The Richmond City Council met on March 23, 2026, with a quorum present (Councilmembers Jones and Lynch absent). The meeting included a public hearing on the consent agenda, a public hearing on the fiscal year 2027 budget, and reconsideration of a previously failed consent item. Multiple speakers addressed the budget, focusing on Richmond Virtual Academy funding, city surveillance (Flock cameras), retiree cost-of-living adjustments, and other community needs.
Madam Clerk. The formal meeting of the Richmond City Council will now come to order. Madam Clerk, if you would uh make the Spanish interpretation announcement, please. Yes, Madam President. Spanish interpretation is available in the council chamber. Please see a representative at the rear of the room to receive the appropriate equipment. All of this informs my prayer this evening. Let us pray. Gracious God bless our city. Make Richmond a place of safety and life for all people, rich and poor, young and old, and regardless of race, physical ability, gender, gender identity, language, political party affiliation, or citizenship status. Give us grace to work for a city where neighborhoods remain vibrant and whole, where the lost and forgotten are supported, and where the arts flourish. By your spirit, break down divisions that we might be a model of racial healing. Make the diverse fabric of our city a delight to all who live and visit here and a strong bond uniting us around common goals for the good of all. Bless this city council and all leaders with wisdom and mercy in their deliberations and their decisions. May those who hold power understand that it is a trust from you to be used, not for personal glory or profit, but for the service of the people. Drive us all from cynicism, selfishness, and corruption. Grant in your mercy just and honest government in our city, our commonwealth, and our nation, and give us grace to live together in unity and peace. We call to you by many names, O Lord, but we pray it together, saying, Amen. Thank you, Pastor Carr. Please 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, I'm the God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Madam Clerk, or I'm sorry, uh Deputy Clerk, if you would please read the emergency evacuation announcement plans. 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 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 barring from attendance at future meetings of city council for a period of six months. And Madam President, for the record, all members of council are in attendance this evening except for counselors Jones and Lynch. You do have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Let's proceed with the appointments and reappointments. Also, I'd like to address a couple of other items. If there are individuals standing in the rear of the chamber, they are asked to be seated where seats are available unless they are authorized personnel. Also, no applause is permitted during tonight's meeting. Thank you. Members, before you for consideration this evening is uh provided board appointment recommendations from your standing committees. Is there a motion to approve the appointment recommendations as presented? Miss Abu Baker, will you please make the motion? So moved. Councilmember Breton, will you second the motion? Thank you. Council is now voting on the motion to approve the appointment recommendations as stated. Mr. Breton? Aye.