On Monday, June 1, the City of Richmond government facilities and offices will enter Phase 1 of the city’s operating plan. 
 
The City of Richmond workforce has been operative throughout the State of Emergency, providing essential services to residents and businesses despite the public health crisis. Phase 1 largely entails the phasing in of limited in-person services in key city facilities.
 
The city continues to urge residents to use available e-services. For questions about available city services, view this updated list.
 
First floor public access for walk-in payment services is provided in City Hall. 
Please note that not all departments or agencies in City Hall will be open for walk-in services. For departmental specifics, visit this updated list.
 
The following city facilities will be open to the public by appointment only, access only by security in each location: 
City Hall (with the exception of the Richmond Registrar’s Office and certain other first floor services);
730 East Broad Street;
Animal Care and Control;
Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities administrative building;
DPU plants and external campus;
DPW external campus; and
Richmond Police, Fire, and Emergency Communications headquarters.
Please note that not all departments or agencies in each building will be open to the public. For departmental specifics, visit this updated list.
 
To schedule appointments, residents should reference the city website or this list of city services available at this time.
 
Building security will assist customers on the first floor of facilities to maintain social distancing while receiving city services. The first floor of City Hall has a strict capacity limit. Building security will allow entry to public areas based upon the number of persons seeking services. 
 
As a result of capacity limitations, some customers may be asked to wait outside of city facilities until sufficient space is available. City staff will do everything possible to expedite potential wait times and appreciates the public’s patience at this time. 
 
Face-coverings are required in all local government buildings and when interacting with government employees, as ordered by Governor Northam. 
 
A limited number of face-coverings will be available in city hall for customers who do not have them, as supplies allow. It is strongly recommended that members of the public bring their own face coverings. Scarves, bandanas, handkerchiefs are all acceptable face coverings as long as the garment covers the mouth and nose. 
 
Residents are encouraged to conduct business with the city electronically whenever possible.
 
City facilities and offices will be open to all employees, though capacity will be reduced to allow for adequate social distancing. City operational plans provide for staffing levels to meet anticipated demands for in person services.  
 
As a reminder, the Office of the Richmond General Registrar is open to the public for candidate filing, absentee balloting and voting related matters. Appointments are not required but are encouraged for matters other than in-person absentee voting, as only two people will be allowed in Room 105 at a time. Access to the Office of the General Registrar in Room 105 will be through the Ninth Street entrance only. Access to in-person absentee voting will be through the Broad Street entrance only. 
 
The Department of Social Services will remain closed to the public. Clients should reference this document to learn how to best access services and apply for benefits. 
 
The following is a list of changes from current operating procedure that will go into effect June 1:
 
The Finance Department will take customer payments of tax and utility bills in person by walk-in at City Hall. Customers are encouraged to take advantage of online and contactless payment methods, such as drop boxes. 
 
Richmond Public Library will begin contactless pickup of holds and requests starting June 3. Contactless pickups are available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Patrons may return items to the outdoor book drops starting June 3. 
 
Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ administrative offices will be open by appointment only. Limited tennis courts at Byrd Park, Battery Park and Forest Hill Park and limited pickleball courts at Forest Hill Park and Randolph Community Center will be open for use starting Saturday, May 30. Public restrooms and community centers remain closed. 
 
Please note that all parks remain open for recreational use. Social distancing in parks is required, and face-coverings are recommended in busier spaces where consistent social distancing is challenging. 
 
The Department of Public Utilities facilities and customer service stations will be open to customers, vendors and contractors by appointment only. 
 
The Department of Public Works will practice enhanced cleaning and security measures in City Hall. Enhanced security is intended to limit close personal contact and promote social distancing. For example, only the Ninth Street entrance to City Hall will be open in order to check for and distribute face coverings, and only three employees will be allowed in an elevator at one time. 
 
The Office of the City Treasurer will take visitors by appointment only. Those who wish to receive notary services should make an appointment. 
 
For a list of available city services, click here.

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“The murder of George Floyd pains me deeply. It’s a pain long felt by people who look like me, a pain ingrained in the bones of Black Americans.
 
“My heart breaks for the Floyd family and the Minneapolis community, but this is bigger than one city. This is a burden we all bear.
 
“Yes, we must interrogate and condemn the America that treats Black lives as expendable, whether at the hands of the police or the coronavirus. But it’s not enough to believe this is all about changing hearts and minds.
 
“America was built on the backs of slaves, and our city is still plagued by the inequities that rose from this shameful foundation. Healing this country will require systems-level change to abolish the injustices that continue to oppress and pin down Black Americans until they can’t breathe.
 
“It is the responsibility of us all – no matter our race or station – to question and transform institutions predicated on racism, and to do so with love in our hearts and the names of our lost brothers and sisters on our lips.”
 
Levar M. Stoney, Mayor, City of Richmond

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On Thursday, Mayor Stoney announced that the City of Richmond will cautiously move into Phase 1 of Forward Virginia, the state’s reopening plan. 
 
