Two More Department Directors Named Today - Procurement & IT

Press Release from Mayor Dwight Jones' office:

Monday, December 21, 2009

New Procurement Director Named

RICHMOND, VA - Cheryl Wright has been named Director of the city’s Department of Procurement Service. Wright possesses more than 18 years experience in leading procurement and diversity programs with numerous governmental entities throughout Chicago, Illinois. Most recently, she worked as a Business Development Procurement Consultant for the U.S. Department of Commerce in Charlotte, NC, providing business development for the Minority Business Development Agency. Wright had previously served as Chief Procurement Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago, IL; Director of Purchasing for the Chicago Park District, Chicago, IL; Manager of Contract Administration for Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL; and Senior Contract Compliance Officer for the city of Chicago, IL. She obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from Purdue University’s School of Technology and a Masters in Project Management from Keller Graduate School in Chicago, Illinois.

Information Technology Acting Director Made Permanent

Annette Flowers has been named Director of the city’s Department of Information Technology (DIT). She previously served as DIT Manager for the Applications Solutions Division for the city of Richmond and other various technology roles over the past 27 years. As director, she will oversee all technology resources and agency employees. Her responsibilities include technology planning, maintaining business operations, and managing technology services for all city agencies. Flowers obtained an Information Technology Networking degree from the University of Phoenix. Her professional memberships include: Project Management Institute (PMI) and Virginia Association of Local Government IT Executives (VALGITE). Flowers had been serving as the city’s Acting Director of Information Technology since October of 2008.

"We welcome these two additions to the leadership team of the city of Richmond. Both individuals bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that will benefit the city and enhance our management efforts," said Chief Administrative Officer Byron C. Marshall.


Tammy D. Hawley
Press Secretary to the Mayor
Office: 804-646-3110
tammy.hawley@richmondgov.com

Trash Collection Canceled for Tuesday; Other Days Delayed 1 day

Department of Public Works
Richmond, Virginia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Solid Waste Collection Canceled for Tuesday

Solid waste collection is being delayed by one day due to inclement weather. There will be no trash pick-up for city residents on Tuesday, December 22. The schedule for the remainder of the week is as follows:

* Tuesday collections will take place on Wednesday
* Wednesday collections will take place on Thursday
* There is no collection on Friday due to the Christmas holiday
* Thursday and Friday collections will take place on Saturday and Sunday

Residents who normally receive trash collection on Monday will receive service on Tuesday, December 22 if their trash was not picked up today.

For more information on city services and schedules, please visit us on line at www.RichmondGov.com or call the Customer Care Center at 3-1-1.

Contact: Sharon North
Phone: (804) 646-5607

Cannon Creek Greenway gets Greenlight / Carillon Advisory Committee Wants to Drop Deadbeat Members

Dec. 16, 2009 - Health, Human Services, & Education Committee from Silver Persinger.

Only one paper on the agenda for this meeting, Resolution 2009-R190 (Patrons: President Graziano, Vice-President Robertson, Mr. Hilbert, Mr. Jewell - added) -To support the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ grant application to the Virginia Department of Transportation for Transportation Enhancement grant funds for the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian commuter trail, family recreation and environmental education features, landscaping, and scenic beautification of the Cannon Creek Greenway; and to express the Council’s commitment to work cooperatively with the City Administration to either identify appropriate matching funds in the current Capital Improvement Plan or to include such matching funds in the 2011-2015 Capital Improvement Plan.

There was a presentation on the Carillon Advisory Committee by Barbara Brock and veteran member Ryland Yancey Bailey. Ms. Brock explained to the committee that several members do not attend the meetings regularly and the Advisory Committee is unable to achieve a quorum to conduct business. They desire new members to be appointed. The committee is made up of 8 members. One position is vacant. Only 3 members attend meetings regularly. By deduction, the non-participating members are Richard G. Steele [appointed Feb. 26, 2007], Thomas Wagstaff [appointed Oct. 25, 2004], Shawn Freude [appointed Oct. 25, 2004], Ezra Hitzeman [appointed Nov. 8, 2004].

Ms. Brock recommended the Council recognize Larry Robinson who has played the Carillon bells for the last 50 years as of 2010.

Joyce Davis, City Council Policy Adviser, gave the standing committee staff report.

Robin Robinson, formerly a candidate in the Nov. 2009 election for the 7th District City Council seat, spoke to the committee.

Council Hikes Towing Fees, City Jail Accredited, Richmond Now Economic Recovery Zone

Dept. of Public Works to Hold Info Session on Forest Hill Ave. Road Widening

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2009

Public Meeting Scheduled to Discuss Improvements to Forest Hill Avenue
Citizen Information Meeting for Forest Hill Avenue Improvement Project

Thursday, December 17, 2009, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Presentation at 6 p.m.

St. Luke Lutheran Church - 7757 Chippenham Parkway

BACKGROUND: This project is being conducted by the City of Richmond to consider improvements along a one-mile section of Forest Hill Avenue from west of Powhite Parkway to east of Hathaway Road. The city is examining ways to improve neighborhood access, add landscaping, lighting and pedestrian facilities, drainage improvements and promote pedestrian and bike use. The project is currently in the preliminary design and study phase. The project is expected to take approximately one year to complete.

