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To amend City Code § 2-1204, concerning the residency of certain officers and employees, to modify the City’s residency requirement for certain officers and employees.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That section 2-1204 of the Code of City of Richmond (2020) be and is hereby amended as follows:
Sec. 2-1204. Residency of certain officers and employees.
(a) For the purposes of this section, words or terms not specially defined shall be interpreted in accord with such normal dictionary meaning or customary usage as is appropriate to the context. For purposes of this section, the term "principal residence" means that address where the employee can provide written documentation of the following:
(1) The payment of a mortgage or rent.
(2) The listing in the employee's name of household utility accounts, such as gas, electricity, telephone, water, stormwater, wastewater, cable television, and internet access.
(3) The receipt of U.S. mail.
(4) The use of such address for voter registration, vehicle registration, and the filing of Federal, State and local tax returns.
(b) The persons [holding the following enumerated positions in the City government] employed in one of the job classifications enumerated below shall be required to have their principal residence within the City during their continuance in such office or employment:
(1) Chief of Fire and Emergency Services.
(2) Chief of Police.
(3) Chief Administrative Officer.
(4) Director of Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response.
(5) Director of Public Utilities.
(6) Director of Public Works.
(7) Director of Social Services.
(8) Director of Information Technology.
(9) Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.
(10) Council Chief of Staff.
(11) City Attorney.
(12) City Clerk.
(13) Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Senior.
(14) Senior Department Director.
(15) Chief of Staff.
(16) City Auditor.
(17) Director of Economic Development.
(18) Director of Finance.
(19) Director of Richmond Gas Works.
(20) Executive Director, Richmond Retirement System.
(21) City Assessor.
(22) Deputy City Attorney.
(23) Director of Budget and Strategic Planning.
(24) Director of Citizen Service and Response.
(25) Director of General Services.
(26) Director of Housing and Community Development.
(27) Director of Human Resources.
(28) Director of Justice Services.
(29) Director of Neighborhood and Community Services.
(30) Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.
(31) Director of Planning and Development Review.
(32) Director of Procurement Services.
(33) Director of Community Wealth Building.
(34) Inspector General.
(35) Library Director.
(36) Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.
(37) Director of Revenue Administration.
(38) Director of Strategic Communications and Civic Engagement.
(39) Director of Sustainability.
(40) Director of Animal Care and Control.
(41) Director of Minority Business Development.
(42) Commissioner of Buildings.
(43) Chief Capital Projects Manager.
(c) Notwithstanding the requirement to reside within the City as provided in subsection (b) of this section, all persons who are appointed to hold any of the positions listed in subsection (b) of this section and who have their principal residence within a [100-mile] 60-mile radius of the City's corporate boundaries at the time of their appointment may maintain such existing residence upon obtaining a residency waiver. A request for a residency waiver may be considered by an appointing authority only upon receipt of written documentation from the person selected demonstrating either of the following situations:
(1) Moving to the City will cause such person to either lose on the sale of the existing residence or expend on the purchase of a new residence an amount of money greater than twice the amount of increase in annual salary generated by the appointment;
(2) Moving to the City will cause such person to lose eligibility for special educational, medical or other special family services which are not available in the City; [or]
(3) Such person is the sole caretaker of an immediate family member and has to maintain such person's residence in close proximity to that family member to continue to provide such care[.]; or
(4) Such person has at least one child enrolled in an elementary or secondary school located within a 60-mile radius of the City’s corporate boundaries and moving into the City’s corporate boundaries would be disruptive to the child’s educational experience.
(d) Any person employed or appointed on a [full-time] permanent basis to fill any position subject to the residence requirements of this section shall establish a principal residence within the City not later than [12] 18 months after commencing work in such position. The appointing authority shall, in such instances, obtain a written acknowledgment of the residence requirement from the person appointed before such person commences work in the position.
(e) No other officer or employee of the City shall be required to live in the City, except as may otherwise be provided under the Charter or applicable State law.
(f) Any person [occupying a position to which the residence requirements would otherwise apply, but who, prior to July 1, 2018, was not required to maintain a principal residence within the City] employed or appointed on a permanent basis on or before July 1, 2025, shall not, by virtue of adoption of the ordinance from which this section is derived, be required to establish a principal residence in the City. [Such] As required in subsection (d) of this section, such person, however, shall [be subject to] comply with the residence requirements within eighteen months from the effective date of a promotion if such person is promoted to a more responsible position after adoption of the ordinance from which this section is derived.
§ 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect on July 1, 2025.