[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6527614,"mediaKeyId","3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33","parentId",3558790,"title","Committee approves minutes; staff directed to assemble follow-up reports","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3513000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33&start=3513&end=3513","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33/thumbnail_3513000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6527614/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-approves-minutes-staff-directed-to-assemble-follow-up-reports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527614-8e5bb0d6ad455022671578453fbef447/orig.mp4?Expires=1770684274&Signature=TEMQ-zjV~nOmCDZ3J4hS7JRslDONHuXBTVidBM8vN4KuVyBur2o1QxwAjJahWSh7DeuW5EnGdcORexilJo66kHepIS85C1STpyRaEU1awHLqk6Yn3ddaf-KhVb8eUpJwaJ0w~rfPWZJ5sy3Y4WdaheS9U~1iZnj7jcFPnEwW42Frd9AbBaVrU9rInxafIbFgm4tw5Zt3uayeQj1s9gYc6zK1IysfqrzlRTYChwb7U9pKM87UH1zfH4v2p1Y2Y7x4uti6cUl12C38IGw4OAcXY64QI0yrSXQGn42m3xn0s86QVVKoDfXOF0nFJ7jZdgQZc7LFOt4pGHjmdgbZ~fqeTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-05-28T00:00:00Z","article","The committee approved the minutes for the Governmental Operations Standing Committee meetings on March 26, 2025 and April 23, 2025 without amendments.

Staff (recorded by Jared Jerten) summarized follow-up items the committee requested during the meeting. From the Department of Public Utilities the committee asked for a review of the oxidation system and progress restoring it, a record of maintenance completed since January 2025, any preliminary after‑action information on the week’s water events, and the Gas Works main extension policy. From the Department of Public Works (urban forestry), staff requested the SOPs that explain how tree‑work requests are triaged and prioritized with public‑safety as the first criterion.

Clerical items: staff also noted a possible rescheduling of the June committee meeting to June 11 to accommodate council business; the clerk’s office will confirm member availability.

These staff directions were recorded in the meeting wrap‑up; they do not represent formal council ordinances or motions but are standard administrative follow-ups.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Governmental Operations Standing Committee on 2025-05-28 1:00 PM - To access the meeting via Microsoft Teams, please use the following link: https://go.rva.gov/GovOps-May28 or dial *67-804-316-9457 and enter ID:890 648 096# - May 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Governmental Operations Standing Committee approved minutes for March 26 and April 23, 2025, and staff recorded follow-up requests for DPU and DPW including oxidation system review, maintenance records, SOPs for urban forestry prioritization, and the Gas Works main extension policy.","taxTitle","Richmond City (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",5755,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6527619,"Urban Forestry kicks off master plan, aims to plant nearly 2,000 trees with ARPA funds",983,7597000,8580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33&start=7597&end=8580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33/thumbnail_7597000.jpg","/articles/6527619/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Urban-Forestry-kicks-off-master-plan-aims-to-plant-nearly-2000-trees-with-ARPA-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527619-19314f40719d29bf1ca8c8f797687c4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770684274&Signature=fFT0QwyHDP97uWxspRE3JH1zFQZbm4Pm0SQYXKhvORzxsp2QCo8PGDlCpDQesmRtsJvgtgn1mSAT4R6wixWzkxHP1Ruj5LzWuwTVXHgGEV9n7MeiHCNeroY~vNqtpb6Sl~WKkkxF6b5aHFFrXUBI3CDN1YxmTzjl79NwnX7MndyfOMWC4lgo3I6YFQxdmxmHMDgWoOEwupLLSVH5IisPmXLV2PJL9VUpXlJYEC9hbmWAAnsbRl0eqpHZn7fqb4WwWM7UmMjJLEVlS7iNzosej2krObcGMpvK5x7duACDjd5VgbwgZOMYsCf~MrkchUtcIqC9dJS8fi53umH2W-7sJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Toram Richardson, operations manager for Urban Forestry, and Michael Webb, urban forester, told the committee the department will begin an urban forest master plan this summer and is using ARPA and USDA grant funds to expand plantings and maintenance.

Richardson said operations manage permit reviews, debris response for storms, on-call coverage, and a network of contractors and community partners. He told the committee the division responds to requests entered through the city’s 311 system and tries to inspect tickets within five business days when conditions permit.

