charlesrsamuels.com

Why Richmond Needs a Stormwater Utility

The Mayor presented in his budget the creation of a stormwater management utility.  The City is facing EPA fines for violations and serious safety issues without these additions and it has been delayed as long as possible. The utility will charge every property in the City a fee based on the size of the impervious surfaces - large roofs or large paved areas will pay more. Currently all projects are paid for by the general fund which is collected only from private property owners.

Stormwater is the rain and melting snow that does not soak into the ground but runs off hard surfaces into the storm sewer system and ultimately into the James River. Urban growth, with parking lots and buildings, results in flooding and pollutants entering the river.

The City has sewer system in the central part of Richmond to carry stormwater and wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant, but the rest of the city is served by a system that carries stormwater, untreated, directly into the local streams and the James River. Trash and pollutants, including lawn chemicals and fertilizers, oil and grease from automobiles, and animal waste, is in this runoff. This is in violation of Federal EPA law.

You can help by keeping litter, debris, leaves, pet waste, and trash out of the street, gutters and ditches. The utility will be dedicated to curing drainage problems, preventive

maintenance and repairing and cleaning the storm drains.

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Welcome to Charlesrsamuels.com!

Growing up in Metro Richmond, specifically, eastern Goochland County, Charles’ family attended church in the City and his father’s law practice, where he spent many summers working, was located Downtown. After graduating from the College of William & Mary, Charles began his first job as a paralegal at Mezzullo & McCandlish, a law firm also located Downtown, and moved into the 2nd District where he has lived ever since.

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After two years at Mezzullo & McCandlish, Charles attended law school at the University of Richmond, where he met his wife, Krista. They share a mutual love for the City and became involved with their neighborhood association shortly after graduation. Charles has the distinction of being the first renter to hold the office of President of the Fan District Association. He worked hard to ensure that everyone in the Fan, including renters, had a voice in the neighborhood, just as he will ensure that everyone in the 2nd District has a voice on City Council.

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Now a proud Fan homeowner, Charles enjoys the “character” that comes with a 96-year old house as he works to return his home to its intended purpose as a single-family dwelling. When he is not renovating his home, he spends his time at his busy law practice where he defends indigent clients, represents juveniles as their Guardian ad Litem and volunteers for various pro bono organizations.

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VCU News!!!

At the April 27th City Council meeting Mayor Jones and Charles honored the VCU basketball teams for the outstanding performance.

Virginia Commonwealth University and the Rams Women’s Basketball Team

Richmond City Council does hereby celebrate, recognize and honor the success of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the Rams Women's Basketball Team for finishing the 2008-2009 college basketball season with a 26-7 regular season win/loss record; tying a school record for wins and earning the first bid in the team’s history to a National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament.

During the 2008-2009 College Basketball Season, Head Coach Beth Cunningham, her staff and team earned great respect for their sportsmanship, commitment and hard work, which resulted in outstanding national attention placed on Virginia Commonwealth University, the City of Richmond, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Founded in 1968, Virginia Commonwealth University is the largest university in the state and among the most highly respected urban research institutions in the nation. The University includes one of our country’s foremost medical centers and arts and design schools, with its nurse anesthesia, sculpture and Brandcenter programs having been ranked Number1 in the United States.

Richmond City Council does therefore bestow the Outstanding Achievement Award on Virginia Commonwealth University and the Rams Men's Basketball Team for their success in winning the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Basketball Tournament Championship Game and encourages all our fellow citizens to celebrate this fine achievement.

Virginia Commonwealth University and the Rams Men’s Basketball Team

Richmond City Council does hereby celebrate, recognize and honor the success of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the Rams Men's Basketball Team for winning the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Basketball Tournament Championship Game on March 9, 2009.

During the 2008-2009 College Basketball Season, former Head Coach Anthony Grant, his staff and team earned great respect for their sportsmanship, commitment and hard work, which resulted in outstanding national attention placed on Virginia Commonwealth University, the City of Richmond, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Founded in 1968, Virginia Commonwealth University is the largest university in the state and among the most highly respected urban research institutions in the nation. The University includes one of our country’s foremost medical centers and arts and design schools, with its nurse anesthesia, sculpture and Brandcenter programs having been ranked Number1 in the United States.

 Richmond City Council does therefore bestow the Outstanding Achievement Award on Virginia Commonwealth University and the Rams Men's Basketball Team for their success in winning the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Basketball Tournament Championship Game and encourages all our fellow citizens to celebrate this fine achievement.

 

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Mayor Comments on Highwoods Suspension

RICHMOND, VA. - Mayor Dwight Jones issued the following statement following the decision by Highwood Properties to suspend their involvement in the Shockoe Bottom/Main Street Station proposed development:

"The decision by Highwoods Properties to suspend their involvement in the Shockoe Bottom/Main Street Station and the Boulevard projects is due to many factors. As they have noted and as the City's own review underscored, their plan for self-financing is just not possible in today's revenue bond market. Additionally, there have been many changes that have come about since 2007 when they first developed their concept. Primarily, the prospect for high-speed rail at Main Street Station is a game changer for our area and we must carefully position ourselves for imminent high-speed rail opportunities. Also, there are several other considerations that need further research. They include the cultural heritage of the Shockoe area, the GRTC transfer station, and good development of open space.
“I have high regard for Highwoods Partnership and their creative leadership in proposing a vision of what Shockoe Bottom could become. I am hopeful that we can work together on future developments with the Highwoods Partnership as I know they are interested in promising economic development opportunities for our area. "Nevertheless, at this time the situation affords us an avenue to fully reengage our regional partners in the discussion of the direction we as a region wish to move in. We know there is excitement about Richmond as a baseball town and we have a commitment from the Eastern League that there will be a team on the ground in the Diamond next spring. What we must do now is to determine what our long-term solution will be and the best way to go about accomplishing that goal."
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Developers drop Shockoe Center ballpark project

A plan for baseball in Shockoe Bottom is dead.

Developers of the proposed Shockoe Center ballpark announced this afternoon that they're walking away from the project as well as a proposal for development along the Boulevard.

"We have carried these projects as far as our collaborative team can under the present circumstances," the development team led by Highwoods Properties said in a statement released to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The developers said their efforts aimed at revitalizing Shockoe Bottom and the Boulevard have been overshadowed by debate over the ballpark.

They also said the "good faith" but ultimately unsuccessful effort by a group of local investors to buy a baseball team had "fundamentally altered the way minor-league baseball will now return to Richmond.

"The city will need to negotiate directly with any new team owner on such issues as location, timing and financing of a new ballpark."

A statement from Mayor Dwight C. Jones is forthcoming, according to his press secretary, Tammy D. Hawley.

For more details on why the plan was dropped, see tomorrow's Times-Dispatch.

-- Will Jones Read more...