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Committee continues resolution probing Richmond’s failure to publish monthly payment register
Summary
The Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee opened a public hearing on a resolution to investigate why the city stopped publishing its monthly payment register and voted to continue consideration to July 15, 2026, while staff gather documentation; supporters urged transparency and the committee discussed subpoena authority if the administration refuses to comply.
Councilor Gibson put forward a resolution seeking a committee-led investigation into the city’s failure to publish its monthly payment register as required by city code and noting the application of allowed redactions under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Gibson said the register was published monthly after the 2015 ordinance but that publication stopped around 2019 and the register was taken down entirely in 2024. She told the committee the administration had said publication was "too difficult" and that the proposed investigation would let the council review the full database with only legally required redactions.
"There have been many delays in the city upholding its law," Councilor Gibson said, and allowing the council access to the database with only required redactions would "get us a lot more trust from the community." She said prior media coverage raised concerns about procurement-card payments and charges in certain departments and that the resolution would help the council exercise oversight.
During the public hearing, Amonta Cancelo of District 6 urged the committee to pursue the investigation. "Before we try to change what is shown, we should investigate why the city has failed so far with the current ordinance," Cancelo said, adding that transparency matters for families who cannot attend weekday meetings and that Richmond had received critical press coverage about its FOIA system.
RJ Warren, council chief of staff, told the committee that adopting the resolution would authorize the Organizational Development Standing Committee to request documentation, facilitate testimony, and that council staff would act at the committee’s direction. Warren said if the committee’s requests for materials or testimony were refused, the body could pursue legal action to compel compliance, including a subpoena.
Assistant City Attorney Tori Coppin said that was her initial understanding but that the city would research and confirm the legal steps necessary.
After discussion the committee voted to continue consideration of resolution 2026‑R‑019 to the July 15, 2026 Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee meeting to allow staff time to assemble materials and for members to review the administration’s paper. The clerk recorded "Aye" votes from Vice Chair Jones and Chair Robinson and announced the motion was approved.
Next steps: the resolution will return to the committee on July 15, 2026; the committee may request documentation and — if necessary — consider legal means to obtain materials for its investigation.