Webb said the planning division has executed contracts for a four‑year urban forest master plan that will include an updated urban tree canopy assessment, community engagement, and a 10–15‑year implementation roadmap to reach canopy goals woven into RVA 300 planning. He said the last canopy study was in 2010 and reported roughly 42 percent tree canopy; Webb said the new assessment will reflect development and change over the last 15 years and that the city is likely below the 2010 figure.

On planting and operations, staff said ARPA funds have paid for roughly 950 trees planted to date and plan to add about 1,000 more plantings by the end of 2025. Richardson reported that average wait times for non‑emergency pruning and removal were roughly 57 days for pruning and about 140 days for removals, noting those averages reflect contractors, weather, storm response, and other constraints. He said the current annual urban forestry operating budget (excluding ARPA) is about $1.4 million and that roughly 90 percent of day‑to‑day tree removal and planting work is contracted; the division is recruiting to expand in‑house capacity where feasible.

Webb also highlighted a recent change in state law (March 2025) enabling municipalities to create a tree canopy bank that permits developers to pay into a centralized fund if they cannot meet canopy requirements on site. Webb said the bank could help concentrate plantings in priority areas.

Committee members asked about zone coverage and staffing; Richardson and Webb said staff reassign operations as needed when workload spikes and that the master plan will guide long‑term staffing and investment. The committee requested copies of SOPs for triage and prioritization; staff agreed to provide those documents.","Department staff announced an urban forest master plan kickoff and said ARPA funds have already planted roughly 950 trees with a goal of about 1,950 total plantings this year; staff said they will update the city’s canopy assessment and pursue community engagement.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6527623,"New General Services department cites $295M in deferred maintenance; FY26 CIP covers about 4%",1225,5437000,6662000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33&start=5437&end=6662","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33/thumbnail_5437000.jpg","/articles/6527623/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/New-General-Services-department-cites-295M-in-deferred-maintenance-FY26-CIP-covers-about-4","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527623-782c1e804b6503128298761773407792/orig.mp4?Expires=1770684274&Signature=GPxtYRmRtJlj3iVhWT1f91KtlJkTm0RMAt3w~MW0h99fWQjfm0rA2RgtRUsktWs9m3YYvnHeAeSCccd~2Oq~abl-B90BHIBYf6kdWgTYNlNs12Q4zM9IoaQE4qq7j1sj1NHPUo-oSQsll4ZGfCvjxAxnnSMw7nUZDZqKF71h0jsphAr7FXM~ibNSeaLezQ0j0641~XY1ZvyK43bf~AuQFcvdgBBv8BO3sQIeJvvVQMmMeWcyZwFiFUA-x9XAnysrljJ6kDfq6CREaHiWB~X3zevtCnTPNpnHngf1TLULxlZAe9-VznTf~yTMyy70e9BkN64MWrPA846X5sMti-laWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gail Johnson, director of the newly formed Department of General Services, told the committee the 2019 facility condition assessments showed approximately $295 million in deferred maintenance across the portfolio of city buildings. Johnson said the department is updating assessments, implementing new facility-management software and prioritizing work based on risk and funding.

Johnson said the generalized capital maintenance program, created in FY2023 to consolidate project funding and allow flexibility for emergency or unplanned needs, has averaged roughly $4.5 million per year previously. For FY26 the generalized capital maintenance appropriation totals $16.1 million, of which about $11.0 million is dedicated to General Services facilities. Johnson said that level covers only about 4% of the estimated deferred maintenance need identified in the 2019 assessment.

She told the committee the three most deficient buildings identified in 2019 were City Hall, the John Marshall Court Building, and the Main Library (all graded poor under the facility condition index used in the assessment). The department has already done work at some of those sites and expects newer assessments to show improvements once the updated data are compiled.

Johnson described the distinction between preventive maintenance (routine scheduled work), capital maintenance (longer-term projects to extend useful life), and deferred maintenance (needed work delayed for financial or scheduling reasons). She said a new software tool will help the department prioritize projects, model facility condition index (FCI) changes, and request appropriate CIP funding.

Council members asked about the economics of repairing aging systems versus replacement (for example, replacing riser valves or a roof at the John Marshall building). Johnson said each large project will be evaluated case-by-case and that some must be done when systems are at failure risk. She offered to provide the committee a detailed plan for the FY26 generalized capital maintenance allocation.

