Having trouble viewing this email? Click here to view in a browser

Councilor Andreas Addison

Andreas.addison@rva.gov

Whitney Brown, Council Liaison

804-646-5935

whitney.brown@rva.gov

June 10, 2024 Newsletter 

Hello First District neighbors!

Happy Pride! Summer is here. School is out. The weather is delightfully warmer and the days are getting longer. During the summer months, we get outdoors and go on trips. We must help take care of our neighborhoods and our neighbors. If you leave for a long weekend, please lock your doors, garages, windows, and cars. Opportunity crimes during the summer are a concern across the city and neighborhood. If possible, have friends or neighbors know when you are gone to help take care of mail and any deliveries to ensure your house does not appear empty or show you are not home. Safety starts with us; taking care of our homes and property is the first step. So before you leave on that trip, ensure your home is secure and you have someone to check on your mail and any packages to prevent thief.

As we get outside and around our neighborhoods this summer, please make sure to share any broken sidewalks, dead trees, or dying tree limbs on RVA311. Summer is the best time to help the City list its needed investment in this vital infrastructure for our neighborhoods. Let us know if there are any issues or if you have any questions as Whitney and I are always eager and ready to help. 

--

In this newsletter, we provide updates on the following:

• Council Updates
• City Agency Updates
• Civic Association Updates
• Community links, events, and more

Council Review-- 05/10 to Present

The following meetings were held:

Formal Council Meetings

• On Monday, May 13, 2024, we adopted a balanced, fully funded budget. You can view the agenda, action summary, and meeting recording here. Some highlights from the budget include:
• On Monday, May 28, 2024, Council held its formal meeting. You can view the agenda, action summary, and meeting recording here. 
• On Thursday, May 6, 2024, Council and the Richmond Delegation of the VA General Assembly held a meeting to discuss the 2024 Legislative agenda. You can view the meeting here.

Council Committee Meetings

• The Finance and Economic Development Committee met on May 16, 2024. You can view the agenda, action summary, and meeting recording here.
• can view the agenda, action summary, and meeting recording here.
• The Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Committee met on May 21, 2024. You can view the agenda, action summary, and meeting recording here. 
• The Governmental Operations Committee met on May 22, 2024. You can view the agenda, action summary, and meeting recording here. 

Upcoming Council and Council Committee Meetings

• Council will hold a formal and informal meeting on June 10, 2024. You can view the full agenda here.
• Council will hold a special meeting on May 14, 2024 for a public discussion between City Council, City Administration, and RRHA Board of Commissions and staff – to have a discussion on a collaborative path forward as it relates to our shared work on behalf of our residents in RRHA communities. You can view the full agenda here.
• The Finance and Economic Development Committee will meet on May 16, 2024. You can view the agenda here.
• The Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Committee will meet on May 21, 2024. You can view the agenda here.
• The Governmental Operations Committee will meet on May 22, 2024. You can view the agenda here.
• Council will hold a formal and informal meeting on May 28, 2024. The agenda included the amended budget to be approved. You can view the full agenda here.

HOW TO ATTEND A COUNCIL MEETING

You can access all Council meetings and agendas by visiting this website.



Remember, you can always attend council meetings in person or virtually. One of the best ways to stay informed and engaged is by attending Council meetings. I strongly encourage you to express your requests/concerns to all of Council and Administration, and you may do so in any of the following ways: 

• Speaking in-person: To speak in person at the meeting, you simply need to attend the meeting and line up at the lectern when the public comment section begins. Please keep in mind that not all meetings have public comment sections (like work sessions, for example). Additionally, to discuss issues not on the agenda for the business meeting, you must schedule your appearance with the Office of the City Clerk no later than 10 AM on the date of the meeting. Each speaker is generally allotted three minutes to make their comments. For more details regarding in-person public comment, please visit Richmond City Council Meeting Guide | Richmond (rva.gov).

• Speaking virtually at either meeting: To speak virtually at the meeting, you need to sign up by contacting the City Clerk's Office at (804) 646-7955 and selecting Option 3. Sign-ups must be received by 10 a.m. on the day of the meeting.

• Providing written comments: Written comments may be provided via email to CityClerksOffice@rva.gov and must be received by 10 a.m. on the day of the meeting. Just so you know – written comments received by the deadline will be provided to Council members prior to the meeting and will be included in the record of the meeting.

Personal Property & Real Estate Taxes

Many of you have complained about not receiving your car and real estate tax bills that are due this month. We are still dealing with delayed USPS mail delivery across the Richmond region and this has impacted the delivery of bills as well as the receipt of mailed bills. We are aware of this issue and I will continue to work with the Administration to make sure residents are not penalized if their payments are lost or delayed in the mail. Please use RVAPay at RVA.gov website to look up your payment and to check on its status and your payment. We need to transform our basic and foundational services to better meet your needs and expectations. You do not deserve to feel stress or frustration in making these payments and I will continue to push for investment and improvements in these core services of the City. 

