THE VOICE VIRGINIA BEACH COUNCIL OF CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS NEWSLETTER

Post Office Box 9252, Virginia Beach, VA 23450-9252 - Vol. 59 No. 8

VBCCO.org

September 2018

VBCCO GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING:

Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library The Folio Room

Monday, September 17, 2018

Assisted Living and Long—Term Care 7:00 pm—8:30 pm

We are looking for volunteers!

Photo by dreamstime.com

President’s Corner

Congratulations to our Volunteers of the Year!

Volunteering contributes a great deal to our

neighborhood communities. Thank you all for

your dedication every day.

Mayor Jones presented the awards during the

August 21st City Council Meeting. Your

VBCCO Board was there to congratulate the

winners.

Thank you for updating your neighborhood

contact information with our Board members

that have contacted you. If you have not been

contacted, please email WMalaby@aol.com

with your information.

Like many volunteer organizations, we are

looking for volunteers to help the VBCCO

expand our many programs. If interested,

please contact any board member (list is on

Page 10).

We look forward to seeing you all Monday,

September 17, 7pm at the Central Library!

Sincerely,

Brad Sike, President

President Brad Sike

Dr. Aaron C. Spence, Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Aaron Spence presented the current status of the school district during our last general membership meeting. All 86 of our schools have full accreditation for the second year in a row—no easy feat! Our high schools have the highest graduation rate and the lowest drop out rate in our history. All schools will be moving to chrome book digital devices for every student. School safety remains a top priority and there are many improvement under way to increase awareness. They have introduced VBCPS Fact Checker, available on vbschools.com. Dr. Spence answered multiple questions from the audience until time ran out. Thank you Dr. Spence!

MAYOR JONES PRESENTS VBCCO AWARDS AT

VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, August 21, 2018

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR:

Correction from August VBCCO Newsletter:

Ocean Lakes Community Association President is Carolyn Keen (not King).

Robert Elms, Volunteer of the Year, Princess Anne Plaza Civic League

William Hubbard,

Ocean Lakes Community Association

COMMUNITY OF

THE YEAR:

Ocean Lakes

Community

Association

Accepted by

William Hubbard,

Treasurer

To learn more about emergency preparedness visit VBgov.com/ReadyVB.

FALL E-CYCLING

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

9am—NOON

VA Aquarium & Marine Science Museum For further tips visit www.VBgov.com/landfill

.Monday, September 10

Aragona Village Civic League

7:00 p.m. membership meeting—7:30 p.m. candidate forum

Christ Presbyterian Church- Dumphries Hall 709 Aragona Blvd. Wednesday, September 12 VB Restaurant,Hotel and Atlantic Ave Associations 4:00-6:30 p.m. Sander Center for the Performing Arts 202 Market St. Monday,September 17- 7:00 p.m. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8 961 South Birdneck Rd. Wednesday, September 19 - Philippine American Chamber of Commerce & The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Coastal, VA Town Hall 6:00-9:00 p.m. Philippine Culture Center 4857 Baxter Road

Monday, October 15 - Sandbridge Beach Civic League 7:00 p.m. Sandbridge Community Chapel Wednesday, October 17- Lynnhaven NOW 6:30-8:30 p.m. Zeiders American Theater Town Center >> Thursday, October 18 Beautification Committee Forum and Luncheon (Ticket required-info to come) 12:00 p.m. Thursday, October 18 Farm Bureau Forum 6:30 Creeds Ruritan Community Complex 1057 Princess Anne Road

This list was gathered by a variety of sources. Please contact the locations for further details.

Scott Taylor and Elaine Luria Debate

October 30

CBDA Westin Hotel

4535 Commerce Street VA Beach, 23462

11:30am

SHORT TERM RENTALS http://pvbrn.doodlekit.com/

Edited, as published by Protect VB Neighborhoods

Update on Short Term Rentals after August 7, 2018 Council Session At the informal session on Tuesday, August 7, City Council continued their discussion of Short Term Rentals. They primarily talked about overlay districts (edited for length).* The proposed process is as follows:

· 50 property owners who want an overlay must live in the neighborhood and request that their neighborhood be considered to be a Short Term Rental Overlay District. · The City will send a letter to all property owners in the suggested overlay district to let them know the process and inform them that a public hearing has been scheduled.* · A Public Hearing will be held in the proximity of the proposed overlay district. This hearing does not mean that the proposed overlay district will be referred to the Planning Commis-sion. The goal is to determine if there is community interest to start the process. · If there is sufficient community interest in establishing an overlay district, it will be sent to the Planning Commission. The public will have an opportunity to speak at this hearing. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation, either for or against the proposed overlay, to City Council · City Council will make the final decision on whether or not a neighborhood will be an over-lay district.

Short Term Rentals that have registered and paid the applicable Transient Occupancy Taxes as of July 1, 2018 will be grandfathered. Councilwoman Henley raised concerns as to how the City will address grandfathered Short Term Rentals that are causing issues in their neighborhoods. No decision was made.

Update on Short Term Rentals after August 21, 2018 Council Session

Yesterday, City Council met informally to continue their discussion of Short Term Rentals. After an hour of discussion, they decided that the maximum occupancy in overlay districts will be two people per bed-room plus four. They had an informal vote and the outcome was 8-1. City Council did not come to any conclusion as to the maximum occupancy in short term rentals that are not in an overlay district. Mayor Jones pointed out that setting a maximum occupancy limit will provide advertising guidelines for short term rentals.* Items still to be discussed at a workshop schedule Tuesday, 8.28 include: Maximum Occupancy Limits in STRs that are NOT in an overlay; Number of Rental Contracts in a 7-day period; Parking.

