East End "Economic Summit" for White People

East End Economic Summit - 2014 June 13 at The Robinson Theater - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Bon Secours and the City of Richmond held this Economic Summit to discuss the future revitalization of 25th Street and Nine Mile Road. Interesting that audience was about 90% white, when the areas being discussed are largely populated by low income African Americans. Video presentation on neighborhood revitalization featuring the small businesses that have opened in the last few years in Church Hill including Proper Pie, Sub Rosa, WPA Bakery [2:44]Representatives from Bon Secours Yvette Johnson-Threat [0:31] and Peter Bernard, CEO Bon Secours Virginia Health Systems [8:52], Capital One, The Community Builders, CEO of RRHA Adrienne Goolsby, Mayor Dwight Jones, Cynthia Newbille, and Jason Roberts from Dallas, Texas, founder of The Better Block spoke to the assembled audience.

Baseball Takes Centerstage at Council Meeting

Part 5/10 - 2014 Feb. 24 - Council Amendments to Shockoe Stadium Resolution - Formal City Council Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

The City Clerk read the title of Resolution 2014-R29. Ellen Robertson [6th District] and Parker Agelasto [5th District] wanted Council members to explain the intent of their proposed amendments to the resolution to the audience before starting the Citizen Comment Period.

Jon Baliles [1st District] 5:20, Cynthia Newbille [7th District] 6:11, Charles Samuels [2nd District] 7:06

Part 6/10 - 2014 Feb. 24 - Citizen Comment Opposed to Shockoe Stadium - Formal City Council Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Many citizens spoke in opposition to the proposed stadium in Shockoe Bottom for a variety of reasons.

Part 7/10 - 2014 Feb. 24 - Citizen Comment in Support of Shockoe Stadium - Formal City Council Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Supporters of Resolution 2014-R29 were given about 15 more minutes than opponents to speak.

Part 8/10 - 2014 Feb. 24 - Council Discussion on Shockoe Stadium - Formal City Council Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

The first 25 minutes of this clip were spent going over proposed amendments to Resolution 2014-R29 by the Administration [1:07], Cynthia Newbill [4:40], Jon Baliles [8:53], and Charles Samuels [10:56]. Then Council members made statements explaining why they were voting the way they were voting.

Parker Agelasto [27:14] and [1:15:18] Kathy Graziano [29:19] can't buy linens in the City of Richmond. Michelle Mosby [32:57] Cynthia Newbille [40:45] Reva Trammell [44:52] and [1:14:14] Chris Hilbert [47:31] Jon Baliles [58:43] Ellen Robertson [1:05:42] Charles Samuels [1:20:35]

THE REST OF THE MEETING

Part 1/10 - 2014 Feb. 24 - Prayer, Pledge, Instructions, Appointments - Formal City Council Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, Fire Evacuation Instructions, Rules for Speakers, Appointments Res. No. 2014-R28 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint Matthew E. Peanort, III as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Richmond Retirement System for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Oct. 25, 2016, succeeding Ronald L. Tillett.

Part 2/10 - 2014 Feb. 24 - Awards Period, Appointment, Amend Agenda - Formal City Council Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Awards were presented to recognize the first week of March as Women in Construction Week presented by Charles Samuels [0:20] and Stephanie C. Garrison for 28 years of service for the City of Richmond in the field of Social Services, presented by Chris Hilbert [3:15] Appointment [6:30] Res. No. 2014-R27 (Patron: All Members of Council) - To appoint William H. Leighty as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Richmond Retirement System for a term commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating Oct. 24, 2014, succeeding Dr. Wallace G. Harris. [7:42] Agenda Review and Amendments.

Part 3/10 - 2014 Feb. 24 - Citizen Comment Period - Formal City Council Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Comments from Charles Poole [1:07], Lillie Estes [6:24], Michael Gilbert [9:20], and James Giddings [12:52].