New Traffic Calming Projects

We have several areas having long-awaited speed tables being installed to calm through traffic on residential streets. We have heard your concerns and have been working with DPW on solutions to this safety concern. Some of you may notice them being on streets that you did not request, this is done strategically as once a speed table is installed on one street, traffic naturally looks for the next easier street to drive down. DPW will be installing speed tables to make sure we do not simply push traffic to the next neighborhood street. 

There are two new traffic lights being installed to help manage the flow of traffic as well as provide safer pedestrian crossing. Libbie and Cary St Rd is going to help with managing the safe flow of vehicles turning left onto Libbie from Cary St Rd as well as those turning left from Libbie Ave to Cary St Rd. During the emergency repairs on Libbie and Cary St Rd last summer, many commented on the enjoyment of walking across and along the street for the first time. Hopefully, this will calm traffic to allow for more improved traffic flow and walkability. As for the new light at Granite and Grove, this should slow down and help to manage the flow of traffic as well as provide needed pedestrian crosswalk access. 



Commission and Board Vacancies

Richmond City Council appoints members to 50+ boards and commissions, which are made up of local and regional government/non-government boards, commissions, committees, and task forces. Each focuses on different topics and responsibilities such as advising Council, creating policy, or governing.

Would you like to actively take part in creating a vibrant community that is a great place to live, work, and play?

Review the list of First District vacancies (and citywide vacancies) for opportunities to serve your community as a member of a board or commission here.

Department of Public Works

Look forward to more updates in a future newsletter!

Department of Public Utilities

Having Poor Drainage Issues?

The First District Office tends to receive concerns about residents with poor drainage on their personal property. Unfortunately, if it is on the personal side of the property, there is little we can do to assist but I am happy to share a resource we learned about recently! The Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) is an urban cost-share program that provides financial incentives and technical and educational assistance to property owners installing eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Virginia’s participating Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). These practices can be installed in areas of your yard where problems like erosion, poor drainage, or poor vegetation occur. Qualified sites shall be used for residential, commercial, or recreational purposes with a proposed practice that addresses a need.

Windsor Farms Repaving

Windsor Farms is still due for repaving, however, there is currently a gas line renewal project still being completed. The anticipated date for completion is July 2024. We know this has been a long wait and we share your frustration. We look forward to receiving more updates as the project nears completion and getting Windsor Farms paved! For more info on the project, please visit this link.

Department of Finance

Personal Property Tax

Personal Property Taxes were due on June 5, 2024. If you have not received your bill or you mailed your payment and still do not see that the funds have cleared, please put in an RVA311 or submit a ticket using your RVAPay portal account.

Tax Relief Program

Our tax relief program grants real estate tax relief to the city’s most vulnerable residents, our older adults (age 65+), and those with permanent disabilities who meet the program qualifications. For more information, please view this document.

Richmond Department of Elections

This is an announcement on behalf of the General Registrar Keith Balmer, regarding Polling Place changes for the June 18, Republican Primary in District 1:

Precinct 105: Mary Munford Elementary School @ 211 Westmoreland Street– Unavailable due to summer school will relocate to Precinct 104:  First Presbyterian Church @ 4602 Cary Street Road.

Please contact the Office of Elections for more information.

Planning & Development Review

The first draft of the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan is available for comments! 

You can join staff for a virtual meeting on June 11th from 5:30-7pm to learn about the draft and updates to the Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan. For more information about the plan and how to access the virtual meeting, visit the project webpage.

Richmond Public Libraries

Summer is here, and Richmond Public Library is ready! Summer Reading begins June 1, find a kickoff event at your favorite library, if you want even more options, check out What’s Happening around the library system:

Main

1. On Tuesday June, 4, join us for How we do it: Learn about accessible reading resources for the blind and low-vision to hear speakers from ACBVA, the Richmond Public Library, Virginia Voice, and the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) Library and Resource Center will share information about helpful reading tools available to assist you in meeting your life goals for independence, personal growth, and development
2. First Friday this month is June 7 from 6:30-8:30pm
3. On Saturday, June 8, come out to visit Teeny Tiny Farm from 11am-12pm. Check out a mini cow, mini horse, mini goats, mini pigs and even a mini alpaca!
4. The Keys to Homeownership -Affordable Housing Workshop will be June 15 from 9:30am-5pm. Two homebuyer information class sessions in one day will cover down payment assistance/affordable housing programs and the homebuying process. This event is sponsored through Virginia Housing, please register for Session 2 (10:30am-5pm)
5. RIPPLECON is BACK! Visit the Main Library June 22 between 10am-4pm to enjoy gaming, crafts, photo ops, cosplay contests (with prizes!) and more!

Belmont Branch Library

Come out June 15 at 11am for our Author Talk and Q&A with Richmond’s Audrey Burges, author of The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone

Teen Art - Calling all tweens and teens who LOVE art! Join us each Tuesday from 2-4pm all summer. Learn about different mediums and create weekly projects. Learn about watercolor painting, yarn art, construction, clay and more! Come to one or come to all BUT registration is required.

Belmont Crafters will make summer wreaths on June 12, 4-5:30pm. Please register here.

