Portsmouth City Watch
 

Official
 

Home Briefs Hot Topics In the Wind News Opinions Your Turn!
  A seat on city council is designed as a part-time position. Since council members are not intimately involved with the day-to-day operations of the city, the city manager holds periodic briefings to provide them background information on matters that will come before them in the semi-monthly meetings, the workings of city departments, or other significant items on which they may have to decide. Public work sessions have become a standard prelude to every council meeting. Items on the published agenda may change without notice even after a work session has begun. Citizens are welcome to observe these proceedings but have no opportunity for input. Council may move from an open to a closed session whenever a matter falls within the statutory exemptions to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Please note that you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view any document identified with the Adobe PDF icon.
Click to obtain the most current version.
March 31, 2005 The City Clerk informed PortsmouthCityWatch this afternoon that City Council will hold a public work session at 5 P. M., on Tuesday, April 5. Although the call letter does not include an agenda, based on previously disseminated information, this meeting should continue the discussion of the FY 2006 budget. At some point in the proceedings, council may also decide to go into a closed session.
Updated March 29, 2005 The City Clerk informed PortsmouthCityWatch Monday evening that City Council will hold a special meeting at 5 P. M., on Wednesday, March 30, in the City Council Chamber to consider a revised contract for the operation of nTelos Pavilion. The agenda with copies of the resolution city council will consider and the amended contract and release for the nTelos facility is available below. For comparison purposes, we have also provided a copy of the current nTelos Management Contract.
Agenda, Resolution, and Contract Amendment and Release (229 KB)
nTelos Management Contract of July 2001 (212 KB)
March 26, 2005 The City Clerk informed PortsmouthCityWatch late Friday afternoon that City Council will hold a closed meeting at 5 P. M., on Monday, March 28, in the Sixth Floor Conference Room, City Hall. The call letter provided no information regarding the purpose of this meeting. Although the public may not attend the closed session, citizens can come to hear the reading of the motion, which must identify the purpose and the exclusions to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act under which council will meet.
Updated March 25, 2005 The City Clerk has informed PortsmouthCityWatch that City Council will hold a public work session at 5 P. M., on Tuesday, March 29, in the Sixth Floor Conference Room, City Hall. Although no agenda accompanied the call letter, City Manager Oliver had previously announced that this work session would be for budget purposes.

At some point in the proceedings, city council may also consider a motion to close the meeting.
March 18, 2005 (revised)

The City Clerk has informed PortsmouthCityWatch that City Council will hold public works session at 5 P. M., Monday and Tuesday, March 21 and 22, in the Sixth Floor Conference Room of City Hall. The Monday work session will deal with the proposed Fiscal Year 2006 operating and capital improvement (CIP) budgets.

Scheduled for the Tuesday work session are:

  1. Tax Exemption for Non-profit Organizations
  2. Renaissance Hotel Financial Report
  3. Portside Update
  4. Owens Creek Park
  5. Items Submitted by City Manager
  6. City Council Liaison Reports

City Council may also consider motions for closed sessions.

The summary and indexed agenda with supporting documents for the regular meeting of Portsmouth City Council at 7 P. M. on Tuesday, March 22, are available below.
City Council Summary Agenda (51 KB)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (3.6 MB)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)

Revised March 4, 2005 The City Clerk has informed PortsmouthCityWatch that City Council will hold public work sessions at noon on Friday, March 4, and at 5 P. M., on Monday and Tuesday, March 7 and 8, in the Sixth Floor Conference Room, City Hall. The stated topic on Friday is "Comprehensive Plan Process." This notice supersedes the one posted February 28 (se below) that called for a closed meeting. Council may still consider moving, however, to a closed session on completion of the public portion of the proceedings.

