Highland Park / Barton Heights Bicycle Tour

On June 26, 2010, I rode with other bicyclists in a couple of neighborhoods located in Richmond, Virginia's Northside.

Here is the video I filmed during our ride.

Highland Park/Barton Heights Bicycle Tour - June 26, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

The Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods organized the bicycle tour through Highland Park and Barton Heights.

There were nine stops on the tour. Our guides were Giles Harnsberger and Lane Pearson from Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods, also assisted by Tyler Potterfield [Preservationist Planner for the City of Richmond] during our stop at Holy Cross Cemetery.

At each stop of the tour, someone would tell us the significance of what we were looking at. The story of Highland Park and Barton Heights is the story of land developers who created amenities like public parks and rail transportation, and fueled the appetite for single family home ownership.

It is also the story of white flight in the 1960s and 70s from the city to the counties' suburbs.

Richmond Retirement System Presentation @ Governmental Operations - Richmond, Virginia

Part 1/2 - Governmental Operations - Richmond Retirement System Presentation - Oct. 28, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia City Council from Silver Persinger.

Philip Langham, Executive Director of the City of Richmond's Retirement System gave a presentation to the Governmental Operations Standing Committee on the state of the City's retirement system and future outlook.

The system is currently funded at 58.3% and the goal for funding is 80%.

In 2008 and 2009, the system lost $125 millions of its investment value.

Part 2/2 - Governmental Operations - Committee Report / Board Appointments / Papers - Oct. 28, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Korita Jones presented the Standing Committee Report. Mr. Langham stayed a little longer to support the appointment of Dr. Kenneth Daniels, a VCU Professor of Finance, to the Richmond Retirement System Board [@minutes 3:43-7:44]. The other potential appointment was named Melvin Smith and Mr. Langham said he had never heard of him before that day and knew nothing of him. The committee quickly moved to recommend the appointment of Dr. Daniels after Mr. Langham told the Committee the Board need Dr. Daniels expertise. Mr. Smith got no consideration since there was only one seat available. Papers were reviewed.

Ordinance 2010-189 would amend the pay plan adopted by Ord. No. 93-117-159 on May 24, 1993 to exclude certain classifications from general pay ranges 21 and 22, IT Band 3, and General Band 8 in the classified service and to include certain classifications in pay ranges 21 and 22, IT Band 3, and General Band 8 in the unclassified service; and to modify the pay range of the Director of Human Resources classification in the unclassified executive service. [@ minutes 7:45 - 17:30]

The paper that got the most attention was Ordinance 2010-190 which would amend ch. 90, art. I of the City Code by adding therein a new section 90-3, concerning the installation of certain signs at street and sidewalk construction projects, for the purpose of imposing requirements and prohibitions relating to certain signs at such construction projects. The paper eventually was continued for 30 days. [@ minutes 17:35 - 33:00]

Other papers discussed:

My 2¢ - I am Against Elected Officials Names on Road Repair Signs from Silver Persinger.

I spoke in support of Ordinance 2010-190 sponsored by Councilman Bruce Tyler [1st District] which would prohibit elected officials' names from appearing on street repair notification signs. I believe putting their names on the signs is the equivalent of campaign electioneering and reinforces the entrenchment of incumbents. State election law prohibits the posting of campaign signs in the public right of way. Campaign signs must be located on private property with the owner's consent. The penalty for violating this law is $50 per sign.

Council Increases RRHA Board from 7 to 9 Members - 1 Additional Tenant Representative

Part 1/4 - Appointments & Awards - Richmond City Council - Oct. 25, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Part 2/4 - Richmond City Council - Oct. 25, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Part 3/4 - Citizen Comment Period - Richmond City Council - Oct. 25, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Part 4/4 - Richmond City Council - Oct. 25, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

My 2¢ - Increasing Tenant Representation on Housing Authority & Against Corporate Naming Rights from Silver Persinger.

At this meeting, I spoke on two occasions. I spoke in opposition to Resolution 2010-R140, which designates only one of the new Commissioners on the RRHA Board as a tenant representative. My desire is that both of the additional new members be tenant representatives, thus giving tenants 1/3 representation on the board. I also spoke in opposition to Resolution 2010-R145 which ask CAO Byron Marshall to prepare a study on the feasibility of selling corporate naming rights for City facilities.

