Showing posts with label Jackson Ward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jackson Ward. Show all posts

Monday, January 23, 2012

Eggleston Plaza Approved & Tax Exemption for Nonprofits Reopened

Part 1/7 - 2012 Jan. 23 - Prayer, Pledge, Appointments - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

The second formal meeting of the year began at 6:19 PM, Monday, January 23, 2012.

The meeting opened with a prayer spoken by Rev. Chambliss, "that we may be about the business of revitalizing and energizing our city," followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, and Chamber Evacuation instructions.

APPOINTMENTS [6] First time Appointees are required to appear in person before the Council.

Res. No. 2011-R171-2012-4 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Stacy L. Burrs [pictured above, right] to the Minority Business Enterprise and Emerging Small Business Advisory Board.

Resolution 2011-R172-2012-5 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To appoint Tracey G. Jeter [pictured above, left] to the Minority Business Enterprise and Emerging Small Business Advisory Board (MBE Representative).

Resolution 2011-R174-2012-6 (Patron: All Members of Council) To appoint Latoya Hawks to the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority [RRHA], Tenant Representative.

Resolution 2011-R176-2012-7 (Patron: All Members of Council) To appoint Oliver R. Singleton to the GRTC and Transit Study Task Force.

Resolution 2011-R177-2012-8 (Patron: All Members of Council) To appoint Jonathan Coleman to the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

Resolution 2012-R2-9 (Patron: All Members of Council) To appoint Bruce W. Tyler to the GRTC and Transit Study Task Force.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Tony Benony Amekudzi spoke.
Cora Hayes spoke in support of the appointment of Latoya Hawks to the RRHA Board.

Marty Jewell abstained from the vote on Latoya Hawks to the RRHA Board [6:25].

And President Kathy Graziano wished Councilwoman Reva Trammell "Happy Birthday."

Part 2/7 - 2012 Jan. 23 - Awards & Amending Agenda - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

AWARDS PERIOD

Part 3/7 - 2012 Jan. 23 - Regular Agenda - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

REGULAR AGENDA

Eggleston Plaza and Kelvin Hanson [pictured above]

11. Ordinance 2011-211-2012-6 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of 535½, 537 and 541 North 2nd Street for the purpose of waiving parking, building height, maximum residential floor area and setback requirements for the construction of a mixed-use building with up to 31 dwelling units and uses permitted in the underlying zoning district. (As Amended) [0:27]

Reopening Tax Exemption Process for Non-Profits [30:52]

12. Ordinance 2012-1-7 (Patrons: Mr. Jewell, Mr. Tyler and Mr. Samuels) - To repeal City Code for the purpose of authorizing the City Assessor to accept applications for tax exemptions by classification and designation, and to extend the filing deadlines for applications to March 1, 2012, effective for the tax year beginning Jan. 1, 2012, for the purpose of temporarily permitting the filing and acceptance of applications.

Part 4/7 - 2012 Jan. 23 - Citizen Comment Period - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD

Vivek Jain [pictured above], a member of Occupy Richmond, urged City Council to pass a resolution against war with Iran. [0:51]

Charles Willis, Executive Director of Citizens Against Crime, asked City Council for financial support of "immediate need of at least $300" for candles, typing paper, bereavement cards, printer ink, frames, pins, stamps, etc. [4:14]

Part 5/7 - 2012 Jan. 23 - Consent Agenda /Expedited /Minutes Approved - Richmond City Council - Richmond, VA from Silver Persinger.

CONSENT AGENDA

13. Ordinance 2011-201-2012-8 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer and the Director of Procurement Services to execute a contract between the City and Harris & Harris, Ltd. for collection agency services.

14. Ordinance 2011-202-2012-9 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer and the Director of Procurement Services, to execute a contract between the City and Professional Recovery Consultants, Inc. for collection agency services.

15. Ordinance 2011-208-2012-10 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to execute a Lease Agreement to allow New Cingular Wireless PCS LLC to operate telecommunication equipment at 4515 North Avenue.

16. Ordinance 2011-212-2012-11 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to execute a Project Agreement for Use between the City and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for the purpose of receiving a grant of $62,073 to fund capital improvements at Main Street Station.

17. Ordinance 2011-214-2012-12 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept $5,000 from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and to appropriate the amount to the Non-Departmental Budget for the purpose of providing grants of $2,500.00 to the Richmond Boys Choir and $2,500.00 to the 1708 Gallery.

18. Ordinance 2012-3-13 (Patrons: Mr. Conner and Vice-President Robertson) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to execute a Memorandum of Understanding for the purpose of the City making a donation of $10,000 to assist the Partnership for Smarter Growth in applying for a grant for the James River Branch Rails-to-Trails and Cannon Creek Greenway projects.

19. Ord. No. 2012-6-14 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to execute a Revocable Sublicense Agreement to allow Richmond 20 MHz, LLC to operate and maintain telecommunications equipment on a portion of 4827 Old Warwick Road.

26. Res. No. 2011-R166-2012-10 (Patrons: All Members of Council) - To request that the Richmond Metropolitan Authority install mile markers at appropriate intervals along the Powhite Parkway and the Downtown Expressway.

