Formal 10/23/12 Session - Norfolk City Council

[ GAVEL BANGING ] >> COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
NORFOLK IS IN SESSION. >> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO
YOU THIS EVENING THANKING YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS YOU BESTOW
UPON US AS A CITY. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO
BLESS THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND FROM DAY TO DAY STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS
MEET. WESTERN GETTING READY -- WE'RE
GETTING READY TO EMBARK ON THE COLD WEATHER AND WE'RE ASKING
THAT YOU GIVE THE HOMELESS MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY COMFORT
AND A PERMANENT SHELTER THAT THEY MAY CALL HOME.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO DO THIS JOB?
A FAIR AND JUST MANNER. THESE, AND ALL THE BLESSINGS WE
ASK IN THY NAME, AMEN. >> AMEN.
>> All: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION
UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU. CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL,
PLEASE. >> MR. BURFOOT.
>> HERE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> HERE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> HERE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> HERE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> HERE. >> MR. WINN.
>> HERE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> HERE. >> MOITION IS TO EXCLUDE DR.
WHIBLEY, PLEASE. >> MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MRS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. MOTION IS TO DISPENSE WITH
THE READING OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
>> MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND WELCOME TO THE
NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THE PROCESS FOR THE MEETING
WHICH WE'LL FOLLOW TONIGHT IS WE HAVE A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT
CEREMONIAL MATTERS WHICH WE'LL TAKE UP FIRST AND THEN WE'LL
MOVE DIRECTLY TO -- THE FIRST ITEM IS THE INVITATION TO BID
AND WE'LL TALK THROUGH THAT IN JUST A SECOND, BUT THAT'S THE
FIRST THING WE'LL TAKE UP. THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE PUBLIC
HEARINGS. THERE ARE THREE THERE, AND WE
THEN HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA. THERE ARE SIX ITEMS ON THE
CONSENT AGENDA. IF THE COUNCIL WISHES, THEY CAN
VOTE IN ONE VOTE ON ALL SIX ITEMS.
WE WILL THEN MOVE TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS THERE, THERE ARE 22.
WE'LL VOTE ON ALL THESE MATTERS IN JUST WAIT THEY ARE NUMBER ON
THE PRINTED DOCKET. WE'LL GO RIGHT DOWN THE LINE.
IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY
COUNCIL AT THE CLOSE OF THE MEETING ON A NONAGENDA ITEM,
THAT'S SOMETHING NOT ON TONIGHT'S DOCKET, YOU WILL BE
GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY AND A COUPLE OF YOU HAVE ELECTED TO DO
THAT AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU.
EXCUSE ME. THE FIRST CEREMONIAL MATTER WE
HAVE IS OUR VETERANS DAY, ANNUAL VETERANS DAY PROCLAMATION AND
WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE OUR FRIENDS HERE TO REPRESENT THE VETERAN
COMMUNITY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME TO THE
PODIUM, PLEASE? THEN YOU GOT A CAMERA OUT THERE.
AND IF YOU WILL INDULGE ME, I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION.
THIS IS A PROCLAMATION THAT'S BEEN SIGNED BY BOTH THE MAYOR OF
CHESAPEAKE, MYSELF AS THE MAYOR OF NORFOLK, MAYOR OF PORTSMOUTH,
AND MAYOR FROM VIRGINIA BEACH. THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS
IT IS THE DUTY OF EVERY AMERICAN TO SUPPORT AND UPHOLD THE IDEALS
AND PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH OUR NATION WAS FOUNDED, AND WHEREAS
THE AMERICANS HAVE UNSELFISHLY AND CONSISTENTLY ANSWERED THE
CALL TO DEFEND THE NATION'S IDEALS FRITTS HISTORY'S BATTLE
AT LEXINGTON DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR TO THE RECENT
DISTANT CONFLICTS OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, AND WHEREAS ON THIS
DAY WE PAUSE TO REMEMBER AND COMMEMORATE ALL AMERICAN MEN AND
WOMEN WHO HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED IN UNIFORM SERVICED OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHEREAS WE ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE
THE MARINE CORPS VETERANS, INCLUDING THOSE OF WORLD WAR I
AND II, THE KOREAN WAR, VIETNAM WAR, NUMEROUS CRISES AND
CONFLICTS OF THE COLD WAR AND THE GLOBAL WAR AGAINST
TERRORISM, WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE HAVE
MAINTAINED THE HONOR, INTEGRITY AND SUPREMACY OF OUR COUNTRY AND
HOLD SUPREME ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
FIDELITY SO ITS CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, AND WHEREAS MEMBERS OF THE
MARINE CORPS LEGION JOIN TODAY IN CAMARADERIE AND FELLOWSHIP IN
THE INTERESTS OF PRESERVING THE TRADITIONS AND PROMOTING THE
INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, BANDING TOGETHER
WITH THOSE WHO NOW SERVE AND THOSE HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM
THAT SERVICE, THAT THEY MAY EFFECTIVELY PROMOTE THE IDEALS
OF AMERICAN FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, VOLUNTARILY AIDING
AND RENDERING ASSISTANCE TO ALL MARINES, CORPSMEN AND FORMER
MARINES, CORPSMEN AND TO THEIR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS, BY FITTING
ACT TO OBSERVE THE ANNIVERSARIES OF HISTORICAL OCCASIONS OF
PARTICULAR INTERESTS TO MARINES, WHEREAS WE THE MAYOR OF THE
CITIES OF CHESAPEAKE AND NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH, AND VIRGINIA
BEACH DO PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 11th, 2012, AS VETERANS DAY, AND NOW
THEREFORE, WE OBSERVE ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12th, 2012, IN OUR
CITIES AND CELEBRATE THAT OUR CITIZENS, BUSINESSES AND
ORGANIZATIONS DEMONSTRATE TRUE APPRECIATION, ADMIRATION AND
RESPECT FOR ALL VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED WITH OUR GREAT
NATION, THAT THE HAMPTON ROADS COUNCIL OF VETERANS
ORGANIZATION, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE,
SPONSOR A PARADE AND PATRIOTIC OBSERVATIONS HONORING AMERICANS
WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICED FOR OUR COUNTRY AND IN WITNESS
THEREOF WE HAVE SET OUR HANDS AND CAUSED THE SEALS OF THE
GREAT VIRGINIA CITIES OF CHESAPEAKE, NORFOLK, PORTSMOUTH,
AND VIRGINIA BEACH AFFIXED HERE TO AND SIGNED BY ALL FOUR OF US.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND WE HAVE THIS AND I KNOW YOU
HAVE A COPY AS WELL. >> I'D LIKE TO --
>> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO COME DOWN?
WE CAN ALL COME DOWN FOR THE PHOTOGRAPH.
>> YOU CAN GET UP HERE AND I'LL --
>> OKAY. YOU GUYS WANT TO COME BEHIND US?
HERE. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING DOWN. OKAY, HE'S DOING GREAT, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THEY'RE ALL DOING GREAT.
THERE WE GO. >> I KNEW WHEN YOU WERE COMING
DOWN HERE SOME DAY. I KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE --
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL. WE REALLY ENJOY DOING THIS.
THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU.
GOOD PEOPLE THERE. YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT AS WELL?
OKAY, THANK YOU ALL. TOM IS DOING GREAT, YES.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING. THANKS VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SERVICE. THANKS FOR COMING DOWN.
>> HOW YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. IT WAS NICE OF YOU ALL TO COME
DOWN, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US OF
YOUR SERVICE. OKAY, NOW, MR. DUKE.
FRANK, ARE YOU GOING TO COME UP AND RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION?
OKAY. THANKS.
AND GEORGE. THIS IS FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING
MONTH. IT READS, WHEREAS CHANGE IS
CONSTANT, AFFECTING ALL NEIGHBORHOODS AND AREAS IN
NORFOLK, AND COMMUNITY PLANNING AND COMPREHENSIVE PLANS CAN HELP
MANAGE THIS CHANGE IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES BETTER CHOICES FOR HOW
PEOPLE WORK, LIVE, AND PLAY. WHEREAS COMMUNITY PLANNING
PROVIDES ALL RESIDENTS A CHANCE TO BE INVOLVED IN MAKING CHOICES
AND DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
NEIGHBORS BUILDING NEIGHBORHOODS, A NEW CITY
INITIATIVE, RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF RESIDENTS WORKING
TOGETHER WITH THE CITY TO PLAN FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHEREAS THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL COMMUNITY
PLANNING MONTH THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ITS
TERRITORIES, WHEREAS THE CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL
COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTHS GIVES THE CITIZENS OF NORFOLK THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THE PARTICIPATION AND
DEDICATION OF THE CURRENT AND PAST MEMBERS OF THE CITY
PLANNING COMMISSION, AND OTHER CITIZEN PLANNERS WHO SERVE ON
AREA PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEES, HISTORIC
PRESERVATION AND DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEES, AND OTHER BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS THROUGHOUT NORFOLK THAT CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME AND
EXPERTISE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR CITY, AND WHEREAS WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY
PROFESSIONALS COMMUNITY PLANNERS SERVING THE CITY AND EXTEND
THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC
SERVICE BY THESE PROFESSIONALS, AND NOW THEREFORE, I PAUL FRAIM,
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NORFOLK, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF
OCTOBER AS COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH IN THE CITY OF NORFOLK IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING
MONTH GIVEN UNDER MY HAND THIS 9th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2010, AND I
SIGN IT AND FRANK, HERE. FRANK, YOU KNOW, WE KID WITH YOU
A LOT, BUT WE REALLY RESPECT ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU DO FOR US.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> AND YOUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
THANKS VERY MUCH. WE'LL BE GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> MR. MAYOR, GEORGE AND I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT WE COULDN'T DO
WHAT WE DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE MANY CITIZEN PLANNERS
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET SOME OF THEM
TO JOIN US, BUT I DO NEED TO EXPRESS MY OWN APPRECIATION FOR
EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, DEDICATING THEIR TIME TO MAKE
NORFOLK A BETTER PLACE THAN IT IS AND EVEN BETTER PLACE THAT
IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, FRANK. THANKS, GEORGE.
APPRECIATE IT. >> OKAY, NOW WE WILL POLICE
OFFICER TO THE REGULAR PORTION OF OUR -- MOVE TO THE REGULAR
PORTION OF OUR AGENDA. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA,
THE CITY CLERK WILL READ. >> INVITATION TO BID SCHEDULED
THIS DAY PURSUANT TO ACTION OF THE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 9, 2012,
TO ACCEPT BIDS FOR A LONG-TERM PARKING AGREEMENT FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE TENANTS OF THE WAINWRIGHT BUILDING LOCATED AT
220 WEST BUTE STREET. >> ALL RIGHT.
HOW MANY BIDS HAVE WE RECEIVED? >> WE'VE RECEIVED ONE BID,
MR. PRESIDENT. >> HAVE YOU -- WILL YOU READ THE
BID AND MARK IT FOR IDENTIFICATION.
>> THE BID IS WBG FINANCIAL INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL, LLC,
OFFERING TO LEASE UP TO 126 PARKING SPACES IN THE YORK
STREET GARAGE FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF 25 YEARS AT THE RATE
ESTABLISHED FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR RESERVE
RESIDENTIAL PARKING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE TERM SHEET ATTACHED TO THE PROPOSED
ORDINANCE, I'VE MARKED IT FOR IDENTIFICATION AS WBG BID
10-23-12. >> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL BIDS
OFFERED THIS EVENING? THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL BIDS.
