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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 $2,002,659.00 from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Utilities’ Stormwater Facilities Improvements project in the Utilities category by $2,002,659.00 for the purpose of funding the Broad Rock Creek Stream Restoration project.
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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 authorized to accept funds in the amount of $2,002,659.00 from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for the purpose of funding the Broad Rock Creek Stream Restoration project.
§ 2. That the funds received are hereby appropriated to the Capital Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, by increasing estimated revenues by $2,002,659.00, increasing the amount appropriated for expenditures by $2,002,659.00, and allotting to the Department of Public Utilities' Stormwater Facilities Improvements project in the Utilities category the sum of $2,002,659.00 for the purpose of funding the Broad Rock Creek Stream Restoration project.
§ 3. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
City of Richmond
Intracity Correspondence
O&R Transmittal
DATE: March 27, 2026
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Dr. Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Tanikia Jackson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Al Wiggins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance
THROUGH: Meghan Brown, Director of Budget & Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Scott Morris, DBA, P.E., Director of Public Utilities
FROM: Billy Vaughan, Deputy Director Senior, Department of Public Utilities
RE: TO AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO ACCEPT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF UP TO $2,002,659.00 FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND TO AMEND THE FY 2026 ADOPTED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS RECEIVED FOR THE BROAD ROCK CREEK STREAM REHABILITATION PROJECT.
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 up to $2,002,659.00 from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and to amend Ordinance No. 2025-058, adopted May 12, 2025, which accepted a program of proposed Capital Improvement Projects for Fiscal Year 2026 and the four fiscal years thereafter and adopted a Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2026, to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Utilities’ Stormwater Facilities Improvements category by $2,002,659.00 for the purpose of appropriating funds received from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for the Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project.
BACKGROUND: In 2024, the Department of Public Utilities’ Engineering Services Division began to plan for the Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project alongside partners with the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities. Broad Rock Creek, which flows through Broad Rock Creek Park, is suffering from degraded and eroded streambanks. Located on City property in Richmond’s 8th City Council District and flowing into Goode’s Creek and then the James River downstream, the stream corridor is a key feature within Broad Rock Creek Park and, as the new 26.2-acre park space is activated and transformed, will continue to be utilized frequently by recreationalists and visitors. The Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project was initiated to provide a safe and stable environment to prevent future erosion and restore the degraded stream channel.
Simultaneously, the project team began to prepare an application for a Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) grant administered by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for the project. SLAF provides up to 50% matching grants to local governments for the planning, design, and implementation of certain stormwater best practices that improve water quality, including stream restoration projects. The application for the Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project was submitted in September of 2024. On Friday, November 8th of 2024 members of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Water Financing and Assistance Program met with City representatives from the Department of Public Utilities and the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities for a site visit including a walk in the Broad Rock Creek streambed. On Monday, February 3rd of 2025, the Department of Public Utilities’ Engineering Services Division received notice from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality that SLAF matching grant funds were authorized for the Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project. The total project cost, including design engineering, construction, construction management, and other contingencies amounts to $4,353,607.00. A 50% match of eligible project costs amounts to a $2,002,659.00 SLAF grant.
Surveying and preliminary design work is currently underway. Engineering design is expected to be completed by September of 2026 with construction beginning in March of 2027. The project will reconnect approximately 2,390 linear feet of degraded stream channel with the floodplain to improve safety, decrease flooding, provide healthier habitat for wildlife, plant native trees and shrubs, and create additional recreational and environmental education opportunities in Broad Rock Creek Park.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Community outreach efforts have been ongoing throughout the Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project’s preliminary design phase and will continue throughout the project’s design and during construction in coordination and partnership with the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities.
Community engagement has included an interactive and robust bilingual design charette held with Virginia Community Voice’s Art, Reconciliation, and Civic Advocacy program in coordination with the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities on Saturday, March 22nd of 2025 to solicit youth and parent feedback. The Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project flyer is available at www.rvah2o.org/city-projects <http://www.rvah2o.org/city-projects> in both Spanish and English to ensure information is readily available. The flyer will be updated with additional information as the project progresses.
Outreach will continue throughout the remainder of the Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project’s design, construction, and ensuing plantings. Project information will also remain available online following the conclusion of construction activities.
STRATEGIC INITATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: The Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project aligns the stream restoration, green infrastructure, native plant, and tree canopy goals of the RVA Clean Water Plan. The project also advances Ordinance No. 2020-236 which adopted Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth as the City’s Master Plan, and the plan’s Thriving Environment “Big Move,” Goal 16: Clean Water, and Objective 16.1 associated with it to restore all streams into healthy riparian areas. Additionally, this work supports RES. 2023-R005 to adopt the City of Richmond RVAgreen 2050: Climate Equity Action Plan 2030 as the official sustainability plan for the City of Richmond. Specifically, the Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project helps to achieve RVAgreen 2050: Climate Equity Action Plan 2030 Environment Objective 1: Make sure all residents have the opportunity to engage with healthy natural resources, spaces, and biodiversity. Relatedly, the Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project supports the Thriving and Sustainable Built Environment pillar of the Mayoral Action Plan, and Goal B in particular as the project advances the goals of RVAgreen 2050, Goal C to partner with residents in the City’s environmental justice work as the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities is working in collaboration with Virginia Community Voice and their Art, Reconciliation, and Civic Advocacy program, as well as Goal D, to build, maintain, and repair City infrastructure that will serve residents for generations to come, by investing in and repairing the degraded and eroded stretches of Broad Rock Creek and Goode’s Creek. In addition, the project aligns with the Mayoral Action Plan’s Thriving Neighborhoods pillar and its Goal C by connecting adjacent neighborhoods to high-quality amenities including a healthy Broad Rock Creek and Goode’s Creek, and the new Broad Rock Creek Park, and the Thriving Economy pillar through Goal F and investing in this Southside waterway, park, and neighborhood via the Broad Rock Creek Stream Rehabilitation Project.
FISCAL IMPACT: The FY 2026 Capital Improvement Program budget will be amended to appropriate $2,002,659.00 to the Department of Public Utilities’ Stormwater Facilities Improvement category. All $2,002,659.00 of the SLAF grant is subject to a 100% match requirement.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: May 11, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: May 26, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent Agenda
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development (May 20, 2026)
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Department of Public Utilities; Finance Department; Budget and Strategic Planning
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: Amend Ordinance No. 2025-058 adopted May 12, 2025
ATTACHMENTS: Stormwater Local Assistance Fund Grant Agreement SLAF Grant No.: 25-19
STAFF: Billy Vaughan, Deputy Director Senior, DPU - 804.646.5232
Bill Boston, Program and Operations Manager, DPU - 804.646.8161
Jenn Clarke, Program and Operations Supervisor, DPU - 804.646.8131