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To designate the 2600 block of Melbourne Street in honor of Reverend Rodney M. Hunter. (6th District)
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. Designation of Street Block for Honorary Name. The 2600 Melbourne Street shall be designated in honor of Reverend Rodney M. Hunter pursuant to this ordinance.
§ 2. Effect of Designation. The designation of the street block made pursuant to this ordinance shall be honorary only, shall not replace the existing name of the street, and shall have no effect on the address of any property with an address on the designated street block. The sole effect of designation pursuant to this ordinance shall be to authorize the placement of commemorative signs in accordance with this ordinance memorializing the designation in honor of the named person.
§ 3. Administration of Ordinance. The Department of Public Works shall implement this ordinance by installing, as soon as practicable after the adoption of this ordinance and maintaining commemorative signs in accordance with this section. The commemorative signs shall be clearly distinct from the street signs used to identify the street block in question such that a reasonable person could not conclude that the commemorative signs reflect the actual name of the street. The commemorative signs (i) shall be affixed to a sign pole installed at each end of the block designated in section 1 of this ordinance for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of this section or to any existing sign identifying the road designated in section 1 of this ordinance located at each end of the block designated in section 1 of this ordinance and (ii) shall bear the name of the person set forth in section 1 of this ordinance.
§ 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: October 30, 2026
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: Ellen Robertson, 6th District Councilmember
THROUGH: RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
THROUGH: Will Perkins, Senior Legislative Services Manager
FROM: Steven Taylor, Council Policy Analyst
RE: Designating the 2600 Block of Melbourne Street in Honor of Rev. Rodney M. Hunter.
CNL - 2026 - 0103
PURPOSE:
Designating the 2600 block of Melbourne Street in honor of the Rev. Rodney M. Hunter in recognition of his life-time of service to Richmond, Virginia and its people.
BACKGROUND:
Rev. Hunter has served for 40 some years as pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church and is retiring. He is a well-known leader in the local and State religious communities, active in community and charitable efforts to alleviate poverty, educate students, minister to the incarcerated, and provide housing assistance.
As a religious leader he has served as District Chair of the District Council, Board of Discipleship, and as a leader in Churches in Transitional Communities, the Society of St. Andrews Gleaning Network, the Boad of Richmond Habitat for Humanity, CARITAS, the East End Team Board, Chair of Richmond’s Juvenile Court Volunteer Programs, Coordinator of the SHARE Food Program, and President of the Richmond Chapter of the Southern Conference of Christian Leadership Conference.
He has also worked to help with Area Congregations Together in Service (ACTS) to provide mortgage assistance and in the Jubilee Assistance Program - an alternative to predatory lending services.
FISCAL IMPACT: None. Signage costs of $800 are paid from DPW operating funds.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption.
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: September 28, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: October 13, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing & Transportation
AFFECTED AGENCIES: City Council, DPW
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None
ATTACHMENTS: Nominating Form
STAFF: Steven Taylor, Council Policy Analyst, (804-646-2780)