A bicyclist was hit Tuesday evening around 5:30pm heading westbound on Shore Drive near 83rd Street.  The bicyclist received a broken collarbone, hip and 9 ribs.  Please be safe out there and respect all users of Shore Drive.

For additional information, read the Pilotonline article at http://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/bicyclist-struck-injured-hitandrun-shore-drive

Virginia Beach City officials would like to find the legal owner of a large sum of money which was recently found near the Marina Shores Marina. Usually, when large sums of money are found, the amount will not be mentioned so as to make proper identification of the owner easier, but in this case, the Deputy City Manager, Mr. Hansen mentioned the amount of $400,000 during the videotaped city presentation to City Council on 15 March.

Such a large sum of money being found could cause one to wonder as to what sort of business the owner was involved and as to whether it was legal or not. The City Attorney has been contacted to answer this question and to speed the return of the money. Anyone with legal reason to claim this money should contact the City Attorney at (757) 385-4303.

What would you think if a city project had 100,000 cubic yards of smelly non-beach grade spoils dredged from other parts of the Lynnhaven Basin barged over towards your part of the Long Creek area and then transferred from barge to dump truck to be hauled out through your residential roads, south down N. Greatneck Road over to the Oceana area. If this was going to be just a month or two a year, that would be one thing, but this will be continuous for 16 years. The City’s Deputy City Manager, Mr. David Hansen says that this will benefit us with better water flow in the basin and increased property taxes for those properties that will now have deep water access. The city estimates that 2500+ property owners could benefit from having their tidal areas dredged to deep water depths. But, what about all the rest of the people who who don’t live on the water or would benefit from this program? How do the other residents of Virginia Beach benefit from this project? I don’t see it either. But, we will just pay for it. If you would like to learn more about how this project will impact you and for excellent source of information on this project, go to http://www.longcreekwetlands.com. Please sign the petition.

The regularly scheduled monthly meeting for SDCC will be held 23 May, not 30 May due to the observance of Memorial Day. We will have a presentation on the new Point Chesapeake complex at where the former Duck Inn was located.

The following list of questions were submitted by SDCC president David Williams.  The answers have been provided by City Deputy Manager Dave Hansen.  Thanks to Councilman Bill DeSteph for his help and attention to these questions.

At the Virginia Beach City Council meeting held on 12 April, SDCC President, David Williams, and Bay Island residents Mike Megge, and Rob Lawlor presented their comments, concerns and questions related to the proposed Neighborhood Channel Dredging Project. The numbers and scope of this project are quoted from a presentation given by Mr. Hansen, Deputy City Manager, and Mr. Phillip Roehrs, Waterway Engineer on 15 March to the City Council. To view the 15 March presentation, go to VBGov.com and search word “SSD”. Presentation is titled “Neighborhood Channel Dredging” dated Oct 2010.

These are the summarized comments that were presented by the SDCC president:

Many citizens in our areas have concerns with the proposed dredge spoils project in the Lynnhaven Basin.  Our concerns are:

Safety:
Q: Barges, workboats, dump trucks, who will monitor the sites, and who will supervise the traffic?  A: The contractor using the site, under a Use Agreement or contract with the City, will have traffic control and pedestrian safety responsibilities.  Additionally they will be responsible for street cleanliness and dust control.  The City will confirm that the terms of the Use Agreement or contract are enforced.

Q: Who will be responsible for the safety? A: The contractor has responsibility for his operations. The City will assign an inspector to periodically verify compliance and that inspectors contact information will be made available to the adjoining neighborhood(s).
 
Q: Will the city be responsible? A: Only to the extent of our culpability. The contractor will validate his bonding, insurance, and vehicle legality before commencing operations. Additionally the contractor will specify by name his safety officer and his superintendent. 
 
Q: Who will shut it down if it is unsafe?  A: Any number of authorities can invoke safety laws and stop an unsafe situation, in this case it could be the City employee appointed with the duty to make sure the site is used in accordance with the Use Agreement or contract, but could also include federal, state or local code officials and maritime law enforcers.
 
Scope: 
Q: The basic numbers presented by the city for the Robin Hood Forrest SSD brief (15 March/available at VBGov.comm word search “SSD”) indicate that even for this small 26 property project, the dredge spoils amount would total 12,551 cubic yards which equals 1,255 dump trucks (@10 CY per truck). How much time will it take to cycle these dump trucks through just this one project?  A: Production is probably going to range from 250 CY per day to as much as 500 CY per day.  Fifty days or so of production, probably about 30 to 40 trucks a day on good days. 
 
Q: This project is scheduled to start in two years and complete three cycles in sixteen years.  This is a major project. It could generate 1.2 million cubic yards from 2500 properties in the first cycle alone.  That is 120,000 average 10 CY dump trucks.  I was told a senior city staff member, that they would use efficient 20 cubic yard dump trucks.  A 20 CY dump truck weighs 80,000 pounds and is not suitable for residential grade streets. Is this correct? A: Agreed, it is a major undertaking, and if 2,500 properties were served through ‘self taxing’ for navigation, we think it would be a good thing. Not all trucks and projects would be working out of a single dredged material transfer site.  Yes, ultimately it’s a lot of truck loads.  And, yes, not all residential streets can handle legally loaded heavy trucks, they weren’t designed for it.  This is why a network of dredged material transfer stations is being proposed, so communities that do not have viable haul routes can still gain navigational access. 
 
Environmental Impact:
Q: We have been told by a senior city official that “It will not harm the basin, but will improve the water quality because of better water flow”.  I seriously doubt this.  Many have worked very hard to improve the water quality and restore the oyster beds in the Lynnhaven, and now with this project, it could potentially destroy all this effort. This project will impact the fish, oysters, crabs and the water quality. Is this correct? A: We have a different opinion, based on facts. Removal of silts will create significant flushing and revitalization to the mudflats that now exist.
 
Burden On Communities: 
Q: This project has the potential to place a severe burden on a few areas with heavy dump truck traffic, noise, and pollution hazards through the neighborhoods.  Who will benefit from this project? A: Waterfront property owner will receive the primary benefits of navigable waters.  His neighbors and friends too.  The guy who sold him the boat, fueled it or serviced it.  The school teacher who gets a raise because his property values went up. The Kempsville fisherman would likes to fish the inlet via the Lynnhaven Boat Launch.  The small home renovation company that can assist a homeowner in revitalizing their investment.  The pier, dock, and boat lift constructors.  A lot of recreating folks that enjoy the water amenity that exists because of the Lynnhaven.
 
Q: Many or just 2500 property owners who want deep water access? A: Twenty five hundred waterfront property owners is many in our book.

Q: If the dredge spoils come from one area, those spoils should be hauled from that area.  It is unfair to place such a burden on just two or three transfer sites.  With the Crab Creek transfer site, how will dump truck traffic impact traffic when the new Lesner Bridge is under construction?  A: I believe all our presentations were focused on the Marina Shore site: trucks will exit Lynnhaven Drive turn left and head south to Oceana Blvd and the Whitehurst Pit.  Use of the Lesner Bridge is not required.
 
Q: I believe that the previous traffic and safety concerns that many residents had with a proposed permanent transfer site at the Lesner Boat Ramp (LBR)/Crab Creek two years ago remain. Except, now we will have new bridge construction along with the dredge spoils dump trucks and barge traffic.  How well will that work? A: Again, I believe we are discussing the Marina Shores’ proposal.  But if you really want a response concerning use of the Crab Creek transfer station while the reconstruction of Lesner Bridge is occurring, the City staff would be prudent to not issue Use Agreements for dredged material transfer as that would be in conflict with the bridge construction. 
 
