RVANews

The paw paw: AKA the West Virginia banana

John Murden — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:48:39 +0000

Update #1 -- August 6, 2014; 8:46 AM

Looks like the paw paws are coming in a bit early this year!

Pony Pasture trails are dripping with these guys if anyone's interested in partaking #rva #pawpaws pic.twitter.com/UjeYI0pQvm
— Kendra Bailey Morris (@fatbackandfoie) August 1, 2014

— ∮∮∮ —

Original -- August 13, 2013

The paw paw (AKA pawpaw, paw-paw (AKA wild banana, prairie banana, Indiana banana, Hoosier banana, West Virginia banana, Kansas banana, Kentucky banana, Michigan banana, Missouri banana, the poor man’s banana, Ozark banana, and banango)) is the largest edible fruit native to the United States, and is abundant here in Richmond. If you've ever been down to Pony Pasture, Belle Isle, or Buttermilk Trail, odds are you've walked or ridden or floated right by a paw paw patch and didn't realize it.

The trees grow slim and tall along the riverbank and under the taller trees along the floodplain, with large almost tropical looking leaves. The paw paws spread by sending up suckers, so the trees grow in dense patches of genetically identical plants (e.g. a paw paw patch). Once you ID what the paw paw leaf looks like, you'll start to see the trees all up and down the river.

Paw paw patch

The paw paw fruits are about the size of peach, but are smooth and oblong. They have an outer skin and seeds the size and shape of large butterbeans. The fruits start off a light green color, but become yellow or brown as they mature. The paw paws fall off of the tree just before ripening in late August or mid-September, and is most easily harvested by picking it up and putting it in your pocket. Paw paws can be kept only for a few days at room temperature, or a week if refrigerated, and bruise very easily.

Paw paw with seeds

Like apples or bananas, paw paws can be eaten raw. The meat of a ripe paw paw is creamy, with a custard-like consistency and flavor commonly described as a mix of banana and mango and maybe a dash of pineapple or melon. Paw paws can replace bananas in about any recipe, and make a good ice cream ingredient. Chilled paw paw was a favorite dessert of George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson planted paws at Monticello.

Can you spot the paw paws in the tree?

Paw paw fruits

Ho there, reader of RSS feeds! Do you ever want to support RVANews in a real and tangible way? Or at least pay a small penance for reading ad-free content? If so, support us on Patreon for a couple bucks a month!

City Council approves new Stony Point apartments, moves forward with Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard

John Murden — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 11:40:51 +0000

City Council approved a new apartment project adjacent to Stony Point Fashion Park, rejected a proposed funding model for the city schools, and reversed a Commission of Architectural Review ruling on Monument Avenue. In addition, next steps were taken in support of the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard Project and the Virginia Capital Trail Project.

— ∮∮∮ —

NEW APARTMENTS FOR STONY POINT

Every development project needs to be weighed on the "impact on the neighborhood, the property rights of the owner, and economic impact on the city," said Representative Graziano (4th District), leading Council in unanimous support of an apartment complex adjacent to Stony Point mall.

Council voted to allow proposed changes to the Stony Point Community Unit Plan which will allow a 282-unit apartment complex at the location. For more than a decade, the land in question has been slated for office, retail, and restaurant use.

Opponents of the changes expressed concerns over the amount and density of the housing, the impact of water run-off, and increased traffic along Cherokee and Huguenot roads. Members of several nearby civic associations reminded Council that the current, allowed use had been approved in 2001 with community support.

Those in favor of the changes to the Stony Point CUP describe the project as helping to support the regional mall and say that there will be no connectivity between the development and existing suburban neighborhoods. John Girardi of the Cherokee Area Neighbors stated that there has been no developer interest for use as office space in the years that the property has been available as such.

— ∮∮∮ —

FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS

By a vote of 6-3, Council voted down a proposed ordinance designating funds from the sale of surplus Richmond Public Schools property and real estate tax revenues from those properties to a school fund instead of the city's general fund.

Representative Mosby (9th District) voiced skepticism regarding the lack of a plan of how the money would be spent. Representative Graziano (4th District) stated that removing the money from the general fund would reduce Richmond's debt capacity and lower the city's ability to support the schools.

"There is a major disconnect between what we are spending our money on" and the educational achievements of students, said Ellen Robertson (6th District), giving voice to what seems to be a lack of faith in the school system held by at least a few members of City Council.

"I'm opposed to basically anything that this body does," said perennial Council gadfly Chris Dorsey during the public comment period.

— ∮∮∮ —

CAR REVERSAL ON MONUMENT

City Council voted 8-1 to reverse a Commission of Architectural Review decision denying a certificate of appropriateness for replacement dormer windows on a house located at 2200 Monument Avenue.

Dr. William Streicker, owner of the house since 1980, called the CAR decision "overreaching and intrusive" but was open to a compromise solution involving reinstallation of at least part of the original windows. Mary Jane Hogue of the Historic Richmond Foundation spoke in support of CAR, and also lauded Streicker's willingness to work towards a solution.

— ∮∮∮ —

TRANSPORTATION

Council authorized the acquisition of permanent and temporary easements that Central Virginia Investments / Rocketts Landing, LLC has at 4400 E. Main Street, 4500 Old Main Street, and 4804 E. Main Street. The easements along the abandoned Norfolk Southern/CSXT rail line provides a route for a section of the Virginia Capital Trail and will allow the bicycle and pedestrian trail to extend to the eastern city limits along the former rail line. The Richmond portion of the trail is expected to be completed by June 2014.

Council also authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to both accept funds in the amount of $40,000 for the purpose of funding the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard project, and to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Transportation for the development and administration of the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard project.

— ∮∮∮ —

RECOGNITION, AWARDS, AND APPOINTMENTS

Officers LaTosha Lewis and Reynaldo Perez were recognized for their community service for shutting down a shooting incident in Shockoe last year.
November 2013 is declared to be Richmond Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
December 2013 is declared to be Richmond AIDS Awareness Month.
The Renewal Projects, "a community-based service organization providing a safe, nurturing, educational environment for high-risk individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS," was recognized and celebrated by Council.
Council President Samuels awarded a 10-year pin to Ellen Robertson for her decade of service on City Council.
David Long was appointed as a Member At-Large of the Community Criminal Justice Board until November 11, 2015.

— ∮∮∮ —

APPROVED

The following items were approved:

3. Ord. No. 2013-211 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To transfer and appropriate funds in the amount of $394,855.00 from the School Planning & Construction project in the Education category within the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 School Budget for expenditure by the School Board for technology purposes in accordance with the technology major classification for the purpose of providing for the installation of specific technology infrastructure and equipment in the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School.

4. Ord. No. 2013-214 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To amend and reordain Ord. No. 75- 309-302, adopted Dec. 15, 1975, as most recently amended by Ord. No. 2010-200-187, adopted Oct. 25, 2010, pertaining to the “Stony Point Community Unit Plan,” for the purposes of (i) authorizing multi-family residential, office, restaurant, and retail uses in Northern Map Section L, (ii) amending the 2009 Development Plan and the 2009 Development Summary, and (iii) amending the Development Standards and Conditions.

6. Ord. No. 2013-225 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To amend Ord. No. 64-111-110, adopted May 20, 1964, as previously amended by Ord. Nos. 64-225-212, adopted Sept. 14, 1964, 64-271-255, adopted Dec. 28, 1964, and 64-296-65-12, adopted Jan. 27, 1965, which authorized the construction of a building located at 700 East Main Street and the office use thereof, for the purpose of authorizing the use of the building for uses permitted in the underlying zoning district, upon certain terms and conditions.

7. Ord. No. 2013-227 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists for and to authorize the acquisition by gift from Central Virginia Investments / Rocketts Landing, LLC of permanent and temporary easements on the properties identified as 4400 East Main Street, 4500 Old Main Street and 4804 East Main Street for the public purpose of the construction of the Virginia Capital Trail Project.

8. Ord. No. 2013-229 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $69,883 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Justice Services by $69,883 for the planning and implementation of evidence-based principles and practices in the City’s community corrections programs.

9. Ord. No. 2013-230 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $40,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works’ Bike Sharrows / Lanes project in the Transportation category by $40,000 for the purpose of funding the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard project to optimize travel for bicyclists and pedestrians on Floyd Avenue between its intersections with North Laurel Street and North Thompson Street.

10. Ord. No. 2013-231 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Transportation for the development and administration of the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard project.

11. Ord. No. 2013-232 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend and reordain City Code § 74-70, concerning alternative forms of security, for the purpose of reflecting amendments to Va. Code § 2.2-4338 allowing acceptance of a cashier’s check in lieu of a bid, performance or payment bond.

12. Res. No. 2013-R250 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To endorse, for the City of Richmond, legislative proposals set forth within the document entitled “2014 City of Richmond Legislative Proposals for the Virginia General Assembly;” to request the Richmond delegation to the General Assembly of Virginia to take legislative action consistent with and in vigorous support of such recommendations; to support other legislative action recommendations and to encourage other organizations and individuals to support such recommendations. (Amended)

13. Res. No. 2013-R251 (Patron: President Samuels) - To approve an expenditure in the amount of $1,550 from the Council Districts Funds for the Second District to pay the Department of Information Technology for the printing and mailing of the Second District Winter 2013 District Newsletter.

14. Res. No. 2013-R253 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To encourage and support participation in the “Love Lights” program for the 2013-2014 year, with the display lasting until January 1, 2014.

24. Ord. No. 2013-224 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend Ord. No. 2013-66-80, adopted May 28, 2013, which (i) accepted a program of proposed Capital Improvement Projects for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 and the four fiscal years thereafter, (ii) adopted a Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 and (iii) determined a means of financing the same, to amend the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing (i) revenues from general obligation bond borrowings by $4,152,386, (ii) the appropriation to the Transportation Projects project in the Transportation category by $3,452,386, and (iii) the appropriation to the Sidewalk Projects project in the Transportation category by $700,000 and to amend the Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 and the four fiscal years thereafter by (i) decreasing revenues from planned general obligation bond borrowings in Fiscal Year 2016-2017 by $1,952,386, (ii) decreasing the planned appropriation to the Transportation Projects project in the Transportation category in Fiscal Year 2016-2017 by $1,452,386, (iii) decreasing the planned appropriation to the Sidewalk Projects project in the Transportation category in Fiscal Year 2016-2017 by $500,000, (iv) decreasing revenues from planned general obligation bond borrowings in Fiscal Year 2017-2018 by $2,200,000; (v) decreasing the planned appropriation to the Transportation Projects project in the Transportation category in Fiscal Year 2017-2018 by $2,000,000, and (vi) decreasing the planned appropriation to the Sidewalk Projects project in the Transportation category in Fiscal Year 2017-2018 by $200,000 for the purpose of accelerating funding for necessary street and sidewalk paving and repair projects.

25. Ord. No. 2013-228 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the issuance of general obligation public improvement bonds of the City of Richmond in the maximum principal amount of $4,152,386 to finance the cost of school projects and general capital improvement projects of the City for the following purposes and uses: construction, reconstruction, improvements and equipment for public schools; construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipment for various infrastructure needs, including traffic control facilities, streets, sidewalks and other public ways, bridges, storm sewers, drains and culverts, and refuse disposal facilities; participation in redevelopment, conservation and community development programs, including the construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipment for targeted public facilities included in these programs; construction, reconstruction, improvements and equipment for public institutional, operational, cultural, educational and entertainment buildings and facilities, including but not limited to the theaters, parks, playgrounds, cemeteries, libraries and museums; acquisition of real property therefor as appropriate; and the making of appropriations to the City’s Economic Development Authority (“EDA”) to be used by the EDA to finance capital expenditures or to make loans or grants to finance capital expenditures for the purposes of promoting economic development; and authorizes the Director of Finance, with the approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City, to sell such bonds for such capital improvement projects, to provide for the form, details and payment of such bonds and to authorize the issuance of notes of the City in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds, and to authorize the issuance of taxable bonds, for the same purposes and uses, in the same maximum principal amount and payable over the same period as such general obligation public improvement bonds.

26. Res. No. 2013-R202 (Patron: President Samuels, By Request) - To reverse the decision of the Commission of Architectural Review which denied a certificate of appropriateness for replacement dormer windows on a house located at 2200 Monument Ave.

City Council approves acquisition for Virginia Capital Trail, sets the stage for debate on a new ballpark

John Murden — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:26:36 +0000

After the slugfest that was their last meeting and the day's excitement surrounding the release of Mayor Jones's Shockoe redevelopment proposal, City Council gave everyone a gift on Monday evening by choosing to continue all but one of the ordinances being considered to later meetings.

The one ordinance adopted transfers "any and all rights" that CSX Transportation, Inc. has at 3101 Wharf Street to the City of Richmond. The quit claim of the railroad easement provides a route for a section of the Virginia Capital Trail and will allow the bicycle and pedestrian trail to extend to the eastern City limits along the former rail line. The Richmond portion of the trail is expected to be completed by June 2014.

An ordinance (Ord.2013-255) relating to the Mayor's Shockoe plan was introduced at the end of the meeting. The ordinance will be first considered at the Council's Land Use, Housing & Transportation Standing Committee Meeting on November 19th at 3:00 PM and their Finance & Economic Development Standing Committee Meeting on November 21st at 3:00 PM. Both meetings will be held in Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall and will offer public comment periods on the ordinance. This should put the discussion on the Shockoe ballpark front and center at the next City Council meeting on November 25.

Three ordinances transferring control of the land under and around The Diamond from the RMA to the City of Richmond were among the seven ordinances rescheduled to later meetings.

The liveliest moment of the evening was easily L.Shirley Harvey questioning the sexual orientation of Mayor Jones and Council representatives Agelasto, Baliles, Samuels, and Newbille because of the passage of the same sex marriage ordinance at the last meeting. She was warned by Charles Samuels.

— ∮∮∮ —

CONSENT AGENDA

The following item was approved:

Ord. No. 2013-226 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists for and to authorize the acquisition by gift from CSX Transportation, Inc., of any and all rights of CSX Transportation, Inc., by way of quitclaim, in the property, or a portion of the property, identified as 3101 Wharf Street for the public purpose of the construction of the Virginia Capital Trail Project

APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS

The following 35 items were approved:

Res. No. 2013-R212 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Lana Agostini as a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Mar. 22, 2014, succeeding Matthew D. Benka, resigned.

Res. No. 2013-R213 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Robert Birdsey as a member of the Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People, Inc., for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Mar. 24, 2016, succeeding The Honorable Willard H. Douglas, Jr.

Res. No. 2013-R214 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint John Bolecek as a member of the Highway Safety Commission for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Mar. 24, 2015, succeeding Clarence L. Newcomb.

Res. No. 2013-R215 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint George Brock as a member of the Building Code Board of Appeals, Plumbing Division (certified journeyman plumber), for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Jan. 12, 2015, succeeding Steven Wayne Dalton.

Res. No. 2013-R216 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Gordon S. Burke as a member of the Advisory Board for the Assessment of Towing Fees and the Storage of Vehicles (towing and recovery operator) for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating May 24, 2016, succeeding Charlie B. Woodson, Sr.

Res. No. 2013-R217 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To approve the designation of Deputy Chief John Buturla to represent Chief of Police Ray Tarasovic at meetings of the Community Criminal Justice Board.

Res. No. 2013-R218 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint John Cain as a member of the Building Code Board of Appeals, Plumbing Division (Professional Engineer), for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Jun. 25, 2016, succeeding Samuel M. Carmack, Jr.

Res. No. 2013-R219 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Thurman S. Cash, III as a member of the J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Board for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Jul. 1, 2017, succeeding Benjamin L. Alexander.

Res. No. 2013-R220 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Doug Cole as a member of the Urban Design Committee (City Planning Commission Representative) for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Mar. 11, 2016, succeeding William M. Hutchins.

Res. No. 2013-R221 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint William Cooper as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Mar. 26, 2016, succeeding Orlando C. Artze, resigned.

Res. No. 2013-R222 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint C. Michael DeCamps as a member of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Ambulance Authority for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Oct. 24, 2015.

Res. No. 2013-R223 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Thomas Farleigh as a member of the Building Code Board of Appeals, Electrical Division (Professional Engineer), for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Jun. 25, 2016, succeeding Henry Tuck.

Res. No. 2013-R224 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint John Paul Goode as a member of the Building Code Board of Appeals, Electrical Division (professional engineer), for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Nov. 11, 2016.

Res. No. 2013-R225 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Joseph Gurley as a member of the Personnel Board of the City of Richmond for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Apr. 26, 2016, succeeding Olive M. Chambers.

Res. No. 2013-R227 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Robley S. Jones as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Jan. 12, 2017, succeeding James A. Carleton.

Res. No. 2013-R228 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Anne Leigh Kerr as a member of the Board of Directors of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Inc. for a term commencing on Apr. 1, 2014, and terminating Apr. 1, 2018, succeeding Suzette Denslow.

Res. No. 2013-R230 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Roger Minter as a member of the Building Code Board of Appeals, Electrical Division (representative of an electrical contractor), for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Jun. 25, 2016, succeeding Joseph B. Guedri, III.

Res. No. 2013-R231 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Julie Molloy as a member of the Community Criminal Justice Board (local educator representative) for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Mar. 26, 2014, succeeding Robyn Lynn Diehl.

Res. No. 2013-R232 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To approve the designation of Tricia Muller to represent the Honorable Richard B. Campbell at meetings of the Community Criminal Justice Board.

Res. No. 2013-R233 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Arcillious D. Redding as a member of the Clean City Commission (Ninth District representative) for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Mar. 22, 2014, succeeding Thomas E. Barnes.

Res. No. 2013-R235 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Ira R. Seay, Jr., as a member of the Building Code Board of Appeals, Electrical Division (representative of an electrical contractor), for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Mar. 21, 2014, succeeding Charles P. Wilson.

Res. No. 2013-R236 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Timothy L. Smalls as a member of the Aging and Disabilities Advisory Board for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Nov. 11, 2016.

Res. No. 2013-R238 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint George Ben Waldrup as a member of the Building Code Board of Appeals, Electrical Division (manufacturing industry), for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Nov. 11, 2016.

Res. No. 2013-R239 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint Joseph W. Boatwright, III as a member of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Ambulance Authority for a term commencing on Nov. 28, 2013, and terminating Nov. 28, 2015.

Res. No. 2013-R240 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint Kenneth Daniels as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Richmond Retirement System for a term commencing on Nov. 22, 2013, and terminating Nov. 22, 2016.

Res. No. 2013-R241 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint Robert L. Easter as a member of the Building Code Board of Appeals, General Division (licensed architect), for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Sept. 28, 2015.

Res. No. 2013-R242 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint Joseph Patrick Farley as a member of the Green City Commission (energy efficiency member) for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Oct. 25, 2016.

Res. No. 2013-R243 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint Terone B. Green as a member of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Ambulance Authority for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Oct. 24, 2015.

Res. No. 2013-R244 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint Michael N. Herring (Attorney for the Commonwealth) as a member of Community Criminal Justice Board for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Nov. 11, 2015.

Res. No. 2013-R245 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint Elizabeth Matish as a member of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Ambulance Authority for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Oct. 24, 2015.

Res. No. 2013-R246 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint KC McGurren as a member of the Green City Commission (green high performance building standards) for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Oct. 25, 2016.

Res. No. 2013-R247 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint Jeffrey E. Odell as a member of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Ambulance Authority for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Oct. 24, 2015.

Res. No. 2013-R248 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint Marilyn B. Olds as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Nov. 24, 2015.

