[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6628923,"mediaKeyId","2713567-101dd6e54e13602494c3a3257e1ced16","parentId",2713567,"title","Committee forwards multiple ordinances and one resolution to council, recommending approval","audioSeconds",609,"startMs",1290000,"endMs",1899000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2713567-101dd6e54e13602494c3a3257e1ced16&start=1290&end=1899","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2713567-101dd6e54e13602494c3a3257e1ced16/thumbnail_1290000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6628923/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-forwards-multiple-ordinances-and-one-resolution-to-council-recommending-approval","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628923-0cc34408ac69dcea5a78d4ed4abe3f4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143612&Signature=ANbU0eTy3yviaUUGYpTKRM3e9l~JPjnS8fZVU8pXlLB6~ZQ9CEcWuMN3w5o3E0WKAXpcpsrbspPJ8VLH-C7EURNtjY87zIV6YdwKSKJA8ivri~Gwnrt1iKmRtaDhABZwGuzCA14WVo9-kRtVOQ17pnH0Mnq7PXB0Wtieb8xtT0MQzGoQiqJTJfAjJqhBm4x0DWJ-f8ivdxhAB7D1PcuNKCez8Bfkp9gG0FSyJ7EuRQ8MHLERsLquaRljuHw3sOB8Q7ECphJjCViqaPbr39Vxxg2ognR5EHh1ZsREjJuKwvcdMyZwccxNFrv505Y3IOTMGihN1kOu8tWaS6wkpvgx2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-03-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee considered multiple ordinances and one resolution on March 1 and voted to forward each to City Council with a recommendation for approval.

Key papers forwarded (committee votes recorded in chambers):

- Items 2 and 3 (ordinance 20 25 0 27 and 20 25 0 28): Ordinances to accept $37,371,000 from the Virginia Transit Association and to authorize the CAO to execute a cooperation agreement for a free rides-to-work program were forwarded to council with a recommendation to approve (Vice Chair Jones: Aye; Chair Robertson: Aye).

- Items 5, 6, 9 and 10 (ordinance 20 25 0 30; 20 25 0 31; 20 25 0 42; 20 25 0 43): Four affordable housing-related ordinances — amendments and grant agreements to facilitate construction of affordable developments at specified addresses (Swansboro Place/2008 Hall Street and 2021 Decatur Street; Saint Elizabeth at 10314/11114 Queen Lane; 1903/1905 Sims Avenue; 809 Oliver Hill Way) — were forwarded as a block with recommendation to approve (Vice Chair Jones: Aye; Chair Robertson: Aye). Committee discussion summarized project sizes and funding; staff described unit counts, income targeting and total development costs.

- Item 4 (ordinance 20 25 0 29): An amendment to accept $150,000 from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and rename a parks special fund for Belle Meade Park Improvements (to cover design, permitting and park site updates) was forwarded with a recommendation to approve (Vice Chair Jones: Aye; Chair Robertson: Aye).

- Item 8 (ordinance 20 25 0 33): Authorization to accept $2,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to study downtown assets and the feasibility of a transfer station and courthouse site was forwarded with recommendation to approve (Vice Chair Jones: Aye; Chair Robertson: Aye).

- Item 11 (resolution 20 25 0 13): A resolution expressing Richmond’s concurrence with an inducement resolution adopted by the Henrico County EDA and approving issuance of revenue bonds not to exceed $15,000,000 for the benefit of Bon Secours/Mercy Health, including work at Richmond Community Hospital, was forwarded with a recommendation to approve (Vice Chair Jones: Aye; Chair Robertson: Aye).

Votes at the committee level were recorded by roll call on the dais and in each case the committee vote recorded in the transcript was two ayes (Vice Chair Jones and Chair Robertson); the clerk announced each motion as approved and the papers as forwarded to council.

Ending: Most items were noncontroversial in committee and will proceed to full City Council for final consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Finance & Economic Development Standing Committee Meeting - March 19, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. - Mar 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee forwarded multiple ordinances and one resolution to full City Council on March 1, recommending approval for transit, housing, parks, downtown planning and a bond inducement for Bon Secours.","taxTitle","Richmond City (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",5755,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6628928,"City to seek acceptance of DCR grant to modernize stormwater asset inventory; council asks for Southside clarifications",87,1907000,1994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2713567-101dd6e54e13602494c3a3257e1ced16&start=1907&end=1994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2713567-101dd6e54e13602494c3a3257e1ced16/thumbnail_1907000.jpg","/articles/6628928/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/City-to-seek-acceptance-of-DCR-grant-to-modernize-stormwater-asset-inventory-council-asks-for-Southside-clarifications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628928-07d7ea758006701d917b9e0bd64eb808/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143612&Signature=YdOqNPm~quq5xcRrwXfer~5q-QmyXBuoFD2Koi0pdU6Na-gpOjZ2CLBuWdspGGAO07tt~fasr1G7E54R9kxr5vjK2l9g-c-qyYyRCvAcE~YqXUDfQhhpLgJBNGNFU8v18VwneHwEG5zS33aVNq0C1peT8u~DZQ4r-6RxPhheCW5UA52pD9JOqGOV-EleVqJD3PEglEaTKXgZdUMWntt7NTC3zLsNV1WCL4QRESZs8BeB2NNPr8M6I4zSikx-s9WJRvYTaANHvhnTCsLDTxSlu~9XKVBLRL1lSh6H5lPnUVfDFSfKu7idR6gQKRyTURMp5hmBlaK~cylO2jfdWjHlYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An ordinance to accept state grant funding for modernization of Richmond’s stormwater asset inventory was forwarded to City Council with a recommendation for approval after a staff presentation and follow-up questions from council.