Part 4/10 - 2014 Feb. 24 - Consent Agenda - Formal City Council Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

The following ordinances and resolutions were adopted:

28. Ord. No. 2014-11-20 (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 228 West 26th Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to L. Kent Pond for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

29. Ord. No. 2014-12-21 (Mayor Jones, By Request) - To adopt an amendment to the Master Plan for the City of Richmond, adopted by the City Planning Commission on Nov. 6, 2000, and by the City Council by Ord. No. 2000-371-2001-11, adopted Jan. 8, 2001, as previously amended, to incorporate the Hull Street Corridor Revitalization Plan, applicable to certain areas along the portion of Hull Street Road between the railroad line just west of the intersection of Hull Street Road and East Belt Boulevard and the City’s corporate boundary just east of Chippenham Parkway, as a part of the Master Plan.

30. Ord. No. 2014-13-22 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to submit amendments to the City’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program 3 Action Plan, as amendments to the City’s Fiscal Year 2013-2015 Consolidated Plan, to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the purpose of reallocating funds in the total amount of $959,970; to transfer and appropriate certain funds in the total amount of $959,970 between and among various grant activities and to modify the purpose of certain appropriations for various grant activities.

31. Ord. No. 2014-14-23 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $58,802.41 from the Richmond Metropolitan Authority and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Departments of Public Works’ Parking Management Special Fund by $58,802.41 for the purpose of funding maintenance on the parking deck located at 201 East Grace Street.

32. Ord. No. 2014-15-24 (Patron: Vice President Robertson) - To amend and reordain City Code § 98-263, concerning the eligibility of residential real property for a partial tax exemption in redevelopment or conservation areas or rehabilitation districts, for the purposes of adding a new eligibility category for multi-family dwellings of more than eight units, a certain minimum and maximum percentage of which provides housing restricted to individuals or families making up to 80 percent of the area median income for the Richmond-Petersburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, and excepting new structures or other improvements built on lots that have become vacant as a result of a demolition at the expense of the City from the requirement that such lots be vacant for at least two years prior to the date upon which an application for a partial tax exemption is filed.

33. Ord. No. 2014-16-25 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To amend and reordain City Code § 106-126, concerning the construction or extension of mains or services and incentive programs, for the purpose of requiring the Director of Public Utilities to establish the maximum capital expenditures allowed per qualifying multifamily residential facility and per dwelling unit.

34. Ord. No. 2014-17-26 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To rezone the properties known as 310 East Leigh Street, 612 North 4th Street and 305 East Jackson Street from the RO-3 Residential-Office District to the RP Research Park District.

35. Ord. No. 2014-18-27 (Patron: Mayor Jones, By Request) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Telecommunications Franchise Agreement by and between the City of Richmond and Lumos Networks Inc., for the purpose of installing telecommunications equipment within the City’s public right-of-way.

36. Ord. No. 2014-19-28 (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 1301 North 38th Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Daniil Kleyman for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

37. Ord. No. 2014-20-29 (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 1419 Drewry Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Roneece Walker for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

38. Ord. No. 2014-21-30 (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 205 East 30th Street and to authorize the conveyance of such property to Roneece Walker for the purposes of eliminating blight and making such property available for redevelopment.

39. Ord. No. 2014-22-31(Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for & on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute an Agreement to Host 2014 - 2016 Atlantic 10 Conference Women’s Basketball Championships by and between the City of Richmond & the Atlantic 10 Conference for the purpose of hosting the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championships.

42. Res. No. 2014-R25-30 (Patron: Mr. Agelasto) - To approve an expenditure in the amount of $1,500 from the Council Districts Funds for the Fifth District to make a donation to Storefront for Community Design to conduct four community workshop sessions for residents in the neighborhoods surrounding City Stadium.

43. Res. No. 2014-R26-31 (Patron: President Samuels) - To approve an expenditure in the amount of $1,765 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 February 2014 District Newsletter.