Res. No. 2013-R249 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To reappoint Oliver R. Singleton as a member of the Minority Business Enterprise and Emerging Small Business Advisory Board (MBE representative) for a term commencing on Nov. 28, 2013, and terminating Nov. 28, 2016.

CONTINUED

The following 7 items were continued:

Ord. No. 2013-205 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the properties known as 705 and 709 Libbie Avenue for the purpose of a bank with a drive-up facility and accessory parking, upon certain terms and conditions. Recommendation from Planning Commission to continue to Monday, December 2, 2013 Planning Commission meeting. (Continue to Monday, December 9, 2013 Council meeting)

Ord. No. 2013-211 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To transfer and appropriate funds in the amount of $394,855.00 from the School Planning & Construction project in the Education category within the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 School Budget for expenditure by the School Board for technology purposes in accordance with the technology major classification for the purpose of providing for the installation of specific technology infrastructure and equipment in the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. (Continue to Monday, November 25, 2013 Council meeting)

Ord. No. 2013-214 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To amend and reordain Ord. No. 75- 309-302, adopted Dec. 15, 1975, as most recently amended by Ord. No. 2010-200-187, adopted Oct. 25, 2010, pertaining to the “Stony Point Community Unit Plan,” for the purposes of (i) authorizing multi-family residential, office, restaurant, and retail uses in Northern Map Section L, (ii) amending the 2009 Development Plan and the 2009 Development Summary, and (iii) amending the Development Standards and Conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-199 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the property known as 1110 Grove Avenue for the purpose of permitting up to seven (7) multifamily dwelling units, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-221 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To accept from the Richmond Metropolitan Authority a release of easement for the purpose of parking located in the vicinity of North Boulevard, Robin Hood Road and Hermitage Road.

Ord. No. 2013-222 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute an agreement between the City of Richmond as lessor and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority as lessee to lease certain real property located at 3003 North Boulevard and real property adjacent thereto for the management, maintenance, and operation of the stadium commonly known as the Diamond and the provision of parking ancillary thereto by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority.

Ord. No. 2013-223 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the acquisition of the parcel of real property owned by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority and known as 3003 N. Boulevard for the purpose of owning, maintaining or operating a stadium, arena, or sport facility.

Photo courtesy of Virginia Capital Trail Foundation

City Council: Support for gay marriage, Floyd Avenue Bicycle Boulevard

John Murden — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 11:29:57 +0000

Council voted 5-3-1 to approve an ordinance (PDF) which says Richmond will "to the extent now or hereafter permitted or required by law, recognizing same sex marriages that have lawfully occurred in other states and requiring the City to extend all of the benefits offered to the spouses of City employees in heterosexual marriages to the partners of City employees in same sex marriages that have lawfully occurred in other states."

This largely symbolic gesture was debated among Council members as a discussion over the city's ability to provide healthcare. Chris Hilbert (3rd) got to the moral impetus behind the ordinance, saying that "we as a governing body need to send a message. We, in 2006, stained the Constitution of Virginia."

Opponents of the ordinances made references to Hitler, Stalin, incest, hypnotism, and said that homosexuals should be stoned to death. A few voices opposed the law as ineffective or presumptive, given the dependency on the General Assembly to first pass a law changing the state's definition of spouse.

The 2006 amendment to the Virginia constitution that outlaws same-sex marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, and any state recognition of legal status for same-sex relationships won 57% of the vote statewide. It was opposed by 69.5% of the voters in Richmond. No individual precinct in the city supported the amendment.

— ∮∮∮ —

After months of back and forth, City Council tonight denied a compromise SUP allowing Captain Buzzy's in Church Hill (PDF) to stay open one hour later and to apply to offer beer and wine.

Opposition spoke against the "bait and switch" from the SUP which originally allowed the coffeeshop to open in the first place. A next door neighbor to Buzzy's argued that "zoning is supposed to protect homeowners." Amy Beem, another nearby neighbor, framed her opposition saying that a "SUP is a special favor and not a right." Neighbors expressed concerns about parking, the behavior of patrons who have been drinking, and a possible negative impact on property values.

Howard Kelman, one of the owners of the Captain Buzzy's building, described the opposition as a "small, volatile, well-connected" group of neighbors who have taken this "beyond the pale." Business owner Bob Buffington said that he faced the "same severe resistance" when they first sought to open the coffee shop. Former CHA president Jon Ondrak called the changes sought at Buzzy's "a natural outcome of the positive growth of the East End" over recent years.

— ∮∮∮ —

City Council voted to move forward with an early step of the $500,000 Floyd Avenue Bicycle Boulevard project. The next steps include putting together a design plan and getting public input and feedback.

"I see this going to multiple town hall meetings, I see this going to multiple civic association meetings," Samuels said, to downplay fears that the process is being done "to" people.¹

— ∮∮∮ —

The following ordinances/resolutions were passed by City Council:

4. Ord. No. 2013-154 (Patrons: Mr. Agelasto, President Samuels and Mr. Hilbert) - To amend and reordain ch. 2, art. VI, div. 1 of the City Code by adding therein a new § 2-1120 for the purposes of, to the extent now or hereafter permitted or required by law, recognizing same sex marriages that have lawfully occurred in other states and requiring the City to extend all of the benefits offered to the spouses of City employees in heterosexual marriages to the partners of City employees in same sex marriages that have lawfully occurred in other states. Recommendation from Governmental Operations to forward to Monday, October 28, 2013 Council meeting with no recommendation.

29. Res. No. 2013-R189 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To support a project to provide funding for the Floyd Avenue Bicycle Boulevard project and the City’s application in relation thereto to the Virginia Department of Transportation for $400,000 from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program.

5. Ord. No. 2013-171 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the properties known as 309 Cowardin Avenue, 311 Cowardin Avenue, 313 Cowardin Avenue,th 313 1/3 Cowardin Avenue, 313 2/3 Cowardin Avenue, 315 Cowardin Avenue, 310 West 15 Street, 314 West 15th Street, 1514 McDonough Street, 1508 McDonough Street, 1506 McDonough Street, 1504 McDonough Street and 1502 McDonough Street for the purpose of retail use, upon certain terms and conditions. (As Amended)

7. Ord. No. 2013-206 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend and reordain City Code § 26-457, concerning the hours within which the Nina F. Abady Festival Park is open to the public, for the purpose of changing the current hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. of the following morning to sunrise to sunset each day of the year.

8. Ord. No. 2013-208 (Patron: President Samuels, By Request) - To amend Ord. No. 2013-156- 154, adopted Sept. 9, 2013, which authorized the special use of the property known as 2501 Monument Avenue for the purpose of a museum for architecture and design and a lodging unit, to impose as a condition on the special use of such property a 150-person attendance limit for all reception events.

11. Ord. No. 2013-218 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend and reordain City Code § 14-15, concerning vacant building registration, for the purpose of reflecting amendments to Va. Code § 15.2-1127.

12. Ord. No. 2013-219 (Patrons: Ms. Graziano and Mr. Agelasto) - To amend and reordain City Code § 98-132, concerning partial tax exemptions for rehabilitated and replaced residential and multifamily structures, for the purpose of providing that residential real estate that has been substantially rehabilitated by replacement or by renovation and the construction of an addition for residential use may exceed the total square footage of the rehabilitated structure by no more than 100 percent.

13. Ord. No. 2013-220 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend the pay plan adopted by Ord. No. 93- 117-159 on May 24, 1993, to exclude the classifications of Communications Officer I, Communications Officer II, Assistant Communications Officer Supervisor and Communications Officer Supervisor from the classified service, to include the classifications of Communications Officer, Assistant Communications Officer Supervisor, Communications Officer Supervisor and Communications Officer Manager in the classified service and to include the classification of Senior Paralegal in the unclassified service for the purpose of establishing new classifications.

14. Res. No. 2013-R206 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To support the application for an allocation of $10,000,000 through the Virginia Department of Transportation Revenue Sharing Program to provide maintenance and construction assistance to certain transportation projects.

15. Res. No. 2013-R207 (Patron: Mr. Agelasto) - To recognize the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, its employees, Richmond residents and area mountain biking enthusiasts for their efforts towards the development and designation of the Richmond region as a Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association and to express support for planned enhancements to the mountain bike trails in Pocahontas State Park.

16. Res. No. 2013-R208 (Patrons: Mr. Agelasto, Mr. Baliles and President Samuels) - To request that Amtrak and the Virginia Department of Transportation provide roll-on/roll-off service for bicycles at Main Street Station and other train stations in the Richmond Metropolitan Area to accommodate additional interest in cycle tourism as well as participants of the 2014 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships and the 2015 Union Cycliste Internationale Road World Championships.

22. Ord. No. 2013-212 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept $2,000,000 from the Federal Transit Administration and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department Public Works’ Main Street Station Multi-Modal Transportation Center project in the Economic and Community Development category by $2,000,000 for the purpose of funding multimodal improvements on Franklin Street at Main Street Station.

23. Ord. No. 2013-213 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept $500,000 from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works’ Main Street Station Multi-Modal Transportation Center project in the Economic and Community Development category by $500,000 for the purpose of funding multimodal improvements on Franklin Street at Main Street Station.

24. Ord. No. 2013-215 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Grant Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Federal Transit Administration for the purpose of receiving federal funding of $2,000,000 to fund multimodal improvements on Franklin Street at Main Street Station.

25. Ord. No. 2013-216 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Project Agreement for Use of Commonwealth Transportation Funds – Fiscal Year 2014 between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for the purpose of receiving a grant of $500,000 to fund multimodal improvements on Franklin Street at Main Street Station.

— ∮∮∮ —

Footnotes

City residents can learn more about the Bike Boulevard this Saturday. ↩

Photo by: cafemama

PHOTOS: Over the Edge

John Murden — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 10:51:23 +0000

Does this look like fun? You can register now for the 2014 Over the Edge...

— ∮∮∮ —

Photos from 2012's Over the Edge; RVANews

Dutch and Company’s Back Door Dogs

John Murden — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 10:00:16 +0000

Even on a cool and rainy Saturday, there are people lined up along 27th Street from the back door of Dutch and Co. At the front of the line and manning a black backyard grill is chef Caleb Shriver, cooking up a rack of sausages and talking to everyone waiting. His wife and partner Michelle Peake is back and forth, taking orders and payment and passing out boxed hot dog lunches.

"What's the word?," Caleb asks, turning the sausages and collecting the cooked hot dogs onto a tray. A couple from Grace Street talks with Caleb about their recent engagement, the conversation turns to Caleb and Michelle's recent trip to Holland.

The crowd is here for Dutch and Co.'s weekly one-hour Saturday-only homemade hot dog sale from the backdoor of the restaurant (AKA "Back Door Dogs"). Between 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, on these hot dog Saturdays, they'll sell 35 - 80 boxed lunches. This week it's a pork, apple, and blue cheese hot dog with caramelized onions and a housemade fall-spiced orange soda. Two weeks ago it was bratwurst with braised cabbage; before that they offered pigskin cornbread-battered corn dogs. Variations on a theme, with a stroopwafel, all for $10.

"Caleb this looks glorious!," says the girl at the front of the line on receiving the first dog of the day.

"I absolutely love coming down here, it's my Saturday thing...they're amazing", says Marin, a neighbor from the other end of the block waiting with her two dogs (Widget and Wally).

The buns come from WPA Bakery across the street, the sodas and dogs are made in house. Making the hotdogs takes two or three hours of prep work, Caleb says. It takes 30 minutes just to stuff the sausages, and smoking or poaching adds time.

When asked why they started doing the weekly sale, Caleb says "We've got a back door, it'd be stupid to not use it." Initially thinking that they'd use the back door to hand out snacks for people waiting for a table, it occurred to Shriver and Peake (and partner Phillip Perrow) that "we might as well sell stuff...and hot dogs are delicious. People enjoy hot dogs no matter how old they are".

The corner is bustling. Even after the initial wave is fed, a steady walk up crowd keeps Michelle and Caleb busy. Everyone in line is sociable and seems to know at least one other person waiting.

"It's cool for the neighborhood," says Caleb. "It wouldn't work if it wasn't in a neighborhood."

Want to know what's going to be on the menu this Saturday? Keep an eye on the Dutch and Co. Facebook or twitter, and make sure that you're not late!

— ∮∮∮ —

City Council votes to reduce GRTC CARE service, raise rates

John Murden — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 02:12:31 +0000

In the biggest ticket item of the night, Council voted to begin the foreclosure process on the parking deck at 901 E. Canal Street. The city will forgive the Richmond Metropolitan Authority's $34,000,000 debt and gain control of the structure. The 991-parking-space deck was constructed at a cost of approximately $19,000,000 and opened in 1992.

Council also approved outdoor dining for the Franklin Inn, SUPs for over 220 apartments in Church Hill and Scott's Addition, and funding for a traffic calming roundabout at Idlewood and Grayland.

A largely symbolic ordinance recognizing same sex marriage by the city (PDF) has been continued to October 28th. A vote on a Special Use Permit (PDF) being sought by Captain Buzzy's to allow the coffeeshop to remain open one hour later and pursue selling beer and wine has been amended and continued to October 28th. New language has been inserted into the SUP requiring that the City Planning Commission hold a public hearing after one year to review the the impact of the new hours and possible alcohol sales on the surrounding neighborhood.

Despite the pleas of GRTC CARE service users from Richmond and Henrico, some in wheelchairs or leaning on walkers, after an almost 3-hour discussion City Council voted 6-3 to support a fare increase and service cut to GRTC's CARE service. The fare for the basic CARE service will increase from $2.50 to $3.00 per one-way trip, which will still be available from 4:30 AM - 12:30 AM (7 days/week). There will be a new $6.00 fare for the the extended CARE service, and the availability will be cut to 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM (7 days/week). CARE customers will be able to ride GRTC fixed routes free of charge; CARE users currently pay 75¢ on most GRTC fixed routes. The changes will go into effect January 5, 2014.

Council representatives Robertson (6th), Newbille (7th), and Trammell (8th) voted against the ordinance.

GRTC’s basic CARE service provides curb-to-curb paratransit services to individuals with disabilities who may not be reasonably able to use GRTC fixed route bus service during the same areas and hours as the GRTC bus routes. The extended CARE service transports Richmond residents to areas of Henrico and Chesterfield where GRTC does not operate bus routes.

The initial proposal called for the CARE extended service hours to be cut entirely on Saturday and Sunday. Another floated option involved a $14.00 one-way fare for the extended CARE service in 2014.

At issue is the rising cost of the CARE service as part of the GRTC budget. The service makes up approximately 16% of the budget but accounts for only 2% of the ridership. Contributing to the problem is the more than $25 difference between the previous $2.50 one-way fare and the cost to GRTC for each trip.

Even with the adoption of the reduced hours and higher fares, GRTC will still need an increased appropriation of $340,000 to support transit operations through the 2014 fiscal year. Some of this may come from state operating funds, though it is not known how much or when the funding might be available.

There were 12 appointments on the evening:

Warren Andorfer as a member of the Advisory Board for the Assessment of Towing Fees and the Storage of Vehicles (Representative of the Police Department)
Ramon M. Brinkman as a member of the Audit Committee (member of the business community of the city)
Helen R. Pinckney as a member of the Board of Directors of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Inc
Martha F. Moore as a member of the Board of Directors of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Inc
David E. Cheek, Sr. as a member of Community Criminal Justice Board (General District Court Judge representative)
Todd M. Phillips as an alternate member of the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee to the Metropolitan Planning Organization
Sherri Johnson as a member of the Clean City Commission (corporate/citizen volunteer)
Donald Moss as a member of the Clean City Commission (Sixth District Representative)
Catherine E. Nexsen as a member of the Sister Cities Commission
Susanne L. Shilling as a member of the Sister Cities Commission
Cassandra Shaw as a member of the Social Services Advisory Board
George Braxton, Reginald Gordon and James Johnson as the City of Richmond’s three Directors and the election of the Board of Directors of the Greater Richmond Transit Company

— ∮∮∮ —

The following ordinances/resolutions were passed by City Council:

Ord. No. 2013-155 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the property known as 1210 Huntland Road for the purpose of a day nursery for up to 12 children, upon certain terms and conditions. (As Amended)

Ord. No. 2013-167 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the acquisition of the [parcel] parcels of real property owned by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority and known as 901 East Canal Street, 911 East Canal Street, and 210 South 10th Street, as well as such portion of a parcel identified as Tax Parcel No. W000-0038/002 as may be necessary, for the purpose of public parking. (As Amended)

Ord. No. 2013-169 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To renounce the right to receive payment on a debt due to the City in the amount of $18,875,000, plus accrued interest in the amount of $15,000,000, associated with the parking facility constructed on the property known as 901 East Canal Street, pursuant to the Richmond Metropolitan Authority Downtown Expressway Parking Deck Revenue Bonds, series 1990.

Ord. No. 2013-197 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To amend Ord. No. 2006-194-200, adopted Jul. 24, 2006, which authorized the special use of the property known as 900 West Franklin Street for the purpose of the expansion of a nonconforming retail bookstore, to authorize additional signage and an increase in the radius within which required parking must be provided, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-198 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To conditionally rezone the th properties known as 1910 East Franklin Street, 1914 East Franklin Street, 110 North 20 Street, 112 North 20th Street, 114 North 20th Street, 116 North 20th Street, 118 North 20th Street, 120 North 20th Street, 122 North 20th Street, 115 North 19th Street and 1907 East Grace Street from the M-1 Light Industrial District to the B-5C Central Business District (Conditional), upon certain proffered conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-200 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the property known as 315 Maple Avenue for the purpose of authorizing non-medical office use, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-201 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the property known as 800 North Cleveland Street for the purpose of outdoor dining, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-202 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the property known as 418 North 25th Street for the purpose of authorizing a mixed-use development with a multifamily dwelling of up to 22 dwelling units and uses permitted in the UB Urban Business District, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-203 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the property known as 1310 Roseneath Road for the purpose of authorizing multifamily dwellings with a total of up to 194 dwelling units and office use, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-204 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the properties known as 3027 and 3029 Park Avenue for the purpose of authorizing four (4) two- family attached dwelling units, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-209 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept $250,000 from Virginia Commonwealth University and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works’ Traffic Calming/Idlewood Roundabout project in the Transportation category by $250,000 for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Idlewood Avenue, Grayland Avenue and an off ramp from the Downtown Expressway.

Ord. No. 2013-210 (Patrons: Ms. Newbille and Ms. Mosby) - To authorize the Council Chief of Staff, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a License Agreement No. 5174 between the City of Richmond, as licensee, and Global Spectrum, L. P. for the purpose of licensing space within the Greater Richmond Convention Center for the Richmond City Council Senior Resource Fair event on October 31, 2013.

Res. No. 2013-R187 (Patron: Vice President Robertson) - To temporarily waive the residency requirement for Lou Brown Ali imposed by City Code § 2-1112(c)(1).

Res. No. 2013-R188 (Patron: Ms. Newbille) - To approve an expenditure in the amount of $2,500 from the Council Districts Funds for the Seventh District to make a donation to the Neighborhood Resource Center, Inc. to support the Greater Fulton’s Future Community Vision & Agreement.

Res. No. 2013-R203 (Patron: Ms. Mosby) - To approve an expenditure in the amount of $1,696 from the Council Districts Funds for the Ninth District to make a payment to the Greater Richmond Convention Center to assist with the costs associated with the Richmond City Council Senior Resource Fair.

