DATE: Wednesday, August 27, 1997            TAG: 9708270738

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: PUBLIC LIFE 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

YESTERDAY

PORTSMOUTH

POLISHING PERCEPTIONS: City officials Tuesday wrapped up a three-day retreat aimed at improving the city's image. Among their key goals: attracting more businesses to the city, cracking down on zoning code violators and increasing citizen involvement in local government. See page B11.

NORFOLK

GO-GO A NO-NO: Responding to years of neighborhood complaints, the City Council Tuesday took steps to prevent restaurants from changing into go-go bars without obtaining a special-use permit. See page B1.

UP IN SMOKE: The City Council is considering a 10-cent tax increase on cigarettes, cigars and smokeless tobacco products. The council scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 16 at 2:30 p.m. on the measure. Council members rejected, by 5-2, a proposal to add a 2-cent tax to beer sold for consumption off-premises.

NEW SPACE FOR BUSINESSES: The council rezoned 8 acres Tuesday to create commercial space for stores and offices that will be displaced by the widening of Church Street. The space is located on the west side of Church Street between 18th Street and Augusta Avenue. Church Street will be widened to four lanes between Goff and Granby Streets beginning next summer.

VIRGINIA BEACH

TAXING TRIBULATIONS: The City Council is having trouble deciding whether to ask voters to approve tax increases for schools and libraries. After hinting at their recent retreat that they would postpone both ballot questions, council members said Tuesday they need another week to make up their minds. Taxes would rise 4.8 cents per $100 of assessed value to pay for libraries and 3 cents to renovate eight decrepit school buildings. See page B1.

CHESAPEAKE

CONFERENCE CENTER BUDGET PASSED: The council voted 7-2 to approve the Chesapeake Conference Center's first operating budget. In doing so, the council agreed to use a contingency fund to make up an expected $64,000 deficit. See page B5.

FIELD LIGHTS APPROVED - The council voted 7-2 to approve spending $210,905 in city money to light three baseball fields for a privately owned complex. See page B5.

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