Category Archives: government

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From email announcement:

Good morning OHNA members,

I look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday at 7pm for our monthly OHNA meeting.

We will be meeting again at the Holly Street Playground, as there is not yet an indoor location within the neighborhood that is ready to host meetings. Please bring a chair, and if you can’t, a couple of picnic tables will be available.

We are also providing a Zoom link provided for those who wish to join remotely. This should allow for remote participation, including the ability to ask questions remotely — those in person won’t be able to see remote participants, but we should be able to hear them.

I have attached to this email
1. the agenda for the 27 September meeting (also pasted in below),
2. the minutes for the August meeting,

We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow evening.

Thanks,
Bryan

Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday 28 September 2021
7:00PM
Location: Holly Street Playground

(Editor’s note: please contact OHNA through their email, OHNARva@gmail.com, if you would like the Zoom link).

We ask that invited guests limit their presentations to no more than 5 minutes.
We ask that questions, comments, and suggestions be kept to no more than 3 minutes.
This meeting will be recorded.

Welcome

· Treasurer’s Report

Community Updates:

1. Lt. Brian Robinson, City of Richmond Police Section Lt, 4th Precinct
2. Officer Luke Schrader, Police Liaison, VCU
3. Mr. Tito Luna, VCU Liaison
4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilperson
5. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney

Updates

1. Proposed all-way stops on South Pine Street at its intersection with China Street (at Open High School) and South Pine Street at its intersection with Albemarle Street

· A survey has been posted and a link sent. If you would like to participate, the link is: https://forms.gle/UaA6n1jaVdN47MWg6

· Flyers were recently placed around the two intersections to alert neighbors to the proposed change.

2. Proposed Amendments to the Richmond 300 Land Use Plan/Neighborhood Coalition Update

· Move Oregon Hill from Neighborhood Mixed Use to Residential land use category (Randolph is in this category).

· If Planning will not move Oregon Hill to Residential, then change the maximum height in the Neighborhood Mixed Use category from four stories to two stories.

· Remove the clause that allows taller buildings along major streets.

o Idlewood and South Laurel between VCU and Idlewood are designated major streets

o The amendments were continued by Land Use Committee. City Planning staff have recommended that no amendments be adopted.

o The most recent hearing is scheduled for noon on Tuesday 21 September 2021. It was continued, yet again, to 3pm Tuesday 19 October.

3. Holly Street )Playground Cleanup

· Saturday 11 September cleanup at Holly Street Playground (grant funded) was a success. We are planning a follow-up cleanup day to complete the removal of invasive growth around the south and west fence lines.

Continued Business

1. Neighborhood fall festival.

· Scheduled for the afternoon and early evening of Saturday 23 October (one week before Halloween) in Pleasant’s Park.

· Will include events for neighbors of all ages – pumpkin carving, kid’s costume contest, house decorating contest, etc.

· Will also have a fundraising component for neighborhood projects, including an auction of donated items from local businesses and individuals.

· May conclude with a movie in the park.

· A park cleanup being planned for the week before the Fall Festival event, Saturday 16 October.

· Any new volunteers?

3. St. Andrew’s Association has listed 200-202 S. Linden St. and 912-924 Cumberland Street for sale

· All 18 units (19,625 ft. sq.) and 13 parking spaces are for sale. The lot is zoned R-7.

· The asking price is $2,750,000.

· It appears that the property has been sold; the purchaser appears to be the same developer who came before us with the SUP for 116 South Laurel Street.

New Business

4. Updates on 105 and 116 South Laurel SUP Applications

· Both applications will be heard at the Planning Commission on Monday 4 October

· The applicant for 116 South Laurel Street has not submitted in writing a commitment to placing a preservation easement on 103 South Laurel, as was agreed to as a condition of the neighborhood supporting the SUP.

2. VCU student party issues

· There have been several large, loud parties in the last few weeks. There are problematic, repeat issues in the 200 block of South Laurel, and the intersection of South Laurel and China streets.

· Report issues to both RPD and VCU. Keep track of: date, time, location, fraternity / sorority affiliation, names of individuals involved, names of landlords, etc.

· OHNA is setting up an online form to track problem party locations, so that we may follow up with RPD and VCU. We will keep a spreadsheet of problematic locations and fraternity / sorority locations, and regularly report this information to VCU.

