 shows. It's now been two years since 893 01:19:42,310 --> 01:19:47,580 the change was made and DC 894 01:19:47,580 --> 01:19:51,120 stopped sending emergency medical 895 01:19:51,120 --> 01:19:53,400 collars to the ambulance authority. 896 01:19:54,570 --> 01:19:56,360 And I don't think it's worked as 897 01:19:56,360 --> 01:19:58,840 expected based on the data. 898 01:19:59,960 --> 01:20:08,640 So, I believe that the paper provides for a reasonable transition period in order to implement 899 01:20:08,640 --> 01:20:11,760 the changeover back to the AMS authority. 900 01:20:12,620 --> 01:20:18,420 And I think it can be achieved within that 30-day period that the paper says. 901 01:20:18,800 --> 01:20:27,540 I look forward to working with the ECPR Director Will Beances for in order to make this a smooth transition 902 01:20:27,540 --> 01:20:33,820 for the betterment of the system. 903 01:20:34,980 --> 01:20:36,520 So on behalf of the Richmond M. 904 01:20:37,020 --> 01:20:38,060 Authority Board of Directors, 905 01:20:38,620 --> 01:20:44,160 who has voted to be supportive of it, 906 01:20:44,280 --> 01:20:46,060 returning to the Hamilton Authority. 907 01:20:47,480 --> 01:20:51,900 And even the Paramedics and the EMTs that I've spoken to about this 908 01:20:51,900 --> 01:20:56,960 that have seen the change. 909 01:20:56,960 --> 01:21:02,420 and would like to see it revert back. 910 01:21:02,880 --> 01:21:08,520 I ask for your support because it's the right thing to do for the community. 911 01:21:09,200 --> 01:21:12,000 And it's the right thing to do for our patients. 912 01:21:13,280 --> 01:21:14,540 Thank you, Mr. Decker. 913 01:21:16,080 --> 01:21:22,860 Seeing no others, desires of speaking in favor of the paper, the public hearing is now closed. 914 01:21:22,860 --> 01:21:31,020 bring it back to the body for discussion. I can't tell who's I'm 915 01:21:33,520 --> 01:21:34,040 sorry I'm looking 916 01:21:34,040 --> 01:21:39,060 at my numbers. Councilwoman Gibson and then Councilwoman Lynch. Thank you Madam 917 01:21:39,060 --> 01:21:55,340 President. I wanted to thank Councilmember Tramo for bringing this paper to the 918 01:21:55,340 --> 01:22:06,600 The number of calls, the percentage of calls that were not being answered within the required time period. 919 01:22:10,490 --> 01:22:16,670 People have an emergency and they need and expect the phone will be picked up. 920 01:22:16,670 --> 01:22:26,750 And the way that we measure whether that happens is not a number based on some rubric we've 921 01:22:26,750 --> 01:22:27,150 defined. 922 01:22:27,570 --> 01:22:33,370 It's defined by the authority that measures this. 923 01:22:34,450 --> 01:22:42,110 And according to that authority, the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, it's bad 924 01:22:42,110 --> 01:22:53,350 If it's 10%, if it's really bad, if it's over 10%, if it's like, ours is at 29% of 925 01:22:53,350 --> 01:22:59,210 non-compliance, right? So we're essentially off the charts and non-compliance right now. 926 01:22:59,950 --> 01:23:07,550 Today people are in an emergency and almost a third of them are not having the calls picked 927 01:23:07,550 --> 01:23:16,170 up within the required, the mandated timeframe. Our city today is out of compliance. 928 01:23:19,020 --> 01:23:21,760 So I would say 929 01:23:22,150 --> 01:23:30,180 we're talking about an implementation plan. My question is, what was the implementation plan 930 01:23:30,180 --> 01:23:37,920 created two years ago, or whenever that decision was made to change it? And what did that look like? 931 01:23:37,920 --> 01:23:44,560 because based on these numbers, the implementation plan to change it in the first place did not work. 932 01:23:46,040 --> 01:23:53,600 It simply did not work because if it did, we would not be out of compliance at 29 percent. 933 01:23:54,240 --> 01:23:54,800 Full stop. 934 01:23:58,410 --> 01:24:01,030 From where I stand, this is really not a big discussion. 935 01:24:01,830 --> 01:24:07,170 We need to make sure that the phone gets answered and we had a group that was able to do that. 936 01:24:07,170 --> 01:24:12,470 but where only 6% of the calls were not getting picked, I mean like 6% of the calls were not 937 01:24:12,470 --> 01:24:20,150 compliant. Today, 29% of the calls were not compliant. Like this is not, there's not 938 01:24:20,150 --> 01:24:24,710 room for a lot of discussion from where I stand. We need to make sure that our residents 939 01:24:25,310 --> 01:24:33,750 are heard in a timely manner. And I urge the board, I mean this body council to move forward. 940 01:24:34,850 --> 01:24:41,970 Thank you. Councilwoman Lynch? Well said, Councilmember Gibson, Ditto and Amen. 941 01:24:43,430 --> 01:24:51,290 You know, I want to thank our public safety committee members for working on this and bring it to light. 942 01:24:51,510 --> 01:24:56,610 You know, when we first, you know, kind of ask the question, is it working or is it not? 943 01:24:56,610 --> 01:25:03,230 It took us almost six months to get the apples to apples data that eventually led us to that conclusion. 944 01:25:03,650 --> 01:25:18,550 We knew that we were seeing an uptick and constituent concerns and complaints of lack of timely response, but we didn't know just how bad it was until we really started cracking into that walnut. 945 01:25:19,430 --> 01:25:24,350 And we are, it is, we would be negligent not to make a change and not to push forward or something. 946 01:25:24,350 --> 01:25:31,090 I do want to see Odee's, I'm sorry. 947 01:25:31,950 --> 01:25:35,530 Donald's point about implementation, thoughtful implementation for this. 948 01:25:35,970 --> 01:25:52,950 For this move, our committee members and our committee will be working on a thoughtful kind of subsequent either resolution or ordinance to kind of give more guidance about co-location and what those options might look like and look forward to working with the administration. 949 01:25:52,950 --> 01:26:01,330 to continue to track that and see those members drastically improve and quickly. Thank you. 950 01:26:02,590 --> 01:26:04,470 Thank you. Councilman Bretton. 951 01:26:06,010 --> 01:26:12,630 I know that with all of our legislation, it is important that we are being thoughtful about implementation for success. 952 01:26:12,990 --> 01:26:15,790 And so I just wanted to ask the members of the Public Safety Committee, 953 01:26:15,790 --> 01:26:27,470 If you all have considered whether for the specific change in this legislation, if the 30-day implementation time will be adequate in order for us to perform the change in this legislation. 