Richmond City Council Budget Work Session on FY2026 CIP - April 7, 2026
Richmond City Council Budget Work Session on FY2026 Capital Improvement Plan
The Richmond City Council held a budget work session on April 7, 2026, to review the proposed FY2026 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and related budget items. Administration officials, led by Mr. Donald, answered questions from council members on a wide range of topics including transportation safety, utility rates, affordable housing, public safety facilities, and downtown development. No formal votes were taken; multiple requests for additional information and follow-up were directed to staff.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were discussed.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were presented during this session.
Discussion Items
Vision Zero and Traffic Safety Funding
- Councilmember Gibson expressed concern that the budget lacks sufficient detail to determine if funding is adequate to prevent traffic fatalities. She requested a dedicated work session to examine Vision Zero funding, including revenues from speed/red-light cameras and federal grants, and how those funds are allocated.
- Councilmember Lynch noted that only $9 million of the $21 million Complete Streets allocation is available for new traffic calming projects after accounting for design and other commitments, calling it insufficient. Mr. Vincent (Public Works Director) countered that the city is leading in traffic safety, citing multiple funding sources (state, federal, geo-bonds) and that behavioral issues (e.g., impaired driving) limit what infrastructure can achieve.
- Councilmember Breton requested breakdowns of the $21 million Complete Streets and $11 million Safe Streets for All funds, as well as the specific projects funded by the $6 million citywide traffic calming line item.
People’s Budget and Fiber Optic Network
- Councilmember Gibson asked whether any of the $1.7 million People’s Budget allocation had been spent. Mr. Donald stated that all funds have been allocated to specific projects and a status update was provided in a March 13 budget supplement, though no funds have been disbursed yet. He committed to reissuing the report.
- Councilmember Gibson also questioned the $1.2 million fiber optic program, noting no future allocations through 2028. Mr. Donald explained that the program is being revamped and a detailed answer will be provided in writing.
Utility Rates and Infrastructure
- Councilmembers Lynch and Amelbacher pressed for the expected rate increases to fund the $254 million water plant and $237 million wastewater projects. Director Morris confirmed a 7% water rate increase and 6.95% sanitary sewer rate increase for the current year, projected to continue annually until projects are completed. Amelbacher asked for confirmation that this stays under the affordability index; Morris affirmed it does.
- Councilmember Lynch sought clarification on the total funding available for traffic calming versus complete streets. Mr. Vincent explained that paving, alley maintenance, and other costs come from separate funds, but council members argued the overall allocation is still inadequate.
Affordable Housing and CIP Alignment
- Councilwoman Robertson asked for a policy to allocate CIP funds for infrastructure serving shovel-ready affordable housing projects. Mr. Donald acknowledged no such policy exists but said the administration plans to bring forward a process (similar to the mayor’s one-stop shop) within months.
Public Safety Facilities
- Councilmember Amelbacher questioned the low prior-year balances for fire station building maintenance ($400,000) and renovations (negative $200,000). Mr. Donald said overspending to complete work caused the negative balance and noted that fire station maintenance is now under a consolidated capital maintenance program. He committed to a total investment figure.
- Councilmember Lynch asked about the John Marshall Courthouse: $15.7 million allocated for modernization, with a 60-day market study underway to evaluate long-term options (including potential lease). Mr. Donald confirmed ongoing discussions with the chief judge.
Downtown Development
- Councilwoman Robertson asked about funding for the Coliseum, Mayo Island, and Browns Island. Mr. Donald stated that GRTC/GRECA have funds earmarked for demolition ($40-70 million estimated), Mayo Island first phase should be complete by October 2026, and Browns Island’s final $5 million city contribution is in the CIP, with Venture Richmond having raised its share. Project completion expected by end of 2026.
- Councilwoman Robertson also inquired about small area plans for Six Points and Bellemeade; Mr. Donald said he would follow up on whether CIP funds are allocated.
Tax Relief and Senior Services
- Councilmember Tremmel raised concerns about seniors being removed from tax relief rolls. Mr. Donald reported that the newly formed Transformation Office is reviewing why this is happening and will provide answers. He also noted monthly check-ins at Hickory Hill will help residents apply in person.
Bond Capacity and Rainy Day Fund
- Councilmember Breton asked about using short-term loans to replenish the Rainy Day Fund after financing the Sports Backers Stadium land transfer. Mr. Donald advised that bonding capacity is limited, and the city is pursuing a pay-go approach to preserve rating. He announced upcoming good news on bond activities later that day.
Other CIP Line Items
- Councilmember Jones requested lists of projects under Neighborhoods in Bloom ($6M), new curb/gutter and sidewalk programs (urban), and parks improvements ($10M). Mr. Vincent explained that those programs fund ~200 maintenance and 100 CIP projects per year, prioritized by density and proximity to schools, churches, etc. The Southside Community Center project is in punch-list phase.
