Enhanced technology is in the works for the City's nearly 160 solar-powered parking pay stations that will enable motorists to pay using their license plate information. Motorists will also be able to extend the time on the pay station by mobile text message. The Pay-by-Plate option will take effect on January 2, 2017. Those using pay stations can enter their license plate number directly into the machine when they pay. The system will save the information for parking enforcement officers. This helps streamline the process by eliminating the need to print a ticket and place it on the dashboard. However, receipts can still be printed for those who want them. In addition, there also will be an Extend-by-Phone option. The driver will receive a text message notification when the parking space time is running out. As long as there is time available within the posted time zone, more time can be added via text message. Benefits for the City and motorists include: Reduced paper us...

The City of Richmond successfully sold $502 million in Public Utility Revenue and Refunding Bonds of which $169 million was for new money projects and $333 million was to refund existing debt service for interest rate savings. The cost of funds for the City’s New Money Projects was approximately 3.47%, which is near the lowest cost of funds in several decades. In addition, the City took advantage of the historic low interest rate environment to refund two outstanding bond issues, which will result in the City reducing its existing debt service by roughly $100 million over the next 24 years. The Bonds were highly rated by all three national credit rating agencies - Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch (Aa2, AA, AA respectively). Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Raymond James and Siebert Cisneros Shank served as underwriters on the financing. Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Raymond James have offices in Richmond. Siebert Cisneros Shank is based out of New York and is the nation’...

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones today joined representatives from the Monroe Park Conservancy, Virginia Commonwealth University and major donors to break ground on a $6 million extensive renovation of Monroe Park. "This park has a long history and has always served as an important hub in our city," stated Mayor Jones. "Working in partnership with the Monroe Park Conservancy group and VCU to restore the park’s luster is an opportunity that we’ve embraced with great enthusiasm. We thank all of those contributing to help us reach our goal for the park’s restoration, building on our efforts to provide beautiful open and sustainable spaces that improve Richmond communities." The park will be closed during renovation beginning Monday, Nov. 14, and the work is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete. The project will include extensive infrastructure upgrades to underground sewer, gas, water and electrical systems. The first five-week phase of construction will focus o...

The City of Richmond’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for fiscal year (FY) ended June 30, 2015, was submitted on October 31, 2016. The external certified public accounting firm that audited the City’s basic financial statements rendered an unmodified opinion stating that the City’s financial statements are fairly presented and conform to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The FY15 CAFR also shows an increase to the unassigned fund balance of $4.6 million. “Given the challenges that we have faced recently with timely reporting, it is affirming to have the CAFR again confirm our strong financial position and verify a surplus in operations for the Fiscal Year 2015,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “I am more confident than ever in the personnel that we have assembled for our financial operations. Now that we have closed this chapter on FY15 with a clean opinion, we will be moving forward aggressively to have the FY16 CAFR completed as quickly as possible and to set fut...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones welcomed CoStar Group to downtown Richmond during a press conference held with Governor Terry McAuliffe today.  The Governor announced that CoStar Group, the leading provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and online marketplaces, will invest $8.17 million in a new research and software development center in Richmond. Virginia successfully competed against states in the Southeast and Midwest for the project, which will create 732 new jobs and have a total economic impact of $250 million. “We are thrilled to welcome CoStar Group to Virginia and to our capital city,” said Governor McAuliffe, speaking at the event. “This will be a transformational project for the City of Richmond and the greater metropolitan area, bringing a new, high-profile corporate partner and more than 700 high-paying jobs. With our outstanding technology infrastructure and our unparalleled higher education system, the Commonwealth is a hub for the IT sector and the perfec...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones, the Richmond Flying Squirrels, and Virginia Commonwealth University said today that the minor league baseball team intends to commit to stay in Richmond for a minimum of 30 years once a new ballpark is constructed, according to a newly signed agreement. The memorandum of understanding will guide the final stages of planning for a new ballpark in Richmond to be used by VCU and the Flying Squirrels. “This is a significant step forward for baseball in the Richmond region,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “More importantly, it advances our efforts for economic development along the Boulevard to generate revenue for schools and city services, consistent with our longstanding goals for Richmond.” The agreement continues progress that began in April when the parties announced a new partnership to maintain minor league baseball for the region. The partnership was energized by the City’s planning for economic development of 60 acres of city-owned North Side land boun...

