The City of Richmond is officially inviting 6 development teams to submit responses to Request for Additional Information (RFAI).

On February 15, 2022, the city received 15 submissions from development teams in response to the Diamond District Request for Interest (RFI) issued on December 28, 2021.

“The city is extremely pleased with the amount of interest in redeveloping this over 67-acre site,” said Deputy Director for Equitable Development Maritza Mercado Pechin. “Considering the area’s potential, this enthusiasm comes as no surprise. As we continue this careful and competitive process, we’re more optimistic than ever that the Diamond District will go far in supporting our growing city.”

The Diamond District Evaluation Panel reviewed the 15 submissions against the evaluation criteria listed in RFI. Based on the evaluation, six development teams have been invited to continue in the competitive process and respond to the RFAI (listed alphabetically):

• Diamond District Gateway Partners
• MAG Partners
• Richmond Community Development Partners
• RVA Diamond Partners
• Vision300 Partners, LLC
• Weller Development Company and LMXD

Based on its evaluation of RFAI responses, the Evaluation Panel will select development teams to respond to a Request for Offers.

The RFAI is a new intermediate step that the city has added to the Diamond District redevelopment process to facilitate the careful and competitive redevelopment of this strategic development opportunity. The city added the RFAI step to the process to collect more information for respondents prior to issuing a Request for Offers to the finalists. For the Request for Additional information (RFAI) document, please visit www.rva.gov/economic-development/diamond. Submissions are due on April 25, 2022 at 3 p.m.

The City anticipates the following evaluation process as outlined below. The City reserves the right to alter the process at any point to ensure the greatest benefit is derived for the City and its citizens.

• RFAI Submissions Due – RFAI submissions are due no later than 3:00 p.m. ET on April 25, 2022.
• RFAI Evaluation – The Evaluation Panel reviews the RFAI Responses.
• Announcement of the Finalists – The City anticipates narrowing down the RFAI Respondents to its finalists the week of May 9, 2022.
• Public Meeting –The City anticipates hosting a public meeting the week of May 24, 2022.
• Request for Offers (RFO) – The City anticipates issuing the RFO to the Finalists the week of May 24, 2022.
• RFO Submissions Due – The City anticipates that the RFO submissions will be due the week of June 6, 2022.
• RFO Evaluation, Negotiation and Selection – The City will negotiate with one or more of the finalists to derive the best and highest benefit to the City and its residents. The City anticipates announcing its preferred development team in June 2022.

About the Diamond District project

The Diamond District project is just one aspect of Richmond 300: A Plan for Growth, which has been awarded the 2021 Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan for the American Planning Association. The plan provides a detailed roadmap to ensure “Richmond is a welcoming, inclusive, diverse, innovative, sustainable, and equitable city of thriving neighborhoods, ensuring a high quality of life for all.”

About the Diamond District Evaluation Panel

The Evaluation Panel is comprised of 10 members, including City Council members, city administrative staff, and VCU administrative staff.

Communication with the Panel: Members of the public can send comments/questions to the Diamond District Evaluation Panel by using this form. This form is publicly posted on the project page. Do not email the Evaluation Panel members, facilitator, or advisors about the Diamond District project, as emails sent directly to the Evaluation Panel about this project will not be read. Comments and questions will be reviewed every other week and distributed to the Evaluation Panel during the evaluation process.

Evaluation Panel Members

1. James P. Duval – Investment and Debt Portfolio Manager, Finance Department
2. Sharon L. Ebert – Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Planning and Economic Development
3. Karol Kain Gray – Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Virginia Commonwealth University
4. Katherine Jordan – Council Member, Second District
5. Ann-Frances Lambert – Council Member, Third District
6. J.E. Lincoln Saunders – Chief Administrative Officer
7. Leonard L. Sledge – Director, Department of Economic Development
8. Caprichia Smith Spellman – Interim Director, Office of Community Wealth Building
9. Robert C. Steidel – Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Operations
10. Stephen M. Willoughby – Director of Emergency Communications

Evaluation Panel Facilitator: Maritza Mercado Pechin, Deputy Director, Department of Planning and Development Review, is the Project Manager for the Diamond District redevelopment process and will run the evaluation panel meetings, coordinate logistics, and serve as the official point of contact between the evaluation panel and the respondents.

