As one of Richmond’s natural high points and one of Richmond’s urban, riverfront neighborhoods, we have a special responsibility to curtail stormwater runoff.
Stormwater Public Service Announcement
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Category Archives: government
OHNA Meeting Tuesday; Location Jacob House
The next Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) meeting is
scheduled for Tuesday, November 24, at 7 pm. Because some of the
William Byrd Community House staff are on vacation then, I am moving
the location of the meeting to the Jacob House, at the corner of S.
Pine and W. Cary.
Lt. Baltz from Richmond Police Sector 413 has indicated that she plans
to attend.
Thanks,
Scott Burger
President, Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
Urban Forestry Commission moves forward
Received this notice from neighbor:
Does Richmond Need a Citizen Tree Commission?
Information about Ordinance 2009-174Council representative, Chris Hilbert, has introduced an ordinance to establish a citizen tree commission to be called the Urban Forestry Commission, to reflect the broad vision for the group. The purpose is to improve the City’s urban forestry resources through policy development, advise, education and fundraising. Key responsibilities include:
Serve as an advisory body to Council regarding legislation and policies regarding public trees.
Facilitate the development and passage of a tree maintenance and management plan for City-owned trees.
Assist with public relations and education programs to increase public understanding of urban forestry issues.
Conduct fundraising for city tree projects.Members will be appointed by City Council and the Mayor and will include persons with expertise in areas such as tree care, urban forestry, and landscape design. Other members may include individuals with business interests and citizens interested in the beautification and well-being of our city.
Commissions in other localities in Virginia increase awareness of the critical role that trees play in our green infrastructure. They help shape policies and procedures that have long term impact on the livability of a city.
Yes, Richmond needs an Urban Forestry Commission to help maintain and improve our urban forest and to work towards a goal of increased tree canopy. We need a group with vision to help guide priorities based on the value of trees for all citizens and neighborhoods.
Please ask your Council Representative to support the establishment of a citizen Urban Forestry Commission. Come to City Council on Monday, October 26 at 6 pm — Wear GREEN to show your support! Thank you!!!
To reach the office of the City Clerk call 646-7955. Contact information for City Council members can be found by clicking here.
Prepared by the Friends of Urban Forestry. For further information, call Alli at 782-1170 or email allialligood@verizon.net
City Councilperson Marty Jewell Arrested For DUI
Good News/Bad News On Planning Front
First, from Fans of Monroe Park Facebook Group:
Good news, friends- the Monroe Park Master plan/document was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission on Monday, Oct 19th. Now the City needs to come up with some major dollars to make this park the historic jewel the City deserves!
While Oregon Hill neighbors continue to ask for a traffic circle for Idlewood Avenue, other neighborhoods receive…the lack of action is disturbing. I will continue to give voice for my neighbors’ concerns:
Thank you for your work on this issue.
There were several distinct reasons to support the roundabout. Others
have made the same observations; just making the notes below to
refresh some of the local experience.During the building of the Grace Arents Community Garden (GACG),
workers saw numerous cars going the wrong way down Idlewood after
passing through the traffic light at Cherry Street. There were close
calls with cars coming off the exit ramp, including one screeching
moment long enough for garden workers to look up & take in the whole
thing, conscious of the split second swerve that avoided what could
have been a fatal head-on crash. Even that incident, & certainly none
of the other times cars went the wrong way down the street, never made
it into a police accident report, because near-misses are not
recorded. The heart-pounding of the witnesses could not have been a
fraction of the terror of those in the vehicles; too bad none of their
voices were raised in an official appeal to traffic designers to never
let it happen to anyone else.The William Byrd Community House had a persuasive point that the
property on which the GACG & Byrd House Market currently operate might
someday be used for much needed subsidized elder housing under
auspices of WBCH. Adding residents, staff & visitors of an elder
housing establishment into the current limited access to the site
would add even more traffic confusion.If the long-term proposal for elder housing does not happen anytime
soon, then the GACG & market may continue to grow in importance as
local food security infrastructure. The one-way traffic pattern
effectively reduces awareness & participation, especially by Randolph
neighborhood.If the elder housing does come to pass, then the community garden &
market might be moved further down the Garden Mile, possibly nearer
Clark Springs school. At that time, our neighborhood might be in the
position that Randolph is now with regard to being uninvited to
participate by the one-way traffic design.Rush hour coming off of the RMA, with a good chunk of it being VCU
traffic, tries impatiently to get through the bottleneck of our
neighborhood at a time most dangerous for children & elders attending
WBCH programs, for students attending St.Andrews school, & even for
walkers to Open High School. The confusion, irritation & danger would
be reduced considerably by splitting off all the traffic that is
actually west-bound before it has to come through the light at Cherry
Street.One other element of the discussion is the roundabout itself.
