Minutes 04/12/2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 12, 2016 At a Regular Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, there were present: Mayor Kenneth I. Wright, Vice Mayor Elizabeth M. Psimas, William E. Moody, Jr., Paige D. Cherry, Dr. Curtis E. Edmonds, Sr., Dr. Mark M. Whitaker, City Manager Dr. L. Pettis Patton, City Attorney Solomon H. Ashby, Jr. Reverend Dr. Allen McFarland opened the meeting with prayer, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Mayor Wright called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Dr. Edmonds, to approve the minutes of a Called Meeting of March 22, 2016, of a Regular Meeting of March 22, 2016, and of a Called Meeting of March 29, 2016, and was adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Moody, Psimas, Whitaker, Wright Nays: None - City Manager’s Report - 16 - 117 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting a grant in the amount of $50,038 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: Sustainable Neighborhoods. 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: Sustainable Neighborhoods. 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 Dr. Whitaker, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,038 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, Moody, Psimas, Whitaker, Wright Nays: None