The announced agenda for the public work session scheduled for Monday is:

  1. Todi Music Festival
  2. Comprehensive Plan
  3. Community Planning and Development Programs
  4. Mid-year Financial Briefing
  5. Salvation Army Kroc Center

As of this date, the following items are on the agenda for Tuesday:

  1. CAR Appeal – 549 Mount Vernon Avenue

  2. Path of History Park

  3. SPSA/American Ref-Fuel

  4. Suffolk Fairgrounds – Portsmouth Water Transmission Mains

  5. City Council Liaison Reports

Council may also consider a motion to go into closed session.

The summary agenda and the indexed agenda with supporting documents for the City Council meeting at 7:00 P.M. are available for download.
City Council Summary Agenda (32 KB)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (4.5 MB)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)

February 28, 2005 The City Clerk has informed PortsmouthCityWatch that City Council will hold a closed meeting at noon on Friday, March 4, in the Sixth Floor Conference Room of City Hall. (Although the public cannot attend the meeting itself, it can be in the room to hear the reason for holding a closed meeting and to observe the vote on the motion.)
February 24, 2005 The City Clerk has informed PortsmouthCityWatch that City Council will hold a joint meeting with the School Board at 5 P.M., on Monday, February 28, in the Sixth Floor Conference Room of City Hall. At some point in the proceedings, council may also consider moving into closed session. No agenda for the meeting accompanied the announcement.
Updated February 18, 2005 Late this afternoon the City Clerk informed PortsmouthCityWatch that the Public Work Session previously scheduled for 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, February 22, 2005, is now scheduled for 2:00 P.M. and will include the following items:
  1. Victory Crossing/TCC/New Port (addition to previous agenda)
  2. Downtown Waterfront (addition to previous agenda)
  3. CAR Appeal - 549 Broad Street - Deferred from January 25, 2005
  4. City Council Liaison Reports

The summary agenda and the indexed agenda with supporting documents for the City Council meeting at 7:00 P.M. are available for download.
City Council Summary Agenda (48 KB)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (2.1 MB)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)

February 11, 2005 The City Clerk has informed PortsmouthCityWatch of a called meeting of City Council scheduled for 5 P.M., Monday, February 14, 2005, for the purpose of a closed meeting.
Updated February 9, 2005 Portsmouth City Watch has received notice from the Office of the City Clerk that City Council will meet in a public work session at 5:00 P.M., Monday, February 7, and Tuesday, February 8, 2005, to consider the following items:

Monday

  1. Comprehensive Youth Prevention Plan
  2. Code Enforcement - Vehicles
  3. Southeastern Public Service Authority
  4. Office of the City Manager - Prioritizing Tasks and Projects
  5. Police Department Report

The work session agenda distributed on the day of the meeting included additional items: New Port update/financing, Tattoo establishments, Portside, and a city council discussion of funding to civic organizations.  The item dealing with the Southeastern Public Service Authority did not appear on the revised agenda.

Tuesday

  1. Earned Income Tax Credits
  2. Route 164 Interchange (Maersk)
  3. City Council Liaison Reports

The work session did conclude with some council liaison reports, but the bulk of the public session revolved around discussion of a new nTelos/Willett Hall management contract. The handout provided to those in attendance is available for download.
 nTelos/Willett Hall contract outline (17 KB)

The summary agenda for the regular City Council meeting at 7 P.M., Tuesday, February 8, 2005, is available for download.
Summary City Council Agenda  (45 KB)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (2.5 MB)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)

January 21, 2005 City Council will hold a joint meeting with the School Board at 7:30 P.M., on Monday, January 24, at the Holiday Inn-Olde Towne and a public work session on Tuesday, January 25, 2005, at 5:00 P.M. in the City Manager's Conference Room.

Announced topics for the Tuesday public work session include:

  1. Commission of Architectural Review Appeals

    • 549 Mt. Vernon Avenue
    • 549 Broad Street
  2. Comprehensive Annual Financial Review (CAFR)
  3. Business Retention Plan
  4. Portside
  5. Council Liaison Reports

Click on the following icon to download the Public Work Session and City Council agendas with supporting documents.

