Richmond council adopts consent agenda including multiple affordable-housing performance grants after debate on terms and oversight

The Richmond City Council on Monday adopted a consent agenda that included multiple ordinances authorizing affordable-housing performance grants and related measures, after several council members questioned the length of affordability commitments, unit-size mix and long-term oversight.

Council members concerned about the structure of the performance grants urged staff to provide more information about how long units would remain affordable and how the city would monitor outcomes.

Councilmember Allison Gibson said the 30-year commitment cited in the ordinances ‘‘does seem like a very long time’’ and asked whether the term could vary by project and how the city would ensure the grants matched resident need for larger family units. ‘‘I want to make sure that whatever those residents are saving is at least matching what we are not receiving in the additional tax,’’ Gibson said.

Eric Malone, the city’s director of housing and community development, told the council the typical structure is a 15-year…