Ord. No. 2013-142 (Patrons: Mr. Baliles, Ms. Graziano and Ms. Mosby) - To amend and reordain City Code § 110-136, concerning bus fares, for the purpose of increasing the CARE service fare and providing that CARE paratransit service not required by the Americans with Disabilities Act will be provided only from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday. (As Amended)

PHOTO: Brenda Hicks by John Murden

City Council postpones Buzzy’s resolution, redefines breweries, honors fallen officers

John Murden — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 10:13:15 +0000

After fire alarms and evacuation pushed back the start of the evening meeting, City Council steadily worked through a daunting 53-item agenda. They continued the highly-anticipated Captain Buzzy's resolution to October, honored Richmond City Police Officers fallen in the line of duty, recognized Eldridge F. Coles for 46 years of service at GRTC, defined a brewery as a food establishment, and transferred eight tax delinquent vacant properties to new owners to spur redevelopment.

— ∮∮∮ —

APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS

There was one appointment made: Pierce R. Homer as a member of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority until Jun. 30, 2016, succeeding D. Mychael Dickerson.

— ∮∮∮ —

RECOGNITION

City Council recognized the Richmond City Police Officers fallen in the line of duty with a plaque to be displayed at City Hall.

Eldridge F. Coles (Chief Executive Officer of GRTC) was recognized for 46 years dedication to public transportation.

— ∮∮∮ —

CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD

There were 3 speakers during the open comment period, who are paraphrased below:

John R. -- Concerning the funding and placement of a baseball stadium. Shockoe Bottom is a bad place for this, because of parking and the area is known for "robberies, assaults, and murders."
Robert B. -- Richmond missed opportunities with the Redskins training camp. We need to put money to athletic facilities at the city high schools.
Morgan H. -- We need to get the word out on the rights of bicyclists and encourage respect for bicyclists.

There were 7 speakers in response to the Consent Agenda, who are paraphrased below:

Chris Dorsey -- Among other things, has complaints about the length of the Consent Agenda.
??? -- Has issues with the wording of #29. Ord. No. 2013-196, concerning defining “brewery” to the definition of “food establishment.”
Max Hepp-Buchanan -- Spoke in support of funding for bike trail/lanes
Brantley Tyndall -- In favor of bicycle infrastructure.
Brianne Mullen (Partnership for Smarter Growth) -- In favor of bicycle infrastructure, need more than sharrows.
Morgan H. -- People coming for the 2015 bicycle race will take away a better impression of Richmond if we have better bicycle infrastructure.
Juliellen Sarver - Also in favor of bicycle infrastructure.

— ∮∮∮ —

REGULAR AGENDA

51. Ord. No. 2013-153 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend Ord. No. 2012-65-40, adopted Apr. 23, 2012, which authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to submit a Consolidated Action Plan (Housing and Community Development Plan) to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as an application for the receipt of Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Funds (HOME), Emergency Shelter Grant Funds (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Funds (HOPWA); accepted funds from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the total amount of $7,397,764, and appropriated $7,397,764 for various projects, for the purpose of re-appropriating unexpended CDBG funds in the total amount of $1,232,500 and reallocating funds for various projects.

This ordinance shifts unused Community Development Block Grant Funds (from fiscal year 2011-2012) to a number of programs including Bellmeade Revitalization, Blackwell Revitalization, Nine Mile/25th Street, Southern Barton Heights, Highland Park Neighborhood in Bloom, and Swansboro Neighborhood in Bloom, among others. Speakers from Woodland Heights stood opposed to an apartment development slated for West 24th Street, stating the process had not included their civic association and that they prefer single family housing at the site. Wanting to make the remainder of the funds available to the other projects involved, City Council passed the ordinance after the administration promised to meet with the Woodland Heights community regarding the West 24th Street project.

— ∮∮∮ —

CONSENT

These items were passed unanimously.

5. Ord. No. 2013-168 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $20,000 from the University of Maryland and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Judiciary’s RADTC – Step Up and Step Out account by $20,000 for the purpose of funding an effort of the Adult Drug Treatment Court to establish a re-entry path for Adult Drug Treatment Court participants transitioning from the City Jail to the community.

7. Ord. No. 2013-172 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept a donation of 86,601 linear feet of underground conduit system valued at approximately $519,606 for the purpose of upgrading the City’s traffic signals system and providing for communications and telecommunications needs.

8. Ord. No. 2013-173 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Richmond and Family Lifeline for the purpose of expanding home visiting services to certain families enrolled in the Healthy Families Richmond Program and Family Lifeline’s Parents as Teachers Program.

10. Ord. No. 2013-176 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the total amount of $6,547,614 from the Virginia Department of Transportation, and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amounts appropriated to various projects in various categories as set forth on the attachment by $6,547,614 for the purpose of appropriating funding received from the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2014 Revenue Sharing Program for various projects.

11. Ord. No. 2013-177 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a U.S. Government Lease for Real Property between the City of Richmond and the Government of the United States of America for the purpose of leasing to the federal government 25 parking spaces at a City-owned parking facility located at 500 East Marshall Street from Oct. 1, 2013, through Sept. 30, 2018.

12. Ord. No. 2013-178 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 1124 North 26th Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Sharaf Safarzadegan for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

13. Ord. No. 2013-179 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept grant funds in the amount of $2,537.25 from the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services; to transfer $2,537.25 in matching funds from the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 General Fund Budget, Fire and Emergency Services account, Fire Administration program; and to appropriate the total amount of $5,074.50 to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services by $5,074.50 for the purpose of providing funding for emergency medical equipment, computer hardware and software, manikins and other training aids to provide emergency medical services to city of Richmond residents and visitors.

14. Ord. No. 2013-181 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 1207 North 26th Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Pernik, LLC for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

15. Ord. No. 2013-182 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 1209 North 26th Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Pernik, LLC for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

16. Ord. No. 2013-183 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 1211 North 26th Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Pernik, LLC for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

17. Ord. No. 2013-184 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 1302 North 31st Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Pernik, LLC for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

18. Ord. No. 2013-185 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 1312 North 31st Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Pernik, LLC for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

19. Ord. No. 2013-186 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 1312A North 31st Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Pernik, LLC for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

20. Ord. No. 2013-187 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 1316 North 31st Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Pernik, LLC for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

22. Ord. No. 2013-189 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Third Amendment to the Controlled Public Access Lease Agreement between the City of Richmond and Venture Richmond, Inc. for the purpose of excluding from the “Demised Premises” certain real property.

23. Ord. No. 2013-190 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Transportation for the development and administration of certain Revenue Sharing Program projects.

24. Ord. No. 2013-191 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Programmatic Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Transportation for the development and administration of certain Revenue Sharing Program projects. Recommendation from Land Use, Housing & Transportation to continue to Tuesday, October 22nd Land Use, Housing &Transportation meeting. (Continue to Monday, October 28, 2013 Council meeting)

25. Ord. No. 2013-192 (Patron: Ms. Mosby) - To amend and reordain ch. 2, art. V of the City Code by adding therein a new div. 7 (§§ 2-1026—2-1027), for the purpose of establishing a Career and Technical Education Commission.

26. Ord. No. 2013-193 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend the pay plan adopted by Ordinance No. 93-117-159 on May 24, 1993, as previously amended, to provide a living wage of $11.33 for employees in permanent full-time and part-time positions.

27. Ord. No. 2013-194 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $42,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency; to transfer $10,500 in matching funds from the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 General Fund Budget, Fire and Emergency Services account, Fire Administration program; and to appropriate the total amount of $52,500 to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services by $52,500 for the purpose of procuring range top fire suppressant units for installation in public housing developments in Richmond identified as presenting a high risk of fire.

28. Ord. No. 2013-195 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to enter into the Arts and Cultural District Façade Improvement Program Cooperation Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of administering the Arts and Cultural District Façade Improvement Program.

29. Ord. No. 2013-196 (Patron: Mr. Baliles) - To amend and reordain City Code § 98-361, concerning definitions related to meals taxes, for the purpose of adding the term “brewery” to the definition of “food establishment.” Recommendation from Finance & Economic Development to forward to Monday, September 23rd Council meeting with no recommendation.

30. Res. No. 2013-R145 (Patron: Mr. Hilbert) - To declare a public necessity to amend City Code § 114-940.3(b) and to initiate an amendment to the City’s zoning ordinance to change the composition of the Urban Design Committee to add to the committee a member of the Urban Forestry Commission.

31. Res. No. 2013-R160 (Patron: Vice President Robertson) - To request that the [Mayor] Chief Administrative Officer identify public and private sources of funding for the needed improvements to Kanawha Plaza Park and that the Mayor propose the necessary amendment to the Capital Improvement Plan to establish a project for such improvements so that such improvements will be constructed and completed simultaneously with the construction of the proposed Gateway Plaza – Public Parking Garage project provided for in Ordinance No. 2013-131. (As Amended)

32. Res. No. 2013-R167 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To approve, in accordance with Ord. No. 2012-35-50, adopted May 14, 2012, the written program outline and budget with projected outcomes for the Chimborazo International Baccalaureate Program, a copy of which is attached to this resolution, and to authorize the expenditure of $9,000 from the Innovation and Excellence in Education Special Fund to Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation, Inc.

33. Res. No. 2013-R171 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To support a project to provide funding for the Belvidere Street Gateway – Phase IV project and the City’s application in relation thereto to the Virginia Department of Transportation for $280,000 from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program.

34. Res. No. 2013-R172 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To support a project to provide funding for the Cannon Creek Greenway Connector project and the City’s application in relation thereto to the Virginia Department of Transportation for $320,000 from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program.

35. Res. No. 2013-R173 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To support a project to provide funding for the Franklin and Main Street Cycletrack and the City’s application in relation thereto to the Virginia Department of Transportation for $240,000 from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program.

36. Res. No. 2013-R174 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To support a project to provide street infrastructure improvements on streets adjacent to Mary Munford and William Fox Elementary Schools and the City’s application in relation thereto to the Virginia Department of Transportation for $320,000 from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program.

37. Res. No. 2013-R175 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To support a project to provide funding for a pedestrian hybrid beacon to be constructed on East Broad Street between North 16th Street and Interstate 95 and the City’s application in relation thereto to the Virginia Department of Transportation for $80,000 from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program.

38. Res. No. 2013-R176 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the execution of an amendment to the Public Utility Revenue Bond, Series 2008A, of the City of Richmond, Virginia, to decrease the costs of funds thereon, and to authorize the Director of Finance, with the approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City, to provide for the form and details of the amendment of such bond and a supplemental indenture of trust.

39. Res. No. 2013-R177 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To support a project to provide funding to widen the sidewalk on the north side of Bank Street between 12th and 9th Streets and the City’s application in relation thereto to the Virginia Department of Transportation for $268,000 from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program.

40. Res. No. 2013-R178 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To support a project to provide funding for a pedestrian bridge over the I-95 ramps at the intersection of I-95 and East Broad Street and the City’s application in relation thereto to the Virginia Department of Transportation for $304,000 from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program.

41. Res. No. 2013-R180 (Patron: Ms. Newbille) - To approve an expenditure in the amount of $1,245 from the Council Districts Funds for the Seventh District to make a donation to the Enrichmond Foundation to provide five Chromebook computers to the East End Library.

42. Res. No. 2013-R181 (Patron: Ms. Newbille) - To approve an expenditure in the amount of $2,500 from the Council Districts Funds for the Seventh District to make a donation to the Fan Free Clinic to support its Sista Speak Camp Program.

43. Res. No. 2013-R182 (Patron: President Samuels) - To approve an expenditure in the amount of $1,548.46 from the Council Districts Funds for the Second District to pay the Department of Information Technology for the printing and mailing of newsletters to Second District residents.

44. Res. No. 2013-R183 (Patron: Vice President Robertson) - To approve an expenditure in the amount of $348 from the Council Districts Funds for the Sixth District to provide funding to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities to pay for staff costs associated with showmobile rental for the St. Elizabeth’s Jazz Festival.

45. Res. No. 2013-R184 (Patron: President Samuels, By Request) - To designate the property known as 541 North 2nd Street as a revitalization area pursuant to Va. Code § 36-55.30:2. Recommendation from Land Use, Housing & Transportation to forward to Monday, September 23rd Council meeting with no recommendation.

46. Res. No. 2013-R185 (Patron: President Samuels, By Request) - To designate the property known as 1 West Jackson Street as a revitalization area pursuant to Va. Code § 36-55.30:2. Recommendation from Land Use, Housing & Transportation to forward to Monday, September 23rd Council meeting with no recommendation.

47. Res. No. 2013-R186 (Patron: Vice President Robertson) - To request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause all City departments and other agencies to incorporate into their budget requests for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 goals and initiatives designed to support the recommendations of the Mayor’s Anti-Poverty Commission, as set forth in the Commission’s report dated Jan.18, 2013.

— ∮∮∮ —

CONTINUED

These items were continued to later meetings of City Council.

1. Ord. No. 2013-112 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To amend Ord. No. 2004-216-272, adopted Oct. 11, 2004, which authorized the special use of the property known as 2623 East Broad Street [CAPTAIN BUZZY'S] for the purpose of converting an existing main building for use as three (3) dwelling units and a commercial space and converting the existing accessory building on such property into a dwelling unit, to reduce the restrictions placed upon the commercial space within the building, upon certain terms and conditions. (As Amended) 10/14

2. Ord. No. 2013-119 (Patron: Vice President Robertson) - To amend ch. 42, art. II of the City Code by adding therein a new section 42-45, to establish a special revenue fund from which may be made appropriations for affordable housing, education and rapid transit purposes and to provide that the difference between the full taxation amount and the partial exemption amount of real estate taxes for all properties for which partial exemptions from real estate taxation were granted under City Code §§ 98-132 and 98-135 and the former City Code § 98- 138 shall be credited to such special revenue fund for 15 years after the expiration of such partial exemption. Recommendation from Finance & Economic Development to continue to Thursday, October 17, 2013 Finance & Economic Development meeting. (Continue to Monday, October 28, 2013 Council meeting) 10/28

3. Ord. No. 2013-155 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the property known as 1210 Huntland Road for the purpose of a day nursery for up to 12 children, upon certain terms and conditions. (As Amended) 10/14

4. Ord. No. 2013-167 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the acquisition of the [parcel] parcels of real property owned by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority and known as 901 East Canal Street, 911 East Canal Street, and 210 South 10th Street, as well as such portion of a parcel identified as Tax Parcel No. W000-0038/002 as may be necessary, for the purpose of public parking. (As Amended) 10/14

6. Ord. No. 2013-169 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To renounce the right to receive payment on a debt due to the City in the amount of $18,875,000, plus accrued interest in the amount of $15,000,000, associated with the parking facility constructed on the property known as 901 East Canal Street, pursuant to the Richmond Metropolitan Authority Downtown Expressway Parking Deck Revenue Bonds, series 1990. 10/14

9. Ord. No. 2013-175 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare surplus and direct the conveyance of City-owned real estate located at 1722 Arlington Road to McKinnon and Harris, Inc., for $1,425,000 for the purpose of stimulating private investment, job creation and economic development in the area. 10/28

50. Ord. No. 2013-142 (Patrons: Mr. Baliles, Ms. Graziano and Ms. Mosby) - To amend and reordain City Code § 110-136, concerning bus fares, for the purpose of increasing the CARE service fare and providing that CARE paratransit service not required by the Americans with Disabilities Act will be provided only from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and that such service shall not be provided on Saturday, Sunday or holidays observed by the Greater Richmond Transit Company. Recommendation from Land Use, Housing & Transportation to forward to Monday, September 23rd Council meeting with amendment and no recommendation. Amended and continued to 10/14

52. Ord. No. 2013-161 (Patron: Mr. Agelasto) - To amend City Code § 42-41, concerning the disposition of funds from the sale of real estate and certain insurance proceeds, for the purpose of providing that real estate tax revenues from former school properties that the City has sold be set aside for the operations of the School Board of the City of Richmond. Recommendation from Finance & Economic Development to continue to Thursday, October 17, 2013 Finance & Economic Development meeting. (Continue to Monday, October 28, 2013 Council meeting) 10/28

53. Ord. No. 2013-180 (Patron: Ms. Newbille) - To amend City Code § 42-41, concerning the disposition of funds from the sale of real estate and certain insurance proceeds, and City Code § 42-44, concerning the disposition of funds from the lease or other use of former school properties, for the purpose of providing that sale proceeds, real estate tax revenues arising as a result of such sales, and the proceeds from the lease or other use of Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities properties be set aside to fund improvements, enhancements and upgrades to Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities properties. Recommendation from Land Use, Housing & Transportation to continue to Tuesday, October 22nd Land Use, Housing &Transportation meeting. (Continue to Monday, October 28, 2013 Council meeting) 10/28

— ∮∮∮ —

WITHDRAWN/STRICKEN

21. Ord. No. 2013-188 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to acquire, at a tax delinquent judicial sale, the property located at 1318 North 28th Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to ElderHomes Corporation for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment. Recommendation from Land Use, Housing & Transportation to continue to Tuesday, October 22nd Land Use, Housing &Transportation meeting. (Continue to Monday, October 28, 2013 Council meeting)

49. Ord. No. 2013-141 (Patrons: Mr. Baliles, Ms. Graziano and Ms. Mosby) - To amend and reordain City Code § 110-136, concerning bus fares, for the purpose of increasing the CARE service fare and providing that CARE paratransit service will only be provided to the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Recommendation from Land Use, Housing & Transportation to forward to Monday, September 23rd Council meeting with recommendation to Strike.

Council recognizes Richmond Blue Sox, gives up authority to approve bus routes

John Murden — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 10:45:15 +0000

City Council recognized the national champion Richmond Blue Sox, authorized SUPs for Monument Avenue and Grace Street, removed the requirement for Council approval of bus routes, and arranged for stones from the Kanawha Canal to be used at Great Shiplock Park.

— ∮∮∮ —

Recognition

Monday's City Council meeting began with a recognition of: September 2013 as "Workforce Development Month; the accomplishments of Richmond's City Dance; and much applause for the national champion Richmond Blue Sox. The Richmond Blue Sox beat the Bahamas All Stars 5-3 to win the Black World Series for players 12-and-under in the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League's Inner-City Classic in late July.

— ∮∮∮ —

Citizen comment period

There were five speakers during the open comment period and one in opposition to items on the consent agenda, who are paraphrased below:

Pixie Curry -- "There is a litter problem in the city. Violators should be fined. Programs should be put in place for more frequent trash removal."
Marie Morton Hart -- Next month is my "58th anniversary. Husband says, "leave those city people alone." She says: "Grounds maintenance at city cemeteries is woefully lacking. Please keep the grass cut, and do something with the dead grass left over."
Charles Alexander -- "The Bugs Yo Let It Go" is violence prevention program. Richmond needs this. Reva Trammell took offense at how Alexander described Richmond's need for this, feeling that he slighted the efforts of the Richmond Police Department.
Paul Hammond -- "Introducing the Richmond Downtown Residents Association. We need to think of downtown as not just a business center, but also as a residential community. We need to make downtown well and truly safe."
Derek Austin -- There needs to be better lighting downtown. LED lights would be more efficient, and the energy savings would pay for more lights."
Chris Dorsey (with his flip cam for the duration, apparently recording the moment) -- "Citizens should have an opportunity to speak before bus routes are changed. There are still questions to be raised about what happened with the canal stones. "

— ∮∮∮ —

Appointments

Passed unanimously, with Samuels abstaining from Res. No. 2013-R165 (He and Krista M. Samuels are "related by marriage").

Res. No. 2013-R161 -- To appoint Erin Leigh Delp as a member of the Social Services Advisory Board for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Apr. 23, 2015, succeeding Gloria E. Green.

Res. No. 2013-R162 -- To appoint Vaughn Whitney Garland as a member of the Urban Design Committee (member of a recognized local organization in one of the various fields of static arts) for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Sept. 9, 2016, succeeding Paul DiPasquale.

