[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",6694847,"mediaKeyId","5496989-366fc37e4937125a7bc03ad54ad5a346","parentId",5496989,"title","Council clerk amends docket: dozens of ordinances continued; vape‑shop rule to proceed without state‑code amendment tonight","audioSeconds",583,"startMs",435000,"endMs",1018000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5496989-366fc37e4937125a7bc03ad54ad5a346&start=435&end=1018","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5496989-366fc37e4937125a7bc03ad54ad5a346/thumbnail_435000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6694847/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Council-clerk-amends-docket-dozens-of-ordinances-continued-vapeshop-rule-to-proceed-without-statecode-amendment-tonight","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6694847-29398f1feb8aad0f1561d1273c8f7d53/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457303&Signature=XXI41QkPTIYrkeAQrDYRa~c5iWAdr4UHBQRLntvtTcTIj-9fHxnJYoT8tCUDtQidvOAfiuh6q04pOC6GohMIExdTVsR67u3D6hee4SjLedXPgbGjvuvy4JQ-MJ4CvTL-pWz~PRXvrKJlK5MVhfY01tke540RHT3U28qO6zUFeaznqBDmxUtCvTlIxSbT8f1e55eumnJEuuHP5BQLu2uwAFm1MOdAKrQoG3Wfz1Glb4IDmqREuPyBkP~clyqCJg8ekqLJsBGX0hUiH~kDbL1KiSD5erBegyzX5J6Yo9U~YD9lOHGy0nQOiYZ0wAavjdqIwFA0dVFj0JZUVrBB8T8~SA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-07-29T00:00:00Z","article","The Richmond City Council clerk announced a series of docket changes at an informal meeting, moving multiple ordinances and planning items to September and clarifying which items will be amended later.

The docket revisions matter because they reschedule land‑use and ordinance votes that affect development, permitting and regulatory changes across Richmond neighborhoods.

Madam Clerk told council that many items on the consent agenda would be continued to the September 8 council meeting, including several Planning Commission continuances and papers that will be amended and returned. She also reported that two items (originally scheduled for later) were continued to the September 22 meeting. Several specific continuances noted by the clerk included ordinance numbers referenced as being continued and items retained on the consent agenda pending amendment.

Vice President Jordan addressed one ordinance intended to clarify where new vape shops may locate. She said administration had proposed an amendment to include a printed reference to applicable state code; Jordan said she would not move the amendment so the amendment would \"die\" and the council could vote that night, while administration and council would work to reintroduce the amendment later. \"It feels like every week, new vape shops are opening,\" Jordan said, arguing in favor of moving the ordinance forward.

Council Member Robertson asked for additional information about the number of positions and the amendment tied to a paper on the consent agenda. Ms. Abybacher (staff) told council that waiver provisions are exercised at the discretion of the appointing body: for positions reporting to the CAO, the CAO and/or the mayor can grant waivers; positions that report to council likewise have waiver capabilities, and \"there's a reporting mechanism for the number of waivers issued,\" she said.

Council members did not take a final roll‑call on the individual ordinances during the docket review; the clerk's announcements established that many items will return for later consideration.

Ending: Council will revisit the continued ordinances and the proposed amendment to the vape‑shop ordinance at upcoming meetings, including September 8 and September 22.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Richmond City Council Informal Meeting - July 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Richmond City Council clerk announced a series of docket changes at an informal meeting, moving multiple ordinances and planning items to September and clarifying which items will be amended later.","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},6694852,"Richmond mayor outlines six-month progress: new CAO, public‑utilities fixes and an action plan",982,1173000,2155000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5496989-366fc37e4937125a7bc03ad54ad5a346&start=1173&end=2155","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5496989-366fc37e4937125a7bc03ad54ad5a346/thumbnail_1173000.jpg","/articles/6694852/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-mayor-outlines-six-month-progress-new-CAO-publicutilities-fixes-and-an-action-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6694852-08940b56d34e2d48076cbb2c4a0840d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457303&Signature=JCchsEVjvmgxjtrbKfpEwxOBoFjauABIu2A3aBq1DRgRBZhipt4FuLp6U46GkoVXyvCUDzAotwKTu5kA0joNjVoTqCeuTaNcZzUAQWowwLQizhUphxbFFU1LOEKsEZWsXoYtVYlt0dShi~-6ut7gSBwskfXX-EKt8FQtFEy3es8hEE2OTm74preKYN23YxsDSjFXCBVVDYx86cF03ys~rQyFjJxyrChqPoX3e4C60oZ3F3HcDrQqcBkpyC4Bh5L9pim6I42XWJqAUFgJT-Tgakq~oG4OJmMf5wD1Z9NiB031X11Ue2Ih16QdknFPVRs6U4TP6NSf4aHIoXRNnwGj2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor provided a six‑month progress report at an informal Richmond City Council meeting, summarizing personnel changes, operational reforms, and ongoing work to address the spring water crisis.

The report matters because the administration's staffing and operational choices affect daily services such as water, permitting and billing for Richmond residents while shaping the city's capacity to manage future growth.

Mayor said the first half of the administration's term has focused on assessment and rebuilding city operations. \"We're a little over six months in,\" the mayor said, and described a diagnostic approach informed by a background in medicine: \"assessing and diagnosing and treating.\" The mayor said building a senior leadership team has been a priority and introduced the city's new chief administrative officer, Odie Donald, who began on July 9.

