Police Athletic League

Portsmouth Humane Society

Just a reminder from Idlewood neighbor Katie Cross about the Portsmouth Humane Society

Snoopy, the handsome fellow pictured is just one of the wonderful dogs currently available for adoption.

Low-cost and free Spay/Neuter is available through Norfolk SPCA and the PETA Neuter Scooter.

If anyone has stray/feral cats in their yards, the Humane Society is working on getting these spayed and neutered, and will use Hav-A-Heart traps to collect them.

PHS currently has almost 100 cats in the shelter, including plenty of kittens.

PHS is always looking for foster families who can care for a dog or cat for an indefinite period of time, with us underwriting food & vet costs. Fostering is a great way to find out if your family is ready for a pet, or to give an animal a chance to adjust to a home environment, whether or not you have other pets. It is one of the greatest needs of our shelter and of immeasurable benefit to the animals.

PHS is always looking for new volunteers, either in the shelter or at off-site adoption events. Anyone who is interested can email Volunteer Coordinator, Joe, at phscoordinator@gmail.com. He can do orientations at various times to suit you if you're interested in learning more about the shelter. For more information, got to http://www.portsmouthhumanesociety.org/.

Agenda for Tuesday's City Council Meeting

C I T Y C O U N C I L A G E N D A

Tuesday, August 25, 2009
7:00 p.m.

City Council Chamber
801 Crawford Street
Portsmouth, Virginia

CALL TO ORDER

INVOCATION - Councilman Charles B. Whitehurst, Sr.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Boy Scout Troop 246

ROLL CALL

MINUTES (Electronic Roll Call)

**PER SECTION V OF CITY COUNCIL RULES AND PROCEDURE, APPLAUSE SHALL BE PERMITTED ONLY DURING AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS. DURING ALL OTHER AGENDA ITEMS, A SPEAKER MAY REQUEST AN EXPRESSION OF CONSENSUS, SUPPORT, OR OPPOSITION BY CALLING FOR A SHOW OF HANDS OR FOR MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE TO SILENTLY STAND.

*CITY COUNCIL RULES REQUIRE A LIMIT OF
UP TO FIVE (5) MINUTES TO SPEAK*

- PUBLIC HEARING -

09-439 Public hearing to receive citizen input concerning the proposed authorization of a Revised Sale and Development Agreement for the purchase of certain property commonly known as 415 PortCentre Parkway, Portsmouth, Virginia; the renovation of the existing building on said property; and the construction of additional necessary facilities for the total relocation of the Portsmouth courts, being Circuit Court, General District Court, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, plus the Clerk's Offices of said courts and certain support offices. The amount of the proposed agreement shall not exceed $77,798,292.

09 - 440 - Public hearing on a use permit application:

UP-09-11 DOWNTOWN - David L. Griffin, Sr. requests a use permit to operate an entertainment establishment at 509 and 511 High Street. The Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map recommends Commercial Development in the area. Vision Principle: A Robust and Prospering Economy. (Electronic Roll Call)

-2-

- UNFINISHED BUSINESS -

Consent Agenda:

09 - 416 - Code amendments, rezoning and use permits:

(a) Ordinance granting the request of the City of Portsmouth to amend Chapter 14 (Flood Protection) of the City Code. Vision Principle: A Robust and Prospering Economy. (CA-09-02) (First Reading Vote 7-0)

(b) Ordinance granting the request of the City of Portsmouth to amend Chapter 9.1 (Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Overlay District) of the City Code and make appropriate recommendations concerning the adoption of amendments that will facilitate the development process in the City of Portsmouth. Vision Principle: A Robust and Prospering Economy. (CA-09-03) (First Reading Vote 7-0)

(c) Ordinance granting the request of John C. Holland to rezone 2200, 2204, 2208, 2220, 2236 Randolph Street from Industrial Restricted M-1-R to Preservation P-1. He also seeks to rezone 2515 Randolph Street from Residential Single Family RS-75 to Preservation P-1. Vision Principle: Thriving Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community. (Z-09-02) (First Reading Vote 7-0)

(d) Resolution granting the request of Carmencita Kelly for a use permit to operate an entertainment establishment at a Taste of Culture Restaurant located at 448 Green Street. Vision Principle: A Robust and Prospering Economy and Bold New Direction. (UP-09-07) (First Reading Vote 7-0)

