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May 11, 1982
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, such application mus~ be executed by the proper officers of the political sub-
<br />divisions that are now members of the Authority, including this City, under official seal,
<br />pursuant to resolutions adopted by the governing bodies of such political subdivisions.
<br />
<br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, that
<br />th~ Honorable Julian E. Johansen, Mayor of the City of Portsmouth, is hereby authorized to
<br />execute on behalf of this City, the application of the County of Sussex for membership in the
<br />Southeastern Public Service Authority, and his signature be attested to by the City Clerk und¢
<br />the official seal of the City."
<br />
<br />Ayes: Barnes, Beamer, Gray, Oast, Webb, ¥Thitlow, Johansen
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br /> 82-163 "Consideration of a resolution expressing the concern of the Portsmouth City
<br />Council at the failure of the Virginia General Assembly to adopt legislation amending the
<br />Charter of the City of Portsmouth to provide for the creation of a special service district."
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mrs. Webb and seconded by Mr. Gray, the following resolution was adopted,
<br />and by the following vote:
<br />
<br />"A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE CONCERN OF THE PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL AT THE
<br />FAILURE OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ADOPT LEGISLATION AMENDING THE
<br />CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL
<br />SERVICE DISTRICT.
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the Downtown Portsmouth Association, an organization of merchants and property
<br />owners, petitioned the Council of the City of Portsmouth to seek a change in its Charter which
<br />would provide for the creation of a Special Service District in the downtown business area of
<br />the City to be created by the governing body upon request of the property owners of the pro-
<br />posed district; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the General Assembly of Virginia has continually ignored the request of local
<br />governments, including this City, for alternate sources of revenue to insure a more equitable
<br />disbursement of the burden of funding local government; and, moreover, has removed control of
<br />certain revenue sources from the discretion of the local governing body including recent mand~
<br />which required the roll back of business and professional license fees and high constable fees
<br />and placed limitations on alternate sources of revenue; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the purpose of a Special Service District is to generate new local revenue on a
<br />voluntary basis for improvements to the proposed district such as parking, shopping malls,
<br />street repair, fire and police protection, and promotion of business activities which would
<br />otherwise not be affordable by the City and which would benefit the entire City; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia,
<br />Charter change by Resolution adopted on December 8, 1982, and
<br />delegation to the General Assembly of Virginia; and
<br />
<br />formerly requested the proposed
<br />communicated to the Portsmouth
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce endorsed the conceFt of the Special Service
<br />District; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, other cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia have been granted such authority
<br />either by Charter or by special legislation; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, Delegate L. Cleaves Manning sponsored
<br />~ouse Bill No. 20 in the Virginia House of Delegates
<br />of 93~to 2; and
<br />
<br />the necessary legislation designated as
<br />which was passed by that body by a vote
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, said legislation was amended by the Senate of Virginia by removing the authority
<br />for the City to create such Special Service District; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, a joint House/Senate Conference Committee rewrote the proposed legislation with-
<br />out consultation with the City Council and increased the required approval of property owners
<br />to ninety-five percent (9~%), and severely limited the purposes for which the district could b~
<br />created; and
<br />
<br /> ~HEREAS, in the opinion of Council the legislation drafted by the Conference Committee an¢
<br />finally adopted by the General Assembly will be of limited benefit to the citizens, property
<br />owners, and merchants of the City who sponsored the initial request.
<br />
<br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, that
<br />the Council hereby expresses its concern at the failure of the General Assembly of Virginia
<br />to amend the Charter of the City of Portsmouth to provide for the creation of a Special Servic~
<br />District in a manner requested by the Council; and further expresses its disappointment that
<br />the General Assembly of Virginia did not consult the Council in regards to the preparation of
<br />legislation of important local interest of the citizens, property owners and merchants of the
<br />City.
<br />
<br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Portsmouth requests that the Gener
<br />Assembly of Virginia initiate legislation at its next session to grant authority to the local
<br />governing bodies which will enable local governments to establish new and innovative sources
<br />of revenue in order to assure a more equitable disbursement of the burden of funding local
<br />government.
<br />
<br />
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