Special Service District (SSD): 
Q: What are the particulars? A: Vbgov.com, hot topics, several briefings and reports. David – you have attended 4 briefings on this subject.  You are knowledgeable of where the information can be found.  You have personally heard me brief it 4 times. The neighborhood requests from the district Council representative staff assistance to create a project report where 80% of the waterfront owners request to have their real estate rate increased to pay for a 16 year, 3 cycle, dredging project.

Q: What will be the cost to the taxpayers? A: Minor cost share for a new piece of City maintained channel at each participating SSD community. As you have heard me brief the taxpayer share is less than 15% of the total project cost for the two we have briefed the Council.  In several projects it may be less than 10%. You have heard me discuss this at the last three briefings.  Each of the two posted projects give the estimated quantities and costs for the City spur and the neighborhood channel.  The privately funded portion of the project is not estimated but could range from 20% to 45% of the total project costs.

Q: What is the return on investments for the taxpayers?  A: Not computed, working assumption is that the long term growth of real estate values in SSD communities would offset City expenditures. Revitalization of our neighborhoods was never discussed in terms of a percentage by our City Council and hence not deemed a requirement for these projects.  But to give you some reassurance I would bet my professional integrity with little risk that the ROI to the General Fund investment will far exceed 1.0.

Q: Will this project be supported by the SSD funds, or will taxpayers who don’t live on the water have to pick up the additional costs?  A: Already answered, the City spur will be funded by the general fund (taxpayers) – just like the many miles of channels already funded by the taxpayers. This will amount to 10 – 15% for most projects.  FYI the cost of the Cape Henry Beach protection truck haul was paid for by the General Fund. 
 

Duration: 
Q: This project is proposed to start after two years of SSD collections, be reviewed for rate at four years and be completed at sixteen years after three dredging cycles.  This is a major project.  How many residents will it benefit and what will be the burdens on our neighborhoods to provide deep water access to a relative few property owners? A: The review concerns adjustment for the additional real estate taxes paid.  Burdens on the adjoining neighborhoods are reviewed as part of each respective dredging project. Transfer site selection for each project is based on a myriad of factors.  The first being public safety, the second being engineering feasibility, and the third being fiscal impacts.  The use of the Marina Shores Site provides the City the shortest and most direct route to Great Neck Road, impacts the least number of residences, provides a very safe route. 

Click here for a printable version of the agenda – SDCC_General_Meeting_Agenda_4.25_.11_.pdf
 

SDCC General Meeting – Monday, April 25, 7:30 – 9:00 pm Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.

Call to order
 
Presentation: Proposed VB City Bikeways Plan for Shore Drive Area Presented by Mr. Wayne Wilcox
 

Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report- Thomas Cantwell
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon – Minutes of the March Meeting
Treasurer’s Report – Carol Collins
 

Update on several important issues:
City Dredge Spoils Transfer site at Long Creek
VMRC Hearing
Pleasure House Point project and preservation efforts
Point Chesapeake Condo complex proposal

Old Business
New Business

Dates to remember:
Thursday 21 April – Bayfront Advisory Council meeting- at Bayside Rec Center 3:30 pm 4500 First Court Rd.
Tuesday May 17 at 6 PM, Bldg 1 Second Floor – VB City Council meeting Open Mic
VMRC Hearing Time and Location TBA – Visit http://www.mrc.state.va.us/calendar.shtm

Adjourn

PLEASE Note Next SSDCC Meeting 7:30 pm May 23, 2011 (Memorial Day 30th)  Ocean Park Volunteer Recue Squad Center Speaker- To be announced

Please check http://www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events

Virginia Beach Dredge Transfer Station Information & Links List

In an effort to help identify sources of information regarding this topic, the following list of links and organizations is being posted.  This is by no means a complete list and if you have additional links and articles that may be helpful, please send them to Todd Solomon at todd@sdcc.info for addition to this post.