At a special ceremony marking the kick-off of the development of the Lumpkin’s Jail Site, Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced the selection of a team led by SmithGroupJJR to be awarded the contract to develop the site. The City of Richmond signed a $1.4 million contract today to engage the team’s services. “The team led by SmithGroupJJR has a depth of experience in museum organization and development, museum building design, archaeology, historic preservation, landscape architecture, exhibit design and community engagement…you name it, they’ve got it,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “SmithGroupJJR was recognized just a few weeks ago as an integral member of the design team of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which just opened in Washington, DC. Their accomplishments have been recognized both inside and outside of the United States.” It was also announced today that Lonnie G. Bunch, III, will serve as a scholarly advisor to the Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Site project. Dr...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones, Governor Terry McAuliffe, the City's CAO Selena Cuffee-Glenn, members of Richmond City Council, and the City’s Public Art Commission (PAC) joined together on Thursday September 29 to break ground on the memorial plaza commemorating Maggie L. Walker at Broad Street and Adams Street. “This is a long-overdue recognition,” said Mayor Jones. “Through this memorial in honor of Maggie L. Walker and the creation of this new public space to celebrate her legacy, we will be reminded of Maggie Walker’s vision, courage, and determination and her contribution to our country’s history.” The PAC and the Site Selection Team selected the location for the memorial plaza on Broad Street, and Richmond City Council approved the site as it serves as a main corridor in the city and an important entryway into the Jackson Ward community, where Maggie L. Walker resided. The Maggie L. Walker monument will become a destination point in Richmond’s vibrant downtown and f...

Early on Tuesday, September 20, Mayor Dwight C. Jones, along with the City's Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities, in association with Enrichmond, helped kick off the Grand Reopening Celebration for Kanawha Plaza. The renovation process of the public space began in July of 2015, and the ribbon cutting event marked the completion of the first phase of the renovations. The City invested $2.9 million in the renovations. Kelso & Easter, Inc., of Richmond was the contracted designer and the Contractor was Southwood Building Systems, Inc. of Virginia. The renovations that were undertaken include the retention and repair of the plaza's fountain, the parks most prominent feature. There were also landscaping improvements, a new food truck area, and improved lighting. The City welcomes this improved public green space and thanks everyone that helped achieve the enhancements.

On Tuesday, September 6, the Department of Public Works will begin construction of the Belmont Road Roundabout at the intersection of Belmont, South Belmont and West Belmont roads. The roundabout will enhance the gateway corridor into the city of Richmond.  The project will include landscaped islands, pedestrian crosswalk markings, handicap ramps and new signage. The $700,000 project has received state and City funding. Work is expected to last three to four months, depending on weather. The improvements will decrease operating speeds for motorists and shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians. In addition to reducing the number of vehicle and pedestrian accidents, experts say roundabouts can reduce fatal accidents by as much as 90 percent. There will be occasional lane closures during construction. Motorists are encouraged to follow work zone signage.  For more information on City services, please visit www.RichmondGov.com .

On August 23, at the corner of East Brookland Park Avenue and Dill Avenue, Mayor Jones, Councilwoman Ellen Robertson and others celebrated the newly constructed Six Points Roundabout with a ribbon cutting. “As we stand here today at this roundabout, I want our residents to know that getting to this point took a lot of hard work, championed by Ellen Robertson along with the Department of Public Works Transportation Engineering Division, who initially applied for the federal grant back in 2009,” said Mayor Jones. “Together, they demonstrated true perseverance with this project, staying in it for the long-haul to make sure this got done.” “Mayor Jones has been a strong supporter of what goes on in Highland Park in a huge way ever since he became Mayor, and we would like to thank you for that,” said Councilwoman Ellen Robertson, 6th District. “This roundabout is such a wonderful addition to our community in providing safety for both drivers and pedestrians.” The newly devloped traff...

Fire Station 20, 4715 Forest Hill Avenue, is currently closed for extensive building renovations. As a result, all station operations have moved to Fire Station 17, 2211 Semmes Avenue. This action will have minimal effect on service delivery to the fire district serviced. The building renovations are projected for completion in April 2017 at which time normal operations will resume.
 
 A few of the Fire Station 20 renovation highlights include:
 Exterior wall, window and concrete ramp repair
 Addition of public access area and bathroom
 Safety storage area for firefighter turnout gear
 Employee health and fitness area
 Added privacy in employee bathrooms
 New fire alarm notification system
 The total renovation budget for Fire Station 20 is $1,309,169.  This fire station renovation will be the third undertaken during Mayor Dwight Jones’ Administration, as part of the multiyear station renovation and replacement plan. The renovation of Fire Station 13 was completed in De...

