Civic League General Meeting 4-11-19
Pete Bice presides
Officer Jobes gave the following report: 11 reported incidents- 1 robbery individual, 2 aggravated assaults, 1 larceny from auto.
2nd Tuesday and Thursday of May is next community forum at 2nd patrol division
National drug take back May 7th. Take any prescription drugs to the 2nd patrol division station and they will be properly disposed of. Neighbors with Ring-pamphlets by the door. Text 555888 with Norfolk VA in the subject line. For every 20 people who sign up, NPD gets a ring doorbell. The Police will look at raffling those off.
Mayor Alexander
Budget season-City Manager proposed 1.4 bil spending plan. Public education will get about $426 million. Last budget cycle, council agreed to funding formula with School Board. The City is sharing 14 revenue sources with the school board. School board gets additional 3 million from that agreement. SB is working on a school accountability plan outlining how they are spending the money and results.
Recycling-City is going to continue the recycling program. This budget, you may see $2 increase for recycling services.
Core services of the Government-education, safety, transportation, utilities, works, public housing. We have to do a better job with public housing. Crime in Norfolk is at a 34 year low. Community policing has returned. Education-Students need career path. Need degree and increase college placement and have certifications that industry recognize
Last year tax increase-State cut Education funding by 23 million. Unfunded mandates caused the gap in budget. Increased in technology, storm water, new police cars, finished schools-built 5 schools. $20 million in capital-$5 mil for busses. Rest for maintenance.
Norfolk has momentum. The City is working on building on the momentum. Economic Development-Norfolk borrowed close to $1 bil. Now we are paying it back.
Light rail-Amy as new department of transit. Airport is doing well. San Diego flights adding soon. The same with Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville.
Amy-developing master plan for transportation-not just cars and buses but bikes and walkways. Every year about 17 people die on the street, getting hit. Need to make areas more safe to be around “safe and healthy streets”. Improve public transportation and park and ride programs. Met with the Navy to look at options. Object is to maximize the pavement we have been investing in. The department will create a list of projects and resource allocation plan. They will create a State/local/grant list and outline how to pay for projects. Transparency and awareness of when those projects can be completed will be key. Working with HRT to extend light rail to the naval base and airport/outlets. Looking at redesign of transit system to modernize it.
Still moving forward with casino. Still working through options to go either federally or commercially.
One thing that we could do better is the 7 venues. Theatres and Scope. The City studied Scope on how to make it more modern and attractive. The arena needs between 15-18k seats. It is cheaper to build a new arena than to renovate Scope.
The Nominating committee still needs members to volunteer. Elections are next month.
Need volunteers for the fish fry. $15 for fish and membership. Fish fry is May 18th.
Pete Bice presides
Officer Jobes gave the following report: 11 reported incidents- 1 robbery individual, 2 aggravated assaults, 1 larceny from auto.
2nd Tuesday and Thursday of May is next community forum at 2nd patrol division
National drug take back May 7th. Take any prescription drugs to the 2nd patrol division station and they will be properly disposed of. Neighbors with Ring-pamphlets by the door. Text 555888 with Norfolk VA in the subject line. For every 20 people who sign up, NPD gets a ring doorbell. The Police will look at raffling those off.
Mayor Alexander
Budget season-City Manager proposed 1.4 bil spending plan. Public education will get about $426 million. Last budget cycle, council agreed to funding formula with School Board. The City is sharing 14 revenue sources with the school board. School board gets additional 3 million from that agreement. SB is working on a school accountability plan outlining how they are spending the money and results.
Recycling-City is going to continue the recycling program. This budget, you may see $2 increase for recycling services.
Core services of the Government-education, safety, transportation, utilities, works, public housing. We have to do a better job with public housing. Crime in Norfolk is at a 34 year low. Community policing has returned. Education-Students need career path. Need degree and increase college placement and have certifications that industry recognize
Last year tax increase-State cut Education funding by 23 million. Unfunded mandates caused the gap in budget. Increased in technology, storm water, new police cars, finished schools-built 5 schools. $20 million in capital-$5 mil for busses. Rest for maintenance.
Norfolk has momentum. The City is working on building on the momentum. Economic Development-Norfolk borrowed close to $1 bil. Now we are paying it back.
Light rail-Amy as new department of transit. Airport is doing well. San Diego flights adding soon. The same with Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville.
Amy-developing master plan for transportation-not just cars and buses but bikes and walkways. Every year about 17 people die on the street, getting hit. Need to make areas more safe to be around “safe and healthy streets”. Improve public transportation and park and ride programs. Met with the Navy to look at options. Object is to maximize the pavement we have been investing in. The department will create a list of projects and resource allocation plan. They will create a State/local/grant list and outline how to pay for projects. Transparency and awareness of when those projects can be completed will be key. Working with HRT to extend light rail to the naval base and airport/outlets. Looking at redesign of transit system to modernize it.
Still moving forward with casino. Still working through options to go either federally or commercially.
One thing that we could do better is the 7 venues. Theatres and Scope. The City studied Scope on how to make it more modern and attractive. The arena needs between 15-18k seats. It is cheaper to build a new arena than to renovate Scope.
The Nominating committee still needs members to volunteer. Elections are next month.
Need volunteers for the fish fry. $15 for fish and membership. Fish fry is May 18th.