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To amend City Code §§ 2-1202.7, concerning duties and reporting of the Public Utilities and Services Commission, and 2-1202.8, concerning conduct of affairs of the Commission.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That sections 2-1202.7and 2-1202.8 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), be and are hereby amended and reordained as follows:
Sec. 2-1202.7. Duties; reporting.
(a) Duties. The Public Utilities and Services Commission shall serve as an advisory body to the Council and the Mayor. The Commission shall provide the Council and the Mayor with information and advice concerning operation, maintenance, rate setting, fiscal integrity, and expansion of the City's public utilities, including natural gas, clean drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, and stormwater by performing the following duties:
(1) Reviewing reports and information concerning the operations or change in policies or services of the Department of Public Utilities and Department of Public Works.
(2) Making recommendations to Council and the Mayor relating to the operations of natural gas, clean drinking water, sanitary sewers, stormwater management, utility billing issues, sanitation, refuse and recycling.
(3) Assisting the Mayor, Council, and City employees with the review of any issues requiring study and utilization of best practices to enhance performance without impact to regulatory compliance standards.
(4) Creating subcommittees to study specific topics or initiatives. [The Commission shall maintain five standing subcommittees: Water Utility Operations Subcommittee, Stormwater Utility Operations Subcommittee, Wastewater Utility Operations Subcommittee, Solid Waste Utility Operations Subcommittee, and Natural Gas Subcommittee.]The Commission may create ad-hoc subcommittees, which shall consist of members of the Commission, to study other topics or utility related initiatives.
(5) Increasing public engagement to create transparency and to inform the public of future city planning related to stormwater, energy conservation, clean drinking water, wastewater utilities, solid waste and refuse projects, and operations.
(6) Conducting research and request access to interview city administrators, residents, subject matter experts, municipality leadership, and other stakeholders to discern the scope of issues and problems related to service delivery, quality of service, or other performance and operational related topics to create recommendations for improvement.
(7) Providing advice on how the City may facilitate a transition of the gas utility in accordance with the City's climate and ecological emergency declaration, as set forth in Resolution No. 2021-R049, adopted September 13, 2021, and the City's master plan.
(8) Making recommendations on ways that the City may ensure the fiscal integrity and viability of each of the City's utilities.
(b) Reporting. The Commission shall provide to the Council and the Mayor, by no later than October 31 of each year, a written report regarding the status of the Commission's work, as set forth in this section, with the first of such reports due by no later than October 31, 2024. In addition, the Commission shall provide the Council with written reports at such times as may be requested by the Council or the Mayor.
Sec. 2-1202.8. Conduct of affairs.
The conduct of the affairs of the Commission shall be as follows:
(1) Quorum. A majority of [the voting members of the Commission] the members appointed to the Commission shall constitute a quorum.
(2) Officers. The Commission shall select from among its membership a chair, a vice chair, a secretary, and such other officers as it may deem necessary to discharge its functions.
(3) Meetings. The Commission shall meet at least once every three months in the calendar year and as often as the Commission may deem necessary.
(4) Freedom of Information. All meetings and records of the Commission, including, but not limited to, the taking and keeping of minutes, shall be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
(5) Procedures. The Commission may adopt rules of procedure or bylaws, approved as to form and legality by the City Attorney and not inconsistent with this division or other applicable law, to govern the conduct of its meetings and affairs.
(6) Staff and Resources. The Office of the Council Chief of Staff shall provide such staff and resources and shall coordinate the provision of assistance by members of the City administration and the offices of appointees of the City Council, as may be necessary to assist the Commission in completing the duties imposed by this division.
§ 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: March 19, 2026
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
THROUGH: Will Perkins, Senior Legislative Services Manager
FROM: The Honorable Katherine Jordan, Councilmember 2nd District
RE: To amend City Code § 2-1202.7, concerning duties and reporting of the Public Utilities and Services Commission and 2-1202.8, concerning conduct of affairs.
CNL-2025-0072
PURPOSE: This update certain provisions of the City of Richmond’s Public Utilities and Services Commission ordinance.
BACKGROUND: The Public Utilities and Services Commission (PUSC) was created via Ordinance 2023-315 (adopted November 13, 2023) with the purpose to “provide the Council and the Mayor with information and advice concerning the management and operations of the utilities operated by the City, including natural gas, clean drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, and stormwater, and to provide opportunities for education and outreach to city of Richmond residents and ratepayers.” The PUSC recently publishes its first annual report (see attached) highlighting the action, concerns, conversations and recommendations of the body in 2025.
The 2025 PUSC annual report identified two operational challenges remedied in this ordinance:
1. Sec. 2-1202.7 (b) (4) currently requires the PUSC to maintain five standing subcommittees: water utility, stormwater utility operations, wastewater utility operations, solid waste utility operations, and natural gas. This ordinance deletes the sentence requiring the Commission to maintain these specific five standing subcommittees, leaving in place language allowing it to create subcommittees and ad-hoc subcommittees as it deems appropriate. The establishing ordinance for the Commission was highly prescriptive in the number and function of subcommittees focused on specific topics. This past year, for example, the three water-focused subcommittees typically met altogether with the same membership (with three different chairs). Further, the Commission was unable to establish a solid waste subcommittee as required by the ordinance.
2. Sec. 2-1202.8 (1) defines quorum as a majority of “voting members,” meaning the Commission always needs seven (7) votes to adopt minutes or a motion regardless of how many of its thirteen (13) seats are currently filled. This ordinance amends the definition of quorum to be a majority of “filled seats.” This change was recommended in the Commission’s 2025 annual report. It will allow the Commission to adopt minutes and pass motions based on a majority of its currently filled membership even if there are vacancies. At times this past year it was challenging for the Commission to adopt minutes or hold meetings because they were unable to meet the original quorum requirement. This change will allow the body to netter fulfill its intended purpose.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: These changes were requested by the Public Utilities and Services Commission members to help expedite their business and make them more effective. Council staff presented these proposed changes at the February 26, 2026, meeting of the Commission and all members present indicated their support.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: A thriving City Hall (that gets things done); A thriving and sustainable built environment (planned for future generations).
FISCAL IMPACT: Council staff estimate no additional fiscal impact for the City in adopting this ordinance.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon Adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: April 13, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: April 27, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Government Operations
AFFECTED AGENCIES: N/A
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: Ord. 2023-315
ATTACHMENTS: “2025 Annual Report - Richmond City Public Utilities and Services Commission”
STAFF: Will Perkins, Senior Legislative Services Manager, (804-382-7811)