Committee forwards state grant to modernize stormwater asset inventory after questions about Southside coverage

The Richmond Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee voted to forward an ordinance to city council that would accept state funds to modernize the city’s stormwater asset inventory and support community flood‑preparedness work in Southside neighborhoods.

The ordinance (No. 20250‑026) as read by the clerk authorized the CAO to accept funds from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The clerk’s papers listed the grant at $1.4 million; city staff later described the award in committee as roughly $1.495 million.

Bill Ballston, program manager for the Department of Public Utilities’ stormwater capital improvement program, said the award comes through DCR’s Community Flood Preparedness Fund and will support work to identify stormwater assets and gaps on the ground. "This will allow us to continue an ongoing activity that we have, identifying where we have assets or where we need to find more assets for the stormwater utility in Richmond South Side neighborhoods," Ballston told the committee.

Council members pressed staff on the geographic framing. One council member said residents across the river generally identify as "Southside," and argued the committee should avoid describing Southside as limited to the Eighth and Ninth districts. That council member asked for a follow‑up report detailing projects and investments underway in the Sixth District so residents there could see they were not excluded.

Ballston said the DCR grant application prioritized underserved, socially vulnerable communities and that the department is also carrying out projects elsewhere in Southside neighborhoods, including a green‑infrastructure award for Wright Avenue in Bellemeade (in the Sixth District). He told the committee the department would provide the requested detail on work in the Sixth District to council offices and staff.

Vice Chair Jones echoed the request for clarity and urged staff to be explicit in presentations about other concurrent grants and projects so residents do not perceive funding as being shifted from one neighborhood to another.

The committee moved the ordinance forward with a recommendation to approve. The recorded vote on the motion was Vice Chair Jones—Aye; Chair Robertson—Aye. The item will go to full council for final action.

Ending: Staff agreed to deliver a report to the requesting council member and to the clerk’s office summarizing current and planned stormwater investments across Southside neighborhoods, including work in the Sixth District.