The city of Richmond and the Greater Richmond Partnership (GRP) are pleased to announce that ICMA-RC, one of the top financial service corporations, has chosen to expand into Richmond. The non-profit individual financial services corporation, headquartered in Washington D.C., provides retirement plans and related services to more than a million participants in the U.S. The company plans to hire roughly 100 new employees and bring more than 100 employees from their Washington, D.C., headquarters to Riverfront Plaza, in the city of Richmond’s Central Business District. “We are so pleased to have worked closely with GRP on this great project for the city and are thrilled that ICMA-RC has chosen the city's vibrant and growing downtown as its new location,” said Mayor Jones. “They will be a valuable addition to the vibrant and growing downtown business community.” ICMA-RC conducted an extensive search for their second location, narrowing the list of prospective cities to seven, inc...

The City’s Electoral Board voted on July 20 to offer 97 different classes, representing almost 300 hours of training, this fall for its officers of election. The first classes for new election officer training begin August 20 and September 19. The majority of the classes will begin the week of September 22, and conclude the week of October 31. Residents must be an officer of election in order to enroll in any of the offered classes. Persons interested in becoming an officer of election for the City of Richmond can apply online at www.elections.virginia.gov or call (804) 646-5950 to request an application.  The Electoral Board is planning to recruit 200 more individuals in the coming weeks, bringing the total amount of sworn officers close to 1,200. Once accepted as an officer, individuals will be informed of the basic training calendar. Upon completion of basic training, the full calendar of training options will be made available.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham issued the following statement today: We should all be deeply troubled by the shocking events of the last few days, to include the questionable killings of two black men by police officers and the subsequent killings of five police officers in Dallas, Texas. The community and police grieve together this morning. We offer our condolences to all of the families and communities and to law enforcement professionals that have been impacted by these tragic events. There is simply no excuse and no justification for what we’ve all seen transpire. And it is up to all of us to speak up and to come together to make sure events like these do not occur in any community. Everyone, including police, has a right to feel valued and respected. Community protest in the face of injustice is understandable. But police should not be the target. Rather, we must target bad policing where it exists and work to bring about change in that regard....

Mayor Dwight C. Jones presented on June 27 a Triple-Action Investment Plan that grew out of the work of the Multi-Year School Capital Investment Project Evaluation Team that he convened in April of this year. The Project Evaluation Team was charged with charting a funding course for the long-term renovation and construction plans of Richmond Public Schools in a way that would protect the overall funding needs and fiscal integrity of the City. The Team met its goal of completing its review by the end of June. The Triple-Action Investment Plan calls for immediate action of expanding the Governing Debt Policy ceiling from 10% to 12%. This action will expand debt capacity to over $580 million over the next decade, making that borrowing capacity available to the City if the governing body elects to utilize it. At the same time, the City is charged with coupling that action with additional policies; concerning the City’s unassigned fund balance, reserve levels, and equalization polici...

Today at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Richmond was announced as the nation’s 1st Place winner for the Large City Category in the 2016 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards, an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Walmart. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this mayors’ awards program recognizes mayors for their energy and climate protection efforts, selected by an independent panel of judges from a pool of mayoral applicants. New Bedford, MA Mayor Jonathan F. Mitchell won first place in the Small City Category. Click here to watch the live stream of Mayor Jones receiving the award. “Mayors Jon Mitchell and Dwight Jones are both innovators and leaders, showing us how to confront the energy and climate protection challenges before our cities and the nation,” said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, President of The U.S. Conference of Mayors. “As we witnessed in Paris late last year, it is the mayors who are the first responders in ...

~ East Richmond Road landfill is target location for residents’ debris removal efforts ~ City of Richmond crews reported that a total of 711 tons of debris had been removed from City streets since storm recovery efforts began. With the exception of Willow and 2nd streets, all City streets are now passable.  The City’s arborist has begun to measure the storms impact on the existing tree inventory to determine what additional trees may have to be removed for safety. The City’s recovery effort includes code enforcement work. City officials have surveyed hundreds of properties to ensure public safety and are identifying those properties that will require repair. Byrd Park, which initially had been closed due to downed wires and trees, is now open during regular hours. Bryan Park remains closed as clean-up continues in that area. Battery Park Pool remains closed at this time. At Bellevue and Hermitage roads, the traffic signal remains out. Temporary signalization will be in...