- Councilmember Breton asked about the RPD airplane replacement. Mr. Donald said the current plane is past its life cycle and the cost is shared with other localities; a new airplane is needed for public safety.
- Councilmember Amelbacher asked about city hall space utilization study. Mr. Donald confirmed it is underway and cited creating an emergency operations center as an example of improved use.
Key Outcomes
- Commitments for additional information: Staff will provide breakdowns of Complete Streets/Safe Streets for All spending, People’s Budget status, fiber optic network plans, traffic calming project lists, fire station maintenance totals, and a timeline for Hotchkiss Field reopening as a voting precinct.
- Future work sessions: Councilmember Gibson’s request for a dedicated Vision Zero work session was acknowledged; Mr. Donald said the administration will work with council to schedule it.
- Policy development: Mr. Donald committed to bringing a policy within months to align CIP funding with shovel-ready affordable housing infrastructure.
- Tax relief: The Transformation Office will investigate senior tax relief issues; in-person assistance at Hickory Hill and City Hall will be promoted.
- Bond news: Mr. Donald announced that later on April 7, 2026, the city would release positive bond activities to support rating improvement and future borrowing capacity.
- State funding: Mr. Donald noted the city is lobbying for $50 million in state funds for combined sewer overflow and water treatment; final outcome pending state budget approval.
Meeting Transcript
Specifically, what you're trying to learn more about, we can pull some information for you. But looking at page 391, because I don't have the other one, this was shared with me. Um, where it talks about West included, you've got the description and the scope. So is all of your traffic common measures are lumped in here, your pedestrian safety and crossing, your ADA enhancements, your uh traffic control devices that I just relayed to you, as well as the various programs and how those funds have been spent in the past. I think you're looking for individual uh request what this two million. Yeah, so it's listed in here. Um, so I I still need some specifics because I I think I understand what you're saying. I don't think it's the same as what this council member is saying. You want more detail within various areas, but what type of detail are you looking for? Because that would be in your specific questions. So you've got two million allocated for photo speed enforcement. So you know that the first responder uh wellness program is where that $2 million sits is under criminal justice services. You know, the purpose is to promote well-being of current and retired first responders. The funding opportunities intended to provide resources to agencies and nonprofit organizations. Sounds like in that area, you're gonna be looking for the specific projects. You wouldn't necessarily have that laid out in your budget book, but I'm not sure. That sounds like what council member Lynch is looking for. Well, at the moment, we're we're gonna address, we'll get to Councilmember Lynch. I'm gonna question to get clarification here with council member Gibson. Yeah. Um I we are in a process of looking at a budget to determine if it's gonna meet the needs of city residents. And we've seen multiple city residents die. Yep. And what I'm understanding is that it perhaps it may not be reasonable for me to expect that there would be information in this budget enough to determine if what we've allocated towards this effort is sufficient to prevent future residents from dying. That that's that's what I'm trying to get at. I would recommend that we dedicate a future meeting here in OD to look really specifically at Vision Zero funding, how much money we're getting from these speed cameras and red light cameras, how it's being allocated, and and what we've done with that funding specifically, understanding that that funding is supplemented by additional federal funding. I want to have a comprehensive understanding about how this money is being used to ensure that our residents are going to be safe. And that's the will of the council. If y'all do that, and if the administration agrees to it, I'm sure you could have that either one-on-one, you could ask some of those questions with the I think right now we're at about 600 questions that have been asked total that we've responded to. Uh I'm not sure again, you want a work session on this part of the budget. I think you mentioned you like work sessions on a lot of the various parts of the budget. I'm still trying to understand the individual question that you're asking, because we believe that we have put together a budget that helps to move us closer to vision zero. So we'll we'll work to determine the best strategy to make sure that the questions that the council member is asking gets answered, whether that's individual or OD or whatever the case, and get back to you and staff. Thank you. So the other question that I had was regarding the people's budget. Has any of the money, the 1.7 million dollars allocated been used? And then just to finalize my questions on the CIP, I would also like to understand a bit more information about the fiber optic program. There was 1.2 million dollars that was allocated in last year's budget. This year's budget, it's been modified so that there's no future allocations through 2028. And I wanted to understand what is going on with that program and um what the plans are. Thank you. Well, our leaders come back on uh fiber optics on the people's budget, as you know, uh that group was actually with council up until a couple of months ago. And so there was a total of I think three million allocated. I'm not fully up to speed on that. So what we've done is basically revamp the full program. You've got 1.7 million that was voted on. Those uh dollars have been allocated in the budget and they've been assigned to specific projects. We've been working with Mr. Slatz and his team since we brought them on so that we can provide full reporting. Um, some of that was actually included.
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