Perhaps inspired by other local online petitions, the Richmond Open Government Project launched theirs recently:
Knowledge comes from unfettered access to information. Currently the City of Richmond lags far behind the other six most populous cities in Virginia (Alexandria, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach) in terms of the information that is made available to its citizens and their ease of acquiring said information. The City of Richmond impedes the public’s access to information and participation in many ways. A short list of what the City does not do is below. For a complete list of the comparisons between the seven cities go to: http://cityhallreview.com/opengov/index.html
City Council does not post meeting agendas on its website.
City Council does not broadcast meetings at which most deliberations occur.
City Council does not hold public hearings at convenient times
City Council does not post meeting videos on its webpage.
City Council does not provide for downloading its meeting audios.
City Council does not archive meeting audios on its webpage.
City Council does not post all reports or presentations on its webpage.
City Council does not report deliberations in its minutes.
City Council does not report public comments in its minutes.
The Planning Commission provides very limited meeting information on its webpage.
The Board of Zoning Appeals provides no meeting information on its webpage.People who want public accountability and the opportunity for meaningful participation in the City of Richmond government can and must change the status quo. Armed with information and the opportunity to participate, the public can be a watchdog, an agent of change and a collaborative partner in the decision-making process. As the Capital of the Commonwealth and the epicenter of the development of America’s popular government, the City of Richmond should be at the top of the list for offering unfettered citizen access to public information. The people can open city hall through a united and relentless demand for change. The Richmond Open Government Project intends to start this demand for change with the following petition to City of Richmond’s government leaders:
As a citizen, stakeholder, or candidate for political office in the City of Richmond, I pledge to call for, support, and vote for the following:
That the City government, in accordance with state law, immediately begin to publish City Council minutes that include a summary of the discussion on matters considered.
That the City government broadcast live all regular public meetings on the City website; and
That the City government commit to raising its open government standards to a level that meets or exceeds those of the other six most populous cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Some early success, I guess, BUT, notice that the announcement says that the FORMAL meeting will be put on-line. It is silent about the INformal meetings.
COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY
IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Richmond City Council adding fifth way for residents to access Council Formal Meeting: Videos being added to Council website
Webpage established – Videos of meetings being placed on website to officially being added beginning with the upcoming Richmond City Council Formal Meeting being held September 10, 2012. Public invited and encouraged to view.
WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) — In order to further increase Richmond residents’ public access to their government, Richmond City Council is adding a fifth way to access Council Formal Meetings by adding videos of the Formal Meetings to the Council website. This will enable residents with internet access yet another way to view these meetings.
The Richmond City Council webpage for video access has been established and some past Richmond City Council meetings have been added to test the system. Meetings will be officially begin being added beginning with the upcoming Richmond City Council Formal Meeting being held September 10, 2012.
The many ways Richmond City Council makes these Council Formal Meetings available to the public include the following:
1. Council holds regular Richmond City Council Formal Meetings
Resident are invited and encouraged to attend any and all Richmond City Council Formal Meetings (Held in Richmond City Council Chambers, located on the second floor of Richmond City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.)
2. Council provides Live TV Broadcasts of Council Formal Meetings
Council provides live televised broadcast of Formal Meetings on PBS TV Station, WVCW
3. Council provides daily TV replays of Council Formal Meetings
Council provides televised replays Council Formal Meetings twice a day, beginning at Noon and 7:00 p.m. on Richmond Government Channel 17
4. Council provides video copies of Council Formal Meetings
Council provides video copies to residents upon request
5. Council provides videos of Council Formal Meetings via website
Council provides video streaming of videos from its website, at http://www.council.richmondva.gov – under the heading Meeting Videos.
Richmond City Council typically holds two Formal Meetings a month (with the exception of August and a second meeting in December), which are held in Richmond City Council Chambers, which is located on the second floor of Richmond City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
Richmond City Council invites and encourages all Richmond residents to attend and/or access Council Formal Meetings through any of the five ways that it has established to provide and deliver public access to the Council Formal Meetings.
CONTACT For more event information, please contact Steve Skinner, Council Public Information Manager, at 804.646.6052 (office); 804.937.1386 (mobile); or visit the Richmond City Council website, at http://www.council.richmondva.gov
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Everyone benefits from an open and transparent city government. Thank you for this worthwhile effort!
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