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The Southampton Citizens Association serves the Southampton/Stratford Hills community by promoting initiatives that preserve and improve the livability, economic value and welfare of our neighborhoods and valued community resources.
Our stewardship includes the James River, green spaces, roadways, churches, retail centers and recreational facilities.
We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Southampton Recreation Center at
3201 Chellowe Road.
The meetings start at 7:15 and are always open to the public.
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Time to Renew SCA Dues
Send a 15.00 check made out to SCA Treasurer.
There's also a 2 year renewal special offer of 25.00. (This offer ends June 30th)
Mail to SCA Treasurer, 7424 Tanglewood Rd. Richmond VA 23225
Address label on recent SCA newsletter indicates the year that you last paid
Congratulations to 4th district Councilperson Kathy Graziano
Kathy has been selected by the James River Advisory Council as the winner of the “Guardian of the River” Award!!
Wooden Guard Rails Replaced Near Riverside
It was recently called to the SCA's attention that there were numerous rotten and missing poles along Rattlesnake Creek where Stratford meets Riverside Drive. The SCA addressed this with the City and they have recently been replaced with new wooden rails. 4/15/09
Rules for Trash Pickup
a) All refuse to be collected by the City shall be limited to containers approved by the Director of Public Works or to bulk or brush items.
b) Refuse receptacles must be City – Provided ninety (90) or (95) gallon mobile containers which weigh no more than one hundred eighty (180) pounds when filled and placed for collection. Bagged refuse and boxes will be collected as part of the weekly collection.
Recycling Bin
Southampton School will have a large red recycling bin in place on school property. They are inviting neighbors to recycle with them. The bin is only for paper. Call the school if you have any questions at 320-2434.
Fraud Squad
Report City Goverment waste, fraud and abuse. Click Here to open a digital file with more information and phone number.
**Crime Watch
Petty crimes, such as change and small items being stolen from unlocked cars, still occur sporadically in the neighborhood. If this happens to you be sure to report it to the police.
Remember to always make sure to lock your car doors no matter how short your absence.
Other tips from the police include:
Never "hide" keys on your vehicle. They can always be found.
Never leave change or mail in view.
Do not leave your car registration in the vehicle.
Keep the interior of your car empty of possessions.
Crime Report/ Feb 2009
Click Here |
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4th DISTRICT UPDATES
(from Councilperson Kathy Graziano's office) |
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Response to City Billing Error
The Department of Finance recently mailed all real estate bills to the property owner, including those bills intended for owner’s mortgage escrow accounts. This has generated a tremendous volume of phone calls for everyone. Finance distributed an explanation to the 311 Call Center and other department who may be receiving calls.
If you receive a call regarding this issue, or are questioned about it, do not perpetuate the problem by referring the owner to Finance. Finance has asked that we provide the following explanation:
The owner does not have to do anything. If the owner has an escrow account, do not pay the bill. The correct bill will be provided to the mortgage company for payment.
Vehicle Tax billing (City press release)
The City of Richmond is going to send out 200,000 vehicle tax bills for tax year 2009. This billing represents over $35 million dollars in revenue. The bills will be in the mail no later than March 31st and are due on or before May 1st. These vehicle bills are mailed 30 day before the due date to give citizens ample time to receive and make timely payment.
City Council Passes James River Park Easement 2/24/09
Richmond City Council has passed and sent to Mayor Dwight Jones and Governor Tim Kaine a proposed conservation easement for James River Park.
The easement is believed to be the first of its kind for an urban park in the United States. It was proposed and shepherded through an almost four year process by Richmond City Council President Kathy Graziano. The easement will provide permanent protection for the park in its natural state and will prevent any future city government from selling the park or developing any part of it for commercial, industrial or residential purposes.
It leaves ownership of the park in city hands, and allows the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities to continue to manage the park in its present state.
“I believe the James River Park and the river are our most precious treasures,” Council Member Graziano said “and I am so pleased Richmond City Council and Mayor Jones’ administration have worked together to make sure that future generations can enjoy this park. “ “Men can make a playground or a ball field, but no-one can craft something as vital and important as our park,” she continued.
