NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
ACTION
OF THE COUNCIL
TUESDAY,
MARCH 6, 2007 – 7:00 P.M.
Prayer offered by Pastor John Moxley, Azalea Baptist Church, 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, Whibley, Williams,
Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
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.
The
Resolution as introduced was adopted, effective March 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot, Hester, Riddick, Whibley,
Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
CEREMONIAL MATTER
President Fraim read a proclamation proclaiming the
week of March 12, 2007 as “Girl Scouts Make the World a Better Place
Week”. The proclamation was accepted by
Kathy Bennett of Troop 644 who was accompanied by four girl scouts.
CONSENT AGENDA
C-1 Letter
from the City Manager presenting recommendation of the City Planning Commission
on the application of the City
Planning Commission to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Norfolk 1992, SO AS TO modify signage
in Downtown and other text amendments.
ACTION: City Clerk authorized to
advertise for a public hearing on March 27, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
C-2 Letter
from the City Manager requesting a public hearing be held to hear comments on
the acquisition by condemnation of property located at 5209 Bluestone
Avenue.
ACTION: City Clerk authorized to
advertise for a public hearing on March 27, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
C-3 Letter
from the City Manager requesting a public hearing be held to hear comments on
the conveyance of property of the City of Norfolk to Kramer Associates, Inc.,
a portion of Glenmyrtle Avenue by Deed of Quitclaim.
ACTION: City Clerk authorized to
advertise for a public hearing on March 27, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
C-4 Letter
from the City Manager requesting a public hearing be held to hear comments on
the conveyance of property of the City of Norfolk to Kramer Associates, Inc.,
a portion of Wisteria Place by Deed of Quitclaim.
ACTION: City Clerk authorized to
advertise for a public hearing on March 27, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
REGULAR AGENDA
R-1 Matter of a
letter from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance closing,
vacating and discontinuing a portion of Harvard
Street from the western line of Newport Avenue and extending westwardly to
its terminus, and a portion of Warren Street from the western line of Newport
Avenue and extending southwestwardly to its terminus, and authorizing the
conveyance by quitclaim deed of any interest the city may have in the
underlying fee of the streets to the abutting property owner,” was introduced
in writing and read by its title.
(Passed
by at the meeting of February 27, 2007)
Arthur
Collins, applicant, 200 College Place, was present to answer questions.
ACTION: The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective April 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
R-2 Letter
from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance granting a Special
Exception to permit the operation of an eating and drinking establishment on
property located at 2325 East Little
Creek Road,” was introduced in writing and read by its title.
Kyle
Roof, 2317 E. Little Creek Road, requested this matter be continued for one
month. He was accompanied by the
following proponents: Juan Rodriquez,
241 Forsythe St.; Dr. Herman Navarro-Leyes, 8267 Buffalo Avenue; Junior R.
Rodriquez, 5520 Paulbett Drive, Florida; and Ronnie Paredes, 2325, E. Little
Creek Road.
ACTION: Matter continued until April 3, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
R-3 Letter
from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance accepting the
donation of LUF 60™ Fire Suppression
Equipment from the Virginia Department of Transportation to the City of
Norfolk for the Department of Fire and Rescue and approving the terms and
conditions of an Agreement between the Virginia Department of Transportation
and the City of Norfolk in regard to the donation and authorizing the execution
and implementation of the Agreement,” was introduced in writing and read by its
title.
ACTION: The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective March 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
R-4 Letter from the City
Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the
City of Norfolk and the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority to provide
to owners and residents of Fairmont Park financial assistance to improve the
condition and maintenance of the properties located therein through the
implementation of two programs,” was introduced in writing and read by its
title.
Ray
Boland, 2707 Somme Avenue, was present in support of this matter but did not
speak.
ACTION: The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective March 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
R-5 Letter from the City
Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of
$58,230.00 from the Virginia Department
of Social Services for the Juvenile
Accountability Block Grant Program, appropriating and authorizing the expenditure
of the grant funds and authorizing the expenditure of $6,470.00 in local cash
matching funds for the program for total program funding in the amount of
$64,700.00,” was introduced in writing and read by its title.
Alton
Robinson, 735 W. 35th Street, stated more emphasis should be on
preventing juvenile crimes and providing juveniles with quality education,
jobs, and training.
ACTION: The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective March 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
R-6 Letter
from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance to repeal Subsection (165) of Section 25-653 and to
amend and reordain Sections 25-649, 25-650, 25-651 and 25-654 of the Norfolk City Code, 1979, SO AS TO add one right turn on red prohibited, two left turns
prohibited, three u-turns prohibited, and thirteen stop signs,” was introduced
in writing and read by its title.
