How do you propose to resolve the problem with trash receptacles left out beyond collection time periods if you oppose the $50 fee?
William Andrews
Southside

I am calling upon the City Council to repeal its ordinance that imposes fines of $50 per day for each receptacle left in the public right-of-way outside of specified collection times. The cost of everything continues to go up. This fee is overly excessive and should not be collected through one's utility bill.

My request to repeal this $50 fee will be considered by council's Land Use, Housing and Transportation Committee on April 22 and by the full council on April 28. If the council does not continually cut the Public Works budget, we are empowered to already do through our enforcement authority what the ordinance seeks to accomplish.

I own a small minority business. How can I win city contracts?
Bill Robinson
Fan District

The city's minority participation rate is an outstanding 18.5 percent as compared to only two percent for the commonwealth of Virginia. Under the leadership of Rita Henderson, the City's Office of Minority Business Development (OMBD) instituted new procedures to increase the minority contracting with the city. For too long, minority businesses were not working in Richmond and that has changed.

A ground-breaking strategic alliance between the city and the U.S. Small Business Administration will further enhance minority business development services for businesses like yours. Please contact the city's OMBD at 646-5947.

We keep hearing City officials talk about the "Master Plan." Why should we care about this?
Ken Montgomery
Carver District

The Downtown Master Plan, or the "people's plan," reflects the shared vision that our citizens have for the future development of Downtown, which includes the riverfront and Manchester. Numerous meetings have been held to collect public input. The last Downtown Master Plan, adopted in 1997 and updated in 2004, involved minimal public participation.

It's been made clear that preserving our natural beauty and supporting riverfront development is a priority for our citizens. At least one more hearing is to be scheduled before the City's Planning Commission. Afterward, the plan goes to council for approval.

The city's Planning Commission will hold a work session on the draft Downtown Master Plan in the Fifth Floor Conference Room of City Hall on Monday, March 31, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Why is the 8th District getting overlooked? People who own these homes aren't taking care of them and we have homes that have been vacant for a while. This area needs to be checked.
Gail Nelson
Southside

So far this year, the city has inspected nearly 390 properties in the 8th District, resulting in nearly 160 citations requiring repairs for such things as leaking roofs, deteriorated porches, broken windows, excessive trash and neglected vehicles.

Neighborhood by neighborhood, city inspectors are examining every commercial, business and residential property. The city also is requiring that vacant buildings must be either securely boarded up or renovated for occupancy. To report a property maintenance violation in your area, please use the city's Citizens' Request System.

Mayor Wilder wishes to thank the public for its overwhelming outpouring of concern and support through "Ask the Mayor." Your feedback is important and Mayor Wilder wants you to know that your views will be taken into consideration as issues are examined. Please note that the mayor refrains from responding to specific questions relating to employment, personnel issues, private business proposals or policy matters within the jurisdiction of the state and federal levels of government. Click here to submit your questions to Mayor Wilder.