2008 Virginia Beach City Council Retreat, Day 2

Council reconvened on Saturday morning to continue their Retreat. As I posted last night, they had three major policy areas to cover.

IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Objectives

1. Better traffic flow, less congestion

3. Better mass transit with increased ridership

4. Safer streets and intersections

5. More alternative modes of transportation

7. Secure transportation funding

Challenges and Opportunities

1. Funding: local, state, and Federal

2. Funding for mass transit

3. Project Priorities

8. Linking bus routes with light rail

9. Acquisition of Norfolk Southern Right-of-Way

10. Local road funding: building and maintenance

Actions

1. Roads Funding Plan

11. Neighborhood Road & Maintenance Program: Policy and Funding

12. Norfolk Southern Corridor Mass Transit: Policy, Direction, and Actions

15. Lynnhaven Parkway Project

17. I-264 Strategy and Actions

22. I-264/I-64 Interchange

REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Objectives

1. Safe neighborhoods

2. Reuse of aging commercial areas

3. Improve neighborhood infrastructure and city amenities

4. More property owners investing in upgrading homes and properties

5. Community vision guiding future development and land use

6. Protection of natural resources and waterways

Challenges and Opportunities

1. Declining Property Values

3. Aging housing stock

6. Criminal activity, deteriorating neighborhoods

8. Code Enforcement

10. Lack of pattern books and design funding

11. Differing citizens values and perspectives

Actions

1. Comprehensive Plan: Update

2. Stormwater and Ditch Maintenance Program

5. Dredging for (navigable) waterways

8. Bayside Action Plan

10. Gang Strategy

16. Neighborhood Preservation Program and Plan

17. Agriculture Reserve Program: Evaluation and Funding

BE A COMPETITIVE, FIRST CLASS RESORT FOR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND TOURISTS

Objectives

2. Become year-round destination

3. Safe and inviting environment for families

4. More variety of activities

6. Optimize potential of convention center

Challenges and Opportunities

1. National Economy

2. Transportation & tunnel relief

3. Improve over competition - amenities

6. Parking and access

8. Lack of weather-resistant activities

11. Taxis and Transit

Actions

3. Convention center: business development

5. Sand Replenishment & Hurricane Protection

6. Dome site: Report and Direction

9. Resort Parking


City Council then went back and prioritized the top 19 actions for 2008-09

TOP PRIORITY

2. Business Attraction Policy

3. Burton Station Development

4. Road Funding Plan and Policy Direction

6. Mass Transit Funding

10. Comprehensive Plan

17. Compensation Policy

19. Landfill and SPSA

HIGH PRIORITY

1. Town Center Phase IV

5. Neighborhood Road Improvement Policy Direction

7. Lynnhaven Parkway Project

13. Neighborhood Preservation Program

15. Beach/Sand Replenishment

16. Dome site

18. Total Compensation for New Hires

MODERATE PRIORITY

8. I-264 Strategy and Policy

9. I-64/I-264 Interchange

11. Dredging for Waterways Policy

12. Bayside Action Plan

14. Agriculture Reserve Program

Other notes

1. It was a great day for mass transit: not only did it make Top Priority, but City Council realizes it needs to make a major new investment in bus routes.

2. Reba McClanan arrived late...as she first went to the Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) Breakfast.

3. Best joke of the day: BRT was mentioned as a possibility for the Norfolk Southern Right-of-Way, which led John Uhrin to say, "If it hadn't been for the last time, I'd still have my Saturdays free."

Now I need to get going to 6 P.M. Mass. Enjoy!