Minutes 02/08/2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 8, 2000 00 - 35 - Items Submitted by City Council Councilman Benn recognized Sister Anna Mae Krane and Helen Person as King Dream Award recipients. Councilman Whitehurst spoke on his 2000 Leadership Training Council appointment. Vice Mayor Griffin acknowledged staff on Boards and Commissions Retreat and Management on Council Retreat information. Mayor Holley read the following correspondence: Motion by Mr. Griffin, and seconded by Mr. Benn, to have statement apart of official minutes, and was adopted by unanimous vote. "1 am please to report that the Portsmouth City Council had a discussion on the subject of Town Hall meetings at its retreat last weekend and is in agreement on the best way to proceed. First of all, we want to thank Councilman Moody and Councilman Whitehurst for their initiative in raising the profile of this topic and organizing a meeting to explore it. We believe they made a good faith effort to bring government closer to the people. The Portsmouth City council is ready to proceed as a body to explore further how and when community meetings might be conducted. The council has agreed to request the City Manager to give this matter some attention and to come back to the council with some alternative approaches in March with the process to continue in the late spring or early summer. His report should include expected outcomes of the process as well as what it might be called. The public should understand that all members of the Portsmouth City Council are committed to open government in the finest sense of our representative democracy. The Council understands that we have been elected to conduct public business on behalf of our constituents, and we believe that the more input we receive from our citizens, the better. Improved communication at all levels is always a priority. At the same time, we realize that Portsmouth is a historic and diverse community with neighborhoods that have many differences in their needs and their vision. One size does not necessarily fit all. Thus our process needs to be focused on discovering the dreams of our neighborhoods, from the neighborhoods' point of view. The Council continues to be fully committed to our three spheres of success - neighborhood quality, economic development and fiscal strength. We believe that, working together, we can all make Portsmouth the city of choice of people to live, work, and visit." 00 - 36 - Non-Agenda Speakers Motion by Mr. Robinett, and seconded by Mr. Whitehurst, to waive the rules of order to allow Ms. Strutton to complete her comments, and was adopted by unanimous vote. 1. Miranda (Randi) Strutton, 4704 River Shore Road, spoke in favor of revitalization of the Cradock area. 2. Janette R. Whitley, 103 Decatur Street, spoke in opposition to church services in Afton Square business district.