12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 13 Number 8 Applicants Needed for City Around Hampton Roads


Boards and Commissions CHESAPEAKE -- The Chesapeake City Council is seeking residents who may be interested in serving on various boards and commissions. Boards and commissions provide a vital service to various City departments, agencies and City Council.


Citizens wishing to serve must complete an application form. Applications are due in the City Clerk’s office by May 30, 2019. City Council will appoint candidates for these vacancies during its June 25, 2019, meeting.


Applications are currently being accepted for the following City Council appointed boards and commissions: Chesapeake Bicycle/Trails Advisory Committee - 1 vacancy (Organized Trail User Group); Chesapeake Historic Preservation Commission - 1 vacancy (Architect); Chesapeake Interagency Consortium - 1 vacancy (Children/Family Services Rep), (*Agency must be located in Chesapeake*); Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority - 2 vacancies; Mosquito Control Commission - 3 vacancies; South Norfolk Revitalization Commission - 2 vacancies; and Transportation Toll Facility Advisory Committee - 1 vacancy (Financial Background).


For more information or to apply, contact the City Clerk’s office at 382-6151, or visit Boards and Commissions at the City of Chesapeake’s website, cityofchesapeake.net


Proposed Budget Boosts


May 2019


Monday, April 15, with copies available on the city’s website (www.hampton. gov/budget) and printed copies in the libraries. City Council will hold public hearings April 24 and May 1 with a vote scheduled for May 8. The fiscal 2020 budget year begins July 1, 2019.


By City Council priority, some of the other items included are:


Family Resilience and Economic Empowerment: Additional resources for workforce development, for the general population as well as those on public assistance.


Economic Growth: Many of these efforts are in the capital portion of the FY20 budget, and others are in the longer-term capital plan. Projects include boosting youth sports tourism and downtown development and stabilizing and improving housing and home values.


Living with Water: Bunting proposes jump-starting projects to reduce the impact of flooding, as well as reducing pollution, by obtaining about $12 million in bonds for new projects proposed in the Resilient Hampton initiative. The bonds would be paid with the $1 monthly increase in the stormwater fee.


Placemaking: The five-year capital plan includes $6 million for park improvements, including the Buckroe Beach boardwalk, in addition to the routine $13.2 million for general park maintenance and improvements.


Good Government: In addition to employee raises, the budget would boost the retirement for sworn police and fire employees, adjust pay scales for equipment operators, and allow hiring bonuses for sworn police and fire recruits.


Schools, Police and More City Manager Mary Bunting unveiled highlights of a proposed budget for next year that would fully fund the city schools’ budget, add police personnel, boost flood mitigation projects, increase workforce development, provide for 3 percent raises for city and school staff, and facilitate economic development projects.


The recommended budget for fiscal 2020 totals $487,881,672, a 3.55% increase from the FY 2019 budget. The schools’ portion is $211,141,195, or 43.28%, of the total. The remaining $276,740,477 would fund city operations, as well as all city and school capital expenditures, transfer payments for which the city acts as a collection agent and contributions to outside agencies.


This is Bunting’s 10th budget since becoming city manager, and she noted that she was pleased to submit a proposal that “offers investments in some of our top priorities and maintains service levels to the citizens without any increases in the general tax rate.”


Economic growth in a variety of areas boosted revenue projections. Bunting attributed that growth to “an improved economy and the realization of several economic base enhancement projects undertaken several years ago.”


Bunting did propose some fee increases, for both solid waste and stormwater, as well as an increase of $1 per night for hotel guests.


School Board Chairwoman Ann Cherry and Superintendent Jeffery Smith presented the school budget first, with Cherry highlighting the “ongoing, continuous, solid, productive working relationship” that the two entities share. The overall schools budget grew by $8.98 million, or 4.4 percent, with increases in state funding as well.


Bunting noted that “our schools are one of this city’s top priorities” and highlighted the school accreditation rate, graduation rate, dual degree enrollment and industry certifications, as well as the career academy initiative. Local funding for the schools in Bunting’s budget proposal increased by $1.7 million to $75.57 million, which she noted is more than twice the amount required by the state.


Bunting noted that the city has been consistently investing in additional police personnel, equipment and technology. Those efforts are making a difference, she said, citing totals that showed violent crimes are down 21% compared with 2016, and are at their second-lowest level since at least 2003. Property crimes have fallen 17% over two years and are at their lowest level since at least 2003.


Still, she vowed, “we will not be happy until we see crime levels drop even further.” The proposed budget would add five positions to the Police Division. But boosting law enforcement is not sufficient in itself, she said, announcing a plan to partner with Johns Hopkins University to examine the root causes of violence in our community.


Bunting gave highlights of the proposed budget, which will be released on


The proposed fee increase for solid waste, $1.15 per week, would cover the increased costs of recycling as well as a reduction in the price the city can get for selling the energy from the city’s trash-to-steam plant.


City Releases Draft 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan for Housing


and Community Development The Annual Action Plan reflects proposed activities in the City's Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development (Consolidated Plan). The information details projects proposed to be undertaken in the City of Newport News with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) entitlement funds awarded from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).


To view a draft of the plan, go to http://nnrha.com/_docs/Annual%20 Action%20Plan-2019.pdf.


Selden Market Welcomes


VisitNorfolk Visitor Center NORFOLK, VA – Selden Market located at 208 E. Main Street, welcomes VisitNorfolk Visitor Center & Mermaid Market beginning on May 1 and an expansion of For All Handkind.


VisitNorfolk Visitor Center & Mermaid Market will locate inside Selden Market starting today through the summer while its existing location undergoes renovation. The VisitNorfolk Visitor Center provides tour and visitor information about Norfolk’s beautiful waterfront city. It is a state-certified visitor center providing year-round hospitality and travel counseling. Locals and visitors can receive the latest information for the best cuisine, attractions, shopping and tours. Free brochures and visitor’s guides are available, and visitor information specialists provide personalized assistance with travel needs.


The Mermaid Market sells unique, local merchandise as well as HRT Go-Passes and VDOT EZ Pass transponders. Be sure to ask about a complimentary orange mermaid lapel pin for stopping in!


For All Handkind, which was selected as an incubator tenant, will renovate and expand to include LOUD Accessories beginning May 2. The retailer is a collective featuring more than 20 artists with handmade, fair trade and locally sourced goods. For All Handkind’s mission is to support new and emerging makers and their practice by giving them a platform to sell handmade goods. Five percent of each artist’s sales goes to a charity of their choice.


Loud Accessories features jewelry and fashion accessories and was recently a winner of MacArthur Center’s Battle of the Pop Ups.


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