Richmond City Council on a special organizational meeting adopted rules of procedure required by Richmond City Charter section 4.06, approved Councilor Katherine Jordan's request to participate remotely from Cabo, Mexico, and elected Councilor Cynthia Newbill as president and Councilor Katherine Jordan as vice president for the Jan. 2025'Dec. 2026 term.

The council first considered a resolution to adopt the council's rules of procedure under Richmond City Charter §4.06. Councilor Newville moved to expedite consideration of the proposed resolution; Nicole Jones seconded. The motion to expedite and the subsequent vote to adopt the rules were carried by recorded voice votes, with the members present voting in the affirmative. The deputy clerk read the resolution as "a resolution to adopt rules of procedure pursuant to Richmond City Charter section 4.06." The paper was adopted as read.

The meeting included ceremonial oaths of office for newly elected council members. The city clerk administered the oath to each member in turn; the transcript records officers and council members reciting the oath to "support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia" and to "faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon me as a member of Richmond City Council."

Council voted to permit Councilor Katherine Jordan to participate in the meeting electronically from a relative's residence in Cabo, Mexico. The request was considered under the council's rules of procedure (rule 3d4b/3d4d as cited in the meeting) and the motion to approve her remote participation was adopted by voice vote of the members assembled.

Following procedural business, the council held nominations and voted to fill its leadership posts for the two'year term. Cynthia Newbill, the 7th district representative, was nominated and then appointed president of council for a term ending Dec. 31, 2026. Katherine Jordan was nominated and elected vice president for the same term. Both officer appointments were decided by voice vote of the members present and were announced by the clerk.

After her election, Council President Cynthia Newbill thanked residents and supporters and said she looked forward to working with the mayor, the administration and her council colleagues. "I'm honored and humbled by the trust of my council colleagues who have placed me in this position," Newbill said. Councilor Katherine Jordan, speaking after her selection as vice president, acknowledged her remote attendance and said, "I'm sorry I messed up my travel plans, but I look forward to thanking everyone in person on Monday and working hard over the next two years to support you and our new president." These remarks were recorded in the transcript.

Council adjourned to a reception on the Marshall Street side of City Hall after concluding the organizational business; the clerk noted refreshments were available in the first'floor lobby.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to expedite consideration of the proposed rules-of-procedure resolution: moved by Councilor Newville; seconded by Nicole Jones; voice vote recorded as "Aye" by members present (listed in the transcript). Outcome: approved.
- Adoption of resolution to adopt rules of procedure (Richmond City Charter §4.06): voice vote recorded as "Aye" by members present. Outcome: adopted.
- Approval of Councilor Katherine Jordan's remote participation from Cabo, Mexico (under council rule 3d4b/3d4d): motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded as "Aye" by members present. Outcome: approved.
- Appointment of Cynthia Newbill as president of council (term through Dec. 31, 2026): nomination received; voice vote recorded as "Aye" by members present. Outcome: appointed.
- Appointment of Katherine Jordan as vice president of council (term through Dec. 31, 2026): nomination received; voice vote recorded as "Aye" by members present. Outcome: appointed.

The meeting transcript did not specify ordinance or resolution numbers for the rules-of-procedure paper, and the exact meeting date is not specified in the transcript provided.