Minutes 04/27/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 27, 2021 Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  Application of the tax relief credit to personal property tax bills will be performed by the City Treasurer’s Office upon adoption of this ordinance. Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Mr. Barnes, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PERCENTAGE OF 53% FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2021 PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS.” Ayes: Barnes, Battle, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Whitaker, Woodard, Glover Nays: None 21 - 129 - Adoption of an ordinance to amend and reordain Division 1 of Article V of Chapter 12 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (Public Procurement; Program to Facilitate Participation in Procurement Transactions by Small Businesses and Businesses Owned by Women and Minorities) by amending Subsection 12-176(a) to substitute the term “City Manager” for the term “Purchasing Administrator” and to amend and reordain Article V of Chapter 2 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (City Manager) by adding a new Section 2-168 regarding minority participation in business and economic development programs. Background:  By consensus at its meeting on March 23, 2021, City Council requested the preparation of these proposed amendments to the City Code.  Section 12-176 of the Code establishes the City’s program to facilitate participation in procurement transactions by small businesses and businesses owned by women and minorities.  The current Code places responsibility for the establishment of the program with the purchasing administrator.  In addition, the current Code addresses minority participation in procurement transactions, and not other business or economic development programs. Discussion:  The proposed ordinance amends Section 12-176 by changing the party responsible for establishing the small business/minority/women procurement program from the purchasing administrator to the city manager. While the purchasing administrator will remain responsible for implementing the program in any specific procurement transaction, the City Manager will now be responsible for developing/modifying the overall program and reporting to Council on its impact.  The proposed ordinance also adds a new Section 2-168 to the City Code. This new section requires that the City Manager, to the extent authorized by law, establish a program for the purpose of implementing enhancement or remedial measures to increase participation of minority individuals and minority-owned businesses in the city’s business development and economic development programs.  Separately, City Council has also directed that the City proceed with obtaining a new Disparity Study. The results of the Disparity Study will help determine the permissible and appropriate scope of the procurement and development programs under Section 12- 176 and Section 2-168. Financial Impact:  None at this time. Recommended Action:  Adoption of ordinance.