Regular 09/11/12 Session - Norfolk City Council

>>> IF I CAN CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE CEO, GREG WOODSMALL OF ELIZABETH
RIVER CROSSINGS TO TELL US HOW THEY'RE GEARING UP AND JOHN
ANDREWS IS HERE AS WELL WITH A NUMBER OF VETERANS WHO ARE HERE.
SO WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU HERE, HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE,
REALLY. APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS AND
EVERYONE WHO SERVES ON THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND
WE'LL BE GETTING AN UPDATE ON THAT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.
WE DO HAVE AN ORDINANCE LATER ON ACTUALLY NAMING MEMBERS OF THE
COMMISSION AND VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION, AND THE MILITARY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND WE GOT A COUPLE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND ALL OF THEM HAVE
BEEN INCLUDED ON THE BOARD. SO MR.áJONES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
START? >> SURE.
AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO GO
DIRECTLY TO OUR GUESTS. I DID HAVE ONE QUICK
ANNOUNCEMENT AND THEN I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
I DID WANT TO MENTION THE MEET AND GREET IN THE MANSION ON
FRIGHT NIGHT, THE GATHERING THAT OCCURRED AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT
IN TERMS OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK, IT'S ALMOST UNIVERSAL, SO I JUST
WANT TO THANK ALL THOSEá-- >> THERE'S SOME QUALIFICATION ON
THAT. >> SOME QUALIFICATION?
I DO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF, LORI CROUCH AND SARAH PARKER AND
EVERYBODY WHO MADE IT HAPPEN. AGAIN, THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK
THAT WE'VE HEARD UP TO THIS POINT IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IS IT
GOING TO OCCUR AGAIN, SO IT'S JUST REALLY REWARDING,
REFRESHING WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET PEOPLE
TOGETHER FOR ONE UPLIFTING PROGRAM.
I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT. >> YEAH, AND I KNOW, SEVERAL OF
US WERE OUT THERE AS WELL AND, MARCUS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE GREAT
CREDIT, YOUR STAFF, LORI, MANAGING NOT A LOT OF RESOURCES
TO PUT TOWARDS THIS EFFORT, BUT A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM AND THERE
WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. THOUSANDS.
AND ALWAYS NICE TO SORT OF GET OVERWHELMED LIKE THAT, BUT THE
THING IS, ITS GROWN, IT'S BIGGER THAN US.
THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT AREá-- ESPECIALLY A LOT OF YOUNG
FOLKS THAT HAVE TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF GRANBY STREET AND THE
DOWNTOWN, AND SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO IT MORE THAN ONCE
AND WE OUGHT TO DO ITá-- MAYBE THE COUNCIL AT THE RETREAT CAN
TALK A BIT, MAYBE WE CAN TALK IT INTO A COMMITTEE, DO IT AT LEAST
TWICE A YEAR, MAYBE MORE. AND YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T BURDEN
LORI WITH DOING IT EVERY TIME, BUT IT OUGHT TO GO INTO Aá--
SOME SORT OF ESPECIALLY EVENTS CATEGORY WHERE THE TIMING OF IT
IS APPROPRIATE, BUT I THINK YOU CAN HAVE A LOT OF GOOD WILL BY
GETTING SOME YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE, SOME OF THOSE FOLKS
WHO SHOWED UP THAT ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT AND GET
SOME OF THE OLD HACKS LIKE ME OUT OF THE WAY ANDá-- I MEAN,
YOU KNOW, AND LET THEM DO THEIR THING AND SEE HOW IT MIGHT BE
DONE AGAIN. I KNOW ON FACEBOOK THERE WERE A
NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS ANDá-- SO ANYWAY, I MEAN THE CROWD WAS
VERY YOUNG AT TIMES, IT WAS OLD, DIVERSE, YOU NAME IT.
BEAUTIFUL. PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER DOWN THERE,
SOá-- ANYWAY, SOMETHING YOU CAN BUILD ON FOR SURE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WANTS TO ADD TO THAT.
>> I WAS THINKING A HOLIDAY-TYPE FESTIVAL WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY
FANTASTIC, LIKE MAYBE THE WEEK AFTER THE GRAND ILLUMINATION AND
HOT APPLE CIDER AND HOT CHOCOLATE AND SANTA AND ALL THAT
UP AND DOWN GRANBY STREET. I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THE WHOLE DIME, YOU KNOW. WHATEVER.
>> NOT ALCOHOL. >> LORI, ARE YOU TAKING NOTES
HERE? >> YOU COULD DO A BEALE STREET
TYPE OF THING. OKAY, WHY DON'T WE DO, REAL
QUICKLY, COUNCIL INTERESTS AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE NEED
TO GET ON THE TABLE HERE. >> ACTUALLY, THE COUNCIL
INTERESTS I HAVE, I'D LIKE FOR US TO MAYBE HAVE SOME FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS AT THE RETREAT, AND WHAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TRUCK
TRAFFIC ON HAMPTON BOULEVARD. THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE HERE
REMEMBER THAT RIGHT AFTER ISABEL AND THEY CLOSED THE MIDTOWN
TUNNEL AND THE TRUCKS HAD TO GO 564 TO MAKE THEIR WAY, YOU KNOW,
TO PORTSMOUTH. I SUGGESTED WE GET THE TRUCK
TRAFFIC OFF OF HAMPTON BOULEVARD AT THAT TIME.
MY MAJOR CONCERN IS SAFETY AS WELL AS ANY ANCILLARY EFFECTS.
AND WHEN I SAY SAFETY, WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO MOVE BASEBALL IN
FLEET PARK BECAUSE OF SAFETY. WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO MOVE THE
EAGLES FROM THE BOTANICAL GARDEN BECAUSE OF SAFETY, AND BOTH OF
THOSE WERE BECAUSE OF FEDERAL DIRECTIONAL MANDATES.
YET, WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE TRAFFIC, TRUCK TRAFFIC TO COME
DOWN HAMPTON BOULEVARD AND FROM 2:45 UNTIL 4:00, THAT'S PROBABLY
ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS STRETCHES THERE IS BECAUSE THESE
TRUCK DRIVERS ARE TRYING TO GET TO THE TUNNEL BEFORE 4:00áP.M.
NOW, WE HAD A TRUCK TO OVERTURN A YEAR AGO, UP BY LARCHMONT, AND
ALL WE NEED IS FOR ONE OF OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN, ODU STUDENT, A
PEDESTRIAN OR JUST A MOTORIST TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF TRUCK
TRAFFIC. AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT
MADE ME THINK ABOUT THIS, AND MARCUS, I HOPE MAYBE YOU CAN
PULL SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR THE RETREAT, IS THE ANCILLARY
EFFECTS OF TRUCK TRAFFIC. I WAS SURPRISED RIDING DOWN
NORTH SHORE ROAD AND LOCHHAVEN TO SEE AS MANY "FOR SALE" SIGNS
THAT I'VE SEEN. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S DIRECTLY
HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH TRUCK TRAFFIC ON HAMPTON BOULEVARD OR
NOT, BUT IT'S JUST ALARMING TO SEE THE NUMBER OF "FOR SALE"
SIGNS THAT WE HAVE IN WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER OUR REALLY, YOU
KNOW, GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO I JUST THINK WE NEED TO
TAKE A HARD LOOK, BUT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY IS CHANGING.
THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PORT BEING SOLD AND THE EFFECTS THAT
MIGHT HAVE. IF IT'S SOLD, IT'S GOING TO BE
SOLD TO A FOREIGN COMPANY, YOU KNOW, COUNTRY, OR COMPANY.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A HARD TALK ON TRUCK TRAFFIC ON
HAMPTON BOULEVARD. MY CONCERN IS PURELY ABOUT
SAFETY OF HAMPTON BOULEVARD AND WHAT EFFECT IT HAS ON OUR CITY.
>> WHAT ARTERIAL OPTIONS WOULD THEY HAVE?
WHAT WOULD THEY UTILIZE. >> STAY RIGHT ONá-- THEY
WOULDN'T COME DOWNá-- WHEN I SAY HALF TON, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE
TIDEWATER DRIVE, ANY OF THE SURFACE STREETS.
WHEN WE GET THEM OFF HAMPTON, WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM OFF ALL
OF OUR SURFACE STREETS AND IT WILL BE 564 TO HOWEVER THEY GET
TO PORTSMOUTH WITHOUT COMING DOWN ON OUR STREETS.
NOW, I WASN'T TALKING ABOUTá-- >> WE JUST HAD A PRESENTATIONá--
>> WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT GIVING UP TIDEWATER DRIVE FOR HAMPTON,
HAMPTON BOULEVARD IS, YOU KNOW, WHILE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY
OF HAMPTON BOULEVARD, ALL OF OUR STREETS WILL BE PUT, YOU KNOW,
IN PERIL IF WE DECIDED TO CLOSE HAMPTON AND LET THEM GO
TIDEWATER, HOWEVER WAY IT WOULD BE TO GET THERE.
WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A HARD STANCE AND WHEN THIS PORT
CLOSES, I MEAN, WHEN THEY SELL THIS PORT, NO TELLING WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN. WHEN WE WOKE UP AND FORD MOTOR
COMPANY LEFT, WE HAD NO IDEA. AND WE'RE 2014, THE PANAMA
CANAL, AND YOU HAVE CHARLESTON AND SAVANNAH AND ALL OF THESE
OTHER PORTS THAT DON'T HAVE DEEP WATER LIKE WE HAVE WHO ARE NOW
TALKING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ABOUT GETTING, YOU KNOW,
DEEP WATER, AND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
NEXT WEEK OR NEXT YEAR, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK TO MAYBE 2020, YOU
KNOW, AND LOOK OUT FOR NORFOLK THEN.
[ INAUDIBLE COMMENTS ] >> RIGHT.
>> OKAY, I AGREE. >> DOVETAILING ON THAT,
MEANWHILE, WE DO NEED TO BE FORCING NEW ORDINANCES ABOUT
4:00. BEE BACKSLIDE ON THAT.
TWO QUICK THINGS. I WOULD LIKE AT THE RETREAT FOR
US TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN BE THE EASIEST AND BEST PLACE FOR A NEW
COMPANY TO MOVE TO OUR CITY OR START UP IN OUR CITY.
I KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON SOME THINGS DOWNTOWN.
WE STILLá-- I STILL GET A LOT OF FRUSTRATION FROM PEOPLE THAT A
LOT OF HOOPS THEY HAVE TO YUMP THROUGH.
I THINK WEá-- JUMP THROUGH. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST
THE LEAST FRUSTRATING CITY TO DO BUSINESS IN.
WE OUGHT TO BE FASTER, EASIER, NOT QUITE AS MANY HOOPS TO JUMP
THROUGH. NOT SACRIFICING QUALITY OR
THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT
AT THE RETREAT. THE OTHER THING IS, I'M PROXY
HERE FOR THEá-- WE HAVE MONEY, MATCHING MONEY FOR SPAY/NEUTER
PROGRAM? I'M GETTING A LOT OF EMAILS AND
IT INDICATED TO ME, COULD YOU PUT IN THE BUDGET FOR SOME
SPAY/NEUTER MONEY OR NOT? ANYBODY ELSE GETTING THOSE
EMAILS? >> I'M GETTING ONE ASKING IF
MATCHING FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. >> AND THE TIME IS RUNNING OUT
TO USE THEM AND I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUTá--
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE ARGUED IS THAT WE
SUPPORTED A RESOLUTION, I THINK, FOR THIS AND IN ORDER FOR THEM
TO GET THE MATCHING FUNDS, THE CITY HAS TO MATCHá--
>> DO WE HAVE THEM IN THE BUDGET?
IS IT THIS OR THIS OR THATá-- >> WHAT OCCURRED AT THE END, TO
MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THERE'S FLEXIBILITY IN THE BUDGET, I
THINK $50,000, THERE WOULD BE FLEXIBILITY IN THE BUDGET WHEN
THE MATCHING FUNDS WOULD BE REQUIRED, EVEN IF IT HAD TO COME
FROM CONTINGENCY. IT WASN'T GOING TO BE THERE WAS
AN ISSUE WE COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE OF MONEY.
>> I THINK WE'RE CLOSING IN ON THAT TIME FRAME.
>> THEY HAVE GOT THE GRANT. I THINK THEY JUST NEED THE
CITY'S COMMITMENT ON THAT THEY CAN GET THE MATCHING PART.
>> WITH THE TNR? >> NO, NO, NO.
SPAY/NEUTER HAMPTON. SPAY/NEUTER.
>> DO WE HAVE FUNDS FOR THAT? >> CAN WE FIND OUT AND GET BACK
TOá-- WE DON'T WANT TO LET THIS GRANT SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.
>> AND I THINK IT'S BECOME MORE PRESSING TOO BECAUSE SOME OF THE
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD BEEN WORKING IN NORFOLK FOR
SPAY/NEUTER HAD PULLED OUT, SO THEY ARE TRYING TO OFFSET SOME
OF THE LOSS FROM THAT WITH THIS GRANT.
>> DIDN'T WE ACTUALLY AT THE VERY END OF THE BUDGET
(INAUDIBLE) YOU'LL LOOK INTO IT, I'M SURE.
>> THERE IS SOME URGENCY, I UNDERSTAND.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> BURFOOT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU GUYS GOT CALLS AS RELATES TO THE
SENIOR TAX RELIEF PROGRAM. BUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS IS
NOT UP YET, BUT IT WILL BE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SENIORS, 82,
76, 72, 75, THAT HAVE BEEN ON THAT PROGRAM TEN YEARS, FIVE
YEARS, 20 YEARS, AND THIS YEAR SOMEHOW THEY DIDN'T MAKE THE
CUT. SO ME, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, A PERSON 85, 86 YEARS
OLD THAT HAS ENJOYED THAT PRIVILEGE FOR 20 YEARS
LEGITIMATELY, ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW DON'Tá-- DIDN'T GET THE
PAPERWORK IN OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BUT THEY'RE NOT
GETTING THE RELIEF. AND SO IF IT'S A BUDGETARY ISSUE
IN THAT IT HAS TO COME TO THIS SIDE, I THINK WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING IN THE INTERIM UNTIL THIS PROGRAM TRANSITIONS OVER,
UNTIL THE CITY MANAGER CAN TOTALLY GET HIS ARMS AROUND IT,
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT HIS STAFF IS DOING A GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF
TRYING TO MITIGATE MOST OF THE ISSUES, BUT IF YOU ARE GETTING
CLOSE, I KNOW I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF CALLS, CALLING COUNCIL
PERSON, AND JUST TELLING THE PEOPLE THAT WE RAN OUT OF MONEY.
>> AND THAT'S NOT THE REASON FOR THE CUT.
>> THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. >> WE HAVE NEVERá-- I MEAN, YOU
HAVE TO PUT A NUMBER IN YOUR BUDGET THAT YOU ESTIMATE THE
AMOUNT OF RELIEF THAT IS GIVEN AND WE HAVE LED THE REGION IN
THE AMOUNT OF RELIEF THAT WE'VE GIVEN AND WE'VE EVEN TALKED
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE HIGH LIMITS THAT WE SET, THE VALUESá-- HOW
MUCH THEY CAN HAVE IN PERSONAL VALUE, BUT IN ANY EVENT, I THINK
THE MANAGER AND YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO THIS, WOULD YOU GET
DIRECTLY INVOLVED, I'M NOT AWARE THAT THE MANAGER, THAT YOU'RE
TURNING ANYBODY AWAY THAT'S BEEN HELPED IN THE PAST.
THERE ARE DEADLINES THAT WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO LIVE UP TO, BUT
SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TO LIVE UP EXCEPTá-- THERE HAS BEEN TO
BE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THAT. >> WE DIDN'T HAVE A HARD LINE IN
THE PAST, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, UNLESS WE DIFFERá--
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. THAT'S TRUE.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE PREMATURE ON OUR BEHALF TO ISSUE A HARD
LINE. IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR.
SO I MEAN, WE MAY BE IN TRANSITION AND THERE MAY BE SOME
GROWING PAINS, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE
MANAGER IS DOING THAT, IN THE COMING YEARS, WE WILL SEE A REAL
COST SAVINGS IN THE PROGRAM ITSELF BECAUSE OF THE MEASURES
HE'S TAKEN, SO IT MAY BE A LITTLE PAINFUL GETTING THROUGH
THIS PART OF IT, BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'LL HAVE A
BETTER PROCESS IN PLACE. THE OTHER THING, JUST TO
PIGGYBACK ON WHAT BARCLAY SAID, I GOT A CALL FROM REPORTER TODAY
ABOUT CLARK NIXON LEAVING AND GOING TO TOWNSEND.
AN ISSUE FOR MEá-- NOT NIXON, BUT RETENTION.
RETAINING ABOUT BUSINESSES IN THE CITY AS A MARK OF A GREAT
CITY, BEING ABLE TO RETAIN BUSINESSES.
WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT RELOCATING IN THE CITY, THE FIRST THING
THEY WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT IS THE LIFE SPAN OF THE BUSINESS, HOW
LONG BUSINESS HAS BEEN IN THAT PARTICULAR CITY, SO WHEN YOU
HAVE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND 50 YEARS, 100 YEARS, IT
SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THE CITY HAS
WITH THESE BUSINESSES AND TO ADD ON TO THAT, TO GROW BUSINESS IN
A CITY OUR SIZE, IT'S IMPORTANT, AND WE'VE LOST SOME MAJOR
BUSINESSES, SOME TO OUR FOUGHT, SOME NOT TO OUR FAULT, BUT WE
HAVE TO HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE WHERE WE CAN INCENTIVIZE GROWTH,
WE CAN INCENTIVIZE NEW BUSINESS COMING IN.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN INCENTIVIZE BUSINESSES
THAT WANT TO GROW. BUSINESSES WANT TO ADD 50 TO 100
NEW EMPLOYEES, THAT IS TO ME NO DIFFERENT THAN A BUSINESS COMING
IN ADDING 25 NEW EMPLOYEES. I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ON
THE BACK END THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMS, AND WE HAVE NONE TO MY
KNOWLEDGE, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN AND
GROW GOOD BUSINESSES AND ALWAYS LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN SPAN THE
FOOTPRINT OF BUSINESSESá-- EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT OF
BUSINESSES WHERE WE'RE MOVING THEM TO OTHER DESIRABLE AREAS OF
THE CITY OR CO-LOCATING THEM WHERE THEY ALREADY ARE, OR IF WE
NEED TO INCENTIVIZE THEM FINANCIALLY, UNDERSTANDING THAT
WHEN WE LOSE THEM TO OTHER CITIES, WE LOSE ALL OF THAT
REVENUE, AND SO I WOULD RATHER INCENTIVIZE A BUSINESS AND
EXPLAIN TO THE TAXPAYERS THAT, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH WE'RE
INCENTIVIZING THIS BUSINESS, I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE
POTENTIAL GROWTH OF JOBS THAT WE WILL GROW AND CREATE AS A RESULT
OF KEEPING THAT BUSINESS IN THIS CITY AS EXPOSED TO LETTING THAT
BUSINESS GO ELSEWHERE. THE OTHER THING THAT I'M REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT IS OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH EXISTING
BUSINESSES IN THIS COMPANY. I THINK THE CITY CAN BE A
CATALYST IN TERMS OF HELPING SMALL BUSINESS WITHIN THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, CITY IS A MACHINE IN ITSELF AND WE DO A LOT OF
DIFFERENT THINGS, AND AT SOME POINT, FROM AN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, WE GOT TO LOOK AT THE VENDORS, THE
PEOPLE WE DO BUSINESS WITH, AND IF WE DICTATE A SCORE CARD, IF
WE'RE DOING BUSINESS WITH MORE BUSINESSES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY
THAN WE'RE DOING INSIDE OF THE CITY, THEN THAT'S AN ISSUE.
I KNOW EVERYá-- A PROCESS, PROCUREMENT PROCESS THAT WE HAVE
TO GO THROUGH, BUT AGAIN, IF WE'RE STRENGTHENING BUSINESSES
WITHIN THE CITY, THEY CAN ADD EMPLOYEES, THEY CAN GROW THEIR
BASE, AND WE GET THAT TAX REVENUE BACK.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THATá-- I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AT THE RETREAT,
I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT'Sá-- THAT'S ONE OF THOSE BULLETS THAT
TAKES IN A SPACE THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.
>> TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY MAKING MORE CREDIBLE PARTNERS, BUT HOW
YOU CAN TAKE THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE, HOW WE'RE MORE
ATTRACTIVE TOá-- WE HAVEN'T REPOSITIONED (INAUDIBLE).
YOU KNOW, WE HAD THAT GRANT PROGRAM AND I THINK WE'VE
ACTUALLY IN THE PAST, RARELY THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR ADVANCE IN
SYSTEMS THAT ACTUALLY USED (INAUDIBLE) BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE
IT IN A LONG, LONG TIME. >> THE THING WITH DOWNTOWN, WE
NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE.
THOSE RESOURCES, THESE THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT,
IMPROVE THE BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN, AND SO I JUST THINK WE
NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN TRYING TO ATTRACT
THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN DOWNTOWN.
AND IT DOESN'T COST THE TAXPAYERS ANY MORE MONEY.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING EXTRA TO LIVE IN THAT
DISTRICT, AND SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT SO THEY CAN
GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT. WE'RE NOT DOING THAT THERE, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE NOT DOING WHAT WE'REá-- WE SHOULD BE DOING AS A
HOST CITY. >> ANGELIA?
>> I JUSTá-- THE VICE MAYOR MENTIONED, SOMETHING THAT WAS
IMPORTANT TO ME, I TALKED A LOT EARLIER THIS WEEK AND I THINK
PART OF THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE WAY THE LETTER WAS JUST
WORDED, IS THAT IT STARTED OUT WITH IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANY
CHANGES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.
AND SO NOBODY RAN DOWN TO THE PART THAT SAYS YOU DO HAVE TO
SIGN IT AND SEND IT BACK, THAT SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGES.
THE CALLS THAT I'VE GOTTEN, RON IS WORKING ON MAKING SURE THAT
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ELDERLY, IN THEIR 70s, 80s,
WHATEVER, ARE ABLE TO GET TAX RELIEF.
I DIDN'T GET AN INDICATION THAT IT WAS A BUDGETARY THING, BUT IT
MIGHT BE, OR WHATEVER. BUT HE'S WORKING ON THAT.
THE SECOND THING WAS, WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO THE CITY HALL
BUILDING, WHEN YOU GO OVER INTO THE COURTHOUSE, THEY HAVE LARGE
SCREENS UP, KIND OF LIKE THE ONES WE HAVE HERE, THAT HAVE
INFORMATION ABOUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO THIS COURT OR THAT
COURT OR THE OTHER COURT, AND I MEAN, IT MAY SEEM KIND OF
FRIVOLOUS, BUT THATá-- WE DON'T HAVE ANYá-- WE DON'T HAVE A
PERSON ANYMORE AT THE INFORMATION DESK AND SO PEOPLE
COME IN AND THEY KIND OF LOOK AROUND AND THEY MAY NOT KNOW
WHERE THEY'RE GOING OR MAY NOT KNOW WHERE DISTRICT IS OR
CIRCUIT IS, OR THEY COME IN THE OTHER END OF THE BUILDING.
AND IF SECURITY IS THERE, THEY'RE NOT THERE OR ON A BREAK
OR WHATEVER, DO WE HAVE ANY MONEY TO BE ABLE TO POSSIBLY
UPGRADE THAT BOARD THAT HAS BEEN THERE PROBABLY FOR AS LONG AS
I'VE BEEN ALIVE IN. >> I WON'T EVEN LOOK OVER TO MY
RIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW BOB BATCHER IS ON THE EDGE OF HIS SEAT
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON REVAMPING THIS FOR A WHILE.
>> ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD. >> TWO THINGS.
ONE, LOOKING THROUGH ARCHIVES AND ALSO BEING LAMBLASTED WITH
EMAILS FROM THE SPAY AND NEUTER MATCHING GRANT, SO IT'S JUST
5,000. THE OTHER THING IS, AND I KNOW
YOU GUYS ARE GETTING HAMMERED WITH EAGLE EMAILS.
I'M NOT, SOá-- [ LAUGHTER ]
>> YOU'RE CREATING SOME OF THEM? I DON'T KNOW.
>> BUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO FOR YOU GUYS IS JUST TO GIVE YOU
REAL QUICKá-- AND I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY GETTING TIRED OF ME
TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT JUST A FEW THINGS.
ONE, THE LETTER FROM THE FAA RECOMMENDED THAT WE APPLY FOR
THE PERMIT. IT DIDN'T MANDATE IT, AND WE
HAVE A COPY OF THAT LETTER. WE WERE DEALING WITH THEá-- THE
ORIGINAL REQUEST FROM THE EAGLE FOLKS WAS TO DELAY THIS FOR ONE
YEAR AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE OUT
THERE, SO WHAT I DID FOR YOU, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SENDING A
LOT OF EMAILS WITH ARTICLES AND LINKS AND THINGS TO IT, I MADE
SOME COPIES OF THEM. THE FIRST ONES THAT I GAVE YOU
ARE FROM THE SANFORD AIRPORT IN ORLANDO WHICH HAS A MUCH BIGGER
EAGLE PROBLEM, AND IT TALKS ABOUT IN 2008 WHEN THEY REMOVED
THE THREE NESTS AND HOW IT DID NOT WORK.
THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING THERE AND THEY'RE LEARNING TO
ADAPT BY DOING SOME OTHER THINGS, AND THEY'RE ALSO, IN
THIS IS AN ARTICLEá-- I ACTUALLY GOT A COPY OF AN EMAIL FROM
SOMEBODY AT VCU THAT DEVELOPED SOME KIND OF SOUND DEVICE THAT
DETERS BIRDS FROM NESTING, AND THEY HAVE PUT ON THE EMAIL AND
OFFERED THEIR ASSISTANCE FROM VCU AND A GRADUATE STUDENT TO
COME DOWN AND LOOK AT THAT, AND THEN THE LAST ONE WAS THE ONE
THAT YOU GUYS HEAR ABOUT OFTEN IN THE EMAIL, WHICH IS THE
MERLIN SYSTEM THAT OVER 100 AIRPORTS ARE USING NOW, WHICH
ACTUALLY DOESN'T JUST HELP WITH SAFETY FROM EEG GUILTY, IT
HELPSá-- EAGLES, IT HELPS WITH ALL BIRDS BECAUSE IT WARNS
AIRPLANES WHEN BIRDS ARE IN THAT AREA, AND SO ONCE AGAIN, THEY
ARE ASKING, YOU KNOW, FOR A DELAY TO LOOK AT SOME OF THESE
OTHER OPTIONS WHICH MIGHT END UP BEING BETTER FOR US WITH SAFETY
ISSUES THERE. AND ALSO, THE OTHER CONCERN IS,
IS THAT WHEN THISá-- THE DISPERSAL HAPPENS WITH THIS,
THEY DO USE PAINTBALL GUNS AND THEY AIM THEM TOWARDS THE NESTS
TO TRY TO SCARE THE EAGLES AWAY FROM NESTING.
THEY ALSO USE PYROTECHNICS AND SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN ON DISPLAY
AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS. THEY HAVE TRIED IT OUT.