(e) Resolution granting the request of Bruce Robertson for a use permit to operate an Adult Day Care Facility at 5788 Churchland Boulevard. The Comprehensive Plan recommends commercial development in the area. Vision Principle: Bold New Direction. (UP-09-08) (First Reading Vote 7-0)

Final Adoption by Electronic Roll Call

09 - 313 - Use permit:
(c) Resolution granting the request of T-Mobile Northeast, LLC for a use permit to construct a communication tower, access road and equipment room at 3797 Lilac Drive. The Comprehensive Plan recommends residential development in the area. Deferred from the June 9, 2009 City Council Meeting. Vision Principle

Update from the NIO

Hi, its me, Officer Roberto Diaz writing to update everyone on what I've been doing as Neighborhood Impact Officer, NIO.

I've spent a lot of my time working with many officials to assist with a solution to the issue of Helen, discussed in the blog post below. We all feel relieved for her to know that Helen is in safe hands, particularly in this hot and humid weather.

I've been working with other NIO's helping to solve the problem of car break in's in Port Norfolk. This issue came up about two years ago and seems to be a problem again. There have been no car break in's reported in Shea Terrace, but there has been one case of gas being siphoned from a business van's tank.

Here are some tips to avoid a car break in:

Purchase "the club" device to secure the steering wheel

Get a locking gas cap

Get a locking cover for the license plate to avoid having stickers removed

Make sure you lock your car doors (sounds obvious, people forget all the time)

Park your car in the best light possible, under a street light if you can

Remove portable GPS devices from the car at the end of the day

There was a bike stolen in Shea Terrace with a weird twist. The thief took the more expensive bike and left his or her less desirable bike behind. Make sure you secure your bikes, even if they are right on your property. Thefts like this are crimes of opportunity. Don't make it easy for a thief to steal from you, don't leave power tools, lawn mowers, or bikes around unsecured. Secure your garages, gates, and other out buildings.

You will be seeing me with other bike patrol officers in Shea Terrace and patrolling in my car. I can be reached at 235-2500. In an emergency, always call 911 first and then call me to tell me what happened. If I am off duty, I will return your call when I return to work.

Let's work together to keep Shea Terrace safe!

Officer Roberto Diaz

Neighborhood Impact Officer

Shea Terrace

235-2500, Patrol Car No. 510

Helen

Many of you have expressed concern regarding Helen, the homeless woman pictured above sleeping on Chesapeake Avenue. She has been sleeping on our lawns, in the Park, and on the sidewalk. This is not a problem which we are used to and it has been hard on all of us as we sought to humanely balance individual needs with quality of life and property value concerns.

Shea Terrace residents have made concerned phone calls, provided her with seating, given her water, and called public safety in regard to her situation. All of us have been concerned about heat exhaustion and exposure to the weather.

Officer Diaz has been diligently working to assistHelen, as has Councilwoman Elizabeth Psimas, Civic League officials, Peggy Hill at Behavioral Health Services, and Rusty Jordan, Director Portsmouth Social Services. Suffice it to say that Helen's situation was complex, but many public servants have been working to try to help her.

Helen is now receiving the professional assistance which she needs in a safe facility with trained professionals. All of us pray that she is able to resume her lilfe with dignity following this intervention and wish her all the best. We wanted everyone in Shea Terrace to know that she is in good hands now that she is no longer in the neigbhorhood.

This is a good ending for one individual, but it is hoped that the city will continue to review effective, long-term solutions for the homeless in Portsmouth.

Storm Preparedness

Please read this press release from FEMA regarding storm preparedness. For local information, please use this link for the Portsmouth Office of Emergency Preparedness:

http://www.portsmouthva.gov/eoc/index_eoc.asp

FEMA Encourages Personal Preparedness As Storm Activity Increases
Release Date: August 18, 2009Release Number: HQ-09-101

