Category Archives: government

City Says: Please follow River Regulations

Posted on by
Reply

City press release:

Reminder: Please follow River Regulations

The city of Richmond reminds visitors to the James River Park to obey Richmond’s river regulations.

“The regulations were put in place by the city of Richmond to increase public safety at the river. We want the public to enjoy the park, but we want them to be safe and to obey the regulations. They could save your life,” said J.R. Pope, director of the department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.

The regulations require that anyone in the water must be wearing a life jacket when the water level reaches five feet at Richmond’s Westham Gauge. When the river level reaches nine feet, the river is closed and it is illegal for anyone who does not have a whitewater permit to be in the water.

“Now that the weather is warm, more people are coming out to enjoy the park and the river, and we want the public to know these river regulations,” Pope said. “If you plan on getting in the water – even if it’s just to wade along the shore or to go sit on a rock – it’s important for your own safety that you follow the regulations.”

Park staff posts signs throughout the James River Park, at river access points, when the water level reaches five feet that state you must wear a life jacket, and when it reaches nine feet the signs indicate that only people with a permit are allowed in the water.

Citizens can also check James River water levels before they leave home by calling Richmond’s weather and river level hotline at (804) 646-8228 and then selecting option 4, or by visiting the National Weather Service’s website at http://www.erh.noaa.gov/akq/ and typing “James River Westham” in the search box.

Pope says that many people don’t understand or underestimate the power of the river and that looks can be deceiving. While the water may look calm on the surface, it can be moving with such force below the surface that it makes it impossible to keep your footing even in a few feet of water. Also, conditions can change very quickly.

In addition to obeying the water level regulations, here are some other measures the department recommends people take to be safe at the river:
· If you can’t swim – just don’t go in.
· Never go in the water when you are alone.
· When visiting the river, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
· Pay attention to your surroundings. Water levels and conditions can change VERY quickly.
· Always wear shoes in the river.
· Be aware that the river bottom is uneven and may drop off suddenly and that the rocks can be slippery.
· Always have young children wear life jackets.
· Don’t overestimate your skills. Even the strongest swimmers and most experienced boaters can and have experienced difficulty.

Regulations also forbid bringing glass containers into the park, so remember to use plastic or paper items instead.

Finally, please do not litter. “Litter makes our parks unsightly and unsanitary,” said Pope. “You can help make Richmond a great place to be this summer by helping to keep our parks clean so everyone can enjoy them. We keep plenty of trash cans and recycling boxes around throughout of the park, so please use them.”

###

Red Light Cameras Might Be Coming To Belvidere

Posted on by
1

Hills and Heights blog has a post about the ‘new red light cameras’ that the City of Richmond will be installing at various busy intersections. Although nothing is confirmed, there is some speculation that these will go on some of the most ticketed intersections, including several on Belvidere.

There’s been a lot of debate surrounding these. Civil libertarians worry about ‘Big Brother’, but police say that these will free up their resources and allow them to concentrate on other crime matters.

City News Release: Mayor Jones Launches “Green Richmond Initiative”

Posted on by
1

From the City of Richmond government:

Richmond, VA – As the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day approaches, Mayor Dwight C. Jones brought into focus the city of Richmond’s plans for sustainability during a press conference earlier today. Results of the city’s first greenhouse gas emissions inventory were presented in conjunction with the announcement of the city’s partnership with Earth Aid.

“I want the residents of Richmond to enjoy an improved quality of life, a healthy environment and enhanced economic development and job creation opportunities,” said Mayor Jones. “Now that we have the results of our first greenhouse gas emissions inventory, we can move forward with establishing a Sustainability Plan for the city of Richmond.”

The greenhouse gas emissions inventory is an assessment of energy use from various sources, like electricity in homes or fuel in cars, and their associated greenhouse gas emissions. The city conducted both a community-wide inventory and a government operations inventory for the city of Richmond. The full report can be found at www.richmondgov.com/sustainability.

