Category Archives: Quality of Life

SDCC General Meeting – Monday May 18th at 7:30pm *** (One week early due to Memorial Day)***

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Click here for a printable version of the agenda – 5.18.15 SDCC Agenda

SDCC General Meeting Agenda

Monday May 18, 2015 from 7:30 to 9:00pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall

(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

 

Program/Presentation – No presentation planned.

Officer’s Reports Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon

Old Business–

Bishard Development Update – City Council’s May 5th review meeting was deferred. New date is expected to be June 2nd. Baylake Pines Civic League is meeting with Mr. Bishard to discuss changes/proffers. City Traffic Engineers informed that sidewalk will be installed along Shore Drive, a turn lane will be installed at the existing median cut across from gas station to allow westbound cars to “U-turn” to head eastbound, stacking should not be a problem.

Lesner Bridge Replacement– New animated construction video posted on www.sdcc.info. Walkway protection to be added to east side of bridge to prevent restaurant parking from blocking sidewalk.

New Business –

Proposed City Tree Task Force – SDCC is working with City Staff/Arborist to create a task force to discuss ways to help protect the City’s official tree (Live Oak) and maintain residential property rights.  Roadway encroachment lead to the planned removal of trees (200+ years old) at Shore Drive & Kleen St.

Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?

Citywide Civic Engagement Opportunities –

  • June 9, 2015 Republican Party primary election for the Virginia Senate in the 8th district (East of Lesner Bridge). First use of new optical scanner voting machines

NEXT SDCC Meeting – Monday June 29th at 7:30pm

More pedestrian & cyclists’ love at #LESNERBRIDGE on the way

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Ya know the terrific south side multi use path heading over the Lesner?

You might have noticed it got blocked again this past weekend on east side by parked vehicles. 

No date on when the extra love will show up but there’ll be temporary fencing installed to keep it open. 

  
Hooray!

Unfortunately the live oak must be …

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…removed because of its impaired health & close proximity to Shore Drive.

Sad but true.

This is the remaining live oak at Kleen Street & Shore Drive.

Upset as much as everyone else is that this must happen!?

There are a few simple things you can do right now.

    Join Friends of Live Oaks

    Subscribe to our emailed newsletter The Advocate

    Contact Landscape Management Services of VB if you have concerns

Why?

The COVB has a great group of people including Susan French, City Arborist & her team yet they need help from us – the caring public – to ensure we all do our best to keep & increase our precious urban tree canopy.

Susan is very approachable and loves meeting people & chatting about trees. Call 757-385-4461 to reach her.

Stay tuned for future news about how you can help.

The COVB State of the Urban Forest Report is out and we get a C.

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It is great see to the brutal honesty of the amount of work left to do to protect and increase our precious tree canopy.

Subscribe to The Advocate to learn more about what we'll be announcing soon to help

Subscribe to The Advocate to learn more about what we’ll be announcing soon to help

Start here to Subscribe to The Advocate – your resource for the latest news & info about the Shore Drive community.

Learn more about the Urban Forestry Management Plan, and the State of the Urban Forest Report at VBGov.com here.

The creation of this plan not only lays the framework for sustainable urban forest management in Virginia Beach, it indicates a high level of commitment to protecting trees and sharing knowledge about the important environmental, economic and social roles trees play in building healthy sustainable communities. The benefits of trees can be maximized when both professional management resources and an educated public coexist.

Protecting Pleasure House Point was used as a good example of what to do

Protecting Pleasure House Point was used as a good example of what to do

Starbuck’s at Shore Drive & Vista Circle to Close

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Read more about our local coffee house moving on in a recent Virginian-Pilot Beacon article by Irene Bowers

SAYING GOODBYE TO COFFEE, AND CONVERSATION   By Irene Bowers 

     After 16 years, the conversation will be tabled at 3273 Shore Drive Starbucks. 

Since its opening in 1999, a loyal contingent of coffee lovers has found the perfect blend of people and place, beneath the billboard at the foot of Lesner Bridge. With its May closure looming, the shop’s longest running coffee klatch is savoring every drop.

Click here to read more

We’ve added a new area to our HOT page entitled Flood Mitigation

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Inspired by a great presentation at tonight’s meeting by Mike Vernon of Flood Mitigation Hampton Roads.

Be sure to check out the new section over at SDCC.info/HOT.