I DECLARE THE BIDDING CLOSED. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO BE HEARD ON THIS MATTER?
THERE'S NO MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO BE HEARD.
I DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.
IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY STAFF REGARDING THE BID
RECEIVED FROM WBG FINANCIAL INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL, LLC?
>> CITY STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BID BY THE WBG FINANCIAL
INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL BE ACCEPTED AND THE BID AWARDED TO
THEM. >> THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER.
WOULD YOU READ THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE PLEASE.
>> ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE BID SUBMITTED BY WGB FINANCIAL
INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL LLC FOR A LONG-TERM GARAGE PARKING
AGREEMENT WITH AN INITIAL TERM OF 25 YEARS FOR THE BENEFIT OF
TENANTS OF THE WAINWRIGHT BUILDING.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> I HAVE A COMMENT. >> SURE.
>> BERNARD, AS YOU MAY RECALL, AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING THAT
MIGHT -- THE LIEN ON THE PROPERTY WITH THE PREVIOUS
OWNERS THAT WE ENDED UP FILING SUIT AGAINST THEM FOR THIS NEW
OWNERSHIP GROUP, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CLEAR FOR ME TO BE ALLOWED
TO VOTE ON THIS SINCE I HAD A LIEN ON THIS PROPERTY AT ONE
TIME. >> YOU CLEARLY CAN VOTE ON THIS.
IT DOESN'T PRESENT TO YOU A CONFLICT.
YOU SHOULD VOTE ON IT. >> THE LIEN HAS BEEN
EX-CONTINUING WISHED, BUT I DID HAVE A SUIT AGAINST THE PREVIOUS
OWNERS, DID HAVE A LIEN UPON IT AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS
CLEAR ON THAT. >> RIGHT AND THAT'S CLEARLY NOT
A CONFLICT UNDER THE ACT. >> THANK YOU FOR DECLARING THAT.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PUBLIC HEARING ONE, PLEASE. >> PUBLIC HEARING 1 SCHEDULED
THIS DAY PURSUANT TO ACTION OF THE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 9, 2012,
TO HEAR COMMENTS ON THE CONVEYANCE OF A GEM LOT TO
ERNESTO J. AND FILOMENA VIADO ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT SS LANDALE
ROAD. >> AND MR. VIADO, I HOPE I SAID
THAT RIGHT, IS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THERE ARE ANY.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
CALL THE ROLL. >> AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
CONVEYANCE TO ERNESTO J. VIADO AND FILOMENA M. VIADO OF A
CERTAIN PARCEL OF PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY THE CITY OF NORFOLK
PURSUANT TO SECTION 58.1-3970.1 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, 1950,
AS AMENDED, AND APPROVING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
CONVEYANCE AGREEMENT. DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER
REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPT.
MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, PUBLIC HEARING 2,
PLEASE. >> PUBLIC HEARING 2 SCHEDULED
THIS DAY PURSUANT TO ACTION OF THE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 9, 2012,
TO HEAR COMMENTS ON A LEASE AGREEMENT, WHICH PERMITS THE
CHESTERFIELD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
OCCUPANCY AND USE THE GROUND FLOOR OF A CITY BUILDING LOCATED
AT 2715 STANHOPE AVENUE. >> THERE ARE NO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS
MATTER, SO IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CALL THE
ROLL, PLEASE. >> AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A
LEASE AGREEMENT WITH CHESTERFIELD COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE PROPERTY
KNOWN AS STANHOPE HOUSE AT 2719 TO 2721 STANHOPE AVENUE IN THE
CITY OF NORFOLK, GRANTING CHESTERFIELD COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AN AMOUNT UP TO $1,500 AND
APPROPRIATING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF THE GRANT
FUNDS. DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER
REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPT.
MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
THANK YOU. THE CONSENT AGENDA, THERE ARE
SIX MATTERS HERE. WOULD ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL
LIKE TO HAVE ANY ONE OF THESE MATTERS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY?
IF NOT, CALL THE ROLL. >> TO APPROVE THE CONSENT
AGENDA, MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
R-1. >> AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING WITH
APPRECIATION THE DONATION OF A MOTORCYCLE VALUED AT $6,000,
EQUIPPED WITH A GPS TRACKING SYSTEM AND A REMOTE CONTROL
IMMOBILIZER VALUED AT $3,838.35, AND $1,500 FOR OPERATIONAL
REPAIR WORK FROM THE NATIONAL INSURANCE CRIME BUREAU TO THE
CITY TO SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-2.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, THIS MATTER OF A LEASE AGREEMENT NEEDS TO HAVE
A PUBLIC HEARING, SO THE MOTION WOULD BE TONIGHT TO WITHDRAW
THIS AND SCHEDULE IT FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON A SUBSEQUENT DATE.
>> OKAY. THEN WE WILL VOTE ON THE MOTION.
THE MOTION TO WITHDRAW. >> OKAY.
MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
R-3. >> AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO CREDIT VARIOUS ACCOUNTS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF UTILITIES IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,144,927.74 SO
AS TO REFLECT UNCOLLECTIBLE BALANCES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-4.
>> AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING WITH APPRECIATION THE EQUIPMENT
DONATION OF ONE MASS CASUALTY/EVACUATION TRANSPORT
UNIT VALUED AT $50,000 TO THE CITY’S DEPARTMENT OF FIRE-RESCUE
FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS METROPOLITAN MEDICAL RESPONSE
SYSTEM ESTABLISHED BY THE HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING COUNCIL
TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR MASS CASUALTY EVENTS, EVACUATION
TRANSPORT, RESPONDER REHABILITATION, MASS FATALITIES,
AND TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR DISPLACED RESIDENTS DURING
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS. DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER
REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPT.
MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
R-5. >> AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL ONE
SUBSECTION OF SECTION 25-654 AND TO AMEND AND REORDAIN SECTIONS
25-651, 654 AND 656 OF THE NORFOLK CITY CODE, 1979, SO AS
TO ADD TWO NEW U-TURN PROHIBITIONS, 14 NEW STOP
INTERSECTIONS, AND ONE TRUCK OVER 1-1/2 TONS PROHIBITIONS.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-6.
>> AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF A PERPETUAL
RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT AND A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT
FROM CALVIN LEROY KING OVER CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3022
CAPE HENRY AVENUE, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, AND AUTHORIZING THE
EXPENDITURE OF THE SUM OF $300 FROM FUNDS HERETOFORE
APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE EASEMENTS.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-7.
>> AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT
GREATER BUILDING HEIGHT ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 221 WEST
BUTE STREET. BY 7-0 VOTE, PLANNING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDS THE REQUEST BE GRANTED.
>> AND RICK HEN IS HERE FOR THE PROPONENT IF ANYONE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MR. HEN.
CALL THE ROLL. >> DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER
REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPT.
MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
R-7B. >> AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A
SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT OFF-LOT PARKING ON PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 215 YORK STREET. DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER
REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPT.
MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
R-8. >> AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A
SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT A CHANGE FROM ONE NONCONFORMING
USE TO ANOTHER NONCONFORMING USE ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 617
COLONIAL STREET. >> IS IT McNAIR?
>> WHAT'S THAT? >> I'M SORRY.
THIS IS -- >> THIS IS COLONIAL AVENUE.
>> MR. McNAIR IS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF WE HAVE ANY.
WE'RE GOOD? OKAY.
CALL THE ROLL. >> THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALSO
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL TO 7-0 VOTE.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-9.
>> AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT A
CHANGE FROM ONE NONCONFORMING USE TO ANOTHER NONCONFORMING USE
ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 509 BOISSEVAIN AVENUE.
BY 7-0 VOTE, PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
>> AND SUSAN BRADLEY IS HERE. MS. BRADLEY.
THERE YOU GO, SO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF WE HAVE ANY.
CALL THE ROLL. >> DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER
REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPT.
MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
THANK YOU. R-10.
>> AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT THE
OPERATION OF A TATTOO PARLOR AND TATTOO SCHOOL ON PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 1130 BOISSEVAIN AVENUE.
BY 7-0 VOTE, PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
>> AND ATHENIA AND SHAWN CARR ARE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
CALL THE ROLL. >> DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER
REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPT.
MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> I USUALLY DON'T VOTE FOR
TATTOO PAR LORS, BUT I WILL TONIGHT.
I VOTE AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-11.
>> AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT THE
OPERATION OF A COMMERCIAL DRIVE-THROUGH FACILITY ON
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1600 MONTICELLO AVENUE.
BY 5-2 VOTE, PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-12.
>> AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT THE
OPERATION OF AN EATING AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT ON
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4231 EAST LITTLE CREEK ROAD, SUITE A.
BY 6-1 VOTE, PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-13.
>> AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO OPERATE AN
ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENT ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 200 EAST
PLUME STREET. BY 5-0 VOTE, AND TWO
ABSTENTIONS, PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? >> SURE.
>> FRANK? THE QUESTION I HAVE DEALS
WITH -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU LOOKED INTO OR
IF IT'S REQUIRED ON THE OWNER TO LOOK INTO, BUT WE'RE BEING
ASKED -- THIS BUILDING WAS FORMERLY A BANK.
IT WAS BUILT AS A BANK AND THAT BEING SAID, THE ROOF, WHEN THE
BANK WAS BUILT, I ASSUME WAS NEVER CONTEMPLATED TO HAVE
PARTIES ON ITS ROOFTOP, WHICH TELLS ME THAT WHEN ROOFS ARE
CONSTRUCTED, THEY'RE CONSTRUCTED ABOUT THE IDEA THAT IT'S GOING
TO BE -- YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE HVAC DEVICES AND PERHAPS OTHER
DEVICES ON THE ROOF TO SUPPORT A BANK BUILDING.
STRUCTURALLY. WHAT BOTHERS ME HERE IS I'VE
LOOKED THROUGH THIS AND I CAN'T SEE WHERE STRUCTURALLY THIS ROOF
IS MEANT TO HAVE 48 PEOPLE PLUS CHAIRS PLUS WHATEVER ELSE GOES
ON IT, AND PERHAPS THE LIABILITY GOES WITH THE OWNER AND THE
LAND -- AND THE TENANT, BUT I THINK THAT AS A CITY, THE
RESPONSIBILITY THEN MAY COME BACK TO US, EVEN IF A MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THAT'S BEEN
INVESTIGATED IF THIS ROOF CAN SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY?
IF IT'S EVEN BEEN EXAMINED BY ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS?
>> IT HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY THE CITY'S BUREAU OF BUILDING SAFETY
THAT REPORT STOP ME. THEY REVUL -- REPORTS TO ME.
THEY REVIEW AL THE PLANS FOR ANY EATING AND DRINKING
ESTABLISHMENT BEFORE IT GOES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION SO THOOR
THAT THE BUILDING WILL MEET ALL CODE REQUIREMENTS WITH THE
DISTRIBUTION OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PROPOSED, ALSO REVIEWED FOR FIRE
CODE ISSUES. FOR THAT, YOU WILL NOTE WITH
THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION, WITH THE INCREASE IN SEATING,
THEY LOSING CAPACITY. >> I KNOW.
