The city of Richmond will host the 5th annual “Imagine Festival” at Broad Rock Park on Saturday, October 24, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission to this community and family event is free. The Imagine Festival is an exciting event offering free food, dance performances, arts, crafts, vendors, and fun activities for the entire family. A unique component of this year’s festival is a softball tournament including teams from the Richmond Police Department and area community organizations. “This is a perfect opportunity for the community to come together with city departments such as the Richmond Police Department and truly get to know each other in a fun atmosphere. The Imagine Festival helps break down the “Us – Them” barrier so that we can get to know each other and true communication, cooperation and collaboration can begin. I hope families throughout Richmond can come and enjoy this unique event,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. The Imagine Festival began in 2005 as a community outreach event ...

Instituting a hands-on approach to combating flu in the work environment, Richmond City Hall conducted an on-site flu clinic designed to take an active approach to seasonal flu prevention. In partnership with the city’s health provider, Southern Health, the city of Richmond delivered a streamlined process between employer, insurance carrier and provider. With this approach, city of Richmond employees and dependants over age 18 who are covered by Southern Health simply fill out a form, show their insurance card, and a claim that does not require a co-payment is filed for employees. Employees are then provided their flu shot on-site by Southern Health, IVNA (Instructive Visiting Nurse Association). During the City Hall flu clinic conducted on October 12, 2009, over one third of the 450 participants had never had a flu shot before. When asked why they chose to get the shot this year when they haven’t in past years, the number one response was "because you came to us and it was ...

Mayor Dwight Jones issued the following statement on the retirement of City Attorney Norman Sales. "The city of Richmond is losing a dedicated public servant, Norman Sales, when he retires. Norman has been a balanced and knowledgeable city attorney, and we are the better for his work here. It is with sadness that I received Norman's announcement. However, I know that he makes the move for personal reasons, and I wish him the best in his future endeavors." Contact: Tammy Hawley, (804) 646-3110

City Attorney Norman Sales issued the following statement today: "It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from the city of Richmond, effective December 31, 2009. "It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve in the City Attorney’s office for more than 20 years and over the last four years as City Attorney. It goes without saying that I have many memories, accomplishments, challenges, and successes that will be indelibly etched as part of the fabric of my life forever. I have great affection for the city of Richmond and its citizens. My work with the city will always be a source of pride and satisfaction for me. "I want to be clear that my decision to retire at this time has no relation to any matters previously or now before Council for consideration and also has no bearing on my relationship with the current or any past administration. Indeed, I feel that my current relationship with the City Council and the Jones Administration has been a cordia...

WHO: Mayor Dwight C. Jones Mayor Ousmane Simaga of Ségou, Mali City Council President Kathy Graziano City Councilman Bruce Tyler WHAT: Signing of Sister City Agreement between the city of Richmond and city of Ségou of the Republic of Mali. WHEN: Noon, Tuesday, October 13, 2009 WHERE: 900 East Broad Street 2nd Floor Large Conference Room Richmond, VA 23219 BACKGROUND: Through the efforts of Richmond's Sister City Commission and locally based Virginia Friends of Mali, Richmond City Council passed a resolution on June 3, 2009 to pursue official sister city relationship with Ségou, Mali. In his letter of introduction to Mayor Simaga, Mayor Jones stated, “Our cities have many things in common, from our identity as capital cities, to the rivers that flow through our vast landscape, and the history and culture that make us educational and recreational destinations.”...

Immediate benefits of organizational restructuring realized As part of the recent reorganization of several city of Richmond departments, the city has implemented a new program aimed at reducing urban blight. The new program, being orchestrated by the Department of Public Works (DPW) will address the maintenance needs of vacant properties in four city precincts. To date, more than 250 privately owned properties, which previously came under the purview of the Department of Community Development (DCD), will now be mowed and maintained by DPW. “I believe this new program follows Mayor Dwight Jones’ dedication to ensure the best use of taxpayer dollars and implementing operational efficiencies,” said city Chief Administrative Officer Byron Marshall. “The Mayor takes great pride in the city, its beauty and rich history. As such, all neighborhoods will receive the same level of service to maintain the aesthetics and integrity of our community, as we work toward making Richmond a tier o...

Office of Real Estate Services is also part of change City of Richmond Chief Administrative Officer Byron C. Marshall, along with Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Economic and Community Development, Peter H. Chapman, put forth a restructuring plan today that will enable local government to pursue a more comprehensive and strategic approach to economic and community development. "We are announcing the first of several organizational changes that are designed to make the Richmond City Government a much more effective facilitator of both economic development and community revitalization," Marshall said. "The Mayor has asked for a more competent, responsive and technically proficient administration and I believe the changes being put forth will bring about many of the operational efficiencies he is looking for." Central to the changes being announced is the consolidation of the City's Office of Real Estate Services into a proposed Department of Econ...