Minutes 10/25/2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 25. 2011 Background: . Legislative Packages are annually prepared for adoption by City Council to be presented to the City's legislative representatives in the Virginia General Assembly and the United States Congress. . Every Portsmouth department within the City of Portsmouth was provided an opportunity to identify issues for inclusion in the FY2012 State Legislative Package and the FY2013 Federal Legislative Package. . Each Portsmouth City Council member was also provided an opportunity to identify issues for inclusion in the above-mentioned legislative packages. . The citizens of Portsmouth were also provided an opportunity to identify issues for inclusion in the above-mentioned legislative packages. . The legislative packages for the upcoming 2012 General Assembly and 113th Congress were presented at the Portsmouth City Council's Work Session on Tuesday, September 13, 2011. . Opportunity for comment and further identification of issues for inclusion in these packages was provided to the citizens of Portsmouth at the Portsmouth City Council Town Meeting which was held at Churchland High School on September 19, 2011. . Council met with the Portsmouth federal contracted lobbyist, Steve Palmer of the Van Scoyoc Associates to discuss the 2013 Federal Legislative Package and other federal legislative issues on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. . Council also met with the Portsmouth General Assembly Delegation and the State contracted lobbyist, Ben Dendy of Vectre, Inc. to discuss the 2012 State Legislative Package on October 12, 2011. Discussion: . The following items have been included for consideration in the FY 2012 State Legislative Package (in no particular order): '" Amending and reenacting the Portsmouth City Charter to include the following items: . Requirement for a City balanced budget . Provide a mechanism for adoption of the City Manager's budget as the official budget should Council fail to adopt a budget by May 30th . Creation of a City Auditor position - appointed by and reporting solely to Council '" Amend and reenact Virginia State Code Sections 58.1-3700 and 15.2-2286-B relating to issuance of business licenses if delinquent on taxes and other city taxable obligations. '" Amend and reenact Virginia State Code Section 46.2-1224.1 relating to 'idle" vehicles. '" Amend and reenact Virginia State Code adding a Statute in Chapter 3.2 relating to the exemption from quarantine for police dogs. '" Adopt legislation that would provide a grading system for felony non-violent offenders enhancing possibility to obtain gainful employment for lesser offenders thereby helping to enhance re-entry into society and reduce recidivism (citizen submission). '" Adopt legislation to allow local governments to adopt an ordinance to ban the wearing of saggy pants (citizen submission). '" Amend and reenact Virginia Code Section 24.2-226 relating to special elections; filling vacancies in certain local offices to require that special elections only take place when the unexpired term exceeds half the original term (citizen submission). . Several Public Policy Positions which include: 1. Restoration and full funding for K-12 Education 2. Restoration of the $60 million cut in State Aid to Localities 3. Restoration of cuts and full funding for Public Safety (599 Fund) 4. Privatization of Liquor Stores - local authority over store locations 5. Identification and allocation of non-general fund dollars to adequately address transportation needs in Virginia 6. Working in conjunction with Virginia First Cities, urge the establishment of an automatic process for restoration of civil rights 7. State should provide revenue to help spur economic development for the Virginia Port Authority host cities