Michelle Milam, crime prevention manager for the Richmond Police Department, opened the department’s monthly Crime Prevention Presents meeting with an overview of two city enforcement units and invited residents’ questions about parking and property standards.

City code enforcement manager Kevin Tisdale and Lieutenant Donovan Decius of the Richmond Police Department’s traffic unit described how their teams handle abandoned or inoperable vehicles, vehicle encampments, street sweeping and “daylighting” (the new rule barring parking within 20 feet of an intersection or crosswalk). Both officials urged residents to report ongoing problems so staff can document repeat complaints and take administrative action.

Tisdale said the code unit is “staff‑light,” currently operating with “3 code enforcement officers and a manager,” and is recruiting additional staff. He described the unit’s primary responsibilities as responding to private‑property issues such as overgrown lawns, unpermitted construction, illegal dumping and dilapidated fences, and noted that code enforcement often coordinates with police, building and planning departments.

Decius, who oversees the traffic unit and parking enforcement responsibilities, described a broader role for parking representatives that goes beyond issuing citations. “Red tagging is a form of basically notification to the people that own, or staying in certain vehicles or RVs that they have to move the vehicle within 72 hours, and it has to move basically at least a mile,” he said. He added that, because of workload, it typically takes the department about a week to reach vehicles after a red tag is issued.

Daylighting enforcement: Decius explained the new daylighting rule and the department’s plans to educate the public before issuing citations. “The law does not require that, and that'd be a whole lot of red paint,” he said when asked about painting curb zones. He also warned that, after a period of public education, enforcement will resume: “On April 15… we are gonna start street sweeping, and we're going to start enforcement.” The lieutenant said parking within 20 feet of an intersection or crosswalk can result in “a $50 citation,” and that people can appeal citations via the web instructions printed on the citation.

Encampments, abandoned vehicles and the camping ordinance: Both speakers described how the city handles vehicle encampments and people living in vehicles. Officials said vehicles parked on public streets must move at least every 72 hours to avoid red tagging and possible impound. Michelle Milam summarized the city’s outreach requirement before abating encampments under the municipal camping ordinance: staff must offer services, including an emergency shelter bed when available, and the person must accept or decline before abatement proceeds. Milam said there are limits that sometimes prevent immediate removal, including shelter availability and residents’ reasons for declining services (for example, pets or couples not accepted at a shelter).

Bikes and debris at encampments: City staff said public works typically removes debris left after abatement and that the police department stores property that must be legally held; unclaimed property can be disposed of after the required hold period. Officials encouraged theft victims to report stolen bikes and, where possible, to provide serial numbers or identifying marks so property can be returned.

Reporting and contact information: Officials stressed that timely reports are important. For code enforcement and general city complaints, Kevin Tisdale directed residents to the city complaint line (listed by staff as 510‑621‑1279) or the city website and app; he said the city’s complaint system would be upgraded in the coming month. For abandoned vehicles, Decius provided an abandoned vehicle line (510‑620‑6644) and said the nonemergency police number for other parking or traffic complaints is 510‑233‑1214. Staff reiterated that social media posts (for example, Nextdoor) do not substitute for an official report.

How nuisance properties are handled: Tisdale and Decius described the multi‑departmental process for designating and addressing nuisance properties. Tisdale said repeated complaints help build an administrative case that can be referred to the city attorney. He described the steps as documentation, notice and, when authorized, abatement or civil remedies; he cautioned the process can take weeks to months. Decius said police and code enforcement coordinate evidence and outreach before elevated legal steps are taken.

What residents can expect: Staff said typical turnaround times vary: it may take about a week to reach a red‑tagged vehicle and two to three weeks to follow up on abandoned‑vehicle reports, depending on workload and available tow resources. Officials encouraged residents to call 911 for emergencies and the nonemergency number for parking and quality‑of‑life issues until the city’s online reporting tool is restored.

The meeting closed with officials urging residents to share the recorded session and posted courtesy notices about street sweeping. Decius and other staff repeated the April 15 enforcement start date and asked for patience while the city increases enforcement capacity.