New 2025-2028 Richmond City Council members administered oaths of office: Council President and Vice President elected

Richmond City Council / News Release

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2 January 2025 

 

New 2025-2028 Richmond City Council members administered oaths of office: Council President and Vice President elected

Councilmember Newbille elected Council President and Councilmember Jordan elected Council Vice President

(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A. 1.2.2025) – The nine newly elected members of Richmond City Council were administered their oaths of office today during the scheduled special organizational meeting held for that purpose.

     Individual members of Richmond City Council are elected to serve four-year terms. The current 2025-2028 Richmond City Council term runs January 2, 2025 to December 31, 2028. The new Council includes five newly re-elected members, one previously appointed newly elected member, and three new first-time members. https://richmondva.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1264400&GUID=CA588E5B-C172-4075-9F32-B8328F9DB683&Options=info|&Search=

 

     Councilmember contact information and maps of the nine Richmond City Council Voter Districts, used for 2024 local elections, which began use in 2025, are on the Richmond City Council website.

https://www.rva.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/Richmond%20City%20Council%20Map%20Info%20Govt.%20Org%20Chart%2012.20.2024.pdf

https://www.rva.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/Richmond%20Voter%20District%20Maps%20BIG%20Package%20lower%20rez%204.2.2024.pdf

 

     Following administration of oaths, Council elected Councilmember Cynthia I. Newbille, Richmond East End 7th Voter District, to serve as Council President and Councilmember Katherine L. Jordan, Richmond North Central 2^nd Voter District, to serve as Council Vice President.

     Richmond City Council elects a Council President and Vice President from amongst its members, who serve two-year terms in those roles.

     The role of Council President is to serve as the presiding officer of the institution in performing such duties as consistent with the Richmond City Council Rules of Procedure, which includes presiding over Council Formal Meetings. The Council Vice President serves in the absence, disability, or by the request of, the Council President.

     Richmond City Council represents Richmond residents as its official legislative institution governing Richmond, Virginia and is responsible for creating and amending local laws; providing government policy and oversight; levying local taxes; and establishing an annual Richmond Government Budget.

     During the meeting, Richmond City Council also introduced and adopted a resolution to adopt the Richmond City Council Rules of Procedure, pursuant to Richmond City Charter; Chapter 4.; Section 4.06. https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICH_CH4CO_S4.06RUPR

 

     Richmond residents are invited and encouraged to engage and communicate directly with the individual Richmond City Council Councilmember representing them in their Richmond Voter District.  

CONTACT INFO

Helpful individual Councilmember contact information is as follows:

Richmond West End 1st Voter District

Councilmember Andrew S. Breton

804.646.5935 (office tel); andrew.breton@richmondgov.com (email)

 

Richmond North Central 2nd Voter District

Councilmember Katherine L. Jordan (Council Vice President 2025-2026)

804.646.6532 (office tel); katherine.jordan@richmondgov.com (email)

 

Richmond Northside 3rd Voter District

Councilmember Kenya J. Gibson

804.646.6055 (office tel); kenya.gibson@richmondgov.com (email)

 

Richmond Southwest 4th Voter District

Councilmember Sarah M.A. Abubaker

804.646.5646 (office tel); sarah.abubaker@richmondgov.com (email) 

 

Richmond Central 5th Voter District

Councilmember Stephanie A. Lynch

804.646.5724 (office tel); stephanie.lynch@richmondgov.com (email)

 

Richmond Gateway 6th Voter District

Councilmember Ellen F. Robertson

804.646.7964 (office tel); ellen.robertson@richmondgov.com (email)

 

Richmond East End 7th Voter District

Councilmember Cynthia I. Newbille

804.646.3012 (office tel); cynthia.newbille@richmondgov.com (email)

 

Richmond Southside 8th Voter District

Councilmember Reva M. Trammell

804.646.6591 (office tel); 804.240.5050 (mobile); reva.trammell@richmondgov.com (email)

 

Richmond South Central 9th Voter District

Councilmember Nicole Jones

804.646.2779 (office tel); nicole.jones@richmondgov.com (email) 

 

FIND YOUR DISTRICT

Please use the following helpful link to assist in confirming individual Voter Districts:

 

·        Richmond Real Estate Property Search Database  https://apps.richmondgov.com/applications/PropertySearch/Default.aspx

(note: enter and choose address and use Government tab to show voter districts)

 

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Richmond City Council - Richmond City Hall - 900 East Broad Street, Suite 300 - Richmond, Virginia 23219 U.S.A. - rva.gov/richmond-city-council

Councilmember Newbille to hold Community Meeting for the Richmond East End 7th District

Cynthia I. Newbille/Councilmember

Richmond City Council / Richmond East End 7th Voter District / Richmond, Virginia

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9 December 2024

                                                                                                     

Councilmember Newbille to hold Community Meeting for the Richmond East End 7th District

Important information and open community conversation regarding 7^th District Street Infrastructure Projects

Free Dinner and Free Parking provided – Please Register/R.S.V.P.

(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A. 12.9.2024) – Councilmember Cynthia I. Newbille, Richmond City Council, Richmond East End 7th Voter District, will hold a community meeting to discuss street infrastructure projects in the East End 7th District. Free dinner and parking will be provided.

This meeting will include important information and open community conversations regarding transformative transportation projects that will affect traffic flow entering and leaving the city via Main Street, Williamsburg Road, and Broad Street (Chimborazo Park areas).

