Yesterday, I learned about yet another crash in the City in which a driver hit and killed a pedestrian. Richmond Police Department's Crash Team is actively investigating this tragic incident-the second pedestrian death in just over a week.

It's another heartbreaking loss, and my thoughts are with the family of the victim.

Just this past October, on Halloween, one of the deadliest nights of the year for pedestrians, I gathered with community members, advocates, policy makers, members of the City's transportation teams, RPD, and others to reaffirm our commitment to Vision Zero, the City's goal to eliminate traffic deaths.

Today, in light of this recent tragedy, I am asking my team to identify urgent opportunities to improve safety for residents who walk, ride, or roll on the Southside, while also prioritizing critical Vision Zero policies that require longer-term implementation. We know the strategies that work-lowering speed limits in residential areas, creating high-visibility crosswalks, adding curb extensions, creating more protected bike and bus lanes-and we need to move with urgency and precision to focus our investments in the places they will matter most.

As I shared last week, I have also asked my Chief Administrative Officer to consider immediate actions that can increase safety at the downtown intersection on East Broad Street and 10th where a pedestrian was hit and killed by driver while crossing in a crosswalk. I have spoken with VCU Health leadership, and I know VCU is also committed to addressing these safety issues alongside the City.

Finally, I urge every driver: slow down, put your phone away. We cannot accept traffic deaths as normal. The only way we will achieve the goal of zero traffic-related deaths, is by committing to a culture of safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and changing our behaviors to prioritize safety for all.

-Danny

BPOL tax threshold doubles from $250,000 to $500,000; Filing deadline is Mar. 1, 2026

Richmond, VA - The City's Department of Finance has launched upgrades to its RVA Business Portal (rvapay.rva.gov/bpp), making it easier for businesses to operate, stay compliant, and pay their taxes online and on time. Business owners are encouraged to log in and file their business-related taxes before the Mar. 1 filing deadline.

"Making it easier for people to pay their taxes is smart government. The simpler the process, the easier to comply. When we focus on improving access and removing barriers on the front end, we spend less time (and money) chasing delinquent payments on the back end. This portal is part of that shift-better systems, better service, better outcomes," said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II.

The updated RVA Business Portal includes new features to help make the filing process easier and quicker:

• Copy Assets from Prior Year: For Business Personal Property filers, a new "Copy from 2025" button lets you bring forward all your 2025 assets as a starting point. Descriptions, costs, and depreciation adjust automatically.
• Bill & Payment History: View up to five years of billing and payment history directly in the portal, with options to export to PDF or Excel.
• Exception Dashboard: A new compliance view shows outstanding items at a glance, including unfiled periods, balances due, and missing documentation.
• Enhanced Document Management: Upload and access supporting documents across all your license types from a single account view.

"Richmond's small business community is the backbone of our local economy," said Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance. "The focus on making improvements to our online systems will make it easier to conduct business in the city."

Additionally, beginning January 1, 2026, the Business, Professional, and Occupational License (BPOL) tax threshold doubles from $250,000 to $500,000. The change means thousands of Richmond businesses with gross receipts between $5,000 and $500,000 will now pay only a $30 flat license fee. The increase, approved through ORD. 2024-187, is designed to reduce the compliance burden on small businesses while maintaining essential City services.

Business owners can access the portal at rvapay.rva.gov/bpp or schedule virtual or in-person appointments at rva.gov/finance. Questions can be directed to RVA 311 at 804-646-7000 or rva311.com.

All consent order requirements have been met, switchgear project completed

Richmond, VA - One year after a major water system failure, Mayor Danny Avula marks a year of decisive action that has strengthened the region's water system, restored compliance, and significantly improved preparedness for the future.

Over the past 12 months, the City has completed infrastructure upgrades, met all consent order requirements, and rebuilt leadership and operations across the Department of Public Utilities. Richmond's water treatment plant is safe, resilient, and better prepared to serve residents and regional customers through day-to-day operations, extreme weather, and emergencies.

Mayor Danny Avula said, "One year ago, we faced a challenge that tested our community. Today, I can confidently say that Richmond is stronger than ever. We've invested in people, processes, and technology to ensure safe, reliable water for every resident and our regional customers. Last year was incredibly difficult, but it is firmly in the rearview mirror."

A Year of Action and Improvement

Since January 2025, Mayor Avula and his team, including Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald and Scott Morris, Director, Department of Public Utilities (DPU), have implemented sweeping changes to ensure reliability and resilience, beginning with rebuilding leadership and operational capacity.

Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Director Scott Morris, a professional engineer hired by Mayor Avula in January 2025, emphasized the department's shift in approach: "We've taken every lesson from last year and turned it into action. Our systems are upgraded, our leadership is stronger, and our focus is now on prevention, not just reacting to a crisis. Our commitment is delivering excellence. I'm proud of the team for the work it took to get us here, and the future of DPU."

