[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6478987,"mediaKeyId","5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435","parentId",5707484,"title","Committee recommends forwarding $5.8 million restitution appropriation after public hearing; council debate spotlights Affordable Housing Trust Fund","audioSeconds",5021,"startMs",3509000,"endMs",8530000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435&start=3509&end=8530","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435/thumbnail_3509000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6478987/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-recommends-forwarding-58-million-restitution-appropriation-after-public-hearing-council-debate-spotlights-Affordable-Housing-Trust-Fund","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478987-966c7dca0041ef36fc08099b8e085b44/orig.mp4?Expires=1770393959&Signature=nf38bvtYUYCbox6m2X~5wlsMxOOkq8fqTl7cZGyUCYKFDcKfiAKE75YV03DkaV2gyYyfJcNao0U~vG6pVCzaC~5l-iL4fUNINUiVdXg4Pos76ln15KBuWwUa1g3TXEl0x74x9nU23tzGBNvgxUM10nR3bAp3b9HuoSK1~dEhKWFORr3A-lXt~4euUUh24zY5TrQ8dpSQiiBe9AU3hlNCLUmWVewOcXQhXuxUiJYSwowhp3JCF71dEIQ6O7x3Uxr1ypkbdZ4JxvDkXdyknt~dSEsp4aE6xbOHnSWZmcrfC27ddDPC-GmGtsV0YbKpMyS~hv1o~0PnF-64OxIgyRfy9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-09-02T00:00:00Z","article","The committee voted to forward Ordinance 2025‑188, which would transfer $5,800,000 from the delinquent tax sale special fund to a new restitution payments line in the FY 2026 general fund budget for payment under Virginia Code §8.01‑195.13. The ordinance was introduced by administration as the recommended funding source to avoid drawing on general reserves and to preserve fiscal policy reserves.

A public speaker, Steve Salzberg, spoke in opposition on legal and enforcement grounds, arguing that the city has not followed the statute in prior years and urging compliance with the code for affordable housing funding. Council members then debated two distinct issues: the immediate obligation to fund a court‑ordered restitution and broader compliance and transparency questions about funds that by ordinance are directed to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Council Member Gibson framed two issues separately: completing the restitution payment to an individual who was wrongfully incarcerated, and enforcement of city code that directs certain delinquent‑tax proceeds to affordable housing. Council Member Robertson and others described the case as a serious injustice and said the state and city share responsibility for restitution, but several members said they were uncomfortable diverting legislated affordable‑housing revenue without clearer authority or a longer review.

Chief Administrative Officer O'Donnell explained that the delinquent tax sale special fund had grown — and he identified the fund balance trajectory across recent fiscal years — and recommended using that special fund for the restitution payment so as not to access general‑fund reserves. He said the delinquent sale fund growth reflected proceeds and aged surplus deposits accumulated during the pandemic and subsequent years.

Council Member Trammell and others pressed administration for a detailed accounting of all roll‑off, tax‑rehabilitation and delinquent‑sale funds, rehab abatement receipts, and how prior budget choices and one‑time federal funds had been applied. Several members asked the administration to bring a corrective ordinance or amendments to clarify that delinquent‑sale proceeds and roll‑off receipts are dedicated to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and to supply a full report on the fund's current balance and history.

After debate, the committee voted to forward Ordinance 2025‑188 to the full council with a recommendation to approve. Roll‑call on the committee record: Ayes — Mr. Bridal, Miss Lynch, Miss Trammell, Miss Abubakar, Vice Chair Jordan, Chair Newbill; Nos — Miss Gibson, Miss Jones, Miss Robertson. The committee chair said she will convene administration and council representatives to draft an amended ordinance and schedule follow‑up work on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and related code clarifications.

