A natural gas leak can be recognized in three distinct ways - Smell, Sight, or Sound.
 SMELL:     Natural gas is colorless and odorless. Before it reaches you, we add a distinctive, pungent odor -- a rotten egg smell -- so that od natural gas is escaping it can be quickly recognized.
 SIGHT:    You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, or bubbles in standing water, or vegetation that appears to be brown and dead or dying for no apparent reason.
 SOUND:     You may hear an unusual noise like roaring, hissing or whistling coming from a 
natural gas pipeline in the area.
 DO’s:    What should you do if you suspect a leak? Just leave! Protect life first. Move to a safe environment. Then call 911 or the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities at (804) 646-7000. City of Richmond residents may call 311.
 DON’T’s: DO NOT strike a match, use telephones, switch on or off appliances, a light switch or even grab a flashlight in t...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today regarding Governor Terry McAuliffe’s biennial budget proposal: “I’m pleased by Governor McAuliffe's budget proposal, which has been carefully crafted to propel Virginia’s economy forward. “It will take Virginia’s investment in public education to the highest level in history. This is an important step toward restoring reductions made during the recession. “I’m especially encouraged because I’ve always believed that a strong city is one where all residents care about public education, even if they don’t have kids in the school system. “As Governor McAuliffe said, ‘Our young children’s future should not depend on their parents’ financial condition or their ZIP code.’ I completely agree. “Local governments know that additional state funds also bring additional costs, and we’re prepared to accept that challenge. I look forward to a robust debate—at the state and local level—about how best to deliver all of the services our res...

The City of Richmond, in partnership with Richmond Public Schools (RPS) and the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation, highlighted the poverty reduction initiative RVA Future Centers today at the Armstrong High School Future Center. RVA Future Centers have launched in all five comprehensive city high schools this semester. Future Centers are dedicated classroom spaces within each school building that are resource hubs for connecting high school students and their families to college and career planning resources. Each Future Center is staffed by a full-time site coordinator, who develops and implements a school-specific plan to engage all students in developing a personal plan for life after high school, starting in their ninth grade year. Future Center staff work closely with RPS guidance staff and community organizations providing college and career planning assistance such as GRASP. “Access to opportunity makes all the difference in a young person’s life. Making sure as many...

~Respondents consistent about dire need to tell the city’s whole story~   In September of 2015, the City of Richmond launched a community conversation about the future of the Lumpkin’s Jail site. Spearheaded by Mayor Dwight C. Jones and the Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission, the public conversation has reached more than 1,000 individuals through public meetings, classroom visits, in-person engagements, social media and direct outreach. Additional public meetings are upcoming as the discussion continues. However, a preliminary report is now available detailing the work of the consultant team thus far, and sharing preliminary information that the process has yielded. “While we know the importance of the Lumpkin’s Jail site to our city’s history, it’s another thing to understand how best to transform that importance to an active site that represents the priorities of the broader community,” said Mayor Jones. “I believe the methodology we have employed is yielding the diver...

On November 17, 2015, the City of Richmond successfully issued $85.8 million of taxable and tax-exempt series of bonds, which were sold by competitive bid. Seven bids were received for the $62.8 million Series 2015B bonds, with Bank of America Merrill Lynch winning the bid. Seven bids were also received for the $23.0 million Series 2015C bonds, with Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc., winning the bid. Reporting before the Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee today, the City noted that investor demand for the City’s bonds was considerable and that the bonds sold with a lower than expected interest rate, saving money for the city. The City received an interest rate of 3.83% on its taxable bond issuance, over 1.25% lower than initial planning rates. The longer term tax-exempt series received a 3.16% interest rate. The bonds sold will be used to finance spending related to general capital improvements for Stone Brewery as well general capital improvements in the City’s Capit...

The City of Richmond has announced plans to move forward with improvements to the Intermediate Terminal/Intermediate Wharf – a City-owned parcel that fronts the James River on the East side of the city. Providing increased public access to the riverfront is one of the goals in the City’s adopted Riverfront Plan. Improvements to the Intermediate Terminal Dock are seen as especially timely with the completion of the Virginia Capital Trail – 52 miles of continuous multipurpose trail between Williamsburg and Richmond. A structural stabilization project has been underway in the Intermediate Terminal area since August of this year. With the completion of that stabilization nearing in early Spring of 2016, the City is ready to move forward with broader plans for improving riverfront access in that area, to include passive and active Riverfront recreational opportunities. Conceptual plans for the development of the area include the possibility of a community pavilion, an event lawn, an in...

The Richmond Public Library, the Office of Community Wealth Building and Richmond Public Schools (RPS) have partnered to create RVA Reads to improve literacy in the city by improving access to books in low income homes of preschool children. RVA Reads is designed to expand or create home libraries for three and four year olds, increase the time parents and children read together and engage children and families in library services. The program provides one book a month to hundreds of pre-k children participating in the Virginia Preschool Initiative. To introduce the books each month, community volunteers visit pre-k classrooms to lead fun, interactive readings with the students. These readings take place at the RPS preschool centers at Blackwell, Maymont and Mary Scott schools as well as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Preschool Learning Center. Members of the City Administration and parent volunteers will lead the next reading event at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Preschool Learning Cente...