The planned agenda for this meeting includes:

AGENDA

          Welcome

          Councilmember Cynthia I. Newbille

          Richmond City Council, Richmond East End 7th Voter District

          

            Project Updates

·       Jefferson Avenue

·       Shockoe Valley Streets Improvement

·       East Main Street

·       Dock Street

·       Government Road

·       Chimborazo Park

·       Nicholson Street

·       Vision Zero Action Plan in 7^th District

·       Combined Sewer Overflow Updates

 

Community Conversation  

Discussion with the Richmond Department of Public Works

 

WHEN           Monday, December 16, 2024

5:00-8:00 p.m.

WHERE         Richmond Main Street Station – Train Shed

                    Enter through front entrance on Main street

                    1500 E. Main Street; Richmond, Virginia

                    Google maps link to building: https://tinyurl.com/3ykxkv98

                    Parking available at side lot of building: 1500 E. Franklin Street

                    Google maps link to parking: https://tinyurl.com/45ajm4mm

                        (Parking will be free from 4:00-9:00 pm (before or after those times regular parking enforcement is in place which is $1 per hour and the first hour is free up to 6 hours.)

REGISTER/      Please email sam.patterson@richmondgov.com as soon as possible if

R.S.V.P.        planning to attend to Register/R.S.V.P. to help planning for meals. Thank you very much.

CONTACT    For more information, please contact: Sam Patterson, Liaison for The Honorable Cynthia I. Newbille, Councilmember, Richmond City Council, Richmond East End 7th Voter District, at 804.646.3012 (tel), or sam.patterson@richmondgov.com (email).

     Councilmember Newbille holds individual meetings that include her goals and accomplishments, topical agendas, and special guests. She invites all Richmond East End 7th Voter District residents to attend. Meeting dates, times, locations, agendas, and special guests are subject to change.

 

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Audit finds billing discrepancies in City streetlight maintenance contract

 

Richmond City Council / News Release

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Tuesday, 3 December 2024 

 

Audit finds billing discrepancies in City streetlight maintenance contract

(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A. 12.3.2024) – The Richmond City Council Office of City Auditor (OCA) today issued an audit report regarding billing discrepancies in a streetlight maintenance contract.

https://tinyurl.com/3knkdheu

 

OCA found the streetlight maintenance contract was “not adequately managed, which contributed to at least $1.2 million in charges that may be unallowable, overbilled, or questionable.” 

The report contains recommendations to the City Administration to address its findings, including recouping funds for the unallowable charges, overbilling, and questionable billings identified in the audit. The Administration agreed with all the audit’s seven recommendations.

 

OCA has referred additional details of the audit to the Richmond City Council Office of Inspector General for further investigation into possible fraud, waste, and abuse.     

Richmond City Council thanks the staff of the Richmond Office of City Auditor for its dedication, expertise, and diligence in auditing and evaluating this contract, as well as in reviewing the City’s expenditures across various departments, offices, and boards. 

Background

The Richmond City Council Office of City Auditor is responsible for administering the City’s internal audit function. The Office’s responsibilities encompass verifying the appropriate use of City resources, assessing the City’s internal controls, evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of City operations, and ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and policies. The Office’s mission is to promote open and accountable city government through independent audit services. The City Auditor manages Office staff and resources, as established by Richmond City Charter; Chapter 4. – Council; Section 4-18. https://www.municode.com/library/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTICH_CH4CO_S4.18CIAU

The mission of the Richmond City Council Office of Inspector General is to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, and to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the programs and operations of the City of Richmond Government through independent and objective investigations, inspections, and assistance. Values – Integrity, Excellence, Accountability.

CONTACT/INFORMATION                           

For more information regarding the Richmond City Council Office of City Auditor, please contact Riad Ali, City Auditor, at 804.646.5616 (tel); riad.ali@rva.gov (email)

 

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Richmond City Council - Richmond City Hall - 900 East Broad Street, Suite 300 - Richmond, Virginia 23219 U.S.A. - rva.gov/richmond-city-council

Investigation of City of Richmond, Office of Elections

 

Richmond City Council / News Release

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Monday, 25 November 2024 

 

Richmond City Council Statement regarding

 

Investigation of City of Richmond, Office of Elections

 

(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A. 11.25.2024) – “The Richmond City Council Office of Inspector General completed and released a thorough investigation today of allegations regarding the abuse of government resources by Keith Balmer, Director of Elections/General Registrar for the City of Richmond, and the City of Richmond Office of Elections. 

 

Richmond City Council strives to ensure that taxpayer resources are used in an efficient and effective manner. The Richmond Office of Inspector General’s findings of the use of public resources in the Richmond Office of Elections raises serious concerns.

 

Per state law, the General Registrar and Office of Elections report to the Richmond Electoral Board, rather than the City. Further, state law vests all authority for accountability and oversight related to the Office of Elections with the Richmond Electoral Board.

 

Therefore, now that the report documenting these abuses has been made public, Richmond City Council is asking the Commonwealth of Virginia - Richmond Electoral Board to thoroughly review and respond to the findings.

 

In doing so, the Board must take on their direct oversight responsibility of the Director of Elections/General Registrar in order to maintain trust in the electoral system.

 

Richmond City Council thanks and extends its support and recognition of Inspector General James Osuna for his rigor and dedication in conducting this investigation.”

 

Background

Mission of Office of Inspector General

To detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, and to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the programs and operations of the City of Richmond Government through independent and objective investigations, inspections, and assistance. Values – Integrity, Excellence, Accountability

 

CONTACT/INFORMATION                           

• For more information regarding the Richmond City Council Office of Inspector investigation, please contact Jim Osuna, Inspector General, Richmond City Council Office of Inspector General: 804.646.1840 (tel); james.osuna@rva.gov (email)

 

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Richmond City Council - Richmond City Hall - 900 East Broad Street, Suite 300 - Richmond, Virginia 23219 U.S.A. - rva.gov/richmond-city-council