SAFETY
How do you balance privacy and your safety? Richmond’s public safety committee discussed rolling out cameras on city streets Monday night. Link
City officials estimate the cost for reopening at $3.7 million, including capital improvements, facility preparation, transportation, security, housing, payroll, training and supplies. Link
The report tells board members when it comes to both mandatory and non-mandatory standards, the city is in 100% compliance. Meeting those benchmarks and reopening the facility is costing the city about $3.7 million. Link
With its members agreeing that safety trumps aesthetics, the Richmond Urban Design Committee unanimously endorsed a city Public Works Department plan to restrict access to the Robert E. Lee Bridge’s median gap, where an 18-year-old Henrico County man fell to his death last year.
The committee, which advises the city Planning Commission, weighed two competing recommendations — the other coming from the Department of Planning and Development Review — to address the gap, which runs about 1,000 feet from the northern end of the spans to the center, city officials say. Link
The Richmond Police Department gave more than half a million dollars to the ROC for crime prevention programs at two Richmond high schools. Link
However, the plan will not address who is responsible for knocking down a 150-foot portion of the brick wall on city property almost seven months ago without a permit to do so.
Officials believe the wall predates the Civil War, and a section of the 8-foot tall wall came down in October as work on the road got started. Link
A city audit reveals that the Department of Public Works is not completing or keeping track of city sidewalk repairs, and could be potentially wasting taxpayer money.
CBS 6 also found out that crews were repairing sidewalks and not calling Miss Utility beforehand to mark underground lines.Link
Based on the results and findings of the audit methodology employed, the auditor concluded that controls and procedures need to improve significantly to effectively and efficiently manage Roadway Maintenance and CIP sidewalk operations.
Policies and procedures are inadequate
Appropriate information is not gathered to determine the workload
Adequate oversight is not in place
Recordkeeping is inadequate which results in incomplete operational information
Compliance with regulations is not assured
Proper procurement and inventory controls are lacking
Adequate performance standards do not exist
City’s step increases, costing an extra $1.4M in next fiscal year, will delay recruitment. Link
The city plans to reassign the Second Responders to the department of Social Services. Via email one social worker said she is heartbroken that the unit is being shut down. She said the work they do is critical and she said those families in need during times of crisis will be impacted the most. Link
Under the plan, police and firefighters advance one step per year, getting a 2.5 percent salary increase with each one, until they reach step 11, according to a city memo. Then they wait five years to reach step 12, where there is a 10-percent increase, another five years to reach 13, an 11-percent increase, and another five years to reach 14, where there is a 12-percent increase. Link