[{"_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",6513928,"mediaKeyId","5065697-a873f281b5b67a8715d71b399eed5716","parentId",5065697,"title","Youth speakers propose a trade school/museum; staff to follow up with contacts","audioSeconds",298,"startMs",804000,"endMs",1102000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065697-a873f281b5b67a8715d71b399eed5716&start=804&end=1102","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065697-a873f281b5b67a8715d71b399eed5716/thumbnail_804000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6513928/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Youth-speakers-propose-a-trade-schoolmuseum-staff-to-follow-up-with-contacts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513928-12180106c978195c51d3cdd57428b103/orig.mp4?Expires=1771105791&Signature=QupqrvtQs1BIl0pjqmUtbiy9M-Wn32Ni3jZt782n3zLIMoSuZhPLu9GZWPETrmaHvOjgyNmYTMRhSb~G18Jc-uSndE-ivbL3cu0QV-~XA-snDda0yK0XLT2v2-TD8KTmuh~VHNC-GlolwbPoBz6lB1ZYO9q0uOv8EtgpIeYPv2p8MaoMwpA2j0smKoSLfurqfAJbxihZPrlSr81Qb2pjfzh2Zv1ydiMOLeDOHeauW6GD9kQKdYi0RPd4g~Bj6Zh50gbHphy24NW~DrO5WkG1EvBas5FtfgRTyXNn-gVqMmoDmvDSkEOZqQyG8B9l23sJtt9xiQarnZOG1xojiAh86Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-06-23T00:00:00Z","article","Two youth speakers and a community member urged Richmond City Council to support a local trade school and museum that would showcase trades, provide hands-on experience and offer career exposure for young people.

Cordae (Korde) Hodges Jr. introduced the idea and said the initiative—led by his mother and the Gilpin and Fourth residents—would not seek handouts but rather city support. Nariah Stith described the project as a way to offer guidance and job opportunities for students who may not pursue college and said the trade school would teach skills such as carpentry, technology and engineering while also preserving trade history.

After public comment, the council said that Amy Popovich would meet with the speakers to collect contact information so staff could follow up on the proposal.

Why it matters: The proposal seeks to provide workforce-training options and career pathways for youth while tying community education to local economic-development goals. No funding, location or formal city sponsorship was proposed during the public comment.

What was not specified: The speakers did not provide a detailed budget, proposed site, timeline, or formal partner agreements. They characterized the idea as community-led and requested support rather than direct city funding.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Richmond City Council Formal Meeting - June 23, 2025 - Jun 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Young residents asked the Richmond City Council to support a trade school and museum offering hands-on training in trades like carpentry and engineering; a city staff member said she would collect contact information for follow-up.","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},6513932,"Resident says heirs missed refund from tax-sale surplus funds; council says it will review submitted documents",185,1819000,2004000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065697-a873f281b5b67a8715d71b399eed5716&start=1819&end=2004","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065697-a873f281b5b67a8715d71b399eed5716/thumbnail_1819000.jpg","/articles/6513932/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Resident-says-heirs-missed-refund-from-tax-sale-surplus-funds-council-says-it-will-review-submitted-documents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513932-8c5b7a0f66ea8ddbef5ead13ae9cf6bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771105791&Signature=ci7BbYH54U7MOdYFfUs2q2ruaK2nFotp0ZyMhQgesKwCqepqTKgbtcfvDgcSpkUeZLEGSnkZmAl~kJI5wG5ERtZrok3CuwU2hSs89duUd5-68iQXfRUin5Jkdq0gpfqGfAu6G-KB62VYX~7a4E3aW2FNzhdb-Pg0wIbMs~nk7y8gYq1BHOmizHZMjP4Wwivf5jcXDNuJA8qu13uQCfQK5GkWAazHiTyEVOi4srpbp6~xtov6W~ycL-juO1ke9sxJg-NMYC9ybUT6aJnGv2~hIolpFEyDY75iuc9vaJ4adSeUeIp7alxnxS0PDuqGQ3o2eXSXa9tfNa58JXNcSlokqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Johnny Sizer used the public-comment period to raise a dispute over surplus funds from a tax sale involving property owned by his late mother, Rosetta Lightfoot Sizer.

Sizer said he and his sister were owed more than $16,000 each (a total he later cited as $34,000) from surplus funds after a tax sale. He told council the funds were held at the John Marshall Court offices for two years and that he and his sister—listed as heirs in court records—were not notified. Sizer said he raised the matter previously in 2020 with then-representative Kim Gray and that his inquiries were ‘‘stonewalled.’’

