November 2019

Notes from Ocean View Civic League Meeting

11/14/2019
​Meeting was called to order at 7:03

Police Update
Office Jobe provided the police update During the previous 30 days, there have been 15 incidents.

  • 1 commercial burglary
  • 1 Residential burglary
  • 5 larceny commercial
  • 3 Larceny residential
  • 2 Larceny vehicle
  • 3 other

Upcoming police events

  • December 10 – 6:30 PM               Open House at the 2nd precinct
  • December 12 – 8:30 AM               Invitation only – contact Officer Jobe
  • December 14 – 10:00 – 12:00        Coffee with a Cop @ Doumar’s

4th View St concerns There have been 98 summons issued at the 4th View St. and W. Ocean View Avenue intersection.  In addition, Officer Jobe has issued 16 summons.  The police are monitoring this area. Reminder:  This time of year, many packages are being delivered to homes.  Work with the delivery company to have packages delivered when you are home or placed strategically out of sight of the street.  In addition, many locations such as UPS Store or US Post Offices will accept deliveries.  Also, vehicles are not vaults.  Packages left in vehicles may prompt thieves to break into the vehicle to obtain the packages.

Chair Don Musacchio and audience shared concerns with the police:
Possible gang related paintings are beginning to show up at some apartments.  Office Jobe recommended calling Norfolk Cares to report the                painting when seen.  If it is on public property, the city will remove it.  If it is on private property, there are some funding sources available to assist with removal. There has been an increase in vehicles going up the 15th View St. exit ramp.  Citizens monitoring the ramp collected data and reported no vehicle exited and ramp and went straight across during the data collection interval.  The civic league is working with the city on some alternative routing to decrease using the exit ramp to gain entrance to 64 W.  Office Jobe responded that citizens witnessing this behavior should call the non-emergency police and report what they saw.

Vice Mayor Martin Thomas Jr. was introduced. Mr. Thomas shared the city of Norfolk was in the last stages for a Career and Technical Education (CTE) school in Norfolk.  This will be a freestanding high school to prepare students for jobs/careers upon completion.  The school will focus on providing strong education in growth areas in the local area.  The cost for this would be approximately $120M.  However, two high schools, in need of repairs, are also requesting additional funds.

In addition, Mr. Thomas indicated the state wants the CTE school to be a regional high school which serves students throughout the Hampton Roads.  Students would need to apply to the school.  An audience member asked about the difference between this new high school concept the the Norfolk Technical Vocational Center.  Mr. Thomas stated there is a stigma for students attending Vo-Tech of them not being a good student.  This new high school will provide instruction in all content areas and will encourage continuing education in the students area of interest, thereby removing the stigma. These current topics have pushed the redevelopment of St. Pauls, including the casino, to a tertiary position for long-term improvements.

Mr. Thomas also shared the city is beginning a student for transit needs in the city.  This includes all modes of transportation including the scooters, buses, and personal vehicles.  The frequency, efficiency, and safety of transportation will all be included when analyzing the data.  The study is being completed by an outside company with 4 -5 contractors.  An audience member shared that the bus sizes could be reduced on certain runs since they are frequently near empty.  Mr. Thomas stated he would follow-up with that suggestion.

Chuck Joyner from the Department of Public Works was introduced. Mr. Joyner discussed the Tolar Place Breakwater plans.  The contract was awarded to WF Magann Corporation.  It will include extension of the outfall, modifying existing breakwaters, and construction of a new breakwater.  The total cost is $1.3M.  Construction will begin in March 2020 and should be complete by mid to late June 2020. In addition, the city will be looking at the 13th View St sand pattern and how to help it move naturally to the 15th View St area.

The new Beach Way-finding Signage was mock-ups were shared with the audience.  The entrance to the walkways from the beach side will have signage approximately 7 feet high with the street location clearly identified.  In addition, the walkway on the street side will have signs which include rules with graphics and a QR code.  A third sign will be located on the street corner to identify beach access.  The first phase will include 11th View, Sturgis, Capeview, 9th Bay, and 21st Bay.  The second phase will include 15th View, 8th View, Chesapeake St., 1st Bay, and Bay Point Dr.  Additional signage will be added every year for approximately 5 years or until adequate signage has been established.

The Winter planting locations were shared as well as how the locations were selected.  Mr. Joyner shared a type of technology called LIDAR, has been used before and after major storms to look at the beach erosion.  This is integrated with a more extensive survey being completed this year.  The planting season is December through March and will include 10th View St., 8th View St., Community Beach, and 13th Bay St.  An audience member suggested using LIDAR on the Little Bay side also.  Mr. Joyner indicated that due to both public and private properties being interspersed on that side, it is more difficult for the city to plan and orchestrate replenishment projects.  The audience also asked about the abandoned schooner at Monkey Bottoms and concerns about the fading paint on the crosswalks leading to the beach access areas.

Seamus McCarthy was introduced to respond to the audience questions and provide additional information on the Dune Management program.
Mr. McCarthy shared the city recovers abandoned and sunken boats 2 -3 times each year.  When possible, the cost is passed on to the owner of the boat.  In addition, he works with the harbor owner to address the derelict boats before they sink. Mr. McCarthy shared there are now permits available for persons interested in removing evasive growth on dunes located on private property.  He also shared with the audience which species are protected and cannot be removed.  He is preparing to offer a dune education class this summer.  The date and time of the class will be shared with the civic league.

The next civic league meeting will be at the Nansemond on December 12, 2019.

Meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:20.