44. Res. No. 2013-R276-2014-32 (Patrons: Vice President Robertson and President Samuels) - To request that the Mayor identify in his proposed annual budget for the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 funding from the General Fund for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to be funded [in] up to the maximum amount of $5,000,000 each fiscal year for five years and, over the course of five fiscal years, [in] up to the maximum amount of $25,000,000, beginning with and including Fiscal Year 2014-2015. (As Amended)

Council Delays Service Cuts for Disabled CARE Van Riders until July 1 at Special Meeting

2014 Jan. 6 Special Meeting of Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Meeting run time: 5:04 PM - 5:38 PM.

At Council's first meeting of the year, Council considered Ord. 2013-252 To amend and reordain City Code § 110-136, concerning bus fares, for the purpose of delaying a change in hours during which CARE service is provided. (Mr. Baliles, Ms. Mosby and Ms. Graziano) {Committee Referral Waived Pursuant to Rule VI(B)(2)}

Introduced by Jon Baliles [2:48]

Citizen Comments by Timothy Smalls [4:33], Rachel Loria [7:42], Crystal Harris [10:18], Cheryl Kemmins [13:31], Shirley Harris Jr. [14:57], Brian Montgomery [16:05], Cathy Walker [17:43], Rodney Thomas [18:42], Gina McGee [21:30], Inga Horowitz [24:53], and Silver Persinger [27:39]

Additional comments by Parker Agelasto [30:07] and Jon Baliles [31:33]

[33:53] A new paper was introduced at the end of the meeting Resolution 2014-R1 to call for a special election to replace the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Urban Land Institute Report Out on Future Land Use at Informal Session

Part 1/4 - 2013 Oct. 14 - ULI "Reality Check" with David Johannas @ Informal City Council Meeting - Richmond, VA from Silver Persinger.

Meeting Agenda, is available here.

David Johannas, Principal, Johannas Design Group, shared the results of a May 2013 (ULI) Urban Land Institute‘s Reality Check Program, which gathered elected officials, developers, planners, and others to see what they thought the future of development might look like in the city.

Part 2/4 - 2013 Oct. 14 - Board Vacancies @ Informal City Council Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

A recent addition to the City Clerk's office is Alexander Rawles, Boards and Commission Administrator, who reviewed applicants for various Boards with Council members. Mr. Rawles is from Mecklenburg, Virginia.

Part 3/4 - 2013 Oct. 14 - Docket Review @ Informal City Council Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

At 8th District Meeting Reva Trammell Treats Constituents Like Children

2013 June 20 - Reva Trammell's 8th District Town Hall Meeting - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Comments from:

0:47 Henry Mease, Trammell's Council Liaison
2:00 Reva Trammell, 8th District Council Member
5:29 Derik Jones, 8th District School Board
15:59 David from the Richmond Symphony
17:55 Scott Booth, Major, Richmond Police Department
24:35 C.T. Woody, Richmond Sheriff
32:06 Adrienne Goolsby, CEO, Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority
41:42 Henry Marsh, Senator, Virginia State Senate
44:09 Betsy Carr, Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates
45:54 David Cooper, Code Enforcement
49:27 Deborah Morton, Deputy Director, Parks & Recreation
55:05 Firefighters from Station 21 on Jefferson Davis Highway
and MORE!

Boring Meeting Devolves into Unending Discussion of Truancy

Part 1/4 - 2013 April 17 - Public Comment Period - Education & Human Services - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Meeting time: 5:14 PM - 6:51 PM

Public Comments from:

[0:42]  Ulysses Brown
[3:52]  Silver Persinger
[9:13]  Kelly King Horne, Executive Director, Homeward

Part 2/4 - 2013 April 17 - Public Schools Update from Jeffrey Bourne - Education & Human Services - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Richmond School Board Chairman, Jeffrey Bourne gave a presentation to City Council's Education & Human Services Committee and answered questions from Council members.

Part 3/4 - 2013 April 17 - Approval of Minutes/ Board Vacancies - Education & Human Services - Richmond, VA from Silver.

