Duties; reporting.

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-1464

in effect

Sec. 2-1464. - Duties; reporting. (a) Duties. The Public Utilities and Services Commission shall serve as an advisory body to the Council and the Mayor. The Commission shall provide the Council and the Mayor with information and advice concerning operation, maintenance, rate setting, fiscal integrity, and expansion of the City's public utilities, including natural gas, clean drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, and stormwater by performing the following duties: (1) Reviewing reports and information concerning the operations or change in policies or services of the Department of Public Utilities and Department of Public Works. (2) Making recommendations to Council and the Mayor relating to the operations of natural gas, clean drinking water, sanitary sewers, stormwater management, utility billing issues, sanitation, refuse and recycling. (3) Assisting the Mayor, Council, and City employees with the review of any issues requiring study and utilization of best practices to enhance performance without impact to regulatory compliance standards. (4) Creating subcommittees to study specific topics or initiatives. The Commission shall maintain five standing subcommittees: Water Utility Operations Subcommittee, Stormwater Utility Operations Subcommittee, Wastewater Utility Operations Subcommittee, Solid Waste Utility Operations Subcommittee, and Natural Gas Subcommittee. The Commission may create ad hoc subcommittees, which shall consist of members of the Commission, to study other topics or utility-related initiatives. (5) Increasing public engagement to create transparency and to inform the public of future city planning related to stormwater, energy conservation, clean drinking water, wastewater utilities, solid waste and refuse projects, and operations. (6) Conducting research and request access to interview city administrators, residents, subject matter experts, municipality leadership, and other stakeholders to discern the scope of issues and problems related to service delivery, quality of service, or other performance and operational related topics to create recommendations for improvement. (7) Providing advice on how the City may facilitate a transition of the gas utility in accordance with the City's climate and ecological emergency declaration, as set forth in Resolution No. 2021-R049, adopted September 13, 2021, and the City's master plan. (8) Making recommendations on ways that the City may ensure the fiscal integrity and viability of each of the City's utilities. (b) Reporting. The Commission shall provide to the Council and the Mayor, by no later than October 31 of each year, a written report regarding the status of the Commission's work, as set forth in this section, with the first of such reports due by no later than October 31, 2024. In addition, the Commission shall provide the Council with written reports at such times as may be requested by the Council or the Mayor. (Code 2020, § 2-1202.7; Ord. No. 2023-315, § 1, 11-13-2023)

Source: City of Richmond, Virginia, Code (2026 recodification) and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICICO_CH2AD_ARTVBOCOCOOTAG_DIV22PUUTSECO_S2-1464DUREFetched: 11/8/2026