Minutes 06/28/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 28, 2022  The General RegistrarandDirector of Elections will notify voters of the new precinct location in a timely manner and will advertise the location changes in the local newspaper. Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Mr. Woodard, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 10-93 OF CHAPTER 10 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (2006), AS AMENDED, TO CHANGE THE VOTING LOCATION FOR PRECINCT NUMBER 5 FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER TO THE CHARLES A. FISHER MEMORIAL ACADEMY, LOCATED AT 1725 GREEN STREET, AND TO FORMALLY CHANGE THE NAME OF PRECINCT NUMBER 5 TO “CHARLES A. FISHER MEMORIAL ACADEMY”.” Ayes: Barnes, Battle, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Whitaker, Woodard, Glover Nays: None 22 - 192 - Adoption of an ordinance to amend Section 10-96 of Chapter 10 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (2006), as amended, to change the voting location for Precinct Number 10 from the Port Norfolk Recreation Center to the Mount Hermon Preschool Center, located at 3000 North Street, and to formally change the name of Precinct Number 10 to “Mount Hermon Preschool Center”. Background:  The Portsmouth Electoral Board requests that Mount Hermon Preschool Center, located at 3000 North Street, serve as the new polling location for precinct 10. Discussion:  The current polling place for precinct 10 (Port Norfolk Recreation Center) is in disuse and disrepair and is only open on Election Day.  The Electoral Board is therefore requesting to move the polling location for precinct 10 to the Mount Hermon Preschool Center, a school facility that is located within 510 feet of the precinct boundaries (state law requires that a polling place be located within 1 mile of precinct boundaries) and is in better condition.  Portsmouth Public Schools has agreed to allow the Mount Hermon Preschool Center to serve as a polling location.  Because of the passage of the Virginia Voting Rights Act in 2021, changes to polling locations must now be submitted to the Virginia Attorney General’s Office for review before they take effect. The review period is 60 days. Therefore, the proposed ordinance will have an effective date of August 31, 2022. Financial Impact:  The financial impact will be minimal. Voters registered in precinct 10 will be notified of the change as required by Virginia Code §24.2-306. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The General Registrar and Director of Elections will provide for the necessary state attorney general review of the change in accordance with Virginia Code § 24.2-129(D).  The General RegistrarandDirector of Elections will notify voters of the new precinct location in a timely manner and will advertise the location changes in the local newspaper. 1. JoAnn Clarke, 4717 Thornwood Street, voiced her concern with the dilapidated state of the Port Norfolk Recreation Center. 2. John Lifsey, 229 Mount Vernon, spoke in opposition to this item.