Richmond City Council Formal Meeting - March 10, 2026
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting - March 10, 2026
The Richmond City Council met on March 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included public comments on pedestrian safety, business closures, and other community issues, followed by discussion and a vote on a proposed ordinance to allocate surplus funds to the retirement system. Several routine items were approved, and multiple ordinances were continued to future meetings.
Consent Calendar
- Items 2–14 on the consent agenda were adopted unanimously without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Brantley Tendall (Director of Bike Walk RVA at Sportsbackers) expressed concern about pedestrian safety, stating that Richmond has the worst pedestrian fatality rate in Virginia per capita. He criticized the lack of infrastructure improvements such as lower speed limits, daylighting intersections, and pedestrian-only signal phases. He called for innovative solutions to save lives.
- Fatima Kamara (First District resident) shared personal experiences of drivers failing to yield and called for urgent action on pedestrian safety, including immediate deployment of electronic message boards to warn drivers. She opposed blaming pedestrians and noted that high crash corridors are disproportionately in historically redlined areas.
- Kathy Burrell (Ninth District resident, mother of a pedestrian killed in November 2025) expressed grief and frustration that the driver was not charged. She called for changes in law to protect pedestrians, comparing the lack of charges to penalties for harming animals.
- Carol Adams (representing retired black police officers and Engine Company Nine) invited the council to the 80th anniversary celebration honoring the first African American police officers hired by the city on May 1, 1946. The event will be held on May 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM at Main Street Station.
- Anna Mackowicks cited New York City's rapid shelter openings as an example of progress and called for Richmond to open a walk-in shelter for families. She expressed feeling powerless and urged action on homelessness.
- Ezine Al-Assad (representing local neighborhood convenience store owners) opposed what he described as targeting of small businesses under "Operation Vaporize." He argued that these stores are the backbone of neighborhoods, hired locally, and that policy decisions risk destroying a small business class. He referenced the history of Jackson Ward as a cautionary tale.
- Gamden Alashari (store owner for 10+ years, store in location for 30+ years) described his store being shut down for over a month due to alleged electrical and plumbing issues that he claims never existed. He stated he lost seven employees, had his business broken into, and cannot access his property. He asked for an opportunity to fix issues instead of immediate closure.
- Sarita Mancata (organizer with Party for Socialism and Liberation) called for a local resolution opposing the war on Iran, citing negative effects on supply chains and small businesses, and the cost of one billion dollars per day in tax money while facing cuts to social programs.
Discussion Items
- Appointments to RRHA and EDA: A motion was made to refer the appointment recommendations back to the respective standing committees for reconsideration at their April meetings, alongside additional applications. The motion passed unanimously.
- Ordinance 2026-017 (Surplus Allocation to Retirement System): Councilmember Trammell expressed frustration that the retirement system had not provided adequate information on providing COLAs to retirees. The ordinance would have amended city code to automatically allocate 10% of future surplus funds to a one-time payment to Richmond Retirement System recipients. Councilmember Gibson abstained, preferring a broader review of the surplus allocation formula. Councilmember Lynch also expressed concern about tying hands for future needs. Vice President Jordan suggested first examining the retirement system's own options. Councilmember Trammell argued strongly that retirees have not had a raise since 2006 and deserve support. The ordinance failed on a vote of 3-3-2 (Mr. Breton no, Ms. Gibson abstain, Ms. Jones yes, Ms. Robertson yes, Ms. Lynch abstain, Ms. Trammell yes, Vice President Jordan no, President Newbill no).
- Amendments and Continuances: Two ordinances were amended and continued to the March 23, 2026 council meeting: Ordinance 2025-258 (special use for Daytona Drive) and Ordinance 2026-042 (special use for West Carey Street). Both motions passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- The motion to refer RRHA and EDA appointment recommendations back to committees for April meetings was approved unanimously.
- The consent agenda (items 2–14) was adopted unanimously.
- Ordinance 2026-017 (automatic surplus allocation to retirement system) failed to pass (3 yes, 3 no, 2 abstain).
- Ordinance 2025-258 and Ordinance 2026-042 were amended and continued to the March 23, 2026 council meeting.
- Minutes from the March 23, 2026 meetings (informal and formal) were approved.
- Legislation items 3–13 were introduced as presented.
- Councilmembers announced upcoming district meetings, events, and community resources.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. The formal meeting of the Richmond City Council will now come to order. Madam Clerk or Mr. Clark, if you would please um have um, I think it is Miss Roxanne Telavera Denson come forward to provide the Spanish interpretation announcement. Thank you. Good evening. Let us pray. God of creation, once again we come before you with thanksgiving in our hearts. Grateful and thankful for this day that you have provided. And thank you for another opportunity to gather uh in City Hall to do the bidding of your people. God, we're grateful for this city where we eat, work, and play. God, I thank you for all the residents, and I pray that you will continue to bless each and every one of them. And God, particularly on tonight, we thank you for this council. Uh, we thank you for our mayor, uh, the the administration, all the staff that makes this city run. But we just ask tonight that you will grant them wisdom and clarity of thought as they deliberate the issues and the the business of the city. God just allowed them to remember all aspects of this city as they make decisions. But once again, we thank you for this time and let all of God's people say amen. Thank you, Pastor Jones. I would now invite you to join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. If we could have the uh reading of the emergency evacuation plan and public speaker guidelines. Upon activation of the emergency alarm signal, all persons should immediately exit the building. Please use the exits to the left or right front of the council chamber or the east or west stairwell outside the rear doors of the chamber. Do not use elevators or escalators. After exiting the building, security will direct everyone down 9th Street to the assembly area located inside the former public safety building parking lot. Able persons should assist visually and hearing impaired visitors with exiting the building. Individuals speaking during public hearings and the public comment period are generally allowed three minutes to speak. Persons appearing before council are not allowed to campaign for public office, promote private business ventures, use language of a personal nature which insults or demeans any person, including comments directed at public officials or staff members that are not related to their official duties, or address or question staff members directly. All questions are to be directed to the president of council. Failure to adhere to the guidelines may result in speakers forfeiting any remaining time and further disciplinary action as necessary, which could include borrowing from attendance at future meetings of city council for a period of six months. Madam President, all members of council are in attendance this evening except for Councillors Lynch and Abu Baker. If there are individuals standing in the rear of the chamber, they are asked to be seated where seats are available at this time. Also, no applause is permitted during tonight's meeting. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Let's proceed with the appointments and reappointments to the boards and commissions. Members, at the February 9th meeting, council continue consideration of appointment recommendations to the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing and the Economic Development Authorities. Those recommendations from your land use, housing and transportation and finance and economic development standing committees are before you this evening. Is there a motion regarding these recommendations? Yes, ma'am. Madam Clerk, I move that we refer the following uh appointments back to committees to reconsider them alongside newcoming incoming applications. Is this for the committee meetings in April? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Council is now voting on the motion to refer the RRHA and EDA appointment recommendations back to their respective standing committees for reconsideration at their April meetings alongside additional applications. Mr. Breton. Aye. Miss Gibson.
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