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<br />WHEREAS, the City Council believes that the Alternate Courthouse Plan provides safe <br /> <br />and secure facilities that pose no danger to the health, welfare, and safety of those who will work <br />in or use the courthouse facilities; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, preliminary calculations are that the Alternate Courthouse Plan is projected <br />to cost approximately $27,000,000, a savings of approximately $18,000,000 compared to the <br />Initial Courthouse Plan; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, while the City Council acknowledges and hereby reaffirms its legal and <br />moral obligation to provide a Circuit Court Courthouse that meets all applicable requirements <br />promulgated by the Supreme Court of Virginia, the City Council also has a corresponding moral <br />and fiduciary responsibility to Portsmouth citizens and taxpayers to meet the courthouse <br />obligation without imposing an excessive financial burden on citizens; <br /> <br />NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, <br />Virginia: <br /> <br />1. That the recitals and findings of Resolution No R-07-09 dealing with the need for a <br />new Circuit Court Courthouse are hereby reaffirmed and readopted. <br /> <br />2. That despite the selection of the site for the Initial New Courthouse Plan in said <br />resolution, the City Manager and City Attorney are hereby directed to proceed with developing <br />information for City Council's consideration of the Alternate Courthouse Plan. To that end, they <br />shall: <br /> <br />A. Negotiate a proposed contract for acquisition of the PortCentre One Building and its <br />conversion for use as a Circuit Court Courthouse in a way that meets all applicable <br />courthouse standards promulgated by the Supreme Court of Virginia, provided that the <br />contract shall not be executed unless and until authorized by duly recorded vote of <br />Portsmouth City Council. <br /> <br />B. Provide information to City Council on the relative costs of the two alternatives, to- <br />wit the Initial Courthouse Plan and the Alternate Courthouse Plan. <br /> <br />C. Provide information to City Council on the reasonably anticipated schedule of <br />development for each of the two alternatives. <br /> <br />D. Provide information to City Council by which Council may properly compare all <br />relevant factors for consideration of the two alternatives, to include convenience to the <br />public, operating costs, and effect on strategic development of the downtown area. <br />