 [0:18] Minutes from the previous month's committee meeting were approved [3-0].  Mr. Hilbert thanked the clerk's office for the effort to summarize the discussion in the minutes.

Board Vacancies:

[1:55]  Richmond Behavioral Health Authority [RBHA] - 3 vacancies, 3 Applicants -- 2 were recommended via letter by RBHA, Denise P. Dickerson and Byron Marshall.
[5:28]  Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks - 1 vacancy, District 2 / 1 Applicant, Leighton Powell
[7:00]  Social Service Advisory Board - 3 vacancies, No Applicants
[7:06]  Career & Technical Education Commission - 4 vacancies, No applicants (2 are Mayoral)
[8:41]  Carillon Advisory Committee - 6 vacancies, No Applicants

Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People [CAPUP] - 5 vacancies, 5 applicants
This was the most interesting discussion because three of the reappointments had already served an additional 3 years since their terms expired.  The term of appointment is 3 years, and there is a term limit of two terms. [8:48 - 26:33]

[26:33]  Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens - 2 vacancies, No applicants
[28:20]  Senior Connections [Capital Area Agency on Aging, Inc.] - 1 vacancy, No Applicants

Part 4/4 - 2013 April 17 - Staff Report / Truancy Discussion - Education & Human Services - Richmond, VA from Silver.

"Brief Summary" of Staff Report by Joyce Davis that turned into a long-winded discussion about truancy.

Under 15 Minute Meeting for Land Use Committee

2013 April 16 - Land Use Committee - Entire Meeting - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Meeting time: 3:04 PM - 3:18 PM.

 Members present: Jon Baliles, Chair [1st District], Committee members Kathy Graziano [4th District] and Michelle Mosby [9th District].

A very short meeting. No public comment. Hardly any discussion of the three papers considered.  Item number 4, Ord. 2013-79, received the most attention, with introduction and comments from Juanita Buster.

Meeting agenda, available here.

Agenda amendments:

WITHDRAWN
1. Ord. No. 2012-4 (Patrons: Mr. Tyler and President Graziano)- To amend Ord. No. 97-3-41, adopted Jan. 27, 1997, which adopted a process to be followed to ensure funding for the “1% for Art” program to be administered by the Public Art Commission and adopted the City of Richmond Public Art Commission Review and Acceptance Policy for Gifts of Works of Art, for the purpose of providing that the amount to be set aside for public art shall not exceed $250,000 for each qualifying project.

CONTINUED
3. Ord. No. 2013-41 (Patron: Mr. Hilbert) - To amend and reordain City Code § 26-650, concerning the Urban Forestry Commission, for the purpose of amending the responsibilities and duties of the Commission to include a requirement that the Commission provide advice and recommendations to the City Planning Commission on matters related to trees affected or that may potentially be affected by the construction of any street, square, park or other public way, ground, open space, public building or structure.

PAPERS FOR CONSIDERATION

 [2:15] 2. Ord. No. 2013-22 (Patron: Vice President Robertson)- To amend City Code § 42-41, concerning the disposition of funds from the sale of real estate and certain insurance proceeds, and to amend ch. 42, art. II of the City Code, concerning trust funds of the City, to add therein a new section 42-44, concerning the disposition of revenues arising from the lease or other use of former school properties, for the purpose of providing that revenues from the sale, lease or other use of former school properties be set aside for the construction of new public school facilities or for the operations of the School Board oftheCity of Richmond. [4:00]

4. Ord. No. 2013-79 (Patron: Mayor Jones) - To authorize 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. [9:06]

5. Res. No. 2013-R106 (Patron: Mr. Hilbert) - 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 an area around Brookland Park Boulevard generally 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 and to request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be conducted a study of all real properties within such area to determine (i) if the zoning classifications for such properties are consistent with objectives to revitalize such area and (ii) the best land usage of the real properties in such area.

