Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond is launching “People’s Day: We’re Here to Help,” in partnership with the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. The new series is designed to provide residents with direct, in person access to City leadership, customer service teams, and resource support across multiple departments.

Each People’s Day will focus on a key community priority. Future sessions will include senior needs, youth services and tax payments.

The first People’s Day focuses primarily on utility services and will offer residents one on one assistance, the opportunity to speak directly with the city’s executive leadership including the CAO, DCAOs, DPU leadership and other senior leaders, while providing space to raise other customer service concerns across the City, including payment support service.

People’s Day: We’re Here to Help 
Tuesday, June 23 
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. 
City Hall

Wednesday, June 24 
5 p.m. – 7 p.m. 
Southside Community Services Center

Residents are welcome to bring any concern or service question, not just utility related issues. Registration is encouraged to help with staffing preparation but is not required. Residents can register here.

Why People’s Day Is Launching Now 
The City of Richmond is currently implementing several major technology upgrades across departments to improve service long term. While these improvements are important, nothing replaces in person customer service. People’s Day exists to ensure residents always have a direct line to help when they need it.

These improvements include DPU’s recent transition to an upgraded customer information system, designed to improve accuracy, reliability and access for residents.

During the DPU system transition, some customers experienced delays in payment posting. The issue was quickly identified and the City has taken several steps to support customers during the update, including:

• Temporarily suspending utility disconnections 
• Pausing flow restrictor installations 
• Automatically removing related late fees 
• Ensuring confirmed payments are applied without requiring customers to resubmit

“At DPU, our priority is our customers,” said Scott Morris, Senior Director of the Department of Public Utilities. “As we identify technical glitches with our new systems, our teams work around the clock to fix them. We appreciate residents’ patience, and we remain committed to transparency, responsiveness and doing right by our community.”

“City Hall and all City service sites are, and always will be, the people’s house. People’s Day reflects the City’s commitment to the Mayor’s directive to create a thriving city hall that is accessible and resident centered,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. “This is the first of many opportunities for us to meet people where they are and provide the responsive service our community deserves. It’s also good operational practice: hearing directly from residents helps us strengthen our systems, improve coordination and continuously deliver better results.”

Looking Ahead  
The City will continue to host People’s Day events throughout the year, each tailored to a different community need. Details on future dates and focus areas will be shared in advance of each event. 

Residents with questions about their utility account may contact DPU Customer Service at 804 646 4646, dpucustserv@rva.gov or visit rva.gov/public-utilities.

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Disconnections and flow restrictor installations suspended to protect customers during resolution

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is aware that some recent utility payments are not currently reflected in customer account balances due to a payment processing issue. DPU is actively working with this payment processor to identify and resolve any remaining payment posting delays as quickly as possible.

To ensure customers are not negatively impacted while this issue is being resolved, DPU is temporarily suspending utility service disconnections and flow restrictor installations. Additionally, any late fees resulting from delayed payment postings will be removed.

Customers who have already submitted a payment and received confirmation that it was processed should not submit a duplicate payment. Those payments will be reflected in next month’s bill.

DPU appreciates customers’ patience and understanding as work continues to resolve the issue. Additional updates will be provided as information becomes available.

Customers with questions about their utility account may contact DPU Customer Service at 804-646-4646 or visit rva.gov/public-utilities.

Recent actions highlight commitment to higher quality, more responsive, and more transparent City operations.  

The City of Richmond recently announced a series of achievements that reflect the Administration’s commitment to good governance, operational excellence, and continuous quality improvement. Recent progress across public safety, housing, labor relations, and government accountability highlights how internal teams, guided by Mayor Danny Avula’s leadership and direction, are driving stronger, more responsive, and more transparent City operations.    

Accountability and Performance. This week, the Office of the City Auditor (OCA) noted the Administration’s progress, underscoring the City’s commitment to accountability and continuous improvement. OCA closed or removed 38 recommendations, including 34 in key operational areas such as bad debt reconciliation, purchase use, warehousing, and duplicate payment controls. Across the fiscal year, 10 departments closed 65 recommendations, reflecting meaningful performance improvements across the government. 

Customer Support During DPU System Updates.  Following the launch of DPU’s upgraded customer information systems, some customers experienced delays and disruptions that were promptly addressed and resolved. The department is continuing to monitor system performance closely and make the necessary post‑implementation adjustments to realize optimal efficiency. 

To ensure residents have clear avenues to share feedback and receive assistance, DPU Senior Director Scott Morris and Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II will host two customer engagement events inviting community members to hear directly from them, speak directly with customer service staff, receive support, and learn more about financial assistance resources.  Sessions will be held Tuesday, June 23, from 12–2 p.m. at City Hall, and Wednesday, June 24, from 5–7 p.m. at the Southside Community Services Center.  

Strengthening the Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) – City of Richmond Partnership. With a focus on strengthening public safety through effective governance, the Administration is partnering with Council to reform the partnership between the city’s Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response (DECPR) and the Richmond Ambulance Authority.  The unanimously approved ordinance will ensure that medically trained RAA staff handle medical only calls from the outset, improving accuracy and speeding up care for residents. 

