DATE: Wednesday, November 5, 1997           TAG: 9711051120

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL  

TYPE: PUBLIC LIFE  

                                            LENGTH:   51 lines

YESTERDAY

NORFOLK

FESTIVAL RESCUE: To boost the fortunes of the struggling Waterside Festival Marketplace, the City Council decided to spend nearly $1 million on an aggressive marketing campaign and to reposition the aging facility in preparation for the opening in spring 1999 of the MacArthur Center mall. See page D1.

MALL MAKEOVER: With the help of a tax grant approved Tuesday by the City Council, the owners of Military Circle Mall are embarking on a $19.3 million improvement plan that will include a new full-service Sears store, a 20-screen multiplex theater and a $5-million renovation of the Hecht's anchor store. See page D1.

RETIREE BONUS: The City Council narrowly approved a permanent 2 percent cost-of-living increase for about 2,200 of retired city employees. The raise, effective in January, will cost the city about $170,000 for the final six months of this fiscal year and about $336,000 a year after that. Council members Paul R. Riddick, Herbert M. Collins Sr. and W. Randy Wright instead supported a 3 percent raise, which would have cost $509,000 a year. Their effort to give retirees a one-time payment of $256,000 - the equivalent of a 3 percent raise for the six months from July through December - also failed.

VIRGINIA BEACH

WHERE'S THE HOSE: The City Council Tuesday agreed to consider lifting 5 1/2 years of water restrictions during its Nov. 18 meeting. City staff recommended lifting all water-use constraints except those limiting new water hookups. Homes currently using groundwater, however, would be allowed to tap into the system. These changes are expected to increase water use by 4 million gallons per day, up to 36 million gallons per day from its current level of 32 million gallons. See page B1.

CHESAPEAKE

MORE MONEY: The City Council met in a special work session to discuss millions in unfunded needs. A city-financed road for the New Boone Farm development in Western Branch could cost $1.5 million. And the replacement of two city antenna towers could cost $2.5 million.

PORTSMOUTH

The City Council did not meet.

TODAY

The Suffolk City Council will meet at 7 p.m. at 441 Market Street. It is expected to ratify a deal that will give Norfolk permission to move and expand a pumping station needed to handle water from the Lake Gaston pipeline. The council will also consider spending about $216,000 to add street lights and landscaping along Main Street, where Suffolk is completing work on a new $14 million courthouse complex. And in a work session that begins at 3:30 p.m., the council will discuss the city's construction plan for next year.

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