[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6529940,"mediaKeyId","3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc","parentId",3773869,"title","Committee forwards ordinance to align utility disconnect rules with 2024 state law","audioSeconds",380,"startMs",2352000,"endMs",2732000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc&start=2352&end=2732","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc/thumbnail_2352000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6529940/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-forwards-ordinance-to-align-utility-disconnect-rules-with-2024-state-law","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529940-324c8942ba9cf41737b35be37ad6fcae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445335&Signature=gIVmaTXxWu1Vx0sOysA4mDPVxGkmMjALA6WzvIIHvdr5H8e-h1iNBo17m55UNO0QU7NnM0hnULjWcUF5FUbqbvy3WNAxiBL0gmoqe51~cuV9VEqM-z5~AHSHnviWVQzHJCgxUIwSGIgJMES7YlRrqyp-zJ0gsT8~HpQGvTA9X-oSh4knW3TmAHpr7Brv4RvL1xgVjodbSXBRIQJF8wF2GsZFOa7VRC~s5-6WOKLKH4veQXMTfIm0fyujM728fRKx9pUT2LLEdQeO1TC11lR3OV~TaIL~E5~nfc8tsFh0QG5EQHLzCX-~aoNRmVj-E1uisPLaBHCYBUCYhqWqq4ReWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-06-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Governmental Operations Standing Committee on Wednesday voted to forward an ordinance to city council that amends city code sections governing deposits, refunds and disconnections for gas, water and wastewater service to align with 2024 state law (House Bill 904).

The ordinance, described in the meeting as changes to city code sections 28-54, 28-57 and 28-58, is intended to mirror state prohibitions on disconnects during high-heat periods and around holidays and to ensure the city’s gas utility — which is governed by the State Corporation Commission — follows comparable rules. Scott Morris, director of the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), introduced the paper and said the changes align local code with the state law and list the affected sections of the city code.

Why it matters: The ordinance sets local standards for when the city may disconnect utility service for nonpayment, and it adds explicit cross-references to state law. Committee members pressed staff about how the rules will be implemented and what consumer protections will accompany any resumption of disconnects.

DPU told the committee the city is not currently performing disconnections and will not resume them until billing issues are corrected. Morris said the utility plans customer outreach and updates to internal procedures before reinstating disconnects. He also described the city’s extended-payment program, PromisePay: “PromisePay is something they can go over 36 months. It basically spreads out that delinquency over the 36 month period and, in essence, is almost like an interest free loan to the individual to pay back.” Morris said accounts enrolled in PromisePay receive an annotation preventing disconnection while the plan is active.

Committee members asked for data on outstanding delinquencies to understand the scope of arrears before disconnects resume. DPU said it has ongoing outreach to customers with past-due balances and offers payment plans and other options; no detailed arrears totals were provided during the hearing.

Public comment on the ordinance yielded no speakers. The committee voted to forward the ordinance 20 25-1 34 to council with a recommendation to approve. Recorded votes in the meeting transcript show a unanimous committee recommendation (Miss Gibson: Yes; Vice Chair Abubakar: Aye).

Details and next steps: Committee discussion clarified that the ordinance does not change the city’s deposit or refund formulas; those references appear in the ordinance for consistency. Committee members asked staff to provide follow-up information about the volume and age of delinquent accounts and to notify the public before disconnects resume.

Votes at this committee do not finalize law; forwarding the ordinance sends it to full council for final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Governmental Operations Standing Committee on 2025-06-11 2:30 PM - To access the meeting via Microsoft Teams, please use the following link: https://go.rva.gov/GovOps-June11 or dial *67-804-316-9457 and enter ID:667 602 957# - Jun 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Governmental Operations Standing Committee on Wednesday voted to forward an ordinance to city council that amends city code sections governing deposits, refunds and disconnections for gas, water and wastewater service to align with 2024 state law (House Bill 904).","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},6529920,"Committee backs residency requirement for senior executives despite administration concerns",1114,3265000,4379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc&start=3265&end=4379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc/thumbnail_3265000.jpg","/articles/6529920/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-backs-residency-requirement-for-senior-executives-despite-administration-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529920-c87c85c47f161a98dafa054f34e40a4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445335&Signature=ZM46F7Kgu9gQrO5IxYj85uoi-37vEDmljtyoaeCYNS4WHdFwoXU6TngWDE7lpPANbWMH-B3WYe3EdDWrf7rjo1rdB3sczxLetor355xiKPVsugEjUxVA2RDnwL8k3ECjgMjwEb4ncUpf7behLFKF6Ej7Nf74n0ooIjSvjYIYaqoVPck3GetsaT4n7F5ZfMgAZCzt9Pk6gH~W9aHnhxT5W9lsvD5dO3bFihmD9n4K~tynO6JBz396GkoPNW-j8Q0SStoGEq8TrckuL7~itN8u6ewbX41Eu3M4AZPkZ7BENZ9aRuObXT4bgDRnUX5ncfYY8SN2iWHCjqLNyEtUF93R-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Governmental Operations Standing Committee voted to forward an ordinance to city council that would modify Richmond’s residency requirement for certain officers and employees, expanding residency expectations for senior executive roles. Committee members debated the policy’s aims and potential impacts before recommending approval.