The mayor listed recent senior hires and appointments: two deputy chief administrative officers (Amy Popovich for human services and Tanika Jackson forthcoming), a new communications director, a new director for public utilities, new directors for economic development, housing and finance, and a new director for an office of gun‑violence prevention, Greg Hopkins, who started June 30. \"People first, people always,\" the mayor said of the administration's approach.

On utilities, the mayor described steps taken after the earlier water crisis. The city hired Dr. Scott Morris as director of the Department of Public Utilities and replaced much of the department's executive leadership. The mayor said the new leadership team includes five professional engineers and that, \"as of July 7, Public Utilities is reporting that we've completed 80% of the actions that were on the consent order from the Virginia Department of Health.\" He said the city is pursuing both immediate operational changes and longer‑term capital planning in regional collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions. He added that tabletop exercises and a regional work group are planned for August.

The mayor also described administrative reforms: an employee engagement survey covering all city staff (the mayor said the 2024 survey had covered directors only), expansion of 311 hours to evenings and weekends, launch of a city newsletter and an online payments system (RVA Pay) that had early implementation issues but is being iterated. He described a forthcoming mayoral action plan built around seven pillars, with baseline metrics and public dashboards to be published this fall to track progress.

On finance and compliance, the mayor said the administration paused and reset the city purchasing card (P‑card) program after an auditor's review, reducing cards from 320 to 67 and revamping policies, procedures and training to align with best practices. The mayor said the finance department is also being reorganized, with new leadership in finance and a planned redesign of the non‑departmental funding process for the upcoming budget year.

Council members responded with praise and questions. Council Member Robertson said she welcomed additional detail on personnel and amendments to an item on the consent agenda. Council Member Trammell thanked frontline employees and raised concern about the abrupt departure of a 19‑year employee, saying she was \"very, very upset\" about how that separation was handled; the mayor acknowledged turnover is difficult and said the CAO will address workforce recruitment and retention. Council Member Gibson asked about the methodology for the employee survey; the mayor said the current survey covered all employees and was conducted by a different firm than the 2017 survey.

The mayor closed by inviting continued collaboration with council and said the administration will share survey results first with staff and then with council as the city develops performance targets and public reporting.

Ending: Council members thanked the mayor and administration for the update and signaled continued oversight of water operations, finance reforms and workforce issues in upcoming meetings.","At an informal Richmond City Council meeting, the mayor reviewed staffing changes, operational reforms, the city's response to the water crisis and plans for a mayoral action plan with public dashboards and service improvements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6694846,"Richmond council enters closed session to consult on probable litigation and discuss state lobbying contracts",0,3051000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5496989-366fc37e4937125a7bc03ad54ad5a346&start=3051&end=3051","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5496989-366fc37e4937125a7bc03ad54ad5a346/thumbnail_3051000.jpg","/articles/6694846/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-council-enters-closed-session-to-consult-on-probable-litigation-and-discuss-state-lobbying-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6694846-2ed42bfe7d0e3bab8e54c30a7901b933/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457303&Signature=X9ErTmlguC~VBp8TK0MYlZT4ZIjMShnHCQWIHVqO~LkT72v1TPAqdgS8IWBClMj6OVQIMbpYyqtYlbe5hzkQ18ZoRCC9cQsDe-WtX-IVDDbXBHlzuttdryzFx9vEl2zH4AajjhPnaeMwee22d5QOOcuel4GTs468Jg0O9FicBsRR3RvzSL1PAij3GyZ66ewbYEu2j6PpY82hd5zFL08A8N0nbgkPVf5fk-G-Rd2L95HKMKMvYt1Bxsgpba~4XnSCuq5aoIjt-Hyz1xDaq9lWBJ4Lcuicc-05UeM2GWIKRzcGWAvO9qw-h3u-qrsi3xoUmWyu04K-ms1sZtbC8-jtLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richmond City Council voted unanimously to hold a closed meeting to consult with legal counsel about probable litigation and to discuss the award and terms of state lobbying and legislative services contracts.

The action matters because the subjects listed for the closed session—probable litigation and the terms of lobbying contracts—are matters that can affect city legal exposure and the use of public funds for outside services.

At the informal meeting the council moved to enter a closed meeting \"pursuant to subdivision a7 and a29 of section 2.2‑3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to 1, consult with legal counsel concerning probable litigation because consultation in an open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the city, and, 2, discuss the award of a contract or contracts involving the expenditure of public funds relating to state lobbying and legislative services, and the terms and scope of each of such contract or contracts, because discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the city.\" A council member then seconded the motion. The council voted by roll call; each recorded member voted \"aye.\" \"That motion has been approved,\" the clerk said, and the council proceeded to closed session.

After the closed session, the council reconvened, took a motion to end the closed meeting, and certified by roll call that, to the best of each member's knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements were discussed and that only the matters identified in the motion to convene the closed meeting were considered.

Ending: The council did not disclose substantive details from the closed session at the end of the meeting beyond the statutory reasons for convening the closed meeting and the certification on reconvening.","The council voted unanimously to go into a closed meeting under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to consult with city attorneys on probable litigation and to discuss terms for state lobbying and legislative‑services contracts; the council later reconvened and certified the closed session.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council clerk amends docket: dozens of ordinances continued; vape‑shop rule to proceed without state‑code amendment tonight

Richmond mayor outlines six-month progress: new CAO, public‑utilities fixes and an action plan

Richmond council enters closed session to consult on probable litigation and discuss state lobbying contracts