[{"_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",6747158,"mediaKeyId","5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b","parentId",5459551,"title","Council staff catalogues 81 required reports and asks whether publication of department reports should be centralized","audioSeconds",290,"startMs",3639000,"endMs",3929000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b&start=3639&end=3929","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b/thumbnail_3639000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6747158/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Council-staff-catalogues-81-required-reports-and-asks-whether-publication-of-department-reports-should-be-centralized","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747158-248cda11c6a27f0902a57d2da8a8ed8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770679322&Signature=lGxtPIxultka~cWiJThRumnRKGL~OHNk8WxQzygyJ80hLVlsMEzTfoqfXNqIr6Vs~V86S9VgX48ss-pw5dp~q11xSsUogcGr1oN9e25anTpNth-44CXhKjeSNlEUw6WttxNJFWbr7ZO0s~goj1XLXGq~JdFrys8X0aTUhLeQ35BAOXT5dQf9F0QvXYpe0HKYvgk-AGsZKBYWqPtygOs634sl3qFqQIKP6VRoDAWFETpQxgiR-6vAGsrH69LegeSGaeRebQBkcUuL6Khon~lx0cr80~nBfHBYJj4dDbArqme608kwmyPO~UM~~QqxQ2EmoLcEJtTsHqRbTMdl3plWLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-07-23T00:00:00Z","article","Maria Garnett, council policy analyst, presented Round 2 of the \"Report of Reports\" project to the Governmental Operations Standing Committee, summarizing efforts to inventory city reporting requirements and assess the level of effort departments expend to prepare required reports.

Garnett said staff catalogued approximately 81 required reports overall and identified 27 required of city departments (an increase from two in Round 1). Of those 27 department reports, 17 (63%) had a recent submission record available and 10 (37%) did not. Garnett emphasized that a missing record does not necessarily indicate noncompliance; some reports may not be applicable in a given year, or the information may have been submitted in formats that are harder to track.

Garnett described the review method: outreach to the Clerk's Office for boards and commissions processes, and coordination with deputy CAO portfolios to determine responsible offices, level of effort and recent submission status. She said most department reports require moderate-to-substantial effort and that several lacked institutional memory among staff in the responsible units.

Council staff framed three questions for the committee: whether publication of required department reports should be centralized (similar to the Clerk's public-facing listing for boards and commissions), how council's use of reports compares to the effort to prepare them, and which reports could be changed or removed to improve cost-effectiveness. Garnett proposed further committee-level review (beginning with finance) and outreach to non-government users of the reports; staff offered to deliver a Round 3 in writing or in committee by November with a deeper utility analysis on selected finance reports.

Administration policy advisor Adam Hull and committee members said the administration supports the review and urged collaboration to determine which ordinance-mandated reports should be resumed, revised or retired before restarting production. Hull noted some reporting requirements date back decades and recommended a conversation with council to define the desired future utility of each report before expending resources to restore them.

Committee members discussed centralization, historical context for reports and the need to ensure council as a whole has an opportunity to engage on reports'value even if ownership sits with committees. Staff recommended piloting further analysis with the finance committee and soliciting feedback from external report users if appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Governmental Operations Standing Committee on 2025-07-23 1:00 PM - To access the meeting via Microsoft Teams, please use the following link: https://go.rva.gov/GovOps-Jul23 or dial *67-804-316-9457 and enter ID:772 483 429# - Jul 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council policy staff said round two of the \"Report of Reports\" found about 81 required reports across city government, including 27 required of departments; 63% of those 27 have recent records of submission and staff recommended committee-level review to align reporting effort with council utility.","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},6747160,"Richmond HR reports lower turnover, expanded tuition assistance and next steps after 2025 engagement survey",614,1871000,2485000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b&start=1871&end=2485","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b/thumbnail_1871000.jpg","/articles/6747160/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-HR-reports-lower-turnover-expanded-tuition-assistance-and-next-steps-after-2025-engagement-survey","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747160-3d10498e2018ae135a6a0e8319f03591/orig.mp4?Expires=1770679322&Signature=AfurBmezBkYm7eVdql73i5lygaAwDL2vC8nfu1Ip0pBSOMVi7OZPYIQYNEwQo-w6yh0FETEHVBHD4ljXdrJfGupmSjc3Vi-4VUNhZi0B0xjLc483TUGjLrV5b-LsEnlpgz3KTR8lURg6X7LZyJV3p97EbiyRkRxxgyGGRRH0GPp3PiGAi7gnRENVWAPapmxIDN9fbq0E81JH5u0sb8d1vJnfyjsUQzZWYlLzHjTWfhChEGDx32bCTLSVoN50O60OIiEtKu4CAXKCUcqfe6eS7lsIIdYos4UfAx3DXjCcx-T2XBns72vjvkMEmJBZOEQqpW15cEo6H3LMpMhf~u18KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tyrone Alexander, Richmond's director of human resources, told the Governmental Operations Standing Committee that the city has reduced turnover and expanded career supports while preparing an action plan based on a new engagement survey.

