The Public Safety Standing Committee of the Richmond City Council met on July 28, 2026, at 9:15 AM. The meeting included public comments on firefighter staffing and missing children, a semi-annual crime statistics update from the police chief, a presentation on a proposed Family Justice Center, and a discussion of 911 dispatch performance. Several actions were taken and next steps were scheduled for the September meeting.
Good afternoon. We've been now called to order this meeting of the public safety standing committee. I will now begin by reading announcements and public speaker guidelines. Upon activation of the emergency alarm signal, all persons should immediately exit the building. Please use the exit to the left or right front of the council chamber or the north or west stairway or north or south stairwell outside of the rear doors of the chamber to not use elevators or escalators. At the exiting the building, security would direct everyone down 9th Street to the fence area located between Clay and Lee Streets. Able person citizens visually and 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 now allowed to campaign for public office, promote private business ventures, use language of a personal nature, which is also demeans any person, including comments about that public officials or staff members that are not related to their official duties, or just to question staff members directly. All questions are to be directed to the committee chair. They'd say here to the guidelines may result in speakers forfeiting any remaining time and further discipline action as necessary, which could include barring attempt from attendance at future means of the committee for a period of six months. This includes the announcements. We will now move on to the approval of the minutes. The minutes to be approved are from the June 23rd, 2026 public safety standard committee meeting. If there are no amendments of corrections, then those meeting minutes stand approved as presented. Those minutes have been approved. We will now move on to the public comment period. Is there anyone that would like to address the committee regarding items not on today's agenda? Please approach the podium and state your name for the record. Keith Andes, President of Richmond Professional Firefighters Association. Safety Committee Chair of Tramble, Honorable Member Abbacher. My name is Keith Andes. I'm honored as president of Richmond Professional Firefighters Association, IFF Local 995, to represent the most dedicated firefighters and DECPR 911 dispatchers in the public safety workforce. Yesterday I reached out to three of our RFD fallen brothers' families to notify them of some additional benefits through the public safety officers program that they may be entitled to. It is some of the most difficult calls that I make because we are basically saying to that fallen family who misses, aches, and grieves every day over their loved one. Here's a check for their sacrifice. We miss our three brothers, as we do all our 55 Richmond Fire Department fallen heroes. May they never be forgotten. As union president, it is my utmost responsibility to protect the health and safety of my members, a mission that is number one in my heart. I hate when money plays a factor into decision making, especially when it alters the operational performance, proficiency, and ultimately jeopardizing my members' safety in an already dangerous and demanding profession. Unfortunately, money plays a part into a lot of decisions, decisions, which brings me before you today. On February the 28th, Chief Siegel invited local 995 to a meeting that included CAO Donald, Deputy CAO Wiggins. Not having an agenda going in. We learned through Chief Siegel's opening remarks that due to RFD's overtime budget overage. He had been asked sometime prior to this meeting to formulate a plan that would offer cost-saving measures to meet the request. This plan would entail cutting from the normal safe staffing level of 118 on a daily basis down to 115, which we feel is an unsafe level. These three vacant positions would impact three different companies randomly selected on a when needed basis, which started out as a when needed basis now has turned into almost daily needed basis. The affected companies that run with three represents a 25% drop off of company efficiency. The National Institute of Standards and Technology and National Fire Protection Association highlights the mathematical and operational differences between being staffed at four-person crews versus three-person crews. 30 seconds. Without getting too technical, this two in two out rule allows the first arriving company on a structure fire to enter with two firefighters while two remain outside. May I the two outside crew members have additional functions that deal with water supply, a vitally important component to firefighting, but also at a second's notice are able to perform rapid intervention for the crew for the inside crew if and when needed. The two uh outside crew members have additional functions that deal with water supply, a vitally important component to firefighting, but also at a second's notice are able to perform rapid intervention for the crew for the inside crew if and when needed. There are enough risks that air members take on a structure fire under normal staffing uh conditions, reducing three companies down to three crew members or asking those companies to do more with less, which puts additional stress to their health and safety. Working with a three-person crew is an unsafe practice for a city that presents many challenges. Every minute, every set and every set of extra hands matters tremendously. Chief Siegel is doing what is being asked of him. He knows the importance of a four-member crew. As I start stated earlier, money influences decisions that impact safety. And that's a hard pill to ask my fire chief and my RFD sisters and brothers to swallow.