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Councilor Andreas Addison

Andreas.addison@rva.gov

Whitney Brown, Council Liaison

804-646-5935

whitney.brown@rva.gov

May 10, 2024 Newsletter 

Happy Friday First District neighbors!

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In this newsletter, we provide updates on the following: 

• First District Community Meeting -- May 23th, 2024 (NOTE THE DATE CHANGE)
• Pop up Park on West Broad
• Council Updates
• City Agency Updates
• Civic Association Updates
• Community links, events, and more

Despite our efforts to plan ahead, the First District Office's advanced planning, the Department of Public Works announced the annual Speed Symposium on the same day as our district meeting. As a result, we have made the effort to reschedule our meeting to allow the public to attend both events. We apologize for the change and the short notice and hope you can still join us at our next District Meeting on May 23, 2024, from 6-7:30 PM at the West End Branch Library (please note, we will NOT be meeting at Mary Munford Elementary School per usual).

Here is a list of speakers and agenda items:

Elisabeth Linka, Commonwealth's Attorney's Office

• Update on USPS mailing issues

Joseph Lowery (Civilian Review Board Manager)

• Introduction and update on the Civilian Review Board

Keith Bamer, Office of Elections

• Update on redistricting, poll worker recruitment, and upcoming elections

Matthew Slaats, Civic Innovation Manager

• Discussing Participatory Budgeting Outreach

Councilor Andreas Addison

• Update on Legislation, Diamond District, Budget, and more!

Join the Greater Scott’s Addition Association, the City of Richmond, and the Richmond ToolBank in a celebration of expanded public space at the West Broad Street Green (3001 W Broad St) from May 8 to May 22 with support from the Richmond Connects

“faster, quicker, cheaper” program!

We will have a public celebration event on Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 12-5 PM with food, drinks, and other vendors!

Check out the full calendar at www.scottsaddition.com! 

Council Review-- 04/29 to Present

The following meetings were held:

Council Budget Meetings

• Council's final budget work session was held on April 29, 2024. You can view the full agenda, action summary, and meeting information here. Council discussed proposed budget amendments to the Mayor's budget.
• Council held a special meeting on May 6, 2024. You can view the full agenda, action summary, and meeting information here.

The 2025 Richmond Government Budget Establishment process encourages public transparency, engagement, and involvement. Richmond City Council’s budget meeting schedule can be found here: Richmond Budget | Richmond (rva.gov)

You can watch meetings via live stream or join in person.

Formal Council Meetings

• There were no formal meetings held between 4/29 and now.

Council Committee Meetings

• The Organizational Development Committee Meeting met on May 6, 2024. You can view the agenda, action summary, and meeting recording here.
• The Education and Human Services Committee met on May 9, 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 May 13, 2024. The agenda included the amended budget to be approved. 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.

Mayo Bridge Survey

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.

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

DPW Speed Symposium

The Department of Public Works (DPW) will hold a third speed management symposium on Tuesday, May 14 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. at Main Street Station. The symposium will educate the community and provide information, strategies, and resources on new and future projects addressing safety and speed management. It is meant to bring the community, city officials, and partner groups together for direct

dialogue. The city prioritizes safety for all people regardless of the mode of transportation - walk, ride, roll, bike, ride transit or drive. It’s imperative that everyone work together to create safer streets for all. Participants will hear presentations on:

• Speed Management and the Vision Zero Program

• Richmond Connects and Safety

• Roadway Safety Projects and the Budget Process

• Lighter, Quicker and Cheaper Initiatives

Additionally, information tables/stations will be set-up with representatives from divisions within DPW, the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility, Richmond Police, VCU Police, VCU Enforcement and Education, Fall Line Trail, Richmond Fire Department, VDOT, Plan RVA and Bike Walk RVA | Sports Backers.

The event will end with a question-and-answer session.

Please note, heavy refreshments will be served. Registration is highly recommended and needed to get an accurate food count. Please use this link to RSVP https://www.rva.gov/public-works/symposium

Vision Zero Survey Projects

DPW put together a survey featuring five Vision Zero projects around the City and they want your feedback!

The survey is on the City’s website and is open through Friday, May 17th. A direct link to the survey can be found gere: https://arcg.is/01GC1n.

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.

Department of Finance

Personal Property Tax

Keep an eye on your mailbox! Personal property tax bills are on their way. Although they aren't due until June 5th, you'll start receiving them soon. This is in accordance with new legislation, carried by Councilor Lynch and supported by other members of Council (including myself), which mandates that bills be mailed at least 45 days before their due date.

You can also find your bill posted online today via "RVA Pay" the Finance Department's new and improved tax payment platform. RVA Pay allows you to look up your bill information and pay your bill online. You can create an account here. 