Alexander said the city has pushed a number of personnel initiatives since a 2023 review led by former Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders and Deputy CAO Sabrina Dreyhott and conducted with the Southeastern Institute of Research (SIR). Those steps include a minimum wage of $20 per hour, participation in the Richmond Retirement System, an employee wellness clinic, and a tuition-assistance program in partnership with Reynolds Community College.

The HR director reported 129 employees had used tuition-assistance programs as of June 30, with 109 in the tuition-assistance stream (66 of those in public safety: 54 fire, 12 police). He also listed workforce-training outcomes: 10 employees received commercial driver's license training and seven completed HVAC training. Alexander said 537 people who had previously left city employment returned since January 2024, which he attributed to cultural and pay changes.

On staffing metrics, Alexander gave a projected turnover rate of 10.3% for the year, a separation rate excluding for-cause terminations near 8.1%, and a third-quarter vacancy rate around 15.3% (he said final aggregation may place it near 14.9%). He compared the current turnover figure favorably to pandemic-era highs, noting a decline from 15.7% in 2020'22 to the current projection.

Alexander summarized the April 14'29, 2025 SIR engagement survey, which drew about 810 respondents. He said SIR found employees \"are deeply committed to serving their community,\" but that perceptions of leadership, workplace culture and trust vary by role; middle managers want more growth and support; and transparency and communications remain areas for improvement. Alexander said the mayor's office, the CAO and HR will develop an action plan based on the survey findings.

On training and development, Alexander described changes to onboarding, a new learning curriculum for leaders (covering interpersonal communication, performance management and unconscious bias), a switch of the learning management system to NEOGOV Learn, cohort-based new-leader orientation and a pilot electronic performance-management module (NEOGOV Perform) slated for beta testing in select departments.

Alexander also reported progress on audit items: he said he inherited 36 outstanding audit issues and has reduced them to six, with internal audit collaborating on items such as vehicle-utilization reviews. He said many of the remaining items have draft resolutions submitted to the auditor for further review.

Committee members asked for further details on the vacancy report and timing; Alexander said the HR team expects to finalize the quarterly vacancy report within roughly one to two weeks to meet a July 31 council ordinance timeline. He also said more focused follow-up (focus groups and targeted outreach) will be needed to understand the differences in trust and culture reported by frontline versus senior staff.

The director framed the department's next steps as implementing training and engagement activities already underway, completing the NEOGOV Perform pilot and working with the mayor's office and CAO to convert survey findings into a coordinated action plan.","City Human Resources Director Tyrone Alexander told the Governmental Operations Committee the department's efforts since 2023 have raised pay floors, expanded training and returned staff, while a 2025 engagement survey identified culture and communication issues that will be addressed in an action plan with the mayor's office and CAO.",{"_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},6747150,"Committee advances ordinance on council staff appointments and design-build authorization for Canoe Run CSO tank",844,5806000,6650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b&start=5806&end=6650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b/thumbnail_5806000.jpg","/articles/6747150/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-advances-ordinance-on-council-staff-appointments-and-design-build-authorization-for-Canoe-Run-CSO-tank","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747150-1298dffa908778ebdf4178967332cd4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770679322&Signature=hovRrFvwWCDlEAaLuGNU9dAwRLSEbiQ2IuWFo7ntNWBzNiXZgV61bkzygl9ezsMT6fGEkGP8Ey6NluHDnvIa5vHWFJCRxLrHS2v27cqxF-qHIf-LMCfG~Z8y2063JZ3-eeJ7TL-Db8qyHTP8cGNZNNVR8dCtxAyGmgPgC9V2EdUmq8LMMx-uSv0DdqoZnRKw5jiAue78QmfjzktI6ww8pHE-8RwqPqxwytudjHWTs5gOSQ-a4QRIECBTXJZebXXrwMCNXBPvPmsIc0SilYsulnG10b4z1DMvDTUMv2CwSjgYJZnDeiZL4sFGYewzBmrx3cF181TVofno4EmtwfGJ9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Governmental Operations Standing Committee advanced two papers to the full council and approved several board appointments during its meeting.

