Minutes 03/28/1939 - Laserfiche WebLink

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such fee shall be ten dollars; if the entire gross amoun~ of such business exceeds twelve thousand dollars, such fee shall be ten dollars plus one dollar per thousand for all such busi ness in excess of twelve thousaud_ dollars; provided, however, that such fee s.hall not exceed forty dollars in any case.~ This law (state) can be found in Section $ of the State laws pertaining to Cleaning and Pressing bnsiness~ approved April l, 193~. Signed - S.M, Brooks, 2517 Detroit St. and others." The following ordinance, laid on table at last meeting, was taken up 'lAN ORDINA~CE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF SIXTY THOUSA/ID DOLLARS OF BONDS OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA,- TO BE KNOWN AS IMPROVEMENT BONDS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ERECTING PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND STRUCTUP~JES, THE PU.W3~HASE OF LAND, AND THE INPROVEMENT OF STI~T~ETS AND PUBLIC PLACES; NAKiNG PROVISION FOR THE FOPJ~ OF SAID BONDS AND FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF., On motion of Nm. N and read: Howard, said ordinance was adopted, and by the following vote: Fox, Grimes, Howard, Hutchins, Warren, weiseman, Wilson None - NE~ BUSINESS Bill of J. Shirley Hope, State Game Warden, for destroying 90 tagless dogs, at $2.50 each, amounting to $225.00, was presented, and on motion of Mr. Hutehins, the Treas- urer was authorized to pay same from funds in her hands, from collection of Dog Taxes. The following letter was read: "The following observations and suggestions in connection with the Ferries are respectfully advanced in the hope that they will be of value, and will be deemed worthy of favorableconsideration by both the City and County. First impressions of visitors to the City by way of the Ferries must neces- sarily be decidedly unfavorable since the unsightly environments are directly in their line of vision. Traffic entering the City by way of the Ferries is met by and routed along unat- tractive surroundings fo~ approximately two blocks away from High Street - its objective - only to come back, practically to the point of beginning, kY way of another street. Traffic entering the City, destined for the Ferries by way of High Street, is, upon approaching to within a block of its objective, abruptly routed, by the aid of an electric sign, directly away from it; that is North onOrawford Street, to the end of which it is apt to proceed in apnrpose to comply with this directing signal; ~here being nothing at London Street to guide them. When finally proper direction is learned this trsSfic uses city streets, sometimes three of them, as parking.space while waiting for the boats The fares charged, h~th for pedestrians and vehioles~ are unreasonably high. Before automobiles came into use, the fare was three cents for pedestrians, and later, two and one half cents. It is my information, and as well my view, ~hat the Ferry service was not inaugurated for purposes of profit, or as an investment, but instead for convenience as a business expediency. I was told by a citizen, who was a member of the Board of Ferry Commis- sioners, as far back as 1870, that it was always his view that the Ferries should be maintah- ed for the convenience of the public, not for profit; and that the fare should be no more than enough to maintain them in good condit ion, something like one cent per pedestrian. The delays suffered in making the trip - a constant menace to business - are unreasonable and unneaessaryo The int.erests of the present Joint owners - the City of Portsmouth and the County of Norfolk are, and will always be, divergent. Portsmouth's efforts should be directed toward civic developmen~ The County's course is, and Portsmouth's seems also to be, directed toward monetary gat~. Portsmouth c~ntributes parking space on its streets for all vehicular traffic at no expense ~ the Count~; receives no taxes from the County for its one half ownership in the Ferry properties located in the City; and sustains the Ferries, through patronage of its people, to an exten~ not even remotely approached by anv other entity; whereas the county, _ sharing equally in all benefits and profits, makes negligible contribution in this request. I suggest that the County dispose of its interest in the Ferries to either Portsmouth or Norfolk, 8nd that the then owners: Acquire the property opposite the Ferries on the west side of ~ater St., through to Crawford mst., beginning at the southern boundsa~y of the brick building on.the south- west corner of Water and Queen Sts., and running south to the brick hotel building on the cot - net of High and Water Sts.; and provide tJaereon five-or six traffic lanes from Water St., to Crawford St., using ~hese and the existing l~nd at C~awford St., adjoining the property on ~he S. outh, for the parking and routing in and out of Ferry vehicular traffic; Secure legislative action amending the Charter so as~to make possible the dis- continuance of the ~ortsmouth-Berkley service, on the grounds that the highway from points in the County to the County seat in Portsmouth, provided by this Portsmouth-Berkley Ferry Service, is now satisfactorily provided by the toll-free bridge connecting the Portsmouth side with the Norfolk side; Dispose of all Ferry properties in Berkley as promptly as possible, without unduly sacrificing them;