Findings show that the largest source of community emissions comes from energy consumption in the commercial and industrial sectors. Emissions from fuel combustion in vehicles traveling on local roads and state highways were the second largest source of emissions, and energy consumption in the residential sector, the third largest. In the city government operations inventory, emissions from city buildings and facilities were the largest source of government emissions, with emissions from city employees commuting to work being the second largest source of emissions.

“Now that we have a baseline of our emissions, the next step is to develop strategies to reduce those emissions,” said Mayor Jones. “We will mobilize and engage the community to help us develop a comprehensive Sustainability Plan in 2011, and I am calling our overall effort the Green Richmond Initiative.”

The Green Richmond Initiative will involve several components, including:

– Creation of Green Incentive Zones to draw green and clean technology businesses to Richmond
– Gap financing to enable developers to build energy efficient homes and commercial structures
– A community gardens project where vacant and underutilized city parcels can be turned into productive gardens
– Exploring sustainable transportation options and developing a strategic multi-modal transportation plan
– A Rewards program through Earth Aid wherein households can track their actual energy and water usage at home and redeem Rewards points for savings

“We welcome our partnership with Earth Aid; it’s a great example of the kind of innovative solutions we’re bringing to Richmond to support our sustainability efforts,” said Mayor Jones. “We are excited that Richmond is one of the first cities to partner with Earth Aid to engage our citizens and the entire community in this cutting-edge program, and I hope residents will eagerly sign up to participate.”

Earth Aid (www.earthaid.net/Richmond) helps households track their actual energy and water consumption on the internet and learn how to be more energy efficient. Households earn rewards points each month for saving energy and water and then they can redeem these points for discounts and offers at a variety of local Richmond businesses—20 as of today and growing. Residents can sign up for the program at www.earthaid.net/Richmond.

Earth Aid will help:

Residents save money on their utility bills;
Put dollars into our local economy through our local merchants; and
Lower our community’s carbon footprint.

“I am proud to join with Mayor Jones and other community and business leaders from across Richmond to help area residents save money on their utility bills, support local business, and create a more sustainable Richmond,” said Ben Bixby, Co-Founder & CEO of Earth Aid. “It’s a great way for residents to go green and save green during this Earth Week and beyond.”

Local businesses that have already signed up to offer rewards through the Earth Aid program include:

Restore RVA Savor Bikram Yoga Richmond
For the Love of Pete Segway Tours of Richmond Venture Richmond
Southern Sparkle My Closet – Your Treasures The Yarn Lounge
Urban Grid Solar Café Gutenberg Hilton of Richmond
Metro Sound and Music Science Museum of Virginia Papa’s Pizza
Green Duck Lift Coffee Mis En Place
La Diff Republic Restaurant and Bar

There was an evening reception for the announcement in the City Hall observation deck. Here’s a photo at least in the direction of Oregon Hill from that vantage point:

IMG_0431

Fines and Fees for River Rescues

Posted on by
Reply

NBC Channel 12 is reporting that the City wants swimmers to know that they need to follow their rules. From the article:

“Last year we had 78 calls to the river for river rescues. Of that we pulled 52 people off the river,” said Richmond Fire Department Lt. Shawn Jones.

So far this year firefighters raced out to the river 16 times, pulling 5 people out.

“The current is moving relatively swiftly here, so this puts the rescuers at danger and also the person being rescued,” added Jones.

Richmond police can ticket anyone not obeying river rules. The citation comes with a maximum fine of $100.

The city can also choose to make a person reimburse the city for rescue expenses which are based on the distance and equipment used. Even people, who qualify for a permit when water levels are above nine feet, are responsible for rescue fees. But since 2008 police have only cited 14 people. It was unclear if anyone has ever had to pay for a rescue, but the option’s there.

Meeting on Proposed City Budget on Monday

Posted on by
Reply

According to Times Dispatch article, there will be a public meeting on Monday of next week at the Richmond Main Public Library, 101 East Franklin Street.

