Pursuant to Mayor's Order #2010-02, Mayor Dwight C. Jones created the Pedestrian, Bicycling, and Trails Planning Commission. The Pedestrian, Bicycling, and Trails Planning Commission has been established to provide the Mayor's Administration with advice on ways to incorporate bicycling and walking as viable methods of transportation in the city of Richmond. To inform its work, the Commission will review adopted citywide transportation plans, strategies and plans from other jurisdictions. It will make recommendations for policies that support pedestrian and bicycle travel in Richmond. These policies will ensure that our city becomes a community where walking and bicycling are integral parts of the transportation system. The development of a well-publicized and effective system of pedestrian and bicycle trails could be an effective selling point for economic development and tourism efforts. The Commission held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. The Mayor also ant...

Pursuant to Mayor's Order #2010-01, Mayor Dwight C. Jones created the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy. The Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy will work to identify social factors that give rise to the health care problems of Richmond's residents, and develop recommendations that can be implemented both in the short-term and long-term to ameliorate those disparities. Reports will be developed to identify the city's health priorities including the issue of its health disparities, identifying potential funding necessary to address the priorities, and recommending strategies that the City of Richmond might employ in addressing them. The Commission shall produce and present the intial plan by August 2010, to embody recommendations that might be adopted as priorities for the city to pursue in making a difference in the lives of our residents.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement after the City Council passed his Fiscal Year 2011 $637 million general fund budget plan with few amendments. City Council passed the city's general fund budget with an eight to one vote and the capital budget unanimously: "I am pleased to see that City Council has embraced our outcomes-based budgeting plan with an overwhelming vote. We presented a responsible budget that is sound and addresses the fiscal challenges we are facing. We offered costs containment strategies, cash flow enhancements and strengthened revenue collection strategies that will benefit the city for years to come. I appreciate the Council's recognition of the hard work that was done on this budget and I see the overwhelming vote as reflective of the trust that has developed as a result of communication, cooperation and collaboration between the branches of government. "Savings we are going to be able to realize right away, just to give a few exa...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones made the following statements today during his update on the high-speed police pursuits review: “I want to acknowledge the dedication of our law enforcement officials as they put their lives on the line daily in the interest of public safety. I want us all to be mindful that law enforcement officers are faced with making split-second decisions each day. “Today's topic, the High-Speed Pursuit Policy Review, is as important to the residents of the city as it is to the officers themselves. Making sure that we have improved upon policies and procedures is in the utmost interest of any officer involved in a high-speed pursuit. “We cannot loose sight of the fact that it is the person that flees that creates the problem of high-speed police pursuits. But the fact is that we can't control the behavior of one who chooses to flee, so we must be assured that we have policies and procedures that allow for appropriate and proper law enforcement while protecting public ...

The newly formed Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has begun operations in its new office space within Main Street Station, 1500 East Main Street, Suite 400. The city recently consolidated and reorganized the community development, economic development and real estate services departments with the intent of establishing a robust economic and community development agency. "DECD's move to Shockoe Bottom firmly anchors that department into the things that are quintessential to the city of Richmond; African-American heritage and historic themes manufacturing, general business, trade, transportation, government, literature, and architecture. The area presents a microcosm of Richmond. Further, locating DECD reflects again my administration's commitment to the Shockoe Bottom area," said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. The relocation of DECD to Shockoe Bottom also represents a cost savings and creative use of an underutilized city-owned space. The city previously...

Sister Cities International has awarded a two-year, $115,000 grant to Richmond Sister Cities Commission to perform projects that address sanitation, health, and water issues in urban areas of Africa. This project is funded by a $7.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “This Sister Cities International program represents a major effort to address fundamental needs of citizens of urban areas in Africa," said Patrick Madden, President and CEO, Sister Cities International. "These sister cities represent some of the strongest partnerships between the U.S. and Africa and will become the measure of how cities can help each other and leave an enduring legacy in tangible ways." The 17 grant recipients were selected by an independent panel of five experts in the areas of sister city relationships, aid administration, and international development. The other recipients include: Baltimore, Maryland, and Luxor, Egypt Chicago, Illinois, and Casablanca, Morocc...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today issued the following statement regarding the homicide that occurred this past weekend in the city's Shockoe Bottom area: "The Richmond Police Department provides solid policing for Shockoe Bottom and I think most residents would agree that the area is generally safe overall. Any homicide in the city is a tragedy that we want to avoid. We are going to continue to work with the Merchant's Association to ensure that the area remains safe and that everyone understands the level of expectation with regard to patron behavior." ###