OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Richmond City Council Informal Meeting – March 27, 2026

City Council — Friday, March 27, 2026
BodyRichmond, Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateFriday, March 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:42:14

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:04

Good afternoon.

0:06

The informal meeting of the Richmond City Council will now come to order.

0:11

And Madam Clerk, if you would provide the chamber emergency evacuation announcement, followed by roll call and then down review.

0:20

Would appreciate that.

0:21

Upon activation of the emergency alarm signal, all persons should immediately exit the building.

0:26

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.

0:34

Do not use elevators or escalators.

0:37

After exiting the building, security will direct everyone down 9th Street to the assembly area located inside the former public safety building parking lot.

0:47

Able persons should assist visually and hear and impair visitors with exiting the building.

0:52

And Madam President, for the record, all members are in attendance this evening with the exception of counselors Breton, Lynch, and Vice President Jerdon.

1:01

You do have a quorum.

1:03

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

1:04

Let's proceed with the document review.

1:06

Starting with the consent agenda, item number one, ordinance 20.

1:11

Item number one, ordinance 2025-258.

1:16

This paper was amended at the March 10th council meeting.

1:19

It's currently being retained on this evening's consent agenda.

1:23

Item two, ordinance 2026 003.

1:27

Um this paper planning commission recommended approval of this paper on the fed on the at their February 17th council meeting and is currently being retained on this evening's consent agenda.

1:39

Item 3, ordinance 2026 042.

1:43

This paper was amended at the March 10th council meeting and will be will be retained on this evening's consent agenda.

1:53

Item 4 item 4, ordinance number 2026 051, planning commission recommended approval.

2:09

This paper was scheduled to be continued to the April 27th council meeting due to the cancellation of the finance and economic development standing committee meeting.

2:20

However, I believe there is a request that this item be committee referral waived.

2:29

Councilmember Robertson.

2:32

Yes, agenda item number five, and there are a couple other uh papers that were supposed to come before the finance committee, which was canceled because of the weather.

2:44

Um, and but they're very time sensitive.

2:48

And so I am asking for this paper and the other two as well, but I know they have to be read in, but that's agenda item number seven and eight as well to be omitted from going back to the committee, and we can move forward on them.

3:06

Thank you, Councilmember Robertson.

3:08

Thank you.

3:09

So if that's the consensus of council, item five, item seven, and item eight will be actually on this evening's agenda on the consent agenda and not continue to the April 27th council meeting.

3:23

So is that the consensus of council?

3:31

Yes, madam clerk.

3:32

Thank you.

3:32

All right.

3:33

So item number five, ordinance 2026 052 will be retained on this evening's consent agenda.

3:40

Item six, ordinance 2026 053.

3:44

Committee referral was waived on this item and will be retained on this evening's consent agenda.

3:49

Item seven and eight, ordinance 2026 054, and item uh and 2026 055 will both be on this evening's consent agenda.

4:00

Item nine, ordinance 2026 056, land use, housing, and transportation standing committee recommended approval.

4:09

Item 10, resolution 2026 R003, land use housing and transportation standing committee recommended a continuance.

4:18

So this item is to be continued to the April 27th council meeting.

4:23

Item 11, ordinance resolution 2026 R013.

4:28

This item is to be continued to the April 27th council meeting due to the cancellation of the five of the March Finance Economic Development Standing Committee meeting.

4:38

On the regular agenda, we have item 12, ordinance 2025-215.

4:43

Um, this paper will be on this evening's regular agenda.

4:47

Previously, the planning commission did recommend.

4:50

I'm sorry, I take that back.

4:52

This item is to be continued to the April 13th council meeting.

4:56

Item 13, ordinance 2025 282.

5:01

This paper is to be continued to the April 27th council meeting due to the cancellation of the March Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee meeting.

5:10

Items 14 through 22, ordinance 2026 063 through 2026 071 are all budget related items and all and after tonight's budget public hearing, all items will be continued to the Monday, April 13th council meeting.

5:30

And Madam President, those are all the items on this evening's docket.

5:34

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

5:35

Members, um, given that we have all of the budget papers on for this evening, and and certainly anticipate and welcome and want to hear from the community.

5:47

I would like to ask that we consider a public comment uh of two minutes so we can really uh certainly hear from as many folks from the public as possible.

5:58

Okay.

6:02

Any question, concern, etc.

6:05

Ms.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████52%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████████████████████████████████45%
Budget Equity Analysis██2%
Procurement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Richmond City Council Informal Meeting – March 27, 2026

The Richmond City Council held an informal meeting on March 27, 2026, with a quorum present (Councilmembers Breton, Lynch, and Vice President Jerdon absent at the start). The meeting focused on reviewing the consent agenda, discussing the FY 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and audit results, and voting to enter a closed session to discuss cybersecurity threats.

Consent Calendar

  • The council reviewed ordinances and resolutions on the consent agenda. Items 5, 7, and 8 (ordinances 2026-052, 054, 055) had their committee referral waived at Councilmember Robertson’s request because they were time sensitive and the finance committee meeting was canceled due to weather. These items were retained on the consent agenda.
  • Items 10 and 11 (2026-R003 and 2026-R013) were continued to the April 27, 2026 council meeting; items 12 and 13 were continued to later dates.
  • Budget-related items 14 through 22 (2026-063 through 2026-071) will be continued to the April 13, 2026 council meeting after the budget public hearing.
  • Councilmember Gibson stated she plans to abstain from voting on item 2 (ordinance 2026-003).