The new info is shown below:

Flood Mitigation

You’ll be seeing a lot more information in this space in the coming weeks. (Posted April 27th ’15)

Here’s a good place to start in the meantime.

Search Results for: National Flood Insurance Program at SDCC.info

FEMA.gov: National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System

FEMA Region III: Virginia Beach Flood Information Portal Map

Screen grab of Virginia Beach Flood Information Portal map

Screen grab of Virginia Beach Flood Information Portal map

Sometimes all you have to do is ask for extra love. So we did. At the #LESNERBRIDGE.

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Hooray for the new extra love for the City of Virginia Beach Official Tree at the beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility!

We couldn’t understand why they weren’t already carefully marked off to protect them from the 3 year construction project – so we asked.

Orange fencing to add some extra visual cues for the hard working crews

Orange fencing to add some extra visual cues for the hard working crews

Orange fencing to add some extra visual cues for the hard working crews

Orange fencing to add some extra visual cues for the hard working crews

Love live oaks too?

Join Friends of Live Oaks today!

Live oaks are designated as the official tree of the City of Virginia Beach, and with good reason. Native to the area, live oaks were here long before European settlers. The tree is one of the most distinctive and recognizable plants in the city and immediately brings to mind our coastal areas and maritime ecosystem.

#LESNERBRIDGE update from Project Manager – “On a final note . . . The Ocean Park Civic League is having a neighborhood yard sale this Saturday, April 11th,which means that there will be a lot of additional vehicles entering/exiting East Stratford Street at Shore Drive. Since our bridge contractor will also be working this weekend, please use caution on Shore Drive when nearing the East Stratford Street intersection and when turning onto East Stratford Street going towards the boat ramps.”

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April 10th 2015 update:

Friends, Neighbors and Those Who Want to Know Everything About the Lesner Bridge Project:

As you sit outside on a gorgeous Friday and feel the bay breeze blow through your hair – or what’s left of it in some cases – treat yourself to the latest information about the Public Works project – the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project. Things are humming right along, and we are receiving a number of questions and requests for information on a regular basis – which is GREAT. We appreciate your interest and your comments about this important undertaking.

The latest collection of facts and figures and other details are below – updated for your reading pleasure or should someone suddenly begin to quiz you – as explained by Chris Wojtowicz, our project manager and the pride and joy of “Wojo’s World.” Please give this a look when you have the time, and feel free to let Chris or me know if you have any questions or need more information.

As a reminder, we are regularly updating information on our WEB page at: http://www.vbgov.com/lesner-bridge. You can also follow us on Twitter at: @lesnerbridge.

If you know of someone who would like to be added to our update list, please have them get in touch with me at this e-mail address and I will be glad to add them.

Please feel free to pass this along to others. Thanks again for all of your patience throughout this project.

Enjoy your weekend, and all the happenings our city offers . . . AND STAY SAFE!

Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach

dlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353

Ok, let’s answer the first question that many of you have had or are thinking: “What is all that steel framework construction taking place in the dredge material storage area south of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramps?”

The answer is: The bridge contractor is preparing the storage area to receive the pre-cast bridge segments now being stored at Atlantic Metrocast in Portsmouth. This temporary steel framework will support an overhead crane that will be used to unload/load the bridge segments from the delivery trucks and move these segments within the storage area.

The bridge contractor has also been preparing the temporary steel falsework between Pier #1 and Abutment A (this is near 3556 On The Bay condominiums) to receive the support towers and gantry trusses. The two concrete pads recently poured at Abutment A is the foundation for one of the two towers that will be erected next week. These towers will be used to support the bridge segment assembly gantry.

Casting yard production of the bridge segments is also continuing. The expansion joint segment, which is the first segment that will be placed in the bridge (on Abutment A), was cast on Tuesday (the 7th). Three of the 14 typical segments for bridge span 2 have also been cast since the last project update.

(Expansion Joint segment with ~25% of steel reinforcing installed)

(Expansion Joint segment with ~25% of steel reinforcing installed)

The foundation work on the westbound bridge continues. The last of the ten drilled shafts at Pier #4 will be installed by today (Friday the 10th).

Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will;

Ø Mobilize the utility barges and drilling equipment to Pier #5 (east side of the Federal Channel in the Lynnhaven Inlet);

Ø Mobilize cranes to Abutment A to support the assembly of the bridge segment assembly gantry;

Ø Continue work on the temporary overhead crane installation at the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Site;

Ø Install a cofferdam around the completed foundations at Pier #3;

Ø Install the new traffic signal poles and signal heads at the intersection of Shore Drive/Page Avenue/Vista Circle;

Ø Construct a haul road along the retaining wall adjacent to the Pointe Chesapeake property (former Duck Inn site) to support construction of Abutment B;

*** On a final note . . . The Ocean Park Civic League is having a neighborhood yard sale this Saturday, April 11th,which means that there will be a lot of additional vehicles entering/exiting East Stratford Street at Shore Drive. Since our bridge contractor will also be working this weekend, please use caution on Shore Drive when nearing the East Stratford Street intersection and when turning onto East Stratford Street going towards the boat ramps.

Because of all this activity, there will likely be more pedestrians and vehicles in this area this weekend than usual – so be alert and drive safely!

-Chris

Christopher J. Wojtowicz, P.E.
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Municipal Center-Bldg 2
2405 Court House Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Phone: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com

Screen grab of zoomed construction cam shot taken on April 10th 2015 3pm.

Screen grab of zoomed construction cam shot taken on April 10th 2015 3pm.

SAVE THE DATE – Monday March 30th @7:30pm – City Presentation on CRS Flood Program

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With the recent talk of property tax rate increases, wouldn’t it be amazing if the City could join a program that reduces insurance premiums for residents in Flood Zones?

On Monday March 30th at 7:30pm, Mr. Clay Bernick – Administrator City of Virginia Beach Environment and Sustainability Office, will be attending the SDCC general meeting to discuss the City’s efforts to join the National Flood Insurance Program(NFIP) Community Rating System(CRS) program and what  residents can do to help make this happen.

  • 14,000 homes with potential flood insurance savings
  • Average insurance premium saving ($100/year)
  • 7 other Hampton Roads cities participate in CRS program, VB has never participated.

 

SDCC General Meeting

Monday March 30th at 7:30pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall – 3769 E Stratford Rd (Click for map)

 

Background documents on NFIP’s CRS program:

  1. 2014 Evaluation of CRS by City of VB Public Works – White paper on why it may not be beneficial for VB to join program (Click the link to read – CRS in Virginia Beach Mar 2014 PW Evaluation)
  2. CRS Communities and their ratingsCRS HR City List 2014
  3. NFIP’s CRS Program website – Click here – This site has a lot of good information on the program in general.
  4. CRS Coordinator’s Manual – Click here – This document explains the program in detail and what requirements localities have to meet to join.

“For example, to view information about a specific transportation project, such as the Lesner Bridge replacement, visit Budgetexpenditure.vbgov.com and click on the budget category “Quality Physical Environment” on the green graph to the right.”

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Thanks to everyone who helped make the #LESNERBRIDGE updates and transparency about the project possible!

From the News Release yesterday at VBGov.com:

“Open VB marks a major step forward in increasing public transparency in our budget and capital improvement projects,” said city Budget Director Catheryn Whitesell. “We implemented Open VB because citizens have a right to know how fund are being raised and allocated.”

Here’s the link to the #LESNERBRIDGE at the new Open VB website.

Here’s the Shore Drive Corridor Improvements Phase IV hot link.

Click screen shot to visit hot link at Open VB website.

Click screen shot to visit hot link at Open VB website.

The Search function in upper right hand corner of page seems to need exact name of the Project to find it.
It is a lot easier to scroll on the interactive map, and drill down/zoom in to find road projects you are interested in.

There is also a great way to find projects using the CATEGORY function.
As an example, it was easy to find the vital Sewer Pump Station Flow Monitoring & Date Storage page by drilling down in the CATEGORY function. Here’s that page.

Here’s an example of drilling down into the SERVICE function.
It was easy to find the Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Phase I page.

Thanks again to everyone who works so diligently on making government and it’s processes transparent.

Thanks to everyone at the COVB who makes it easy for the public to find it.

#LESNERBRIDGE update from Project Manager – “Since our last update, the dredging of Crab Creek and the area in front of the wharf at the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Site (LDMSS) has been completed.”

