Plus, Pride events this month
 
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Sunrise 7:24 a.m. | Sunset 5:07 p.m.
 

Charter changes explained

City Charter changes: What to expect and when
RICtoday_CityHall_Aerial_StaboMedia
All seats on City Council and the Richmond School Board were on the ballot this Election Day. | Photo by Jeff Hawthorne
After around seven months of meetings, work sessions, and public hearings, the City Charter Review Commission has sent its final recommendations report to City Council. The nine-member group was tasked with poring over the City Charter of Richmond and recommending changes, from fixing clerical errors and outdated language to changing how Richmond City government is organized.

With the recommendations of the commission now in hand, City Council will be tasked with reviewing the changes and deciding whether or not to take action. Any changes will need to be approved in the form of legislation by the Virginia General Assembly.

We’ll go through the recommendations document and let you know when you might expect to see them come before the General Assembly.

Updates and clarifications

First, some local government 101. Virginia cities get their powers from their charters and from laws passed by the General Assembly. In older cities like Richmond, there tends to be a lot of overlap between the two because the city charter may have been written when state laws were not as robust.

The commission — with the help of a legal analysis by Lynchburg attorney Walter Erwin — recommended updating language, removing unnecessary or outdated provisions, and adding clarity to some sections to make the document more consistent. If you’re following along, these amendments are in Chapter Five, which starts on page 22.

What to expect

Recommendations for updating language and changes concerning the Mayor-Council structure could go before the General Assembly in 2024, allowing for implementation in 2025. In terms of larger scale changes, the commission recommended a Friday, Dec. 15 deadline for City Council to create a new commission called the Electoral Transition Commission.


That’s just the start. The commission recommended changes to the Mayor-Council form of government and term limits for council members — plus, it explored a possible shift to a Mayor-At-Large with a seat on City Council. Get into the weeds with us by clicking the button below.
We're going through changes
Woodfin
 
Events
Wednesday, Aug. 9
  • Flying Squirrels vs. Bowie Baysox | Wednesday, Aug. 9 | 6:35 p.m. | The Diamond, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | $10-$25 | Cheer on the Squirrels and celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Night with Nurture RVA.
  • “Grey Gardens” | Wednesday, Aug. 9 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $8 | The classic documentary follows the lives of two reclusive, upper-class women.
Thursday, Aug. 10
  • The Oasis: A High Noon Summer Concert Series | Thursday, Aug. 10 | 12-1 p.m. | The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St., Richmond | Free | Enjoy midday live music in the garden with Sista Nickey and Stable Roots.
  • Flowers After 5: Soul Providers | Thursday, Aug. 10 | 5-9 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond | $0-$17 | Enjoy a night in the garden with Richmond’s premier soul band for over 20 years.
  • Classics in the Courtyard | Thursday, Aug. 10-Thursday, Aug. 31 | 8-9 p.m. | Richmond’s First Baptist Church, 2709 Monument Ave., Richmond | Free | Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket for a screening of “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
Friday, Aug. 11
Saturday, Aug. 12
  • Oddities & Curiosities Expo | Saturday, Aug. 12-Sunday, Aug. 13 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N. 3rd St., Richmond | $10-$15 | Expect taxidermy, horror artwork, antiques, skulls, tarot reading, sideshow performers + more at this traveling expo.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
Children's Museum of Richmond
 
Home

Paw Points: The program that rewards smart homeowners
Woodfin team with Roxy, the German Shepard.
Woodfin - Your Home Team’s offers a customer reward program, called Paw Points. | Photo provided by Woodfin - Your Home Team
Woodfin offers a customer reward program called, Paw Points.

Paw Points can be redeemed for gift cards, vouchers, and discounts on Woodfin products, services + more.Think: Anything from coupons off your service to a home Air Purification System.

