Friday, June 13, 2014

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.

Monday, February 24, 2014

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)

Sunday, January 12, 2014

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.