Minutes 04/13/1926 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 13, 1~26 Whereas, proper support given to this movement n~y be of the greatest service in beautify- ing, i~oroving a~d rendering more healthful our City, Be It Resolved, by the Council o£ the City of Portsmouth, That all our local clubs, industries~ and citizens are urged to cc-operate with the West Park View Garden Club, which is sponsoring this movement in Portsmouth, in making the week a-~success and useR± to the City, and to attend the exercises connected with National ~rden Week to be held at the ~?oodrow Wilson Auditorium under the auspices of the West Park View Garden Club on April 20th, at 8:00 P. M.~ On motion tof ~M. Maupin, the resolution was adopted. 7th. "I a~n forwarding herewith a request from the Virginia Electric & Power Compsmy for installing a conduit on the north side of North St., between~iddle and Crawford Sts. This installation is in continuation of the poticy of the Power Company to put gradually its overhead lines in Portsmouth in underground conduits.-- Its aDp_royal is recommended." On motion of w~r. Brooks, the recommendation of the Eans~er was concurred in. 8th. "! am forwardLug herewith a letter from'Mr. T. A. Bunting asking for authority to iuaugurate a taxi-cab service with three taxi-cabs in the Oity of Portsmouth. It is my opinion that taxi-cab servide is desirable and should be installed in the 0ity with proper safe-guards as to the condition of the cabs, regulations, etc. If the Cotuucii approves o~ ~he proposition, I shall be glad to prepare a draft of an ordinance covering the matter and submit it to.the Oouncil at ~u early date." On motion, the communications were referred to Finance Corem±tree. UNFINISHED BUSINESS In reference to ordinance este?olishing safety zone at the northeast corner of High and Oourt streets, which had been placed on first reading February 9th, the following co~nic~tion was re~d from the 0ity Manager: ~Portsmouth, Va., April 13, 1926. Honorable City 0cunt±l, Portsmouth, Va. Gentlemen: I have discussed with the Retail Merchants Association and the Portsmouth Chamber of Conm~eroe the question of~a s~ety zone at the northeast corner of High and Court Sis. and the officials o£ zhese'two orgauuizations ~gree with me as to the advisability of a safety zone at the po±nm indicated. I am therefore-reoommending the pa~s~ge of the ordins~oe with a further provision that busses rec6ive ~nd discharge passengers at the safety zone rather than coming up to the curb as at present. This will leave the space between the safety zone and the north curb olea= at all times and will facilitate the passage of motor vehicles.- The pass~ge of the ordinance with this ~mendment is recommended." On"motion of ~ir. Brooks, the communication and ordinance were laid on the table until the nexm regular meeting of Council. With reference to ordins~_oe prescribing rates of fare for for-hire cars, submitted the following report: "Portsmouth, Va., April 13, Honorable 0ity'Counci±, Portsmouth, Va. the City Manager 1~26. Gentlemen: With further reference to ordinance prescribing rates of fare for for-hire cars, in accordance with~instraotions of the 0ounci±, I have conferred with the attorney for the for-hire oar drivers and the forth±re car drivers and beg to submit the following: Under the original ordinance a charge of fifty cents was permitted ~ithin the 0ity limits, mbs westerly limit then being Chestnut St. When the limits were extende~, this charge of fifty cents was exteaded to the entire city limits. It is m~nifest, however, that a charge of f~fty cents is inadequate for the present 0ity. After carefully considering the matter, I belmeve that the contention of the drivers that the westerly limit of the first zone should be Chestnut St. including, however, Park View, is justified, as 0hestnut the original Oity lim. it and there is also a black belt in the vicinity of Chestnut St. which will make the line of tra~usition from the fifty cent to the dollar zone gradual. West of the Be~t Line, ~ charge of $1.50 is recommended. This will be somewhat higher th~n the taxi-cab charge for'psat Of this zone and lower for the re~inder of the zone. It therefore seems to me that She charge of $1.50 is correct. I also find that the waiting ~narge for t~xi-c~bs is $2.00 per hour and t think the same rate should be allowed ~re. I am therefore recommending that th6 paragraphs relating to zones (a) a~ud (b) of the proposed ordinance, be amended to read as fo±lows~