Stands for those whom we play golf with at private clubs; personal agenda for pet projects with friends and campaign contributors, and too much city business as usual. Stands for Good Ol’Boy System. I guess if we wanted to hear more answers to our questions, we would have a private invitation to play golf with some of our elected and appointed city officials.
Category Archives: Current Concerns
Why Unanswered Questions?
SDCC recently posted the 28 questions that were presented to Chairman Fraim of the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission (B&WAC) at the city’s official and only public hearing held OCT 13, 2011. Now, almost one year ago. As some of you who attended this public forum for the Neighborhood Dredging (Spoils) Program, these questions were officially presented in writing to the chairman and were to be officially answered by this officially appointed city commission. The city would like citizens to think that our voices are heard on such important matters as this costly program (potentially $100 million) directly impacting citizen safety and our tax dollars. All that I can say is that SDCC has not received any satisfactory answers from either the city or the B&WAC chairman, although their official report was submitted to the city nine months ago.
Why are the city and the B&WAC chairman so quiet? I believe that they can not answer SDCC’s questions related to neighborhood impact, safety, environmental issues, traffic impact, costs, and operational concerns of this program. If they cannot answer my questions satisfactorily, how can they continue to proceed with the Neighborhood Dredging (Spoils) Program? I have forwarded these questions to Councilwoman Wilson (City representative to the B&WAC) a month ago to see if she could pry required answers out of the city, and so far no response. Bottom line- NO ANSWERS. It may not be that important, but it does concern public safety, impact on neighborhoods, impact on traffic through three major school areas, and your present and future tax dollars. WHY no answers? Maybe there are no responsible answers.
September 9th – 15th Virginia Bicyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Week
SHARE THE ROAD
Motorists have a responsibility to share the road with those who enjoy biking and walking along Virginia’s roadways.
When you pass a bicyclists slow down and allow at least 2 feet between the bike and the vehicle.
Look for hand signals a bicyclist may use to signal a turn. When approaching a crosswalk, stop for pedestrians.
Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists and should ride with traffic.
Bicyclists should obey all Virginia traffic laws, use flashing lights, and wear bright clothing.
Bicyclists should yield to pedestrians.
If you’re out walking, move against traffic and use sidewalks when possible.
“Sure, the foundation could locate its offices on nearby Shore Drive, Everett said, but it would miss an opportunity to set an example of how to build in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way.”
Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com.
“I am ecstatic with an environmental educational component existing on PHP run by CBF,” he wrote in an email. ” – they can simply do much, much better.”
Twenty-seven (27) unresolved questions that SDCC had submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission at the formal public hearing conducted by that Commission on October 13, 2011.
Posted unedited from SDCC’s submitted document:
Shore Drive Community Coalition
Questions Related to the Neighborhood Dredging Program
Impact on Neighborhoods:
NOTE: IF IT IS NOT DONE SAFELY, IT WILL IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS, therefore Neighborhood Impact Related1. Will there be or has there been a city SAFETY IMPACT STUDY of issues related to the Neighborhood Dredging Program related to COMBINING HEAVILY LADEN DUMP TRUCKS WITH the NORMAL TRAFFIC FLOW ON N. GREATNECK Rd. through three major school traffic and pedestrian areas?
2.What are the professional safety qualifications and previous experience of the city’s person doing this NDP associated SAFETY IMPACT STUDY?
3.Will there be or has there been a city SAFETY IMPACT STUDY of issues related to the Neighborhood Dredging Program related to TRAFFIC FLOW WITH NORMAL TRAFFIC ON N. GREATNECK through three major school traffic and pedestrian areas?
4.Will there be or has there been a city SAFETY IMPACT STUDY of issues related to the NDP related to burdened barge traffic along narrow or congested channels ?
5.What are the professional safety qualifications and previous experience of the city’s person doing this NDP associated BARGE TRAFFIC ON THE WATERWAYS SAFETY IMPACT STUDY?
6.What safety precautions will be implemented and monitored to provide for adequate safety for work-tug and barge traffic anchored in the waterway during night and inclement weather?
7.As there are 4 or more crosswalks along N. Greatneck Road between Shore Drive and Virginia Beach Blvd, will the present 45 mph speed limit be reduced to 35 mph to provide for increased dump truck-vehicle safety?
8.What are the professional safety qualifications and previous experience of the city’s person evaluating the contracted companies Traffic and Safety Plans associated with this NDP? associated SAFETY IMPACT STUDY?
9.Who in the city will monitor spoils loaded dump trucks to ensure DOT Weight limitations for that vehicle are maintained?
10.Who in the city will monitor spoils loaded dump trucks to ensure DOT, State and city Weight Limitations for that designated truck route (primary roads/neighborhood roads) are not exceeded?
