December Meeting Minutes

12/6/23

• Nov. minutes – approved
• Treasurer’s Report – approved
  • $5k donation from Hutchinson this month; $1,500 last mo. 
• JRPS Report (provided by Ross and Giles)
  • Park Projects
    • Potterfield Bridge Repairs: Repairs to the Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge are complete. New fasteners stabilizing each bridge span have been installed across the bridge. Stiffeners have also been installed underneath the bridge at specific sites as an additional pilot strategy to stabilize the grates.
    • Belle Isle Service Bridge Repairs: Gusset plates have been replaced across the full span of the Belle Isle Service Bridge. Welding repairs have been completed on the substructure.
    • Expanded Venture Richmond Service District: Venture Richmond has expanded their service district into Manchester. As a result, JRPS is working with VR to add wayfinding kiosks, waste receptacles, and dog waste stations from Diversity Park along the Floodwall Trail to the southern terminus of the Potterfield Bridge.
    • Tredegar Ramp Extension: The public ramp at Tredegar Street has been extended eight feet further into the river. This will mitigate loss of material at the base of the ramp and support Richmond Fire & Rescue as well as recreational uses of the site.
    • Urban Ranger Program Expansion: Urban Ranger Supervisor Aimee Bushman is joined by Urban Ranger Rick Mittler, in an expansion of the UR program.
    • Other: Ancarrow’s Landing road work, Sawyer Training, Memorial Bench at Riverside Meadow, Programs Deck, Tredegar Ramp Extension, Sawmill Bridge touch ups, Huguenot Flatwater Kiosk, Belle Isle Memorial Bench
  • Visitation
    • Nov 2023: 107,113. Year-to-Date: 1,663,583 
• King of the James
  • 161 signed up. Last year was 120-130. 165 is the record (2020 virtual year). 
  • Raised $9600 after expenses. Awaiting some sponsor checks; should be around $15-16k net. 
  • Email sent to all racers after event asking for rating and feedback. Some responded, 4-5 stars. They enjoyed having the party at the finish and liked changes to the course. 
  • Post-race meeting TBA soon.
  • Feedback tonight: require airbags in kayak. Hard to enforce, but we can improve communication about the need. Food and beer set aside for volunteers – everything was out once they got to takeout. Some missed the awards ceremony. Low water made more folks sign up last minute (30 more registrants signed up the night before and day-of) meant more people than were planned for at the after party. 
• Safety / Rescue
  • Richmond firefighters in attendance at tonight’s meeting. Announced that they now have a creature craft, to be motorized as opposed to oar rig. 
  • Fire rescue access points that need work- Shelter picnic table and Wetlands jersey barrier in the way
• Upcoming park events
  • Parade of lights this weekend: Saturday beginning at 5pm. View from Ancarrow’s or Rocketts Landing.
  • Dec. 21st Winter Solstice on Belle Isle. Night hike at 6pm. Hot chocolate, meet at suspension bridge- email programs@jamesriverpark.org for info and to sign up.
• Debris below Hollywood building up again
  • Currently smaller logs; need help to remove. Waiting to hear back from TrueTimber on dates. Greg already posted on James River HomoSapiens FB group; asking everyone to help spread the word. 
• JROC Volunteering / projects
  • Need a project for Dec., Jan., and Feb.
    • Dry Rocks – 12/16 – meet down in 22nd St parking lot at 9AM. Graffiti removal. 
  • Natalie to schedule a social media team interest meeting – collected emails
• Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) updates
  • DPU that manages stakeholders’ committee – Charles Ware updated on proposed projects related to CSO plan. 
  • 2 main outflows: 80% from Shockoe Creek / 14th St. Canoe Run Park (not managed by JRPS) outflow contributes 10-11% of the bacterial load from CSO. Proposed retention basin at/under the park. 
  • Thurs. Jan 18th at 12pm- Scenic River to present a file plan for CSO. At City Hall- potential attendees need to get on the list ahead of time.