Richmond’s budget woes extend beyond the national recession and are being compounded by permanent revenue losses from Henrico County’s decision to change some ZIP code addresses from Richmond to Henrico, the city’s top finance official said. Marcus D. Jones, deputy chief administrative officer for finance and administration, told the City Council’s Finance Committee yesterday that the ZIP code change is partly responsible for a projected $10.3 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year, but he said an amount hasn’t been determined.

One of Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ top administrators is out of contention, but controversy still swirls over Richmond’s pending appointments to the GRTC Transit System board. The City Council is set to vote Monday to appoint former Chief Administrative Officer Sheila Hill-Christian, as well as current members Linda G. Broady-Meyers and James M. Johnson, to the GRTC board of directors. Chesterfield County, which jointly owns GRTC with the city, will tap the other three members.

The investigative work of Richmond City Auditor Umesh V. Dalal isn’t as newsworthy as it used to be—at least in the minds of city officials. The City Council’s office has stopped publicizing the release of auditor’s reports that routinely point out waste and inefficiencies, as well as potential savings, at City Hall. Officials said they’re mirroring the practices of other local governments—not downplaying the reports, which continue to be posted on the city’s Web site for anyone who happens to be checking.

Richmond’s City Council could decide tomorrow whether a resident can keep her driveway on Stuart Avenue. Citing safety concerns, Councilman Bruce W. Tyler is seeking to revoke a permit allowing a curb cut to serve the concrete driveway at 3304 Stuart Ave., near St. Gertrude High School. Roberta Crowell got the permit last summer and built a carport.

The peace at Richmond City Hall has taken the urgency out of fixing flaws in the city charter that were at the root of legal clashes between then-Mayor L. Douglas Wilder and the City Council. While a commission is polishing its recommendations after months of review, council members are talking about not taking amendments to the General Assembly in 2010, as planned.

With a ballpark out of the picture, Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones wants a new, market-tested plan for revitalizing Shockoe Bottom. The city was preparing to issue yesterday a request for proposals for an economic strategy to guide development and redevelopment of city and private property in the Bottom. “At the end of the day, we want something that’s implementable and market-driven,“ said Peter H. Chapman, deputy chief administrative officer for economic and community development.

The possible appointment of Byron C. Marshall as Richmond’s chief administrative officer is drawing sharply different responses from some City Council members. Early yesterday, council members said they believed a formal request to approve Marshall’s appointment could be introduced Monday by Mayor Dwight C. Jones. But the mayor’s office said such a request is not imminent.

Richmond City Councilwoman Ellen F. Robertson wants to find out how—and whether—various plans for Shockoe Bottom are going to fit together. As part of their review of the proposed fiscal 2009-10 budget, council members will consider setting aside $150,000 toward a planning study for the historic area. Specifically, they want to look comprehensively at the proposed Shockoe Center ballpark development, bus transfer center for GRTC Transit System and slave-heritage projects of the Slave Trail Commission. The city money would be expected to be matched with private funds.

If former Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder’s slavery museum is being abandoned in Fredericksburg, some Richmond officials say it’s time to talk about the project—or something like it—for Shockoe Bottom.

Richmond is pushing to incorporate green-building standards in new or renovated schools and other public facilities. The City Council adopted a policy last week that calls for city construction projects to follow guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council. Though the standards are expected to increase construction costs, proponents believe the benefits will be greater, with long-term operational savings, healthier workplaces, better energy efficiency and lower greenhouse-gas emissions.

Delores L. McQuinn moves from the Richmond City Council to the Virginia House of Delegates. The Richmond City Council has only started accepting résumés for its vacant 7th District seat, but one candidate’s recent move into the district and her work there are generating significant attention. Comments posted on the Web site Church Hill People’s News have taken aim at Cynthia Newbille, who is former 7th District Councilwoman Delores L. McQuinn’s recommended successor.

The singing that broke out at Richmond City Hall yesterday might as well have come from the City Council and Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

The Richmond City Council’s next president appears likely to be 4th District representative Kathy C. Graziano.

The Richmond City Council could decide Monday between giving a 1 percent raise to city retirees and squirreling away funds to weather the stormy economy.

Minus Richmond’s current and future mayor, members of the City Council and School Board pressed tonight their priorities for the 2009 General Assembly session. The dinner discussion touched on a range of topics but was dominated by a hope that lawmakers would limit the impact of potentially severe budget cuts on critical services, including education and public safety.