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.

Spanish interpretation is also available through Microsoft Teams for virtual attendees in need of this service.

Thank you, Madam Clark.

Ms.

Roxanne Talavera Dent will provide us with comment there.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

We have with us Pastor Christopher Carr of First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, who will be our invocation speaker.

Welcome, Pastor.

Thank you.

My congregation began as a faith community of German immigrants, including indentured servants who 150 years ago changed the name to First English, and our mission is to be in the city for good because God is in the city for good.

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.

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 under 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 Councillors 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.

Miss Gibson?

Yes.

Ms.

Robertson.

Aye.

Ms.

Trammell.

Aye.

Ms.

Abu Baker.

Aye.

Vice President Jordan.

And President Newbill.

Aye.

That motion has been approved.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

We can proceed with the agenda amendments.

Mr.

Clark.

The amendments to tonight's agenda are as follows.

Item 10, resolution 2026 R003, and item 11, Resolution 2026 R013 will both be continued to the Monday, April 27th Council meeting.

Item 12, Ordinance 2025 215 will be continued to the Monday, April 13th Council meeting.

And item 13, Ordinance 2025 282 will be continued to the Monday, April 27th Council meeting.

Madam President, those are all the amendments to tonight's agenda.

Thank you.

So moved.

Second.

Council is now voting on this evening's agenda amendments as read.

Mr.

Bratton.

Aye.

Ms.

Gibson.

Yes.

Ms.

Robertson.

Aye.

Ms.

Trammell.

Aye.

Miss Abu Baker.

Aye.

Vice President Jerdon.

Aye.

And President Newbill.

Aye.

That motion has been approved.

The amended agenda is now before you.

And this evening's consent agenda consists of the following items.

Item one, ordinance 2025 258.

Item two, ordinance 2026 003.

Item 3, ordinance 2026 042, and items 4 through 9, ordinances 2026 051, 052, 053, 054, 055, and 056.

Those are all the items on tonight's consent agenda.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

At this time, uh we will proceed with the public hearing on the uh consent agenda items and uh what we've asked we will do two minutes.

Um I just before we go to public hearing on the consent agenda.

Those persons present in the audience desirous of speaking to the budget papers.

Could you just raise your hand so we can get some sense of that?

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

So we will proceed.

Um we will ask and um allow uh two minutes for um everyone to be able to speak.

We will waive council rules to allow for more than uh an hour for public hearing, which the number of persons would take an hour, but this is important uh from our perspective, and we want to hear from you.

So let's proceed to call the first um persons who would like to speak.

Yes, yeah, public hearing on consent.

Those persons who would like to speak uh to any item on the consent agenda, the public hearing, those who would like to speak in favor of any item on the consent agenda.

We will do public hearing after consent.

That's correct.

Yes, we will come back to budget.

Oh these are the consent agenda items.

And madam president, for the consent agenda public hearing, will speakers be given three minutes or two, two minutes for all speakers on all items on the agenda for this evening.

Okay, so two minutes.

Welcome.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Council President Newbill and members of City Council.

Uh Marty Gary from Shaco Records, and I seek your approval for an honorary street sign for Sister Rosetta Thorpe.

She was known as the grandmother and godmother of rock and roll.

Her unique style combined gospel, jazz, and blues into a music we now call rock and roll as well as rhythm and blues.

Her explosive stage presence and pioneering electric guitar influenced Chuck Berry, who stole a lot of her stage moves and some guitar licks.

Elvis Rolling Stones, Dixie Hummingbirds, Jimi Hendrix, Tina Turney, Turner, and countless more.

She lived in Richmond during the height of her career and purchased 2306 Barton Avenue in 1948 for $7,500.

It became her base of operations, and she assembled her backup singers and her band, as well as using it to provide a respite from her long days on the road.

She gained easy access to record in Nashville and tour the country from that space.

It had a three-car garage that she converted into a makeshift barn for her horse.

It also had a cedar line to store all of her stage costumes or hats and accessories.

This is a rich history that more people would enjoy knowing.

30 seconds.

Thanks for your consideration.

Thank you.

Others desirous of speaking in favor of any item on the consent agenda.

Seeing none, are those present desirous of speaking in opposition to any item on the consent agenda.

Seeing none, the public hearing is closed.

Bring it back to council for discussion.

Comment.

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, if you would call the question.

Council is voting on the consent agenda as presented.

Mr.

Bratton?

Aye.

Ms.

Gibson.

I just wanted to note that I abstained from item two, Ordinance 2026-003, and um uh uh and and vote in approval of the other items on the consent agenda.

Thank you.

That has been noted.

Ms.

Robertson?

Aye.

Ms.

Trammell?

Aye.

Ms.

Abubacher.

Aye.

Vice President Jerdon.

Aye.

And President Newbil?

Aye.

Those papers have all been adopted.

Thank you, Mr.

Clark.

We will now proceed with the public hearing on the budget papers.

Madam President, would you like for me to read what those items are on the board?

I would.

Yes.

Okay.

And then you will call persons that you've received some indication of desire to speaking and then the others after, correct?

Correct.

The budget related items for this evening are items 14, ordinance number 2026-063 through item 22, ordinance number 2026-071.

Those papers are before council.

The first speakers, and I will call the first nine speakers that pre-registered in advance to address the body on the budget, and then I will read the last eight of those who registered in advance.

The first speaker is Melvin Jones.

The next speaker is Jack Willyn Johnson Wilson.

If you all will begin to form a line in the center aisle as I call your name.

After that will be Cynthia Robinson.

Thank you.

Welcome.

This budget reflects the true needs of our division.

In the final moments of the budget approval process, our community spoke with a clear, unified voice, and the school board listened.

They made the essential pivot to include RVA in this budget, requesting an additional three million to keep our virtual doors open.

Tonight you will hear testimonials of why the board made this decision.

But in essence, the community spoke, and our elected officials heard them.

We are asking the city council to do the same.

I wanna be very clear.

RVA is not a luxury or a COVID-19 project.

We are a trailblazing, fully accredited K-12 school.

Out of over 130 districts in Virginia, we are one of only nine public school divisions to operate a comprehensive 21st century virtual school model.

Sanctioned by the Virginia Code, virtual learning is a vital permanent asset for a modern school division.

We're not just asking to remain open, we are eagerly anticipating ways to strengthen and expand our virtual model.

This is our strategy to regain the thousands of families who have left for the homeschool and private markets.

RVA is how we bring those students from kindergarten through 12th grade back to Richmond Public Schools.

Simply put, RVA is a cornerstone of our district's future.

Richmond City Council, the community has spoken, fully fund RVA, fully fund RPS.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Dr.

Jacqueline Johnson Wilson, and I am a proud parent at Richmond Virtual Academy.

IDA, IDEA and FAIT require that students be educated in the least restrictive environment, the setting that enables them to make meaningful progress alongside appropriate supports.

Placement decisions must be based on the individual child's needs and not administrative or funding considerations.

My son is nonverbal, has mobility challenges, and relies on adult support for his daily living needs.

A traditional school building presents constant physical and sensory barriers.

Too much of his day will be spent managing the environment rather than accessing instruction.

By contrast, the Richmond Virtual Academy has allowed my son to thrive academically and allowed us to create a carefully structured home classroom that meets his medical, physical, and sensory needs.

If RVA is eliminated, my child does not all of a sudden fit into a traditional school.

He loses access to the least restrictive environment.

Closing RVA is not the same as closing a brick and mortar.

If a brick and mortar school is closed, those students have a brick and mortar option.

While general education students have been given other virtual options, students with disabilities have no such options.

The suggested virtual options do not accept intensive support students.

In addition to removing the least restrictive environment that has been in place for five years, we may have an issue of disability discrimination in cases of intensive support students.

Underfunding may be a legal liability.

