[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6523122,"mediaKeyId","5065701-289dd2f496861e7c095d1101f638accb","parentId",5065701,"title","Youth speakers pitch a Gilpin neighborhood trade school to council, ask for support","audioSeconds",59,"startMs",1711000,"endMs",1770000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065701-289dd2f496861e7c095d1101f638accb&start=1711&end=1770","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065701-289dd2f496861e7c095d1101f638accb/thumbnail_1711000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6523122/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Youth-speakers-pitch-a-Gilpin-neighborhood-trade-school-to-council-ask-for-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523122-65a115da1e5fd3f0e227ed97836e9b0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775847972&Signature=ZDE28UIPheD7BeRABgcvgoQ6e-QI-3zKrP8RNHQSoivZrD0V2xBH2~LdmC-h~1K1YrSMtykdsbDw9ZcRKsLkWiEXwMM0FuKkDyklJKaZC-ERL-Es7ctKrFvjmG5NwGAxOCxEU6dJFVHGCdUj~4JpCCy1XYvb6CH1Ynmhv8cahAq4ihYjMO4zgt0gQPHx4exih9MqPZLZSK3NWd0r7f62NflhkdK0OXE5Gm9DnH9nixmK6xfp9KF0CEq41xVHNmgsmFtuBymU1Mk-uER9EGKpqK62db8KuLz3JvUrFxl8INWdpMcMmEMrt3VMiz2X-uk1wowfZBaqsLpHkcNpefn9Ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-06-23T00:00:00Z","article","Two young residents and a community member spoke at the Richmond City Council public comment period in support of a proposed trade school for the Gilpin neighborhood that would offer hands‑on exhibits and introductory skills training in trades such as carpentry and technology.

Cordae Hodges Jr., representing the Gilpin Fund residents, introduced the idea and said the project is led by community volunteers, including his mother, who has paid out of pocket to survey and advertise the proposal. He said the effort is student‑driven and requested council and staff interest and follow‑up. Nariah Stith told the council the trade school would provide career guidance and job opportunities for youth who may not pursue college: “...you do not need college to be something in life,” she said, arguing a trade school could offer direct career pathways.

Council response
President Newbill invited Amy Popovich (a council staff member) to collect the students’ contact information so the administration could follow up. Councilmembers told the young speakers they appreciated their proposals and encouraged them to continue engaging with the council.

Context and details
Speakers described the proposed trade school as an interactive learning environment combining education with real‑world applications, designed to inspire and prepare students for skilled careers. The presenters said the initiative began with grassroots outreach, including surveys and local advertising funded by community volunteers.

Next steps
Council staff indicated they would collect contact information from the presenters for follow‑up. No formal council action, funding or referral was taken at the meeting; the presentation was entered in the public comment record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Richmond City Council Formal Meeting on 2025-06-23 6:00 PM - Jun 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Two young residents from the Gilpin neighborhood presented a proposal for a trade school focused on hands‑on training and career pathways, asking the council and staff to follow up with contact information and support.","taxTitle","Richmond City (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",5755,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6523127,"Richmond resident says heirs were not notified of surplus tax‑sale funds totaling about $34,000",161,2698000,2859000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065701-289dd2f496861e7c095d1101f638accb&start=2698&end=2859","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065701-289dd2f496861e7c095d1101f638accb/thumbnail_2698000.jpg","/articles/6523127/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-resident-says-heirs-were-not-notified-of-surplus-taxsale-funds-totaling-about-34000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523127-cfdcb30571f3f3b27aa8f7835e13cd58/orig.mp4?Expires=1775847972&Signature=ECAYXsDFK1KXhdkoCoWz61RA7pK-LzEarEqUyz9Bogn3ZFVEYKfI2dwwYDYFZvWmXle9UTzgxrm2K7cZ~drSs-KHr-3oCjoJj2HkPlCPNCzY-xhE6r~jc0ZeahEHqfGqR-yBj~02po20mIWe1zULM3g4-z~IA8oTvZilRntTDOwyci8Pj3L2JdSOE7nkXM1cT~xpsoAYbfmqyrS~UY4Z7tFj6~YBP-UxzVX4dIP6A-X9cYsOwd~bDBlfJl~kgiroT6dHEhFJoiPLis2iomu-usRHAjiABjr43vRq~qvM4QBrPn91yZcJM1nlxgBPF2NjjcXTUBYre4PcQhoPLesGyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Johnny Sizer addressed the Richmond City Council during public comment to raise an unresolved surplus funds issue arising from a tax sale on property owned by his late mother, Rosetta Lightfoot Sizer.

