The Public Safety Standing Committee of the Richmond City Council approved meeting minutes, authorized a committee member to participate remotely for medical reasons and voted to forward multiple advisory-board reappointment recommendations to the full council.

The approvals occurred during the committee’s business session after council staff presented a packet of current and projected vacancies. Committee members voted unanimously to forward the listed reappointment applications with a recommendation for council approval.

Pamela Nichols, council management analyst, summarized the packet of vacancies and reappointment applications presented to the committee. The packet identified: one vacancy and a reappointment application from Deputy Chief Sydney Collier for the Advisory Board for the Assessment of Towing Fees and Vehicle Storage (police department representative); two towing-and-recovery-operator vacancies and a reappointment application from Rhonda Lawson; a reappointment application from Judge Shaw for the Community Criminal Justice Board (general district court judge seat); an application from Scott Ward for the community service board administrator role (employment/affiliation noted as RBHA in the packet); and a reappointment application from Joseph Trapani for the Richmond Ambulance Authority seat requiring city residency or principal employment in the city.

The committee first approved a motion to allow committee member Sarah Abubakar to participate electronically under the council’s rules of procedure, citing a medical condition. The motion passed with recorded “aye” votes from President Newbill and Chair Sherry Trammell. The committee then approved the minutes from the March 25, 2025, Public Safety Standing Committee meeting with no amendments.

Later the committee voted to forward the reappointment recommendations to the full council with a recommendation to approve. The recorded “aye” votes on that motion included Sarah Abubakar (participating electronically), President Newbill and Chair Trammell. No objections or dissenting votes were recorded in the transcript.

The committee closed the business item and proceeded to the public comment and presentation portions of the agenda.