“When I look at the picture in totality, given the added tools at our disposal, the current trends in our local data and my faith in Richmonders to look out for one another, I believe that Richmond can cautiously move into Phase 1 on Friday, May 29,” said Mayor Stoney at Thursday’s press conference.
 
During the first delay that the City of Richmond requested, the Stoney administration and Richmond City Health District expanded testing efforts, implemented a contact tracing effort, ensured every COVID-19 positive Richmonder will be able to isolate safely and securely with supported isolation, and advocated for a statewide mask requirement.
 
The city initially requested a modified Phase 1 reopening that maintained restrictions on places of worship and personal care and grooming services, as mass gatherings and close personal contact for extended periods of time both significantly increase chance of community spread.
 
Because the governor denied the city’s modified plan for reopening, Richmond will move into Phase 1 of Forward Virginia, the state’s reopening plan, with strong recommendations reflecting the mayor’s proposed modifications. Local guidance and helpful links to state guidance are available here. The state has yet to provide guidance on what Phases 2 and 3 will include.
 
The mayor detailed a number of best practices for residents and business owners to ensure that the city moves into Phase 1 cautiously. The best practices emerged from conversations between the Stoney administration and members of the business community, faith leadership, and health professionals.
 
All residents who are medically able to should wear a face-covering that covers the mouth and nose when in public spaces. The wearing of a face covering does not negate the need for 6-foot social distancing.
Faith communities should continue to meet virtually if possible. If in-person meetings are absolutely necessary, the mayor strongly recommends faith groups meet outside while practicing strict social distancing and enforcing the face-covering requirement. 
Food and drink establishments that choose to offer outdoor service at half capacity are asked to request a name and contact information of patrons who dine in for contact tracing purposes. This practice is voluntary for both patrons and restaurants. However, collecting this small amount of information for each dine-in party will go far in assisting the Richmond City Health District in tracing and containing outbreaks. Guidance on this practice is available here.
 
The mayor made two requests of the state: to continue to assist the city in further expanding testing capacity and in providing adequate face-coverings and hand sanitizer throughout the capital city. 
 
“Quite frankly, we’re going to need more support from the state for our residents and our businesses to reopen safely and sustainably,” the mayor noted in his appeal. “I make these recommendations and requests of the state because, as has been my mantra this entire pandemic. Reopening should be slow and steady.”
 
“When public health is on the line, blindly pushing forward is not an option. Decisions must be thoughtful, and they must be based in our collective knowledge of and love for our city.” 
 
For updated guidance on reopening in Richmond, visit www.rvastrong.org/reopeningguidance.
 
To learn how to help and get help, visit www.rvastrong.org.
 
For updates on the city’s response to COVID-19, visit www.richmondgov.com/covid19.
 
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Today Mayor Stoney announced that the City of Richmond, in partnership with the Richmond City Health District, will offer COVID-19 positive individuals with demonstrated need an opportunity to isolate safely and securely in hotel units.
 
Research shows that diligent testing, contact tracing and supported isolation will limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. “Boxing in the virus” in this manner requires that every COVID-19 positive patient effectively self-isolate, ensuring they do not spread the virus to family members, friends or the general public.
 
However, a prolonged, secure period of self-isolation is not possible for many Richmonders.
 
“The truth is that not all people are safer at home,” said the mayor. “Some aren’t fortunate enough to have a home large enough to isolate from loved ones.”
 
Using the CARES Act funding from the federal government made available last week by the state, the city will offer COVID-19 positive individuals with a demonstrated need to isolate securely a space to do so.
 
The city and Richmond City Health District will partner with the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care, a coalition of service providers with expertise in the intersection of physical security and human services due to their charge of aiding those experiencing homelessness.
 
Basic needs of those who choose to isolate, such as food and COVID-19 related primary care, will be funded through the Family Crisis Fund and safely net provider network.
 
The program will be facilitated by Richmond City Health District.
 
“Let me be clear: this program is specifically for those who cannot isolate safely, not a vacation for those who can,” said Mayor Stoney. “These COVID-19 patients will be cared for and sheltered for the good of themselves, their families, and the entire city.”
 
The Mayor ended with an appeal to the city’s communal sense of unity and compassion: “I know you’d want it for your family members; Richmond is my family. Let’s take care of each other.”
 
Upcoming testing events:

Friday, May 22 at Eastlawn Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, May 27 at Eastern Henrico Recreation Center and Southwood Apartments from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 30 at Martin Luther King Middle School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
 
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In response to the state granting the City of Richmond a two-week delay in entering Phase One of the statewide reopening plan, the Stoney administration will be ramping up the city’s efforts to support a safe approach to reopening in the near-term.
 
Today, the administration announced plans to use the next two weeks to expand testing access, distribute more face masks and hand sanitizer throughout the city, support underserved communities, expand safe spaces for social distancing and address the needs of Richmond’s small business community.
 