27. Res. No. 2011-R109-2012-11 (Patron: Vice-President Robertson) - To approve a timeline of critical milestones leading up to the adoption of the City’s Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget. (As Amended)

EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION

Resolution 2012-R3-12 (Patrons: All Members of Council) - To amend the “2012 City of Richmond Legislative Proposals for the Virginia General Assembly” and request the Richmond delegation to the General Assembly of Virginia to support Senate Bill 41, concerning relief for Thomas E. Haynesworth, and legislation to improve the methods of compensating persons who have been wrongfully incarcerated.

The minutes of the previous meeting were unanimously approved. [25:04]

Part 6/7 - 2012 Jan. 23 - Reports & Announcements - Richmond City Council - Richmond, VA from Silver Persinger.

REPORTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ellen Robertson [0:24]

At 5:33, Mr. Jewell asked Mrs. Robertson about the Workforce Investment Board, he wanted to know if Richmond was planning to pull out of the Regional Alliance because of the perception that Richmond was getting little return on it's investment. President Graziano said this was a topic better suited for a committee meeting, Mr. Jewell insisted it was important for constituents to know where they could go to look for work.

Doug Conner [9:49]

Charles Samuels - No Report. [11:08]

Chris Hilbert [11:33]

Marty Jewell [17:57]

Cynthia Newbille [25:33]

Reva Trammell [27:30]

Bruce Tyler [31:20]

Kathy Graziano [32:20] She said her district had 48% of the leaves in the city.

Mr. Hilbert encouraged citizens to call their legislators to oppose House Bill 107 which would dilute Richmond's voting majority on the RMA Board. Hilbert called the bill "a complete attack on the sovereignty of the City of Richmond." [34:45]

Part 7/7 - 2012 Jan. 23 - Introduction of New Papers - Richmond City Council - Richmond, VA from Silver Persinger.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW PAPERS

City Council will hold a Public Hearing on the following Ordinance and Resolution on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 6 PM:

1. Ord. No. 2012-8 (Patron: Mr. Tyler) - To approve an amendment to the Master Plan for the City of Richmond, which Master Plan was adopted by the City Planning Commission on Nov. 6, 2000, and approved by the City Council by Ord. No. 2000-371-2001-11 on Jan. 8, 2001, for the purpose of changing designations on the Land Use Plan for the Patterson/Libbie/Grove area generally bounded by Park Avenue to the north, York Road to the south, Maple Avenue to the west and Dunbar Street to the east.
(COMMITTEE: Organizational Development, Monday, February 6, 2012, 5 PM)

2. Res. No. 2012-R4 (Patron: Ms. Newbille) - To approve an expenditure in the amount of $1,500.00 from the Council Districts Funds for the Seventh District to make a donation to the East District Family Resource Center for the Camp Diva Annual Date with Dad Dinner ($1,000.00) and for Parent Resource Network parenting events ($500.00).

City Council will hold a Public Hearing on the following Ordinances on Monday, February 27, 2012 at 6 PM:

3. Ord. No. 2012-9 (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 2012 between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for the purpose of granting the City $100,000 for the purpose of continuing the City of Richmond Employee Trip Reduction Program.
(COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, February 16, 2012, 3 PM)

4. Ord. No. 2012-10 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $500,000 from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Department of Public Works by $500,000 for the purpose of continuing the City of Richmond Employee Trip Reduction Program.
(COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, February 16, 2012, 3 PM)

5. Ord. No. 2012-11 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute an Agreement for the Use of Federal Highway Administration Congestion Mitigation Air Quality – Fiscal Year 2012 between the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for the purpose of granting the City $400,000 for the purpose of continuing the City of Richmond Employee Trip Reduction Program.
(COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, February 16, 2012, 3 PM)

6. Ord. No. 2012-12 (Patron: Mr. Tyler) - To amend Ord. No. 2010-173-166, adopted Sep.
27, 2010, which establishes a GRTC and Transit Study Task Force, to remove certain limitations on the Task Force’s membership so that persons who are officers or
employees of the City and persons whose employers hold contracts with the City or subcontracts of such contracts may be appointed to the Task Force.
(COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 3 P.M.)

7. Ord. No. 2012-13 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To conditionally rezone the property known as 1031 Fourqurean Lane from the R-5 Single-Family Residential
Disrict to the R-53 Multifamily Residential District (Conditional), upon certain proffered conditions.
(Planning Commission, Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 1:30 P.M.)

8. Ord. No. 2012-14 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the special use of the properties known as 3200 West Clay Street and 3204 West Leigh Street for the purpose of a multifamily dwelling with up to one hundred thirty-nine (139) units, uses permitted in the B-6 Mixed-Use Business District, and a parking area to serve the multifamily dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions.
(Planning Commission, Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 1:30 P.M.)

