Minutes 04/24/2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 24, 2018  Recent national events have underscored the need to take all appropriate measures to protect our children from harm and create a safe learning environment by improving school safety.  School safety in Portsmouth can be improved by enhancing school facilities to limit access by individuals seeking to do harm, and through various other improvements to school buildings and grounds.  On March 26, 2018, the City Manager recommended that $1,000,000 be appropriated from the Unassigned General Fund Balance to perform school safety improvements.  The City Manager and the Superintendent of Schools have established a joint committee to review school safety needs and funding solutions. Discussion:  The proposed ordinance will establish a new Capital Improvement Fund project called “School Safety Improvements”, appropriate $1,000,000 from the Unassigned General Fund Balance to the FY 2018 General Fund, and then transfer that $1,000,000 from the FY 2018 General Fund to the School Safety Improvements project in the FY 2018 Capital Improvement Fund project.  Under the City’s financial policy, the use of Unassigned General Fund Balance is authorized for immediate and one-time capital needs.  The City and Schools will work together to plan and construct the improvements to be funded by the new capital project.  The funding is for the following projects: two-way radios for all schools; camera systems in all elementary and middle schools; security stations; and installation of a visitor management system. Financial Impact:  The Unassigned General Fund Balance will be reduced by $1,000,000 and the General Fund and then Capital Improvement Fund will be increased by $1,000,000. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The Finance Department will complete the transfer.  The City and Schools will work together to implement school safety improvements. 1. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, P. O. Box 50141, suggested that school safety be a regional effort and also that schools should be a more inclusive community. 2. Donna Sayegh, 3104 Garland Drive, spoke in opposition to this item. Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Ms. Psimas, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE (1) AMENDING THE EDUCATION CATEGORY OF THE FY 2018 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND BUDGET TO ESTABLISH A NEW PROJECT TITLED “SCHOOL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS”, (2) APPROPRIATING $1,000,000 FROM THE FY 2018 UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND BALANCE TO THE FY 2018 GENERAL FUND, AND (3) TRANSFERRING $1,000,000 FROM THE FY 2018 GENERAL FUND TO THE SCHOOL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IN THE EDUCATION CATEGORY OF THE FY 2018 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND BUDGET.” Ayes: Clark, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Smith, Whitaker, Rowe Nays: None 18 - 159 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting a Virginia Trees for Clean Water Program grant in the amount of $3,300 from the Virginia Department of Forestry and appropriating said funds in the FY 2018 Grants Fund for use by the Department of Parks, Recreation & Leisure Services for the planting of trees along city roadways.