For more information on the project, visit the project website: www.ForestHillProject.com

Contact: Sharon North
Phone: (804) 646-5607
sharon.north@richmondgov.com

Councilwoman Newbille Holds Her First 7th District Meeting

Ms. Cynthia Newbille was elected to Richmond City Council on November 3, 2009. She replaced Betty Squire who served as a Council appointed interim after long-time Councilwoman Delores McQuinn stepped down to seek Dwight Jones' former House of Delegates seat [70th District].

Ms. Newbille held her first 7th District Meeting on Saturday from 10:30 - 12:30 PM at the East District Initiative Center on 25th Street in Church Hill. It was well attended by neighbors of the district.

Until I write my own report of this meeting, John Murden's from Church Hill People's News will suffice.

7th District Meeting - Dec. 12, 2009 - Part 1 from Silver Persinger.

7th District Meeting - Dec. 12, 2009 - Part 2 from Silver Persinger.

Organizational Development - December 7, 2009

City Redistricting Discussed @ Organizational Development - Dec. 7, 2009 from Silver Persinger.

Phase 2 for the Charter Commission Discussed @ Organizational Development - Dec. 7, 2009 from Silver Persinger.

The Rest of the Meeting - Organizational Development - Dec. 7, 2009 from Silver Persinger on Vimeo.

Finance Committee Annual Retreat Discusses Economic Development

Part 1 - Finance Committee Retreat - Dec. 3, 2009 from Silver Persinger.

Above

Part 2 - Finance Committee Retreat - Dec. 3, 2009 from Silver Persinger.

Part 3 - Finance Committee Retreat - Dec. 3, 2009 from Silver Persinger.

Richmond Public Schools to Hold Public Hearing on Facilities

Tonight marks the first of four opportunities for public hearings the Richmond School Board will hold in an effort to hear from the community what they want to see built into proposed Phase 1 Schools/Community Facilities.

The School Board recently announced their approved construction plan which the City Council signed off on at their last meeting, November 23. The School Board's "top tier priorities" are Huguenot High School and Broad Rock Elementary School; Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Oak Grove Elementary School are "second-tier priorities." Elkhardt Middle School and E.H.S. Greene Elementary School are considered "third-tier priorities." Amelia Street and Capital City Program still remain on the list. However, CCP is proposing a PPEA ["Public Private" agreement?] for joint funding.

Meetings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. as follows:

Dec. 2: Richmond Technical Center – 2020 Westwood Avenue
Dec. 3: Franklin Military High School – 701 North 37th Street
Dec. 9: Thomas Jefferson High School – 4100 West Grace Street
Dec. 15: Lucille Brown Middle School – 6300 Jahnke Road

For more details, contact Angela Lewis at 780-7716.

Chapman on Economic Development & Community Development Department Reorganization

Opening of Governmental Operations - Nov. 30, 2009 - Citizen Comment & Supporting Vo-Tech from Silver Persinger.

Chapman Speaks Language of Efficient Bureaucrat - Nov. 3, 2009 from Silver Persinger.

On Monday, November 30, Peter Chapman, Deputy CAO for Economic and Community Development spoke to the Governmental Operations Committee about four ordinances related to the restructuring/combination of the Department of Community Development with the Department of Economic Development.

Jim Duval, City Debt Manager on Recovery Zone Bonds & the Rest of the Meeting - Nov. 30, 2009 from Silver Persinger.

Union Hill Historic District Approved / $600,000 for Stallings' Hippodrome delayed / Towing Fees paper continued

The meeting began at 6:13 PM. The meeting opened with a prayer by Pastor Dr. Randy Clipp of Monument Heights Baptist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, Fire Evacuation Instructions, Acknowledging Visiting Students from St. Paul's College and their professor/Brunswick County Board of Supervisor, Marc Finney, "O' Virginia" sung by students of George Mason Elementary School [written by Pauron and Pauline Wheeler, also present], Awards and Presentations Period, Appointments and re-appointments to Boards and Commissions, Amendments to the Agenda.

Beginning of Nov. 23, 2009 Richmond, Virginia City Council Meeting from Silver Persinger.

The Awards Period recipients for Nov. 23, 2009 included:

Richard Minter, for his dedication to beautifying the Ginter Park Neighborhood. Presented by Councilman Chris Hilbert [3rd District].

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Lorae Ponder, Vice President, Programs and Operations, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia;

Paula Sherman, Coordinator, Lending Protection, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia;

Keith Combs, Area Director, ClearPoint;

Michele Watson, Director of Home Ownership Programs, Virginia Housing Development Authority;

Kelly Gill-Gordon, Manager, Home ownership Virginia Housing Development Authority;

Dianna Herdon, Executive Director, Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation;

Tanya Davis, Housing Counselor, Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation.

These individuals were "officially recognized" for their assistance with the 2009 Richmond Homeowner Foreclosure Prevention Program held Saturday in October.

Union Hill Discussed and Approved by Richmond City Council - Nov. 23, 2009 from Silver Persinger.

Bonus Footage



Students from George Mason Elementary School sang "O' Virginia" just prior to the Council meeting starting at 6:13 PM. I think this was a better performance than the one that occurred during the meeting. It's also nice because the lights are on.

$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?