The city of Richmond is preparing for another significant snowstorm. The National Weather Service predicts the storm could leave up to 6 inches of snow on city streets. Ahead of the pending snow accumulation the city is providing this information to local residents. All priority one and priority two roads will be cleared within 48 hours. Be cognizant of signs posted in designated Snow Routes. Parking is prohibited in those areas and towing will be enforced (see below list of routes). When your street is plowed, there is a chance your driveway will become blocked. It is not the city's responsibility to remove that blockage. If your mailbox is damaged during plowing, please report it to our Customer Care Center at 3-1-1. The city will begin assessing potholes immediately following the snow event. Before asphalt is applied to potholes, the temperature must be above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Last week's snowstorm was an unusual occurrence for Richmond. The administration appreciates t

Due to the weather forecast for the weekend, the city of Richmond has extended the Cold Weather Shelter hours to begin at 6:00 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. starting Friday, February 5 - Sunday, February 7, 2010. The Conrad Center will also open as a Day Warming Shelter Friday through Sunday. The following accommodations will be available February 5-7, 2010: Cold Weather Overflow Shelter: The Cold Weather Overflow Shelter will be open February 5-7, 2010. The location is the Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, 14 W. Duval Street. The hours of operation are: 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (Friday, February 5, 2010) 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (Saturday, February 6, 2010) 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (Sunday, February 7, 2010) Day Warming Shelter: The Conrad Center located at 1400 Oliver Hill Way will serve as a Day Warming Shelter. The hours of operation are: 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Friday, February 5, 2010) 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Saturday, February 6, 2010) 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Sunday, February 7, 2010) NOTE

Venture Richmond pas provided $50,000 in funding for the city's Slave Trail Marker Project. The project is fully designed and has received approval from the Urban Design Committee and the Planning Commission with installation expected in late 2010. "I am very pleased that Venture Richmond is partnering with the city of Richmond on this very important project," said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. "It is my hope that this project will bring a renewed sense of history and culture to Richmond residents. I look forward to other public and private collaborations of this nature as we remember our unique history and work to Build a Better Richmond." "We believe this project will be a very important addition to the Riverfront Canal Walk historic exhibits and the recently completed Virginia Capital Trail historic exhibits." said Jack Berry Venture Richmond Executive Director. "An expeditious installation of the markers will also provide an important step in prepari

Have you ever thought about fostering a youth but did not know where to begin? Well, look nofurther because the city of Richmond Department of Social Services has the answers to your questions. On February 23, 2010, at 6 p.m., the department will host its monthly foster parent orientation that will describe in detail what it takes to become certified as a foster parent. The orientation will be held in the department of Social Services downtown office at 900 East Marshall Street. We are looking for people just like you who can provide a safe, comfortable, and caring environment. We need foster parent who can provide recreational and enrichment activities that promote healthy development. We also need parents who can attend to the every day ups and downs that children experience. If you feel you can provide these basic needs, then you are well on your way to being the best foster parent that the children in the city of Richmond deserve. Light refreshments will be served. Those interested

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and the city's Chief Administrative Officer Byron Marshall held a news conference today to discuss the city's response to snow removal. Citing that all priority one and priority two roads are clear and passable, Jones noted that secondary and residential road work is continuing and that the city is working with contractors who are utilizing the solid waste routes as guidance for the order that clearing is taking place. Jones noted that the reduction in the city's fleet, which took place in 2004-2005, has had unintended consequences on the city's response time, now that the city has faced the highest snow totals since 1999-2000. The previous fleet reduction resulted in the sale of 17 dump trucks and 19 four-wheel drive pick-up trucks. Those vehicles, a significant asset to the snow removal program, were not replaced. As a result, the response time per route increased from 45 minutes to a minimum of 90 minutes. "The reduced fleet, as well as per

Non-essential employees for the city of Richmond are advised that the city will open with a two-hour delay on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. Employees should contact their immediate supervisors with any questions.

The city's Cold Weather Overflow Shelter will open tonight, February 1 and remain open through Sunday, February 7, as overnight temperatures are forecasted to remain at or below 35 degrees. The city's Cold Weather Overflow Shelter is located at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, 14 West Duval Street. The hours of operation are from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Single adults needing overnight shelter are asked to report to Commonwealth Catholic Charities Central Intake, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a comprehensive intake and referral to the appropriate shelter. Central Intake is located at the Freedom House Conrad Center, 1400 Oliver Hill Way, next to Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and Richmond City Jail. Residents may call the Freedom House Conrad Center at 648-4177. Central intake will provide a referral to the Cold Weather Overflow Shelter for individuals who are not eligible for an existing shelter or if all available beds have been filled. Residents in need

The Department of Public Works is making significant progress in the removal of approximately 11 inches of snow that blanketed the city just 48 hours ago. "The primary roads are about 60 percent complete," said Director Dexter White. By Thursday White said he expects the majority of the roads to be clear of snow, though ice may continue to present a problem as temperatures dip during evening hours. White said while the focus is to continue clearing primary and secondary roads, city crews and three contracting companies are also plowing residential roads. They are working through neighborhoods using the city's solid waste collection routes. Solid waste collection has been delayed by one day to give crews a chance to plow the roads ahead of pick up schedules. The city has been compared to neighboring counties with regard to snow removal. White said unlike those counties, Richmond is an urban setting made up of thousands of lane miles, including the primary, secondary and re

The city of Richmond will delay this week's trash pick-up schedule by one day as a result of road conditions following the winter storm. Monday's trash pick up schedule will be delayed until Tuesday, February 2, 2010, with each subsequent trash pick-up schedule following a one-day delay in service.

The city’s Cold Weather Overflow Shelter will open tonight, January 31, as overnight temperatures are forecasted to remain well below 35 degrees. Due to the weather conditions, the shelter will open one hour earlier on Sunday and operate from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The city’s Cold Weather Overflow Shelter is located at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, 14 West Duval Street. The Freedom House Conrad Center will serve as a daytime shelter on Monday, February 1, 2010, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Freedom House Conrad Center will serve lunch each day it is open. The Freedom House Conrad Center is located at 1400 Oliver Hill Way, next to Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and Richmond City Jail. Transportation between the daytime warming shelter and the overnight shelter will be provided.