The restructured DPU leadership team now brings over 140 years of combined experience, most of it from professional engineers. New Deputy Directors oversee Water Operations, Compliance, Engineering Services, Administration, and Customer Service, supported by senior staff at the Water Treatment Plant. Additional operators have been added to every shift to strengthen operational capacity.

Since the January 2025 water outage, DPU has advanced a series of capital and infrastructure improvements focused on strengthening the physical systems that keep the Water Treatment Plant operating safely and reliably. These investments modernize core electrical and pumping systems, add redundancy, and strengthen containment to build a more resilient plant.

Key 2025 infrastructure upgrades include:

• Upgrades to SCADA and filter uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to increase runtime capacity
• Replacement and repair of filter effluent valves
• Ongoing integration of backup generators
• Repair of leaks and construction of additional secondary containment
• Redesign of overflow pumping systems
• Replacement or repair of finished water pumps

These efforts culminated in November 2025 with completion of the long-term switchgear project, delivering a critical infrastructure safeguard that did not exist during the January water outage. The newly installed and fully tested Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) ensures uninterrupted power to the Water Treatment Plant even in the event of primary and secondary power loss. This milestone significantly strengthens system reliability and represents a major step forward in modernizing Richmond's water infrastructure.

Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald said, "A commitment to excellence and accountability has guided each and every decision made during this past year as we continue to improve the water system. Richmonders deserve nothing less. Our best-in-class compliance rate and impactful capital improvement projects are proof of our commitment to Richmond residents and our willingness to do the hard things that improve the services we provide. That's our commitment to a Thriving Richmond."

100% of Consent Order Requirements Have Been Met

Additional key milestones achieved over the past year include:

• 93% of all internal and external recommendations (EPA, VDH, HNTB, SEH) have been completed; remaining items are tied to planned capital projects.
• All consent order requirements have been met, with the latest quarterly update submitted October 10, 2025.
• Continued compliance with the EPA required Consumer Confidence Report, which was submitted ahead of schedule and notes 100% compliance with all federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for the reporting period.

Prepared for the Future

Richmond's water system is now equipped with redundant systems, strengthened emergency and communication plans, and a highly trained workforce prepared to respond quickly and effectively to any potential disruption.

Regional Coordination and Partnerships

Over the past year, the City strengthened coordination with state and regional partners to improve shared infrastructure planning, emergency preparedness, and long-term resilience.

The City worked closely with state and regional partners through regular meetings and coordinated capital planning efforts, including:

• May 30: Initial Capital Improvement Program (CIP) coordination meeting with regional partners
• June 30: Joint convening of Richmond and Henrico bodies
• August 18: Follow-up regional CIP meeting
• August 25: Regional emergency preparedness exercise
• September 30: Coordinated field testing along the 36" Hermitage Road water transmission main with Richmond, Hanover, and Henrico

"I appreciate that Mayor Avula and his team have been working assiduously on remedying this. Unfortunately, our water infrastructure is old and outdated and it will take time-and money-to fix it. I'm committed to making that happen so no one ever goes without access to clean, safe water again. As you probably remember, sadly, some of our neighboring communities were also impacted, and I am committed to working with my regional colleagues to fix this for the entire area and to ensure we all have a first class, modern water infrastructure that cannot and will not fail us," said Delegate Betsy Carr, Virginia House of Delegates.

With operational improvements, compliance goals, and leadership changes in place, Richmond is better prepared than ever to protect public health and deliver safe, reliable water to the communities it serves. This year of progress reflects the City's commitment to getting the fundamentals right and building a Thriving Richmond for today and the future. One year later, Richmond's water system is stronger, safer, and ready.

Photos available for use

Holiday Heroes: Trash Collection in the City of Richmond

Star Rowland, Ramon Singletary, and Christopher Brown will tell you immediately that their jobs are primarily about communication. "Trust plays a huge factor," Chris explains, and Star agrees. "You make a bond with the folks on the truck."

As a trash collection driver, Star's role is to get collectors like Ramon and Chris to the next site safely and to be an extra set of eyes while they load up the truck.

A day in Trash Collection

A workday starts earliest for drivers, especially during cold weather. They check the vehicle and warm it up so that everything is ready to go for the collectors. Then they're off, running a different route each day of the week. They can spend 5 or 6 hours on the truck early in the morning before they bring all the trash back to the transfer station. There, everything gets loaded onto a tractor trailer and goes to the landfill.

There's even more to load up during the holidays. The team notices more trash, and more food waste in particular means more animals. "When I see collectors start rushing, I know there's an animal in the can," Star says. Ramon and Chris have encountered raccoons, squirrels, rats, and even a snake or two on their routes!