Ordinance 2025-136: The committee considered an ordinance to repeal and amend portions of city code concerning classification and appointment procedures for council liaison, council policy analysts, council budget analysts and council public-relations specialists, and to amend the duties and appointment authority for the council chief of staff. The chair explained the bill would align the council chief-of-staff appointments with other appointee offices and remove the need for some public appointment sessions when standard HR procedures suffice. No members of the public spoke during the hearing. A committee member moved to advance the ordinance to the full council; the motion recorded Vice Chair Aberbacher Aye and Chair Jordan Aye and was approved. The committee's vote record (as recorded in the meeting) showed the two named aye votes; no other recorded votes were entered into the transcript.

Resolution 2025-R031: The committee considered a resolution authorizing the use of the design-build procurement method for construction of the Canoe Run Park combined-sewer-overflow (CSO) storage tank. Robert Stone, deputy director of public utilities, explained the city has a combined sewer system and that recent 2020 General Assembly action and the resulting special order by consent require acceleration of the CSO control program. The state appropriated $100 million in grant funding that the city intends to apply toward advancing an unfunded CSO project (Canoe Run tank). Stone and procurement staff said design-build accelerates schedule, improves early price visibility and can reduce change orders; staff noted the Commonwealth now requires council approval for design-build delivery. No public comment was received. A motion to advance the resolution to the full council was moved and seconded; the recorded committee votes were Vice Chair Aberbacher Aye and Chair Jordan Aye and the motion passed.

Board appointments: The committee received a vacancy report and recommended appointments to the audit committee, the Clean City Commission and the Sustainability and Resilience Commission. The committee voted to approve the recommended applicants in a single block vote; recorded votes in the transcript show Vice Chair Auerbach Aye and Chair Jordan Aye and the block appointment motion was approved.

The committee instructed staff to forward the ordinance and resolution to the full council with recommendations to approve.","The Governmental Operations Committee voted to advance Ordinance 2025-136 (amending council code on appointment procedures) and recommended approval of Resolution 2025-R031 (authorizing design-build procurement for the Canoe Run Park CSO storage tank) to the full council. The committee also approved a block of board appointments.",{"_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},6747153,"City unveils \"Richmond Cool Kit\" guide to reduce urban heat and protect residents",264,5382000,5646000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b&start=5382&end=5646","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b/thumbnail_5382000.jpg","/articles/6747153/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/City-unveils-Richmond-Cool-Kit-guide-to-reduce-urban-heat-and-protect-residents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747153-20b4ec24a9c4895f89c8a40226d4a7b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770679322&Signature=JNUOlwsFS4SYje~EnTEtf6vo9PDsLWWg7XChJYAzzzz2-NmYlkNXl1Ad2R9ISCh77qgF0gKR-DJs3O1k9Aai3Apt8Qds9ofF28vpKhUcrOumdshrblpYvHOUuWq8YNxxKjCGm6K~-HAyFgYKqFCrrptScmi3Z4gUXIRxQRtep3OJblhVorV5gLTFk3V~5fyxFv2zwcJE8ehd6YIvbO~nWEOTPhNSFmczUU2xadhABv7j24LRduCP-GJzh1UdU7yeIjgmtH~ljLWkwnHH9o7z~xb9BYquWXFLQqaHWjia4OuB48NXxGdn4-HY0LcGjH0Wex4f4Cssg1nSb3vJ6Z9Jbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Daniel Klein, sustainability coordinator, presented the Richmond Cool Kit, a 25-strategy urban-heat mitigation guide the Office of Sustainability developed to help city staff, institutions and residents reduce heat risks.

Klein said the guide organizes strategies into four categories: urban greening (street trees, urban forestry, green infrastructure), blue space (splash pads, fountains), shade (built shade structures and trees) and smart surfaces (lighter-colored roofs, reflective coatings) plus depaving (removing excess impervious surface). He said the guide is intended both as an operational tool for staff working on capital or maintenance projects and as a public resource for businesses and homeowners.

