Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

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This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup.

Please go over what can be recycled.

NOTE: CVWMA (Central Virginia Waste Management Authority) has announced that all curbside recycling must now be INSIDE the CVWMA containers with lid closed. Items beside the container or on top of it will not be collected. In fact, incorrect setouts may not be collected at all. This is new as of July 1 for all our curbside recyclers, with the exception of townhomes/condos still using small bins. (And yes, this also applies to flattened cardboard boxes.)

Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If it seems like pickup did not happen, use this online form:
https://cvwma.com/programs/residential-recycling/recycling-service-request-form/

In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news, after switching to subscription-based recycling earlier this year, residents in Chesterfield have had to find their own recycling service for the last several months – but lately, the County government has made drop-off of recycling much easier with convenience centers that are open 7 days a week.

In national recycling news, there’s been an update to California’s recycling law.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed off on changes to California’s bottle recycling law in a bid to bolster the state’s beverage container recycling program, reducing the amount of plastic and glass going into landfills and helping to stabilize the recycling market.

Senate Bill 353, introduced by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, will add containers of 100 percent fruit juice and vegetable juice to the state’s bottle recycling law, putting another 200 million containers per year into the recycling stream, Dodd’s office said in a news release Saturday.

It would also invest new ongoing funding to support rural recycling options for consumers to redeem their deposit and improve recycling rates.

The bill also authorizes the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to adjust its processing of payment calculations for recyclers to a quarterly schedule rather than yearly, helping to stabilize the market.

Oregon Hill/Open High Fall Festival This Coming Saturday

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Other than some illegal parking, this past Saturday’s Richmond Folk Festival passed without incident. Thousands of people were able to enjoy music from all over the world just down the Hill.

Now, neighborhood residents and Open High are looking forward to this Saturday. The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association has combined its neighborhood’s fall celebration with Open High’s Annual Fall Festival (Reminder that the proceeds of this years event will be going toward scholarships for @openhighrva students to study abroad!)

Among vendors and games, t-shirts will be for sale.

And many residents are looking forward to taking part in the raffle…

Precinct Voting Location Changed Due To Mold Concerns At School

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Ned Oliver wrote about the change for Axios Richmond:

The local electoral board took emergency steps to move two voter precincts out of city school buildings.

What’s happening: The decision follows complaints by teachers and staff that the facilities in question are infested with mold.

What they’re saying: “The move was decided due to the presence of unhealthy air quality conditions,” the General Registrar’s office said in a statement Monday.

Details: A precinct at Clark Spring Elementary in the Randolph/Maymont neighborhoods is moving to VCU University Student Commons.

And a South Richmond precinct at Boushall Middle is moving to Hickory Hill Community Center.
Of note: The move avoids a single day of potential exposure for voters and election workers, but RPS staff and students are continuing to use the facilities on a permanent basis.

One neighbor had this to say on the matter:

I’m confused. I personally helped volunteer and pack up textbooks and art supplies and such over 10 years ago because of the mold (other neighbors were there)
I thought the mold was gone
I’ve heard they are doing tests….what’s going on?

Voters can’t breath the air for 15 minutes but kids and faculty have to go 5 days a week
What the hell

Another neighbor:

As i mentioned when I voted in the primary this summer, The VCU commons is a terrible location for us. There’s only paid parking (if it’s not paid due to holiday they need signs this year saying that)
There’s no info on whether to enter on main or Floyd. For the primary this summer, I parked on main st and there were zero voter signs (this where everyone from the 505 would walk or drive bc the entire precinct is south of main st). There were signs saying no parking on the north side of the street. There were no signs signifying a polling location when I walked in either. It was on the 2nd floor with no elevator readily available that I could find. I suspect they want to combine forces for the poll workers at the colocated 207 location. I’m signing up for mail only now.

The mold issue is particularly galling given that school building maintenance has been an ongoing city issue for decades.

It also feeds into longstanding suspicions that the Clark Spring Elementary is suffering a gradual ‘demolition by negligence’ so that the City can eventually sell off the land to developers or VCU.

Regardless, bad news for the public.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

Posted on by
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This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup.

Please go over what can be recycled.

NOTE: CVWMA (Central Virginia Waste Management Authority) has announced that all curbside recycling must now be INSIDE the CVWMA containers with lid closed. Items beside the container or on top of it will not be collected. In fact, incorrect setouts may not be collected at all. This is new as of July 1 for all our curbside recyclers, with the exception of townhomes/condos still using small bins. (And yes, this also applies to flattened cardboard boxes.)

Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If it seems like pickup did not happen, use this online form:
https://cvwma.com/programs/residential-recycling/recycling-service-request-form/

In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news, the City of Virginia Beach recently released resident survey on future recycling program.

Perhaps in contrast, Massachusetts municipalities receive $5.2 million in recycling grants.

Save The Date- Oregon Hill Fall Festival on October 21st

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Folks who attended the OHNA meeting Zoom call got to hear about planning for this year’s Oregon Hill Fall Festival, scheduled for October 21.

Paraphrasing…
The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) is cosponsoring the festival with Open High this year, so it will be on China St. There will still be a movie in the evening over in Pleasants Park (vs the parking lot) with Pine St Baptist.
There will be a few raffles going on.
Money raised will go towards Open High scholarships for students for international educational trips.
There are 3 costume contests at the festival: kids, YA, and adult. There is also a best decorated Halloween house contest. Judging for the house contest takes place before the festival and the winner is announced at the festival. Costume contests are judged at the Festival and winners announced shortly after the judging.

