Richmond City Council has requested the following (summarized) legislative items for the 2010 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, which convenes at Noon on Wednesday, January 13, 2009.
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 200 - Richmond, Virginia 23219 - www.council.richmondva.gov
PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, 8 January 2010
Richmond City Council’s Legislative Requests for the 2010 Session of the Virginia General Assembly
Includes Funding Priorities and Charter Changes
WHAT Richmond City Council has requested the following (summarized) legislative items for the 2010 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, which convenes at Noon on Wednesday, January 13, 2009.
The requests are part of Richmond City Council Resolutions 2009-R 160-163 (attached) adopted November 9, 2009 and Richmond City Council Resolutions 2009-R 165-182 (attached) adopted November 23, 2009. These requests were presented to the members of the Virginia General Assembly representing Richmond at the annual Richmond-Virginia General Assembly Legislative Summit on November 18, 2009. Invited participants included members of the Virginia General Assembly representing Richmond (Richmond Delegation), members of Richmond City Council, Mayor Dwight Jones/City of Richmond Administration and members of Richmond Public Schools Board.
1. FUNDING PRIORITIES _________________________________________________________
A. Maintain the current level of state funding for pre-K through 12 public
school programs.
B. Maintain funding for State Aid to Localities with Police Departments (HB 599 funding).
C. Support the Port of Richmond’s request for $500,000 in matching funds from the Virginia Commonwealth Port Fund.
D. Continue funding the Virginia Attorney General Gang Reduction Intervention Program (GRIP).
E. Maintain state aid for critical local services and allow input from localities on where and how to implement reductions.
2. REQUESTS FOR LEGISLATION __________________________________________________
A. Request a change in the Code of Virginia in order to provide a waver on accrual of interest on payments on criminal and traffic fines while a person is incarcerated, regardless of the charge they are incarcerated for. Current law only provides an interest waiver for the specific case a person is incarcerated for.
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3. REQUESTS FOR STUDIES _______________________________________________________
A. Request legislation for the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to study the feasibility of equipping para-transit vehicles with stopping lights and requiring traffic to stop while loading/unloading in a manner similar to school buses.
B. Request legislation for the Virginia State Crime Commission to conduct a cost-benefit study of mental health courts and identify savings in jail operating costs that would occur by diverting eligible offenders to such programs.
4. SUPPORT AND/OR MONITOR _________________________________________________
A, Support continued financial assistance for local jail construction and oppose any adverse changes in the funding formula.
B. Support legislation directing the Virginia General Assembly Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study feasibility of creating state financial incentives for localities in developing/operating facilities and services on a multi-jurisdictional or regional basis.
C. Support legislation that would reduce state mandates when state or federal funding is reduced, so that localities are not required to spend additional local dollars to comply with those mandates.
D. Support legislation restoring voting rights to convicted felons who have completed their sentence and their probation and parole obligations.
E. Support legislation allowing local governments to prohibit or restrict the carrying of dangerous weapons in local government facilities, including city halls, recreational facilities, libraries, administration buildings, and meeting spaces where local governing bodies meet to conduct business.
F. Support legislation requiring background checks for firearm purchases at local gun shows.
G. Support legislation that would relax Virginia’s Dillon Rule by giving localities greater local autonomy.
H. Monitor any legislation and studies relating to the Virginia’s state school funding formula to make sure that Richmond’s share of funding is fair with relation to its population and needs.
I. Monitor any Virginia General Assembly action to resolve issues related to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling affecting forensic science testimony in DUI, drug, and sexual assault cases.
5. OPPOSE LEGISLATION _______________
A. Oppose any changes that would revise the composition of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority Board of Directors from its existing jurisdictional representative structure.
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6. CHARTER CHANGE LEGISLATION
Richmond City Council requests legislation for changes to the Richmond City Charter. The full texts of changes are included in Council Res. #2009-R165. The general purpose and summaries of changes are as follows:
A. Section 4.02. Powers.
Clarifying Council’s authority to appoint its own staff to assist with its functions/duties.
B. Section 5.03. Involvement of Mayor and Council in appointment and removals.
Clarifying Mayor/CAO’s authority to hire/fire/supervise employees applies only to Administrative Personnel, not Council staff.
C. Section 5B.01. Retirement System established
Clarifying Richmond Retirement System Staff are under the direction of the Richmond Retirement Board of Trustees/Executive Director (ED) and that Council is to “provide” for the ED and other employees, as consistent with
current Charter Sections 4.02(d) and 5A.03.
D. Section 5.05 General duties; Mayor
Increase Mayor’s legislative veto power to include any Council Ordinance; remove language regarding Council appointment of members of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (as Code of Virginia already provides governing body this duty); and, housekeeping changes replacing pronouns with the title “Mayor.”
E. Section 13.11 Implementation of stormwater utility
To allow Richmond residential property owners to receive waivers of stormwater utility charges for certain stormwater-related improvements [this would conform to Code of Virginia §15.2.2114 (B)].
CONTACT For more information regarding the legislative proposals/agenda, please contact Daisy E. Weaver, Council Chief of Staff, at 804.646.5921, or daisy.weaver@richmondgov.com
or
Jennifer Wicker, Legislative Coordinator, Office of the Mayor at 804.646.0783, or Jennifer.wicker@richmondgov.com
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Steven R. Skinner, APR
Council Public Information Manager
Office of the Chief of Staff
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Richmond City Hall
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804.646.6052 (office)
804.335.4054 (mobile)
804.937.1386 (home/mobile)
804.646.5468 (fax)
skinnesr@ci.richmond.va.us (email)
www.council.richmondva.gov(website)
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MISSION The mission of Richmond City Council
is to represent citizens in creating and amending
local laws, providing government policy and
oversight, and approving the city budget.
VISION Richmond City Council is committed to
creating a vibrant community that is a great place
to live, work, learn, play, visit and raise a family.
