2009 Virginia Beach City Council Retreat - Day 1

Today was the first day of the annual Virginia Beach City Council Retreat, held in the convention center's Meeting Room 2B.

The morning had three main features. First, a look back at the 2004 Priorities, to see what had been accomplished. Second, a listing of achievements during the past year. Third, a discussion of sustainability in municipal policy and what it meant in Virginia Beach.

In the afternoon, Fiscal Policy was covered, and Economic Development begun.

There were two nuggets today:

1. A proposal was floated to create a package of CIP projects with a funding mechanism. The rationale is that, with construction prices low and Obama Administration spending policies likely to trigger double-digit inflation, bidding out a package ASAP could save the City millions of dollars in costs.

2. A Community Summit may be held on a September evening to discuss a half-dozen issues with residents. Council is expected to make a decision tomorrow.

Tuesday morning Council will reconvene and finish Economic Development. That will be followed by Transportation, Neighborhood Revitalization, and Tourism. Finally, Governance matters will be covered.

Today's session was more lightly attended than some in the past. I knew everyone there expect one woman who left at lunchtime.