11.Who in the city will monitor spoils loaded dump trucks to ensure DOT and State Weight Limitations are not exceeded for the Lesner Bridge prior to its replacement?
12.How will tug-barge traffic be managed between city contracted barges and privately contracted barges approaching and at dredge transfer sites?
13.Who in the city will monitor, mitigate, correct, and report safety violations?
14.How will these safety records be maintained?
15.Will the public have access to these safety violations records?
16.What will be the process for citizens who sustain damage(s) to their property to have that damage repaired in the case of broken street pipes, broken sewage lines, broken storm water drains, or damage to their residential roadbed?
17.What will be the process for citizens who sustain damage(s) to their residential property associated with NDP dump trucks and equipment to have that damage repaired in the case of damaged foundations, or slabs, interior walls due to cracking, or sewage or water backup due to broken street drains, or damage to their residential roadbed?
18.What qualifications does the City’s Attorney have to accept the tasking of the B&WAC to conduct a SAFETY STUDY of the NDP related to significant associated safety issues?
OPERATIONAL PLANNING
1.What is the City’s BREAK-EVEN COST POINT for the initial cycle of the Neighborhood Dredge Spoils Program (where the cost of City’s dredging equals the revenue generated by the City’s Special Service District contract revenue)?
2.How will individuals who privately contract to have dredge spoils removed from their private dock turnaround to the city spur pay for the hauling and removal of those private spoils?
3.Will the city dredge spur channels to areas that have not signed SSD agreements?
4.Will the city dredge spur channels to Remote Areas when adjacent areas have not signed SSD agreements?
5.What will be the City’s Cost Determination to Construct a SPUR channel into areas that do not have a signed nor approved SSD agreements?
6.If the SSD process is incorrectly calculated, cost under estimated, or optimistically over assessed, who will identify these additional costs to the taxpayers and take responsibility for the increased tax rates to cover these NDP expenses?
7.Should the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Committee Study Report to be submitted to City Council serve as a COMPREHENSIVE study of the majority issues related to the NDP?
8.Should the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Committee Study Report to be submitted to City Council serve as an INDEPENDENT study of the majority issues related to the NDP?
9.IF the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Committee Study Report to be submitted to City Council serves neither as an INDEPENDENT nor Comprehensive study of the majority issues related to the NDP, when will such an independent and comprehensive study be funded and conducted?Submitted by:
David M. Williams
Pres. Shore Drive Community Coalition
Recently from SDCC.info:
“On the first day of dredging sand from the bottom of the creek on Long Creek in Virginia Beach, a containment box holding sand ended up on the bottom of the creek.”
Comments from Peter Doherty on Pleasure House Point Draft Master Plan
Read the entire document at PHP Master Planning Discussion website:
As City resident, field ornithologist and retired environmental and land use planning lawyer with a demonstrated interest in the preservation and conservation of PHP, First Landing State Park (“FLSP”) and the Lynnhaven estuary, I would offer the following comments and suggestions concerning the PHP draft Master Plan as presented by the City at the July 2012 PHP Stakeholder meeting:
PHP has been disturbed.
Fundamentally, the value of PHP to the community, the Lynnhaven and the Chesapeake Bay rests upon one fact: it is among the last, remaining, large, undeveloped, open spaces along the Lynnhaven River and it is in public ownership. Indeed, but for FLSP and now PHP, the essentially urban, north end of the City would be a far less inviting area in which to live, work and visit. But PHP, while “undeveloped”, is by no means undisturbed or unaltered. The remaining maritime forest is second or third growth in which fire has been suppressed. Wetlands and transition uplands have been filled with dredge spoils; tidal flow to other wetlands is restricted by a network of berms. As a designated “Natural Resource Area Park”, there should not be in a rush to disturb, alter, fragment, build upon and otherwise develop PHP in the name of restoration, preservation, education and recreation. PHP has much value in its present state.
Re: recent Chic’s Beach robberies – “Police Thursday morning said they arrested three juveniles ages 14, 15 and 17 in connection with the larcenies.”
“On the first day of dredging sand from the bottom of the creek on Long Creek in Virginia Beach, a containment box holding sand ended up on the bottom of the creek.”
…it appears as though the barge hit an obstacle, raised up from rushing currents underneath it until the containment box hit the barge itself and slipped into the creek.
Photo Source: Save the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility.
Barge overturns in Long Creek on Maple Street dredge site
More to follow.
“Pleasure House Point River Cleanup This will be the first River Cleanup performed here since the site became public land on July 10, 2012. Come check out first hand and help with the stewardship of this jewel that will be available for all of us to enjoy for generations to come.”
