Minutes 11/24/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 24. 2009 Discussion: . The principal topics encompassed in the resolution are regulatory reform, enhanced performance of the City's affiliated agencies, staffing, building on existing relationships, focusing on key development sites, and use of all relevant development processes. . The City Manager is to develop an action and implementation plan. . City Council will have semi-annual meetings on the status of this policy and its implementation. Financial Impact: . The resolution is anticipated to have a positive economic impact which cannot be quantified at this time. Recommended Action: . Adoption of the resolution IS recommended. Vision Principle: Bold New Directions. Next Steps Following Council Action: . City Manager to develop action and implementation plan. . City Attorney to work with City Manager as needed. . Developers are to be informed of the new policy. 1. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, 2713 Sterling Point Drive, spoke in opposition to this item. 2. Steve Carroll, 3112 Riveredge Drive, asked that City Council make preservation of neighborhoods in Portsmouth a priority also. Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Whitehurst, to adopt the following resolution with an amendment including the City as one of the agencies that owns property that is tax exempt, and was adopted by the following vote: "RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH'S PRIMARY STRATEGIC PRIORITY. WHEREAS, tax rates for Portsmouth are too high and impose an unacceptable burden on citizens and businesses; and WHEREAS, the principal reason for these high tax rates is that approximately fifty percent of the land in the City is tax-exempt because of ownership by agencies of the United States government or the Commonwealth of Virginia, with additional tax- exempt land owned by the City and its affiliated organizations; and WHEREAS, these restrictions on the City's ability to collect adequate tax revenues make it difficult to properly fund essential government services such as education, public safety, and storm drainage, and to meet other reasonable needs and expectations of citizens; and WHEREAS, the City's best hope for both reducing tax rates and providing additional funding for needed governmental services is successful new private sector development by qualified developers, where the development meets reasonable expectations and generates revenue greater than any needed incentives and additional cost of services; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia: 1. That commencing January 1, 2010, the primary strategic goal of the City for the next three years is deemed to be economic development that generates positive net revenue.