The Organizing Council of the Capital Region Collaborative (CRC) today appointed Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney and Dr. Gary L. Rhodes, president of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, to chair the regional partnership for 2017. The CRC’s Organizing Council also named Mark L. Mullinix, the first vice president and chief operating officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and Angela Y. Cabell, a member of the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors, as co-vice chairs for 2017. “Our success as individual jurisdictions is tied to our success as a region,” said Mayor Stoney. “None of us can do it alone, but working together on the issues that unite us all, we can meet the real challenges we face and take advantage of the opportunities we have to propel our region forward. The Collaborative is the engine that will drive our successful partnership.” The CRC is a metropolitan leadership organization that “engages government, business and community stakeholders in a process of identif...

Mayor Levar M. Stoney is pleased to announce the following appointments: Jon Baliles, Senior Policy Advisor for Innovation In his role, Jon will help the Mayor improve the efficiency and accountability of government operations, increase the city’s economic vitality and growth, and help chart a course for planning the future of our neighborhoods and commercial areas. Over the course of the last decade, Jon has had the unique experience of serving in all three branches of city government and across multiple departments. He was hired by Mayor Wilder in February 2008 and later served as the Assistant to the Director of Planning and Development Review from January 2009 - July 2012. He resigned his position to successfully run for City Council and served in that capacity from 2013 - 2016. “Jon brings with him a deep knowledge of City Hall and Richmond and will be an invaluable asset in helping us transform the expectations of city government,” said Mayor Stoney. In addition to his city serv...

Mayor Stoney, Richmond's youngest ever mayor at age 35, was sworn in by Judge David M. Hicks in a brief ceremony that was officiated by the Rev. Tyrone Nelson and attended by members of his extended family and close friends, as well as members of City Council and Gov. Terry McAuliffe and his wife, Dorothy. Read More

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...