Clerk materials described the ordinance (20 25 0 26) as authorizing the CAO to accept $1,400,000 from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and to amend the stormwater utility budget for asset inventory modernization. Bill Boston, the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) stormwater program manager, told the committee the grant amount he referenced was approximately $1,495,548 and said the money would support boots-on-the-ground asset identification, GIS updates and planning to inform capital projects in neighborhoods with recurring localized flooding.

Boston said the grant, a Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund award, “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 Southside neighborhoods, Eighth District, Ninth District…”

Council members pressed staff to clarify how Southside was being defined and whether Sixth District neighborhoods — specifically Bellemeade — were included in the scope. Councilmember discussed active and separate green infrastructure grants in Bellemeade and asked the administration to provide a district-by-district report so residents across South of the river neighborhoods do not feel excluded.

Boston said DPU has other grants and projects underway in the Sixth District, including a Green Streets award for Bellemeade (he cited a grant amount of about $1,797,692 for that work), and agreed to provide the requested detail to the council member.

The committee voted to forward the ordinance to full council with a recommendation to approve (Vice Chair Jones: Aye; Chair Robertson: Aye).

Ending: Staff agreed to provide the committee with a clearer map and a report that lists ongoing stormwater and green infrastructure projects across all Southside districts so council members can explain to constituents how grant activities are distributed.","An ordinance to accept a Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation grant for stormwater asset inventory modernization was forwarded to council after staff said the funds will focus on Southside neighborhoods; councilmembers asked for clarity about inclusion of Sixth District and other Southside areas.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6628931,"Greater Richmond Partnership outlines new five-year plan, flags perception and air service gaps",124,140000,264000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2713567-101dd6e54e13602494c3a3257e1ced16&start=140&end=264","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2713567-101dd6e54e13602494c3a3257e1ced16/thumbnail_140000.jpg","/articles/6628931/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Greater-Richmond-Partnership-outlines-new-five-year-plan-flags-perception-and-air-service-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628931-f4b12ab7b7801f73983fadc3170a864d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143612&Signature=ohar8-gz0p6aD5Unpuqjr5GQ5KueHKrsqBM4MspmkesNH8~IQARfBUP-l86z7rq8PqaQ689XLm-9S-H4bCrQ1FA0pXuIUoGZi8qRXodg-CZbCQOfTbCFz9o~NdT3MvIUhQKuYPUixHkBRHhwo0thvKMsIvZ-5MaqmZYaNR7-2PngL-hFAZ4I8q4vDmmcy3oZ~EeLWv21FLmSVYUJNZTF2AxcLas6XYq6aul2ufD9fVyVA6hEBDszgwgAI~HdwcyYa8lqe4-ikcG3YUGm8x8g~lgMxGyrCeoesXccH97Rx4caHXMuvzTVxbLokJOU55Oi2s2O1DTACL2QgOq1XYHZog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jennifer Wakefield, president and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership (GRP), presented the organization’s new five-year strategic plan and market research to the Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee on March 1.

“We work to attract new companies to the region by providing in-depth market data, marketing the region globally, and then generating economic opportunities,” Wakefield said. She described GRP’s new plan as centered on four pillars: business recruitment and cluster development; world-class research and market intelligence; amplifying awareness and talent attraction; and elevating regional competitiveness.

Wakefield highlighted recent results: “Since 1994… we have worked on 560 projects, resulting in 55,000 jobs [and] $13,900,000,000 in capital investment,” she said. She also cited more recent three-year figures the GRP supplied to the committee: 28 projects, about 6,859 jobs and roughly $2.9 billion in capital expenditures.

Wakefield stressed that perception remains a constraint for the Richmond region. She said consideration of Richmond by corporate executives rose from 2% in 2021 to about 30% in 2024. Among site selection consultants — advisers who often guide corporate location decisions — Wakefield said consideration rose to about 60% after focused outreach. “When site consultants were asked, Richmond is at 7.3 on a scale of 1 to 10,” she said.

She noted a recurring concern among site consultants about airport service: “Where site consultants think our largest weakness is… location, infrastructure, airport, lack of direct flights,” Wakefield said. GRP said it is working proactively with Richmond International Airport and accompanying airline outreach with research to support additional direct routes.

