OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Richmond City Council Finance Committee Meeting – May 21, 2026

City Council — Thursday, May 21, 2026
BodyRichmond, Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, May 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:45:23
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Thank you everyone for attending the City Council Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee.

0:09

Madam Clerk, if you would take care of the chamber emergency evacuation, and then we'll move to the public hearing.

0:21

Upon activation and emergency alarm to ignore 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 of the doors of the chamber.

0:34

Do not use elevators or escalators.

0:36

At the exit in the building, security will direct every down everyone down 9th Street to the assembly area located inside the former public safety building parking lot.

0:45

Able persons should assist visually in hearing impaired visitors with exiting the building.

0:50

Persons wishing to speak during the public comment period and or public hearings are generally allowed three minutes to speak.

0:56

Persons appearing before the committee are not allowed to campaign for public office, promote prior business ventures, use language or personal nature, which is also demeans any person, including comments directed at public officials or staff members that are not related to their official duties or just the question staff members directly.

1:12

All questions to be directed to the committee chair.

1:15

Failure to adhere to the guidelines, may result in speakers forfeiting any many time and further disciplinary action as necessary, which could include barring from attendance at future meetings of the committee for a period of six months.

1:26

Madam Chair, this concludes announcements.

1:29

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

1:30

We'll move to the public comment period.

1:33

Is there anyone that would like to speak about items not on today's agenda that would like to adjust the committee for items not on today's agenda?

1:40

Seeing none, the public comment period is now closed.

1:44

There's no one online, Madam Clerk.

1:46

No, ma'am.

1:46

No one signed up before the 10 a.m.

1:48

deadline.

1:49

Thank you very much.

1:49

We'll move to the approval of the minutes.

1:53

The minutes to be approved from the April 16th, 2026 finance and economic development standing committee meeting.

1:59

If there are no amendments or corrections, then those meeting minutes can approve as presented.

2:03

Those minutes have been approved.

2:05

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

2:07

Okay, we'll move to the uh papers that are before the committee, and we've gotten some special requests to make some changes to the agenda.

2:17

Um, which I would like to mention at this time, and attempt to get consensus on the revision to the agenda.

2:28

So agenda item number one, we will hear that and have a public hearing on that item.

2:34

Um agenda item number two and agenda item number seven.

2:42

Um have a request for continuance on both of those papers to get more fiscal analysis and review, and there's a request to continue both of those for 30 days.

3:03

Um Ms.

3:07

Gibson is the patron on agenda item number seven, agenda item number two.

3:19

Um, and I'll go through the others that have been asked to be continued as well, and then we can have a discussion on that in a vote on continuing.

3:29

Number agenda item number three, which deals with um the labor union.

3:36

There's been a request for fiscal analysis uh an opportunity to discuss with um the patrons as well as what kind of impact uh this legislation.

3:48

Very supportive of the legislation.

3:50

Let me make sure we're clear on that.

3:53

Um, the information I've got back is very supportive of it.

3:57

Just need asking for 30 days for review uh to get a better clearance on the impact.

4:04

So that paper has been asked to be continued for 30 days as well.

4:08

Agenda item number five and six.

4:10

We'll take as a block and agenda number eight.

4:18

Um we will hear that paper and agenda item number seven has been requested to be uh recommendation for an amendment and to be continued.

4:32

Uh so those are the items that uh on the docket at the present time, madam clerk.

4:38

That we would like to as to how we would like to take action on those.

4:45

Would you like me to proceed with reading item one?

4:48

I'm sorry.

4:50

Would you like me to proceed with reading item one?

4:53

Uh, or did you want to do we need a vote on the continuation of the papers that I've mentioned?

4:59

Okay.

5:00

So the first one would be item two, ordinance 2026 081.

4:59

And then there was another one, item seven, resolution 2026 R 19.

5:13

You wanted those continued after 30 days.

5:21

Number three, number three, 30 days, number two, 30 days, number seven, 30 days.

5:34

And amendment and to continue item number nine.

