Minutes 02/14/1956 - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 14th, 1956. reading." 56-50 "I submit the attached ordinance and recommend that it be placed on first Motion of Mr. Lawrence to place ~he following ordinance on first reading, was adopted: "AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZINGTHE ISSUANCE OF FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS .OF BONDS OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTK, VIRGINIA, TO BE KNOWN AS IMPROVEMENT BONDS, FOR ~ PURPOSE OF GRADING, PAVING, CURBING AND IMPROVING STREETS, INSTATJ~ING STORM DRAINS AND CULVERTS, AND CONSTRUCTING A BRIDGE IN THE STREET LF~ING TO THE CITY PARK, ~KING PROVISIONS FOR THE FOR~OF SAID BONDS AND FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF" adopted. 56-51 - Motion of ~Lr. Bilisoly to suspend the rules to hear from Jerome P Cart III was Nr. Carr spoke requesting the ~ity to furnish the land for the construction of a building for the Portsmouth Area and ~uidance Clinic. 56-52 - The following l~tters from the Superintendent of Schools was read: "The School Board has instructed m~ to request the City to purchase, for use as parc of the Ann St~ School site, lot No. 133 and 1/2 of lot 132, with ali the buildings thereon, located on B~tler St. Between A and A/m Streets, as shown on Landboek, Plate #50. This property can be purchased for $8,000. and is owned by Alva A ~wens residing at 320 Butler St. Mrs. Anna O Owens, wife of Alva A Owens, owns lots 130, 131 and 1/2 of lot 132 as shown on Lmndbook, P%ate #50, which she is willing to exchange for 62.5 feet fronting on First Avenue and 105 feet deep. This parcel of land is ewned by the City, and is noarth of the cemetery, and south of the property of Carl E Wimbrough, et als, as 408 First Avenue. I have bee~ informed by Mr. Barclay, City Attorney, that the City c~u not legally exchange proper~y and that the land in question would have to be advertised and sold to the highest bidder. Therefore, you are requested to offer this land for sale and should it be purchased by Mrs. Owens, the City would then pay tho smme amoun~ for her lots on Butler St., as she paid for the land on First Avenue. ~r. and Mrs. Ow6aswant to build in the same neighborhood and this seems to he the only available site. If the City approves this request, a more accurate description of the land will be furnished." Metien of Mr. Smith to con,ar inthe request of tho School Board and that the City Manage~ be authorized to ~ivertise this property for sale was adopted. 56-53 - "The School Beard has instructed me ~o request tho City ~o purchase for use as part ~f the A~m St. School site, Lot NO. 82 with all baildin~s thereon, lo.ted at the southwes~ co.er o~ ~e~ ~d A Streets, as sho~ on l~book, Plate ~42. This pro~rty c~ p~c~sed for $9,750.00 ~d is o~ed by EveI~ C. No$i~ of Mr. Smith to place an appropriation of $9,750.00 from Utility Tax l~md, for said purpose, on first reading, was adopted. 56-54 - The following letter from the Planning Commission was read: "For several months the City Planh~cng Commission has had under study a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance which, if adopted, will require the provision of off-street automobile parking and loading space in conjunction with new construction in the City. At a meeting on February 2, 1956, the Planning Commis~on unanimously approved the proposed amendment, and recommends to City Council that it he adopted. A copy of the proposed amendment is inclosed herewith." Motion of Mr. Baker to refer to the City Attorney to draw an ordinance and that a copy of this amendment be sent to each councilman, was adopted~ 56-55 - The following letter from Norman R Hamilton was read: "As a member of the Virginia 350th Anniversary Commission's Advisory Committee, may suggest the appointment by your hon~rable body, of a Portsmouth Jamestown Festi-~al Committee, with the view of having members of such committee begin consideration of special events in the Portsmouth community for the 1957 Statewide Jamestown Festival. Plans for the Jamestown Festival are moving ahead. Gove~or Stanley has recommended to the General Assembly an approllriation totalling $1~858,0~$. The Commission is hopeful that this figure may be upped, to m~ke sure that funds are entirely adequate. ~an~]~ile. the work o~ planRing, designing and organizing goes ahead rapidly at joint Federal-State Commission headquarters. Plan for the Festival: The Sta~e Ce~m~ssion is focusin§ attention on a center for Festival-year activities,This will be at Jamestown Festival Park, a beautifu/ 32 acre historical park at the entrance to Jamestown. Colorful paSeantry will be sta~e~ daily on the ~all, and addresses and special e~nts will t~ke place here, near reconstruction of tho three sh/ps, of James For~, of the first American glass factory, and of a typical Virginia Indian Lodg~. E~hibits of the Old World and the New will he offered here, to~ether with adequate parking, iIn~ormation, comfort and dining facilities. The ~ei1 kaown firm of Ballou and Justice has de - si~ed the Park, andre State Conservation Commission will take it over at the Festiral's end as a peraz~.~ent tribute to our first settlers. Other Festival Features: E~s~where in Virginia preparations go forward for the 1957 Festival. 34 counties and 18 cities have taken interest and patriotic and histoz~al societies are planning tie-ins. Ia the James~own-Williamsbur~-Yorktown area more than $23,000,000. is being spent in preparation for I95~. With Portsmouth's historic background it wonld seem t~at a Portsmouth Jamestown Festival Committee eoeld be properly named by the ~ayer of the City to be compose~ of a ~mbership from City CoUncil, and the ad~Linistra- tire ~ovsrnme~t in a~k~ition ~o a group of men and women ~might be found interested . I commend this suggestion to your most favorable ~onsideration." On motion filed.