RICHMOND the People, the History, the Issues That Shape a City
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The magazine of the Virginia Municipal League VOL. 50 NO. 8 OCTOBER 2015 RICHMOND The people, the history, the issues that shape a city Inside: 2015 Achievement Award Winners The magazine of the Virginia Municipal League VOL. 50 NO. 8 OCTOBER 2015 About the cover The city and the river aren’t worlds apart in Richmond, but woven together. Offices, shops and restaurants overlook the river where kayakers and paddleboarders glide along the banks of downtown Richmond. Departments Discovering Virginia ............... 2 Professional Directory ......... 24 Virginia Municipal League Features 2015 Annual Report After a very busy and very productive year of representing the Welcome to Richmond interests of local government, the Virginia Municipal League The host city for this year’s annual conference is a community pauses to reflect on its many accomplishments. From the state that is learning to embrace its past and confront current social capitol in Richmond to the halls of Congress in Washington, and economic challenges head on. Richmond is fast becom- VML and its member local governments continue to be an ing a mecca for the arts, cuisine, outdoor adventure, sporting essential voice in the debates surrounding some of the most events and more. The population is on the rise and entrepre- important public policy issues of the times. neurs are finding a warm welcome. Pages 20-34 Pages 5-11 A look back at the past year includes: Announcing the winners A message from the President .............................................20 of the 2015 VML VML Executive Committee ..................................................21 Achievement Awards The Executive Director’s summary .......................................23 Reports from affiliate organizations From Halifax to Marion to Virginia VLGMA ...........................................................................27 Beach, our winners represent cities and VBCOA ...........................................................................27 town of all sizes across the state. Here MEPAV ...........................................................................29 are the inspiring stories behind the seven VEPGA ...........................................................................29 award-winning projects – the who, why and how they came VML membership ...............................................................31 to fruition. Municipal Business Associates .............................................31 Pages 12-16 Legislative and Policy Committee ................................. 32-34 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Virginia Town & City (ISSN0042-6784) is the official Kimberly A. Winn magazine of the Virginia Municipal League. Published 10 William D. Euille (President), Alexandria times a year at 13 E. Franklin St., P.O. Box 12164, Rich- EDITOR Ron Rordam (President-Elect), Blacksburg mond, VA 23241; 804/649-8471. E-mail: [email protected]. Nancy Chafin Robert K. Coiner (Vice President), Gordonsville Reproduction or use of contents requires prior approval of DESIGN EDITOR Katie Sheldon Hammler, Leesburg the Virginia Municipal League and if granted must be ac- Manuel Timbreza David P. Helms, Marion companied by credit to Virginia Town & City and the Virginia Municipal League. Periodicals Postage paid at Richmond, Mary Hynes, Arlington ADVERTISING MANAGER VA. (USPS 661040) Subscription rates: members - $8 per Ceasor Johnson, Lynchburg Anita Yearwood year, non-members - $16 per year. Single copies - $2 each. Edythe Frankel Kelleher, Vienna CIRCULATION MANAGER Postmaster: Send address changes to Virginia Town & Christina Luman-Bailey, Hopewell City, P.O. Box 12164, Richmond, 23241-0164. Sherall W. Dementi Mimi Elrod, Lexington Anita James Price, Roanoke Virginia Town & City is printed on recycled paper. Faye Prichard, Ashland Visit at www.vml.org Patricia Woodbury, Newport News VIRGIVIRGINIANIA To ToWNW N& &C ITYCITY | | O OCTCTOOBERBER 20152015 1 Discovering Virginia By Kim and Deric Winn Virginia is our home now wo YEARS ago, MY family agreed to pack up given its shape are within reach everywhere you go. Whew! and move across the country for me to pursue this The Winn family most recently got its history fix at the Tamazing opportunity. I am so blessed to have a job American Armored Foundation Tank Museum in Dan- that I love and my family is blessed to be living in this state. ville. One of the first things you’re greeted by as you walk There are so many beautiful places to see and wonder- in the door of the main display floor is a German PaK 40 ful places to visit. The history of the Commonwealth is Anti-Tank Gun. These fearsome weapons took a substan- unparalleled and we have done our best to experience as tial total on our forces as they bravely advanced through much as we can since our arrival here. Western Europe after D-day. Earlier this year, you heard from my children express- ing their favorite things in Virginia. Now, it’s my husband’s As you continue, you find many other legendary weap- turn. I will never be able to thank Deric enough for all he ons