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March 23rd 2015 update:

Aficionados of the Lesner Bridge Project:

This might be the first e-mail we’ve sent out in weeks that does not use the words “salt-and-sand solution” and “potholes,” and I consider that GOOD news. Chris rejoices below that “spring is in the air,” but I’m greedier . . . I want to see temps in the 90’s, AC’s running full blast and the sound of mosquitoes flying head first into my back yard zapper! That’s one of the best cures I know for these winter blahs.

The latest collection of facts and figures, updated for your reading pleasure, and other details are below, as explained by Chris Wojtowicz, our project manager and landlord of “Wojo’s World.” Please give this a look when you have the time, and feel free to let Chris or me know if you have any questions or need more information.

As a reminder, we are regularly updating information on our WEB page at: http://www.vbgov.com/lesner-bridge

You can also follow us on Twitter at: @lesnerbridge.

If you know of someone who would like to be added to our update list, please have them get in touch with me at this e-mail address and I will be glad to add them.

Please feel free to pass this along to others. Thanks again for all of your patience throughout this project.

Enjoy the week, and enjoy the approaching spring weather, AND our city. Stay safe.

Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach

dlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353

Aaaahhhh . . . . spring is in the air! And with spring comes warmer temperatures that have the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project buzzing with activity!

Since our last update, the dredging of Crab Creek and the area in front of the wharf at the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Site (LDMSS) has been completed. Much of the dredged beach-quality sand has to be stockpiled near this recently completed wharf, but some of this material was used to replenish Ocean Park Beach in preparation for the summer season.

As you have all noticed – the landscape at Lesner Bridge is beginning to change dramatically. Over the past several weeks, crews have been erecting the tall steel falsework on the west side of the bridge in preparation for assembly of the 300-foot long gantry crane that will be used to set the pre-cast concrete bridge segments into place. Assembly of this gantry will begin within the next few days, and will continue for several weeks.

unnamed-7

Completion of the gantry assembly will be in time for arrival of the first bridge segments to the project site. The 14 segments for the first bridge span have been cast and are currently being stored in the Atlantic Metrocast yard in Portsmouth.

The expansion joint segment and the pier segments are the only pieces remaining to be built before we can begin the assembly of these units in the new westbound bridge.
unnamed-8

Crews have made quite a bit of progress on other portions of the bridge work since the last update:

Ø Pier column #2 for the new WB bridge has been completed;

Ø 5 of the 10 drilled shafts for Pier #4 have been installed;

Ø Temporary trestle has been partially installed around the area of Pier #5;

unnamed-9

Over the next two weeks, work will increase on the east side of the bridge as we continue to build the retaining wall, temporary wire wall, and install storm drain/other utilities at this bridge approach. The remaining drilled shafts for the foundations at pier #4 will be placed thru 3/30/2015.

Along with all of these other activities, the contractor will also begin to assemble the temporary cofferdam around the previously installed drilled shafts at Pier #3 in preparation for the construction of the foundation cap.

That’s about it for this update.

Drive safely!

-Chris

Christopher J. Wojtowicz, P.E.
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Municipal Center-Bldg 2
2405 Court House Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Phone: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com

Screen grab of construction cam shot taken on Feb 18th 2015 8am. Note: It was not spring.

Screen grab of construction cam shot taken on Feb 18th 2015 8am. Note: It was not spring.

“Now that it’s over, she wants others to hear her story.  She says since the attack, she’s spent a lot of time talking to friends about what happened.  That’s when she learned some of them are victims of sexual crimes but never said anything.”

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Read & view story at WTKR.com.

The attack happened in Nov. of 2013.  Jessica Biersack had been out drinking with friends at Bayside Bar & Grill.  Eventually, she decided to leave for the night.

“I have a friend that lives up the road, so I walked through the parking lot alone, and apparently he had followed me,” Biersack told NewsChannel 3, “The next thing I remember, I woke up naked behind a shed.  My jaw was broken and I was missing a tooth.”

“The City of Virginia Beach filed a petition in Virginia Beach Circuit Court today, asking the court to confirm that the public enjoys a recreation easement over Chesapeake Beach, known locally as Chic’s Beach, and that the city has the right to maintain and protect the beach. This action is a necessary precursor to any sand replenishment for Chesapeake Beach.”

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Read entire statement at VBGov.com.

Many property owners along Chesapeake Beach agree that the public has long-standing rights to use the beach across their properties. Some, however, dispute the public’s right to use and the city’s right to maintain the beach. They contend the beach is private.

