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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 $344,100.00 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Justice Services entitled “Operation Ceasefire Program Special Fund,” and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Justice Services’ “Operation Ceasefire Program Special Fund” by $344,100.00 for the purpose of funding the City’s Operation Ceasefire Program for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
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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 $344,100.00 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services for the purpose of funding the City’s Operation Ceasefire Program for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
§ 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 Department of Justice Services entitled “Operation Ceasefire Program Special Fund” for the purpose of funding the City’s Operation Ceasefire Program for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
§ 3. That the funds received from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services 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 $344,100.00, increasing the amount appropriated for expenditures by $344,100.00, and allotting to the Department of Justice Services’ “Operation Ceasefire Program Special Fund” the sum of $344,100.00 for the purpose of funding the City’s Operation Ceasefire Program for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
§ 4. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
O&R Transmittal Letter
DATE: January 12, 2026 EDITION: 1
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald, II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Tanikia Jackson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Finance & Administration
THROUGH: Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance
THROUGH: Meghan Brown, Director of Budget & Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Amy Popovich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Human Services
FROM: Greg Hopkins, Interim Director of Justice Services
RE: To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $344,100.00 for the purpose of funding the Department of Justice Services’ Operation Ceasefire Program for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $344,100.00 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, and to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Department of Justice Services entitled “Operation Ceasefire Program Special Fund” and appropriating the increase to the Department of Justice Services’ “Operation Ceasefire Program Special Fund” by $344,100.00 for the purpose of funding the Operation Ceasefire Program for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
BACKGROUND: The City of Richmond, through the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, has been awarded funds to implement the Safety & Healing Initiative by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to support partnerships with local nonprofit reentry and service providers to recruit, train, and deploy credible messengers with lived experience as well as targeted environmental improvements in high-violence hotspot neighborhoods, implemented in coordination with City departments.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Deliberation, consultation, and public engagement with external partners occurs monthly through the Gun Violence Prevention and Intervention Steering Committee.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: This legislation supports the Mayoral Action Plan, Pillar Two: Thriving Neighborhoods, Goal D: Keeping our neighbors safe and prepared by decreasing the number of gun violence victims. By authorizing the acceptance and appropriation of the Operation Ceasefire Grant funding to the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, the city enables implementation of coordinated, evidence-based community violence reduction strategies that complement law enforcement efforts. These investments are intended to reduce gun violence, improve neighborhood safety, and strengthen community resilience in areas disproportionately impacted by violence.
FISCAL IMPACT: No General Fund impact is anticipated. This is a reimbursement-based grant. Grant accounting, fiscal controls, and reporting will be managed by the Safer Communities Grant Coordinator within the Department of Justice Services.
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: Finance (April 16, 2026)
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Department of Justice Services (Office of Gun Violence Prevention), Department of Budget and Strategic Planning, Richmond Police Department
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: Amends Ord. No. 2025-057, adopting the annual budget
ATTACHMENTS: Grant award package to include the Statement of Grant Acceptance
STAFF: Gregory Hopkins
Interim Director of Justice Services
(804) 646-3763