Students with disabilities are not a line item.

They are protected under federal law.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Dee Winston, and I'm a proud parent of a student at Richmond Virtual Academy.

I stand here distressed at why Richmond Virtual Academy is always on the chopping block.

Richmond Virtual Academy is Richmond Public Schools.

So I just don't understand why Richmond Virtual Academy is always on the chopping block.

None of the other schools are here.

Richmond Virtual Academy is Richmond Public Schools.

I'm going to share a little about my daughter.

This is a picture of my daughter.

She was the black history spotlight at Richmond Virtual Academy in Richmond Public Schools.

I am now going to read the actual post from the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia shared by Richmond Public Schools.

Richmond Public Schools regionally featured one of our very own Girl Scouts for Black History Month.

Meet back here from Girl Scout Troop 650.

As a Girl Scout, Mackia is creating Black history by serving and remaining active in her community.

She has been an RVAL for the last three years and represents the ideals and principles of what it means to be a scholar, represent her school.

Mac here is always filled with joy and encouragement for everyone she meets.

Math student is excelling at Richmond Virtual Academy as well as many other students.

So I'm standing here asking you.

Find Richmond Virtual Academy, which is a part of Richmond Public Schools.

Richmond Public Schools is Richmond Virtual Academy, and Richmond Virtual Academy is Richmond Public Schools.

It's not separate.

No other school is here but Richmond Virtual Academy on a chopping block.

So I'm asking you to please, please, please give the money.

Give what is needed.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Shalita Sally, and I'm here to represent Richmond Virtual Academy.

My son London Sally, my husband Freddie's always here, and I wanted to bring him so that you all could actually see one of the various special needs children that benefits from the Richmond Virtual Academy.

Um he's sitting in a chair right now, but he actually sits in a wheelchair.

We have to help him to his seat.

He is extremely medically fragile, have seizures, he cannot eat, he is incontinent, he has to always have a diaper change.

Um, but most importantly, he is extremely violent.

Um we have permanent scars that we have on our hand anywhere else that he can attack us, and it's not if he's going to attack another child, it's when he attacks another child.

And he's just one of several children who has the same disability as far as aggression.

So it's not only just important just you know for our kids' safety to have a virtual option, but also for the safety of the other children as well as staff.

Um, these are the other special needs children that may not be as severe as him, may not know to stay away from him.

He's certainly not going to know not to attack them, but I can 100% guarantee that he will attack.

Um, in addition to my son, I just want to advocate for other children who who may be able to use virtual academy.

Perhaps we haven't even considered them.

Children that are suicidal, children who get bullied, children who have behavior issues and are always out of the classroom, children who possibly have neglectful parents who don't get them up for school.

This could be a way to like minimize truancy and low attendance rates by offering Virtual Academy to children who you see a trend with truancy, a trend with behavior issues.

If they're in the comfort of their home, perhaps they would have um all those things would be improving.

And like another parent said, the cost alone, just to house my child, as far as the visual equipment he needs, the rifting chairs, which is thousands of dollars, this the therapist, everything that we already have readily available in our home.

Um so I just really encourage ever encourage the decision makers here to find a way to spread the money, even if you don't have the money, maybe look into another way to um repurpose where you're spending the money that we're getting.

Thank you.

That's your thank you.

Yes.

Thank you.

Good evening, members of city council.

My name is Mrs.

Sandra Porti, and I currently serve as the virtual learning coordinator at the Richmond Virtual Academy.

In this role, I also serve as the homebound coordinator for Richmond Public Schools.

I'm here tonight to urge you to approve the full, the fully proposed RPS budget because doing so ensures that the Richmond Virtual Academy can continue serving the students who depend on it.

Richmond Virtual Academy is a fully accredited K through 12 school with certified teachers, structured instruction, and a strong connected learning community.

For many families, it provides a safe, stable, and high quality educational environment that traditional settings cannot always meet.

I want to make one point absolutely clear.

Homebound instruction cannot replace Richmond Virtual Academy.

Homebound services are temporary by design.

The goal is always to return the student back to a school setting as soon as possible.

Homebund instruction is limited, often just a few hours a week, and it occurs in isolation.

It cannot offer the academic rigor, engagement, or full curriculum that students receive at the Richmond Virtual Academy.

In contrast, the Richmond Virtual Academy allows students to access their entire educational program and then some.

Approving this budget is about more than funding.

It is about ensuring that every student in Richmond has access to an educational setting that truly meets their needs.

Thank you.

That's your time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Mrs.

Tamara Lofton Pickens, and I currently serve as the instructional compliance coordinator with the Richmond Virtual Academy.

I want to begin with this.

RBA is not separate.

RBA is not a COVID fix.

RBA is RPS.

RBA is not a program.

RBA is a fully accredited school, school number 1322.

We are here because we are we care deeply about our students, families, and futures of this district.

With that care comes both advocacy and accountability.

One thing must remain clear.

RBA should not be considered for reduction while the budget is still being finalized.

RBA serves as a critical role in the district.

It provides flexibility, access, and opportunity.

And because my um time got cut to two minutes, I'm gonna skip a lot because I said this to you already.

What specific concerns about RBA are driving the current conversation?

And how are they being evaluated?

I understand that the city council provides funding to RPS.

It is up to RPS to determine how to allocate that money.

That said, the RPS community has spoken.

And it has chosen RVA.

RBA is not the problem.

It is part of the solution.

We are asking for partnership, investment.

And we are also saying that RBA is a testament to the growing value of virtual learning, expanding educational reach beyond the traditional environments and beyond just numbers.

We must remain committed to fully educational delivery and to ensuring no student is left behind or out, regardless of his ethnicity, ability, or zip code.

The community has spoken.

Fully fund RBA, fully fund RPS.

Let's move forward together.

Thank you for your time and commitment to the students of Richmond.

You got it, girl.

Thank you.

Members of council, my name is Kendi Anderson.

Last time I stood here, I told you I was illegally evicted from my home and I had nowhere to go.

I told you about my friend who had to pee in a jug to stay warm because there were no shelter beds.

I have lived what happens when systems fail people, and I'm a university supervisor at VCU, so that should say something.

Federal budget decisions and immigration policies do not stay in Washington.

They move downward and become local emergencies.

Many of us are here tonight for different concerns, but the pattern is always the same.

Policies that create instability for people who live here.

Where will people go when they lose their homes like I did?

What will they eat when there's no support for the food stamps or SNAP?

How will people like me keep their medications and survive with there's no health care?

Who will keep our valued neighbors safe like the Mitcham Schuer pair in our own communities?

If you are in this room and budget cuts or immigration policies have directly affected you or you oppose them, I ask that you please stand with me now.

I asked the members of the flock off campaign and the Richmond Educators to also stand with me.

And I ask the council to please look around this room.

These are your constituents.

If leaders in other cities can remain focused, laser focused on protecting their residents, then Richmond can do the same.

Managing fallout is not leadership, and silence is not neutrality.

If you have the authority to advocate, you need to be advocating upward.

You need to be demanding resources.

You need to create protections for our black and brown communities and our vulnerable populations.

You need to have real open dialogue with the people that you serve.

Human survival is not negotiable.

I'm not powerful or wealthy.

I'm not insulated from these decisions.

I'm a single mom and an educator living one paycheck away from being unhoused again.

One policy decision away from having no access to my health care.

So I'm not here as an abstract voice.

I've been campaigning door to door and asking people what they care about.

Virginia organizing will continue to advocate, continue to organize, and continue to speak and continue to ask whether human survival is a is conditional because the realities that we live in do not end when this meeting does.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, Council members.

My name is Norissa Rahman.

I am a proud resident of the 7th District, and I also serve as executive director of Equality Virginia.

