Good morning, friends! 

This is a super exciting day in our city.
It is a joy to welcome people from far and wide. I know throughout the course of this weekend, we will have many visitors from the region and from beyond. We also have these crews from Norfolk, from Baltimore, and all the way from the Netherlands. Let's welcome our guests and thank them for coming here for these celebrations. 
 

The James River, in so many ways, is the lifeblood of our city today, but it has been for hundreds and hundreds of years. It has played an incredibly important role in the history of our Commonwealth and the history of our entire country. This whole year, as we acknowledge the 250th anniversary of our country, that means a lot of things here in Richmond. It is part celebration.
It is part wrestling with the complexity of our past. It is part inspiration for how we continue to form a more perfect union for the next 250 years. I have lived here in this great city of Richmond for 26 years, and a huge part of what has fueled my love for this place is the way that Richmond does not shy away from its past.
Our city is steeped in history. I think the greatness of our city, our beauty, our diversity, and the richness of Richmond are a direct result of the honest reckoning that we have done and been doing for decades here.  

SailFest is yet another example of how we grapple with the fullness of that history and ultimately become a stronger city because of it. As we stand here on the banks of the James River, we celebrate the fact that we would not be here had it not been for the arrival of ships like these so many years ago. We also recognize that the history of ships sailing up the James River here to Richmond is really complicated.  

When Captain Christopher Newport sailed here from Jamestown in 1607, he planted a cross on the hill, and with that began years of persecution of the land's original inhabitants, the Powhatan. Centuries before the Europeans arrived on these shores, remember that dugout canoes carried families and food and tools and traded goods between villages and tribes. We must remember that when these ships first sailed up the James more than 400 years ago, this land was not a wilderness waiting to be settled. It was already a vibrant network of relationships, of economic activity, and of community. Just like today, our river connected people. The Powhatan welcomed these new European settlers in their most vulnerable moment and taught them how to survive in this new environment. Ultimately, as greed gave way to war and violence, within a generation, most of the tribes between the York and the James River were decimated. Too many of the land’s first inhabitants in the place that we now call Richmond were lost to history.  

In the years to follow, the James River would carry thousands of enslaved Africans into the city.
Right across the river here, thousands of kidnapped men, women, and children arrived at Ancarrow’s landing, and walked along the riverbank, eventually making their way to Shockoe Bottom, where they were confined, tortured, and sold into a life of slavery. In the 19th century, Richmond became one of the largest slave hubs in the United States. So many enslaved Africans came through Richmond, that even today, it is believed that one in four Black Americans can trace their roots back to our city.  

Throughout all of this time, the river and the ships that traveled along it were also a source of commercial development for Richmond, and of freedom. George Washington oversaw the building of the Kanawha Canal along the James River, which was the first operating canal system in the US. That canal connected Richmond and other Eastern cities to the Western United States, and it expanded travel and commerce from our city and for the nation as a whole. In the years to follow, Black and Irish laborers would endure dangerous conditions to expand that canal and grow our city's economy by helping transport flour and tobacco and coal and people, both free and enslaved, up the treacherous falls of the James and ultimately around the world. 
 

If you look at our City's flag, you will see a faceless boatman, a boatman that represents the unsung heroes -- the boatman of the James -- that transported goods along the river, and were such an important part of our city's early economy. It's believed that, at one point, up to 98% of these boatmen were men of color, and that the river was actually a source of freedom for these men and their families, both figuratively and literally. Not only did the river provide an avenue for enslaved boatmen to travel without the harsh supervision of their masters, but they were also known to help transport slaves to freedom by picking up freedom seekers along their journey, and taking them to ships here in Richmond that would ultimately carry them north.
I think these Black boatmen were the epitome of our country's founding ideals of liberty and justice for all. With great bravery and wisdom, they turned the same river that brought their ancestors into a life of slavery into a pathway to freedom. I'm so proud that they are represented at the center of Richmond's flag, which is a representation of their legacy, but also of our aspiration to live up to it as a city. 
 