5:49

Okay, do we have any motion on the floor?

5:53

Um I move that we continue item number two for 30 days.

6:00

Item number seven, can we handle one at a time?

6:04

Yeah, we can do one at a time.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters██████████████████████████26%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Economic Development███████████████15%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████████14%
Procurement██████████10%
Transparency and Oversight███████7%
Labor Relations████4%
Public Engagement███3%
Pending Litigation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Richmond City Council Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee Meeting – May 21, 2026

The Richmond City Council Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee convened on May 21, 2026, at 2:30 PM to consider several ordinances and resolutions. The meeting included public hearings, discussions, and votes on tax deferral, a payment register, collective bargaining, Main Street Station fees, downtown special service districts, enterprise zone amendments, and an affordable housing study. The committee also received updates on ARPA spending and financial reporting improvements.

Consent Calendar

  • No consent calendar was designated; all items were handled individually.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 2 (Payment Register Ordinance): Angela Warner (no relation) spoke in opposition, noting that Chesterfield County includes more detailed information (e.g., employee payments) and questioned whether auditors could review trends for fraud. Christine Gibson also opposed, raising concerns about accountability and citing fraud cases in other municipalities. Leah Whitehurst Gibson spoke in support, emphasizing the need to protect families in sensitive situations like foster care while fixing broken systems.
  • Item 3 (Collective Bargaining): Bill Pantley (Richmond Coalition of Police) and Brendan Levy (RCOP president) spoke in support, arguing that the ordinance would allow unions to negotiate promotions, transfers, and vacancies, which were previously excluded. Keith Andes (Richmond Professional Firefighters Association) also expressed support.
  • Other Items: No public speakers appeared for items 1, 4, 5/6, 8, or 9.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1 – Ordinance 2025-282 (Real Estate Tax Deferral): The committee voted to forward the ordinance to the full council with amendments included from the last meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
  • Item 2 – Ordinance 2026-081 (Payment Register): After a presentation by Jay Lawson (Chief of Staff) explaining the need to balance transparency with privacy, and following public testimony, the committee voted to continue the item to the June 17, 2026 meeting (30 days). Councilmember Gibson requested clarification on social security numbers and the timeline of the payment register’s discontinuation, but the chair ruled that questions would be addressed when the item returns.
  • Item 3 – Ordinance 2026-090 (Collective Bargaining Procedures): Patron Councilmember Trammell spoke in favor, emphasizing fairness for all city employees. The committee heard from administration (Mr. Donald) who requested additional time (45 days) to evaluate fiscal and administrative impacts. Councilmember Lynch moved to forward the ordinance to the June 8 council meeting with a recommendation to approve with amendments, and then have the amended version referred back to the committee on June 17. The motion passed.
  • Item 4 – Ordinance 2026-110 (Main Street Station Fees): Staff presented proposed fee reductions and new rental packages to generate additional revenue. The committee voted to forward to council with a request for periodic revenue reports.
  • Items 5 & 6 – Ordinances 2026-114 and 2026-115 (Downtown Special Service Districts): The committee voted to forward both to council for approval.
  • Item 7 – Resolution 2026-R019 (Investigation of Payment Register Failure): Councilmember Gibson introduced the resolution to authorize an investigation into why the payment register was not published. The committee voted to continue to June 17, 2026, to allow for further discussion and information gathering.
  • Item 8 – Resolution 2026-R020 (Enterprise Zone Boundaries): Staff presented proposed boundary and incentive changes to align with development trends. The committee voted to forward to council for approval.
  • Item 9 – Resolution 2026-R021 (Affordable Housing Study): The administration requested that the study be aligned with the One Richmond update due December 16, 2026. The committee voted to forward with an amendment incorporating that date.
  • Discussion – ARPA Quarterly Report: Staff reported that $7.1 million was expended in Q3, reaching 89% of the $154 million obligation, with $17.6 million remaining. The down payment assistance program has seen increased applications but remains a concern for full expenditure by year-end. A consultant (Delivery Results Solutions) is assisting with compliance.
