Richmond City Council Official Swearing-In Ceremony and election of Council President and Vice President to be held

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL


Richmond City Council – Richmond City Hall - 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305 - Richmond, VA 23219 - www.council.richmondva.gov



COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY

IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED

Monday, 26 November 2012



Richmond City Council Official Swearing-In Ceremony and election of Council President and Vice President to be held



Free Public Event: Everyone invited and encouraged to attend



WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) -- The Richmond City Council Official Swearing-In Ceremony (Investiture) for the nine Richmond residents elected in 2012 to serve as members of the 2013-2016 Richmond City Council will be held on Wednesday, January 2, 2013, beginning at 4:00 p.m.



The Richmond City Council Official Swearing-In Ceremony (Investiture) will be held as a Special Organizational Meeting and will be followed by the election of a Council President and Vice President, who will serve two-year terms (2013-2014).



The Richmond City Council Official Swearing-In Ceremony (Investiture) will be performed by Richmond City Clerk, Alvin Anderson.



Following the election of Council President and Vice President, Richmond City Council will adopt the Richmond City Council Rules of Procedure and legislation may be introduced and adopted to appoint the Chairmen of Richmond City Council's six Standing Committees. A reception will immediately follow at a location to be determined.



These events are free and open to the public and all Richmond residents are invited and encouraged to attend.



WHEN Wednesday, January 2, 2013

4:00 - 6:30 p.m.



WHERE Richmond City Council Chambers

Richmond City Hall

900 E. Broad Street

Richmond, Virginia 23219



WHO The Honorable Members of Richmond City Council



CONTACT For more information, please contact Steve Skinner, Council Public Information Manger, at 804.646.6052 (office); 804.335.4054 (mobile); 804.937.1386 (home/mobile); or skinnesr@ci.richmond.va.us (email)



Background ____________________________________________________________________________



Richmond City Council Official Duties ___________________________________

Richmond City Council is the governing body of Richmond and is responsible for creating and amending local laws, providing policy and government oversight, managing oversight and appointments of members of Richmond City Council boards and commissions, and approving the annual Richmond Government Budget. The official duties of Richmond City Council are enumerated in the Richmond City Charter. This is the fourth Richmond City Council legislative body since the establishment of Richmond's Council-Mayor form of government in 2004.



In delivery of its official duties, Richmond City Council holds an average of 12 official monthly public meetings to discuss, deliberate, and act on laws and policy on behalf of the community. These include (but are not limited to) two “Council Formal Meeting Sessions”, two “Council Informal Meeting Sessions”, six Council Standing Committee meetings, and Council Public Hearings/Special Events/Commission meetings, held on an as-needed basis.





Richmond Government Structure



Overview ___________________________________________________________________________



As residents of Richmond we govern ourselves at the state, local and federal level and choose (elect) fellow citizens to act on our behalf in running our government. While state and local forms of this type of self-government may differ, the purpose is to serve the mutual interests of all residents; based on inclusion, transparency, and participation.



Richmond City Charter

In the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia, the foundation of our citizen government is established in national and state constitutions. In Richmond, the city “constitution” is established in the powers granted it by the Virginia General Assembly, as enumerated in the Richmond City Charter. The Richmond City Charter establishes the governmental framework of the self-governance of the citizens of Richmond, and establishes Richmond City Council as the governing body of Richmond. The Richmond City Charter is established by and can only be altered by the Virginia General Assembly. Richmond City Council is also subject to all relevant laws established by the Virginia General Assembly and those laws established by itself.



Council-Mayor Form of Government

In Richmond, our chosen form of local government was established by citizen referendum approved by the Virginia General Assembly in 2004, is a Council-Mayor form of government. Richmond's Council-Mayor Form of Government began in 2005 with Swearing-in of the first Richmond City Council members under the new form (terms that begin 2005 were for two-years (2005-2006) (and again for two years for 2006-2007), four-year terms of Richmond City Council began with the 2008-2012 term.).



Richmond Voter Districts

In Richmond's Council-Mayor form of government, the city is divided into nine citizen geo-demographic representative political/voting districts. These districts are used to elect members of the Richmond City Council, Richmond City Public Schools Board and a Mayor At-Large (who must receive the majority of votes in five of the nine voter districts). These Richmond Voting Districts include the: West End 1st Voter District, North Central 2nd Voter District, Northside 3rd Voter District, Southwest 4th Voter District, Central 5th Voter District, Gateway 6th Voter District, East End 7th Voter District, Southside 8th Voter District, and South Central 9th Voter District.



Councilmembers

Nine persons are thusly elected among nine individual voting districts to represent citizens as members of Richmond City Council. Richmond City Council is the governing body of Richmond and is responsible for creating and amending local laws, providing policy and government oversight, appointing members to boards and commissions, and approving the annual City budget. In 2008 the term of a Councilmember was increased from two to four years.



Richmond City Council elects from among its membership one person to serve as Council President and one to serve as Council Vice President. These positions are elected to serve for two-year terms. The Council President is responsible for providing overall council direction, leading Council meetings and serving as the senior representative of Council on behalf of Council action.





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______________________________________

Steven R. Skinner, APR

Council Public Information Manager

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL

OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL CHIEF OF STAFF

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)

steven.skinner@richmondgov.com (email)

www.council.richmondva.gov(website)

____________________________________________



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