954 01:26:33,640 --> 01:26:40,340 I think we believe in the language. There's enough flexibility to allow us. 955 01:26:40,340 --> 01:26:44,700 It doesn't, it doesn't require full structural, you know, 956 01:26:44,960 --> 01:26:48,840 executed change in 30 days, so we can, we have a little bit of flexibility 957 01:26:49,190 --> 01:26:53,740 and how that rolls out to, to satisfy the language of the bill. 958 01:26:55,100 --> 01:26:56,700 Thank you, Councilwoman Jones. 959 01:26:57,800 --> 01:26:58,840 Thank you, Madam President. 960 01:26:59,420 --> 01:27:04,260 And thank you to the Public Safety Committee for your work on this. 961 01:27:05,760 --> 01:27:08,320 These questions aren't meant to formulate a debate. 962 01:27:08,320 --> 01:27:14,680 And while you have worked on it for a year, kudos, we don't, I personally am not here to 963 01:27:14,680 --> 01:27:15,340 debate with you. 964 01:27:15,700 --> 01:27:20,060 I have a responsibility just like every council member on this site is to ask questions. 965 01:27:20,500 --> 01:27:27,220 And so the questions that I'm asking are specific to not so much of an implementation plan, 966 01:27:27,220 --> 01:27:29,420 but a lot of unanswered questions. 967 01:27:29,980 --> 01:27:34,860 And so I don't need to be educated or over contextualized on what we've done. 968 01:27:34,860 --> 01:27:35,980 I have simple questions. 969 01:27:35,980 --> 01:27:40,200 My first question is what critical events have occurred that triggered 970 01:27:40,200 --> 01:27:43,040 separation calls in us as such an immediate need. 971 01:27:44,540 --> 01:27:49,960 So we say we have the data, but I would like to know what has happened that has caused 972 01:27:49,960 --> 01:27:53,280 us to say that we need to do this now in 30 days. 973 01:27:53,400 --> 01:27:56,180 I get the compliance, but what are we not saying? 974 01:27:56,440 --> 01:27:58,700 Because the narrative is that folks are unsafe. 975 01:27:59,140 --> 01:28:04,660 And if we are not going to talk about public safety, then we should not be penalized for wanting 976 01:28:04,660 --> 01:28:07,500 to know these questions before making a major decision. 977 01:28:08,060 --> 01:28:09,500 So it's not that no one supports. 978 01:28:09,640 --> 01:28:13,160 It's not that we're here to debate or challenge anything 979 01:28:13,160 --> 01:28:14,200 that anybody is saying. 980 01:28:14,600 --> 01:28:16,400 But these are questions that I'm being asked 981 01:28:16,400 --> 01:28:17,800 and I'm asking the questions. 982 01:28:18,300 --> 01:28:21,040 What, what critical events have occurred 983 01:28:21,040 --> 01:28:24,520 triggering separate call centers as such an immediate need? 984 01:28:24,960 --> 01:28:28,160 And my second question is, when there is a temporary outage 985 01:28:28,160 --> 01:28:30,380 in these call centers, who are handling these calls? 986 01:28:30,720 --> 01:28:33,880 These are legitimate questions that I would like to know 987 01:28:33,880 --> 01:28:36,480 before we move with these decisions. 988 01:28:38,920 --> 01:28:40,080 Councilwoman Abobacher. 989 01:28:42,580 --> 01:28:43,320 Thank you, Madam President. 990 01:28:44,560 --> 01:28:48,580 First and foremost, to my colleagues' questions, 991 01:28:49,880 --> 01:28:55,020 I can speak to, there's a number of anecdotal stories 992 01:28:55,020 --> 01:28:59,140 of where there have been misdiagnoses 993 01:28:59,420 --> 01:29:02,580 on calls we have heard from those directly 994 01:29:02,580 --> 01:29:05,220 in multiple public safety meetings 995 01:29:05,220 --> 01:29:13,120 and in our public safety, two public safety hearings on this particular topic, to be clear, 996 01:29:13,340 --> 01:29:18,600 again, the calls still go through DEC. 997 01:29:19,460 --> 01:29:22,000 That does not change. 998 01:29:22,680 --> 01:29:30,880 What changes is at the point where DEC brings in Richmond Ambulance Authority for medical calls. 999 01:29:30,880 --> 01:29:42,520 Really, this builds capacity for DEC because RAA is taking those medical calls off their plate sooner in the process. 1000 01:29:43,520 --> 01:29:55,880 Again, to my colleague's point about the apples to apples data that we have from both October 1st, 2024 through March 31st, 2025. 1001 01:29:55,880 --> 01:29:59,880 and prior to that when RAA was the second area. 1002 01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:07,940 We have that data that shows that 29% noncompliance with DEC, 6% noncompliance with RAA. Again, 1003 01:30:08,280 --> 01:30:18,340 we can talk about this a lot more, but we've been going at this for a very long time. And so I just, 1004 01:30:18,540 --> 01:30:25,480 I want to say that I'm grateful that we have an abundance of expertise in both DEC PR and in RAA. 1005 01:30:26,360 --> 01:30:31,020 and I do want to allow those people who are subject matter experts both in 1006 01:30:31,020 --> 01:30:35,540 medical and police and fire dispatch to be able to lead in their areas of 1007 01:30:35,540 --> 01:30:40,080 expertise and I think that this really does in fact reflect that. 1008 01:30:46,560 --> 01:30:48,380 Was there any additional comment? 1009 01:30:49,500 --> 01:30:54,900 Madam President, yes let me just say that I am on the board and you and I can work 1010 01:30:54,900 --> 01:31:00,600 together with these questions and I can take it to the board and also the CCAO 1011 01:31:00,600 --> 01:31:06,580 he's also on a board with me and I know that every time I bring something to the board they 1012 01:31:07,560 --> 01:31:14,100 help me understand better and they answer my questions. So if you want me to take some 1013 01:31:14,100 --> 01:31:19,520 things back to the board I'll be more than glad to do it. We can work together, okay. Thank you. 1014 01:31:20,420 --> 01:31:21,440 Councilwoman Robertson. 1015 01:31:23,840 --> 01:31:25,460 Thank you, Dr. Newville. 1016 01:31:25,460 --> 01:31:27,720 So if 1017 01:31:32,200 --> 01:31:38,660 I'm, the information that we are putting out right now is related to non-compliance and 1018 01:31:38,660 --> 01:31:43,900 the percentage of non-compliance is very, very disturbing, extremely disturbing. 1019 01:31:46,420 --> 01:31:59,000 And it suggests to me that if non-compliance is at that percent level that it gives me a 1020 01:31:59,000 --> 01:32:10,360 reason of discomfort as it relates to the total E911 emergency call system. 