Richmond, VA - On July 21, 2025 the City of Richmond provided a written memo to the City Council Finance and Economic Development Committee on some of the immediate actions that have taken place and next steps regarding the Purchasing Card, or P-card, Program. This follows an April 30, 2025 reset of the City's Purchasing Card program.

The memo, issued by Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Odie Donald, clarified some of the immediate action items already taken, including:

1. Implementation of interim controls and suspension of non-essential P-Card activity
2. Structural reforms, including a clear separation of duties across card issuance, approval, and reconciliation
3. Updates of the City's travel policy and the development of a City discretionary spend policy

"Richmonders deserve a government that operates with transparency and integrity," said Mayor Danny Avula. "We're taking a hard look at the problems, finding what's not working, and fixing them. This work is about restoring trust and making sure our systems work the way they're supposed to."

"The City is committed to making real progress - addressing existing issues, improving policies, and strengthening internal controls. Beyond these initial actions, we remain laser focused on building a strong organization that residents can rely on," said Odie Donald, Chief Administrative Officer.

In early May, the number of City purchasing cards were reduced by over 80% (from 320 to approximately 60). 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.

An independent assessment conducted by the National Institute for Public Procurement, an organization that specializes in public procurement best practices, is providing a set of recommendations to the purchasing card program. Additionally, the City Auditor provided recommendations following its comprehensive audit.

Some of the next steps in the City's reset process include:

• Continuing to assess program and policy recommendations
• Strengthening purchasing card policy to include Office of the City Auditor's recommendations
• Finalizing and announcing an updated Purchasing Card policy
• Implementing concurrent training and technical assistance tools
• Fully lifting the pause and completing the reset

The City of Richmond established a one-stop track for all program rebuild news and will include the latest announcements and press releases, as well as status updates on key reform processes including recruitment efforts for new personnel, updated language and implementation for policies and procedures, and updates to training materials.

Review the p-card tracker here https://www.rva.gov/procurement-services/p-card-progress

The Department of Utilities is proposing new regulation or changes to existing regulation for managing gas, wastewater, water, stormwater, or electric utilities. This notice invites you to submit comments and attend a public hearing where you can share your feedback, ensuring transparency and giving you a voice in shaping the rules that affect your utility services.

Water Resources Guidance Manual

The amended Water Resources Guidance Manual is under proposal to be adopted. The DPU Director will hold a hearing on July 29, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 1801 Commerce Road, Richmond, VA 23224 at which time any person may appear and be heard for or against the adoption of the amendment. Written comments may be provided to Daniel Rifenburgh (Email Water Resources) prior to the hearing.

Amended Water Resources Guidance Manual 

Richmond Erosion and Stormwater Management Permit (RESMP) Process Quick Sheet

The amended Erosion and Stormwater Management Permit (RESMP) Process Quick Sheet is under proposal to be adopted. The DPU Director will hold a hearing on July 29, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 1801 Commerce Road, Richmond, VA 23224 at which time any person may appear and be heard for or against the adoption of the amendment. Written comments may be provided to Daniel Rifenburgh (Email Water Resources) prior to the hearing.

Erosion and Stormwater Management Permit (RESMP) Process Quick Sheet

Posted July 17, 2025

~This event is free and open to the public ~

RICHMOND, Va. – Join the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility, a division of the Department of Public Works, this Saturday, July 19 for a free community block party and street art mural painting event. The event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on the corner of Mosby and P streets. The public is encouraged to attend and help paint the mural.

This mural is the second in a series of three Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper (LQC) street art mural projects on Mosby Street. Students from the Paul Development Center, a local nonprofit organization that empowers children and families through education and community support, created the artwork designs used for this mural installation.

Earlier this year, the first LQC mural was completed on Mosby Street near Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, sparking energy and pride in the neighborhood. A third mural on Mosby Street will be completed later this summer. The LQC model emphasizes simple, low-cost, high-impact temporary enhancements to improve pedestrian safety while permanent solutions are developed and funded. These murals serve as both art and action.