Now, while the tall ships that we see today aren't the same vessels that ushered in the difficult parts of Richmond's conflicted past, they do allow us to reflect on that past, and to celebrate the progress that we've made, but also to acknowledge the work that we have yet to do. We have been working to live up to that promise of freedom and equality for 250 years, but we are still working on it. The work to create a truly democratic nation rooted in equality remains unfinished. 

I welcome you all again to SailFest, because this is an incredible once in a generation opportunity to tour these beautiful ships, to learn from live performances and reenactments and exhibits that will allow us to engage with and reflect on our complex history over the last 250 years. This event has come together with the work of many, many hands. I just want to say thank you to Sail Virginia, to the crews of these fantastic ships, the Oosterschelde, the Pride of Baltimore, and the Virginia.  

I want to say a special thank you to Jamie and your team at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. 
We are so grateful for the work that you all do for our city and for the entire state, telling the fullness of Virginia's story. I want to offer a massive thank you to the United States Army. It took so much coordination and effort to get these floating docks out here so that these ships could dock. I want to thank the Army certainly for their involvement in this event, but more importantly to your sacrifice and service to our great nation. Lastly, I want to thank my colleagues here in the city of Richmond, who, along with Sail Virginia and the History Museum, put in so many hours of planning and physical labor, and set up the infrastructure that's needed to bring the tall ships here and to make this event a success.  

I cannot wait for thousands and thousands of Richmonders to get to experience this over the next few days, and then to see how that work will seed the future of Richmond, to make us a stronger and more resilient and more beautiful city over the next 250 years. Thanks so much, everybody. 

The City of Richmond will close in observance of Juneteenth on Friday, June 19. We will reopen on Monday, June 22. Keep reading for information about City service schedules during the holiday weekend.   

For the full city holiday calendar, please visit the Holiday Closings page.

• There will be no trash collection or bulk and brush collection on Friday, June 19.  Operations will resume regular schedules on Monday, June 22.  
• The East Richmond Road Convenience Center (ERRCC) Landfill, located at 3800 East Richmond Road, will be closed on Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20. ERRCC will reopen on Monday, June 22.  
• Recycling services will operate as normal on Friday, June 19. For more information, visit cvwma.com.  
• All Richmond Public Libraries are closed on Friday, June 19. Libraries will be open for normal business hours on Saturday, June 20. 
• RVA311 will be closed on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20. The public will have 24/7 access to self-service via RVA311.com and mobile apps. 
• Richmond Public School offices will be closed on Friday, June 19. 
• All Parks and Recreation offices and community centers are closed Friday, June 19.  
• Outdoor Pools will operate 1 – 7 p.m. for the weekend. 
• The Department of Public Utilities Call Center is closed Friday, June 19. For utility emergencies, customers should call 804-646-4646 and press Option 1. For gas leaks, leave the area and call 911.   
• Richmond Animal Care and Control will be open on Friday, June 19 and will host an adoption special 6/19, 20 & 21! 

On June 11, the City of Richmond announced the retirement of Peter Breil, the City’s first Director of the Department of Citizen Service and Response, better known as RVA311. Breil’s retirement follows years of dedicated public service and transformative leadership that helped establish RVA311 as a cornerstone of Richmond’s customer service and resident engagement efforts. 

Since joining the City in 2018, Director Breil has grown RVA311 into a critical component of Richmond’s service delivery model. Under his leadership, the department expanded to a team of 33 employees who provide information about more than 50 City organizations and hundreds of community resources, while serving as the primary point of contact for resident requests and concerns. 

In 2025 alone, RVA311 handled nearly 200,000 calls and more than 95,000 resident service requests, reflecting the department’s essential role in connecting residents with City services. 

“Pete has been an absolutely exceptional public servant, and I’m so grateful for the contributions he has made during his time with the City. The improvements he has made to RVA311 have been incredible in helping to shape a more responsive City government, and Richmond is better because of him. I’m sad to see him retire and wish him well on his next chapter,” said Mayor Danny Avula. 