1021 01:32:10,960 --> 01:32:19,760 Does this not just about the ambulance authority if we are speaking to a non-compliance to this 1022 01:32:19,760 --> 01:32:27,900 level and I would like if you will, Madam President, Mr. Donald to help us understand 1023 01:32:28,920 --> 01:32:41,140 what are the real issues and is it just calls not being the procedural process not being 1024 01:32:41,140 --> 01:32:41,960 and follow it, 1025 01:32:44,100 --> 01:32:50,860 as it is currently existing to get calls for emergency 1026 01:32:50,860 --> 01:32:58,380 ambulance services from the ambulance authority or do we have a larger 1027 01:32:58,380 --> 01:33:00,240 problem that 1028 01:33:02,360 --> 01:33:07,580 unfortunately I'm set to be having this conversation in 1029 01:33:07,580 --> 01:33:13,220 the public arena because tonight if I need a police 1030 01:33:14,100 --> 01:33:22,180 or if I need a fire or I need an ambulance, I'm not feeling very good about a 1031 01:33:23,000 --> 01:33:28,460 non-compliance rate at the rate that you speak that we are being told. This is 1032 01:33:28,460 --> 01:33:37,300 very very frightening and I really need a little bit more insurance as to where 1033 01:33:37,300 --> 01:33:42,800 we are. What is the magnitude of this problem and how we what are we doing and 1034 01:33:42,800 --> 01:33:50,740 how do we move forward because I want to know that every person that pick up 1035 01:33:50,740 --> 01:33:56,640 that phone and call can be confident that someone is answering and getting 1036 01:33:56,640 --> 01:34:02,540 them the service that we are that we are paid for to be in place not I'm not 1037 01:34:02,540 --> 01:34:07,320 if and if this is a lack of resources I want to know that as well. This is 1038 01:34:07,320 --> 01:34:12,660 really critical. Thank you. Thank you councilmember Mr. Donald 1039 01:34:12,660 --> 01:34:19,540 All right. The question. Great questions and comments again by the council and I think it illuminates 1040 01:34:20,060 --> 01:34:24,700 why we want to make sure to get it right the first time. And well, I'll say the second time 1041 01:34:24,700 --> 01:34:29,020 because I know you dealt with this a couple of years ago before the abool administration. 1042 01:34:29,940 --> 01:34:34,980 And I would also encourage us, you know, not to forget the lessons that you did learn a couple of 1043 01:34:34,980 --> 01:34:41,800 years ago when you made the change initially. I think, you know, we're talking about how we correct 1044 01:34:41,800 --> 01:34:44,600 this issue and I think you want to just do so long-term. 1045 01:34:45,320 --> 01:34:51,700 A couple of years ago I think you identified some similar challenges and you made the decision to 1046 01:34:51,700 --> 01:34:59,040 bring it back in-house. I think it can work either way but I think the key is you have two entities, 1047 01:34:59,740 --> 01:35:07,420 one internal one external and that key to really have the most efficient level of service delivery 1048 01:35:07,420 --> 01:35:12,800 is co-location. So we're talking about one part of that today. And I think her 1049 01:35:12,800 --> 01:35:17,900 council member, Abu Bakr, highlight some of the challenges and the need for 1050 01:35:17,900 --> 01:35:23,320 us even with the anecdotal information for us to just be able to think I don't 1051 01:35:23,320 --> 01:35:28,400 want to miss culture but unload and provide that medical cause a little bit 1052 01:35:28,400 --> 01:35:32,740 quicker. There's one part of it and I think that's what you're determining today. 1053 01:35:32,740 --> 01:35:41,880 And I just think part two of that is co-location, where you clear up some of the resources so that you can make those additional investments. 1054 01:35:42,440 --> 01:35:59,020 So I would, you know, encourage both Anne, you know, you move forward. It sounds like you have the appetite and the political will to make sure that we get the cause transfer and you provide us enough time to be able to do that. 1055 01:35:59,020 --> 01:36:04,880 and then that part, too, that we don't want to forget is the co-location that provides us 1056 01:36:04,880 --> 01:36:10,660 called savings, but what's most important in just saving money is actually ensuring we 1057 01:36:10,660 --> 01:36:15,400 have resources to invest back in the system and resolve some of these problems and enhance it. 1058 01:36:15,720 --> 01:36:20,720 So actually, it sounds like you're kind of talking about, we're talking about them both separately, 1059 01:36:21,020 --> 01:36:26,480 but they're really one holistic improvement to the system and an investment in good governance. 1060 01:36:26,480 --> 01:36:31,320 and again the administration supports that I think the only piece that we are highlighting 1061 01:36:31,740 --> 01:36:37,460 is that we want to make sure that we have we have it done right and we have the appropriate time 1062 01:36:37,460 --> 01:36:44,680 to to transition appropriately. So I think again we're in lockstep with the council which we're always 1063 01:36:44,680 --> 01:36:50,540 trying to be and I think this this provides us that opportunity. So I will hold and answer an 1064 01:36:50,540 --> 01:36:52,940 I'm sorry, there's one piece I did want to answer. 1065 01:36:53,500 --> 01:36:56,920 Just a great question is, if that phone rings 1066 01:36:56,920 --> 01:36:58,960 is somebody going to answer it in an emergency, 1067 01:36:59,520 --> 01:37:02,920 and the answer is yes, could calls be done 1068 01:37:03,400 --> 01:37:05,180 more quickly and more efficiently 1069 01:37:05,680 --> 01:37:07,620 through this process for which you're proposing? 1070 01:37:08,100 --> 01:37:10,980 There's a possibility that that be the case. 1071 01:37:10,980 --> 01:37:13,520 And so I think that's why we would support that, 1072 01:37:13,880 --> 01:37:17,460 again, co-location those, all the whole process, 1073 01:37:17,460 --> 01:37:20,560 and we need, again, of both ends. 1074 01:37:20,980 --> 01:37:24,240 So I would also say, I don't remember the date, 1075 01:37:24,520 --> 01:37:26,820 but I went by and spent the full day 1076 01:37:27,260 --> 01:37:32,080 with our call center and studied it from suit to nuts. 1077 01:37:32,540 --> 01:37:35,780 And what we saw is that, I mean, while I was there, 1078 01:37:36,100 --> 01:37:40,380 there was somebody that had an emergency occurred during that time 1079 01:37:40,660 --> 01:37:42,840 and the response time was excellent, 1080 01:37:43,120 --> 01:37:46,180 so much so you didn't even hear about it on the news. 1081 01:37:46,180 --> 01:37:49,800 And it was a difficult situation, referred quickly, 1082 01:37:51,380 --> 01:37:54,520 transferred, approached really, and within a matter of minutes, 1083 01:37:55,080 --> 01:37:57,680 our first responders were on scene. 