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<br />October 11. 2005 <br /> <br />05 - 471 - Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute on behalf of <br />the City of Portsmouth an Application For Membership in the South Hampton Roads <br />Resource Conservation and Development Council. Vision Principle: Neighborhood and <br />Community Transformation. <br /> <br />Background: <br />. The RC&D Council is a non-profit, 501 c3 organization that identifies and <br />completes local projects that meet community needs. As a 501 c3, the RC&D can <br />secure funding not available to local units of government and other organizations. <br />. The USDA Secretary of Agriculture has designated 375 RC&D Areas, serving <br />85% of U.S. counties and cities. Currently, 25 more areas have pending applications to <br />become a designated RC&D area, including South Hampton Roads. Virginia has 7 <br />RC&D Councils. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br />. Local sponsors appoint representatives to serve on the RC&D Council. Official <br />Sponsors include the cities of Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, the <br />counties of Isle of Wight and Surry, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, <br />and the two local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. <br />. Completed projects include hosting workshops on Securing Federal Funding for <br />Vegetable Producers, and Wooden Pallet Shipping Regulations for Pallet Makers. <br />Active projects include seeking funding for a regional large animal incinerator and a <br />workshop for woodland owners. Proposed projects include removal of trees and debris <br />from waterways. <br />. RC&D's national average for leveraging is $6 for every $1 spent. <br />. Financial Impact: No local funding assistance is being requested. <br /> <br />Staff Recommends: <br />Adoption of a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute on behalf of the City <br />of Portsmouth an "Application For Resource Conservation and Development Program <br />Assistance for the South Hampton Roads RC&D Area of the Commonwealth of <br />Virginia." Vision Principle: Neighborhood and Community Transformation. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br />. Once the South Hampton Roads is approved as an RC&D Area, USDA will <br />provide a full time coordinator. Council will appoint two representatives to serve on the <br />South Hampton Roads RC&D Council. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Smith, and seconded by Ms. Randall, to adopt the following <br />resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />"RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ON BEHALF OF <br />THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH AN APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE <br />SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT <br />COUNCIL. <br /> <br />WHEREAS a Resource Conservation and Development Council ("RC&D") is a <br />non-profit organization, authorized by the United States Secretary of Agriculture through <br />an application process; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the purpose of an RC&D is to enhance resource conservation and <br />economic development in local communities; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, while local communities identify the needs for projects and seek <br />grants to fund the local projects, RC&D's offer potential inroads to previously <br />unavailable federal funds for regional projects; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources <br />Conservation Service provides personnel and materiel assistance to RC&D Councils; <br />and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, each locality appoints two representatives to serve on the RC&D <br />Council and may terminate membership in the Council at any time by written notification <br />to the State Conservationist in Richmond, Virginia; and <br />