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Record of Proceedings

Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting - October 5, 2026

City Council — Monday, October 5, 2026
BodyRichmond, Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, October 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:44:35

Original source
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:31

Good afternoon again.

0:34

The Organizational Development Standing Committee of the Richmond City Council will now come to order.

0:41

Members, I have a motion for electronic meeting participation.

0:48

Pursuant to Rule 3D, 4B of Council's Rules of Procedure.

0:53

Committee member Stephanie Lynch has requested to participate in this meeting via Microsoft Teams due to a personal matter.

1:02

An unexpected change in her family caregiving arrangement requires her to remain at home today, preventing her physical attendance.

1:11

She will be participating from her city residence.

1:14

The council members present must adopt a motion to approve Ms.

1:18

Lynch's participation in this meeting by electronic communication means if it appears to the body that her request complies with council's adopted policy regarding electronic participation.

1:31

Pursuant to Rule 3D 4D of Council's rules, is there a motion from the members physically assembled approving her participation in this meeting by electronic communication means?

1:46

Thank you.

1:50

Is

Speaker 2

1:50

there a second?

1:51

Second.

1:54

The committee is now voting on a motion to allow Ms.

1:57

Lynch to participate in this meeting by electronic communication means.

2:01

Mr.

2:01

Breton?

2:02

Aye.

Unassigned speaker

2:02

Ms.

Speaker 2

2:02

Gibson.

Speaker 3

2:03

Yes.

Speaker 2

2:04

Ms.

2:04

Jones?

Speaker 3

2:05

Aye.

Unassigned speaker

2:06

Ms.

Speaker 2

2:07

Trammell.

Speaker 3

2:08

Aye.

Unassigned speaker

2:08

Ms.

Speaker 2

2:08

Abubacher.

Speaker 4

2:10

Aye.

Speaker 2

2:10

Vice Chair Jordan.

Speaker 4

2:11

Aye.

Unassigned speaker

2:12

And

Speaker 2

2:12

Chair Newbell.

2:13

Aye.

2:14

That motion has been approved.

Speaker 1

2:15

Thank you.

2:15

Mr.

2:16

Clerk, let's proceed with the approval of minutes, and then we'll go directly to reports from the City Administration.

2:25

Thank you.

Speaker 2

2:26

Madam Chair, the minutes to be approved are from the Tuesday, September eighth, twenty twenty-six organizational development standing committee meeting.

2:32

And if there are no corrections or amendments, then the minutes will be approved as presented.

2:36

Those minutes have been approved.

Speaker 1

2:44

Okay.

2:46

Mr.

2:46

Warren.

Speaker 5

2:47

Yes, Madam Chair and members of the Organizational Development Committee.

2:55

Today's OD meeting could be construed as a preliminary budget work session for the for FY 2028.

3:12

And then following that, we will head over to the City Fiscal Outlook presentation where the C CO Donald will provide opening remarks and then PFM group consulting will walk you through their analysis of the city's financial condition, and from what I understand the mayor will then be providing closing remarks.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

I will try to be as brief as possible, because I know you guys are probably pressed for time, so I had a meeting with members of administration approximately two weeks ago, and I was asked about my forecast for what will happen with the taxable real property for the next reassessment, which will be in June of 2027.

Speaker 6

5:31

My forecast for any increase in taxable real property at this time is 4.5 percent.

6:05

Now, once again, as I always give the caveat, I am an assessor, not an economist.

6:19

But because you asked me, I do my best and try to give you a forecast, nevertheless.

6:27

One of the other key components of why I feel the way I do is because of the current national economy.

6:45

Interest rates have just gone up to approximately 7.5 percent.

6:52

Inflation continues to rage on as it has over the last couple of years.

6:57

Now gas prices are averaging over $4 a gallon, and these are some of the key components that sort of dictate exactly how an economy is going.

7:25

The good news is our real estate market is continuing to appreciate.

7:32

So we will see, I am predicting as of today, we will see some increase.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Finance█████████████████████████████████████████41%
Budget Equity Analysis███████████████████████████27%
Fiscal Sustainability█████████████13%
Economic Development█████5%
Procedural██2%
Affordable Housing██2%
Public Housing██2%
Tax Relief██2%
Land Use and Zoning██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting - October 5, 2026

This meeting of the Richmond City Council's Organizational Development Standing Committee on October 5, 2026, served as a preliminary budget work session for FY2028. The committee received a real estate assessment forecast, a comprehensive fiscal outlook from the administration and external consultants, and heard individual councilmembers' budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. No binding votes were taken on substantive matters.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the September 8, 2026, meeting were approved without amendment. (Motion to approve electronic participation for Councilmember Lynch passed unanimously: 8-0-0; ayes from Breton, Gibson, Jones, Trammell, Abubacher, Jordan, Newbill, and the chair.)