OHNA Meeting Tomorrow Night

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The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) will be holding its monthly meeting tomorrow night online on Zoom only.

Monthly Meeting Agenda
Tuesday 26 September 2023
7:00PM
This meeting will be held by Zoom, at the link below.

Topic: OHNA Monthly Meeting – September
Time: Sep 26, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
(Editor’s note: Meeting information has been redacted. Please email ohnarva@gmail.com in order to request this information)

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. Ms. Verenda Cobbs, VCU
4. Ms. Stephanie Lynch, 5th District Councilperson
5. Ms. Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney (Nathan Hittle)

Updates:

1. Amphitheater planned for Tredegar Green.
· It is slated to seat 5,000 people and accommodate and additional 2,500 standing, as per our meeting with the developer’s representative. No additional parking is planned.
· When the previous amphitheater plan was proposed, the neighborhood raised questions about hours of operation, noise levels, and parking, none of which were ever answered.
· A meeting was held for Oregon Hill neighbors by the project representatives on Tuesday 13 June at 6pm.
· Preston Lloyd was invited to this meeting, but not confirmed.
· At the end of the meeting, we will have a 30-minute block for discussion of the Amphitheater project.

2. The SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for the new building on the site of the demolished of 708 China Street, was passed on the consent agenda at the 11 September Council meeting.
· Two neighbors spoke in opposition; no Council member acknowledged the opposition.

3. An SUP application has been filed with the City of Richmond for 601 ½ South Pine Street.
· The applicant is proposing to divide the parcel and to construct a new, two-story, two-family detached dwelling which will face China Street.
· The applicant had a first meeting with the zoning committee. A presentation and recommendation will be brought to an upcoming OHNA meeting. The item is not yet scheduled for the Planning Commission.

Continued Business

4. Speeding / traffic issues on Idlewood.
· A letter was sent on 25 April 2023 to Councilmember Lynch (as the resolution passed at the 24 April 2023 OHNA meeting) asking for a variety of speed control measures on Idlewood, including speed tables.
· Ask Councilmember Lynch for an update.

5. A volunteer has agreed to head up a committee looking into locations for a dedicated dog park in Oregon Hill and addressing the various city requirements for such an undertaking.
· Any other volunteers?

New Business

6. Fall Festival
· The festival will be on 21 October, 11am to 3pm, at Open High.
· There will be food trucks, print making, activities for kids, a costume contest, etc.
· There will be a sunset movie screening to be held in the evening in Pleasant’s Park.

7. We would like a motion to make donation to All the Saints for $200 to help support the Halloween parade through the neighborhood.

8. Looking for infrastructure walk volunteers.

9. Noise issues from Brown’s Island / neighborhood parties on Saturday night September 16
· It was a very loud night in the neighborhood.
· As a result of Council changing the infraction from a criminal one to a civil one, and the RPD ticket tablets do not contain a category for this, no tickets for noise ordinance violations are being issued. How will this be addressed going forward?

10. Holly Street Playground cleanup
· We will poll attendees of the meeting for potential dates.
· Open High School has offered volunteer time with students needing volunteer hours (to be undertaken during school hours– the playground might be a good opportunity.

11. Any new items?

Amphitheater Discussion
12. Amphitheater discussion. Ideas that have been suggested by neighbors and raised during our June meeting include:
· Regular meeting with neighborhoods and owner/operator to discuss ongoing issues and developments.
· Dedicated number to contact during events in the event of noise issues.
· Five drop-off lanes for Uber *
· Use East entrance *
· Add a bus / shuttle stop for the amphitheater at the East entrance.
· Formal, signed MOUs with parking decks in area for use during events.*
· Events cut off at 10:00pm as does Brown’s Island (6-9:30pm).
· No fireworks, or low-noise fireworks , or drone displays.
· The amphitheater operations could fund, through on-going donations to an Oregon Hill park fund
· The City should fund parking study during first season of events to verify parking performance (collect license plate number, verify where they come from) data collection.
· Ask amphitheater operations to provide tickets to raffle off for neighbors to attend events.
· Reorient the stage to the west, point stage uphill towards Ethyl building.
· Revisit noise ordinance, increase fine for large commercial venues.
· Add trash cans in neighborhood to head off additional litter after events; there are no public trash cans left in the neighborhood.
· Added bus stop / Pulse stop on Belvidere
· Could we request moving along new LED street lights or maybe they’d be interested in helping move the Belvidere mural idea along
· Restrooms – what is plan for public restrooms not just at facility, but around it.
· What is security plan for concert nights?
· Fines for noise ordinance
o In the present form of the noise ordinance fines start at $100.
o Are fines the only consequence of the noise ordinance?
o Is it true that because the Council changed the infraction from a criminal one to a civil one, and the RPD ticket tablets do not contain a category for this, no tickets for noise ordinance violations are being issued?
· Items marked with an asterisk (*) have already been raised by Councilmember Lynch with the project proponents.

Bryan Clark Green, President
Harrison Moenich, Co-Vice-President
Jennifer Hancock, Co-Vice-President
Mike Matthews, Secretary
John Bolecek, Treasurer