Recent actions highlight commitment to higher quality, more responsive, and more transparent City operations.  

The City of Richmond recently announced a series of achievements that reflect the Administration’s commitment to good governance, operational excellence, and continuous quality improvement. Recent progress across public safety, housing, labor relations, and government accountability highlights how internal teams, guided by Mayor Danny Avula’s leadership and direction, are driving stronger, more responsive, and more transparent City operations.    

Accountability and Performance. This week, the Office of the City Auditor (OCA) noted the Administration’s progress, underscoring the City’s commitment to accountability and continuous improvement. OCA closed or removed 38 recommendations, including 34 in key operational areas such as bad debt reconciliation, purchase use, warehousing, and duplicate payment controls. Across the fiscal year, 10 departments closed 65 recommendations, reflecting meaningful performance improvements across the government. 

Customer Support During DPU System Updates.  Following the launch of DPU’s upgraded customer information systems, some customers experienced delays and disruptions that were promptly addressed and resolved. The department is continuing to monitor system performance closely and make the necessary post‑implementation adjustments to realize optimal efficiency. 

To ensure residents have clear avenues to share feedback and receive assistance, DPU Senior Director Scott Morris and Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II will host two customer engagement events inviting community members to hear directly from them, speak directly with customer service staff, receive support, and learn more about financial assistance resources.  Sessions will be held Tuesday, June 23, from 12–2 p.m. at City Hall, and Wednesday, June 24, from 5–7 p.m. at the Southside Community Services Center.  

Strengthening the Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) – City of Richmond Partnership. With a focus on strengthening public safety through effective governance, the Administration is partnering with Council to reform the partnership between the city’s Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response (DECPR) and the Richmond Ambulance Authority.  The unanimously approved ordinance will ensure that medically trained RAA staff handle medical only calls from the outset, improving accuracy and speeding up care for residents. 

Collective Bargaining. The City is advancing an amendment to its collective bargaining agreement that clarifies negotiation processes and reinforces productive labor management collaboration. By promoting consistency and transparency in workforce policies, Richmond continues to demonstrate its commitment to fair, reliable, and accountable governance. 

Commerce Road. Good governance guides the City’s approach to housing. New legislation for the Commerce Road corridor will enable a significant expansion of affordable housing units, strengthening long-term housing options for families and supporting equitable growth across Richmond. 

Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The City completed work to ensure that all funds designated for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund were correctly calculated and aligned with the budget process, supporting continued investment in housing access and stability for residents.   

“Whether it’s our historic audit results, improving emergency services, moving collective bargaining efforts forward, or continued investment in transformative public housing, the administration is making significant improvements for Richmonders,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. 

The City of Richmond today announced that the 2026 Richmond Community Survey has been mailed to 4,000 randomly selected households throughout the city. Co-sponsored by the Administration and the City Auditor, this survey gives residents an opportunity to provide feedback on local quality of life, services, and priorities that will guide the Mayor’s Action Plan.

The Richmond Community Survey leverages the National Community Survey, which is a statistically representative resident survey used by hundreds of U.S. local governments. The survey will measure public opinion on community livability, satisfaction with City services, resident priorities, community engagement, and perceptions about local government performance. Responses will help City leaders identify strengths and areas for improvement, benchmark Richmond’s results against peer cities, and inform future budgeting and policy priorities.

“We encourage every household that receives the survey in the mail to take a few minutes to complete it,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “Your feedback shapes how Richmond invests in services that matter most; whether that’s public safety, parks, infrastructure, or community development.”

Results from the survey will be available on the City Auditor’s webpage at https://rva.gov/office-city-auditor/reports-issued once complete. For more information about the Mayor’s Action Plan, visit the City of Richmond’s official website at www.rva.gov/mayors-office/mayoral-action-plan.

The Education and Human Services Standing Committee agenda for the Thursday, February 10, 2022 meeting is now available on the City’s legislative website by clicking here.

This meeting will be held through electronic communication means pursuant to the current ongoing declaration of a local emergency concerning the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed by Res. No. 2020-R025, adopted March 16, 2020, and as permitted by section 2.2-3708.2(A)(3) of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.  This meeting will be open to participation through electronic communication means by the public and closed to in-person participation by the public. Less than a quorum of the Education and Human Services Standing Committee will assemble in the Council Chamber on the 2nd floor of City Hall at 900 East Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia 23219, and most Council members will participate by teleconference/videoconference via Microsoft Teams. The public will have the option to provide their comments by teleconference/videoconference via Microsoft Teams, or in writing via email.  Interested citizens who wish to take advantage of either option, must do so prior to 10:00 a.m., on Thursday, February 10, 2022, by either calling the Office of the City Clerk at (804) 646-7955 and selecting option 3 or sending written comments or virtual comment requests to CityClerksOffice@rva.gov.  All written comments received prior to the deadline will be provided to members prior to the beginning of the meeting and will be included in the record of the meeting.

Please note that the meeting agenda may be revised.  Click the above-referenced link to access the most current information.