Visit LRNow Stewardship and Access Committee website to learn more.
Photo Credit: Whit Peace
“Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation and Chesapeake Bay Foundation would like the public’s feedback on conceptual plans drafted for the newly acquired Pleasure House Point property during a public open house on Monday, July 30, 2012 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at Baylake United Methodist Church (in the Social Hall, 4300 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach).”
This is very exciting!
Read press release at VBGov.com.
Photo Credit: Stephen Katz
School teachers and Chesapeake Bay Foundation folks participating in the Virginia Beach Systemic Environmental Literacy Initiative at Pleasure House Point on Monday, July 16, 2012.
Identified as a top priority for open space acquisition for the past decade, the 118-acre tract known as PLEASURE HOUSE POINT has recently been preserved by the City of Virginia Beach with help from the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The local community, who’s vision & relentless legal work for the past decade, created the opportunity to preserve PHP forever.
“”This is a legacy purchase,” Mayor Will Sessoms said in a news release. “By preserving this property, we are creating a brighter, more sustainable environment for future generations.””
The Closing for Pleasure House Point was yesterday, July 10th 2012.
Without a number of dedicated people in the community – who worked tirelessly for years – it would have been impossible for this legacy purchase to have happened.
Thanks to their hard work, the vast majority of which happened behind the scenes with little fanfare, this dream came true. Over $150,000 of consulting was generously donated since 2002 which achieved the result of developers receiving exactly -0- permits to build on Pleasure House Point.
Those people look forward to working with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the City of Virginia Beach and other concerned citizens and groups to ensure PHP becomes a leader in inspiring kids of all ages to achieve great things.
Photo Credit: KEVIN J O’HARA
News about PHP including dates
From Christy at CBF:
Look forward to seeing you at our next meeting on Wednesday, June 27 from 4-5:30. It will be at Hermitage Elementary School cafeteria at 1701 Pleasure House Road in Virginia Beach. Thanks to Tim Cole for meeting location arrangements.
Agenda:
1) CBF Concept Plan – CBF/CBF Design Partners
2) Vision/Guiding Principles – Pete/Brian
3) Public meeting (Tent. Scheduled for 7/30 in eve.) and public survey launch – Brian
4) Update on PHP Acquisition – Brian
5) Look Ahead for stakeholder process – Brian
6) Announcements – Save the date: Fri., Oct. 12th Preservation Celebration in concert with the Sat. Oct. 13th Lynnhaven River NOW’s Fall Festival – Brian/others
Swimming Advisory Issued for the Chesapeake Bay Between Ocean View Avenue and Rockbridge Road
Restricted area map 
Wednesday, June 06, 2012 · 03:00 pm
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Chesapeake Bay between Ocean View Avenue and Rockbridge Road. Recent testing conducted by the Health Department showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the State Water Quality Standards. The advisory does not affect the Virginia Beach oceanfront or resort area.
Click here for full City’s notice http://www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=830
PHP Stakeholder Meeting minutes and break out exercise posted.
Help plan what happens on Pleasure House Point! YOU are a stakeholder if you care to be.
“Chic’s Beach seeks to snuff out that problem by asking the City Council to ban smoking on the beach altogether.”
YES! In my humble opinion.
Cigarette littering is absolutely disgusting and revolting for many, many, many reasons.
The Chesapeake Beach Civic League on Thursday voted by a 3-1 ratio in favor of the proposal, which would apply only to city beaches along the Chesapeake Bay, and plans to present the idea to the council next week.
And:
Every year, volunteers remove thousands of cigarette butts from the Bay and its tributaries during the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Clean the Bay Day, said Tanner Council, who helps organize the event in Hampton Roads.
“It’s by far and away one of the largest, most egregious offenders that we find out there,” he said of cigarette-butt litter.
I can confirm that as an early member of Clean The Bay Day and “Tim the T-shirt Guy” for years – the number 1 piece of litter was the disgusting cigarette butt that not only is ugly, but kills.
At Fairfax County Website – The Virginia Code says:
According to Keep American Beautiful, Inc., smokers litter about 4.5 trillion cigarette butts yearly. The Department of Forestry reports that in 2001, cigarette butts thrown out of vehicle windows caused 190 fires, resulting in 464 acres of Virginia land being burned.
Littering is illegal. Most people are unaware of littering fines. Section 33.3-346 of the Code of Virginia makes littering or dumping trash a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $2,500.
Many of the ignorant people who toss their cigarette butts on the ground might not know how wildlife ingests the plastic filter, can’t pass it, and it kills them.
Here is a video illustrating the effects plastic litter has on wildlife on Midway Island. That is, Midway Island in the middle of the Pacific!