Sizer asked council to make the issue public and seek advocates for resolution. He told the council the situation felt ‘‘not ethical’’ and ‘‘painful’’ given their bereavement and his mother’s difficult life.

Council response: After Sizer finished speaking, the clerk and council acknowledged receipt of documents. The council said it would review the paperwork. A council member also referenced that a policy team associated with Councilmember Gibson had been looking into an ordinance on the topic, although the meeting record did not show a formal referral or an ordinance vote at this meeting.

Why it matters: Surplus funds from tax sales are intended for entitled heirs; claimants told council they were not notified and that the funds were not distributed as expected. The matter could prompt administrative or ordinance-level changes to notice and distribution procedures.

What was not specified: The meeting record does not include a formal finding, interdepartmental investigation result, or a final administrative remedy. The exact mechanism by which heirs are notified under current city/court procedures was not described at the meeting.

","Johnny Sizer told council he and his sister were unaware of $34,000 in surplus tax-sale funds deriving from their deceased mother's property and that the funds sat at the John Marshall Court building for two years; council said it will review documents he provided.",{"_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},6513937,"Descendants group and residents urge council to preserve Black cemeteries and back Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan",601,1124000,1725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065697-a873f281b5b67a8715d71b399eed5716&start=1124&end=1725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065697-a873f281b5b67a8715d71b399eed5716/thumbnail_1124000.jpg","/articles/6513937/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Descendants-group-and-residents-urge-council-to-preserve-Black-cemeteries-and-back-Cultural-Heritage-Stewardship-Plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513937-31a28b3be05d8680a15922f52e047e9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771105791&Signature=Wsj17HVh2Ov5sfWjYyg73xtvhHOH603V6E0FLmvk5bDxGc2~XwTek1t7pTUmjhkIZf4IAnD2PXoZ1AwZt2~P0MxQ4dbpJn4nx~~oU-JfI3v0WsP-q9RfJz58fEj31w3VYxm8YFrFsthSHdlpbmuA6V7C7McPrAxxE4zDUHob19pIr9H8noRoTIEZ5oMEcPrGyqMIZDXEm~A4vOF~-9pj4fibtlpxxMyyzmWmy2bWBeBVXQLxIpxvUE8U82nZPzEtE3EDGs6W4biGxZolsDYe1FHszfNi8g2VpnqKwJ0ucuw~fhhGCksA33C0aLrgUjJfwRauIfx44H9uKuE01djPkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents and descendants’ groups used public comment to press Richmond City Council to adopt the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan, a preservation-focused addendum to the Richmond 300 planning framework, and to ensure the planning commission reviews it properly.

Doreen Fleming, representing the Descendants Council of Greater Richmond, said the group—an African American descendant-led organization that took part in the plan’s stakeholder interviews—supports the CHSP because it proposes tailored strategies such as archaeological and architectural surveys, oral-history recording and support for state historical markers to protect cemeteries and other cultural sites.

Peyton Young told council members the planning commission’s May 20 public hearing on the plan was mishandled: the chair said a public hearing would occur, he said, but more than 80 members of the public waited as long as three hours and were not given an opportunity to speak. Young said some commission members criticized the plan without having read it and that the plan reflects months of community engagement by Richmond residents and consultants led by Kim Chan and Richmond’s Authenticity Studio with support from the Commonwealth Preservation Group.

Nancy Lambert, a past member of the CHPS advisory committee, described cultural heritage as the family heirlooms and institutions that give neighborhoods their distinct character and urged council to adopt the plan so those resources are not lost amid development.

Councilmember Lynch acknowledged the concerns and said she would work with the land-use committee chair to ensure the planning commission provides an update and that residents have an opportunity to be heard.

Why it matters: The CHSP is intended as a citywide preservation strategy tied to Richmond 300. Speakers argued it addresses long-standing harms such as redlining and resource extraction by recommending concrete preservation tools and community engagement.

What the record shows: The speakers asked that council ensure the planning commission reviews the plan “in good faith” and that the public be allowed to speak. Councilmembers indicated staff and committee follow-up would occur; a specific council vote on the plan was not recorded at this meeting.