The city's administration recommended the delinquent tax sale special fund as the funding source in part because fiscal‑policy language limits use of fund balance and contingency reserves to extraordinary or catastrophic events. Members repeatedly requested more documentation and clearer monthly reporting on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and related revenue sources before council final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Organizational Development Standing Committee on 2025-09-02 4:00 PM - Microsoft Teams access info: https://go.rva.gov/Sept25OD or dial *67-804-316-9457 and enter ID: 421 592 704# (Auto-Generated Trim Backup)","oneSentenceSummary","The Organizational Development Standing Committee voted to forward Ordinance 2025‑188, moving $5.8 million from the delinquent tax sale special fund to a restitution payments line to satisfy a payment under Virginia Code §8.01‑195.13.","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},6478991,"Richmond presents regional water-capacity review and rate-model timeline",2114,1366000,3480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435&start=1366&end=3480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435/thumbnail_1366000.jpg","/articles/6478991/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-presents-regional-water-capacity-review-and-rate-model-timeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478991-a8c4711434215651276998e7ad642ac3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770393959&Signature=YKAK~4Jf6TtTAoqqKUABXsgZsNV0I9obKsOMP4~B3s2eledOlnF95kWxtuOAgtg02au5NxaqUqeeCfFGaZOvgCRiSiPFhJxL12vautx9y0nzLDye32LU6xxGFYchPlQSEbDufIvfe~FpRUU8cdocNOProSGTDYfn8Ixfvzbx-Uqb~HLW9-x1EbR-e-n8n3hP5QGe8a5YbbMY5-zBbYq6MX5h6tvFLBPZFgfzks2A85l2bhVeKimi51ukWllMg7BoIkZuyrPxR3dL7fltnx-L7lAzxwfwbSeqP09Y~tf5m49xo8iFSLMO1C6ge8zoNgs-LlaHnQDoJj~zRGxg6O6SYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Administrative Officer O'Donnell and Public Utilities Director Scott Morris updated the Richmond City Council Organizational Development Standing Committee on regional water coordination and a timetable for proposed rate and budget changes. The administration said the Richmond treatment plant serves about 530,000 residents with roughly 132 million gallons per day of regional capacity and historical demand near 96 million gallons per day.

The presentation outlined work since January: review of condition assessments and external reports from VDH and EPA, the development of a 10‑year capital improvement plan (CIP), a regional tabletop exercise on resilience and cyber threats, and initial rate‑model scenarios. Morris said staff met with Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover utilities, agreed in principle on a proposed 10‑year CIP, and ran multiple rate scenarios including ones assuming varying state contributions.

Council members pressed staff for clearer data on how large commercial customers — notably data centers — will affect demand and how rate structures will allocate costs between residential customers and commercial wholesale purchasers. Council Member Gibson asked for disaggregated projections of residential versus commercial use and for documentation she could share with constituents. Morris replied that wholesale contracts assign maximum point‑of‑entry capacities and that wholesale customers submit annual forecasts; staff currently does not disaggregate use by residential/commercial in the slide deck but can do so.

O'Donnell said the administration applies an \"affordability matrix\" when modeling rates and will prioritize protecting resident affordability while seeking equitable contributions from large commercial customers. He noted the system still has capacity now but cautioned the analysis and decisions remain in development.

Morris told the committee he and staff would finalize rate models after councilmember meetings and coordination with regional partners; he estimated the models would be ready for circulation to council within one to two weeks. Council members asked for a status update on compliance with state findings and the consent order; Morris said about 85% of consent‑order actions have been addressed or incorporated into the CIP and that staff will provide further status reports.