You can earn points by:
  • Making any Woodfin purchase
  • Claiming bonus points via Woodfin emails
  • Renewing a Comfort Protection Plan
  • Linking your Paw Points account to your Facebook
  • Referring a friend (for 5,000 bonus points)
Bonus: Paw Points never expire.
Sign up and get earning, RIC
News Notes
Coming Soon
  • The owner behind Grisette and Jardin is opening a raw bar in the former Commercial Taphouse location in the Fan. Beaucoup will serve oysters and other bar food in addition to beer, wine, and spirits. It’s predicted to open sometime this year. (Style Weekly)
Eat
  • Italian restaurant Sprezza is moving from Shockoe Slip to the former Brun and Poor Boys of RVA space on Lombardy Street. In the meantime, the restaurant has teased some pop-up events before the Fan location opens. (Richmond BizSense)
Civic
  • The city is hosting a gun buyback event this Saturday, Aug. 12 from 7 to 11 a.m. at Liberation Church. Richmond residents ages 18 and older can receive up to $250 depending on the type of gun turned in.
Real Estate
  • Own a home in Henrico? Find out if your water service line is copper, lead, or galvanized steel and tell the county. The results will be used in an application for federal funding to replace any lead service lines that may exist.
Plan Ahead
  • The Endless Summer of Pride continues with events through August. This Friday, Aug. 11 join local vendors, drag performers, and DJs for Pride at the Market in Shockoe Bottom. Bonus: There’s an afterparty at Fallout. Then on Sunday, Aug. 20, get ready for Rainbow Roll: Barbie Edition at Rollerdome.
Cause
  • RVA Community Fridges has added another refrigerator at Fonticello Food Forest in Carter Jones Park. Founder Taylor Scott started the organization because she had too many tomatoes growing in her apartment; now, the group is filing to be a nonprofit and looking for more volunteers. (VPM)
Edu
  • Rep RPS with these new t-shirts. The designs feature maps of Richmond divided by schools zones and includes the recently changed names of several schools. Proceeds go to local nonprofits that support RPS families facing housing instability.
Health
Shop
Finance
  • Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*
 
Arts

🩰 Leap into Richmond Ballet’s new season

What to expect at the upcoming Richmond Ballet season
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“Dracula” will haunt the ballet in February 2024. | Photo courtesy Tulsa Ballet
Single and season tickets are now available for the upcoming Richmond Ballet season.

The 2023-24 season begins in September with performances of “Carmina Burana” and “Thrive.” Witness the co-production with the Richmond Symphony at the Dominion Energy Center.

The Studio Series begins in October with “Akwarium” and a world premiere by Young Soon Hue. “The Nutcracker” returns for the holiday season, then “Dracula” takes the stage in February.

In March, Studio Two acts as the New Works Festival. Studio Three in May will include performances of “Mozartiana” and a world premiere by Ma Cong.

This will be the last season where attendees will see the Studio Series at Richmond Ballet’s headquarters. Starting in 2024-25, the series will return to the VMFA’s renovated Leslie Cheek Theater.
Get tickets
Shop
Read
  • The latest Kindle model — the Kindle Paperwhite — boasts a glare-free display, warm light options for night, and is waterproof from the beach to the bath.
Trending
  • The buzziest deodorant in the beauty scene: Lume whole body deodorant. Free of aluminum or baking soda, it offers odor protection anywhere and everywhere.
Award
  • The 2023 Etsy Design Award Winners are here. Check out extraordinary, imaginative items including cactus leather bags, whimsical dandelion lamps, and donut mugs.
Pets
  • Want to give your pup a paw-sitive surprise? Spoil them with treats from Botanical Bones – guaranteed to fit any pup’s personality.
Answered

On Monday, we asked about your preferred form of non-car transportation.

Richmond bike share program looking to get back on the road
A line of RVA Bike Share bikes are docked on Broad Street by the Science Museum.
RVA Bike Share bikes at the ready outside the Science Museum. | Photo by RICtoday
70% of respondents listed walking as a top option. Biking was the second most popular response with 23%. The majority of respondents indicated that they were somewhat or very interested in the return of RVA Bike Share.
Bike share updates
 
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The Wrap
 
Robin Schwartzkopf in a red button down shirt

Today’s edition by:
Robin
From the editor
I just wrapped up a summer pottery class at VisArts and had a great time learning the basics of the wheel. Registration is ongoing for fall courses — check out the catalog.
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