I'm here to ask the Richmond City Council and the government of the city of Richmond more broadly to fund health care services for vulnerable residents.

The FY27 proposed budget shows increasing tax revenues.

Health care is in crisis for so many of our residents, and our state legislature has failed us in protecting Virginians' health care from brutal attacks, which I'll explain.

The city can come to the rescue in a moment of need and must.

Health care is in danger for the most vulnerable Richmonders, transgender people, immigrants, people with disabilities, veterans, and other people facing attacks from the federal government.

Virginia law explicitly prohibits discrimination in health care based on gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, national origin, disability, and other protected classes.

However, federal actions are already undermining Virginia's civil rights protections by making it financially impossible for providers to provide care to all patients equally.

Equality Virginia introduced an appropriation and legislation to provide grants to health care providers that serve protected classes under the Virginia Human Rights Act, like transgender people, immigrants, and people with disabilities, lost funding due to federal actions and needed and needed support to cons to continue serving patients.

The state legislature killed these measures quietly, and the city must fill in the gap.

Among the seven pillars of a thriving Richmond are thriving and inclusive communities, which specifically refers to protecting the rights of immigrants, LGBTQ residents, and other politically targeted groups and the reproductive rights of women.

Moreover, this means long-standing standing racial inequities and health and well-being.

The FY27 proposed budget shows increasing tax revenues and explicit goals to support precisely the needs for health care and inequity, especially around health care for LGBTQ plus people, immigrants, targeted communities of various identities that the state legislature punted on.

With that in mind, Equality Virginia asked the City Council to work with the mayor on creating a fund like we try to do with the state legislature.

Thank you, that's your time.

Thank you.

The next eight speakers are as follows Tyrone Davis, Emily Grimes, Emma Clark, David Mistler, Felicia Boney, Egon Shroud, Candace Benn, and Lisa DeLeo.

Good evening.

My name is Tyrone Davis.

Can you please pull the mic up to you?

Thank you.

Honorable members of City Council.

We write on behalf of the current and future retirees of Richmond retiree system to respect requests for your continued attention to the need for a cost of living adjustment colour.

For those who dedicated a career to serving the city of Richmond, we appreciate the diligent work you do on behalf of Richmond residents and recognize the many competing proud as you must balance.

We do not make this request likely.

However, the absence of regular colour has placed many long-serving retirees in increasingly difficult financial circumstances, especially as the cost of living and property taxes continue to rise within the city.

We've private call home.

Looking ahead, we ask the city to establish a minimum automatic annual colour of 1.5% to ensure future retirees do not face the same long-term erosion of their benefits.

We believe this request is reasonable given the city recently surpluses and the current funded status of the Richmond Tire system.

Mina of today's retirees served during the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000 period when salaries adjustments were infrequent or non-existent.

The result in lower lifetime earnings and consequently lower retirement benefits.

More recent employees have benefited from more consistent salary adjustments, which will uh translate into stronger retirement security for them.

We simply ask for a measure of fairness for those who serve during this linear year.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Emma Clark.

I'm a former RPS teacher and a current organizer for the Richmond Education Association.

I'm speaking today as an individual.

You've heard quite a bit so far about Richmond Virtual Academy, but what I think is most important for you all to know is that RBA's model is not typical of most virtual education.

When we think of virtual education, we think about asynchronous learning.

We think about disengagement, we think about students who don't have the opportunity to engage in person with their peers.

RBA breaks the mold, and it is none of those things.

As you can see here tonight, uh RBA has built an incredible culture and a close-knit community.

I'm not surprised.

Their principal is one of my former professors who's known for being warm and bright and vibrant, and that's really the culture that this school exudes.

It actually has a lot more school spirit than a lot of brick and mortar schools that I know.

They have phenomenal data, phenomenal reviews, phenomenal retention, and just a really breakthrough model for virtual education, including field trips and in-person connection opportunities that I think make it truly exceptional.

Every district across America has to deal with how they're going to address the increasing demand for virtual education.

I don't know anywhere that's doing it as well as Richmond Virtual Academy, and I think we should be proud of it as a city.

I think we should also know a couple more facts.

Prior to Richmond Virtual Academy, the virtual options that were provided, 50% of students dropped out.

Their tuition was non-refundable.

Also, RPS lost 1,100 students from its average daily membership last year.

We're still figuring out the cause of this drop, but we do know that fear of ice is very real for our communities and may be having an impact, and unfortunately, we have deep concerns that it will continue to grow.

This could be an opportunity for these students to feel safe and continue their education at a school that is a real school and not just some classes online that are put in front of them.

If it is lost, I am very concerned about what will happen to the families who depend on the uh services that this school provides.

Thank you.

That's your time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Emily Grimes, and I live in the 7th district.

Richmond is putting the community at risk and race wasting resources on mass surveillance instead of addressing the material needs and community supports that create a safe, healthy community.

The mayor's proposed budget adds 1.3 million for police department contracts, including license plate readers and surveillance technology.

This funding is on top of the half million dollars of flock surveillance commitments in FY 2026-based budget as of December.

The increase comes without meaningful community engagement despite a year of federal immigration terror that use data from Richmond's Flock cameras to search for immigrants.

Federal immigration searches use local access granted directly to the ATF by the city as well as other access points within the flock data sharing network.

Despite new prohibitions in state law, multiple Virginia law enforcement agencies with access to Richmond data self-reported that they share data with the federal government and other agencies outside of Virginia.

Once collected, there is simply no way to keep data safe from unwanted access or abuse.

Targets of disproportionate surveillance and its abuse include not only immigrants, but black, brown, and poor people, protesters, those seeking reproductive health care, stalking victims, and others.

Block automated license plate reader surveillance collects data from all passing vehicles.

Police use this data without a warrant retroactively to invest after tragedy has already struck.

This does nothing to prevent pedestrian traffic fatalities, shootings, or anything else.

We deserve proactive support to address the heart of community needs instead of reactive measures.

Every dollar spent on mass surveillance is a dollar less for community community-based safety strategies, pedestrian infrastructure improvements, well-maintained schools, and fully staffed schools with livable wages and benefits for teachers and other workers.

Immigrant support and filling federal funding holes.

Thank you.

That's your time.

Thank you.

Good evening, members of City Council.

My name is Felicia Boney, and I am a city employee and the chapter chair of the Richmond chapter of SEIU Virginia 512.

I am here representing city workers who ensure our streets are safe, our libraries are open, and our neighbors are cared for.

First and foremost, thank you.

We are incredibly encouraged to see that the proposed budget fully funds our CBA.

This shows that the city values the people who do the work, understand that investing in public servants is an investment in Richmond's future.

Having a union contract has truly changed our workplace by giving us a real voice on the job.

It means that when we see a way to improve city services, we have a platform to speak up.

It provides the security and stability that allows us to focus on our work, knowing we are protected by the fair and transparent standards of a collective bargaining agreement.

A vital part of our CBA is the reclassification pool.

Our contract allocated one million dollars for this.

500,000 from last year and 500,000 from this year.

This pool is designed to ensure those who are performing high-level work are actually classified in the right pay range.

We look forward to working together through our joint labor management committee to allocate these funds fairly and ensure these raises get to the workers who have earned them.

Looking ahead, we are also excited to participate in the joint compensation study committee, designated by Article F of our contract.

This committee is the roadmap for a competitive Richmond.

Together, we will gather data on establishing a step schedule and examine how we compare to our neighbors.

Completing this work before our next contract ensures Richmond stays a place where the best and brightest want to build their careers.

Finally, as we move forward, we want to acknowledge our previous labor relations manager, India Daniels.

She was a professional who brought a strong productive working relationship to with our union.

Thank you, that's your time.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Hello, good evening.

My name is Lisa de La Ole.

I'm a teacher at Huguenot High School, an REA member, and an 8th district resident.

