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To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $9,950.00 from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Office of Sustainability called the “USDN Catalyst Fund for Building Capacity for Energy Resilience in Richmond’s Public Housing Communities Special Fund,” and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Office of Sustainability’s “USDN Catalyst Fund for Building Capacity for Energy Resilience in Richmond’s Public Housing Communities Special Fund” by $9,950.00 for the purpose of building energy resilience at Whitcomb Court in the city’s East End.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, is hereby authorized to accept funds in the amount of $9,950.00 from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network for the purpose of building energy resilience at Whitcomb Court in the city’s East End
§ 2. That Article I, Section 2 of Ordinance No. 2025-057, adopted May 12, 2025 which adopted a Special Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, and made appropriations pursuant thereto, be and is hereby amended by creating a new special fund for the Office of Sustainability called the “USDN Catalyst Fund for Building Capacity for Energy Resilience in Richmond’s Public Housing Communities Special Fund” for the purpose of building energy resilience at Whitcomb Court in the city’s East End.
§ 3. That the funds received from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network are hereby appropriated to the Special Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, by increasing estimated revenues by $9,950.00, increasing the amount appropriated for expenditures by $9,950.00, and allotting to the Office of Sustainability’s “USDN Catalyst Fund for Building Capacity for Energy Resilience in Richmond’s Public Housing Communities Special Fund” the sum of $9,950.00 for the purpose of building energy resilience at Whitcomb Court in the city’s East End.
§ 4. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: September 15, 2025
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Mayor Danny Avula
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Tanikia Jackson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance
THROUGH: Meghan K. Brown, Director of Budget and Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Sharon L. Ebert, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Laura Thomas, Director of the Office of Sustainability
RE: Office of Sustainability | Urban Sustainability Network (USDN) Catalyst Fund ($9,950) | “Building Capacity for Energy Resilience in Richmond’s Public Housing Communities”
PURPOSE: To authorize the transfer of $9,950 from the USDN Catalyst Fund to the Office of Sustainability to support efforts to build energy resilience at Whitcomb Court in Richmond’s East End.
REASON: As the City of Richmond and the Office of Sustainability continue to implement the RVAgreen 2050 Climate Equity Action Plan, adopted by City Council, we recognize the urgent need to build energy resilience in the City’s public housing communities. This funding will support preliminary work at Whitcomb Court around energy usage data tracking and energy conservation, and directly supports the following plan objectives:
○ BE Objective 2: Maximize energy efficiency, performance and resilience in all existing buildings.
○ BE-2.1 Residential Energy Burden: Implement measures to reduce the energy burden of Richmond's most vulnerable communities and improve residential resilience to climate change.
RECOMMENDATION: City Council approves the $9,950.00 from the USDN Catalyst Fund to create a new special fund to support energy resilience activities at Whitcomb Court in partnership with Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA).
BACKGROUND: The Office of Sustainability was awarded a $9,950 grant through the Urban Sustainability Directors Network’s (USDN) Catalyst Fund for their project: “Building Capacity for Energy Resilience in Richmond’s Public Housing Communities”. During this six-month pilot project, OOS will work with Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) on targeted energy tracking and analysis at Whitcomb Court to better understand the energy challenges at this aging property. This work is part of a larger energy resilience planning initiative in Richmond’s East End, and will also include resident education, energy assessments, and installation of basic energy efficiency measures.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Grant funds will be used to support resident engagement activities around energy resilience at Whitcomb Court. The purpose of these activities is to inform residents about energy tracking and analysis efforts, provide energy education, and offer information about energy assessments and efficiency upgrades.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no local match required. The Office of Sustainability does not anticipate any impact to the city’s Budget for this or Future fiscal years related to activities associated with this grant,
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: November 10, 2025
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE:
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Finance & Economic Development
AFFECTED AGENCIES: N/A
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES: Budget Ordinance
ATTACHMENTS:
STAFF: Thomas, Laura C., Oleksy, Dawn G.