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April 14, 1981
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the construction of low and moderate income housing has been a primary goal in
<br />the first five (S) years of this effort, during which time the City of Portsmouth, through
<br />the Portsmouth Redevelopment ~ Housing Authority, has constructed Six Hundred Fifty Four (654)
<br />units of housing for low and moderate income people, including forty-eight (48) units of housJ
<br />constructed under the little used Housing of Last Resort provision of the Community Developmer
<br />Act; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, data developed by the staff of the Portsmouth Redevelopment And Housing Authori~
<br />and the City of Portsmouth regarding racial and economic impaction in neighborhoods throughout
<br />the City indicate that considerable care must be given to the provision and location of addi-
<br />tional low and moderate income group housing projects so as to insure that placement of such
<br />housing complies with all applicable laws but does not adversely affect the stability of in-
<br />dividual neighborhoods or the City as a whole; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the existence of a considerable number of substandard housing units built prior
<br />1950 and occupied by low and moderate income families and individuals, and the scarcity of lan
<br />for new development in the City, is one of the City's most critical community development
<br />problems; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, without rehabilitation, this housing will continue to be substandard, ultimatel~
<br />becoming unfit for human habitation and requiring demolition, an action which will serve to
<br />significantly deplete the supply of available housing in the City, and to disrupt neighborhoo
<br />and displace its residents; and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the Housing Assistance Plan adopted by the City Council establishes substantial
<br />rehabilitation as the City's primary vehicle for the provision of housing assistance;
<br />and
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS, the method proposed to provide subsidized housing for persons of low and moderal
<br />income has caused considerable controversy within the City of Portsmouth resulting in litigati
<br />between the City of Portsmouth, PRHA and the Department of Housing And Urban Development and
<br />citizen groups from this City; and
<br />
<br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, that
<br />City Manager and the City Attorney are directed to continue to meet with officials of the
<br />Department of Housing And Urban Development to maintain direct communications regarding the
<br />current status of the City of Portsmouth's Community Development Program and the requirements
<br />said Department for the provision of low and moderate income housing in the City of Portsmouth
<br />in accordance with the 1974 Housing Community Development Act, as amended, in order to insure
<br />that programs are implemented in accordance with all applicable laws and that the stability of
<br />individual neighborhoods or the Git)- as a whole is not adversely affected and that the Ports-
<br />mouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority is requested to provide such assistance to the City
<br />Manager and the City Attorney in these communications to the extent deemed appropriate.'
<br />
<br />Ayes: Barnes, Gray, Oast, Webb, Whitlow, Johansen
<br />Nays: None
<br />
<br />The following reports from the City Manager were presented:
<br />
<br /> 81-123 'Considezation of an ordinance on first reading to appropriate $3,059,731 from
<br />the Community Development Fund which has been received as a grant to the City from the
<br />Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG)
<br />Progr~./~
<br />
<br /> This appropriation provides the funds required under the financing plan of the develop-
<br />ment agreement for the residential tower now under construction on the north end of the
<br />Waterfront. Under the development agreement, which was previously approved by City Council,
<br />the City of Portsmouth agreed to make available to the developer a loin of $3,059,731. ~he
<br />source of these funds ms a grant to the City of Portsmouth for this purpose from the Departmen'
<br />of Housing and Urban Development under the UDAG Program. The construction of the tower is
<br />well underway, to the point that the drawdown of the grant funds is required. Accordingly,
<br />appropriation of the UDAG grant in the amount of $3,059,731 is requested from the Community
<br />Development Fund. The City Manager recommends adoption on first reading."
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Oast and seconded by Mrs. Webb, the following ordinance'was approved on
<br />first reading, and by unanimous vote:
<br />
<br />"AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $3,059,731 RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY
<br />FUND FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE
<br />DEVELOPMEN% ACTIOM GRANT (UDAG) PROGPJtM."
<br />
<br />DEVELOPMENT
<br />URBAN
<br />
<br /> 81-124 - "Consideration of an ordinance on first reading to appropriate $150,000 from the
<br />Public Utility Fund for the purchase of well water.
<br />
<br /> This appropriation will provide the necessary funds to pay for the purchase of well water
<br />from the City of Suffolk. In order to augment the City's water supply sources as a result of
<br />the drought, the City has purchased approximately 3 million gallons a day from the City of
<br />Suffolk since November 1, 1980. The purchase costs are estimated to total $240,G00 through
<br />June 30, 1981. The water and sewer surcharges which were implemented last January are estiman
<br />to be sufficient no provide revenue to cover the balance of these costs. The City Manager
<br />recommends adoption on first reading.
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