Discussion Items

  • Real Estate Assessor's Office Update: City Assessor Richie McKeithen forecasted a 4.5% increase in taxable real property for the next reassessment (due June 2027), down from the 6.5% increase in the prior cycle. He cited rising interest rates (approximately 7.5%), inflation, and gas prices over $4/gallon as moderating factors. Councilmembers Gibson and Burton questioned the basis and timeline, noting the 18-month gap since the last full reassessment. McKeithen acknowledged he is not an economist and will revisit the forecast in spring 2027. He agreed to provide additional data on interim valuations and modeled assumptions.
  • City Fiscal Outlook: Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II reported the city's fiscal health is sound but faces headwinds from a slowing economy, higher costs, and commitments. He highlighted the 4.5% growth projection, existing collective bargaining agreements, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (2.5% of prior year real estate tax collections), pension obligation bonds ($10 million annual debt service for ~22 years), and capital reinvestment needs. PFM consultants (Danielle Scott Parker, Ashley Anywhere) presented a five-year baseline forecast showing structural deficits in FY2028–2030, potentially forcing the city below its fund balance policy by FY2030 under status-quo assumptions. They noted revenue growth (3–4% annually) has been outpaced by expenditure growth (7–9% annually), driven by personnel (41% of general fund), RPS contributions (23%), and debt service. PFM stressed that upcoming collective bargaining negotiations will be a critical determinant of fiscal trajectory. Mayor Avula echoed the need for collaborative, long-term planning and reiterated commitments to workforce investment, economic development, safety, and service delivery. Councilmembers Gibson, Abubacher, Trammell, and Jones raised questions about tax cuts, the Diamond District financing, code refresh, and coordination with previous consultant Davenport. The CAO committed to providing a written response to councilmember questions within 30 days.
  • FY2028 City Council Budget Priorities: Council Chief of Staff Mr. Warren read out individual councilmember priorities by district. Key themes included: transportation and after-school programs (District 1), spot blight funding and fare-free GRTC (District 2), staffing for code enforcement and urban forestry (District 3), sidewalk and park infrastructure (District 4), family shelter and violence prevention (District 5), landlord-tenant services and farmers markets (District 6, via Lynch), Health Equity and Child Care Trust Funds (District 7), retiree COLA increases and road maintenance (District 8), arts, senior resources, and food programs (District 9). These will be compiled into a resolution with an appendix.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes were taken on budget or policy items.
  • Councilmembers directed the administration to provide additional data on assessment modeling, new construction revenue, delinquent tax collections, and Diamond District debt service within 30 days.
  • The committee will continue budget discussions in subsequent meetings. Council staff will draft a resolution reflecting the identified budget priority themes.
  • The meeting adjourned without further action.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon again. The Organizational Development Standing Committee of the Richmond City Council will now come to order. Members, I have a motion for electronic meeting participation. Pursuant to Rule 3D, 4B of Council's Rules of Procedure. Committee member Stephanie Lynch has requested to participate in this meeting via Microsoft Teams due to a personal matter. An unexpected change in her family caregiving arrangement requires her to remain at home today, preventing her physical attendance. She will be participating from her city residence. The council members present must adopt a motion to approve Ms. Lynch's participation in this meeting by electronic communication means if it appears to the body that her request complies with council's adopted policy regarding electronic participation. Pursuant to Rule 3D 4D of Council's rules, is there a motion from the members physically assembled approving her participation in this meeting by electronic communication means? Thank you. Is there a second? Second. The committee is now voting on a motion to allow Ms. Lynch to participate in this meeting by electronic communication means. Mr. Breton? Aye. Ms. Gibson. Yes. Ms. Jones? Aye. Ms. Trammell. Aye. Ms. Abubacher. Aye. Vice Chair Jordan. Aye. And Chair Newbell. Aye. That motion has been approved. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, let's proceed with the approval of minutes, and then we'll go directly to reports from the City Administration. Thank you. Madam Chair, the minutes to be approved are from the Tuesday, September eighth, twenty twenty-six 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. Okay. Mr. Warren. Yes, Madam Chair and members of the Organizational Development Committee. Today's OD meeting could be construed as a preliminary budget work session for the for FY 2028. And then following that, we will head over to the City Fiscal Outlook presentation where the C CO Donald will provide opening remarks and then PFM group consulting will walk you through their analysis of the city's financial condition, and from what I understand the mayor will then be providing closing remarks.

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