1084 01:37:57,980 --> 01:38:01,620 So it worked exactly the way that it was supposed to do in crisis, 1085 01:38:01,740 --> 01:38:03,340 and that's not just an observation. 1086 01:38:03,340 --> 01:38:07,000 I was there sitting in and helping to take calls that day, 1087 01:38:07,220 --> 01:38:10,300 as well as a member of the council's staff, 1088 01:38:10,300 --> 01:38:18,600 staff, Mr. Steve. I apologize I don't remember his last yes yes so you know we we 1089 01:38:18,600 --> 01:38:25,960 have seen the process work and so I don't feel danger from that observation and 1090 01:38:25,960 --> 01:38:30,760 multiple observations that day I think we're in great position to receive calls 1091 01:38:30,760 --> 01:38:36,260 and mitigate any issues and I think what I'm hearing the council say is good is 1092 01:38:36,260 --> 01:38:42,620 great but we want the best that we can provide and I think our response to that is right on we're 1093 01:38:42,620 --> 01:38:48,780 hit to support it but we also believe the data says co-location is a big part of that and so having 1094 01:38:48,780 --> 01:38:55,600 both would be amazing. Thank you, Mr. Donald, Vice President Jordan. Thank you, President Nubal. 1095 01:38:56,420 --> 01:39:01,700 Appreciate all the comments that we've already had and just to hone in a little bit more on what 1096 01:39:01,700 --> 01:39:08,200 comes next. I would like to understand better how we got here and I know the 1097 01:39:08,200 --> 01:39:11,660 Public Safety Committee has had the benefit of over a year of discussion but 1098 01:39:11,660 --> 01:39:14,380 for some of us we're we're trying to get caught up to speed here. 1099 01:39:16,680 --> 01:39:17,200 What 1100 01:39:17,200 --> 01:39:21,780 didn't we get right when we made this change that was based on you know 1101 01:39:21,780 --> 01:39:27,600 consultants recommendation and it wasn't just about cost savings so are we not 1102 01:39:28,660 --> 01:39:34,620 supporting DEC to the extent that it needed to with training or with the number 1103 01:39:34,620 --> 01:39:39,040 staff that was required because that's probably going to be an ongoing 1104 01:39:39,040 --> 01:39:43,020 issue regardless of what we do with this paper and I just want to make sure 1105 01:39:43,020 --> 01:39:46,680 that you know everyone who is in that department knows that their work is vital 1106 01:39:46,680 --> 01:39:52,220 and we appreciate it. It's a huge hugely stressful role with high burnout, high 1107 01:39:52,220 --> 01:39:57,120 turnover. If we need to be putting more resources into that staff 1108 01:39:57,120 --> 01:40:00,560 regardless of what we do with this paper like I think we're having this 1109 01:40:00,560 --> 01:40:05,360 conversation and we need to understand what is happening in DEC because it might 1110 01:40:05,360 --> 01:40:08,180 not be a medical emergency might be something else and do they have the 1111 01:40:08,180 --> 01:40:12,780 tools to respond quickly because if the data is saying that we're not where we 1112 01:40:12,780 --> 01:40:18,260 want to be how do we get there for those calls so I would appreciate any 1113 01:40:18,260 --> 01:40:24,720 response from administration or from DEC on that question thank you I'll start 1114 01:40:24,720 --> 01:40:29,280 with one of the patrons but I'll certainly invite the administration for 1115 01:40:29,280 --> 01:40:34,040 comment as well Councilmember Dilanche. Not to, I don't want to speak for the 1116 01:40:34,040 --> 01:40:37,660 administration of the stakeholders but I mean you bring up an excellent point 1117 01:40:37,660 --> 01:40:42,500 and I think we're hoping to address that with the subsequent paper that comes 1118 01:40:42,500 --> 01:40:48,620 forward. One suggestion might be to maybe hat because it's actually I mean 1119 01:40:48,620 --> 01:40:53,660 trust us we know it's a very complex. Just the the the 1120 01:40:53,660 --> 01:40:55,440 We're going to, between the organizational structure, 1121 01:40:56,400 --> 01:40:59,040 the accreditation requirements, 1122 01:40:59,380 --> 01:41:01,520 and then how DEC operates today, 1123 01:41:02,200 --> 01:41:03,440 stands all that, right? 1124 01:41:03,940 --> 01:41:06,320 It's a lengthy deep dive. 1125 01:41:07,820 --> 01:41:10,720 If we bring a subsequent paper forward, 1126 01:41:10,940 --> 01:41:13,300 which we have, we're working on now, 1127 01:41:13,860 --> 01:41:15,740 to kind of help guide, again, 1128 01:41:15,940 --> 01:41:17,960 to help guide kind of the co-location discussion, 1129 01:41:17,960 --> 01:41:21,660 and then the larger, broader discussion on DEC, 1130 01:41:21,660 --> 01:41:27,060 see and how the how they how they interact hence, you know, going forward, could would would 1131 01:41:27,060 --> 01:41:32,620 you all be amenable to us maybe bringing that back to an or an OD meeting so that the 1132 01:41:32,620 --> 01:41:36,980 full body can ask all the questions kind of get all those details and maybe that's a better 1133 01:41:36,980 --> 01:41:43,480 way to to address it. So thank you. Mr. Donald, I thought I saw you. 1134 01:41:46,230 --> 01:41:47,410 Okay, I thought I saw 1135 01:41:47,410 --> 01:41:51,870 you wavy or nodding in agreement. Okay. 1136 01:41:54,710 --> 01:41:57,110 I guess I would just really would welcome some 1137 01:41:57,110 --> 01:42:04,350 assurances that 30 days is an adequate amount of time or current EC staff to be trained about 1138 01:42:04,350 --> 01:42:07,050 when that when they are now shifting over calls. 1139 01:42:12,810 --> 01:42:16,490 Mr. Donald, are you coming forward or I'm saying 1140 01:42:16,490 --> 01:42:22,370 comment. My understanding is once we vote tonight it's 30 days I mean there's some flexibility but that 1141 01:42:22,370 --> 01:42:32,870 But if I was a risk correctly, Ms. Lynch, you're talking about coming back with a implementation 1142 01:42:32,870 --> 01:42:36,870 plan that delineates. 1143 01:42:37,790 --> 01:42:38,390 Correct. 1144 01:42:38,670 --> 01:42:40,110 And there's enough flexibility in language. 1145 01:42:40,270 --> 01:42:43,830 It's not a shall have it flipped over in 30 days. 1146 01:42:44,190 --> 01:42:45,410 So I mean, there's a little flex. 1147 01:42:45,870 --> 01:42:46,070 Okay. 1148 01:42:46,070 --> 01:43:00,490 I think that we fully agree with that because there seems to be understanding with the council that it does not have to happen within 30 days because of the language within the ordinance. 1149 01:43:01,090 --> 01:43:14,350 And so we believe with additional time and of course we have to bring that back. So the council members proposal for us to come back at a future meeting where we can clarify that aligns. 