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May 24, 2016 <br /> <br /> <br />5. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.” <br /> <br />Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Moody, Whitaker, Wright <br />Nays: None <br /> <br />- New Business - <br /> <br />16 - 165 - Boards and Commissions <br /> <br />There were no appointments. <br /> <br />16 - 166 - Items Submitted by Council Members <br /> <br /> Dr. Whitaker asked that City Attorney Ashby and City Manager Patton come back <br /> <br />with information on the City’s role in the Greater Portsmouth Development <br />Corporation (GPDC) which consists of the City of Portsmouth, Portsmouth <br />Redevelopment and Housing Authority (PRHA) and the Portsmouth Partnership. He <br />also wanted to know how GPDC was able to obtain unilateral access to economic <br />development in the City without obtaining any debt obligation, particularly, with the <br />Holiday Inn site. <br /> <br /> Mr. Moody asked that Portsmouth Development Corporation (PDC) be added along <br /> <br />with the Portsmouth Partnership and PRHA. He also asked that City Manager <br />Patton come back with information on why GPDC is in existence and what their role <br />is as far as contributions to the City. <br /> <br /> Mr. Moody informed citizens and City Council of his attendance of the Small <br /> <br />Business of the Year Awards luncheon where 2 businesses from Portsmouth <br />received awards: <br /> <br /> Rocket Bike Marketing – Entrepreneur of the Year Award <br /> <br /> Smiley’s Heating and Cooling – Portsmouth’s Small Business of the Year Award <br /> <br /> Mayor Wright spoke on the following upcoming events: <br /> <br />th <br /> <br />-26 Annual Umoja Festival, starting Friday, May 27, 2016 and ending Sunday, <br />May 29, 2016. <br />nd <br /> <br />-132 Memorial Day Parade, Monday, May 30, 2016 at 10 a.m. <br /> <br />-Elizabeth River Run and the Children’s Museum Fun Run, Saturday morning <br />along Crawford Street. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cherry asked that as part of Dr. Whitaker’s request regarding GPDC that <br /> <br />information is brought back to City Council on how to dissolve the relationship. <br /> <br /> Dr. Whitaker asked that City Manager Patton look at and come back to City Council <br /> <br />with an update on where we are as a City in addressing the needs of urban areas <br />according to the 14 points outlined by Marc Morial, President of the National Urban <br />League. <br /> <br />16 - 167 - Report on Pending Items <br /> <br /> <br /> Dr. L. Pettis Patton, City Manager, gave an update on items of concern presented by <br />citizens at the May 10, 2016 City Council Meeting. <br /> <br />16 - 168 - Non-Agenda Speakers <br /> <br />1. Joe Wright, 1451 Welcome Road, wanted to dispute statements made with regards <br />to his role in trying to remove the Confederate Monument. He also asked that the <br />decision to remove the monument be placed on the ballot in November. <br /> <br />2. Ursula Murphy, 604 Court Street, voiced her concern with comments made by a <br />councilmember on Facebook and his possible employment status. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />