From the Office of the Mayor: http://richmondvaannouncements.blogspot.com/2013/02/city-to-enforce-ordinance-designating.html

Page 9, Point 3 under the 'Public Safety Bill of Rights' issued by the City of Richmond, the community has the right to '3. A clean and safe environment'.

http://www.richmondgov.com/neighborhoods/documents/NeighborhoodImprovement.pdf

It would help if the city was more pro-active monitoring of these quad apartment on Elwood and on Auburn. Better yet would be to condemn them.

Yes, the city has been very lazy in enforcing their own ordinances. The 3100-3200 blocks of Ellwood have been reported to the city for years. DPW personnel even came out to view the problem, but did nothing to clean up the issue. Furthermore, the city then adds these new recycling bins to the already existing problem. Unsure why the city doesn't want to fine the owners of the properties since the city seems to always be in a deficit.

Previous SeeClickFix reports:

http://seeclickfix.com/issues/725079
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/725084
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/698351
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/657311

Still an ongoing issue.

I hope all the above commenters have contacted their City Councilperson about this. The City's failure to enforce zoning ordinances and ordinances like the one cited are an ongoing disgrace. Tier One City? Not on your life, Mayor Jones.

Yes. The Mayor's Office and Council Member Baliles were contacted about this issue over a year ago ...neither have done anything. The priorities for the city are superficial...new ballpark and looking good for the upcoming cycling race...but the day to day living is suffering.

I pursued an unpainted crosswalk with traffic for two fruitless years, then emailed my council person once a month for six months. It finally got rebuilt and repainted. Stay on Mr. Baliles. It is his job. Not as glamorous as bike races, ball parks, and beer halls (Richmond's 3 B's), but it is his job. I hope he is monitoring this site for issues in his district.

I just forwarded this to Mr Baliles (again, based on above comments) and hopefully he will offer some assistance.

Is there a reason the City of Richmond has yet to acknowledge this problem on SeeClickFix? There is visual proof, citation of the infracting code/ordinance, and numerous votes in support of fixing the problem. Yet, this persistent problem is pushed aside in favor of trash and bulk pick ups.

Problem is still here.

Extensive problem. Clearly, the City of Richmond did not think this process thoroughly before taking the easy money to switch to the new cans as the City of Richmond just made an existing issue bigger.

Along Ellwood in front of the properties.

Out again today...8 days after pick up.

Could the city PLEASE respond and acknowledge this issue? Who can we call to get something done? This trashes up the neighborhood and most importantly causes accessibility problems since the sidewalks are blocked. Please address this issue.

The city neither reads nor responds to additional comments on SeeClickFix. They do not "see" the photographs, nor do the agencies responsible ever see anything other than the original message. Call 311 and reference the number assigned, or forward the entire thread to your councilperson and then call his office. It feels good to comment, but it doesn't do anything except document your frustration. Don't give up - just keep calling and emailing. They are counting on us to not bother to make the effort.

After forwarding this thread to Mr. Baliles, he (or his staff) responded with the following, Thanks for letting us know. We will report to Public Works and have the owners fined appropriately according to City code. They sent someone out today to let them know the policy and that the new large cans go in the alley and the small bins should not be out on the sidewalks."

Despite this response, I wonder if anything has been done since the cans are still present.

Probably not since this isn't a concern to Council Member Baliles. The code/ordinance was pushed by his predecessor, Bruce Tyler, shortly before he lost to Mr. Baliles.

This issue was brought to Mr. Baliles attention in September 2013 and nothing was done even though Mr Baliles lives around the corner from this nuisance. From September 2013, Mr. Baliles said 'I walk that area weekly and report them (as do others since it is so rampant) and we have contacted the property owners to make them aware of their responsibilities.'

Yet still no fines even though this has been going on for years.

Still here Feb 11, 2015

I rode down Elwood today and the cans are still out. Is our supervisor and mayor powerless to have this resolved? Or ,maybe the owners of these dwellings are big campaign donors or maybe our representatives really could care less.

"Powerless" has nothing to do with it. Council passes an ordinance, but has no way of following through. Jones and his administration don't care about quality of life issues.

Again, Feb. 12, 2015. Note how narrow the sidewalk is as a woman pushed stroller through. Doubtful any person in a wheelchair could make it through without going into mud/grass or hitting bins.

Your concern has been received and forwarded to Central Virginia Waste Management Authority so that proper inspection and handling can take place accordingly. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact (CVWMA) at 804-340-0900. We appreciate your communication that helps us in “Building The Best Richmond” together

Why do the residents need to contact CVWMA to resolve this issue. CVWMA has no jurisdiction or enforcement ability over this issue. According to City of Richmond, the Department of Public Works has enforcement over this issue:

More: Richmond Code §31-23;
Ordinance # 2007-230-275,
§ 1, 11-26-2007

Both state the City will enforce the garbage supercans and recycling bins left out passed their allowed times. Furthermore, the latter states that it is the responsibility of the Department of Public Works (Richmond City Agency) to assess the civil penalty of $50 per receptacle left out per day.

We are in the process of collecting these carts off the street.

Your concern has been received the Department of Public Works is in the process of collecting these carts off the street. We appreciate your communication that helps us in “Building The Best Richmond” together.

Could this be left open until resolved? Also, who (Darlene?) is collecting the carts off the street? And, are they being returned to the home owner/renter or taken back by CVWMA? This isn't clear. Thank you

Is DPW only removing the old recycling bins, or are they also fining offenders for leaving the new recycling cans in the public right of way? More communications between the City of Richmond and the residents would help.

Call Bonby Vincent, deputy director of operations, at 646-6444. I believe it may have been his intervention that initiated the action on Wednesday.

That's Bobby Vincent. Sorry.

That would be good if the City of Richmond finally handles this issue. Previously, DPW employees refused to fine the offenders and/or remove the recycling bins.

Recycling was picked up last week. Cans and bins are still in the public right of way as of February 23, 2015.

More pictures

The Department of Public Works is in the process of collecting these carts off the street.

The cans are now being used as refuse bins

I know, if we were in England, the Bobbies would issue the ticket/fines for trash cans left out, illegal parking and other neighborhood degradations. Why aren't the Richmond police used to enforce neighborhood regulation/laws? The new police chief is calling for engagements with the citizens, we need to assign them on the street and enforce the rules.

Recycling picked up Monday, March 2, 2015. Problem is still there.

Recycling Bins still out in front of 3100 Block of Ellwood...recycling was picked March 16, 2015, in the rear of property (new recycling bins). DPW needs to correct this issue as it has been ongoing for years.

This is "experiment" with bigger recycling cans has gone awry. Most of these units require cans to be in the front for pickup, and rear for storage. Since there is not room between buildings to move cans, residents would have to walk around the entire block to move them on pickup days. Instead, they leave them out front, creating an eyesore. City needs to pickup in rear alleys, and advise residents to store in back of buildings.