The easement will be held by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Capital Region Land Conservancy and the Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation.
The idea for the easement came after a previous city administration attempted to sell a portion of Great Shiplock Park to a developer for a waterfront development in 2004.
FREE home safety survey
Has your home been inspected for fire hazards? Do you have enough smoke detectors in your home and are they placed properly? Is your space heater in a safe place?
All of these question and many more can be answered by a Richmond Firefighter. Call 646-1526 now and schedule your FREE home safety survey. A Firefighter from your local fire station will come to your home for to perform a FREE home safety inspection. Firefighters will also install FREE smoke detectors if needed and change batteries in your current detectors.
Household Hazardous Waste
 The City of Richmond now accepts household hazardous waste items at the East Richmond Road Convenience Center (3800 E. Richmond Rd). This free service for city residents will be available on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Items that will be accepted at the facility include:
>Solvents (mineral spirits, paint thinner, turpentine, acetone)
>Paints (oil or latex, polyurethane, tung oil, stains, varnish, shellac, tints, lacquer thinners, paint reducers, primers, varsol)
>Fuels (gasoline, gasoline additives, #2 fuel oil, kerosene, diesel, chain saw fuel, motor boat fuel, oil additives)
>Propane tanks
>Car fluids (motor oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze)
>Car batteries (lead acid batteries only)
>Household cleaners and drain openers
>Herbicides and pesticides
>Cooking oil
Tax relief for the elderly
As you may know, Richmond has a tax relief program to assist seniors and disabled on low incomes with the costs of real estate taxes. The link below includes a statement from Mrs Grazinao related to this years relief that includes essential information concerning the program.
Click here for additional Tax Relief information
2008 Real Estate Reassessment Report
Click here for Report pdf
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| Above information on 4th District provided by Council member Kathy Graziano's office. |
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PAST SOUTHAMPTON INFO
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Cell Tower Vote 6/17/2008
(2nd vote on issue after plan was resubmitted.)
The SCA voted against supporting the NTelos plan for a cell tower ( at the Southampton Baptist Church) in the community . The vote was 8 members against and 2 members abstaining. The meeting was well attended by neighbors who mostly opposed a cell tower. Some of the reasons expressed included: it being inappropriate for a residentiial area, visual concerns, the effect it will have on property values, and a feeling that there was sufficient cell coverage in the neighborhood already. Since our last meeting in May the SCA recieved approximatly 44 emails and letters from neighbors opposing a tower. There were 8 cards of support from a mailing NTelos sent to existing customers.
We again notified City Council as well as City Planning about our decision
Cell Tower Vote 12/07/07
- After many meetings and discussions the SCA voted to oppose the Ntelos cell tower (which requires a Special Use Permit on the R-2( residential) zoned land) at Southampton Baptist Church , near Cherokee and Comanche. It was a difficult vote considering the income it would give the church, but after taking in other considerations as well, including the fact that the tower would only benefit a limited area of Ntelos subscribers, it's effect on residential property values and the precedent a commercial tower in a residential neighborhood would set, the SCA ultimately decided that cell towers in our neighborhood weren't appropriate.
We did notify City Council about our decision, but the Ntelos proposal never went before Council.
Bulk Trash Pick-up
Residents can get free regular pickup of bulk items such as old mattresses, tree limbs,and other large items that won't fit in a supercan.
The collection schedule for our zip code (23225-23235) is the 3rd week of every month.
Pickups will not cover items like refrigeraters and stoves( "white goods" ). You can still contact the city to pick these items up for a $50.00 charge.
The minutes to the SCA Board meetings are now available online. Click on the "About" button in the menu bar at the top of this page and then go to the "Minutes" link.
2007 Riverfest/ RiverRun photos- Click here.
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Promote Your Business
Advertise in the SCA Newsletter !
Click Here for Ad Rates |
Huguenot Bridge art supports Southampton Recreation Association
Click Here for info |
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The SCA will next meet
July 21st@ 7:15
All are welcome.
(No August meeting) |
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| Click Here |
| *Richmond Animal Care offers free pet neutering Click Here for more info |
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| City Council Email Links |
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Click the Spotted
Salamander to find out why he's dancing |
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