Posted May 2, 2025

Richmond E-Cycle: Safely Dispose of Electronics, Documents & Household Hazardous Waste Items

~ This event is scheduled for Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1710 Robin Hood Road ~

WHO:   The Department of Public Works, The Clean City Commission and The Department of Public Utilities

WHAT: Richmond E-Cycle Day Event

WHEN:  Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: 1710 Robin Hood Road (northeast corner of Robin Hood Road and North Arthur Ashe Boulevard)

BACKGROUND:  The City of Richmond’s E-Cycle Day offers City residents an efficient option to recycle paper and electronics to help keep hazardous waste materials out of city waterways, streams, and rivers.

This event is available to city residents – proof of residency is required. Please note, this is a drive-thru event. Volunteers will remove items from the cars. No business or commercial items accepted.

Paper Document Shredding

• • Up to five (5) boxes of documents
  • Be sure to remove all binders, staples and clips

Electronics (various fees apply)

• • Computer systems (hard drive or CPU) and accessories (cables, wires, keyboards, mice, speakers, etc.) VCRs, camcorders, stereos, and all phones
  • Televisions, computer monitors and printers
• Other used electronic equipment (almost anything with a plug - see the online list for clarification)
• Go to www.rva.gov/public-works/clean-city-commission to get fees and the full list of electronics to recycle

Household Hazardous Waste Items (HHW)

• Pesticides, herbicides, and oil-based paints
• Bug spray, rodent poison, and herbicides (Roundup, Weed B Gon etc.)
• Latex and water-based paints will not be collected. These items can be left in open paint cans until they have dried out and then put in with regular curbside trash pick-up.

For more information on recycling or the event, please visit us online at www.rva.gov/public-works/clean-city-commission or email us at AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on X (Twitter) @DPW_RichmondVA

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting;  graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is a premier provider of utility service. DPU provides natural gas, water, wastewater and stormwater service to more than 500,000 residential and commercial customers in the metropolitan region. In addition, DPU operates an electric street lighting utility, which maintains 37,000 streetlights throughout the City.  For more information, visit DPU's website at www.rva.gov/public-utilities

Posted April 30, 2025

~ Find out what the city is doing to manage speeding and learn how you can help ~

Richmond, VA – Get ready to hit the brakes on speeding! Join the City of Richmond’s Department of Public Works (DPW) and its many partners for an action-packed Speed Management Symposium on Thursday, May 22, from 4 – 6 p.m. at Main Street Station, 1500 East Main Street. This is our fourth symposium in two years, and we’re pumped to share how we’re working together to make our streets safer—plus, how YOU can get involved!

Discover game-changing programs like the Safety Camera Program where thirteen school zones on the high injury street network were treated last year.  Over 63,000 times, speeders were notified of their reckless behavior in a school zone during arrival and dismissal times when children are present.

Life is too quick to end.  Let’s shift our culture and be social to slow down together!

What to Expect:

1. Dynamic Presentations: Vision Zero, Richmond Connects, roadway safety projects, and Richmond Police insights
2. Info Booths: Connect with various city departments and non-profits, Richmond Police, VDOT, Bike Walk RVA, and more
3. Q&A Session: Ask away!
4. Heavy Refreshments: RSVP recommended at www.rva.gov/public-works/symposium

For more, visit www.rva.gov/public-works or email AskPublicWorks@rva.gov.

Follow us on X @DPW_RichmondVA for the latest updates.

Let’s make Richmond’s streets safer—see you there!

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s 22right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

The City of Richmond, Virginia, in 1966, codified one of the oldest continuously operating transportation safety commissions in North America - The Safe and Healthy Streets Commission (SHSC). Since its inception, the SHSC has advised the Richmond City Council on all transportation safety matters. The SHSC has a diverse membership and includes citizens, transportation safety professionals, a city council member, the Chief of Police, the Director of Public Works, the Superintendent of Schools, and the City Transportation Engineer.

The SHSC sets annual priorities focused on executive, legislative, budgetary, and cultural changes. These priorities work towards the Richmond City Council’s 2016 goal, backed by Mayor Stoney, to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries to ZERO by 2030. The SHSC’s annual priorities reflect the City’s commitment to Vision Zero, the Safe System approach (SSA), and Complete Streets policies. The SHSC adopted the twelve strategies and five supplemental planning needs, based on their set annual priorities, to improve Richmond’s built environment and strengthen the culture of safety. With its high-functioning Vision Zero organizational structure, Richmond is well positioned to implement these projects and supplemental planning activities that showcase the impact of the SSA using proven safety countermeasures and low-cost, high-impact strategies.

The Safe and Healthy Streets Commission (SHSC) adopted Richmond’s Vision Zero Action Plan in 2018 and is charged with monitoring and reporting progress on the Action Plan. The Mayor and the SHSC established a Vision Zero Task Force, made up of City department leaders, charged with implementing the strategies, projects, and policies set out in the Action Plan.

Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Reduces number of cards by over 80%, sets new restrictions on allowable purchases

Today, Mayor Danny Avula announced a reset of the City's p-card program. As of May 9, 2025, the number of City p-cards will be reduced by over 80% (from 320 to approximately 60), and the only allowable purchases will be those where public health, safety, and critical services would be disrupted if not allowed or where no other payment methods exist.

"P-cards are a best practice, but Richmond's p-card program needs a reset," said Mayor Danny Avula. "So, today, I'm turning off the vast majority of p-cards and placing new purchasing restrictions on the remaining cards. We'll take the next few months to reassess, retool, and reboot the program in an effective way that really serves Richmonders."

The reset will last at least 60-90 days during which the Department of Procurement Services (DPS) will redesign and then relaunch the p-card program.

During the program reset:

• The only allowable p-card purchases will be those where public health, safety, and critical services would be disrupted if not allowed or where no other payment option exists.
• No travel-related purchases permitted on p-cards. City employees will follow the existing travel advance/reimbursement policy.
• No Amazon purchases permitted on p-cards.
• No food purchases permitted on p-cards (excepting mission-critical, citizen-supporting programs like summer food programs or after-school programs).
• Department directors will no longer be issued p-cards, allowing directors to better focus on approval of purchases.

On April 22, 2025, DPS contracted with NIGP (the Institute for Public Procurement) to conduct an independent assessment of the City's p-card program. NIGP is a national organization that specializes in public procurement best practices, and, following their assessment, will provide DPS a set of recommended improvements to the p-card program.

"My team and I are absolutely committed to creating the most efficient procurement p-card program as possible — for the City of Richmond, the people we do business with, and the residents we serve." said Rene Almaraz, Director of the Department of Procurement Services.

DPS will immediately begin work on:

• Revising p-card policies and procedures based on the recommendations of the NIGP assessment
• Training staff on revised policies and procedures
• Implementing a third-party, AI-supported auditing tool
• Investigating additional revenue opportunities through the p-card programs rebate structure
• Evaluating alternate p-card providers, and, if there are significant benefits, switching card providers
• Updating related City policies like the ones regarding travel, discretionary spend, etc.

The reset period will end only after DPS staff has implemented updated policies, trained staff, and, potentially, changed card providers. The City of Richmond will make the updated p-card policies public when they are finalized.

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond’s Water Treatment Plant experienced an issue on Wednesday, April 23 during installation of a new fluoride pump, which led to a temporary increase in the level of fluoride in the water system for a period of five hours. Prior to this event, the fluoride system was offline for repairs. During this period, drinking water produced by the Water Treatment Plant remained safe for consumption. 

Fluoride levels detected at the Water Treatment Plant and in the distribution network were reported for April 28. Current levels of fluoride range from 0.63 mg/L to 0.7 mg/L at the City of Richmond’s Water Treatment Plant. The City has proactively flushed where necessary and monitored the fluoride levels within the entire distribution system. Sample results for Tuesday, April 29, 2025 show that all areas of the distribution system are below 2.0 mg/L and ranged from 0.60 mg/L to 1.5 mg/L. The City has notified Virginia Department of Health that the fluoride levels within the distribution system have returned to below 2.0 mg/L.  

Fluoride is an element that may be found naturally in sources of drinking water, such as ground water. Fluoride has been added to drinking water by drinking water systems to improve dental health.  

For more information on fluoride and fluoridation levels, visit the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/office-of-drinking-water/fluoridation/.

For more information about fluoride and potential health effects, call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).   

Posted on April 29, 2025

Additional errors uncovered; Director of Revenue Administration steps down; City offering reimbursement to residents incurring bank fees due to valid stopped checks

Richmond, VA — In March 2025, an administrative error led to approximately 8,300 of the nearly 60,000 one-time property tax rebate checks being issued to an incorrect payee ("Hartshorn Community Council"). Once aware of the error, Department of Finance Director Sheila White halted distribution of checks and immediately began an audit of the process.

In the intervening weeks, that process has uncovered several more errors:

• Rebate checks for owners who sold their property in 2024 were incorrectly sent to the current owners of that property.
• Approximately 156 rebates were issued for parcels that did not exist in 2024. The rebate only applies to 2024 property taxes.
• Due to the nature of the original error some correctly issued checks were also stopped.

The Department is in the process of validating the remaining checks. When that is completed rebate checks will be issued in line with the real estate tax rebate program.

Additionally, the City's Director of Revenue Administration, Jamie Atkinson, who oversees the rebate program, submitted her resignation on April 21, 2025. Senior Director Sheila White will now directly oversee the process to issue the remaining rebate checks.