Animals are just one of the hazards a Solid Waste team encounters on the job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists trash collection as one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.

"The only way trash collection works is if everybody is watching everybody," Ramon says. "Our lives are on the line every day."

Solid Waste teams are trained and certified in safety strategies, but keeping our trash collectors safe should be a community-wide effort. Here are some simple things you can do to help collection teams gather your trash quickly and safely.

• Drive carefully around collection vehicles. Drivers are working hard to keep their collectors safe, and their lines of sight are limited. Support the safety of our workforce by slowing down and keeping eyes open for collectors when you see a truck.
• Leave out the dangerous stuff. Most cans have a sticker listing items that can't be thrown away, like gas cans, propane tanks, and hazardous chemicals. Some of these items can damage a truck or cause explosions when they're compacted, and collectors have had chemicals like bleach spray out onto their uniforms. Check out disposal options for those items through the East Richmond Road Convenience Center.
• Bag your trash. The team says that when loose trash goes into a can, wind can send it flying. It's also more likely that an animal will get into the refuse. Tie your bags closed before dropping them into your can. "We're trash collectors, but we shouldn't have to clean up after folks," Star says.
• Place the can at the edge of your property on collection day. It can be unsafe for collectors to walk through a property to get a can, and it slows down an already tight schedule. Check your collection day and make sure cans are ready to go that morning. If you have mobility challenges that make moving your can difficult, you can review the City's Back Door Service policy to see if you're eligible.
• Reduce the weight of each can. When lids are regularly open and overflowing, water can get in and weigh down trash. Same with bulk items; the truck tippers can snap off if they lift a can that's too heavy. Order another can by calling 311, and make sure your larger items go to bulk collection instead.
• Read your notes. When collectors notice an issue with your can, they'll often leave a green or orange ticket on top of the can. If you spot a colorful card, take the time to read it. Most often, the collectors are trying to help someone replace a broken can, which is quick and free. The team says it's rewarding when they come back the following week and see a new can. It means someone read their message and followed the guidance!

A few small habit changes from residents-and a little more awareness of the people who take on this vital role-can make a big positive impact on a collection team's workday. And a little more awareness of the people who take on this vital role helps us all keep our neighborhoods clean. "You gotta keep trash on schedule," says Ramon. "It keeps society running."

What's the best part of trash collection work? 

The kids! The students on Chris's route like to hear the horn honked each week, and Ramon shouts out the little girl on his route who's named their truck Wilbur.

RICHMOND, Va. - The City of Richmond is marking the first successful use of its Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program, now supporting energy efficiency, resiliency, and sustainable reinvestment in commercial and multifamily properties across the City.

C-PACE provides eligible property owners with access to long-term, fixed-rate financing for qualifying improvements through a voluntary assessment tied to the property. By reducing upfront cost barriers and aligning repayment with long-term building performance, the program supports sustainable redevelopment while advancing the City's environmental and economic priorities.

"C-PACE connects sustainability goals with real-world investment," said Laura Thomas, Director of the City's Office of Sustainability. "This program supports the Mayor's vision for thriving neighborhoods, sustainable infrastructure, and an inclusive economy by helping property owners improve building performance, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to long-term community vitality."

This landmark project will transform a major block of downtown Richmond through the redevelopment of the former Dominion Energy tower at 707 East Main Street. The tower's lower floors will be converted into an AC Hotel by Marriott, with the upper floors converted into apartments. The ground floor will feature the AC Lounge, a restaurant open to the public.

"On behalf of Norman Jemal and the Douglas Development Team, we are honored to be the first developer to successfully use C-PACE in the City of Richmond." said Isaac Rudin, Capital Markets and Investments Manager at Douglas Development. "Adaptive reuse is the future of urban placemaking-when done right, it can reinvigorate neighborhoods, preserve character, and create lasting vibrancy. We are honored to partner with Richmond on enabling the Dominion Building's transformation into a more energy-efficient structure and a revitalized use. Douglas Development is appreciative of the strong collaboration with the city government and specifically wants to thank Mayor Danny Avula for helping to lead the way to a robust future for downtown Richmond."

Richmond's C-PACE program operates in partnership with the Virginia PACE Authority and the Virginia Department of Energy, leveraging a statewide framework that expands access to clean energy financing for localities and property owners across the Commonwealth.

The City's engagement with property owners through C-PACE reflects a broader focus on using sustainability tools to encourage reinvestment, improve building performance, and support positive outcomes in the urban core. This approach reinforces the Mayor's pillars by linking environmental stewardship with economic opportunity and neighborhood vitality.

More information about the City of Richmond's C-PACE program, including eligibility requirements and the application process, is available on the City's Energy Policy page.