May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 1

CITY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

John M. Altman, Jr.

City Manager

Each week, the City

Manager prepares an

update for City

Council and citizens

that addresses the

status of major City

projects, news, special

events, and other

matters of interest as

well as City-wide

accomplishments in

the performance of

our services to our

citizens of Hopewell.

Office of the City Manager 300 N. Main Street, Suite 216 Hopewell, VA 23860 804-541-2243 maltman@hopewellva.go v

Hopewell Sheriff’s Office Conducts

FREE Car Seat Safety Check

Hopewell, VA. The Hopewell Sheriff’s Office, the GFWC Junior Woman’s

Club of Hopewell, and the DMV will conduct a FREE child safety seat

inspection event on Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 noon in the

downtown Hopewell Courthouse parking lot. Trained car seat technicians will

be on site to assist the public in making sure children are riding in an

appropriate car seat for their age, weight and height.

This event will provide parents and caregivers the opportunity to learn how to

install and use child safety seats correctly. Approximately 70 percent of all

children are not properly secured in a child restraint seat. Properly securing a

child in a child safety seat significantly reduces the risk of him or her suffering

serious injuries or death. For inquiries please contact the Hopewell Sheriff’s

office at (804) 541-2300.

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 2

COMMUNITY NEWS AND SERVICES

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 3

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 4

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 5

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Virginia First Cities Annual Board Meeting

Councilor Anthony “Tony” Zevgolis, Ward # 3, John M. Altman, Jr., City Manager, and Herbert Bragg,

Director, Intergovernmental & Public Affairs attended the Virginia First Cities annual board meeting on

Friday, May 4, 2018 at the Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton Virginia. The meeting agenda

included a welcome by the Honorable Donnie Tuck, Mayor, City of Hampton and the Honorable Chris

Snead, Chair, Virginia First Cities. In addition, the agenda included the following: (1) the Executive

Director’s update with a focus on housing, economic stimulus/tax reform (2) state budget projections (3)

legislative update (4) vision for economic growth in our cities (5) housing and community development

(6) a housing vision for low income residents (7) the academies of Hampton (8) experiment in

neighborhood rebuilding and (9) Norfolk transportation.

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 6

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Fort Lee Civilian Military Council Meeting and Luncheon

MG Paul C. Hurley, Fort Lee Combined Arms Support Command

(CASCOM) Commander hosted Fort Lee’s quarterly Civilian Military

Council Meeting and luncheon on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. A tour of

the installation was also provided after the meeting. John M. Altman,

Jr., City Manager and Herbert Bragg, Director, Intergovernmental &

Public Affairs participated in the event.

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 7

HUMAN RESOURCES The Human Resources team continues to be productive and responsive to needs of City

employees, retirees, and the citizenry of Hopewell while preparing for implementation of the

proposed FY 19 budget.

The Safety and Risk Coordinator continues to perform driver’s license checks required of

employees.

The HR and Risk team recently collected over 300 diapers for the Hopewell-Prince George

Healthy Families department! Thank you to both departments!

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 8

HUMAN SERVICES

May is nationally recognized as Foster Care Month, a time to honor the foster parents, service

providers and other community partners who provide care and support to children in foster care. Today in Virginia, there are more than 5,000 children currently in foster care. This month and every day, we continue to advance our efforts in finding safe and nurturing homes for these deserving children.

Hopewell currently has 25 children in foster care but the majority of our children are placed outside of Hopewell due to a shortage in foster homes. Hopewell has 4 locally approved foster homes. In conjunction with Petersburg, Prince George and Dinwiddie DSS, we are currently training interested prospective foster parents and we hope to approve some of the families that in our current pre-service training. It is vital for children to remain in their communities, whenever it is safe to do so. The trauma of abuse and neglect, as well as the trauma of being removed from the child(ren)'s parents can be reduced by remaining connected to important community members in church, schools and other key providers. It also assists the agency will maintaining connections with family members and fictive kin.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please contact Hopewell DSS at 804-541-2330.

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 9

PUBLIC SAFETY

NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

To commemorate National Police Week, the Hopewell Police

and Sheriff Departments received a proclamation from

Hopewell City Council on May 8, 2018. National Police Week

is May 13 thru May 19. This week was established by a joint

resolution of Congress in 1962. National Police Week pays

special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have

lost their lives in the line of duty.

