Council debate splits on sewer-rate ordinance; readings approved but adoption vote divided

The Richmond City Council discussed Bill 15‑15, an ordinance proposing amendments to Section 700.100 of the municipal code concerning sewer rates. During the July 28 meeting Councilor Deanna Guy moved and Councilor Rob Kinnard seconded to conduct the first and second readings by title only; that motion carried on the first roll call with six ayes and one nay.

City Clerk Tonya A. Willim read Bill 15‑15 by title. A subsequent motion to adopt the ordinance produced a roll‑call recorded in the minutes with four ayes (Councilors Coleman, Kinnard, Persell and Guy) and three nays (Councilors Dunwoodie, Peterson and Powell). The minutes also include the line "Bill 15‑16 Failed 4‑3," which appears in the same paragraph as the Bill 15‑15 readings and adoption votes; the sequence in the minutes is ambiguous.

The minutes do not record additional findings, recommended rate tables or staff background detail; they record the votes and the procedural steps taken. No implementation date or effective-rate schedule is included in the published minutes; staff follow‑up would be necessary to clarify whether Bill 15‑15 was adopted as written, whether the "15‑16" notation is a typographical error, and to obtain the ordinance text and effective dates.

Council members who participated in the roll calls included Mayor Mike Wright and members listed in the minutes. The council then continued other agenda items.