Minutes 04/23/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 23, 2002 Financial Impact: · The maximum cost to the City's General Fund would be $450,614. This amount is to be funded from projected savings in the General Fund resulting from employee turnover. · If actual expenditures through the end of the fiscal year are less than the supplemental allocation, the State funds will not be drawn against and the amount of the City match will decrease. Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Whitehurst, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: "ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $1,679,805 IN THE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES ACT FUND FOR FY 2002 EXPENDITURES TO ASSIST AT-RISK YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES." Ayes: Benn, Griffin, Moody, Pitts, Robinett, Whitehurst, Holley Nays: None 02 - 131 - Adoption of a resolution to be forwarded to the Commonwealth Transportation Board requesting the Board's approval of the use of recreation access roads funds for construction of an access road into the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve in accordance with the Preserve's Master Plan. Recommendation: · Adoption of a resolution to be forwarded to the Commonwealth Transportation Board requesting that the Board approve the use of recreation access road funds for construction of an access road into the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve in accordance with the Master Plan. Purpose and Need: · The City of Portsmouth leases the 142-acre Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve site to the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation so that the Foundation may sensitively develop and maintain the site as a wildlife preserve for the enjoyment and education of Portsmouth residents and visitors. · The Foundation Board has actively engaged in securing numerous grants, donations and memberships to gain the funds to carry out various programs of access and education about the Preserve and the natural phenomena that it supports. The Board and staff are engaged in publicizing the Preserve to the growing numbers of people interested in participating in "eco-tourism." · The Foundation has commissioned preparation of a master plan to guide environmentally sensitive development of the Preserve and has adopted a Master Plan. The Master Plan envisions the construction of a Nature Center to provide education facilities and house displays as well as basic amenities. The Center would be a short distance off Town Point Road. There would be an access road a short distance into the Preserve and a small associated parking lot. The access road is needed independently of the Nature Center and can be developed now while fund raising for the Center is underway. · The Commonwealth of Virginia has established a road building program to provide access to publicly owned recreation facilities. The Commonwealth Transportation Board in concert with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation manages the program. The program makes available up to $250,000 for road construction with no dollar-matching requirement. · City staff in partnership with the staff and Board of the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation, have worked with staff of the Virginia Departments of Transportation and Conservation and Recreation to see that the access road qualifies for the State's recreational access road construction program.