Minutes 04/22/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 22, 2003 Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Whitehurst, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: "A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION FOR A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 TO DEVELOP A PASSIVE PARK AT 801 VICTORY BOULEVARD. WHEREAS, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), provides grant funds of up to $250,000 to reimburse political subdivisions of the Commonwealth of Virginia in acquiring and developing open space and park lands; and WHEREAS, the non-profit Elizabeth River Project and its team of diverse community stakeholders are completing a Watershed Management Plan for Paradise Creek, as a model for the nation in how to restore the Chesapeake Bay one creek at a time; and WHEREAS, The Elizabeth River Project has recommended that the City of Portsmouth acquire and develop a small, passive park at 801 Victory Boulevard, to be referred to as Paradise Creek Park, to serve as a cornerstone of the Watershed Management Plan by providing public access, recreation, conservation and education; and WHEREAS, the subject industrially-zoned property totaling 4.1 acres has a current assessed value of $116,140; and WHEREAS, the proposed Paradise Creek Park will exist in perpetuity regardless of surrounding development; and WHEREAS, in order to obtain grant assistance from DCR, it is necessary that the City of Portsmouth guarantee that it will match equally the amount of grant funds, either with City funds or in-kind services; and WHEREAS, The Elizabeth River Project has pledged to secure $230,000 in matching funds through grants and donations, over the two years of the grant period, and the City of Portsmouth will provide $20,000 in in-kind services at a rate of $10,000 per grant year for planning and maintenance if full DCR funds of $250,000 are secured. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth that the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a grant application to the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation in furtherance of the creation and development of a passive park at 801 Victory Boulevard and to execute all other documents associated with the grant process, as well as to provide any and all information and assistance pertaining to such grant as may be required. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Portsmouth, in partnership with The Elizabeth River Project, assures that the funds needed as the proportionate share of the cost of the approved program will be provided, up to $20,000 in-kind from the City over two years and up to $230,000 in-kind and cash from The Elizabeth River Project, its sponsors and partners. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Portsmouth gives its assurance that the General Provisions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (L&WCF) and the Virginia Outdoors Fund Fiscal Procedures will be complied with in the administration of this project. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Portsmouth will operate and maintain the public recreation facility in good condition and will provide permanent project acknowledgement signs of the participating funding agencies and that this signage will clearly state that the said facility is a "public" recreational facility.