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Council schedules special hearing on proposed 1% food-and-beverage tax to fund parks
Summary
Council moved Ordinance 58 to second reading and scheduled a special meeting for Dec. 11 to hear public comment on a proposed 1% municipal food-and-beverage tax intended to fund parks, trails and the gorge project.
Richmond City Council advanced Ordinance 58 on Dec. 1 and set a special meeting for Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. to consider a proposed 1% municipal food‑and‑beverage tax.
Bill Engel, speaking for the ordinance, said the tax would apply to prepared food sold at restaurants and some prepared food at grocery stores, not to groceries in general. “If you go out to your favorite restaurant or fast‑food establishment, you would pay this 1% tax,” Engel said. He told council the revenue is intended to support the park system, trails and the gorge project.
Council members raised concerns about the timing and the public’s opportunity to comment; one member said the originally advertised special meeting timing (Dec. 15) would not allow adequate public participation and asked to reschedule. Council set the special hearing for Dec. 11 at 7:00 p.m. and agreed to hold the ordinance at second reading until that meeting. Council also asked the finance committee to meet before the public hearing.
Next steps: the public hearing will be held at the special meeting on Dec. 11. Council members and staff said they expect significant public input and arranged a finance committee meeting the same evening to review fiscal details beforehand.