ONE CONCERN WAS THAT SOMETIMES THIS DOES LAND IN THE WATERWAYS
THAT ARE THERE AND THERE'S SOME CONCERN ABOUT SOME OF THESE
ITEMS GOING INTO LAKE WHITEHURST IF THEY LAND NEAR THE
PYROTECHNIC STUFF. SO YOU MIGHT HEAR THAT AGAIN
TONIGHT. I THINK THERE'S SOME PEOPLE
COMING DOWN TO SPEAK. NOR MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE
RESEARCHED THIS AND THEY ARE JUST SAYING, THIS HAS BEEN TRIED
BEFORE IN ORLANDO AND IT DIDN'T WORK.
WE AGREE WITH YOU THERE'S AN ISSUE, WE JUST WANT YOU TO MAKE
THE SMARTEST DECISION WITH THIS AND THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS OUT
THERE, WE JUST HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER IT, AND THAT'S WHY
THEY HAVE ASKED FOR THE DELAY. THAT'S IT.
>> OKAY. JUST AS A FOLLOW-UP, I
UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE ASKED FOR THE DELAY.
I BELIEVE COUNCIL INSTRUCTED THE MANAGER TO GOá--
[ INAUDIBLE COMMENTS ] >> WE DIDN'T VOTE ON IT.
>> I THINK THAT COUNCILá-- I MEAN, WE DISCUSSED THIS NOW THE
THIRD TIME IN THREE MEETINGS, THAT THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP
AND EVENTUALLY WE HAVE TO MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION.
>> LOOK, WE ARE SORT OFá-- I THINK WE ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET
NEXT WEEK, TUESDAY. IT IS AN AFTERNOON MEETING.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE. I'M GOING TO BE OUT OF TOWN.
I'M EITHER GOING TO BE AT A BOARD MEETING OR GOING TO BEá--
MY DAUGHTER IS ABOUT TO HAVE A CHILD, AND THIS IS AN AFTERNOON
MEETING. WE COULD CANCEL THE MEETING OR
YOU GUYS CAN HAVE IT. WE HAVE TWO MEETINGS, WE COULD
CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO MEETINGS WE CAN CANCEL, AND IT'Sá-- I'M JUST
GOING TO LEAVE IT UP TO YOU. >> DO WE HAVE ANYTHING URGENT?
[áINDISCERNIBLE CROSS TALKá] >> OH, THERE WAS ONE MORE THING,
I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT OF SOMETHING, IT
WASá-- LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS, I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE
GAVE FOLKS THAT WORK FOR US ENOUGH NOTICE TO BE ABLE TO PLAN
THEIR THANKSGIVING AND THEIR CHRISTMAS AND JUST LOOK AT THE
DAYS AND WHEN WE'RE OPEN AND WHEN WE'RE NOT AND, YOU KNOW,
WHAT WOULD TRADITIONALLY BE A HALF DAY.
I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH LEEWAY IN THERE THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM
THOSE DAYS WITHOUT DOING ANY IRREPARABLE HARM TO SERVICES,
BUT, YOU KNOW, NOT WAITING UNTIL THE WEEK BEFORE NOVEMBER AND
SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW, TIME OFF. >> WOULD YOU ASK MARCUS TO MAKE
A RECOMMENDATION? STAFF WILL ACTUALLY COME BACK IN
CHEAPER CLOTHESá-- THEY SOLD US ON THAT ONE YEAR.
THE CLOTHES WEREá-- >> I THINK IT WOULD BE A NICE
THING TO DO FOR THE EMPLOYEES. >> BUT YOU HAVE TO REQUIRE THEM
TO GO TO HER HOLIDAY ON GRANBY STREET AS WELL.
>> I DON'T THINK THEY WILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
>> ONE OTHER THING FROMá-- WE'RE SCHEDULED TO HAVE AN AMTRAK
KICKOFF ON DECEMBER THE 11th, THE CELEBRATION, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT, RIGHT. >> AND THEN DECEMBER THE 12th,
IT ACTUALLY STARTS THEá-- THE TRAIN STARTS TO WORK.
THE MANAGER AT MY REQUEST HAS RESERVED ABOUT 30, 35 TICKETS,
HALF OF A TRAIN. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO RIDE, YOU
HAVE TO BUY YOUR TICKET, BUT THIS WILL AT LEAST PUT US ALL AT
ONE PLACE. I THINK I'M GOING TO TAKE Aá--
IF YOU WANTED TOá-- >> I'M GOING TO BOSTON.
>> ARE YOU? GOOD.
>> IT WILL BE THERE, BUT HE CAN'T HOLD THE TICKETS FOR TOO
LONG, SO YOU HAVE TO GIVE HIM SOME IDEA.
THERE ARE ABOUT 30 TICKETS, 30, 35 TICKETS.
>> WHAT TIME IS THAT? >> BUT IF YOU WANT TO TAKEá--
IT'S GOING TO BE A HISTORIC RIDE.
>> IT'S A WEDNESDAY, I THINK 12:00 NOON.
>> THAT'S ON THE 14th? >> THE 12th, YEAH.
>> DO WE KNOW WHAT TIME THAT KICKOFF IS GOING TO BE?
>> I DON'T KNOW. THE MANAGER IS GOING TO TELL US.
I THINK THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.
TOMMY, LET ME SAY SOMETHING ABOUTá-- I FEEL AS BAD ABOUTá--
I'M NOT TRYING TO PUSH YOU. >> I KNOW YOU'RE NOT.
I JUST THINK THAT IF YOU GUYS KNEW SOME MORE INFORMATION, WE
CAN LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL.
>> YOU HAVE A GREAT (INAUDIBLE). YOU DO.
ALL RIGHT, MR.áMANAGER, THANK YOU.
>> SO THEN CRAIG IS HERE. AND HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU AN
UPDATE ON LBZ CROSSINGS. ACTUALLY A PRESENTATION THAT I
RECEIVED ALONG WITHá-- IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.
>> WE CAN PROBABLY HEAR YOU RIGHT THERE.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER, MARCUS
JONES, FOR INVITING US TODAY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE COUNCIL
ON THE DOWNTOWN TUNNEL, MIDTOWN TUNNEL, MLK EXTENSION PROJECT.
THIS IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION IN THE
HAMPTON ROADS REGION IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND WE'RE REAL PROUD
TO BE PART OF DELIVERING THIS PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
VDOT. NOW, ONE THING I'LL POINT YOUR
ATTENTION TO IS WE HAVE BRANDED THE PROJECT ELIZABETH RIVER
TUNNELS. THIS WAS THE BUSINESS UNIT THAT
VDOT HAD AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO CARRY FORWARD,
AND SO WE CALL THE PROJECT ELIZABETH RIVER TUNNELS,
OPERATED BY ELIZABETH RIVER CROSSING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
VDOT. AS MARCUS SAID, I'M GREG
WOODSMALL AND I'M CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITH ELIZABETH
RIVER CROSSINGS, LLC, AND WITH ME TODAY I'VE GOT A COUPLE FOLKS
WHO ARE PART OF OUR TEAM. WE HAVE DALLAS MARLOW, OUR
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR, AND LELIA RICE, WHO IS OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS
MANAGER AND ALSO JOINING US TODAY A COUPLE OF OUR PARTNERS
WITH VDOT, FRANK FABIAN AND HA TAYLOR WITH VDOT AS WELL.
NOW, ELIZABETH RIVER CROSSING THE ENTITY OR ELIZABETH RIVER
CROSSINGS OPCO, LET ME CLARIFY THAT, ELIZABETH RIVER CROSSING
WAS THE ORGANIZATION THAT WAS IN EXISTENCE DURING THE DEVELOPMENT
PHASE. ELIZABETH RIVER CROSSINGS OPCO
WAS CREATED TO BE THE ENTITY THAT DELIVERED THIS PROJECT, AND
WE'RE THE ENTITY THAT ACTUALLY SIGNED THE CONTRACT OR THE
COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT WITH VDOT BACK IN DECEMBER 5th, 2011.
NOW, ERC-OPCO IS A SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPANY WITH THE SOLE
PURPOSE OFá-- FOR THIS PROJECT, TO DESIGN, TO CONSTRUCT, TO
OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THIS PROJECT.
NOW, AT FINANCIAL CLOSE, WHICH OCCURRED FRIDAY THE 13th, APRIL
THE 13th OF THIS YEAR, PRIOR TO THAT POINT IN TIME, ELIZABETH
RIVER CROSSINGS, OPCO HAD NO EMPLOYEES ANDING IN FACT, OUR
FIRST EMPLOYEE JOINED THE COMPANY ON APRIL 30th OF THIS
YEAR. AND I WAS NUMBER TWO.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT SLIPPED TO NUMBER TWO, BUT I WAS
THE NUMBER TWO EMPLOYEE. AND TO DATE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE
107 EMPLOYEES AND DURING THE PEAK OF THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD,
WE'LL BE UP TO APPROXIMATELY 140 EMPLOYEES.
NOWá-- >> GREG, JUST FOR OUR BENEFIT, I
MEAN, THAT ISá-- THAT IS YOUR OFFICE OF 140 EMPLOYEES?
>> RIGHT. >> AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTIONá--
>> THE CONTRACTOR ITSELF HASá-- WILL GENERATE, WE'VE HEARD, IN
EXCESS OF A THOUSAND JOBS FOR THIS PROJECT.
>> RIGHT. >> THIS IS THE ENTITY AND I'LL
GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT, WHAT OUR SOLE PURPOSE IS.
DALLAS IS GOING TO TOUCH BASE A LITTLE BIT ON THE CONSTRUCTION
HERE IN A MINUTE, BUT I DID MENTION THAT THE PROJECT
ENTAILED, OF COURSE, WE KNOW THE MIDTOWN TUNNEL, THE NEW TUBE,
THE EXTENSION OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING FREEWAY, AND THE
INTERCHANGES ON THE I-264, ALSO AT THE MIDTOWN AT THE
INTERCHANGES AT BRAMBLETON AVENUE AND HAMPTON BOULEVARD.
THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES THE RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING TUBE
AT THE MIDTOWN AND THE REHABILITATION OF THE TWO
EXISTINGá-- THE WESTBOUND AND EASTBOUND TUBES AT THE DOWNTOWN.
NOW, THE ONE THING THIS PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES IS THE OPERATIONS
AND MAINTENANCE, THIS PROJECT AREA, FOR THE NEXT 58 YEARS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, YOU WILL SEE
SOME DOTTED LINES IN YOUR MAP THAT IS THE AREA ACROSS THE
BERKLEY BRIDGE, AND THE AREA ACROSS THE WESTERN FREEWAY TO
THE FIRST INTERCHANGE, WE'VE ALSO ACCEPTED THE INCIDENT
MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE AREAS, SO WE'LL BE IN IT, OPERATING AND
MAINTENANCING THE AREAS WITHINá-- MAINTAINING THE AREAS
WITHIN THE PROJECT AS WELL AS THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT IN THOSE
OTHER AREAS. NOW, OUR ORGANIZATION IS
CURRENTLY LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN NORFOLK ON MONTICELLO AVENUE.
THAT'S DISHT'S A TEMPORARY OFFICE, AND ONCE COMPLETED,
WE'RE GOING TO RELOCATE OUR HEADQUARTERS RIGHT HERE ON THE
PENTER'S POINT SIDE AND IT SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER
AND THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR EMPLOYEES WILL BE HOUSED.
WE ALSO HAVE A FACILITY ON STATE STREET IN NORFOLK WHICH WILLá--
HAS APPROXIMATELY 25 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL THAT
WILL WORK OUT OF THAT FACILITY. I'M ALSO SHOWING YOU HERE, AND
I'LL TALK A BIT IN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TOLLING ASPECT, BUT
WE'VE LOCATED OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ON THE 14th SIDE.
ON JULY 13th, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A FRIDAY THE 13th AS WELL, WE
HAD SO MUCH LUCK WITH THE FINANCIAL CLOSE ON A FRIDAY THE
13th, WE SAID LET'S GO FOR IT AGAIN.
AT 10:00 ON THAT EVENING, WE TOOK THE KEYS TO THIS FACILITY
HERE. THAT'S WHEN WE ACTUALLY BEGAN
OUR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THIS FACILITY.
IN PREPARATION FOR TAKING OVER THAT RESPONSIBILITY, WE
RECRUITED AND HIRED 63 OF THE EXISTING VDOT EMPLOYEES WHO
WORKED ON THESE FACILITIES PREVIOUSLY FOR VDOT.
OTHERS ELECTED TO STAY WITH VDOT, OTHERS ELECTED TO RETIRE,
AND OTHER ELECTED TO GO ELSEWHERE, BUT WE WERE PLEASED
TO GAIN THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE 63 EMPLOYEES TO
HELP US TAKE OVER THIS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.
NOW, THE THING THAT WE HAVE THAT VDOT DIDN'T HAVE FOR THIS
PROJECT IS DEDICATED FUNDING AND DEDICATED RESOURCES.
EVERYTHING WE DO, OUR WHOLE SOLE PURPOSE AGAIN IS DEDICATED FOR
THIS PROJECT. WE'VE ENTERED INTO A NUMBER OF
SERVICE CONTRACTS AND IN FACT, TO DATE, WE UTILIZE THE SERVICES
OF 12 BWE FIRMS AND 52 WAM FIRMS.
I AM ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT AS A START-UP COMPANY, WE
DID NOT HAVE ANY PHYSICAL RESOURCES.
SO WE HAD NO EQUIPMENT, WE HAD NO VEHICLES.