City Council Agenda with supporting documents (2 MB)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)

January 7, 2005 City Council will hold a closed meeting and a public work session during the week of January 10, 2005. The closed session is set for Monday, January 10, at 4 P.M. The call letter provides no information regarding the Virginia Opening Meeting Act exclusions that justify the closure.

Announced topics for the public work session on Tuesday, January 11, include:

  1. Commission of Architectural Review Appeals
  2. Portside
  3. City Council Vision Follow-up
  4. Council Liaison Reports

Click on the following icons to download the agenda for the Public Work Session at 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 11, 2005, and the summary agenda for the City Council meeting at 7:00 P.M,, or the full agenda with supporting documents.

Public Work Session and City Council Summary Agendas (40 KB)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (3 MB)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)

December 15, 2004 City Council will meet at 1 P. M., Friday, December 17, and 9 A. M., Saturday, December 18, to complete the visioning process begun at the October retreat. The designated meeting place is City Council Chambers.
Visioning Session Call Letter (12 KB)
 
December 12, 2004 City Council will hold two public work sessions during the week of December 13, 2004. The items on the agenda for Monday is:
  1. Navy Concert Proposal
  2. nTelos Pavilion Report

Tuesday agenda items are:

  1. Financial Presentation
  2. Community Development Planning Program (CDBG, HOME, ESG)
  3. Codes Compliance Update – Phase I
  4. City Council Liaison Reports

Click on the following icons to download the agenda for the Public Work Sessions at 5:00 P.M., Monday, December 13, and Tuesday, December 14, 2004, and the summary agenda for the City Council meeting at 7:00 P.M, Tuesday, or the full agenda with supporting documents.
Public Work Session (17 KB)
City Council Summary Agenda (42 KB)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (3.0 MB)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)

Updated November 19, 2004 Click on the following icons to download the agenda for the Public Work Session at 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 23, 2004 and the summary agenda for the City Council meeting at 7:00 P.M., or the full agenda with supporting documents.
Public Work Session (13 KB)
City Council Summary Agenda (51 KB)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (2.6 MB)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)
Updated November 15, 2004 The week of November 15-19 will be a busy one for the civic minded. Some of the public policy meetings scheduled are:
Date Time Event
Monday, 15 4:00 - 7:00 P. M. High speed rail study team open house
Newport News (click here for details)
5:00 P. M. City Council Public Work Session
Topics:
  • City financial snapshot
  • Aid to civic organizations (and festivals)
  • Legislative proposals for 2005 General Assembly
7:00 P. M. Update on Destination 2025,
Bide-a-Wee Pavilion (click here for details)
Tuesday, 16 4:00 - 7:00 P. M. High speed rail study team open house
Norfolk (click here for details)
7:00 P. M. Update on Destination 2025,
Churchland High School (click here for details)
Wednesday, 17 1:00 P. M. Joint Committee Studying the Consolidation of Norfolk and Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council Chamber
(click here for details)
November 10, 2004 Portsmouth City Watch received notice today that City Council will have a public work session in the city manager's conference room at 5 P.M. Monday, November 15. According to the city clerk, the prospective agenda includes presentations on the current financial picture and legislative wish list for the 2005 General Assembly session.
November 9, 2004 Portsmouth City Watch received notice today that City Council will defer the visioning follow up sessions announced yesterday due to the deaths this week of two people who played significant roles in Portsmouth history: Ms. Lucy Overton and Mr. Chandler Harper. Council plans to reschedule the meetings but has given no indication of how soon.
 Visioning Session Cancellation Notice (9 KB)
November 8, 2004 Portsmouth City Watch received notice today that City Council will hold a pair of visioning sessions the end of this week to complete the work started at the retreat in October. The meetings will begin at 1 P. M. Friday, November 12, and 9 A. M. Saturday, November 13, in the City Council chamber. Council may also consider motions to go into closed sessions.
Visioning Session Call Letter (7 KB)
November 5, 2004 Public Work Session items for Tuesday, November 9 are:
  1. Empowerment 2010
  2. Police Services Briefing
  3. ECC/EOC (Emergency Communications Center/Emergency Operations Center Briefing
  4. Council Liaison Reports