1150 01:43:14,350 --> 01:43:22,190 As long as we're just making quadruple, sure, that, of course, you know, we need more time. 1151 01:43:22,190 --> 01:43:27,350 So being held to that 30 days would be unrealistic, but it does not say shale. 1152 01:43:27,350 --> 01:43:31,310 I think it says may, if anything, so that gives you the flexibility. 1153 01:43:31,310 --> 01:43:36,550 And I would defer to, I'm not a lawyer, I just act like one on the weekend. 1154 01:43:36,950 --> 01:43:43,110 So, you know, whatever timeframe is most appropriate, we would abide by that. 1155 01:43:43,110 --> 01:43:48,010 but I think that's that's the key is if we have that flexibility no problem at all we're 1156 01:43:48,010 --> 01:43:56,770 fully in alignment with the council thank you so I just would like to comment I concur with my 1157 01:43:56,770 --> 01:44:03,430 colleague who says that we would be negligent not to make a change based on the data that the committee 1158 01:44:03,430 --> 01:44:12,810 has brought back to us however as someone who has had the experience of having to reach out to 1159 01:44:12,810 --> 01:44:20,730 our public safety professionals and have had unfortunate loss of life as a part of that experience. 1160 01:44:21,050 --> 01:44:29,410 This is not something that's perfunctory so I would look to the public safety committee 1161 01:44:29,410 --> 01:44:36,950 working with the administration after this approval to make sure that we have a solid plan 1162 01:44:36,950 --> 01:44:44,670 for implementation and that we are clear and able to convey to the public what that will 1163 01:44:44,670 --> 01:44:49,850 look like and what the expectations are and what co-location and training, etc. 1164 01:44:50,650 --> 01:44:57,470 And so I'm hearing that that would be the case from the administration as well as from 1165 01:44:57,950 --> 01:44:59,970 committee members and so with that. 1166 01:45:00,760 --> 01:45:29,880 And no further discussion. I don't see any other folks lit up. I'll ask that the question gets called. With that provisor, that that will be the case. Just looking because that seems to be between the full committee for committee. Madam Clerk. Council is now voting on ordinance number 2026-059 as presented. Mr. Breton. Aye. Ms. Gibson. Yes. 1167 01:45:29,880 --> 01:45:38,880 Yes. Ms. Jones. Ms. Robertson. Hi. Ms. Lynch. Hi. Ms. Tramble. Hi. Ms. Abu Bakr. Hi. Vice President 1168 01:45:38,880 --> 01:45:44,440 Jordan. Hi. And President New Bill. Hi. That paper has been adopted. Thank you. And I'd like to 1169 01:45:44,440 --> 01:45:52,060 thank the committee. This is a serious matter in our city. I mean, this is and I you've treated it 1170 01:45:52,060 --> 01:45:59,060 as such and I appreciate your willingness to work with the administration to really articulate a 1171 01:45:59,060 --> 01:46:06,320 a solid plan of implementation so that we all will know and the quarter million people 1172 01:46:06,320 --> 01:46:11,300 and our community will know exactly how we will move forward. So thank you. 1173 01:46:11,580 --> 01:46:15,540 Madam President, I wanted to say that I know this is a very, very important committee. 1174 01:46:16,260 --> 01:46:21,020 All of our committees are important, but I know public safety is definitely because it affects everybody 1175 01:46:21,020 --> 01:46:26,940 in the city of Richmond, all of our city employees, all of that. And I know that my colleagues 1176 01:46:26,940 --> 01:46:32,820 so I worked very well with the one public safety and my, anyway, but anyway, if you have 1177 01:46:32,820 --> 01:46:35,480 any questions or whatever, all you got to do is bring it to us. 1178 01:46:35,780 --> 01:46:39,840 And I also said that I'm on the board with the Rich Financial Authority. 1179 01:46:39,980 --> 01:46:45,060 I can take those questions back to them and bring back the answers to you or to the full 1180 01:46:45,060 --> 01:46:45,420 body. 1181 01:46:45,840 --> 01:46:46,460 Thank you. 1182 01:46:46,760 --> 01:46:47,400 Thank you all. 1183 01:46:47,880 --> 01:46:48,240 Thank you. 1184 01:46:48,380 --> 01:46:49,380 I appreciate that. 1185 01:46:49,640 --> 01:46:55,620 And I'm hopeful that maybe by July, O.D., there would be an opportunity for some preliminary 1186 01:46:56,100 --> 01:47:02,680 report to come back. And I don't want to force it. I want it to be something that is real, 1187 01:47:02,860 --> 01:47:07,920 that is something that we can actually implement. So if that can be a day fine, if not, 1188 01:47:08,000 --> 01:47:12,460 please inform me so we can get that on the calendar for what would be an appropriate date. 1189 01:47:13,000 --> 01:47:19,000 So with that, Madam Clerk, I'm going to, we have a couple of papers for amending, 1190 01:47:19,540 --> 01:47:21,700 so if we could proceed with those. 1191 01:47:22,620 --> 01:47:29,200 Members, before you as a motion to amend item 19, ordinance number 2025-231, which authorizes 1192 01:47:29,200 --> 01:47:34,020 a special use of 3219 Tuxedo Boulevard for the purpose of up to five single-family 1193 01:47:34,020 --> 01:47:38,380 detached dwellings upon certain terms and conditions, the proposed amendment would modify 1194 01:47:38,380 --> 01:47:42,960 the number of dwellings and the plans. Councilmember O'Robertson, would you make the motion 1195 01:47:42,960 --> 01:47:46,120 to amend and continue this ordinance for the June 22nd council meeting? 1196 01:47:47,840 --> 01:48:02,900 Mr. Brett and will you second that? Second. Thank you. Council is now voting on the motion to amend and continue ordinance number 2025-231 to the Monday June 22nd Council meeting has stated Mr. Bretton. I miss Gibson. Yes, Ms. Robertson. Miss Lynch. 1197 01:48:04,080 --> 01:48:13,080 I miss Tramble. I miss Abobacher. I vice president Jordan. I and president new bill. I that motion has been approved. Thank you. 1198 01:48:13,080 --> 01:48:32,780 Next before you is a motion to amend item number 22, ordinance number 2026-090, which amends city co-concerning the city's rights and authority and concerning labor management dispute and impasse resolution to modify collective bargaining procedures and the proposed amendment would further modify collective bargaining procedures. 1199 01:48:33,360 --> 01:48:38,700 Councilmember Trammell, will you make the motion to amend and continue this ordinance for the June 22nd council meeting? 