THE PART I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT IS WE PURCHASED TO DATE
$1.3áMILLION IN VEHICLES FROM FREEDOM FORD RIGHT HERE IN
NORFOLK, AND ALSO HAVE ANOTHER 560,000 WORTH OF VEHICLES ON
ORDER FROM THAT SAME VENDOR. NOW, THIS DEDICATION, WHICH IT
ALLOWS US TO DO IS PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL SERVICE THAN WHAT
VDOT COULD PROVIDE. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID
AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR US IS
SAFETY FIRST AND THE ONE THING WE DID WAS WE IMPLEMENTED A
DEDICATED SAFETY SERVICE PATROL. PREVIOUSLY VDOT HAD A SAFETY
SERVICE PATROL THAT WAS A PORTION OF THE I-264 CORRIDOR
RIGHT HERE. WE HAVE A DEDICATED SERVICE
PATROL, WE HAVE ONE PATROLMAN DEDICATED TO THE MIDTOWN CORE
DONE AND WE HAVE ONE DEDICATED TO THE NORFOLK CORRIDOR, AND AS
RESULT OF THAT AND A NEW CONTRACTOR WE'VE PUT IN PLACE ON
TIDEWATER EXPRESS, OUR NEW WRECKER SERVICE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE
TO ACHIEVE OUTSTANDING INCIDENT CLEARANCE RESPONSE TIMES.
IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR, IT'S BEEN 14.4 MINUTES AND IN THE
MIDTOWN CORRIDOR, IT'S BEEN 12.3 MINUTES.
NOW, WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO ISSUES A LOT QUICKER FOR
MAINTENANCE PURPOSES. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT
A REPORTED FLOODING IN THE MIDTOWN TUNNEL A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AGO, AND THAT THERE WERE NINE TO 12 INCHES OF WATER IN THE
TUNNEL. WELL, THAT WAS INCORRECT.
THERE WAS ABOUT ONE TO TWO INCHES OF TANG WATER AT MIDá--
STANDING WATER AT MID RIVER. WE CLOSED THE TUNNEL FOR A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME FOR SAFETY PURPOSES, WHICH IS BIDIRECTIONAL
TRAFFIC. IT'S AN UNSAFE ISSUE.
WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN THE TUNNEL BACK UP WITHIN 40 MINUTES AND WE
BELIEVE THAT'S A RECORD TIME FOR AN INCIDENT SUCH AS THAT.
ONE THING WE DID DETECT WAS A PUMP SENSOR THAT FAILED AND WE
HAVE SINCE REPAIRED THAT SENSOR AND HAVE A NEW ONE ON ORDER.
SO AGAIN, HERE'S A SITUATION WHERE WE BELIEVE OUR DEDICATED
RESOURCES TO THE PROJECT ALLOW US TO DELIVER A LEVEL OF SERVICE
THAT VDOT WAS NOT ABLE TO DELIVER.
WE'VE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A ONE 8-BY-5 VRT ROAD NUMBER THAT
ANYONE CAN PICK UP THAT PHONE AND CALL 24/7 TO REPORT ANY
MAINTENANCE ISSUES. WE'VE IMPLEMENTED MORE FREQUENT
LITTER PICKUPS AND ALSO IMPLEMENTED A MUCH MORE
AGGRESSIVE MOW CYCLE WITH OUR LANDSCAPING.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE IS WORK WITH THE CITY OF NORFOLK
STAFF HERE, SPECIFICALLY OVER ON THE MIDTOWN TUNNEL SIDE AND FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO TRAVEL THAT AREA, YOU PROBABLY NOTE THE
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN AESTHETICS IN THAT AREA.
NORMALLY VDOT WOULD NORMALLY MOW ABOUT THREE TIMES A YEAR, WHICH
IS THEIR STATEWIDE STANDARD. AT A MINIMUM FOR THE PROJECT
AREA, WE'LL MOW FOUR TIMES AND HAVE A FIFTH ONE AVAILABLE IN
THE BUDGET IN THESE LOCATIONS WITHIN THE CITY, AND WE PLAN TO
MOW EVERY THREE WEEKS. AND A PART OF THAT EFFORT IN
WORKING TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE, WE'VE MET WITH THE FOLKS RIGHT
THERE ON RALEIGH AVENUE AND THEY'RE VERY PLEASED OF THE
LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE'VE PROVIDED IN THAT AREA.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DALLAS MARLOW FOR A FEW
REMARKS. >> YOU WILL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME.
I'M USED TO TALKING TO PEOPLE WITH HARD HATS ON AND WORK
BOOTS, NOT TIES AND SUITS. BUT MY NAME IS DALLAS MARLOW.
I'VE WORKED IN CONSTRUCTION MY WHOLE CAREER, MORE YEARS THAN I
CARE TO IMAGINE. BUT I'VE BEEN BROUGHT HERE TO
OVERSEE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MIDTOWN TUNNEL, THE RETROFIT AND
THE CONSTRUCTION OF MLK. TONIGHT I'M JUST GOING TO TOUCH
ON THE THINGS THAT WOULD INTEREST THE CITY OF NORFOLK,
YOU KNOW, IN THE HIGHLIGHTS HERE.
BUT THEá-- UPON FINANCIAL CLOSE, THE CONTRACT CAME INTO EFFECT
THAT WOULD BE A JOINT VENTURE, SKANSA, KEWITT, AND WEEKS
MARINE. A $1.54áBILLION CONTRACT TO
CONSTRUCT THE STRUCTURES, AND SKANKA HAS AN OFFICE RIGHT HERE.
THEY'RE LOCALLY BASED AND THEIR REGIONAL OFFICE IS HERE, THEIR
CONSTRUCTION OFFICE IS HERE AND THEY JUST RECENTLY OPENED UP
THEIR INNER POINT OFFICE ON VPA PROPERTY AND IT'S A RATHER HUGE
OFFICE. THEY'RE GOING TO BRING IN OVER
200 PEOPLE INTO THE AREA TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT.
SALARIED INDIVIDUALS PLUS ANOTHER 600 OR SO HOURLY PEOPLE
WILL WORK ON THE PROJECT IN THIS AREA.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER 3 TO 400 PEOPLE WORKING UP AT PENTER'S
POINT TO FABRICATE THE TUNNEL SECTIONS.
WE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF NORFOLK TO
SUPPLY THE WATER LINES, THE NEW WATER LINE ACROSS THE RIVER.
IT'S GOING TO BEá-- CURRENTLY IT'S A 30-INCH LINE.
IT HAD TO BE MOVED FOR THE TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.
IT'S GOING TO BE UPGRADED TO A 36-INCH LINE, AND THEá-- FROM
WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT'S A 36-INCH LINE WHICH WAS VERY
IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL GROWTH OF THE CITY.
THEá-- WHEN YOUá-- ON THIS TIMELINE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OUT THERE, THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WILL
PROBABLY SEE IS THE INSTALLATION OF THE WATER LINE.
IT TAKES PLACE STARTING IN OCTOBER.
THEY WILL START BUILDING THE JACKING PITS, START AASSEMBLING
THE PIPES. IN NOVEMBER, THE JACKING
CONTRACTOR WILL MOVE IN AND IN DECEMBER, HE WILL ACTUALLY START
JACKING ACROSS THE RIVER. BY JACKING, IT'S A JACKING BOARD
TYPE DEAL. HE WILL GO ACROSS THE RIVER,
GRAB THE PIPE AT PORTSMOUTH, AND PULL IT BACK THROUGH THE HOLE
THAT HE'S JACKED INTO PLACE. AND THE WATER LINE SHOULD BE
INSTALLED AND READY TO BE PUT BACK IN SERVICE IN APRIL.
THE NEW ONE WILL BE IN SERVICE IN APRIL.
I THINK THE ACTUALLY DOWN TIME IS ONLY A FEW DAYS WHERE WE
ACTUALLY MAKE THE CONNECTION. THE NEXT THING THAT YOU WILL SEE
THAT WILL GET PEOPLE'S INTEREST IS THE DREDGING FOR THE TUNNEL
WILL START TAKING PLACE IN FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR.
AND BY THE TIME THE DREDGING IS COMPLETE AND THE ROCK BASE PUT
DOWN, THEN THE TUNNEL SECTIONS WILL START SHOWING UP IN
NOVEMBER OF 2014. AND IT WILLá-- THERE WILL BE
APPROXIMATELY ONE TUNNEL SECTION PER MONTH PLACED ACROSS THE
TUNNEL. SO THEá-- IT WILL BE ALMOST A
SOLID YEAR BEFORE ALL THE TUNNEL SECTIONS ARE IN PLACE,
BACKFILLED, AND WE CAN START CONSTRUCTION OF THE INSIDE OF
THE TUNNEL. BY SEPTEMBER OF '16, WE EXPECT
THE TUNNEL TO BE OPEN. THAT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT FOUR
MONTHS, THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, SO THE
CONTRACTOR HAS INTRODUCED A VERY AMBITIOUS SCHEDULE AND THEá--
AND WE'RE HOPEFULLY GOING TO WATCH HIM COMPLETE IT ON TIME OR
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, AND ON BUDGET.
>> THAT'S FOUR YEARS FROM TODAY, FOUR YEARS FROMá--
>> FOUR YEARS FROM THIS MONTH, HE WILL HAVE THE TUNNELá-- IT
WILL BEá-- >> WE'LL BE DRIVING THROUGHá--
>> THAT IS HIS PLAN, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE THROUGH THE
MIDTOWN TUNNEL GOING WESTBOUND. THE NEW ONE.
THE EASTBOUND TUNNEL WILL BE THE OLD ONE, AND THEá-- SO THERE'S A
FEW TRANSITIONAL THINGS HE HAS TO DO, AND BY DECEMBER OF 2016,
HE WILL START THE REHAB OF THE OLD TUNNEL, THE OLD MIDTOWN
TUNNEL. WHICH LEADS ME TO THE TUNNEL
REHAB. THE FIRST THING THAT HAS TO BE
DONE IS THE VENTILATION, AND WHAT THEY WILL DO IS GO THROUGH
ON THE WESTBOUND 264 TUNNEL, ON THE REHAB, AND PUT INá-- TAKE
THE REST OF THE ROOF OUT. THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT OF
THE ROOF LEFT IN THERE, AND THEN THEY WILL PUT IN THE JET FANS
ANDá-- FOR THE VENTILATION. THE NEW VENTILATION THAT'S BEING
BUILT, IS BEING BUILT TO MEET PRESENT-DAY SAFETY STANDARDS AND
AIR QUALITY STANDARDS. AND THE NEW VENTILATION SYSTEM,
ALONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL, FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS, COMMUNICATION
AND STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS, ARE ALL DESIGNED TO BRING THIS TUNNEL UP
AS MUCH AS PRACTICAL TO PRESENT-DAY STANDARDS.
BETWEEN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND THE FIRE SAFETY SYSTEM, THE
TUNNEL WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE A 100-WATT FIRE WHILE CURRENTLY
IT'S DESIGNED FOR A FIVE-WATT FIRE.
MEGAWATT FIRE. THE LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL BE
UPGRADED. THAT'S Aá-- THAT ALONE IS A
$22áMILLION UPGRADE FOR THE THREE TUNNELS, THE THREE
EXISTING TUNNELS. THE LIGHTING IN THE TUNNELS WILL
MEET OR EXCEED THE LIGHTING YOU SEE IN THE HAMPTON ROADS TUNNELS
AS PART OF THE MONITOR MERRIMAC TUNNELS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HAVE CONTRACTUALLY PUT OFF FOR
ABOUT FIVE YEARS. WE HAVE CHOSEN TO DO IT DURING
THE REHABILITATION BECAUSE OF THEá-- THE LIGHTING IS
SUBSTANDARD RIGHT NOW. WE'RE DEDICATED TO SAFETY AND WE
FEEL THAT THIS WILL HELP IMPROVE THE SAFETY GOING FORWARD.
ANY QUESTIONS? NOW HERE COMES THE PART THAT
NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT. I'VE DONE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS AND NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT THE IMPACT TO
TRAFFIC. WE'RE GOING TO START THE
DOWNTOWN REHAB, RIGHT NOW IT'S UNDER DESIGN AND FROM TIME TO
TIME YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE IN THERE LANES CLOSED SO WE CAN
EVALUATE WHAT'S THERE, BUT THE NEWá-- THE PROPOSED START DATE
FOR THE REHAB IS OCTOBER OF '13. SO ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW, THEY
WILL GO IN THERE AND START REHABBING.
THE WESTBOUND TUNNEL IS GOING TO BE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER OF
'15, SO YOU HAVE ABOUT 23 MONTHS OF REHABILITATION WORK THAT'S
GOING TO GO ON IN THERE. THE SINGLE-LANE CLOSURES, WHICH
ARE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT, IS 280
SINGLE-LANE CLOSURES. THE FULL WEEKEND CLOSURES,
THERE'S 25 OF THEM. THE WORK WILL BE PHASED, BUT
WHEN YOU START ADDING IT UP, ABOUT HALF THE TIME THAT THIS
TUNNEL IS UNDER REHAB WORK, THEá-- IT WILL BE IMPACTING
TRAFFIC. ON THE EASTBOUND TUNNEL, WHEN
THE VENTILATION IS IN PLACE ON THE WESTBOUND TUNNEL, WE'LL
START THE REHABILITATION OF THE EASTBOUND TUNNEL AND THERE'S
ABOUT A NINE-MONTH OVERLAP, SO YOU COULD SEEá-- YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO SEE ANY WEEKEND CLOSURES WHERE THE TUNNEL IS
CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, BUT YOU COULD VERY WELL SEE LANE
CLOSURES AT NIGHT DURING THE WEEK WHERE THERE'Sá-- THE TUNNEL
IS DOWN TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION.
THE NEW TUNNEL HAS TO BE IN PLACE FOR THE MIDTOWN TUNNEL
REHABILITATION TO START, SO WHEN I MENTION THAT IT WILL BE
SEPTEMBER OF '16 COMPLETION DATE, THERE'S A FEW MONTHS WHERE
WE HAVE TO DO SOME WORK TO GET EVERYTHING OPERATING PROPERLY,
AND THEN THE EXISTING MIDTOWN TUNNEL REHABILITATION WILL START
IN DECEMBER OF '16. AND WE SHOULD WRAP THIS PROJECT
UP IN APRIL OF '18. YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE SOME
IMPACT ON TRAFFIC. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP IT TO
A MINIMUM. WE'RE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO
CERTAIN DATES, AND THEá-- BOTH ERC AND THE CONTRACTOR WILL
ENTERTAIN, YOU KNOW, SPECIAL EVENTS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO CLOSE THE TUNNEL OR
INTERRUPT ANYTHING DURING OPSAIL OR THE MAJOR HOLIDAYS AND SUCH.
