The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, April 28, 1995                 TAG: 9504270171
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS      PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 
                                             LENGTH: Long  :  115 lines

CITY COUNCIL VOTES - PORTSMOUTH

The City Council took the following actions at its meeting Tuesday:

Hattonsville Neighborhood: Use permit application of Hampton Roads Regional Jail Authority for a regional jail facility on properties bounded by Adamson Street, Elmhurst Lane, Ballard Avenue, and Duncan Street. Approved, 6-1; Clemons opposed

Resolution granting a request of Gladys B. Hill to modify a use permit for a child day care center at 2605 Elliot Ave. Approved, 7-0

Resolution granting an amendment to the Community Facilities and Land Use Plans of the city recommending public/quasi public uses in the southside neighborhood. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance granting a rezoning application by the city for property bound by Effingham, Green, Brighton (closed) and Lincoln streets from Residential Multi-Family RM-60 to Light Industrial M-1-R. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance granting an amendment to the zoning ordinance to change the expiration terms for use permits. Section 40-106.1. Approved, 7-0

Brighton Neighborhood: Request of Rev. Grace C. Lang for a rezoning from Commercial Residential C-2 to Residential Single-family RS-75 to construct a church at 1656 Portsmouth Blvd. Deferred from the public hearing meeting of March 13. Denied, 6-1; Clemons in favor

Resolution authorizing the city manager to convey the former Churchland High School site to the Portsmouth Industrial Development Authority for potential development. Deferred from April 11 regular meeting. Approved, 6-1; Martin opposed

Ordinance to appropriate $1,138,000 from the Capital Improvements Fund for rehabilitation of a portion of the Churchland Bridge, which includes joint replacement, epoxy deck overlay, sandblasting and painting. Approved, 7-0

Motion to award the (bridge) contract to the Kennedy Co. of Virginia, J. Hemminger Construction Co., and Cleco Corporation. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance to appropriate $40,000 from the Capital Improvements Fund to replace the air conditioning system in the Children's Museum of Virginia and the Data Processing section of the Department of Information and Technology. Approved, 7-0

Motion to award the (air conditioning) contract to Damuth Trane Co. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance to appropriate $25,000 from the contingency account for the city's share of the Churchland Boulevard highway project being completed by the Virginia Department of Transportation. This project will widen Churchland Boulevard from two lanes to four lanes with a center turn lane. Approved, 7-0

Resolution to convey property on Churchland Boulevard to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the widening of Churchland Boulevard. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance establishing the tax rate on real estate at $1.36, and re-enacting the current tax rates on tangible personal property, privately owned pleasure boats, privately owned camping trailers and motor homes, and machinery and tools. Adoption of this ordinance will increase the real estate tax from $1.32 to $1.36. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance amending the tax rate charged on cigarettes from the current 12.5 mills per cigarette (25 cents per pack of 20) to 15 mills per cigarette (30 cents per pack of 20). Approved, 7-0

Ordinance establishing the rate of water at $2.00 per 1,000 gallons. This is an increase from the current rate of $1.95. In addition, corresponding increases to the rates charged to Chesapeake and Suffolk for water sold under the city's contracts with these cities, as well as to direct Suffolk customers are included. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance amending and modifying the city code in compliance with the federally mandated Clean Water Act, by establishing and expanding definitions, fees, and methods of administration for the Stormwater Management Program. Fees are to be calculated on a system of Equivalent Residential Units (ERU's) with residential properties in the city having one ERU with a rate of $3.50 per month. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance increasing the fee for garbage and refuse collection and disposal from the current $11 per month to $13 per month for ordinary households. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance increasing the fees charged for building permits. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance increasing the administrative charge for demolishing a dangerous building. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance amending the rates charged for playing golf at City Park and Bide-A-Wee golf courses. The increase amounts to approximately 50 cents at City Park per round on the basic rate, while the rate change is approximately $1.00 per round on the basic rate at Bide-A-Wee. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance increasing the fees for opening graves equaling the increase in cost to the city for this service as a result of the new contract with the vendor. Adoption of this ordinance will increase grave openings under four feet from $165 to $185, and grave openings over four feet will increase from $330 to $385. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance increasing the fee for admission to the Children's Museum of Virginia by $1.00, and setting fees for other city museums effective Jan. 1, 1996. Adoption of this ordinance also sets reduced rates for public school students and other admission fees to the museum. Approved, 6-1; Robinett opposed.

Resolution authorizing all sworn firefighters and police officers hired on or after July 1 to participate in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) with the same equivalent benefits to those provided for state police officers. Approved, 5-2; Clemons and Martin opposed.

Ordinance closing the Portsmouth Fire and Police Retirement System to any new employees effective July 1.. Approved, 5-2, Clemons and Martin opposed.

Ordinance amending the method by which annual leave is credited to city employees. The proposed method will allocate the same number of days provided as the present system, but will prorate the bonus days on a monthly basis. The ordinance modifies the number of leave days that are paid to an employee upon termination to a maximum of 44 days. Approved, 7-0

Appropriation ordinance for the Operating Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1995, and ending June 30, 1996. This ordinance reflects the budget as recommended and previously presented by the city manager. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance establishing a blanket hauling permit for identical loads and increase the fee for single trip moves from $10 to $25. Other cities in the Hampton Roads area currently issue blanket hauling permits to cover more than one of the same type cargo. Approved, 7-0

Ordinance to amend sections 27-52 (a) and 27-53 of Chapter 27 of the city code pertaining to unclaimed property in custody of the police. The proposed amendment establishes a procedure by which unclaimed property may be utilized by the police department, rather than sold at public auction. Approved, 7-0

KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL by CNB