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

City Council recognized photographer Huestis Pratt Cook, heard public input on potential changes to GRTC’s CARE service, approved rezoning for a new development on Duryea Drive and funds for the Chimborazo International Baccalaureate, and more.

July 23, 2013; 6:00 AM • by John Murden

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.”

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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.

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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.

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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)