3. Folk Festival update

· The Folk Festival will be held this year.

· “Resident Parking Only” signs will be posted at entrances to the neighborhood.

· RPD will be patrolling adjacent neighborhoods; they will directly monitor non-emergency calls for faster response. Call non-emergency numbers for issues such as alleys being blocked by parked cars, etc.

4. Potential sculpture for Pleasant’s Park, by local artist Mickael Broth

The Next OHNA meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm Tuesday 26 October 2021. That meeting will be held in person with a Zoom option; the location will be announced later, and a link will be sent separately.

Bryan Clark Green, President
David Cary, Co-Vice-President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President
Chris Hughes, Co-Vice-President
Harrison Moenich, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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From email announcement:

(Editor’s note: Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association can be contacted through this email: ohnarva@gmail.com)

Good morning OHNA members,

I look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday at 7pm for our monthly OHNA meeting.

This will be our second first in-person meeting of the year. Since St. Andrew’s is still not quite ready to host meetings (the Delta variant has forced them to re-think hosting any outside groups) and we couldn’t locate a suitable indoor location in the neighborhood, we will be meeting in our Holly Street Park. Please bring a chair, and if you can’t, a couple of picnic tables will be available. We are optimistic that soon, perhaps in September (?), we can return to St. Andrew’s.

We are also providing a Zoom link provided for those who wish to join remotely. This should allow for remote participation, including the ability to ask questions remotely — those in person won’t be able to see remote participants, but we should be able to hear them. We worked out most of the hiccups in the park, but please be patient with us if the remote option gives us any trouble on Tuesday evening.

I have attached to this email
1. the agenda for the 24 August meeting (also pasted in below),
2. the minutes for the 27 July meeting,

We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow evening.

Thanks,
Bryan

Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday 24 July 2021
7:00PM

Location: Holly Street Playground
Optional Zoom link: (Editor’s note: please contact OHNA for link)

We ask that invited guests limit their presentations to no more than 5 minutes.

We ask that questions, comments, and suggestions be kept to no more than 3 minutes.

This meeting will be recorded.

Welcome

· This meeting will be in person, in the Holly Street Playground, with a Zoom link provided for those who wish to join remotely.

· Treasurer’s Report

Community Updates:

1. Lt. Brian Robinson, City of Richmond Police Section Lt, 4th Precinct
2. Officer Luke Schrader, Police Liaison, VCU
3. Mr. Tito Luna, VCU Liaison
4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilperson
5. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney

Updates

1. Proposed all-way stops on South Pine Street at its intersection with China Street (at Open High School) and South Pine Street at its intersection with Albemarle Street

· A survey has been posted and a link sent. If you would like to participate, the link is: (Editor’s note: please contact OHNA for link).

· Flyers were recently placed around the two intersections to alert neighbors to the proposed change. .

2. Proposed Amendments to the Richmond 300 Land Use Plan / Neighborhood Coalition Update

· Move Oregon Hill from Neighborhood Mixed Use to Residential land use category (Randolph is in this category).

· If Planning will not move Oregon Hill to Residential, then change the maximum height in the Neighborhood Mixed Use category from four stories to two stories.

· Remove the clause that allows taller buildings along major streets.

o Idlewood and South Laurel between VCU and Idlewood are designated major streets

o The amendments were continued by Land Use Committee. City Planning staff have recommended that no amendments be adopted.

o The next hearing is scheduled for noon on Tuesday 21 September 2021

Continued Business

1. We are putting together a committee to plan a neighborhood fall festival.

· Tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday 23 October (one week before Halloween) in Pleasant’s Park.

· Will include events for neighbors of all ages – pumpkin carving, kid’s costume contest, house decorating contest,

· Will also have a fundraising component for neighborhood projects, including an auction of donated items from local businesses and individuals

· May conclude with a movie in the park

· Any new volunteers?

2. Park improvement committee – will look at both Pleasant’s Park and the Holly Street Playground

· Potential cleanup on Saturday 11 September (pending results of grant application)

· Another cleanup being planned for the week before the Fall Festival event, Saturday 16 October

· Any new volunteers?

3. St. Andrew’s Association has listed 200-202 S. Linden St. and 912-924 Cumberland Street for sale

· All 18 units (19,625 ft. sq.) and 13 parking spaces are for sale. The lot is zoned R-7.

