Laserfiche WebLink
September 13, 2022 <br /> <br />1. Donna Sayegh, 3104 Garland Drive, asked how the Department of Behavioral <br /> <br />Healthcare is working to help the homeless. <br /> <br />Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Mr. Woodard, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“ORDINANCE ACCEPTING PROJECTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN TRANSITION FROM <br />HOMELESSNESS FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,388 FROM THE VIRGINIA <br />DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES AND <br />APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS IN THE FY 2023 BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE <br />SERVICE FUND FOR TRAINING, TRAVEL AND OUTREACH SERVICES. ” <br /> <br />Ayes: Barnes, Battle, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Whitaker, Woodard, Glover <br />Nays: None <br /> <br />22 - 271 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting settlement funds in the amount of <br />$78,765.20 from the National Opioids Settlement Fund Trust and appropriating said <br />amount in the FY 2023 Behavioral Healthcare Service Fund for use by BHS for <br />Approved Abatement Purposes as defined by the Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund <br />and Settlement Allocation MOU. <br /> <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> The City of Portsmouth was one of several Virginia localities to file suit against <br />entities engaged in the manufacture, marketing, promotion, distribution, and dispensing <br />of opioids. <br /> <br /> In 2021 the Commonwealth of Virginia reached a global settlement of claims <br />against many of the opioid entities on behalf of itself and its participating localities, <br />including Portsmouth. The settlement provided for payment of approximately <br />$608,000,000 to the Commonwealth (the “Settlement Funds”) over an 18-year period. <br /> <br /> In order to participate in the Commonwealth’s settlement and receive annual <br />distributions of a portion of the Settlement Funds, Portsmouth released its claims and <br />entered into a Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund and Settlement Allocation Memorandum <br />of Understanding with the Commonwealth and other localities (the “Settlement MOU”). <br /> <br /> City Council approved the Settlement MOU by Resolution R-21-24 adopted on <br />August 10, 2021. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> Under the terms of the Settlement MOU, the City will receive regular <br />disbursements of a portion of the Settlement Funds received by the Commonwealth. <br /> <br /> In August, the City received a disbursement of Settlement Funds in the amount of <br />$78,765.20. <br /> <br /> The Settlement MOU requires the City to use the Settlement Funds for “Approved <br />Abatement Purposes”, which it defines as: “efforts to treat, prevent, or reduce opioid use <br />disorder or the misuse of opioids or to otherwise abate or remediate the opioid <br />epidemic…”. Specific examples of Approved Abatement Purposes are described in <br />Section (C)(4)(a) through (j) of the Settlement MOU. <br /> <br /> The proposed ordinance appropriates the $78,765.20 allocation of Settlement <br />Funds to the Department of Behavioral Healthcare Services for use for Approved <br />Abatement Purposes. <br /> <br />Financial impact: <br /> <br /> No local match is required as a condition of the funding. <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> Adoption of the ordinance. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> BHS will expend the Settlement Funds for Approved Abatement Purposes. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Woodard, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />