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Three Ships Coffee Named VA’s Best

Cosmopolitan (UMV: 7,683,487) magazine has declared the best coffee shop in every state for the year and has named Three Ships as the best in Virginia! Coffee shops were chosen by Yelp reviews.

The article was  shared across Cosmo’s social channels, which have a combined following of 9,824,898.

CLICK HERE to check it out!

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Travis Talks Tech

Our very own Travis Harger presented at the Digital Tools for Government Communicators Confernece this morning is Washington DC. His presentation discussed the use of visual content marketing in government communications. Way to go, Travis!

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Sally at the CMP Conclave

Check out this great shot of Sally Noona networking at the CMP Conclave in Baltimore, MD.  Each year the Convention Industry Council puts on an educational program for recipients of the Certified Meeting Professional designation to receive continuing educational units to keep their certification in good standing. Great job, Sally!

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Department Leadership Meeting Notes – 9/28/16

September 28th, 2016

City Manager Dave Hansen opened the meeting with his usual enthusiasm and passion for the City of Virginia Beach

  • Thanks to Public Works, Public Utilities and Parks and Landscape Services for their response to Tropical Storm Hermine and the 13” rain event that followed.
  • Announced new Deputy City Manager Ron Williams who will start November 7th.  Member Update announcement of Ron Coincidently, our own Bryan Miller received his MBA from Regent the same time as Ron.
  • Performance Report with City Council – Dave spent a considerable amount to time discussing all of City Council’s projects. A number of important areas were brought up by Council that didn’t fall under one of their specific goals and Dave has dedicated a special office to achieving these for the organization. The new office,  STIR  will be led by former Management Services Director Catheryn Whitesell. Office will be located on Northlanding Road across from Building 1.
    • Strategy Formulation – hang up operations periodically to think strategically
    • Transparency – Open Data project sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropy
    • Innovation – Open a process to encourage innovative thinking
    • Resilience – stepping beyond disaster or emergency planning. Getting back on our feet.
    • Organizational Development
  • Former Deputy Director of Management Services, David Bradley, has replaced Catheryn as Director.

 

Mid-Year Council Review for 2016 – Be a cheerleader for your organization by recognizing staff achievements

  • Veterans Care Center
  • City Manager transition
  • Employee Salary adjustments
  • Balanced Budget
  • Arena
  • Lesner Bridge
  • SPSA resolution
  • City View Project (mixed use development at Burton Station
  • EMS reorganization
  • High level of citizen satisfaction with City services
  • Council pleased with services City is providing to citizens
  • Major road projects
  • Entrepreneurial and Business Academy in City’s Public Schools
  • City facilities funded and moving forward
  • ViBE street improvements
  • Kempsville Recreation Center
  • Bond re-financing – lowest rate in history of the City of Virginia Beach
  • Old Capt. George’s Pungo Ferry Road Park
  • Top Golf
  • Formation of Lynnhaven Business Association (Hilltop through Lynnhaven Parkway) – Area between Oceanfront and Town Center

 

Major Council Discussions

  • Development Services Center
  • Event homes and short term rentals such as Air B&B
  • Light Rail
  • Gap financing
  • FOIA requests
  • African American Cultural Center
  • City Hall – Goals & Outcomes
  • Storm water management and flooding
  • Small Business Development
  • Police Retention, recruitment, workforce development
  • Affordable workforce housing
  • Veterans services
  • Broadband development
  • All day kindergarten
  • College of Health Sciences (Virginia Beach Campus at ODU)
  • Filed house in the resort area
  • Sand replenishment (Croatan as an example)
  • Lynnhaven Corridor
  • Croatan Beach Study
  • ITA update study
  • Monthly water bill option
  • Relocation of Admiral De Grasse statue from Ft. Story

 

Dave also provided a long list of expected outcomes by the January 2017 Council Retreat. Many were related to the items stated above.

General reminders:

Encourage everyone to remind staff about taking the opportunity to help the United Way

Reminder of Open Enrollment

Member Survey coming out soon

Performance appraisal due dates

 

Presentations

National Flood Insurance Program – In short, the City provides considerable services to FEMA which allows for discounted flood insurance premiums to homeowners. If you own a home in a flood zone, you’re probably required to carry flood insurance. Home owners insurance does not typically include flooding.

Navigational Dredging Projects

  • Beach replenishment through hydraulic dredging
  • Navigational mechanical dredging in neighborhoods
    • Paid for by homeowners through special assessment on real estate taxes
    • Maintains high values for waterfront neighborhoods

Other announcements

  • Flu Season is coming – Get a free flu shot at Birdneck Elementary October 15th 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Elections November 8th. Expect lines. Long ballot
  • Hurricane is brewing in the ocean, we’re not out of the woods yet
  • New budget analyst Ernie Austin was introduced (he’s CVB’s new analyst too)
  • EMS Chief Ed Brazel introduced  new members of his staff
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Speakers Bureau helps get the word out

Last week, Teresa Diaz gave the “Power of Tourism” presentation to the Bayside Chapter of AARP. This presentation, one of many offered by the CVB Speakers Bureau, is a tool the CVB Communications Unit is using to promote advocacy for tourism among Virginia Beach residents. Subject matter experts from all of the divisions of the CVB are available to speak to local groups and organizations. If you have an idea of a group who may be interested in hosting one of our speakers, contact Teresa at Ext. 6631

 

Photo: Teresa and Bayside AARP Chapter President Bob Jones

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House of Payne

Please join VB Sports in congratulating Kenneth and Krista Payne as they tied the knot on Saturday, September 24. Cheers to a lifetime of love, laughter and happily ever after.

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ASAE Springtime Bike Giveaway

Check out the pictures below from M&C’s Bike Giveaway in DC. The client was the recipient of the beach cruiser giveaway from ASAE’s Springtime 2016 Expo in DC (4/28/16 Walter Reed Convention Center).  She was selected based on the potential business opportunities that currently exist for the city.

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Last Week at VBCC

Check out some of these updates from the Convention Center:

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Survey equipment has been a regular siting.
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Core drilling has begun. Engineers will later analyze core samples of soil taken from as shallow as 10’ – 12’ to as deep as 100’ to determine the foundations required for arena and parking lot construction.

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The Art Park has returned for the off season.
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Conventioneers have returned and are enjoying some creative uses for lunch space.
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Plans for the arena are continuing. Survey teams have been recording existing conditions and locating underground utilities all summer. Here’s what they’ve left us.