#LESNERBRIDGE update from Project Manager – “The dredging of Crab Creek and the area in front of the temporary wharf at the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Site (LDMSS) continues today, but will be complete by tomorrow, 2/28/2015.”

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February 28th 2015 update:

Is anybody ready for spring? The Lesner Bridge project team is!

The recent spate of snow, ice, and cold has had a negative impact on the project schedule which we hope to make up once the weather warms up. This doesn’t mean that that all work has stopped though.

The dredging of Crab Creek and the area in front of the temporary wharf at the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Site (LDMSS) continues today, but will be complete by tomorrow, 2/28/2015.

image001-2

Ø Construction of the retaining wall along the entire length of the new eastern bridge approach (former Duck Inn property) continues and is about 50% complete;

Ø The foundation for the new traffic signal pole at located at the corner of Page Avenue and Shore drive was installed;

Ø Pier column #1 for the new WB bridge has been completed;

Ø The foundations for bridge piers 2 and 3 have been completed;

Ø The reinforcing steel for Pier column #2 has been tied and is ready for placement on the completed foundation;

Ø The contractor is preparing material for the temporary cofferdam to be built around the foundation for water Pier #3

Ø Equipment and material have been mobilized to bridge pier #4 and the temporary equipment trestle is nearing completion in preparation for installed of the foundation shafts;

Ø Four more bridge segments have been built at the casting yard which brings us past the halfway mark for Span #1 (there are 10 spans per bridge);

image002-2
Over the next two weeks, work will continue on the east side of the bridge as we continue to build the retaining wall, and install storm drain/other utilities. Drilled shaft installation for the foundations at pier #4 will resume on Monday, 3/2/2015. Also next week we anticipate standing the rebar cage for Pier #2 and begin the formwork installation in preparation for placement of the concrete. The installation of the foundation for the new traffic signal pole at the corner of Vista Circle and Shore Drive (across the street from Starbucks) is also expected to take place next week..

That about wraps it up for now. Stay warm, stay dry, and drive safely!

-Chris

Christopher J. Wojtowicz, P.E.
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Municipal Center-Bldg 2
2405 Court House Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Phone: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com

Screen grab of construction cam shot taken on Feb 26th 2015 2am

Screen grab of construction cam shot taken on Feb 26th 2015 2am

Concern about the need to change the current property tax exemptions for Seniors & Disabled in Virginia Beach

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From Empsy:

City Council,
I am concerned about the need to change the current property tax exemptions for Seniors and Disabled in Virginia Beach due to the program being unsustainable due to COST. I found the THREE modifications posted on Virtual Town Hall equally unacceptable as did all THREE of the other comments I was able to view on the site.
I received one call from my Cape Story by the Sea email send from a senior citizen who was very upset about the proposal and the impact it would have on her fixed income and unable to understand HOW Va Beach could not do better money management to sustain the program.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the City Council, I too have difficulty in believing the program can not be sustained. Please consider the following:
1. DO NOT compare Virginia Beach with the other 6 cities of tidewater because NONE off the other six cities have an OCEAN and the tourist traffic of Va Beach. Recent article indicated “Virginia Beach dining, lodging sales near (a RECORD) $1.4 BILLION” and Jim Ricketts expects 2015 to hit another record. Surely there is income here that could support the property tax exemptions and the NEED to INCREASE the tax rate for the rest of us.

2. The health care costs to the city employees was noted as being one the fastest increasing costs of the city in a recent Budget presentation by Councilman Wood at the SDCC meeting.
Consider a City owned and operated PBM- Pharmacy Benefits Management – company as CHESAPEAKE has done and saved considerable money. As a fellow pharmacist with Ed Davidson (the Consultant Pharmacist for the City of Virginia Beach), I would encourage the Council to discuss this opportunity with Dr. Davidson and your healthcare management departments. This should stabilize and possibly decrease expense to the City for employee healthcare.

3. The military in Virginia Beach brings in $13 Million (or is it Billion) that is currently used in budget planning I believe even with constant discussion that this may /will decrease if/when the military cuts back/moves out. BUT, the HIGH MILITARY income is STILL HERE AND STRONG in the 37 YEARS I have lived in Virginia Beach.

I believe the Great City of Virginia Beach can sustain the current property tax exemptions and the current tax rate on property. I believe the City of Virginia Beach is unique and comparison with the other six cities of Tidewater has very LIMITED benefits when comparing tax base, tax income and potential for tax income.