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the development of Hurricane Bill and other tropical activity, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging residents in hurricane-prone areas to take time now to develop a family disaster plan.
"The development of the season's first Atlantic hurricane is a reminder that every family needs to take steps now to prepare," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "FEMA and our local responders can't do it alone. Emergency response is a team effort, and the most important member of the national emergency response team is the public. That's why we are encouraging everyone to take a few simple steps now - like developing a family disaster plan to ensure that we are all prepared before the next storm strikes."
One of the most important steps individuals in impacted regions can take is to follow the guidance provided by local authorities. Additionally, FEMA recommends taking the following preparedness actions:
Prepare a disaster kit for your home: Stock up on non-perishable food and water to sustain you and your family for up to three days or longer. Ensure you have important papers (e.g. insurance, identification), first aid kit, a supply of prescription medicines and other specialty items in your preparedness kit. In addition, plan to have an emergency kit for your car in case you need to evacuate. While creating a disaster kit, pet owners should remember to pack the necessary items for their pets. Find more information on preparing your disaster kit at www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html.
Create an emergency plan: Know what to do if you have to evacuate. Make sure you know how to contact members of your family and have an emergency contact number for someone out of state that knows where you are in the event of an emergency.
Be informed: Know evacuation routes and listen to local authorities when asked to evacuate. Whether you live in a coastal community or inland, speak with your insurance agent now about flood insurance and review your homeowner's policy. Every state is at risk for flooding and homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a cost-effective way to financially prepare for floods. To learn more about your risk and flood insurance, visit http://www.floodsmart.gov/.
Learn more about preparedness by visiting http://www.ready.gov/.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Sewall Art Show

The 39th Annual Seawall Art Show

Olde Towne Portsmouth

High Street LandingAugust 28–30, 2009

Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Nearly 100 artists

FREE Admission

Live Entertainment

Purchase your copy of Heart of the Harbor Cookbook at the art show

Visit http://www.heartoftheharbor.com/http://www.seawallartshow.org/

Officer Roberto J. Diaz New Neighborhood Impact Officer

Saturday is my first day on the job as the new NIO for Shea Terrace. I am excited to be here! Officer Chad Bennett and will be in Shea Terrace with volunteers cleaning up Holladay Street.

I come to the neighborhood with experience in the military and in the patrol division of the Portsmouth Police Department. My last assignment was as NIO for Olde Towne.

I am married with two boys. When I am off duty, I love to spend time taking my sons to the movies, watching football, and just spending time with my family.

Shea Terrace is a great neighborhood. I know that the residents here care about their neighborhood and want to keep quality of life here high. You will see me patrolling the neighborhood in my car and on my bike. I will be varying my hours to include days and evenings and will be getting out to meet as many of you as I can.

Please call me with any questions or concerns at 235-2500. If I am off duty, I will return your call as soon as I get back to work If you have an emergency, please call 911 FIRST and then call me to let me know what happened. Also, feel free to contact me by email at diazr@portsmouthva.gov. In reporting incidents to me, it is always helpful for me to have details such as house numbers, make and models of cars or license plate numbers whenever possible.

Let's work together to keep Shea Terrace a great place to live,

Robert

Officer Roberto J. Diaz, NIO

235-02500

diazr@portsmouthva.gov

Portsmouth Police Citizen's Survey

The Portsmouth Police Department is seeking input for the Police Departments Strategic plan. Please take the time to complete this survey so that voices from Shea Terrace will be held.

Two observations. There are two questions in a very short survey which cover police salary, which seems a bit of overkill. In addition, there is an area in which citizens are asked to state which crime concerns are most important. Crimes range from serious violent crime to littering. A challenge in this rating area is to be clear that quality of life issues can also be important (if this is important to the person completing the survey). Obviously no one is going to state that public intoxication is more important than gang violence, but public intoxication can also be important to a neighborhood's quality of life. It will be interesting to see how this might be interpreted.

There is an area at the end of the survey for a respondent to write his or her own notes.

http://portsmouthpd.us/?p=2195

Shea Terrace Yard Sale a Smashing Success

Thanks to all who helped organize and partipated in the Annual Shea Terrace Yard Sale. The Civic League recovered the funds spent on the newspaper ad plus a little more for the pot. Thanks to Alan Parker for the use of the Flagship Parking lot, as well as for his donation of a gift certificate for the raffle. Alan is a terrific business neighbor. Thanks again to Bob Sauls who made the picnic table

Thanks to Bob Sauls

Many thanks to Shea Terrace neighbor Bob Sauls, who made and donated the picnic bench shown in the pic. Proceeds from the $1 per ticket raffle will benefit the Shea Terrace Civic League.