I'm asked, I'm speaking today to ask you to cancel the city's flock surveillance contract and fully fund Richmond public schools.

Um, and to make those funds contingent upon an audit, um the third-party forensic audit.

I've been fighting so hard for my students and for our school district to receive the funding it desperately needs.

The budget you received from RPS was the result of school staff, students, and families fighting to keep jobs, keep our virtual school, keep mental health services, and keep our insurance fully covered.

All the while, the budget is riddled with poor budgeting practices, and the process lacked transparency.

We had to struggle to make our voices heard on all these issues.

After our months-long struggle, the mayor has proposed a budget that would not fully fund our schools.

Instead, this budget prioritizes funding the flock surveillance contract that over-proceed our most vulnerable communities that need more resources, such as fully funded schools, a trust policy that would protect immigrants, and affordable housing, not licensed licensed plate readers that have shown not to work as intended, are abused and excessively target black and brown and poor neighborhoods.

Surveillance does not make a safer community, but fully funded schools do.

The school board did not call for an audit, but this body can correct that mistake by calling for an audit of the RPS budget.

RVA deserves to be fully funded, and RPS must stop start targeting the school year after year with closure.

We need fully funded schools, not flock.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Dr.

Candace Benn, and I am here as a school counselor at Richmond Virtual Academy.

I'm here today not just to speak about a school, but about students who have finally found a place where they can breathe, learn, and be seen.

As we look at education in 2026 and beyond, one thing is clear.

One size has never fits all, and it never will.

They're continuing to invest in their virtual education because it works for many students, both emotionally and academically.

Richmond students deserve the same opportunity.

For many of our students, Richmond Virtual Academy is not a backup plan.

It is the first place they have felt safe, safe from bullying, anxiety, and overwhelming pressure.

Students who were once disengaged are now showing up, participating and reconnecting with learning.

That is what happens when we meet students socially and emotionally.

There is also a misconception that virtual students are isolated.

That is not the reality.

Our students achieve in their communities.

They participate in organizations like Girl Scouts, sports, dance, church groups, and volunteer.

Virtual learning gives them the flexibility to build real friendships, develop leadership skills, and engage in meaningful social experiences beyond the classroom.

These are not students sitting alone, these are students thriving.

Other divisions are not closing their programs, they are improving them.

Their answer is not to remove the option.

The answer is to strengthen it.

If Richmond Virtual Academy closes, we are sending students back into the environment where struggle, where they struggle, where they felt unseen, and where they might not have their needs met.

Thank you.

That's your time.

Thank you.

Okay.

Hi, I'm Egon Shroud.

I'm a union rep and reading teacher at Westover Hills Elementary in the 4th District.

I'm calling on City Council to fully fund RPS schools and make those funds contingent on an audit.

Here's why.

Although we have the same number of employees listed under administration and FY27, an extra 88K is being allocated to them, meaning RPS will increase their investment in the highest paid positions when they should be decreasing.

In 2025, RPS budgeted 10.5 million for other compensation, yet spent 25 million.

In 2024, RPS budgeted less than 6 million and spent almost 22 million.

In 2025, expenditures from all funding sources exceeded revenue by 10 million.

In 2024, it was exceeded by 3 million.

RPS states they're cutting costs by eliminating 46 central office positions.

Some of those positions are student facing.

At least one of those positions is moving to a newly created role with a higher salary.

Last year, we had an average daily membership drop of over 1,000 students, resulting in a dramatic decrease in funding.

Yet RPS hired 13 new central office staff, including a press and events specialist.

In that same budget, library funding was slashed by 50%.

Last year, 4 million in one-time funding was used for recurring costs that RPS is now struggling to cover.

Yet the board advocates for the House budget, which includes 7.6 million and you guessed it, one time funds.

Instead of the Senate budget, which includes more funding for recurring costs overall.

In the FY27 budget, there's a line for grants monitoring and compliance with no full-time employees listed.

Yet in the district's organizational chart, we do have a director of grants monitoring and compliance who oversees a staff of eight.

When comparing that same chart to Chesterfield, we see Chesterfield has 12 fewer staff in the budget and finance department than RPS.

I love what I do.

I make 32K a year teaching Richmond's kids how to read in a city where a one-bedroom apartment costs 1,500 a month.

If my livelihood is on the line every time RPS belt needs tightening, I deserve to know where that money is going.

That's your time.

Is that correct, Miss?

Yes, that's correct.

Madam Clerk?

Okay.

Um we now have persons present, desirous of speaking to the budget papers.

And so I will ask if the next 10 persons, if you would come into the center aisle and come forward to make your comments, please.

My friend from college in Indiana went to the library and accessed every single one of Richmond's Fox Security cameras from her laptop.

She was able to take photos of my car on multiple different streets driving from Churchill all the way to downtown.

This is ridiculous.

The fact that anybody can access these cameras is insane.

At the beginning of this meeting, I emailed most of your offices a video on YouTube that teaches anybody how to access these cameras.

It takes about 30 minutes, and this video has over five million views.

This is an ongoing problem, and we should get rid of the cameras.

Pretty easy solution.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Good evening, Richmond City Council members, mayor, and community members.

My name is Beth Hosett, and I stand before you all tonight wearing several hats as teachers often do.

Native Richmonder RPS teacher and a proud product of Richmond Public Schools.

I am here tonight with one request.

Please support the budget funded the budget proposed by Superintendent Jason Camris.

The budget presented reflects true needs, which yes may seem hefty at first glance.

However, I believe it was Mr.

Hedgebeth, the fourth district representative for our district who said something to the tune of historically RPS teachers have done more with less.

I do not have the time here tonight to explain to you all the ways that I have seen, heard, and experienced the truth in that statement, not just as a teacher, but as a student.

Supporting this budget is Richmond's chance to take the right step towards giving RPS what it truly needs to serve all stakeholders.

Here at RPS, we have collectively reduced absenteeism, increased growth, and raised overall student and teacher morale throughout the district, making making it a place that everyone can be proud to be a part of.

All of that is at risk.

Voting no on this budget would be a mistake.

Voting no removes Richmond Virtual Academy, one of the district's top performing schools.

Voting no removes K-8 Summer School.

Voting no would stall pay raises, go against collective bargaining, and lead many teachers to look for greener pastures.

Voting no shifts the burden of health insurance back to 50-50 and drastically reduces the incentives for new teachers to come to the city.

Superintendent Cameras has a few mottos, and if you've been around Richmond long enough, you've probably heard a few of them.

We love you here, lead with love, teach with love.

When I tell you that love for my students, past, present, and hopefully future, is at the center of all that I do.

I mean it, including being here tonight asking you to support the budget proposed by Superintendent Cameras.

As Richmond's elective officials, yeah, elect the representatives, supporting and protecting your constituents' needs includes ensuring that the district can provide strong, valuable, and equitable learning for all scholars.

After all, isn't an indicator of a city's success the success of its school district?

Thank you.

That's your time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Michael Rufferty.

Um I'm here to speak on flock cameras.

My mother comes from Poland, and I am a polar dual citizen of Poland and the United States.

My grandfather was born in 1941.

He remembers being in the stroller as his parents are pushing him down the streets, and he remembers being stopped by the Gestapo asking for his identification papers.

Everywhere any poll poll went, he was under constant surveillance by the Nazis.

Today, these flaw cameras have eliminated that need for human surveillance.

Now it is all done with AI and with cameras.

They are extremists, right wing extremists that can easily use these cameras, which are strategically placed around minority communities to go after people.

I have a nephew who was just born last year.

He is first generation Jamaican and second generation Polish.

I worry about him and I worry about my brother-in-law.

What might happen to him if these cameras continue to surveil them and everywhere they go.

Y'all do.

I just hope you all make the right decision and stand on the right side of history.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Kai Banks.

