Minutes 11/22/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 22, 2022 Discussion:  Trees intercept rain water, slowing its movement and preventing it from eroding soils. Soils eroded by storm water run-off end up delivering excess sediment to streams and polluting our water as well as habitat for fish and aquatic organisms. By allowing the soil to slowly soak up rain water instead, trees help filter rain water and recharge groundwater. Trees also improve air quality and decrease the urban heat environment, which helps fight climate change. Financial Impact:  The grant match will be satisfied through in-kind services provided by city staff through the labor to install and maintain the trees. The value of the in-kind match will be $2500. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The Finance Department will make the necessary budgetary adjustment.  Implementation of the grant through planting trees to help keep the waterways and air quality in Portsmouth clean. 1. Conrad Schresventer, 3706 Greenway Court E., spoke in support of this item. Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Mr. Barnes, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ACCEPTING VIRGINIA TREES FOR CLEAN WATER GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,634.35 FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND APPROPRIATING SAID AMOUNT INTO THE FY 2023 GRANTS FUND FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION TO PLANT TREES AT CITY PARK AND CHURCHLAND PARK.” Ayes: Barnes, Battle, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Whitaker, Woodard, Glover Nays: None 22 - 340 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting settlement funds in the amount of $315,332.05 from the National Opioids Settlement Fund Trust and appropriating said amount in the FY 2023 Behavioral Healthcare Service Fund for use by BHS for Approved Abatement Purposes as defined by the Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund and Settlement Allocation MOU. Background:  The City of Portsmouth was one of several Virginia localities to file suit against entities engaged in the manufacture, marketing, promotion, distribution, and dispensing of opioids.  In 2021 the Commonwealth of Virginia reached a global settlement of claims against many of the opioid entities on behalf of itself and its participating localities, including Portsmouth. The settlement provided for payment of approximately $608,000,000 to the Commonwealth (the “Settlement Funds”) over an 18-year period.  In order to participate in the Commonwealth’s settlement and receive distributions of a portion of the Settlement Funds, Portsmouth released its claims and entered into a Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund and Settlement Allocation Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth and other localities (the “Settlement MOU”).  City Council approved the Settlement MOU by Resolution R-21-24 adopted on August 10, 2021. Discussion:  Under the terms of the Settlement MOU, the City will receive regular disbursements of a portion of the Settlement Funds received by the Commonwealth.  In August, the City received a disbursement of Settlement Funds in the amount of $78,765.20, which was accepted and appropriated through City Council ordinance 2022- 80 adopted on September 13, 2022.