WHO is responsible for WHAT?
The VMRC acts as a clearinghouse for the applications and issues copies to many state and local agencies. The VMRC reviews the application for encroachment into state owned lands and, if encroachment is noted, issues permits accordingly. VIMS, through their Wetlands Advisory Program, provides a report to all involved agencies on the marine environmental impacts of the project. VMRC and local wetlands boards use this report and other factors to make their decision on issuing a Tidal Wetlands Permit for any impacts to tidal wetlands. The DEQ is responsible for issuing the Virginia Water Protection Permit (VWPP). Finally, the Corps of Engineers coordinates the application with the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the National Marine Fisheries Service before they issue a permit. Each agency involved with the process issues a separate permit.

Joint Permit Application (JPA) Review Contacts:
Virginia Marine Resources Commission ( VMRC – Wetlands and Fisheries Impact)– Justin Worrell justin.worrell@mrc.virginia.gov
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ –Water Quality Review) – Sherri Kattan sheri.kattan@deq.virginia.gov
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE – Navigation, Bottoms, Species Review) – Nancy Hankins nancy.d.hankins@usace.army.mil
 

City of Virginia Beach Project contacts:
Phillip Roehrs, Coastal Engineer, Proehrs@vbgov.com
David Hansen, Deputy City Manager, Dhansen@vbgov.com
City Council, ctycncl@vbgov.com

Long Creek Wetland Information Page: http://longcreekwetlands.com/plan_of_action_-_need_help_now
 

City of VB Neighborhood Dredging Page: http://www.vbgov.com/vgn.aspx?vgnextchannel=5cdf94cd5911b210VgnVCM100000190c640aRCRD&vgnextparchannel=6e5ffd67f3ad9010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD
 

VMRC Links
Habit Management Division – http://www.mrc.state.va.us/hmac/hmoverview.shtm
Meeting Notice and Agendas – http://www.mrc.state.va.us/calendar.shtm

DEQ Wetlands and Water Protection:  http://www.deq.virginia.gov/wetlands/homepage.html

USACE Joint Permit Information: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/technical%20services/Regulatory%20branch/JPA.asp
 

VIMS Research & Studies:
Permit #11-0397 for Marina Shores transfer station application – http://ccrm.vims.edu/scan.php?11-0397
Permit #07-1585 for Lynnhaven Boat Ramp transfer station application – http://ccrm.vims.edu/scan.php?07-1585
Center for Coastal Resource Management – http://ccrm.vims.edu/index.html

Just a quick reminder, the 2011 SDCC membership drive is still going on.  According to the SDCC by-laws, member organizations have until the end of June to pay dues and still be considered in “good standing”.  Many of your organization have officer and board change over and the yearly notices may have been sent to old addressess.  If your group is on the UNPAID list, please help by getting a copy of the SDCC membership form to the correct person in your group.  We need your help and membership to continue the great volunteer efforts and to maintain attention on our community.

Click here for the 2011 SDCC Membership Form – SDCC_Membership_Form_2011.pdf
 

2011 Paid Members
Baylake Pines Civic League
Cape Story by the Sea
Harbor View Condo Assoc.
Lesner Point Condo Assoc.
Lesner Point East Condo
Lynnhaven Beach Condo Assoc.
Lynnhaven Colony Civic League
Ocean Park Civic League
Seagate Colony Condo Assoc
Seashell Villas
Sunset Watch Condo Assoc.
Westminster Canterbury

***UNPAID Members for 2011***
3556 On the Bay Condo Assoc.
Aeries on the Bay
Arbors at Cape Henry
Bay’s Edge Condos
Bayville Park Civic League
Beach Castle Condo Assoc.
Cape Henry Shores Civic Assoc.
Cape Henry Towers
Cape Henry Villas
Chesapeake Bay Shores
Chesapeake Beach Civic League
Chesapeake House on the Bay
Great Neck Point Civic League
Harbor Gate Owners Assoc.
Lesner Cove Condos
Lynnhaven Dunes Condo Assoc
Lynnhaven Shores Condo
Mariners Mark Condo Assoc.
Ocean Shore Condo Assoc.
Osprey Villas Condos
Poseidon Court Condos
Ships Watch Condo
Shorehaven Condos
Shoreline Villas By the Bay
The Dunes Condos
The Landings
The Mooring Condos
Three Ships Landing
Vineyard at Seashore Condo Assoc.