I am a resident of Richmond.

I am a native of Richmond.

And I'm here today to represent the Office of Community Wealth Building.

I want to just share with you a little bit about my story.

And uh came home for support and stability.

I found the AmeriCorps program.

I actually found these district family resource center first.

And in that space, I found community, and I was able to obtain a service job with AmeriCorps or service program, I call it a job.

But it was an amazing experience for me because I hadn't finished my degree and I had three young boys that I had to take care of.

And that experience allowed me to network, connect, build my career, and I was able to work in the field that I was interested in and build build my own resources in that area.

Most recently, I was working for an organization that closed.

And I look back and I found AmeriCorps one more time.

And that has helped me and absolutely change the trajectory of my life, my children's life.

I have a son that has graduated from college in three years at BCU.

I have another son that is getting ready to go off to college and has a 3.5.

And I just want you guys to understand that when you support a mother, you support the entire family.

And so I'm hearing all of what is being said tonight, and I hope that you all are not only supporting these families and these children, the Office of Community Wealth Building, and Richmond Public Schools.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, City Council.

My name is Carolyn Pugh, and I'm here on behalf of the Community Climate Collaborative as well as the Richmond Environmental Justice Coalition, which is a recently formed group of organizations working in Richmond, recognizing the need for policies, programs, and initiatives furthering environmental justice in our city.

We'd like to start off by uplifting and reiterating support for the Office of Sustainability's Neighborhood Climate Resilience Grant Program.

This program supports community-based projects that strengthen climate resilience in Richmond.

These range from food justice to workforce development to local research and helps the city achieve goals outlined in RVA Green 2050.

We ask the city continue funding this program and fulfill the funding requests submitted by OOS.

Next, we'd like to reiterate our support for Fair Free and the city's continued local contribution to GRTC.

Providing free public transit to residents helps access and reduces transportation emissions, eliminates a core barrier to transit accessibility, which is cost.

In addition to continuing fare-free buses, we would like to see continued increases in bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

We are supportive of ongoing major infrastructure investments, such as the development of the fall line trail, but also encourage the city to continue prioritizing and funding smaller scale sidewalk and bike path connectivity improvements across the whole city so that everyone can benefit from these larger projects.

Lastly, we are glad to see an allocation of funds towards the people participatory budget.

Continuing to support this is essential for building trust in Richmond, particularly for people who have been involved in that process and for bus riders.

We want to see funding that ensures the implementation of all projects selected in this cycle, over 40% of which support public mobility, fast-tracking ADA compliant sidewalks, shelters, benches, trash cans, and bus stop beautification with trees and art.

Thank you very much.

Ma'am, may you please state your name again for the record?

Yeah, Carolyn Pugh.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, counselors.

My name is Maria Deuster, and I work at the Community Climate Collaborative.

I'm here to speak on behalf of the Environmental Justice Coalition here in Richmond.

In the proposed budget, household utility costs are expected to increase by an average of $13.84 cents per month or uh over $166 per year.

This is a greater increase than last year and will certainly worsen the cost burden.

Many families are already experiencing in Richmond with their energy bills.

No new assistance programs or funding to lower these costs for residents or increase energy efficiency are identified in the proposed budget, though the Healthy Homes program did receive some money in the past year.

The gas utility has half a million dollars in this year's budget allocated to a line item called Gas Utility New Business.

Instead of putting funds towards gas utility business development, we are requesting that those funds be used to alleviate existing residential customer bills, for example, by funding the Metro Care Heating Program or energy conservation efforts.

Additionally, the Office of Sustainability put forward a funding request for an energy project coordinator to set up a city energy efficiency program, which is not funded in the draft budget.

We'd like to see this position funded and the city to continue to make strides to fund energy efficiency, particularly for renters.

Lastly, we're concerned about adequate staffing for planning and development review.

As of right now, only one new code enforcement officer is added, funded in this proposed budget with code refresh expected to be enacted in the next year, as well as the incredible rental inspection program we're hoping to set up.

Um we'd like to make sure that the necessary staff are in that department to make these anticipated changes, um, especially since the rental inspection program could really improve the lives of tenants in our city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Wes Smith.

I serve as the executive director for workforce solutions with the Virginia Manufacturers Association, the statewide trade association of Virginia-based manufacturing companies.

I'm here tonight to support the continued investment in the Office of Community Wealth Building.

Manufacturing is a present and future opportunity for Richmond residents.

Virginia has approximately 240,000 manufacturing jobs statewide, and manufacturing employment is projected to grow over the coming decade.

Those are real careers for working families in this region.

And manufacturing production workers in Virginia earn an average of over $28 per hour.

And that's just the floor.

Skilled trades, advanced manufacturing roles, and supervisory positions command significantly higher wages.

Offered a true career ladder, not just a job.

That's family sustaining income and economic mobility for communities that need it most.

But those jobs go unfilled without pipelines.

Our partnership with the Office of Community Wealth Budding Matters.

We are connecting Richmond residents directly to manufacturers who are hiring right now real wages, real credentials, and real career ladders.

The OCWB is a critical partner in helping us identify candidates, remove barriers, and build that pipeline into the city's manufacturing base.

Thank you.

Good evening, City Council.

My name is Casey Miller, and I'm a resident of the 7th district.

After attending the City Hall budget sessions, the core messaging was what are you willing to defund in order to fund what you want?

Based on the proposed budget, I see three key areas that are being defunded across general and special funds, housing and community development, RPS, and the Office Sustainability.

At the same time, funding's increasing for the constitutional office and public safety.

Looking further at special funds, the city seems to be moving away from funding established nonprofit partners whose spending can at least somewhat be audited toward a new discretionary funding.

These funds are described as performance-based, yet there's no clear definition of the performance metrics, no clarity on who sets or evaluates them or who has discretion over funding decisions per the government's website.

This should be extremely conserving, concerning given that we still six years later do not have a publicly accessible payment registrar.

Four-wheel requests pertaining to payments and funding go unanswered, and we can't even seem to get the performance measured published in the budget to show how many housing units have been added or how many residents are receiving rental assistance.

I'm glad to see 43 million dollars is being invested in housing, but most of this appears to go towards new development with little clarity on how the total is calculated due to the poorly generated GPT image, chat GPT image on the budgets page.

Regardless, giving this represents only 3.9% of the overall budget, and that other housing related areas are being reduced, presents this as a major presenting this as a major investment is misleading.

The mission of housing and community development is to support both renters and homeowners, yet this budget appears to tell a different story.

And it should be funded.

However, at the same time, renter specific support is being reduced.

This is a concern when a city that has 56% of its residents as renters and 19% of those runners are elderly themselves.

Where's the relief for them?

What does it say about us when a budget prioritizes addressing conditions and buildings?

Thank you but not where people thank you.

I would like to ask if there are others who are desirous of speaking, if you would go on and line up as well.

Good evening, Madam President, City Council members.

My name is Anthony Ciani.

I'm with the Laborers International Union of North America, and I'm here to speak on behalf of the OCWB and on behalf of the budget approval.

Last year, the Office of Community Wealth Building and the Laborers International Union started a cohort that took individuals from the city of Richmond and put them into general construction training along with long-term career prospects with our signatory contractors.

So that program started and had three successful cohorts with everyone graduating.

You know, there's always an attrition rate, but we did offer this opportunity to people, and I'd like to expand that program going forward and maybe grow it.

We have signatory contractors working on data centers.

I'm also on the Diamond District Phase 2 project, as well as other um construction projects around the area.

So I'm here to speak on behalf of supporting the OCWB and the budget.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Emily Dr.

Emily Yen.

I'm here on behalf of Teamsters 322.

Um Teamsters 322 strongly encourages you to fully fund the RPS budget that was proposed by the Richmond School Board.