Sizer said he and his sister were owed a check for more than $16,000 but learned of the funds only after being contacted by a stranger on Facebook. He told council that, when he sought to claim the money, he was told the funds were no longer available. He said the city retained a total of about $34,000 in surplus funds from the sale and that the funds sat at the John Marshall Courts building for two years despite Sizer and his sister being listed as heirs in court records.

\"My sister and I had over $16,000 in funds as a result of a surplus tax sale of a property that my deceased mother owned,\" Sizer said during his three‑minute comment. \"In total, the funds were $34,000 surplus funds that the city has kept from a tax sale.\" He said previous attempts to resolve the matter beginning in 2020 with his then‑representative, Kim Gray, were unsuccessful.

Council response
President Newbill said the council had the documents Sizer submitted and that staff would review them. Councilmember Gibson was noted in the meeting as looking into a possible ordinance through a policy team to address related issues; Sizer said he understood a city policy team was examining the matter.

What is on the record
Sizer requested public advocacy and attention to what he described as a lack of notification and the city’s retention of surplus funds. He said his sister lives in Northern Virginia and could not attend the meeting. Council acknowledged receipt of Sizer’s materials and said staff would review and follow up.

Clarifying details
Sizer said the family was owed a check for more than $16,000. He said the total surplus funds from the tax sale amounted to about $34,000 and that the funds remained at the John Marshall Courts building for roughly two years. He described prior efforts beginning in 2020 to resolve the issue with no outcome.

Next steps
Council staff acknowledged receipt of Sizer’s documents and said they would review them. Council members indicated staff follow‑up would occur but did not provide a timetable or a specific remedy at the meeting.","A speaker told council that surplus funds from a tax sale tied to his late mother’s property were not properly distributed to heirs and that checks totaling roughly $16,000 for him and his sister went unclaimed while the city retained about $34,000 in surplus funds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6523132,"Residents urge council to adopt Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan, say Planning Commission blocked public input",390,2003000,2393000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065701-289dd2f496861e7c095d1101f638accb&start=2003&end=2393","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065701-289dd2f496861e7c095d1101f638accb/thumbnail_2003000.jpg","/articles/6523132/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Residents-urge-council-to-adopt-Cultural-Heritage-Stewardship-Plan-say-Planning-Commission-blocked-public-input","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523132-cd6d50bbbb7325b6963c7c21ee854cc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775847972&Signature=LaqiLD-j6dODUXKmnZK8bsQXAMtSZQghzhegDJXhmMbizRvzrHux3coH7vNz9r6u9DZVEsfhnLjJNRalBuDV~lVpoHpkuZMioT1UnjgDaDHk~0quWr--sAUN5SpwkYVza9qVM49cJ0N2eXToovF5YYtzy7zB11wUeVVIhGSXvcK4jgRNztcaVQ~VAD0O4iU0BHa5u0b6zgqJWuH0NmhJXerqAfxDjJw1pu8gRKwK1GcMdLghqheVCsIPhecc9RCfp~u8H9TOnWPp1eStrsZCB5JWh3N3diLJkLpTjh8ueNzxFAm3x6jK7Fz4u1jsYQ~PEqmrBjjPC-HzCC9eQii7jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple community members addressed the Richmond City Council during public comment to urge adoption of the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan (CHSP) as an addendum to Richmond 300 and to ask council to direct the Planning Commission to re‑review the plan in good faith.