Res. No. 2013-R164 -- To appoint Barleen Parker as a member of the Audit Committee (Member of the Business Community) for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Sept. 28, 2015, succeeding George E. Calvert, Jr.

Res. No. 2013-R165 -- To reappoint Krista M. Samuels as a member of the Community Criminal Justice Board (At-Large Member) for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Sept. 9, 2015.

Res. No. 2013-R166 -- To appoint Robert D. Smith as a member of the Urban Design Committee (member of the faculty of the arts division of a local college or university) for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Sept. 9, 2016, succeeding Rab McClure.

— ∮∮∮ —

Passed

Ord. No. 2013-156 -- To authorize the special use of the property known as 2501 Monument Avenue for the purpose of a museum for architecture and design and a lodging unit, upon certain terms and conditions, and to repeal Ord. No. 2001-308-305, adopted Oct.22, 2001.

Ord. No. 2013-163 (Patron: Mayor Jones) -- To amend Article I of the pay plan adopted by Ord. No. 93-117-159 on May 24, 1993, as previously amended, to add therein a new section 2B for the purpose of awarding a one-time increase to eligible City employees during Fiscal Year 2013-2014.

Ord. No. 2013-170 -- To authorize the special use of the property known as 2620 W. Grace Street for the purposes of four (4) two-family attached dwelling units and a parking area, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-174 (Patron: Mayor Jones) -- To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Richmond and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority concerning the use of certain historic stones from the Kanawha Canal in connection with improvements to Great Shiplock Park.

Ord. No. 2013-144 -- To amend and reordain City Code §§ 110-119 and 110-122, concerning the designation of and changes to routes for the motorbus system and intraurban buses, for the purpose of removing the requirement for Council approval of the designation or changing of such routes.

— ∮∮∮ —

Continued

These items were continued to later meetings of City Council.

Ord. No. 2013-96 -- To amend ch. 2, art. III, div. 2 of the City Code by adding therein a new section 2-104, concerning reports to Council on economic development and lease matters, for the purpose of requiring certain activity reports with regard to negotiations relating to certain economic development and lease matters.

Ord. No. 2013-97 -- To amend ch. 2, art. III, div. 2 of the City Code by adding therein a new section 2-104, concerning reports to Council on temporary assignments of employees, for the purpose of requiring certain activity reports with regard to temporary assignments of employees.

Ord. No. 2013-112 -- To amend Ord. No. 2004-216-272, adopted Oct. 11, 2004, which authorized the special use of the property known as 2623 E. Broad Street for the purpose of converting an existing main building for use as three (3) dwelling units and a commercial space and converting the existing accessory building on such property into a dwelling unit, to reduce the restrictions placed upon the commercial space within the building, upon certain terms and conditions. (Amend and Continue to Monday, September 23, 2013 Council meeting)

Ord. No. 2013-154 -- To amend and reordain ch. 2, art. VI, div. 1 of the City Code by adding therein a new § 2-1120 for the purposes of, to the extent now or hereafter permitted or required by law, recognizing same sex marriages that have lawfully occurred in other states and requiring the City to extend all of the benefits offered to the spouses of City employees in heterosexual marriages to the partners of City employees in same sex marriages that have lawfully occurred in other states. The Recommendation from Governmental Operations to continue to September 26 Governmental Operations meeting. (Continue to Monday, October 14, 2013 Council meeting)

Ord. No. 2013-155 -- To authorize the special use of the property known as 1210 Huntland Road for the purpose of a day nursery for up to 12 children, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-166 -- To amend City Code § 2-31, concerning Council Liaisons, for the purpose of providing for the appointment of Council Liaisons by the Council Chief of Staff rather than by resolution of the Council and for the supervision and evaluation of Council Liaisons by the Council members to whom they are assigned, and City Code §§ 2- 33, 2-34 and 2-35, concerning the classifications Council Policy Analyst, Council Budget Analyst and Council Public Relations Specialist, respectively, for the purpose of providing for the appointment of employees in such classifications by the Council Chief of Staff rather than the Council.

Ord. No. 2013-167 -- To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the acquisition of the parcel of real property owned by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority and known as 901 E. Canal Street for the purpose of public parking. (Amend and Continue to Monday, September 23, 2013 Council meeting)

Ord. No. 2013-171 -- To authorize the special use of the properties known as 309 Cowardin Avenue, 311 Cowardin Avenue, 313 Cowardin Avenue,th 313 1/3 Cowardin Avenue, 313 2/3 Cowardin Avenue, 315 Cowardin Avenue, 310 W. 15th Street, 314 W. 15th Street, 1514 McDonough Street, 1508 McDonough Street, 1506 McDonough Street, 1504 McDonough Street and 1502 McDonough Street for the purpose of retail use, upon certain terms and conditions. Recommendation from Planning Commission to continue to October 7th Planning Commission meeting. (Continue to Monday, October 14, 2013 Council meeting)

Ord. No. 2013-141 -- To amend and reordain City Code § 110-136, concerning bus fares, for the purpose of increasing the CARE service fare and providing that CARE paratransit service will only be provided to the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Recommendation from Organizational Development to forward to Monday, September 9th Council meeting with no recommendation.

Ord. No. 2013-142 -- To amend and reordain City Code § 110-136, concerning bus fares, for the purpose of increasing the CARE service fare and providing that CARE paratransit service not required by the Americans with Disabilities Act will be provided only from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and that such service shall not be provided on Saturday, Sunday or holidays observed by the Greater Richmond Transit Company. Recommendation from Organizational Development to forward to Monday, September 9th Council meeting with no recommendation.

Randy Blythe on photography, social media, and sobriety

John Murden — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 14:35:25 +0000

D.Randall "Randy" Blythe is known world-wide as the vocalist for Richmond's own Lamb of God. His surprise arrest and imprisonment (and acquittal) in Prague, Czech Republic last summer was well-covered in the local and international media. If you follow Randy on Instagram, you'll know that he still loves to skate and has been taking some great photos. We caught up with Randy at Lamplighter one afternoon at the end of summer to talk about the crossroads of photography, social media, and sobriety.

You can find Randy on Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr, dropping reviews over at The Talkhouse, hosting a a radio show on Sirus/XM, or maybe out and about on his moped.

— ∮∮∮ —

Smiling Lines

This is a Roma (the vulgar and sometimes offensive term is "gypsy") busker I shot on the streets of Hamburg during our last European tour. Buskers and older people are two of my favorite subjects to photograph. I like buskers because I respect them (the talented ones, not the annoying young hippies with guitars playing classic rock songs)--it takes guts to stand on a street corner and play to strangers in the hope of making a few spare coins; older people because the lines in their faces tell so many stories. This man was quite talented, and the lines in his face smiled. I often give buskers money if they are good, and I always give them money if I shoot their picture--they tend to turn on the charm a bit when the coins appear, as this man did.

On beginning photography

"About two-and-a-half years ago, I decided after a rough couple-year-long Twitter bender, that I had enough of this stuff, and I decided to unplug from social media. This Twitter thing, I started interacting with people, and I had 40-50,000 people following me. When you have that much humanity directed at one person--the hive mind--people become upset when you don’t talk to them or, if they say rude things to you, because I’m a public person, people seem to think that through the anonymity of the Internet they can say whatever they want.

I was becoming aggravated with these people, and I had this idea that I was going to unplug completely from the Internet and all mobile communication devices for exactly one year. I remember a time before--you can exist without this technology.

To that end, I was gonna write a book about it. I was telling my friend Jamie Jasta about it, and he was like, “OK, this is how we’re gonna do the movie,” we just immediately forgot about the book and started planning the movie.

So I talked to some friends of mine in the film-making business and I said, look, whats an affordable digital camera that I can get to film this stuff with? They recommended a Cannon EOS 60D...I bought that and started filming interviews with people. Then one day I was in my kitchen and I said “lemme use this thing for what its actually meant to be used for." I was looking at my French press and I saw my reflection in it and it was all bent. I put the camera on automatic with the kit lens, and I took a picture. From that second on it was over. I was like, that is so cool looking, I immediately started shooting tons of pictures.

Needless to say, my plan to make a documentary about unplugging went by the wayside when I spent a little time in a gated community in the Czech Republic. I was unplugged, but when I got out, I discovered I needed the Internet to communicate with my lawyers overseas.

The pictures remained."

— ∮∮∮ —

You Shouldn't Be Here.

I was walking on Stadsholmen in Sweden, the island that contains most of Gamla Stan (old town Stockholm) and looking at the medieval architecture. Old architecture is fascinating, and prevalent throughout Europe, but after being there for a while, it begins to lose its mystique for me-=you can only walk through so many ancient town squares before they start looking the same. So I try to find something new to place it in perspective. In this case it was this little girl, walking into my frame and up this old alley clutching her doll. It startled me at first to see her all alone, and I began to walk toward her to see if she was lost. Then her mother rounded the corner, saw me, all tattooed up and in black clothes, with my camera headed her way, and snatched the little girl up, hurrying away. I'm sure the child's mother thought I was some pervert or something, while in reality I was merely trying to ensure that the child was safe. A camera can make parents nervous--I'm glad I snapped this shot quickly before modern paranoia set in and ruined it.

Props

"I interact with photographers a lot because of my job. Guys that I respect that I’ve shot with multiple times, give me tips. I have access to guys who have taught me so much. There's a guy named Scott Uchida, he’s in California, and he’s a wicked wicked photographer. He’s taken me out, shown me how to do lighting during the day. Talking to him about technical stuff, camera stuff has been helpful: different types of flash cards, different types of lenses. There a guy named Neil Lim Sang, he’s in Vancouver right now. He’s an animator, but he’s a wicked photographer. This cat Justin Boruki who’s shot us a bunch before. He let me play with his L-series 85mm 1.2 lens and it’s butter man, I just fell in love.

Most of my beginning photographs were shot with the 60D. I upgraded to a full-frame camera, the Cannon 5D Mark 3. I also shoot with a Sony Nex 5R, it’s portable and small, I shoot skateboarding with it and stuff. Also, my publicist loaned me her uncle’s Roloflex (who was a photographer during World War II), I’ve shot some rolls of film on that."

— ∮∮∮ —

Time Got Lost There

When I returned to the Czech Republic earlier this year to stand trial, I made it a point to photograph as much of Prague as possible, for it's a beautiful city. Towards the end of my trial, I returned to walk the surrounding grounds of Pankrác Remand Prison, the 123 year old crumbling prison where I was held for 34 of my 37 days of incarceration. It was quite strange being there, looking at it from the outside, wondering if I would return to its confines at the end of my trial. The decrepit clock tower in this photo was my only way of telling time for most of my incarceration in Pankrác. I was allowed out of my cell for one hour each day to walk in a little concrete cage, and on the way to and from my daily walk I could see this tower. I came to love it, for it gave me a brief sense of perspective. Without a watch, the artificial concept of "time" doesn't exist. In prison, there is only the eternal now. I was grateful for the break this old clock gave me from that now.

Twitter vs. Instagram

"The reason I prefer Instagram over Twitter is that I can still use it as a promotional tool for what I’m doing (my band, my radio show, whatever), but it seems like I can place something out there, a strong image, and I can explain the thought process behind making it or what the image means to me, or just tell a goofy story. I’m trying to say something. I’m not saying that I’m Hemingway or Picasso or anything like that, but I am trying to put something out there that might evoke cognitive thought processes. On Twitter, there’s not a lot of that, there’s a lot “this is what I ate for lunch”. I’ve gotten some really nice constructive criticism and some valuable information from Instagram, from followers who happen to be professional photographers."

— ∮∮∮ —

Earning It

Another shot from Prague- it is quite common to see beggars in this position through out the touristy areas of Prague, snow or no snow (I have seen this in Athens, Greece as well). I have spare changed for a bite to eat in the past- I never enjoyed it, and wasn't very good at it- I hate asking for anything from anyone. Sometimes I give change to homeless people, because I know what it is to be broke and hungry and just down on your luck. Sometimes I won't, and never to the ones that are flying a sign and texting on their cell phones at the same time- I know this is the Information Age and all that, but COME ON- at least try to look needy, not like you're updating your Facebook status or whatever. The beggars in Prague on their knees in the snow earned their change- I would rather work the midnight shift at 7-11 any day.

Street photography

"When I’m in Richmond, I tend to shoot the river, and stuff that I enjoy doing here: skateboarding, or going fishing, or pictures of my cat. But out of town, everything surrounding you is a potential subject. On tour, your eyes are more open.

I’m constantly framing things now. I already saw the world through different eyes as a skateboarder. In an urban environment you look at everything completely differently; to someone else that might look like a crappy empty parking lot, but to me, I see possibilities...Now since I’m shooting photographs all the time, I’m constantly framing things out in my mind."

— ∮∮∮ —

What Awaits Us All

This is a photo I shot in the Sedlec Ossuary near the town of Kutná Hora, in the Czech Republic the day after I was pronounced innocent of manslaughter. Despite the fortuitous verdict, the fact of the matter is a young man lost his life after seeing my band play, and his death did (and does) weigh heavily on me. Going to the ossuary, where the remains of over 40,000 human beings, many of whom died suddenly within the span of one year due to the Black Plague, are arranged in all sorts of intricate patterns, reminded me that although I was a free man and walked the earth on a sunny day my mortality lurks just around the corner. Anyone can die at anytime. We should remember that, and treasure our lives today. I do not fear death, I respect it. I have to, if I am to respect life in all its forms. Life=Death=Life=Death etc. etc. ad infinitum.

Sobriety

"For me, drinking started out as fun. I talk to a lot of people who no longer drink, and a lot of them say from the beginning it was straight to-the-races craziness. For me, when we signed to a major label it got particularly bad because all of a sudden I didn’t have to work a regular job, and I didn’t know what to do. We all worked straight jobs for a long time, real jobs. When I got some money for the first time, I just went crazy, drinking.

In a while, I was in a really good place when I got sober. I was doing OK financially, my career was OK because I’d learned to control my drinking enough to not screw up on stage. But I was coming home, sobering up, and then going back on tour and getting wasted. I was on tour in Australia in 2010, and I was like, "is this the way it’s going to be forever?" I talked to some friends who were no longer drinking, who had drinking problems in the past, and I got sober. It’ll be three years in a little bit.

For me, as a creative person, drinking and opiate-based pain pills--I used those back in the day to some effect--they unlocked a certain part of my consciousness. But then that stopped working, and for years it was me drinking and eating pills, sitting in my shed listening to Black Sabbath and pretending to write lyrics. Justifying it.

The anger and hate will eat you alive if you sit in it. I definitely think that there's a place for that punk rock anger. There’s a lot of screwed up stuff in the world, and people should speak against it. But, for me, when I was A) growing up, and B) drinking, it was all consuming, I couldn’t do really anything about it. I couldn’t perform any effective action towards change besides writing screamy records.

When I sobered up, photography became great. Right now I’m writing a memoir of my last year. That never would have happened had I been drunk. I never would have made it through my trial in one piece had I been drunk.

Sobriety has enabled me to do things."

— ∮∮∮ —

Young Black Psionics

I go to New York City once every month or two to record the radio show I host (The Crucible) on Sirius/XM satellite radio, wander the boroughs, and shoot street photography. I'm a relatively young photographer, and have almost no training except what the professionals in the music business kindly give me on tour. A street photography session in New York almost guarantees a good photo or two--all you have to do is point your lens in most any direction and a compelling shot is generally going to pop into your view finder sooner or later. I was on the subway to Harlem with my friend Acey Slade, our intent was good soul food and good street photos, both of which we found there. But I think my favorite photo of that night was this one, taken before we even got to Harlem. The little girl was directly beneath me on the subway and had the most incredibly gorgeous, dark and piercing eyes. She was staring directly at me, so I shot her photo. She didn't seem self-conscious at all, so I took a few. As I got off the train, I saw her following me with her eyes--I felt like she was trying to look into my soul. A beautiful little human being on the night train.

— ∮∮∮ —

Cindy Noir

I process my photos to be black and white most of the time--I shoot RAW files exclusively, so I can make them color or black and white. B&W is easier and shows the strength of subject matter more (without all the pretty colors to distract the viewer, a picture's strengths and weaknesses really stand out), plus it just fits my aesthetic better. But sometimes, especially with long exposures like this one, I like to do color--I'm just not as good at it. I took this photo here in Richmond down by the rope swing near Tredegar Iron Works. My wife Cindy and I went out one night to shoot on a particularly foggy night and wound up doing mostly long exposure stuff. Cindy was still enough while framing her own shot to make a nice addition to the picture, and the colors are subtle enough in this shot for me to not convert to B&W.

— ∮∮∮ —

Last Flight

Lamb of God have recorded parts of our two last records at an isolated beach house on the bay in Mathews, Virginia. I spent some of my time there writing lyrics, but mostly I was consumed with crabbing, raking clams, cooking food for my bandmates, and paddling around the bay in an inflatable yellow canoe we named "The Egyptian Lover." Mathews is a beautiful place, and I have come to love it very much. The studio has shut down, but recently I went back to Mathews to write a book proposal and walk on the beach. I love the beach. Everywhere you look you see the cycle of life and death--it is in the salt air you smell. I feel the most alive near a body of water, but this decaying seagull reminded me that no matter how far or high I fly (literally and figuratively), one day I will be a rotting corpse. That doesn't bother me--I just hope it's near the beach in Virginia or North Carolina, the two states I call home.

— ∮∮∮ —

Family

I woke up on tour in Dallas and got off my bus to go get something to eat and start my day. As soon as I stepped off, some fans behind a chain link fence outside the club started calling my name, asking if they could take a picture with me. I walked over to them and saw this man's face--it was absolutely incredible. Sunburnt, lined, with really startlingly bright grey/blue eyes. I told the fans to hold on and ran back on the bus to grab my camera, trying to figure out how I was going to ask the man to let me take his portrait. As soon as he saw my camera he gave a great whooping yell, hopped up on the fence, yelled "Do you wanna take my picture?", and began grinning like crazy. I shot several portraits of him and his son. They had a band together, loved my band, and just wanted to say hi. I talked to them for quite a while. They did their band for the right reasons (because they loved making music), and didn't really care if they ever got known or made money at it. It was great to see them enjoying family time together, father and son out for a good evening. People like this are family to me. They support me in all that I do and provide me with a good living. I feel blessed. I think this is the most beautiful face I have ever shot--it is full of pure joy at being alive in that moment.

City Council recognizes photographer Huestis Pratt Cook, gets public input on changes to GRTC’s CARE service

John Murden — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 10:00:49 +0000

RECOGNITION

Monday's City Council meeting began with a recognition of the life and works of Huestis Pratt Cook:

"Huestis Cook was one of the earliest Southern photographers to picture African Americans in realistic settings. Significantly, as noted in Shadows in Silver, a book published in 1954 about the Cooks, the first professional photographs that Huestis took were at an African American church picnic. [...] He recorded physical and sociological events on a much wider scale than the busiest painter ever could have. Huestis Cook has been described an exacting, straight forward commercial photographer, known now for his prolific and versatile agricultural and industrial series. He recorded the tobacco industry from the seed beds to the packaging rooms.[...] After Huestis' death in 1951, his widow sold all of the negatives and prints that he had saved to the Valentine Richmond History Center, where the collection is now preserved."

The 9th District's Michelle Mosby recognized volunteers from project:HOMES and Carmax who came to the aid of a disabled homeowner and helped to fix up of their property.

