Minutes 10/14/1958 - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 14th, 1958. The appropriations b~the City to-these two libraries are in the nature of do - nations to privately owned an~anaged charitable institutions and' ale authorized by Section 15-16 of the Code of Virginia as well as Section 23~d ~of the ~ity Charter. After caref-ul consideration, it is my opinion that do- nation of funds to these libraries does not bestow upon the City Council t~e ~ight or the duty to prescribe policies of management." On motion of Mr. Smith, the rules were suspended to hear from interested persons. Dr. Hugo Owens spoke. Motion of Mr. Breedlove that the report be received a~information and that the matter be referred, for ~rther study,~ to a conference of the Council with the Library Boards, to be held at an early date, was adopted. 58-319 - The following resolution was presented by Mr. Walker: "V~tEREAS, the City of Portsmouth has been advised by the State Highway~Department of plans to build a spur of Federal Interstate Route~#64, and WHEREAS, the-plans include the route of the highway, elevation, type of roadway, underpasses and overpasses,~a~d outlines of real property ~o be used, e~c., and WHEREAS, the governing body of the City Of. Portsmouth has not, to this date, approved the construction of the spur or the tentative plans therefor, and WHEREAS, various changes and~ requests ~or changes, have, and will be in the future, presented te the Council, BE IT THEREFORE P~SOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth that the construction of said spur is hereby approved, and that tentative plans be approved, subj.ec~ to changes and corrections as may be made by the Council in the interests and protection of the City of Portsmouth." meeting, was adopted. Motion of Nr. amirs to refer to the City Attorney for study and report at the next 58-320 - The following communication from the Acting Planning Director was read: "At a meeting on September 25th, 1958, the Planning Commission took action on ~a request from the School Board:to select a school site in the Brighton area. ~e following site is recommen~e~-f~r your,oonsideration: that parcel of N~M~ty~ of ~lmAvenne, north of Gospo,~rRoad, wes~ of ~i~e Str~ ~ of jefferson Street, plat inclosed." the Planning Commission. On me, ion of Mr. Breedlove this was referred ~o ~$~onference of the Council with 58-321 - The following letter from:the Acting Planning Director was read: The motion adopted by the Honorable City council that the Planning Commission be requested to resume public hearings prior ~o making recommendations to Council.on zoning matters, was presented to the Plannin~Commission at the regular meeting, October 9, 1958. A motion was made to request the Honorable City Council to meet with the City Planning Commissio~ for the parpose of discussmng future pmblic hearings. The motion was carried by a unanimous approval by the Planning Commission. " : proved. On motion of Mr. Bartlett, the recommendation or.the Planning Commission was ap - 58-322 - The following letters from:the West Side Civic League and the Kingman Heights Garden Club were read: "Prior to the reorganization of the Portsmouth City Council on September 1, 1958, the West Side Civic League had presented to Council petitions from persons living in Kingman Heights and adjacez areas of the City annexed in 1948. These petitions asked that c~rbs and gutters be installed zo serve the stre~ in. these areas where the petitioners live. · No action was taken by Council on this request and, therefore, we now renew our plea for curbs and ~u.~ers. We understand that a bond issue is contemplated for the purpose of securing funds to widen Airline Blvd. and Elm Ave. and to install curbs andjgntters~ and sidewalks on Airline Blvd. We respect- fully, request Council ~o include in such bond issue the necessary funds to curb, gutter and storm drain Kingman Heights and adjacent areas which were annexed to Portsmouth in 1948. We may be mistaken in our belief, but it has always been our understanding and contention that these physical improvements were promised us during the 1948 annexation hearings. The City is now involved mn another annexation suit. If the City takes the territory granted it b~ the Court, a large sum of money will have re be paid to Norfolk County and the Court will, no doubt, decree that costly physical improve - meats must be made in that territory to be annexed. We fear that if we do not now secure curbs, gutters and storm drainage, it will be-many years before we can hope to have these vitally needed improvements. Drainage in our area of the City is woefully inadequate. We feel that curbs and gutters will improve this situation. Many of our. people live on streets with so-called drainage~ ditches in front of their homes. This is a misnomer, as these ditches do not drain in spite eT hi-annual cleaning out by the City. These ditches are both a private and public nuisance. Frogs and mosquitoes breed in them. Small children fall into them. Motorists unfamiliar with our streets drive into them. Guests calling at our homes at night stumble into them . We feel this.is a deplor- able condition in a city supposedly of t~e first class. We pay first classetaxes and believe we are entitled ~o first class facilities. Surely we can not be expected to take pride in our city if we can not first take pride in the neighborhoods in which we live. Again, we respectfully ask that Council make immediate )lens to provide curbs, gutters and storm drainage to Kingman Heights~ and adjacent a~eas annexed to the City in 1948. (Signed) D.H.Sandie, Cor. Sec. West Side Civic League."