Doreen Fleming, representing the Descendants Council of Greater Richmond, said her organization and families who contributed to the plan support its adoption. “We have come here today to express our full support for the adoption of this plan,” Fleming told council, noting the plan’s community‑based strategies — archaeological and architectural surveys, oral histories and historical marker initiatives — to protect Black cemeteries, buildings and cultural sites.

Peyton Young, a member of the CHSP community advisory committee, told council the planning commission mishandled the May 20 meeting. Young said the commission advertised a public hearing but did not allow the more than 80 people who attended that session to speak. “For three hours … the public was never given time to speak,” she said, adding that several commissioners admitted they had not read the plan despite receiving copies months earlier.

Nancy Lambert, a former CHSP advisory committee member and longtime resident, told council the plan is a template for preserving neighborhood heirlooms, small businesses and locally significant institutions. She urged the council to consider and pass the plan when it is presented.

Council response and next steps
Council President Newbill thanked speakers and directed staff to follow up. He asked staff member Shamar Young to touch base with Doreen Fleming to follow up on Parks and Recreation’s work related to cemeteries now under city purview. Councilmember Lynch said she would work with the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Committee chair to ensure opportunity for public testimony and review by the planning commission.

What speakers asked the council to do
Speakers requested that council (1) ensure the Planning Commission re‑reviews the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan in a way that allows public comment and a good‑faith review; (2) adopt the CHSP as an addendum to Richmond 300; and (3) coordinate with descendants’ groups, preservationists and community stakeholders to implement survey and memorialization strategies described in the plan.

Context
The CHSP was developed beginning in January 2023 with consultant support and community input; the plan was framed by contributors as a community‑engaged preservation strategy intended to address historic inequities in how cultural sites and neighborhoods are treated in Richmond. Speakers at the council meeting said the plan’s authors included residents, educators, preservationists, small business owners and community organizations.

Council members present encouraged those who spoke to follow up with staff and committee chairs for next steps and noted the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Committee will have further opportunities for public comment and review.","Speakers at Richmond City Council public comment called for adoption of the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan and criticized the Planning Commission’s May 20 review for denying public testimony at an anticipated public hearing.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6523136,"Richmond City Council adopts school funding work group timeline, approves study of photo speed cameras and passes consent agenda",300,3398000,3698000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065701-289dd2f496861e7c095d1101f638accb&start=3398&end=3698","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065701-289dd2f496861e7c095d1101f638accb/thumbnail_3398000.jpg","/articles/6523136/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-City-Council-adopts-school-funding-work-group-timeline-approves-study-of-photo-speed-cameras-and-passes-consent-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523136-78f7cd711795da138c1b6c21f9d66a4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775847972&Signature=fBqGstWPY0lw-ViwbPIaQ9LfJWDRfyi1ZM07SnAG8jHO1AiHQ1mKU5coZLQzeB-5~y7Hk1CrnY83kEI9YJI5OdkDWxSQvvIIvuLxN92bbjVbX31scV0eYiI4FRm~W4MGzX~wZx4-5TTW-pCplSSHJpYWtialah37VtcfvE7ZeWBFScOMJIdyq8DhxmiCIRDm0O0Jpic0vHYylDA4tFb~DYrzb5CT3G8PAMPSS-Ga7Y46AAHEEU4gCgyLcc~~YO40f~oYQ54kFeLFmQ~wYFDD2~HxPK8v6hO4bAfXxXYajOyOpC-BxXoguWYT2kdkqOJ6Hpnw653ordYGbSnX3eFYsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richmond City Council on Monday approved an amended resolution directing the city administration to convene a work group with Richmond Public Schools to draft a funding formula and implementation plan for school operating expenses, approved an amended resolution to study and expand photo speed monitoring at high-risk intersections, and passed a broad consent agenda of ordinances and resolutions.