ACTION: The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective March 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
R-7 Letter
from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance to amend and
reordain Subsection (d) of Section 33-43
of the Norfolk City Code, 1979, SO AS TO allow the police to charge
fees for providing certain records and services as authorized under the
Virginia Freedom Information Act,” was introduced in writing and read by its
title.
Ellis James, 2021 Kenlake
Place, complimented the City Attorney of crafting an ordinance.
ACTION: The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective March 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
R-8 Letter
from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance to amend and
reordain Subsection 24-203 (a), of
the Norfolk City Code, 1979, SO AS TO provide that no owner shall
own more that twenty percent of the units after three years from commencement
of the abatement,” was introduced in writing and read by its title.
ACTION: The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective March 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
R-9 Letter
from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance authorizing the
Development Agreement to be entered into with Roseland Galiani Associates, L.L.C., for the rehabilitation of the Sears Building at 201 21st
Street and related public improvements,” was introduced in writing and read
by its title.
ACTION: The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective March 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
R-10 Letter
from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance approving a second
amendment to the Agreement for the development of a Hilton Hotel, authorizing the expenditure of $46,280,000 heretofore
appropriated and authorizing the sale of an additional $24,920,000 in bonds,
appropriating and authorizing the expenditure of this additional $24,920,000
for the City’s Obligation under the development Agreement, further authorizing
the City Manager to enter into a Cooperation Agreement with the Norfolk
Redevelopment and Housing Authority relating to the development of this hotel,
conference center and parking project and authorizing the City Manager to enter
into such other Agreements and take such other actions as are necessary to
implement the Agreement for the development of the Hilton Hotel Conference
Center,” was introduced in writing and read by its title.
Ray Boland, 2707 Somme
Avenue, suggested Council consider spending money on areas and neighborhoods
that need improvements, such as Lafayette Boulevard.
Daniel Montague, 4607 Krick
Street, commented this area does not need another convention center or
hotel.
The following opponents spoke:
Amy Castleberry, 778 W. 51st
Street, suggested the city find a way to integrate the old with the new; Alice
Allen Grimes, 1913 W. Brandon Avenue, read a statement by Carter Furr, 1 Colley
Avenue; Mark Perreault, 950 Hanover Avenue, opposed destroying historic
buildings in downtown Norfolk; Joanne Berkley, 1419 Buckingham Avenue, read a
statement by Louis Malon, Director of Preservation Services for the Association
for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities; Eloise LaBeau, 3501 Orange
Street, President of Estabrook Civic League, expressed opposition to spending
$7.5 million of taxpayers’ money to fund this project.
Susanne Williams, 911 Colonial Avenue, was present
in opposition to this matter but did not speak.
ACTION: The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective March 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Williams, Winn and Fraim.
No: Whibley and Wright.
R-11 Letter
from the City Manager and an Ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance permitting Hampton Roads Sanitation District to
encroach into property owned by the City of Norfolk located at 7290 Tidewater
Drive with a meter vault and associated equipment, with an area measuring
approximately ten feet (10’) by eight feet (8’),” was introduced in writing and
read by its title.
ACTION: The Ordinance as introduced was adopted, effective March 6, 2007.
Yes: Burfoot,
Hester, Riddick, Whibley, Williams, Winn, Wright and Fraim.
No: None.
NEW
BUSINESS
James Rivers, 1131 Georgetown Road,
President, NAACP Norfolk Branch, addressed three issues: 1) a need for enhanced
funding for Norfolk Public Schools; 2) a need to equip all police vehicles with
cameras; and 3) a need to consider appointing a citizens review board to address
concerns relative to police actions.
Dave Vachet, 127 W. Gilpin Avenue,
asked Council to restore public parking at Willoughby Spit to facilitate public
access to the beach.
Mark Feltner, 1356 Pamlico
Boulevard, Chesapeake, President of Virginia Coastal Access Now, requested a
limited amount of public parking at Willoughby Spit on the east side of 15th
View Street to facilitate public access to the beach.
Chuck Brewer, 222 Beck Street, commented
about Basic Management, the company producing the Broadway series at Chrysler Hall,
and suggested, the city investigate their activities.
Thomas Worrell, 3111 Omohundro
Avenue, commented about the use of excessive force by the police.
Alexis Sumler, 2512 Tait Court,
asked Council to consider developing more after-school job opportunities for
youth.
Ray Boland, 2707 Somme Avenue,
discussed the need to expand the police city impound lot.