Everyone.

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

Madam or Mr.

Clerk, if you would provide the chamber emergency evacuation announcements, followed by the 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 stairwells 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 fenced area located between Clay and Lee Streets.

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

Individuals speaking during public hearings are generally allowed three minutes to speak.

Persons appearing before council 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 president of council.

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

And Madam President, all members of council are in attendance this afternoon except Council Members Robertson, Lynch, Trammell, and Abu Bakr.

You do have a quorum.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Let's proceed with the reading and of the paper on today's agenda.

The paper for consideration is resolution number 2026-R034.

To approve of the city's participation as respondent in the state corporation commission case number PUR-2026-0012.

Joint petition of Dominion Energy Incorporated and Next ERA Energy Incorporated for approval of a disposition and acquisition of control of a public utility pursuant to the Code of Virginia.

That paper is before council.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Just really quickly for members.

Absolute unequivocal interest in the outcome of this proceeding because the acquisition would create the world's largest regulated electric utility with two, one of two of the headquarters as we understand it, will be housed here in the city of Richmond.

And out of our concern for the impact, the potential impact in terms of rates and service and reliability for our residents as well as for the city itself as a ratepayer.

So out of certainly minimally those concerns bringing this forward for your consideration and expedite consideration in this instance.

With that, Madam Clerk will proceed with a public hearing on the paper.

Do we have persons present desirous of speaking in opposition to the paper if you would come forward?

Seeing none, do we have persons present desirous of speaking in favor of the paper if you would come forward?

Seeing none, bring it back to city council for discussion.

Councilwoman Gibson.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I am thankful that we have this opportunity today.

Um I do wish that uh the full body was able to be present, but thankful that we have a quorum and that we provided the public with notice and and and so they have the opportunity to participate.

Um, I think this vote is about affordability, and every year it's getting more and more expensive for working families to live in the commonwealth.

Um, and this next era merger really has the potential to be a disaster for the average Virginian customers of the next era energy subsidiary, Florida Power and Light are facing a seven billion dollar rate increase, which critics have described as the largest rate hike in U.S.

history.

Additionally, a recent report found that next era profits accounted for 27.4% of the average bill in Florida, the highest profit ratio in the country.

Richmond residents around the Capitol region are really bearing the brunt of the data center boom on their utility bills, and it's only going to get worse without restrictions on the number of data centers in the state.

And I do not think it's enough to want to intervene personally.

In no world is this good for everyday residents and their families.

And I really want to thank every resident and groups in Verina and Hanover, especially, who've been advocating and organizing to stop this merger.

But I again I'm really grateful that the city gets the opportunity to be in this case, and my hope is that we continue to do what's best for working in families and residents.

Thank you, Ms.

Gibson.

Vice President Jordan.

Thank you.

And I appreciate the work that our colleagues and partners administration and city attorney's office and staff put in for the quick turnaround here.

And I'm heartened by the fact that at least now there are going to be public hearings, whereas there were not going to be before.

I think we've seen that when people do speak up, you can have an impact.

And I think that's what we're hoping for here.

And just as a reminder, this is the avenue that we can take as a municipality.

And I would just add, you know, in addition to the ratepayers and reliability, we have over 5,000 employees here.

And when I attended a listening session last night, we heard from a Demon employee who was deeply worried about what their future might be if their protections had changed.

So I think in addition to many concerns, um, thinking about those employees.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any further comment at this time.

Again, um, I think uh for the city, this is critical for us that we have the opportunity to monitor these proceedings and to be vigilant in terms of potential impact.

And I won't be redundant.