>> AND THAT IS THE ISSUE WITH BEING ABLE TO ENSURE SAFETY IN
THE BUILDING. >> AND ENSURING SAFETY IN THE
BUILDING, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT LET'S SAY WE HAVE 48 PEOPLE UP
THERE ON A STRUCTURE THAT WAS BUILT FOR HERITAGE BANK AND
THEIR HEADQUARTERS THAT THEY PROBABLY NEVER WENT UP THERE
EXCEPT TO REPAIR AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT.
DOES THAT TELL ME THAT I'M COMFORTABLE TO VOTE YES BECAUSE
I UNDERSTAND THIS BUILDING IS STRUCTURALLY CAPABLE OF WITH
STANDING PEOPLE ON THE ROOF? IF YOU CAN'T TELL ME, THEN YOU
JUST CAN'T TELL ME. >> AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I COULD
TELL YOU TO MAKE YOU MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.
>> HAVE WE STRUCTURALLY EXAMINED THE BUILDING THAT TELLS US IT
CAN HANDLE PEOPLE ON THE ROOF AND THAT IT IS ABLE TO HANDLE
THOSE CAPACITIES? >> IT HAS BEEN EXAMINED TO
ENSURE THAT THERE IS THE CAPACITY IN THE BUILDING TO
SUPPORT THAT NUMBER ON THE ROOF, YES, SIR.
>> AND THAT IT WON'T COLLAPSE? >> BASED ON THE STRUCTURAL
INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED, IT SHOULD BE FINE.
>> THANK YOU. AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
R-14. >> AN ORDINANCE REQUESTING THE
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ESTABLISH
PROJECTS FOR THE ORANGE AVENUE STREET IMPROVEMENTS, THE KILLAM
AVENUE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE IMPROVEMENTS, THE MILITARY
HIGHWAY FEEDER ROAD PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, THE ALGONQUIN
BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE MEADOWBROOK BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS,
APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND APPROPRIATING AND
AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF THE TOTAL SUM OF $5,200,000,
SUBJECT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
THE AFORESAID AGREEMENT. DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER
REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPT.
MR. BURFOOT. >> AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> MR. JONES, I NOTICED THAT WE
HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON AROUND THE CITY, WHICH IS GOOD.
HAVE WE EXHAUSTED ALL OF THE STIMULUS MONEY FROM THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION? IS ANY OF THIS PART OF IT OR
WHAT? >> COUNCILMAN RIDDICK, I'D HAVE
TO GET BACK WITH YOU WITH THE FIRST PIECE, BUT THE SECOND
PIECE, THIS IS REALLY A REIMBURSEMENT THAT WE STARTED
MAYBE LAST FALL. >> OKAY.
>> AND THERE ARE CERTAIN STEPS AND THIS IS THE CONCLUDING STEP
TO GET THE 50-50 SHARE. >> GREAT.
I VOTE AYE. THANK YOU.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
R-15. >> AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN
INCREASE IN THE ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST OF THE KIMBALL
TERRACE CULVERT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, TO $1,200,000, AND
APPROPRIATING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF THE
ADDITIONAL SUM OF $700,000 FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE-SHARING PROGRAM FUNDS.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-16.
>> A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR
THE INDIAN RIVER ROAD/PESCARA CREEK CULVERT IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT AND REQUESTING FUNDING FOR SUCH PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT
OF $200,000 THROUGH THE FY2014 VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE-SHARING PROGRAM.
ADOPT RESOLUTION. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-17.
>> A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR
THE SPOTICO CREEK AT INDIAN RIVER ROAD CULVERT IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT AND REQUESTING FUNDING FOR SUCH PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT
OF $200,000 THROUGH THE FY2014 VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE-SHARING PROGRAM.
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-18.
>> A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR
THE 21st STREET/LLEWELLYN AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT AND REQUESTING FUNDING FOR SUCH PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT
OF $200,000 THROUGH THE FY2014 VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE-SHARING PROGRAM.
ADOPT RESOLUTION. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-19.
>> A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR
THE WESTMINSTER AVENUE REPAIR AND OVERLAY PROJECT AND
REQUESTING FUNDING FOR SUCH PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$350,000 THROUGH THE FY2014 VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE-SHARING PROGRAM.
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> AYE. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> AYE. >> MR. SMIGIEL.
>> AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS.
>> AYE. >> MR. WINN.
>> AYE. >> MR. FRAIM.
>> AYE. R-20.
>> A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE SITE SELECTION BY THE CITY
MANAGER FOR A BUS TRANSFER FACILITY.
>> JUST A SECOND. PHILLIP GILLETTE?
>> MY NAME IS PHILLIP GILLETTE. I RESIDE AT 1205 WESTOVER
AVENUE, APARTMENT A-5, NORFOLK, 23507.
THE VIEWS I EXPRESS TONIGHT ARE SOLELY MY OWN.
I'M ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTING THE LOCATION OF THE BUS TRANSFER
STATION AT DOWNTOWN PLAZA. THE CURRENT CEDAR GROVE STATION
IS A TERRIBLE PLACE. IT IS NOT ADA COMPLIANT, NOR
DOES IT HAVE BATHROOMS. AS HRT PRESIDENT HARRELL STATED,
STEED DAR GROVE IS A -- CEDAR GROVE IS A PLACE NO ONE WOULD
CHOOSE TO GO THROUGH. IF NORFOLK WISHES TO INCREASE
THE NUMBER OF BUS RIDERS OF CHOICE, IT SHOULD MOVE THE
STATION OUT OF CEDAR GROVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE DOWNTOWN PLAZA MEETS ALL OF THE CRITERIA
THAT NORFOLK HAS STATED AS NECESSARY FOR A BUS TRANSFER
STATION. FURTHERMORE, THREE POSSIBLE
DRAWBACKS OF THIS SITE ARE FIXABLE.
NUMBER ONE, THE POSTING OF POLICE AT WOOD STREET AT PEAK
CONGESTION TIMES WOULD DEAL WITH ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC CAUSED BY
BUSES ENTERING AND LEAVING ST. PAUL'S BOULEVARD.
TWO, THE ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF PEDESTRIANS CROSSING HAMPTON
BOULEVARD CAN BE ADDRESSED BY NURSE LIKE FENCING AND/OR
SIGNALIZED CROSSWALKS. THREE, HRT IS PURSUING PRACTICES
THAT REDUCE THE NOISE AND FUMES AT TRANSFER STATIONS THROUGH THE
PURCHASE OF CLEAN DIESEL AND HYBRID ELECTRIC BUSES.
FINALLY, LET US CONSIDER HOW A POSSIBLE BUS RIDER INCREASE, DUE
TO LOCATING THE BUS TRANSFER STATION AT DOWNTOWN PLAZA, WOULD
COME ABOUT. PRESENTLY, CEDAR GROVE AVERAGES
6500 WEEKDAY PASSENGERS. IT IS PROBABLE THAT THIS NUMBER
WILL GROW BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD NOW GO DOWNTOWN WITHOUT TAKING
AN EXTRA BUS. THE NUMBER OF BUS RIDERS MIGHT
QUICKLY RISE TO 7,000 OR 7500 RIDERS PER DAY OR EVEN HIGHER.
NOW, WHILE THESE FIGURES ARE PRESENTLY UNSUPPORTED, WE COULD
ASK THE CITY TO PROVIDE DATA-BASED PROJECTIONS.
AT LEAST THREE POSITIVES WOULD FLOW FROM THE INCREASE IN BUS
RIDERS OF CHOICE. FIRST, MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE
TO SHOP AND DO BUSINESS DOWNTOWN.
SECOND, FARE REVENUES ESSENTIAL TO SUPPORT FUTURE TRANSIT
OPERATIONS WILL INCREASE, AND THIRD, SOME PEOPLE WILL DECIDE
TO LEAVE THEIR AUTOMOBILES AT HOME AND REDUCING TRAFFIC
CONGESTION AND FUMES AND NOISE. FOR THESE REASONS, THE DOWNTOWN
PLAZA IS THE KIND OF INVESTMENT NORFOLK SHOULD MAKE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
JUDITH BROWN? >> GOOD EVENING.
I'M JUDITH BROWN. I LIVE AT 431 NEW HAMPSHIRE
AVENUE, NORFOLK, 23508. I'M A PUBLIC TRANSIT RIDER.
I CAME HERE TODAY BY BUS. I LIVE IN COLONIAL PLACE, WHICH
IS ONLY THREE MILES AWAY FROM WHERE WE SIT, BUT EVERY TIME I
COME DOWNTOWN, I HAVE TO CHANGE BUSES AT CEDAR GROVE TRANSIT
CENTER. AT CEDAR GROVE, EVERY WEEKDAY,
OVER 6,000 OF US SPEND EXTRA TIME CHANGING BUSES JUST TO GET
TO OUR DOWNTOWN TO WORK OR TO SHOP, TO EAT OR TO ATTEND A
CONCERT. PLEASE PUT THE NEW DOWNTOWN
TRANSIT CENTER DOWNTOWN. I STUDIED CAREFULLY ON PAPER AND
ON FOOT ALL OF THE SITES CONSIDERED BY NORFOLK AND BY THE
HRT STAFF. ONLY THE DOWNTOWN PLAZA SITE
WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF BUS DRIVERS -- BUS RIDERS.
IF YOU SELECT THE BUS TRANSFER SITE OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN
NORFOLK, THAT WOULD ADD TO OUR TRAVEL TIME.
PLEASE TRY TO THINK LIKE US BUS RIDERS WHO WANT TO COME
DOWNTOWN. TRY TO THINK LIKE THE NEW BUS
RIDERS AND CHOICE RIDERS. YOU CAN BE SURE THAT THE FARTHER
A TRANSFER SITE IS FROM THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THE MORE IT WILL
DISCOURAGE THEM FROM TRYING PUBLIC TRANSIT AT ALL.
FINALLY, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT SOME OF YOU IN YOUR REMARKS SEEM
TO BE STUCK IN CURRENT DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC.
YOU ENVISION THAT OUR DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC JAMS WILL CONTINUE FOR
YEARS AND YEARS. BUT WE SHOULD ALL BE DREAMING OF
THE DAY WHEN TRAFFIC IS LESS AND THE CITY CAN PERHAPS SELL SOME
OF ITS PARKING GARAGES FOR OTHER USES BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE
WILL NEED TO PARK. PLEASE DECIDE AND DECIDE TONIGHT
WHETHER DOWNTOWN PLAZA TRANSFER SITE, THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE WILL
HAPPILY AND RAPIDLY BE RIDING PUBLIC TRANSIT RIGHT INTO
DOWNTOWN NORFOLK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JOE AUSTIN?
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOE AUSTIN, 534
GARREN AVENUE. MR. JONES, MR. PISHKO, I AM
7.5 BILLION PERCENT IN FAVOR OF THE DOWNTOWN BUS STATION.
CEDAR GROVE IS DESPICABLE. I WAS THERE SATURDAY, SOME GUY
WAS IN HIS SOCKS, ONE GUY WAS DRUNK, ETCETERA.
AS MR. BURFOOT SAID LAST WEEK, IF YOU PUT THAT STATION THERE
AND GET SOME COMMERCE AROUND IT, PEOPLE WILL COME.