West End Branch Library

1. Get out of the heat with Movie Matinees @ West End Branch Library: The Little Mermaid (2023-rated PG) June 5 from 2-5pm. Snacks provided (you may bring a beverage).
2. June 29 from 2-3:30pm, RPL’s Law Library and local legal aid attorneys present Tenant/Landlord Law in Virginia: What are your rights as a renter in Virginia? What legal resources are available to renter and landlords when disputes arise? What can you expect if you are going to court for an eviction? Refreshments provided, register here.
3. Visit us for STEAM Team: Constellation Jars on June 25 from 4-5pm (elementary-aged children). This month we adventure into astronomy, as we learn about the constellations and make glowing constellation jars to take home.

and as a reminder…

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 – All libraries will be closed for Juneteenth.

• If it’s been a while since you’ve been to the library, come see us and get your free library card. After all, Adventure Begins at Your Library!

Subscribe to the RPL Newsletter

Museum District Association

Microgrants

The MDA is excited to fund microgrants to foster community building. So many of us go months or even years without knowing our immediate neighbors on the block. The goal of our microgrant program is to bring folks together, providing an opportunity for neighbors to make meaningful connections and foster a sense of community, block by block.

In our second grant round, we are able to fund ten grants of up to $200 each. All current MDA members are eligible to apply (click here to join or check your current membership status). Applications for this round of funding will close on July 15th, awardees will be notified via email by July 31st.

MDA Board Vacancies

The MDA currently has two positions available on the MDA board: Technology and Communications chairs. Technology maintains the Google Workspace (no experience required!), and Communications runs the social media accounts (it's fun!) and puts together this newsletter and other emails. Interested? Email us: inquiries@museumdistrict.org.

MDA/FDA Baseball Night

We are excited to be partnering with the Fan District Association for a joint baseball night at the Diamond on June 25th! 

MDA members are invited to purchase discounted tickets that provide access to the Bistro for you to enjoy the game. The price includes an all-you-can-eat buffet, a private bartender (cash bar), and a field level ticket—a $38 value for just $19!

Each ticket automatically enrolls you in a raffle, and one lucky winner from each neighborhood will throw out a first pitch!

The Bistro opens at 5:30PM and the game begins at 6:30PM. Only 75 tickets are available for each neighborhood, so be sure to buy yours today! This is an exclusive opportunity for MDA members, so join or renew now to get ticket access! All members should have already received an email with the ticket link, but feel free to contact us if you are a member and have questions/need the ticket link resent. 

Look forward to more updates in a future newsletter!

Upcoming Events



• Senior Day in the Park (Summer Edition) - This fun annual event will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2023, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Byrd Park Round House. There will be food, music, dancing, games, arts, and crafts for our older adults. This event is sponsored by the City of Richmond Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities.

• The Museum District Association and Fan District Association will host its Baseball Night Event on June 25th, 2024. For more information, please visit, the MDA website.

• The Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities will host the 3rd Annual Jubilation in June Weekend, a series of free public events featuring live music performances and community resources. The festivities kick off at 8 p.m. Friday, June 14, with a concert by Legacy Band at Dogwood Dell. On Saturday, June 15, the celebration moves to the Intermediate Terminal at 3:30 p.m. for the Jubilation in June Festival. A fireworks show will cap off the festival around 9:15 p.m. To close the weekend celebration, Grammy-nominated rapper Mad Skillz will host a concert with guest artists at Dogwood Dell at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 16, in what is being billed as his final performance.

Additional City & District Updates

• Dominion Energy is offering no-cost energy assessments. A participating contractor will evaluate your home, identify energy-saving opportunities, and upgrade lighting free of charge. For more information, visit this link

• The Mayo Bridge replacement is a regional priority project that has been awarded funding through both the RRTPO and CVTA. The project scope originally included replacing the superstructure and keeping the existing substructure (piers). However, based on a structural and geotechnical analysis of the existing piers, the cost to reuse the existing piers has increased. 

VDOT has concluded that fully replacing the bridge would be in the public's best interest. Replacing the entire bridge provides the opportunity to review and potentially redefine the role of the bridge in our transportation system. 

VDOT has an open survey to share your thoughts on various elements of the project. Please review and share with your constituents and communities as appropriate.

• Richmond City Council appoints members to 50+ boards and commissions, which are made up of local and regional government/non-government boards, commissions, committees, and task forces. Each focuses on different topics and responsibilities such as advising Council, creating policy or governing. Would you like to actively take part in creating a vibrant community that is a great place to live, work and play? Review the list of First District vacancies (and citywide vacancies) for opportunities to serve your community as a member of a board or commission here.

Have a service request?

Use RVA 3-1-1.

If you have a non-emergency concern or request, please use RVA311 to report the issue. Issues such as potholes, broken sidewalks, damaged or missing signs, traffic/speed control requests, and fallen or dead tree limbs are some examples of what you are able to report in RVA311. You can use the RVA311 website, the RVA311 mobile app, or reach the RVA311 call center by dialing 3-1-1 or 804-646-7000 to submit a request.

Community Links, Events, and More

Happy to Serve!

Please contact me and Whitney Brown if you need any additional information or have other questions. We are happy to provide any support and assistance as needed. 

Sincerely,

Andreas Addison & Whitney Brown