Saturday, November 29 is Small Business Saturday, but don't mark your calendar for just that day.

"Small Business Saturday should be every Saturday, if you ask me," says Richmond's Minority Business Development Director Pat Foster. "Small businesses are important parts of creating a community. When you support a small business, you help your community-they are going to hire and work with the people in your community. And their success does increase the taxes, and that goes back to the community, too, in things like parks, public safety."

Pat and her team in the Office of Minority Business Development work diligently behind the scenes to make sure that our business landscapes are strong, especially for folks who might be taking a big new step into entrepreneurship.

"It's a scary space to start a business," explains Lisette Johnson, OMBD's Programs and Operations Supervisor. "We want people to know there's someone who's going to walk them through the steps, who will start a relationship so that we're with them no matter the hurdle or milestone."

OMBD provides a wealth of resources, whether you are considering a new business or you have been in business for a while and are adapting to new technologies:

• Free classes and workshops. Pat is particularly excited about OMBD's recent AI class, a new undertaking. And Lisette is proud of classes that teach entrepreneurs what they need to know to do business with the city, other localities, and other government agencies as a vendor or contractor.
• Personalized, one-on-one support through coaching and business counseling. Entrepreneurs and small business owners meet directly with OMBD staff-professionals who are certified and experienced in areas like contract compliance, human resources, procurement, and small business development. These individualized sessions help business owners identify challenges, explore opportunities, and determine the best next steps for their specific goals and circumstances.
• Networking, loan, and grant support: OMBD connects their business directory with funding opportunities and businesses looking for partners.

OMBD's mission contributes to the Mayoral Action Plan's "Thriving Economy" goals. Most importantly, the staff sees their work reflecting Richmond at its best: "Every locality has something special, but I feel like the City of Richmond, we wrap our arms around the business owner," Lisette says, "We are rooting for them, and their success is our success. This isn't just a paycheck for me and our team, it is a passion."

Pat encourages residents to think about their shopping lists ahead of Small Business Saturday and to be intentional about exploring a new small business to pick up things you already need. Together, we're supporting our local economy and even generational wealth-building. Ultimately, says Pat, "a business is a legacy you can leave behind."

Learn more about the Office of Minority Business Development on their website or on their Facebook or Instagram accounts.

On June 12, 2025, the City of Richmond entered into an Order of Consent, or Consent Order, with the Virginia Department of Health for the water event in January 2025. The order summarizes findings and alleged regulatory violations, documents the corrective actions the City has already taken in response (which includes 155 items), and confirms a Corrective Action Plan to which both VDH and the City have agreed.

For more on this specific consent order, visit the City's news release, which includes a link to the full order. To learn more about consent orders and Notices of Alleged Violation in general, keep reading:

What rules and guidelines keep our water safe?

At the national level, the Safe Drinking Water Act establishes important standards for our drinking water. Statewide, the Code of Virginia includes laws for Public Water Supplies and Waterworks Regulations. These rules make sure that our drinking water is safe and that wastewater plants aren't discharging harmful substances.

Who is in charge of these rules?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives states the responsibility of regulating safe drinking water and clean water for wastewater plants. Virginia splits this responsibility across two state agencies. The Virginia Department of Health monitors drinking water and the Department of Environmental Quality works to prevent pollutants from entering surface and groundwater.

Both agencies have lots of tools for helping Virginia water systems and waterworks maintain safe, clean water. They manage monthly and annual review processes where waterworks submit Consumer Confidence Reports. State agencies also conduct onsite inspections, release inspection summaries, and work with the EPA to release larger reports. All these tools make sure that water systems are in compliance, which means that they are following the rules laid out by our national and state governments.

How do we know our water-related facilities are following these rules?

For Richmond's Department of Public Utilities (DPU), remaining in compliance with all guidelines is the primary goal. Documents like our 2024 Consumer Confidence Report are available on the DPU website to share up-to-date information about DPU's efforts to measure, document, and improve on the quality of services.

