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<br />June 22.2010 <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br />. This appropriation ordinance increases general fund revenue by $382,320 and <br />increases the budgets of the Clerk of Circuit Court by $141,070 and Commonwealth's <br />Attorney by $241,250. <br /> <br />Staff Recommends: <br />. Council's adoption of this ordinance. Adoption of resolution. Vision Principle: A <br />Robust and Prospering Economy. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br />. The Chief Financial Officer will ensure that the budget actions required to <br />increase the total appropriations in the FY11 General Fund by $382,320 is processed <br />immediately upon adoption of this ordinance. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Heretick, and seconded by Ms. Randall, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />"ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING IN THE FY 2010-2011 GENERAL FUND THE SUM <br />OF $382,320 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMONWEALTH <br />OF VIRGINIA FOR SALARIES FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT <br />COURT AND OF THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY." <br /> <br />Ayes: Heretick, Moody, Psi mas, Randall, Smith, Whitehurst, Holley <br />Nays: None <br /> <br />10 - 312 - Adoption of a resolution supporting the application of Commonwealth <br />Railway, Inc., to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for Rail <br />Preservation Funds to assist in the repair and improvement of a section of rail from the <br />APM Terminal Branch to the BASF plant. Vision Principle: A Robust and Prospering <br />Economy. <br /> <br />Background: <br />. Commonwealth Railway, Inc. is requesting State rehabilitation funds through the <br />Rail Preservation Program, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Rail <br />and Public Transportation (DRPT). <br />. The submission of a Resolution in support of the project is required by the <br />Commonwealth Transportation Board prior to consideration of the application. <br />. These grant funds would allow Commonwealth Railway to perform maintenance <br />work that would include crosstie and switch replacement, rail anchor installation, and <br />ballast addition between Mile Post (MP) 0.0 and MP 1.5 within the City of Portsmouth. <br />. The Commonwealth Railway, Inc. is a short line railroad operating 16.5 miles of <br />track from Portsmouth to Suffolk. Commonwealth Railway is the only rail line access to <br />the APM port, and this section of rail will be the only section of the existing railway to <br />remain after the Centerline Rail Section is opened in Summer 2010. Once the <br />Centerline Rail Section opens, it is the intention of Commonwealth Railway, Inc. to <br />abandon the section of track between MP 1.5 and MP 6.0, tying the Centerline Rail <br />Section into the western portion of Commonwealth Railway. <br />. The abandoned section of rail right of way would then be transferred over to the <br />City of Portsmouth for a possible Rails to Trails project. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br />. The repair and maintenance of this section of rail is in the best interest of the City <br />since a well-maintained rail connection to the former BASF plant is an asset to that <br />industrial property. <br />. In addition, a well-maintained rail line is a necessity to continually meet FRA <br />Class 2 standards and accommodate an expected dramatic increase in the 286,000 <br />pound car traffic. <br />. Portsmouth has supported the Commonwealth Railway, Inc. in such requests in <br />the past (ref. Resolution of Support, adopted March 9, 2004, March 25, 2008). <br />