NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

 

ACTION FOR THE COUNCIL

 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2004 – 7:30 P.M.

 

Prayer was offered by Councilman Paul R. Riddick, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

                                       President Fraim moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting.

 

Motion adopted.

 

Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

 

CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED MEETING

 

A Resolution entitled, "A Resolution certifying a closed meeting of the Council of the City of Norfolk in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act," was introduced in writing and read by its title.

 

ACTION:   The Resolution as introduced was adopted, effective December 21, 2004.

 

Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.

 

No:    None.

 

PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

PH-1                               PUBLIC HEARING scheduled this day, public notice having been inserted in the local press by the City Clerk to hear comments on the application of the City Planning Commission for a General Plan Amendment – “Broad Creek Revitalization and Implementation Plan, September 2004”.

 

                                      Samuel Coppage, 2621 Myrtle Avenue, spoke on behalf of the Broad Creek Civic League in support of this matter and asked that the needs of seniors be responded to.

 

                                      Rodney Jordan, 304 W. 36th Street, and Johnnie Branch, 2930 Beachmont Avenue also spoke in support of this matter and shared the same concerns as Mr. Coppage.

                                     

                                      Thereupon, an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance to amend and reordain the General Plan of Norfolk, 1992, SO AS TO include therein “The Broad Creek Revitalization and Implementation Plan, November 2004”,” was introduced in writing and read by its title.

 

ACTION:   The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective December 21, 2004.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

PH-2                               PUBLIC HEARING scheduled this day, public notice having been inserted in the local press by the City Clerk to hear comments on the application of the City Planning Commission for a General Plan Amendment – “Greater Wards Corner Comprehensive Plan, September 2004”.

                                      Louis Eisenberg, 1606 Pasadena Court, and Tim Smith, 114 Carlisle Way, spoke in support of this matter.

 

                                      Thereupon, an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance to amend and reordain the General Plan of Norfolk, 1992, SO AS TO incorporate therein “The Greater Wards Corner Comprehensive Plan, November 2004”,” was introduced in writing and read by its title.

 

ACTION:   The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective December 21, 2004.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

PH-3                               PUBLIC HEARING scheduled this day pursuant to action of the Council on December 7, 2004, under the State law, public notice having been inserted in the local press by the City Clerk to hear comments on the exchange of lands between the City of Norfolk and the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority adjacent to the Bowling Park Elementary School.

 

                                      Thereupon, an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance authorizing the exchange of parcels of real property, at the site of Bowling Park Elementary School, between the City of Norfolk and the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority,” was introduced in writing and read by its title.

 

ACTION:   The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective January 21, 2005.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

PH-4                               PUBLIC HEARING scheduled this day, public notice having been inserted in the local press by the City Clerk to hear comments on the Popular Election of the Mayor.

 

                                                John Wesley Hill, 2909 Mapleton Avenue, spoke on behalf of the NAACP in opposition to the proposal and urged the present method of the elected mayor not be changed.

                            

                                      The following people spoke in support of this matter:

                            

                                      Elouise LeBeau, 3501 Orange Street, President of the Estabrook Civic League and an advisor for the Norfolk Federation will support Council in whatever decision is made.  

 

                                      Kathy Stark, 524 Pennsylvania Avenue, spoke on behalf of Forward Norfolk and urged Council to endorse a 4-2-1 plan.

                  

                                      Joe Austin, 534 Garren Avenue, supports the 4-2-1 plan.

 

                                      Daniel Montague, 4605 Krick Street, supports the 4-2-1 plan with a strong mayor who has an agenda.

 

                                      Rodney Jordan, 304 West 36th Street, supports the 4-2-1- plan and does not feel that a sitting member of council should have to give up their seat to run in the 2006 election.

 

                                      Kathleen Renault, 5037 Pleasant Avenue, supports the 4-2-1 plan.

                                     

                                      Meredith Sabol, 1405 Claremont Avenue, would like to see Council reach an agreement on the elected mayor issue. 

 

                                      Donald Hornstein, 1600 Manteo Street, spoke in support of this matter and endorses Forward Norfolk’s position.  It is his opinion that the 5-2-1 plan would not pass the Justice Department.

 

                                      Bob Layton, 1501 Bayville Street, supported the proposal for the 7-1 plan.