Bayfront Advisory Committee to Meet April 21, 2011
The next meeting of the Bayfront Advisory Committee will be held at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, April 21, at the Bayside Recreation Center on First Court Road.

The agenda for the meeting will include the following:
• Update on Public and Private Projects in the Bayfront Area
• Update on Committee Activities in the Bayfront Area

Click here for a printable version of the agenda -BAC 4.21.11 Meeting Agenda

At the Virginia Beach City Council meeting held on 12 April, SDCC President, David Williams, and Bay Island residents Mike Megge, and Rob Lawlor presented their comments, concerns and questions related to the proposed Neighborhood Channel Dredging Project. The numbers and scope of this project are quoted from a presentation given by Mr. Hansen, Deputy City Manager, and Mr. Phillip Roehrs, Waterway Engineer on 15 March to the City Council. To view the 15 March presentation, go to VBGov.com and search word “SSD”. Presntation is titled “Neighborhood Channel Dredging” dated Oct 2010.
 
These are the summarized comments that were presented by the SDCC president:

Many citizens in our areas have concerns with the proposed dredge spoils project in the Lynnhaven Basin.  Our concerns are:

Safety: Barges, workboats, dump trucks, who will monitor the sites, and who will supervise the traffic?  Who will be responsible for the safety? Will the city be responsible? Who will shut it down if it is unsafe?
Scope:  The basic numbers presented by the city for the Robin Hood Forrest SSD brief (15 March/available at VBGov.comm word search “SSD”) indicate that even for this small 26 property project, the dredge spoils amount would total 12,551 cubic yards which equals 1,255 dump trucks (@10 CY per truck) How much time will it take to cycle these dump trucks through just this one project? This project is scheduled to start in two years and complete three cycles in sixteen years.  This is a major project. It could generate 1.2 million cubic yards from 2500 properties in the first cycle alone.  That is 120,000 average 10 CY dump trucks.  I was told a senior city staff member, that they would use efficient 20 cubic yard dump trucks.  A 20 CY dump truck weighs 80,000 pounds and is not suitable for residential grade streets.

Environmental Impact:  We have been told by a senior city official that “It will not harm the basin, but will improve the water quality because of better water flow”.  I seriously doubt this.  Many have worked very hard to improve the water quality and restore the oyster beds in the Lynnhaven, and now with this project, it could potentially destroy all this effort. This project will impact the fish, oysters, crabs and the water quality.
Burden On Communities:  This project has the potential to place a severe burden on a few areas with heavy dump truck traffic, noise, and pollution hazards through the neighborhoods.  Who will benefit from this project? Many or just 2500 property owners who want deep water access?  If the dredge spoils come from one area, those spoils should be hauled from that area.  It is unfair to place such a burden on just two or three transfer sites.  With the Crab Creek transfer site, how will dump truck traffic impact traffic when the new Lesner Bridge is under construction?  I believe that the previous traffic and safety concerns that many residents had with a proposed permanent transfer site at the Lesner Boat Ramp (LBR)/Crab Creek two years ago remain. Except, now we will have new bridge construction along with the dredge spoils dump trucks and barge traffic.  How well will that work?

Special Service District (SSD):  What are the particulars?  What will be the cost to the taxpayers?  What is the return on investments for the taxpayers?  Will this project be supported by the SSD funds, or will taxpayers who don’t live on the water have to pick up the additional costs?

Duration:  This project is proposed to start after two years of SSD collections, be reviewed for rate at four years and be completed at sixteen years after three dredging cycles.  This is a major project.  How many residents will it benefit and what will be the burdens on our neighborhoods to provide deep water access to a relative few property owners?
I request the City Council to consider the safety, scope, environmental impact, burden on the communities, and the duration of this project.  I ask you all, is this going to be reasonable project, or a benefit to a select few?