What is a Notice of Alleged Violation or a Notice of Violation?

A Notice of Alleged Violation (NOAV) or Notice of Violation (NOV) are additional tools used by VDH and DEQ, respectively, if they observe a potential problem that might keep a waterworks from being in compliance with state and federal guidelines. The goal of an NOAV or NOV is to help the waterworks get back into compliance as quickly as possible. It's yet another way to support utilities in providing reliable services to their communities.

What is in a NOAV/NOV?

An NOAV/NOV is part of an ongoing conversation between the waterworks and the regulatory body. It's important to read them in full to understand the potential problem, what the waterworks has already done to address the problem, and what steps they will take next. Most notices lay out the facts of the issue, highlight steps the waterworks has taken, and list required future actions. Some notices might also include recommended actions or a reminder of best practices.

What happens when someone receives a NOAV or NOV?

The utility always has an opportunity to address the notice. A response might include correcting any information that needs more context or sharing the actions already taken to address the concern. Some waterworks may have ongoing Capital Improvement Projects that already focus on the concern. If the waterworks has already completed all the required steps, VDH or DEQ will close out the notice.

What is a consent order?

If the response to the notice doesn't address all the required steps, VDH or DEQ can issue a consent order, or Order of Consent. The consent order requires the waterworks to commit to a timeline of changes. The consent order might confirm a corrective action plan, which highlights specific tasks and timeframes for noted deficiencies. A consent order might also include civil penalties, but its primary purpose is to establish an agreement about important next steps.

Once the items listed in the consent order are completed, the issuing agency closes the order.

What recent NOVs, NOAVs, or consent orders has Richmond's Department of Public Utilities received?

In 2025, DPU has received the following from the Virginia Department of Health:

• January 23: Richmond's loss of system-wide pressure and subsequent Boil Water Advisory, beginning January 6, 2025.

  • The City of Richmond provided VDH with a formal response on February 21, which VDH acknowledged in a letter on March 11. VDH amended this initial NOAV on May 1, 2025.

• May 12: Unplanned discharge of fluoride into the City's drinking water on April 23, 2025.

• June 12: VDH and the City of Richmond enter into an Order of Consent for the January water events.

Why should residents know about these guidelines, policies and notices?

When we turn on the tap for a glass of water, flush our toilets, or see heavy rain moving toward storm drains, we don't always think about the planning, evaluation, and project development taking place behind the scenes. Tools like Consumer Confidence Reports and NOAVs highlight the important and continuous improvements needed to keep our water supplies safe. They are conversations between regulatory agencies, service providers, and residents that make the behind-the-scenes work as transparent as possible. As the City continues working on water process improvements and updates, these tools help us further our mission of providing safe and reliable utility service.

By virtue of the authority vested in the United States of America, Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Code of Laws, and the Richmond City Charter, the Mayor of Richmond and Richmond City Council, the governing legislative institution of Richmond, Virginia in The United States of America, do hereby and officially proclaim on behalf of:

Richmond LGBTQ+ Friendly Community

Whereas, Richmond City Council, the governing legislative institution of Richmond, Virginia, and the Mayor of Richmond, in the United States of America, do hereby unite in solidarity and common purpose to recognize, honor, and celebrate the diversity, shared humanity, and civil rights of our LGBTQ+ community; and

Whereas, Each of us should be able to love who we love without the fear of prejudice, discrimination, violence, or exclusion based on gender identity or sexual orientation; and

Whereas, Richmond has an extensive and rich queer history and proudly includes people of all ages, races, and ethnicities who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Queer, and beyond - who deserve the same rights, benefits, and responsibilities shared and enjoyed by all; and

Whereas, Leading the nation, in 1991 the nonprofit Richmond Organization for Sexual Minority Youth (ROSMY), now known as Side by Side, was established as one of the first dedicated LGBTQ+ youth support organizations in our country, and Richmond is now home to a full prism of LGBTQ+ groups; and