and vehicles of WWII such as the Soviet T-34-85, a has done to help with our move from Kansas and transition late model Panzer IV of the Wehrmacht, and of course into life in Virginia. So, I wanted to give him an opportunity the M-4 Sherman, the backbone of the Western Allied ar- to share his thoughts with you…. mored forces. Post war/ Cold war vehicles are also much in evidence, like the M-103, the only U.S. heavy tank to ever see active service. There are also other foreign rarities, Reflections from Deric such as a Swedish Stridsvagn 74, one of only seven of these You never know what the good Lord has planned for tanks still in existence. you next – that is a lesson he really drove home for me in I’m a Kansan born and bred. I will always love the Flint 2013. My wife Kim and I had agreed that she should ap- Hills, beautiful thunder storms as they look nowhere else on ply for the executive directorship of the Virginia Municipal earth, and Kansas Jayhawks basketball. However, Virginia is League. She really wanted this opportunity and was sitting my family’s home now, and blessed be, I’m finding it really on pins and needles wondering whether she would be se- easy to fall in love with this place, in spite of the traffic. lected. God gave me the sight to see what she could not. I was so certain when she came back from her interview that we would soon be relocating. “So, what’s in Virginia?” I wondered. History, that’s what. So much of what America is today was born here in Virginia. I’ve been something of a history geek for most of my life, but it had never really occurred to me that much of the core history of America happened in this one state. The colonies were founded about an hour from our house (depending on traffic). So many presidents have lived here that I wouldn’t be surprised if one is mowing the lawn next door as I write this. Yorktown, Hampton Roads, Appomattox Court House, and countless other places, where the greatest country in the world was 2 VIRGINIA ToWN & CITY | OCTOCTOBER 2015 Welcome to the attendees of the Virginia Municipal League Annual Conference! As Mayor of the City of Richmond, it is my pleasure to welcome you to RVA. Hosting the 2015 VML Annual Conference is a great opportunity for us to showcase all that is happening in Virginia’s capital city. By the time you arrive, we will have just bid farewell to thousands of cycling athletes and visitors from over 70 countries who were in Richmond for the UCI Road World Championships (Worlds). Richmond is only the second U.S. city to host the Worlds in the event’s 82-year history. The event was also viewed by hundreds of millions around the world, presenting tremendous tourism and economic development opportunity for the region, and an opportunity to tell Richmond’s story like never before. Richmond is a vibrant, modern destination continually ranked among the best cities for business, health, and outdoor adventure. We are a city of history, creativity, culture and entertainment. Whether you are a history buff, a sports enthusiast, an arts lover, or a foodie, Richmond is a year-round destination with something for everyone. Our culinary and cultural offerings have been recognized nationally. There are museums, landmarks, universities, theaters and many places of significance to visit and explore. We boast trendy boutiques and restaurants, craft beers, numerous sports attractions and outdoor pursuits including one of the United States’ largest river park systems. Richmond is also a place that celebrates its cultural diversity, which shines in such events as our annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration, the Capital City Kwanzaa Festival, the Richmond Jazz Festival, and the Que Pasa Hispanic Cultural Festival, to name a few. To get the full Richmond experience, be sure to get out of your car and explore. Ride a bike on the more than 23 miles of bike lanes that we have developed in response to our Bike Master Plan. We are building a robust network of bikeways across and throughout the City and the 52-mile Virginia Capital Trail begins right in our downtown. We know you will enjoy Richmond’s incredible beauty and diverse attractions, and that your experience here will be memorable. We urge you to come back to visit us again and again. Sincerely, Dwight C. Jones Mayor VIRGINIA TOWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015 3 4 VIRGINIA ToWN & CITY | OCTOBER 2015 By Ellyn Parker and Tammy Hawley Richmond’s Public Art Master Plan He CITY OF RICHMOnD is growing in recognition community collaborations and showcase the unique character as a creative capital. Dubbed the “center of creativity” as of Richmond’s already thriving art scene. Tpart of its grassroots RVA branding campaign, the city is The City of Richmond sees this roadmap as a way to en- upping the ante with respect to its public art scene. sure that the public art program in Richmond is reflective of Currently all public art projects in the city of Richmond re- the diverse communities in Richmond and will ensure equal ceive funding through a 1% allocation for art, earmarked from opportunities for local and the City’s Capital Budget for all new or renovation construc- regional artists.