Richmond council adopts year of ordinances, approves FY2018 budget and tax levy

The Richmond City Council adopted a slate of ordinances and budget measures across 2017 that set the city’s operating priorities, funded capital work and updated municipal code provisions.

At a Jan. 10 meeting the council adopted the First Amendment to the Richmond Downtown Redevelopment Plan (Project 1(d)), and later in the year approved further amendments covering Project 1(e) and 1(f). The council also adopted a series of code updates and local ordinances addressing signs, fees, transportation tax distribution and nuisance wording.

The council approved multiple ordinances that cleared land-use and zoning actions, including rezonings, replat approvals and conditional-use permits. On Oct. 11 the council adopted the FY2018 operating budget; at a public hearing the body set the 2017 tax levy later in October after discussing revenues and levy calculations.

Council votes were typically unanimous. For example, votes recorded in the minutes show unanimous adoption (8-0 or 7-0 depending on attendance) for ordinance bills introduced and read by title, including Bill 17-01 (downtown redevelopment) and subsequent bills amending municipal chapters.

Why it matters: The package combines routine municipal housekeeping—code updates and fee schedules—with capital planning such as sidewalk and park construction. The FY2018 budget and tax levy fix the fiscal rules under which the city will operate for the year.

The next step: many of the adopted ordinances enable contracts and capital work included in the budget and will be implemented through departmental procurement and project schedules.