Committee members thanked GRP for regional collaboration and asked for locality-specific pipeline data. Chair Robertson asked whether GRP could provide more detailed breakdowns for each of the four local government partners — the city of Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico — so the city can better target recruitment and identify Richmond-specific opportunities.

Wakefield said some perception data are not available at the locality level but that GRP provides quarterly project analyses to local economic development partners and can supply additional data on request.

Ending: Committee members asked the administration and GRP staff to follow up with additional or locality-specific information and to place GRP’s presentation materials in the clerk’s office record for distribution to council members.","Jennifer Wakefield, president and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership, presented a regional strategy that emphasizes lead generation, research, talent attraction and efforts to secure more direct flights to better place Richmond against peer markets.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6628936,"Richmond analysis flags $294.4 million in federal assistance and $116.5 million at risk if federal freeze proceeds",62,3004000,3066000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2713567-101dd6e54e13602494c3a3257e1ced16&start=3004&end=3066","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2713567-101dd6e54e13602494c3a3257e1ced16/thumbnail_3004000.jpg","/articles/6628936/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-analysis-flags-2944-million-in-federal-assistance-and-1165-million-at-risk-if-federal-freeze-proceeds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628936-e22845860cfec9b59ef8d1dbf49ed789/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143612&Signature=jTthdCexCfQ0XA3Q5rM-7mjjlxdTrLsWhZ3IHLnqYxSxYjFRNwHI30HBcDYrRUi3NqaJ5VWNagforjUmObclaT2dt5YRCOqdM9ZhvVkG4vknoEHNQxG7mjINoVbQbYk8IoxgDe9wG1frGSbVFzu4wRhs45EQAIeWYm~VAtMGLFDipeervsSy7Cxi3izLGBx0GKfKCZhZbNVTqa77mhczShaN~kzGMyXYjvyP2IXXdVxBa~8VLWeuVj8kr6L~HURqm4oUEC5Kt2GyCDjaW67rPKzVwVQ8r2HVxar5PY1KlMYRMtwAF1D5tZwS10Z4dl8f0oKQffQrVIJNz8-6NyqKtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Maggie Anderson, Richmond’s director of intergovernmental affairs, told the Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee on March 1 that city departments reported $294,400,000 in active or anticipated federal financial assistance across multiple fiscal years.

Anderson said roughly $116,500,000 of that total was categorized by departments as potentially at risk if the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) funding freeze proposed in late January were to be implemented. “Of that total, approximately a hundred and 16,500,000.0 is what we are categorizing as a potential risk,” Anderson said.

The memo Anderson presented, compiled from submissions by each city department, identified the Department of Social Services, the Department of Public Utilities and the Department of Housing and Community Development as the three city offices most exposed to federal changes. “Department of Social Services receives quite a bit of federal funding and a number of their employees receive part of their pay…through reimbursement through the federal government,” Anderson said. She added that Public Utilities had received substantial federal grants for lead line replacement and related projects.

Council members pressed for follow-up detail. Chairwoman Levar M. Robertson (referred to throughout the meeting as Chair Robertson) asked for more frequent updates and a clearer sense of whether the at-risk totals represented payroll, program expenditures or both. “If we do not get the reimbursement, the city will have made the investment without the reimbursements to cover the reasonable expense that we assume that we would be reimbursed for,” Robertson said.

Anderson said the city is tracking developments closely and has asked departments to report any notices from federal grantors about halted work or inaccessible grant portals. She noted that a January 27 OMB memo proposing the freeze was blocked by federal judges and that the near-term picture changed when Congress approved a continuing resolution on March 14 that preserved FY24 funding levels through September. “That was signed by President Trump… That does give some level of comfort if you will,” she said.

Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sabrina Joy Hogg told the committee that American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are separately held and that obligated ARPA balances are in city accounts, which would make any federal clawback more complicated. “The funds are in our bank account. So if they're gonna claw it back, they're gonna have to take it from our bank account,” she said.

The committee asked the administration to supply more frequent, department-level reports showing which grant amounts are still unreimbursed, which are payroll versus programmatic, and what contingency plans or reserve strategies the city should consider while federal policy remains unsettled.

Ending: Anderson said her office will continue to share notifications with congressional representatives and asked council members to forward any notices they receive from local partners so the city can escalate problems quickly.","City staff presented a department-by-department inventory showing $294.4 million in active or anticipated federal financial assistance; officials identified social services, housing and public utilities as the programs at greatest risk if an Office of Management and Budget freeze moves forward.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee forwards multiple ordinances and one resolution to council, recommending approval

City to seek acceptance of DCR grant to modernize stormwater asset inventory; council asks for Southside clarifications

Greater Richmond Partnership outlines new five-year plan, flags perception and air service gaps

Richmond analysis flags $294.4 million in federal assistance and $116.5 million at risk if federal freeze proceeds