Thank you.

Empsy Munden – Cape Story by the Sea – Virginia Beach

Learn more by viewing Virtual Town Hall info below

PLEASE NOTE:
Both Virtual Town Halls posted below have been closed.
Please provide your feedback in Comments below and/or Email City Council here.

View first Official Virtual Town Hall VBGOV.com website on this Topic entitled:

    The City of Virginia Beach currently offers qualified property owners the ability to receive one of 3 forms of relief (Exemption, Deferral or Freeze), towards their real estate tax bill. To ensure City Council receives the best possible recommendations, please complete this survey.

You can view 122 Responses by the public, video presentation by Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled Taskforce, Demographics of respondents, final tally, and more.

Next steps lie with City Council as they consider the information and the recommendations of the Taskforce.

View 2nd Official Virtual Town Hall VBGOV.com website on this Topic entitled:

    The City Council is considering three alternatives to changing the tax-relief program for senior citizens and the elderly. Which alternative do you prefer, and why?

You can view 44 Responses by the public, and more.
NOTE: City Council will be voting on proposed alternatives at their March 3 2015 Meeting.

Introduction

A tax-relief program that reduces or eliminates real estate taxes for some Virginia Beach senior citizens is not financially sustainable. That’s the conclusion of a city task force that reported recently to the City Council.

Now, the City Council is exploring ways to change the program – to continue keeping low-income seniors in their homes while managing the program’s skyrocketing costs.

The City Council has come up with three options, which are summarized here. The council wants to hear from you. A public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. However, the hearing was cancelled due to inclement weather and has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24 in the City Council chamber in City Hall, second floor, 2401 Courthouse Drive​. City Council is still scheduled to vote on program changes March 3. For more information, contact the city’s Budget Office at (757) 385-8234 or budget@VBgov.com.

Virginia Beach has the most generous tax-relief program for seniors in Hampton Roads.

View Final Report by Tax Relief for the Elderly & Disabled Taskforce here. ( 102 page PDF )

TaxReliefConclusion

PLEASE NOTE:
Both Virtual Town Halls posted above have been closed.
Please provide your feedback in Comments below and/or Email City Council here.

“The City of Virginia Beach Office of Cultural Affairs is dedicated to supporting and strengthening a rich arts and cultural community. Please help us shape the future of the arts and culture by providing us feedback through this survey.”

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Start here at the official Town Hall page at VBGov.com.

Your input will help us understand community priorities related both directly and indirectly to arts and culture, and help to direct priorities for cultural investment and development. Play a part in shaping the vision of the Virginia Beach Arts Plan 2030 by completing this survey!

3 questions in Survey include:

Arts, culture and creativity in Virginia Beach increase quality of life and livability.

Arts, culture and creativity in Virginia Beach represent our diverse communities.

By the year 2030, what are the top 3 things you would like to see for Virginia Beach’s arts, cultural and creative community? (Please select up to 3 options from the list.)

Photo Credit: Tim Solanic


Photo Credit: Tim Solanic

“Help Hampton Roads Create a Hazard Mitigation Plan”

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Three Public Meetings Scheduled Throughout the Region – view at VBGov.com.

Federal law requires localities to adopt hazard mitigation plans to be eligible for certain federal mitigation grant funds. It requires that these plans be updated every five years. Hampton Roads localities will pursue a regional, multi-jurisdictional plan.

Public involvement is a key component.

unexpected damage at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp from Sandy Oct 2012

unexpected damage at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp from Sandy Oct 2012

Virginia Beach City Offices and Facilities to Open at 10 a.m. Wednesday

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All City of Virginia Beach offices and facilities will open tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. That includes all parks, recreation centers, libraries and the Virginia Aquarium. City-run historic homes will remain closed Wednesday. There will be no trash or recycle pickups on Wednesday. 

The city’s essential operating condition will continue until 10 a.m. Wednesday. At that time, the city will resume normal operating conditions. 

Crews from Public Works will continue working to clear streets throughout the night and throughout the day tomorrow.

 

City of Virginia Beach CANCELS Waste Pickup for Wednesday, Feb 18

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Due to the anticipated hazardous road and weather conditions, Public Works/Waste Management has CANCELLED trash and recycling collections for Wednesday.  Residents are asked to place their trash cans at the curb line and leave them there until they are serviced.   Those residents with small amounts of trash, or extra carts, may wish to skip collection this week, and have all materials collected the following week.

