It's been quite awhile since the Virginia Beach City Council met for strategic planning in August. With the Community Summit concluded, Council met again Tuesday morning.
The morning started with distribution of resident feedback from the Summit and a reading of their comment cards. The comment cards were a mixed bag: some were nasty, while others were trying to kiss up. However, the vast majority were pretty well thought out.
Council covered all five goal areas from August, making any adjustments desired.
There were a few issues of note this morning:
1. Light rail - a small implementation discussion. However, much on the VBTA's whining about not getting a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) seat plus the effort of a VBTA front group to petition a referendum question onto the ballot for November, 2010. First, the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement isn't scheduled to be completed until December, 2010 - after the VBTA's wished-for referendum. (Even Bill DeSteph agreed any referendum should wait until after the SDEIS is finished.) Second, the front group's proposed ballot question is misleading in a few ways.
2. Economic development - Glen Davis wants the Department of Economic Development's (DED) budget off-the-table when cutting for FY 2011, with Bill DeSteph disagreeing.
3. Public safety - not only was there talk of minimizing cuts or not cutting at all, but at one point Councilman Bill DeSteph claimed Mayor Will Sessoms was planning a public safety tax increase.
Council had lunch, then voted on Policy Agenda and Management Agenda priorities for the next year before adjourning.
5 comments:
i've asked this before but u don't think Sessoms will give in to the VBTA do you? that actually was the main reason for my last question, because if they don't do a referendum (which hopefully they won't and get this ball rolling)i think Sessoms opponents for Mayor will use that against him. Especially with VB having a strong Rep standing. speaking of transportation i'm suprised u didn't comment on Oberstars (sp) statement about VA. unless i missed it
Shooter,
Given that every major business group in VB is on record opposing a referendum, it would be political suicide for Council to punt this to the ballot. I believe at least 6 of them will have enough common sense not to do it.
This would be a departure...I thought DeSteph always carried VBTA's agenda.
As for your comment of the public safety issue, are you advocating cuts or supporting DeSteph's claim?
chimchim,
Everything should be on the table, but I'd have to see what was specifically going to be cut before I could support it.
Post a Comment