Richmond City Council Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting - June 1, 2026
Richmond City Council Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting - June 1, 2026
The Organizational Development Standing Committee of the Richmond City Council met on June 1, 2026, to consider two ordinances establishing citizen commissions for the code refresh and master plan implementation, hear public testimony, receive reports from Reynolds Community College and the Polco community survey, and forward the ordinances to the full council.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from the Monday, March 2, 2026 Organizational Development Standing Committee meeting. The minutes were approved as presented.
- Approval of Councilmember Breton's participation in the meeting by electronic communication. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Annika Shun (Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Homes for All Our Neighbors coalition) spoke in opposition to both ordinances, arguing the proposed commissions would not reach renters, low-income homeowners, minority communities, or Spanish speakers, and would duplicate existing bodies like the Planning Commission and Zoning Advisory Council.
- Woody Rogers (Partnership for Housing Affordability, Fifth District resident) opposed the ordinances, stating they would delay urgently needed zoning changes and duplicate existing community engagement. He cited a housing gap of nearly 18,000 units in Richmond and 39,000 regionally, and noted that the income needed to buy a median-priced home rose from $65,000 to over $120,000 in five years.
- A Second District resident (name not given) opposed both ordinances, citing existing public input processes and the need to avoid delays in addressing housing costs and homelessness.
- Patty Merrill (West Hampton Citizens Association, First District resident) supported creating a citizen advisory committee, calling for a collaborative process with reliable data and information on displacement, affordability, and lessons from other cities.
- Susan Rebelow (Third District resident) supported the proposed commissions, citing evidence from national organizations that citizen advisory commissions can reduce polarization and improve understanding of zoning reforms.
- Robin Levy (Fifth District, Bird Park) supported an independent advisory body for thorough due diligence and public trust.
- Erin Trimmer (Richmond for All) supported Councilmember Gibson's ordinance for a resident planning review commission, emphasizing accountability for Richmond 300 goals and the need for transparency.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance 2026-092 (patroned by Councilmember Gibson) would establish the Code Refresh Review Commission to develop recommendations for a rewrite of the zoning ordinance. The commission would include two members per council district (one homeowner, one renter), operate over 180 days, and focus on compliance with the master plan, displacement, environmental impacts, historic resources, and pedestrian safety.
- Ordinance 2026-096 (patroned by Councilmember Trammell) would establish the Resident Planning Review Commission to advise on master plan implementation. Councilmember Trammell expressed concerns about the mayor's planned meeting on June 15, 2026, and about misinformation in her district.
- Councilmember Jones questioned how the commissions would engage the broader community, given that many residents are unaware of code refresh. Councilmember Gibson responded that public meetings (four required, two south of the James and two north) would increase visibility.
- Councilmember Robertson requested information from staff on existing engagement efforts before deciding. Director Kevin Javon (Planning & Development Review) reported that the code refresh process began in February 2024, with a $1.2 million budget (including $100,000 on engagement), a Zoning Advisory Committee starting June 2024, over 5,000 individuals directly engaged, and a postcard sent to every household in December 2025. He committed to providing a comprehensive engagement report by the next informal meeting.
- Councilmember Abubacher moved to forward both ordinances without recommendation to the full council on June 22, 2026, to allow time for additional information. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
- Presentation by Dr. Paula Pando, President of Reynolds Community College: Reported record enrollment (9,376 students fall 2025, up 8%), fall-to-spring persistence rising from 69% (spring 2021) to 81.7%, nearly 1,200 Richmond City students enrolled, $2.6 million in scholarships awarded to city residents, and a $5 million gift—the largest in college history. She highlighted partnerships with VCU, Bon Secours, and Eli Lilly (which will create 600 jobs paying over six figures). The college was designated a Leader College by the Aspen Institute.
- Presentation by Riyadh Ali (City Auditor) and a Polco representative on the 2026 National Community Survey: 268 completed surveys (margin of error ±6%). Highest-rated facets: education/arts/culture, parks/recreation, natural environment. Lowest-rated: safety, economy, utilities. Utilities and economy had the largest quality-importance gaps. Most ratings were similar to the 2021 survey; six were higher, 33 lower. Residents view Richmond positively overall and intend to stay.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes approved.
- Councilmember Breton's electronic participation approved.
- Ordinances 2026-092 and 2026-096 forwarded to full council without recommendation, with a request for additional information from the administration by the June 8 informal meeting.
- Reports from Reynolds Community College and the Polco community survey were received and noted.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. The Organizational Development Standing Committee of the Richmond City Council will now come to order. Mr. Clerk, if you would provide us with the chamber emergency evacuation plan announcement and public speaker guidelines. 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 north or south stairwell outside the rear doors of the chamber. Do not use elevators or escalators. After exiting the building, security will direct everyone down ninth street to the fenced area located between Clay and Lee Streets. Able persons should assist visually and hearing impaired visitors with exiting the building. Individuals wishing to speak during public hearings are generally allowed three minutes to speak. Persons appearing before the committee are not allowed to campaign for public office, promote private business ventures, use language of a personal nature which insults or demeans any person, including comments directed at public officials or staff members that are not related to their official duties, or address or question staff members directly. All questions are to be directed to the committee chair. Failure to adhere to the guidelines may result in speakers forfeiting any remaining time and further disciplinary action as necessary, which could include borrowing from attendance at future committee meetings for a period of six months. Solicit a motion from those members physically assembled to approve Mr. Breton's participation in the meeting by electronic communication meetings. Ms. Gibson. Yes. Ms. Jones. Aye. Miss Robertson. Aye. Ms. Trammell. Aye. Ms. Abubacher. Aye. And President New Bill. Aye. That motion has been approved. Thank you. Now, Mr. Clark, let's proceed with the approval of minutes and then the papers for consideration. The minutes to be approved are from the Monday, March 2nd, 2026 Organizational Development Standing Committee meeting. And if there are no corrections or amendments, then the minutes will be approved as presented. Those minutes have been approved. Thank you. Let's proceed with the two items in terms of docking. There are two papers before the committee this afternoon. Ordinance 2026 092 is to establish the code refresh review commission for the purpose of developing optimal recommendations for a forthcoming rewrite of the city's zoning ordinance based upon best practices and expert and community input and ordinance 2026 096 to establish the resident planning review commission for the purpose of advising the council concerning the city's implementation of the master plan. Those papers are before the committee. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Would the patron of the first paper like to make any comment? Councilmember Dremel. No worry. Was the one that you were patron of before we proceed with public hearing?
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