Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Police Officers and Fire Fighters Want More Money


Part 1/4 - 2013 January 29 - Papers for Consideration - Public Safety - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

The Public Safety Committee considered several papers.

[1:34] 1. Ord. No. 2013-2 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend and reordain City Code § 110-37, concerning taxicab rates, for the purpose of providing that, for a trip originating at Richmond International Airport, the rate shall be $10.00 or the charge registered on the meter, whichever is greater, plus $2.00.

I spoke in opposition to this paper because I did not feel that residents or visitors to the city should pay an excessive minimum charge for taxi rides originating at the Richmond Airport. My point was irrelevant however because the stated minimum charge of $10 would have been reached on any fare further than 3 miles from the the Richmond Airport and the Richmond City limits is about 5 miles from the airport. This fact was not clearly stated until after much needless discussion had occurred. Thanks to Greg Lukanuski from the City Attorney's Office. Discussion of the paper was put off of a bit until a member of the Airport Commission arrived. The discussion resumed at [18:59].

[10:43] 2. Ord. No. 2013-3 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept $50,000 from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management 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 $50,000 for the purpose of a Richmond MSA Public Outreach and Education Project.

[39:33] 3. Ord. No. 2013-12 (Patron: Mr. Agelasto) - To amend and reordain ch. 102, art. VI, div. 1 of the City Code by adding therein a new section numbered 102-246 and to amend and reordain City Code § 102-243, concerning parking violations and penalties for noncompliance with certain parking requirements, both for the purposes of requiring that the curbside wheels of vehicles parked on streets parallel to a curb shall be no more than 12 inches from such curb and imposing a fine for the violation of such requirement.

[16:04] 4. Ord. No. 2013-18 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $135,185 from the United States Department of Homeland Security 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 $135,185 for the purpose of providing for the purchase of computer hardware and software to increase critical information sharing and collaboration efforts between the City and other entities at the Port of Richmond and generally within the city of Richmond.

Part 2/4 - 2013 January 29 - Public Comment Period - Public Safety - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Citizen comments from Melvin Jones, who is tired of the drug dealing going on in front of his house[0:33], Charles Willis, Execute Director, Citizens Against Crime, on the Nightclub ordinance [4:43], Jodi Strange, President, Friends of Richmond K9 urging Council to support a new building for the city's K9 Unit [10:10], Rosetta Torrence discussing her petition to keep Police Chief Norwood in the City of Richmond [12:03].

Part 3/4 - 2013 January 29 - Police & Fire Discuss Salaries & Career Advancement - Public Safety - Richmond, VA from Silver.

[0:53] Captain Keith Andes from the Richmond Fire Department gave the main presentation in support of increasing salaries and improving career opportunities for member of the Richmond Police and Fire Department. Council woman Reva Trammell [8th District] said if there was any retaliation in response to their demand she wanted to hear about it. She offered her telephone numbers in case anyone wants to call her. Her home phone number is 233-7382 and her cell number is 240-5050.

[10:25] Capt. Andes was followed by Stacy Rogers, President of Richmond Coalition of Police, who talked about losing officers to localities that offered a few thousand dollars more and described the generally hopelessness that officers felt and stated that many men and women in the department were struggling to get by.

Ms. Trammell addressed the audience [16:00] and invited others to speak to have their concerns heard. Other speakers included Sergeant John Barkley, Richmond Police [20:26], Police Officer Trishonda Gill[22:19], Homicide Detective Mack Ewards [24:35], Firefighter Jennifer Curran [28:24], Firefighter Joe Signorelli [31:08], Firefighter Lt. Ray Neville [32:20], and retired firefighter Tom Bray? [42:26].

[34:00] Additional comments from Keith Andes and Stacy Rogers, Ms. Trammell asked them to give her their top four demands.

Comments from Council persons Cynthia Newbille [38:14], Chris Hilbert [39:10], and closing comments from Ms. Trammell [43:13].

Part 4/4 - 2013 January 29 - Minutes Approved, Appointments, Staff Report - Public Safety - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

The final bit of the meeting included the approval of minutes from a previous meeting, discussion of the appointment of Carly Sorrento? to Community Criminal Justice Board, and a brief staff report from Steve Taylor.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Council's Constitutional Officers Report for Duty


At City Council's first meeting of the new term, Council members received introductory reports from Council's Chief of Staff Lou Ali, City Attorney Allen Jackson, City Assessor James Hester, City Auditor Umesh Dalal, and City Clerk Alvin Anderson.

Part 1/5 - 2013 January 7 - Report from Council Chief of Staff Lou Ali - Organizational Development - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Before the report from Council's Chief of Staff, Byron Marshall, Mayor Jones' Chief Administrative Officer introduced Interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services, Stephen Harms [1:24]

Part 2/5 - 2013 January 7 - Report from City Attorney Allen Jackson - Organizational Development - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Part 3/5 - 2013 January 7 - Report from City Assessor James Hester - Organizational Development - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Part 4/5 - 2013 January 7 - Report from City Auditor Umesh Dalal - Organizational Development - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Part 5/5 - 2013 January 7 - Report from City Clerk Alvin Anderson - Organizational Development - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Planning Commission Considers Church Hill Water Tank, Victory Rug Apartments, Nightclub Ordinance


Part 1/4 - 2013 Jan. 7 - Minutes, Director's Report, Consent Agenda - Planning Commission - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Meeting started at 1:30 PM.

In this portion, Chair Melvin Law opened the meeting, welcomed back Kathy Graziano [4th District] to the Planning Commission, and wished members a happy new year. Graziano served previously as a member of the Planning Commission from January 2005 - December 2008.

The minutes for Dec. 3 and 10, 2012 were approved unanimously [0:56]. The election of officers was put off until the next meeting [1:27]. The Annual Report to City Council was approved to be sent to City Council [2:41]. The Consent Agenda consisted of Ord. 2012-211 to authorize renovations & increasing the number of residents permitted in the adult care residence [4:10]; and an item pertaining to the replacement of the water tank in Church Hill [4:58] which was moved to the regular agenda by unanimous consent of the body.

There was no public comment nor Commission discussion on Ordinance 2012-211 [5:35] which was forward to Council unanimously.

Part 2/4 - 2013 Jan. 7 - Church Hill Water Tank Replacement - Planning Commission - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

The replacement water tank was proposed to look the same as the existing water tank. The Commission asked the Department to go back and offer some alternatives that would fit in more with the residential character of the neighborhood. The item was deferred for 30 days.

Part 3/4 - 2013 Jan. 7 - Ord. 2012-200 - Victory Rug Building - Planning Commission - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Part 4/4 - 2013 Jan. 7 - Ord. 2012-234 - Nightclub Ordinance - Planning Commission - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Meeting end time 2:44 PM.