Thank you,

David Williams
President, SDCC

Please note, in fair disclosure, that I, Mr. Megge, and Mr. Lawlor all live in the basin and presently have deep water access available. The remarks of Mr. Megge and Mr. Lawlor will be submitted separately.

The votes are in! Charlie Harrelson is First Runner-up.

Cox Conserves Heroes announced the winner of the recent polling for our top regional environmental contestants. Thanks to all of you who voted for Charlie Harrelson, the Kemps Landing Magnet School student who designated Pleasure House Point as the beneficiary of his winnings. Chris Clifford, from Gloucester, won the top prize for his work with Park Partners on the Peninsula.

But considering that there were three candidates from Virginia Beach to split the vote, the fact that Charlie was first runner-up is a credit to all of you who voted for him. As Mr. Clifford noted in his acceptance speech, there were no losers in this competition, just a gathering of winners.

Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Foundation will receive $1,250 on behalf of the PHP acquisition. Thanks, Charlie, and thanks to all of you who voted.

Cox will be airing a 30 minute show about all the finalists.  You can read about the winner and see a schedule of the show times at this link Cox Conserves Heroes Winner & Show Press Release

After listening to several city presentations on the proposed dredge spoils project and after reviewing the Robin Hood Woods proposal (available for viewing at VBGov.com, word search “SSD”), I believe that there are some major missing components to the city’s project.  Deputy City Manager, Dave Hansen and Water Resources Engineer, Mr. Phillip Roehrs presented the  project’s overview at the March BAC and the SDCC meetings.  According to the plan, there will be five transfer sites throughout the Lynnhaven basin where dredge spoils will be offloaded from barges and then transferred to dump trucks to be taken to a spoils dump area near Oceana..  Residents who want there areas dredged will pay into a city “Special Service District” (SSD) fund created by those residents paying higher taxes on their property for a certain period.  So, what’s missing in the city’s proposal?

Safety management.  Placing commercial barges throughout the basin, on Long Creek, offloading at Crab Creek or by the Marina Shores proposed transfer site could present a boater congestion problem.  Who will monitor the safety of these operations?  Who will have that responsibility?  The city?  The contractor?  The Police or the Coast Guard?

Scope of the project.  The city’s presentation for just one site, Robin Hood Forrest states that phase 1 will dredge over 12,500 cubic yards of materiel from that area alone. If a tandem wheel dump truck can load 10 cubic yards of materiel, how many dump trucks will it take?  How long will it take 1,250 dump trucks to transfer the spoils to the dump site?  And that amount of spoils is only for one area, not including the other areas throughout the basin.  This project will be reviewed at four years (go/no go?), but is projected to have three cycles out to 16 years. Then, the cycles could start again. This could be a very big project.

Environmental issues.  What will major mechanical dredging do to the water quality of the Lynnhaven basin?  What will be the impact on the oyster beds, fish, crabs, and the swimmers?  Mr. Roehrs stated that the project would improve the water quality. So many people have worked so hard to rebuild the oyster beds and our water quality, it would be a mistake to destroy these efforts for the benefit of maybe just 2500 home owners (number given in Robin Hood Forest brief).

Work hours.  Mr. Hansen stated that the City Council would determine the work hours for the projects, but with so much materiel to be dredged and trucked, how can that be accomplished with just a Monday-Friday 0730-sunset schedule?

Impact on Traffic.  If N. Great Neck Road will be an exit route for the dump trucks coming from Crab Creek and the proposed Marina Shores Marina dredge spoils transfer site, how will the trucks impact morning and afternoon school traffic for the three schools (John B. Dey, Great Neck Middle, and Cox HS)?  What about impact during the construction of the new Lesner Bridge.  Traffic will already be slowed by construction, what will the dump trucks contribute?

