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December 11, 2018 <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> Virginia First Cities (VFC) is a state advocacy coalition comprised of fourteen of <br />the Commonwealth’s oldest and most historic cities, including Portsmouth. <br /> <br /> In addition to Portsmouth, the members of VFC include Charlottesville, Danville, <br />Hampton, Hopewell, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, <br />Richmond, Staunton, Williamsburg and Winchester. <br /> <br /> Each year VFC works with its members to adopt a General Assembly Legislative <br />Program. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> The 2019 VFC Legislative Program supports several policies and initiatives which <br />align with the interests of Portsmouth, including measures that support community wealth <br />building and economic growth from within, as well as adequate funding for education, <br />public safety, social services, and transportation infrastructure. <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br /> <br /> None. <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> <br /> Adoption of the Resolution. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> The City Manager will forward the adopted Resolution to the members of the <br />Portsmouth General Assembly delegation and the City will work with VFC during the 2019 <br />General Assembly session to achieve the goals of the VFC Program. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Smith, and seconded by Mr. Clark, to adopt the following resolution, <br />and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE 2019 VIRGINIA FIRST CITIES GENERAL <br />ASSEMBLY LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> Virginia First Cities (VFC) is a state advocacy coalition comprised of <br />fourteen of the Commonwealth’s oldest and most historic cities, including Portsmouth; <br />and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> VFC member cities are proud centers of business, commerce, culture <br />and history, with diverse opportunities and populations; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> through VFC the member cities advocate for increased state support <br />and the adoption of policies that will allow the Commonwealth’s historic urban core areas <br />to grow and thrive; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> each year VFC works in conjunction with its members to identify, <br />examine and discuss important legislative policies and issues; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> this effort culminates in the adoption of an annual VFC General <br />Assembly Legislative Program; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> VFC has adopted its General Assembly Legislative Program for the <br />2019 session of the General Assembly, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> the Legislative Program includes several policies and initiatives of <br />great importance to the City of Portsmouth, including without limitation programs that <br />support the building of community wealth and economic growth from within, as well as <br />support for adequate state funding for education, public safety, social services, and <br />transportation infrastructure; <br /> <br />NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED <br /> by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, <br />Virginia that it endorses the 2019 Virginia First Cities General Assembly Legislative <br />Program; and <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />