Minutes 10/12/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 12. 2010 WHEREAS, the City Council originally adopted a Floodplain Management Plan on September 13, 2005, and WHEREAS, in compliance with the federal floodplain management plan revision requirement, the City Council received a presentation concerning the purpose for the Plan revision and the proposed schedule on May 24, 2010; and WHEREAS, after a two month-long period of public comment that involved two public meetings, notification to civic leagues in the City, access to the Plan and the ability to comment on the internet, by mail, and at the public meetings and the City Council public hearing, a revised Floodplain Management Plan has been prepared in response to the comments received from the public, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, , the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Army Corps of Engineers. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia that it hereby approves and adopts the above-referenced revised Flood Management Plan. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager is authorized and directed to take such additional measures as may be required to continue the City's membership in the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System Program." Ayes: Cherry, Heretick, Moody, Psi mas, Randall, Whitehurst, Griffin Nays: None - City Manager's Report - 10 - 469 - Adoption of an ordinance to amend Chapter 20 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (2006), by amending Section 20-31 thereof, pertaining to license taxation of telephone companies. Vision Principle: A Robust and Prospering Economy. Background: . The present ordinance imposes an annual license tax on only those telephone companies that are conducting a telephone exchange in the city, which at one time was the only way telephone services could be provided. . As a result of new technology, telephone companies no longer need a telephone exchange to provide telephone services, thereby allowing several telephone companies to escape the annual license tax because they do not meet the definition of a telephone company under the present ordinance. . Section 58.1-3731 of the Code of Virginia authorizes cities to impose a license tax on telephone companies at a rate not to exceed one-half of one percent of their gross receipts accruing from sales in the City. Discussion: . In order to impose the annual license tax on telephone companies authorized by state code, S20-31 of the Portsmouth City Code needs to be amended so that it encompasses all telephone companies that provide telephone services, by any means, to the citizens of the City. Financial impact: . Amending S20-31 of the Portsmouth City Code should result in approximately $100,000 of additional tax revenue. Recommended Action: . Adoption of the amended ordinance. Vision Principle: A Robust and Prospering Economy.