· The asking price is $2,750,000

· It appears that the property has been sold; the purchaser appears to be the same developer who came before us with the SUP for 116 South Laurel Street.

4. The City has announced round two of the CARES Act program. This program offers relief on your City of Richmond utility bill for those impacted by COVID. A flyer, as well as an application for the program, are attached to the email that went out with the agenda. If you did not receive it, just let me know and I will be happy to send you a copy.

New Business

1. None.

The Next OHNA meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm Tuesday 28 September 2021. That meeting will be held in person with Zoom option; the location will be announced later, and a link will be sent separately.

Bryan Clark Green, President
David Cary, Co-Vice-President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President
Chris Hughes, Co-Vice-President
Harrison Moenich, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer

King Asks Governor To Reject Mayor’s Plea Without Water Rate Reform

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Dear Ralph,

I have become aware that the City of Richmond Mayor Stoney is begging for more assistance from the state of Virginia in regard to the city’s utility budget. His letter, dated July 7 and signed by the nine Democratic Party members of Richmond’s delegation to the General Assembly, asks for money to pay for improvements to Richmond’s sewer system from the influx of $4.3 billion the state is to receive from the federal American Rescue Plan. Now, normally, as a king, I loathe interjecting in matters between your state and and the city or bothersome party politics, just as I know that you, as a state official, do not wish to become too involved in local city matters. That said, two things are causing this exception from normal – one, the amount of American money requested, $833 million, is rather large and meaningful; and, two, I am personally offended by how the City uses its water utility to take advantage of its own citizens, especially its most impoverished. Therefore, as the King of Oregon Hill, I am writing to ask that you give Mayor Stoney’s request more scrutiny, and perhaps even rejecting his plea altogether until certain considerations are met.

As you are already aware, the City of Richmond as well as your Commonwealth of Virginia overall, are very blessed with a plenitude of water, especially in comparison to western American states. In the past, city officials have taken this natural blessing for granted and used it to help wash away the city’s wastes, and consequently polluted the James River. Sewer overflow, as citizens have come to know it, is rightly seen far and wide as a large, embarrassing, decades-old problem that must be corrected. I give that environmental effort my royal benediction. If I felt that this matter was all this was about, I would leave this to yourself and others to freely administer.

But City officials over time abused the water wealth in other ways, and have unwisely become dependent on unfairly bilking their own constituents. I point to four problematic practices –
1) A payment line (I believe the bureaucrats refer to it as a PILOT) in the citizens’ water bills that goes straight to the City’s general fund, money that has not necessarily gone to paying for water/sewer or anything other than padding the City’s budget. The city’s PILOT surcharge on water includes a reprehensible payment in lieu of federal income tax. I will note that Paul Goldman, former chairperson of the Democratic Party of Virginia, has also called attention to this ‘rip-off’ of Richmond citizens (sans lawsuit, so far…).
2) Bad water agreements with the surrounding counties that sell the the City’s water at low, wholesale prices. Indeed, the City is charging it’s own citizens more for the water than the counties are charging theirs for the water their governments are buying from the City. These low prices for this valuable natural resource are encouraging an even more horrible waste through growing suburban sprawl in the counties, which in turn is polluting the James River even more.
3) High minimum water rates for residents. At one point in the past, the local Green Party ran a contest that would award anyone who could find a higher residential minimum water rate that was comparable to the City of Richmond’s anywhere else in the country- no one won (The City administration later lowered the rate just enough that the contest could not be run again). It is shameful that the City keeps crying poverty, creates whole public bureacracies devoted to ‘wealth building’, but still insists on high minimum rates which place an unfair burden on its poorest residents for what is a basic human need. I have heard one wealthy white resident defend this longtime practice as a way “to claw back some of the money that spent on public housing’ (for black residents).
4) The overall utility and water situation favors large corporations over residents. The utility rates in effect award large volume users while punishing poor residents. It discourages conservation. This is also reflected in other matters – for example, how Dominion Power company is allowed to release water from its coal ash ponds while discouraging other uses like micro hydropower on the James River. Again, it pains me to watch how the City not only weaponizes its water utility against its own residents, but squanders and abuses its natural blessing of water wealth. It is truly offensive and deserves repudiation.

