Minutes 11/27/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 27,2007 WHEREAS, the Virginia General Assembly deals with a broad range of issues that affect local government both directly and indirectly; and WHEREAS, the City of Portsmouth has certain concerns that deal with both Portsmouth specifically and local governments in general; and WHEREAS, these concerns need to be made known to Portsmouth's General Assembly delegation so that they may be transmitted for consideration by the Legislature. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, that it endorses the attached legislative proposals for the 2008 General Assembly session and directs that both this resolution and the legislative proposals be forwarded to the Portsmouth General Assembly delegation." Ayes: Heretick, Moody, Psi mas, D. Smith, R. Smith, Randall Nays: None 07 - 487 - Adoption of a resolution requesting the Board of Directors of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail to seek from the 2008 Session of the General Assembly an exemption from the current moratorium on new jail construction to permit study and planning; and thereafter to proceed with completing a Community Based Corrections Plan and a Planning Study concerning possible Regional Jail expansion to be followed by design and construction if justified by the studies. Vision Principle: Bold New Directions. Background: . The General Assembly has placed a moratorium on the reconstruction of local/regional jail. In order to consider the planning process on the feasibility of increasing jail capacity, the General Assembly must lift the moratorium. . Local jails of several Hampton Roads localities, including Portsmouth, are aging and will require additional capital maintenance in the near future. Additionally there is a need for additional local jail beds. . The Hampton Roads Regional Jail is capable of being expanded so as to meet the needs of Portsmouth and other member localities. Such expansion would provide for more efficient administration, reduced maintenance costs, and better health care for inmates. Discussion: . The City of Portsmouth requests studies concerning possible expansion of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail so that it will be able to meet the city's future incarceration needs and possibly those of its other member localities. . If the Directors of HRRJ approve the City's request, the process then moves to the General Assembly. . If the General Assembly approves the HRRJ request, then studies of the subject will proceed. The studies will be conducted by HRRJ, in cooperation with the City and the Virginia Department of Corrections. Financial Impact: . While the City will have some financial responsibility toward the cost of the study, which will commence during FY 08-09, that cost is not expected to be material. Staff Recommendation: Adoption of proposed resolution. Vision Principle: Bold new directions. Next Steps Following Council Action: . The resolution will be transmitted to HRRJ. . If the General Assembly approves the effort, the studies will then proceed. . The City Manager and City Attorney will monitor the studies.