Richmond Municipal Code Art. III The Council

Sec. 1. All powers herein granted to and vested in the City of Richmond shall, except as herein otherwise provided, be exercised by a Council to be designated the Council of the City of Richmond; and said Council shall, except as herein otherwise provided, have the power to fix and establish the method and manner in which such powers shall be exercised.

Sec. 2. (Amended at election May 14, 1963 and November 2, 2004) Said Council shall be composed of nine members, each of whom shall have been an elector of the City of Richmond for at least one year preceding said member's election.

The members of said Council shall be known as councilmembers, and their terms of office shall be four years commencing on the second Tuesday in January following their election.

(Added at election November 2, 2004) On the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2004, an election shall be held to reduce the number of Councilmembers from nine to seven beginning with the election scheduled in November 2008. At the election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2008, the electorate shall vote for three Councilmembers.

Sec. 3. On the second Monday of May, 1909, an election shall be held within said City for the purpose of electing nine members of said Council. The nine members elected at such election, shall, at the first regular meeting in July, 1909, so classify themselves by lot that three of said members shall hold office for the term of two years, three for the term of four years, and three for a term of six years.

(As amended at election June 8, 1976) On the second Tuesday in May, 1977, an election shall be held for the election of three Councilmembers to succeed the three members of the City Council whose terms expire. The two Councilmembers elected at such election who received the highest and next to the highest number of votes shall serve for a term of six years and the other Councilmember elected at such election shall serve for a term of four years, commencing on the second Monday after their election. Thereafter, on the second Tuesday in May of each odd-numbered year, an election shall be held for the election of Councilmembers to succeed the members of the City Council whose terms expire and each Councilmember elected shall serve for a term of four years. Also, at each of the elections required by this paragraph, a Councilmember shall be elected for any unexpired term that may exist.

The electors, in form and manner prescribed in section two of Article VII, may by ordinance provide for the division of the City into districts or wards and require that one Councilmember be elected at each election shall be a resident of each ward at the time of his election; provided that all Councilmembers shall be voted for at large.

(Amended at election May 13, 1969 and November 4, 1986) The City Council may, by resolution, change the date of any general election for the Mayor and City Councilmembers to another date in order to consolidate said election with an election of any other public agency which is held within one month of the dates set forth in this Charter for municipal elections. A notice of the change in the date of a general election shall be published for five days not earlier than the 120th day nor later than the 100th day prior to the date fixed for the election.

(Added at election November 4, 1986) On the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November, 1987, an election shall be held for the election of Councilmembers to succeed the members of the City Council whose terms expire. Thereafter on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year, an election shall be held for the election of Councilmembers to succeed the members of the City Council whose terms expire. The terms of the office of City Councilmembers shall commence on the second Monday following his or her election. City Councilmembers whose terms expire in May, 1987, shall remain in office and their terms shall not expire until after the November 1987 election for Councilmembers and their successors have taken office. City Councilmembers whose terms expire in May 1989 shall remain in office and their terms shall not expire until after the November 1989 election for Councilmembers and their successors have taken office.

(Added at election November 5, 2002) On the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2002, an election shall be held for the election of Councilmembers to succeed the members of the City Council whose terms expire. Thereafter, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year, an election shall be held for the election of Councilmembers to succeed the members of the City Council whose terms expire. The terms of office of City Councilmembers shall commence on the second Monday following his or her election. Councilmembers whose terms expire in November, 2003, shall remain in office and their terms shall not expire until after the November, 2004, election for Councilmembers. Councilmembers whose terms expire in November, 2005, shall remain in office and their terms shall not expire until after the November, 2006, election for Councilmembers.

(Added at election November 5, 2002) Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the terms of office of City Councilmembers shall commence on the second Tuesday in January following their election. City Councilmembers whose terms would expire on the second Monday following an election shall remain in office and their terms shall not expire until the second Tuesday after the election.

(Added at election November 2, 2004) On the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2004, an election shall be held to reduce the number of Councilmembers from nine to seven beginning with the election scheduled in November 2008. At the election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2008, the electorate shall vote for three Councilmembers.

