City to release names of groups submitting proposals and the locations proposed, community engagement calendar The Stoney Administration named nine members to an evaluation panel to review proposals submitted in response to the city’s Resort Casino RFQ/P.   The evaluation panel will objectively assess the proposals received and make a recommendation to Mayor Levar Stoney for a proposed resort casino operator and location in the City of Richmond. The recommended operator and location will then be considered and voted upon by the Richmond City Council.  Convergence Strategy Group has been hired by the City’s Economic Development Authority to assist the panel in its evaluation of the resort casino proposals.   Richmond voters will ultimately decide during a November 2, 2021 referendum if the city will have a resort casino.    Members of the Evaluation Panel are:   Councilmember Andreas Addison Councilmember Ellen Robertson Lincoln Saunders, Acting Chief Administrative Officer Chief Melvin

Maritza  Mercado Pechin will serve as   a   Deputy Director   within the Planning & Development Review Department and will manage   the city’s new Office of Equitable Development. Pechin formerly served as the project manager for the city’s master plan, Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth. In her new position and in leading the new office, she will focus on working across city departments to plan for and facilitate the creation of the more sustainable, beautiful and equitable city envisioned by Richmonders in the master plan.   “Richmond 300 is a roadmap for the Richmond  we want to be after 300 years of tumultuous history,” said Mayor Stoney. “This office, under the leadership of a tested public servant and planning professional, will start us down that road.”   The office is housed under the Department of Planning and Development Review but will work laterally across the entire Planning and Economic and Community Development portfolio. This will allow office staff to coordinate and