Minutes 08/28/2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 28, 2018 Ayes: Clark, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Smith, Whitaker, Rowe Nays: None - City Manager’s Report - 18 - 334 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting grant funds in the amount of $160,000 from the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia and appropriating said amount in the FY 2019 Grants Fund for use by the Third Judicial Circuit Court for the Portsmouth Adult Drug Treatment Court. Background:  The Portsmouth Adult Drug Treatment Court was established to serve as an intensive treatment program for treating nonviolent felony offenders who are dependent upon drugs and/or alcohol. Discussion:  This program was first implemented in 2000. Financial Impact:  There is no city cash match required. Staff Recommends:  Adoption of ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The Finance Department will make the necessary budgetary adjustment. In addition, the responsibility of overseeing the Portsmouth Adult Drug Treatment Court will rest with the Third Judicial Circuit Court of the City of Portsmouth. Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $160,000 FROM THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE SUPREME COURT OF VIRGINIA AND APPROPRIATING SAID AMOUNT IN THE FY 2019 GRANTS FUND FOR USE BY THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE PORTSMOUTH ADULT DRUG TREATMENT COURT.” Ayes: Clark, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Smith, Whitaker, Rowe Nays: None 18 - 335 - Adoption of an ordinance to amend and reordain Chapter 23 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (2006) (Nuisances) by amending Sections 23-1, 23-26, 23-27, and 23-91 through 23-95, and by adding a new Section 23-90, for the purpose of addressing criminal blight on real property. Background:  During the 2018 Session the Virginia General Assembly adopted HB 594, which amended the Code of Virginia to expand and modify existing Section 15.2-907.  Existing Section 15.2-907 authorized localities to require property owners to abate “drug blight” on real property.  HB 594 expanded Section 15.2-907 to include not just “drug blight” but “criminal blight”. “Criminal blight” specifically includes prostitution and the illegal discharge of firearms.  HB 594 also revised the existing notice process for property owners, clarified that enforcement actions are to be civil proceedings, and authorized localities to seek the additional remedy of judicial revocation of the certificate of occupancy for a structure.