Committee members cited the guide's urgency after staff highlighted projected increases in extreme-heat days: Klein referenced RVA Green actions and said many strategies overlap with the Sustainable Design Standards the council adopted previously. He said staff plan workshops so project teams can use the Cool Kit in design and maintenance planning and recommended earlier tree-planting and depaving as immediate, high-impact measures.

Klein framed the document's goals as cooling neighborhoods, transit and public spaces; increasing climate resilience and reducing heat-related health impacts; and extending asset life through material choices that lower thermal stress.

The committee encouraged the sustainability office to integrate the guide into staff processes and community outreach and to prioritize projects and funding that deliver demonstrable cooling benefits.","City sustainability staff released a 25-strategy urban-heat mitigation guide that recommends greening, blue infrastructure, shade, smart surfaces and depaving; staff said the Cool Kit complements the city's Sustainable Design Standards and will be used in staff workshops and project design reviews.",{"_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},6747156,"Sustainability office pitches Richmond as Mid-Atlantic hub for circular-economy innovation",232,4567000,4799000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b&start=4567&end=4799","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5459551-145a56a1f60ac98892a002dec877692b/thumbnail_4567000.jpg","/articles/6747156/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Sustainability-office-pitches-Richmond-as-Mid-Atlantic-hub-for-circular-economy-innovation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747156-c94abca4629173a5f2ad1572ab7597e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770679322&Signature=I~ojn~6ypp~SfrfzGbJLj~EMVNgKIiKi2VLMz9qYI6Yj6HzuPcYihrZv~dEE53DQLHFJ8mPmUHMFOxBAVBgzOy5~qXBYESCgbss6JYS-3Xu4wc2Ay-t9rHB3R3lm9xl9QxrwChj8s9XDvcpi31fzRoXjZXmPa1qTUgkzYNTmQtD0Zr7ievy3o3CtWahXIAsFQtY4zvjifgkaw7Mj6hWhHxc3sCYSHEgA8mfVSrZOPIYOy6JdC~SdJZOnn6d7VcaBTC2UtPGAO0U8jw8Dkjnhu2jLzq8h9M48LIsYr5cf~o2KPxl9J9rX1b8j3ysIE68-ajK9iECIYyaW6T99ISHbSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tara Warden, sustainability manager, told the committee the Office of Sustainability is exploring a circular-economy innovation center for Richmond to convert local waste streams into economic opportunity.

Warden described the model used in Charlotte's Innovation Barn, where the city owns a facility that a nonprofit manages under a nominal lease and operates a mixture of business incubation labs (plastics reuse, glass crushing into construction sand, urban lumber), workforce-development amenities, community engagement spaces and revenue-generating retail and food services. She said the Charlotte model uses mixed public, private and philanthropic funding and delivers measurable diversion, volunteer and incubator outcomes.

Warden argued Richmond has advantages for replication: university partnerships (VCU supply-chain and design programs), a manufacturing and textile heritage, an active artisan community reusing urban wood and growing textile-reuse activity, and local companies experimenting with plastics reuse. She said the sustainability office is conducting a materials-flow analysis focused on construction and demolition debris, food waste, textiles and plastics and is pursuing initial sponsor conversations and anchor partners.

Committee members asked about space needs, revenue models and potential private-sector partners such as Goodwill of Central Virginia and local mattress and textile companies. Warden said the city's real-estate staff have helped identify potential city-owned properties and that partnership and site selection work is ongoing. She cautioned there is not yet a single obvious site but emphasized preserving industrial land for these uses.

Warden said the next step is to finish the materials-flow analysis and firm up partner and sponsor commitments; if successful, the office will return with concrete proposals for funding and an operational model.","The city's Office of Sustainability proposed exploring a circular-economy innovation center modeled on Charlotte's \"Innovation Barn,\" citing local strengths including VCU partnerships, manufacturing heritage and emerging textile and plastics reuse projects; staff are conducting a materials-flow analysis to identify priority waste streams.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council staff catalogues 81 required reports and asks whether publication of department reports should be centralized

Richmond HR reports lower turnover, expanded tuition assistance and next steps after 2025 engagement survey

Committee advances ordinance on council staff appointments and design-build authorization for Canoe Run CSO tank

City unveils "Richmond Cool Kit" guide to reduce urban heat and protect residents

Sustainability office pitches Richmond as Mid-Atlantic hub for circular-economy innovation