Um it's particularly important to fully fund the Richmond Virtual Academy.

Um this provides a vital service for students who have challenges attending a brick and mortar school.

Um please fully fund this budget.

Richmond kids deserve these resources.

Thank you.

Thank you.

But like Richmond police and Richmond City are like financially directly connected to ICE and Israel and their genocide.

And it seems like people are just being taken and you guys aren't really doing anything about it.

I see you guys have very nice chairs, but it seems like you're facilitating a genocide.

Uh if we're just gonna use words for like what they are, you know, like that's kind of seems to be what you're doing.

Um guys have a plan.

Are you just gonna keep letting people get taken away?

Uh because it's like pretty not cool, and I think you will be remembered.

Thank you.

May you please state your name for the record.

Okay.

If you're concerned about flock, please rise.

What community are you trying to build here?

You know where I notice Flock, the Lowe's parking lot.

There are teachers in poverty teaching our children how to read.

And we're discussing building a surveillance state.

People, you cannot trust the government with this information, regardless of tracking cars.

This technology has gate surveillance, it has facial recognition.

This is administration is clawing away at our freedoms.

This is not a game.

A five million viewed video of how to hack this crap technology.

This is not a game.

People are going missing and families are being torn apart with this technology.

What will be your legacy in this city?

Will it be funding our teachers so that they can't live in poverty?

Or supporting the kidnappings and the tortures and the deportations.

Thank you.

That's your time.

Thank you.

My name is Selina Jimenez, and I'm a resident of the city of Richmond.

This afternoon I'm here to request your support to support the budget for the Office of Community Wealth Building.

For not speaking English, it closed many doors.

It means giving people the opportunity to rise, grow, and change their story.

Because when somebody has the right support, everything can change.

The ALPR law that it fixed complaints around this technology.

The Virginia State Crime Commission sent out an ALPR survey, and almost one-third of police agencies didn't even respond to the survey.

According to the Richmond Police Department, RPD, while RPD cannot speculate as to why agencies did not respond.

It may be helpful to note that RPD's initial survey request was sent to an invalid email address and required follow-up to insurance receipt.

Similar circumstances may have affected other agencies.

They go on to say should RPD become aware that a Virginia law enforcement agency is not complying with state law regarding ALPR use and is sharing data in a manner inconsistent with Virginia law enforcement, Virginia law governing automated license plate reader use effective July 1, 2025.

RPD will cease sharing ALPR data with that agency for investigative purposes.

What they failed to mention was the survey also noted 13% said law enforcements in other states have continuous access, and 6% said federal law enforcement agencies have continuous access.

Last year in June, Charlottesville Police Department, CPD, had concerns of other agencies detecting undocumented immigrants with flock and stop sharing with everyone outside CPD.

Charlottesville would later go on to discontinue its contract with Flock Safety.

Knowing that some agencies are already not following the law.

Thank you.

That's your time.

Thank you.

Good.

Good evening to the city council.

My name is George Brown, and I wanted to share my experience with the Office of Community Wealth Building.

I served mainly as admitted to the younger people that were involved.

The Office of Community Wealth Building, when I first got started with it, we were uh the uh uh Richmond city ambassadors under James Davis.

With that, the forming of that organization created a avenue through which the city could communicate with the residents in public housing.

And we had created a trust factor where they actually trusted what we were questioning about when we came to do research and and do uh surveys, they trusted us.

And so the original group that was hired with under me, it was 12.

And out of that 12, six of those people are gainfully employed now through the Office of Community Wealth Builders programs.

The rich the uh ambassador program has transformed into another type of program.

It is more of uh uh uh it is a um uh it's uh uh apprenticeship.

I'm sorry, uh it's an apprenticeship.

And so through that apprenticeship, they train people to be able to accept the different city job openings to give them an opportunity to get out of poverty.

And so I think that's what the whole purpose of the Office of Community Wealth Building is for, is to get out of poverty.

And I've seen that work, especially with the young lady that just spoke as she spoke so eloquently.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Chloe Tremper.

I'm a teacher in the 8th district at Bushau Middle School and a fourth district resident.

I don't have anything planned tonight because I didn't have time.

Um, on top of teaching, I am helping my students navigate their denials to the specialty schools this year.

Only about eight of our students were accepted.

I am planning my curriculum for the entire district.

I am the Earth Science Academic Architect.

I get paid $1,500 a year for that, but they're paying tens of thousands of dollars for SAVIS in online program that we don't use at all.

I am really strongly encouraging you to audit RPS and external audit and showing us exactly what they're using and buying and spending that money on, a forensic audit.

We need funding.

We need more money.

Please come to my classroom, come to my school.

I welcome you all.

If you want to see what it's like teaching an RPS, come down to my school, come to Bluchhaw, come to my classroom.

I welcome any of you to come see what we're dealing with every day.

My kids are amazing, but we have a lot to deal with.

They have so much going on at home.

All of these things being discussed tonight affect my kids.

I pass so many flock cameras on my way to work every day in my commute's 10 minutes.

I should not be worried about my kids being surveilled.

I should not have to be helping them find groceries, diapers for their parents.

I should not be helping them find funding for their electricity bills for their rent.

And I need you all to step up and fund these programs that keep our families in Richmond.

Don't force them out of Richmond, safe, fed, and low they are loved.

Because right now Richmond is letting us all down.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Good evening.

My name is Jaden White.

I originally came here to uh preach for the issue regarding uh budget cuts.

However, um after hearing more about flawed cameras, it has given me the motivation to speak.

Um I will admit I think that flawed cameras are probably one of the most ridiculous things uh that I've ever heard of for multiple reasons.

For one, uh, with the recent repeal of 287G, you think that um all the policies in place would at least help um uh it would help reduce the abuse uh from ICE regarding uh the racial profiling of people and attack on citizens.

However, the flaw cameras are helping them do that very thing to this day.

Um I find that really strange.

Um, in addition, uh it is making heavy use of a technology that is both flawed and in uh in its infancy stages.

Um AI in of itself is a very controversial topic as it uses a lot of power and can often be incorrect in some of its assumptions, including a recent incident which caused a grandma to be arrested over crimes she did not commit.

Um it has been wearing down a lot of people in the community.

I uh everyone I've talked to about flock cameras have despised them, and even in areas that are not of Richmond from people that I know have complained about flock cameras and of their own right.

It is a breach of our privacy and a breach of our uh rights as citizens to have private safety and be able to live in our communities as the race we were born, as the gender we choose, and as a sexuality we wish to follow.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I apologize, I didn't see you right behind the gentleman there.

It's all good, I'm short.

Um, my name is Madeline McHelgan.

I'm a resident of the 7th district, and I am here to double triple down on whatever what everyone else has said this evening.

Um I find it ridiculous that every year the community has to come out and beg for RPS's budget to be fulfilled.

We know a budget more than anything else is a declaration of morals, and the current budget as it stands is saying your morals are much more aligned with surveilling the communities of Richmond rather than providing for the communities of Richmond.

We know that when people are housed, are well fed, are educated, crime goes down.

This is just simple math.

Um, to try to do surveilling, which can't even prevent crimes.

It just accuses innocent people of crimes that they haven't done or allows the state to just sort of come after anyone they please isn't going to pre that's not preventing any crimes.

It's not preventing any bad things in Richmond, whereas funding RPS, doing a third-party audit of RPS because we deserve to know where that money is going.

Doing all of those things will result in a much healthier, safer community.

I highly encourage you to make a budget that is representative of the morals of Richmond and not one that is uh reflecting a surveillance date.

Thanks.

Thank you.

I want to say thank you to all who came this evening to speak.

Uh your comments, your recommendations uh are heard and greatly appreciated.

