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December 8, 2015 <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> The Portsmouth City Council normally meets on the second and fourth Tuesday <br />of each month, except during the month of December where they only meet on the <br />second Tuesday. The Monday prior to the second and fourth Tuesday regular meeting <br />is scheduled when there is a need for a special meeting. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> This action would allow the City Council to give advance notification to the <br />citizens, media, and city departments of the 2016 meeting schedule. <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br /> There is no financial impact. <br /> <br />Staff Recommends: <br /> <br /> Adoption of a motion. Vision Principles: Efficient, Responsive Government. <br /> <br />Next Steps following City Council Action: <br /> <br /> The City Clerk will post the 2016 Meeting Calendar on the City’s webpage and <br />provide to the general public. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Meeks, and seconded by Dr. Whitaker, to adopt a motion <br />accepting the 2016 Calendar of City Council Meetings, and was adopted by the <br />following vote: <br /> <br />Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Meeks, Moody, Psimas, Whitaker, Wright <br />Nays: None <br /> <br />- New Business - <br /> <br />15 - 436 - Boards and Commissions <br /> <br />There were no appointments. <br /> <br />15 - 437 - Items Submitted by Council Members <br /> <br /> <br />Adoption of a resolution supporting the adoption of a constitutional <br /> <br />amendment providing for the automatic restoration of the civil rights of felons <br />upon release from incarceration. <br /> <br /> <br />1. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, P. O. Box 50141, spoke in support of this item. <br /> <br />Motion by Dr. Whitaker, and seconded by Mr. Cherry, to adopt the following <br />resolution with the modification changing civil rights to voting rights, and was adopted by <br />the following vote: <br /> <br />“RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ADOPTION OF A CONSTITUTIONAL <br />AMENDMENT PROVIDING FOR THE AUTOMATIC RESTORATION OF THE VOTING <br />RIGHTS OF FELONS UPON RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION. <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, <br /> Article II, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution provides that no <br />person who has been convicted of a felony shall be qualified to vote unless his rights <br /> <br />have been restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> this language has been construed to mean that the Virginia General <br />Assembly has no authority to establish by statute any conditions or procedures under <br />which civil rights, including the right to vote, can be restored to convicted felons; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> Virginia’s limitation on the restoration of the voting rights of felons is <br />among the most restrictive in the nation; and <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />