Better Government-Richmond

07/17/2019

Water supply isn't a front-of-mind issue for many Chesterfield County residents these days, with lakes and ponds filled to the brim and the Richmond region in the middle of one of its wettest weather cycles in recorded history. Just seven years ago, however, water levels in Lake Chesdin – the larg...

11/01/2018

Catching up on Ordinance 2018-276, which would require public posting of Zoning Administrator's Zoning Confirmation letters. It is on the agenda for the Planning Commission on this Monday, November 5th:

http://legistar2.granicus.com/richmondva/meetings/2018/11/3058_A_Planning_Commission_18-11-05_Agenda.pdf?id=4d78b51c-d943-4fe0-a423-4eea0fe832d9

I am appalled that the planning staff report maintains that this would be excessively burdensome to the Zoning Administrator to notify the public in a timely manner of his rulings. This is a matter of due process: the public has only 30 days to appeal a Zoning Administrator ruling, and this is an impossible hurdle if the public in not informed of the ruling.

In the digital age, it should only take a matter of seconds for the Zoning Administrator to copy his ruling to the impacted civic association and council person, and to copy to a web page.

01/10/2018

http://www.richmond.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/report-richmond-departments-implementing-fewer-audit-recommendations/article_7b9da8d6-ac09-53e8-9a57-748ae08ae865.html

Only a quarter of recommendations made by Richmond's city auditor to city departments were fully implemented by a deadline last September, the lowest rate in a decade.

01/04/2018

From City Council press release:

Richmond City Council appoints its new City Auditor


(RICHMOND, VA) – Richmond City Council today during its scheduled special meeting appointed Mr. Lou Lassiter as its new City Auditor to head the Richmond City Council Office of the City Auditor. His service is to begin February 1, 2018.

In that position, Mr. Lassiter will assist Council in helping to ensure the administration, management, integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of city government expenditures on behalf of Richmond residents.

Duties of the City Auditor include administering internal audit and investigation functions in verifying accountability over City resources; evaluating efficiencies and effectiveness of City operations; and, determining compliance with laws, regulations, and policies. The position provides management and oversight of Richmond City Council Office of the City Auditor staff and other resources necessary in auditing evaluating, and investigating city departments, offices, boards, etc. and other individual or entity expenditures of city-funded monies.

Mr. Lassiter currently serves as the Deputy County Administrator for Finance and Administration for Chesterfield County, Virginia where he has served for more than 20 years. His service includes 19 years as its Internal Audit Director.

Mr. Lassiter is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Government Financial Manager. He also has served as a member of the national Association of Local Government Auditors Board of Directors, and President of the Virginia Local Government Auditors Association. Mr. Lassiter earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University.

Council is very confident with its decision in appointing this highly qualified, experienced, and dedicated public service professional whose knowledge, skills, and expertise in Virginia local government as a respected auditor and administrator make him an outstanding choice to lead this important Council Office. Council welcomes Mr. Lassiter, wishes him well, and looks forward to his service on behalf of Richmond residents.

Council also thanks the services of Mr. William C. Barrett, III who temporarily served in that capacity on an interim basis.



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12/30/2017

http://www.richmond.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/whatever-is-done-is-done-and-i-m-enjoying-my/article_f94e6578-9e4b-536d-9d00-93d4dc07c2b0.html?fb_action_ids=10215506600364313&fb_action_types=og.comments

Why you know him: The former city auditor led the 14-person city department that uncovers waste, fraud and mismanagement in Richmond City Hall until July. During his 11-year tenure, he

12/14/2017

http://www.richmond.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/richmond-city-council-seeks-separation-of-auditor-and-inspector-general/article_4a1edffb-0a17-54ae-a3a9-aa754608e4c4.html

As Richmond's City Council continues its search for a new city auditor, its members are seeking to split the City Hall watchdog position into two separate jobs.

12/05/2017

In fact, the Chesterfield water facility would be built in exactly the same place in Larus Park. The city parkland would still be leased to Chesterfield for $1 per year. City code section 8-2 (c), which prohibits leasing Larus Park for development, would still be violated.
Why should Richmond sacrifice sacred city parkland in Larus Park in order to run a NET LOSS over the next five years with the county on this water deal that puts Richmond businesses at a serious competitive disadvantage?

A contested plan to expand water service to Chesterfield County residents from a South Richmond park inched toward fruition Monday with the city's Planning Commission's endorsement of a land buy

11/29/2017

Dear Honorable Members of Richmond City Council,

There is an important correction printed on page A4 of today's Richmond Times Dispatch:
"CORRECTION: The city of Richmond could generate $4.1 million in gross revenue under a revised water agreement with Chesterfield County that, if approved, would permit the county to construct a water tank and pumping station in Larus Park. The figure was misstated in a story Nov. 22 on Page B2." [The misstated figure was given as NET revenue rather than GROSS revenue in the Nov. 22 article.]

The O&R Request accompanying Ordinance 2017-209, which would allow the county to build a 2 million gallon water tank in Larus Park, deceptively states:
"REVENUE TO CITY: $4,103,000 five year total starting in 2021." (Please see attachment.)

Now the city administration has acknowledged to the Times Dispatch that this projected revenue to the city from the Larus Park project is GROSS not NET revenue.

The $4.1 million in projected GROSS revenue from Ordinance 2017-209 includes all of the city's high costs for providing up to five million gallons of additional water per day (or 9.1 BILLION additional gallons of treated water over five years) to Chesterfield County. The city's costs for providing an additional 9.1 billion gallons of treated water to the county include salaries of employees, costs for running the electrical pumps, chemicals for purifying the water, etc.

Because the city would be contractually responsible for the 4,000 feet of supply water line to the proposed facility at a cost to the city of $1.7 million, the city would actually run a NET LOSS in the five years starting in 2021.

Ordinance 2017-209 would continue for another generation the agreement where the city makes only 5% over actual costs on water volume sold to the county, which comes to only 3.5 cents per ccf (hundred cubic feet) or about $85,000 per year. Capital cost reimbursement from the project is contractually limited to reimbursement for the ACTUAL COSTS the city incurs.

Selling water volume to the county at 5% over actual costs while selling water to Richmonder's at 500% over actual costs puts city businesses at a serious competitive disadvantage. This cheap water provided by the city is fueling the county's potential new MEGA SITE and new Niagara water bottling plant.

Even worse: if the county unilaterally decides not to renew the lease, Ordinance 2017-209 would contractually obligate the city to pay the county for the entire $7.5 million water tank and pumping station in Larus Park, less depreciation, even if the city does not need or want the water facility.

Why should Richmond sacrifice sacred city parkland in Larus Park in order to run a NET LOSS over the next five years with the county on this water deal that puts Richmond businesses at a serious competitive disadvantage?

Honorable Members of Council, please look closely at the terms of the proposed Ordinance 2017-209 in light of the revelation in today's Times Dispatch that the administration is deceptively projecting GROSS rather than NET revenue from the project.

Thank you very much for closely examining this issue.

Sincerely,

Charles Pool

10/30/2017

http://www.richmond.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/job-opening-richmond-treasurer-pay-responsibilities-none-all-you-have/article_28b37733-5aaf-5bfb-ba91-cb6fc7f63c96.html

Like most localities in Virginia, the city of Richmond elects a treasurer every four years.