LIGHT RAIL IS COMING, OUR NEXT ITEM, YOU ALL HAVE THE POWER TO
MAKE THIS HAPPEN. YES, ST. PAUL'S IS BUSY, YES,
BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THAT TWO YEARS AGO.
NOW IT'S A TRAFFIC PROBLEM. I DISAGREE.
LOVE YOU DEARLY, BUT DISAGREE. AS OUR FAMOUS PERSON WHO YOU ALL
KNOW SAID, I'M GOING TO PARAPHRASE, HRT BUS RIDERS ARE
PEOPLE DO. SO THEY DESERVE THE BEST.
LAST THING, THERE'S A BUS STOP BEHIND THE BANK OF AMERICA
THAT'S GONE. I THINK IT WENT DOWN BEHIND
OPSAIL. PUT THAT BACK, PLEASE.
MOST FOLKS GET OFF AT RICK, IT'S RAINING, AND THEY'RE PEOPLE TOO
AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN OF THE PEOPLE CROSSING THE STREET,
BUT I'M SPEAKING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE BUS STON RIGHT
NOW AND THEY DESERVE THE BEST AS YOU GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> I PUT THAT ON THE TABLE TODAY, JOE, SO THEY HAVE IT.
>> SHEERA KNIGHT? >> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS SHEERA KNIGHT, I LIVE AT 3831 BANKER ROAD, PLOT 103.
I'M ALSO SPEAKING CONCERNING CEDAR GROVE, TO MOVE TO DOWNTOWN
PLAZA BY WOOD STREET AND I'M ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK HIGHLY
ABOUT -- ITS MESSED THAT UP SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SCARED TO
COME DOWN THERE, AND NOT JUST CEDAR GROVE, ALSO L.T.BUSZ.
PEOPLE SITTING THERE AT THE BUS STOP, SMOKING, DRINKING BEER,
URINATING AND ALSO A SIDE OF THE HRT PROPERTY AND THEY ALSO HAVE
THOSE SIGNS DOWN THERE AT CEDAR GROVE, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU
ALL TO ENFORCE THE LAW DOWN THERE WHERE THE POINT WHERE THE
SIGNS SAY HRT PROPERTY, IF YOU'RE NOT USING THE BUS, IT
WOULD BE TRESPASS AND ARREST. THAT WOULD REALLY PUT THE EFFORT
TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO COME DOWN THERE TO EVEN CATCH
THE BUS. I MEAN, IT'S REALLY PATHETIC,
IT'S NOT FAIR. THEY PAY THEIR TAXES LIKE YOU
ALL DO AND WE DO TOO. AND I SPEAK TO THE POINT WHERE I
SIT DOWN THERE MAINLY LIKE MANY YEARS BEFORE CEDAR GROVE EVEN
CAME IN AND EXISTED, THE WAY IT IS NOW, I MEAN, IT'S -- I LOOK
AT HAMPTON. HAMPTON BUS LINE OUT THERE,
HAMPTON BUS LINER, THEY HAVE A BUILDING WHERE THE POLICE
OFFICERS AND SECURITY GUARDS ARE RIGHT THERE AND IF SOMEONE IS
NOT CATCHING THE BUS, EVEN IF THEY GOT A BUS PASS, THEY STILL
WILL TELL THEM IF THEY'RE NOT CATCHING, THEY HAVE TO LEAVE,
STON LOITERING. EVEN NEWPORT NEWS, THEY HAVE A
BUILDING FOR THE POLICE AND ALL THE SECURITY GUARDS.
AND THE BUS PLACE IS CLEAN, IT'S QUIET.
I HAVE SEEN SOMETIMES WHERE IF IT GETS TOO COLD, THEN CEDAR
GROVE WOULD BE CLEAR FOR THE WHOLE NIGHT.
VERY SELDOM OFFICERS, TEN OR 20 MINUTES BEFORE THEY COME TO HELP
PEOPLE OUT THERE. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU
KNOW, I REALLY WITH GOD'S GRACE AND GUIDANCE, I KNOW YOU ALL
LOVE THE LORD, PLEASE ENFORCE THAT FOR DOWNTOWN PLAZA.
IT WILL BE CLOSER TO JAIL AND IT WOULD GET MORE ASSISTANCE TO
HELP WITH THE CITIZENS. THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED
DAY. >> THANK YOU.
OKAY. WE'RE READY TO VOTE, THEN YOU
CAN CALL THE ROLL. >> ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
MR. BURFOOT. >> I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, IT'S
BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. I'VE MADE A LOT OF VOTES IN MY
10 1/2 YEARS, BUT I CAN'T THINK OF ONE THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THIS ONE. WHEN I LOOK AT HOW THE YEARS
THAT PEOPLE HAD TO ENDURE THE ELEMENTS AND HAVE TO PUT UP WITH
THE -- SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO PUT UP WITH AT
CEDAR GROVE. I WANT TO THANK THE MANAGER FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP AND MR. HARRELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. AND I KNOW AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THIS IS GOING TO MAKE ALL OF US BETTER, NOT ONLY AS A
CITY, BUT AS A REGION. AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT DAY
AND A GREAT WIN FOR PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
EVERY DAY. AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> PAUL, CAN I --
>> YES. >> I HAVE TAKEN IT UPON MYSELF
TO REALLY EXAMINE THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
PARTLY BECAUSE SINCE I HAD BECOME -- SINCE I CAME ON
COUNCIL, THE IDEA OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS A DUTY THAT
ALL OF US HAVE, AND IT IS A MATTER OF CHOICE, AND I DO USE
BOTH THE TWO-ROUTE AND THE ONE-ROUTE AS FREQUENTLY AS -- I
CAN TELL YOU, I'M FAIRLY REGULAR.
I DO USE LIGHT RAIL AS A CONNECTOR, SO IN VOTING ON THIS,
I HAD TO EXAMINE WHAT WERE THE CRITERIA THAT WERE NEEDED, AND
THE MAIN CRITERION WAS THE ISSUE OF BEING CONNECTED AT THE LIGHT
RAIL STOPS, AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID -- AND I'VE RECEIVED EMAILS
SAYING IT'S THREE BLOCKS AWAY. I'VE LOOKED AT WHERE THE
PROPOSED BUS TRANSFER FACILITY IS AT -- ON ST. PAUL'S.
THE PROPOSED FACILITY IS WITHIN THREE BLOCKS WHERE TWO BLOCKS,
DEPENDING, OF CIVIC PLAZA, McARTHUR SQUARE, AND MONTICELLO
AVENUE, KEEPING IN MIND THAT IF YOU WERE TO PARK WITH THE
PARKING THAT IS AROUND THE CURRENT -- THIS NEW, WHAT WOULD
BE THE NEW BUS TRANSFER FACILITY, YOU CAN CONNECT FROM
THERE TO NEWPORT NEWS AND HAMPTON AND VIRGINIA BEACH.
AND NOT CONNECTING ON THE STREET AT ST. PAUL'S, WHICH IS A
CURRENT STOP. ALSO, KEEPING IN MIND THAT ALL
OF THOSE LIGHT RAIL STOPS ARE EASILY -- ARE PEDESTRIAN
FRIENDLY AND ARE WALKABLE FROM WHAT WOULD BE THE NEW TRANSFER
FACILITY TO ANY OF THOSE STOPS AND BACK AND FORTH.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT WILL ALLEVIATE ROUTES.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE TWO-ROUTE ENDS AT CEDAR GROVE.
YET, ITS TRUE TERMINUS SHOULD BE THE PORT NORFOLK LIGHT RAIL
STOP. IT SHOULD TURN AROUND AND GO
BACK DOWN HAMPTON BOULEVARD. HOWEVER, CURRENTLY, IT GOES TO
CEDAR GROVE AND THEN IT COMES BACK OUT AND GOES BACK TOWARD
THE LIGHT RAIL STOP. WHICH MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.
AND I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE GOING TO BE ELIMINATING CERTAIN
ROUTES, NOT ENHANCES ROUTES. I ALSO THINK THAT THE 17 ROUTE,
WHICH IS CURRENTLY RUNNING THROUGH DOWNTOWN, CAN BE
CONSIDERED FOR ELIMINATION BECAUSE IT BASICALLY PICKS UP AT
ONE END OF DOWNTOWN AND DELIVERS TO CEDAR GROVE WHERE NOW
DOWNTOWN, IT'S SET THRAUP YOU CAN GO FROM EAST-WEST ON A LIGHT
RAIL AND THEN WALK OVER TO THE TRANSFER FACILITY.
AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE MAX RIDE, BUSES THAT DO TAKE YOU TO THE
VARIOUS CITIES, AND ARE FREQUENT AND ON TIME.
SECOND TO THAT, MEANING THE LIGHT RAIL FACILITIES IS WHAT WE
ALL SAY IS LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION, AND IN LOOKING AT
THAT, THIS WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WOULD BE THE
ST. PAUL'S QUADRANT, WHICH WOULD EXPAND TO THE EAST.
IT ALLOWS EXPANSION AND A GATEWAY INTO DOWNTOWN AT THE
ST. PAUL'S QUADRANT. YOU HAVE A FIRE HOUSE THAT HAS
24-HOUR ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALS, WHICH IS, I THINK, ALLOWS THE
VAGRANCY AT EVELYN BUTZ, WHICH I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH, THE 15
RUNS THROUGH IT, AND IT ALLOW VAGRANCY AND I THINK THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE THERE ARE NOT RIDING THE BUS.
THEY'RE HANGING OUT AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING ON THE BUSES, SO
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THIS WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE
PROBLEM THAT WE SEE AT SEED CZAR GROVE AND I THIS THAT I EVELYN
BUTZ SHOULD BE EXAMINED BECAUSE IT IS OFF OF LITTLE CREEK AND
YOU CAN'T SEE IT FROM LITTLE CREEK AND IT'S OFF THE ROAD MORE
TOWARD THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ABOUT A BLOCK IN.
I DO BELIEVE THAT HARBOR PARK WAS AN AREA THAT I HAD EVEN
MENTIONED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND I HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS BECAUSE
EVEN CONSIDERING HARBOR PARK, WE WOULD ONLY BE IN THE SAME
POSITION WE'RE IN AT CEDAR GROVE.
THERE IS NOTHING THERE, MOST OF THE YEAR.
SURE, THERE ARE BASEBALL GAMES THERE AT CERTAIN TIMES, BUT IF
WE GO TONIGHT, THERE IS NOTHING AT HARBOR PARK, AND IT WILL ONLY
ALLOW WHAT'S BEEN HANG AT CEDAR GROVE -- HAPPENING AT SEED CZAR
GROVE AND ANY OTHER BUS TRANSFER FACILITY TO BE DONE IN THE DARK
AND NOT IN THE OPEN. I DO REQUEST THAT STAFF CONSIDER
A -- AND I BELIEVE I'VE BEEN ASSURED THIS, AND MR. HARRELL,
LET ME TELL YOU, I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO GET AWAY FROM US.