CHANGES TO CARE FARE AND SERVICE

Monday evening's meeting served as a public hearing on ordinances 2013-142 and 2013-145, which would increase the CARE service fare, cut the hours of service, and stop weekend service. GRTC’s CARE vans provides curb-to-curb paratransit services to individuals with disabilities who may not be reasonably able to use GRTC fixed route bus service. The service is currently available in the City of Richmond, Henrico County, and portions of Chesterfield County daily from 4:30 – 12:30 AM in Richmond and from 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM in Henrico County, at a cost of $2.50 per one-way trip.

At issue is the rising cost of the CARE service as part of the GRTC budget. The service makes up approximately 16% budget of the budget, but accounts for only 2% of the ridership. Contributing to the problem is the more than $25 difference between the $2.50 one-way fare and the cost to GRTC for each trip. The ordinances seek to bring the costs in line by returning the service to what is federally mandated, dropping the earlier expansions to the program.

The proposed changes would cut the service hours to 6:00 AM-8:00 PM Monday through Friday, with no service on Saturday and Sunday, and raise the one-way fare. More than 20 speakers, many of them dependent on CARE for transportation, were unanimous in opposition to the changes, with several of the speakers lambasting the counties for not contributing their fair share to the cost of the regional program. Council discussion and a likely vote have been continued to September 9th.

DURYEA DRIVE REZONING

Council voted unanimously voted in favor of rezoning a set of properties on Duryea Drive to R-5C Single-Family Residential Conditional. In the works for a few years, the Archer Springs development will bring 96 new houses on a 44-acre site. Neighbors in the area and members of the Hobby Hill Civic Association spoke unanimously against the development, citing the number of houses, safety and traffic concerns, and the loss of trees.

After the public response, 4th District Council Representative Kathy Graziano restated the changes that the developer has agreed to over the 18-month process, including materials upgrades and design variances. Citing the oversite planning will have over tree preservation and other aspects of the development, Graziano stated that this development can be an asset to the community. 3rd District Council Representative Chris Hilbert questioned what would be the result of a violation of the tree preservation plan, to see if the plan "has any teeth."

— ∮∮∮ —

CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD

There were four speakers, who are paraphrased below, during the open comment period:

[Some dude whose name I missed]: There is no more important issue than children's health. And I can take care of them for less than $4,000.
David Curtis: Friends living in assisted living homes along Chamberlayne Avenue have not been receiving their funds on time because of problems in Richmond's Department of Social Services, impacting their independence and dignity. DSS is a troubled agency.
[Some dude whose name I missed #2]: We need shopping services in the new Blackwell. There are new loft and townhome developments and new residents who are underserved.
Chris Dorsey: (Charles Samuels reminds Chris Dorsey that he received a warning about his language at the last meeting.) Dorsey says Americans don't trust their governments, says that politicians are owned by bankers. The Federal Reserve Bank is illegal. Tax dollars used to murder and kill people. The war on drugs in unconstitutional.

There were also four speakers, who are paraphrased below, during the public comment period on the consent agenda:

Chris Dorsey: A good policy would be to disregard all of these outlandish water and utility bills. Set a reasonable rate. "You all fleece the people." The sheriff has cost the tax payers millions of dollars. (Samuels and Hilbert warn Dorsey, an announced candidate for the office of Sheriff, about speech that might be seen at related to running for office. Dorsey is aggrieved.)
Charles Willis: Thanks Council Representative Reva Trammell for her work in helping Belt Boulevard.
Selden Richardson: Commends council for working to save the Leigh Street Armory.
Margaret Rush (CACIL): Thanks the council for attention to Carver and listening to what the community wants to see happen.

— ∮∮∮ —

CONSENT AGENDA

The following items were approved by City Council. Chris Hilbert abstained from voting on Ord. No. 2013-136 (new apartments on Brook Road). The items were otherwise approved unanimously.

Ord. No. 2013-111 (Patron: Ms. Trammell) - To set aside [44] 15 additional parking spaces in the underground parking deck located on City-owned real estate at 900 East Broad Street for the City Council to use in its operations and those of the City Auditor, with permission to occupy [40] 11 of such parking spaces to be granted only by the Council Chief of Staff or the designee thereof and four of such parking spaces to be granted only by the City Auditor. (As Amended)

Ord. No. 2013-137 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the conditional use of the property, known as 180 Belt Boulevard, for the purpose of permitting a social service delivery use and a 20-bed shelter, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-138 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $137,882 from the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Social Services by $137,882 for the purpose of funding the Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting grant program.

Ord. No. 2013-139 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To repeal City Code §§ 106-814, 106-816 and 106-817 and to amend City Code §§ 106-1, 106-2, 106-71, 106-75, 106-76, 106-79, 106-84, 106-86, 106-93, 106-805 and 106-809 for the purposes of (i) providing for the consolidation of stormwater utility bills with monthly utility bills, (ii) providing for the issuance of quarterly stormwater utility bills to certain property owners, (iii) making unlawful certain acts affecting stormwater management and (iv) clarifying certain definitions and stormwater utility requirements.

Ord. No. 2013-140 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 General Fund Budget by re-appropriating $4,400,000 from the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 General Fund Budget fund balance excess to the Department of Information Technology in the amount of $1,600,000 for Enterprise Resource Planning to provide for RAPIDS expenses; the Department of Police in the amount of $1,800,000 for personnel costs related to vacations, resignations, retirements and terminations and for the Division of Emergency Communications to provide for the purchase of a hardware and software upgrade of the City’s E911 telephone system and the purchase of Protocol Dispatch Software for the City’s E911 Call Center; the Department of Public Works in the amount of $500,000 for costs related to leaf pickup and vegetation control; and the Sheriff of the City of Richmond in the amount of $500,000 for the cost of inmate medical services.

Ord. No. 2013-145 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to enter into the Nineteenth Commercial Area Revitalization Effort Program Cooperation Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of providing for the operation of the Commercial Area Revitalization Effort (“CARE”) Program.

Ord. No. 2013-146 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute the second Economic Development and Housing Revolving Loan Fund – Tranche 2 Cooperation Agreement between the City of Richmond, Virginia and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond, Virginia for the purpose of continuing the Economic Development and Housing Revolving Loan Fund Program.

Ord. No. 2013-147 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to enter into the Ninth Extra Commercial Area Revitalization Effort Program Cooperation Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of continuing the operation of the Extra Commercial Area Revitalization Effort (“Extra CARE”) Program in the Belt Boulevard and the Upper Hull Street commercial corridor.

Ord. No. 2013-148 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute the Third Citywide Revolving Loan Fund Program Cooperation Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of administering the Citywide Revolving Loan Program.

Ord. No. 2013-149 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to enter into the third Contractor Assistance Loan Program Cooperation Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of providing for the Authority to serve as the administrative agent of loans made through the Contractor Assistance Loan Program.

Ord. No. 2013-150 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute the third Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund – Tranche I Cooperation Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of continuing the Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund Program.

Ord. No. 2013-152 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept $195,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Capital Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works’ Commonwealth Gateway Landscape project in the Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance category by $195,000 for the Belvidere Street – Phase III portion of the project.

Ord. No. 203-157 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To accept a deed from the School Board conveying 122 West Leigh Street to the City and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to act on behalf of the City in executing such deed.

Ord. No. 2013-158 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $600,000 from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 General Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Non-Departmental General Fund Budget by $600,000 for the purpose of providing a grant or loan to either The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Inc., or its designee, which funds the recipient may then grant or loan to an affiliated entity, to facilitate the rehabilitation of the Leigh Street Armory, located at 122 West Leigh Street.

Ord. No. 2013-159 (Patron: Vice President Robertson) - To designate and establish the property located at 1610 4th Avenue as an official City park named “Louise Caine Park.”

Ord. No. 2013-160 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Lease between Northbrook Properties, Inc., as lessor and the City of Richmond as lessee for the purpose of providing a site for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities offices and department storage at 1209 Admiral Street for a period not to exceed five years beginning Aug. 1, 2013.

Ord. No. 2013-162 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend and reordain ch. 42, art. IV of the City Code by adding therein a new section 42-140, concerning emergency medical services and fire prevention services for special events; to amend and reordain Appendix A of the City Code by adding therein for City Code § 42-140 an hourly fee per employee for emergency medical services and fire prevention services at special events, for the purpose of imposing a $35.00 per hour per employee fee for such services at special events; and, effective July 1, 2014, to amend and reordain the fees set forth for City Code § 42-140 in Appendix A of the City Code by increasing the hourly fee per employee for emergency medical services and fire prevention services at special events from $35.00 to $45.00.

Ord. No. 2013-164 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare surplus and to direct the conveyance of the property located at 122 West Leigh Street to the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond, Virginia, for nominal consideration for purposes of the development of the property as an authority facility as defined by Va. Code § 15.2-4902, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-165 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Standard Project Administration Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Transportation for the development and administration of the Forest Hill Avenue Improvement Project with Project Number U000-127-155.

Res. No. 2013-R155 (Patron: President Samuels) - To declare a public necessity to amend the zoning ordinance and to initiate an amendment to the City’s zoning ordinance to make such changes as may be necessary to rezone real properties located within the Carver Community; and to request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be conducted a study of zoning district maps in such area to determine (i) if the zoning classifications for the Carver Community are appropriate and consistent with objectives to achieve appropriate land usage, and to ensure that the increasing density of the area is properly managed to improve the quality of life for residents and (ii) whether district maps should be changed in accordance with the recommendations set out in the document entitled “Carver Neighborhood Plan.”

Res. No. 2013-R156 (Patron: President Samuels) - To express the Council’s appreciation to the Carver Area Civic Improvement League, the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Urban Studies and Planning, and Storefront for Community Design for their participation in the development of the document entitled “Carver Neighborhood Plan”; to request that the Planning Commission consider the document entitled “Carver, The Neighborhood Plan,” as amended by the document entitled “Carver Neighborhood Plan,” when making future amendments to the Master Plan affecting the area known as the Carver Community; and to request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause the Administration to provide the Planning Commission with the information necessary for the Planning Commission to make such a consideration.

Res. No. 2013-R158 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To amend the Rules of Procedure adopted by Res. No. 2013-R1-1, adopted Jan. 2, 2013, for the purpose of clarifying deadlines under Rule III(C)(3) relating to the introduction of legislation.

Res. No. 2013-R159 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To approve, in accordance with Ord. No. 2012-35-50, adopted May 14, 2012, the written program outline and budget with projected outcomes for the Chimborazo International Baccalaureate Program, a copy of which is attached to this resolution, and to authorize the expenditure of $191,090 from the Innovation and Excellence in Education Special Fund to Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation, Inc.

Ord. No. 2013-136 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the property known as 2007 Brook Road for the purpose of constructing a multi-family residential building containing up to one hundred three (103) dwelling units and student housing units and site amenities, upon certain terms and conditions.

Ord. No. 2013-151 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute an Amendment to Rate Schedule X-131 between the City of Richmond and Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC for the purpose of providing natural gas peaking service for Department of Public Utilities customers.

— ∮∮∮ —

CONTINUED

The following items were continued to later dates:

CONTINUED TO 9/9 Ord. No. 2013-141 (Patrons: Mr. Baliles, Ms. Graziano and Ms. Mosby) - To amend and reordain City Code § 110-136, concerning bus fares, for the purpose of increasing the CARE service fare and providing that CARE paratransit service will only be provided to the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

CONTINUED TO 9/9 Ord. No. 2013-142 (Patrons: Mr. Baliles, Ms. Graziano and Ms. Mosby) - To amend and reordain City Code § 110-136, concerning bus fares, for the purpose of increasing the CARE service fare and providing that CARE paratransit service not required by the Americans with Disabilities Act will be provided only from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and that such service shall not be provided on Saturday, Sunday or holidays observed by the Greater Richmond Transit Company.

CONTINUED to 9/23 2Res. No. 2013-R160 (Patron: Vice President Robertson) - To request that the Mayor identify public and private sources of funding for the needed improvements to Kanawha Plaza Park and propose the necessary amendment to the Capital Improvement Plan to establish a project for such improvements so that such improvements will be constructed and completed simultaneously with the construction of the proposed Gateway Plaza – Public Parking Garage project provided for in Ordinance No. 2013-131. Recommendation from Finance to amend and continue to the September 19th Finance meeting. (Amend and Continue to Monday, September 23, 2013 Council meeting)

CONTINUED to 9/9 Ord. No. 2013-144 (Patrons: Mr. Baliles, Ms. Mosby and Ms. Graziano) - To amend and reordain City Code §§ 110-119 and 110-122, concerning the designation of and changes to routes for the motorbus system and intraurban buses, for the purpose of removing the requirement for Council approval of the designation or changing of such routes. Recommendation from Land Use to continue to Monday, September 9, 2013 Council meeting.

CONTINUED to 9/19 Ord. No. 2013-153 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend Ord. No. 2012-65-40, adopted Apr. 23, 2012, which authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to submit a Consolidated Action Plan (Housing and Community Development Plan) to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as an application for the receipt of Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Funds (HOME), Emergency Shelter Grant Funds (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Funds (HOPWA); accepted funds from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the total amount of $7,397,764, and appropriated $7,397,764 for various projects, for the purpose of re-appropriating unexpended CDBG funds in the total amount of $1,232,500 and reallocating funds for various projects. Recommendation from Finance to continue to the September 19th Finance meeting. (Continue to Monday, September 23, 2013 Council meeting)

CONTINUED to 9/23 Ord. No. 2013-161 (Patron: Mr. Agelasto) - To amend City Code § 42-41, concerning the disposition of funds from the sale of real estate and certain insurance proceeds, for the purpose of providing that real estate tax revenues from former school properties that the City has sold be set aside for the operations of the School Board of the City of Richmond. Recommendation from Finance to continue to the September 19th Finance meeting. (Continue to Monday, September 23, 2013 Council meeting)

CONTINUED to 10/14 Ord. No. 2012-212 (Patron: Mr. Tyler) - To erect all-way stop signs and all-way flashing red lights at the intersection of North Nansemond Street and Kensington Avenue to replace the existing traffic regulations at that intersection. (Continue to Monday, October 14, 2013 Council meeting)

CONTINUED to 9/23 24. Res. No. 2013-R145 (Patron: Mr. Hilbert) - To declare a public necessity to amend City Code § 114-940.3(b) and to initiate an amendment to the City’s zoning ordinance to change the composition of the Urban Design Committee to add to the committee a member of the Urban Forestry Commission. Recommendation from Land Use to continue to the September 17th Land Use Meeting. (Continue to Monday, September 23, 2013 Council meeting)

Council votes to kill Samuels’s baseball referendum

John Murden — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 10:43:13 +0000

Mayor Jones and City Council kicked off the evening by declaring July 15, 2013 to be Mrs. Maggie L. Walker Day in Richmond. Notably, Mayor Jones made mention during the proceedings that Maggie Walker deserves a statue in the city. This is going to happen.

City Council recognized six high school graduates from the Gilpin, Whitcomb, and Green Walk communities for their personal achievements and academic success. Alexander Belton (John Marshall HS), Krisstopher Harris (John Marshall HS), ThyishaCholene Hicks (Thomas Jefferson HS), Gbemisola Ibrahim (Thomas Jefferson HS), Tobrika Jenkins (Thomas Jefferson HS), and Tonya Spell (Armstrong HS) each received an RRHA Scholarship Award of $4,000. Mayor Jones reminded the scholars that, "it's not where you are from, but where you're going"; Councilwoman Robertson told them to "bring those wonderful talents that you will acquire back to this great city and be the leaders for the next generation."

— ∮∮∮ —

There were 4 appointments on the evening:

Marcellus Plummer as a member of the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority
Trip Pollard as a member of the Green City Commission (Green Business/Job Programs)
Jeffrey W. Sadler as a member of the City Planning Commission
Vivian H. Hiedemann as a member of the Personnel Board of the City of Richmond

— ∮∮∮ —

There were 3 speakers during the public comment period, who are paraphrased below:

W.B. Braxton-Bantu: There is a need for a warming station for the homeless when out of CARITAS early on cold mornings. There is a need for transportation. "There is a developing crisis"
L. Shirley Harvey: City Council has turned their backs on the people who gave them power. Put the water bills on a referendum.
Fattah Muhammad: Thanks City Council for the recognition for folks fighting against crime in the neighborhoods.

— ∮∮∮ —

The core of the evening was a discussion of Charles Samuels' Ord.No.2013-143/Res.No. 2013-R157 AKA the baseball stadium referendum. The two items had initially been stricken from the agenda after having been voted down in committee, but were brought back to allow for public discussion of the topic. There was some public opposition to striking the ordinance and referendum, with speakers expressing a desire to be able to have their voice heard at the ballot box.

Council voted 6-3 to keep the items off of the agenda, effectively killing the referendum, with Charles Samuels (2nd), Reva Trammell (8th), and Parker Agelasto (5th) voting in favor. The 4th District's Kathy Graziano said that "referendums should be used sparingly" and specifically should not be used for a land use issue. The 1st District's Jon Baliles said that he couldn't support any location as he'd seen no plan and suggested using a version of the successful Master Plan process. Cynthia Newbille (7th District) said that the referendum does not include information to allow for informed decision making "and lacked clarity." The 5th District's Parker Agelasto pointed out the new Redskins camp as example of a decisive plan of action, with the constriction of the Diamond being perhaps the last previous example. Chris Hilbert (3rd District) said that referendum would shut down the conversation, and that no one would submit a proposal with such a thing looming.

— ∮∮∮ —

The following ordinances/resolutions were passed by City Council:

(During the public comment period of these items, frequent speaker and critic Chris Dorsey was warned about using abusive language and was told that next time he would be expelled. Watch for it.)

Ord. No. 2013-124 (Patron: Vice President Robertson) - To amend and reordain City Code § 30-77, which assigns polling places in the city, to relocate and establish a new polling place for Precinct 610.

Ord. No. 2013-125 (Patron: Mr. Agelasto) - To amend and reordain City Code § 30-114 and 30-116, concerning precinct boundaries for Precincts 503 and 505, for the purpose of establishing new precinct boundaries between such precincts.

Ord. No. 2013-131 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the issuance of general obligation public improvement bonds of the City of Richmond in the maximum principal amount of $11,250,000 to finance the cost of school projects and general capital improvement projects of the City for the following purposes and uses: construction, reconstruction, improvements and equipment for public schools; construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipment for various infrastructure needs, including traffic control facilities, streets, sidewalks and other public ways, bridges, storm sewers, drains and culverts, and refuse disposal facilities; participation in redevelopment, conservation and community development programs, including the construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipment for targeted public facilities included in these programs; construction, reconstruction, improvements and equipment for public institutional, operational, cultural, educational and entertainment buildings and facilities, including but not limited to the theaters, parks, playgrounds, cemeteries, libraries and museums; acquisition of real property therefor as appropriate; and the making of appropriations to the City’s Economic Development Authority (“EDA”) to be used by the EDA to finance capital expenditures or to make loans or grants to finance capital expenditures for the purposes of promoting economic development; and authorizes the Director of Finance, with the approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City, to sell such bonds for such capital improvement projects, to provide for the form, details and payment of such bonds and to authorize the issuance of notes of the City in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds, and to authorize the issuance of taxable bonds, for the same purposes and uses, in the same maximum principal amount and payable over the same period as such general obligation public improvement bonds.

Ord. No. 2013-132 (Patron: Vice President Robertson, By Request) - To amend and reordain Ord. No. 2012-102-104, adopted July 9, 2012, which closed to public use and travel, a portion of Virginia Street located between East Cary Street and an alley known as Exchange Alley, consisting of 5,529± square feet, conditioned upon the dedication to the City of property for alley purposes consisting of 3,161± square feet and of an easement over property for sidewalk purposes consisting of at least 745 square feet, upon certain terms and conditions, for the purpose of extending the deadline for compliance with the requirements of such ordinance.

