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January 28, 2003 <br /> <br />Purpose and Need: <br /> <br />· The purpose of this amendment is to improve the quality of life for citizens by <br />improving the effectiveness of Portsmouth's Mosquito Abatement Program. <br /> <br />· The proposed addition of Article V- "Mosquito Control" to the City Code will <br />establish a program for mosquito control that includes public education, the <br />identification of mosquito breeding sources, and enforcement capability for the purpose <br />of controlling mosquito breeding. <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br />· If an owner does not abate the conditions once notice has been given, an <br />administrative fee of $150 or 25% of the cost of abatement, whichever is less, will be <br />assessed in addition to the cost of the nuisance abatement. The fee will not be less <br />than $25. <br /> <br /> Motion by Mr. Benn, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />"ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 23 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF <br />PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (1988) BY ADDING THERETO A NEW ARTICLE V <br />PERTAINING TO MOSQUITO CONTROL." <br /> <br />Ayes: Benn, Griffin, Moody, Pitts, Randall, Whitehurst, Holley <br />Nays: None <br /> <br />03 - 29 - Adoption of a resolution encouraging the United States Congress to <br />appropriate funds for the removal of the environmentally hazardous James River <br />Reserve Fleet. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />· Adoption of a resolution encouraging the United States Congress to appropriate <br />funds for the removal of the environmentally hazardous James River Reserve Fleet. <br /> <br />Purpose and Need: <br /> <br />· The James River Reserve Fleet, commonly known as the Ghost Fleet, is moored on <br />the James River near Fort Eustis. The Fleet consists of 97 ships, 71 of which the <br />United States Maritime Administration considers obsolete and has scheduled them to <br />be scrapped. <br /> <br />· The Reserve Fleet holds 7.7 million gallons of oil and fuels according to the latest <br />government estimates, a quantity slightly less that the quantity of the Exxon Valdez <br />spilled off the shores of Alaska in 1989. A serious oil and/or gas spill from the decaying <br />ships is no longer a mere possibility but a probability. <br /> <br />· A large oil or gas leak would heavily pollute the waters, shores, beaches, and <br />wetlands of jurisdictions approximate to the James River, causing hundreds <br />thousands to millions of dollars in environmental damage. <br /> <br />or <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br />· There is no financial impact at this time, however; resources may have to be <br />expended in the event of a major spill. <br /> <br />1. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, 363 Middle Street, spoke in support of this item. <br /> <br /> Motion by Mr. Whitehurst, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to adopt the following <br />resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br /> <br />