BUT THE LAST THING THAT WOULDá-- MY OPINION, THAT WOULD INTEREST
THE COUNCIL HERE, THE ELIZABETH RIVER TRAIL.
WE'RE DB WE HAVE TO CLOSE IT AND THERE'S ABOUT A HALF-MILE
SECTION THAT HAS TO BE CLOSED. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE CITY TRAIL
DEPARTMENT, TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS SAFETY AND WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE
DETOUR DOWN REDGATE AND THROUGH THE GHENT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN WHEELCHAIR RAMPS WHERE RIGHT NOW THERE IS
NONE. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S NO LIPS ON THE SIDEWALKS.
WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TRIPPING. WE'RE GOING TO SIGN IT AND THERE
WILL BE PLACES WHERE WE'LLá-- WE'LL BE LANDSCAPING IT AND
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE, USEABLE TRAIL DURING THE
DETOUR PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE RUNNING SHORT ON TIME. WE'VE GOT A FEW OTHERá-- IF YOU
GUYS COULDá-- >> YES.
>> AS WE DO, ONCE AGAIN, CHA WILL OBVIOUSLY BE A LONG-TERM
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITIES OF NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH, ERC
WANTS TO ALSO HELP CREATE A MORE PRODUCTIVE AND ENRICHED
COMMUNITY THROUGH CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ALSO THE
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE NEARLY
$2áMILLION ANNUAL SUBSIDY TO HRT TO INCREASE BUS AND FERRY
SERVICE BETWEEN NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH, WE'RE FOCUSING OUR
CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH WE HOPE TO INCLUDE AS CHARITABLE DONATIONS,
SPONSORSHIPS, EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERING AND OUR INITIATIVES
ON FOUR MAIN AREAS. EDUCATION, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT,
HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AT THE
NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS.
THE ERC GOOD CITIZENS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WILL BEGIN,
GO INTO EFFECT THIS YEAR, THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEARS, AND
WE'LL AWARD ONE COLLEGE-BOUND HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR FROM EACH
HIGH SCHOOL IN NORFOLK AND IN PORTSMOUTH WITH A $1500
SCHOLARSHIP ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT NOW, WE'RE
ALSO SEEKING INPUT FOR COMMUNITY CHARITIES FROM BOTH THE NORFOLK
AND PORTSMOUTH COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT, SO IF YOU ALLá-- IN
YOUR PACKETS, YOU HAVE MY CARD AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH
OUT TO ME IF YOU HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR CITY AND
I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ON THAT.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> IN CLOSING, BRIEFLY JUST TALK ABOUT THE TOLLING.
THE TOLLING IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN FEBRUARY THE 1st, 2014.
ORIGINALLY, WE WERE GEARED UP TO TOLL AUGUST 1st OF THIS YEAR.
WE ENTERED INTO AN ARRANGEMENT WITH VDOT TO DELAY THAT PERIOD,
AND JUST REAL QUICKLY, THERE WILL BE TWO FORMS OF PAYMENT.
IT WILL BE EITHER THE EZ PASS OR VIDEO, AND AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, WE ARE GOING TO EP A CUSTOMER SERVICEá-- OPEN A
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ON THE PORTSMOUTH SITE AT 700 PORT
CENTER PARKWAY AND THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IS OUTSOURCED TO
OUR VENDOR. THEY WILL EMPLOY APPROXIMATELY
45 EMPLOYEES AT THAT SITE AND, AGAIN, IT CONSISTS OF
INDIVIDUALS WITH THE VIDEO CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS WILL BE A
DISTRIBUTION SITE FOR EZ PASS. IF WE HAVE TIME, WE'LL TAKE A
FEW QUESTIONS. >> I HAVE JUST A FEW.
YOU WERE SPEAKING OF YOUR STATION AND YOU MENTIONED THE
WAM AS WELL AS OTHER MINORITY PARTICIPATION.
CAN YOU BREAK THAT DOWN IN TERMS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN
SUBCONTRACTORS, CONTRACTORS, WOMEN AND ALSO DISABLED VETERANS
ORGANIZATIONS, COMPANIES. >> WE CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT.
I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ME, BUT WE CAN PROVIDE IT
FOR YOU. WE HAVE SOME PRETTYá-- I MEAN,
THE GOALS PER THE CONTRACT, WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO 15% DBE AND
25% WAM ON ALL GOODS AND SERVICES.
>> AND YOU MENTIONED ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES, ALTHOUGH YOU HAVEN'T
HIRED THOSE PERSONS YET, IF I CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY
BREAK DOWN BYá-- >> I THINK WHEN DALLASá-- I
MENTIONED THAT THE THOUSAND, AND WITH REGARDS TO THE ERC OPCO,
THE OPERATING COMPANY, WHEN WE'RE IN FULL CONSTRUCTION AND
PART OF THE TEAM WHICH DALLAS MANAGES, WHICH INCLUDES OUR
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, WE'LL HAVE 135 EMPLOYEES PLUS THE 45
EMPLOYEES IN OUR VENDOR'S BACK OFFICE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S THE SKANSKA-KEWITT-WEEKS JOINT
VENTURE THAT EMPLOY UP TO A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES DURING THE
CONSTRUCTION PERIOD AND AS DALLAS MENTIONED, THERE'S A
PORTION OF THEM THAT JUST RELOCATED OVER TO PENTER'S
POINT. THERE'S A NUMBER OF CRAFT
WORKERS, UPWARDS TO 600 THAT WE HIRE IN THE AREA AND ALSO ABOUT
300 EMPLOYEES HIRED UP AT SPARROWS POINT IN BALTIMORE
WHERE THE TUBES ARE BEING FABRICATED.
>> AND I DON'T KNOW WH THIS APPLIES OR NOT.
FOR A MINORITY CONTRACTORS, WHETHER IT'S WAM OR WHATEVER,
THAT NEED BONDING CAPACITY, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING
TO HELP THEM WITH BONDING CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROJECT? >> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE
SPECIFICS, WAS WE'RE DOING. I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S BEEN
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF OUTREACH AND VDOT HAS SPONSORED THOSE
EVENTS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO WORK EVERY WHICH WAY, EVERY WAY
POSSIBLE WITH ALL INTERESTED PARTIES, AND SO THE CONTRACTOR,
BECAUSE THIS IS A LARGE CONTRACT, HAS DEBUNDLED SOME OF
THE ACTIVITIES TO MUCH SMALLER CONTRACTS.
>> RIGHT, THANK YOU. >> MY CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN
THAT THERE WOULD BE LACK OF OPENINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
TAKEá-- I JUST HAVE A CONCERN WITH THIS BECAUSE OF TOURISTS
WHO COME HERE. I TRAVEL DOWN THE CORRIDOR
RECENTLY AND GOT STUCK IN THAT SITUATION, AND I JUST THINK
THERE WERE NO SIGNS TO INDICATE THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE
HAPPENING, THAT THERE WAS NO OPTIONS, AND I JUST WONDERING
HOW WE'RE EDUCATING PEOPLE BEFORE THEY GET TO A LOCATION,
IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE THAT THEY CAN TAKE IF THEY
DIDN'T WANT TO DO THIS? I'M PROBABLY TOO LATE IN THIS.
I BROUGHT THIS UP A YEAR AGO AND WE DISCUSSED IT.
I JUST THINK THAT IT'Sá-- YOU KNOW, THIS IDEA THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO GET CHARGED BECAUSE YOU POSSIBLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT
HAVING FAST PASS IS, TO ME, UNACCEPTABLE FOR ME WHO ARE
VISITING OUR CITY OR EVEN GOING TO VIRGINIA BEACH, PEOPLE GOING
TO THE OCEANFRONT FOR SPORTS REASONS.
>> WELL, WITHOUT THE ALL-ELECTRONIC TOLLING
ENVIRONMENT, WE WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF THE TRAFFIC
THROUGHPUT. THE TOLL BOOTHS WOULD JUST STOP
THE TRAFFIC TO A STAND STILL AND SO WE WOULD NOT HAVE
FREE-FLOWING TRAFFIC. TO THE POINT THAT YOU HAVE JUST
MENTIONED, WE'LL HAVEá-- IN FACT, WE HAD TO CALL IT OFF
BECAUSE OF THE TOLLING DELAYá-- SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH PROGRAM
WHERE WE'RE ANNOUNCING ALL THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
TOLLING. WE'RE GOING TO MARKET THE
TOLLING VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING FROM JORDAN BRIDGE
RIGHT NOW. WE'LL HAVE, AGAIN, WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE OUR OWN DEDICATED CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER HERE IN
THE PROJECT AREA THAT WILL DISTRIBUTE EZ PASSES AS WELL
ASSIGN UP FOLKS FOR THE VIDEO TOLLING AND TO THE POINT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT, WE WANT TO WORK WITH CUSTOMERS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIG AN INDIVIDUAL ON THAT FIRST PASS,
THAT FIRST INDIVIDUAL TIME YOU HAVE TO USE IT, YOU GET A VIDEO
INVOICE, AND, IN FACT, THE WAY THE CODE IS STRUCTURED, YOU HAVE
TO SEND AN INVOICE AND BEFORE ANYBODY IS TREATED AS A
VIOLATOR, THEY HAVE TO BE GIVEN 30 DAYS TO PAY THE INVOICE.
ALSO, THE CODE REQUIRES, THAT WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE OUT
THAT IDENTIFIES WHERE THE LAST EXIT IS THAT THEY WOULDá-- COULD
TAKE WITHOUT GETTING EXPOSED TO THE TOLL.
SO WE WILL HAVE THAT SIGNAGE IN PLACE.
>> WELL, MARKETING TO A GOOGLE MAPS AND ALL THE PLACES WHERE
PEOPLE PULL UP MAPS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S LISTED ON THERE,
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ISSUE I HAD IN FLORIDA.
NOWHERE ON THERE DID IT SAY THERE'S A TOLL, AND I'M SURE IF
YOU HAVE WORKá-- YOU HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW.
>> WE HAVE A VERY AGGRESSIVE MARKING CAMPAIGN PLANNED.
WE WERE READY TO IMPLEMENT WHEN WE THOUGHT TOLLING WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN, BUT THAT'S PART OF IT, ALSO WORKING WITHá-- LOOKING AT
WHAT THE COMPANIES AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THEIR MAPS ARE UPDATED
AND THERE WILL BE AN AGGRESSIVE IDENTIFICATION TEAM ON IT AS
WELL. >> WE RECOGNIZE THOSE AS
CONCERNS AND WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THEM THE BEST WAY
POSSIBLE. >> IS THERE ANYWHERE IN THE
COUNTRY WHERE THEY HAVE TEACHERS THAT CAN BUY IN AND GET A
REDUCED RATE IF THEIR TRAVELING THROUGH THIS, IF THEY BOUGHT
INTO A POT IN TRYING TO BE FRIENDLY WITH EMPLOYEES OR
PEOPLE, OUR EMPLOYEES HERE LIKE WE DO WITH LIGHT RAIL WHERE WE
BUY KIND OF A DISCOUNTED RATE. YOU STILL GET MONEY OUT OF IT,
BUT OUT OF RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE THAT AREá--
>> WE VIEW THE DISCOUNT PROGRAM AS THE EZ PASS RATE.
THAT'S THE CHEAPEST FORM OF PAYMENT THAT AN INDIVIDUAL COULD
PAY FOR THE TOLL AND THE BASE RATE IS 1.59 AS OPPOSED TO THE
FEE, THE OTHER TOLL THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY WITH THE VIDEO
PREMIUM. >> OKAY.
THANKS. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
APPRECIATE THE TIME. >> MR.áMAYOR, MEMBERS OF
COUNCIL, I WANT TO OFFICIALLY INTRODUCE OUR SPECIAL ASSISTANT
TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS.
I KNOW THAT HE'S MET MANY OF YOU INFORMALLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL
MONTHS, BUT CAPTAIN JOHN ANDREWS AS NATIVE OF VIRGINIA BEACH, A
VIRGINIA TECH GRADUATE, A 29-YEAR CAREER IN THE NAVY.
STARTED AS A NAVAL AVIATOR AND ENDED AS AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER
WITHIN THE U.S. CENTRAL STAND. HE'S RECOGNIZED AS A D EXPERT IN
MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING AND WITH THAT HE'S
GOING TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT HE'S BEEN UP TO.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, JOHN. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
HERE TODAY AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF.
AS RON SAID, I'M A SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS
AND MILITARYá-- OR PREVENTIVE SERVICES ANDá-- VETERANS
SERVICES AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, AND AS THAT TITLE INDICATED, I
HAVE THOSE TWO ASPECTS OF MY JOB.
THE FIRST ASPECT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS VETERANS SERVICES.
MY OBJECTIVE IN THAT REALM TO MAKE THE CITY OF NORFOLK THE
BEST CITY IN THE NATION FOR ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY, NATIONAL
GUARD MEMBERS, RESERVISTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LIVE, WORK,
RECREATE, SEEK EDUCATION, AND OBTAIN HEALTHCARE.
IT'S AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING APPROACH THAT FOCUSING ON BOTH
VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY AND MY MEASURE RIGHT NOW IS THE USA
BEST PLACES FOR MILITARY RETIREMENT, HIGHLIGHTS THE BEST
PLACES IN THE NATION FOR JOBS THAT NATURAL VETERANS AND
RETIREES' SKILL SETS. 2011, OKLAHOMA CITY, NORFOLK,
AND RICHMOND WERE ONE, TWO, AND THREE RESPECTIVELY IN THAT
WHOLE, AND RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WAS NUMBER 8.
