Chapter 251 - Charter#

ARTICLE I. — General Provisions#

Sec. 1. - Generally.#

The city shall have and may exercise all powers which are now or may hereafter be conferred upon or delegated to cities under the constitution and law of the commonwealth and all other powers pertinent to the conduct of the city government, the exercise of which is not expressly prohibited by the said constitution and laws and which in the opinion of the council are necessary and desirable to promote the general welfare of the city and the safety, health, peace, good order, comfort, maintenance and morals of its inhabitants, as fully and completely as though such powers were specifically enumerated in this charter, and no enumeration of particular powers herein shall be held to be exclusive but shall be held to be in addition to this general grant of power.

Sec. 2. - Authority to raise revenue by taxation, etc.#

The city shall have the power to raise annually by taxes, licenses and assessments such sums of money as the council shall deem necessary to pay the debts and defray the expenses of the city in such manner as the council shall deem expedient, and to appropriate the same to all legal municipal purposes, provided that such taxes, licenses and assessments are authorized by the general laws of the commonwealth, and provided further that the present outstanding bonds of the city shall not be taxable by the said city. In addition to the other powers conferred by law the city shall have the power to levy, impose and collect, in such manner as the council may deem expedient, a consumer or subscriber tax at a uniform rate of levy as to all such consumers or subscribers upon the amount paid by such consumer or subscriber for the use within the city of water, electricity, gas, telephone and other public utility service or upon the amount paid for any one or more of such public utility service used within the city, and the council may provide that such tax shall be added to and collected with bills rendered consumers for such services; provided, however, that no such tax shall be levied, imposed, computed, or paid by a subscriber or consumer upon so much of any amount paid or owed as hereinafter described by a subscriber or consumer as shall exceed the following amounts: ten dollars per month paid or owed by residential consumers for electricity, telephone or water; seven dollars per month paid or owed by residential consumers for gas; twenty-five dollars per month paid or owed by commercial users for each of such water, electricity, gas or telephone or any other public utility service or the use thereof or service in connection therewith; two thousand five hundred dollars per month paid or owed by any industrial users for each of such water, electricity, gas, telephone or any other public utility service, or the use thereof or service in connection therewith.

(Acts 1962, Ch. 462, § 1)

Sec. 3. - Acquisition, sale, etc., of property generally.#

To acquire property within or without its boundaries for any municipal purposes, in fee simple, or any lesser interest or estate, by purchase, gift, devise, lease or condemnation and may sell, lease, hold, manage, improve and control such property as the interest of the city may require or as shall appear necessary and proper.

Provided, however, that the provisions of § 251-233 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, shall apply as to any property owned by a corporation possessing the power of eminent domain that may be sought to be taken by condemnation under provisions of this act [charter].

Sec. 4. - Acquisition, use, etc., of public utilities.#

To acquire, construct, hold, lease, use, maintain and operate any and all local public utilities and to enact such ordinances and resolutions as may be necessary for the proper protection, maintenance and operation of the same.

Sec. 5. - Rate and charges for utility services.#

To fix, establish, enforce and collect, rates and charges for the use of any and all public utilities, whether by inhabitants of the city or those located outside of said city using the same.

Sec. 6. - Borrowing of money generally.#

Subject to the provisions of the constitution and laws of Virginia, to borrow money and issue evidences of indebtedness.

Sec. 7. - Authority relative to streets, parks, etc.#

To establish, obtain, close, widen, narrow, extend, improve, construct, maintain, supervise and control streets, roads, lanes, alleys, avenues, boulevards, parks and public squares in the said city.

Sec. 8. - Abatement and removal of nuisances generally.#

To compel the abatement and removal of all nuisances in the said city or upon property owned by the said city beyond its limits at the expense of the person or persons causing the same, or the owner of said premises, or to remove and abate the same by city means and charge the person or persons causing the same, or the owner, with the costs of such removal and/or abatement.

Sec. 9. - Granting of franchises.#

To grant franchises for public utilities.

Sec. 10. - Abatement of smoke, dust and unnecessary noise.#

To compel the abatement of smoke and dust and unnecessary noises.

Sec. 11. - Regulation of animals and fowl.#

To prevent the running at large of animals and fowl in said city and to regulate and control the keeping and raising of animals and/or fowl therein.

Sec. 12. - Establishment, etc., of libraries and schools.#

To establish, organize and control public libraries and public schools in said city.

Sec. 13. - Establishment and maintenance of board of public welfare; care of orphans, aged, etc.#

To establish and maintain a board of public welfare and to provide for the care, support and maintenance of orphans, aged, sick, insane or poor persons or paupers.

Sec. 14. - Establishment and maintenance of police and fire departments.#

To establish and maintain a police department and a fire department in the said city.

Sec. 15. - Authority relative to cemeteries and burials.#

To provide in or near the city lands to be used as burial places for the dead, to improve and care for the same and the walks, roads and approach thereto and to charge for and regulate the use of grounds therein; to control the burial of the dead within the said city and to regulate public cemeteries.

Sec. 16. - Regulation of sale, possession, etc., of ardent spirits.#

To regulate and control pursuant to general law the manufacturing, transportation, sale, keeping or storing for sale, advertising or exposing for sale, receiving, giving away or dispensing ardent spirits.

Sec. 17. - Enactment of ordinances, etc., to enforce powers.#

To enact and enforce such ordinances, rules, by-laws, regulations or resolutions as may be necessary to enforce the foregoing powers or any other powers granted by this charter.