Minutes 11/08/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 8. 2005 "ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 35 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (1988) BY AMENDING SECTIONS 35-159, 35-163, AND 35-173 THEREOF PERTAINING TO REAL ESTATE TAX RELIEF FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED." Ayes: Heretick, Moody, Psi mas, Randall, Smith, Whitehurst, Holley Nays: None 05 - 501 - Adoption of a resolution requesting that members of the Portsmouth General Assembly delegation support the return of the "Four for Life" funds for use by Emergency Medical Services in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Vision Principle: Neighborhood and Community Transformation. Background: . In 1983, the General Assembly passed legislation that provided for a $1.00 "One for Life" fee on automobile registrations to be earmarked for emergency medical services in the State. In 1990, the fee was doubled to $2.00 and became known as "Two for Life." . In 2002, the General Assembly doubled the vehicle registration fee once more to $4.00 to be distributed to the Regional Emergency Medical Services Councils, the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, and to local governments for equipment, supplies, and training. . Since 2002, $3.45 million has been transferred to the General Fund. The first two years these funds were removed and redirected for homeland security issues such as the Commonwealth Preparedness initiative. Federal funding has been plentiful for homeland security over the past few years, yet Emergency Medical Services (EMS) funds are still being redirected. . EMS is responsible for 7.3 million citizens in Virginia, not including visitors to the State. EMS providers responded to more that 1.3 million requests for assistance between 2002 and 2004. . The Virginia Fire Chiefs' Association, in concert with other fire service and emergency management services organizations, is asking Virginia local governments to adopt a resolution to support restoration of funding for the "Four for Life" program to support emergency medical services as originally intended. Discussion: . To date, revenues stipulated in the legislation have not been returned to localities as intended. Had this occurred, localities would have received an estimated additional $1.8 million in "Four for Life" funding for EMS services and equipment. . Financiallmpact: Full funding is projected to be just under $4.9 million, which is an overall increase of 52% over the FY 05 payments. For FY 05, Portsmouth received $35,547 and received $34,862 for FY 04. Staff Recommends: Adoption of a Resolution requesting that the members of the Portsmouth General Assembly delegation support the return of the "Four for Life" funds for use by Emergency Medical Services in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Vision Principle: Neighborhood and Community Transformation. Next Steps Following Council Action: . Forward resolution to the Portsmouth delegation and include in City's 2006 Legislative Agenda. Motion by Mr. Whitehurst, and seconded by Mr. Smith, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: "RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE PORTSMOUTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY DELEGATION SUPPORT THE RETURN OF THE "FOUR FOR LIFE" FUNDS FOR USE BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.