[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6561074,"mediaKeyId","3298390-cc946cee7f60871cd7284ca413936039","parentId",3298390,"title","Council appoints RJ Warren as council chief of staff","audioSeconds",84,"startMs",6492000,"endMs",6576000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3298390-cc946cee7f60871cd7284ca413936039&start=6492&end=6576","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3298390-cc946cee7f60871cd7284ca413936039/thumbnail_6492000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6561074/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Council-appoints-RJ-Warren-as-council-chief-of-staff","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561074-4c5138fab498ac309d8f7b27dd92e251/orig.mp4?Expires=1770919977&Signature=I2icu3U4-~qa1GjxnSkTxO6~BGf60ecHUg6f8CvKBtNHlzdRfvoo1gyFzP83Kf8Bj5fNMysrioQihHTcuarmO5hXEITfG~8s~tqLnQxQJJ11SPMw5xrLzAcH-WlmH0ds3hBHywQe3gx1yR42Adx3UbrIEBi1SkZK8W7xd2c6Xoryp1EtP0MScp90JjVh1NfINprbkVww5BXWDbbiNDm-N7~qPULc2wTBTjjHweWdaZaW87J6gAouWOZ0lLboi2AjEbiGq34-cjrUsvYd9RqmQuB2lnErXCsvyNgfA5nnLMISIf-u7JwwJBjE7sb8XMAv58sGVuReejSq9PqqRCYWyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-05-14T00:00:00Z","article","Richmond City Council approved a resolution appointing RJ Warren to serve as council chief of staff following expedited consideration on Tuesday evening.

Councilmember Breton moved to expedite consideration and Councilmember Robertson seconded; the council voted to expedite and then voted on the resolution. The clerk recorded aye votes and the item was adopted. The clerk announced that the paper \"has been adopted.\" There were no public comments in opposition or support recorded during the public hearing for the appointment.

President Newbill welcomed RJ Warren and thanked the outgoing chief of staff for service; council members said they look forward to working with the incoming chief of staff. The resolution was adopted during the same meeting and will take effect as provided in the resolution language.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Richmond City Council Formal Meeting - May 12, 2025 - May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Richmond City Council adopted a resolution appointing RJ Warren as council chief of staff after expedited consideration and a public hearing with no speakers in opposition or support recorded in the meeting transcript.","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},6561079,"City Council adopts FY2026 budget after contentious public hearing over mobile-home repairs and housing aid",4611,1873000,6484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3298390-cc946cee7f60871cd7284ca413936039&start=1873&end=6484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3298390-cc946cee7f60871cd7284ca413936039/thumbnail_1873000.jpg","/articles/6561079/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/City-Council-adopts-FY2026-budget-after-contentious-public-hearing-over-mobile-home-repairs-and-housing-aid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561079-56f403b8b1b092fa9f10b47ad118b539/orig.mp4?Expires=1770919977&Signature=QQtcg~arpdYsgFVLrAw8DITzOBOCkmmSF6sOZjwHACLlFbdXjMK2Kb~-r8-w-~TMw~li1MiS49GHsAjkpYIpZPzrTV7SWF6TifBWyJO9~i3MgVz~Dzzfd5vsfDIyhgaeoWEwMnR~TkiCBfvPB6zV3XPk4Gah1eQGNUIs9337oZheEEq4NpVwyNra75kxeYZlxaWQvTMWkBjFTDNOQH-ZmCLvEgwk~f8L8BcnreDGysSvtHK5aPBEDwzwjo2HWNNxWW5Az-A~4c~sRskyqhAq8B2MsTMCFlWetL8mD7l0E0j~6e2RsOqTR57YxvMriQpzChQjeKiANVMhwR3I0ZNjnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richmond City Council on Tuesday adopted the mayor’s fiscal 2026 budget (ordinances 20-25-57 through 20-25-63) after a lengthy public hearing and debate in which residents and community organizers pressed the council to increase funding for mobile-home repairs, the Family Crisis Fund, eviction diversion and legal counsel for tenants.

Speakers at the public hearing included large contingents from RISC (Richmonders Involved to Strengthen our Communities) and New Virginia Majority, who repeatedly urged the council to restore or add funding the mayor did not include. Beverly Bryant, a RISC team leader, said mobile-home repairs are ‘‘life-changing’’ and requested $1,000,000 in this year’s budget. Beverly Ross, an advanced practice nurse and RISC team leader, described respiratory illnesses among children she attributes to poor conditions in mobile homes.

Community organizers also sought a larger Family Crisis Fund and stronger eviction-prevention measures. Peter Finn of New Virginia Majority urged council to support the proposed amendment for the Family Crisis Fund, saying the fund is “an immediate answer” to many pending eviction cases. Organizers asked the council to consider amounts substantially larger than the final amendment adopted.

Council members described a budget process constrained by time and limited discretionary dollars available to the council. Council Member Aberbacher said her \"no\" vote was a protest of process: \"Council ... was left with only around $1,900,000 to shape in a $3,000,000,000 budget,\" she said, adding that her dissent reflected concern about transparency and the short window for amendments.

Council Member Gibson also criticized the process and said she would vote against the budget despite modest gains achieved via amendments: \"The budget falls short ... the public is not looking for baby steps,\" Gibson said.

Other council members acknowledged shortcomings but supported the budget. Council Member Lynch and others said the budget contained investments they considered important and committed to revising the budget process for next year.

Key amendments adopted or noted during debate included additional funding for right-to-counsel and eviction-diversion programs, funding for elements of the People’s Budget, and a mobile-home repair allocation (an amount described in testimony and amendment debates). The transcript records public requests for $800,000 (attributed to a mayoral pledge cited by several speakers) and public advocacy for $1,000,000 from council amendments, while organizers urged substantially larger investments in the Family Crisis Fund (some speakers requested $9,000,000).

