Richmond council suspends Rule 6 to fast-track budget ordinances, schedules public hearing for March 23

A majority of Richmond City Council voted to suspend Rule 6 of council procedure so budget-related ordinances introduced at the special meeting will not be referred to standing committees and instead will be reviewed during a council-developed budget review process and at a public hearing.

"I move to suspend rule 6 of council's rules of procedure for all budget related ordinances introduced today so that those ordinances are not referred to or reviewed by a standing committee, but instead are reviewed during a budget review process developed by the council and the council chief of staff and heard during the budget public hearing scheduled for Monday, 03/23/2026 at 6PM," a council member moved during the meeting.

Council President Newbill's clerk introduced items numbered 1 through 9 as budget-related ordinances and said copies of the legislation would be available for public inspection at the rear of the chamber and on the city website by no later than Thursday, March 12.

When the motion went to a roll-call vote, the named members present answered in the affirmative: "Aye" or "Yes" were recorded for Breton, Gibson, Jones, Robertson, Trammell, Abubakar, Vice President Jurden and President Newbill. The clerk announced, "That motion has been approved."

Council members then confirmed next steps: work sessions will begin March 18 and members were asked to direct questions to the council chief of staff so administration responses can be provided in advance of work sessions and the March 23 public hearing.