Mayor Levar M. Stoney on Saturday was named an “OUTstanding Virginian” by Equality Virginia for his advocacy, outreach and progressive policies to champion equality for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The mayor was among eight honorees who were recognized Saturday night at Equality Virginia’s 2019 annual dinner.

“Every day we work to make the City of Richmond a welcoming, inclusive and equitable place to live, work and play,” the mayor said. “I am humbled and honored to accept this award from Equality Virginia and grateful for the many contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to building One Richmond.”

Under Mayor Stoney, the city raised its Municipal Equality Index (MEI) score from a 42 to a 94 in 2018 – making it the highest MEI score in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, Richmond was named an MEI All-Star by the Human Rights Campaign for being a city boldly leading the way toward LGBTQ+ equality. The key items that made the score increase possible were:

• Passage of the Human Rights Commission and non-discrimination laws, which protect Richmonders from discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age, economic status, sex, disability, religion, and sexual orientation and gender identity
• Providing transgender-inclusive health benefits for city employees
• Establishing an LGBTQ+ liaison in the Mayor’s Office

Mayor Stoney’s first official act after taking office was to officiate a same-sex marriage. Last year, during LGBTQ Pride Week in Richmond he raised the Pride flag, signifying that ALL are welcome in the City of Richmond. He also installed Virginia Pride artwork by artist Jumper Maybach in his front office.

Later this year, Richmond will host the Diversity Sports Jubilee, a multisport tournament featuring LGBTQ+ athletes from around the world.

To view the Equality Virginia video of Mayor Stoney, click here.

For more information on Equality Virginia, please contact Vee Lamneck, Deputy Director at vlamneck@equalityvirginia.org or call (804) 643 – 4816.

~Scores range from 0 to 100, or failed to good~

The City of Richmond’s Department of Public Works (DPW) is now making Pavement Condition Index Ratings (the PCI Rating) of every street within the city limits available to the public. The interactive map will be updated as paving projects are completed. The PCI Rating is one of several tools the City of Richmond now uses to prioritize and track its paving program and other infrastructure work.
“This is another way we keep the public informed,” said Richmond’s DPW Director Bobby Vincent. “It’s a great tool now available for citizens to use and track the progress of our transportation infrastructure maintenance.”

Other factors that aid in paving prioritization include information about utility projects, economic development projects and closures of streets that play host to multiple special events on an annual basis.
The application is available on the city’s website here.
 

The Facilities Plan adopted by the Richmond City School Board in December of 2017 including the following estimates for new school construction:

    •    George Mason Elementary School:         $25 million
    •    E.S.H. Greene Elementary School:          $35 million
    •    New Middle School on Hull Street:           $50 million

These estimates have been updated now that the procurement process for the design and construction of all three schools has concluded:

    •    George Mason Elementary School:         $36 million
    •    E.S.H. Greene Elementary School:          $42 million
    •    New Middle School on Hull Street:           $62 million

It is now clear the initial estimates, provided in 2017, under-represented the true cost of construction. Both RPS and the city had concerns this might be the case, which is why both entities discussed engaging a third party to evaluate the costs of rebuilding and/or renovating all RPS schools. The RPS administration brought this proposal to the school board on September 4, 2018 (see screen shot below). The cost of such an evaluation was initially estimated at $100,000, to be split evenly between the city and RPS. Upon further investigation, it was found the price would actually be closer to $200,000, or more. Given the higher cost, the school board decided not to proceed.

Not only were the initial cost estimates low, they also did not take into account the following:
    •    Construction costs have increased significantly over the past two years.
    •    The size of Greene Elementary School has been expanded from 650 students to 750 students.
    •    Per the policy adopted by the Richmond City Council (Res. 2015-R8-15), all schools must be LEED Silver certified, which adds significant expense.
    •    The current estimates include a 2% contingency, which if not necessary, will go unspent.

Background on the Joint Construction Team

After the passage of the meals tax last year, the City of Richmond and Richmond Public Schools agreed to develop a joint body, the Joint Construction Team (JCT), to manage the process of building new schools. This group includes the CAO, the mayor’s chief of staff, the superintendent, the RPS board chair and other representatives from each agency. The JCT meets weekly for one hour and only proceeds on key decisions when both parties agree. JCT representatives provide monthly updates to the school board and minutes from all JCT meetings are uploaded to RPS “Board Docs.”

Motorists who drive regularly around Richmond will need to take note of some changes in speed limits in some areas. In accordance with Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s Safe and Healthy Streets Challenge and the Vision Zero initiative, the Department of Public Works, Richmond Police Department and VCU Police are teaming up to promote the Mayor’s message as safety projects are underway.

Speed reductions from 35 mph to 25 mph on US Route 1 include:
•    Jefferson Davis Highway from Albany Avenue to Hull Street
•    Cowardin Avenue from Hull Street to Semmes Avenue
•    Belvidere Street from Idlewood Avenue to Leigh Street

The decision to lower the speed came as a result of modifications in the GRTC Bus Network; higher density land use and the growth of VCU; exposure of pedestrians and cyclists to higher than average traffic volumes and wide crossings; and new signal timings that promote safer speeds and less illegal speeding. 

Speed reductions from 35 mph to 30 mph also include Forest Hill Avenue/Semmes Avenue between Prince George Road and Cowardin Avenue.

In addition to the ongoing project to retime signalized intersections citywide (e.g using lead pedestrian intervals at certain high volume intersections), plans are underway to deploy additional high visibility crosswalk markings at intersections with traffic signals on major federal and state routes.

Various pedestrian safety-focused improvements are also planned at signalized intersections at Rowe Street; Idlewood Avenue and Spring Street; Cowardin Avenue and Semmes Avenue, Hull Street and Cowardin Avenue and US Route 1 and Decatur Street in the coming years.

Key points in the Mayor’s Safe and Healthy Streets Challenge for residents and visitors to the City are:
•    Share the Road
•    Obey Speed Limits
•    Buckle In
•    Avoid Distractions
•    Drive Sober

Vision Zero is a multidisciplinary global strategy aimed at eliminating all traffic crashes resulting in fatalities or severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy and equitable mobility for all.

Our current safety campaigns are focused on transportation users (people who walk, bike, ride transit and drive) and are based on the Mayor’s challenge and guidance from the VCU Brandcenter. 

Mayor Levar M. Stoney will be hosting community town hall meetings over the coming weeks to discuss his proposed FY2020 budget. The mayor presented his fully balanced budget to Richmond City Council on Wednesday, March 6, which includes an investment of $18.5 million for Richmond Public Schools, $16.2 million for roads and sidewalks, $2.9 million for affordable housing, an additional $965,000 for increased GRTC service and $485,000 in funding for eviction diversion.

Click here to view the presentation shown at each meeting.
Below are the scheduled Town Hall meetings:

Thursday, March 21
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Southside
Southside Community Center
6335 Old Warwick Rd.

Wednesday, March 27
6:30 – 8 p.m.
West End
Thomas Jefferson High School
4100 W. Grace St.

Tuesday, April 2
6:30 – 8 p.m.
Northside
Northside Family YMCA
4207 Old Brook Rd.
For more information, please contact Tameka Jefferson at Tameka.Jefferson@richmondgov.com or call (804) 646-6936.