[11:44] BOARD VACANCIES

Locking Your Bike to a Pole Just Got More Restricted & Council to Sign Off on Emergency Operation Plan

Part 1/5 - 2013 April 15 - Public Safety Committee - Presentation from R.O.O.T.S - Richmond, Virginia from Silver .

Part 2/5 - 2013 April 15 - Discussion: Street Numbers on Buildings - Public Safety Committee - Richmond, Virginia from Silver .

Part 3/5 - 2013 April 15 - Papers for Review - Attaching Bikes & Motorcycles to City Property - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Part 4/5 - 2013 April 15 - Papers for Review - Emergency Operations Plan - Richmond, Virginia from Silver .

Part 5/5 - 2013 April 15 - Papers for Review/Board Vacancies - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger on Vimeo.

Organization Development Convenes to Quickly Consider Appointments to Boards

2013 April 1 - Organizational Development - Board Vacancies - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

A short 15 minute Organization Development Committee meeting that came at the end of a long day of Budget Review running from 12:15 PM until 5:50 PM and a contentious Special Meeting related to a lease for Theater Row for Departments formerly located at 3600 Building.

This meeting was concerned exclusively with reviewing candidates for appointment to various Boards and Commissions.

Who Needs City Council? Administration Does What It Wants

2013 April 1 - Special Meeting of Richmond City Council - Ord. 2013-77 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Meeting started at 5:54 PM. All Council Members were present except Reva Trammell [8th District].

Council spent the entire special meeting discussing Ord. 2013-77-45. City Council approval is required for all leases. As it turns out, the administration vacated a couple of city departments from the 3600 Center on W. Broad Street over the weekend and moved them into the Theater Row Building at 8th & Broad which is owned and managed by the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority [RRHA] without a lease or even consulting City Council.

Fragment of Budget Review Meeting

2013 April 1 - Budget Review Work Session - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

I arrived shortly before 5 PM, to attend the Special Meeting that had been called in order for Council to consider the lease agreement for Theater Row [Ord. 2013-77]. However, Council was still in the midst of presentations from various departments related to budget requests and needs of departments. This series of presentations had been going on since 12:15 PM, I believe, and this is only the last 50 minutes.

In this segment, we heard from Clay Dishon, Community Services Manager, and Cheryl Clarke, Operations Manager, from Richmond Public Libraries [1:04], Dr. Donald Stern, Director of Public Health, from the Health Department [18:57], and Rufus Fleming, Deputy Director II, and Rhonda Gilmer, Deputy Director I, from Department of Justice Services [23:15].

Locking Bicycles to Trees & Parallel Parking Law at Public Safety

Part 1/3 - 2013 March 18 - Public Safety Committee - Public Comment/Approval of Minutes - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Meeting Agenda available here.

Meeting time: 5:11 PM - 6:36 PM

Members present: Reva Trammell, Chair [8th District], Committee member Cynthia Newbille [7th District], Councilman Parker Agelasto [5th District], and Committee member Chris Hilbert [3rd District] arrived at 5:15 PM.

No public comment. One individual got up to speak but she spoke to an item on the Agenda and was asked to save her comments until the paper came before the committee.

The minutes were approved unanimously.

Part 2/3 2013 March 18 - Public Safety Committee - Papers for Review - Ord. 2012-232 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Council discussion of Ord. 2012-232 to remove bicycles, scooters, and mopeds from city owned trees, poles, and signs after 72 hours. The paper was withdrawn and will be reintroduced at another time with revisions.

Part 3/3 2013 March 18 - Public Safety Committee - Ord. 2013-12 Parking 12" from Curb - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Council discussion of Ord. 2013-12 which would add a section to the City Code stating that individuals parking more than 12 inches from the curb could be fined $20. Councilman Hilbert was very resistant to the idea. He said he was willing to make it 24 inches. Later at the suggestion of Councilwoman Newbille, the ordinance was recommended to be amended to make it 18 inches. All cities in Virginia have the 12 inch requirement, the only exception is Chesterfield Council that has the 18 inch rule.