Statistics prove that it increases safety at intersections. It
reduces gridlock by being designed for almost continuous flow.
City Electronic Recycling Day
From the press release:
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Works
WHAT: Electronic Recycling Day (E-cycle Day)
WHEN: Saturday, October 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: 2720 Hermitage Rd. (Division of Solid Waste parking lot)
BACKGROUND: The Department of Public Works and the Clean City
Commission are sponsoring an electronic recycling day for city residents.
Items such as computer monitors, televisions and fluorescent light bulbs
will be accepted for fees ranging from .25 to $10.00. There is no charge to
dispose of computer systems and accessories, printers, scanners and copiers,
fax machines, VCRs, camcorders, stereos and microwaves. Those dropping
off items will be asked to show identification to prove they live within the city limits.From refuse collection to pothole reports, Customer Care Center representatives
are available at 3-1-1 to assist citizens with all of their Public Works needs.
For more information on the City of Richmond, visit www.RichmondGov.com .
Richmond Times Dispatch: Stimulus money to help make schools energy efficient
From article cum press release:
Virginia is offering $119 million in federal stimulus money to help localities make school buildings more energy efficient.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said today that localities will compete for the money, made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act adopted by Congress this year to stimulate the ailing economy.
“Today’s announcement will advance two of the Commonwealth’s top priorities–education and energy efficiency,” Kaine said in a statement today. “When school divisions lower their energy consumption, they can lower their energy costs and direct more resources to the classroom, all while reducing their environmental impact.’
School divisions and local governments can submit project applications through November 11, 2009 using an application now available on the Department of Education website. Project proposals will be evaluated and selected by a team of experts from the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Department of Education, and Department of Treasury. Project announcements are expected by mid-December.
What will this mean for Open High and other Richmond public school buildings?
Will we see solar schools like in NJ and other states?
And how does this intersect with the latest Goldman plan?
Monroe Park Planning Article
From the City’s Department of Community Development October Update:
Monroe Park Master Plan Moving Ahead
Richmond acquired the original 11 acres for Monroe Park in 1851 when the park still lay outside city limits. It was envisioned as a place that would provide opportunities to partake of “invigorating air” and to participate in the “interchange of social affections.”
It has been the home to the State Fair, served as a training ground for Civil War troops, and played host to a Bruce Springsteen concert in the late 1960s, and its history, location and character have made it one of the City’s landmark public spaces.
The Monroe Park Master Plan was begun in 2006 and adopted last year to serve as a guide to reinvigorate the park and integrate historic preservation with
modern recreation needs.Over time, it plans for the restoration of the Checkers Building, improvements to park entrances and lighting, uniform tree plantings with a variety of species, and other improvements.
The plan is expected to be presented to the Urban Design Committee in October.
You can review the Monroe Park Master Plan here (a large 66MB file – may take a moment to open).
Click here to view some vintage postcards of Monroe Park from the VCU Library.
Fourth Precinct CAPS Meeting Scheduled
Fourth Precinct Community Assisted Public Safety (CAPS) meeting will be held:
. Date: Thursday, October 15, 2009
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
Fire Scare on Spring Street Last Night
Around 7:45 last night a bunch of emergency vehicles arrived on Spring Street last night to investigate a burning smell from one of the houses. Unofficial word is that it was a malfunctioning fridge. Also, see related Style story from this week.
