Committee forwards right‑of‑entry ordinance and approves multiple board appointments

At its Jan. 13 meeting the Governmental Operations Standing Committee voted to forward one ordinance to full council with a recommendation to approve and approved several board and commission appointments.

Ordinance 2025‑011: The committee voted to forward Ordinance 2025‑011, authorizing the chief administrative officer to execute a right‑of‑entry agreement with the Virginia Department of General Services to allow access to the parking garage at 311 N. 7th St. so the city can repair the adjacent city‑owned property at 730 E. Broad St. The committee’s motion to forward the paper to council with a recommendation to approve carried; recorded votes were Aye from Council Member Gibson, Vice Chair Abubakar and Chair Jordan.

Board and commission appointments: The committee approved recommended appointments from the board vacancies report. Recorded committee actions included approval of two applicants for the Audit Committee (Kristen Nye and George Sibley III); the committee approved Taylor Booker for the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority appointment; Stephanie Robertson and Knight Williams for the City Personnel Board; and Beatrice Bracey as a 9th‑district representative on the Clean City Commission. Each approval was recorded as recommended by board staff and carried unanimously in committee during the public meeting.

Sister Cities Commission: The committee voted to continue consideration of a Sister Cities appointment until the April review cycle to allow time for additional applicants; staff said the commission will continue to meet in the meantime because it retains a quorum.

No ordinance was adopted at this meeting; the committee’s forward recommendation moves Ordinance 2025‑011 to full council for final action.