Minutes 07/28/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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July 28, 2020 WHEREAS, the Monument has different meanings to different members of the Portsmouth family, and while for some it represents courage and sacrifice, for others it is an unwelcoming and stark reminder of the era of de jure segregation; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the City of Portsmouth to be welcoming to all members of the community, and to encourage all citizens to be confident and proud of their equal and fundamental rights as Americans; and WHEREAS, the presence of the Monument in its current location has resulted in recent public disturbances and its continued presence constitutes a threat to public safety; and WHEREAS, during its 2020 session the Virginia General Assembly amended Section 15.2-1812 of the Virginia Code to permit localities to remove, relocate, contextualize and/or cover war memorials (the “Legislation”); and WHEREAS, the Legislation took effect on July 1, 2020; and WHEREAS, under the Legislation, localities can resolve to remove, relocate, contextualize and/or cover war memorials after holding a public hearing to consider the views of members of the public; and WHEREAS, the Legislation requires that notice of the hearing be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality not less than thirty days prior to the hearing date; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the requirements of the Legislation the hearing was duly noticed and held on July 28, 2020; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, that it FINDS that the continued presence of the Monument at its current location constitutes a threat to public safety and that it FURTHER FINDS that the Monument should be removed and relocated in the interest of the public welfare and safety, to encourage inclusivity within the Portsmouth community, and for the physical protection of the Monument itself; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in accordance with the requirements of the Legislation, the Monument is hereby offered to any interested museum, historical society, government, military battlefield, university, or other party that seeks to preserve the Monument, subject to agreement upon terms and conditions acceptable to the City; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any such party interested in acquiring the Monument shall deliver written notice of its interest and proposed terms of acquisition to the Office of the City Manager within thirty days after the date of adoption of this Resolution; and BE IT FURTHER RESOVLED that the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to proceed as soon as practicable after the adoption of this Resolution to cause the Monument to be removed from its current location and placed in storage; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager is further authorized to cover the Monument prior to removal, if deemed necessary or desirable in the interest of public safety; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, if no third party takes possession of the monument in accordance with the offer process outlined above, then upon the determination of a suitable replacement location and the appropriation of any necessary funding for restoration and relocation, the Monument shall be relocated from storage to the replacement location.” Ayes: Battle, Clark, Glover, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Rowe Nays: None