Resolution in Support of Offshore Wind Development

The HRPDC unanimously approved a resolution supporting offshore wind development off the coast of Virginia.  In this resolution, the HRPDC agreed to:

• Support the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy as well as other state, regional and federal agencies to proactively pursue regional economic development efforts related to the offshore wind supply chain. 
• Support state and regional workforce development agencies in their efforts to develop new and strengthen existing workforce development programs to further advance the offshore wind supply chain.
• Support state and regional partners to develop a Virginia offshore wind branding campaign.
• Work with federal, state and regional partners and the Hampton Roads Delegation to identify economic development incentives and infrastructure funding programs to promote development of the offshore wind supply chain.

Prior to approving this resolution, the HRPDC received a presentation from George Hagerman, Senior Project Scientist from Old Dominion University, on East Coast Offshore Wind Development Opportunities for Virginia and Hampton Roads.  Several of the region’s assets including its geographic location, shipyard facilities, unmatched port infrastructure, congestion-free harbor navigation and workforce creates significant opportunities for Hampton Roads to leverage offshore wind development as a job creation opportunity.

Regional Legislative Agenda

The HRPDC unanimously approved its Regional Legislative Agenda for the upcoming General Assembly session.  Items included in the Commission’s legislative priorities include:

• Pursue Federal/State funding for recurrent flooding/sea level rise projects, particularly those projects that protect the mission of our region’s military installations.
• Support the appropriation and retention of state resources to be used as matching funding for US Army Corps of Engineers 3X3X3 Studies for flood mitigation and other resiliency projects.
• Support state funding in the amount of $500,000 for the Virginia Shoreline Resiliency Fund that was created during the 2016 General Assembly session but received no appropriations.
• Increase state funding to the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) to support localities’ work to implement stormwater controls that have been instrumental in reducing pollution to the Chesapeake Bay.
• Requests the Commonwealth consider new State funding sources to assist localities in addressing Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction requirements.
• Support the continuation of efforts to provide increased state funding for K-12 Public Education.
• Support legislation that continues to appropriate funding of the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF) for housing programs and projects.
• Requests assistance from our state and federal partners to increase the level of Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) funding provided to the Hampton Roads region.
• Support the ability of localities to ensure orderly, rational, and fiscally prudent growth appropriate  for  their  communities by restoring a viable process for conditional zoning and enabling the use of impact fees to offset the capital cost created by new development.

Chesapeake Bay Program Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP)

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) made grant funds available to the HRPDC to develop input for the Chesapeake Bay WIP.  This phase is focused on identifying voluntary strategies to reduce nutrient loads from unregulated areas in the watershed.  HRPDC was asked to convene local and regional officials, staff and stakeholders to provide input and recommendations for addressing Local Area Planning Goals in accordance with DEQ’s outlined initiatives.  The grant deliverables include:

• Revise best management practice input decks for modeling purposes
• Identify programmatic actions for Phase III WIP implementation related to urban, forest and specific issues.

Staff provided the Commission a status report on work the HRPDC is coordinating related to the Phase III WIP. 

Contract for Interoperable Communications  Study

The Commission approved a contract with Winburne Consulting, LLC for Business Architecture Services  for Interoperable Communications Technologies.  This effort will support the Hampton Roads Interoperable Communications Subcommittee of the All Hazards Advisory Committee in determining the operation value of preexisting, regional interoperable communications systems and guide future investments.

FY 2018 State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)

The HRPDC authorized the Executive Director to accept Homeland Security Funding for the following projects:

• FY18 SHSP Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) and Mass Care Capability   Sustainment - $70,000
• FY18 SHSP Point of Care Ultrasound Replacement - $73,000
• FY18 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) All Hazards Emergency Planner - $100,000
• FY18 UASI Cybersecurity - $75,000
• FY18 UASI Homeland Security Planning - $89,250
• FY18 UASI MCI Transportation 1 - $168,000
• FY18 UASI MCI Transportation 2 - $63, 412
• FY18 UASI Personal Protective Equipment - $81,838

Hampton Roads Help to Others (H2O) Program

The HRPDC authorized the award of a consultant services contract to West Cary Group in an amount not to exceed $ 60,000 to provide for brand development and marketing for the Help to Others Program.  Potential tasks may include, but are not limited to:

• Rebranding/brand development for the Help to Others Program
• Develop a website for the Program
• Communication and marketing plan/support
• Graphic design of program materials
• Fundraising and sponsorship to expand/increase donations
• Develop a social media strategy/advertising to grow regional awareness of the program

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) – Hampton Roads Help to Others (H2O) Program

The HRPDC approved an updated MOA to include Surry County and the City of Franklin as participating localities in the Help to Others Program.  This action increases the number of localities participating in this program to 18.  The purpose of the Hampton Roads Help to Others Program is to solicit community contributions to provide financial aid to families or individuals in danger of losing residential water service due to a family crisis.  The program was established by the HRPDC and the participating jurisdictions in 1999 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3)  nonprofit corporation under Virginia law in 2007.

FY2018 Audited Financial Statements

The HRPDC took action to accept the FY2018 Audited Financial Statements.  The independent Auditors Report stated that the statements present fairly, in all material respects, the basic financial statements of the HRPDC/HRTPO.  There were no material weaknesses, or deficiencies, identified in any of the internal controls or processes of the financial activity, and all information was free of any material misstatements.