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R-09-36 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY INTERESTS NEEDED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BRIDGE THAT WILL REPLACE THE JORDAN BRIDGE. WHEREAS, the Jordan Bridge, owned by the City of Chesapeake, has linked Chesapeake and Portsmouth across the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River at Elm Avenue since it was opened in 1928; and WHEREAS, Chesapeake was forced to close the Jordan Bridge in 2008 due to capital maintenance and structural problems, after eighty years of service; and WHEREAS, the Figg Engineering Group, an internationally respected firm that designs and build bridges, has proposed to Chesapeake that Figg build a toll bridge that will be privately owned to replace the Jordan Bridge, and Chesapeake has accepted that offer, and the new bridge also has the full support of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the General Assembly of Virginia, the Governor of Virginia, and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission; and WHEREAS, the new bridge will be highly beneficial to Portsmouth citizens and businesses, and this City Council has previously expressed support for it; and WHEREAS, the new bridge will require certain real property interests, including ownership of certain land, easements, and air rights, in order for it to be built and to operate within the corporate boundaries of the City of Portsmouth; and WHEREAS, there is an extremely urgent design and construction schedule for the new bridge, and it is imperative for the new bridge to have prompt assurances that it will in fact obtain all needed property interests to build and operate the bridge in Portsmouth, and POltsmouth wishes to provide those assurances on reasonable conditions, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia: 1. That the City Attorney shall determine what property interests are needed from the City of Portsmouth in order for the new bridge to be built and operated. In making that determination, the City Attorney shall protect the interests of the City and shall retain such easements and/or property rights as may be necessary for all reasonable present and future operational needs of the City. 2. The City Attorney shall prepare a Cooperation Agreement with the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority by which the City will convey said property interests to the Housing Authority for the purpose of having the Housing Authority convey them to the private owner of the new bridge, in accordance with Virginia law concerning property transfers by public entities. The terms of conveyance shall require the grantee to pay fair compensation for said property interests. 3. The property interests authorized by this resolution may include, as necessary and