One comment at Pilotonline.com article:
I hate it when smokers think the world is their ashtray, especially those who flick butts while driving or at a stoplight. Disgusting.
Recreation areas become less attractive. Tobacco litter represents nearly 32% of all litter in outdoor recreation areas.¹ Cigarette butt litter on beaches and waterfronts, at ball fields and parks, picnic areas and hiking trails decreases the appeal of these natural escapes. It also creates fire hazards, impacts local wildlife, and eventually contributes to lost tourism and revenue.
Pocket Ashtrays are a solution. I have hundreds that I hand out to anyone who smokes and especially if they litter in front of me.
Swimming Advisory Lifted – 5/17/2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012 · 01:30 pm
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has lifted a swimming and wading advisory that was issued for the Chesapeake Bay between Wake Forest Street and Rockbridge Road. Lab results showed bacteria levels in the water meet the State Water Quality Standards.
Signs have been removed that previously alerted the public of the advisory.
On May 16, the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health issued a swimming advisory to protect public health following an abnormally high bacteria level reading. The sampling level has returned to an acceptable bacteria level and it is now safe for residents and visitors to enter this area of the bay.
Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria using indicator organisms such as enterococci, the indicator of choice for estuarine and marine waters. Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of fecal contamination of recreational waters.
While Enterococci do not cause illness, scientific studies indicate that their presence is closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms. People swimming or wading in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness and skin, eye and respiratory infections.
Environmental health officials sample recreational beach water on a weekly basis during the swimming season from May through September.
For additional information on beaches, contact the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health at (757) 518-2700.
Dominion Power’s feedback to issues in Cape Story’s work on telephone poles
From an email from Empsy:
In response to Cape Story by the Sea inquiries the following information on the replacement of the power/telephone poles on Shore Drive and in Cape Story has been provided by Max Bartholomew of Virginia Dominion Power:
River City Electrical was contracted by Dominion Power to replace the poles and lines to carry a heavier electric load. River City is one of the contractors used for these large projects by Dominion Power and River City has offices in Washington, NC and Round Hill, Virginia. The pole replacement on Shore Drive and in our neighborhood is scheduled to be completed by the middle of June (approximately). The contractors attempt to place notices on the doors of homeowners for notice of the scheduled work and attempt to keep equipment on one side of the roadway. The Northside (bayside) of Shore Drive is scheduled for pole replacement on Oak street next week May 21-24.
Once the new poles are installed, Cox Communications will move their cable to the new poles (July/August), then River City will be back to remove the old poles.
Our American Flags will need to be moved to the New Poles at some point.
Please let me know if you have questions and I will forward to Mr.Bartholomew.Thank you to all to helped answer Cape Story concerns and request for information.
WHAT A GREAT COMMUNITY!!
Remember SPRING FLING in the PARK SUNDAY May 20, 2012 at 4PM- 7PM, see you there.
July 4th Theme to be decided at the Spring Fling. Hula Hoop and Sack racing and other competitions and games provided.Empsy
Empsy Munden, Pres. Cape Story by the Sea
Swimming Advisory Issued for the Chesapeake Bay from Wake Forest Street to Rockbridge Road – 5/16/12
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Chesapeake Bay between Wake Forest Street and Rockbridge Road. Recent testing conducted by the Health Department showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the State Water Quality Standards. The advisory does not affect the Virginia Beach oceanfront or resort area.
Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria using indicator organisms such as Enterococcus, the indicator of choice in estuarine and marine waters.
“The coastal waters of Virginia are generally very clean, and we test them weekly from May through September,” said Venita Newby-Owens, M.D., Director of the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health. “On the occasions when waters fail to meet the standards, we need to protect public health by letting residents and visitors know.”
Signs will be posted on the beach between Wake Forest Street and Rockbridge Road to alert the public of the swimming and wading advisory.
The signs will read:
WARNING! SWIMMING ADVISORY
Bacteria levels do not meet state water quality standards
Swimming and wading are prohibited until further notice
Virginia Beach has conducted these tests since the mid-1970s. Health officials will continue testing the site until the water quality meets the state water quality standards. When the sampling test results meet the standards, the signs will be removed.
Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of the fecal contamination of recreational waters. While they do not cause illness, scientific studies indicate that their presence is closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms. People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness, as well as skin, eye and respiratory infections.
“We encourage the public to protect their health by complying with this advisory,” said Newby-Owens. “Typically an advisory of this nature is temporary and will be withdrawn once the bacteria levels have returned to safe levels.”
The results of this and all other sampling are located on the Virginia Department of Health Web site at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DEE/BeachMonitoring.
For additional information, contact the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health at (757) 518-2700.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 