Finance also released its first info video about personal property tax delinquent letters that some of our residents/taxpayers may receive about unpaid 2023 personal property tax bills. We do not want anyone to be surprised if they receive this letter from finance. Therefore, the video explains what they are receiving, why, and options to help mitigate the possible problem. The video may be viewed on YouTube – click here or on Facebook and Instagram (@rvagov).

In addition to this info video, later this week, Finance will release the first video in our "Did You Know" series to ramp up engagement around the RVAPay portal. 

You can learn more about personal property taxes via the Finance website. Please feel free to reach out to our office if you have any additional questions. 

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 Police Department

More updates to come in a future newsletter!

Richmond Public Libraries

As we gear up for May we’d like to share What’s Happening around our library system this month:

Main

• At 2pm on May 11, join The Gellman Room Concerts: Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia, which continues CMSCVA’s two-concert cycle combining poems and readings about the seasons with music from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s romantic suite of short pieces named “The Seasons.” Experience the passing of time from July to December in words and the intimate, tuneful music of one of history’s most emotional musicians.
• Is your little one heading off to kindergarten? Join us on Saturday, May 18 at 10am for a fun-filled Kindergarten "Boot Camp". Kids will enjoy a mock classroom while parents enjoy a quick workshop on how to help your child get ready for Kindergarten. Then everyone comes together for some fun "Explore Learning Through Play" activities. Take home cool goodies to help you with your adventure! Snacks provided! If you miss “Boot Camp” at Main, this event will also take place at Broad Rock Library on Saturday, June 15th and at North Avenue Library on Saturday, July 20th.
• Grades 6-12 painting program is May 18 from 11 am-12:30 pm, dress for mess!

Belmont Branch Library

• Get ready to celebrate Star Wars Day - stop by the Children's Department April 29th and May 4th to pick up a Star Wars-themed paper lantern kit (while supplies last)
• Join us Saturday, May 25 for Family Storytime (ages birth-6 with their adult)
• Every fourth Thursday (May 23) from 4-5pm is Elementary STEAM Team. This month, get dirty with Soil Science (come dressed for mess)

West End Branch Library

• Kick off your weekend on May 10^th from 4:30-5:30 pm with an hour of gaming (teens and tweens only). Snacks and Switch provided.
• Come out Monday, May 20 from 6-7:30 pm as the Richmond Public Law Library will host an informational workshop on all the free and low-cost legal services in and around the Richmond region. Learn what each of the three local Legal Aid services provide. Find out more about state-wide civil rights organizations and how to reach out to them. Get connected to pro bono legal services and more. Also, learn how to research and use the library's legal databases and online services. Find out what free resources the Law Library has to offer! Registration link here.
• Join us for Toddler Time Tuesdays from 10:30-11:15 am, please remember to register here

Subscribe to the RPL Newsletter

Museum District Association

Mother's Day House & Garden Tour

Back for its 28th year, the tour attracts thousands of attendees and helps to raise funds supporting the beautification and preservation of our neighborhood. This year’s tour features 8 homes, each offering their own unique character and design.

Buy your tickets today for the Mother's Day House & Garden Tour on Sunday, May 12th from 1 to 6 pm.

With hundreds of attendees projected and hundreds of volunteers, the Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour offers numerous ways to spotlight your business or service - email the MDA to learn more about becoming a sponsor.

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.

Look forward to more updates in a future newsletter!

Upcoming Events



• Richmond E-Cycle Day - Saturday, May 11th, 10a-2p - 1710 Robin Hood Road. Help us to reduce waste and swing by this E-Cycle event coordinated by the Clean City Commission and Richmond Public Works. The event will offer paper shredding, electronics recycling, and household hazardous waste items.

• Help celebrate the expanded public space at West Broad Street Green (3001 W Broad St) from May 8 to May 22 with support from the Richmond Connects. We will have a public celebration event on Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 12-5 PM with food, drinks, and other vendors!

• DPW Speed Management Symposium - Tuesday, May 14th - 5:30-8pm @ Main Street Station

This symposium is meant to educate the community and provide information and resources on new and future projects addressing safety and speed management. Additionally, complete DPW's survey on 5 Vision Zero projects around the City by Friday, May 17th.

• Join the  Sustainability & Resilience Commission on May 20th, 2024 from 4-5:30 pm at Richmond Public Library (101 E Franklin St.) in the Annex Room located in the basement. RSVP with this link to attend in-person or virtually and visit the new SRC page on the RVAgreen 2050 website to learn more. Future SRC Meeting Dates are as follows:
• May 20th, 2024 - Register
• July 15th, 2024 - Register
• September 16th, 2024 - Register
• November 18th, 2024 - Register

Want to Join the SRC? Apply to the SRC by completing this application. Questions? Email Pamela Nichols in the City Clerk's office at pamela.nichols@rva.gov.

• The First District Meeting is May 23rd from 6-7:30 pm at the West End Branch Library!

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