Whereas, Richmond is a leader in supporting its LGBTQ+ community by establishing non-discrimination laws, hiring a LGBTQ+ Liaison, forming a Human Rights Commission, expanding transgender-inclusive care for city employees, and recognizing same sex marriages from other states for city government employee spousal benefits; and

Whereas, In 2011, Richmond was one of the earliest cities in Virginia and the South to proclaim a city LGBTQ+ Pride Month (Richmond LGBTQ+ Pride Month), and in 2013 the first to proclaim Richmond LGBTQ+ Pride Day (first held in 1979) and Richmond Transgender Day of Remembrance; and

Whereas, On October 6, 2014, Richmond hosted the first legal gay marriage in the South; and

Whereas, Leading the state, in 2018, Richmond hosted Virginia's first official Black Pride event, Black Pride RVA, produced by UGRC on behalf of the BI-POC LGBTQ+ community and, in 2019, the first celebration of Virginia's Hispanic LGBTQ+ community, Viva RVA!, held by Diversity Richmond; and

Whereas, Over the past decade and a half, Richmond has recognized, embraced, and honored local Richmond LGBTQ+ trailblazers, advocates, and celebrities, such as Guy Kinman, Jr., Rodney Lofton, Donnie Corker, and Judge Tracy Thorne-Begland; and

Whereas, Richmond's many years of advancement and advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ+ rights has earned it a rare perfect annual score since 2020, of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index; and

Whereas, Richmond has served as a stalwart LGBTQ+ ally by creating the first citywide Equity Agenda, raising the Progress Flag at Richmond City Hall, supporting state legislation such as the 2020 Virginia Values Act, LGBTQ+ Rainbow crosswalks, and ensuring protection of LGBTQ+ people in Richmond and beyond;

Now, Therefore, Richmond City Council and Mayor Danny Avula do herby proclaim and establish the City of Richmond as an official Richmond LGBTQ+ Friendly Community, in perpetuity; declare Richmond a safe place for LGBTQ+ people to live their lives freely, openly, authentically, and protected from harm; and bring this to the attention of all Richmond residents in honoring our thriving inclusive community.

Signed,

The Honorable Danny Avula, Mayor
The Honorable Cynthia I. Newbille, Council President
The Honorable Katherine L. Jordan, Council Vice President

Today, City Council will meet to review Mayor Danny Avula's nominees for both the Acting Chief Administrative Officer and permanent Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Keep reading to learn more about the process!

Why do we need an acting CAO?

The day-to-day work of Richmond city government requires a CAO: They provide final approval on a wide variety of administrative items and also needs to be available 24/7 in the case of an emergency. In fact, when the CAO leaves town, we temporarily designate a deputy as the "acting CAO" in case something requiring immediate response comes up.

Because there will be some time between Mr. Donald's confirmation and start date — which is standard for people moving from one leadership position to another — the City will need an Acting CAO to keep us on track. Mayor Avula has nominated Ms. Sharon Ebert, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic and Community Development, for that acting position.

Thank you for your service!

"I'm so grateful to Ms. Ebert for her willingness to take on this expanded responsibility, and I have full confidence in her ability to fulfill the duties of the Acting CAO role with excellence and professionalism. I'm also absolutely thrilled to introduce Mr. Donald to City Council and the residents of the City of Richmond. I'm looking forward to working with Mr. Donald as my partner in building a thriving Richmond that leaves no one behind," said Mayor Danny Avula.

Timeline

• June 6, Outgoing Acting CAO Sabrina Joy-Hogg departs. Mayor Danny Avula announces nominee for CAO, Odie Donald II.
• June 9, Richmond City Council reviews the mayor's Acting CAO and permanent CAO nominations. City Council votes to confirm the nominations.
• June 9 - July 9, Pending confirmation, Ms. Sharon Ebert serves as Acting CAO.
• July 9, CAO nominee, Odie Donald II joins the City of Richmond as permanent CAO. Ms. Ebert continues her role as DCAO.