WE MUST HAVE SOMEBODY THERE, AND I UNDERSTAND SECURITY, BUT MAYBE
WE'RE REACHING A POINT THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS A TRANSIT POLICE
THAT ACTUALLY RIDE THE BUSES AND THE RIGHT RAILS AND CONNECT
THE -- LIGHT RAILS AND CONNECT THE CITIES AND ARE GIVEN CERTAIN
WIDER JURISDICTION, AND THAT BEING SAID, I UNDERSTAND THERE
IS A -- AND I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT IT AND MY COLLEAGUE HAS BEEN
KIND ENOUGH TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS A HRT OFFICE/WAITING
AREA, BUT THAT WAITING AREA AND THAT OFFICE MUST HAVE SOMEBODY,
A SUPERVISOR, BE MANNED, AND IF ANYTHING, I THINK THE CITY CAN
ALSO CONSIDER USING ILLUSTRATE IT AS AN INFORMATION -- USING IT
AS AN INFORMATION CENTER FOR PEOPLE COMING TOTE CITY AND MAKE
IT MORE OF A GATEWAY TO THE CITY THAN PERHAPS WE'RE EVEN THINKING
ABOUT. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
CONSIDER. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CROSSING
OF ST. PAUL'S BOULEVARD IS VERY DIFFICULT.
I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OF THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ACROSS THE
STREET. HOWEVER, AS I LOOK AT THIS
PARTICULAR FACILITY, IT IS JOGGED DOWN MORE TO THE NORTH
THAN DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THOSE FACILITIES AND THAT CURRENTLY
HAVE FRANKLY AN McDONALD'S, A POP EYES AND A GAS STATION WITH
A CONVENIENT MART, SO THERE IS ALREADY TRAFFIC THERE AND FOOT
TRAFFIC, BUT I BELIEVE THAT ST. PAUL'S, CROSSING IT MYSELF,
CAN BE A DANGEROUS STREET FOR PEDESTRIANS AND PEOPLE NEED TO
BE CHANNELED APPROPRIATELY TO WOOD STREET AND TO PERHAPS
FREEMASON OR EVEN FURTHER DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE AREA BEFORE
THEY CAN CROSS OVER TO THE WEST IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF TIME TO LOOK AT THIS AND I KNOW THAT SOME
PEOPLE MAY DISAGREE WITH MY REASONING, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT
THIS IS, OF ALL, NOT JUST FOR FINANCIAL PURPOSES FOR THE CITY,
BUT I DO BELIEVE IT BECOMES THE MOST APPROPRIATE BECAUSE IT FITS
ALL THE CRITERIA WE SOUGHT. IT'S IN THE OPEN, IT'S IN THE
PUBLIC, AND IT'S CLOSE TO THE LIGHT RAIL FACILITIES THAT WE
SOUGHT. SO MY VOTE WOULD BE AYE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PROTOGYROU.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> JUST A FEW WORDS.
IT WAS JOE AUSTIN WHO SENT ME AN EMAIL, I BELIEVE, ABOUT THE
JUDGE THAT WAS STABBED IN THE NECK -- THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS
STACKED IN THE NECK AT CEDAR GROVE, WHICH PROMPTED ME TO SEND
AN EMAIL TO THE CITY MANAGER AND ALTHOUGH I DO NOT REP THE CEDAR
GROVE AREA, I TOOK INTEREST IN IT BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MANY OF MY
STUDENTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT TO GET TO WORK OR TO SCHOOL, AND
I HEAR FROM MY STUDENTS THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE OCCURRED
THERE. WE PUT IN THE BUDGET MONEY AND
ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND MAKE THIS
HAPPEN, SO WE HAVE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE CITY MANAGER
HAS DONE HIS DILIGENCE AND FOUND THE BEST LOCATION FOR US.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME OPPOSITION TO THIS, MAINLY
BECAUSE THE IDEA OF A TRANSPORTATION HUB CENTER AT
HARBOR PARK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE ESTIMATES FOR THAT
CAME BACK AT OVER $20 MILLION WITH THE NEED OF A PARKING
GARAGE. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVE
RESPECT FOR OUR BUS RIDERS, BUT WE NEED TO BUILD SCHOOLS AND I
CAN'T IMAGINE US SPENDING MONEY ON A BUS STATION, A $120 MILLION
BUS STATION WHEN WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT NEED TO BE BUILT.
I THINK THAT SOME OF THE OPPOSITION IS ALSO BECAUSE THERE
IS A STIGMA AT BUS STATIONS, AND WHY IS THERE A STIGMA?
BECAUSE OF CEDAR GROVE. AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY HERE TO SHOW AND REFLECT A GOOD QUALITY
TRANSPORTATION HUB AND CENTER THAT OUR CITIZENS FEEL SAFE IN
RIDING, AND I -- AFTER -- I DIDN'T DO AS MUCH HOMEWORK AS
ANDY ON THIS, BUT I DID, AND I LOOKED AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS DONE A
GREAT JOB WITH THIS. SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT, SO I
VOTE AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS?
>> I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR CEDAR GROVE AND FOR ME, THE OVERRIDING
FACTOR WAS SIMPLY THE SAFETY ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY -- OR DOWNTOWN BUS STATION.
CEDAR GROVE IS UNSAFE. I GOT THE SAME EMAIL FROM JOE
THAT YOU GOT ABOUT THE STABBING VICTIM AND I HEAR THINGS THAT
PEOPLE SAY GO ON IN CEDAR GROVE. AND MAYBE ONE OR TWO COMMENTS,
YOU COULD SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT PERSON IS
EXAGGERATING, BUT WHEN THE COMMENTS CONTINUE AND THE
STORIES ARE THE SAME AND THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME AND PEOPLE
ARE AFRAID, I AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME
COMING AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WE OWE OUR BUS RIDERS DIGNITY.
WE OWE THEM A RESPECTABLE PLACE FOR CHANGING AND TRANSPORTATION.
WE OWE THEM A SAFE PLACE, AND WE OWE OUR CITIZENS WHO CHOOSE --
WHO MAY CHOOSE TO RIDE THE BUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AND
CHANGE BUSES IN A CONVENIENT MANNER, BUT MORE SO THAN
ANYTHING, IN A SAFE MANNER. SOME PEOPLE ARGUE THE COST, AND
THE COST REALLY DOESN'T BOTHER ME IF IT, HONESTLY, WAS 6 OR
$7 MILLION, IT WOULD BE OKAY, BUT AN OPEN, LIT, SAFE,
DIGNIFIED PLACE FOR OUR CITIZENS WHO RIDE THE BUS, WHETHER IT'S
BY CHOICE OR BY NEED, I THINK IS WHAT THIS NEW BUS STATION IN
DOWNTOWN PLAZA IS GOING TO BRING.
AND WE CAN ANALYZE TO PARALYZE, BUT AT THE -- WHEN IT'S ALL SAID
AND DONE, I THINK THAT, AGAIN, I AGREE WITH TOMMY THAT THE
MANAGER AND HIS STAFF HAVE DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND THAT'S
WHAT WE HIRED HIM FOR. SO I VOTE AYE.
>> MR. WINN? >> MY OPPOSITION ON THIS HAS
BEEN CLEAR FOR A WHILE. I DON'T THINK IT'S THE RIGHT
LOCATION. I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO GET
OUT OF CEDAR GROVE. IT'S A HORRIBLE SITUATION.
WE HAVE TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE, I BELIEVE -- AND I LOOKED AT A
NUMBER OF SITES AND I'VE MET WITH PEOPLE FROM HRT AND THE
MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND THE NUMBER OF THE SITES THAT I WOULD HAVE
PREFERRED PROBABLY AREN'T ACCEPTABLE.
I DO THINK WE COULD GO NORTH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIRE
STATION ON WOOD STREET. WE OWN THE PROPERTY THERE.
WE WOULD HAVE A -- THERE'S ALREADY A CROSSING THERE, WE
COULD CHANNEL THE PEOPLE ACROSS. THEY'RE NOT THAT MUCH FURTHER
FROM WHERE THEY ARE. I THINK IT WORKS BETTER.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
I KNOW THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN DECIDED, IT'S A DONE DEAL, SO
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED -- I THINK
YOU HAVE THE ST. PAUL'S CORRIDOR THERE THAT'S IN THE EARLY
DEVELOPMENT STAGES OR THE THOUGHT STAGES.
I THINK THE TRAFFIC SITUATION IS HORRIBLE DOWN THERE.
THE THOUGHT OF -- I UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT ANOTHER
SIGNAL, AT LEAST I THINK THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE TO GET
ACROSS THERE. THERE ARE SEVEN TRAFFIC SIGNALS
NOW BETWEEN BRAMBLETON -- OR SIX BETWEEN BRAMBLETON AND WATERSIDE
DRIVE, SO I PREFER THE OTHER SITES.
I'M GOING TO VOTE NO. >> MR. FRAIM?
>> JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY WELL
SAID. I APPRECIATE THE TIME EVERYONE
HAS TAKEN TO EXAMINE THIS ISSUE. I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE
MANAGER AND HIS STAFF'S DUE DILIGENCE.
THIS LOCATION COMES WITH HIS STRONG RECOMMENDATION, AND THAT
OF HRT AS WELL. I THINK THEY ANALYZED SOME 20
SITES. I'M GOING TO, YOU KNOW,
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS NO PERFECT PLACE FOR A BUS STATION,
ESPECIALLY IN A -- A BUS TRANSFER STATION, ESPECIALLY IN
A CITY AS DENSE AS OURS AND AS COMPACT AS OUR DOWNTOWN IS.
THERE ISN'T ANY PERFECT PLACE. YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO RUB UP
AGAINST SOME OTHER USE IN SOME LOCATION, BUT I DO THINK IN
LIGHT OF OUR GOAL TO HAVE A LOCATION THAT WAS NOT ONLY
CONVENIENT TO -- FOR THE RIDERS IN DOWNTOWN, BUT ONE THAT ALSO
CREATED A DIGNIFIED SITUATION FOR PEOPLE TO USE TRANSIT, WHICH
IS REALLY A MAJOR GOAL OF OURS, THERE'S PROBABLY NOT ANOTHER
CITY IN THE -- WELL, THERE ISN'T ANOTHER LOCALITY IN THE
COMMONWEALTH WHO HAS PUSHED FORWARD AS FAR AS WE HAVE ON
MASS TRANSIT, AND I THINK THIS IS JUST ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF
THAT. I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT --
I KNOW THE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC IS A CONCERN.
YEARS AGO, THE COUNCIL BOUGHT THE DOWNTOWN PLAZA AND WE
CLEARED IT AND WE STARTED PARKING ON IT.
AND EVERY DAY, EVERY EVENING, PARKERS WHO PARKED THERE COME
OUT OF THE BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN, A LOT OF THEM ARE
EMPLOYEES OF THE MacARTHUR CENTER, AND WALK THE OTHER
DIRECTION ACROSS TOWARDS THE DOWNTOWN PLAZA TO GET INTO THEIR
CARS. AND WHILE THERE ARE PLENTY OF
PEDESTRIANS THERE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE THAT.
IT WON'T BE AS MANY, ACTUALLY, AS MANY GOING THE OTHER WAY, AND
WHEN ITS ALL SAID AND DONE. SO HAVING SAID THAT, I REALLY
THINK THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN A GOOD ONE.
I APPRECIATE THOSE FOLKS WHO CAME OUT HERE TO TALK TONIGHT
ABOUT IT IN FAVOR OF IT, SO I VOTE AYE.
OKAY, THANK YOU. WHERE ARE WE?
