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. 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.

City Clerk Alvin Anderson Fired by City Council

Part 1/9 - 2013 March 11 - Formal Meeting Opening - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Council President Charles Samuels called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. The meeting opened with the customary prayer spoken by Rev. Donna Tucker, Associate Minister at Tabernacle Baptist Church [0:26], followed by the Pledge of Allegiance [1:36].

This was followed by the Council Chambers evacuation announcement [1:54], and rules for speakers [2:39]. All members of Council were present [3:36].

Part 2/9 - 2013 March 11 - Appointments & Reappointments - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Part 3/9 - 2013 March 11 - Awards Period - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Part 4/9 - 2013 March 11 - Agenda Review & Amendments - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver .

Part 5/9 - 2013 March 11 - Citizen Comment Period - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Part 6/9 - 2013 March 11 - Consent Agenda - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Part 7/9 - 2013 March 11 - Expedited Papers - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Part 8/9 - 2013 March 11 - Minutes Approved/ Council Announcements - Richmond City Council - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Historic Informal Session of Richmond City Council

2013 March 11 - Docket Review - Informal Session City Council - Richmond, VA from Silver

Thankfully, for me the meeting started at 3:10 PM, right after I arrived. I probably missed less than 30 seconds from the beginning of the meeting as I set up my camera. This was a historic meeting for two reasons. It was very short, only about 10 minutes long, none of the items reviewed generated much discussion. Secondly, it was the first time I've seen the President of the Council open the floor for Citizen Comment at the end of the meeting. Later, I wished that I had spoken to thank Council President Samuels for allowing Citizen Comment during the Informal Session and to encourage him to continue the tradition at future meetings when time allowed.

The only item on the agenda was Docket Review, the review of papers to be considered at City Council's Formal Meeting at 6 PM.

General Assembly Update, Multi-Modal Plan, Budget Review Calendar at Organization Development

Part 1/4 - 2013 March 4 - General Assembly Update from Ron Jordan - Organizational Development - Richmond, VA from Silver.

The City's lobbyist Ron Jordan gave an update about actions taken by the General Assembly and issues that will specifically impact the City.

Part 2/4 - 2013 March 4 - Draft Multi-Modal Strategic Plan - Organizational Development - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Part 3/4 - 2013 March 4 - Budget Review Calendar - Organizational Development - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Part 4/4 - 2013 March 4 - Board Vacancies - Organizational Development - Richmond, VA from Silver Persinger on Vimeo.

Special Meeting - Monument Ave. Windows Postponed & Mayor's Budget Date Set

2013 March 4 - Special Meeting of City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver.

Meeting started at 5:06 PM. All Council members were present with the exception of Chris Hilbert [3rd District]

At the Council meeting of February 25, 2013 this Special Meeting was called in order to deal with Resolution 2013-R47 "To reverse the decision of the Commission of Architectural Review which denied a certificate of appropriateness for vinyl replacement windows on a home located at 2916 Monument Avenue." [3:57]

The Commission of Architectural Review and the individual who had replaced his windows, prior to the meeting had agreed to continue discussions for up to 75 days. The resolution was continued to the March 25 Council meeting in order to receive an update by a vote of 7-1, Councilman Parker Agelasto was the only dissenting vote.

The only other item discussed at the meeting was Ordinance 2013-42 "To fix the day on which the Mayor shall submit the budgets to be submitted in 2013 to the City Council pursuant to City Charter § 6.02 on March 12, 2013, at 3:00 PM." Patron Council President Charles Samuels [2nd District]. [2:05] The ordinance passed 8-0

The special meeting ended at 5:12 PM. Then Council members were requested to attend the Organizational Development Committee meeting that was held in the Large Conference Room, across the hall from the Council Chambers.

Capital Region Collaborative & Docket Review at Informal Session

The first Informal Session with a noticeably absent City Clerk Alvin Anderson. The City Clerk's Office staff did a fine job running the meeting.

Part 1/2 - 2013 Feb. 25 - Presentation from Capital Region Collaborative - Informal Session City Council - Richmond, VA from Silver

Presentation on the Capital Region Collaborative, a pro-business group that include 9 localities surrounding Richmond which is "a partnership between the Greater Richmond Chamber [of Commerce] and the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission." The presentation was given to members of City Council by Bob Crum, Executive Director, Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, and Wendy Burtner-Owens, Project Manager for the Capital Regional Collaborative.

Part 2/2 - 2013 Feb. 25 - Docket Review - Informal Session City Council - Richmond, VA from Silver.

Docket Review that included some contentious items.

Items discussed included:

Ord. 2012-4 pertaining to the "1% for the Arts" Program which would limit the amount to no more than $250,000 for each qualifying project. Mr. Hilbert had questions and Mrs. Robertson also had comments. Both Council persons support a monument to Maggie Walker, the famous first African-American woman banker. [7:06]

Res. 2013-R47 "To reverse the decision of the Commission of Architectural Review which denied a certificate of appropriateness for vinyl replacement windows on a home located at 2916 Monument Avenue." [17:34]

Res. 2013-R48 chickens!