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. 

The Richmond City Electoral Board will hold a public meeting with the following details:

Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: 2134 W. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23227

This notice is being provided to alert the public that an Electoral Board meeting is scheduled. The agenda for this meeting will be posted once it has been reviewed and approved by the Electoral Board.

Please note that the agenda is subject to change. Items may be added, removed, or modified prior to or during the meeting, as permitted by law. If you would like to sign up for public comment for items on and off the agenda, please email electoral.board@rva.gov by Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

This meeting will be recorded.

Additional updates related to meeting logistics will be communicated as necessary.

Meeting Agenda  

Presentations at City Council Work Session, the Planning Commission, and the Zoning Advisory Council will summarize community feedback, and highlight key topics for consideration  

Richmond, VA  — Mayor Avula’s Administration will begin sharing the latest community feedback and discuss items under consideration to Code Refresh, Richmond’s effort to update its decades-old zoning code and address housing affordability by creating more opportunities for residents to live in the neighborhoods they love.    

The City of Richmond’s Director of Planning and Development (PDR) Kevin Vonck will provide a summary of feedback on Draft Two and a preview of items being considered for Draft Three at City Council’s Work Session on Monday, June 15th, the Planning Commission on Tuesday, June 16th, and the Zoning Advisory Council on Wednesday, June 17th. Materials for these meetings will be available on their respective websites. 

Rooted in the vision laid out in Richmond 300, Code Refresh’s zoning updates support:  

• Walkable, welcoming neighborhoods where people can live closer to jobs, schools, shops, parks, and amenities,  
• More housing choices that meet the needs of people at different income levels and life stages, and 
• Safe, sustainable growth that strengthens neighborhoods while making city processes clearer and more efficient.

“Code Refresh is one of the most impactful tools we have to secure Richmond’s future,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “'More homes for more people' remains our north star, and I’m proud of the engagement that continues to shape this process. Next week’s presentations will provide important opportunities to share community feedback as we continue building a Richmond where people can afford to live, work, and thrive.” 

To learn more about Code Refresh, visit 

Code Refresh FAQ 

More Homes for More People, More Ways to Stay 

Richmond 300 

Year-long overhaul strengthens accountability, transparency, and efficiency to advance Mayor Avula’s vision for a Thriving City Hall  

Mayor Avula and City leaders today announced the relaunch of its purchasing card (P-card) program following a year-long overhaul that strengthened financial controls, increased accountability, and advanced the Administration’s commitment to building a Thriving City Hall. The redesigned program will allow approved departments to make necessary purchases efficiently while operating under strong controls and oversight. 

When Mayor Avula took office in January 2025, one of the recurring challenges identified by residents, employees, and the auditor was the need for greater confidence in the City’s stewardship of public resources. As part of the Administration’s commitment to the first pillar of the Mayoral Action Plan (MAP), building a Thriving City Hall, Mayor Avula directed a pause of the purchasing card program in April 2025, and launched a comprehensive overhaul to address audit findings, strengthen oversight, and rebuild public trust.  

Over the last year, the City’s Department of Procurement Services (DPS): 

• Reduced the number of active purchasing cards from more than 300 to 67, 
• Implemented stronger internal controls, 
• Revised the purchasing card and expenditure policies, 
• Developed a robust, required training program, and 
• Established new compliance monitoring and reporting tools.   

As a result of the overhaul, 12 of 16 audit recommendations have been fully implemented and closed, three are pending formal closure, and the remaining recommendation is being finalized for submission. 

The City has now relaunched the program with 74 active purchasing cards that have been approved under the redesigned program. The program will remain in a controlled implementation phase for 60-90 days while evaluated for compliance and performance before considering any expansion.  

“A Thriving City Hall starts with getting the basics right. When I came into office, I committed to being honest about what was working, what wasn’t, and where we needed to improve. The P-Card relaunch is a powerful example of the kind of transformation my Administration is working to achieve across City Hall every single day,” said Mayor Danny Avula.

“The relaunch of the purchasing card program represents months of work to strengthen internal controls and improve oversight. With our redesigned program, we’ve created the strongest foundation possible for responsible spending, better compliance, and effective service delivery,” said Rene Almaraz, Director, Department of Procurement Services. “We will continue evaluating the program’s effectiveness while ensuring accountability remains at the center of every transaction.” 

“The path forward has been clear from the start: find the problem and fix it. The City is delivering operational improvements that lower costs for residents. These improvements reflect steady, accountable execution and the kind of good governance that builds a stronger Richmond for all Richmonders,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald, II.  

For more information about the P-Card Program, including the P-Card Tracker, visit  rva.gov/procurement-services/p-card-progress. 

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond anticipates beginning the first phase of accumulated debris removal at the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge this week. Funded by the Department of Public Utilities as part of a Supplemental Environmental Project with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, this phase will remove approximately 17 tons of debris, representing about 2% of the estimated total accumulation.

When work begins, equipment will be mobilized and staged on the east end of Belle Isle at Northeast Point Beach. The beach and the path leading to it will be temporarily closed during operations. Access to the Potterfield Bridge will remain open.

The first phase of debris removal is expected to be completed in less than two weeks. Work will include removing debris from the log jam area, transporting it to the staging site and hauling it to a local commercial wood waste recycling facility, where it will be recycled into mulch.

As a pilot project, this initial phase will provide valuable insight as the City evaluates long-term solutions for managing debris accumulation in the area. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will closely monitor the work as the contractor refines the removal process and the City evaluates options for expanding future debris removal efforts.

“This initial debris removal effort is an important step toward improving the long-term health, safety and accessibility of the James River corridor around the Potterfield Bridge,” said Chris Frelke, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. “We are grateful for the support of the Department of Public Utilities, which allows us to test cost-effective methods for removing debris and evaluate approaches for future cleanup efforts.”