R-21. >> A RESOLUTION REQUESTING
HAMPTON ROADS TRANSIT TO INITIATE AND ADVANCE STUDIES OF
POTENTIAL OPTIONS TO EXTEND LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT IN NORFOLK TO
CONNECT TO NAVAL STATION NORFOLK AND ENDORSING THE CONTINUED
ADVANCEMENT AND COMPLETION OF THE CURRENT STUDY OF LIGHT RAIL
TRANSIT IN VIRGINIA BEACH. >> JUST A SECOND.
DAN MONTAGUE? >> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.
COUNCIL, MR. JONES. I AM IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH
THE STUDY, BUT I DON'T THINK IT DOES ENOUGH.
AS ONE WHO RIDES THE LIGHT RAIL EVERY PART OF TOWN, I WANT IT TO
DO MORE THAN WHAT IT HAS BEEN PLANNED ON YOU GUYS LETTING IT
DO. WE ARE THE HOME OF THE LARGEST
NAVAL FACILITY IN THE WORLD. WE GOT MORE MILITARY AROUND HERE
THAN ANYWHERE ELSE THAT I KNOW OF.
WE GOT EVERY BRANCH OF THE MILITARY IN THIS REGION.
SO WHY DONE WE HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY -- DON'T
WE HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES THAT THEY NEED?
IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON HAVING THE MILITARY HERE, WHICH I'M ALL
FOR, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM A DECENT TRANSPORTATION.
NOT ONLY DO I WANT IT TO GO TO THE NAVAL BASE, BUT I WANT IT TO
GO TO THE CURRENT DOWNTOWN TUNNEL TO GET IT TO PORTSMOUTH
SO THE PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE NAVAL HOSPITAL AND ALSO THE
WORLD'S LARGEST NAVY YARD. AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS, UNTIL
WE GET A LITTLE BIT FUTURISTIC IN THIS CITY, WE'RE GOING TO BE
LEFT BEHIND LIKE WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.
SAN DIEGO, SEATTLE, WHICH ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO US, THEY
HAVE IT. BALTIMORE HAS IT DOING THINGS.
IT'S BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS. WHEN I USED TO GO UP THERE TO
THE PREAKNESS, I RODE THE LIGHT RAIL ALL OVER BALTIMORE.
WE NEED TO PUSH LIGHT RAIL, AND MAKE IT WORK FOR THE WHOLE
REGION. AND THEREFORE, LET'S GET WITH
THE PROJECT INSTEAD OF GETTING LEFT BEHIND LIKE WE USUALLY ARE.
AND IF VIRGINIA BEACH KEEPS PLAYING AROUND, TELL THEM WE ARE
THE LEADER AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
ALSTON ROBINSON? >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR FRAIM,
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCILMAN JONES.
MY NAME IS ALSTON ROBINSON, MY ADDRESS IS 735 WEST 35th STREET.
I TOO THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA THAT WE VOTE TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT
WITH VIRGINIA BEACH'S LOOKING TO HAVE THE LIGHT RAIL EXTENDED TO
THE OCEANFRONT. WE LOOKING TO HAVE IT EXTENDED
TO THE NAVAL BASE, AND I THINK THE STUDY WILL BE GOOD BECAUSE
VIRGINIA BEACH HAD A STUDY AND IT COST $6.6 MILLION AND IT WAS
FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDED. AND WE CAN GET THAT, THAT'S
COOL. YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT LIGHT RAIL
TODAY WHERE IT WAS $318 MILLION AND THE CITY PUT IN $53 MILLION,
YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF LOOK AT THAT AND YOU'RE LIKE, MAN, YOU
PUT IN $53 MILLION, BUT YOU ALSO GAINED $265 MILLION.
THAT'S NOT A BAD DEAL. SO I KNOW THAT OUR CITY IS
LOOKING TO GROW AND WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO REMIND US OF ANOTHER FUTURE, AND I KNOW IT'S
KIND OF TOUGH WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN DECISIONS AND YOU
HAVE TO BALANCE AND LOOK AT LIGHT RAIL EXTENSIONS TO THE
BEACH OR THE NAVAL BASE, THE FUTURE, OUR CHILDREN, OUR
SCHOOLS, THE FUTURE. SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS
TO THE ATTENTION OF COUNCIL. WE TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE AND
I KNOW IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE LIGHT
RAIL, WE HAVE TO STAY -- TAKE THE LEADERSHIP IN THIS REGION
AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE CANNOT LEAVE
BEHIND THE OTHER FUTURE, WHICH IS OUR CHILDREN.
SO WE HAVE TO CONSIDER BUILDING OUR SCHOOLS AND INVESTING IN OUR
CHILDREN SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T JUST HAVE A LIGHT RAIL
WITHOUT ANOTHER PORTION OF THE FUTURE TO RIDE THE LIGHT RAIL.
I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING WHEN
I TALK ABOUT THIS LEVERAGING OF THE FUTURE BUT WE HAVE THE LIGHT
RAIL FUTURE, WE HAVE OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE, AND, YOU
KNOW, WE HAD THE TWO-CENT FOR TWO SCHOOLS DEAL AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE SAYING, OH, WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE BUILT THE SCHOOLS
BEFORE YOU BUILT THE LIGHT RAIL. WELL, WE'LL SEE, BUT THE THING
IS, YOU GUYS ARE MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS.
THERE'S ONLY EIGHT OF YOU AND YOU'RE MAKING DECISIONS FOR OVER
230-SOME-THOUSANDS PEOPLE AND I KNOW ITS GREATLY IMPOSSIBLE TO
PLEASE EVEN 10% OF THE PEOPLE, BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY WHEN
YOU DO MAKE THE DECISIONS, DON'T FORGET ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND
THESE SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT NEED TO BE BUILT.
ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTHSIDE. I WAS AT THE SCHOOL BOARD
SUPPORTING THE SOUTHSIDE AND THEY WAS LIKE WANTING A K-8, AND
THEY ONLY HAD A K-5 AND WE'RE LOOKING AT MONEY ISSUES.
TO BE HONEST, I THINK THEY SHOULD GET A NEW ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL AND A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT, HEY, WHO AM I?
JUST A GUY. I'M NOT ON COUNCIL MAKING
DECISIONS YOU GUYS MAKE, AND TO BE HONEST, RIGHT NOW, I'M KIND
OF GLAD I'M NOT WHERE YOU GUYS ARE.
[ LAUGHTER ] >> SHEERA KNIGHT?
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, SIR. >> GOOD EVENING.
>> AS I SAID AGAIN, SIR, YES, ABOUT THE LIGHT RAIL.
LIGHT RAIL IS A VERY, VERY UPLIFTING TO VIRGINIA AND
NORFOLK AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY, LAST YEAR, WHEN THE LIGHT
RAIL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO DOWNTOWN NORFOLK, AT THE
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT THAT THEY HAD, THE CHRISTMAS PARADE THEY HAD,
THE PEOPLE, YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD THEIR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THE LIGHT RAIL. THEY WAS SO HAPPY.
I MEAN, THEY WAS SO CHEERFUL, I MEAN ALL THE TRAINS THAT WAS
GOING THROUGH, THEY WAS PACKED UP.
IT WAS SO PACKED UP, THEY WAS LIKE, WOW, WE GOT A TRAIN HERE?
WHAT? WE NEVER SEEN THIS IN NORFOLK
BEFORE AND THEY WAS JUST SO CHEERY, THEY WAS SMILING, THEY
WAS LAUGHING, THEY WAS TALKING, AND I HAVE ACTUALLY RODE ON
LIGHT RAIL, I HAVE TALKED TO SOME OF THE CUSTOMERS, AND THEY
WERE SO, SO SPUNKED, THEY WERE JUST CHEERFUL.
AND I WAS LIKE YOU ALL WANT IT TO GO FURTHER?
THEY SAY YES, PLEASE, WE WANT TO IT GO FURTHER, WE DON'T WANT IT
TO JUST STAY HERE, WE WANT TO EXPAND IT AND SHARE IT WITH
OTHER PLACES, SO I SAY, OKAY, I SPEAK MY WORDS AND EVERYTHING,
WHAT'S MY OPINION AND THEY SAY PLEASE TALK TO THE -- LIKE THE
MAN SAY, YOU DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING, MONEY DOES NOT GROW
ON TREES, YOU CAN'T JUST PLUCK OFF THE TREE AND WHATEVER, SAY
THIS DO THIS AND DO THAT, BUT I'M SAYING IT WAS REALLY DONE
SOME GREAT THINGS DOWN IN NORFOLK AND TO THE POINT, PLEASE
EXPAND IT. PLEASE LET THEM KNOW.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY, SIR. >> THANK YOU.
OKAY, THAT CLUES THE  -- CONCLUDES THE LIST OF FOLKS WHO
ARE HERE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THIS ISSUE.
>> PAUL, CAN I ASK -- >> PLEASE.
>> ON LINE 2 OF THE RESOLUTION, OR SECTION 2, WHEREAS DAILY
RIDERSHIP TOTALS ON THE TIDE DURING ITS FIRST YEAR OF
OPERATIONS HAVE FAR EXCEEDED INITIAL PROJECTIONS AND CONTINUE
TO INCREASE DEMONSTRATING A GROWING PUBLIC ENTHUSIASM IN
SUPPORT FOR LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT AS PART OF A BALANCED APPROACH
TO ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN NORFOLK AND THE LARGER
HAMPTON ROADS REGION, I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE STRIKE OUT THE
LANGUAGE THAT SAYS A GROWING PUBLIC ENTHUSIASM.
THIS WAS WRITTEN AS A FACTUAL BASE AND THAT'S AN OPINION, AND
THERE'S NO PUBLIC POLL ON THIS. PAUL, LISTEN TO ME.
THERE'S NO PUBLIC -- WE'RE SAYING THAT BECAUSE NUMBERS ARE
INCREASING, THAT THIS MEANS EVERYBODY IS EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I'M READING THE WHOLE RESOLUTION HERE AND THAT IS AN EDITORIAL
STATEMENT. AND I THINK THAT IT DOESN'T FIT
IN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE AND SO I'M JUST ASKING TO STRIKE
OUT THAT LACK WAGE, A GROWING PUBLIC ENTHUSIASM.
IT STILL TALKS ABOUT AN INCREASE IN THERE, BUT KEENS THE
EDITORIAL PART OUT OF IT AND THERE'S BEEN NO PUBLIC POLL ON
THIS. >> WOULD THAT HELP YOU SUPPORT
IT? >> WELL, YES.
IT WOULD, YES. >> ALL RIGHT.
WE'D LIKE TO GET AS MANY VOTES AS POSSIBLE.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO THAT? ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. >> THANKS.