Collections will resume as soon as conditions allow, and will operate on a sliding basis. Tuesday collection area will be collected on the first day collections are resumed, and continuing each collection area as needed to complete collections for the week.​

Yard debris collection has been suspended for the remainder of the week. Additional requests for bulky item collection will be re-scheduled for next week.  The Virginia Beach Landfill and Resource Recovery Center will follow the City of Virginia Beach operating hours.

For updates about collections, call Public Works Waste Management at 385-4650 or visit www.VBgov.com/wastemgt.

Reminder about safe moped use and the list of regs to adhere to

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Thanks to Empsy of Cape Story by The Sea for putting together this list of City of Virginia Beach Code.

Sec. 7-49. Safety equipment required, moped operators and passengers.permanent link to this piece of content
(a)
Every person operating a moped on a public street or highway of the city shall wear a face shield, safety glasses or goggles approved by the superintendent of state police, or shall have his moped or gas-powered wheeled device equipped with safety glass or a windshield at all times while operating such vehicle; and any operator and any passengers thereon, if any, shall wear protective helmets of a type approved by the superintendent of the state police.
(b)
Any person who knowingly violates this Section shall be guilty of a traffic infraction and shall be subject to a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00).
(Ord. No. 2848, 10-26-04; Ord. No. 2952, 6-27-06)
Sec. 7-50. Helmets required for riders of bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, motorized skateboards and motorized scooters fourteen years of age or younger.permanent link to this piece of content
(a)
Every person fourteen (14) years or younger shall be required to wear a protective helmet which meets the standards promulgated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission Standards whenever riding or being carried on a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or motorized scooter on any highway, street, sidewalk or bicycle path.
(b)
A violation of any provision of this section shall be punishable by fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). However, with respect to any person riding or being carried on a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric-powered-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or motorized scooter, such fine shall be suspended (i) for first-time violators or (ii) for any violator who, subsequent to the violation but prior to imposition of the fine, purchases a helmet of the type required by this Section.
(Ord. No. 2848, 10-26-04; Ord. No. 2952, 6-27-06)

Sec. 7-59. Regulations pertaining to riding on city sidewalks and bicycle paths other than the resort area.permanent link to this piece of content
(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a moped or motor-driven cycle on any sidewalk or designated bicycle route within the City.
(b)
Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or motorized scooter is permitted on the sidewalks and designated bicycle paths of the City.
(c)
A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorized skateboard, motorized scooter or electric power-assisted bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian, and shall dismount and walk the bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorized skateboard, motorized scooter or electric power-assisted bicycle when necessary to avoid physical contact with any person; and
(d)
A violation of this Section shall be punishable by a civil penalty of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00).

Sec. 7-60. Reckless riding; speed.permanent link to this piece of content
(a)
No person shall ride a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard, motorized scooter, low-speed vehicle or moped recklessly or at a speed faster than is reasonably proper, or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb or property of the rider or of any other person.
(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person to use or operate roller blades, roller skates or any similar devices on wheels or runners whether such use is permitted or not, recklessly or at a speed faster than is reasonably proper, or in a manner so as to interfere with pedestrians or to endanger the life, limb or property of the rider or any other person.
(Ord. No. 2848, 10-26-04; Ord. No. 2952, 6-27-06)
Sec. 7-61. Racing.permanent link to this piece of content
(a)
Bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or motorized scooter, low-speed vehicle or moped racing on the highways is prohibited except as authorized in this section.
(b)
Bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard, motorized scooter, low-speed vehicle or moped racing on a highway shall not be unlawful when a racing event has been approved by the City Manager on any highway under the jurisdiction of the City. Approval of bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard, motorized scooter, low-speed vehicle or moped highway racing events shall be granted only under conditions which assure reasonable safety for all race participants, spectators and other highway users, and which prevent unreasonable interference with traffic flow which would seriously inconvenience other highway users.
(c)
By agreement with the approving authority, participants in an approved bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard, motorized scooter, low-speed vehicle and moped highway racing event may be exempted from compliance with any traffic laws otherwise applicable thereto, provided that traffic control is adequate to assure the safety of all highway users.
(Ord. No. 2848, 10-26-04; Ord. No. 2952, 6-27-06)