October Meeting Minutes

10/5/22

Happy Birthweek, Sally!

• Minutes approved
• Treasurer’s Report approved
• Giles’ JRPS Report
  • River Risk Mitigation focus groups updates
    • DWR, DCR, Richmond City, and localities all coming to the table. Emphasis on low head dam warnings and education, other river hazards.
    • Focus groups: 1. Signage and visible infrastructure, 2. Education and communication, 3. Fundraising
    • Short range goals: Drowning risk mitigation program in which all 2nd graders in the district would get at least 3 experiences in water. Pilot w/Swansboro Elementary. 
    • Long range goals- discussing dam removal, including Bosher’s. 
  • Urban Ranger program – Non-law enforcement (unarmed) at popular spots to help inform visitors of risks during high water events.
  • Climbing mgmt and development plan with Sam A.; working on draft of guidelines. 
  • Boys & Girls Club -Friday adventure excursions throughout the fall.
  • Capital projects
    • Pump house awarded $500k for stabilization of the building
    • Belle Isle suspension footbridge and T Potts bridge- minor improvements needed for both, not scheduled yet. Still using fasteners as short term repair for T Potts.
    • Tredgar boat ramp needs replacing- working on grants.
  • VDOF providing $ to support invasive plant removal and the Invasive Plant Task Force and coordinators. More capacity for natural resource mgmt. Arbor Day, funding, too.
  • Monthly notes and happenings (link to these reports forthcoming):
    • August
      • Visitation: 180,003. YTD: over 1 million. 
      • Volunteering: JROC weekday work crew mulched near T Potts. 8/12 – FotJ and JROC 8 or 9 interpretive signage and frames installed on Belle Isle. 8/20 – Sawmill bridge, erosion damage repair
    • September
      • Visitation: 145,803. YTD: 1,390,456. Wetlands counter issues; due for replacing. The Pony Pasture counter is also unreliable. 
      • North bank / Texas Beach tower officially condemned. Nov 7 council meeting- hope they will vote to give federal ARPA funding; needs advocacy. JROC motion approved to write letter in support of funding.
      • Tredegar parking lot. Installed 2 accessible parking spots. Access ramp tabled for now. Bollards installed at Tredegar St through new greenway access that connected to Oregon Hill. 
    • Upcoming work projects:
      • Upcoming replacement of Pumphouse stairs; demolition on 10/22. 
• Other recent or ongoing park projects 
  • Goats at Manchester Wall eating kudzu
  • Memorial tree planting at T. Pott bridge to honor a local climbing advocate who passed.
  • Manchester Wall gravel test run: Ross worked w/Scott R. to rig a zipline to get gravel to the bottom. Worked but was a slow process; would need a 300’ steel cable to make it efficient enough- seems like the best / most affordable option (quote from a trash chute company was $7k).
  • Byrd Park renovated trail
  • Diversity Park still under construction – DPW using the area for staging grounds. Bike share location proposed?
  • Patrick proposed getting electricity to Reedy Creek parking lot’s unload area for a pump to be used by private boaters. Needs more research / a plan to address concerns, get cost estimates, etc.