While not one of the commission’s official recommendations, the change back to a council-manager form of government could put the mayor on City Council and reduce its membership to seven.
While the idea to make the retail corridor a pedestrian-only thoroughfare has been floated casually for years, it has gained some traction of late through an ongoing online survey conducted by the city.
A third guilty plea, from the wife of one of the former senior officials, was also announced this month by federal prosecutors, who allege the group conspired to defraud the city of over $600,000 in department contracts.
The proposed changes have been in the works since early last year and planned since the city adopted its current rules in mid-2020.
Pending any say on the matter from state legislators, the referendum would give Richmond a second chance at the $562 million project after voters narrowly rejected it two years ago.
The first projects to be funded from $540 million in bonds that Chesterfield voters approved in last year’s referendum are being lined up.
“[Lobbying is] one big dysfunctional family, and you kind of want to be around those people and the people that understand,” said Cindy DiFranco, who with Angie Bezik is opening the Capitol Caucus space at One James Center.
After a five-year run as the lead advertising firm for the state tourism office, the agency that coined “Virginia is for Lovers” has opted to let the multimillion-dollar account go.
“We felt so many people were burned by the Enrichmond process,” Chopus said. “We wanted the reputation and gravitas of the Community Foundation behind us as we try to right this wrong.”
The split vote came just weeks after officials announced that Goochland had won the remaining funding it needed for a new diverging diamond-style interchange near the site.
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