Richmond City Council on Jan. 27 adopted its consent agenda and several individual measures, including a $500,000 allocation to Central Virginia Legal Aid Society to provide attorneys for tenants facing eviction, an amended resolution supporting a federal infrastructure grant for a locally named replacement project and appointments to represent the city on the Greater Richmond Transit Company board.

The council voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda, which included multiple ordinances listed on the meeting packet and a resolution to fund tenant legal services. Martin Wegbrite of Central Virginia Legal Aid Society and the organization's executive director, Steve Dickinson, addressed the council in support of the legal-aid funding before the vote. Wegbrite told the council the funding will help “hundreds of families” remain stably housed and invited council members to observe eviction court to see how representation affects outcomes.

Why it matters: The $500,000 allocation is intended to supply attorneys for tenants in eviction proceedings in Richmond’s general district court, which city speakers and council members described as a frequent source of housing instability. The council’s action adds local funding to an ongoing policy effort by advocates to increase legal representation for low-income tenants.

Among other actions, the council approved a technical amendment and then adopted a resolution supporting the city’s application to a U.S. Department of Transportation competitive program whose name was recently changed by the federal government; administration staff described the amendment as a technical update to reflect the federal notice of funding opportunity. The council also expedited and approved a resolution removing two named directors from the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) board and appointing Nicole Jones and Sharon Ebert as two of the city’s directors through the 2025 shareholders meeting.

The meeting record shows council members voted in favor of routine procedural motions, including allowing Council Member Stephanie Lynch to participate remotely due to a medical condition. The clerk read the votes aloud for several motions; for the consent agenda and the individual measures the chair recorded unanimous “aye” votes.

What’s next: The adopted appropriation for tenant representation will be administered through the city’s normal contracting processes; council members who spoke in favor urged continued oversight and follow-up to ensure the funding meets demand. The city will proceed with the federal grant application under its revised program name and representational changes to GRTC take effect immediately and continue until the 2025 annual shareholders meeting.

Ending: Council members closed the public hearing on the consent agenda, completed minutes approvals for several January meetings and moved on to committee reports and local announcements.