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Ask the Mayor

What happened to the deal with a Georgia natural gas company that you said would bring lower utility prices? Though the city only buys some gas on spot prices, that price has been cut almost in half recently which indicates a trend, so why are we are getting a rise in the gas price?

Charley Webber

Richmond

The average residential customer (a household using 70 Ccf 100 cubic feet of natural gas per month) will see a 13 percent reduction and the monthly bill go down from $140.80 to $122.25 per month. This is due primarily to market conditions that have shown a decline in the price of the commodity since July 2008. The City's Department of Public Utilities periodically reviews and adjusts rates up or down based on market and weather conditions.

This reduction is in addition to the natural gas prepay program , which I announced this spring, that will save natural gas customers approximately $1.5 million for the current fiscal year and $23.8 million in future years.  

I see other cities all over the country facing huge budget problems and laying off workers.   I wonder, what can Richmonders expect?

Sarah Patrick

Southside

The City is well prepared to endure the current economic crisis. While we will feel the effects, we have maintained fiscal responsibility that should prevent any major reduction in City services or employee layoffs, as is occasioned in cities across our nation such as Chicago , Oakland and Hartford. 

To brace for revenue shortages, however, the City has implemented a general hiring freeze and cutbacks in City departments' operating budgets, typically of one to two percent but possibly up to five percent in some cases. We will continue to move forward with sound practices of fiscal accountability to address the current challenges facing our City.

I saw that the first football game was played on the football field in Battery Park and had heard some information that the City was not replacing it after the flood damage. What is the real story?

Chris Dooley

Richmond

Despite some misinformation found on the Internet, the football field at Battery Park was never flooded as it is well above the low-lying areas of the park that were flooded.

Youth football has been played at the field, half of which recently received new sod because heavy equipment and pumps had been placed there during the sewer line construction. Meanwhile, the City is finalizing construction of the new tennis and basketball courts in Battery Park for our citizens to enjoy.

Where can I find the leaf collection schedule?

Barbara Hodge

Richmond

Residential leaf collection, among the most popular services the City provides, begins in Northside the week of December 1 and continues through January 30. You can view the collection schedule on the web . Please remove dirt, rocks, branches and metal out of your leaf piles and only rake them to your property line, not into the street.

The City also offers a "Bag-N-Go" program where you can leave your bagged leaves next to your super can for your regular pick up, which allows you to dispose of leaves on your own timetable. To help the environment, the City encourages you to use biodegradable bags.