Evaluation Panel Advisors: These individuals will attend evaluation panel meetings and offer expertise as needed.

• Matthew A. Welch – Policy Advisor, Planning and Economic Development Portfolio
• Lynne S. Lancaster – Deputy Director, Department of Public Works

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The City of Richmond has selected MGT, a public sector firm that specializes in disparity and availability studies, to perform a disparity study of the city’s programs for minority business enterprises (MBE).

The purpose of the study is to determine whether a significant gap exists between the number of MBEs that are qualified to perform and the number of MBEs engaged by the city or its prime contractors.

Director of the Department of Procurement Services Betty J. Burrell stated, “We embrace the opportunity to work with Office of Minority Business Development and MGT on this important disparity study. Our business model includes continual process improvements; therefore, at the conclusion of the study or as potential challenges are identified during the study process, we welcome recommendations for improvements that could be made to our procurement policies and procedures that would help remove barriers to success for minority firms.”

The study will be based on five years of historical data and will include statistical analysis, empirical evidence, and an assessment of any anecdotal and qualitative evidence of discrimination within the city’s procurement process. MGT will perform the study, and, if a disparity is found to exist, offer analysis on whether the use of only race neutral based measures would be effective or if other remedies should be considered to correct the inequity.

Input from the local community and stakeholders is highly encouraged. The first community meeting is scheduled on April 7, 2022 and details can be found at richmondvadisparitystudy.com.

MGT will gather qualitative input from businesses during the course of the study. Questions regarding the study should be directed to Vernetta Mitchell, vmitchell@mgtconsulting.com or (813) 321-1400  ext. 2131.

About MGT

MGT is a national public sector management and technology services firm that delivers diverse services and solutions to a wide range of state, local and education clients across the U.S. and abroad. Leveraging a 48-year track record and reputation, our industry subject matter experts’ partner with thousands of public agencies to provide trusted solutions that improve government performance and help communities thrive. 

It is the largest solutions providers of disparity studies and has conducted more unchallenged studies than any other consultant firm in the country. The team has executed more than 230 studies across the country and will aim to provide the city of Richmond with a comprehensive, effective, and legally supportable disparity study.

Visit us at www.mgtconsulting.com or find us on social media.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) and The Burning Sands Alumni Football Foundation (Burning Sands) invite the community to celebrate the unveiling of three Adopt-A-Street signs on the campus of Virginia Union University at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 26. The ceremony will take place at the corner of Admiral and North Lombardy streets.

The 30-minute service will begin with a presentation by DPW and the unveiling of an Adopt-A-Street sign bearing the organization’s name, and end with a “Panther March” to the corner of North Lombardy Street and Brook Road, where Burning Sands members will uncover two Adopt-A-Street signs honoring VUU legendary football coaches Willard Bailey, the late Jesse Chavis and “Tricky Tom” Harris, and Joe Taylor.

Through a partnership with the Richmond Clean City Commission’s Adopt-A-Street program in 2021, Burning Sands members performed bi-weekly clean-ups of the three streets that form the triangle encompassing Hovey Field – 1200-1300 blocks of Admiral Street, 1500 block of North Lombardy Street, and the 2000 block of Brook Road – in an effort to keep the campus of its beloved alma mater cleared of trash and litter. The organization kicked off its 2022 clean-up campaign on March 5.

The Burning Sands Alumni Football Foundation (Burning Sands) is a nonprofit organization that raises money to support various educational and athletic initiatives of the university’s football department. Membership is comprised of men and women who are either former VUU football players, coaches, athletic trainers, cheerleaders, or just loyal supporters of the university.
Members, many of whom are former Virginia Union University football players, elected to pay tribute to these four coaches because of the indelible imprint they left on their lives. The sign bearing the organization’s name is strategically placed at the Admiral Street site to serve as inspiration to VUU football players as they head to the workout room from the practice field.