Public Comments

  • The council discussed the time limit for the upcoming budget public hearing. The President initially proposed a 2-minute limit, but Councilmember Gibson advocated for retaining the full 3 minutes to give speakers ample time, noting that 17 people had already signed up. No public comments were delivered during this informal meeting.

Discussion Items: CAFR and Audit Results

  • CAO Lincoln Donald introduced the FY 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). He noted the audit had been delayed due to turnover in financial leadership, late data from component units (including Richmond Public Schools), and implementation of new accounting standards (GASB 101 and 102). He emphasized that the delay did not impact budget decisions and that the city had complied with state notification requirements. The focus for FY 2026 is on timeliness.
  • Greg Miller of CLA, the independent auditor, presented the audit results. The city received an unmodified (clean) opinion on the financial statements. One material weakness was identified regarding the reporting of Economic Development Authority bonds in the ACFR. Six additional recommendations were included in a management letter, including staffing recommendations for the finance department. The single audit over federal compliance is still in progress.
  • Councilmembers asked questions about materiality thresholds, estimation methods (allowance for doubtful accounts), and the relationship between ACFR figures and budget numbers.
  • Councilmember Gibson noted a discrepancy between the general property tax revenue figures: the budget (page 52) showed $584.5 million for FY 2025 actual, while the CAFR (page 11) showed $595.8 million—a difference of roughly $10 million. CAO Donald said he would look into providing a reconciliation.
  • Councilmember Gibson also requested documentation showing how the surplus was calculated (initially estimated at $23 million, later finalized at $12.6 million). Donald said he would examine the request but noted the initial estimate was based on incomplete data.
  • Councilmember Albacher flagged a likely typo on page 15 of the CAFR where the assessed value of taxable real estate was stated as growing from 14.6 billion to 44.6 billion, an implausible jump. This was noted.
  • Councilmember Brenton asked for a detailed comparison of the assumptions used in the initial surplus estimate versus the actual data received from component units. Donald offered to bundle and provide the component unit submissions to help explain the change.

Key Outcomes

  • The council voted to enter closed session under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(19) to discuss briefings concerning specific cybersecurity threats to public safety and the city’s information technology system. The motion was approved with votes from members present: Brett (Breton), Gibson, Jones, Robertson, Trammell, Albacher, Vice President Jared (Jerdon), and President Newbill.
  • After the closed session, council voted to exit closed session and certified that only exempt matters were discussed. The motion passed with votes from Breton, Gibson, Robertson, Trammell, Albacher, and President Newville (Newbill).
  • No other business was conducted. The informal meeting adjourned after the closed session.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. The informal meeting of the Richmond City Council will now come to order. And Madam Clerk, if you would provide the chamber emergency evacuation announcement, followed by roll call and then down review. Would appreciate that. 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 hear and impair visitors with exiting the building. And Madam President, for the record, all members are in attendance this evening with the exception of counselors Breton, Lynch, and Vice President Jerdon. You do have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Let's proceed with the document review. Starting with the consent agenda, item number one, ordinance 20. Item number one, ordinance 2025-258. This paper was amended at the March 10th council meeting. It's currently being retained on this evening's consent agenda. Item two, ordinance 2026 003. Um this paper planning commission recommended approval of this paper on the fed on the at their February 17th council meeting and is currently being retained on this evening's consent agenda. Item 3, ordinance 2026 042. This paper was amended at the March 10th council meeting and will be will be retained on this evening's consent agenda. Item 4 item 4, ordinance number 2026 051, planning commission recommended approval. This paper was scheduled to be continued to the April 27th council meeting due to the cancellation of the finance and economic development standing committee meeting. However, I believe there is a request that this item be committee referral waived. Councilmember Robertson. Yes, agenda item number five, and there are a couple other uh papers that were supposed to come before the finance committee, which was canceled because of the weather. Um, and but they're very time sensitive. And so I am asking for this paper and the other two as well, but I know they have to be read in, but that's agenda item number seven and eight as well to be omitted from going back to the committee, and we can move forward on them. Thank you, Councilmember Robertson. Thank you. So if that's the consensus of council, item five, item seven, and item eight will be actually on this evening's agenda on the consent agenda and not continue to the April 27th council meeting. So is that the consensus of council? Yes, madam clerk. Thank you. All right. So item number five, ordinance 2026 052 will be retained on this evening's consent agenda. Item six, ordinance 2026 053. Committee referral was waived on this item and will be retained on this evening's consent agenda. Item seven and eight, ordinance 2026 054, and item uh and 2026 055 will both be on this evening's consent agenda. Item nine, ordinance 2026 056, land use, housing, and transportation standing committee recommended approval. Item 10, resolution 2026 R003, land use housing and transportation standing committee recommended a continuance. So this item is to be continued to the April 27th council meeting. Item 11, ordinance resolution 2026 R013. This item is to be continued to the April 27th council meeting due to the cancellation of the five of the March Finance Economic Development Standing Committee meeting. On the regular agenda, we have item 12, ordinance 2025-215. Um, this paper will be on this evening's regular agenda. Previously, the planning commission did recommend. I'm sorry, I take that back. This item is to be continued to the April 13th council meeting.

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