The Richmond City Council held a formal meeting on May 11, 2026, lasting from approximately 6:00 PM to past 10:00 PM. Key actions included approval of the consent agenda, adoption of the FY2027 budget with amendments, and denial of a special use permit for outdoor events at Lavender Hill. Public comment focused on surveillance (Flock cameras), affordable housing funding, sidewalk repairs, and support for the Richmond Virtual Academy.
Good evening, everyone. Good evening, everyone. Good evening. Welcome. The formal meeting of the Richmond City Council will now come to order. We will have the invocation offered by Pastor Carla Pratt Keys of the Ginter Park Presbyterian Church. Madam President, before we do that, I do need to read the announcement regarding Spanish interpretation services at this meeting. Oh, yes, please. Thank you. 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 the service. Thank you. We will now have the invocation by Pastor Carla Pratt Keys, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Welcome, Pastor. Thank you. As we prepare to pray, I invite you and you to sit as comfortably as you can in your chair. And close your eyes if you feel comfortable doing that. Take a deep breath in and let it out. And then rub your hands together for a moment. Just warm them up. And put your warm hands over your beating heart. These bodies of ours. Here is where God's story and our stories intersect. God comes to us right here and is present in our bodies. And in everyone in this great city of ours. Young and old, well healed and historically disenfranchised. Fifth generation Richmonders and newly arrived immigrants. God will be with us. Wherever we lay our heads down tonight, on a favorite pillow, or a park bench, or a hospital bed, or a prison cot. Notice your heartbeat and the rise and fall of your chest. Breathe in God's mercies. Breathe out God's mercies to the city we love and serve. Breathe in God's mercies. Breathe out God's mercies from Hopkins Road to Laburnum Park, from Church Hill to Willow Lawn, and all along the James River. May your mercies, your justice, your compassion, and your wisdom be reflected in the dialogue and decisions of this council tonight. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you. 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. If we could have the emergency evacuation plan and public speaker guidelines shared at this time, 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 in the public comment period are generally allowed three minutes to speak.