Committee votes to forward $250,000 state grant for radio repeaters to full council

The Richmond City Public Safety Standing Committee voted to forward an ordinance to the full City Council that would authorize the city to accept $250,000 from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and create a FY26 special fund to purchase and install radio repeater equipment.

Jonathan Fetterman, Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response, presented the paper, saying: “This paper is to authorize the CAO to accept, grant funds, from the State Homeland Security Grama grant, which is to install radio repeaters, within our public safety radio system for the purpose of enhancing our in building coverage.”

Fetterman answered a committee question about how many repeaters would be installed, saying the number was being finalized but “it looks like 4 right now.” The committee held a public hearing; no speakers registered in support or opposition.

After questions, a motion was made to forward item 1 (ordinance 20 25 2 21) to the full council with a recommendation to approve. The committee recorded aye votes from Miss Aberbacher and Miss Trammell and approved the motion to forward.

Why it matters: the grant and the new special fund would pay for radio repeater equipment intended to improve in‑building coverage for public safety radio systems, a technical change aimed at improving responders’ ability to communicate inside structures.

What the ordinance would do: the paper as presented would (1) authorize the CAO to accept the grant, (2) create a new FY26 SHSP radio repeater special fund, and (3) appropriate the grant funds for purchase and installation of radio repeater equipment.

Next steps: the ordinance will go to the full Richmond City Council with the committee’s recommendation to approve.