Meeting - January 22, 2024

No representative from the 3rd Police Precinct attended.

Update from Elisabeth Linka, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Richmond:

• A USPS town hall will be planned in February or March to address mail delivery and package thefts; USPS has declined to participate.

Updates from Carla Childs, City of Richmond Department of Public Works:

• The City is working towards its goal of installing 200 speed humps across the city (156 currently installed).

• The City is working with the Richmond Police Department to install photo enforcement in school zones.

• There are currently 2,900 open requests for concrete sidewalk repair and 600+ requests for brick sidewalk repair.

• Regarding Maymont neighborhood sidewalks:

• Phase 1 was completed in September 2023.

• Currently moving into Phase 2, which will install sidewalks on the south side of Colorado Avenue (from Hampton to Georgia and from Greenville to Carter); also will include installing curb ramps on Pennsylvania Avenue but no sidewalk work is planned on Pennsylvania Avenue. Four trees will be removed on Colorado Avenue, all of which are growing into power lines and need to be removed anyway.

• Phase 2 sidewalk plans are at 90% completion.

• Neighbor asked how to submit requests for sidewalk repair. Ms. Childs said they should be submitted through 311. The response time could be up to 6 months.

• Neighbor asked about planting new trees as part of sidewalk Phase 2. Ms. Childs said she would look into that.

• Neighbor asked about the City cleaning new curb ramp areas that collect debris and ice. Ms. Childs recommended submitting a 311 ticket for that work.

Updates from Allen McCown, City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities:

• The repair work for the Texas Beach pedestrian bridge is at 90% design.

• A new temporary access road down to the bridge will be needed in order to complete repairs.

• The goal is to bid and start the project by summer 2024. Significant coordination with CSX will take time.

• The goal is for North Bank Trail to remain open as much as possible during construction. The construction duration is to be determined.

• There are currently two James River Park System park rangers for education and monitoring of parks without a police presence. Aimee Bushman, Park Ranger Supervisor, can come speak to us in the future if desired.

Updates from Amy Robins, 5th District Councilmember Liaison:

• City administration has agreed to let seniors into elderly tax relief program with payment plans.

• Stephanie is going to introduce a plan to retroactively let seniors access the tax relief program.

• Currently there is a 14 day time period to respond to owed taxes, and this will most likely be moved to a 30 day period because it can be hard for residents to plan for unexpected property tax bills.

• The Riverview Park playground is on the radar of City of Richmond administration for Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) funding.

• Homelessness in the city is on the rise with an increasing eviction docket.

• Funding has been added for the resource center at the new homeless shelter on Chamberlayne Avenue.

• There will be repaving of asphalt alleys throughout the city (not converting gravel alleys to asphalt but repairing and repaving asphalt alleys).

• Traffic calming is the biggest issue that folks reach out to Amy and Stephanie’s office for.

• Fox Elementary School is planning to reopen in the Fan in 2025. The Colorado Avenue speed humps will not be removed when Fox Elementary School is relocated.