                                                         

                                      The following people were present in support of this matter but did not speak:

                            

                                      Christopher Caporicci, 2319 Bay Oaks Place and

                                      Bill Kerry, 2330 Bay Oaks Place.

                  

                                      Thereupon, a Resolution entitled, “A Resolution requesting the General Assembly to amend the Norfolk City Charter SO AS TO allow for the Popular Election of the Mayor”, was introduced in writing and read by its title.

 

ACTION:   The Resolution as introduced was adopted, effective December 21, 2004.

 

                   Yes:   Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    Burfoot, Hester.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

C-1                                 Letter from the City Manager presenting recommendation of the City Planning Commission on the application of Lyon Shipyard, Inc. to close, vacate and discontinue a portion of  an unnamed lane between Rose Avenue and Reeves Avenue.

 

ACTION:   City Clerk authorized to advertise for a public hearing on January 18, 2005.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

C-2                                 Letter from the City Manager recommending a public hearing be held to hear comments on the lease of space by Tidewater Humane, Inc. at Norfolk Animal Management Center.

 

ACTION:   City Clerk authorized to advertise for a public hearing on January 18, 2005.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

C-3                                 Letter from the City Clerk transmitting an Abstract of Votes cast in the City of Norfolk at the Special Election on December 14, 2004 pursuant to Section 24.2-675 of the Code of Virginia.

 

ACTION:   Received and filed.

 

 

C-4                                 Letter from the City Manager presenting recommendation of the City Planning Commission on the application of Bay Storage, LLC to close, vacate and discontinue a portion of  Shumadine Road and authorizing the sale of the underlying fee interest to Bay Storage, LLC.

 

ACTION:   City Clerk authorized to advertise for a public hearing on January 18, 2005.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

C-5                                 Letter from the City Manager recommending a public hearing be held to hear comments on the lease agreement by Monarch Bank on property located at 240 Main Street.

 

ACTION:   City Clerk authorized to advertise for a public hearing on January 18, 2005.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

                               

 

 

REGULAR AGENDA

 

R-1                                 Letter from the City Manager and a Resolution entitled, “A Resolution authorizing the amendment of a cable television franchise between the City and Cox Cable Hampton Roads, Inc. to extend the term of the franchise to January 31, 2005,” was introduced in writing and read by its title.

 

ACTION:   The Resolution as introduced was adopted, effective December 21, 2004.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

R-2                                 Letter from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance to abandon and relocate any interest the public has or may have in and to certain portions of the easement of ingress and egress commonly known as Madison Mews,” was introduced in writing and read by its title.

 

ACTION:   The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective December 21, 2004.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

R-3                                 Letter from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance accepting with appreciation a donation from the Norfolk Botanical Garden Society, Inc. of  $1,122,895.00 in funds and $2,270,882.00 in loan proceeds for the construction of the Children’s Garden at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, appropriating and authorizing the expenditure of the funds and loan proceeds for the construction project and approving the terms and conditions of an agreement between the City of Norfolk and the Norfolk Botanical Garden Society, Inc. regarding the construction project,” was introduced in writing and read by its title.

 

 ACTION:  The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective December 21, 2004.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

R-4                                 An Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance amending the City’s General Compensation Plan SO AS TO delete certain job classifications from the FLSA exempt classifications list and add them to the non-exempt classifications list”, was introduced in writing and read by its title.

 

ACTION:   The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective December 23, 2004.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

R-5                                 A Resolution entitled, “A Resolution appointing 11 persons to the Public Arts Commission and 1 person to the Commission to End Homelessness for certain terms, was introduced in writing and read by its title.

 

ACTION:   The Resolution as introduced was adopted, effective December 21, 2004.

 

                   Yes:   Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn, Wright, and Fraim.

 

                   No:    None.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

                                       Daniel Montague, 4605 Krick Street, spoke on reducing the                 real estate tax rate and supported Coleman Place Elementary School as                          being the next school replaced.

 

                                       Elouise  LeBeau, 3501 Orange Street, also spoke on a                           reduction of          the real estate tax rate, especially for those on a fixed income.

 

                                       Crystal Lillie, 964 Avenue F, asked Council for help in dealing               with problems with a house she recently purchased.

 

                                       Rodney Jordan, 304 West 36th Street, gave a tribute to his                              grandmother, Alice Bailey Cooper, who turned 92 today.