It should be noted that citizens have tried to bring these problematic and unfair practices to the State Attorney’s attention, state representatives’ attention, the Mayor’s attention, to City Council’s attention, to the media’s attention, and to the larger populace’s attention, all with limited effect. Water rates have been brought up by mayoral and council candidates as a campaign issue, only to be forgotten or abandoned by those who win office. Reporters shrug their shoulders and tell me that Richmond uses its water utility in this manner to balance its budget, never mind how regressive it is and how it would make more sense to charge large volume users more instead of overcharging its poorest residents.

Ralph, it is widely reported that you and Terry regard Levar as a ‘rising star’ in your political party, but you should not be blind to what is important here – yes, the City needs money to repair its sewer system in order to help the environment- very much so. But keep in mind that the City has been using the sewer overflow problem as a reason to beg money from the federal and state governments for years and years. And while Richmond has undoubtedly realized many benefits from its CSO control program, the City is not doing as good as a job as it should in regard to stewarding it’s water wealth for the benefit of ALL of its citizens and the environment. And in the REAL big picture, these underlying issues will only deepen and become more exacerbated as climate change reduces the current water wealth. In your speeches, Governor, you talk about how Virginia needs to become more progressive and future-oriented. I contend Richmond’s backwardness must change in order for that to happen.

I cannot command, but I strongly recommend your office consider rejecting the Mayor’s plea until City officials, including the Mayor and City Council, publicly and sincerely promise to phase out the PILOT payment, renegotiate its county water agreements, and fully reform its utility water rate structure. Yes, the City desperately needs the money to correct the sewer overflow problem, but it must reform its water utility and water wealth management in order to have that money spent well.

While I do not have power over the Commonwealth of Virginia, I do claim sovereignty over Oregon Hill within the City of Richmond, and I feel it is my duty to look over the interests of citizens. I am hoping this letter will prevent future interventions.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Regards,

Scott Burger
King of Oregon Hill

Dear Delegate Carr and Councilperson Lynch (Part 2),

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Dear Delegate Carr and Councilperson Lynch,

I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy. I recognize that the pandemic is not over and I do believe you both should be commended for your public service during this emergency. Councilperson Lynch, I was delighted and relieved to hear that you recovered from your COVID-19 infection. Congratulations to you and your family!

I am writing for two reasons.

One is to follow up on an earlier request for information and attention for the implementation of ranked choice voting. My understanding is that Governor Northam’s budget provides $16.7 million GF in FY 2021 to support and replace the Virginia Election and Registration Information System (VERIS) with more modern systems that must be compatible with RCV ballots. I appreciated your earlier reply but with the replacement of VERIS becoming more viable and the dismissal of the previous City Registrar, I am hoping to hear more on this now.

Secondly, and somewhat related, I was intrigued when I read that Richmond City Council’s Governmental Operations Committee is expected to begin reviewing the city charter, or constitution, for potential amendments.
As you know, this is important as the city charter is Richmond’s governing document and lays out how the local government should function. It also outlines the rules and expectations for elected officials.

In addition to advocating for ranked choice voting as a board member for FairVoteVirginia.org, I am also a supporter of www.MoveToAmend.org, a national group dedicated to amending the federal constitution in order to establish that corporations are not people and that money is not speech. While there is certainly a lot happening on the national level with Congressional Representative Pramila Jayapal’s introduction of the The We the People Amendment, I am very much interested in seeing complimentary local and state level actions.

I will note that the City of Charlottesville’s City Council passed a resolution in support of a federal constitutional amendment back in 2012. Councilperson Lynch, you may remember that I asked specifically if you would introduce and support a similar resolution to Richmond City Council back when you first ran for your seat, and you replied in the affirmative. Now that you are in your second term, so to speak, I think it is fair to make this request again.

Certainly, Virginia is at a crossroads when it comes to campaign finance reform and its leaders putting their allegiance to citizens before corporate power. We are seeing a lot of ‘big money’ already effecting the election race for Governor. Attempts to reign in Virginia’s unusually unrestrictive campaign finance system have so far gone nowhere in the General Assembly. The Commonwealth of Virginia is different from other states in that it does have its own state constitution. Delegate Carr, would you be willing to propose an amendment to the Virginia constitution similar to what MoveToAmend.org and Congressional representative Jayapal are proposing for the federal constitution?

Again, I greatly appreciate any information or attention you can give to my humble requests for Richmond and our Commonwealth.

Sincerely,
Scott Burger

Time To End Some Leases And Protect What Is Public

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Todd Woodson, past OHNA president, past Sierra Club Falls of the James ‘Green Giant’ award winner, and past member of City Council’s Monroe Park Advisory Council, released this post this morning:

NO CITY MONEY FOR THE MONROE PARK CONSERVANCY!
Friends- the writing is on the wall! As Historic Monroe Park falls deeper into dereliction only two years after an $8 million dollar renovation, it has become obvious that even though 2020 set a record for charitable giving, the Monroe Park Conservancy – the group responsible for the Park’s sad condition, is broke and can’t honor their agreement with the City. Alice Massie and treasurer Matthew Stanley have defied federal regulations by refusing to allow their form 990’s to be reviewed by the public. Having exhausted all sources of charitable giving, it is inevitable that this “conservancy” will or have asked the City for a bail out, using tax payer money. It will take millions to repair the damage they and they alone have caused to our most historic park. The answer should be a resounding NO! It is time to terminate the lease and put the historic park back in the hands of the community under our capable Parks Department’s management. Giving Massie and Matthew Stanley (who is also Outreach Director for Richmond Public Schools) more money would be an egregious waste of our hard earned dollars. Reach out to your representatives and ask that they terminate the lease immediately and fix the park with public restrooms, usable pathways and a RESTORED TREE CANOPY!

At this past OHNA (Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association) meeting, Councilperson Stephanie Lynch was asked if there was any news on Monroe Park. She replied that there was none other than rumors of financial difficulty on the part of the Monroe Park Conservancy and she did not know of any City Council requests to rescind the lease (something that OHNA has previously requested).

Given some of the same issues of park use and attempts at privatization, it is noteworthy that near the riverfront side of Oregon Hill, during or shortly after the recent ‘zombie show filming’, a sign went up in the Belle Island (part of the James River Park system) for “private parking”. The city’s lease with Venture Richmond stated that they would retain free parking in the Belle Isle parking lot i.e. public parking.

After citizens made inquiries, Venture Richmond quickly said more recently that the new signs would come down and blamed the towing company for misunderstanding. Many citizens remain skeptical and believe this was yet another attempt to sneak in privatization. Oregon Hill residents, including Todd Woodson, remain vigilant in trying to watch over Venture Richmond and other ‘public-private partnerships’.

And on that score, one other thing- Oregon Hill residents have heard that Dominion is planning to move ahead with its proposed solar array on top of its riverfront parking garage (which, btw, is not shared with the public for parking). While many Oregon Hill residents are very much in favor of renewable energy, this is in violation of the hard won height agreement there (which OHNA, the Sierra Club Falls of the James, and other community and environmental groups are part of). What does this mean if Dominion is not going to be held accountable for its own agreements that are there to protect a public view?

When you look at all that has recently been proposed around the neighborhood, including Richmond300 shenanigans to ‘affordable housing’ initiatives, it is time is to send some universal messages- BACK OFF! AND STOP TRYING TO TAKE FROM THE PUBLIC! Return Monroe Park to the public!

P.S. Please do click through the links in this editorial and appreciate the time and energy that Oregon Hill residents have sacrificed to protect this neighborhood and what belongs to the City and public in whole. The local corporate media often does not give the complete picture in these matters and we need everyone to recognize how corporate hegemony, be it from institutions like VCU, be it from private companies like Dominion, be it from ‘public-private partnerships’ like Venture Richmond, be it from our own compromised City government, is acting against us. (Coming soon to this community news site, more on how we can fight back on the local, city, state, and national level…)

OHNA Meeting Tonight via Zoom

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The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association will be holding its monthly meeting tonight using Zoom. (Ed. note: If you need the Zoom link and password, I suggest contacting OHNA through the OHNA email at the bottom of the agenda.)

Here is the agenda:

Welcome

• Explanation of Zoom procedures, how to ask questions, etc.

• Treasurer’s Report

Community Updates:

1. Lt. Brian Robinson, City of Richmond Police Section Lt, 4 th Precinct

2. Officer Luke Schrader, Police Liaison, VCU

3. Mr. Tito Luna, VCU Liaison

4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5 th District Councilperson

5. Ms. Stephanie Rizzi, 5 th District School Board Representative

6. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney

Updates

1. Proposed Amendments to the Richmond 300 Land Use Plan / Neighborhood Coalition Update

• Move Oregon Hill from Neighborhood Mixed Use to Residential land use category (Randolph is in this category).