Click on the following icons to download the agenda for the Public Work Session at 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 5, 2004, the summary agenda for the City Council meeting at 7:00 P.M., or the full agenda with supporting documents.
 Public Work Session (11 KB)
City Council summary Agenda (41 KB)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (2 MB)
(This is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)

October 31, 2004 Following the its meeting on Tuesday, October 24, Portsmouth City Council returned to public work session to complete pending business. One item was a structured discussion of code enforcement. Posted here is an edited (for clarity) version of what staff presented to council.
Code Enforcement (62 KB)
October 23, 2004 Click on the following icons to download the agenda for the Public Work Session at 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 26, 2004, the summary agenda for the City Council meeting at 7:00 P.M., or the full agenda with supporting documents.
 Public Work Session (11 KB)
City Council summary Agenda (37 KB)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (605 KB)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)
October 16, 2004 Portsmouth City Watch has obtained a copy of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Tidewater Community College and the City of Portsmouth defining the terms for relocation of the Portsmouth Campus of TCC. You can download the document by clicking on the Adobe PDF icon below.
TCC-City of Portsmouth MOU of June 9, 2004 (204 KB)
October 12, 2004 Portsmouth City Watch has obtained a copy of the nTelos Management Contract between the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) - now designated the Economic Development Authority (EDA) - and Harbor Center Joint Ventures (HCJV). You can download this document by clicking on the Adobe PDF icon below.
nTelos Management Contract (205 KB)
October 5, 2004 Click on the following icons to download the agenda for the Public Work Session at 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 12, 2004, the summary agenda for the City Council meeting at 7:00 P.M., or the full agenda with supporting documents.
 Public Work Session (11 kb)
City Council summary Agenda (37 kb)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (1.35 mb)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)
September 30, 2004

Portsmouth City Council Retreat Itinerary

Thursday, October 7, 2004

Please leave Portsmouth by 2:00 p.m. at latest!

3:30 p.m. – Check-In

4:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Myers Brigg Session

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Dinner

8:00 – 10:00 p.m. – Closed Session

Friday, October 8, 2004

7:30 a.m. – Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – Session

12:00 noon – Lunch

12:45 p.m. – Session

5:00 p.m. – Adjourn for the Day

6:00 p.m. – Dinner

Saturday, October 9, 2004

7:30 a.m. – Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – Session

12:00 noon – Lunch

12:45 –2:30 p.m. – Session

2:30 p.m. – Adjourn/Return Home

Directions to Camp Silver Beach

From Interstate 64,

Take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel/Northampton Blvd. exit (Hwy 13 north).

Travel North across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

Once on the Eastern Shore travel approximately 30 miles north (seven stop lights) to the town Exmore. (Pass Food Lion on your left and Burger King on your right)

Turn left, at the light on Hwy 183-West (Occohannock Neck Road).

Go 9 winding miles, turn right on Downing Beach Drive to YMCA Lane.

Turn right at Camp Silver Beach.

September 23, 2004 Click on the following icons to download the agenda for the Public Work Session at 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, September 28, 2004, the summary agenda for the City Council meeting at 7:00 P.M., or the full agenda with supporting documents.
 Public Work Session (11 KB)
City Council summary Agenda (58 KB)
City Council Agenda with supporting documents (5.89 MB)
(this is a large file with a long download time over a dial-up connection)
September 22, 2004 The City Clerk has informed PortsmouthCityWatch of a called meeting of City Council scheduled for 5 P.M., Monday, September 27, 2004, for the purpose of a joint meeting with the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The meeting location is the City Manager's Conference Room on the sixth floor of City Hall. The meeting notice indicates that Council may also decide to go into closed session.
 

Home Briefs Hot Topics In the Wind News Opinions Your Turn!
Last updated April 27, 2005