Minutes 04/12/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ADrii 12, WHEREAS, the nation, o~ co~unities, and our citizens face risks to health and the env~r0n~ent that are brought on by automobile emissions; and WHEREAS, workers, school children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and those unable to afford an automobile use public transportation to gain access to jobs, schools, medical facilities, and other fundamental services; and WHEREAS, public transportation is vital to the quality of life and economic well-being of the citizens of Portsmouth and Ha~pto~ Roads, Virginia; and WHEREAS, traffic congestion which wastes productive time can be alleviated through the increased availability and use of public transportation and other forms of shared~ride services; and WHEREAS, transportation consumes more than 60 percent of all petroleum used in the United States and increases the nation's reliance on foreign oil; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia supports and applauds the proposed moderate growth in overall federal transit program funding; and WHE~EAS,*non-federal funds will not cover the loss of proposed 25 percent reduction, or $200 million, in federal operating assistance, leading to increased fares and/or reduction in-service; and WHEREAS, the Tidewater Transportation District Commission has adopted a resolution opposing the reductions in Federal Aid. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, recognizing the need for expanded and enhanced public transportation for the region, supports the moderate increase in the overall federal transit funding and opposes the decrease of 25%, or $200 million, proposed for the Fiscal Year 1995 appropriations levels for transit operating assistance. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk be, and she hereby is, directed to forward copies of this resolution to Portsmouth's delegation to the United States Congress, the President of the United States, and the United States Secretary of Transportation." Ayes: Clemons, Epperson, Griffin, Hawks, King, Pitts, Webb Nays: None 94-130 Letter from the City Manager recommending adoption of a motion to transfer $62,000 from the Grants Contingency Account to assist Portsmouth's homeless shelters in providing assistance to the homeless. "I am pleased to inform you that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Portsmouth $62,000 through the Emergency Shelter Grant Program. The funds are targeted to assist Portsmouth's homeless shelters in providing much needed assistance to the homeless. As you are aware, staff has been working very closely with the PARC Place and HER Shelters to identify additional support funds~ The Emergency Shelter Grant is part of HUD's mandate to localities receiving Emergency Shelter Grant funds to use the money as quickly as possible so that the homeless may benefit. A total of $62,000 has been awarded to be awarded to be equally divided between the PARC Place and HER Shelters. Both sub-recipients, separate operating entities, will use the funds to cover operating and related expenses.