>> YOU CAN CALL THE ROLL. >> ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
MR. BURFOOT. >> JUST FOR THE RECORD, THIS
RESOLUTION IS IN NO WAY TO TRY TO INFLUENCE THE VOTE THAT
VIRGINIA BEACH HAS TO MAKE, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
WE SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR OUR FRIENDS ON THE VIRGINIA BEACH
COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE MAYOR, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IT IS TRULG ABOUT REGIONALISM AND WE SHOULD BE WORKING
TOGETHER AS OPPOSED TO WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER AND I THINK
THE MAYOR HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB OVER THE YEARS IN BUILDING
THAT RELATIONSHIP, SO I THINK THIS TAKES US ONE MORE STEP
CLOSER TO CONTINUING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND TRULY REALIZING
REGIONALISM ONE DAY. SO I VOTE AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU? >> PAUL, MAY I --
>> SURE. >> MR. ROBINSON, I THINK YOUR
REMARKS WERE BRILLIANT AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS -- AND I
CONTEMPLATED HOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAD SAID AND HOW YOU ENTER
INTO VOTES ON COUNCIL WHEN IT COMES TO EXPENDING FUNDS OR
DEALING WITH POLICY ISSUES, AND REALIZING THE CRISIS THAT WE
HAVE FOUND OURSELVES IN, SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL CRISIS, I CALL
IT A CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR TEST SCORES AND OUR PHYSICAL
PLANTS. THAT WE NEED TO ALMOST MAKE IT A
POINT THAT EVERY TIME WE MAKE A VOTE, THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT
A CONCERN AND WE HAVE TO RUN IT IN OUR HEAD AS TO WHETHER OR
NOT, HOW DOES THIS VOTE INFLUENCE OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR
SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I THINK THAT ANYBODY CAN,
RUNNING THAT IN MY OWN MIND, AND I MEAN ON EVERY VOTE, FRANKLY,
THAT THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE
CONSIDERED BECAUSE THAT RIGHT NOW IS OUR BIGGEST PRIORITY.
AND WE HAVE TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
AND THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WE CAN FIND ANY NUMBER OF REASONS
AS TO WHY THAT'S PROBABLY APPROPRIATE TO ACCEPT THIS VOTE
AND TO VOTE AYE FOR IT. I THINK WE CONSIDER, SOME PEOPLE
SAY ENHANCED TAX BASIS, PERHAPS THE TRANSPORTATION EVEN FOR THE
SCHOOL CHILDREN TO USE, THEIR PARENTS TO USE, BRINGING MORE OF
A REGIONAL EMPHASIS MAY AFFECT THE SCHOOLS IN SOME MANNER IN
THE FUTURE, SO I THINK THAT THAT IS A BRILLIANT WAY THAT WE HAVE
TO PROBABLY ATTACK EVERY VOTE. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. THEY WERE MOST APPROPRIATE.
THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T LIKE THE TIMING OF THIS, AND I'VE
EXPRESSED THAT IN THE INFORMAL SESSION.
I THINK THE TIMING OF THIS IS MOST INAPPROPRIATE BECAUSE IT
MAY APPEAR THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE VIRGINIA BEACH, AND
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I'M EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE
TIMING OF THIS PARTICULAR VOTE. THAT BEING SAID, HOWEVER, I AM
NOT GOING TO AFFECT MY VOTE AS TO THE ISSUE OF -- NEARLY
BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE OF -- MERELY BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE OF
TIMING. I THINK THE VOTE IS FRANKLY TOO
CRITICAL FOR THAT AND IN THE FACT ALSO, I WILL SAY THAT THE
MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN SET ASIDE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT,
APPROXIMATELY 1.8 MILLION FOR THE STUDY.
IT'S NOT NEW FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TO PRODUCE, SO THAT BEING SAID,
I WOULD AGREE WITH THIS. HOWEVER, AND I HAVE MENTIONED
THIS EARLIER ON MY -- IN MY TERM AS COUNCIL, THAT I THINK THAT
PERHAPS MISTAKES -- IT'S HINDSIGHT IS 20/20 AND SOMEBODY
WHO DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE THE HARD VOTE OR THE HARD VOTES TO BRING
LIGHT RAIL IN TO THE CITY CAN EXAMINE THIS AND BE THE
MONDAY-MORNING QUARTERBACK, AND WE CAN ALL LOOK TO WHAT PERHAPS
OTHER ISSUES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE OR ATTEMPTED TO HAVE
BEEN DONE, AND I'M SURE THEY WERE, BUT THEY JUST FELL ON DEAF
EARS OF OTHER CITIES. SEATTLE AND THOSE OTHER CITIES
HAVE COUNTIES THAT SURROUND THEM.
COUNTIES THAT SUPPORT THEM AND IT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR THEM
TO GET WHAT THEY WANT IN THIS CENTER CITY, UNLIKE THE CITY OF
NORFOLK THAT'S SURROUNDED BY OTHER MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS,
WHICH MAKES OUR JOB EVEN HARDER AND IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ALL
OF THOSE CITIES AS DAN HAD EXPLAINED.
HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE MUST, NOT JUST VIRGINIA BEACH,
BUT CHESAPEAKE MUST BE INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION AND MUST BE
INVOLVED IN AN UNDERSTANDING OF REALLY MOVING THEIR CITIZENS
THROUGH THE CITY OF NORFOLK BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHO THIS
IS FOR. WE ARE MOVING THE CITIZENS OF
TWO OTHER CITIES THROUGH OUR CITY, THROUGH A LIGHT RAIL
SYSTEM THAT WOULD CONNECT VIRGINIA BEACH TO THE NAVAL
BASE. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY FOR OUR
RESIDENTS, EXCEPT IT FREES UP OUR ROADS AND THE MAINTENANCE
THAT WOULD COME WITH OUR ROADS THAT VDOT DOES NOT COVER.
IT FREES UP THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR ROADS THAT VDOT DOES NOT
COVER AND THEN THIS FREES UP MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOLS AT SOME
POINT, SO I THINK THAT IN THE FUTURE, IF LIGHT RAIL IS TO BE A
REALITY, VIRGINIA BEACH AND CHESAPEAKE, NOT SAYING
PORTSMOUTH, BUT REALLY TO MOVE THE OTHER RESIDENTS THROUGH OUR
CITY, MUST BE ON BOARD AND BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING IN THE
FUTURE AFTER THE 1.8 MILLION IS EXPENDED AND IF IT IS -- IT DOES
DEEM APPROPRIATE TO CONNECT THE NAVAL BASE, THAT ALL OF THESE
CITIES WOULD BE TOGETHER TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN BECAUSE WITHOUT
IT, NORFOLK CANNOT AFFORD TO DO IT ALONE.
WE'VE DONE THAT ONCE, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT AGAIN IN THE
ECONOMIC TIMES THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN AND FRANKLY, I
THINK WE'LL FIND OURSELVES IN THE FUTURE.
SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I VOTE AYE.
>> THANK YOU. >> MR. RIDDICK.
>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION, IT ARRIVED AT OUR
DESK AT A VERY QUICK PACE, BUT I KIND OF LIKEN THIS TO THE SURRY
COAL ISSUE. IT'S NOT OUR ISSUE.
AS FAR AS VIRGINIA BEACH IS CONCERNED, I SUPPORT LIGHT RAIL
EXPANSION TO ODU, THE NAVAL BASE AND THE AIRPORT, BUT AS FAR AS
VIRGINIA BEACH IS CONCERNED, IT IS NOT OUR ISSUE.
IT'S THEIR ISSUE. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONE OF
MY MAIN REASONS FOR NOT SUPPORTING IS BECAUSE WHEN WE
INITIALLY STARTED DOWN THE PATH OF LIGHT RAIL, VIRGINIA BEACH
WOULD NOT EVEN ALLOW A STUDY OF LIGHT RAIL, AND THAT INSULTED A
LOT OF CITIZENS OF NORFOLK ACROSS RACIAL LINES, BUT IN
PARTICULAR, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND THE TABLE FOR A
MINUTE OR TWO KNOW THAT VIRGINIA BEACH'S INITIAL REBUFF OF LIGHT
RAIL HAD TO DO WITH RACIAL ISSUES AND NOT WANTING BLACKS TO
HAVE ACCESS TO THE BASE. I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, TO THE BEACH.
NOW, WHILE THIS MIGHT SEEM SOMETHING THAT'S WAY OUT OF LINE
AS FAR AS A LOT OF CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED, THERE ARE A LOT OF
MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY WHO WERE INSULTED AND STILL INSULTED
BECAUSE OF VIRGINIA BEACH'S ACTIONS AND SO FOR THAT REASON,
I VOTE NO. >> MR. SMIGIEL?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION IS RIGHT
NOW IT DOESN'T COST THE CITIZENS ANY MONEY.
AND DOWN THE ROAD, IF I'M ON COUNCIL OR WHOEVER IS ON COUNCIL
WILL HAVE TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION, POSSIBLY WITH THE
EXPANSION OF LIGHT RAIL. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CRITICISMS
I'VE HEARD FROM CITIZENS IS WHILE THEY WERE NOT JUST
ANTI-LIGHT RAIL, JUST ANTI THE PLACEMENT OF IT AND ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DISCUSSED IS WHY WAS THIS NOT
RUN TO THE MILITARY BASE. THE WHOLE GOAL WAS TO TAKE THIS
OFF, SO WHEN YOU READ THE RESOLUTION, THIS IS WHAT THIS IS
ABOUT, EXTENDING IT THERE. I WOULD, AT A FUTURE DATE, LIKE
TO DISCUSS COUNCIL POLICY AND I'LL BRING SOME COPIES ON THE
FORMER CITY MANAGER GAVE ME ABOUT POLICY, BUT WE HAD
DISCUSSED AT THE SURRY COAL PLANT VOTE ABOUT HOW RESOLUTIONS
COME FORWARD AND DR. WHIBLEY AND WRITE  -- AND I WERE CRITICIZED
ABOUT RESOLUTIONS JUST APPEARING ON THE AGENDA.
THIS ONE APPEARED ON THE AGENDA AND I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS AN
AGREEMENT ON COUNCIL THAT THESE TYPES OF ISSUES, WE WOULD HAVE
TIME TO LOOK AT THEM, UNDERSTANDING THE TIMELINESS OF
THIS, WHETHER IT'S PURPOSED OR NOT, I DO BELIEVE THAT TALKING
TO MY CONSTITUENTS, THAT THERE IS AN AGREEMENT THAT THEY WOULD
LIKE TO SEE LIGHT RAIL EXTENDED TO THE BASE.
I ALSO SUPPORT FUTURE SUCCESS OF LIGHT RAIL.
I HAVE MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PAST AND HOW THIS WENT ABOUT,
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE LIGHT RAIL SUCCESSFUL.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT WORK, AND PART OF THAT IS WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES AND I HOPE THAT, YOU
KNOW, THAT WE CAN MOVE BEYOND THIS IDEA THAT WE WORK IN SILOS
AND THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, A REGION WHEN IT COMES TO
TRANSPORTATION AND POSSIBLY OTHER THINGS.
SO I DO VOTE AYE. >> MS. WILLIAMS?
>> I THINK THAT THE SUCCESS OF LIGHT RAIL IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR
CITY. I THINK THAT WE CAN'T MAKE
ANOTHER JURISDICTION OR LOCALITY DO ANYTHING, BUT I DO BELIEVE
THAT THE SUCCESS OF LIGHT RAIL IS THE EXPANSION OF LIGHT RAIL
IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR CITY. AND I APPRECIATE OUR CITY
MANAGER FOR GOING BACK OVER ALL THE NUMBERS FROM THE ORIGINAL
PROJECT, FOR THE PERSONNEL AT HRT AND FOR OUR NEW DIRECTOR
OVER HRT, MR. HARRELL, BUT BOTTOM LINE IS I BELIEVE IT'S
ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR CITY.
