Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee met on October 22, 2026, to consider several ordinances and resolutions, receive a vacancy report, and hear presentations on minority business development and economic development strategies. The meeting included public hearings, committee discussion, and votes on items related to retirement cost-of-living adjustments, education funding, employee homeownership assistance, tax relief for seniors and disabled persons, and a tax amnesty resolution. The committee also heard updates on implementation of a disparity study and an economic development overview.
Madam Clerk, we're gonna call this meeting to order. Thank everyone for being here this afternoon. Uh we've got a aggressive agenda. Um we're gonna move forward as the agenda is before us, Madam Clerk. If you would take care of the chamber emergency evacuation notice, please. Thank you. 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 west stairwells outside of the rear doors of the chamber. Now use elevators or escalators. At the exiting the building, security would direct everyone down 9th Street to the fenced area located between Clay and Lee Streets. Able persons should assist visually and hearing it pair visitors with exiting the building. Persons wishing to speak during the public comment period and or public hearings are joining allowed three minutes to speak. Persons appearing before the committee are now allowed to campaign for public office, promote private 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 the official duties or just the question staff members directly. All questions be directed to the committee chair. Failure to adhere to the guidelines may result in speakers for any many time and further disciplinary action as necessary, which can include bond from attendance at future meetings of the committee for a period of six months. Members of the public who register in advance to speak virtually will be called at the appropriate time, either during the public comment period or during the public hearing for the legislation on which they signed it to address. Madam Chair's concludes the announcements. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um to the public comment period. There's anyone that has signed up. Is there anyone who would like to address the committee regarding items not on today's agenda? Seeing none, public comment period is now closed, and we had no virtual speakers that signed up prior to the 10 a.m. deadline. Okay, thank you, Madam Clerk. Approval of the minutes. The minutes to be approved for the September 16th, 2026 finance and economic development standing committee meeting. If there are no amendments or corrections, then those minutes stand approved as presented. Those minutes have been approved. And just for correction, we do have a virtual speaker for one of the pieces of legislation on the agenda. Very much let's move to the board vacancies first, and then we'll come back with the papers and the order that they are presented and the presentations will be at the conclusion of the meeting. Good afternoon, Chair Robertson, Vice Chair Jones, Pamela Nichols, Council Management Analyst. The vacancy report before you been considered is um is consists of current and projected vacancies through February of 2027. And starting with the economic development authority board of directors, there has been a request that this body will continue these applications to its January 2027 meeting. The committee has agreed we will continue this. And then moving down to the participatory budgeting steering commission. There are two vacancies for residents who reside in a council district located south of the James River. And we have a application from Samuel Jones and one from Kawisi Powell. We did reach out to the staff that provides support for participatory budgeting.