The council voted on the package of budget ordinances as a group. Votes recorded by the clerk were: Breton — Aye; Gibson — No; Jones — Aye; Robertson — Aye; Lynch — Aye; Abu Bakr — No; Vice President Jordan — Yes; President Newbill — Aye. The clerk announced the ordinances \"have been adopted.\" The final tally on the floor was 6 yes, 2 no.

Speakers and community groups signaled they will continue advocacy on mobile-home repairs, eviction prevention and contract-worker wages. Several commenters urged a living wage for city-contracted security and maintenance workers and inclusion of wage standards in upcoming procurement (RFP) specifications.

The transcript does not record final line-item allocations for every program discussed. Council members committed to additional work sessions and to revisiting the budget-development timeline and procedures for fiscal 2027.

Votes at a glance:
- Ordinances 20-25-57 through 20-25-63 (FY2026 budget package) — Adopted, vote 6–2 (No: Gibson, Abu Bakr).

The council also approved multiple consent-agenda ordinances earlier in the meeting and made several continuations; those items were adopted as presented in a separate consent vote.","Richmond City Council adopted the mayor’s FY2026 budget and related ordinances after an extended public hearing focused on mobile-home repairs, eviction prevention funding and contract-worker wages; the final vote passed 6–2 with two members opposing.",{"_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},6561085,"Council approves special-use permit for mixed-use building at Patterson and Libby",976,896000,1872000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3298390-cc946cee7f60871cd7284ca413936039&start=896&end=1872","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3298390-cc946cee7f60871cd7284ca413936039/thumbnail_896000.jpg","/articles/6561085/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Council-approves-special-use-permit-for-mixed-use-building-at-Patterson-and-Libby","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561085-155864ed8542f05b08c2c95d9d8da5c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770919977&Signature=hNy52DlBXVcL0KP83vThNyrV2ijiV1XvGL~~3fd7wVRcRUQ3hwk1bFNi~ND2nkwJnOAvY~bEWSmIhFxqpGWS7Nh3~Dcw3glSM6FT4utxFI7G5Y06zig~zv3y1lVt38Qz3U7r0ig7mmcrMRZzUfguLvDP9BRfUoCBkbD8k-609hQyYihn2c4PBnDcklfzQQkt7YP5vPBrIYq7GtC1gs9HsBVi0q6C4ejYP~vvOsNq53s5V~yrQbh8EzCA-PTjBWkuESqVlN7nUXOVXpgOkUmn52-Dw4xm2isvYofVsKdAfpdV09dVzwYj6kh~VBpBfoPlhoQWzAnahIzWN~1zXcyv3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richmond City Council on Tuesday adopted an ordinance approving a special-use permit for a mixed-use building at 5728 Patterson Avenue and 805 Libby Avenue, allowing limited deviations from zoning standards including a stepped-back fourth story and reduced front yard setbacks.

The permit—item 25 on the regular agenda—was presented to the council by Kevin Javonk, director of Planning and Development Review, who said staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval and that the proposal aligns with the Richmond 300 land-use plan. \"Staff has reviewed this and has recommended its support,\" Javonk said.

Opponents, including Tammy Rose, a Westwood resident, urged council to consider impacts on parking, traffic and displacement in nearby historic neighborhoods. \"There are a lot of cars. It is impacting transportation. It's impacting traffic,\" Rose said during the public hearing, urging council to consider impacts on seniors and long-term residents.

Representatives for the applicant said the project had been revised based on community feedback and emphasized pedestrian improvements and off-street parking. Jennifer Mullin, speaking for the applicant, described the permit as a waiver of three specific feature requirements—height, a reduced front yard and outdoor dining on Libby—and said the project provides 24 off-street parking spaces plus on-street spaces nearby. \"The SUP meets and exceeds the criteria for a waiver of the feature requirements,\" Mullin said.

Tyler Curry, an ownership representative, said the ownership group committed to allowing public access to parking after hours and on weekends and offered to donate bricks if the city installs brick crosswalks at the Patterson–Libby intersection.

Councilman Bridal, who said he convened meetings with owners and community groups, described mitigation measures for parking and pedestrian safety and said he would support the permit. After discussion, the council voted to adopt ordinance number 20-204-329; members voting in favor included Breton, Gibson, Jones, Robertson, Lynch, Abu Bakr, Vice President Jordan and President Newbill. The clerk announced, \"That paper has been adopted.\"

Council members who spoke during the discussion acknowledged broader concerns about displacement and pledged continued work on targeted protections for nearby neighborhoods. Bridal said he was \"working with\" community members and planning staff on targeted solutions for Westwood and other nearby areas.

The ordinance authorizes the special-use permit subject to conditions on materials, façade treatments, stepbacks and public-infrastructure improvements agreed during review. Implementation details—including timing for construction, building permits and any required infrastructure work—were not specified in the public record at the hearing.

Council minutes show the item was introduced as the regular agenda's item 25 and moved through public hearing, public comment, council discussion and final vote in a single meeting.

Looking ahead, staff will track building-permit applications and any additional community conditions required by the permit. The transcript does not specify a construction start date or the permit's effective date.","Richmond City Council voted unanimously to adopt a special-use permit allowing a partial fourth story and other deviations for a mixed-use building at 5728 Patterson Avenue and 805 Libby Avenue after public hearings and revisions requested by council and staff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council appoints RJ Warren as council chief of staff

City Council adopts FY2026 budget after contentious public hearing over mobile-home repairs and housing aid

Council approves special-use permit for mixed-use building at Patterson and Libby