Regular 05/08/12 Session - Norfolk City Council

>> OKAY. I THINK WE'RE READY TO COME BACK
TO ORDER. MR. MANAGER, YOU GOT ANYTHING
YOU WANT TO SAY? >> YES, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I
JUST HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I'D LIKE TO -- I JUST WANTED TO
REALLY CONFIRM WHAT YOU ALL KIND OF KNOW ABOUT, THAT THE USAA
DEAL IS FINALIZED. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS GOING
TO BE TAKING 315,000 SQUARE FEET IN THE FORMER USAA CONCOURSE
BUILDING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN LAKE WRIGHT EXECUTIVE CENTER.
THEY'RE GOING TO STAGGER THEIR MOVE-IN.
THIS IS REALLY KIND OF AN EXAMPLE OF REALLY GREAT REGIONAL
COOPERATION THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN BOTH THE CITY OF
VIRGINIA BEACH, THE CITY OF NORFOLK, THE REAL ESTATE AGENTS
INVOLVED FOR BOTH USAA AND AMERIGROUP AND WE HAD TO KEEP A
VERY TIGHT TIMELINE AND A VERY TIGHT LID ON THIS, BUT IT IS
GOING TO RESULT IN 1,900 JOBS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AS THEY
STAGGER THEIR EMPLOYMENT INTO THE CONCOURSE BUILDING.
WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE IS IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, THEY
WILL MOVE INTO THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE FOUR-STORY USAA CONCOURSE
BUILDING, AND THEN IN DECEMBER OF '13, THEY WILL MOVE ON TO THE
FIRST FLOOR. BOTH OF THOSE WILL INVOLVE 480
EMPLOYEES OR SO APIECE. THEN IN APRIL OF 2014 AND 11 OF
2014, NOVEMBER OF 2014, THEY WILL OCCUPY THE THIRD FLOOR.
AFTER THAT IN APRIL OF '15, THEY WILL COMPLETE THEIR MOVE-IN ON
TO THE SECOND FLOOR. AND THE REASON FOR THAT KIND OF
STAGGERED TAKEDOWN IS THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR USAA'S
CURRENT OCCUPANCY OF THE THIRD FLOOR -- THE SECOND FLOOR, I'M
SORRY, SO THAT BIT TIME THAT THEY WILL -- BY THE TIME THAT
THEY WILL COMPLETE THAT MOVE, WE WILL HAVE FOUND AND IDENTIFIED A
HOME FOR THE 100,000 SQUARE FEET FOR USAA.
AND EVEN THOUGH WE WILL BE IN COMPETITION FOR THAT BUSINESS,
WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP WITH USAA AND WE'RE
GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN POSSIBLY DO TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT STAYS IN NORFOLK AS WELL. UPON COMPLETION, THIS WILL MAKE
THE AMERIGROUP FOLKS ONE OF THE TOP TEN EMPLOYERS IN THE CITY.
THE INDIRECT BENEFITS ARE, YOU KNOW, ROUGHLY $290,000 A YEAR OR
SO IN TAXES. THERE WERE NO CITY INCENTIVES
INVOLVES IN THE PROJECT. THEY WILL BE CONSTRUCTING A TWIN
OF THE EXISTING -- WHICH WAS BASED ON THE INITIAL SITE PLAN,
870-CAR PARKING GARAGE WHICH WILL TWIN WITH THEIR 1,074
PARKING DECK THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE OUT THERE.
THAT WILL BE ROUGHLY ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $14 MILLION.
IT WAS AN EXCELLENT DEAL, REALLY TERRIFIC NEWS A GREAT WIN FOR
THE REGION. IT GIVES AMERIGROUP ON PLACE TO
GROW AND EXPAND IN HAMPTON ROADS, BRING ALL THOSE JOBS TO
NORFOLK. IT'S REALLY A GREAT DEAL AND
PLEASED TO SEE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO CONSUMMATE THAT EARLY
LAST WEEK AND THEY WILL BEGIN WORKING WITH US ON THEIR MOVE-IN
AND ALSO HOPING TO MEET WITH USAA VERY SOON ON WHAT THEY
BELIEVE TO BE THE TIMELINE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE GARAGE.
>> WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
I MEAN, THERE WERE TWO NEWSPAPER ARTICLES ABOUT IT, BUT FACT THAT
WE'RE GETTING NEARLY 2,000 JOBS TO COME TO NORFOLK OVER THE
MATTER OF A FEW YEARS WITH NO INCENTIVES AND THEY'RE COMING
HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND THERE'S
AN OPPORTUNITY HERE IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
PEOPLE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES WOULD DIE TO GET 1900 JOBS IN
THE CITY, ESPECIALLY WITH NO ADDS, THIS IS REALLY -- JUST
TELLS YOU WHAT SORT OF CORPORATE CITIZEN AMERIGROUP IS AND ALSO
SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN NORFOLK AND THE
FACT THEY WANT TO BE HERE. WHEN THEY COULD HAVE GONE
EVERYWHERE. >> I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I ALSO
KNOW THAT YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE
HEADS OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY'RE JUST ABSOLUTELY
DELIGHTED ABOUT COMING IN TO NORFOLK AND I WOULD SAY THAT DON
CRITER WITH CBRE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ORCHESTRATING
THE VARIOUS GROUPS AND PARTIES AND DID A WONDERFUL AND FABULOUS
JOB. IF ANYONE KNOWS DON, HE'S A TRUE
PRO AND GOOD TO WORK WITH HIM AS WELL.
>> USAA, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO THEY STILL HAVE AS EMPLOYEES.
>> ABOUT 400, 500 CURRENTLY. A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT,
ACTUALLY, BUT THEY ARE OCCUPYING THE ENTIRE SECOND FLOOR.
THEY USED TO OCCUPY THE ENTIRE BUILDING BACK WHEN THEY FIRST
GOT HERE. >> RIGHT.
>> GOOD WORK. THANK YOU.
>> YOU WANT TO DO THE REVOCATION ON THE WATERSIDE?
>> SURE. ON PH-1 TONIGHT, YOU HAVE LISTED
AS A REVOCATION FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION THAT THE COUNCIL
PROMOTED TO WATERSIDE IN 1983. WATERSIDE OPENED, THE COUNCIL,
IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ITS OPENING, GAVE A BLANKET
EXCEPTION TO THE ENTIRE FACILITY.
AS YOU KNOW, WATERSIDE WAS EXPANDED IN 989 AND IN 1999, THE
COUNCIL UPDATED THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION AND INTENDED TO REPEAL
THE 1983 SPECIAL EXCEPTION AND THE HOLDER OF THE SPECIAL
EXCEPTION IS A PARTNERSHIP, WANTED TO CHANGE TO THE 1999
UPDATE, AND THEN IN 2009, THE DECISION BY THE OWNER OF THE
WATERSIDE, THE LESSEE AND PLANNING AND THIS COUNCIL WAS
THAT IT WAS NO LONGER APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A BLANKET
SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR THE ENTIRE FACILITY, THAT IT HAD HE
INVOLVED TO THE POINT WHERE DIFFERENT VENUES MERITED
BOUTIQUE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, SO THAT THIS COUNCIL IN 2009, AT
THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER OF THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION, REPEALED
PERIOD OF TIME 1999 SPECIAL EXCEPTION -- THE 1999 SPECIAL
EXCEPTION AND WENT TO BOUTIQUE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS.
TWO OF THE ENTITIES, HAVE A NICE DAY CAFE AND ANOTHER WERE NOT
GRANTED THE BOUTIQUE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS FOR REASONS YOU'RE
VERY FAMILIAR WITH, WHICH RESULTED IN LITIGATION.
IN THE LITIGATION, THE CITY WAS UPHELD ON VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE
POINTS, ON CERTAINLY THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS WHICH WERE THAT
ITS DISCRETION NOT TO GRANT SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS TO BAR
NORFOLK AND HAVE A NICE DAY CAFE WERE RATIONALLY BASED AND
UPHELD. A LOT OF ARGUMENTS WERE MADE.
ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WAS MADE WAS THAT THE 1983 SPECIAL
EXCEPTION THAT JUST COVERED THE INITIAL PHASE, HAD NOT BEEN
EFFECTIVELY REPEALED. AND THAT INITIAL PHASE INCLUDES
A PORTION OF A KITCHEN OF ONE OF THE BARS, AND SO THAT
OUTSTANDING BASED UPON THE JUDGE'S RULING IS STILL THE 1983
EXCEPTION, SPECIAL EXCEPTION WHICH HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED BY
THE BOUTIQUE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS AND ONE FOR THE COMMON AREAS
INDEPENDENTLY. SO THAT THIS PUBLIC HEARING, IT
COMES TO REVOKE THE 1983 SPECIAL EXCEPTION WHICH WAS INTENDED TO
BE REVOKED IN 1999, AND WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE
EXISTING BOUTIQUE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS AND IT CLEARS UP THE
ONE SMALL ISSUE IN THE LITIGATION WHERE JUDGE THOMAS
RULED AGAINST US. SO THAT THAT'S ON YOUR AGENDA
TONIGHT. WE RECOMMENDED, IT ELIMINATES
ANY CONFUSION ABOUT BUSINESSES THERE, OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE,
ETCETERA, HAVING THEIR OWN BOUTIQUE SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, HOW
IT FITS IN WITH JUDGE THOMAS'S RULING.
THE BARS HAVE APPEALED THE CASE AND THIS ALSO WILL BENEFIT US ON
ANY APPEALS OR ANY MATTERS PERTAINING TO THIS, SO IT'S
LARGELY A HOUSEKEEPING MATTER THAT'S ON PH-1 TONIGHT.
>> OKAY. MR. RIDDICK, ANY COUNCIL
INTERESTS? >> AGAIN, MY FOOTBALL HELMETS
DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, AND -- BUT THE ONLY
THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THAT WE PAY MORE ATTENTION,
GET OUR REFEREES TO PAY MORE ATTENTION WHEN IT COMES TO THESE
YOUNGSTERS PLAYING FOOTBALL. THEY HAVE BEEN CONTINUING
REPORTS ABOUT CONCUSSIONS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PLAYERS AND
FORMER -- WELL, FORMER PLAYERS IN THE NFL THAT ARE SUING THE
NFL BECAUSE OF CONCUSSIONS AND SO IT'S BECOMING A VERY SERIOUS
ISSUE AND SO, AS I SAY, I'M SURE THE HELMETS DIDN'T MAKE IT THIS
THERE THIS YEAR AND I'M SURE YEARING ABOUT TO WORK ON THAT,
BUT I JUST HOPE THAT OUR COACHES DURING THE PRE-SEASON AND OUR
OFFICIALS WOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THAT AND REALIZE WE HAVE THOSE
YOUNGSTERS OUT THERE AND THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.
AND I SAW A REPORT ONE TIME WHERE THESE YOUNGSTERS, YOU
KNOW, 8, 9, 10 YEARS OLD, THEY ARE SO -- THEY DON'T HAVE AS
MUCH STRENGTH IN THEIR NECKS AND SO THEY'RE STILL PRE-DISPOSED
FOR THOSE TYPES OF CONCUSSIONS, SO I JUST HOPE THAT WE'LL HAVE A
SAFE YEAR AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED.
AND THE ONLY OTHER THING, YOU AND I WERE DISCUSSING A FEW
MINUTES AGO ABOUT THE BUDGET AND I MADE A COMMENT THAT THE HIT
DOG ALWAYS HOLLERS. BY US BEING AT THE LE VIZEED --
TELEVISED, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY LOOKING AT THAT THINKING THAT I
MADE A DEROGATORY REMARK TOWARD MS. WILLIAMS BECAUSE SHE
HAPPENED TO RESPOND AT THE SAME TIME AND I JUST WAND TO MAKE IT
PERFECT -- WANTED TO MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT THAT'S JUST
AN OLD CLICHE THAT'S USED AND THERE'S NOTHING, NOTHING,
NOTHING PERSONAL ABOUT WHAT I SAID.
SO THIS NEWSPAPER THAT WE HAVE IN THIS TOWN AND THESE MEDIA
GUYS, THEY WILL PICK SOMETHING UP AND RUN, BUT I JUST WANT TO
GET OUT THAT THERE'S NOTHING, THE FURTHEREST THING FROM RYE
HEART. >> I DIDN'T TAKE --
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. >> MR. RIDDICK, WE DID DO
$50,000 FOR THE RECREATION BUDGET.