","Speakers at Richmond City Council public comment urged adoption of the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan (CHSP) as an addendum to Richmond 300, criticized a May 20 planning commission hearing as mishandled, and asked council to ensure the planning commission reviews the plan in good faith.",{"_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},6513942,"Council approves agenda amendments, adopts school funding work group resolution and photo-speed camera study; consent agenda passes",797,2038000,2835000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065697-a873f281b5b67a8715d71b399eed5716&start=2038&end=2835","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065697-a873f281b5b67a8715d71b399eed5716/thumbnail_2038000.jpg","/articles/6513942/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Council-approves-agenda-amendments-adopts-school-funding-work-group-resolution-and-photo-speed-camera-study-consent-agenda-passes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513942-94dd032e67178649018498c92105635a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771105791&Signature=ncio4kW-hSFzn3h7qM0SDlAqcZH3hBNzDlgIiNgWjj~OfXOOTO2e-fp25~EFJStFW2-PlA~MhVLcJfdEPhszJGPc0IFgkKitFEjCXfHKTTYSiZazMPJh1kWO7ekvagoMP~Lxe8O3pGtq3t1oX~MOjaXCrShNnr76IAu8akZbYKzTmcgXqZ6ny39nJvMcFycEn8fGwuoeOkp2Wzkik9xmnyHg~RomaPA~jP~mx-zVoYLRFnV1D7Mbgq1v-CiQ3kSXLWBJtLhr2Dky9NtE-n7gKRU3UFh561HbEAedGe4~0ioyzzXUEnW9NSJkuT4l4jkqnaNaKbqAQ6jhAeHq2Cd3dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richmond City Council on an evening meeting approved a slate of agenda amendments, adopted a resolution requesting the mayor’s office establish a work group to develop a school-funding allocation formula, and adopted an amended resolution supporting study and potential installation of photo speed monitoring devices at high-risk locations.

The council approved multiple continuances and amendments to ordinances and passed the consent agenda containing more than two dozen ordinances and resolutions. Council members voted verbally in favor during roll call for each action.

Why it matters: The council’s vote on a work group to develop an annual general fund funding formula for Richmond Public Schools commits the city to producing an implementation plan for the fiscal 2027 budget cycle. The vote on photo speed monitoring directs city staff to study additional locations for automated speed enforcement under state law and consider increasing deployment.

The council first adopted a set of agenda amendments that moved or continued numerous ordinances (including ordinance numbers 2024-312, 2025-014, 2025-032, 2025-046, 2025-079, 2025-080, 2025-081, 2025-113, 2025-120, 2025-136 and others) to later council meetings as detailed in the meeting packet. After accepting those amendments, the council moved through the consent agenda, which included (by item numbers as read into the record) ordinances 2025-078, 2025-084 and ordinances 20 25 121 through 143, and resolutions 2025-R023, 2025-R024, 2025-R025, 2025-R026 and 2025-R029.

The council then considered and amended Resolution 2025-R023 to change the date by which the chief administrative officer’s (CAO’s) implementation plan is due to the mayor, council and school board. Megan Brown, the city’s director of budget and strategic planning, told the council the amendment changes the recommendation date from Aug. 30 to Oct. 15 “just due to timing of when we were able to get the paper in and introduced.” The council approved the amendment and later adopted the resolution.

Councilmembers also amended and adopted Resolution 2024-R041, which expresses support for studying and potentially installing photo speed monitoring devices in high-risk intersections, citing the Virginia Code authority for automated speed monitoring. The amendment narrowed the scope of the study and asked the CAO to consider additional locations and increased deployment.

Roll-call style votes recorded in the meeting transcript show the council adopting these measures, with members saying “aye” during each recorded vote; the clerk announced that the papers “have been adopted.”

Less-critical items: The council approved minutes from prior meetings and introduced a list of ordinances for future action. Several specific ordinances were continued to council meetings on July 7, July 28 and Sept. 8 as announced.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of remote participation: Council approved allowing Councilmember Ellen Robertson to participate via Microsoft Teams under council rules (motion approved by roll call). (See actions below.)
- Agenda amendments: multiple ordinances continued or amended as announced (motion approved by roll call).
- Consent agenda: passed (items listed in the meeting record were adopted by roll call).
- Resolution 2025-R023 (school funding work group): amended (date change to Oct. 15) and adopted.
- Resolution 2024-R041 (photo speed monitoring devices): amended and adopted.

The meeting record shows no recorded ‘‘no’’ votes on these items during the roll calls read into the transcript. Several items were continued for later council meetings, and the council directed staff follow-up where stated.

","Richmond City Council approved a package of agenda amendments and multiple measures including a resolution to form a school funding work group and a resolution supporting study of photo speed monitoring devices. The council also passed a large consent agenda and continued several ordinances to later meetings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Youth speakers propose a trade school/museum; staff to follow up with contacts

Resident says heirs missed refund from tax-sale surplus funds; council says it will review submitted documents

Descendants group and residents urge council to preserve Black cemeteries and back Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan

Council approves agenda amendments, adopts school funding work group resolution and photo-speed camera study; consent agenda passes