The Richmond City Health District advises residents to take precautions regarding their refrigerated and frozen foods as well as their medications and medical supplies during a power outage. If your electrical power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.  The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4-hours if it is unopened.  A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half-full) if the door remains closed. Frozen foods should be kept well below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and refrigerated foods should be kept below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.  If at any point the food in your refrigerator was above 40ºF for 2-hours or more, it is not safe to eat and you must discard it. If you have medicines such as insulin that require refrigeration you should call your pharmacy to talk about what options are available.  According to product labels from U.S. insulin manufa...

As part of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s leadership of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Outside initiative to engage the next generation of outdoor stewards and inspire millions of young adults to play, learn, serve and work in the great outdoors, Mayor Dwight Jones joined Craig Dorsett, Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior, and Tim Joyce, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Richmond today to announce that Richmond has been selected as one of the 50 cities to participate in the nationwide movement. The initiative, funded through a $5 million national commitment by the American Express Foundation, will provide two years of funding for the YMCA of Greater Richmond to help coordinate efforts, facilitate collaboration, grow resources, and increase participation in outdoor programs on all public lands – from local parks to federal lands and waters. “Engaging people of all ages, especially youth, in enjoying...

The James River Park System is the city of Richmond's largest, most unique and best known park. This park system is made up of parks along both sides of the James River as it passes through the city, making Richmond the only urban city in the country with Class IV white water rapids in the middle of downtown. The James River Park System normally receives more than 500,000 visitors a year. As temperatures rise, the City reminds residents and visitors to the park of the many dangers along and within the river as well as those associated with any body of water. Click here or continuing reading below for tips on a safe visit to the park or around any body of water: Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well and only swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Never leave a young child unattended in or near water without adult supervision; teach children to always ask permission to go near or in wat...

The City of Richmond received KaBOOM’s designation as a 2016 Playful City USA.  This designation, the first of its kind for the city, is the result of a partnership between the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PCRF), the Capital Region Collaborative, and Active RVA - a program of Sports Backers. KaBOOM’s national recognition program honors cities and towns across the country for making their cities more playful. “This recognition is a great accomplishment as we continue to grow and highlight the abundant recreational opportunities available in Richmond.  Playability adds to the quality of life for all members of our community, and especially families,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Playful City USA is a national recognition program that honors cities and towns across the country for taking bold steps to ensure that children in their communities, particularly kids from low income families, obtain the balanced and...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced today that Reginald E. Gordon will be the next Director of the Office of Community Wealth Building. Gordon follows the tenure of Dr. Thad Williamson, who was named the first director of the new office two years ago. “We’ve been well-served by Thad Williamson in the post and appreciate the sabbatical he took to work with us during this time,” said Mayor Jones. “Given the great work and good stewardship that Thad has offered, our challenge had been in identifying a viable successor. I’m confident that we’ve identified the right fit for this next phase of our community wealth building efforts in the personality of Reggie Gordon.” Beginning June 13, Gordon will serve as the central point of contact for the Office of Community Wealth Building (OCW). OCW initially grew out of the work of the Mayor’s Anti-Poverty Commission, now known as the Maggie L. Walker Initiative for Expanding Opportunity and Fighting Poverty. Jones successfully worked to make the office...

~ City of Richmond to join innovative, national program to improve health in low-income neighborhoods ~ The City of Richmond has been selected by Reinvestment Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to take part in the new Invest Health initiative, aimed at helping community leaders work together to help low-income communities thrive. The City of Richmond was selected from more than 180 teams from 170 communities with populations between 50,000 and 400,000 that applied to participate in the initiative.  “We are excited about this opportunity to build new partnerships and forge alliances to help improve communities" said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. "This is a unique opportunity to initiate real change with a collaborative approach.” Mid-size American cities face some of the nation’s deepest challenges with entrenched poverty, poor health and a lack of investment, according to Invest Health. But they also offer fertile ground for strategies -- such as access to safe a...