Willard Bailey, a 2021 inductee into the National Black College Football Hall of Fame, is the winningest coach in VUU history. Coach Bailey holds a school record of 151 wins between 1971-83 and 1995-2003. His teams won six CIAA conference championships. Jesse “Bad News” Chavis is touted as the best defensive coordinator Virginia Union has ever had. His 1973 defensive line, known as “The Wrecking Crew,” posted six shutouts en route to an undefeated season and the first CIAA Championship in 50 years. “Tricky Tom” Harris coached football, basketball, and track between 1950-1983 at VUU. He won 99 football games during his career. Joe Taylor, another legend in college football, has won four national championships, 14 conference championships, seven bowl games, and has a lifetime win-loss record of 233-96-4. Coach Taylor, current VUU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, was inducted into the National Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2020 and was recently appointed to serve on the national College Football Playoff Selection Committee.

Coaches Willard Bailey and Joe Taylor, Jesse “Skeet” Chavis, son of Coach Chavis, and a representative from the Tom Harris Alumni Chapter will be present as honorary guests. Coach Alvin Parker, along with members of the VUU football team, will attend.

Contacts:    

Angriess Scott, President
(804) 840-4819 • sco04@henrico.us

Jacquelyn Stanley, Secretary
(804) 306-6798 • jacrob@comcast.net

Paige Hairston, Richmond Department of Public Works (804) 385-0409 • Paige.Hairston@rva.gov
 

Have you been boosted yet?

The City of Richmond will be hosting a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in partnership with the Richmond City Health District for city employees and members of the public at Main Street Station from 9 a.m. -12 p.m. this upcoming Friday!

Walk-ups are welcome, but in order to reserve your vaccine, we recommend that you register below! 

Pfizer 12+

Moderna

J&J

Richmond, VA — Mayor Levar M. Stoney this afternoon delivered a proposed $836 million General Fund budget for the City of Richmond for the coming 2023 fiscal year that does not raise taxes and expands key investments in education, housing, public safety, public services and public servants to improve the quality of life for all residents.

Addressing a virtual meeting of City Council, the mayor said that despite the changes and challenges presented by a second year of the Covid-19 global pandemic, the administration continues to pursue growth and opportunity.

He said the FY23 budget and accompanying $627 million, five-year Capital Improvement Program submitted today is built on the “strength, resilience and initiative” shown by the city workforce, city council, business owners and residents.

“(It) reflects the priorities of a city that believes in high quality public education for its children, the value of investing in the city employees who serve us, the importance of maintaining quality streets and services and the memorialization of our city’s full, true history,” the mayor said. “…From public education to public safety, to public servants and public services, this administration remains committed to “The Fix.’”

Highlights of the Mayor’s plan include:

Workforce Investments and Public Safety Pay Plan

The mayor announced $17.4 million for a first responder step pay plan. Under this plan, 95 percent of police officers and firefighters will receive at least a 10 percent pay increase, and 83 percent of them will receive increases of 15 percent or more. Starting pay for police officers will go from $44,000 a year to over $51,000 per year.

“Our first responder plan not only makes RPD and RFD salaries highly competitive in the region, but puts them among the highest in the commonwealth.…I am committed to our city staying competitive and keeping pace with first responder pay.”

Investments also include a 5% salary increase for all non-sworn city employees and a minimum threshold of $17 an hour for the lowest paid city workers.

“None of the fixes we are bringing as government leaders to meet the challenges of our day are possible without our dedicated public employees who make it happen,” said the mayor. 

Education Investments

The budget includes an additional $15 million for Richmond Public Schools on top of last year’s allocation. This supplemental funding is enough to fully fund teacher’s salaries, cover RPS administrative needs and support efforts to improve learning outcomes. However, because the RPS Board has yet to present a fully-categorized  budget to the city administration, it will be placed in a contingency reserve fund to be appropriated by ordinance through city council.

“The ongoing dysfunction of the majority of the (School Board) will not deter my commitment to putting our children first – or to being a fiscally responsible steward of your taxpayer dollars,” the mayor said. “These investments represent a $51 million increase – or 33 percent – in new funding for RPS since I took office.”

