Richmond City Council Budget Work Session – Human Services & CIP – April 7, 2026
Richmond City Council Budget Work Session – Human Services & CIP – April 7, 2026
The Richmond City Council held a budget work session on April 7, 2026, beginning at approximately 2:30 PM. The session featured a presentation on the Human Services portfolio by DCAO Amy Popovich, followed by council member questions, and later a presentation on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) by CAO Odie Donald and Budget Program Manager Michael Nixon Garrison. No formal votes were taken, but several directives and commitments were made.
Discussion Items
- Human Services Portfolio Overview: DCAO Popovich presented the FY27 budget for the Human Services portfolio, focusing on four departments: Justice Services (including the Office of Gun Violence Prevention), Richmond Public Library, Social Services, and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS). She highlighted key accomplishments: reducing the juvenile detention center vacancy rate from 40% to 8% in six months, staffing new office leaders for equity, homelessness, opioid response, and gun violence, and opening the CARITAS SERGE shelter (60 beds) with regional support. She noted the transition of Office of Gun Violence Prevention under Justice Services and the upcoming RFP for outside agency grants. The DNCS budget includes one new FTE for Homeless Services (the only new position in DNCS) and operating increases for shelter continuation and rent. Library budget increases prioritize staffing over physical infrastructure. The Office of Language Access, led by Carla Ramos, reported 1,084 interpretations and 232 translations in the past year, with a value of roughly $62,000.
- Council Questions on Human Services:
- Councilwoman Jones requested an impact report on language access and after-school programming, and clarity on the new homeless services position scope.
- Vice President Jordan asked about GRTC zero-fare sustainability. GRTC representatives stated they have not requested 1.5M from the city this year because they have identified other funding (surplus, CMAC, advertising) to continue zero-fare through FY27. They confirmed they will not return to fare collection.
- Councilwoman Gibson pressed for unfunded social services positions requested by the department, stating she intends to fund them via amendments. DCAO Popovich agreed to provide a list promptly.
- Councilman Robertson inquired about coordination of after-school programming, poverty reduction metrics, and concentration of services in Southside. Popovich noted the Social Vulnerability Index guides resource allocation.
- Councilman Brenton asked about ADA accessibility planning and vacancies in Justice Services (currently 24). Popovich said vacancies are being reduced and will be reassessed.
- Councilwoman Trammell raised urgent issues with the tax relief program: forms not yet printed (as of April 6), seniors being removed due to missing mail, and difficulty reaching finance. CAO Donald later responded, defending his responsiveness but did not resolve the form availability question. Council President directed follow-up.
- Councilwoman Aubabacher asked about opioid abatement fund deployment. Popovich stated $700,000 is being distributed through a first-ever RFA, and the transition to a grant-making model is underway.
- CIP Presentation: CAO Donald introduced Budget Manager Michael Nixon Garrison ("the Oracle") who presented the $805 million FY27 CIP. Breakdown: 76% from bonds/cash (utility fund), 18% general fund bonds, 6% federal/state/regional transportation. Key proposed projects: acceleration of John Marshall Courts building funding; $14.3M for city facility maintenance; $11M short-term debt for vehicle replacement; $14.3M for flood system maintenance (including dam removals); $54M for stormwater; $254M wastewater (with $180M for treatment plant); $237M water (with $130M for treatment plant); continued $21M/year for Complete Streets; funds for bridge replacements (Arthur Ashe, Lombardy, Manchester Canal); $4.4M for pedestrian safety intersection improvements; $10M/year for Equitable Affordable Housing Program; $1.6M for Creighton Court infrastructure; $5M for Browns Island improvement; $6.2M for parks maintenance; $250K/year for Percent for Art; funds for replacement of a metro aviation patrol plane (city's share); $1M for library upgrades; accelerated funding for RPS maintenance request; and $2.9M for fire training/equipment (burn tower). A new CIP GIS dashboard will be launched this fiscal year.
- Council Questions on CIP:
- Councilwoman Jordan asked about bike rack requests – DPW Director Vincent said they are typically installed with streetscape projects and can be requested through Public Works.
