OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Richmond City Council Informal Meeting - April 28, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, April 28, 2026
BodyRichmond, Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:04

Good afternoon.

0:05

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

0:10

Madam Clerk, if you will provide us with the chamber emergency evacuation announcement.

0:16

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

0:22

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.

0:29

Do not use elevators or escalators.

0:32

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

0:42

Able person should assist visually and hearing impaired visitors with exiting the building.

0:47

And Madam President, for the record, all members are in attendance this evening with the exception of Councillor Robertson, Lynch, Auburbacher, and Vice President Jordan at this time.

0:58

You do have a quorum.

0:59

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

1:00

Let's proceed with the docket review.

1:03

Starting with the consent agenda, item number one, ordinance 2026 060.

1:08

Um, Planning Commission recommended approval of this paper, and this paper is currently being retained on this evening's consent agenda.

1:16

Item two, ordinance 2026 073, Planning Commission recommended approval.

1:23

Item three, ordinance 2026 074, planning commission recommended approval with an amendment.

1:29

And this paper is scheduled to be amended later this evening and continued to the May 11th council meeting.

1:36

Item 4, ordinance 2026 075, Planning Commission recommended approval.

1:43

Item 5, ordinance 2026 076.

1:47

Um this paper is to be continued to the June 8th council meeting due to the cancellation of the governmental operations standing committee meeting.

1:55

Item 6, ordinance 2026 077.

2:00

Um this paper was committee referral waived and in and is being retained on this evening's consent agenda.

2:07

Items 7 through 10, ordinance 2026 078, 079, 080, and 082.

2:17

Finance and economic development standing committee meeting, recommended approval.

2:22

Item 11, ordinance 2026 083, Planning Commission recommended approval.

2:31

Items 12 through 14.

2:36

Ordinance 2026 084, 085, 086, and 088, land use, housing, and transportation standing committee recommended approval.

2:50

Item 16, Ordinance 2026 089, governmental operations standing committee due to the cancellation of the governmental operations standing committee meeting for April.

3:02

This paper is being continued until June 8.

3:07

Item 17.

3:09

This ordinance 2026 090.

3:12

This paper is being being continued to the May 11th council meeting due to the cancellation of the April Governmental Operations Standing Committee meeting.

3:21

And this paper is to be referred to the May 4th Organization Development Standing Committee meeting later this evening.

3:28

Item 16, Ordinance 2026 091.

3:33

This paper is to be continued to the June 8th council meeting due to the cancellation of the Governmental Operations Standing Committee meeting.

3:41

Item 19, resolution 2026 R003.

3:46

This paper, land use housing and transportation standing committee recommended approval with an amendment.

3:52

And so this paper is to be amended later this evening and then continue to the May 11th council meeting.

4:06

This paper finance and economic development standing committee recommended approval.

4:11

Items 21 and 22, resolution 2026 R015 and R016.

4:20

Both papers were committed referral waived and both items will be retained on this evening's consent agenda.

4:27

Item 23, resolution 2026 R017.

4:37

On the regular agenda, we have item 24, ordinance 2025-231.

4:43

This paper is to be continued to the May 11th council meeting per a request.

4:48

Items 25 and 26 ordinances 2025-282 and 2026 081.

5:00

Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee recommended a continuance of both items, and both items are to be continued to the May 26th council meeting.

5:09

Items 27 through 35, ordinance 2026 063 through 2026 071 are all budget related papers and all are to either be continued or amended and continued to the Monday, May 11th council meeting.

5:27

And Madam President, that concludes the reading of the docket.

5:31

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

5:41

Madam President, I didn't see.

5:43

I'm sorry.

5:45

My screen is not on councilmember Gibson.

5:49

Thank you, Madam President.

5:51

I just wanted to add my name as co-patron to item uh 25 ordinance 2025-282 regarding the deferral of certain real estate taxes and also item 2026 090 regarding the modifications to collective bargaining, Ms.

6:24

Trammell's paper.

6:27

Both papers have been noted for your um patron requests.

