A Resignation, Flinggolf, and an Update on the Richmond People's Budget
Cheers RVA!
The chilly weather continues today with light wind, variable clouds and a high of 42, with evening temperatures dropping down to 25. It should warm up a bit for the next couple days but another cold front is expected next week.
the juice:
The Department of Public Works Director April Bingham has resigned a week after the failures of the city’s water treatment plant.
Anthony “Scott” Morris, a navy veteran and engineer who worked as the director of water for the Virginia Department of Environmental quality, will serve as the interim director.
Mayor Avula has called the resignation an “amicable separation”.
the pulp:
Richmond Animal Care and Control is asking for help in finding homes for cats with its cat room nearing capacity, via WRIC.
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture is continuing it’s used book sale, via RICToday. The sale is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm with no admission necessary to shop.
RVAMag has a profile on local Garry Callis Jr., who is helping to bring shuffle dance and flinggolf to Richmond. Callis is currently ranked #28 in the world in the sport that combines the “precision of golf with the flair of lacrosse.”
the dive:
The People’s Budget, an opportunity for Richmonders to directly determine how $3 million is spent on various projects in the city, is well underway with delegates beginning to narrow down the more than 1900 ideas submitted to the top 15-20 projects in each district.
The $3 million to spend on projects is allocated by district need, with Districts 1,2, and 4 each having $200k allocated, Districts 3,5, and 7 each having $300k, and Districts 6, 8, and 9 each having $500k.
Below is a list of the delegates for each district:
The delegates are currently sorting through various proposals and choosing the best initiatives based on impact and equity scores.
The projects are grouped into the following categories:
Art and Culture
Parks and Recreation
Public Mobilization
Health and Wellness
Safety and Environment
Equity.
Delegates will develop proposals for each of the top projects and submit them to the relative City Departments for review by the end of February.
In March the final proposals will be selected by delegates and sent for printing, with the voting process set to begin at the beginning of April.
Voting will take place in-person and online during the month of April 2025 and will occur at various locations including libraries, district meetings, local businesses, and online.
Ballots will include pictures and descriptions of each project, and residents will be able to vote on up to three projects per district and two citywide.
Selected projects will be announced at the monthly district meeting of the City Council members in May 2025.
Keep an eye out for survey and listening sessions in the coming weeks, and learn more about the participatory budget process here.
the vibe:
Have a participatory day RVA!
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