Minutes 04/24/2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 24, 2018 Background:  The City has received a grant for $3,300 to plant seventeen (17) Redbud “Rising Sun” trees along Cavalier Blvd near the Freedom Ave intersection and twenty-three (23) Magnolia Greenback trees on the Brandon Lane Median near the intersection with Hedgerow Lane. Discussion:  Trees intercept rain water, slowing its movement and preventing it from eroding soils. Soils eroded by storm water run-off end up delivering excess sediment to streams and polluting our water as well as habitat for fish and aquatic organisms. By allowing the soil to slowly soak up rain water instead, trees help filter rain water and recharge groundwater. Tree roots also absorb excess water and can protect areas nearby from flooding. Financial Impact:  The grant requires a 50-50 cash or in-kind match from the locality. Staff will work with volunteers from the Virginia Cooperative Extension to provide an in-kind match, and any remaining required match will come from the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Service’s Parks Division operating budget. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  Implementation of the grant through planting trees to help keep the waterways in Portsmouth clean. Motion by Mr. Smith, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “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.” Ayes: Clark, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Smith, Whitaker, Rowe Nays: None 18 - 160 - Adoption of an ordinance authorizing the transfer of $450,000 from unexpended Non-Departmental line items in the FY 2018 General Fund Budget to the City Attorney Legal Contractual Services line item in the FY 2018 General Fund Budget. Background:  Per City Code, City Council is required to approve all budget transfers over $100,000.  During FY 2018 several significant lawsuits have been filed challenging the City’s real and personal property tax assessments.  These lawsuits impact both the City’s current finances and its future tax base.  Under Section 6.02 of the City Charter, the City Attorney has the authority and responsibility to manage and control all of the law business of the City and to institute, prosecute, defend, compromise, and settle all legal proceedings necessary and proper to protect the interests of the City.  Because of the importance of these assessment challenges to the City’s finances, the Office of the City Attorney has retained outside counsel with special expertise in assessment challenges to undertake the strongest possible defense.