The council amended resolution 2025‑R23 to change the date for when the administration must provide an implementation plan recommendation to the mayor, council and school board from Aug. 30 to Oct. 15; the amendment was presented by Megan Brown, director of budget and strategic planning. Council also amended and adopted resolution 2024‑R41 to broaden the scope of a study on installing photo speed monitoring devices and to request the CAO identify additional locations and consider increasing the number of devices.

Both amended resolutions were adopted unanimously by members present. Council members who sponsored or moved the amendments spoke briefly in support of the measures, noting the city and schools’ need for more predictable funding and additional traffic‑safety tools, respectively.

Council approved the evening’s consent agenda, which included multiple ordinances and resolutions introduced earlier on the docket. The clerk read the consent items into the record; because public comment in opposition was not presented for those items, the council proceeded to a roll‑call vote and adopted the consent agenda as presented.

Several individual ordinance items and resolutions were amended or continued to future meetings. Council voted to amend and continue ordinance 2025‑80 (special use for 418 Hunt Avenue) to the July 28 meeting to modify plans, terms and conditions. Other agenda amendments were read into the record and adopted by the council at the start of the meeting.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve Councilor Ellen Robertson’s remote participation by electronic communication — approved (roll call recorded in meeting).
- Agenda amendments — adopted (roll call recorded).
- Consent agenda — adopted (items listed below; roll call recorded).
- Motion to amend and continue ordinance 2025‑80 (special use 418 Hunt Ave.) to July 28 — mover: Councilmember Gibson; second: Councilmember Abubaker; outcome: approved.
- Motion to amend resolution 2025‑R23 (work group with RPS; change implementation recommendation date to Oct. 15) — mover: Councilmember Lynch; second: Mister Breton; outcome: adopted as amended.
- Motion to amend resolution 2024‑R41 (study and installation of photo speed monitoring devices; broaden study scope) — mover: Councilmember Jones; second: Councilmember Trammell; outcome: adopted as amended.

Items on the consent agenda (as read into the record)
Ordinances: 2025‑078; 2025‑084; 2025‑121; 2025‑122; 2025‑123; 2025‑124; 2025‑125; 2025‑126; 2025‑127; 2025‑128; 2025‑129; 2025‑130; 2025‑131; 2025‑132; 2025‑133; 2025‑134; 2025‑135; 2025‑137; 2025‑139; 2025‑140; 2025‑141; 2025‑142; 2025‑143 (as listed by the clerk). Resolutions: 2025‑R023; 2025‑R024; 2025‑R025; 2025‑R026; 2025‑R029 (as listed by the clerk). Details for each ordinance/resolution were not specified during the public hearing on the consent agenda and are recorded as introduced by the clerk.

What the council said
Megan Brown, the city’s director of budget and strategic planning, told the council the only substantive change to the school‑funding resolution was to move the recommendation date to Oct. 15 to give staff additional time given the paper’s recent introduction.

Procedural notes
Where vote tallies were read aloud, the clerk recorded each member’s response as part of the public record; the transcript shows affirmative votes for the amended measures and the consent agenda by the members present. Multiple items were continued or scheduled for amendment and return at future meetings, including July 7 and July 28 dates.

The council did not receive virtual public commenters on the consent agenda items during the public hearing for that portion of the meeting.","The Richmond City Council approved an amended resolution to form a work group to recommend a school funding implementation plan, agreed to a study of expanded photo speed monitoring, and adopted a multi-item consent agenda. Several ordinances and resolutions were continued to later meetings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Youth speakers pitch a Gilpin neighborhood trade school to council, ask for support

Richmond resident says heirs were not notified of surplus tax‑sale funds totaling about $34,000

Residents urge council to adopt Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan, say Planning Commission blocked public input

Richmond City Council adopts school funding work group timeline, approves study of photo speed cameras and passes consent agenda