1200 01:48:40,440 --> 01:48:47,600 Council Member Gibson will you second that motion please second. Thank you. Council's voting on the motion to amend and continue ordinance number 1201 01:48:47,600 --> 01:48:55,640 2026-090 to the Monday June 22nd Council meeting as stated. Mr. Bretton. Aye. Miss Gibson. Yes. Mr. Robertson. 1202 01:48:56,040 --> 01:49:03,200 Miss Lynch. Aye. Miss Tramble. Aye. Miss Abu Bakr. Aye. Vice President Jardin and President New Bill. Aye. 1203 01:49:03,200 --> 01:49:08,340 That motion has been approved. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Let's at this time proceed with the approval of the minutes. 1204 01:49:11,100 --> 01:49:18,860 The minutes to be approved are from the Monday, May 26, 2026 informal and formal city council meetings at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. 1205 01:49:19,240 --> 01:49:22,240 If there are no corrections or amendments, then the minutes will be approved as presented. 1206 01:49:22,960 --> 01:49:27,420 Those minutes have been approved. Thank you. Let's proceed with the introduction of new legislation. 1207 01:49:27,420 --> 01:49:33,400 Members, new pieces of legislation, items number three, 327 on a list before you are here 1208 01:49:33,400 --> 01:49:37,440 by I introduced as presented a copy of the list that is available for public inspection 1209 01:49:37,440 --> 01:49:41,280 at the rear of the room and an electronic copy and copies of the new legislation will 1210 01:49:41,280 --> 01:49:44,880 be available on the city's website on Tuesday, June 9th. 1211 01:49:44,900 --> 01:49:45,280 Thank you. 1212 01:49:45,840 --> 01:49:46,940 Thank you, Madam Clerk. 1213 01:49:47,120 --> 01:49:53,040 At this time, we'll proceed with reports and announcements, Councilwoman Tremel. 1214 01:49:54,400 --> 01:49:55,520 Thank you, Madam President. 1215 01:49:56,420 --> 01:50:06,340 This Thursday, on June 11th, at 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., we're going to have our APE District meeting at the SAAD Light, Restaurant Lounge 4,000 in Richmond Highway. 1216 01:50:06,940 --> 01:50:12,560 Our guest speaker is going to be Scott Morris. He's going to talk about public utilities, and that's a good thing. 1217 01:50:12,920 --> 01:50:20,980 Because a lot of people are going to call on me because they've gotten their utility bills and they said that they are just too high. 1218 01:50:20,980 --> 01:50:27,620 And I know that Scott has been going around, well, every time we call him, he goes around, 1219 01:50:27,680 --> 01:50:31,760 he fixes all the meters because we do have, in Southside, in our 8th district, a lot 1220 01:50:31,760 --> 01:50:37,060 of old meters, that the, you know, the busted, the water's running, and we're just thankful 1221 01:50:37,060 --> 01:50:42,000 that he always takes our calls, and he has a crew that goes out there if not that night, the 1222 01:50:42,000 --> 01:50:43,040 next day to fix them. 1223 01:50:43,700 --> 01:50:48,720 Also we're going to have, oh my goodness, there's a developer that's going to come there 1224 01:50:48,720 --> 01:50:52,220 Number two and talk about another development that's going on in our district. 1225 01:50:52,560 --> 01:50:58,200 I think we have now a total of 11 developers, which I know back in 1998, I couldn't get a 1226 01:50:58,200 --> 01:51:03,320 developer to even return my phone call, either to even come into our eighth district. 1227 01:51:05,180 --> 01:51:10,820 I know that these smoke alarms in my colleague right there, my colleague. 1228 01:51:11,100 --> 01:51:17,120 I might have to give this to her, because my colleague, she loves the firefighters too. 1229 01:51:17,120 --> 01:51:19,200 and our police officers, they work together. 1230 01:51:19,340 --> 01:51:21,040 Those sisters and brothers, they work together. 1231 01:51:21,680 --> 01:51:24,220 And if you need a smoke alarm, they will come to your house 1232 01:51:24,220 --> 01:51:26,880 or come to your apartment and they will make sure 1233 01:51:26,880 --> 01:51:28,280 that you have a work in smoke alarm 1234 01:51:28,280 --> 01:51:29,960 and right now it's probably the only thing 1235 01:51:29,960 --> 01:51:30,800 it's for you in the city. 1236 01:51:31,640 --> 01:51:33,880 You can always call, go to the nearest fire station, 1237 01:51:34,040 --> 01:51:35,380 they'll make an appointment to come out there. 1238 01:51:35,820 --> 01:51:38,960 And also I want to thank our fire chief who went out there, 1239 01:51:39,900 --> 01:51:41,720 he was telling me the other day he went out there 1240 01:51:41,720 --> 01:51:43,900 to one of the mobile parks on Richmond Highway 1241 01:51:43,900 --> 01:51:54,980 And most of those, I believe all of them, maybe 30 to 40 mobile homes did not have any smoke alarms and they put them up for them. 1242 01:51:55,460 --> 01:51:58,120 And that's a good thing and I know my colleague, I'll let her talk about that. 1243 01:51:58,520 --> 01:52:05,640 But anyway, I appreciate our firefighters and our police officers working together and all that they do. 1244 01:52:05,640 --> 01:52:22,020 If you have any questions you can call my home at 804-233-7382 again my home 804-233-7382 or you can call my personal cell 804-240-5-0-5-0-5-0-8-0-4-240-5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0-5-0 thank you, Madam President. 1245 01:52:22,960 --> 01:52:25,840 Thank you, Councilwoman Tremble, Councilwoman Oppobocker. 1246 01:52:26,800 --> 01:52:33,480 Thank you and I still defer to my colleague as the Queen of Public Safety. 1247 01:52:33,480 --> 01:52:40,740 But I do enjoy working with our firefighters and all of our public safety officers. 1248 01:52:43,500 --> 01:52:47,820 This Wednesday we've got the West River Hills neighborhood association meeting at 7 p.m. 1249 01:52:48,080 --> 01:52:50,860 at the usual spot, West River Hills United Methodist. 1250 01:52:51,440 --> 01:52:57,640 On Saturday we have the Forest View Cemetery cleanup so you can still sign up to volunteer 1251 01:52:57,640 --> 01:52:58,260 for that. 1252 01:52:58,260 --> 01:53:05,080 And then also on Saturday we've got Cedarhurst, the newest neighborhood association in the fourth 1253 01:53:05,080 --> 01:53:13,300 district. We'll be having their picnic next to 5,400 bonds or lane. The rain date for that will be June 14th 1254 01:53:13,300 --> 01:53:18,440 though I don't not think it's going to rain. Next Tuesday, we've got back-to-back neighborhood 1255 01:53:18,440 --> 01:53:25,620 associations for us till at the Presbyterian Church. And then Southampton change, it will be at 1256 01:53:25,620 --> 01:53:29,760 Boyd Realty Group, which is at 6784 Forest Hill Avenue. 1257 01:53:30,600 --> 01:53:32,540 So you can go there. 