Richmond City Council 10/27/2026

The Richmond City Council’s special meeting on October 27, 2026, included a 2025 evaluation of the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth (RFCY). Evaluators reported that $6.7 million was allocated through 37 new grants in 2025, bringing RFCY investments since fiscal year 2021 to $15.8 million; the current grants generally run through 2027. Department staff reported an executed consultant contract for a financial audit of the fund and an ongoing RFP for a management system. They also anticipate releasing an RFP for the next grant cycle in the second half of 2027. Council discussion raised future grant access, data collection, and service priorities, but no new grant or procurement award was voted on during this presentation.

Other procurement-related discussion included public works reporting more than 300 outstanding vendor invoices, recovery of approximately $5.94 million in grant reimbursements, and oversight of numerous funded capital projects. Police officers and public commenters urged the city to purchase an armored rescue vehicle, with one speaker citing an estimated cost of about $400,000; the council took no purchase action. The council did approve on first reading an ordinance amendment transferring hazardous-material program implementation and enforcement to the county fire protection district. No contract award or other procurement vote was identified for that item.