Safety Net Investments

In recognition of the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, the budget also expands investments in several key areas:

• Funding for the city’s Eviction Diversion Program increases by 50 percent to $727,000
• An additional $1.5 million is provided for Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities to continue and expand the city’s after-school programming.
• $500,000 to establish the first-ever Children’s Fund. This fund, to be managed by the Office of Children and Families, will enable the city to respond to the changing landscape of out-of-school time, including summer programs and youth employment.
• Increases the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority budget from $3.4 million to $3.7 million

Transportation and Infrastructure Investments

Continuing the administration’s commitment to improve its transportation and neighborhood infrastructure, the proposed plan includes:

• $17 million in transportation infrastructure funding through the five-year Capital Improvement Program, in addition to $35 million in federal state and regional funding in the CIP
• A $605,000 increase in city funding for the Greater Richmond Transit Corporation

“Our local investments, and regional investments through the Central Virginia Transit Authority, have put GRTC on solid financial footing,” the Mayor said. “As such, it is my strong expectation to see GRTC upgrade its network of bus amenities, such as shelters and benches, in the coming year. Mass transit is a lifeline between homes and jobs for many of our residents. They deserve to have a dignified, sheltered and safe place to wait for the bus.”

City Service Improvements

The proposed budget continues to enhance city services, highlighted by targeted investments that enhance access and enjoyment of city assets to support residents, and ensure better processing of planning documents and enhanced monitoring of compliance with state codes. Highlights include:

• Restoring Richmond Public Libraries  to pre-pandemic funding ($436,000)
• Launching a Park Ranger Pilot Program ($250,000)
• Purchasing new software for the Department of Planning Development and Review to improve submission, processing and tracking of applications
• The addition of four new Property Maintenance and Code Enforcement positions  that will expand our ability to monitor compliance so residents have safe places to live and work.

Fiscal Management

This year’s budget also takes important steps toward implementing financial best practices in how the city pays its fleet of city vehicles and how it strategically plans large capital projects.

The proposal transfers $10 million in the General Fund to the CIP in order to purchase allow the purchase of fleet vehicles with cash. This plan will improved the deferred capital replacement of key municipal vehicles like police, fire, and refuse vehicles.

The city will also establish a $10 million Capital Planning Fund to undertake preliminary architectural, engineering and design work for future major capital projects, such as a new courthouse, public safety complex and a new City Hall.

Telling Richmond’s full history

The city CIP includes $28 million for development of the Shockoe Heritage Campus.

This fiscal year, the city expects to engage the community, design the campus and put the first phase of work out to bid.

The General Fund budget also includes $400,000 to support the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia to assist in its commencement of the monument projects.

“As you know, the museum now has the substantial task of deciding what should be done with the Confederate monuments it has received from the city,” said Mayor Stoney. “We owe not only a debt of gratitude, but also have a responsibility, to ensure it has the financial support to successfully commence  this important project.”

Nearly all of non-departmental grantees in the FY23 budget will be level-funded for the next year -- and some will receive increases in funding. The most notable is the inclusion in the mayor’s budget of a $515,000 salary supplement to the city’s Public Defenders align with the salary supplement the city provides to Richmond’s Commonwealth Attorneys.

Revenues and Costs

This year’s budget is conservatively grounded in the uncertainty of pandemic economics. In reviewing city finances, the mayor said city tax revenue projections are improving and stabilizing thanks to an increase in assessed real estate values and rebounding of consumer driven revenues such as sales and meals taxes.

The city plan is also benefitted enhanced by the $155 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, which is being used to provide $20 million in funding for affordable housing and $78 million to build four new community centers and fund improvements to public housing. 

But city costs have also gone up, in part fueled by a 7.5 percent hike in the Consumer Price Index – the fastest pace of inflation in 40 years. Debt service, health insurance, retirement contributions, contracted services and salaries have also increased.

To close the gap, the administration is proposing modest fee increases, among them: hiking the hourly parking rate from $1.50 to $2 an hour and increasing the fee for municipal solid waste by $1, from $21.45 per month to $22.45 per month.

The costs to provide gas, water, sewer and storm water have also risen. The proposal calls for single-digit percentage increases in those utilities. 

The city is obligated to produce a balanced budget every fiscal year, which begins on July 1. The mayor is obligated to submit a proposal by the first week in March, and the Council has until the end of May to pass a spending plan. Council will be hosting multiple public meetings in the coming weeks to discuss the mayor’s proposal. 

“The City of Richmond is well positioned to continue its upward trajectory thanks to the conservative revenue projections, targeted investments and fiscally responsible management reflected in this balanced budget,” the mayor concluded. “I am confident in, and optimistic for, our city’s future.”

To view the FY23 budget document please visit:

www.rva.gov/budget-and-strategic-planning/budget-home  

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