On January 23rd, the Richmond City Council held their regular bi-weekly public meeting to discuss and vote on a matter of ordinances and proposals. Highlights of the meeting included new funding for museums and art projects, along with a vote on a proposal to alleviate homelessness in the city. For the full meeting minutes and livestream video, click here. To get a summary of key votes and meeting highlights, read below.
Important Ordinances
Below are some of the important ordinances adopted during the meeting session:
| ORD. 2023-004 | “To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $100,000.00 from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Historic Resources, to amend the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Planning and Development Review called the Elegba Folklore Society Project DHR Historic Preservation Grant Special Fund, and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Planning and Development Review’s Elegba Folklore Society Project DHR Historic Preservation Grant Special Fund by $100,000.00, for the purpose of funding capacity building and programming enhancement for the Elegba Folklore Society, Incorporated.” Patrons: Mayor Stoney Status: Adopted |
| ORD 2023-006 | “To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $159,796.00 from the Virginia Department of Transportation and to amend Ord. No. 2022-055, adopted May 9, 2022, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by (i) creating a new line item in the Non-Departmental agency entitled “Greater Richmond Fit4Kids – Safe Routes to School” and (ii) appropriating such $159,796.00 to the new “Greater Richmond Fit4Kids Safe Routes to School” line item in the Non-Departmental agency, all for the purpose of funding a safe routes to school program.” Patrons: Mayor Stoney, Ms. Lambert and Ms. Newbille Status: Adopted |
| ORD. 2023-007 | “To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $300,000.00 from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, to amend the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Planning and Development Review called the Preservation Virginia Project DHR Historic Preservation Grant Special Fund, and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Planning and Development Review’s Preservation Virginia Project DHR Historic Preservation Grant Special Fund by $300,000.00, for the purpose of funding the exterior restoration of the John Marshall House and fire suppression at the Historic Jamestowne Research Center.” Patrons: Mayor Stoney Status: Adopted |
| ORD. 2023-009 | “To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $2,000,000.00 from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, to amend the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Planning and Development Review called the Virginia Museum of History and Culture Project DHR Historic Preservation Grant Special Fund, and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Planning and Development Review’s Virginia Museum of History and Culture Project DHR Historic Preservation Grant Special Fund by $2,000,000.00, for the purpose of funding the Virginia Museum of History and Culture’s History Matters Campaign capital improvements project.” Patrons: Mayor Stoney, Ms. Lambert and Ms. Newbille Status: Adopted |
| ORD. 2023-010 | “To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $5,840,854.00 from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and to amend Ord. No. 2022-056, adopted May 9, 2022, which adopted the Special Fund Budget for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023, and made appropriations thereto, by (i) creating a new special fund for the Department of Housing and Community Development entitled the HOME – ARP Special Fund and (ii) appropriating the increase to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Housing and Community Development’s HOME – ARP Special Fund by $5,840,854.00, for the purpose of reducing regional homelessness.” Patrons: Mayor Stoney, Ms. Lambert, Ms. Newbille and Ms. Robertson Status: Adopted |
| ORD. 2023-022 | “To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Grant Agreement between the City of Richmond and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, for the purpose of supporting the planning, development, and initial operations of a cultural space to be located at the Main Street Station train shed in the city of Richmond.” (7th District) Patrons: Mayor Stoney, Ms. Lambert and Ms. Newbille Status: Adopted |
The above ordinances include funding for a variety of purposes. Approximately $2.4 million will be administered to fund capital improvements project for the Virginia Museum of History and Culture’s History Matters Campaign, research centers, and program enhancement for the Elegba Folklore Society. Nearly $160,000 will be allocated to Greater Richmond Fit4Kids to fund a safe routes to school program. According to their official website, The Greater Richmond Fit4Kids program is “dedicated to improving children’s health and wellness through healthy eating and physical activity.” This funding will look to assist in their mission.
Out of the ordinances adopted above, ORD. 2023-010 is the largest in terms of funding allocation. The City of Richmond voted to accept funds totaling around $5.84 million from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development with the aim of reducing regional homelessness. WTVR News Richmond notes that this money will be used primarily to address youth homelessness through a “coordinated community approach.” This approach includes funding for supportive housing for young Richmond residents, housing navigators, and creating new affordable housing to address the rising cost of living in the area.
Source Links:
URGOV 