Citizens will get a chance to find out more about the proposed City budget. And they are encouraged to attend, for there’s a lot to look over….

For example, officials proposing to switch from an annual to a semi-annual collection of real-estate taxes.

VCU/Monroe Park Housing & Crime Issues

Posted on by
1

While parking is still of concern, VCU is taking steps to become more of a residential university. Recent articles contain announcements of new developments and feedback.

There is also news on VCU’s recycling front.

And if that was not enough, there is also this email from Oregon Hill resident and Monroe Park Advisory Council member Todd Woodson, which expresses concern over the way VCU crime is reported, and can be seen in the context of the latest (2008) postings of crime in Virginia colleges by FBI:

Friends-

I left our last meeting with more questions than answers regarding safety statistics and in particular, enforcement statistics for Monroe Park. Please find below a link for VCU’s 2009 Safety Report. It is odd that although VCU includes statistics for Cumberland ave, 100 block Pine St and 100 block Cherry St which are all part of the Historic Oregon Hill Neighborhood and not campus, there is no mention of statistics within Monroe Park itself:

http://www.vcu.edu/police/campussafetyreport2009.pdf

Of interest are the statistics for non-student liquor and drug offenses on unspecified public property which essentially doubled from 2007 to 2008 (block by block figures for public property provided by RPD) :

2008: non student liquor offenses on public property: 168
” ” ” drug ” ” ” ” ” 151
2007: non student liquor offenses on public property: 80
” ” ” drug ” ” ” ” ” 78

It would be most helpful to address safety issues in Monroe Park if offenses in the Park could be logged and consequently tracked by the Council and/or a Richmond Police entity. I know we have asked for these statistics many times in the past and as was discussed, we really havent had any consistent presence at meetings from either RPD or VCU Police during our tenure.

In addition, I have included an eye opening report from the Commonwealth Times October 2008 issue regarding VCU crime statistics:

http://eblackstock.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/campus-crime-statistics-subject-to-interpretation/

I think that considering the amount of money hopefully being directed toward the park, the safety issues are something we as a group really need to focus on- especially the ever present substance abuse and collateral safety issues. As we’ve said before, there seems to be an absence as well as major confusion over day to day law enforcement in Monroe park. I believe we should address this at our next meeting and of course invite RPD and VCU police. Hopefully someone from higher up in those respective organizations will attend.

thanks,

Todd.

Fourth Precinct CAPS Meeting on Thursday

Posted on by
Reply

Fourth Precinct

.The Community Assisted Public Safety (CAPS) meeting will be held:

. Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Place: Linwood Holton Elementary School

1600 W Laburnum Avenue

Please bring your concerns, comments and suggestions to this meeting in order that we may address them properly.

Thank you

Jacki Page

Sr. Customer Services Representative

804-646-4150

Cary Street Parking Changes Considered

Posted on by
5

In a recent VCU’s Telegram for Students, this bullet point appeared:

2. Changes to Parking on West Cary Street
VCU is considering requesting the City of Richmond change the parking restriction on the south side of West Cary Street, the 900 and 1000 blocks, from no restriction to 2-hour parking, similar to the majority of campus streets. The change is being considered because of the opening of the Cary Street Recreation Center and the demand for parking near this new facility (I added boldness here- ed.). Please direct comments to Paul Walker, manager of Parking & Transportation, at prwalker@vcu.edu no later than March 12.

While this is in congruence with making the Cary Street corridor more urban-business-friendly (something that the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association is in favor of), it stands in contrast to what the VCU administration said during its campaign against the neighborhood:

E. Objection to parking. This project will not increase the enrollment at VCU, and therefore does not increase campus parking requirements. .

Of course, most Oregon Hill residents are not surprised in the least by this. It fits in with the rest of the Student Recreational Center controversy. (Again, OHNA was never against VCU students getting a new facility. The location and implementation were the issues). Hopefully, someday soon, VCU will take more positive steps to allow healing.