RICHMOND WAS JUST SHY OF THE TOP SPOT DUE TO ITS RELATIVELY LOW
SCORE AS A SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY AND SO ME THAT
INDICATES THE COMPETITION IN THIS ARENA IS STIFF, AND MUCH OF
THAT COMPETITION IS GEOGRAPHICALLY CLOSE AT HAND.
FOR MILITARY AFFAIRS, MY OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER
SUPPORT FOR MILITARY AND FEDERAL ENTITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF
NORFOLK, FACILITATE THE ABILITIES OF THOSE COMMANDS TO
ACCOMPLISH THEIR ASSIGNED MISSION, AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE HAMPTON ROADS MILITARY AND VETERANS FACILITIES ALLIANCE,
WORK TO RETAIN EXISTING ENTITIES AND ATTRACT NEW ORGANIZATIONS.
ALSO COMMUNICATE WITH AND COORDINATE WITH MILITARY
ORGANIZATIONS REGARDING ACTIONS THAT MAY HAVE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON
THE CITY OF NORFOLK. CONTINUED ACCESS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THIS
OBJECTIVE. RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY TO THIS
ACCESS AND MY RELATIONSHIPS, I BELIEVE, WERE A FACTOR IN MY
BEING HIRED FOR THIS POSITION. TIME AND EXPOSURE IS A FACTOR IN
MAKING THE SHIFT IMPORTANT AS I CONTINUE TO ATTEND AND REPRESENT
THE CITY AT CEREMONIAL EVENTS. AS AN EXAMPLE, I WANT TO POINT
OUT THAT I WAS AN INVITEDá-- I WAS INVITED TO AND WILL ATTEND
THE CHANGE OF OFFICE CEREMONY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR THE
NATIONAL PETTY OFFICER IN THE NAVY, THE HIGHEST RANKING
ENLISTED MEMBER IN THE NAVY. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT IN THAT I AS
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF NORFOLK WAS INVITED, AND I WAS
ABLE TO MAINTAIN MY EXISTING CONTACTS AND FOSTER NEW ONES
WHILE THERE. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO FACILITATE
BRIAN PETTINGTON, OUR DIRECTOR OF BIR GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
INVITE FOR THIS EVENT AS WELL, AND THIS WILL FACILITATE HIS
ABILITY TO BUILD IMPORTANT CONTACTS AND RELATIONSHIPS.
FOR BACKGROUND ON VETERANS SERVICES, YEAH, I KNOW WE'RE
GOING TO SEND BRIAN AND I TO D.C. TOGETHER, THAT MIGHT BE A
PROBLEM, BUT WE'LL FIGHT THROUGH IT.
[ INAUDIBLE COMMENTS ] >> OKAY.
FOR VETERANS SERVICES BACKGROUND, OVER 300,000
PERSONNEL TRANSITION FROM MILITARY SERVICE EACH YEAR.
IF MILITARY DOWNSIZING CONTINUES AS IT HAS HERE OF RECENT,
THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT INCREASE TO THAT
NUMBER. HISTORICAL DATA SHOWS THAT
MILITARY MEMBERS TRANSITION, ONE-THIRD GO BACK TO HOME OF
RECORD, ONE-THIRD STAY IN THE AREA WHERE THEY TRANSITIONED
FROM, AND ONE-THIRD GO TO WHERE THE JOBS ARE.
I WANT TO FOCUS ON THOSE WHO STAY AND THAT 13,000 LOCALLY
EACH YEAR, AND ALSO ON CREATING A JOB-RICH ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE
WHO GO TO WHERE THE JOBS ARE. BESIDES THE POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH
IN THE SHIP REPAIR AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, I BELIEVE
THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN THE FOLLOWING INDUSTRIES THAT I
WILL DO THE BEST THAT I CAN TO FACILITATE THAT.
FIRST, CYBER AND CYBER SECURITY. IN THE SPRING, NAVY CYBER POOL
WILL MOVE FROM YOINT EXPEDITIONARY BASE LITTLE CREEK
TO THE OLD JIF DMS COM SPACE IN THE SUBURBS WHERE THERE'S ROOM
FOR EXPANSION AND GROWTH. IT WILL PROVIDE A CONTINUED
DEFENSE FOCUS ON CYBER AND CYBER SECURITY IN THE REGION.
SECOND IS MODELING AND SIMULATION.
THE VIRGINIA MODELING AND SIMULATION CENTER IS A
STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY AND THE PROGRAM AT ODU, THEIR
MODELING AND SIMULATION PROGRAM GIVES EXPERTISE TO SUPPORT
GROWTH IN THIS INDUSTRY. AND FINALLY, THERE'S THE
UNMAPPED AERIAL SYSTEMS. UAVs OR UASs AS THEY'RE REFERRED
TO. EVERYBODY REALIZES THE MILITARY
POTENTIAL AND THAT'S WELL-DOCUMENTED.
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT MARKET POTENTIAL FOR UAVs IN THE
CIVILIAN SECTOR. THE MILITARY HAS MADE IT A
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY TO FACILITATE THE REGION SELECTED
BY THE FAA AS ONE OF THE SIX SITES NATIONALLY USED TO DEVELOP
PROCEDURES FOR OPERATING UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS IN OUR
NATIONAL AIR SPACE. RIGHT NOW WITHOUT A WAIVER, YOU
CAN'T FLY A UAV IN U.S. AIR SPACE.
AND FOR NORFOLK, IT'S GOOD TO BE CLOSE TO THIS AND WITH THE
PROXIMITY WOULD BE GOOD, AND THEN THE EXPEDITION OF CIVIL
CAPABILITY WILL ALSO BE BENEFICIAL TO US.
SO THOSE ARE THE MARKET SESSION SEGMENTSá-- MARKET SEGMENTS THAT
I FOCUS ON AS I LOOK FOR POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH HERE IN THE
REGION. I TALKED ABOUT POTENTIAL FOR
GROWTH. I WANT TO MENTION SEQUESTRATION
BECAUSE THAT IS A POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH TO STOP.
I'LL JUST MENTION IT BRIEFLY. FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE
OPERATED WITHOUT A BUDGET ON A FEDERAL BASIS AND WE'VE WORKED
UNDER A SERIES OF CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS.
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, THEY CREATED THE SUPER-COMMITTEE THAT
WAS TASKED TO CREATE A BUDGET AGREEMENT AND THAT GROUP FAILED.
WHEN THEY FAILED, SEQUESTRATION HAS COME INTO EFFECT AND WHAT IT
MEANS, UNLESS SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING BEFORE JANUARY 1st,
THERE WILL BE AUTOMATIC $1.2áTRILLION CUT ACROSS THE
BOARD IN SPENDING. THE REAL ISSUE FOR NORFOLK AND
HAMPTON ROADS IS THAT HALF OF THAT, OVER $500áTRILLION, IS
MANDATED TO COME FROM DEFENSE. CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE IS THAT
VIRGINIA WILL LOSE 130,000 JOBS, SO THAT'S A BAD THING FOR US.
I'M GOING TO WORK ON THE PREMISE, ALONG WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND EVERYBODY ELSE, THAT THAT
SEQUESTRATION IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, SO I STILL PLAN ON
FINDING GOOD JOBS FOR VETERANS WHEN THEY COME HERE.
I WANT TO DISCUSS BRIEFLY SOME BARRIERS TO VETERAN EMPLOYMENT.
SOME EMPLOYERS PERCEIVE MILITARY EXPERIENCE AS TOO SPECIALIZED TO
TRANSLATE EFFECTIVELY INTO THE CIVILIAN WORKPLACE.
IN MOST CASES, VETS WILL HAVE A REQUIREMENT FOR ADDITIONAL
TRAINING AND VETS LACK CIVILIAN CREDENTIALS.
IT'S ESTIMATED ABOUT 30% OF MILITARY PERSONNEL SEPARATED
FROM THE SERVICE EACH YEAR WILL NEED A KRET DESHL, WHETHERá--
CREDENTIAL, WHETHER A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE, ISSUED BY A THIRD
PARTY TO QUALIFY THEIR MILITARY TRAINING BEFORE WORKING IN A
CIVILIAN JOBS. AS I WAS EXITING THE SERVICE AND
LOOKED AT THE VARIOUS JOBS, I NEEDED A PMP, PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE, TO APPLY FOR MANY OF THE JOBS THAT
I LOOKED AT. IN MANY CASES, THERE'S NO DIRECT
CORRELATION BETWEEN MILITARY OCCUPATIONS IN THE CIVILIAN
SECTOR AND VETERANS ARE NOT SKILLED OR SCHOOLED IN JOB
SEARCH TECHNIQUES. THEY HAVEá-- VETERANS HAVE
DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY CAN DO AND DIFFICULTY
UNDERSTANDING HOW TO FIND JOBS. FOR MOST CASES, MOST PEOPLE
THINK YOU GO TO MONITOR.COM AND THEá-- MONSTER.COM AND THE JOB
IS GOING TO POP UP ON THE SCREEN AND AWAY YOU GO.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A PICTURE OF VETERANS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH
AND THE REGION BRIEFLY. THERE'S 823,000 VETERANS IN
VIRGINIA, 28,613 OF THOSE RESIDE IN NORFOLK.
OF THAT NUMBER, OVER 4,000 HAVE SOME LEVEL OF SERVICE-RELATED
DISABILITY. OVER 3,000 ARE UNEMPLOYED AND
OVER 100 ARE HOMELESS. THERE'S BEEN A SLIGHT
DECLINATION IN NORFOLK'S VETERAN POPULATION IN THAT NUMBER.
THE ONLY OR CITY IN HAMPTON ROADS THAT'S HAD A DECLINE IS
PORTSMOUTH. FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, VIRGINIA'S
OVERALL RATE IS 5.6%. NORFOLK'S OVERALL RATE IS 8.4%
AND THAT IS BASED ON STATISTICS RELEASED IN JULY AND I THINK
WE'VE HAD SOME KNEW JUST COME OUT ANDá-- NEW JUST COME OUT AND
THEY MAY CHANGE THESE NUMBERS BY A SMALL AMOUNT.
FOR BOTH VIRGINIA AND NORFOLK, THE VETERANS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
IS 10.6% AND A VERY DISCONCERTING NUMBER IS THAT FOR
VETERANS ANELD 20 TO 24á-- AGED 20 TO 24, THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE IS OVER 30%. WHY RECRUIT VETERANS?
I GUESS THE FOLLOW-ON QUESTION IS WHY HIRE SOMEBODY LIKE ME TO
FACILITATE THESE PEOPLE? VETERANS ARE HIGH QUALITY
PRESCREENED CANDIDATES. MANY DO NOT MEET THE
REQUIREMENTS OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, A GED OR A HIGH SCORE
ON THE APTITUDE TEST. NO FELONIES, NO DRUG
MISDEMEANORS. VETERANS HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATED
TO BRING BOTTOM LINE IMPROVEMENTS.
THEY BRING WITH THEM TAX BENEFITS, REDUCED TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS, DESIRED ATTRIBUTES.
AS DETAILED IN THE BUSINESS CASE FOR HIRING A VETERAN, BEYOND THE
CLICHES FOR SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY PUBLISHED IN YEAR, VETERANS
EXHIBIT A HIGH LEVEL OF TRUST, SKILLED ACROSS A BROAD AREA,
ADVANCED TEAM BUILDING SKILLS, EXHIBIT STRONG ORGANIZATIONAL
COMMITMENT. THEY HAVE AND LEVERAGE
CROSS-CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND HAVE EXPERIENCE AND SKILL?
DIVERSE WORK SETTINGS. VETERANS ALSO HAVE BEEN
DEMONSTRATED TO STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THEY PARTICIPATE AT A HIGHER THAN AVERAGE RATE IN COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC LEAGUES, SCHOOLS AND CHARITABLE
ORGANIZATIONS. IN SHORT, VETERANS ADD VALUE.
THIS SLIDE DETAILS MY ACTIONS TO DATE.
I'VE BEEN ON BOARD FIVE MONTHS. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING
A VETERANS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND GOOD WILL INDUSTRIES OF CENTRAL
VIRGINIA. AT THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY
MANAGER, I HAVE FACILITATED CREATION OF TWO COMMITTEES, THE
VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE
MEMBERS IN THE ROW HERE. THEY HAVE HONORED ME BY COMING
TO THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT. TOM, JACK, AL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING
DOWN. >> AND I HAVE TO SAY, THEY'RE
PROPOSED MEMBERS BECAUSE Y'ALL HAVEN'T VOTED ON THE MEMBERSHIP
YET, SO THEY ARE THE INDIVIDUALS HELPING ME WITH THAT PROCESS.
THAT COMMITTEE WILL WORK ON RECOGNITION, HONORING AND
REMEMBERING VETERANS, AND ALSO CREATING A SOCIAL NETWORK THAT
I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT. WE'VE ALSO CREATED THE MILITARY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MADE UP OF SENIOR
RETIRED MILITARY MEMBERS AND CIVILIANS WITH EXPERIENCE AND
EXPERTISE IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY.
FOR THE CITY, I'VE FACILITATED THE APPLICATION FOR A VET STRONG
CERTIFICATION, AND THIS CERTIFICATION IS ISSUE BY THE
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES AND IT'S AN ASSESSMENT
AND CUSTOMIZED TRAINING FOR THOSE WHO COMMIT TO HIRING AND
RETRAINING OF VETERANS IN VIRGINIA.
I HAVE SOUGHT OUT MEMBERSHIP ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS.
I'VE PROPOSED FOR OPPORTUNITY INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND I'VE
BEEN SELECTED AS CHAIRMAN THE VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEEá--
EXCUSE ME, VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION EMPLOYERS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE. MAJORITY OF MY TIME, HOWEVER,
HAS BEEN SPENT ON THE CREATION OF PARTNERSHIPS.