• If Planning will not move Oregon Hill to Residential, then change the maximum height in the Neighborhood Mixed Use category from four stories to two stories.

• Remove the clause that allows taller buildings along major streets.

o Idlewood and South Laurel between VCU and Idlewood are designated major streets.

• These amendments are under consideration by City Council 2. We will be sent a link for candidate forums for the offices of:

• City of Richmond Sheriff Sunday 9 April 3pm

• City of Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Sunday 28 March, 3pm

• House of Delegates 69 th District Seat Tuesday 6 April, 6:30pm

Continued Business

1. SUP application for 105 South Laurel Street

• Zoning and Preservation Committee met with owner’s representative on 13 January 2021.

• The project proposes to divide the lot into three parcels, with three new four-bedroom houses (attached), for a total of 12 bedrooms in the project. The applicant proposed four parking spaces, to be located underneath the southernmost building.

• The project will be modified as a result of that meeting, and will be submitted for the February OHNA meeting.

o No revisions were submitted before this meeting

New Business

1. SUP application for 116 South Laurel Street.

• Zoning and Preservation Committee to meet with the owner within the week following this meeting.

• The project proposes to divide the lot into two parcels, with two new six-bedroom houses (not attached), for a total of 12 bedrooms in the project. The applicant proposed 12 parking spaces, to be located behind the building. These will be compact spaces, 8’ wide, in two rows of six.

• The owner proposes to reserve 4 of these spaces for the project, and rent out the other 8.

• As proposed this fails to meet several city design criteria for parking; the site may contain as few as 5 legal parking spaces.

2. Proposed all-way stop on South Pine Street at its intersection with China Street (at Open High School)

• Currently, only northbound traffic on South Pine Street stops at this intersection

• At the November 2020 OHNA meeting, a resolution supporting an all-way stop at South Pine Street and Albemarle Street was approved.

• After this meeting, a survey will be sent to the neighborhood to gauge support for these two stop signs. The results of this survey will be sent to Councilmember Lynch to support legislative efforts to secure these stop signs.

3. Support for Arbor Day Project in Pleasants Park

• We had a meeting this afternoon with Parks and Recreation to talk about replacing the damaged tree in Pleasant’s Park.

• Parks and Recreation will hold an Arbor Day event at Pleasant’s Park on Wednesday 21 April, 4-6 PM – it will be a tree-planting event.

• Parks and Recreation offered to provide 1 1/2″ caliper trees (they should be about six feet high -substantial trees), with mulch, for $250 each. The City would then match us, $125 from us, and $125 from the City per tree.

• We will send out a PayPal link so that anyone who wishes to make a donation to fund trees for the park can do so. Anything beyond what we need for this event will be earmarked for future improvements in Pleasant’s Park.

• Looking for volunteers to help plan the event, and for everyone to come and help plant a few trees.

4. Support for proposed VCU-student-led project to place a self-service food pantry in Oregon Hill

OHNA Monthly Meeting 23 March 2021 Agenda Page 2 • Their final project is to take a hands-on approach in combatting this food insecurity crisis by building little food pantries around the city of Richmond.

• They are funded by a VCU provided grant and actively pursuing additional fundraising in order to reach our goal of 8 pantries installed.

• The pantries would have a 4×4 wooden post cemented into the ground as a base, while the pantry itself is roughly 26” tall and 25” wide. Alternatively, if concrete posts is not ideal to the respective location, we would have a wide base frame to mount the pantry that is chained to a secure location.

• If approved, a committee will be formed to discuss location.

The Next OHNA meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm Tuesday 27 April 2021. That meeting will be held by Zoom; a link will be sent separately.

Bryan Clark Green, President David Cary, Co-Vice-President Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President Chris Hughes, Co-Vice-President Harrison Moenich, Secretary John Bolecek, Treasurer
Richmond, VA
OHNArva@gmail.com

Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association Meeting Next Tuesday

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We look forward to seeing you at the next OHNA meeting! We will send out the meeting URL ahead of the meeting on Tuesday. Please arrive ten minutes before 7pm, if possible, so we can admit everyone and allow for connection issues.
If you haven’t registered, and would like to attend, please fill out the survey:
https://forms.gle/pur5xCB3MKEPUfc69

Deadline quickly approaching for City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities utility relief assistance

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From City press release:

Deadline to apply for the COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program is January 17. DPU representatives available to answer questions and collect applications this week!