Go to https://www.rva.gov/public-works/lqc for more information.

We’re Social! For updates on activities and events visit us on X @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 LQC program is a key initiative in the city’s efforts to promote transportation equity, improve public safety, and foster community engagement in urban planning. As the first phase of the Richmond Connects implementation process, LQC aims to address pressing safety concerns and provide more immediate solutions while longer-term, permanent infrastructure changes are being developed. Although LQC projects are not intended to replace permanent infrastructure, they provide essential, timely improvements to make streets safer and more accessible in the interim.

These initial projects are just the beginning of a broader effort to enhance neighborhoods across Richmond. Moving forward, the LQC program will continue to focus on promoting safety, improving the transit rider experience, improving accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, and creating opportunities for residents to actively shape the future of their communities. 

Richmond, VA - Building on the continued desire to strengthen resiliency in the region's water system, and ongoing conversations with local, regional, and state partners, Mayor Danny Avula has directed the formation of two strategic work groups focused on planning for a sustainable and resilient water future across the region. These efforts reflect Richmond's commitment to deep and thoughtful analysis and regional partnership to ensure long-term, reliable water infrastructure for the decades ahead.

The first work group, an internal team led by Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald and Director of Public Utilities Scott Morris, will focus on scenario planning. This group will evaluate a range of long-term options, including capital investment needs, debt management strategies, and ratepayer impacts. External financial and rate consultants, including Davenport Financial Advisors and Raftelis, will be brought in as needed.

A second work group, a regional collaborative of water utility leaders and technical experts from the City of Richmond, Chesterfield County, Hanover County, and Henrico County, will focus on operational planning and coordination. The group will review proposed capital improvement plans, evaluate rate models, coordinate on potential state funding requests, and conduct joint tabletop exercises. It will also establish a consistent structure for Richmond's Department of Public Utilities to provide routine updates to regional partners. This work group builds on existing jurisdictional cooperation and is a continuation of shared efforts to strengthen the region's water infrastructure.

"These two work groups mark a critical step forward in building a stronger, more resilient water system for the region," said Mayor Danny Avula. "Just today, we saw that spirit of collaboration in action as Richmond provided additional water to our neighboring locality during their planned maintenance. That's what partnership looks like: clear communication, shared problem-solving, and mutual support. I'm excited for what's ahead."

Today, Richmond's Water Treatment Plant increased the volume of water supplied to Henrico County during maintenance at Henrico's own treatment facility. As an added safeguard, both jurisdictions confirmed their reservoirs and storage tanks were full, and the transition was closely monitored by system operators. The successful operation ensured uninterrupted service to customers in both localities.

"These work groups and real-time collaborations are exactly what it takes to meet the challenges of modern infrastructure," said Richmond Director of Public Utilities Scott Morris. "The ability to assist Henrico in this way underscores our capacity, but more importantly, it shows how jurisdictional coordination helps us all move forward with confidence."

Both groups have already met to get further direction and refine ongoing meeting cadence.

Richmond, VA - The City of Richmond's Office of Minority Business Development is launching Government Contracting Made Simple, a free four-week training series aimed at helping small and minority-owned businesses better understand and engage in the government contracting process.

The sessions will be held Tuesday evenings-July 15, July 22, July 29, and August 5-from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Richmond Public Library - Main Branch Auditorium, located at 101 E. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions for the full benefit of the program.

The interactive series will guide participants through key elements of government procurement, including:

1. Reading bid solicitations -bid review.
2. Conducting interviews with government buyers
3. Understanding the GCMS strategy
4. Implementing the GCMS strategy
5. Writing competitive proposals

"This series is designed to bridge the gap between opportunity and access," said Patricia Foster, Director of the Office of Minority Business Development. "Our goal is to equip Richmond's small and minority-owned businesses with the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed in the government contracting arena."

The initiative is presented in partnership with Building Blocks for Success, Level III, and the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency. Registration is required. To register please click here or contact debbie.jackson2@rva.gov or lisette.johnson@rva.gov.