- Councilwoman Gibson asked for granular detail on Vision Zero / photo speed enforcement programs ($2M/year in FY26 and FY27) and People's Budget ($1.7M unspent). CAO Donald offered a follow-up meeting to provide line-item breakdowns.
Key Outcomes
- Amendments Deadline: Council members were reminded that budget amendments are due by 11:30 PM on April 8, 2026.
- Data Commitments: DCAO Popovich will provide: list of unfunded social services positions; maps of caseload origins and after-school programming data; total budget for language access across departments; impact report on after-school programming and coordination. Councilwoman Jones requested a comprehensive citywide after-school strategy.
- GRTC Zero Fare: GRTC representatives assured that zero-fare service will continue in FY27 without requiring a new city appropriation, using surplus, CMAC, and advertising revenue.
- Tax Relief Issues: Council President directed follow-up with the CAO to address the missing tax relief forms and senior outreach. No immediate resolution was reached.
- CIP Transparency: The city will launch a CIP GIS dashboard this fiscal year to allow council and public to track projects.
- No Formal Votes Taken: The session was informational; next steps include submitting amendments and further communication with staff.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. The Richmond City Council's budget work session will now come to order. I will ask if our uh clerk will provide the emergency evacuation plan announcement. And that will be followed by our council chief or staff, Mr. Earl Warren, with the overview for the proceedings for today. Thank you. 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 therewell outside the rear doors of the chamber. Do not use elevators or escalators. After exiting the building, security would direct everyone down 9th Street to the assembly area located inside the former public safety building parking lot. All able persons should assist visually and hearing compare visitors while exiting the building. Thank you, Madam Clark. Chief of Staff Warren. Yes, maybe please the council or Jay Warren, Council Chief of Staff. Um, quickly going over your agenda today. Um today you will things will start off with a presentation on uh human services, uh specifically within the city hall. Um this will specifically deal with uh city agencies within the building that report to city administration. But just so you know, when we go to questions, um, you'll have two rounds of five minutes uh to answer to ask questions. The first five minutes will be directly towards uh the DCAO of human services uh regarding city agencies. We'll go through a round on that. And then for the second five minutes, you will be able to ask questions of quasi governmental agencies and partner agencies. Uh a list has been provided before you, you know, for example, Richmond Ambulance Authority, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, uh, the Virginia Health District, I mean the Richmond and Henryco Health District. And um, that will be for your second five minutes there. And um, we will then most likely take a 10 minute recess, uh, followed by coming back into the chamber and having a presentation from CAO Donald on CIP. Uh, and then you will have five minutes to ask questions at that point, and we'll kind of see how you all feel and how the day is gone if we're gonna do a second round of CIP questions uh at that point at the end of the day. Uh it'll be a long afternoon, but OD, as you know, has been canceled. So you will be out of this building foreclose of business, and you won't have to stay here tonight. And uh just a friendly reminder that uh amendments are due tomorrow night at 11 30 p.m. And if you have no additional questions of me, I will conclude. And I'll be available. Thank you, Mr. Warren. I believe the first up is DCAO, uh Amy Popovich. Welcome, ma'am. Good afternoon. That was good. Good afternoon. Um, I'm Amy Popovich, uh DCAO for human services. I'm here today to give you a 20-minute and I mean exactly 20 minute presentation on our work for this year. Uh, thank you to the mayor and the CAO for their work on this budget. Uh, and thank you to you all to City Council for your partnership um serving our humans in the city. I've gotten to see all of you at a variety of different community events out in the uh out in our our Richmond City this year. Um, and we are better together. Uh we are better when we approach our work as one. As I prepare to reach my one-year mark in this role, it's been meaningful to reflect on the work we've done uh and challenging to prepare for the work ahead. Well, I've worked in public service for 15 years and been a Richmonder for 20. Uh, it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of shaping the systems and the work we do for our community towards making Richmond a place where all people thrive. I'm here today to talk about the fiscal year 27 budget, which is a roadmap to a thriving Richmond for our human services portfolio. You have met with the other three portfolios, the brains and the engine and the backbone.
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