Ord. No. 2013-135 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To close to public use and travel, a portion of right-of-way known as the 8th Street Connector located in the block bounded by South 8th Street, Basin Bank Street, South 9th Street and East Canal Street, consisting of 16,337± square feet, upon certain terms and conditions.

Res. No. 2013-R153 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To dispense with the regular meetings of Council during the month of August 2013.

Res. No. 2013-R154 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Jean V. Capel to the position of City Clerk.

PHOTO: Parker Field (1955) from the Adolph B. Rice Studio at the Library of Virginia

City Council: The perfect meeting

John Murden — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:30:44 +0000

We saw something perfect this evening, the almost Platonic ideal of what makes a Richmond City Council meeting: Nothing considered was too controversial, though we heard speakers opine on what would be proper development for Shockoe Bottom and the perils of public-private partnerships. Silver and Chris and Donald made multiple appearances at the podium. There was a lengthy Consent Agenda, a sizeable chunk of which was continued to a later meeting. All in all, a good night.

Eight of the thirty items on this week's agenda (PDF) were continued into July or September, including the potentially contentious reversal of the CAR decision on Monuement Avenue and an amendment on the Special Use Permit for Captain Buzzy's coffee shop in Church Hill. Perhaps most notably, Council voted to approve Ordinance No. 2013-127, the Gateway Plaza Public Parking Garage Project which appropriates $11,250,000 for the purpose of constructing approximately 326 public parking spaces in a new office tower at East Cary Street and South 9th Streets.

— ∮∮∮ —

There were 2 appointments on the evening:

Leighton Powell was appointed as a member of the Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks (District 2 Representative)
Jonathan C. Zur was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People, Inc.

This is the part of public service that is rarely spoken about. Here we have two of Richmond's best giving their time to make this city a better place. Thank you Leighton and Jonathan!

— ∮∮∮ —

The evening's public comment period was a good example of the genre--a great deal of citizen involment with a lot of passion and an entertaining dose of WTF.

Melvin Jones - Holding a photo of Maggie Walker, seeking an update an a proposal to put a statue to Ms.Walker at Adams & Broad. Also, he doesn't feel safe in the city anymore, "it looks like the city is going to hell".

Donald Hatcher - "The mayor is a jack-leg preacher", and "plays the devil and god at the same time". Says he's 73-years-old and that "our previous mayor wanted to play with me." Says that black people and Native Americans have never gotten equal treatment in America.

Cliff Troutman - Requests a 100% a tax break the automobile tax for disabled veterans, as is done for the real estate tax. "I'm over 70 now and it won't be that much longer before I'm dead"

George Robinson Jr. - Problems with water bills sent to seniors.

Patricia McBride - Recently had a slip and fall incident because a cement sidewalk had risen because of tree roots. The day after the accident, the city came and put blacktop on the sidewalk. TRAMMEL: we've been trying to get this fixed for a long time, acknowledges complaints about the ill-effects of the blacktop.

[?] Bell - Shockoe is a bad place to put a baseball stadium. Thanks Samuels for proposing a referendum on building a baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom.

Anna Edwards - No stadium in Shockoe Bottom. "tens, perhaps of hundreds of thousands" enslaved people passed through Shockoe as chattel. The area should be memorialized, developed as a heritage site.

Phil Wilayto - We will make sure that a stadium in Shockoe "will be known as the stadium that racism built". This will be a desecration of one of the most important sites in African-American history. Should be an outdoor museum, an educational and reconciliation site.

Chris Dorsey - Public parking is a scam. Stealing from the tax payers by increasing parking rates. "crooks like yourselves". Everything is controlled by the Federal Reserve Bank. "You guys don't take seriously the Constitution." The city needs to investigate the VCU drone program. Follow the money.

Silver Persinger - Opposes Gateway Plaza. Generally opposed to public-private partnerships.

Tucker McNeal - Of the Richmond Business Council. Supports the proposed Gateway Plaza, as a more than $100,000,000 investment in the city core. Jobs. Parking.

Arthur Burton - Supports abolishing Career and Technical Education Commission. Speaking as a member of the commission.

MISSED NAME (sorry!) - Minority owner of contracting company. Supports the proposed Gateway Plaza.

Sara Timmons - Supports the proposed Gateway Plaza. Jobs!

— ∮∮∮ —

The following ordinances/resolutions were passed by City Council:

Ord. No. 2013-109 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend and reordain ch. 78, art. VII of the City Code by adding therein a new section numbered 78-210, concerning a voluntary retirement incentive program, to be effective Jul. 1, 2013, for the purposes of providing for (i) the alternate computation of benefits in connection therewith and (ii) a limited period during which qualified members of the Richmond Retirement System’s defined benefit and enhanced defined benefit plans shall be eligible to retire with a one-time incentive payment. (As Amended)

Ord. No. 2013-113 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $7,800 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Justice Services by $7,800 for the purpose of providing training to pretrial and probation officers on evidence-based principles designed to reduce recidivism among offenders.

Ord. No. 2013-114 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute an Operating and Maintenance Agreement between the City of Richmond and Richmond First Tee for the purpose of providing for the use by Richmond First Tee of City-owned real estate known as the Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range located at 400 School Street to provide golf, learning facilities and educational programs for area youth.

Ord. No. 2013-116 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $219,639 from the Virginia Department of Health and to appropriate the increase to the General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the City’s Health District by $219,639 for the purpose of returning surplus Fiscal Year 2011-2012 funds to the City’s Health District.

Ord. No. 2013-117 (Patrons: Mayor Jones and President Samuels) - To amend and reordain Ord. No. 2007-251-209, adopted Sep. 24, 2007, concerning the establishment of a residential permit parking district in the Carver Neighborhood, for the purpose of extending the hours of enforcement for residential permit parking in the Carver neighborhood.

Ord. No. 2013-118 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $49,484 from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services by $49,484 for the purpose of the repair of the Burn Building used to assist in the training of fire service personnel.

Ord. No. 2013-123 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept a donation of consulting and information technology services and volunteer labor valued at approximately $400,000.00 from International Business Machines Corporation for the purpose of developing strategies to improve delivery of public services and to promote economic and neighborhood development.

Ord. No. 2013-126 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Computer-Aided Dispatch Interface User Agreement between the City of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University for the purpose of implementing a pilot program to provide a means for the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department to become an operational user of the Department of Police’s Division of Emergency Communications’ Computer-Aided Dispatch and Mobile Data Communications systems to achieve interoperability between the Department of Police and the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department.

Ord. No. 2013-127 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend Ord. No. 2012-34-70, adopted May 14, 2012, which adopted a Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Capital Budget, to amend the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Capital Budget by establishing a new project in the Economic and Community Development category called the Gateway Plaza – Public Parking Garage Project by increasing estimated revenues from general obligation bond borrowings by $11,250,000 and the amount appropriated to the Gateway Plaza – Public Parking Garage Project by $11,250,000 for the purpose of constructing approximately 326 public parking spaces in a new office tower to be developed on a site generally bounded by East Cary Street to the north, South 9th Street to the east, East Canal Street to the South and South 8th Street to the west.

Ord. No. 2013-128 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend Ord. No. 2012-54-69, adopted May 14, 2012, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by transferring funds in the amount of $250,000 from the Department of Economic and Community Development agency and to amend Ord. No. 2012- 35-50, adopted May 14, 2012, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Special Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by creating a new special fund for the Department of Economic and Community Development called the Economic Development Opportunity Fund and by appropriating such transferred funds in the amount of $250,000 to the Department of Economic and Community Development’s Economic Development Opportunity Fund special fund, all for the purpose of funding the City’s efforts to attract and retain businesses within the city of Richmond.

Ord. No. 2013-129 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend Ord. No. 2012-54-69, adopted May 14, 2012, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by transferring funds in the amount of $250,000 from the Department of Economic and Community Development agency and to amend Ord. No. 2012- 35-50, adopted May 14, 2012, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Special Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, by creating a new special fund for the Department of Economic and Community Development called the Façade Improvement Fund and by appropriating such transferred funds in the amount of $250,000 to the Department of Economic and Community Development’s Façade Improvement Fund special fund, all for the purpose of renovating architecturally important façades located in the Arts and Cultural District to attract businesses and promote tourism within the District.

Ord. No. 2013-130 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend Ord. No. 2012-35-50, adopted May 14, 2012, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Special Fund Budget, by creating a new special fund for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities entitled “East End Parks Improvements;” to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept $119,535 from the J. Fulmer Bright Foundation; to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2012- 2013 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities East End Parks Improvements special fund by $119,535 for the purpose of maintaining and improving the City’s East End parks including Chimborazo, Libby Hill, Great Shiplock, Jefferson, Patrick Henry and Parker Field Park, and the yet to be developed park to be named Historic Fulton Memorial Park.

Ord. No. 2013-133 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute an Economic Development Cooperation Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of developing and managing a 16-story class A office building located on a site generally bounded by East Cary Street to the north, South 9th Street to the east, East Canal Street to the south and South 8th Street to the west.

Ord. No. 2013-134 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Master Development Agreement between the City of Richmond and Clayco, Inc., doing business in Virginia as Clayco Construction Company, Inc., for the purpose of developing and managing a 16-story class A office building located on a site generally bounded by East Cary Street to the north, South 9th Street to the east, East Canal Street to the south and South 8th Street to the west.

Res. No. 2013-R130 (Patron: Ms. Mosby) - To abolish the Career and Technical Education Commission; to repeal Res. No. 2009-R166-194, adopted Dec. 14, 2009; and to terminate the terms of the Commission’s members.

Res. No. 2013-R144 (Patron: Mr. Hilbert) - To concur with the inducement resolution adopted by the Economic Development Authority of Fluvanna County approving the issuance of a tax-exempt revenue bond not to exceed $4,000,000 for the benefit of Veritas Classical Christian School.

Ord. No. 2013-120 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To renounce the right to receive payment on a subordinated debt due to the City in the amount of $409,500, plus accrued interest, associated with the parking facility constructed on the property known as 201 East Grace Street, as evidenced by a certain note referenced in a contract dated March 1, 1974, between the City of Richmond and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority.

Ord. No. 2013-121 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the expenditure of up to $230,000 from the Parking Management Special Fund to the Richmond Metropolitan Authority for the purpose of providing funding to the Richmond Metropolitan Authority to satisfy the remaining balance of a bank loan constituting a lien on the property known as 201 East Grace Street.

Ord. No. 2013-122 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the acquisition of the parcel of real property owned by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority and known as 201 East Grace Street for the purpose of public parking.

City Council: Most of agenda continued to next meeting

John Murden — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:07:22 +0000

At this week's City Council meeting, the two items potentially controversial enough to warrant being slotted onto the Regular Agenda were either withdrawn or continued. In addition, all but two of the ordinances/resolutions from the Consent Agenda were continued.

Council voted to allow the reconfiguration and addition of parking areas (PDF) to a redevelopment plan which will convert 1714 Summit Avenue in Scott's Addition into 31 dwelling units. They also OK'd changes to the SUP for 310 South Boulevard to allow the enclosure of an existing porch (PDF). Exciting, no?

Again, a resolution to reverse the decision of the Commission of Architectural Review (PDF) regarding the windows at 2916 Monument Avenue was scheduled to come before council, and again this has been continued. The SUP for 2501 Monument Avenue (Virginia Center of Architecture) has also been continued, again.

— ∮∮∮ —

Council voted to appoint/reappoint a number of folks to various boards/positions:

Denise P. Dickerson as a member of the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority,
Dr. Cheryl Ivey Green as a member of the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority,
Jessie E. Bell as a member of the Personnel Board of the City of Richmond,
Susan D. Hansen as a member of the Community Criminal Justice Board,
Albertina R. Carter as a member of the Community Criminal Justice Board,
Jack O. Lanier as a member of the Community Criminal Justice Board,
Melvin Lawson as a member of the Advisory Board for the Assessment of Towing Fees and the Storage of Vehicles,
John L. Bock as a member of the Building Code Board of Appeals (General Division),
Richard Barton Campbell as a member of the Community Criminal Justice Board, and
Dr. Richard L. Bennett, Jr. as a member of the Richmond Ambulance Authority.

— ∮∮∮ —

Councilman Agelasto gave special recognition to Comcast for Comcast Cares Day, a company-wide day of community service. Comcast employees spent Saturday, April 17th cleaning up Byrd Park and the Carillion area.

Agelasto also recognized the John B. Cary Elementary School cheerleading squad, who were all present and cute as buttons.

— ∮∮∮ —

There were but three public speakers, who are paraphrased below:

Eric Lane Tempford - brought his great-grandfather's bible. The mayor, as a Christian man, shouldn't need so much protection. Towing vendors. Too many venues for public meetings, this is corruption. "I have asked God to send an incorruptible judge to Richmond...I ask God to send an earthquake...and get rid of your homes."

Stacy Rogers - from Richmond Coalition of Police, thanks council for passing step raises for police.

Keith Andes - from the Richmond Firefighters Association I.A.F.F. Local 995, thanks council for passing step raises for fire fighters.

School Board votes to close Clark Springs, move forward with rezoning

John Murden — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 02:49:17 +0000

The Richmond School Board voted 5-4 to move forward with a plan for elementary school rezoning and school closings. The closings were first agreed upon in February as part of a means of closing a deficit of almost $12 million.

Under the new plan, Clark Springs Elementary School, the building housing the Adult Career Development Center (ACDC), and the old Norrell Elementary building (currently hosting a somewhat controversial pre-k program) will be shuttered. The Clark Springs students will be rezoned to a few different elementary schools, with John B. Cary Elementary receiving the majority of them. The ACDC students may end up at the Tech Center, and the pre-k students will move to Mary Scott until the new MLK building is finished.

While Cary receives students from Clark Springs, the Museum District will be rezoned from Cary Elementary to Fox Elementary. The rezoning will also change the draw zones for elementary schools in the East End and the Southside. Under this rezoning plan (Plan C), Westover Hills Elementary School will become more of a neighborhood school for the area around Forest Hill Park; schools further south will also be impacted.

Creating racially isolated school, even with the best intentions, is a step backward.Kimberly Allen (President, Richmond NAACP)

This was the 2nd of two public hearings scheduled on the proposal. More than 200 people crowded City Council chambers for the hearing, with more than 40 initially lining up to speak. The entirety of the speakers were in opposition to the proposal, including Kimberly Jones (President, Clark Springs PTA) who threatened Jeff Bourne and Derik Jones with a recall. Speakers voiced concerns that the changes would make Richmond's schools less racially and economically integrated and would be too disruptive. A crowd of maybe 130 people turned out last week for the first meeting at Thomas Jefferson High School.

This is not about a million dollars, this is something else...I'm not going to sit here and pretend that there is not an elephant in the roomShonda Harris-Muhammed (6th District)

Mamie Taylor (5th District) kicked off the discussion by proposing a motion to remove Clark Springs from the closure list and to delay any closures until 2014-2015 school year. The amendment failed 5-4.

The following discussion was both emotional and technical, delving into the specific cost savings per location and the difference between location and setting with regards to students receiving exceptional education services.

Voting in favor of the plan were Glen Sturtevant (1st), Kimberly Gray (2nd), Jeffrey Bourne (3rd), Kristen Larson (4th), and Derik Jones (8th). Mamie Taylor (5th), Donald Coleman (7th), Shonda Harris-Muhammed (6th), Tichi Pinkney Eppes (9th) voted against the proposal. Ms.Harris-Muhammed emotionally expressed her support for all of the people who had shown up to speak tonight, while Mr.Coleman made an appeal to unity and history in opposing the motion.

The Board then unanimously approved the rezoning Plan C after amendments by Larson and Pinkney-Eppes. The School Board approved an amendment by a 5-3 (Pinkney-Eppes abstaining) by swing vote Kristen Larson (4th) to amend the zoning in ways that would alleviate some concerns about the diversity of the new zones. Her change moves some students from Carver Elementary to Fox Elementary, keeps the area south of Cary Street in the Cary draw zone, and responded to parental concerns about moving students at elementary schools in Southside. The Board approved an amendment by Ms. Pinkney-Eppes on a 5-4 vote concerning the movement of students at Miles Jones, Redd, Fisher, and Southhampton Elementary Schools.

Before voting on the closing and rezoning, the Board voted to market and then declare as surplus the school district’s warehouse on Arlington Road. The property has been potentially valued at somewhere between $1.4 million to $9 million. The Board also voted to request that the City market other properties that have been previously declared as surplus, the sale of which would generated funds for the school system.

— ∮∮∮ —

Below is video of the complete public response period (with a few speakers lost between PART 1 and PART 2), as well as the School Board's discussion of surplusing the Arlington Road warehouse, and the school closings and rezoning.

PUBLIC HEARING (Part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=IpHj0djD3Ss

PUBLIC HEARING (Part 2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Ep8dUqLAnrg

SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSION OF SURPLUSING ARLINGTON ROAD WAREHOUSE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=px-BjMwhL6Y

MS.HARRIS-MUHAMMED OPPOSING THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=px-BjMwhL6Y#t=2685s

MR.COLEMAN OPPOSING THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xSrDgnz_bkw#t=922s

A primer on rezoning and school closing; RVANews

Parents, teachers turn out to keep Clark Springs open

John Murden — Wed, 29 May 2013 10:34:35 +0000

The Richmond School Board held the first of two public hearings last night on the difficult decision of whether or not to close Clark Springs Elementary School and relocate the Adult Career Development Center and Norrell pre-k programs next year in order to alleviate a $1,000,000 budget shortfall.

The most recent proposal would see Clark Springs Elementary School closed and the perhaps ACDC moved to the Tech Center and the Norrell students moved to Mary Scott until the new MLK building opens. Rezoning would impact almost all of the elementary schools north of the river.

A crowd of maybe 130 people turned out for the meeting at Thomas Jefferson High School. At least 40 stepped to the mic to voice an opinion, with the vast majority speaking against the plan as presented. Staff and volunteers from Clark Springs were heavily represented, with many wondering why a school which has done so well would be chosen for closure. Supporters of Clark Springs were passionate about the school, with some angry about the process.

Opponents of the proposal also described how the changes would make John B. Cary Elementary School less diverse. One speaker asserted that the schools now "are less segregated than the neighborhoods", but that this would change.

One group of speakers from the Southside were consistently in favor of the proposed rezoning. Under Plan C, Westover Hills Elementary School would become more of a neighborhood school for the area around Forest Hill Park.

In a surprise move at the end of the evening, the 5th District's Mamie Taylor made an attempt to get surplussing the school district’s warehouse on Arlington Road (worth perhaps $1.4 million to $9 million) onto the evening's agenda. Doing this, she says, will take budgetary reasons out the discussion for closing schools. Chairman Jeffrey Bourne replied that the meeting had already been adjourned and denied her request. Taylor stated her intention to bring this up at the next meeting.

The second public hearing will be held on Monday, June 3rd at 5:00 PM in Council Chamber at City Hall. The School Board is expected to vote on the proposal at that time.

— ∮∮∮ —

Below is video of the complete public response period (with 1 speaker lost when I had to change out the camera). I've broken out four representative and interesting speakers and also the interaction between Ms.Taylor and Mr.Bourne.