6:31

Thank you.

6:32

Thank you.

6:33

Anything else?

6:36

And Madam President, I believe that is all that's on this evening's agenda as well.

6:41

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

6:43

The informal meeting.

6:45

Madam President, I believe Ms.

6:47

Tramell would like to make a comment.

6:49

I'm not sure what's happening with my screen here.

6:52

Okay.

6:53

Um, Councilmember Trammel.

6:56

President, did you say um we'll have an opportunity to speak about because I still want to look at a couple of these things that we can talk about it at 6 when we're later for now.

7:08

Really didn't want to write now.

7:11

Okay, so are you referencing the items uh that will be uh continued to the May 11th amended and you wanted to have comments now?

7:21

I would like to speak about it not right now, but later on in reference to the cola.

7:33

Okay.

7:34

I can I don't have to do it right now, then right.

7:36

Um you can do it now if you like, um, and or make comment.

7:42

I'll just I'll just wait because I know that some of the citizens are coming down here tonight.

7:47

Okay, and I know that they want to hear it, and I think there's a few things that need to be cleared up, and I think that um there's some things that need to be said that the that the ones that are watching it that are not able to get here today or tonight, they'll be able to understand fully.

8:05

You know, what this paper was about, had came about this, and really who is to be blamed for this paper, and or for the retirees not getting what they would they really deserve.

8:18

So I would rather if it's okay to wait.

8:21

Yes, and you will also reference what uh was discussed in terms of uh moving forward with having a meeting that will allow us to look at COLAS for retirees going forward beyond this current year that will begin July 1.

8:38

Is that correct?

8:39

Later on, not right, not no, not now.

8:42

Thank you.

8:42

Thank you.

8:43

Okay, yes.

8:44

Thank you.

8:45

Okay, thank you.

8:47

With that seeing no other items, uh, this informal meeting will stand adjourned.

8:54

Thank you, everyone.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
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Labor Relations███6%
Summary of Proceedings

Richmond City Council Informal Meeting (April 28, 2026)

This informal meeting of the Richmond City Council on April 28, 2026, consisted primarily of a docket review in which the clerk read the status of each agenda item. Most items were continued to later council meetings (May 11, May 26, or June 8, 2026) due to committee cancellations or pending amendments. A brief exchange occurred regarding cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retirees, with Councilmember Trammell indicating she would speak on the matter later in the evening.

Consent Calendar

  • Ordinance 2026-060: Retained on consent (Planning Commission recommended approval).
  • Ordinance 2026-073: Retained on consent.
  • Ordinance 2026-074: To be amended and continued to May 11.
  • Ordinance 2026-075: Retained on consent.
  • Ordinance 2026-076: Continued to June 8 (due to canceled committee meeting).
  • Ordinance 2026-077: Retained on consent (committee referral waived).
  • Ordinances 2026-078, 079, 080, 082: Retained on consent (Finance & Economic Development Standing Committee recommended approval).
  • Ordinance 2026-083: Retained on consent.
  • Ordinances 2026-084, 085, 086, 088: Retained on consent (Land Use, Housing & Transportation Standing Committee recommended approval).
  • Ordinance 2026-089: Continued to June 8 (due to canceled committee meeting).
  • Ordinance 2026-090: Continued to May 11 and referred to the May 4 Organizational Development Standing Committee.
  • Ordinance 2026-091: Continued to June 8.
  • Resolution 2026-R003: To be amended and continued to May 11 (Land Use, Housing & Transportation recommended approval with amendment).
  • Resolution 2026-R015 and R016: Retained on consent (committee referral waived).
  • Resolution 2026-R017: On regular agenda.

Discussion Items

  • Councilmember Gibson – Co‑patron Requests: Councilmember Gibson asked for her name to be added as co‑patron to Ordinance 2025‑282 (deferral of certain real estate taxes) and Ordinance 2026‑090 (modifications to collective bargaining). The clerk noted the requests.
  • Councilmember Trammell – COLA for Retirees: Councilmember Trammell expressed a desire to speak later in the meeting about a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees, stating that citizens had come to hear the discussion and that she wanted to clarify the background of the paper. She deferred detailed comments, saying she would wait until a later point in the evening. The Council President acknowledged that ongoing efforts to look at COLAs for retirees beyond the current year (beginning July 1) would be part of the later discussion.