Special Service District (SSD).  How will the SSD work for the resident who wants his property dredged, the neighbors who DON’T want their property dredged, and for the taxpayer who will inevitably get involved if there are cost overruns? Who will be responsible for the project’s expense?

Who’s spoils are who’s? If spoils are dredged from one area, but the transfer site for that area is not ready yet, where will those spoils go?  Probably go to somebody else’s transfer site?  Many people believe that if the spoils came from one area, they should be hauled from that area. Otherwise, somebody else’s spoils could become your spoils.  What would be the incentive to develop other spoil transfer sites if the city could make do with a couple or two?

Perhaps the city should take a step back, hire a reputable consulting firm to find the answers to these questions. The answers to these questions should be made public at for all of our taxpayers to become informed.  The impact on our lives, our safety, and our tax payer’s dollars will be threatened if this project is not conducted with sufficient care, concern and technical oversight.  This project should never be for the benefit of just the few at the expense of the many. I think the tax payers deserve better answers.

From an email by Robert K. Gey P.E.,
City Traffic Engineer
(757) 385-4131
rkgey@vbgov.com.

Some formatting like bold lost in posting below:

Shore Drive Safety Improvements Update April 6th, 2011

This is the sixth update for Shore Drive Interim Safety Improvements. This report is updated monthly and reports the current status of Shore Drive safety CIP projects. The first section is the current status of the Shore Drive CIP phase III. The next project is an existing CIP item. The additional four items were new items brought forward by the Bayfront Advisory Committee as additional interim safety enhancement items to be put in place until Shore Drive Phase III and Phase IV construction can be completed.

New this month – Lake Joyce Crossing has an anticipated notice to proceed date, traffic signal timing implementation has been scheduled, sidewalk and handicap ramps east of the Lesner Bridge have been completed.

Items completed to date – Sidewalks and handicap ramps, new streetlights and upgrades have been completed, Pleasure House Road/Shore Drive Sidewalk (CIP 2-731.001), and trimming of the overgrown vegetation all have been completed.

Shore Drive – Phase III (CIP 2-117)

The agreement with the consultant is currently being executed.   Anticipate issuing design NTP to Kimley-Horn in mid-April 2011.  Public meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 2011.  A 60% design submittal is anticipated to be received in fall of 2011.  Construction advertisement is scheduled for July 2013.

Shore Drive Interim Safety Improvements

Lake Joyce Crossing (CIP 2-731.003)
Issuance of a Notice to Proceed to the contractor is anticipated by April 15, 2011, pending execution of construction contracts by City.   Construction completion is anticipated by early October 2011.

BAC safety recommendations 2010
Installation of crosswalks and handicap-accessible ramps at West Great Neck Road and Starfish Road to add missing crosswalks – The Shore Drive sidewalk work is complete. 

Traffic signal retiming – This work will utilize CMAQ funds and will be performed via contract.  New traffic signal timings will be installed and fine tuned beginning the week of April 27th.

Pedestrian cameras to preempt traffic signals – Pedestrian detection cameras will be installed at Red Tide and will preempt the existing traffic signals at Starfish Road and West Great Neck Road to create gaps for pedestrians. This will work as though a pedestrian button had been pushed at both signals and will not interrupt normal traffic progression. The traffic signal work is

Shore Drive Safety Improvements Update April 6th, 2011, continued

nearly complete and is expected to be put into full operation by the middle of April, weather permitting. 

Installation of approximately 500 ft of missing sidewalks and handicapped ramps along Shore Drive between North Great Neck Road and the Lesner Bridge – The goal is to fill missing segments to have one continuous sidewalk on at least one side of Shore Drive. The Shore Drive sidewalk work is complete.

There’s a website set up that has links to petitions, news about the proposed move and more.

Click here for the website.

From Empsy Munden, Pres. Cape Story by the Sea:

If you have not followed the dredge saga, here is your chance.

CSBTS monthly meeting Monday April 11 at 7:30 pm at the Va Beach Resort Hotel at Shore Drive & Great Neck is YOUR opportunity to express your comments. 