Marty Jewell (activist)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV-NzJH58QE#t=822s

Annie Campbell (teacher)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV-NzJH58QE#t=1032s

Gregory Day (Randolph resident)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV-NzJH58QE#t=1963s

Kimberly Jones (parent)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV-NzJH58QE#t=2401s

Mamie Taylor (5th District) attempts to add to the agenda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV-NzJH58QE#t=2606s

FULL VIDEO (Part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLU_xazAzGY

FULL VIDEO (Part 2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV-NzJH58QE

A primer on rezoning and school closing

John Murden — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:34:06 +0000

The School Board of Richmond Public Schools has scheduled two public meetings over the next few weeks to discuss a proposal to close three schools. Closing the schools would mean rezoning those students to new schools.

WHY WOULD THE SCHOOL BOARD WANT TO CLOSE SCHOOLS?

Simply put, the school system is spending money maintaining and staffing more buildings than are needed to educate the students in the system.

We have too many schools for the number of students we have. With the way enrollment has declined, it's just not feasible to keep open 50 buildings.Glen Sturtevant, 1st District representative (Times-Dispatch)

The elementary enrollment in RPS fell from 14,168 in 2001-2002 to 12,014 in 2011-2012, a drop of 2,154 students or about 15%. The number of active elementary schools has dropped in that time from 34 to 28. The Population and Enrollment Forecasts, 2011-2021 (PDF) predicts further continued drops in enrollment, saying that "all but one of the elementary attendance areas show a net decline in students for the period 2016 to 2021."

Richmond Public Schools began the rezoning process in October 2011 (PDF) to take "a comprehensive look at the existing Richmond Public School zones and facilities." The 6th District's Shonda Harris-Muhammad served as Chairperson of the Rezoning Committee which ultimately suggested closing four elementary schools--though Clark Springs Elementary School was not on that list.

Closing under-enrolled schools to strengthen the school system's budget has been a topic of discussion for years. Most recently, after rounds of public meetings held by the Rezoning Committee through 2011 and 2012, there seems to be broad consensus that schools need to be closed to more accurately reflect the actual student population of the city. None of the School Board members have said that they are opposed to the closing of schools in the abstract.

Clark Springs Elementary School

SO WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY?

The issues getting the most attention are the potential closing of Clark Springs Elementary School and the timing of the proposed changes. Opponents say that this is much too late in the year to close schools for the next year, and doing so at this time places a burden on the system and the community. Supporters say that the School Board must take this step to make the system viable financially, and available money must be used to best provide for the students.

The School Board initially voted in February to begin the process of closing schools. The current School Board, with seven of the nine representatives newly elected in November and in office only since January, were lauded for coming to City Council with a balanced budget. They were able to erase a deficit of almost $12 million--with some of the savings based on closing as yet unnamed schools.

Mamie Taylor (5th District)

The School Board then reversed itself in April. Two things happened here: the 5th District's Mamie Taylor proposed keeping the schools open because one of the most likely to close (Clark Springs ES) is in her district, and she was supported by a enough of the Board who felt that April was too late in the year to announce school closures for the next school year. This put the School Board in the position of then needing to find the $1,000,000 originally expected be saved through the facilities closings.

In May, the School Board once again voted to begin the process of closing schools, placing Clark Springs Elementary School, the Adult Career Development Center, and the old Norrell Elementary building (currently hosting a somewhat controversial pre-k program) on the chopping block.

WHY CLOSE CLARK SPRINGS SPECIFICALLY?

Clark Springs ES and two equivalent, adjacent schools are under-enrolled: there are not enough students at these schools to have them all remain open. Clark Springs ES currently has a gerrymandered draw zone that pulls students from well outside of it's neighborhood.

In the 2011-2012 school year, Clark Springs enrolled 311 students, though the school is allowed 432 under RPS guidelines. To the west, John B. Cary enrolled 199 (of an allowed 507). To the north, Carver enrolled only 479 out of an allowed 890. The newly proposed zoning closes Clark Springs, and for the most part divides the students among Carver and John B. Cary. This increases enrollment at two under-enrolled schools, while achieving the savings of closing the Clark Springs building.

Closing Clark Springs also allows for school zones which many favor as reflecting "neighborhood schools". With Clark Springs currently acting as the catch-all district for downtown and west-central Richmond, the school's draw zone stretches from Highland Park in Northside to Byrd Park in the West End. With the closure of Clark Springs, the Museum District, the area from City Stadium to Oregon Hill, and the area around Carver would all have schools zones more akin to their neighborhoods. Some believe that this would have the effect of bringing students back into the public school system who do not currently participate.

Proposed zone for John B. Cary Elementary School

WHY NOT CLOSE CLARK SPRINGS?

Opponents of the closing say that Clark Springs is a good school and that the proposed rezoning is flawed. Others believe that it is simply too late in the year to close schools for the next school year.

5th District Representative Mamie Taylor says that Clark Springs should not be closed because, "I am especially opposed to closing Clark Springs, which is a high performing school that allows students, as does Fox, the opportunity to go outside of their zoned neighborhoods to experience a top of the line education. [...] It provides its students with a top-notched education, dedicated staff, and a family-like setting. I think that it is unfair to place Clark Springs on the table for closure without even considering any other schools."

She also asserts that the proposed Plan C rezoning is flawed: "it appears to segregate our schools and it limits the ability for families to have access to high performing schools through open enrollment."

One of the features of Plan C is that the Museum District would be a part of the Fox Elementary zone. There is a chance that pulling these students out of Cary ES would impact the diversity of that school (78% black, 13% white, 6% hispanic / 2011-2012 RPS). Expanding the number students zones for Fox ES would also have the effect of decreasing the number of available spots for open enrollment at the popular school.

I will never support closing schools in May. We should not do this right now... it's just not good business. It's not building a good relationship with our community.
6th District representative Shonda Harris-Muhammad (Times-Dispatch)

There are a number of members of the School Board who do not necessarily oppose closing Clark Springs, but who feel that it is too late in the year to be closing schools for next year. There will be inconveniences and complications in closing a school only four months before students and teachers are to report to school again. Almost all of the elementary schools north of the river would see some rezoning changes, about which parents would need to be notified. Further complicating the picture, the superintendent of Richmond Public Schools Dr. Yvonne Brandon will be stepping down on June 30.

OK, NOW WHAT?

There are two public meetings scheduled:

Tuesday, May 28th 5:30PM at Thomas Jefferson High School
Monday, June 3rd 5PM in Council Chamber at City Hall

Bike to Work 2013

John Murden — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:29:15 +0000

Somewhere close to 90 people turned out in Monroe Park this morning for the annual Bike to Work ride. The group met at 7:00 AM for coffee and refreshments, and Mayor Jones led the ride from the park to City Hall.

— ∮∮∮ —

Mayor Jones and Jakob Helmboldt (Pedestrian, Bicycle & Trails Coordinator)

Councilman Jon Baliles

Councilman Parker Agelasto and John Bolocek (VDOT)

City Council recognizes Louis Draper, approves Scott’s Addition development

John Murden — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:30:59 +0000

The agenda for the Monday May 13 City Council meeting (PDF) was a light one, with 11 of the 18 items either continued or withdrawn. The two possibly contentious items up for consideration (an SUP for 122 Tempsford Lane and reversal of the CAR decision regarding 2916 Monument Ave) were both continued to June 10th.

The highlight of the evening might have been the revelation that Parker Agelasto has shaved his beard.

The next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, May 28th.

— ∮∮∮ —

Recognition/Appointments

Before getting to the agenda, a few recognitions were made:

May 18th - 24th as "Richmond Safe Boating Week"
Week of May 19th as Emergency Medical Services week
May 1013 as "Richmond Older Residents Month" -- 44,700 residents (20% of the commnity) are age 55 and older.
Celebrate photographer and Richmond-native Louis H. Draper, who will be showing at the VMFA in 2014, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2015, and currently at Pine Camp through June 20th.

The following appointments were made:

Chris Arias as a Citizen Representative on the Urban Design Committee
Claire S. Cottrell as a member of the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority
Zachary Isbell as a Fifth District Representative on the Clean City Commission

— ∮∮∮ —

Ordinances and Resolutions

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-87 Authorize the special use of 3408 and 3412 W. Moore Street for the purpose of permitting multifamily dwellings containing a total of up to 94 dwelling units. The buildings are currently zoned M-1 Light Industrial, which does not allow for residential use. Representatives for Dori Foods, a wholesale food distributer who has been operating on Norfolk Street since 1994, spoke against the SUP because of probable conflict with the current industrial uses in the area.

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-22 amends the City Code § 42-41 and changes the language over where "revenues from the sale, lease or other use of former school properties" goes. The code used to direct the money towards "operations of the School Board of the City of Richmond," and now puts the money towards "capital repair or renovation of existing active school properties."

PASSED Res. No. 2013-R105 designates which Council member serves on the Sister Cities Commission and removing the Council member serving as an alternate on the board of the Richmond Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

PASSED Res. No. 2013-R115 (Patron: All Members of Council) To approve, in accordance with Ord. No. 2012-35-50, adopted May 14th, 2012, the written program outline and budget with projected outcomes for the Math Teacher Academy program, a copy of which is attached to this resolution, and to authorize the expenditure of $585,000 from the Innovation and Excellence in Education Special Fund to Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation, Inc.

CONTINUED Ord. No. 2012-29, Res. No. 2013-R47, Ord. No. 2013-10, Ord. No. 2013-80, Ord. No. 2013-95, Ord. No. 2013-96, Ord. No. 2013-97

WITHDRAWN Ord. No. 2013-98 To amend a section of the City Code for the purpose of establishing a permit process for valet parking on public streets.

— ∮∮∮ —

Citizen Comment Period

After consideration of the Regular Agenda, the floor was opened for citizen comment. To paraphrase the individual speakers (whose names I have guessed how to spell):

Earl Bradley • There is something screwy about the city's procurement system
Stacey Squier • Sister of Christine Squier, urged council to take action against domestic violence
Helen McCollough • A retiree from the city of Richmond, saying that retirees are not treated fairly
Sara Morton • Thanks Mayor Jones and Ellen Robertson for support of Virginia Cooperative Extension
Art Burton • We need more resources for the public schools
Angela Dews (president of REA) • invest in public education
Kirsten Gray (Alliance for Progressive Values) • Opposes rebuilding of Overby-Sheppard at the expense of the needs of the other schools
Tichi Pinkney-Eppes (RPS School Board) • Some schools will be closed next year, we need money.
Jaqueline Snow • Good things are happening in Richmond Public Schools, but we have to do better about providing for the students. They needs books and computers.

Photo: 1968 by Louis Draper

City Council tackles bicycles, new park in Fulton, more…

John Murden — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:26:31 +0000

The agenda for the Monday April 22 City Council meeting (PDF) was, as usual, a lengthy list of the mundane and otherwise. 23 of the 56 different ordinances and resolutions on the agenda were budget-related items, all of which were en masse continued to a Special Council Meeting on Monday, May 6th. The bulk of the evening's energy was spent considering an ordinance regarding attaching bicycles to public signs and trees.

— ∮∮∮ —

Citizen comment period

After recognizing various individuals and groups, the meeting kicked off with the general Citizen Comment Period. To paraphrase the individual speakers:

The first speaker addressed poverty and homelessness in Richmond. Now that the Conrad Center is closing, what can City Council do... Maybe we can house the homeless in the old Armstrong High School.
Bicycle safety! The city should provide money to educate drivers, who treat cyclists as a public nuisance.
There are almost 2,200 vacant buildings in the city, 1/3 of which have not been maintained for years. This is bad for Richmond. We need to prioritize getting these building rehabbed.
Richmond has made great progress in making itself a more bike-friendly city. We need a comprehensive master bicycling plan to truly make the city bike and pedestrian friendly.
MARTY JEWELL! He puts the beg on City Council for additional school funding. Asking for eight to ten million dollars, for a reserve fund for the new School Board.
We need better sporting facilities for Richmond Public Schools. Armstrong's track is in horrendous shape, and other high schools don't even have tracks. RPS has some of the worst facilities in the state. We can't host track meets at any of the schools.

Bicycles, mopes, and motorcycles

Before getting to the agenda, City Council and Mayor Jones recognized May as Bicycle Month in Richmond, the 3rd week in May as Bicycle to Work Week, and May 17th as Bike to Work Day. Council went on to consider a number of two-wheel-related ordinances:

The most controversial of the night's agenda items was the ordinance concerning removal of bicycles from city-owned bicycles and trees:

— ∮∮∮ —

Clarification!

There's been some confusion about the language of the below bicycle-related ordinance. Please note that locking your bicycle or moped to a post, sign, or other property (excluding trees) on City-owned property is acceptable for 10 days (or 72 hours if your bike or moped is inoperable).

You may still lock your bike and moped to a post, sign, or other property (excluding trees) on City-owned property.

— ∮∮∮ —

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-88 making it unlawful for any person to attach a bicycle to a tree, post, sign or other property on City-owned property and authorizing police officers to impound any such illegally attached bicycles. Non-working bicycles can be impounded after 72 hours; working bicycles can be impounded after 10 days.

Per Councilman Agelasto: these ordinances are out of concern for the trees, is not intended to be anti-bicycle, and VCU has a similar program already in place. Speakers expressed concern with the idea of having bikes impounded, saying that it is normal use to lock bicycles to posts for time periods longer than 72 hours. Speakers also voiced concerns about about the definition of a "dead bike", given that this could trigger an impoundment after 3 days.

Councilman Chris Hilbert and Charles Samuels were both supportive of Agelasto's ordinance; several council members seemed have reservations following the public speakers. Ellen Robertson spoke for the need to educate the public about the ordinance. It seemed as if this was on the way to being continued or even withdrawn, until speeches by Samuels and Jakob Helmboldt put the ordinance back on track. Richmond's Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Coordinator Jakob Helmboldt said that he had no concerns about the ordinance--that it merely clarified items already in place, removing vagueness from the lawbooks. Four of the nine councilmembers voted against the ordinance (Graziano, Baliles, Robertson, and Trammel).

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-84 makes it unlawful to attach a motorcycle or moped to a tree on City-owned property, and also makes it unlawful to attach a moped to a tree, post, sign or other property on City-owned property for more than 10 days (or more than 72 hours for inoperable mopeds). Police officers are now authorized to impound any such illegally parked motorcycles or illegally attached mopeds.

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-85 removes registration requirements for bicycles and the authority to impound bicycles not properly registered.

PASSED Res. No. 2013-R104 encourage citizens of the City of Richmond to register their bicycles with the National Bike Registry. 48% of stolen bicycles are recovered each year, but only 5% make it back to their rightful owners.

— ∮∮∮ —

Real estate

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-78 authorizes the acquisition of 611 Goddin Street for the purpose of establishing a new public park to be named Historic Fulton Memorial Park. Fulton is perhaps Richmond's most grievous example of "urban renewal", in which one of the city's oldest neighborhoods was erased from the map.

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-88 authorizes the special use of 1415 Chamberlayne Parkway for multifamily residential and student housing uses, to authorize additional signage, upon certain terms and conditions.

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-73 authorized the special use of the property known as 1700 Summit Avenue for the purpose up to 42 multifamily dwelling units and uses permitted in the B-7 Mixed-Use Business District, upon certain terms and conditions.

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-74 authorizes the special use of the property known as 8 and 10 North Robinson Street for the purpose of authorizing the existing buildings for office, retail, and personal service uses, upon certain terms and conditions.

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-75 authorizes the special use of the property known as 310 North 33rd Street to additionally authorize principal commercial uses permitted on corner lots in the R-63 Multifamily Urban Residential District on the property, upon certain terms and conditions. Word has it that another outpost of the Urban Farmhouse will be going into the spot.

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-79 authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $723,226 from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Economic and Community Development by $723,226 for the purpose of the acquisition, rehabilitation and sale of foreclosed properties through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-89, Ord. No. 2013-90, Ord. No. 2013-91, Ord. No. 2013-93, Ord. No. 2013-94 exempt CAPUP, Memorial Cild Guidance Clinic, VMFA, and the Virginia Museum Real Estate Foundation from paying property tax on specific properties "beginning Jan.1, 2013, and all subsequent tax years".

Finances

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-39 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to execute a Contract for Loan Guarantee Assistance, a Note and other documents necessary to accomplish the transaction contemplated thereby, all relating to the City's receipt of up to $9,875,000 in Section 108 Loan Program funds, for the purpose of capitalizing a business loan pool as part of the Economic Development Revolving Loan Program.

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-82 To amend Ord. No. 2012-54-69, adopted May 14, 2012, which adopted a General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 and made appropriations pursuant thereto, to transfer funds in the amount of $203,000.00 from the Department of Economic and Community Development agency and to appropriate $153,000.00 to the Non- Departmental agency, Economic Development Consortium line item for a grant to Venture Richmond and $50,000.00 to the Non-Departmental agency, Arts Consortium line item for a grant to CultureWorks, for the purpose of revitalizing the Broad Street corridor and improving the Arts and Cultural District.

PASSED Res. No. 2013-R103 approves an expenditure in the amount of $1,334.46 pay the Department of Information Technology for the printing and mailing of newsletters to Second District.

Miscellany

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-84 says that you can't get a business license if you have any delinquent business license, real estate, personal property, meals, transient occupancy, severance and admissions taxes.

PASSED Res. No. 2013-R98 adopts the City of Richmond's Emergency Operations Plan in accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Services and Disaster Laws of 2000.

PASSED Res. No. 2013-R106 seeks to revisit zoning for properties located within an area around Brookland Park Boulevard (bounded by West Crawford Street and East Crawford Avenue to the north, Richmond-Henrico Turnpike to the east, East Hooper Street and West Hooper Street to the south, and Edgewood Avenue to the west).

PASSED Ord. No. 2013-81 amend and reordains City Code §§ 102-303, 102- 305 and 102-306 for the purpose of replacing references to the Director of Finance with references to the Director of Public Works.

City Council: Support for chickens, beards

John Murden — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:26:02 +0000

The agenda for Monday's City Council meeting (PDF) was mostly mundane items like appointments to various commissions and committees, but an unusual number of high profile ordinances--including "urban chickens", pay for police/firefighters, changes to the water/sewer rates, and the appeal of a Commission of Architectural Review ruling--promised an interesting evening.

Before we got into the agenda items, however, April was named as Richmond Child Abuse Prevention Month and also Richmond Facial Hair Appreciation Month. Seriously.

The John Marshall Boys Varsity Basketball Team was recognized for going 21-7 this year and making it to the Group AAA State Championship game.

— ∮∮∮ —

Budget (Water, Gas, Capital Improvement, etc)

The myriad budget-related items on the agenda were presented as a public hearing. The budget ordinances were all CONTINUED TO APRIL 22 and will not be voted upon until May.

There was an epic public comment period for the budget items. In general: a lot of people support the police and firefighters, and there are folks who have issues with the proposed water/sewer rates.

CONTINUED TO APRIL 22: Ordinance 2013-60 would approve a step-based pay system for police officers and fire fighters originally approved in 2006 but then put on hold. Passage does not give immediate raises, but it does implement a regular set of pay increases for a group of folk who have not had a pay increase since 2008.

CONTINUED TO APRIL 22: Perhaps the highest profile of the budget ordinances are 2013-51 and 2013-62, which together would change the way that water bills are calculated. Changes include lowering the monthly base rate for water and waste water (by about half) and related service charges, coupled with charging more for the volume of water used for each. There are also increased rates per volume of water used during Voluntary Conservation periods (usually during summer drought conditions). If passed, the new water & sewer base rate for the city would be $26.11, down from $49.40--which would be still above the current $17.10 in Henrico County ¹ (though the county has proposed their own increase).