THIS SLIDE AND THE FOLLOWING DETAIL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
I'VE PARTNERED WITH. THEY INCLUDE FEDERAL AND
MILITARY SUPPORT ENTITIES, COMMONWEALTH AGENCIES AND
PERSONNEL, PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT ENTITIES, AND EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS. I HAVE CODIFIED AGREEMENTS SUCH
AS THE ONE WITH CAROLINA SHIPYARD FOR AN AGREEMENT IN
PRINCIPAL TO WORK TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL.
I WANT TO POINT OUT IN PARTICULAR, A CONTINUED
PARTNERSHIP WE'VE HAD IN THE CITY WITH THE WHITE HOUSE
DIRECTOR OF POLICY FOR VETERANS SERVICES, WOUNDED WARRIORS, AND
MILITARY FAMILIES. THIS IS RESULTED IN RECOGNITION
ON THE WHITE HOUSE BLOG FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE CITY OF NORFOLK.
IT IS ALLOWED US TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF JOINING
FORCES WITH AN INITIATIVE WITH WILLIAM AND MARY AND WHICH LAW
STUDENTS WILL CONDUCT A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE THEY FACILITATE
AND SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF DISABILITY CLAIMS FOR VETERANS
AFFAIRS, AND IT'S ALSO RESULTED IN AN INVITATION FROM BOTH THE
DIRECTOR OF JOINING FORCES AND THE WHITE HOUSE POLICY DIRECTOR
TO OUR VETERANS DAY CEREMONY IN NOVEMBER.
THIS IS THE SECOND SLIDE OF THE PARTNERS THAT I'VE HAD TO DATE.
MY INTENDED ACTIONS OR STRATEGIES, I'VE DONE A LOT OF
RESEARCH AND I'VE COME UP WITH WHAT I VIEW AS A GOOD
PLACE-BASED MODEL. YOU CAN READ THE DEFINITION, BUT
THIS IS A DERIVATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONS
STRATEGY AND IT WAS DETAILED IN A PROGRESS REPORT ISSUED IN JUNE
OF 2012. BESIDES THAT DEFINITION, THE
FOLLOW-ON BULLETS REALLY PERTAIN, I'M GOING TO ENGAGE ALL
ENTITIES INVOLVED IN OR SUPPORTIVE OF VETERANS SERVICES,
ACT AS A CATALYST AND CREATE A NETWORK AND ENABLE NORFOLK TO
SERVE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF ACTION, A REAL SERVICE DELIVERY
POINT OF ACTION TO DIRECT RESOURCES AND GIVE INFORMATION
TO INDIVIDUAL VETERANS. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO SUPPORT
TRANSITION IN A STATE OF WELLNESS.
STATE OF WELLNESS IS A STRATEGY THAT I'VE ADOPTED FROM A REPORT
WRITTEN BY MS.áNANCY BERGLASS TITLED WELL AFTER SERVICE.
IT DESCRIBES A SUPPORT OF AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING APPROACH TO
VETERAN REINTEGRATION, TO NOT JUST DEAL WITH JOBS.
THE PILLARS ARE PURPOSE, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, MATERIAL
NEEDS, STABILITY, HOUSING, ACCESS TO GOODS AND SERVICES,
HEALTH COMPRISED OF MENTAL HEALTH, ACCESS TO CARE AND
PHYSICAL HEALTH, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY,
SOCIAL NETWORKS AND SPIRITUALITY.
THAT'S WHERE MY VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WILL PLAY A BIG PART
AS WELL. Y'ALL HAVE TO EXCUSE THE
GRAPHICS. I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL WITH
THIS. THIS IS MY CREATION AND THIS IS
TO ME WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE. THIS IS MY NETWORK AND NORFOLK
SERVING AS A CATALYST AND AN EFFORT TO CONNECT THE SILOS, THE
OVER 1,000 NONPROFITS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA THAT
REGISTERED WITH THE IRS WITH VETERANS SERVICES AS THEIR
PRIMARY MISSION, NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS,
COMMONWEALTH ENTITIES, YOU MAIM IT.
IT'S MYá-- NAME IT. IT'S MY JOB IN THE CITY OF
NORFOLK TO GET ALL OF THEM WORKING TOGETHER IN A COMMON
EFFORT, COMMON GOAL TO SUPPORT VETERANS AS THEY TRANSITION FROM
SERVICE TO CIVIL EMPLOYMENT. I'LL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT MILITARY
AFFAIRS. THIS IS THE SECOND ASPECT OF MY
POSITION. I FOCUS ON CUSTOMER SUPPORT FOR
MILITARY FEDERAL ENTITIES. WE ARE HEAVILY ENGAGED IN NATO
FEST EXPANSION. I BELIEVE THAT THIS YEAR WILL BE
A MUCH LARGER AND WILL HAVE MUCH GREATER PARTICIPATION FROM THE
MILITARY ACROSS THE SPECTRUM IN THE AREA.
PARTICIPATED IN AND ORGANIZED CEREMONIAL EVENTS, ARRANGED
HOMECOMINGS. I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY POINT OUT
THE USS NORFOLK, OUR NAMED VESSEL, WHICH WILL RETURN IN
LATE FALL AND IT'S MY INTENT TO HAVE APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION FOR
THAT AND I'VE ALSO WORKED WITH THE HAMPTON ROADS MILITARY AND
FEDERAL FACILITIES ALLIANCE TO ENTERTAIN FEDERAL ENTITIES AND
THERE'S SEVERAL INITIATIVES IN THAT AREA.
FINALLY, I'VE MADE EFFORTS TOWARDS PTSD TRAINING.
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND THAT'S REALLY BASED ON YOUR
PROMPTING HERE AT THE VARIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS.
PARTNERED WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD TO CREATE SUPPORT
FOR EDUCATION AND SCREENING, OUTREACH AND SERVICES.
AND I'M DOING THAT VIA THE RESOURCES LOCATED AT PORTSMOUTH
NAVAL HOSPITAL AND THE WOUNDED WARRIORS PROGRAM THAT RESIDES AT
THE HOSPITAL THERE. I'M WORKING WITH SARAH PAIGE
FULLER TO GET HER PERSONNEL TRAINED BY THOSE INDIVIDUALS
OVER THERE SO THAT THEY CANá-- AND IT'S A TRAIN THE TRAINER
CONCEPT, THEY CAN COME BACK AND SPECIFICALLY TRAIN THE FIRST
RESPONDERS THAT THEY DEAL WITH IN PERSONNEL WHO MAY BE AFFECTED
BY THIS ISSUE. FINALLY, MY NEXT STEP.
VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS ONE STEP, FOR VET-KREN
TRICK ONE STEP OR ONE STOP, EXCUSE ME, AND I'LL CONTINUE
THAT EFFORT IN CONJUNCTION WITH AND SUPPORTED BY GOOD WILL,
OPPORTUNITY INC., THE VIRGINIA EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION, FLEET
FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER, THE VETERANS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL GRANTS, A LESSON LEARNED
THAT IS A MEASURE OR IT'Sá-- YOU'RE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT
PROCESS WHEN YOU APPLY WITH A MUNICIPALITY, AND THAT WILL
FRAME THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT I CREATE AS WE APPLY FOR THESE
GRANTS. I DO INTEND TO CREATE A VETERANS
KNOWLEDGE FUSION WEBSITE AND PURSUE THE VET STRONG
ACCREDITATION AND CREATION OF A MUNICIPAL MODEL FOR THE
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. THEY'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT
POTENTIAL AND WE MEET SEPTEMBER 17th -- EXCUSE ME, SEPTEMBER
17th WITH THAT GROUP TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOW-ON FOR THAT EFFORT.
AND THAT, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN, IS A BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND
DISCUSSION OF WHAT I'VE DONE TO DATE.
>> I HAVE TO BREAK THE PRESENTATIONá-- TOMMY, YOU HAVE
A QUESTION? >> I WANT TO KNOW, THE OCEAN
VIEW GOLF COURSE ALWAYS ASKS FOR GROUP SPONSORS OF THE WOUNDED
WARRIOR TOURNAMENT AND THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY
SUPPORTED THAT. I WENT DOWN THERE AND GAVE SOME
REMARKS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, BUT THEY WEREá-- THIS IS THE
FIRST YEAR. THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING
THAT AND THEY HAVE ASKED FOR NEXT YEAR TO HAVE A RESOLUTION
FROM THE CITY RECOGNIZING THAT. THEY DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB DOWN
THERE. OVERALL, I THINK THEY RAISED
350,000 FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS. IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.
>> GREAT. >> THE POST TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER IN YOUR EFFORTS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HASá-- AS I
THINK BACK ON WHAT IT USED TO BE, AT ONE TIME, VETERANS GOT
OUT OF THE SERVICE TO A CAREER, WORLD WAR II OR VIETNAM, HAD A
10-POINT VETERANS PREFERENCE FOR JOBS AT THE SHIPYARDS, THE
NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARDS, AND I THINK THOSE ORGANIZATIONS
STOPPED DOING THE HIRING THEMSELVES AND GAVE THOSE JOBS
TO CONTRACTORS TO HIRE. AND WHEN THEY DID, THAT'S WHAT
CREATED THIS SITUATION OF SO MANY VETERANS WHO ARE
UNEMPLOYED. AND AT ONE TIME, A VETERAN COULD
GET OUT OF MILITARY, GO DOWN TO THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT OFFICE
AT ONE OF THESE FACILITIES I MENTIONED, AND WOULD GET A JOB.
BUT WHEN THEY PUT THEM IN THE CONTRACTORS' LAP, THEN THERE'S
NO MORE 10-POINT VETERANS PREFERENCE, I DON'T BELIEVE, AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THAT MADE IT EASIER FOR VETERANS TO BE
HIRED. NO FAULT OF YOURS, YOU JUST
INHERITED THIS SITUATION. >> COUNCILMAN, I AGREE WITH YOU
THAT THAT IS AN ISSUE. THAT 10-POINT PREFERENCE STILL
EXISTS. >> DOES IT?
>> YES, SIR, AND WE HAVEá-- AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES NORFOLK ONE OF
THE AREAS IN THAT POLL SO ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF
CIVIL SERVICE JOBS AVAILABLE. THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT VETERANS
DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO WRITE THE
APPLICATION. I'LL TELL YOU, I MYSELF FAILED
IN GET IN MY CIVIL SERVICES APPLICATION.
WHEN I WORKED ONá-- WHEN I CREATE THIS VETERANS-CENTRIC
KNOWLEDGE FUSION WEBSITE, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO
WORK ON. SOMEONE NEEDS TO SIMPLIFY THE
PROCESS AT USA JOBS THAT SAYS, THIS ISá-- THESE ARE YOUR
BENEFITS, THESE ARE YOUR ADVANTAGES, THIS IS HOW YOU
APPLY. AND I'M WORKING WITH A GROUP OF
INDIVIDUALS BACK HERE, DISABLED VETERANS ASSOCIATIONS AND WHAT
NOT TO ASSIST ME IN THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S NOT KNOWN AND
IT'S NOT USED. IT'S THERE AND YOU NEED TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT. >> THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S GREAT.
>> WE'RE RUNNING SHORT ON TIME. JOHN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU
BACK MAYBE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS OR SO TO GIVE USá-- EVERY FOUR
MONTHS OR SO TO GIVE US AN UPDATE.
THERE'S A LOT OUT THERE THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IN THE PAST AND YOU
CAN SEE FROM THIS PROGRAM THAT THERE ARE THINGS WE HAVEN'T PAID
ANXIETY TO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON AND AND WE
CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE COOPERATION OF THE VETERANS
HERE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS
THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ADVISE US OF AND HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT, WITH THE CITY, BUT
ALSO HOW WE CAN MAKE THEIR LIVES EASIER TOO.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT A GREAT PLACE TO FOR VETERANS TO LIVE
AND WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. >> FRANK, YOU HAVE TO BE QUICK,
MAN, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SPEND FIVE OR SIX MINUTES IN CLOSED
SESSION HERE. >> OKAY.
>> OKAY? >> MR.áMAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL, THIS IS THE PRESENTATION YOU HEARD BEFORE
BUT IT WAS TWO MONTHS AGO, BACK IN JUNE.
THE CITY MANAGER THOUGHT WE MIGHT WANT TO GIVE YOUá-- YOU
MAY WANT TO GET A REAL QUICK REMINDER OF WHAT THIS IS, THE
ADVANTAGE INVESTMENTS PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT INCLUDES A
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, A STREET CLOSURE AND A REZONING.
THE PROPERTY, AGAIN, IS THIS SMALL PROPERTY IN THE ESTABROOK
NEIGHBORHOOD, THE FORMER SITE OF THE ESTABROOK INN.
THE ESTABROOK INN EXISTED THERE AND IT CLOSED MORE THAN TWO
YEARS AGO. IT CLOSED AND WAS CLOSED WHEN I
GOT TO NORFOLK. FIVE YEARS AGO, THE PROPERTY WAS
ZONED C-1, WHICH MEANS A RESTAURANT CANNOT GO ON THIS
PROPERTY UNLESS IT'S REZONED. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THAT
THERE IS NO PARKING ON THIS SITE.
THE BUILDING OCCUPIES THE ENTIRE SITE.
BUT THE ESTABROOK INN WAS USING FOR PARKING, THIS PUBLIC RIGHT
OF WAY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN OPENED AS A ROAD IMMEDIATELY TO
THE NORTH OF THE BUILDING. SO IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS THING
WORK, WHAT WE NEED AS PLAN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE
DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY TO COMMERCIALá-- I'M SORRY, NOT TO
DO THAT, BUT TO REMOVE THIS ROAD WHICH SEGMENTS FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT MAP OF THE CITY, WHICH DEFINES THAT
AS A MAJOR ROADWAY BECAUSE THAT IS YOUR ONLY DIRECT CONNECTION
TO THIS UNDERDEVELOPED INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY BEHIND IT.
