|
At a Called Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, August 25, 1998, there were
<br />present:
<br />
<br />Mayor James W. Holley III, Vice Mayor Bernard D. Griffin, Sr., P. Ward Robinett, Jr., J.
<br />Thomas Berm III, William E. Moody, Jr., Charles B. Whitehurst, Sr., City Manager Ronald
<br />W.' Massie, City Attorney G. Timothy Oksman.
<br />
<br /> Vice Mayor Griffin opened the meeting with prayer, which was followed by
<br />the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
<br />
<br />Mayor Holley called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.
<br />
<br />98-209 The following call for the meeting was read:
<br />
<br /> "Please attend a Called Meeting of the City Council to be held in the City Council
<br />Chamber, 801 Crawford Street, 6th floor, 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 25, 1998, for the
<br />purpose of a joint meeting with the Norfolk City Council.
<br />
<br />In addition, you may consider a motion to go into an Executive Session.
<br />
<br />By order of the Mayor."
<br />
<br />In attendance from the Norfolk City Council were:
<br />
<br />Mayor Paul D. Fraim, Vice Mayor Herbert M. Collins, Sr., Dr. Mason D. Andrews,
<br />Daun S. Hester, G. Conoly Phillips, Paul R. Riddick, W. Randy Wright, City
<br />Manager James B. Oliver, Jr., City Attorney Bernard Pishko.
<br />
<br />98-210
<br />
<br />Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City of Portsmouth to file an
<br />application with the City of Norfolk for a joint Empowerment Zone and
<br />submit it to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
<br />
<br /> Motion by Mr. Robinett, and seconded by Mr. Whitehurst, to adopt the
<br />following resolution, and was adopted the following vote:
<br />
<br /> "RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING JOINT APPLICATION WITH THE CITY OF
<br />NORFOLK TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
<br />DEVELOPMENT FOR CREATION OF AN EMPOWERMENT ZONE
<br />ENCOMPASSING PORTIONS OF PORTSMOUTH AND NORFOLK.
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS the United States Department of Housing and Urban
<br />Development is accepting nationwide competitive applications for a new
<br />designation referred to as an "Empowerment Zone"; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS being designated as an Empowerment Zone will result in a
<br />wide variety of substantial federal benefits, including direct grants of $10 million
<br />per year for ten years, a total of $100 million; and also enhanced eligibility for
<br />tax-exempt bond financing of up to $230 million, increased Section 179
<br />deductions to permit enhanced tax deductions for businesses, and federal
<br />technical assistance in a number of areas; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS Portsmouth and Norfolk are adjoining cities bound together by
<br />the fabric of a common history, enjoying a common downtown waterfront,
<br />participating in the same regional economy, and experiencing common urban
<br />challenges; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS Portsmouth and Norfolk have established an admirable record
<br />of working together cooperatively on projects of common interest, including
<br />support for critical regional transportation initiatives such as the Third Crossing,
<br />expansion of the Midtown Tunnel and development of the Pinners Point
<br />Connector, and creation of a Fourth Terminal for the Virginia Port Authority; and
<br />also state compensation for state tax-exempt properties, special events, and
<br />heritage tourism through the "Trail of Two Cities" program; and
<br />
<br />
<br />
|