I THINK THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HELMETS MAY HAVE BEEN CLOSE
TO 300,000, BUT WE TRIED TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, FIND A
WAY THAT, ONE, THERE'S FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE EVEN IF IT'S --
ONE OF THE SITUATIONS DEALT WITH, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN, YOU
KNOW, BEING IN THE INTERSECTION TRYING TO GET FUNDS, BUT ALSO
THAT THE COACHES ARE ALL ON THE SAME, YOU KNOW, LEVEL OF
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW SERIOUS THIS IS.
>> RIGHT, THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT THE
HEALTHY NORFOLK INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE STARTED.
WE'VE GOT SOME FUN THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THIS MONTH ALREADY
WITH BIKE NORFOLK AND THAT STARTED LAST SATURDAY, WE HAD A
HUGE CROWD THAT DID OUR RIDE THROUGH GHENT AND PARK PLACE AND
THEY WILL BE DOING THAT EVERY SATURDAY THIS MONTH.
AND A WEEK FROM WEDNESDAY IS OUR WALK DOWN HERE AT CITY HALL,
STARTING AT NOON. IT'S FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND THAT
WOULD INCLUDE EVERYBODY HERE, AND ALSO A 5K RUN, I THINK,
ISN'T IT? SO COME WALK, RUN, COME OUT TO
SUPPORT. I HOPE YOU ALL DON'T LOOK AT
THIS AS BEING ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, GOSH, THAT'S KIND
OF FUN, BUT DON'T REALLY GET BEHIND IT.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR NORFOLK TO REMEMBER THAT HEALTHY
INITIATIVE IS GOING TO SAVE US ECONOMICALLY, GOING TO DRAW
CITIZENS TO OUR CITY, GOING TO KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE AND
HEALTHY, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL COME BEHIND IT NO MATTER
WHAT YOUR LEVEL OF ACTIVITY OR INTEREST IS.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, IT HAD TO DO WITH CHILDHOOD OBESITY.
MARCUS HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT LEADER STARTING US ON THAT AND I
HOPE I CAN COUNT ON EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL IN BEING SUPPORTIVE.
>> WE ALSO HAVE THE HEALTHY TREATSES FROM THE NORFOLK ICE
CREAM COMPANY. >> THERE YOU GO.
>> ANDY AND I WON HEALTHIEST CHOICE AWARD FOR THE PRIME PLUS
EVENT, WE WON ONE OF THE AWARDS, SO WE HELPED KICK OFF THE
HEALTHY INITIATIVE. >> GOOD.
>> THERE YOU GO, BOB. >> I'M GLAD YOU FINALLY
ANNOUNCED THAT. >> CAN I FOLLOW UP SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS? WE ALL GOT THE PUBLIC SERVICE
RECOGNITION, IS THAT PART OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> YEAH. >> WE USED TO HAVE CITY EMPLOYEE
OF THE YEAR AWARD, AND WAS IT -- ONE OF THE CLUBS, THEY DID IT
FOR SO MANY YEARS. THE MEMBERSHIP GOT PRETTY OLD
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK ALLEN AND BRECK TRIED TO HELP
THEM AND THAT LASTED FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND THEN IT JUST
DIED. I MEAN, SEEMS TO ME A CITY LIKE
OURS, YOU TALK ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES, OUGHT TO HAVE AN
EMPLOYEE LIKE THAT, DON'T YOU THINK?
I GUESS SOME PEOPLE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS OF THE YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DIVIDE IT, BUT SEEMS TO ME WE
OUGHT TO GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO DOING THAT AGAIN.
MAYBE YOU COULD GET A JURY OF OUTSTANDING CITIZENS, YOU KNOW,
TO HELP -- WE DON'T NEED A CLUB ANY LONGER, BUT, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE WOULD MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE COULD HAVE A -- THERE WASN'T MUCH MONEY IN THE EVENT, GOT
JUST A LITTLE BIT DATED, THE AWARD, AND SO WE COULD HAVE A
NICE LUNCHEON, A DINNER, YOU COULD TURN IT INTO A NICE MORALE
BOOSTING THING WHERE WE CAN CELEBRATE OUR EMPLOYEES.
