Minutes 09/23/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 23. 2008 WHEREAS, the Portsmouth Homeless Action Consortium that is composed of City departments and local organizations has developed a ten-year Plan that proposes a goal of ending homelessness in the City of Portsmouth within ten years through the collection and utilization of more accurate and complete data, a focus on the prevention of homelessness, the expansion of support for permanency and support of homeless individuals and families, and the maximization of mainstream resources.; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires that a locality approve such a Plan in order to qualify for certain grants. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia that it hereby declares its approval of and commitment to the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness developed by the Portsmouth Homeless Action Consortium." Ayes: Heretick, Moody, Psi mas, Randall, Smith, Whitehurst, Holley Nays: None 08 - 415 - Adoption of a resolution endorsing the Revised Third Edition of the Elizabeth River Restoration and Conservation Plan, prepared by the Elizabeth River Project. Vision Principle: Thriving Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community. Background: . The Elizabeth River Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoration and conservation of the Elizabeth River to the highest practical level of environmental quality through comprehensive studies, development of action plans and implementation of solutions. . On June 22, 2006, the first Elizabeth River restoration and conservation plan was prepared by the Elizabeth River Project. . In preparing this latest update to the Elizabeth River restoration and conservation plan, more than 100 stakeholders representing government, science, business and citizen interests provided input into and compiled the recommendations found in the current plan. . The Elizabeth River project has formed key partnerships and alliances with community members, businesses, and local, state and regional government agencies. . On September 8, 2008, City Council received a presentation from the Elizabeth River Project outlining the updated plan and progress on Paradise Creek Nature Park. Discussion: . The stakeholders' recommendations are intended to be the most effective, affordable and acceptable solutions to top problems of the Elizabeth River, as identified through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Elizabeth River Monitoring Program (i.e., State of the Elizabeth River 2008). . The Vision statement for the updated plan is that "Our legacy will be a clean river that is safe for fishing and swimming, and teeming with wildlife; while sustaining a thriving economy, so that our children and grandchildren will know that we had them in mind." . Goals and action items for projects to occur within City Limits include: o Completing sediment remediation at the Atlantic Wood site; o Developing remediation strategies for Paradise Creek and Scotts Creek; o Maintaining existing wetlands and oyster reefs; mitigating impacts to wetlands and oyster reefs disturbed as part of future waterfront development; o Encouraging marinas to become designed as "Virginia Clean Marinas"; and o Opening Paradise Creek Nature Park as an education center. Financial Impact: . No current request for funding is made with this request to endorse this vision plan. Staff Recommendation: Adoption of resolution. Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community. Vision Principle: Thriving