WE NEED THAT PLAN AMENDMENT AND THEN YOU NEED TO CLOSE THE
STREET. YOU CANNOT CLOSE THE STREET
PHYSICALS WE AMENDED THE GENERALá-- UNLESS WE AMEND PD
THE GENERAL PLAN TO ELIMINATE NA ROAD SEGMENT AND THEN YOU NEED
TO DO A REZONING. AGAIN, THE PROPER IS CURRENTLY
DESIGNATEDá-- PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED FOR
INDUSTRIAL. IT WAS PROPOSED TO BE
COMMERCIAL. SO I WAS WRONG, IT DOES REQUIRE
THE LAND USE DESIGNATION AND IT REQUIRES THE REMOVAL OF THIS
ROAD SEGMENT FROM THE GENERAL PLAN OF TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT MAP. WE DON'T BELIEVE IN THIS ROAD IS
NEEDED ANY LONGER. IN 1992, IT WAS DEFINED AS A
CRITICAL SEGMENT. IT WAS NOT DEFINED AS A CRITICAL
SEGMENT IN THE PLAN NORFOLK 2030 BECAUSE OF OTHER ROAD
IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, AND THIS IS A SUBSTANDARD
RIGHT OF WAY. ONLY 38 FEET WIDE AND TYPICALLY
WE WOULD NEVER BUILD A PUBLIC STREET?
A RIGHT OF WAY THIS NARROW. THE PROBLEM IS, AGAIN, HOWEVER,
THIS IS THE ONLY POINT OF ACCESS WITHOUT GOING BACK THROUGH THE
HE IS STA BROOK NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THIS INDUSTRIAL SITE BEHIND IT.
AND THE GENERAL PLAN HAS A SPECIFIC POLICY THAT SAYS AS A
CITY, WE WILL MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC
THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PUBLIC WORKS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT BECAUSE OF THAT POLICY, THEY WOULD BUILD THAT STREETá--
WOULDN'T BUILD THAT STREET, EVEN THOUGH IT IS SUBSTANDARD RIGHT
OF WAY, IF THEY WERE ASKED, IN ORDER TO AVOID HAVING THE
TRAFFIC FROM THIS INDUSTRIAL USE WIND ITS WAY THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, AND
IF YOU DON'T CLOSE THE RIGHT OF WAY, YOU CANNOT APPROVE THE
ZONING BECAUSE THE PROPERTY WILL NOT MEET PARKING REQUIREMENTS,
IT WILL NOT MEET THE BASIC ZONING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
SITE. IF THE RIGHT OF WAY THE CLOSED,
IT DOES BARELY MEET THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
THE ZONINGá-- THE APPLICANT HAS PROFFERED THAT THEY WILL DEVELOP
THE SITE CONSISTENT WITH THIS SITE PLAN THAT YOU SEE.
THEY'RE GOING TO LIMIT THE USES TO AN EATING AND DRINKING
ESTABLISHMENT OR A RESTAURANT, SO THAT THERE WILL BE NO CONCERN
ABOUT BIGGER USES COMING THROUGH AND THEY HIM THE HOURS OF THE
ESTABLISHá-- LIMIT THE HOURS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AS YOU SEE
HERE. AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU HAD A
VERY MIXED BAG. YOU HAD THE APPLICANT AND FOUR
CITIZENS SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS, SUPPORT FROM THE PLANNING
COMMISSION AND A LETTER FROM THE ESTABROOK CIVIC LEAGUE.
WE HAD THREE CITIZENS COME OUT AND SPEAK AGAINST IT BECAUSE OF
THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS A LETTER
OF OPPOSITION FROM ONE OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION FROM BOTH STAFF AND THE PLANNING
COMMISSION, ON THE PLAN AMENDMENT, WE BOTH RECOMMENDED
APPROVAL BASED ON THE CONDITIONS REPRESENTED BY PLAN NORFOLK
2030. ON THE STREET CLOSURE, STAFF
RECOMMENDED DENIAL BASED ON THE POLICY IN THE PLAN THAT SAYS WE
WILL MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS OF INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC THROUGH
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND AGAIN, IF YOU CLOSE THE STREET, YOU ARE GOING
TO FORCE THE TRAFFIC THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 4-2.
THE MAJORITY SAID THEY WERE DOING IT BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT
OF THE CIVIC LEAGUE, AND THE MINORITY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T
SUPPORT IT BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL
TRAFFIC ON THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IT WENT TO REZONING.
STAFF RECOMMENDED DENIAL BECAUSE WE CAN'T SUPPORT THE STREET
KROESH SURE. PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THAT IF THE STREET CLOSURE IS APPROVED.
>> FRANK, NOBODY USES THAT STREET NOW, RIGHT?
>> YOU CAN'T USE IT RIGHT NOW. >> THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPANSION
OF THAT INDUSTRIAL AREA BACK THERE, IS IT BUILT OUT?
>> IT IS UNDEVELOPED RIGHT NOW. IT'S A VERY LARGE VACANT LOT.
>> IT'S VACANT. THERE'Sá-- THATá--
>> THIS IS AN INDUSTRIAL USE AND THEY COME IN FROM THE STREET
ABOVE THIS THAT IS A STRAIGHT SHOT BACK TO THAT INDUSTRIAL
USE. THIS ONE, YOU HAVE NO STRAIGHT
SHOT IF YOU LOSE THIS. THE TRAFFIC WILL WIND THROUGH
THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> WHAT WAS THAT?
>> I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE STREET, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER
BLOCK UP HEREá-- >> AMHERST.
>> THANK YOU, MR. RIDDICK, AND THAT IS A DIRECT SHOT INTO THIS
INDUSTRIAL SITE. >> OKAY.
SO THEY'RE NOT USING THE ROAD NOW?
>> THIS ROAD DOESN'T EXIST, BUTá--
>> IT DOESN'T OPEN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
THE ISSUE YOU'VE GOT IS THIS ROAD GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH
BACK HERE. THAT PARCEL IS UNDEVELOPED.
>> HOW BIG THAT IS PARCEL? >> IT'S VERY BIG.
>> IT'S VERY LARGE GOOD IF YOU CLOSE IT, THEN IT'S STILL NOT A
ROAD. >> THIS WOULD NOT AND ROAD AND
WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO IS PUSH THE INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC DOWN
AMHERST AND BACK DOWN COUNTY STREET TO GET INTO THIS.
SO IT WILL WIND THE INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND THAT'Sá-- >> AND IT WINDS RIGHT NOW?
>> NO, SIR, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S A STRAIGHT SHOT.
>> THAT'S NOT THE MIDDLEá-- >> THAT'S THE DEVELOPED PARCEL.
THE PARCEL DOES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE DEVELOPED.
>> THAT'S WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNERá--
>> FORCING THE TRUCKS THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE BIG TRUCKS THROUGH A
NEIGHBORHOOD IF THIS IS DEVELOPED INDUSTRIAL, BECAUSE
THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS
THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD BACK TO THIS.
>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC LEAGUE IS SAYING THAT THAT'S OKAY.
>> YES. >> COUPLE OF NEIGHBORS ARE
SAYING THAT'S NOT OKAY. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> WHEN DOES IT BECOME OKAY TO TAKE INDUSTRIAL TRUCKSá--
>> YOU HAVE TO ALLOW INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC ACCESS TO INDUSTRIAL
PROPERTY. THAT'S WHY WE DON'T SUPPORT THE
STREET CLOSURE BECAUSE WEá-- >> IF THEY BUILT IT, IT WOULD
WRAPá-- [áALL SPEAKING AT ONCEá]
>> IF THEY BUILT THIS NOW, THEY WOULD BE PUSHING FOR THE CITY TO
OPEN IT. >> THEN WE COULD REQUIRE THAT
THEY BUILD THIS ROAD WHEN TH DOING THAT.
>> THEN THEY WOULD BE WINDING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> I PASS THAT PROPERTY EVERY DAY GOING TORQUE -- GOING TO
WORK AND I'M TOTALLY FAMILIAR WITH IT.
I SUPPORT BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, OPEN THAT BUSINESS,
PERSONALLY. >> CAN CARS GO THROUGH, ONE OF
THE PLACES OVER THERE? [áALL SPEAKING AT ONCEá]
>> THERE'S NO WAY TO HIM THE TRAFFIC.
>> MY QUESTION IS, FRANK, IS RIGHT HERE, THIS RIGHT HERE,
THAT IS OWNED BY THIS PERSON FOR THAT PROPER?
>> YES. >> IT IS, OKAY.
SO THERE'S NO WAY THAT THEY CAN ELIMINATE THAT PARKING AND LET
THAT BE AN ENTRANCE. >> NO, SIR.
THAT IS THE PARKING ZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL USE.
>> LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING. THOSE STREETS THERE ARE 38 FEET
WIDE AND YOU'VE GOTá-- YOU'RE ABLE TO PARK ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE STREET, OKAY? LET'S SAY FOR THE SAKE OF
ARGUMENT THAT THAT'S INDUSTRIAL, YOU SAID THAT 18-WHEELERS HAVE
THE RIGHT TO MEANDER THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> IF THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN GET TO THAT PARCEL.
>> IF THAT'S THE CASE AND YOU GOT PEOPLE PARKED ON BOTH SIDES,
OKAY, HOW WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH?
WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT AT THAT POINT?
>> THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE CONCERN, IS BECAUSE OF THE
POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THAT TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> BUT I'M SAYING IF IT STAYS Aá-- IT'S A PAPER STREET NOW?
>> THIS IS A PAPER STREET, YES, SIR.
>> AND IF WE DIDN'T DEVELOP THAT PAPER STREET AND LIKE I SAID,
THOSE STREETS ARE ABOUT 28 FEET WIDE, YOU GOT CARS ON BOTH
SIDES, THEN AN 18-WHEELER TRIES TO GO THROUGH THERE, THE CITY
BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THAT
18-WHEELER GETS THROUGH THOSE STREETS.
>> AND I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU. THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO GO DOWN
THAT ROAD, BUT WE HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT
ROAD IS CLEAR ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THEM AND THAT IS
SIMPLY GOING TO FORCE THEM TO GO BACK AND FORTH THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, FINDING A WAY TO GET BACK THERE.
THAT'S MY CONCERN. >> WHAT IF NECESSITY CAN'T GET
BACK THEREá-- WELL, IF THEY CAN'T GET BACK THERE, IT DOESN'T
MAKE REAL BUSINESS SENSE TO TRY TO BUILD SOMETHING BACK THERE
KNOWING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS.
>> THAT'S THE CONCERN OF THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT IF YOU TAKE
THIS OUT, YOU HAVE ELIMINATED DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL ON THIS
SITE. >> WHO OWNS THAT PROPERTY?
>> THE MACHINERY PEOPLE. THEY OWN THIS AS WELL.
>> WHY COULDN'T THEY ACCESS STRAIGHT IN THERE FROM THEIR
PROPERTY? >> BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR PARKING.
>> USE SOME OF THE INDUSTRIAL AREA FOR PARKING.
>> THEY COULD CHANGEá-- THEY HAVE THE POTENTIALá-- IF THEY
CAME AROUND AND MOVED IT, THEY COULDá--
>> AND THAT'S FINE IF THEY ADD ON?
IF THEY SELL IT AND HAVE SOME OTHER BUSINESS DEVELOP THEREá--
>> BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO, IN ORDER TO MARK IT, IT WOULD HAVE
TO ADJUST THE SITE PLAN SO THEY HAVE THE ACCESS.
>> I THINK YOU WANTED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
>> WELL, MARCUS, ANYTHING HERE QUICKLY ABOUT THEá-- I MEAN, CAN
YOU JUSTá-- SOCIAL SECURITY ORá--
>> I CAN DO IT VERY QUICKLY. BEFORE YOU WENT OUT FOR A BREAK,
THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY BUILDING
ACCESSIBILITY. WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
WITH THEá-- A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONS THAT YOU HAVE AS
WELL AS STAFF FROM HRT AND FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION, AND WE DO HAVE A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION THAT WE CAN
JUST PUT IN YOUR PACKET ON FRIDAY.
IT WOULD INCLUDE SOME SIDEWALKS, MOVING A SIGNAGE.
IT WOULD WORK. AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING IS
LAST YEAR WE HAD ABOUT 12 ITEMS DEALING WITH BEING MORE
EFFICIENT. WE HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT
WITH RECYCLING, WE THINK IT'S A WIN-WIN ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE
CITY AND WE CAN ALSO PUT THAT IN YOUR PACKETS ON FRIDAY.
>> YOU WANT TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION?
>> CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? SINCE WE'RE NOT MEETING NEXT
TUESDAY, WHEN WILL WE GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THE RETREAT IS
GOING TO COVER? EVERYBODY HERE HAS PROBABLY
MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ON THE AGENDA
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IN ADVANCE. WHO'S PUTTING THAT TOGETHER
ORá-- >> WE CAPTURED EVERYTHING THAT
HAS BEEN REQUESTED AND WE'RE PUTTING A NOTEBOOK TOGETHER.
IT PROVIDES BACKGROUND INFORMATION SO THAT ANY TOPIC
COMES UP, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT BASED ON INFORMATION
YOU WILL GET. >> BUT AN AGENDA WOULD BE --
>> JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS ARE ON
THERE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN LEFT OFF.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE PRETTY EFFICIENT, BUT JUST IN CASE, SO
WE COULD SEE, MAKE SURE. >> AND THE SOONER THE BETTER.
>> DO WE GET AN UPDATE ON WATERSIDE AT THE RETREAT OR DO
WE GET ONE ANY TIME SOON? >> WE CAN DO THAT AT THE RETREAT
ALSO. >> OKAY.
>> OKAY. SO QUICKLY, I JUST NEED ABOUT 60
SECTIONS. >> MOVE THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
FOR ASSEMBLE IN CLOSED MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 11th, 2012, AT
6:57áP.M. PURSUANT TO CLAUSES OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
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