Informal Session - This was an Important Meeting

Part 1/4 - City Council Informal Session - Oct. 25, 2010 - Elderhomes Weatherization Program - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

In Part 1, Peter Chapman, Deputy CAO for Economic and Community Development discussed the administration's recent budget amendment of $500,000 for Elderhomes to perform winterization for low income, elderly, and disabled residents. It is projected to aid 80 homeowners, which is a cost of $6250 per home.

Part 2/4 - City Council Informal Session - Oct. 25, 2010 - Docket Review - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

In Part 2, Keith Rogers from the City Clerk's Office reviewed the evening's agenda with the Council. This is the portion of the meeting where papers are continued, withdrawn, stricken, or motions are made to amend.

On this day, the papers receiving the most discussion were the following:

@minutes 3:00 - 13:20
Item 8, Ordinance 2010-184 To amend the Code concerning stormwater utility charges, to authorize stormwater utility fee waiver for any property owner who provides a permandent reduction in post development stormwater flow and pollutant loading as authorized by City Charter.

@minute 13:30
Mr. Bruce Tyler [1st District] requested amending and continuing Item 9, Ordinance 2010-185 regarding reducing the terms from 5 to 3 years for members of the Commission of Architectural Review [CAR], the unelected body famous for telling folks what they can and can't do with their homes located within historic districts. Mr. Tyler said the paper needed to be amended to include that the 2 at-large members must be residents of a historic district.

@minutes 14:40 -18:00
Mrs. Ellen Robertson [6th District] asked Mr. Tyler about Item 10, Ordinance 2010-186 which would require individuals wishing to appeal the decisions of CAR to pay a $150 filing fee for single family houses and $500 for all other types of buildings. Mrs. Robertson was concerned about the fee for low-income folks.

@minutes 19:10 -
Ms. Reva Trammell [8th District] asked about items 14 and 15, Ordinance 2010-194 which would authorize special use of 3800-3916 Hull Street and 415 - 527 Belt Boulevard to allow two free standing signs "identifying tenants of the properties" and Ordinance 2010-195 which would legitimize an existing free standing sign at 5449, 5501, and 5503 Midlothian Turnpike.

Mr. Connor reassured Ms. Trammell they were "in-sync on this paper."

Part 3/4 - City Council Informal Session - Oct. 25, 2010 - Report from Schools - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Part 4/4 - City Council Informal Session - Oct. 25, 2010 - Jail Discussion - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Council to Enlarge RRHA Board by Two Members and Council Pursues Naming Rights for Corporations

The Entire Meeting

Land Use, Housing, Transportation Committee - Oct. 19, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

RePHRAME Members on Increasing Tenant Representation on RRHA Board from Silver Persinger.

Above, two members from RePHRAME, Cora Hayes [a tenant of public housing] and Max Daniel, spoke in support of Resolution 2010-R140 but both also objected that only one of the two new commissioners will be required to be a resident of public housing. The other new member will be appointed by the Council.

Silver Persinger's Two Cents - Community Land Trust at Dove Court & Against Corporate Naming Rights from Silver Persinger.

Above, My 2¢. I spoke during the Citizen Comment Period about starting committee meetings later to accommodate citizens who work 9 to 5. This meeting begins at 3 PM. I also suggested that the Dove Court Redevelopment Project be developed as a Community Land Trust to provide affordable housing into the future and retain City ownership of the land as the most responsible and best use of the land.

Later in the meeting, I spoke in opposition to Resolution 2010-R145 [Patron: Chris Hilbert] which asks CAO Byron Marshall to study and submit a report to Council on the feasibility of selling corporate naming rights for City-owned facilities.

City Council Meeting

Part 1/2 - Richmond City Council - Oct. 11, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Part 2/2 Richmond City Council - Oct. 11, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Informal Session - Alley Access Parking

Informal Session - A Parking Lot Only Accessible by the Alleyway from Silver Persinger

Docket review.

Mayor & Council Joint Luncheon Talk

Columbus Day 2010.

Mayor Dwight Jones quietly ate his lunch, gave a speech, and took questions from members of Richmond City Council.

Mayor-City Council Joint Lunchtime Meeting - Oct. 11, 2010 - Richmond, Virignia from Silver Persinger.