Committee forwards multiple ordinances to council, including affordable housing grants, transit funding and a downtown planning grant

The Richmond Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee voted to forward multiple ordinances and a resolution to the full council, recommending approval on items including transit grant agreements, affordable housing performance grants, park improvements, a downtown planning grant and a bond inducement resolution.

Votes at a glance

- Free Rides to Work (Ordinance 20250‑027 and 20250‑028): The committee read two papers authorizing the CAO to accept $37,371,000 from the Virginia Transit Association and to execute a cooperation agreement to fund a "free rides to work" program. Diana Moore Clark, deputy director in the Department of Public Works, said the program had been at capacity and the additional funds represent roughly $100,000 more than last year. The motion to forward was approved (Vice Chair Jones—Aye; Chair Robertson—Aye).

- Affordable housing (Ordinances 20250‑030, 20250‑031, 20250‑042 and 20250‑043): The committee took items 5, 6, 9 and 10 in a block. Staff described four projects: Swansboro Place (amendment to add acreage to a previously approved project; 90 units; total development cost reported at about $34,000,000), Saint Elizabeth (56 units; development cost about $7,700,000), a Commonwealth Catholic Charities project at 1903–1905 Sims Avenue (20 units; cost about $8,100,000), and an Oliver Hill Way project focused on young adults aging out of foster care (80 units; total development cost about $31,000,000, with 40 units at 0–50% AMI and 40 at 50–80% AMI). After a public hearing with no speakers, the block was forwarded with a recommendation to approve (Vice Chair Jones—Aye; Chair Robertson—Aye).

- Belle Meade Park improvements (Ordinance 20250‑029): The committee considered an amendment to a prior special fund to accept $150,000 from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to support an outdoor classroom and other park improvements at Belle Meade Park (1800 Crouch Street). Deborah Morton, deputy director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, said the amended fund name would be Belle Meade Park Improvements and listed planned work including pollinator meadows, trail maintenance, educational programming and drainage work. The motion to forward was approved (Vice Chair Jones—Aye; Chair Robertson—Aye).

- Build America Bureau planning grant (Ordinance 20250‑033): Gail Johnson, director of the Department of General Services, presented an ordinance to accept $2,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund a pragmatic assessment of downtown assets and properties in support of the Richmond 300 downtown transportation initiatives. The grant will support feasibility and funding‑opportunity analysis for a new John Marshall Court building and a permanent GRTC transfer station. The motion to forward was approved (Vice Chair Jones—Aye; Chair Robertson—Aye).

- Bond inducement resolution for Bon Secours (Resolution 20250‑013): The committee considered a resolution expressing council concurrence with Henrico County EDA’s inducement resolution and authorizing issuance of revenue bonds not to exceed $15,000,000 for the benefit of Bon Secours Mercy Health Inc. and Richmond Community Hospital. City staff said the city is not financially responsible for the bonds. The committee forwarded the resolution with a recommendation to approve (Vice Chair Jones—Aye; Chair Robertson—Aye).

- Planning item continued (Ordinance 20250‑032): The committee voted to continue item 7 (ordinance 20250‑032) to the April 16 finance committee meeting because the application will return to the Planning Commission.

Motions and votes: Nearly all forwarded items were moved, seconded and recorded as "Aye" by Vice Chair Jones and Chair Robertson during the meeting; no recorded "no" or abstentions were recorded in the transcript excerpts. Each forwarded ordinance will appear on an upcoming full‑council docket for final action.

Ending: The committee closed the docket items and returned to presentations on federal funding and regional economic development.