Council members who supported the ordinance said requiring senior executives to live in the city promotes accountability, better service design and improved public trust. One backer argued that “when folks who work for the city live in the city, that the city is better for all of us.” The proposal was described by supporters as targeted to senior executive service roles and not intended to apply to the majority of the city’s roughly 4,000 employees.

Administration officials opposed the change. Sharon Ebert, interim chief administrative officer, told the committee that the administration shares the goal of strong leadership but cautioned that stricter residency rules could reduce competitiveness when recruiting candidates who live in the surrounding region. Ebert said Richmond’s irregular boundaries mean some people living in nearby Henrico may be geographically closer to city workplaces than some residents inside the city. She urged caution so the city does not “go backwards” on recruitment gains achieved in recent years.

Tyrone Alexander, director of human resources, told the committee a more restrictive residency rule would hurt recruitment, retention and succession planning and could disqualify many otherwise-qualified candidates who live outside the city limits. Alexander said the Richmond metropolitan statistical area spans many localities and that a majority of the metro-area workforce lives outside Richmond proper.

Supporters reiterated that the ordinance includes exemptions to accommodate caregiving or other hardships and that the change targets highly paid senior positions. After public hearing (no speakers), the committee voted to forward ordinance 20 25-1 38 to council with a recommendation to approve. The transcript records Miss Gibson: Yes; Vice Chair Aberbacher: Aye.

Next steps: The ordinance will go to full council for consideration. Committee members asked staff and administration to continue discussions about implementation, exemptions and the ordinance’s effect on recruitment and compensation.","The Governmental Operations Standing Committee voted to forward an ordinance that would modify the city’s residency requirement for certain senior officers and employees, prompting debate among council members and opposition from administration officials who warned the change could hamper recruitment and retention.",{"_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},6529925,"Committee approves forwarding reverse-auction procurement ordinance to council",274,2986000,3260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc&start=2986&end=3260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc/thumbnail_2986000.jpg","/articles/6529925/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-approves-forwarding-reverse-auction-procurement-ordinance-to-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529925-fd41ab2ca2173e3abd45016e8db82f81/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445335&Signature=nQDL3TsEwOYnbuhE-d17YUHe2abWOEi3OOkl8PpPgRG1dG57EqfyemZM4HJhp-9iNwXTGq-yE1iINwERFO3UTBT8m7UOb21acSuW7NoUTnvIXfq8tsTUHHPruJR1zOiWBavty24wS9oJNcGBq7Q0AjFzlvKNmeLTOf1vRBj6ceVLzzCxblOKqnoPU4vrAf~RcnT-jCSE3KerDBSjGVWFeNLrPZv7kz3o0a~y-mJX7zSMkEp-0d3mk9uCOClqZfyjl968cMYemG-I5jW5cK9L1Tav96SqeGvLCYUcQ1agO9ZaJTf5~88kcriDH-wifkV1aTpIkJHPTVLH2yVlEC7Ddw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Governmental Operations Standing Committee voted to forward an ordinance to city council that adds a reverse-auction option to the city’s procurement code, authorizing procurement staff to use a Commonwealth-authorized tool to conduct reverse auctions for suitable commodities and bulk purchases.

Renee Almerz, director of the Department of Procurement Services, told the committee the tool is part of the city’s solicitation system, OpenGov, and described how reverse auctions work: suppliers bid against each other to lower a price on a line item, with the system advancing until no further bids are made. She said the tool would be used primarily for commodities such as paper, road salt and treatment chemicals and that procurement would still evaluate responsibility and responsiveness before awarding a contract.

A committee member asked whether other localities use reverse auctions and what commodities are suited to the format; Almerz said she has used reverse auctions at another municipality and that paper is a likely candidate. The director agreed to share savings information back to the committee if the city implements reverse auctions.

