Title
To request the Richmond delegation to the General Assembly of Virginia to introduce and support the enactment of legislation to amend section 5.05(a) of the Charter of the City of Richmond to provide that the Mayor or the designee thereof may attend any closed meeting of the Council only if permitted by the Council pursuant to § 2.2-3712(F) of the Code of Virginia.
Body
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND:
That, in accordance with section 15.2-202 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, the Richmond delegation to the General Assembly of Virginia is hereby requested to introduce and support the enactment of legislation to amend section 5.05(a) of the Charter of the City of Richmond as set forth in the document entitled “Requests of the City of Richmond for City Charter Amendments during the 2021 Session of the General Assembly of Virginia,” a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this resolution.
Requests of the City of Richmond for City Charter Amendments during the 2021 Session of the General Assembly of Virginia
Amended Section:
§ 5.05. General duties; mayor.
It shall be the duty of the mayor to:
(a) Attend, or appoint a designee empowered to answer questions and make recommendations on behalf of the mayor to attend, all meetings of the council with the right to speak but not to vote; provided that the mayor or his designee [shall have the right to] may attend a closed meeting pursuant to § 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia[,unless the council determines that the subject matter of the closed meeting includes the office of the mayor and that inclusion of the mayor or his designee shall be detrimental to the purpose of the council's deliberations] only if permitted by the council pursuant to § 2.2-3712(F) of the Code of Virginia;
(b) Keep the council advised of the financial condition and the future needs of the city and of all matters pertaining to its proper administration, and make such recommendations as may seem to the mayor desirable;
(c) Oversee preparation of and submit the annual budget to the council as provided in Chapter 6 of this charter;
(d) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this charter or which may be required of the chief executive officer of a city by the general laws of the Commonwealth, or by ordinances adopted by the council, provided that the mayor shall have the power to veto any city ordinance by written notice of veto delivered to the city clerk within 14 calendar days of council's actions, subject to override thereafter by the council with a vote of six or more of the currently filled seats on council at any regular or special meeting held within 14 calendar days of the clerk's receipt of the notice of veto; however, the appointment of members of a redevelopment and housing authority in the city shall be made by the council; and
(e) Issue such regulations as may be necessary in order to implement the mayor's duties and powers.
EXPLANATION: Subsection (a) of section 5.05 currently authorizes the Mayor or the designee thereof to attend a closed meeting pursuant to § 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia, unless the City Council determines that the subject matter of the closed meeting includes the Office of the Mayor and that inclusion of the Mayor or the designee thereof shall be detrimental to the purpose of the City Council’s deliberations. The amendments to section 5.05 provide that the Mayor or the designee thereof may attend a closed meeting of the City Council only if permitted by the City Council pursuant to § 2.2-3712(F) of the Code of Virginia.