We will um at a later point in this discussion, um look at um continuing these papers to Monday, April 13th, which will be a public hearing on city council's budget announcements or announcements of amendments, excuse me.

And so um again, I want to say thank you.

The public hearing is now closed.

The public hearing is now closed, bring it back to council for any uh further discussion, comment okay.

If seeing none members, if I could ask for a motion to continue all of the budget papers to the Monday, April 13th City Council meeting, at which time there will be a public hearing on the city council's budget amendments.

So move second council is now voting on the motion to continue all pending budget-related ordinances to the Monday, April 13th council meeting.

Mr.

Breton?

Aye, Miss Gibson.

Yes, Ms.

Jones, aye, Miss Robertson.

Aye, Miss Trammel.

Aye, Miss Abu Bakr, aye.

Vice President Jordan, aye.

And President Newville.

Aye.

That motion has been approved.

Thank you.

And Madam President, before we proceed to the next item on the agenda, I do need to clarify the vote on one of the consent agenda items.

Item number two, which was ordinance number 2026-003, required seven affirmative votes to be adopted.

It did not make seven affirmative votes.

Therefore, that ordinance was rejected.

How many votes did it have?

Which one is about it?

It had six votes.

Six affirmative votes.

So move.

Second.

Madam President, I think we we I do need clarification.

I need to defer to the city attorney about who was on the prevailing side because in order to to do a motion to reconsider.

A member of the prevailing side must make the motion to reconsider the vote.

So the failing side.

So the Braille side.

Does an abstention count as the prevailing side?

Can I?

City Attorney.

Jury.

Thank you.

Madam President, um, or jury city attorney.

So the the vote, the paper failed because there wasn't seven votes.

Your rules do allow you to move to reconsider.

However, your rules say that only a prevailing party can make the motion to reconsider.

There was no no vote, so there was no prevailing party.

If you want to hold a reconsideration vote, I would recommend that you sus you move to suspend your rules requiring a prevailing member to vote and then move to reconsider the paper and vote on the paper.

Okay, Madam President, may I make a motion requesting that we waive rules and reconsider this paper?

Second.

The council is now voting on the motion to waive its rules and to also reconsider the vote on item number two on the agenda.

Mr.

Breton.

Aye.

Ms.

Gibson.

Abstain.

Ms.

Jones?

Aye.

Miss Robertson?

Aye.

Ms.

Trammell.

Aye.

Miss Abu Bakr.

Aye.

Vice President Jordan.

Aye.

And President Newbill?

Aye.

That motion has been approved, and that paper is before you.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

At this point, I believe, do we, and I'll ask City Attorney that there was a public hearing as it was part of the consent agenda.

Do we need to have another public hearing?

Um I think to be careful, you should see if there's okay.

Seeing none, I would ask if there are any persons present desires of speaking in favor of the paper if you would come forward.

Seeing none, the public hearing is now closed.

Bring it back to council for any further comment and or discussion.

Councilmember Jones.

Thank you, Madam President.

I apologize, I was not here, but I am in full support of this paper.

I know that when we began this process of looking at city surplus properties, we asked the administration to provide us with SOPs.

And this property in and of itself is not a vacant property.

This is a property that has supported the city and the city's growth and development of community gardens, urban agriculture.

It's been a city nationwide led um organization that has continued to provide food access and food justice to our marginalized communities, the very communities that we just heard about all this evening.

And so I move that we um support this paper.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Jim.

I would just like to add that one of the things we did ask for and has been provided before moving on with surplus properties is the set of SOPs by the administration.

We do have that draft.

It will be coming back to council, and there'll be individual meetings with council members to review that as well.

So we did uh receive that prior to this uh paper coming forward, but to your point, Councilmember Jones, there are some circumstances that I think weren't consideration outside of that.

Madam Clerk, you would call the question.

Council is now voting on item number two, ordinance number 2026-003 as stated.

Mr.

Breton.

Aye, Miss Gibson.

Abstain.

Ms.

Jones, aye.

Ms.

Robertson.

Aye.

Ms.

Trammell.

Aye.

Miss Abu Baker.

Aye.

Vice President Jordan.

Aye.

And President New Bill.

Aye.

That paper has been adopted.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Let's proceed if we could with the minutes review for approval.

The minutes to be approved are from the Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 informal and formal city council meetings at 4 p.m.

and 6 p.m.

And the Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 special meeting at 3 p.m.

If there are no corrections or amendments, then the minutes will be approved as presented.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Clark at this time, if we could have the legislation for introduction.

Council members, the list of legislation for introduction this evening consisting of items one through five has been provided to you.

And the legislation on this list is hereby introduced as presented.

A copy of the list is currently available for public inspection at the rear of the council chamber, and an electronic copy and copies of the listed legislation will be available on the city's website on Tuesday, March 24th.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

At this time, we'll proceed with reports and announcements.

Councilmember Alba Bacher.

Thank you.

Um first and foremost, our newly formed uh Cedar Hearst Neighborhood Association is having their meeting.

Um this Wednesday at Gramophone at 7 p.m.

I encourage um anybody in the Cedar Hurst um area to come and join and listen.

Um Jenk Road, if you have not driven down it, they have started work on Jank Road.

Woo-hoo.

Only 20 years in the making.

Um, but it is happening.

Um so that will be going on uh for the foreseeable future, and I uh recommend that people check the newsletter to make sure that there aren't any closures or any delays.

Um in terms of other neighborhood associations, we have uh the Willow Oaks Cleveland Civic Association on Tuesday, April 7th.

That is their annual meeting.

Um we have the West River Hills Neighborhood Association, it's just a regular monthly meeting on April um 8th.

And we have the Friends of Forest Hill Park Spring Classic, which will be happening on Sunday, April 19th.

That's it for me.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Albabaka.

Councilmember Trammell.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, a lot of people have been asking me when's our next meeting.

Our next meeting is going to be April the 9th.

Um, this is on a Thursday, April 9th, 6 p.m.

to 7 30 p.m.

at the satellite.

Um Richmond Highway from 6 p.m.

to 7 30 p.m.

We're gonna have some great speakers again, so please come out and hear what we have to say.

Also, people have been asking when we're gonna have our senior event.

We're gonna do another big senior event.

It's gonna be Thursday, April the 23rd, and it's from 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

at the Hickory, I mean at the TV Smith Community Center.

And everyone's welcome to come.

Um we're working on getting some vendors together, and um it's gonna be fun, and it's a lot of a lot of good free information.

Also, um, I know we're in the middle of the budget, but I want to just take this time to let everyone know that this has been one of the best budget cycles I have seen in a long time.

Seriously, with us working together, um, coming together and trying to.

I mean, I'm looking at all these papers right here.

People say, what do y'all do?

Yeah.

Yeah, this is what we read.

This is what we do.

All of us.

But anyway, um, so there's gonna be more discussion on a lot of things, and I just want to thank those teachers and others that came out here today because I did talk to them about the um about their funding being cut for those children, and my heart goes out to them, and I'll say this.

They did listen, they did come here tonight to speak to us, and also our retirees.

I I've been fighting for years to help them get something, because this is the kind of message that we're sending out to our employees.

That when you give 25 years here, you get nothing.

You're kicked to the curb.

You're forgotten.

And believe me, I have a lot of retirees that still live in my district, and I talk to them, and they're always asking me, when are we gonna get something?

We haven't gotten anything since Governor Wilder was our mayor.

He was the last one that gave us what he gave us.

And it and it just breaks your heart when you know that their medical's gone up, food's gone up, this gone up, that's gone up, assessments gone up, and they're still living in their homes, still paying mortgages.

But you know, my heart goes out to them too.

This right here, this is your free smoke alarm.

It's probably the only thing that's free in the city.

If you go to the nearest fire station, they will come to your house for set of appointment, they will make sure that you have a working smoke alarm because all of us know that working smoke alarms will save your life if you have one.