9. Ord. No. 2012-15 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To amend Ord. No. 95-35-44, adopted Mar. 13, 1995, which authorized the special use of the property known as 1500
North Lombardy Street for the purpose of expansion of an existing educational institution through the construction and use of a library, to allow for an increase in the area of signage permitted to be attached to the library, upon certain terms and conditions.
(Planning Commission, Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 1:30 P.M.)

City Council will hold a Public Hearing on the following Ordinance on Monday, March 12, 2012 at 6 PM:

10. Ord. No. 2012-16 (Patron: Vice-President Robertson) - To amend and reordain ch. 2, art. V of the City Code by adding therein a new div. 3 (§§ 2-906—2-908), for the
purpose of establishing a Citizen Advisory Commission on Alternatives to Incarceration.
(COMMITTEE: Public Safety, Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 5 P.M.)

Thursday, January 21, 2010

$600,000 Grants for Millionaire Ronald Stallings' Hippodrome Theater / Taylor Mansion Project / Abolish Admissions Tax Revenue Now?

Here are a couple of recent worthwhile articles on the Hippodrone deal written by Isaac Graves, a former aid to Mayor Douglas Wilder.

Hippodrome deal merits further Council scrutiny as City finances become constrained

Ron Stallings and The Hippodrome; the final act or only intermission in a lengthy play?



At Thursday's Finance Committee meeting, I spoke in opposition to Ordinance 2009-217. It would give a $600,000 grant to millionaire Jackson Ward developer Ronald Stallings' Hippodrone Theater and Kelvin Hanson's Taylor Mansion. By chance, Kelvin Hanson's name was on the agenda, named as a reappointment to the Economic Development Authority. The summary of Ordinance 2009-217 reads, "To authorize the CAO to execute a Development Agreement between the City of Richmond, Virginia and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond, Virginia for the purpose of implementing economic development and HOME grants for a mixed use development..."

Does something sound wrong? Should a developer who is a member of the Economic Development Authority also be a primary developer in a project financed by the Authority?

Part 1A - Marcus Jones on Future Economic Outlook for Richmond @ Finance - Jan. 21, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

Part 1B - Byron Marshall on Budget Process for FY 2011 @ Finance - Jan. 21, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

Finance Committee Discusses $600,000 Grants for Hippodrone Theater - Jan. 21, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

Above, listen to the entire Council discussion of the ordinance. The final vote from the Committee was 2-1 . Mrs. Ellen Robertson [6th District] and Mr. Charles Samuels [2nd District] in the affirmative and Mr. Bruce Tyler [1st District] voted in the negative.

Silver Persinger Speaks Against Exemption from Admission Tax for Business - Jan. 21, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

Ordinance 2009-237 proposes to abolish admissions taxes on complimentary tickets. I spoke in opposition to the paper. This paper was inspired by the Virginia Automotive Dealers Association not being happy to pay the $7000 for handing out 20,000 complimentary tickets. So they sent their representative to their friend Mr. Doug Conner [9th District], a friendly ear in the auto body repair business, himself.

Why should businesses be exempt from paying the same taxes that us regular citizens have to pay? When I buy two tickets, I am paying the admissions tax. This is the cost of doing business. Perhaps there are better ways they can spend their marketing dollars. Corporations and business organizations should not have so much influence creating legislation.

As you can see from the existing legislation, there are already exemptions for children under 12 and for free admission to "museums, botanical gardens, or zoos."

Part 2- Shall Business be Exempted from Tax? Jan. 21, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

Above, watch the entire discussion on abolishing the admission tax on complimentary tickets, the discussion starts around 3 minutes, 30 seconds [3:30].

Part 4 - Consolidation of Departments Discussed / Bond Issuance Rushed to End Meeting Quickly - Jan. 21, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

$600,000 Grant to Ron Stallings?

At Thursday's Finance Committee meeting the committee discussed Ordinance 2008-217 which proposes a grant of $600,000 to help finance the redevelopment of the Hippodrome Theatre. This money would not be paid back to the City but it is expected the City would see a return on its investment through increased assessments, meals and admission taxes, and theoretically the theatre would act as a stimulus to other development on Second Street. The project is being headed by Ron Stallings and another developer Kelvin Hansen. Mr. Hansen owns the property next door, formerly the Elks' Lodge, at 526 N. 2nd Street. The total project is valued at $12.1 million. This discussion follows on the heels of Mayor Jones' announcement this week that the City is expecting to see a projected revenue shortfall of $10 million for FY 2010.

Watch the discussion.

$600,000 Grant for Ron Stallings? from Silver Persinger.

View the original ordinance from 2004 which was patroned by former City Manager Calvin Jamison and proposed to give $800,000 to the developers, Ordinance 2004-246-247.

Mr. Stallings has contributed money to the campaigns of City Council members Bill Pantele [former 2nd District], Chris Hilbert [3rd District], and Ellen Robertson [6th District]. More details here.

This is also interesting to consider: How did Mr. Stallings get The Hippodrome Theatre in 2006 for $0 when it is currently assessed at $520,000?



Also interesting to note, $600,000 is the same amount RRHA is projecting as a shortfall for their Housing Voucher Program. Wouldn't this money be better spent assisting low income folks with housing than helping a developer with his for profit development?