Minutes 04/28/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 28, 2020 At a Virtual Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, there were present: Mayor John L. Rowe, Jr., Vice Mayor Lisa L. Lucas-Burke, William E. Moody, Jr., Elizabeth M. Psimas, Nathan J. Clark, Paul J. Battle, Shannon E. Glover, City Manager Dr. L. Pettis Patton, City Attorney Solomon H. Ashby, Jr. Mayor Rowe called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. Mayor Rowe made the following statement:  “In accordance with Governor Ralph Northam’s Declaration of a State of Emergency due to novel coronavirus (Executive Order 51) on March 12, 2020 and the Local Declaration of Emergency ratified by the Portsmouth City Council; and due to the coronavirus pandemic which is continuing in the Commonwealth of Virginia this meeting of the th Portsmouth City Council is being held by video conference on the 28 day of April 2020 without a quorum present in the City Council Chamber in order to reduce the likely spread of the coronavirus. Each city council member is participating from their home and I am in the City Council Chamber. This meeting is being held in accordance with Portsmouth City Ordinance 2020-21.” Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Ms. Psimas, to approve the minutes of a Called Meeting of March 9, 2020, of a Called Meeting of March 10, 2020, of a of a Regular Meeting of March 10, 2020, and of a Virtual Meeting of April 14, 2020, and was adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Battle, Clark, Glover, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Rowe Nays: None 20-106 Public hearing to solicit citizen comments on the Annual Action Plan. There were no speakers. 20-107 (a) Public hearing to consider the Annual Operating Budget for FY2021. 1. Sergio Neal, 1560 Darren Drive, voiced his concern with the proposed meal tax increase and asked that City Council consider alternatives to increase funding. 2. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, P. O. Box 50141, asked that City Council postpone the April 28, 2020 public hearings on the budget giving citizens ample opportunity to weigh in on what’s being proposed. He also asked that the budget adoption be delayed to June 30, 2020. 3. Kurt Detrick, 2692 Eagles Lake Road, Virginia Beach, requested the addition of 5 full time paramedic positions and asked that the Fire Department be staffed to the sworn compliment of 233. 4. Donna Sayegh, 3104 Garland Drive, voiced her concern with the presentation of the proposed budget and spoke in opposition to the proposed tax increase. (b) Public hearing on the recommended 2021-2025 Capital Improvement Program. There were no speakers. (c) Public hearing on proposed changes to Rates and Levies for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2021. 1. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, P. O. Box 50141, commented in opposition to proposed increase in parking fees.