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 10

Welcome to Officer Thomas Jones

On May 9, 2018, Officer Thomas Jones who chose the Hopewell Police Department

to continue his law enforcement career was sworn by the City Clerk. Officer Jones

comes from the Smithfield Police Department, and is also a Marine Corps veteran.

We are excited to welcome him to the Hopewell Police Department Family.

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 11

RECREATION, SPECIAL EVENTS, & ACTIVITIES

Summer Activity Guide The Recreation and Parks Department has released its summer activity guide. The

guide is available online and in hard copy at the Hopewell Community Center,

Hopewell Public Schools, and other public buildings throughout the City. The

guide features a variety of programs, activities and events that will be held

throughout the summer months. To view the guide, please visit

www.hopewellva.gov/activity-guide .

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 12

RECREATION, SPECIAL EVENTS, & ACTIVITIES

Summer Camp Registration

The Recreation and Parks Department has a variety of summer

programs available for children and teens. A complete listing of

programs can be found at www.hopewellva.gov/summer-camps.

Registration can be completed at the Hopewell Community Center.

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 13

RECREATION, SPECIAL EVENTS, & ACTIVITIES

Rockin’ on the River

The Rockin’ on the River concert series began on Wednesday, May 9 at

the Hopewell City Marina with local favorite Magnolia on stage. The

concert was very well-attended and will continue through the rest of the

summer. Series newcomer Whiskey Tango Foxtrot will take the stage

on Wednesday, May 23, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Additional information

can be found at www.hopewellva.gov/rockin-on-the-river.

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 14

RECREATION, SPECIAL EVENTS, & ACTIVITIES

Kids to Parks Day The Recreation and Parks Department and the Office on Youth will host Kids to

Parks Day on Saturday, May 19 from noon-3:00 p.m. at City Park. The event will

feature a variety of activities and vendors that will highlight active lifestyles and

the benefits of regular park visits. More information is available at

www.hopewellva.gov/special-events.

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 15

OFFICE ON YOUTH

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you to all of the faculty and staff that educate and empower our youth!

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 16

OFFICE ON YOUTH

KIDS TO PARK DAY

The Office on Youth and Recreation & Parks will be hosting Kids to Park Day, next week Saturday, May 19th at City Park from 12pm – 3:00pm. Come enjoy this fun and exciting afternoon with us!

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 17

OFFICE ON YOUTH

The Office on Youth is hosting a series of workshops for our high school students to help them get prepared for the next steps in their lives, which for many is employment or volunteer work this summer. Next week, we will be hosting a financial literacy workshop and a resume writing workshop at Hopewell High School from 3:30 – 5:00pm. At each workshop, students will get information and tools to help prepare them for the job fair on June 2nd. Mark your calendar for the Mock Interviews and Simple Ways to Market Yourself workshops later this month!

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 18

OFFICE ON YOUTH

Third Thursday’s Open Air Marketplace Join the Office on Youth at on the 1st Third Thursday event on May 17th from 5:30 – 8:30 for a fun night in downtown Hopewell. The Office on Youth will have family friendly games, in addition to the Lamb Center for Arts & Healing and the Appomattox Regional Library will all be hosting fun children and family crafts and activities at Guncotton Coffee! We can’t wait to see you!

Visit the Office on Youth social media pages for updates and tips for our youth!! The Office on Youth is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter at @HopewellOOY!!

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 19

WATER RENEWAL

Hopewell Water Renewal Welcomes

New Deputy Director

Richard L. Thompson, Jr. “Dickie”, Deputy Director of

Hopewell Water Renewal has twenty five years of

experience in the water/wastewater treatment and

public utilities industry. His experience ranges from

small package plant facilities to large enhanced nutrient

removal facilities as well as pump stations and utility

(water and sewer) infrastructure. Most recently, he worked with the Prince

George County Engineering/Utilities Department as the Operations

Manager/Interim Director. He is a licensed Class 1 Wastewater Operator and a

Class 3 Waterworks Operator with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dickie has a

Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Management and an Associate’s Degree in

Applied Sciences. He currently resides in Prince George County and is married

with two children. He enjoys the outdoors by coaching soccer, playing golf, fishing

and camping.

May 11, 2018

City Manager’s Weekly Update

City of Hopewell, Virginia www.hopewellva.gov 20

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

City Council Meeting

May 22, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

www.hopewellva.gov/city-council/

Council Chambers

300 N. Main Street

Hopewell, VA 23860

Phone: 804-541-2408

Fax: 804-541-2248