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199
<br />
<br />Eapt~mb~ q !.q72
<br />
<br />that certain plat entitled "Property To Be Conveyed To City Of Portsmouth For Mt. Hermon
<br />Conservation And Development Project VAR-69," dated July 25, 1975, made by Baldwin & Gmegg,
<br />Ltd., reference to said plat being made for a more particular description of the property.
<br />
<br /> Name of the property owner Ethel Richardson and Eddie Nixon and amount to be paid
<br />$54.00.'
<br />
<br />Ayes: Barnes,
<br />Nays: None
<br />Abstaining: Wentz
<br />
<br />Early, Elliott,
<br />
<br />Holley, Davis
<br />
<br /> 75-390 - "Consideration of an ordinance to amend gections 9-73, 9-95 and 9-99 pertain-
<br />ing to voting places for Precincts numbered 9, 32, and 36."
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Holley and seconded by Mr. Elliott, the following ordinance was
<br />adopted on first and final reading, and by the following vote:
<br />
<br />"AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS 9-73, 9-95 AND 9-99 OF THE CODE OF THE
<br />CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, 1973, AS AMENDED, PERTAINING TO VOTING PLACES FOR
<br />PRECINCTS NUMBERED 9, 32, AND 36."
<br />
<br />Ayes: Barnes, Early, Blliott, Nolley, Wentz, Davis
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br /> 75-528 - "Consideration of an ordinance on first reading to appropriate $105,000
<br />from the Public Utility Fund for personnel, training and postage costs for the conversion
<br />from quarterly to monthly billings for water, sewage and refuse collection.
<br />
<br /> The City has been billing for water, sewage treatment, sewage maintenance, utility
<br />tax and refuse collection fees on a quarterly basis. A quarterly bill based on a median
<br />consumption of 36,000 gallons would be $64.20 for all categories listed above. Under the
<br />'proposed~mlonthly billing system, using the same median consumption, the monthly bill for all
<br />categories will be $21.43. We have been reading approximately 10,000 meters per month on a
<br />1/3 billing system. The proposed change will require that all 30,000 meters be read and
<br />billed on a monthly basis. This appropriation will provide the necessary funds for the
<br />additional personnel, the additional bills and postage. It is estimated a one-time windfall
<br />in revenue of $250,000 will be accomplished through the conversion to the monthly billing
<br />system, effective October 1, 1975. The City Manager recommends adopFiRnnon first reading."
<br />
<br />The following letter was presented by the City Manager:
<br />
<br /> "Since submitting my original recommendation for additional funds in order to institut(
<br />monthly billing for the Public Utilities Department, we have had time to seek and solicit
<br />citizens' input concerning this proposal.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Brady, Director of our Public Utilities Department, has met with various groups
<br />including the Downtown Senior Citizens, and Port Norfolk Civic League. In addition to this,
<br />personnel within the Water Department have been inquiring of the customers during service
<br />calls or payment of bills as to their preference of quarterly billing versus monthly. The
<br />consensus that has been reached from the overwhelming majority of citizens who we have contac
<br />is that they would prefer to stay with the quarterly billing and that it does not cause
<br />any~type of a hardship in its present form. We have also researched our files on residential
<br />customers who get billed on a quarterly basis and eliminated service stations, commercial
<br />laundries, etc., from the list of quarterly customers. Through this process, it appears
<br />that the median water bill would definitely be less than originally estimated through the
<br />elimination of commercial and business establishments from the quarterly analysis.
<br />
<br /> Based
<br />Item 75-328
<br />it at that
<br />
<br />on the above, it is requested that I be permitted to withdraw from consideration
<br />to be resubmitted at some future date if the circumstances and the need dictate
<br />time.
<br />
<br /> I do not feel that it is in the best interest of the City to recommend an item of
<br />increased service which will require additional funds and personnel, when it appears that
<br />the citizens are content with the level of service currently being provided. To proceed
<br />with this proposal at this time, in my opinion, would be frivolous and add additional cost
<br />and personnel for a service that further research has indicated is sufficient."
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Wentz and seconded by Mr. Elliott, that the City Manager be permitted
<br />to withdraw this item from the Council agenda, was adopted by unanmmous vote.
<br />
<br /> 75-352 - "Consideration of an ordinance on first reading to appropriate $2,351 from
<br />the General Fund for the City's share of the operating expenses of the Tidewater Regional
<br />Health Planning Council.
<br />
<br /> Report from the City Manager outling the Federal funding, accountability and recom-
<br />mendations for future funding for this agency."
<br />
<br />Report -
<br />
<br /> 'I have attached to this report for your information copies of the projected per
<br />capita assessment for the counties and cities in the Tidewater Regional Health PlanninR
<br />Council district for June 1, 1975 through May 31, 1976. Also, I have included for your
<br />information a breakdown of the projected expenses of the subject organization and an adden-
<br />dum outlining objectives, accomplishments, and planned activities for May 1 through
<br />December 31, 1975.
<br />
<br />
<br />
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