Also CONTINUED TO APRIL 22:

2013-53 would slightly raise natural gas charges (just over 1%).
2013-57 would raise the recycling fee for buildings with multiple dwelling units from $1.69 to $1.94.
2013-67 would provide $155,639,107 for financing the school budget.
2013-66 details a list of Capital Improvement Projects around the city (Libby Hill Park Slope Repairs, Reedy Creek Drainage, Monroe Park, Public Housing Transformation etc) for the next 4 years (at a cost of $785,475,219) and how they would be funded.

Bicycles & Parking

WITHDRAWN: 2012-232, which bascially says that the police can impound your bicycle, moped, or scooter if you lock it to a city-owned tree or sign for more than 72 hours or if it is a hazard. The focus of the ordinance was to be abandoned or "dead bikes"; no word on why it was withdrawn (for an update on this, check the comment below by Councilman Agelasto -- Ed).

PASSED: 2013-12 makes it a violation to parallel park more than 18 inches from the curb. This is the most liberal allowance in the state: Norfolk is 6 inches. If you violate this law, you will be fined $20.

Urban Chickens

PASSED: 2013-47 makes it legal to keep up to four female chickens,² with a few restrictions and a $60 annual permit. Fan District Association President Roger Whitfield was one of two who spoke against the ordinance, but there were at least 15 speakers in favor including a number of Fan residents. Stated at fact (AGAINST): there will be cock fights. Stated at fact (FOR): a dog poops more in one day than 10 chickens.

Review of the Commission of Architectural Review

CONTINUED TO APRIL 22: 2013-r47 would reverse the decision of the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR) which denied a certificate of appropriateness for vinyl replacement windows on a home located at 2916 Monument Avenue.

Because the house is located in the Monument Avenue Old and Historic District, a Certificate of Appropriateness is required when any proposed work alters the exterior appearance of the property (PDF) as it is viewed from a public street or alley. The certificates are supposed to be obtained before any work is done, and there is a review process. The vinyl windows were installed at this house without approval by CAR, which then refused to issue the certificate of appropriateness.

— ∮∮∮ —

Footnotes

Flying Squirrels off to a soggy start

John Murden — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:53:04 +0000

The Richmond Flying Squirrels 2013 season opened Thursday night (sort of) at the Diamond against the New Britain Rock Cats. It was cold and rainy, but still kind of awesome.

With both teams scoreless in the bottom of the fourth inning, the game had to be suspended due to persistent rain. The action will resume at 6:05 PM on Friday night, followed by a seven-inning game constituting the second part of the four-game series. Unfortunately, Friday's weather looks like it might be a lot like Thursday's...

The Squirrels will be playing at home through Wednesday, with a series against the Bowie Baysox kicking off on Monday. Have you looked at the weather for next week? Holy moly!

Heads up, though: Bowie's hot pitching prospect Dylan Bundy is starting the year off on the DL and won't be making an appearance in Richmond just yet.

— ∮∮∮ —

The team

Of the 25 active players on the opening day roster, ten have appeared as members of the Flying Squirrels previously (RHP Justin Fitzgerald, LHP Chris Gloor, RHP Daryl Maday, RHP Edwin Quirarte, LHP Tom Vessella and RHP Craig Westcott; SS Ehire Adrianza, OF Ryan Lollis, UTIL Mark Minicozzi and UTIL Skyler Stromsmoe). Five of the players are considered among the top-30 prospects in San Francisco’s system by Baseball America.

Headlining the group of newcomers and prospects is 2B Joe Panik, who is rated as the #2 prospect in the Giants’ organization. The Giants first round selection in the 2011 draft, Panik will make his Double-A debut in his third professional season. He will be joined in an all-prospect infield by Adrianza (#24 – BA), 1B Ricky Oropesa (#27 – BA) and 3B Adam Duvall (#11 – BA). Andrew Susac, the Flying Squirrels’ primary catcher, also rates as the #13 prospect in the system and will also appear at the Double-A level for the first time.

Joining the Flying Squirrels, while returning to his native state of Virginia, is OF Jarrett Parker. Parker, who was selected out of the University of Virginia in the 2nd round of the 2010 draft, will ascend to the Double-A level for the first time after two seasons with San Jose (A+).

The 2013 Flying Squirrels will be led by veteran manager Dave Machemer, who returns to the RVA for a third season. “Mac” returns nearly his entire staff from 2012, as Pitching Coach Ross Grimsley (4th Season), Hitting Coach Ken Joyce (3rd Season), and Athletic Trainer L.J. Petra (2nd Season) also return. The only new member of the Richmond field staff will be Strength & Conditioning Coach Brad Lawson, who takes over for Jim Bose.

Notably, a number of former Squirrels are on the San Francisco Giants' 40-man opening day roster, including pitchers Chris Heston, Erik Surkamp, and Jake Dunning, infielder Nick Noonan, outfielder Juan Perez, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford.

— ∮∮∮ —

2013 Flying Squirrels Roster

Pitchers

Ryan Bradley (Newcomer)
Fabio Castillo (Newcomer)
Justin Fitzgerald (Returnee)
Chris Gloor (Returnee)
Omar Javier (Newcomer)
Daryl Maday (Returnee)
Phil McCormick (Newcomer)
Edwin Quirarte (Returnee)
Scott Shuman (Newcomer)
Jack Snodgrass (Newcomer)
Jose Valdez (Newcomer)
Tom Vessella (Returnee)
Craig Westcott (Returnee)

Catcher

Andrew Susac (Newcomer)
Mark Wagner (Newcomer)

Infielders

Ehire Adrianza (Returnee)
Adam Duvall (Newcomer)
Mark Minicozzi (Returnee)
Ricky Oropesa (Newcomer)
Joe Panik (Newcomer)
Skyler Stromsmoe (Returnee)

Outfielders

Javier Herrera (Returnee)
Brett Krill (Newcomer)
Ryan Lollis (Returnee)
Jarrett Parker (Newcomer)

Field Staff

Dave Machemer (Manager)
Ross Grimsley (Pitching Coach)
Ken Joyce (Hitting Coach)
L.J. Petra (Athletic Trainer)
Brad Lawson (Strength & Conditioning Coach)

City Council approves Riverfront Plan, Redskins Deal

John Murden — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:42:38 +0000

Monday was a neat night for a City Council: almost all of the streetlights were out through the Fan down to City Hall, and there were two BIG items on the agenda (PDF): the Riverfront Plan and "The Redskins Deal."

The evening started easy, with a joint proclamation recognizing the 75th Anniversary of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Beta Epsilon Chapter, and proclaiming December 4, 2012, as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Beta Epsilon Chapter Day in Richmond. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded at Howard University in 1913, with the Beta Epsilon Chapter founded at Virginia Union University on December 4, 1937.

The CONSENT AGENDA portion of the agenda passed unanimously.

To accommodate the demand and the crowd that came out for the high-profile ordinances, the big ordinances on the REGULAR AGENDA were moved up to the front of the line.

Riverfront Plan

First up was Ordinance 2012-202. A number of folks, including Leighton Powell of Scenic Virginia, Amy Swartz from the Historic Richmond Foundation, and Adrienne Kotula with the James River Association all spoke in favor of the plan; there was no opposition. Given the lead-up, this was ultimately anticlimactic.

City Council voted unanimously in support.

The Redskins Deal

Simply put, The Redskins Deal is complex. At its core, a training facility will be built on Leigh Street in the corridor behind the Science Museum. Bon Secours is a part of this: they will put in money, will taking over the vacant school building at 5800 Patterson Avenue, and will expand their presence in the East End. The city puts in money and...?

Given the complexity of the deal, it was only fitting that The Redskins Deal was considered in several pieces.

— ∮∮∮ —

STEP ONE: Ordinance 2012-213, which conveys the former school at 5800 Patterson Avenue to the city. A number of individual citizens spoke in opposition to the deal, though there did not seem to be an organized opposition. Memorably, Chris Dorsey spoke against, calling this transfer "theft of tax payer dollars," with much to say against St. Mary's Hospital as neighbors (including their helicopters), and calls City Council "criminal in nature".

City Council voted unanimously in support.

— ∮∮∮ —

STEP TWO: Resolution 2012-R151, an amendment to the deal, which brings more money for the schools. According to Councilman Hilbert, the new deal squeezes another $4.5 million out of Bon Secours to go to the public schools in the city, the rent on the Patterson Avenue property gets bumped up to $33,000 year, Bon Secours will pay for the relocation of the "tot lot" on Patterson Avenue to somewhere nearby, and they will assist in a neighborhood beautification program for the Patterson-Libbie business district.

A number of individuals spoke against (many had beards), with most saying that that they feel that this will not be helpful to the city and that the process is moving too quickly. Kim Gray (2nd District School Board), said that "I do not believe this is just compensation for Richmond City Schools." Chris Dorsey spoke again, saying "You can't garnish a turd sandwich and tell people that it's something good to eat." Speakers in favor were supportive in their belief that the deal will bring economic development and tourism to Richmond (and some people really love the Redskins).

City Council voted unanimously in support.

— ∮∮∮ —

STEP THREE: Resolution 2012-214, proposed the conveyance of 5800 Patterson Avenue to the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for purposes of development. Speakers against: 1) did not like that our government is spending money related to sports; 2) wanted to ensure that the historic school building is preserved; 3) did not feel that enough information has been considered; 4) feared that the football players will impregnate local women & create problems at Shockoe Bottom clubs; 5) Glen Sturtevant (incoming 1st District School Board) was concerned by the lack of transparency and wanted to slow the process down and have sufficient time to ensure that we are doing this the right way; and 6) were against crony capitalism. People speaking in favor, again, supported this as a move towards economic development and tourism, and as something that will raise Richmond's profile.

City Council voted unanimously in support.

— ∮∮∮ —

STEP FOUR: This combined three ordinances: Resolution 2012-193, Resolution 2012-215, Resolution 2012-216, which collectively give the go-ahead to execute the Leigh Street Development Cooperation Agreement, setting in motion the training facility on Leigh Street and dealing with the financing of the plan.

These were considered in three votes. City Council voted unanimously in support of all three.

The Rest of the Meeting Was Too Late for Me

There were a number of other items on the rest of the agenda, but by the time Council got to them, it was pushing 9:30 PM (meeting started at 6 PM!) and I had to head out.

PHOTOS: Richmond to Ashland on U.S. Bike Route 1

John Murden — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:36:27 +0000

One of the great things about living in Richmond is how quickly you can get out of the city.

U.S. Bike Route 1 is a great point-to-point bicycle ride from Richmond to Ashland, out through Lakeside and the gentle sprawl of central Henrico, into rural Hanover County, and then the town of Ashland. From the old Bill's BBQ north of The Diamond to Ashland Coffee and Tea, then back again, is about 30 miles.

I've been riding this route just about weekly since August, and over the last week the whole experience has shifted from end of summer to fall. The corn has been harvested, the leaves are changing, and the sky is a different, clearer blue. If you're compelled to go outside right now to get your fill of the season, hit the road. Check out U.S. Bike Route 1 on your bike, moped, scooter, or car with the windows down: getting there and back is a perfect piece of living in Richmond.

The Richmond Area Bicycle Association (RABA) does a Henrico to Ashland portion of this ride on Saturday mornings if you're looking for company.

I have not been able to find a detailed official map of the local trail, so I offer this Google map. The route is marked fairly well, though it is kind of easy to miss a turn.

— ∮∮∮ —

Lakeside

This is the hill back into Richmond by Bryan Park. After going out and back 30 miles it is not pleasant; I've named it "Big Fucker."

— ∮∮∮ —

Henrico

— ∮∮∮ —

Hanover

— ∮∮∮ —

Ashland

— ∮∮∮ —

The full set from the ride is on Flickr, including the banned opossum photo, this possibly NSFW road graffiti, and maybe the geekiest photo that I've ever taken.

PHOTOS: Over the Edge

John Murden — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:01:03 +0000

Over the Edge raises money to support Special Olympics Virginia and has seen people repel down the 400-foot SunTrust building since 2009. I volunteered to take photos for Over the Edge on Thursday afternoon for the chance to see what everything looked like from up on top of the SunTrust Center. Check it out!

— ∮∮∮ —

Flying Squirrels: recapping April

John Murden — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:46:30 +0000

Baseball in April is fresh and awkward--hands and bats are cold, the players are all new to each other, good teams are bad, and it's early enough yet that the bad teams still have hope. There's also a promise in early baseball: summer is coming, summer is coming, summer is coming. The temperature will get into the 80s and 90s--and stay there. Richmond will swelter, and we'll start to see what the season is really going to look like. Until then...

The Richmond Flying Squirrels had a decent first month. Their twelve wins and twelve losses are good enough for 3rd place in the Western Division, behind the Akron Aeros and Harrisburg Senators. They've played break-even baseball against four teams with a cumulative winning record (Bowie Baysocks, New Britain Rock Cats, Reading Phillies, Altoona Curve), and will get a crack at both the Aeros and Senators over the next few weeks. The Squirrels' longest winning and losing streaks are both three games, and they haven't swept or been swept.

The pitching staff has hasn't gelled yet, posting the 3rd-worst ERA and 6th-worst WHIP in the 12-team league. There are signs of what these young arms can bring, though. Chris Heston leads the starting rotation with an ERA of 1.21 in 29.2 innings over five starts. Relief pitcher Brett Bochy has a perfect 0.00 ERA in 12.2 innings over eight games, with three walks and 10 strikeouts. Austin Fleet is right behind him, with a 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings over seven games. Richmond veteran Daryl Maday has picked up five saves and 2-1 win/loss record in 11.1 innings over nine games.

Third baseman Daniel Mayora is batting .388 with a .398 OBP with 27 hits in 23 games. Tommy Joseph (C/1B) is leading the team with a .446 slugging, with five doubles, and three homeruns. Gary Brown (CF) has six stolen bases (and has been caught twice).

Juan Perez (CF) and Ehire Adrianza (SS) are the only Flying Squirrels to have appeared in every game so far this season. Nobody has come up from San Jose or Augusta; nobody has been bumped up to Fresno.

Daniel Mayora / Ryan Cavan

Having scored 85 runs and allowed 109 over the first 24 games, the Squirrels have a run differential of -24, 3rd worst in the league (ahead of only Portland [-47] and Altoona [-33]). That 10 run 6th inning by the Reading Phillies on April 17 inflates this somewhat, but still, this is worrisome. Squirrels Baseball says that the hitting will come:

The bats are there, but they are not as big as many imagined they would be. The approach at the plate seems to be fine as the Flying Squirrels are ranked in the upper third of the league in OBP and about the middle of the pack as far a drawing walks. The ISO is what is so surprising. With hitters like Brown, Dominguez, Joseph, and Adrianza one would expect the team to be a bit better at collecting multiple bases per hit. This is almost inevitably going to see an upswing, and if/when it does, the team most likely will stop hovering around the .500 mark.

Craig Westcott and Tommy Joseph

The San Francisco Giants farm system is off to a good start. The Augusta Greenjackets (A) are scrapping with a 11-12 record in the South Atlantic League Southern division. Relief pitcher Kevin Couture has put up a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings over eight games (11 strikeouts, four walks). The San Jose Giants (A) at 14-11 are in 2nd place in the California League North division, with outfielder Ryan Lollis hitting .351 through 19 games. Pitcher Jack Snodgrass has put up a 1.61 ERA across 22.1 innings in four starts, and Ryan Bradley has posted a 1.98 ERA in 27.1 innings and five starts. The Fresno Grizzlies (AAA) have started off 19-6 in the Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern division (best record in AAA) behind the hot bats of former Squirrels Roger Kieschnick, Conor Gillaspie, and Nick Noonan.

Chris Heston and Chris Gloor

Next up: MAY

To stay up to date on all things Flying Squirrels related, follow @rvafs on twitter.

PHOTOS: Flying Squirrels vs. Reading Phillies

John Murden — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:40:32 +0000

On April 17th, the Flying Squirrels faced the Reading Phillies at the Diamond. The Squirrels ended up losing 6-19 that day. The team is currently 8-9 on the season, just three games away from first place. The Squirrels will be on the road for a three-game series against Reading, but will return to the Diamond this Friday for a series against the New Britain Rock Cats. Below are photos from the loss against Reading last week.

— ∮∮∮ —

PHOTOS: Opening Day for the Flying Squirrels

John Murden — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:42:05 +0000

Last night, the Flying Squirrels welcomed a capacity crowd of 9,560 to the Diamond for their home opener. Taking on division rivals, the Altoona Curve, the Squirrels prevailed by a score of 7-3. Here are pictures of yesterday's opening day win.

— ∮∮∮ —

Photos: RVANews 2012 beer dinner

John Murden — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:00:31 +0000

Photos: 2011 Dominion Christmas Parade

John Murden — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:17:11 +0000

Photos of all the zany stuff we've come to expect from the Christmas parade: balloons, men in little cars, marching bands, and storm troopers. It wouldn't be Christmas without them!

— ∮∮∮ —

Make sure you check out the entire photoset over on Flickr.

RVANews

The paw paw: AKA the West Virginia banana

City Council approves new Stony Point apartments, moves forward with Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard

NEW APARTMENTS FOR STONY POINT

FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS

CAR REVERSAL ON MONUMENT

TRANSPORTATION

RECOGNITION, AWARDS, AND APPOINTMENTS

APPROVED

City Council approves acquisition for Virginia Capital Trail, sets the stage for debate on a new ballpark

CONSENT AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS

CONTINUED

City Council: Support for gay marriage, Floyd Avenue Bicycle Boulevard

Footnotes

PHOTOS: Over the Edge

Related

Dutch and Company’s Back Door Dogs

City Council votes to reduce GRTC CARE service, raise rates

City Council postpones Buzzy’s resolution, redefines breweries, honors fallen officers

APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS

RECOGNITION

CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD

REGULAR AGENDA

CONSENT

CONTINUED

WITHDRAWN/STRICKEN

Council recognizes Richmond Blue Sox, gives up authority to approve bus routes

Recognition

Citizen comment period

Appointments

Passed

Continued

Randy Blythe on photography, social media, and sobriety

On beginning photography

Props

Twitter vs. Instagram

Street photography

Sobriety

City Council recognizes photographer Huestis Pratt Cook, gets public input on changes to GRTC’s CARE service

RECOGNITION

CHANGES TO CARE FARE AND SERVICE

DURYEA DRIVE REZONING

CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD

CONSENT AGENDA

CONTINUED

Council votes to kill Samuels’s baseball referendum

Related

City Council: The perfect meeting

City Council: Most of agenda continued to next meeting

School Board votes to close Clark Springs, move forward with rezoning

PUBLIC HEARING (Part 1)

PUBLIC HEARING (Part 2)

SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSION OF SURPLUSING ARLINGTON ROAD WAREHOUSE

MS.HARRIS-MUHAMMED OPPOSING THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS

MR.COLEMAN OPPOSING THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS

Related

Parents, teachers turn out to keep Clark Springs open

Marty Jewell (activist)

Annie Campbell (teacher)

Gregory Day (Randolph resident)

Kimberly Jones (parent)

Mamie Taylor (5th District) attempts to add to the agenda

FULL VIDEO (Part 1)

FULL VIDEO (Part 2)

A primer on rezoning and school closing

WHY WOULD THE SCHOOL BOARD WANT TO CLOSE SCHOOLS?

SO WHAT IS THE CONTROVERSY?

WHY CLOSE CLARK SPRINGS SPECIFICALLY?

WHY NOT CLOSE CLARK SPRINGS?

OK, NOW WHAT?

Bike to Work 2013

City Council recognizes Louis Draper, approves Scott’s Addition development

Recognition/Appointments

Ordinances and Resolutions

Citizen Comment Period

City Council tackles bicycles, new park in Fulton, more…

Citizen comment period

Bicycles, mopes, and motorcycles

Clarification!