Council members asked for more pre‑meeting documentation and charts showing projected commercial versus residential use, and multiple members emphasized that transparency and clarity to the public are priorities as the city evaluates possible rate changes and budget requests to the state. O'Donnell said the administration would provide more documentation and engage council in one‑on‑one briefings prior to finalizing proposals.","Chief Administrative Officer O'Donnell and Public Utilities Director Scott Morris briefed the committee on regional water capacity, planning and an expedited schedule to finish rate models, saying Richmond's plant serves about 530,000 residents and currently has spare capacity compared with historical demand.",{"_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},6478972,"Administration posts inspector general job this week; council asked to join interview panel",515,10281000,10796000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435&start=10281&end=10796","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435/thumbnail_10281000.jpg","/articles/6478972/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Administration-posts-inspector-general-job-this-week-council-asked-to-join-interview-panel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478972-aaa310bfb5c1dce212516ab51c4f954c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770393959&Signature=HTxfIQzwEpP2kP76-H9bctMugGZSMRl5vufCPiK1vJYJgVEi2owjw37lgP-KBRVsg652J-njHOmcKWZ1Xk0X24RsGduRh~6KFuv4LzbKmHOPKjMG86BQWeBmYKAEIfb1a3GwdvCjY7s8nh-wrY4ALM6VniXKKzEE8Fhz3W3CImWCAw~bx8EaVYGvU932noXbkERW6GdataeWY3PD0WtwWm-hPKNr97gVWYWzlWRgo59xmVVk5QkagwnL~lIdFpDqk0HRdQWeBVLHEzzZ7lYTRivewg9zA2Fr~A5a197M5R4rYzny5uY7No3GGI-7EJ2Ojf86Gsu3YgQZIUb7KbfArA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council staff told the committee the city will finalize and post a job announcement for the Inspector General position by the end of the week. The posting will remain continuously open but the first review of applicants will take place after 30 days. Council staff asked for at least two council volunteers to serve on a five‑member interview panel.

Council members requested that the selection process solicit input from existing Inspector General office staff, given turnover in recent leadership, and that staff provide the council a copy of the job description and an implementation timeline. Administration staff said they would work with Human Resources to collect input from the office and to supply a timeline and job posting to council members.","Council staff said the Office of Inspector General job announcement will be finalized and posted this week, applications will be reviewed after 30 days, and council members were invited to volunteer two members to sit on a five‑person interview panel; staff also said they will solicit feedback from current OIG staff during the hiring process.",{"_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},6478975,"Budget review task force recommends earlier introduction, structured work sessions and public‑engagement changes",942,9293000,10235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435&start=9293&end=10235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435/thumbnail_9293000.jpg","/articles/6478975/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Budget-review-task-force-recommends-earlier-introduction-structured-work-sessions-and-publicengagement-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478975-2a4feff301dcb5eca007a6aedb37bf81/orig.mp4?Expires=1770393959&Signature=h34PVJ3s9Q1zGL4INuWJc8w9A4fYM9cr2QDaYUAahtI9qt5ErJKfA-oNl-v~uDw1BZ5Ac~-ZivMszAACVROt~HaY2CjZlh4KqEuUYWze0xtdo7~VdyzYRjh7KswHUWQS5qrIv8pJIaJl2jCWklM-CdoR3DZZWBgfhqF-wcFDqXRVBbm9yJliQo7cVjeNga1HJutQQJxKkL7XGuTZCSoXwg~-HAYb0mrPPxvhVWOkyCWIZcL2pu1-VWopZWYOsCUN~J3UVr1Yt3cBshevbpDMPi1p1ojBDjWFmKRl2cjr7ISYYAIRbWa0T9CtjTuxOmO3UW3yJRl~zwAlMwoww1HPZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Budget Review Task Force, a joint council‑administration working group, reported recommendations to change the city budget calendar and review process to give council more time and clearer procedures for FY 2026. The group proposed advancing the mayor's budget submission by 16 days so the initial public hearing on the proposed budget occurs earlier in March and council has additional days for structured work sessions and public comment.

The report recommends organizing council budget work sessions around four DCA portfolios (Operations; Finance & Administration; Planning & Economic Development; Human Services) and bringing relevant subject‑matter staff to each session. It also proposes a standardized amendment process that prioritizes amendments with greater co‑sponsorship and sets a fixed schedule for council amendment submission and related public hearings.

Task Force members said the changes aim to avoid \"chaos\" during budget weeks by pushing more review earlier, allowing the administration adequate time to respond to council questions, and enabling the public to comment on both the mayor's proposed budget and council‑proposed amendments. The task force also recommended a December joint meeting, facilitated by a third party, where council and administration will agree on five to seven budget priorities and publish them as a formal resolution with a public hearing.

