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<br />R-09-68 <br /> <br />A RESOLUTION TO MAKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE CITY'S PRIMARY <br />STRATEGIC PRIORITY. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, tax rates for Portsmouth are too high and impose an unacceptable burden on <br />citizens and businesses; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the principal reason for these high tax rates is that approximately fifty <br />percent of the land in the City is tax-exempt because of ownership by agencies of the United <br />States government or the Commonwealth of Virginia, with additional tax-exempt land owned by <br />the City and its affiliated organizations; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, these restrictions on the City's ability to collect adequate tax revenues make <br />it difficult to properly fund essential government services such as education, public safety, and <br />storm drainage, and to meet other reasonable needs and expectations of citizens; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City's best hope for both reducing tax rates and providing additional <br />funding for needed governmental services is successful new private sector development by <br />qualified developers, where the development meets reasonable expectations and generates <br />revenue greater than any needed incentives and additional cost of services; <br /> <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, <br />Virginia: <br /> <br />1. That commencing January 1,2010, the primary strategic goal of the City for the next <br />three years is deemed to be economic development that generates positive net revenue. <br /> <br />2. That to this end, the City Manager shall prepare for City Council's consideration <br />revised processes for economic development, to include regulatory reform for the purpose of <br />expedited approval of development projects while not compromising public safety and <br />community quality, assessment and training of key internal leadership and staff, and enhanced <br />participation in state trade missions. <br /> <br />3. That City Council shall review its affiliated agencies that deal with economic <br />development, namely the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority, the Portsmouth Port <br />and Industrial Commission, the Portsmouth Planning Commission, and the Portsmouth <br />Redevelopment and Housing Authority, to ensure that appointees have the appropriate <br />qualifications and skill sets such as (without limitation) finance, development, engineering, land <br />planning, and knowledge of Portsmouth and support for its goals, that there be adequate <br />continuity of leadership in each agency, and that each agency be given appropriate goals and <br />policy guidance from City Council. <br /> <br />4. That the City shall seek to develop relationships with those citizens and organizations <br />with historic ties to Portsmouth, including real estate developers and corporate executives with <br />Portsmouth roots, and also alumni of the Lefcoe Leadership Program; it shall seek to realize the <br />tremendous potential for workforce development that will result from the new Tidewater <br />