WE HAVE TO GET CARS OFF THE ROAD, THE YOUNG LADY WHO CAME
AND SPOKE TALKED ABOUT A FUTURE WHERE THERE WOULD NOT BE AS MANY
CARS ON ST. PAUL'S BOULEVARD, AND THAT'S DEFINITELY A FUTURE
THAT WE CAN SEE. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT PARKING ISSUES, WE TALK ABOUT THE REDUCTION THAT WE'RE
ALREADY SEEING IN VEHICLES DUE TO LIGHT RAIL AND MASS TRANSIT,
AND ANY CITY THAT REALLY WANTS TO FLOURISH AND GROW HAS TO HAVE
A MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT SERVES ITS CITIZENS AND AS ANDY
SAID, TRANSPORT CITIZENS OF OTHER CITIES.
MR. ROBINSON IS A WONDERFUL LANDSCAPER, SO I'M SURE
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, HE WILL FIND THE SEEDS TO A MONEY
TREE AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO, BUT
UNTIL THAT TIME COMES, SINCE WE ALREADY HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS
STUDY, I VOTE AYE. >> MR. WINN?
>> I TAKE ONE QUICK SECOND, I HAVE BEEN -- AND I DID ASK FOR
THIS RES SOLUTION TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD.
I TRIED SINCE THIS SUMMER FOR ACTION TOWARDS THE NAVAL
STATION, OLD DOMINION, I WAS TOLD WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE
RIDERSHIP NUMBERS CAME IN, WHICH HAD TO BE A YEAR, WHICH WAS LATE
AUGUST. I ASKED AGAIN THREE OR FOUR
WEEKS AGO IN INFORMAL SESSION. IT WASN'T A SECRET, MAYBE WE
COULD HAVE GOTTEN IT EARLIER, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK PAST
PETTY THINGS AND I KNOW MR. RIDDICK'S CONCERNS ARE NOT
PETTY, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE AHEAD AS A REGION, WE'VE
GOT TO, IN SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP OF VIRGINIA BEACH WAS
VERY SUPPORTIVE, HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE LIGHT RAIL.
I THINK IT'S A KEY TO TAKING THE TRAFFIC OFF OUR INTERSTATES AND
GETTING DOWNTOWN, TO GET TO THE NAVAL BASE.
THIS HAS BEEN FUNDED. IT'S NOT GOING TO COST ANYTHING.
IT'S GOING TO BE -- IF ALL THE STARS LINED UP AND EVERYTHING
WORKED OUT PERFECTLY, WE'D PROBABLY BE EIGHT OR TEN YEARS
BEFORE WE COULD EVEN THINK ABOUT RIDING ON A LIGHT RAIL, SO WE
HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE. WE CAN ALWAYS THINK OF A GOOD
REASON WHY NOT TO PUSH AHEAD, AND WE MANY TIMES AS A CITY, WE
RUN INTO REASONS WHY WE CAN'T DO THINGS RATHER THAN REASONS WHY
WE CAN DO IT AND I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE MOVE AHEAD
AND I ENTHUSIASTICALLY VOTE YES, OR AYE, WHATEVER IT IS.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> YEAH, AND I WANT TO LEND MY
VOICE TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS, THE RESOLUTION.
I MEAN, FOR SO MANY REASONS, COMMENTS HEAR AT THE TABLE HAVE
BEEN TERRIFIC. SOME HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN,
RIGHTFULLY SO. SOME HAVE, YOU KNOW, WONDERED, I
GUESS, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS SOONER, BEEN AT THE NAVAL BASE
FIRST. YOU KNOW, IT WAS 25 YEARS AGO,
AT LEAST, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, NOT TO DATE
MYSELF, BUT THE FIRST LINE, THE ONE THAT WE ORIGINALLY TRIED TO
BE A PART OF CAME FROM THE OCEANFRONT AT THE BEACH AND SORT
OF -- THEN TOOK A RIGHT AT NEWTOWN ROAD AND WHEN TO THE
NAVAL BASE. WE ACTUALLY SAID, OKAY, THE SPUR
WILL BE TO DOWNTOWN NORFOLK TO OUR FRIENDS AT THE BEACH IF THEY
WILL SUPPORT THIS. I MEAN, THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU
LOOK AT THE DESIRED LINES AND THE -- OUT AT THE TRANSPORTATION
PLANNING ORGANIZATION, THEY HAVE THESE COMPUTERIZED MODELS THAT
SO MANY PEOPLE, LIKE ONE RED DOT AND, I MEAN, ONCE YOU START
MOVING NOT NAVAL BASE, THE WHOLE THING TURNS RED.
IT JUST EXPLODES. IT'S JUST WHERE EVERYBODY IS
REALLY TRYING TO GET TO, A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO THE
NAVAL BASE, TRYING TO GET TO DOWNTOWN, BUT THE NAVAL BASE --
AND, OF COURSE, THE DEFENSE DOLLAR NOW IS 45, 46% OF OUR
ECONOMY. IT'S MORE TODAY THAN IT WAS EVEN
WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERING IT BACK THEN.
SO IN A PERFECT WORLD, THE FIRST PLACE YOU WOULD HAVE BUILT THIS
THING, LITERALLY, IS TO THE NAVAL BASE AND THEN MAYBE TRIED
TO TIE THE OCEANFRONT IN TO THE -- INTO DOWNTOWN.
BUT WE COULDN'T GET THAT SUPPORT.
AND THEN WE FINALLY, SINCE, YOU KNOW, BECAME APPARENT AFTER A
LENGTH OF TIME THAT THE BEACH WAS NOT PREPARED TO MOVE AS
QUICKLY AS WE WERE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE APPETITE FOR IT, WE
SAID LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS ONE SPUR FROM NEWTOWN ROAD
INTO DOWNTOWN AND MAYBE WE CAN BRING OTHER PEOPLE ALONG WITH US
AND THAT IS REALLY THE WAY IT'S NOW DEVELOPING.
AND THE QUESTION ABOUT THE ENTHUSIASM FOR THE LIGHT RAIL,
SINCE PEOPLE CAME BACK FROM VACATION AND SINCE, YOU KNOW,
THE STUDENTS ARE BACK AT NORFOLK STATE AND OLD DOMINION AND AT
TCC, THE RIDERSHIP HAS SINCE, I THINK, SEPTEMBER 4th, IS JUST --
IT'S REMARKABLE TO SEE THE NUMBERS.
WE'RE PROBABLY AVERAGING 64, 6500 A DAY RIGHT NOW DURING THE
WORK DAY AND WE WERE, LIKE EVERYBODY KNOWS, WE WERE HOPING
TO GET 2900. IT'S LIKE 6500 A DAY.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PIECE OF INFORMATION,
MR. MANAGER, REALLY TO CALCULATE FROM -- WHAT IS IT, LABOR DAY,
RIGHT AFTER LABOR DAY? WHAT THE WORK WEEKDAYS, WHAT THE
AVERAGE IS NOW BY THE END OF OCTOBER.
THAT WOULD BE -- BUT ANYWAY, AS PEOPLE ARE BECOMING MORE
FAMILIAR WITH IT, AS THEY'RE USING IT, THEY'RE LIKING IT
MORE, AND THEY'RE TELLING THEIR FRIENDS AND MORE PEOPLE ARE
RIDING IT. THERE ARE ABOUT 100,000 PEOPLE
WHO ACTUALLY COME INTO NORFOLK EVERY DAY TO WORK AND THEN GO
HOME IN THE EVENING, AND WHILE I KNOW THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, WHAT WE ALL OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET TO THEIR JOBS IN THE CITY
BECAUSE IF EMPLOYERS CAN'T GET THEIR WORKFORCE HERE, MY GUESS
IS THE EMPLOYERS WILL GO TO WHERE THE WORKFORCE CAN REACH
THEM, AND THEY -- THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN DOWNTOWN.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN NORFOLK, THEY CAN BE IN ISLE OF
WIGHT IF THEIR WORKFORCE CAN GET TO THEM THERE, SO I WANT TO GET
THE PEOPLE TO THE JOBS WHERE THE JOBS WILL GO TO WHERE THE PEOPLE
ARE, AND LIGHT RAIL IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.
CERTAINLY OUT TO THE NAVAL BASS IS THE BEST THING THAT COULD
HAPPEN TO ALL OF US, TO THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, AND, OF
COURSE, AS WE TEND TO MOVE ALL THE WAY TO THE OCEANFRONT AT THE
BEACH AND THEN INTO CHESAPEAKE -- ACTUALLY, AND I'LL
BE QUIET HERE IN A SECOND, BUT THE FIRST GOAL OF LIGHT RAIL WAS
TO START IN WILLIAMSBURG AND COME DOWN THE CSX CORRIDOR AND
IN THE OLD THIRD CROSSING, PLANNING, THERE WAS A
$600 MILLION TUBE IN THERE TO GO UNDER THE HARBOR.
YOU COULD ENGINEER LIGHT RAIL -- YOU COULDN'T DO HEAVY RAIL OR
HIGH SPEED RAIL UNDER THE HARBOR BECAUSE THE SLOPES DON'T WORK
AND THE APPS PROECHES AND YOU HAVE TO START TOO FAR BACK, BUT
YOU COULD ACTUALLY GET LIGHT RAIL UNDER THE HARBOR AND IT
WOULD POP UP RIGHT THERE NEXT TT NAVAL BASE AND PEOPLE FROM THE
PENINSULA COULD GO TO WORK AT THE NAVAL BASE, GO TO OLD
DOMINION, COME AROUND TO THE BEACH AND THEN DOWNTOWN NORFOLK.
THE IDEA WAS YOU WOULD COME FROM WILLIAMSBURG DOWN THE CSX CORE
DONE UNDER THE HARBOR, COME UP IN NORFOLK AND EVENTUALLY GO TO
VIRGINIA BEACH AND YOU CAN DO THAT.
IT'S NOT -- YOU KNOW, OTHER COMMUNITIES DO THAT.
SOMEBODY SAID THAT, OTHER PEOPLE DREAM THAT BIG AND THEY DO
THINGS IF THEY WORK REGIONALLY. PORTSMOUTH AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES. SO SOME -- PORTLAND AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES. SOME DAY, SOMEBODY WILL GET US
THERE, BUT THIS IS ONE STEN TO GET US OUT TO THE NAVAL BASE, SO
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT TO THIS AND I UNDERSTAND MR.
RIDDICK'S ISSUES AS WELL. I WAS THERE AT THE MOMENT TOO.
I VOTE AYE. THANK YOU.
OKAY. WHAT'S NEXT?
>> R-22, MR. PRESIDENT. >> R-22.
>> AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REORDAIN SECTIONS 27-6 AND 27-8
OF THE NORFOLK CITY CODE, 1979, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ONE NOTICE
OF VIOLATION AND NOTICE OF ABATEMENT PER GROWING SEASON FOR
HIGH WEEDS, GRASS, AND VEGETATION AND TO INCREASE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR NUISANCE ABATEMENT TO $150.
DISPENSE WITH THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT FOR READING THE
ORDINANCE AND ADOPT. MR. BURFOOT.
>> AYE. >> THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER, FOR
THIS ORDINANCE. AYE.
>> MR. PROTOGYROU. >> AYE.
>> MR. RIDDICK. >> AYE.
>> MR. SMIGIEL. >> AYE.
>> MS. WILLIAMS. >> AYE.
>> MR. WINN. >> AYE.
>> MR. FRAIM. >> AYE.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. PRESIDENT.
>> THEN, WE WILL CONCLUDE THE FORMAL SESSION OF THE MEETING.
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
www.captionassociates.com