Johnson said facilities work is currently about 30% in‑house and 70% contracted, and that staffing and recruiting shortages—particularly for trades—limit the department’s ability to expand in‑house work quickly.

The committee received the update and asked staff for the FY26 general services maintenance plan and additional detail on priority projects and expected operating‑budget savings from targeted capital investments.","Director Gail Johnson told the committee that Richmond’s consolidated General Services department is updating facility condition assessments and estimates $295 million in deferred maintenance; the FY26 generalized capital maintenance budget allocates about $11 million to those needs.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6527627,"Richmond Gas Works adopts rate increase, seeks in-house crews to speed pipeline work",985,3566000,4551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33&start=3566&end=4551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33/thumbnail_3566000.jpg","/articles/6527627/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-Gas-Works-adopts-rate-increase-seeks-in-house-crews-to-speed-pipeline-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527627-09d09531eb65ad7da69670efbccbe1bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770684274&Signature=G5hbAzVyApvMMIrpWaa2TTrpKLkPQ1cye5~Wk~Jq195YitvpBUU3hpz8fRKvamWaraD9jOIxmy~hXOKMXjM59Dlcv0xCvJ3HjRV62EZ2tvk6RvA32S15MP7UaAU8RrT6NawBMD~0GSAPq4lRKa~aSo6AGiGMlQ4lS0g9AcVQceIqZXyNEXSKR~e95CQ9N1D9cN-U5osy2Si3bBEl3EWnp08Cy0rN3PbfcrFdUXEaJ0Vy2-q4LYqWevh-kjb5XMTK6A9AHgNDTxPmp-KWmUn2O4GMYIJmasoo7C~jaCCQduCNeXPGQRev9RSRarQKOzn~ATGu1b6YB-8vifCHGr4KKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dan Reifenberg, who presented Gas Works operations for the Department of Public Works, told the committee the utility’s adopted financial plan aims to rebuild capital reserves while avoiding a rate shock for customers.

He said the council-adopted rate adjustment effectively amounts to a 5.25% increase and that projected revenues under the adopted rates would begin to exceed expenditures, allowing the utility to grow its capital reserves. Reifenberg said the gas utility reported “$10,000,000 free cash flow” but has “very limited liquidity.”

Reifenberg told members PHMSA grants (federal pipeline safety grants) have covered roughly $65,000,000 of recent capital needs and that the grants, together with the adopted rates, should allow the utility to slowly rebuild operating and capital reserves. He also explained the seasonal nature of gas commodity prices (Henry Hub) and noted summer prices now spike for power generation demand.

A central operational change proposed is hiring internal construction crews to accelerate main replacement and leak repairs. Reifenberg said contractors’ renewal prices rose—from roughly $19,000,000 to $29,000,000—prompting a plan to hire internal crews. The staffing plan proposes starting two in-house crews per year and ramping to as many as 18 crews over nine years. He said the internal‑crew model breaks even around year two because up-front equipment purchases drive early-year costs; over time internal crews would be less costly than a full contract model.

Reifenberg reported system scale and condition: approximately 128,000 meters, about 106,000 service lines, nearly 2,000 miles of main and roughly 1,000 miles of service pipe. He said remaining replacement work focuses on older cast and ductile iron mains in dense, low‑pressure areas, and that completing replacement could extend many years (plans referenced a multi‑decade schedule).

Council members asked about reserve targets and rate impacts on customers. Reifenberg said the utility’s financial policy target is a $30,000,000 minimum operating reserve and a capital reserve target (presented in the slides) of about $900,000 in the near term, with the adopted rates improving debt coverage toward a 1.5x target. He also said the utility uses a cost-of-service study (normally every five years) to allocate charges by customer class.

Asked about alternatives and climate strategy, Reifenberg said operations will continue to repair leaks and abandon lines only when no customers remain on a segment. Council members discussed longer‑term questions about electrification, master planning, and whether a buy‑out or transition to electric appliances had ever been costed; Reifenberg said those options would require further study and outside expertise.

Staff follow-up requests recorded at the meeting included a request for the Gas Works main extension policy and additional documentation of maintenance and audits.

