Minutes 03/24/1970 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 24,1970 6. In certain areas there would be a substantial increase in the quality of the water. An assurance of an adequate supply of good quality water will enhan6e the ~industrial growth potential oft~h~ entire are a. ,t ~ Of these seven advantages mentioned by the consultants~ only Items 1, 2 and 3 are directly applicable to Portsmouth's situation. The consultants ~reco~mended that a central agency be formed as soon as practical, e~ther_a ]~a~er Authority' or a 'Service District.' Legal and professional financial ad- vmce saou±m ~e soughv mn order to determine the most advantageous method to be used and the exact steps to be taken in order to form one of the organizations. Further detailed investigation and analysis of the technical aspects of the plan ahat is adopted should be undertaken. Complete details of loads, both sizes and locati~ schedules and timetables~ detailed construction cost estima6es~ and a more refined~e~'~ nation of the financial considerations should be made.~ The Chairman of the Southeastern Virginia Planning District Co~mission has requested th each political subdivision in the district advise the Commission of their interest in havin the Commission acting as agent to pursue further studies of possible regional water supply systems. Based on the amount of information presently available, I cannot recommend to the Council that the City of Portsmouth agree to join a regional water authority. I do recommend to the Council that the City of Portsmouth advise the Southeastern Virginia Planning District Commission that it is interested in pursuing further studies of possible regional water supply sources, that the Co~mmission pursue the possibility of obtaining a Federal grant to continue this study with no further cost to the political subdivisions -- any local cost to be borne by the District Planning Commission. It is to be further understood that this would in no way commit the City of Portsmouth at this time to acquire waver from a regional authority. The availability of future sources of water is Portsmouth's primary concern --therefore~ the need for further studies." Motion of Mr. Smith ~o concur in the City Manager's recommendation as stated in the last paragraph of his letter, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 70-128 ~At the last meeting of City Council, I was requested to investigate the possibility of increasing the Narcotics Squad in the Police Department. I have reviewed this with the Chief of Police. The Police Department is five men s~srt of its authorized complement; however, there are seven men who have passed the Civil Service entrance exam who can be employed as soon as they have passed their physicals. It is the intentio~ of the Chief to assign two additiomal men to the Narcotics Squad as soon as the above men are available. This will give the Department a four-man squad with the primary duty to deal with narcotics. I have also received a copy of a letter from Senator William H. Hodges addressed to the Mayors of the four cities attaching a copy of a bill adopted by the General Assembly. This will allow the cities ~o enter into reciprocal agreements for the consolidation of police divisions. In his letter, Senator Hodges suggested the possibi'lity of such an arrangement being made between Norfolk~ Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Portsmouth ~o combat the narcotics problem. Towards this end, I have taken the liberty ~o write to the other City Managers suggestin that a meeting be held by a representative from the four cities to investigate the feasibil- ity of this plan.~ Motion of Mr. Johnso~ to receive the City Manager's report with the hope that this will be implemented as quickly as possible, was adopted~ without dissenting vove. 70-129 - ~In an a~vempv to more effectively enforce the Minimum Housing Code and ~o obtain better results from this Code~ we have been selecting areas ~nd concentrating on them with a ~eam effort. We have tentatively selected the area bounded by Effingham Street, County Street, Court Street and the Elizabeth River Tunnel. It is estimated that it will take about eight weeks to complete this program for systematic Code enforcement in conjunction with the Workable Program Coordination Committee. We are preparing maps of the area showing its physical characteristics, assigning block numbers to facilitate citizen participation, and provide inspection routes for the Housing Inspectors. The City Council will be kep~ advised as vo the progress of this program in the interest of improving public relations. This further includes an invitation to any greup in the City to request a speaker from the City to discuss the program. This is submitted for the information of the City Council and with the hope that this procedure will produce more effective results from enforcemenv of the Minimum Housing Code." On motion of Mr. Turner, received as information.