Update on Short Term Rentals after August 28, 2018 Council Session

Here is a link to the Council workshop on August 28, 2018: https://youtu.be/sVjyMpOoz2Q. This meet-ing attempted to discuss the issues not yet addressed. Mayor Jones requested that the City Attorney draft language to be considered at the next Council workshop.

Update on Short Term Rentals after September 4, 2018 Council Session After discussion, Council agreed to Ordinance 1, as drafted by the City Attorney. The language will be altered and will be reviewed next week and voted on. City Council will then send the Short Term Rental issue back to the Planning Commission for a vote and public hearings.

Donna Watson, Co-Chair Protect VB Neighborhoods

New Waterfront Sculpture Floats on the Rich Tides of

History and Art

Ten aluminum canoes are now permanently docked at the Lynnhaven Inlet. But, these are no

ordinary canoes; they are part of a beautiful new sculpture by nationally renowned artist, Donald Lipski. The Canoes is the latest gift to the City from the Public Art Virginia Beach

Foundation, a group of volunteers dedicated to enhancing our public spaces with extraordi-

nary art.

The 36-foot sculpture is poised on the pedestrian overlook of the new Lesner Bridge

welcoming visitors into the beauty and history of the Chesapeake Bay area. Artist Donald

Lipski chose the canoe as the medium of his sculpture to create an immediate tie to the water

with the most basic historic water craft. Each canoe has an intricate, lacy filigree design cut

out of its aluminum, reminiscent of the decorative arts of the early settlers. “My hope is that

this sculpture speaks to your history, to what you are today and to what you will be tomor-

row,” Lipski said.

In the early 1600s residents along the shores of the

Lynnhaven River needed passage between the River

and the Bay. Adam Keel-ing, whose plantation, “Ye

Dudlies,” was situated at the mouth of the Lynnhaven

River, organized a group of people to work out a solu-

tion. The group dug a trench across a huge sandbar that

was just wide enough to permit the passage of a ca-

noe. But, almost immedi-ately after the trench was

complete, a severe storm caused unusually high tides

in the Chesapeake Bay to rush through the ditch into

the Lynnhaven River, enlarging the trench to what

is now the Lynnhaven Inlet.

Although disasters can happen at any time, September is recognized as National Prepar-

edness Month. In part, because it happens to be the height of hurricane season, which

runs through Nov. 30. This year’s theme focuses on planning; prepare now and learn

how to survive any type of emergency or disaster.

Be informed:

September Is National Preparedness Month

PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

Get a kit: Now is the time to build an emergency supply kit for your home, office and

each vehicle. If you already have one, check to make sure everything still works

and food hasn’t expired.

Create a plan detailing what you and your family will do whether you stay in the

area or evacuate to a safer inland location. Make a plan:

Know where to sign up for the latest emergency alerts and where to get the

latest information. Monitor local television and radio stations, and the City’s website, VBgov.com. Follow the city on social media sites Facebook

and Twitter to learn the latest on weather conditions and what local officials

are advising the public to do.

Know your zone: The newly designated evacuation zones allow emergency managers

to communicate with citizens who are most at risk as a storm ap-proaches. In the event of a disaster requiring evacuation, the city,

state and media outlets will specify and communicate which zones should evacuate. Visit KnowYourZoneVA.org to find your zone.

Download a copy of the latest Hurricane Evacuation Guide or pick

up a copy at any Virginia Beach Public Library.

Master Police Officer Allen Perry, Virginia Beach Police Department

Beep It to Keep It Contest

Enter for your chance to win admission tickets to the Virginia Aquarium

The Virginia Beach Police Department is looking for new and creative

ways to remind people to lock their vehicle doors or Beep it to Keep it. We

are giving away five free admission tickets to the Virginia Aquarium and

Marine Science Museum to people who submit their ideas and efforts on

how to prevent larcenies from vehicles. The contest will begin September

3rd, 2018 and continue through October 1st, 2018. Each week we will pick

five lucky winners who will receive five free admission tickets by mail. You

must provide the following information to be eligible; Full name, home ad-

dress (no PO boxes), email and a short description of how you are helping

to prevent larcenies from vehicles. Please limit the submissions to less

than 500 words. One entry per week per household, only five tickets per

household for the duration of the contest. Any entry restrictions to the mu-

seum is up the facility and the Virginia Beach Police Department is not re-

sponsible. Tickets expire December 31st, 2018. Please submit entries to

MPO Jason Karangelen at jkarange@vbgov.com

The IPAWS National Test

FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission

(FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System

(EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on September 20, 2018.

http://www.fema.gov/Emergency-Alert-Test.

If you are interesting in volunteering or helping the VBCCO, contact the Nominating Committee:

Sam Reid, Chair, Bill Brown or Douglas

VBCCO OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND CHAIRS

President Brad Sike 560-1875 bsike@delphinus.com

1st VP C. Douglas Jr. ddrestate@hotmail.com

Treasurer Jody Korman jofiko224@aol.com

Recording Secretary Mary McFadden mjmcf@cox.net

Corresponding Heather Malaby wmalaby@aol.com

Director America Wyatt ayo352@aol.com

Director Bill Brown wpbrownmd1@cox.net

Director Dell Young dellandlarry@verizon.net

Past-President Sam Reid 284-1067

VBCCO WEBSITE: www.VBCCO.org

VBCCO Board Meetings are held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help—Thank you!

Next general membership meeting date will be Monday, October 15, 2018

Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library

The Folio Room—7pm