No public speakers spoke for or against the ordinance. The committee voted to forward ordinance 20 25-1 37 to council with a recommendation to approve. The transcript records Miss Gibson: Yes; Vice Chair Aberbacher: I (recorded as affirmative).","The committee voted to recommend an ordinance that would add reverse-auctioning to the city’s procurement tools, allowing competitive downward bidding for bulk commodities (paper, chemicals, road salt) via the city’s OpenGov solicitation system.",{"_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},6529929,"Committee forwards annual health department agreement to council",135,2768000,2903000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc&start=2768&end=2903","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc/thumbnail_2768000.jpg","/articles/6529929/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-forwards-annual-health-department-agreement-to-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529929-12c564507eae87df1b2a07c85a73dec9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445335&Signature=NqyYy3kVN4cO4c4uN~W4Ud67pMdkJZGRbSarQipgY2AD3MY7lMcNMc96OJLKwqi8pR-qlEMA2q-SSwCRPJYh~9FdTo4Dax0qyOKArM7AsY-FJL6trsmYdPMpVOm9SK8wHpFXl3XVI4gyhodTibGIK5L9hnUxfBLZWsRd5c8mJg19iLy9UGM9uIV41jQG-ZIvA-FC7yKHwhWf32SKlXU6iurWtnXHqWDa7885RN4au~dM9IJ9bnXCkQQG~cQMtm-PXPlqxU4l~pyjFCeNZjqXYmtiTuby0npS2T5bUI1xs~-2Usocdo1jHN05jFqeO3DtBA9GG1uIXmjroAb5ob2Uxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Governmental Operations Standing Committee recommended approval of an ordinance authorizing the chief administrative officer to execute the standard annual agreement between the city and the Virginia Department of Health to facilitate services by the Richmond Henrico Health District.

Dominic Barrett, senior policy advisor for human services, said the agreement is the state’s standard contract used with localities, executed on the state fiscal year cycle, and that the funds cited in the paper were already appropriated in the city’s FY25 budget. Barrett noted that legal review typically occurs between the state and the city attorney’s offices and that Dr. Perry of the Richmond Henrico Health District was available online for questions.

Public comment produced no speakers in favor or opposition. Committee members asked whether the ordinance contained substantive changes from prior years; Barrett said the only change was a minor revision in governing-body language to align contract wording with state requirements and that the change was not substantive.

The committee voted to forward ordinance 20 25-1 35 to council with the recommendation to approve. The transcript records Miss Gibson: Yes; Vice Chair Aberbacher: Aye. The motion carried.","The committee voted to recommend approval of an ordinance authorizing the city to execute the standard annual agreement with the Virginia Department of Health for services provided by the Richmond Henrico Health District; staff said the agreement is routine and funds were already appropriated in the FY25 budget.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6529935,"Committee continues ordinance 2025-136 to July 23 at patron's request",34,2309000,2343000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc&start=2309&end=2343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3773869-d84d617b5593f0845899b3a80e1c41dc/thumbnail_2309000.jpg","/articles/6529935/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-continues-ordinance-2025-136-to-July-23-at-patrons-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529935-f2551187c13c242a3b13b2e5ea7d2ec3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445335&Signature=U6EbgvCdOtPIMZkUfDTAuSC9De~L8wdV3OIk31-qNoTF6EwFzDe0mIs1d3vmhRisjegGKB2ITAGpOg-K~RTDfHdjXNNMe0mW4FRq1TFSeSXCq~9FEMyKhQQbMKDBTO9WE0gHrWUdNtPfHqn354HP-mar5WN9aBbCgXJ9Zzplb6Ag9K3BQVAfwsQql3G0xtT9CcEUNIO-oIsATAJvfoyYmr6PqE6Uz0j7JKpcqf1z7GSPp6O0ozO2wlSlltJzAY8-KPxIhZ-Sx8UVY9GgPoEQQdyChMhYYgMJQWgL3ZnPfvgIerncrz7onNH~IitRxYBxpqSFMB59WXFvFZIX5O5fDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council member Jordan, the chief patron of ordinance 20 25-1 36, requested the committee continue consideration of the paper to the committee’s July 23 meeting. A motion to continue the item was made and the committee voted to approve the continuance.

Why it matters: The continuance delays committee consideration and any recommendation to full council until the July meeting. Committee members did not debate the substance of the ordinance during the continuance vote.

Vote: The meeting transcript records the roll call for the continuance as Miss Gibson: Yes; Vice Chair Abubakar: Aye. The motion carried.","The Governmental Operations Standing Committee voted to continue ordinance 2025-136, at the request of its chief patron, to the July 23 committee meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee forwards ordinance to align utility disconnect rules with 2024 state law

Committee backs residency requirement for senior executives despite administration concerns

Committee approves forwarding reverse-auction procurement ordinance to council

Committee forwards annual health department agreement to council

Committee continues ordinance 2025-136 to July 23 at patron's request