So please, please take advantage of that.

What happened?

Don't know what happened.

Okay.

Oh, we started.

Thank you.

If you have any questions, you can call my home at 804-233-7382.

We can call my personal cell at 804-240-5050.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Trammell.

Councilwoman Robertson.

Thank you, Dr.

Newville.

Appreciate it.

Uh a few announcements of events that are coming up in the 6th district.

Um, but I want to start off by saying, sorry, Paul has left the auditorium, but I want to thank the folk that came down, all of them that came down, and we we hear you loud and clear.

But I especially want to commend the Office of Community Wealth Building and the folk that came down to speak for the efforts that have been done through that department and how it's changed people's lives.

We don't frequently hear people come down and speak about different offers that the city provide and how much it is impacting and changing their lives.

And um I was just very happy to hear that, and I want to commend Paul for uh the work that he's done with the American Initiative as well.

For the Sixth District, we are having a community meeting at the um Hardy Plaza on Saturday, April the 18th from nine o'clock in the morning till 11.

Um, as you all very well know, a few weeks ago we had a major uh problem with gun violence in the park, and the community is coming together, not to just focus on gun violence solely, but to actually put together a citizen uh stewardship plan that governs what happens in the park, how we come together as a community to make this a place of not only safety, but a place that provides the level of engagement, recreation, health facilities that is needed in the community that will be driven by the residents that live in that community, and I want to encourage everybody, everybody, to please come out.

This is an opportunity for you to decide what happens in your community, where you live, make a decision, and also come up with an agreement among the residents as to how we move forward with that.

It's April the 18th, it's at the Ann Hardy Community Center, which is located at first in Carolina Street.

Uh the hours are from 9 to 11.

Um addition to that, uh there is a Metropolitan Junior Baseball League that is uh taking place on March 24th from 530, starting at 530, 500 Far Lane Road, and it consists of several of our elementary schools doing a competition in baseball.

And I want to encourage everybody to come out and support our children.

Uh, when they're doing great things and lining up to do great work uh in the city of Richmond and to show their talents and to be a part of group activities.

Uh we need to show up and show our support for them.

You can reach me, Alan Robertson at Ellen.roberson at RVA.gov.

My associate, Kim Kyle, same name uh at rva.com.

Thank you so much.gov.

Thank you all.

Thank you, Councilmember Robertson.

Councilwoman Jones.

Thank you, Madam President.

I want to thank everybody that came out tonight to share their concerns, so many things, so many needs, so many challenges, little money.

Um, but we are all in it for the same uh purpose and commitment to the residents of Richmond.

And so thank you all for being here.

March uh 25th at 6 p.m.

Mayor Avula is hosting his inaugural state of the city at South Side Community Center.

Um, make sure you tune in with us virtually at go.rba.gov slash YouTube because it is closed to the public.

Um and so please log on.

March 27th through the 29th, Richmond's first civic hackathon, where technology technologists, designers, and community members build real solutions for the city's biggest challenges.

You can reg you can register at rbahacks.org.

And from now through our uh April 12th, you can visit VizArts as they present State of the Flux, a group exhibition of artworks by several local artists.

April 17th at 6 p.m.

Southside community center.

We will host our monthly town hall.

And this month we'll be joined by our CAO, Mr.

Donald.

We're looking forward to having him in the 9th.

Um you can continue to look at look out for our newsletters for more information on that.

And DPU kicked off their annual neighborhood cleanup programs.

So areas of the 9th can expect their first cycle to be between May and June.

Boat trash can be picked up everywhere wherever trash is normally picked up.

Um and you can visit rba.gov publicworks neighborhood cleanups for more information.

And there's always something to do at the South Side, except this Wednesday, because we'll be closed.

Uh huh.

Check out Richmond Parks and Rec Digest to learn more about their offerings.

And lastly, our neighborhood libraries offers programming for all seniors can receive one-on-one help with technology.

Students can receive homework and reading help, and babies and toddlers and preschoolers have interactive story time, and you can visit the public library's website for that.

As always, um, I can be reached at Nicole.jones at rba.gov or 804 646-2779 or tea.west at or Ta West, my liaison at Teya.west at RV at RBA.gov.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Gibson.

Thank you.

Uh we wanted to thank uh uh director Andy Baino for coming to our district meeting last week.

Uh great discussion about uh updates in in the world of transportation.

Our next district meeting is April 15th at 6 p.m.

at John Marshall High School.

We'll be joined by GRTC to discuss the North South Postline.

Also coming up on Tuesday, March 24th, the Edge Hill Chamberlain Court Civic Association meeting will be at Seven Hills School on Thursday, March 26th at 5 30.

There is a Gilpin Court and Historic Jackson Ward Community Engagement Meeting that will be held at the Greater Mount Moriah Baptist Church.

Um on April 18th, the North Central Civic Association will be hosting a Brooklyn Park community cleanup Saturday at 10 a.m.

at the family dollar at 2917 North Avenue.

Um and tomorrow night, the Richmonders interested in supporting communities.

Is that what risk in for?

Anyway, we we call it risk.

And the Nehemiah Action is tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24th at 6.30 at St.

Paul's Baptist Church at 4247 Creighton Road.

Please email our office at Kenya.gibson at rva.gov and sarandon.elliot at rva.gov with your questions or concerns.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilman Brenton.

I want to invite people to come to uh an extra town hall that we've scheduled this week on Thursday at the VMFA.

We will be hosting Andy Bainow, the director of transportation to speak about traffic safety here in the city.

So that's this Thursday.

I invite people to join us for that.

And then I want to remind everyone the importance of voting in the special election for the constitutional amendment.

This has an important impact on the way Virginia is represented in federal Congress.

And as we know, the decisions at the federal level have very important repercussions for our resources and public safety here in the city.

So early voting has already begun, and election day will be April 21st at your local polling station.

Thank you.

Vice President Jordan.

Thank you, President Newbell.

Just want to add my thanks to everyone who came out.

I first started interacting with City Council and City Hall as someone who came to speak to the city budget.

So keep coming.

We want to hear from you.

As part of my announcements, want to highlight that our April 2nd district meeting is Wednesday, April 15th.

We are going to be at the main branch library, which is now in the second district, and that meeting is at 6 o'clock in the Gelman Room.

Super excited to be covering the fiscal year 2027 budget at a high level.

We'll take questions.

Also updates on the people's budget, the 2026 General Assembly session and Richmond Public Schools via our school board member Katie Ricard.

Also want to remind folks of the DPU Citizens Academy, the Department of Public Utilities is now accepting applications for the spring 2026 Citizens Academy.

This is a great way to get to know behind the scenes our central services here in Richmond.

You can find the information at the City of Richmond DPU webpage.

That please, please, please don't take this opportunity for granted and make sure that your networks know.

Get out there and vote.

Potholes.

DPW has been engaged for several weeks in its pothole Palooza.

They're continuing to ask folks to report potholes in their community by calling 311 or by using RBA 311 app or website.

You can contact my office at 804 646 6532.

Reach out to myself or my liaison by email.

First name.last name at rba.gov.

And that's it for me.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Just uh single update item.

Our next 7th district uh community meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, March 26th at 6 p.m.

at the VCU Health Hub 1330 North 25th Street.

Some of the uh agenda items that we'll cover uh will be the master plan for city parks and recreation updates from our uh public safety professionals, police and fire uh and um updates in terms of just general budget time frames uh so that the community will have some sense of when it is that there'll be next opportunity for participation.

So please come out for any additional information.

Feel free to give my liaison a call, Mr.

Sam Patterson, 804-2417544, or you can give me a call at 804543 7837.

And with that, um I believe the agenda for this evening's meeting has been addressed.

This meeting now stands adjourned.

Thank you.