Richmond City Council Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting - November 2, 2026

The Organizational Development Standing Committee of the Richmond City Council met on November 2, 2026, to hear the first-year report from the Civilian Review Board (CRB) and discuss upcoming changes to council rules and procedures. The committee also voted to enter a closed session for legal consultation.

Civilian Review Board First-Year Report

• CRB Manager Joseph Lowry and Chair Angela Fontaine presented the board’s first annual report. The board reviewed four cases in its first year, all of which initially concurred with Internal Affairs (IA) findings; however, in October 2026, the board reached a non-concurrence for the first time, and the report on that case is being drafted. The board has seven of eight seats filled; one member was removed due to attendance requirements.
• The board’s scope is limited to officer-involved shootings, deaths in custody, serious injuries in custody, and physical or verbal abuse complaints (the latter only if a complaint is filed). Verbal abuse is narrowly defined as identity-based slurs or sexual language, excluding threats or intimidation. The board found that only the “excessive force” category from IA maps closely to its physical abuse category, and it is working with RPD to align the classification systems.
• The board expected to receive five to eight cases per month but received only four in the entire year, leading to concerns that the scope may be too narrow or that cases are not being referred properly. CRB Chair Fontaine noted that the board is on par with other civilian review boards in Virginia (e.g., Fairfax, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville) that review four to six cases annually, but also acknowledged the expectation mismatch.
• The board is working with RPD to align complaint categories and improve data transparency. Councilmember Breton asked about the crosswalk of data between CRB and IA categories and offered council assistance if RPD cooperation lagged. Councilwoman Gibson emphasized the importance of transparency and noted that mandatory complaint review is needed to build trust; she asked whether a FOIA request could be used to obtain redacted complaint data and questioned why such data had not been provided. The CRB chair responded that the board is pursuing a collaborative approach with RPD and will escalate to council if needed.
• A council member inquired about the definitions of review categories and the board’s relationship with RPD, and was informed that the categories are defined in the ordinance and changes would require council approval, and that an RPD liaison attends all board meetings.
• Councilwoman Gibson and Councilman Breton expressed support for expanding the board’s scope and for policy changes to mandate greater transparency. The CRB chair stated that the board will bring proposed SOP amendments and possible ordinance changes to the council after the first of the year.

Council Rules and Procedures Update

• Council Chief of Staff RJ Warren informed the committee that the council’s organizational meeting is scheduled for January 2027, at which rules of procedure are typically adopted. He is reviewing potential amendments, including administrative cleanups and a proposal to move regular council meetings from Mondays to Tuesdays to improve preparation time. Warren stated that the final decision rests with a majority of council.
• Councilwoman Gibson raised concerns that moving meetings to Tuesdays could conflict with civic association meetings in her district, where 17 to 19 civic associations meet on Tuesdays, potentially limiting resident participation and her ability to attend. Councilmember Lynch indicated he had not yet submitted any proposed rule changes but planned to do so. Warren said he will provide a full list of proposed changes in November for review before the January meeting.

Key Outcomes

• The committee voted unanimously (three ayes: Councilmember Breton, Vice Chair Jordan, and Chair Newbell) to enter a closed meeting pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to consult with legal counsel regarding a joint petition by Dominion Energy Inc. and NextEra Energy Inc. pending before the State Corporation Commission. The closed session was held, and the committee later exited and adjourned.
• No other formal votes were taken. The CRB committed to delivering SOP amendment recommendations to the council in early 2027.