Open Mike Night is Tues. April 12 in City Council Chambers Bldg 1 on 2nd floor 6 pm at the Courthouse.

Empsy

Article in the Pilotonline.com:

Beach officials are still trying to figure out where to locate the spoils transfer stations throughout the northern part of Virginia Beach. The city plans to build a station near Virginia Beach Boulevard. In one neighborhood, a resident has offered his property as a transfer station and in exchange some neighbors will pay his dredging costs, said Phillip Roehrs, the Virginia Beach coastal engineer.

Click here for the printable version of the agenda – SDCC_Agenda_March_2011.pdf

SDCC General Meeting – Monday, March 28, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.

Call to order

Presentation: Vision and Goals for Shore Drive and Virginia Beach
                Presented by City Councilman Jim Wood

Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report- Thomas Cantwell
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon – Minutes of the February Meeting
Treasurer’s Report – Carol Collins

Update on issues:
City Dredge Spoils Transfer site at Long Creek
Pleasure House Point project and preservation efforts
Point Chesapeake Condo complex proposal

Old Business

New Business

Dates to remember:
Thursday 21 April Bayfront Advisory Council meeting- at Bayside Rec Center 3:30 pm 4500 First Court Rd.

Adjourn

Next SDCC Meeting 7:30 pm April 25, 2011
Ocean Park Volunteer Recue Squad Center
Speaker- To be announced

We sent out the new eNewsletter at 0955 est.  It “came from” David Williams our Prez. I, Tim, sent it and goofed up the format. I apologize.

Mayor, City Council members and Management Leadership Team will be reviewing the present Leader’s Guide 2009 for any revisions in goals and priorities for the coming years (2009-2024). This document,  available through the city’s website http://www.vbgov.com “Leader’s Guide” Summary Report is important because it forms the basis for the city’s directions during the next decade.  Each member of the city’s government, Mayor, Council member, and Leadership Team individually lists their important goals and priorities for the next decade.  As we have all seen, this city has changed considerable in the past ten year and will continue to change in the next decade. How will change be guided and accomplished?  We do have a say in the directions where we want our city to take. If we do not communicate with our city officials and our elected representatives, how will they come to know and share our ideas for our future?  Come on out to our SDCC monthly meeting, 28 March and hear Councilman Wood.

Saturday night (19 March) at approximately 2:13 AM, this writer was awakened by the sounds of a near-distant siren.  I thought that someone was being stopped for speeding along Shore Drive.  Shortly after the siren stopped, I heard 2 shots quickly followed by 4 to 5 shots.  Although not a firearms expert, but experienced enough, I estimated that it was neither near (I live in Cape Henry Shores area about one-half mile from Shore Drive), nor night maneuvers at FT Story. My wife also heard these shots waking her up. My point? When people hear disturbances such as this, please call the police 9-1-1 number.  The police quickly responded and arrived at our house within 5 minutes.  If you hear shots or see criminal activity, report it.

Mr. David Hansen, Deputy City Manager and Mr. Phil Rohrs City Public Works Engineer provided the BAC attendees with a brief overview of the city’s dredge spoils transfer project proposed for the area just east along Long Creek adjacent to the Marina Shores Marina.  The city is looking to eventually develop several sites in the Lynnhaven basin to transfer these non-beach suitable dredge spoils for disposal at the Oceana borrow pit.  Mr. Rohrs stated that the spoils will be mechanically transferred from barge to dump truck about 80% of the time.  City Council will specify and approve the hours of operations and the hauling schedule. Suitable precautions will be implemented to ensure site and area safety. Many civic associations including SDCC, Cape Story By the Sea, Cape Henry Shores and Bay Island have objected strongly to the proposed dredge transfer operation located next to the marina.  Much discussion followed Mr Hansen’s and Mr. Rohrs’ presentation.  Mrs Lynn Hume presented some particularly succinct points for both city officials to consider including zoning and safety issues.