I understand that some State agencies are currently working four 10-hour day schedules. What about City employees doing the same? The City would save on utilities and employees would save on weekly commuting costs. 

Linda Herman

Richmond

Although cost savings may exist from a State Government standpoint in a four 10-hour day work week scenario, I believe the value of accessibility to the citizens of Richmond would suffer. The ability to make payments, acquire needed information or resources from City Government would be severely impacted if these entities were only available on specific days.

Even our outlying branches, such as the East District Center and Southside Community Service Center, are critical to serving residents in those areas as well as saving residents a trip Downtown to City Hall.

I’ve seen the City cut down several trees that appear to be healthy in Church Hill. What is the City’s policy on tree removal and will these trees be replaced?

John Stokely

Church Hill

Richmond has, for 17 straight years, been recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a "Tree City USA," which honors the City for encouraging exceptional care of community forests.

Nevertheless, the City’s Urban Forestry Division (UFD) is challenged by limited resources and a tree inventory exceeding 150,000 trees. UFD feels its greatest priority is public safety, which is why they are striving to reduce the amount of hazard trees present in the urban forest to a manageable level.

Trees in a dense urban setting face unique challenges and when they suffer structural defects, they must be removed for citizens’ safety. UFD is working to increase the number of new plantings each year and encouraging citizens to become involved in the process. 

The City replaces as many trees as it can when others are removed; however, limited resources and other factors prevent a one-for-one replacement. The City replaces as many trees as it can when others are removed; however, limited resources and other factors prevent a one-for-one replacement. Click here to learn about the Adopt-A-Tree and Tree Steward programs where you can find more information about trees and help replenish trees that have been removed.

Citizens can also take an active role to help prevent some of our city’s trees from dying by watering the trees in front of their homes. For smaller and younger trees, citizens can call 311 and obtain a Tree Gator, which they fill with water every two weeks to ensure the trees receive water during dry spells.

I understand a new police precinct is coming to the Northside?

Elizabeth Sheffield

Northside

Yes. The Richmond Police Department’s Fourth Precinct is relocating to the Northside, as it has outgrown its existing space Downtown on 5th St. We promised the citizens of Northside a stronger police presence and this precinct will deliver that.

The new precinct, located at 2219 Chamberlayne Avenue, is a former vacant building that is being renovated by minority contractors through the City’s Office of Minority Business Development. The $3.7 million dollar precinct is expected to open this fall.

I see that the renovation of the Manchester Courthouse is underway which will help the Manchester area significantly, but what else can we expect in that area?

Robert Bryant

Southside

The $23.3 million Manchester Courthouse expansion will more than double the size of the existing courthouse, from 27,000 to 58,000 square feet, and include three General District courtrooms and support facilities. 

This courthouse project was the result of my plan to settle a longstanding lawsuit by expanding and renovating the Manchester Courthouse which produced a savings of $49 million for the City. This savings represents a portion of the $350 million overall savings achieved by my Administration since taking office in 2005.

The Courthouse expansion will help further promote the revitalization that is already underway in lower Manchester as well as along Hull Street toward the Jeff Davis Highway corridor.

For example, Monroe Properties is developing 152 lots in the Manchester neighborhood to create a mixed-use, vibrant neighborhood with a variety of housing options for rent and sale at various price ranges.

Nearby on Jeff Davis Highway, the $84 million renovation of the Model Tobacco Building will see 600 new apartments developed, with a third being set aside for lower-income residents.  

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.