Reifenberg’s presentation and committee questions indicate the utility is balancing near‑term financial stabilization with long‑term infrastructure replacement, using federal grant support while planning to expand in‑house capacity to accelerate main replacement.","City staff presented a financial plan for Richmond Gas Works that includes adopted 5.25% rate adjustments, federal PHMSA grants to rebuild reserves, and a multi-year plan to hire internal construction crews to replace expensive contracting costs.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6527632,"DPU: Water plant back near full production; boil advisory to remain until state samples clear",1766,2032000,3798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33&start=2032&end=3798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558790-f2edbf71676f0b4e47cd15e1bff8ad33/thumbnail_2032000.jpg","/articles/6527632/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/DPU-Water-plant-back-near-full-production-boil-advisory-to-remain-until-state-samples-clear","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527632-39c756b9f2371c220b7d919326bca869/orig.mp4?Expires=1770684274&Signature=kCDeelBbYHPfzedfuLMxUlhX-iRzh78hjbMdgMQfEtmTm9TJMcx9nHNtUdtn3k6hD6M0FXZgcuEAjuZW7xDFbZzytB~yqqCBN9OJg4v7KW5rFY4tva4unkXU1Zv9Zbj2UKFnx6mdhqXiuVeQ6zZb4Cx1XCFWAMEIGy~4S9OIrlaLKdFO3ERtz163BmjDsoZqu-lzm6PtDvmv~94I-2wNwUxDNOussqmqYT-9Z5xJcL~IG~3fu~W7JS2WFksij8oJSKEgXZ3T~J0oBvnOrNdZp-qfJRAKG14~AwmeDBoBVm0w4X38AB1WOT1TNpgXbHuqhz01kL7uifCYg-49s4i6nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Scott Morrison, Department of Public Utilities, told the Governmental Operations Standing Committee that Richmond’s water treatment plant has returned to near-full production but a boil water advisory will remain until state-required compliance samples clear.

Morrison said “Last night, we had about 20 PSI recovery in the system” and that the utility took the compliance sample required by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). “That sample will be coming out of the incubator, roughly around 09:00 tonight,” he said, adding a second compliance sample will complete the 24-hour required series.

The advisory matters because city staff must show consecutive passing compliance samples to VDH before lifting the boil water notice, a step Morrison said officials are monitoring closely. He described the treatment plant as producing roughly 60 to 65 million gallons per day and said turbidity readings from filters were within normal ranges.

Morrison described routine filter maintenance and the backwash sequence used to purge sediment, and said the plant underwent multiple sequential backwashes during the event. He told the committee that the plant has 22 filters, “8 of them are in service and 4 are out of service,” and that three or four filters remain under repair with parts on order.

Council members pressed whether an oxidation system referenced in local reporting had been offline since winter; Morrison replied, “I do not know the reason why the system was offline since December. I can go back and research it for you and give you an update.” He said that, based on current information, that oxidation system did not drive the turbidity event that led to the advisory.

The committee also discussed reservoir and tank capacities. Morrison said Bird Park Reservoir holds about 55,000,000 gallons and was operating at reduced capacity for construction (about half full), while the Ginter Park tank is roughly a 1,000,000‑gallon tank and was not large enough to compensate for Bird Park’s reduced volume. He told members that greater reservoir capacity would have provided more buffer time to recover filters and “most likely would not have had a boil water advisory.”

Morrison said the utility has developed new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for communications and other recovery actions after earlier incidents in January and the recent fluoride issue; he said those SOPs improved response and public notification. He committed to providing council with a timeline for a root‑cause analysis and to report back on maintenance records and findings.

Next steps: Morrison said the first compliance sample result was due the night of the meeting and a follow-up incubated sample would be ready the following afternoon; he told the committee he expected an update on whether the advisory could be lifted shortly after the second sample. Staff also committed to return with additional documentation requested by council, including the status of the oxidation system and records of maintenance since January.

The committee’s staff list of requested follow-ups (captured at meeting close) also asked DPU for “any preliminary information on an after‑action review for the events this week at the water treatment plant.”","Director Scott Morrison told the Governmental Operations Standing Committee the treatment plant is producing at 60–65 MGD and that the city is awaiting state lab results before lifting a boil water advisory. He said filters and tanks are recovering and a root-cause analysis is planned.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves minutes; staff directed to assemble follow-up reports

Urban Forestry kicks off master plan, aims to plant nearly 2,000 trees with ARPA funds

New General Services department cites $295M in deferred maintenance; FY26 CIP covers about 4%

Richmond Gas Works adopts rate increase, seeks in-house crews to speed pipeline work

DPU: Water plant back near full production; boil advisory to remain until state samples clear