Thursday, January 21, 2010

100 Free public parking spaces available for Richmond City Council Formal Meetings

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL

Richmond City Hall

900 E. Broad Street, Suite 200

Richmond, Virginia  23219

www.council.richmondva.gov


All Richmond Citizens invited and encouraged to attend meetings
         
(Richmond, Virginia) – Beginning this month, 100 parking spaces are now available to the public for free use when attending Richmond City Council Formal Meeting Sessions, which are generally held twice a month; on the second and fourth Monday; from 6:00-8:30 p.m.; in Richmond City Council Chambers, located on the second floor of Richmond City Hall at 900 E. Broad Street. Richmond City Council invites and encourages all Richmond citizens to attend Richmond City Council meetings.

    The free public parking spaces are located in the surface parking lot, located next to Richmond City Hall on East Broad Street, between 10th and 11th Streets. Public access to the lot is accessible from the entrance on the10th Street side, near the north-east corner of Broad and 10th Streets. The lot is owned by Virginia Commonwealth University, which has partnered with the City to provide the free spaces. The lot will be staffed with a parking attendant, who assist entry into the lot and provide parking directions. Exits from the parking lot are located at 10th and 11th Streets.

    Residents are to be aware that neither Virginia Commonwealth University nor the city of Richmond are responsible for vehicles parked in the lot and that vehicles left in the lot after the conclusion of a Richmond City Council Formal Meeting Session will be towed at the owner’s expense.

    Richmond residents are also reminded that Richmond City Council Formal Meeting Sessions and are televised live on our local Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) and are replayed in Richmond on our Government Access Cable Channel (17), beginning at Noon and 7:00 p.m. daily.

CONTACT     For more information, please contact Steve Skinner, at 804.646.6052; or steven.skinner@richmondgov.com

BACKGROUND ____________________________________________________________________

Richmond City Council Official Public Meetings
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. Citizens are invited and encouraged to attend these meetings, which include (but are not limited to) two “Council Formal” Meeting Sessions, two “Council Informal” meetings, six Council Standing Committee meetings, and Public Hearings/Special/Events/ Commission meetings held on an as-needed basis. Meeting times and dates are subject to change. A general summary of meetings includes:


- More -

Richmond City Council
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STANDING COMMITTEE
Responsible for reviewing the operation of every department, agency and unit of City government and for making recommendations for operational and organizational development as appropriate.

    LOCATION        Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor Conference Room; 900 E. Broad Street

    Schedule        Typically the first Monday of each month; 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Richmond City Council
INFORMAL MEETING SESSION
Responsible for reviewing information and preparing for “Formal” Council meetings. Meetings may include presentations from city administration or private entities.

    LOCATION        Richmond Council Chambers, Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor; 900 E. Broad Street

    Schedule        Typically the second and forth Monday of each month; 3:00-5:30 p.m. (With the exception of August, when no Informal meetings are held, and holidays)

Richmond City Council
FORMAL MEETING SESSION
Responsible for deciding official Council action, which includes discussing, adopting, rejecting, and amending laws and approving the budget. Formal meetings include a time for pubic comment and are televised live on the local PBS station and are replayed in Richmond on Government Access Channel 17, beginning at Noon and 7:00 p.m. daily.

    LOCATION        Richmond Council Chambers, Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor; 900 E. Broad Street

    Schedule        Typically the second and forth Monday of each month;
                6:00-8:30 p.m. (With the exception of August, when no Formal meetings are held, and holidays)

Richmond City Council
LAND USE, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Responsible for oversight, monitoring and recommending laws and policy regarding real estate, housing, environmental issues, and public transportation.

    LOCATION        Richmond Council Chambers, Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor; 900 E. Broad Street

    Schedule        Typically the Tuesday following the 3rd Monday of each month; 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Richmond City Council
PUBLIC SAFETY STANDING COMMITTEE
Responsible for oversight, monitoring and recommending laws and policy regarding judiciary, law enforcement, fire and emergency response and prevention, ambulance services and emergency communications. Location recently changed from Council Chambers to Police Academy.
- More -

    LOCATION        Richmond Police Academy - 1202 W. Graham Road (Richmond’s Northside)

    Schedule        Typically the third Monday of each month; 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Richmond City Council
HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Responsible for oversight, monitoring and recommending laws and policy regarding public mental and physical health, social services, recreation, and the public library. The Committee balances the primary role of the Richmond Public Schools Board regarding oversight of Richmond Public Schools against Council’s responsibility for appropriation of public funds.

    LOCATION        Richmond Council Chambers, Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor; 900 E. Broad Street

    Schedule        Typically the third Wednesday of each month; 5:00-6:30 p.m.    

Richmond City Council
FINANCE STANDING COMMITTEE
Responsible for oversight, monitoring and recommending laws and policy regarding city fiscal operations, which includes the budgetary process, annual/biannual fiscal plan budgets, revenue and expenses and internal fiscal controls.

    LOCATION        Richmond Council Chambers, Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor; 900 E. Broad Street

    Schedule        Typically the third Thursday of each month; 4:00-5:30 p.m.    

Richmond City Council
GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS STANDING COMMITTEE
Responsible for oversight, monitoring and recommending laws and policy regarding Richmond City Council Standing Committees/Boards/Commissions; and, all other items not related or assigned to or by other Council Standing Committees.

    LOCATION        Richmond City Hall, 2nd fl; 900 E. Broad St., 2nd Floor, Conference Room

    Schedule        Typically the Fourth Thursday of each month; 4:00-5:30 p.m.


- End -