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Regional & Statewide Public Policy Positions The Portsmouth City Council in general supports the legislative initiatives of many of our affiliate organizations. However, we may not support individual items in their packages. Our affiliate organizations include, but are not limited to the following: • The Virginia Municipal League • Virginia First Cities • Hampton Regional Transportation • Hampton Roads Planning District Commission • Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Commission • Hampton Roads Transportation Advisory Commission A few regional and statewide public policy positions supported by the Portsmouth City Council include: • Support of the 3 d Amtrak passenger service to Norfolk by December 11, 2022 and the funding for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) between Hampton Roads and Richmond to enhance rail service and improve speed and reliability • Support for increased state funding for the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HRTAC) for the Hampton Roads Express Lanes Network (HRELN) • Support for the General Assembly finding a sustainable solution to mitigate tolls and to bring the Elizabeth River Crossings (ERC) tunnels system under public control as part of the region's managed lane network • Support for the new regional transit funding as provided in the 2020 General Assembly session as well as additional state funding for transit, to include funding for state of good repair, equipment and facilities and service expansion • Support for the state to identify and fund its fair share of: o The true cost of K -12 education o 599 Funding (State Assistance to Local Police Departments) o Stormwater Local Assistance - $50 million annually • Support for the restoration of the local share of the Communications Sales and Use Taxes, and increase the tax rate to the state sales tax rate; and broadening the coverage of the tax to include audio and video streaming services and prepaid calling cards • Support for localities retaining their control of local land use functions • Support for urban cities to provide broadband coverage to the unserved and underserved members of their jurisdictions without having to have a private partner. Also provide urban jurisdictions the ability to directly receive financial assistance from the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) funds to provide this service