Minutes 10/27/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 27, 2020 At a Virtual Called Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, October 27, 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, Interim City Manager LaVoris A. Pace, Interim City Attorney Burle U. Stromberg. 20 - 234 - Mayor Rowe called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. "Please attend a Virtual Called Meeting of the City Council to be held at Portsmouth, Virginia Facebook Live, 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 27, 2020 for the purpose of a Public Work Session. In addition, you may consider a motion to go into a Closed Meeting. By order of the Mayor." 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 th of the Portsmouth City Council is being held by video conference on the 27 day of October, 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 2020-102.” 20 - 245 - The following items were discussed in Public Work Session: 1. Financial Updates - Mimi Terry, Chief Financial Officer 2. Water and Sewer Rates - LaVoris Pace, Interim City Manager  There was a consensus of City Council to stop the investigation into the possible sell of sewer assets. 3. 2021 State and Federal Legislative Packages - Sherri Neil, Intergovernmental Affairs Manager  Councilwoman Psimas asked that the Federal Delegation be reminded of an agreement to name a Naval ship Portsmouth. Mayor Rowe agreed to send a letter on behalf of City Council to the Congressional Delegation with regards to Councilwoman Psimas’ request.  There was a consensus of City Council to have Mayor Rowe contact Admiral Quigley regarding Councilman Battle’s request for possible payment, in lieu of taxes, for Norfolk Naval Shipyard.  There was a consensus of City Council to have the City Attorney’s Office research and provide an update on the City Charter, Code Section 3.11 and compare it with the State Code and area localities.  Mayor Rowe asked that Interim City Manager Pace provide legislative packages that have been adopted by legislative organizations to City Council. 4. Recruitment of City Manager  There was a consensus of City Council to meet with consultants, 5 p.m., Monday, November 16, 2020 and to include newly elected Council members in this meeting. On motion, meeting adjourned.