Breil also oversaw the Contact Center Technology team and led the implementation and expansion of the RVA311 platform, mobile applications, and a range of customer service technologies that have significantly enhanced the City’s ability to engage with residents. His leadership of the RVA311 platform redesign in 2021 established a strong foundation for future growth and innovation. Today, the platform directly supports nine City agencies, with additional integrations planned in the years ahead. 

“Working with Pete and his team on expanding the types of Parks and Recreation requests that residents can submit through RVA311 has been a tremendous partnership and a big step forward in becoming a “Thriving Richmond,” said Chris Frelke, Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. “Being able to broaden the range of services available through the platform and bringing a practical, resident-focused perspective helped us identify new opportunities to connect people with the parks, facilities, and programs they use every day. It’s been great working together to make city services more accessible and efficient for Richmond residents.” 

Throughout his tenure, Breil championed a culture of customer service, accountability, and continuous improvement. His commitment to improving the resident experience has had a lasting impact on both City operations and the community. 

Prior to joining the City of Richmond, Breil held leadership positions across Fortune 500 companies, academic administration, and small business organizations. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Virginia Tech, a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of South Carolina, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. 

Breil’s contributions have helped shape a more responsive, accessible, and customer-focused City government. His leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to public service have earned the respect of colleagues across the organization and the gratitude of countless Richmond residents. 

“Peter’s leadership has made a measurable difference in how we operate as a City,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. “He built systems that work, empowered teams to perform at a high level, and ensured residents could depend on consistent, quality service. His approach was practical, people focused, and solutions driven, and the results are evident across our organization. I’m grateful for his commitment to strengthening our customer service foundation and for the legacy of operational excellence he leaves behind.” 

The City of Richmond extends its sincere appreciation to Director Breil for his years of service and wishes him the very best in his well-earned retirement. 

Additional information regarding transition planning and recruitment efforts for the Director of RVA311 position will be shared in the coming weeks. 

The Richmond City Electoral Board will hold a public meeting with the following details:

Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: 2134 W. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23227

This notice is being provided to alert the public that an Electoral Board meeting is scheduled. The agenda for this meeting will be posted once it has been reviewed and approved by the Electoral Board.

Please note that the agenda is subject to change. Items may be added, removed, or modified prior to or during the meeting, as permitted by law. If you would like to sign up for public comment for items on and off the agenda, please email [email protected] by Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

This meeting will be recorded.

Additional updates related to meeting logistics will be communicated as necessary.

Meeting Agenda  

Presentations at City Council Work Session, the Planning Commission, and the Zoning Advisory Council will summarize community feedback, and highlight key topics for consideration  

Richmond, VA  — Mayor Avula’s Administration will begin sharing the latest community feedback and discuss items under consideration to Code Refresh, Richmond’s effort to update its decades-old zoning code and address housing affordability by creating more opportunities for residents to live in the neighborhoods they love.    

The City of Richmond’s Director of Planning and Development (PDR) Kevin Vonck will provide a summary of feedback on Draft Two and a preview of items being considered for Draft Three at City Council’s Work Session on Monday, June 15th, the Planning Commission on Tuesday, June 16th, and the Zoning Advisory Council on Wednesday, June 17th. Materials for these meetings will be available on their respective websites. 

Rooted in the vision laid out in Richmond 300, Code Refresh’s zoning updates support:  

• Walkable, welcoming neighborhoods where people can live closer to jobs, schools, shops, parks, and amenities,  
• More housing choices that meet the needs of people at different income levels and life stages, and 
• Safe, sustainable growth that strengthens neighborhoods while making city processes clearer and more efficient.

“Code Refresh is one of the most impactful tools we have to secure Richmond’s future,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “'More homes for more people' remains our north star, and I’m proud of the engagement that continues to shape this process. Next week’s presentations will provide important opportunities to share community feedback as we continue building a Richmond where people can afford to live, work, and thrive.” 

To learn more about Code Refresh, visit 

Code Refresh FAQ 

More Homes for More People, More Ways to Stay 

Richmond 300