The working group declined to endorse an ordinance (No. 2025‑100) that would require departments to publish their initial budget requests side‑by‑side with the mayor's proposal, citing concerns the requirement could produce inflated departmental requests and unrealistic expectations. Instead the task force recommended other transparency improvements, including public schedules, earlier circulation of meeting dates and a post‑adoption review of the process to make iterative improvements.

Council members welcomed the additional time and asked the task force to codify items that enhance transparency; several members also requested more direct access to department and Oracle financial data so council staff can validate assumptions and better evaluate tradeoffs during amendment deliberations. The administration said it will develop implementing ordinances and procedures and that the task force will reconvene after the next budget adoption to evaluate outcomes.","A council‑administration working group proposed moving the mayoral budget introduction earlier by 16 days, organizing council work sessions by departmental portfolios, standardizing amendment procedures and increasing public hearings to improve council review and transparency ahead of the FY 2026 budget adoption.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478980,"Committee forwards Civilian Review Board policies to council and delays appointments to Sept. 8",72,8648000,8720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435&start=8648&end=8720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707484-14ef7585a77e9c67bee7e7488ef86435/thumbnail_8648000.jpg","/articles/6478980/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-forwards-Civilian-Review-Board-policies-to-council-and-delays-appointments-to-Sept-8","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478980-fb16023d8ddd65c532b0795600eb51cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770393959&Signature=K0dkherFKiGZ-WEPW1tXvyU6fO213iWhrFMnvY~-9d1Ll4Z4rGSKFWlS3UOUFdXPXOIPaBrRNjMIOIkoJnDHWAAkP4ZBFj7OvlYp08OY2AKf~XekA5XcCEZ03bRVaxEbnNLtkn6m4s35WF0vvmrcf0X5wWhlpfJMcnFRcwM0cZxk0kVs3jSLFkXdXBORtref7UzZTryQJcZmMQYITvweUZYJpP1cNWjKBEARFb6K88HgEjhOp~m7pncEqfzjC4JzfhTMlC0AyK3HkzB9GdFsjqayIrC3Pu7Odx5MtdMAOz81QzSZkdlA-mkj12S7Q5IyO-IxXrvByI0aZnYJd9nEVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Organizational Development Standing Committee voted to forward Resolution 2025‑R20 establishing policies and procedures for the Civilian Review Board to the full council with a recommendation to approve. Joe Lowery, the Civilian Review Board manager, summarized the board's scope: reviewing internal police investigations related to officer‑involved shootings, deaths or serious injuries in custody, allegations of physical or verbal abuse by officers, appeal hearings, and advising on law‑enforcement practices and policies.

No members of the public testified either in favor or opposition at the committee public hearing on the policies and procedures. Lowery said the application review process had produced approximately 56 initial applicants; a working group interviewed 13 candidates and proposed eight finalists. The mayor will make four mayoral appointments and council will appoint four members.

Council members debated whether to proceed with appointments at the committee meeting or continue to a later date so new council members could review candidate materials. Council Member Trammell asked for additional time; Council Member Bridal urged moving forward so the board could begin its work. The committee voted to continue the appointment decisions to the council informal meeting on September 8, with final appointment at the formal meeting later that day.

Staff said appointments will be staggered for three‑year, two‑year and one‑year terms; council and mayor each appoint four members. Council asked to receive candidate materials and clarified that appointees may not serve on more than two boards per city policy. Lowery asked council members to volunteer for an interview panel when the position recruitment proceeds.

The committee also approved forwarding the policies resolution after a motion and second; the committee vote on Resolution 2025‑R20 was recorded as unanimous in favor.","The committee voted to forward a resolution establishing Civilian Review Board policies and procedures to the full council with a recommendation to approve, and deferred final appointments of board members to the council's September 8 meeting to allow further review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee recommends forwarding $5.8 million restitution appropriation after public hearing; council debate spotlights Affordable Housing Trust Fund

Richmond presents regional water-capacity review and rate-model timeline

Administration posts inspector general job this week; council asked to join interview panel

Budget review task force recommends earlier introduction, structured work sessions and public‑engagement changes

Committee forwards Civilian Review Board policies to council and delays appointments to Sept. 8