Expanding testing capacity and collaboration with safety net
 
Four weeks ago, the City of Richmond and Richmond City Health District began hosting COVID-19 testing events in the city’s areas of highest needs. RCHD has since conducted six testing events in the city, in and adjacent to public housing communities and along the Hull Street corridor in Southside.
 
The city now plans to significantly expand public testing capacity with a continued emphasis on making testing accessible to priority communities with higher vulnerability to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
With support from the Virginia Department of Health to ensure adequate capacity at the state lab, RCHD will organize community testing events in high-need areas three times a week for Richmond residents that meet screening criteria. RCHD will use epidemiological surveillance data to inform priorities for those parts of the city that may benefit most from increased access to public testing. This will include revisiting sites where testing has previously been offered.
 
In addition to the testing event at Diversity Richmond on May 19, the following events have been scheduled in the coming week:
May 21, Tuckahoe Middle School from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.; and
May 22, East Lawn Shopping Center from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
 
City residents should contact RCHD’s COVID-19 Call Center to find out if they qualify and to register for these testing events: 804-205-3501.
 
To evaluate the outcomes of these expanded testing efforts, in addition to results from our hospital systems and network of other providers, the city will monitor the newly added data from the Virginia Department of Health about the locality’s percent positivity, or what percentage of tests administered result in positives. The city, VDH, and RCHD will use this data to inform plans for the gradual reopening timeline.
 
Ensuring a connection to a primary care provider for all residents who test positive for COVID-19 is critical to helping Richmonders monitor their symptoms and manage any underlying conditions. The city will be collaborating with members of the local safety net to facilitate access to primary care, and RCHD will invest in professional navigation services to match residents with providers and other needed supportive services. The city’s commitment is to make professional medical care available to all residents with a confirmed case of COVID-19, regardless of those residents’ insurance status.
 
Safety net providers will also be able to expand their testing operations, working with the city to add capacity. As increasing numbers of city residents are able to access testing, the Mayor’s Office, RCHD and VDH will be able to more effectively monitor the progression and trends of the disease in the city.
 
Providing face coverings and sanitizing supplies
 
A priority intervention to protect the health of all of our neighbors is for everyone to wear a cloth or disposable face covering whenever in public places or going out of the house. The science is clear that this can dramatically improve outcomes, driving down rates of disease transmission. The City of Richmond is invested in ensuring that residents can and will lead the way in making face covering a new, positive practice the entire community can embrace.
 
On May 12, the city began distributing 40,000 units of face coverings and sanitizing supplies provided by the state for Richmond communities that may benefit from immediate access to these resources. The city will continue that distribution, coordinated through the Richmond Fire Department.
 
The city will also provide 500 units of face coverings and sanitizing supplies to each member of Richmond City Council for distribution within their district based on their specialized knowledge of need.
 
Supporting small businesses
 
The Stoney administration recognizes the challenges small businesses face at this time. Existing programs remain open for application. Businesses can apply for the Richmond Small Business Disaster Loan here. The $20,000 zero-interest loan has a six-month payment deferment period and is then repaid over 48 months.
 
Restaurants can apply for the First Responder Meals Program here. Participating restaurants are paid by the city for providing meals for public safety first responders while on duty.
 
Mayor Stoney has sent another letter asking for federal assistance to U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. He strongly requests that the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program be modified and that Virginia’s Senators support Senator Booker’s Small Business Local Relief Act, which would send $50 billion in direct assistance to localities and states to establish and grow local relief funds. He will be in ongoing contact with both senators.
 
In addition to federal advocacy, the city is working regionally to ensure small businesses are prepared to keep customers and employees as safe as possible throughout the reopening timeline.
 
Utilizing public space productively and safely
 
The city is preparing to assist businesses in navigating potential patio expansions by standing up an internal task force comprised of representatives from the Department of Public Works, Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, and Department of Planning and Development Review. Once the data indicates a negative trend in percent positivity and the city enters Phase One of reopening, this effort will both support the Richmond business community to more safely offer Phase One outdoor dining and create a network that allows for ample and ongoing social distancing in public spaces.
 
To submit a proposal for new or additional patio space or inquire for more information, please visit www.rvastrong.org/outdoorseating and fill out the interest form.
 
The Stoney administration has sent a request to members of Richmond City Council and their staff asking for their help in coordinating with local merchant and neighborhood associations to propose equitable opportunities for open streets, pedestrian-friendly spaces, and expanded patios with room to maintain social distancing. By working with local associations, council members will be able to bring forward optimal opportunities for the creative use of streets, sidewalks and public spaces that are logistically feasible and have community buy-in.
 
The recommendations will then be reviewed by an internal city team with staff from the Department of Public Works, Richmond Police Department, Department of Planning and Development Review and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.
 
For updates on the city’s response to COVID-19, visit richmondgov.com/covid19.
 
For ways to help and to get help, visit the city’s resource hub at RVAStrong.org.
 
For a complete list of available city services, view the list here. If you have follow-up questions, contact RVA311. 

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