Richmond Government Operations Committee advances new city code; council to weigh school sales tax
The Richmond Governmental Operations Standing Committee voted June 24 to recommend adoption of a comprehensive new city code, forwarding Ordinance 2026-160 to the full City Council for a July 27 vote. The ordinance would repeal the 2020 City Code and replace it with an updated version. The committee took no other substantive actions.
What was on this week’s agendas
City Council (June 22) – The council’s docket included special use permits for residential projects on South Meadow Street, Grayland Avenue and North 28th Street, along with votes to accept $1,000,000 from the National Park Service for Broad Rock Creek Park improvements, $611,807.50 from the National Opioid Settlement Fund for abatement strategies, and $69,920 from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources for African American cemeteries. A street‑closure and right‑of‑way change near Brookland Park Boulevard was also listed.
Public Safety Standing Committee (June 23) – Presentations were scheduled on hurricane season preparations and illegal dumping and graffiti operations.
Commission of Architectural Review (June 23) – The commission reviewed window replacements, wall constructions, and conceptual designs for new multi‑family buildings on Monument Avenue and East Marshall Street, among other items.
Public Art Commission (June 25) – A vote for a vice chair and a discussion about public art at City Hall were on the agenda.
Board of Zoning Appeals (July 1) – The board considered special exceptions for lot splits to build two new dwellings at 1520 National Street and at 718 Lincoln Avenue, and a multifamily dwelling addition at 2303 Parkwood Avenue.
Coming up
July 6 City Council – A resolution (RES. 2026‑R028) would authorize a referendum on an up‑to‑1% local sales tax to fund public school capital projects. Council will also consider a grant agreement for affordable housing at 2811 Rady Street (ORD. 2026‑170), a grant contract with the Shockoe Legacy Foundation for a slavery and freedom heritage site (ORD. 2026‑171), a $3,168,000 re‑appropriation for housing cost relief programs (ORD. 2026‑172), and a memorandum of understanding with the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority to redevelop Gilpin Court (RES. 2026‑R029).
July 6 Organizational Development Standing Committee – A presentation on a solar power purchase agreement and a status update on transitioning emergency medical call services to the Richmond Ambulance Authority are scheduled. A closed session on active litigation will follow.
July 7 Planning Commission – The commission will vote on transferring $480,000 from Fire Services to fund a replacement burn tower at the Fire Training Facility, and on special use permits for up to 73 attached dwellings on Warwick Road, six dwellings on Euclid Avenue, a day nursery at 2502 4th Avenue, and four attached dwellings at 3317 Rear Monument Avenue. It will also review infrastructure plans for Shockoe Valley streets including Oliver Hill Way and North 18th Street, and authorize land acquisitions for the Hobby Hill Lake Dam Rehabilitation and CSO‑012 storage tank projects.
July 9 Education and Human Services Standing Committee – Informational updates from the Richmond Public Schools superintendent and the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services, board vacancy reports, and confirmation of committee presentations through February 2027 are on the agenda.
July 15 Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee – The committee will discuss an ordinance requiring public publication of the city’s payment register (ORD. 2026‑081), changes to Affordable Housing Trust Fund rules to direct all loan and grant receipts back to the fund (ORD. 2026‑164), an amendment to affordable‑housing requirements in a grant agreement with 512 Hull Street, LLC (ORD. 2026‑165), and a resolution directing investigation into failures to publish the monthly payment register (RES. 2026‑R019). Staff will present on economic development pipelines and the relaunch of the delinquent real estate tax sale program.
July 16 Urban Design Committee – The committee will review setbacks for a proposed apartment building at 201 Orleans Street, design of street and transit improvements across Shockoe Valley (Oliver Hill Way, North 18th, Venable, Mosby and Leigh streets), architecture for an archaeological pavilion over the historic Lumpkin’s Jail site at 1500 E. Franklin St., and updates to the city’s urban design guidelines.
Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.