Any resident who was charged bank fees attempting to cash a valid stopped check can submit a request for reimbursement via RVA311 by calling 311 or submitting a ticket online at rva311.com.

Once on the RVA311 website, follow the below instructions:

1. Click "Create New Request"
2. Click "Real Estate Taxes"
3. Click "Continue" through the pop-up window
4. Fill out the requested information including uploading a photo of the return check fee from your bank.
5. Click "Next"
6. Fill out your contact information, and click "Submit"

Impacted residents should submit their request by May 30, 2025.

About the Rebate Program: The one-time real estate tax rebate amount is calculated based on a four-cent reduction per $100 of assessed property value. For instance, a property assessed at $260,000 would yield a rebate of $130. This rebate is part of the "RVA Stay" initiative, which also includes measures such as monthly stipends for low-income renters and homeowners, and tax bill freezes for seniors and disabled residents. The rebate, approved by City Council in 2024, aims to provide financial relief amid rising property values and housing costs.

El Departamento de Finanzas encuentra errores adicionales con los cheques de reembolso de impuestos sobre bienes raíces

Errores adicionales descubiertos; Renuncia la Directora de Administración de Recaudos; La Ciudad ofrece reembolsos a los habitantes que incurren en multas bancarias debido a la detención de cheques válidos

Richmond, Virginia — En marzo de 2025, un error administrativo llevó a que aproximadamente 8300 de los casi 60000 cheques únicos de reembolso de impuestos a la propiedad se emitieran a un beneficiario incorrecto ("Hartshorn Community Council"). Una vez que se dio cuenta del error, Sheila White, la directora del Departamento de Finanzas, detuvo la distribución de cheques e inmediatamente comenzó una auditoría del proceso.

En las semanas transcurridas, ese proceso ha descubierto varios errores más:

• Los cheques de reembolso para los propietarios que vendieron su propiedad en 2024 se enviaron incorrectamente a los propietarios actuales de esa propiedad.
• Se emitieron aproximadamente 156 reembolsos por parcelas que no existían en 2024. El reembolso solo se aplica a los impuestos sobre la propiedad de 2024.
• Debido a la naturaleza del error original, también se detuvieron algunos cheques emitidos correctamente.

El Departamento está en proceso de validar los cheques restantes. Cuando se complete, se emitirán cheques de reembolso de acuerdo con el programa de reembolso de impuestos sobre bienes raíces.

Además, Jamie Atkinson, la directora de Administración de Recaudos de la Ciudad y quien supervisaba el programa de reembolsos, presentó su renuncia el 21 de abril de 2025. Sheila White, la directora del departamento, ahora supervisará directamente el proceso para emitir los cheques de reembolso restantes.

Cualquier habitante a quien se le cobraron multas bancarias al intentar cobrar un cheque válido que fue detenido, puede presentar una solicitud de reembolso a través del servicio RVA311, llamando al 311 o enviando una solicitud en línea en rva311.com.

Una vez que haya ingresado a la página de RVA311, siga las instrucciones a continuación:

1. Haga clic en "Crear nueva solicitud".
2. Haga clic en "Consultas sobre impuestos, facturación o licencias[LRJAN1]".
3. Haga clic en "Real Estate Taxes[LRJAN2]".
4. Haga clic en "Continuar" a través de la ventana emergente.
5. Donde dice "Subtype", seleccione la opción "Refund".
6. Donde dice "Inquiry for current year or prior year", seleccione "Prior Year"
7. Donde dice "Provide tax year", escriba el año al que corresponde el reembolso.
8. Donde dice "Requesting research or real estate payment refund?", seleccione "Refund Request".
9. Donde dice "Are you requesting a refund?", selccione "Yes".
10. Complete la información solicitada en la sección "Descripción",
11. Marque la casilla "Authorized Signature". Suba una foto de la multa de su banco por la devolución del cheque, haciendo clic en el botón "+" en la sección "Subir imágenes" o en el botón "Subir".[LRJAN3]
12. Haga clic en "Próximo".
13. Complete su información de contacto y haga clic en "Enviar".

Los habitantes afectados deben presentar su solicitud antes del 30 de mayo de 2025.

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El monto del reembolso único del impuesto sobre bienes raíces se calcula en base a una reducción de cuatro centavos por cada $100 del avalúo de la propiedad. Por ejemplo, una propiedad avaluada en $260 000 produciría un reembolso de $130. Este reembolso es parte de la iniciativa "RVA Stay", que también incluye medidas como estipendios mensuales para inquilinos y propietarios de bajos ingresos, así como la congelación de facturas de impuestos para adultos mayores y personas con discapacidades. El reembolso, que fue aprobado por el Concejo Municipal en el 2024, tiene como objetivo brindar alivio financiero durante el presente aumento del valor de las propiedades y los costos de vivienda.