Minutes 08/25/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 25, 2015 15 - 310 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting a grant in the amount of $333,588 from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and appropriating said amount in the FY 2015-16 Grants Fund for use by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office for the Victim Witness Program. Vision Principle: Neighborhoods and a . Sense of Community Background:  The City of Portsmouth has received a grant from DCJS for continuation funding of the Victim Witness Grant, administered by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.  This grant program has grown over the past 20 years to comprise six full-time appointees who served over 1,400 victims last year.  This program provides for comprehensive information and direct services to crime victims and witnesses. Discussion:  The Victim Witness Grant will provide for six full-time appointees dedicated 100% to the grant’s objectives.  It is estimated that this program will serve in excess of 1,400 victims annually. Financial Impact  There is no cash match required by the City. Recommended Action:  Adoption of proposed ordinance. Vision Principle: Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The continuation of our Victim Witness Program focusing on serving victims of crime in our City. Motion by Dr. Edmonds, and seconded by Mr. Meeks, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $333,588 FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING SAID AMOUNT IN THE FY 2015-16 GRANTS FUND FOR USE BY THE COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM.” Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Meeks, Moody, Psimas, Whitaker, Wright Nays: None 15 - 311 - Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Second Amended and Restated Portsmouth Virginia Enterprise Zone Local Incentives Grants Funding Agreement with the Economic Development Authority of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia. Background:  Certain areas of Portsmouth were designated by the Commonwealth of Virginia as an Enterprise Zone on January 1, 2010. Certain additional areas of Portsmouth were designated as a second Enterprise Zone on January 1, 2014.  The Enterprise Zone Program is a state and local partnership and is a method to stimulate private investment, revitalization, and job creation.  Before the City applied for the second Enterprise Zone, it analyzed the impact of the first with the goal of maximizing the second Zone’s benefits to the City. Based on this analysis, the second Zone features lower qualification thresholds for incentives, including with respect to the required level of investment, and employment and wage levels.