Mayor Dwight Jones, Councilperson Cynthia Newbille, and the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority announced that a development team has made a rezoning application to develop a mixed-use residential and neighborhood retail development at the northern corners of the Nine Mile Road and North 25th Street intersection in Richmond’s North Church Hill neighborhood, anchored by new grocery operator Jim’s Local Market. The partners said a grocery store at this location has been conceptually discussed for many years since the area became known as a food desert, and recent efforts began in earnest in 2011 during the East End Initiative planning process attended by the Mayor, Dr. Newbille, Bon Secours Heath System, RRHA, and members of the community. “I am thrilled that this proposal is finally advancing,” said Mayor Jones. “The East End food desert has needed healthy groceries and good jobs for a long time, and I hope that success here can be replicated in other neighborhoods across the ...

~ Team to narrow down viable revenue options for future needs ~ The Multi-Year School Capital Investment Funding Plan Executive Committee received a draft report today concerning potential revenue sources that could support new capital investment in the city of Richmond. The menu of options was developed by the Revenues & Financing Working Group of the Project Evaluation Team. The report outlines revenue options and includes an analysis of the viability of those options. Seventeen potential revenue sources were represented in the draft report. The report also offers a history of annual funding for Richmond Public Schools and an outline of future Capital Improvement Project (CIP) needs for the city. Mayor Dwight C. Jones indicated that the menu of options and the report analysis will be presented and discussed with Richmond City Council as well as Richmond Public Schools, community stakeholders and the public over the next several weeks. The Project Evaluation Team wil...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today following passage of the FY2017 Richmond Government Budget: “I again want to thank Richmond City Council for the hard work undertaken through a very difficult budget deliberations process.  A great deal of work was done and hard decisions made to identify the additional $9.5 million in capital and operating funds for Richmond Public Schools.  These additional funds build on the more than $145 million in operating funds submitted as part of my budget. With this increased funding, that brings the total operating funding for Richmond Public Schools to $151.5 million; again the largest single share of the city’s entire budget. I’m also pleased that additional funding was provided in other much needed areas like public works, police, fire, and finance. "The fact that budget discussions are always difficult discussions is not new.  Budget deliberations have even intensified as the country entered into a major rec...

The City’s Office of Minority Business Development (MBD) hosted more than 200 program graduates at the Empowerment 2016 forum for small and minority owned businesses at the Carillon at Dogwood Dell on May 12. The event acknowledged the individuals who have completed courses offered through the MBD Technical Assistance Program including - Money Smart, Construction Series, Emerging Small Business 101, Intermediate Small Business 201, and a host of other elective courses over the past year. Many of the program participants completed business plans during the program and are now implementing strategies to meet their goals. In speaking of the Empowerment 2016 forum, Mayor Dwight C. Jones noted, “We recognize the importance of providing the necessary assistance to help entrepreneurs build better, stronger businesses, as a sturdy, diverse business base of successful small and minority businesses expands economic opportunities for all Richmonders.” During the event Penny Gregory, Owner of...

           The City of Richmond (“City”) has reached a settlement in the federal lawsuit filed by the Legal Aid Justice Center and the law firm of Crowell & Moring LLP regarding the City’s code enforcement efforts in mobile home parks.  The suit alleged that the City discriminated against mostly Latino residents in two of those mobile home parks where some of the most numerous and serious maintenance code violations were found.             Through the course of the case, the City maintained that it took many steps to assist mobile home residents in repairing health and safety code violations. This included reaching out to mobile home manufacturers, local non-profits, and others to obtain free or inexpensive help for those residents. The City also maintained that it took great steps to be flexible with mobile home residents in the two mobile home parks where the plaintiffs...

In April, Mayor Dwight C. Jones convened a Multi-Year School Capital Investment Funding Plan Work Group to work collaboratively to develop a long-term, sustainable funding program. This program will identify resources that will provide Richmond Public Schools needed funds for facilities and operations, while preserving the city’s financial integrity. Please click here for more work group information and compiled data.

Mayor Dwight Jones, the Richmond Flying Squirrels, and Virginia Commonwealth University said today they are working together to explore identifying a location for a new RVA ballpark, near the Diamond, but off the city-owned 60 acres bounded by the Boulevard and Hermitage Road. The announcement follows yesterday’s issuance of a report which recommends full development of the city’s 60 acres and inclusion of sports and entertainment in the larger area. The partners said extensive stakeholder engagement had brought them together in recent months, fueled by numerous public meetings and survey participation of more than 5,000 residents of the Richmond region. “This new initiative may very well serve everyone’s interests, particularly the community’s, while allowing the Squirrels to stay in our hometown,” said Lou DiBella, President and Managing General Partner of the Richmond Flying Squirrels. “It feels like we’re closer to a solution than ever before.” “It’s vitally important that we find...