Richmond, VA – City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities customers that have fallen behind on their utility bills as a result of an economic hardship due to COVID-19 are encouraged to submit applications for utility relief.

The COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program funding provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) is being administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and supports municipal utility relief efforts during the pandemic. The utility relief assistance program is designed to be a one‐time opportunity with one payment per household or business. Funding for the program is limited, so don’t delay in applying.

Applications are due by midnight Sunday, January 17. This one-time opportunity is to help customers pay down or pay off high utility bills as a result of COVID-19 and avoid future utility service disconnections at the end of the pandemic’s state of emergency.

The application process is simple and takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Drop by one of these locations to fill out an application or feel free to drop off your completed application. DPU representatives will be on-site to assist from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Tuesday, January 12, Southside Community Services Center, 4100 Hull Street

Thursday, January 14, North Avenue Library, 2901 North Avenue

Friday, January 15, The Market @ 25th, 1330 N. 25th Street

Customers can also request an application via email to DPUCares@richmondgov.com or by calling (804) 646-4646.

To be eligible for funding under this relief program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

· Be a customer (residential or non-residential) of the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities with active utility service;
· Have experienced/been impacted by an economic hardship due to COVID-19;
· Have fallen behind on their City water, wastewater or natural gas utility bill for services during the period of March 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020;
· Have not received any other forms of relief or financial assistance for their City utility services; AND
· Submit the completed application so that it is received by DPU on or before January 17, 2021.

With limited funds available and the application deadline quickly approaching, eligible customers are encouraged to apply immediately. More information, including the application, are available at www.rva.gov/public-utilities.

City Council Votes Against Neighborhood To Pass Richmond300 Plan

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Last night Richmond City Council voted unanimously in favor of the Richmond 300 plan, which changes Oregon Hill’s future land use from residential to mixed use.

This happened during holidays when most people are pre-occupied with family matters, in a pandemic emergency, during which the Virginia Attorney General has called on municipalities to suspend all non-life-threatening business, and specifically land-use issues.

City Council voted for this despite opposition from many different parts of the City, but especially from this neighborhood, which has taken part in the process from the beginning, put up with bad online ‘presentations’, and has consistently asked for changes in the plan.

Laurel Street neighbors Scott Burger and Charles Pool wrote prominent letters to the editor in the past few weeks, and outgoing Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association president Todd Woodson wrote a very heartfelt editorial in Style magazine.

It’s worth noting that as a City Council candidate Stephanie Lynch wrote:

“I absolutely pledge to defend the Oregon Hill Community from inappropriate encroachment from surrounding entities like VCU. One of my top priorities will be to work with Oregon Hill residents and the administration at VCU to enter into a longer term agreement regarding future development that is respectful of the needs and wishes of Oregon Hill residents. As a two time VCU grad, I understand all that VCU brings to the Richmond Community, but I also have close ties to Oregon Hill and I recognize that VCU could be a better neighbor to the Oregon Hill neighborhood and its residents. I think it’s imperative that before we approve future expansion plans from VCU, we work with them to enter into MOUs with surrounding communities like Oregon Hill. I additionally support the requests laid out in the OHNA’s written submissions to the Planning Commission and the RVA 300 planning committee. I’m looking forward to working with everyone in Oregon Hill to make sure that the neighborhood is protected and kept intact, housing needs are met, and the neighborhood character is preserved.”

And as Oregon Hill’s elected City Council representative, Stephanie Lynch did write to the Richmond300 planners, sharing neighborhood concerns. So some residents were surprised and taken aback that Lynch did vote for the unchanged Richmond300 plan last night.

What Councilperson Lynch has indicated is that she would be joining other Council members in putting forward amendments in the new year that may help the neighborhood’s cause.

All that said, questions abound. What will these proposed amendments consist of? Will they really get passed by City Council? If passed, will the Planning Commission accept them?

Is this setting up the neighborhood for success (to use Woodson’s wording) or failure?