1258 01:53:32,900 --> 01:53:37,880 As always, you can reach my office, 804-646-5646, 1259 01:53:38,320 --> 01:53:43,780 or sera.ababocker.arva.gov, and Timmy.sibert-s-i-v-e-r-d 1260 01:53:43,780 --> 01:53:44,780 at rva.gov. 1261 01:53:45,180 --> 01:53:45,520 Thank you. 1262 01:53:45,880 --> 01:53:47,540 Thank you, Councilmember Ababocker. 1263 01:53:47,640 --> 01:53:48,700 Councilmember Robertson. 1264 01:53:53,640 --> 01:53:53,760 Great. 1265 01:53:54,060 --> 01:53:54,180 Good. 1266 01:53:54,960 --> 01:53:55,640 Thank you. 1267 01:53:55,640 --> 01:54:00,540 I have three announcements, I think, four. 1268 01:54:02,200 --> 01:54:08,820 So with the first one, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, there's going to be hell on June 1269 01:54:08,820 --> 01:54:17,460 the 18th from 9 o'clock to 1230 at Midtown Green, which is at 2401 West Lee Street, City 1270 01:54:17,460 --> 01:54:23,900 Abagement Office of Agent and Disability Services and Partnership with VCU Health, Span Center, 1271 01:54:23,900 --> 01:54:30,980 Henrico County and Chesafield County. With additional information, please call the City 1272 01:54:30,980 --> 01:54:42,100 of Richmond Office of Agent and Disability Services at 804-646-1082. Also, the mayor 1273 01:54:42,910 --> 01:54:48,680 that had press release this week earlier about displacement and several events that had 1274 01:54:48,680 --> 01:54:56,860 being held to provide services to ensure that people can stay in their homes and services 1275 01:54:56,860 --> 01:54:58,740 at the city is providing to assist. 1276 01:54:59,680 --> 01:55:04,620 In addition to that, I wanted to announce that eviction, diversion, onsite support. 1277 01:55:05,060 --> 01:55:11,920 This event is limited to return redevelopment housing authority residents who live in public 1278 01:55:11,920 --> 01:55:12,440 housing. 1279 01:55:12,440 --> 01:55:21,960 That event will be happened on June the 9th from 1 o'clock 151 15 to 245. 1280 01:55:22,580 --> 01:55:27,760 So on June 9th, it will be at Armstrong Renaissance Community 1665. 1281 01:55:28,260 --> 01:55:35,080 Third street is a third street, a third street probably in Churchill. 1282 01:55:36,200 --> 01:55:41,680 I'm sure Dr. Neil Bill that's in the 7th district hosted by the Richard redeveloped 1283 01:55:41,680 --> 01:55:45,200 and Housing Authority, and Southside Community Development 1284 01:55:45,200 --> 01:55:49,100 and Housing Corporation called Nicole Douglas 1285 01:55:49,960 --> 01:55:56,180 at 804-780-521-0, or Ms. Hampton, 1286 01:55:56,880 --> 01:55:58,860 at Richembourg Development Housing Authority, 1287 01:55:59,260 --> 01:56:06,060 at 804-780-4358, anyone that is having problems, 1288 01:56:06,720 --> 01:56:08,940 meeting their rent payments, they are behind 1289 01:56:08,940 --> 01:56:10,400 and subject to eviction. 1290 01:56:10,400 --> 01:56:15,460 This is an extremely important opportunity to get services to prevent that. 1291 01:56:18,220 --> 01:56:23,740 We also, there's an event that will be taking place on June the 26th. 1292 01:56:23,740 --> 01:56:30,020 All beyond the bars, mental health, intellectual disabilities, chronic illness, 1293 01:56:30,620 --> 01:56:32,180 and justice service summit. 1294 01:56:32,740 --> 01:56:36,460 That will be held at the Richmond Justice Center at 1701. 1295 01:56:36,460 --> 01:56:44,160 on Fairfield Way, hosted by our own Richmond City Sheriff's Office for more information 1296 01:56:44,160 --> 01:56:52,800 called Catherine Green, 804-646-01400 for additional information and registration. 1297 01:56:53,660 --> 01:56:59,880 And lastly, how in pockets have in our second phase to ask your rent, that will be held 1298 01:56:59,880 --> 01:57:10,640 at the Ann Hardy Community Center on June 27th from 10 o'clock a.m. to 12. That's at 1,000 Pollock Street. 1299 01:57:11,180 --> 01:57:20,220 You may contact my office at 804-646-7964 for additional information. Thank you very much. 1300 01:57:20,700 --> 01:57:27,240 Thank you. Councilwoman Gibson. Thank you, Madam President. Just a few updates. 1301 01:57:27,240 --> 01:57:33,400 I wanted to share our next district meeting will be June 17th at 6 p.m. at Holton Elementary 1302 01:57:33,400 --> 01:57:40,840 School will be joined by fire chief Segal and we're finalizing other elements of our 1303 01:57:40,840 --> 01:57:45,080 meeting and as always light refreshments will be provided we'd love to see the community 1304 01:57:45,080 --> 01:57:53,380 there. On Tuesday June 9th at 6.30 p.m. there'll be a civic association hosted by the Rose 1305 01:57:53,380 --> 01:58:00,360 Delosific Association, that will be at 1704 West Liburnum Avenue, and that same evening, 1306 01:58:00,760 --> 01:58:06,020 the Battery Parks Civic Association is hosting their quarterly meeting, which will be at 1307 01:58:06,020 --> 01:58:15,580 2803 DuPont Circle at the Stone House. On June 16th at 630, at the Waldorf School, there 1308 01:58:15,580 --> 01:58:21,380 will be a community meeting regarding a potential closing or partial closing, pardon me, of the 1309 01:58:21,380 --> 01:58:29,120 The right of way on Brooklyn Parkway and Robin Hood Road, this is in the Sherwood Park community. 1310 01:58:29,660 --> 01:58:33,840 We have heard several concerns from residents regarding this closing, and so we encourage 1311 01:58:33,840 --> 01:58:37,720 folks to come out and ask questions and share their thoughts with the school. 1312 01:58:38,500 --> 01:58:43,140 And as always, please email our office if you have any questions or concerns. 1313 01:58:43,140 --> 01:58:47,440 My email is canya.gipson at rva.gov and you can reach 1314 01:58:47,440 --> 01:58:53,280 Serrandon Elliott at Serrandon.alliot at rva.gov with any thoughts you have. 1315 01:58:53,580 --> 01:58:54,380 Thank you so much. 1316 01:58:54,920 --> 01:58:56,700 Thank you, Vice President Jordan. 1317 01:58:57,520 --> 01:58:59,160 Thank you so much, President Newbel. 1318 01:59:00,380 --> 01:59:04,300 The main news for the second district is that we will be out in the district. 1319 01:59:04,940 --> 01:59:12,160 We have a summer district meeting to be scheduled after we have a little more information on 1320 01:59:12,160 --> 01:59:18,660 when draft three of Code Refresh is going to be coming out that will be a subject specific 1321 01:59:18,660 --> 01:59:25,180 district meeting probably sometime in July. From now until the end of August though you can 1322 01:59:25,180 --> 01:59:31,260 expect to see myself and second district second district liaison spin Phillips and out in the district 1323 01:59:31,260 --> 01:59:38,380 we're going to be on your block backing doors providing materials on different services at the city 1324 01:59:38,380 --> 01:59:40,680 We're really excited to get back out on the street. 