Sec. 4. The Councilmembers shall each receive the sum of five dollars for each day while sitting as a Board of Equalization; but no other compensation shall be paid unless the electors by ordinance proposed and adopted in accordance with Section Two of Article VIII, shall otherwise provide.

Sec. 5. Said Council shall fix the time and place for its regular meetings and adopt rules to govern its proceedings.

Sec. 6. (Amended at election November 2, 2004) Five members of the Council shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; but a less number may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members, and impose such fines as it may deem proper upon members refusing or neglecting to attend such meetings.

(Added at election November 2, 2004) Effective with the November 2008 election, four members of the Council shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; but a less number may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members, and impose such fines as it may deem proper upon members refusing or neglecting to attend such meetings.

Sec. 7. (Amended at election May 11, 1965; November 6, 1984; and November 2, 2004) No ordinance shall be passed, no officer appointed or removed, no contract shall be awarded and no obligation incurred by the City in excess of one thousand dollars without the affirmative vote of at least five members of the Council provided that, the Council may by ordinance authorize the City Manager to enter into contracts and incur obligations on behalf of the City not in excess of ten thousand dollars.

(Added at the election November 2, 2004) Effective with the November 2008 election, no ordinance shall be passed, no officer appointed or removed, no contract shall be awarded and no obligation incurred by the City in excess of one thousand dollars without the affirmative vote of at least four members of the Council provided that, the Council may by ordinance authorize the City Manager to enter into contracts and incur obligations on behalf of the City not in excess of ten thousand dollars.

Sec. 8. (Repealed at election November 4, 1980)

Sec. 9. (Amended at election April 14, 1953 and November 2, 2004) The Council shall appoint or provide for the appointment of a Clerk, Attorney and City Manager.

(a) After obtaining and considering the recommendations of the City Manager, the Council shall provide by ordinance or resolution, not inconsistent with this Charter, for the powers and duties of all officers and employees of the City.

Where positions are not incompatible, the Council may separate or it may combine in one person the powers and duties of two (2) or more officers except the office of the Police Chief and the office of Fire Chief. No office provided herein to be filled by appointment by the City Manager may be combined with an office provided herein to be filled by appointment of the Council.

(b) The officers of the City of Richmond shall consist of a City Manager, City Attorney, Clerk and their deputies. The City Manager, Clerk and Attorney shall be appointed by and may be removed by the affirmative votes of five (5) members of the Council.

(Added at the election November 2, 2004) Effective with the November 2008 election, the officers of the City of Richmond shall consist of a City Manager, City Attorney, Clerk and their deputies. The City Manager, Clerk and Attorney shall be appointed by and may be removed by the affirmative votes of four (4) members of the Council.

(c) Subject to other provisions of this Charter amendment, all persons holding permanent appointments as department heads at the time of the enactment hereof are hereby appointed to fill such positions.

(d) The Council shall provide for an annual audit of all accounts and books of all the departments of the City by an independent certified public accountant who is in no way connected with the City by a contract for a period not to exceed three (3) years. Such contract shall be in accordance with specifications recommended and submitted to the Council by the City Manager.

Sec. 10. (Amended at election May 14, 1963, June 4, 1968, and November 3, 1981) A vacancy in the Council shall be filled by a majority of the remaining Councilmembers; provided, that if such vacancy is not filled by appointment within sixty (60) days after the vacancy occurs, then a special election shall immediately be called by the Council to elect a Councilmember to serve for the unexpired term of the former incumbent; provided further, that if a special election is required to be held, the Council may, by resolution, consolidate it with an election of the City or of any other public agency if the next election of this City or of any other public agency is to be held within 365 days from the date of the vacancy. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next regular election in which Councilmembers are to be elected, at which time a person shall be selected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. For purposes of this section a vacancy shall be deemed to exist if a Councilmember, without the permission of the Council, absents himself from all regular City Council meetings for 60 days consecutively from the last regular meeting he attended.

Sec. 11. (As amended at election April 8, 1913) The Council shall, by ordinance, provide for the assessment, levy and collection of taxes, and shall act as a Board of Equalization in equalizing the value of property listed under the assessment roll. During the month of September in each year, it shall levy such tax as may be necessary to raise revenue for the maintenance of the City and the several departments during the fiscal year.