Minutes 04/29/1986 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 29, 1986 o Beautification of municipal buildings and grounds, including neighborhood sewer pump stations o Improved ballfield mowing practices o Expansion of the City's highway paving program o Reinstitution of an engine company ~n Fire Headquarters 0 Initiation of police horse patrol o Implementation of a computerized book circulation system ~n our libraries o Expansion, upgrading, and improvements to libraries o- Expansion of the Virgznia Sports Hall of Fame o Major renovations to recreational facilities and pools o Extensive curb, gutter and sewer ~mprovements in the Westhaven Park community o Complete reconstruction of Greenwood Drive o Sidewalk and drainage improvements along Frederick Boulevard serving Mount Hermon and Westhaven communities o Extensive street and drainage improvements in neighborhoods citywide (hot spots) o New entrance signs to the historic communities of Cradock, Park View, Truxtun, and Port Norfolk o Planting of street trees in highly visible locations throughout the City. o Extensive water and sewer utility ~mprovements were made throughout the City. This list represents many quality projects which were provided with City tax dollars to all citizens and all neighborhoods within our City. It has been a very busy year, yet with the adoption of this proposed budget, an even busier year is envisioned. Sufficient funds have been included to begin a three year program to accept public responsibili~ of maintaining the abandoned cemeteries know as Mount Olive, Mount Calvary, Fisher's Hill and Barclay. Such an action is a significant undertaking by City Council, and I know it will be recongnized as a substantial improvement to the neighborhoods. City Council has identified landscape beautifiaation as a high priority, and in cooperatioJ with the Superintendent of Schools, sufficient funds are included in both budgets for the land- scaping of all schools in the City, as well as the creation of a greenhouse for a continued supply of ornamental shrubs, annuals, and perennials for all public projects. Other neighbor- hood projects will include: o Redesign and reconstruction of City Park o Synchronization of Portsmouth Boulevard traffia signals o Intersection mmprovements at High and Shirley o Drainage ~mprovements for Gosport Homes o Sidewalk repair and replacement citywide o Initiation of degign work for improvements to Twin Pines Road o Continuation of citywide street tree program o Street cleaning program to emphasize major arterials and all neighborhoods o Construction and furnishing of new addition to the Churchland Library Branch o Major building repairs to recreation centers o Continued code enforcement in all Of our neighborhoods of minimum housing, weed and debris violations, and abandoned vehicles Improvements such as those listed in our various neighborhoods are made possible through the expansion of our economic tax base. Two years ago, City Council established the goal, "Stimulate new development in Portsmouth in all areas -- residential, commercial, and industrial If this program of reasonable optimism is adopted, it must be with an'acceptance and understandi by the citizenry of the concept of growth~ Without ~rowth, these optimistic programs could c~%~tie'~o~¥~iid~zl~t~r:c~zg~i~~.]t~s~o~r~,~i.dents, or remain dreams.