1325 01:59:41,500 --> 01:59:45,420 Additionally, if you have a group and you would like us to come meet with you. 1326 01:59:45,500 --> 01:59:49,960 We meet with neighborhood associations routinely, but if you have a group that would like to 1327 01:59:49,960 --> 01:59:55,160 hear more directly from our office about Code Refresh or any other topic, please reach out 1328 01:59:55,160 --> 01:59:56,980 to our office so that we can get on your calendar. 1329 01:59:58,260 --> 01:59:59,760 And if you have any. 1330 02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:08,160 Issues, the issues, please reach out to us either by phone, 804, 646, 6532, you know, or via email. 1331 02:00:09,500 --> 02:00:17,060 And that, either myself, Catherine K. T. H. E. R. I. N. E. Dot, Jordan, J-O-R-D-A-N, at rba.gov. 1332 02:00:17,740 --> 02:00:26,660 And always, please, CC, liaison, Sven. Philipsen, P-H-I-L-I-P-S-E-N, at rba.gov. And we'll do our 1333 02:00:26,660 --> 02:00:29,140 best just issue with whatever city issue you're having. 1334 02:00:29,900 --> 02:00:30,400 Thank you so much. 1335 02:00:30,400 --> 02:00:31,780 I look forward to seeing you out in district. 1336 02:00:32,580 --> 02:00:33,200 Thank you. 1337 02:00:33,400 --> 02:00:34,820 Just a few announcements. 1338 02:00:35,340 --> 02:00:37,940 We have several civic associations 1339 02:00:37,940 --> 02:00:39,420 who will be meeting tomorrow. 1340 02:00:40,140 --> 02:00:43,380 So the next Union Hill Civic Association meeting 1341 02:00:43,380 --> 02:00:46,980 will be held tomorrow at 6.30 p.m. 1342 02:00:47,300 --> 02:00:49,140 at the Challenge Discovery Building 1343 02:00:49,140 --> 02:00:51,920 at 24 or 5 Jefferson Avenue. 1344 02:00:52,580 --> 02:00:55,200 The Fulton Civic Association will meet tomorrow 1345 02:00:55,200 --> 02:01:01,620 at 6 p.m. at the Powertown Community Center located at 5051 North Hampton Street. 1346 02:01:02,420 --> 02:01:11,420 And the Churchill Association will meet on Tuesday, June 9, at 6 p.m. at the Easton Library located at 25th in our street. 1347 02:01:11,820 --> 02:01:22,320 Please come out and join with the members of the Civic Association for current updates and opportunities for involvement and engagement in our community. 1348 02:01:22,320 --> 02:01:31,020 On Wednesday, June 10th, we will have a press conference at Shimorazo Elementary School 3000 East Marshall Street. 1349 02:01:31,380 --> 02:01:44,920 In this press conference, the mayor, the superintendent school board representative myself will be announcing our upcoming annual RVA Eastern Music Festival. 1350 02:01:44,920 --> 02:01:53,160 and it is for the last several years the opportunity to raise funds to purchase 1351 02:01:53,160 --> 02:01:58,100 musical instruments, art supplies and materials for the children in our school 1352 02:01:58,100 --> 02:02:02,520 in the east end and always we certainly partnership with the symphony and a 1353 02:02:02,520 --> 02:02:08,420 variety of partners but now we have a cadre of children who because they've 1354 02:02:08,420 --> 02:02:14,760 had the opportunity to have access to instruments who will be performing and 1355 02:02:14,760 --> 02:02:25,900 So I'll be the person in the back with the tissue crime because we have so many of our children coming forward and we have our children who will display their artwork, which is really phenomenal. 1356 02:02:26,340 --> 02:02:42,420 So again, Wednesday, June 10th, Shimburasa Elementary School, 3,000, he's Marshall Street at 11.30 a.m. June 10th at Saturday, June 13th, the 2 o'clock PM at the East End Library, 1200 North 25th Street. 1357 02:02:42,420 --> 02:02:51,000 There will be a June 10th event and it is title and the meaning of freedom, history, 1358 02:02:51,220 --> 02:02:58,760 memory, and civic responsibility, a free public lecture by VUU professor Clive Tensley, 1359 02:02:59,540 --> 02:03:01,960 Saturday June 13th at 2. 1360 02:03:02,640 --> 02:03:11,500 Then on June 13th and 14th, we had the June 10th celebration honoring and answer-store 1361 02:03:11,500 --> 02:03:17,940 ancestors by the Legbock Folklore Society. It will on June 15th we'll be starting with the 1362 02:03:17,940 --> 02:03:25,160 torch lit night walk along the trail of enslaved Africans at 6 p.m. and gathered the devils half 1363 02:03:25,160 --> 02:03:32,760 acre 1500 East Franklin Street and then on June 14th from 2 to 7 at the Shaco bottom African 1364 02:03:32,760 --> 02:03:35,960 and burial ground, 1,500 East Franklin Street, 1365 02:03:36,200 --> 02:03:39,460 please feel free to come out and join. 1366 02:03:40,420 --> 02:03:45,880 Juneteenth celebration on Friday, June 19th, 1367 02:03:45,880 --> 02:03:47,900 at the Main Street Station, the head house. 1368 02:03:48,480 --> 02:03:50,460 This is the underground kitchen. 1369 02:03:51,160 --> 02:03:52,420 We'll celebrate, and it's called 1370 02:03:52,420 --> 02:03:53,880 this celebration of freedom. 1371 02:03:54,700 --> 02:03:57,140 Chefcraft, that food and vibrant cocktails, 1372 02:03:57,720 --> 02:03:59,980 honoring independence, culture, and community. 1373 02:03:59,980 --> 02:04:08,920 it will start at 5.30. And last but not least, you certainly heard that we have a significant 1374 02:04:08,920 --> 02:04:16,140 number of events, SAIL 250, City of Richmond and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, 1375 02:04:16,740 --> 02:04:23,160 a proud department hosting Richmond SAIL, FASSA SAIL, Virginia 2060, affiliate harbor, 1376 02:04:23,380 --> 02:04:28,680 kickoff, central Virginia's countdown to America's 250th anniversary. 1377 02:04:28,680 --> 02:04:33,120 Richmond will host several impressive tall ships June 12 through 14. 1378 02:04:33,760 --> 02:04:49,480 Please feel free to call for more information each of the dates in terms of when the tall ships will be here at the intermediate terminal, starting well June 12 through 14. 1379 02:04:49,480 --> 02:05:11,100 So for more information, please feel free, you can reach out to my office and my liaison will be able to direct to 6804-6463012, or you can call Mr. Patterson at 804-2417-544, or you can call me at 804-544-378-377 for more information. 1380 02:05:11,100 --> 02:05:19,500 With that, the agenda for the formal meeting of the Richmond City Council has been accomplished 1381 02:05:19,500 --> 02:05:21,680 and the meeting now stands adjourned. 1382 02:05:21,840 --> 02:05:22,520 Thank you everyone.