CITY COUNCIL
A Richmond City Council committee advanced a measure Thursday that could create a $10.1 million pool of loan funding to aid economic development, create affordable housing and alleviate blight, among other projects…. timesdispatch.com
….Council on Monday night postponed a hearing on a deal that would finance a $50 million renovation….city’s $14 million share of the complicated Landmark financing proposal, which also includes an additional $36 million in naming rights, tax credits and private donations, would be included in the capital improvement budget …. timesdispatch.com
In direct response to public outcry with regard to the Richmond Government Administration recent mailing of personal property tax bills with less than two weeks notice to pay them, on Tuesday (May 2, 2012) Richmond City Council will hold a Special Council Meeting and vote to extend the deadline an entire month. This would extend the deadline for payment from the current date of May 1, 2012 – to a new date of June 1, 2012. This extension would include all tax payments for tangible personal property, business tangible personal property, machinery and tools, and personal property assessed for taxation by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
How things have changed. Only weeks (months?) ago Council meetings went on endlessly, angry speeches were made, political points were scored. Lately? Barely a whimper… rvanews.com
….The issue was raised after Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille requested an ordinance to allow slave trail commissioners to serve an unlimited number of three year terms. But almost all those terms have expired and the NCAAP says the proper procedures to fill the commission have been neglected….NBC12 reached out to councilwoman Newbille and commission Chair Delegate Delores McQuinn about the issue, but have heard no response…. nbc12.com
At the March 12 2012 City Council Informal Meeting, Councilor Robertson announced that all budget deliberations will start at 5:00 PM to give counselors and the public an opportunity to attend and know the start time. She was speaking at a meeting that started at 2:30 PM.
City Council 2012 Meeting Schedule :
JANUARY
03 6:00 PM Organizational Development Standing Committee
09 3:00 PM Informal Council Meeting
09 6:00 PM Formal Council Meeting
10 1:30 PM Finance & Economic Development Standing Committee Special Work Session
17 3:00 PM Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee
18 5:00 PM Health, Human Services and Education Standing Committee
19 3:00 PM Finance & Economic Development Standing Committee
23 3:00 PM Informal Council Meeting
23 6:00 PM Formal Council Meeting
24 5:00 PM Public Safety Standing Committee
26 4:00 PM Governmental Operations Standing Committee
FEBRUARY
06 5:00 PM Organizational Development Standing Committee
07 2:30 PM Finance & Economic Development Standing Committee Work Session
13 3:00 PM Informal Council Meeting
13 6:00 PM Formal Council Meeting
15 5:00 PM Health, Human Services and Education Standing Committee
16 3:00 PM Finance & Economic Development Standing Committee
21 3:00 PM Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee
23 4:00 PM Governmental Operations Standing Committee
27 3:00 PM Informal Council Meeting
27 6:00 PM Formal Council Meeting
28 5:00 PM Public Safety Standing Committee
MARCH
05 5:00 PM Organizational Development Standing Committee
06 1:00 PM Finance & Economic Development Standing Committee Special Work Session
06 3:00 PM Mayor’s Proposed Amended FY13 Budget Presentation
12 2:30 PM Informal Council Meeting
12 6:00 PM Formal Council Meeting
15 3:00 PM Finance & Economic Development Standing Committee
19 5:00 PM Public Safety Standing Committee
20 3:00 PM Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee
21 5:00 PM Health, Human Services and Education
22 4:00 PM Governmental Operations Standing Committee
26 2:30 PM Informal Council Meeting
26 6:00 PM Formal Council Meeting
While well-intentioned, the Sunshine Review evaluation is simplistic and misleading. First, the evaluation is limited to website content, puts form over substance and gives credit regardless of the quality of content. Second, it does not evaluate the transparency of the political process. All cities should maintain the top rating in the Sunshine Review.
Example: The Sunshine Review cites Anderson County, South Carolina, as a model in the “Meetings” category which includes a recommendation that minutes should be posted on-line . Anderson County minutes contain a verbatim transcript of the meeting. The City of Richmond minutes usually omit all councilor comments on matters deliberated.
….Chesterfield County, the city of Richmond and Richmond Public Schools were honored with Sunny Awards by the Alexandria-based Sunshine Review, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency…. timesdispatch.com
To: Jean Capel
February 26, 2012
Subject: Capel – Informal Minutes February 13th – Affordable Housing Trust Fund Oversight BoardDear Ms. Capel,
Will you please tell me the time on the audio recording for the following sentence in the draft minutes: “Ms. Robertson suggested that regulations to provide adequate oversight be developed by the director of Community and Economic Development.” I have listened to the recording but did not hear her say that. I may have just missed it.
Thank you,
….
To: Jean Capel
March 5, 2012Dear Ms. Capel,
Did you receive my email?
Thank you,
….
From: “Capel, Jean V. – Clerk’s Office”
March 6, 2012The formal clerk notes for that meeting were incorrect. We listened to the audio and you are correct. Those minutes will be amended.
“I think council is going to look at line items throughout the budget, including schools,” said 2nd District Councilman Charles R. Samuels. timesdispatch.com
….the organization, which is viewed by some as exclusive and unwilling to take input from the public, needs to improve its public image….Openings on the commission have gone unfilled…….a proposal to allow unlimited terms on the commission faced strong public opposition…. [councilor Cynthia I. Newbille] said Thursday that she is still considering whether, in light of the pushback, she will move forward with the unlimited-terms proposal….. timesdispatch.com