Key Outcomes

  • Continuances Granted: Multiple items were continued to May 11, 2026 (Ordinances 2026-074, 2026-090, and budget-related items 2026-063 through 2026-071; Resolution 2026-R003; and Ordinance 2025‑231 per a request). Ordinance 2025‑282 and 2026‑081 were continued to May 26. Ordinance 2026‑076, 2026‑089, and 2026‑091 were continued to June 8.
  • Consent Agenda Items Retained: The items listed above in the Consent Calendar were retained for approval at a future formal meeting.
  • No Votes Taken: As an informal meeting, no formal votes were cast; the docket review served to establish the status and schedule for each item.
  • Public Comment: No public testimony was heard during this portion of the meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. The informal meeting of the Richmond City Council will now come to order. Madam Clerk, if you will provide us with the chamber emergency evacuation announcement. 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 would direct everyone down 9th Street to the assembly area located inside the former public safety parking lot. Able person should assist visually and hearing impaired visitors with exiting the building. And Madam President, for the record, all members are in attendance this evening with the exception of Councillor Robertson, Lynch, Auburbacher, and Vice President Jordan at this time. You do have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Let's proceed with the docket review. Starting with the consent agenda, item number one, ordinance 2026 060. Um, Planning Commission recommended approval of this paper, and this paper is currently being retained on this evening's consent agenda. Item two, ordinance 2026 073, Planning Commission recommended approval. Item three, ordinance 2026 074, planning commission recommended approval with an amendment. And this paper is scheduled to be amended later this evening and continued to the May 11th council meeting. Item 4, ordinance 2026 075, Planning Commission recommended approval. Item 5, ordinance 2026 076. Um this paper is to be continued to the June 8th council meeting due to the cancellation of the governmental operations standing committee meeting. Item 6, ordinance 2026 077. Um this paper was committee referral waived and in and is being retained on this evening's consent agenda. Items 7 through 10, ordinance 2026 078, 079, 080, and 082. Finance and economic development standing committee meeting, recommended approval. Item 11, ordinance 2026 083, Planning Commission recommended approval. Items 12 through 14. Ordinance 2026 084, 085, 086, and 088, land use, housing, and transportation standing committee recommended approval. Item 16, Ordinance 2026 089, governmental operations standing committee due to the cancellation of the governmental operations standing committee meeting for April. This paper is being continued until June 8. Item 17. This ordinance 2026 090. This paper is being being continued to the May 11th council meeting due to the cancellation of the April Governmental Operations Standing Committee meeting. And this paper is to be referred to the May 4th Organization Development Standing Committee meeting later this evening. Item 16, Ordinance 2026 091. This paper is to be continued to the June 8th council meeting due to the cancellation of the Governmental Operations Standing Committee meeting. Item 19, resolution 2026 R003. This paper, land use housing and transportation standing committee recommended approval with an amendment. And so this paper is to be amended later this evening and then continue to the May 11th council meeting. This paper finance and economic development standing committee recommended approval. Items 21 and 22, resolution 2026 R015 and R016. Both papers were committed referral waived and both items will be retained on this evening's consent agenda. Item 23, resolution 2026 R017. On the regular agenda, we have item 24, ordinance 2025-231. This paper is to be continued to the May 11th council meeting per a request. Items 25 and 26 ordinances 2025-282 and 2026 081. Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee recommended a continuance of both items, and both items are to be continued to the May 26th council meeting. Items 27 through 35, ordinance 2026 063 through 2026 071 are all budget related papers and all are to either be continued or amended and continued to the Monday, May 11th council meeting. And Madam President, that concludes the reading of the docket. Thank you, Madam Clerk.

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