Collective Bargaining. The City is advancing an amendment to its collective bargaining agreement that clarifies negotiation processes and reinforces productive labor management collaboration. By promoting consistency and transparency in workforce policies, Richmond continues to demonstrate its commitment to fair, reliable, and accountable governance. 

Commerce Road. Good governance guides the City’s approach to housing. New legislation for the Commerce Road corridor will enable a significant expansion of affordable housing units, strengthening long-term housing options for families and supporting equitable growth across Richmond. 

Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The City completed work to ensure that all funds designated for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund were correctly calculated and aligned with the budget process, supporting continued investment in housing access and stability for residents.   

“Whether it’s our historic audit results, improving emergency services, moving collective bargaining efforts forward, or continued investment in transformative public housing, the administration is making significant improvements for Richmonders,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. 

The City of Richmond will close in observance of Juneteenth on Friday, June 19. We will reopen on Monday, June 22. Keep reading for information about City service schedules during the holiday weekend.   

For the full city holiday calendar, please visit the Holiday Closings page.

• There will be no trash collection or bulk and brush collection on Friday, June 19.  Operations will resume regular schedules on Monday, June 22.  
• The East Richmond Road Convenience Center (ERRCC) Landfill, located at 3800 East Richmond Road, will be closed on Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20. ERRCC will reopen on Monday, June 22.  
• Recycling services will operate as normal on Friday, June 19. For more information, visit cvwma.com.  
• All Richmond Public Libraries are closed on Friday, June 19. Libraries will be open for normal business hours on Saturday, June 20. 
• RVA311 will be closed on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20. The public will have 24/7 access to self-service via RVA311.com and mobile apps. 
• Richmond Public School offices will be closed on Friday, June 19. 
• All Parks and Recreation offices and community centers are closed Friday, June 19.  
• Outdoor Pools will operate 1 – 7 p.m. for the weekend. 
• The Department of Public Utilities Call Center is closed Friday, June 19. For utility emergencies, customers should call 804-646-4646 and press Option 1. For gas leaks, leave the area and call 911.   
• Richmond Animal Care and Control will be open on Friday, June 19 and will host an adoption special 6/19, 20 & 21! 

On June 11, the City of Richmond announced the retirement of Peter Breil, the City’s first Director of the Department of Citizen Service and Response, better known as RVA311. Breil’s retirement follows years of dedicated public service and transformative leadership that helped establish RVA311 as a cornerstone of Richmond’s customer service and resident engagement efforts. 

Since joining the City in 2018, Director Breil has grown RVA311 into a critical component of Richmond’s service delivery model. Under his leadership, the department expanded to a team of 33 employees who provide information about more than 50 City organizations and hundreds of community resources, while serving as the primary point of contact for resident requests and concerns. 

In 2025 alone, RVA311 handled nearly 200,000 calls and more than 95,000 resident service requests, reflecting the department’s essential role in connecting residents with City services. 

“Pete has been an absolutely exceptional public servant, and I’m so grateful for the contributions he has made during his time with the City. The improvements he has made to RVA311 have been incredible in helping to shape a more responsive City government, and Richmond is better because of him. I’m sad to see him retire and wish him well on his next chapter,” said Mayor Danny Avula. 

Breil also oversaw the Contact Center Technology team and led the implementation and expansion of the RVA311 platform, mobile applications, and a range of customer service technologies that have significantly enhanced the City’s ability to engage with residents. His leadership of the RVA311 platform redesign in 2021 established a strong foundation for future growth and innovation. Today, the platform directly supports nine City agencies, with additional integrations planned in the years ahead. 

“Working with Pete and his team on expanding the types of Parks and Recreation requests that residents can submit through RVA311 has been a tremendous partnership and a big step forward in becoming a “Thriving Richmond,” said Chris Frelke, Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. “Being able to broaden the range of services available through the platform and bringing a practical, resident-focused perspective helped us identify new opportunities to connect people with the parks, facilities, and programs they use every day. It’s been great working together to make city services more accessible and efficient for Richmond residents.” 

Throughout his tenure, Breil championed a culture of customer service, accountability, and continuous improvement. His commitment to improving the resident experience has had a lasting impact on both City operations and the community. 

Prior to joining the City of Richmond, Breil held leadership positions across Fortune 500 companies, academic administration, and small business organizations. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Virginia Tech, a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of South Carolina, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. 

Breil’s contributions have helped shape a more responsive, accessible, and customer-focused City government. His leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to public service have earned the respect of colleagues across the organization and the gratitude of countless Richmond residents. 

“Peter’s leadership has made a measurable difference in how we operate as a City,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. “He built systems that work, empowered teams to perform at a high level, and ensured residents could depend on consistent, quality service. His approach was practical, people focused, and solutions driven, and the results are evident across our organization. I’m grateful for his commitment to strengthening our customer service foundation and for the legacy of operational excellence he leaves behind.” 

The City of Richmond extends its sincere appreciation to Director Breil for his years of service and wishes him the very best in his well-earned retirement. 

Additional information regarding transition planning and recruitment efforts for the Director of RVA311 position will be shared in the coming weeks.