Minutes 03/13/2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 13, 2018 Discussion:  Under Administrative Policy #21, ADA complaints from the public about City activities will be reviewed by the City’s ADA Coordinator and decisions of the ADA Coordinator will be appealable to the City Manager.  Aggrieved members of the public also retain all other legal rights and remedies, including the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Civil Rights.  This Resolution does not affect the ADA accommodation and grievance process for City employees, which has not been within the scope of the ADA Commission’s activities. Financial impact:  None. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the resolution. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The City will process ADA complaints from the public about City activities in accordance with Administrative Policy #21. Motion by Mr. Clark, and seconded by Ms. Psimas, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: “RESOLUTION ABOLISHING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES COMMISSION. WHEREAS, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “Act”) requires public entities with fifty or more employees to establish a grievance procedure for resolution of complaints by members of the public alleging that the public entity is discriminating on the basis of disability; and WHEREAS, on September 22, 1992 the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia adopted Resolution R-92-92, which established the Americans with Disabilities Commission for the purpose of complying with the Act; and WHEREAS, the City has subsequently adopted Administrative Policy #21, which designates the Human Resource Management Director as the City’s ADA Coordinator and establishes a new grievance process for ADA complaints submitted by members of the public; and WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Commission is no longer necessary for compliance with the Act; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, that the Americans with Disabilities Commission is hereby abolished, effective upon adoption of this Resolution.” Ayes: Clark, Moody, Psimas, Smith, Whitaker, Rowe Nays: None 18 - 113 - Adoption of a resolution opposing offshore oil and gas exploration, including seismic testing and drilling. Background:  In 2010, the federal government was prepared to proceed with the leasing of areas off the Virginia coast for offshore oil and gas exploration.  The plans were cancelled after the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which had a disastrous impact on the Gulf Coast’s environment and economy.  On January 4, 2018 the federal government announced a new draft proposal to lease areas off the Atlantic coast, including the coast of Virginia, for oil and gas exploration.