HAVE SOME FINALISTS AND HAVE A -- YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO ME
LIKE SUCH AN EASY THING TO DO, BUT ALSO APPROPRIATE.
MR. BURFOOT? >> NOTHING.
[ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> IT MEANS WE CAN START ON
TIME. >> OKAY.
ANGELIA? >> I JUST HAVE TWO THINGS.
THE FIRST THING IS WHO HANDLES OR IS THERE ANYBODY THAT HANDLES
LIGHTING AT THE BUS STOPS? THE SHELTERS, THE LITTLE --
BECAUSE THEY HAVE VERY DARK AT NIGHT.
IS THERE LIGHTING IN THEM PROVIDED?
YOU DRIVE BY THEM AND, I MEAN -- >> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
LIGHT IN THERE. >> IT'S SCARY.
>> NO ELECTRICITY. >> IF THEY'RE NOT NEAR A STREET
LIGHT, IT'S VERY DARK. AND THAT'S -- I THINK WE SHOULD
TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
KIND OF PERUSE THROUGH THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU SENT AND I'M
VERY GLAD THAT YOU DID THAT. YOU KNOW, THEY PUT HONORABLE IN
FRONT OF OUR NAMES AND WE ARE TELEVISED AND, YOU KNOW, THERE
HAVE BEEN SOME MEETINGS WHERE TEMPERS HAVE FLARED AND THINGS
LIKE THAT, AND WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS THAT PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WE DO, AND SO IN LIGHT OF
OUR LAST MEETING, I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT --
THERE'S AT LEAST A RECOMMENDATION OR, YOU KNOW,
SOME PROTOCOL THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED BECAUSE THAT JUST
WAS NOT HONORABLE TWO WEEKS AGO. THAT'S ALL.
>> WELL, I WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT NOW I HAVE TIME.
I'M GOING TO MAKE UP SOME STUFF. NO, I JUST, FIRST, WANT TO THANK
PUBLIC WORKS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE E-MAIL THAT CAME OUT FROM, I THINK
ALLISON ON SOME OF THE NEW THINGS ONLINE, AND NOW YOU CAN
ACTUALLY SEE ALL THE STREET LIGHTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPAIRED
OR BROKEN AND IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FIXED AND THERE'S SOME
OTHER TRAFFIC-RELATED THINGS, SO I THINK THAT'S MOVING US IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, SO I COMMEND PUBLIC WORKS AND MARCUS AND
COMMUNICATIONS FOR GETTING THAT TOGETHER.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THAT.
JUST A SMALL PUBLIC WORKS THING. JOHN, I WAS GOING TO E-MAIL
ANNE, BUT I'LL JUST SAY IT. THE NEW -- WHERE THEY JUST
FINISH THE PROJECT OVER ON FOURTH VIEW AND PUT A GREEN --
THE ARROWS ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU'RE GOING EAST, LEAD YOU RIGHT INTO
THE MEDIAN IN FRONT OF THE TACO BELL/KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN, SO
WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING FROM OCEANVIEW, FROM WILLOUGHBY, THE
WAY THE ARROWS ARE DRAWN, THEY LEAD YOU IN A BAD PATH.
SO IF YOU GUYS COULD LOOK AT THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S DARK OVER THERE, I CAN SEE SOMEBODY GETTING
CONFUSED WITH THAT. BASICALLY ADJUST THAT.
SOMEBODY BROUGHT THAT UP. >> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
WE CAN TAKE A COUPLE MINUTE BREAK SO WE CAN START RIGHT AT
7:00 THEN. ALL RIGHT?
GREAT. >> SOMEBODY HAD A -- WE COULD
SEE THAT, IT WS A FILLER. >> AND THE GENTLEMAN, SOMEBODY
HAD -- >> MR. MAYOR, THREE THINGS.
THERE ARE TWO RESOLUTIONS ON YOUR AGENDA THIS EVENING, ONE OF
WHICH DEALS WITH REGIONAL SOLID WASTE PLANNING.
IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, THE OFFICIAL FROM THE
PLANNING COMMISSION IS HERE. THERE'S ALSO A RESOLUTION
RELATED TO A STUDY ABOUT CONSOLIDATION OF WASTEWATER AND
KRISTEN IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
IN TWO WEEKS, WE ARE BRINGING AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO PEDICABS
AND WE THOUGHT WE'D GIVE YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT'S RELATED TO
THAT PROGRAM THIS EVENING. >> I'VE BECOME AN EXPERT ON
PEDICABS THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS. WE'VE HAD A REQUEST FROM TWO
BUSINESSES TO START OPERATING PEDICAB OPERATIONS IN THE CITY
AND THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE BRINGING THIS TO YOU AND WE'LL
HAVE AN ORDINANCE FOR CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER IN A COUPLE
OF WEEKS. A PEDICAB IS, YOU KNOW, A
THREE-WHEELED BICYCLE WITH THE DRIVER IN THE FRONT, PASSENGERS
IN THE BACK. THE OPERATIONS HAVE -- THEY HAVE
OPERATIONS LIKE THIS AT THE TOWN CENTER IN VIRGINIA BEACH.
IT'S A FUN AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WAY TO GET AROUND
DOWNTOWN FOR SHORT TERMS, SHORT TRIPS, IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE TO
USING CARS AND POLLUTION-FREE OPPORTUNITY.
PREVIOUSLY, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A PILOT PROGRAM IN
1999, IT WAS A ONE-YEAR PILOT, AND A BUSINESS DID TRY IT WITH
SOME LIMITED OPERATIONS AND IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL FOR THE
VENDOR. THEY DISCONTINUED IT FOR
WHATEVER REASON. IT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR THEM.
TWO COMPANIES ARE CURRENTLY INTERESTED IN PROVIDING PEDICAB
SERVICE TO DOWNTOWN AND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD ALLOW
THE OPERATION OF THE PEDICABS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THE INTENTION IS TO BRING AN ORDINANCE TO COUNCIL THIS MONTH.
WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT SO THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BEGIN THESE OPERATIONS FOR OPSAIL IN JUNE.
THE PEDICABS WILL REQUIRE PERMITS.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, SIMILAR
TO WHAT THEY DO WITH TAXI CABS. AGAIN, THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO
OPERATE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT THEY WILL REQUIRE A BUSINESS
LICENSE, A PEDICAB DRIVERS MUST BE DRESSED IN A CLEAN COMPANY
UNIFORM, CAN'T OPERATE ON SIDEWALKS AND WILL HAVE THEM
OPERATING ON THE STREETS WITH POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 25 MILES
AN HOUR OR LESS. THERE ARE SOME OTHER RULES,
CAN'T BOARD OR DISCHARGE PASSENGERS FROM A TRAVEL LANE OR
BLOCK A TRAVEL LANE. NOT BE PARKED OR STAND ON A
SIDEWALK. MUST OBEY ALL THE TRAFFIC LAWS
AND THE EQUIPMENT MUST MEET REGULATIONS TO BE SAFE FOR
OPERATIONS IN THE CITY AT NIGHT. THE FEES ARE INTENDED TO BE
SIMILAR FOR WHAT WE HAVE FOR TAXIS, $60 CERTIFICATE FEE FOR
EACH PEDICAB AND A $20 ANNUAL FEE FOR EACH DRIVER.
ALSO, WE WANT TO LIMIT THE FEES THAT THEY MAY CHARGE THEIR
PASSENGERS TO $2 PER BLOCK, $25 A HALF HOUR, $45 PER HOUR.
AND YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED -- WE WILL BE BRINGING AN ORDINANCE TO
CITY COUNCIL IN TWO WEEKS. WE HAVE CIRCULATED THE ORDINANCE
TO THE TWO COMPANIES FOR COMMENTS, HAVE NOT HEARD
ANYTHING FROM THEM YET, BUT ONCE THE ORDINANCE IS APPROVED, WE'LL
GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND START SERVICE IN
TIME FOR OPSAIL, HOPEFULLY. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR JOHN?
THANK YOU. JOHN, YOU REALLY MOVED ALL THE
WAYS, HAVEN'T YOU? LIGHT RAIL, THIS.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL TAKE A SHORT BREAK.
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