Minutes 06/13/2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 13, 2006 Background: . The Library of Virginia funded $250 for expenses related to Governor Kaine's Smart Beginnings Blitz . Smart Beginnings is Virginia's statewide initiative highlighting the importance and benefits of investing in our youngest citizens. . The Blitz is a series of events across Virginia between Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day highlighting the importance of early childhood development for parents and families. . As a prelude to Governor Kaine's Early Childhood Summit, organizations across the Commonwealth serving children ages 0-5 have planned events and activities that celebrate young children's growth and development and to showcase comprehensive services and resources for families and young children. . The Portsmouth Public Library has scheduled 2 programs: May 27 and June 11. . Books and materials have been purchased to distribute to the families that attend. Discussion: . Financial Impact: The additional funding will add to the Portsmouth Public Library's Operating Budget and enable the library to purchase books for the benefit of Portsmouth families that attend the Blitz events. Staff Recommends: Adoption of an Ordinance to appropriate additional State funding in the amount of $250 from the Library of Virginia to the Portsmouth Public Library for Governor Kaine's Smart Beginnings Blitz. Vision Principle: Lifelong Learning Community. Next Steps Following Council Action: . If the additional funds are appropriated, the Library Director will direct the funds into the Books-State line item (400-48020) in the FY 05-06 Operating Budget. Motion by Mr. Heretick, and seconded by Ms. Psi mas, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: "ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $250 IN FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA IN THE FY 2005-2006 GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET FOR GOVERNOR TIMOTHY KAINE'S SMART BEGINNINGS BLITZ." Ayes: Heretick, Moody, Psi mas, Randall, Smith, Whitehurst, Holley Nays: None 06 - 263 - Adoption of an ordinance to authorize real estate tax abatement for environmental restoration sites by enacting Section 35-135 of the City Code. Vision Principle: Bold New Directions. Background: . In 1997, the General Assembly added Section 58.1-3664 to the State Code. This section allows local governments to adopt an ordinance to create a separate class of real property for those parcels in which the owner has undertaken voluntarily remediation of any environmental problems. The State Code refers to such parcels as "Environmental Restoration Sites." Specifically, the State Code defines an ERS as "real estate which contains or did contain environmental contamination from the release of hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, solid waste or petroleum, the restoration of which would abate or prevent pollution to the atmosphere or waters of the Commonwealth... .". . This State Code section allows the local government to annually fully or partially exempt such sites from real estate taxation up to five years. . Attached for Council's consideration is an ordinance that provides for such tax exemption with a cap of $3,000,000 assessed value - whereby everything below that amount is exempt and everything above that amount is fully taxable.