  • Discussion – Financial Reporting Improvement: Staff provided a sample quarterly report and outlined efforts to create a more narrative-driven, accessible financial report. A steering committee and working group have been established, and peer jurisdictions are being studied. Feedback from council is expected in the next 30 days.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 1: Forwarded to council with amendments (approved unanimously).
  • Item 2: Continued to June 17, 2026 (vote: 3 ayes).
  • Item 3: Forwarded to June 8 council meeting with recommendation to approve with amendments, then referred back to committee on June 17 (vote: 3 ayes).
  • Item 4: Forwarded to council with request for periodic revenue reports (vote: 3 ayes).
  • Items 5 & 6: Forwarded to council (vote: 3 ayes).
  • Item 7: Continued to June 17, 2026 (vote: 3 ayes).
  • Item 8: Forwarded to council (vote: 3 ayes).
  • Item 9: Forwarded to council with amendment to align with One Richmond update due December 16 (vote: 3 ayes).
  • Staff Report: P Card program update expected in June 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you everyone for attending the City Council Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee. Madam Clerk, if you would take care of the chamber emergency evacuation, and then we'll move to the public hearing. Upon activation and emergency alarm to ignore 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 of the doors of the chamber. Do not use elevators or escalators. At the exit in the building, security will direct every down everyone down 9th Street to the assembly area located inside the former public safety building parking lot. Able persons should assist visually in hearing impaired visitors with exiting the building. Persons wishing to speak during the public comment period and or public hearings are generally allowed three minutes to speak. Persons appearing before the committee are not allowed to campaign for public office, promote prior business ventures, use language or personal nature, which is also demeans any person, including comments directed at public officials or staff members that are not related to their official duties or just the question staff members directly. All questions to be directed to the committee chair. Failure to adhere to the guidelines, may result in speakers forfeiting any many time and further disciplinary action as necessary, which could include barring from attendance at future meetings of the committee for a period of six months. Madam Chair, this concludes announcements. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We'll move to the public comment period. Is there anyone that would like to speak about items not on today's agenda that would like to adjust the committee for items not on today's agenda? Seeing none, the public comment period is now closed. There's no one online, Madam Clerk. No, ma'am. No one signed up before the 10 a.m. deadline. Thank you very much. We'll move to the approval of the minutes. The minutes to be approved from the April 16th, 2026 finance and economic development standing committee meeting. If there are no amendments or corrections, then those meeting minutes can approve as presented. Those minutes have been approved. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Okay, we'll move to the uh papers that are before the committee, and we've gotten some special requests to make some changes to the agenda. Um, which I would like to mention at this time, and attempt to get consensus on the revision to the agenda. So agenda item number one, we will hear that and have a public hearing on that item. Um agenda item number two and agenda item number seven. Um have a request for continuance on both of those papers to get more fiscal analysis and review, and there's a request to continue both of those for 30 days. Um Ms. Gibson is the patron on agenda item number seven, agenda item number two. Um, and I'll go through the others that have been asked to be continued as well, and then we can have a discussion on that in a vote on continuing. Number agenda item number three, which deals with um the labor union. There's been a request for fiscal analysis uh an opportunity to discuss with um the patrons as well as what kind of impact uh this legislation. Very supportive of the legislation. Let me make sure we're clear on that. Um, the information I've got back is very supportive of it. Just need asking for 30 days for review uh to get a better clearance on the impact. So that paper has been asked to be continued for 30 days as well. Agenda item number five and six. We'll take as a block and agenda number eight. Um we will hear that paper and agenda item number seven has been requested to be uh recommendation for an amendment and to be continued. Uh so those are the items that uh on the docket at the present time, madam clerk. That we would like to as to how we would like to take action on those. Would you like me to proceed with reading item one? I'm sorry. Would you like me to proceed with reading item one? Uh, or did you want to do we need a vote on the continuation of the papers that I've mentioned?

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